Sunday Night Sunset, Geese and More

Zechariah 10:1 NIV

"Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;

it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms.

He gives showers of rain to all people,

and plants of the field to everyone."

This lone Canada goose was standing out on the "still very dry Still Waters Pond" this evening, just before sunset.   

I thought he looked rather lonely and perplexed, wondering where all the water was that he remembered from all the years past...

It also seemed rather strange to me that he was alone out there on the pond. Canada Geese normally travel in pairs, as a couple.  

This picture is to give you more perspective as to where he was standing out there in the very dry pond bed.

He started to honk, which is what they normally do when they are calling their mate and usually just before taking off in flight.

Oh! Look there!  Sure enought...there is his mate, coming around from behind the bushes on the island! I knew he wouldn't be alone!!! And right after this they both took off in flight, honking all the way!  I do hope they won't give up on our pond. I believe this is the same couple who have come here every year and have builts nests on that island most every year.  It's been a very sad year for our water bird families. No new babies for any of them. I hope next spring will be much better...and I hope they will come back!

After the geese flew away I noticed that there was a beautiful sunset forming...so of course I had to go outside and watch.  Wanna come along with me?

These really aren't in any order.  I miss seeing the reflection of the sunsets in the water on the pond, but still the sunset itself is beautiful.

The sky has a lot of smoke in it because of all the wildfires burning throughout the region. Thankfully none are too close to us, but still we can smell the smoke.

Not sure what that bird is, but it was nice of him to fly over just as I was snapping this picture.

There he goes...

Wow...this is a close up of the skies...it almost looks stormy...but there's no rain in our forecast for over 10 days...

We really really need rain...please pray!

The air quality hasn't been too good, so I really haven't wanted to be outside too much...plus it's been VERY HOT!

Speaking of very hot... (yeah, these guys are "hot", lol! That's not what I was meaning),  The boys were here this afternoon and I asked them to move this planter with the tomato plants in it to a different location because it was getting way too much bright hot sunshine in the afternoons, and I'm afraid that as the tomatoes develop they will be baked in the sun!

They are putting on a little show here, but it truly was extremely heavy to move because it's full of dirt. But being sweet sons, they did as Mom asked. I hope they won't have backaches or hernias tomorrow. LOL.  

Speaking of today, I woke up this morning with a nosebleed. Not a severe one, but enough to get my attention. I also just plain didn't feel too good, so we decided it would be best to stay home . I actually went back to bed for a while because I hadn't slept very well.  However, I knew that Scott was coming and I had already planned to have him cook some chicken on the grill, and by noon I was feeling better, so I asked Benton and Rose if they wanted to come on over for lunch since I had plenty of food anyway. And so they did. It's really no trouble to have them because everyone pitches in and helps with clean up,  etc., and Scott did the hardest part of grilling the chicken.  So it ended up being a lovely day. Thank you all also for your kind comments on my previous updated post about my father. Today marks 15 years since he passed away, and I just didn't want to let the day go by without remembering him.

Anyway, I was disappointed that I wasn't able to go to church this morning. I was looking forward to singing this song that we recorded at choir practice this past week. Here's  the video of us singing, along with the Pastor's sermon for today, if you'd like to listen.

Well, that about wraps it up for tonight. It's been a long day and I'm ready to get back to bed. 

 

Speaking of singing...did you know that God will "rejoice over you with singing"?...Here's one of my favorite verses...it's a good one to remember when you just feel like you need a little extra comfort and maybe a lullaby to help you sleep...

Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

"The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Good Night! Sleep peacefully.

God is watching over you...and He rejoices over you and quiets you with His love...what could be more comforting than that?

Reflecting and Remembering my Dad~ UPDATED

UPDATE: 4/19/2026: Hello Friends. I hope you won't mind me sharing some special memories today. Today marks the 10th  15th anniversary of my Daddy's departure from this earth to his heavenly home.  I couldn't let the day go by without sharing some special pictures and thoughts about such a great man.

(Original Post 4/19/2021)

I know I've shared this picture many times before, but I love it because it is just so typical of my Daddy's spirit.  This was just after winning at horseshoes, which he loved to play whenever the family got together. All the guys would gather in the back yard and throw the horseshoes back and forth, and Daddy was often the champion.  In my eyes, he was always the champion.

One Thanksgiving day, after eating a very large dinner, my sister Doris, Daddy, and I took a nice after dinner walk.   (This was also a family tradition, to take a walk after a big dinner).

There we are, holding hands with Daddy, enjoying a leisurely stroll, 

when someone snuck up behind us and said "turn around",

and this is what we did:

As you can see, my sister Doris, Daddy, and I are like 3 peas in a pod. Kind of sassy too.

Now this picture needs no explanation...My Daddy giving me away. He looks a little nervous if you ask me. I was the "baby"...the last to leave the nest...either he was sad or relieved...not sure which, but I know he was proud to walk me down the aisle, and I was also proud to be walking beside him to my new life...

Going back in history a bit farther...Here is the family...

My brother Russell,(now in heaven too), Clifford, Doris, and me, the little redhead.

Daddy and Mama, so proud of their sweet little family. 

Now this is one of my most favorite pictures ever...Daddy and me on a Sunday afternoon, taking a nap in the living room chair. I must have liked those little plaid overalls, as I am wearing them in both of these pictures.  I used to really like that finger too.

And here we are many years later,

Easter 2005.

I am sharing this old picture of my Daddy's family when he was a child. They used to like to go camping and on hikes in the woods too. My Grandpa took the picture since he's not in it.

This is my Uncle Paul, My Daddy with his walking stick and ball cap, his little sister my Aunt Ruth, his mother (My Grandma Elva), and my Aunt Marion. You can tell my Daddy was always ready for an adventure.  I am pretty sure that is where I get it from.

So today I've been just reflecting on my Dad and his love for nature and adventure and all of God's good creation. I've been relaxing and watching our birds on Still Waters Pond, a place that I know he would have loved and he would want to be outside watching the birds with me.

 (These pictures  were taken in 2021, when there was still water in Still Waters Pond)

This Great Crested Flycatcher flew in and landed first on the bird house to check it out. But I think he realized there was already a dispute over who would inhabit it between the bluebirds and the chickadees, so he flew over to the trees and then on to catch flies somewhere else.

The Bluebirds and Chickadees are still having a quarrel over who will inhabit this house. I guess I should get another birdhouse out there to solve this issue.

The chickadee is sitting in the tree while the bluebird is claiming the house.

Do you see them both?

There's the chickadee:

And the Bluebird. May the best bird win. I personally am rooting for the bluebirds.

(UPDATE 4/19/2026:  Yes, the bluebirds won and they have been nesting in that birdhouse for quite a few years. Right now at this very minute, Mama and Daddy Bluebird are trying to encourage the babies to fledge out of the nest.  They bring them food, and only let them get a little taste of it and then they fly back out with the food to try and get the babies to follow them.  I hope I will be able to witness them leaving the nest, but I'll have to be very vigilant in watching, and also in making sure that our cat Blackie doesn't go after them.)

We took our usual walk in the woods this morning and saw these interesting fungi growing on some old dead wood on the ground.  I thought of my Daddy because he loved stuff like that. He used to take the larger fungi that grew on the sides of trees and dried them and drew pictures on them. I wish I had a picture of the one he did of the farm. He saved it all his life, and I think my brother may have it now.**

**UPDATE:  Yes, my brother does have that fungus painting that my Daddy did so many years ago. I took a picture of it when we were at his house for a family reunion a few years ago, and here it is:

A Farm Scene entitled "Peace".  

I am sure Daddy would also appreciate the beauty of this "pine tree flower" blooming.

And even though neither of us like the stinging nettle that is growing there too, it does make for an interesting photo.

I would like to share with you a link to a post that I originally wrote right after my father's death on April 19, 2011.  There is also, within that same post, a copy of a previous post written just ten days before my father's death. Both stories are true and as you read them you will see the beautiful way God used one of His very special "messengers" to bless me and comfort me during a time of great grief.

Please click HERE for "The Last Farewell and also "The Owls Who Came to Comfort Me"   Those of you who have been my blogging friends for all these years have probably already read these a couple of times as I've reposted them, but since today (4/19/2021) marks the 10th anniversary of my father's passing, I thought it appropriate to share these stories once again.

Thank you for bearing with me while I have shared these reflections and memories today. I know my Daddy is enjoying all the glory of heaven today....there with my mother, my brother, my son, and all the rest of our ancestors who have gone on before us...but especially with Jesus. I look forward to joining them someday, but until then, I will keep his memory alive and remember the happy times.

Have a blessed day.

 

Friday Foto Friends~Family Time!

 Happy Friday Everyone!   

If you are one of my Facebook Friends, then you've most likely already seen some of these pictures, but there are some others that I reserved just for you here in Blogland, so don't go away...

Yesterday we traveled about an hour south to meet up with hubby's brother Billy and his family at our favorite meeting place, "The Mason Jar".  Above you will see left to right: My sister in law Peggy, their daughter (our niece) Shannon, whose birthday we were there to celebrate, although her birthday isn't until later in May, but because of their college and family schedules, this was really the only time we could get together for awhile. Next comes our nephew Nicholaus , my hubby John, his brother Billy, our son Benton, our sweet daughter in love Rose, and  your's truly. I guess I'm holding my bag because I had gotten out my cell phone to have this picture taken. A very sweet lady who was sitting at a table near us came over and offered to take our picture. That was so sweet of her. 

Of course I had already been taking a lot of pictures ever since we got there, so here they are...

No trip to the Mason Jar would be complete without me hugging the bear in the lobby.

I also thought he needed a little kiss.

Son Benton thought he would imitate the bear...

And then kiss the deer...

He should've kissed the "Dear" beside him instead. LOL.

Hubby wanted to get in on the act and was "interviewing" the bear, asking him what he thought about all the crazy people who come in there and want to hug and kiss him and the deer.

The bear just grunted and and basically wished we'd all just go away and let him live in peace...

He's lucky this old timey hunter  on his motorcycle with a side car for his hound dog was only interested in deer instead of bears...LOL. Yes, that's a real photo there in the lobby...

 

Well, back to the real people...as I said, we were celebrating Shannon's 22nd birthday! Isn't she beautiful?  She's currently finishing up her Associates degree as a Paralegal and also another Associate of Arts degree to prepare her for finishing up her Bachelor's degree in pre-law studies. Then she hopes to use her paralegal degree to help her work her way through law school.  She's very ambitious and smart!

Her brother Nick is working on his Master's Degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Auburn University.  He's a pretty smart guy too!

Two lovely women, Peggy and daughter Shannon.

Oh, here's two handsome guys: my hubby John and his brother Bill. (we call him Billy, and he calls his brother Johnny.)

While we were standing outside of the restaurant I noticed this old Cracker style house across the street. I told the kids that's the kind of house I would love to have out in the country...but with an open front porch and a screened in back porch, and maybe not have the roof quite so rusty. LOL.  I just love those old style country houses.

Well, when we got back home Blackie was waiting and watching for us outside from his tree. So, even though it wasn't quite time for his supper and we needed a nap really badly, we let him come on inside. He took a little nap somewhere in the house and when I came out of the bedroom he was waiting for "Daddy" to come out to sit with him...and as you can see, he was waiting on top of "Daddy's" laptop...

He looked at me as if to say, "Hey! You're not my Daddy! I'm waiting for him right here where I know he will be any minute now!" LOL.  He just wants to be near his "Daddy".  LOL.

However, this morning we just came home from shoppping at Walmart, and while I was putting things away Daddy went in the bedroom to take a little nap, and so Blackie decided to take a nap this time on the shelf beneath the TV. He likes to hide from us in different locations, I think hoping that we won't find him and just let him stay inside forever.

However, I know he loves being outdoors too. Lately the bluebirds are still trying to lure their babies out of the nest, and I've noticed that if Blackie (or even me) walk too close to their house, the parents swoop down over our heads to warn us off.  So I've actually been letting Blackie stay indoors more during the day so he won't get too close to the babies if they should leave the nest and fall to the ground...I know I can't be there all the time to protect them, but at least I'm trying to do my part.

Well I guess that's all the fun for today. It's time to fix some lunch. So I will say "Hasta la vista, baby!"

Just some "food for thought" from God's Word before I go... 

Matthew 10:29-31

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Amen.