Wednesday Treasures~It's April!

How about we start out this first Wednesday in April post with some Sand Hill Crane Colts Cuteness Overload?

Trumpet says, "That sounds like a great idea to me!"

Now I know which one is "Spring"...she chooses the flower garden to take her afternoon rest...

At 90 degrees in the shade, I can't say as I blame her...

What a beautiful picture of "Spring"....

Trumpet says, "Hey! What about ME?  Aren't I cute sitting here on my haunches in the shade too?"

Yes,, Trumpet, you are very cute too...looks like you are either typing on your computer or playing the piano this those long fingers...

"I guess I'd better get up and go see where Mom and Dad went..."

"I think they went this way..."

Somehow Spring decided to go for a quick swim and cool off, and then she wondered where everyone else was and why weren't they following her??

"Hey, y'all! You ought to come down here where the water is cool and refreshing!"

"Where'd everyone go???"

"Hey! Save some food for me!"

"Whew! I thought everyone had gone off and left me!"

Mama said, "You gotta stay close to me little ones...I will keep you safe AND show you where the good food is."

Hooray...everyone is safe and sound and happy again.

Meanwhile, our saga with the Muscovy ducks continues...they have found a nice cool spot to spend the hot afternoon, in the shade on the other side of Still Waters Pond.

The folks who came to try and capture them and take them home with them were not successful yesterday, as the ducks stayed over there on the other side, but they showed back up in our yard later in the evening when no one was available to catch them.

However, we've discovered that they have created a nest under our porch, and now have 4 eggs. The people who came to try and catch them said the ducks are all females, so the eggs aren't fertilized. I guess they would be good to eat...but...I'm not quite brave enough to try...however, if they keep laying more eggs I may have to think about that. It went from two to four overnight...

And our sweet Blackie Sue watches all the excitement around her, but she continues to get more rotund with child every day...and I really am not so sure that it is in hers or our best interest to keep her here for the "blessed event".  I was literally praying about this overnight the other night, and asking the Lord to give me some kind of peace of mind about what to do.  We are not really "equipped" to handle multiple kittens here at our house and there are too many predators around who could harm them outside on our porch...

And then this dear lady, who is the same one who is trying to capture the ducks (with her husband), said that she loves cats and has a good place for them, and that she would be very happy to take Blackie Sue home with her and keep her through the birth and care of her babies, and then at the appropriate time she would get Blackie Sue "fixed", and also take care of the kittens and find homes for them! I told her she was an answer to prayer and a miracle in my estimation.

So while they were here trying to catch the ducks, we decided that she would go ahead and take Blackie Sue home with her now as she is thinking that Blackie Sue is getting pretty close to delivery...so she scooped her up and took her to their car and tried to put her in a cat carrier, but it was a little too small for Blackie Sue, and she squirmed and managed to escape from our friend's arms and refused to be caught again...

And so she is still here with us, as are the ducks. They won't be coming back until possibly tomorrow to try again...

And meanwhile, I am having 2nd thoughts about letting Blackie Sue go home with her. I know that once that happens she will most likely NOT come back here to live as she will then be used to living indoors and we are not in a position to have indoor cats here.

And although I haven't asked Sunshine what HE thinks about that idea (I still can't wrap my head around Sunshine being a "HE", and possibly the father of her babies...)

I am very mindful of the fact that these two are very fond of each other and I think they would each miss the other if they were separated.  Do you think cats have those kinds of feelings?  I'm not that much of a cat "expert" (that's pretty obvious I guess!)  but I am conscious of their affection for one another and I just think Sunshine would be very lonely without Blackie Sue.  

And maybe I would be too.

So I continue to pray, and I have also put out a box on the porch, with a sheet in it and some old chair cushions under the sheet, in the possibility that Blackie Sue could go into labor sooner than we think. I don't know if she will go in there or not, but at least I am making the effort. 

Some of who who are more experienced in these matters may have some better advice for me. I'm all ears.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and little prayers for this situation. I just want to do what is best for all concerned.

Okay, NOW, it IS April already, and of course that means it is time for the roll call of the calendars!  Here you go:

This one is in my bathroom, and I love the view of the picnic table on the shore of that beautiful lake in the sunset.  I can just envision sitting there with my hubby and enjoying watching the sunset together as we have our evening supper or just sit there and relax...if only there weren't any bugs...

This is the John Sloane Country Seasons painting for April! "Spring Market Day".   I love the old Trolley /street car, don't you?  Have you ever ridden on one?  My father grew up in Crafton, PA., which is a suburb of Pittsburgh.  They used to ride the streetcar down town. And then before my mother met my father, she lived in Crafton with her older sister for a while, and she actually met my father's sister at the streetcar stop in their neighborhood, and they became friends, and one thing led to another, and my mother was introduced to my father by his sister, who later became my Aunt Marion, and they lived happily ever after.  In case you've missed that story before, you can read all about it HERE.

Next comes the Thomas Kinkade calendar, which is in my hubby's bathroom.  We were both looking at this one today, and remarking about how interesting this "Spanish Cafe'" is.  There is SO much detail in this painting, I could look at it all day and still see new things.  I love the verses on this calendar also:

And this is the Teapot Calendar...I love this pretty dainty rosebud teapot and set.  

Interesting and fun quote:

What do you do when you're "freaked out?"  Drink tea? Hmmm, well, I do find it comforting.

Okay, I love this Susan Branch calendar for April...

And my pretty songbird has come out with her Spring Bonnet on...I can hear her singing already...

Here's some thoughts for today from God's Word, The Bible:

John 3:8 New King James Version

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, 

but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. 

So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Well, my friends, Oh, I almost forgot!  Hubby's eye appointment yesterday went extremely well. He is doing so well that the doctor doesn't want to see him for 6 months! He told him that he was "lucky" that the eye condition that he has has not worsened and seems to be doing well.  My hubby told him that he is not lucky, but blessed. And that's the truth! We praise the Lord for this wonderful news, as the eye condition that he has could mean further surgery on his cornea, and that would be much more involved, but the doctor doesn't seem to think it is going to be necessary, at least not anytime soon, so we are very very thankful! So Praise the Lord for this answer to prayer!

We have an Administrative Board meeting at church tonight in a little while, so I need to get a move on. We need to be there since I am the Secretary and hubby is the Chairman of the Board. LOL.

I'll be back soon, and hope to get around to visiting you all soon...but I'm way behind because it seems like I spend a lot of time watching the birds and the cats and doing other things.  So bear with me. Hopefully things will calm down soon.

Bye for now dear friends.

 

Monday Monday! Another Day of Adventures on Still Waters Pond

 It's been another Monday Monday!  Actually, not a bad day at all. Started out early this morning with both hubby and I having fasting blood/lab tests done, so of course we had to go to breakfast after that!  We went to one of our local diners, which was actually our only local choice because the other one was closed for today to continue in their renovations  since they have new owners.  So we went to Nanna's Country Cafe'

And we had the Senior Breakfast specials for $6.99 (+ coffee or tea).   We each had ample servings  and delicious food!

For you who don't know what grits are, that's what that white stuff is above next to the biscuit and eggs and sausage. (hubby's plate).

My plate is below, with the Cinnamon Raisin toast, bacon , eggs, and hash browns. (There were three pieces of bacon before I took this picture  LOL).  

Speaking of doctor's office and lab tests, etc., I actually had been to the doctor a week ago because of a certain kind of issue I was having, and I was put on this very strong antibiotic for 10 days.  I really wasn't pleased about that because I know what kind of side effects this particular medicine can have...here are literally 6 pages full of potential side effects and warnings!

So I really prayed about it before taking it, because I definitely did not want any of those side effects to happen to me!  I remember my MIL used to have to be put on this medicine quite frequently when she was in her late 80's, and some of the side effects are hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, confusion, nightmares, agitation...just to name a few!   And she literally had all of the above.  She was still living alone at that point in her life, and we would get all kinds of phone calls about the things she was seeing and imagining and fearing, so much so that she would call the police.  We even went and spent the night with her to try to prove that the things she was seeing just weren't true, but she didn't believe us.  It wasn't long after that she came to live with us  for a period of time, and then with her other son, and so on and so on.  Thankfully she had some surgery that corrected one of her issues that required taking this medicine, and those scary side effects finally stopped.  Anyway, at that particular time, we did not realize that this medication had those kinds of side effects. Had we known, we probably could've made sure her doctor was aware and she could have been given something different.    So with all of that history, you can see why I have my reservations about taking this particular medicine.

I've been on it for a week now, and I want to thank the Lord for hearing my prayers and sparing me  from having any real negative side effects at all. About the only thing I have noticed (and my husband also commented on this) is that I've been much more talkative than usual and more animated. If you know me, you will say "uh oh!" That could mean trouble. LOL.   Oh, and by the way, the condition for which I have been prescribed this medicine seems to be cleared up and I am feeling so much better...but I still have to finish taking all of the prescription for 10 days so it won't come back. I'm trying really hard to be a good patient. LOL.  I am very thankful to God for answering my prayers about this!

(You can probably tell I've been a lot more loquacious here in my blog posts as well! LOL).

Well, moving right along, we've been having some issues with these Muscovy Ducks, who seem to think our porch and the cats' food and our yard all belong to them. They are definitely disturbing the peace of our Still Waters Pond for us, the cats, the Cranes and the Geese.  So today I called a place that sells farm animals and feed, etc. (Deep Creek Farms) to see if they knew anyone who would like to come and get these ducks.  They did, and a nice couple/family stopped by this afternoon to check out the situation.  After seeing the ducks they said they would be back tomorrow afternoon with appropriate nets to catch them and take them to their pond, where they have a LOT of these ducks and they breed them and sell the eggs and also the male ducklings to some other farmer who also has a purpose for them (I won't say what exactly).  Anyway, I am praying that all works out and they have no problem catching them.  Everytime I go out to feed the cats they come flying up there  to eat their food, and then they keep coming back multiple times and drink their water (when they have a whole pond to drink from!!!) and basically the cats are a bit nervous about them and not getting to eat their own food and I am tired of running them off of the deck everytime I see them out there!  

Speaking of the cats...A.K.A., "Blackie Sue" and "Sunshine"... This lady that came about the ducks also has a lot of cats and knows more about them than I do.  I asked her to look at Blackie Sue and tell me what she thinks, whether or not she is expecting.  She literally picked her up and held her like a baby in her arms! (I'm too afraid to try that, but yes, someone asked me if they let me touch them, and yes, I pet them all the time and even brushed Sunshine's hair!)   Anyway, she confirmed that Blackie Sue is indeed pregnant.  Great!  And then she took a good look at Sunshine...and stated that Sunshine is definitely a HE, and most likely the FATHER of Blackie Sue's kittens! Oh great! And here I just thought they were good friends! A lot I know!! LOL.

Blackie Sue has been hanging around a lot more all day long these days...this lady said probably in about a month her kittens should be born...

Yeah...don't give me that "I told you so look".  LOL.

No wonder they are so chummy!  

Although I never knew cats were actually "chummy" with their mates. I thought it was usually more like a one night stand type thing.

Sunshine, And here I thought you were an old granny cat!  Sure had me fooled, you old tom-cat! LOL.

Apparently, most orange cats are usually male...about 80%, due to something to do with their chromosomes.  Here's a link to one study about this for more information.

Learn something new every day!   

Okay, so enough of this! What about the Cranes?  Here's the latest pictures from this evening...

Yes, I think they grew another inch overnight...

While the Crane Family was trying to have a peaceful supper, the Geese kept creeping up closer and closer to them...

And Papa Crane turned around and chased Mr. Goose away...

Flap flap flap, honk honk honk...You'd think he'd learn his lesson...

But no, he just kept creeping up from behind them...

And Papa Crane turned around and chased him off again...

"I told you to go away and stay away!!"

Meanwhile the ducks are having their own pow-wow about how to get back up on the porch with me standing there taking pictures of the Cranes and Geese...

The Geese sneak around and finally make it back to the pond...

and the ducks stood off at a distance and looked like they were laughing about the whole thing.  They were a bit smarter today and stayed out of the way of the Crane Family.

Oh, unbeknownst to me, hubby was also watching all the action out on the porch and yard, and taking pictures of this funny looking "chick" creeping across the porch in search of those crazy ducks who kept flying up to the porch everytime I'd turn my back.

(do you see the cranes down on the ground?)

Oh, hello! I just noticed him there taking pictures!

I'm not sure if I was looking back at the geese, or the ducks, or the cranes, or the cats at this point...it was one crazy time of activity going on!

Hello !

Well, on that note, I think it's time to close this post down for the night. Tomorrow morning we have to head out early for hubby's eye appointment about an hour away again...so I probably won't be too active here in blogland or out on the porch overlooking Still Waters Pond for most of the day either...so I will have to catch up with you all later. No Foolin'!!  Tomorrow is also April Fool's Day!! Wow! I hope no one plays any tricks on any of us!

Here's some words of wisdom and a prayer for guidance for the day...

Psalm 5:1-3 NKJV

A Prayer for Guidance

"1 Give ear to my words, O Lord,

Consider my meditation.

2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and my God,

For to You I will pray.

3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up."

Amen.

Hope to see you all again soon.  Thank you for visiting! You always make my day extra special.