A New Year

As I sit here pondering about the new year, I can not help but think about the past year. 2025 has held it share of ups and downs. There has been many loses, health issues, and disappointments. Yet, there has been many blessings as well.

I hope to get to share my hopes and dreams this year. As each day passes, I want to give some piece of hope to my readers.

Today, I want to just leave a note to say Happy New Year. May each and everyone receive some blessings as the sun sets.
 

A Winter Perdiction

So far this year, we have been spared a heavy winter. It is Groundhog Day and I am sitting here watching the Weather Channel. Why? I want to see if we are having a early spring. Punxsutawny Phil comes out each year and gives us his perdiction.

My hope is that we will have a early spring. But, the perdiction was six more weeks of winter. Now, here is the question. How accurate is his perdictions. The good news. Only about 40%.

If we get six more weeks of winter, I hope it is a mild. I don't mind the snow or the cold. I just don't want to spend everyday digging out.

My winter perdiction is that spring is just around the corner. I am hoping that Phil is 100% wrong.

 

Bury Treasures

 

I wonder what kind of bury treasures this squirrel was hoping to find? Maybe he was hidding his treasures. What ever the case, bury treasures has value to the person who seeks it.

So what are my treasures? I treasure my family and friends. Without them, I would not be the person that has values. I know where my worth comes from. Through out the years, they have helped me to learn, grow and put to practice the good that is in me.

To bury all the things that I have learned, would be a waste of their time and energy that they have put into me. I value my family and friends. So, I give the best of myself each day and share the treasures with others.

Bury treasures are meant to be shared. Unlike the squirrel who buries his treasure and forgets where he buries it, I dig my treasures out and give it away. 

Surprise Surprise

 

Surprise! Sirprise!  You never know who will come around the corner or a tree. The holidays is a time to get together with family and friends. Some of these friends can be a little crazy to be around. But, it is the craziness that gets you through.                                                                                                       

We need to laugh sometimes. Yet, there are people in our lives that seems to drain us and we find it hard to laugh. In fact, we just want to crawl into a corner and cry.                                                                     

I am blessed enough to have plenty of friends who makes me laugh. The blessings of my family keeps me grounded as well. I look forward to spending time with them. When I find myself feeling like crawling to a corner, I turn to those that will see me through my trials.   

Surprise? Yes. Am I happy for the surprises in my life? Yes. I thank God everyday for the surprises.

Try, Try, Again

This afternoon, I made went to my favorite place. As I made my way to one of the pier, there stood a great blue heron. So, I got my camera ready in hope of getting a picture of the heron catching a fish.

I did not have to wait long. He went to work. But, try as he could, he could not catch one. He would try and try, again and again. But, to no avail. The fishes would not let him get his meal. Yet, He did not give up.

This lasted for quite a while. Splash after spash, he would fail. I was starting to wonder if he would grow tire and give up. He did not. He started to catch small fishes, time after time. I was proud of this heron.

It made me wonder what I would be willing to do to get to my goal.  Would I try and try again? Could I spend hours or maybe days to years to achieve it? One thing I do know. I know I can only do this with God help. Only through God will I recieve the rewards of not giving up.

Time To Rise

Time to rise. This morning I was on a mission. The past seveeral weeks, I have been viewing pictures of sandhill cranes that others have posting. I recognized the area, and it ws not far away. While it was still dark, I got to the location and waited.                                                                                                        

 Another car pulled in and the man set up a tripod with camera with a telescope lens. So, I knew I was in the right place. We talked for a while while we waited and waited and waited. With my camera in my hand, I got back in my car. It was then I notice the sun was starting to rise. 

With the rising of the sun, I could not help but see how pretty the colors were. So, I got back out of my car and started to snap away. For a while there, I thought that it was a waste of my time to come. But than I realized that it was worth it as I watched the miracle of a new day arrive.

Time to rise. Things don't alway work out the way you hope. But God showed me this morning that He is in control and the world is a beautiful place.

Passing Through

There are many birds that migrate each year through out the world. What I like about walking around the Mariner, is that many birds make their way to this park. They are just passing through. But, I look forward to the short time I get to spend with them, like this sand-piper.                                                

Through out my life, I find this to be true about my many friends and family members. There are some that I get to spend time with often. Yet, there are many who are just passing through for a period of time. I so much enjoy there company. Yet, I know they must move on to their next destination.                                                

It is hard to let them go. I want all my friends and family to stay nearby. I want to enjoy their company. But, this is unrealistic. I can not hold onto them. When it is time to let go, I must do this knowing that it is God plans, not mine.                                                                                                                                

As my life goes on, I will cherish all the time I get to spend with both the birds and people passing through. I will not take for granted each minute. It is a blessing from God and I thank Him everyday.

A New Year

 It has been over two years since I have blogged. I just could not think of anything to write about. I felt like I was hitting a brick wall. Kind of like this car hitting a fake deer. The words just was not anywhere to be found.

Now, that it is a new year. I find myself reflecting the past two year. I have reached the age of retirement. Medicare, Social Security and free time on my hands has me trying figure out where my life is going now.

One thing I know for sure, The new year gives me the opportunity to grieve my failures, losses and pain. Yet, at the same time, I look forward to the plans that God has for me.

I love taking pictures. I love to write. So, with God guidance, I will use both of these to encourage those who read my blogs.

No more hitting fake deer or brick walls. One day at a time and one blog at a time, I will go forward and not look back.

Got This Hawk

Today, I set off to get away from all the negative news. My heart is hurting for our nation. I wanted to do something to cheer me up. With camera in hand, I headed to Eden Mill in hopes of getting a picture of a painted bunting. I have been seeing pictures of them on Facebook and wanted to try before they were gone.

On the way there, I kept seeing hawks. By the marsh, there was a juvenile red-shoulder hawk on the wire. I drove by thinking that I will see it again. The  bunting was calling. As I made my way through Forest Hill, there was a Northern Harrier. I wanted to stop. But, the bunting was waiting for me.

I finally got to Eden Mill. The first bird I see is a red-tailed hawk flying over head. I tried to gets a picture, but the trees were in the way. I was alright with that. Because, I was ready to see that bunting.

You guest it. No bunting. I looked and looked. I heard and saw several other birds. But, that bunting just would not appear.

On my way out of Eden Mill, I saw a kestrel on the wire. I tried to get a picture of this one. But he was facing the wrong way and I had cars behind me. So, I had to get moving.

I started thinking about all the hawks picutres I could have gotten today if I had just taking the time to stop and take the shot. Than there is was, standing proud and tall on the wire. As I drove past it, I knew I had to turn around and pull over. This red-shoulder hawk was my last chance to get a picture of anything today.

There are so many opportunties in life I have left pass me by, because I was focus on something else I was chasing. I know I need to be more tuned in to what God wants to show me. Hawks were everywhere. I got this one.

Up Or Down

In this picture you can see that the woodpecker likes to eat his food heads up. The nuthatch prefer to eat upside down. So who is doing it wrong?  Of course, the answer is neither.

I like to use spoons, forks and knives. Sometimes I like to use just my fingers. They make a handy tool for eating. But, I can not use chop stick. Does that make me wrong in the way I eat? No.

When I go to an all you can eat restaurant, I like to see how different people go for certain foods. Not everyone choices the same things. I fill my plates with all kinds of vegetables. My husband loves mixing it up and go for many differents foods.

God created these birds just the way He wanted. I know that God created me and you just the way He wanted. Each one of us are special. If we eat our food heads up or upside down, we are doing it just the way we are supposed to eat them. Of course, I prefer to eat it heads up.

House Keeping

Every Spring the birds get busy collecting  folliage. It is time for house keeping. It might be the start of a new home or sprucing up an old one. 

As we start a new year, it is time for house keeping. It time to start fresh and rearrange our lives. What we have known as normal in our lives seemed to change over night. The "new normal" is a term we hear everyday.

Everyone has had to change the way we keep house. Instead of folliage, we are collecting items from the local grocery stores to spruce up our homes.

As we take stock of the past year and look forward to the new year, we need to take inventory of what is needed to keep up our own lives. There has been so many changes, that we can get overwhelmed.by our house keeping.

I know that I need to start each day folliaging from God the materials I need to make it through each day. Like this sparrow, I need to take only what is needed to keep my house ready for tomorrow.

What Now?

This squirrel seems to be asking, "What now?" Now that the year 2020 is gone, what does the year 2021 hold for us? That is a question that I am sure is on the minds of many. 

I have spent many years watching the squirrels gather nuts, leaves and any other things that they think is needed to get ready for the future. They do not think about or worry about tomorrow. They just do what comes natural.

We do not have this nature. I watched people as they stocked up on toilet papers, paper towels and whatever else they felt they needed to get through this past year of uncertainty. It is our nature to worry about the future.

The uncetainty of tomorrow has me asking, "What now?" Buying all the toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning supplies will not calm the fear that controls me. So, where do I turn to for answers?

The answers I seek comes from only one source. God has been the source of my future. I do not have to worry about tomorrow. So, when I ask, "What now?" I turn to God and let Him be in control of the answer.

Moth Chase

 Many times when I open my front door, I come across birds in the yard. I like to watch them as they c search for food in the grass. This one time, a small moth flew up from the ground and two of the birds proceeded to chase it around the third bird. 

This went on for about five minutes. With each attempt, the moth was just a little to fast for the two birds. As the third bird watched, he began to chirp at the others. With one quick swoop, the moth flew right into his mouth. 

I was blown away by this action. This was not what I was expecting to see. It got me to thinking. How often do I chase after things, just to have it escape my grasp? Time after time it just a little too fast for me and I miss out. It is only when I wait on the Lord, that the thing I am after swoops into my life.

Today, I will wait on the Lord. It is when I allow Him to be in control, that the moth I am chasing takes a quick swoop into my life. 

JJ

Today, I made my rounds at Mariner Point Park. I have not been going there like I use to do. So, I did not know what to expect to find. At the last pier, I came across this young couple getting ready to annouce the sex of the baby that they were expecting.

As Jeremy and Julia get on the phone, they pull the answer out of the envelope. They reveil to all their family and friends that they are having a girl. They could not be more happier about the news. 

It was nice to hear some good news in this world. There is so much negitive news, that it can bring you down. I congratulated them and they left to take in the news and to begin a new chapter in their lives.

I told them that I would be blogging their news and title it JJ. So, JJs, I pray that when you daugther arrives in February, that she is healthy and strong. I pray also, that God sends you many years of blessings,

My Good Deed

Today, was no different than any other day. I got up and headed out before the heat of the day. My destination? Swan Harbor Farm.

As I was getting ready to leave my car, These bicyclists came upon me. They thought that I worked here. They were hoping to get some water from inside the building. The place was closed.

Than, I remembered that I still had a case of water in the trunk of the car. So, I opened up my trunk and handed out the water to those who needed it. I know that they were refreshed and ready to head off down the road. I did my good deed for today.


It felt good to be able to give what God had provided. I even felt refreshed as I made my way to the marshy area of the farm.

I always beleive that God puts you where you are needed. I want to obey His calling as I go about my day. I know He was pleased as I got to see many birds.


This was the first time I got to see baby killdeers. The wood ducks were at the same spot, but, this time there were four babies instead of two with the mother.


It was a good day for a good deed. It was a good day for some rare sightings. All in all it was just a good day.

Rock Find

With all this talk about the virus, it is hard sometimes to see hope. So, when I found this rock, it put a smail on my face. It reminded me that "All will be well". I picked it up with the plan on placing it at one of my other favorite location for pciture taking.

As I made my way out of the park, I stopped in the office to see an old friend. I had not seen him for a while because of the parks being closed due to the virus. It so happened that I saw his car and knew he was in his office.

It was a good thing that I did stop in. It turns out that he is being tranferred. He was struggling with a decision that he had to make by four o'clock. We talked for a few minutes. I gave him a hug goodbye and headed for the door.

It was than that I remembered that I had the rock. I took it out of my pocket and handed it over to him. "Here, I think you need this more than me". I knew it touched his heart.

This "rock find" did double duty today. It not only put a smile on my face, it also put a little hope in my friend's heart.  I hope that who ever is reading this today, also fines "That all will be well".

Heron Splash

I just love these big bird. The great blue heron always stop me in my track as I search for a photo opportunity. Today, as I past the marsh, I saw one ready to get his lunch. I pulled over to watch him make a big splash, only to get back out with nothing.


When he got back up, he just shook it off. I am sure this was not the first time that he had failed to get his goal. Just as I am sure he keep trying again and again. You know the saying, "if you do not first succeed".


He looked around for awhile, decided that there were nothing else to get and flew to another section of the marsh.

I think that we can all learn from him. We will not always get things right in life. The thing we need to learn fron the heron splash, is that we need to not give up and move on.

Catbird Peanut Lover

I am so use to seeing the different birds of the park go after the peanuts I put out. Today, was the first time that I caught the gray catbird picking one up. I had no idea that the catbird was a peanut lover.

I find myself eating the peanuts as I make my way around the park. I am a peanut lover myself. Among the many birds that like these morsels of protein are the red-bellied woodpecker, titmouse, red-winged blackbird, cardinals and the blue jay.


One of my favorite pictures is the red-bellied woodpecker holding a peanut. This is what got me seeking to get on film birds with peanuts.


Of course, I get plently of pictures with the many squirrels holding peanuts. I do not think anyone else love peanut more than the squirrels. It is nice to be in good company with all the peanut lovers at the park.

Lost and Found Art

Many times as I walk around Mariner Point Park, I will find things that people have lost. When I find something, I take it to the office. After a while, the office has a box full of lost and found things. Someone, with a sense of humor, decided to create this piece of art with the lost tiems.

We need to find something to smile about these days. I love hearing on the news the many things people are doing to ease the pressures of being stuck at home. There are a lot of sense of humor going out on the internet and the tv screens.

So, I decided to put this picture up just to put a smile on your face. I hope it helps a little to ease the pressure today. I hope you like this lost and found art.

A New Sighting

It was a great day to go birding. The sun was shining and tempature was just right. My husband and I went to our new favorite place, Swan Harbor Farm. As we slowly drove down the road into the farm, we stopped by the one spot where I have seen the yellowlegs and the snipe. But, today there was a new sighting.

Try as I might, I could not get a good picture of the unusual ducks and they flew away. They were with a few mallards and I coud see they were much smaller. We parked our car and walked around.

It was not until we decided to go to the marshy area, that we got our second chance to get these new ducks. They were still with the mallards. I got my camera ready and steady, than got the shot that I was after.

I still had no idea what kind of ducks these were. I was so glad that I had one of my bird books in the car. There, I discovered that we had gotten out first pictures of a blue-winged teal. I could not wait to get home and get the pictures on my computer.

Today was a great day for a new sighting. I love the way God lets me see his beauty each day.