What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Friday Foto Friends-Rejoice!

Well, I was saving some pictures for this Friday Foto Friends post, and then some other stuff happened which was more interesting...so now I will try to post the best of the choices so you don't have to scroll through so many pictures!

First things first...many of you have been wondering about our Sand Hill Crane Family...and I am very happy to announce that Baby Crane #1 made an appearance this morning!  There was a lot of squawking and flapping going on on the little island where the nest is, and I hurried over to see what the commotion was all about, and this is what I discovered:


If you will notice that little tiny fuzzy creature to the right of the parents, that is their sweet little baby:

What all the squawking was about was that Cormorant over behind them to the far right...getting too close to their baby. The Mama Crane actually chase him right off the water...
 After that Mama settled back down on the nest to await the arrival of baby #2.  Papa stood watch and foraged for food on the little island, while the baby "colt" stayed close to mama.
Not only was the cormorant a threat, but we still haven't captured the alligators in the pond, and there are always the other predator birds around...eagles, hawks, owls...


I went around to the other side of the pond to get a closer view from a neighbor's dock (with their permission), but there was no sign of the baby. I think she may be napping under mama's wings, as it was very cold and windy today.  

This was a much better view, but it was quite a long walk and it was very cold today, so I don't know if I'll go that far again. We shall see what tomorrow is like.  (I'm writing on Thursday evening)

So, that's all of the Sand Hill Crane Family for today. But wasn't that exciting news?

Post script:  My friend Terri D. (My Friend From Florida), sent me this link to more information on why Sand Hill Crane babies are called "colts".  Thank you, Terri! http://raptoreducationgroup.blogspot.com/2009/05/young-sandhill-cranes-are-called-colts.html


BABY #2 ALERT: CLICK http://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2018/03/update-to-sand-hill-crane-story.html  FOR THE LATEST NEWS JUST IN!!

Now, on to the other pictures from the week:

This next series of pictures comes from our ride through the historic area of downtown Ocala, Florida this past week. The azaleas and majestic old oaks were so lovely around these big beautiful homes, I thought you would enjoy seeing them.







Looking through the front windshield of the car makes this one a little off color, but it was still so beautiful:

The lighting was better for this one...



So then we came back home and I took a few pictures around our yard:

This dogwood tree is actually in our neighbor's yard, but it is so lovely right now I had to take a picture

Slowly but surely the wisteria are opening up and blooming...I like the shadows on the fence


Some of the white azaleas I planted in the Secret Garden:



A squirrel's nest high up in an oak tree...the oaks are shedding their leaves right now, making the nests more visible

These two Red Bellied Woodpeckers are sitting high on top of an electric pole!  Shocking, isn't it?

And here is one of those same woodpeckers high on top of our dead holly tree in the back yard:
I love the way the morning sunlight is shining through his red head!

And now I bring you back inside the house, through the front door, and into our foyer. This is what you see when you come inside:  "Welcome to Our Neck of the Woods, Where Life is Good...Fresh Air, Star Gazing, Quiet Spaces..."

And this little chalkboard reminds us to "Rejoice!"...As this IS the day the Lord has made...
(from Psalm 118:24)

I can think of no better way to start the day, can you?  Recognizing that this day...no matter what the weather (today was cold and windy!), no matter what is happening in the world or even in our own personal lives...Rejoice!

I had the privilege and joy of taking supper to our dear friend Sharon today. Sharon is battling cancer, and today was a difficult day because the new medication they have started her on was causing some very unpleasant side effects.  This new medicine is a "targeted therapy", designed especially to attack the DNA of her particular strain of cancer.  It is a pill that she must take 2 times a day for 12 months, and then they will determine what is next.  This medication is extremely expensive, and she had to be approved for a grant to cover the cost since insurance would not cover it.  (Praise God! She was approved!!)  This is in place of further chemotherapy or radiation, and the oncologist is very hopeful that it will be beneficial for her.  So, we are praying that the unpleasant  side effects are only temporary and that as her body adapts to the new medicine the side effects will hopefully go away.

The thing I love about my friend Sharon is that no matter how she is feeling, she finds reasons to rejoice.  She is the most beautiful example of God's grace in action I've ever seen. Instead of feeling sorry for herself she is reaching out to so many, sharing her testimony and the love of God with everyone who will listen.  She sings praises to the Lord every opportunity she can...and when you come away from spending time with her, you feel as though you've been in the Presence of the Lord as well.  He IS present there, I have no doubt...and that is why I say it was a privilege and joy to take supper to her and her family today.  "Amazing Grace...how sweet the sound..."  Here is a link to Sharon's Caring Bridge journal if you would like follow her amazing story: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sharonwatson/journal

Well dear friends, I guess that is all for tonight.  I think I will go ahead and post this tonight because it may take two days for you to read it all!  Seriously, I just want to praise the Lord for His kindness and goodness to us this past week (and always).
God is good! All the time!  All the time! God is good! 
Amen!!

Please skip over to Deb's place at Breathing in Grace and see what our other Friday Foto Friends are posting (on Friday morning!)   


12 comments:

  1. I have been following your posts on Facebook about the new baby 'colt'. How interesting that the crane's baby is called a colt!! I actually looked it up and found this interesting blog post: http://raptoreducationgroup.blogspot.com/2009/05/young-sandhill-cranes-are-called-colts.html

    Your photos of old Ocala are lovely. Those oak tree canopies and the old mansions are so beautiful. We have been through Ocala several times, but I've not been in any of the historic areas. May need to remedy that!!

    Have a blessed Friday!!

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    1. Well, let me know when you want to come back to Ocala and we will meet you there. It is beautiful right now with all the azaleas blooming, but the historic section of town is pretty all the time. The church (First Presbyterian) where I used to work is in the middle of the historic district, so I used to drive around that area a lot. These photos really weren't of the oldest homes...just some of the "richest" ones on 5th Street. Ocala is a beautiful city when you know where to look. I used to love to see all the horse farms when we traveled through, but now you can't see them from the highway like before...but there are still quite a few out there...just have to go look for them off the beaten path. Thank you for the sand hill crane link...I posted it above so people could check it out! That was good info!! Have a blessed day dear friend from Florida!!

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  2. Lovely photos! Congrats on "your" baby's arrival. :)

    ...praying for Sharon. Isn't it amazing that medicine can target something like that?

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    1. Thank you Sandi! Baby #2 arrived today! Thank you for the prayers for Sharon. Yes, it IS amazing what medical science can do. I just wish it wasn't so expensive, making it unreachable for most people. We are thankful that Sharon was able to get the financial 'aid' for this. Praying it really helps her.

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  3. Wonderful photos Pamela, especial the downtown Ocala and your beautiful garden azaleas. I have followed your photos of Mama and Papa Sand Hill cranes with their new born on Facebook. Yes this is the day The Lord has made, let us rejoice in it!

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    1. Amen! I hope you saw the update to the Crane family...baby #2 arrived today! So, another reason to Rejoice!! Thank you for your visit here and on Facebook. Hoping you are staying safe and warm today. So happy you have this outlet for communication with friends and family!

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  4. Beautiful photos, Pam. I'm glad that the Sand Hill Crane family is increasing! Thank you for that long walk you took over to your neighbor's pier so that you could get such a good clear picture of Mama for us. The pictures of Ocala are just gorgeous...the stately homes, the beautiful shrubs blooming...all of the green! Surely makes me excited for spring to get here. We had several inches of snow overnight and it is continuing to snow. Our son in Maine now lives about 20 minutes from the coast and our daughter-in-law emailed last night that they had around a foot of snow with lots of wind. And your dear friend Sharon...I pray that the pills will bring as wonderful results as the oncologist hopes.

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    1. Thank you, Dianna. Baby #2 arrived today! Please check out the update! Yes, everything around here has been so lovely lately, and then last night we had a freeze and some of the new growth on trees, crape myrtles, etc., was hit hard. I hope it will all come back okay. It has warmed up now. Our grandson lives about 20 minutes from the coast of Maine also. My DIL said they were expecting about a foot of snow...I haven't heard from them since, so trusting they are okay. Thank you for your prayers for Sharon...I know God has her covered one way or the other.

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  5. The dna targeting is a great idea. It needn't cost so much but, greed and the fact that there is lack of competition in medicine today..well..
    The azaleas and wisteria are so pretty and the moss in the trees.
    Reminds me of Charleston SC and Savannah Ga. with the pretty brick homes and flowers.
    I love the little red punk hair do style the woodpeckers.
    Wonder where they get it done?

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    1. Yes, your comment on the medicine competition, etc., is spot on. My sentiments exactly. But I am thankful that this targeted therapy is available for Sharon, and praying that it will be effective. Yes, this area of Florida does have some beautiful foliage/scenery in the Spring. I'm so glad we thought to go down that street the other day while it was at its peak. Aren't the punk woodpeckers fun? I believe they get it done at the Woody Woodpecker Salon, straight out of the egg... LOL

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  6. Pam, thank you for sharing more of God's beautiful creation, as well as the beauty of the homes.

    Blessings!

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  7. So much of a feast for the eyes today Pam. I love, love, love the photos from Ocala. My it is so pretty there. How exciting too to have some baby birds born in your neighbourhood. It's always so fun to watch birds in their natural habitat.

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