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!

Friday, May 4, 2018

Friday Foto Friends-It's a Wild Life Out Here in the Woods

Dear Friday Foto Friends, Last week I didn't have anything new to share with you...but this week I've hit the jackpot it seems!! It's been a busy week in the wildlife kingdom here in my neck of the woods. Possibly the Full Moon earlier in the week had something to do with it...plus it is springtime, and the critters seem to be feeling frisky...

I was surprised to happen upon the Sand Hill Crane family early one morning out for a stroll...and the baby "colts" have gotten so big it is almost difficult to tell the difference between them and the parents:

 I love that they stick together as a family and now spend their days foraging for food throughout the community, not just around the pond. They are becoming more "sociable"...

Excuse me if you've seen any of these other pictures already, as I may have posted some of them on Facebook this week...but not all of you are there...so here goes...

This is a Swallow Tailed Kite...and I saw him gliding overhead before I could get my camera focused for a picture while in flight.  That was rather frustrating to me, and as I continued my walk down the road I said, "Lord, I wish I could see where that Kite flew ...I've never seen one perching before".  As we walked to the end of our road and then turned around to head back toward home, I looked up in the trees over to my right, and there, pretty as you please, sat this gorgeous white Swallow Tail Kite!!! She/he sat there for the longest time, allowing me to take as many pictures as I wanted. It's too bad it was quite a distance away, and the quality of the photo isn't great, but you get the idea!!


 He even ruffled his feathers for us to see!!  I was praising the Lord and thanking Him all the way back home for hearing my feeble little prayer and answering it so sweetly and quickly!! Our God is an amazing God...if He hears and answers these kinds of requests, just think what He will do with our really important prayers!!!!

And then, a little farther down the road I spied this Great Crested Flycatcher http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-crested-flycatcher  Isn't he a beauty?


Another morning we looked out the front windows and saw this deer having breakfast...

But he wasn't alone...


Thankfully these weren't any important plants/trees they were snacking on.  Just the new growth on some scrub oaks growing profusely in the woods... there's plenty more where those came from...

Even earlier another morning our wildlife camera spied this beautiful bobcat traipsing through our yard!  Or maybe this beautiful bobcat spied our wildlife camera...look at those eyes!

Isn't he magnificent?  Too bad it isn't in color.


Well now: Even earlier on that same morning we had quite a party in the yard!! Not just one, not just two, but THREE bears!!  I believe these two closest to us are twin cubs, and the other to the right is probably their mother, but it is difficult to tell her size...she looks kind of small...so could be another cub. 


These two were pretty interested in the swimming pool, not just for a drink...I think they wanted to stay awhile and play...

But they were pretty thirsty after all...

This one seemed to have a bath in mind...

Hey!!! Where'd every body else go???

I think this must be THE END of the story....



I hope you enjoyed this little walkabout my neighborhood.  We do have some interesting creatures here...so thankful for the natural beauty that God has placed before us to enjoy. Every day is a new day to look forward to.

Maybe this wasn't The End after all...there's always more to the story...

Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure in John 14:1-6...and they weren't too sure they understood where He was going or how they would be able know the way there as well.   Jesus responded to them in verse 6:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me."

And then in verses 13 & 14 Jesus gives them some other good news:

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the son.
If you ask anything in My name, I will do it..."

To give them further comfort about His departure He reassured them this way:

18.  "I will not leave you orphans;
I will come to you.
19.  A little while longer and the world will see Me no more,
but you will see Me.
Because I live, you will live also."

27.  "Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid."

Okay, Now it's The End of the Story!

Have a blessed and glorious day, my friends!
 Now let us stroll over to Deb's Place at Breathing in Grace and see what our other Friday Foto Friends have been up to.

34 comments:

  1. I enjoyed your Friday Fotos. It's amazing to think of all the animals that are roaming around at night.

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    1. Thank you, Karen...yes, that is exactly why we got the "nite cam" to capture those pictures of what is roaming around at night. That was my first birthday gift after moving here to this property. I knew I was missing the best stuff...and I was right!!

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  2. I think you did hit the jackpot. Enjoyed all the photo's.
    Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thank you Sylvia! We just never know what or who is out there while we are sleeping! That's why I love my nite cam...it sees all the fun stuff going on and I still get to sleep! LOL

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  3. I had to laugh at that last foto...;-) Yes, that's THE END!!! You really did hit the jackpot with fotos. I'm just in awe of where you live and all the wild creatures that you have around you. I'd almost be fearful to walk down the road...and some of those fears will be presented in a post next week. :'( Thank you soooo much for always being so faithful to join in. I'm sorry I don't visit as often as I should, but life just seems to be consuming me these days. I'm so grateful for your precious prayers for the situation with my Mom. HOPE you have a wonderful weekend...stay safe out there! <3

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    1. Thank you Debbie. Thankfully, these wild things mostly just come out at night while we are sleeping. And if they do happen to pop out of the woods in the daytime, they take one look at me and turn around and run back into the woods...I must be really scary looking! LOL. (you should see me first thing in the morning when we usually take our walk, prior to makeup, hairdo, proper clothes...well, I am dressed, but not in my Sunday go to meeting clothes! LOL)

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  4. Thank you so much for the deer photos. How beautiful they are!

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    1. Yes, they are lovely creatures...so peaceful and quiet...just enjoying their munching on leaves and bushes...thankfully not on my important plants!

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  5. :) cool!

    He wanted you to get that picture of the bird!

    I love that the bears wanted to play.

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    1. Thank you Sandi! I love that God sees things "my way" sometimes...or is it the other way around? Anyway, I love how He enjoys blessing me with these little blessings. Yes, the bear cubs are playful. Even the big bears like to play, but I'm still not going to go out there and play with them...LOL

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  6. I loved all these photos and the stories about the pictures.
    How cool that you got that first photo. Yes, God gives the best little gifts that no one else can give.
    I would love to see your area.
    I was to Florida once long ago but to Miami to see relatives. I liked the night blooming jasmine there and the Royal palms so much.
    I can't tell you how much your yard resembles mine with the so-called grass in the sandy soil! It is identical. That kind of piney woods and white sand soil continues up through Georgia, the Carolinas and into NJ all along the coast. I feel so connected to you.

    I think the three bears wanted Goldie Locks.

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    1. You must come back to Florida some day. Miami is nothing like the rest of the state. I try to stay away from the areas that have been so commercialized...(Disney World, etc.) and stick to the natural beautiful areas of our state. There is so much natural beauty here, it is a shame that most people never see it because they just come to the popular vacation places that are mostly artificial. I would love to see where you live as well...Yes, we have plenty of white sand soil here. At night in the moonlight it looks like patches of snow on the ground. Thank you for this "connection" that we enjoy. You have made me smile today!

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    2. P.S. Yes, I thought of Goldilocks too...but I decided it would be best if I stayed inside and ate my porridge without their help...

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  7. Hahaha!!! I love the ending!!! What wonderful pictures and photo ops you have in your part of the world. God does hear those little prayers and I know He heard mine this morning about my computer so I could join everybody today. I have been missing you. So the babies are called colts? Interesting. That bobcat is something. We have several around here, too and I hope never to run into any of them when walking my dog.

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    1. I am so happy God healed your computer today so you could share with us. I enjoyed your post so much. Yes, the Sand Hill Cranes are called colts, I guess because of their long legs when they are young...they resemble a new born colt. Thankfully our bobcats usually only show up at night.

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  8. What great pictures! You sure do have a lot of critters visiting your place. I love seeing the bear in the swimming pool. You are brave to live there and they dont break into your house. I pray you are blessed this weekend in a special way.

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    1. Thank you Linda. We have been blessed that the bears have not tried to get into our house...although one did come up on the front porch one time, and some have tried to get to the bird feeders when I carelessly left them outside at night...but we have learned what TO DO, and what NOT TO DO regarding living in bear territory, and they seem to respect our home, and we respect theirs! We NEVER leave any food or garbage outside. That is just inviting trouble. Thank you for your prayers for blessing...I do the same for you and your hubby. Praying for your peace and rest.

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  9. You have some interesting guests! I don't think we have such a variety as you, living so close to a busy street here. (at least, I kinda hope not -- thinking of the bears)

    Thanks for an interesting post!

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    1. Thank you, Barbara! One never knows what is walking around outside at night...you might be surprised! That's why we purchased the wildlife camera, so it could watch for our nighttime visitors and share their pictures with me the next day! Such fun! Thank you for stopping by for a visit! Please come anytime! Have a blessed day my friend!

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  10. Wow! You really did hit the jackpot with some amazing photos of God's amazing creation. Thank you for sharing them!

    Blessings!

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    1. You are welcome! It's always exciting to see what has been going on in God's "Wild Kingdom"...I love how we are blessed and surprised every day in one way or another! have a marvelously blessed day today!!

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  11. Your Friday photos are stunning, Pamela! Just got back from five days being immersed in nature and God's peace at a mountain cabin. Can't wait to check/clean up my photos, and to look more closely at Danny's. Photos for me, as they do for you, never cease to inspire blog posts.
    Blessings!

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    1. So looking forward to seeing your pictures from your lovely week away at the cabin! I know God has used this time to refresh and restore you and Danny. Welcome back!!

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  12. You always have such interesting guests in the yard. This week was really a winner.

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    1. Thank you, Carol. Yes...sometimes we hit the jackpot, and other times we go for days without anything too exciting...but there is always something wonderful to praise the Lord for!! Have a blessed and beautiful day in your "neck of the woods".

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  13. I love all the nature you have around you. It's great to see Mr and Mrs Sand Hill Crane and their family doing well. I like that you keep us posted. Hope you have a blessed weekend!

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    1. Thank you Mary. I'm so glad you are back to writing again...we missed you. And yes, it is such fun to watch our wildlife here...never a dull moment...well, maybe there are some dull moments, but I don't tell you about those! LOL. Have a blessed weekend too!

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  14. Wonderful pictures of God's creation. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you, Cecelia. So thankful for the beauty God places around us, wherever we are. Praying for you today...

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  15. LOL... perfect photo for the end of your story! I loved your photos, Pam! Did you see the Sandhill Crane family on my blog today? I mentioned you!

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    1. Oh, I haven't seen it yet...I need to go check it out right now! Thank you!!

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  16. You take wonderful photos. Those bears are back again. You have your own personal zoo it seems.

    God bless you.

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    1. Ha Ha, yes, it does feel like a zoo around here sometimes! Even the people sometimes act like they belong in a zoo! LOL. We do have fun watching the wildlife and thank the Lord for providing such joyful entertainment. Have a blessed and wonderful day.

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  17. Your neighborhood is magical, Pamela! So many wild animals coming so close to your home, it is really amazing! Admiring them and taking pictures of so much beauty must be such privileged moments, really! Thank you for sharing them with us and I wish you a blessed weekend. Sandrine

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.