I looked out my bedroom window a few minutes ago and saw this pop of red color in the middle of the cool shade of the palmetto fronds...
And I just couldn't help but want to stand and watch this beautiful male cardinal sitting there, enjoying a peaceful sanctuary in the shade...
I was thrilled, because years ago I designated this very location to be named the "Bird Sanctuary"
And this is is a picture from way back when we first put this little bird house sanctuary in there and the first male Cardinal discovered it... (I wonder if he could be the same one? Probably not...what is the life expectancy of a Male Cardinal? In the past seven years we have seen many come and go along with their mates and children)
In the years since the bird house has seen better days...and the local rif-raf have tried to take it over:
(see the two lizards..."Rif and Raf")
So I backed away from the window a bit...but he's still looking right at me...
Until then...I hope you are enjoying some peace and quiet in your "sanctuary" today. Wherever it may be...a favorite chair in the corner of your house...hopefully near a window where you can see the activity going on outside...or if weather permits, maybe a rocking chair on the front porch or a swing in the back yard...or a park bench...I hope you have a place where you can just sit a while and enjoy the "shade" and not have a care in the world...take along a good book or read your Bible...or pray for our country, our churches, our families and friends, and even for our own personal needs. And don't forget to say "Thank You, Lord" for Your blessings on me...
Here are some links to a couple of old posts written from my "sanctuary" in the shade....
Have a blessed and beautiful day my friends.
https://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-light-has-come.html
https://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-surprise-secret-garden-or-backwards.html
Oh, I wanted to say a word of thanks...both my hubby and I had routine doctor appointments this week, and we both had very good reports...better than before...so we are very thankful for this and wanted to say Thank You, Lord!!
I love the cardinals. Heard a male singing just this morning. Makes me feel like spring may finally be around the corner. So glad you had good reports from you Dr. Also-thank you for all of your encouraging posts!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jan. So happy you are hearing the song of the Cardinals in your neighborhood. I do hope spring will soon be there for you as well. Thank you for your kind words and for visiting with us today. Blessings to you my friend.
DeleteSometimes I see one red Cardinal in the oak tree outside my kitchen window. It always gives me a good feeling.
ReplyDeleteYour local riff raff are cute too! :-)
Congrats on the dr reports.
I think I will go outside now and sit on the deck. I need a little sanctuary myself!
Good for you..I hope you enjoyed some time outside hopefully in the sunshine? Doesn't it feel good? We need that time to commune with the Lord and His creation around us. I always feel so refreshed after spending time outside. Thank you for your sweet comments and visit. Wish you could come visit on MY porch!!
DeleteHow delightful to be visited by the colorful male cardinal, he sure is a handsome fellow! And he knows just where to come, to the bird sanctuary too! So thankful to hear the good news on your doctor reports as well, God is so good! It is a snowy world outside today, and I am enjoying a nice cup of hot tea, and catching up on some blog reading. Many blessings today to you sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteA hot cup of tea on a snowy afternoon sounds delightful too. I know spring may be a ways off for you, but it is wonderful that you can still enjoy your surroundings no matter what the season. You certainly do have a beautiful place to enjoy! Thank you for your visit here today. Always wonderful to visit with you.
DeleteLove the sanctuary! I saw a female cardinal for the first time in my life last week at our feeder. The Island apparently has a few up west but they have never come down this far. I hope she will be back and bring her mate with her. I would be thrilled! Apparently, a male cardinal can live up to three years although they have been known to live thirteen to fifteen years. A cardinal in a protected environment has been known to live up to twenty-eight years. They are beautiful birds! My son studied Wildlife Conservation Technology so he knows everything about birds and wildlife in general. My son is still quite ill with the concussion and I thank you so much for your prayers. He needs to get better because he has a family to take care of and a job to get back to. He's been quite miserable, poor boy!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your doctor reports came back so positive. It is a blessing to be in good health!
Have a lovely weekend, dear Pamela, and the Lord bless you.
Oh Sandi! So wonderful to hear from you! And I am excited that you have seen a female cardinal at your feeder! I do pray she will bring her mate to visit as well. I know you have mentioned before that you had never seen one! There must be one nearby if the female is there. They don't usually travel too far apart from each other. That is interesting information about the lifespan of cardinals. We do have quite a few families of them here, and they seem quite settled in, and just keep making more babies! LOL. I am so sorry that your son is still so sick from his concussion. Praying for him now, that he will soon be able to come out of the "fog" of the concussion and be able to get back to work as usual. May God speed healing to him now. Praying for all of you. God bless you...and thank you so much for visiting! What a delight!!
DeleteAl truly lovely post again today and I love the photos with the cardinal in them. Just beautiful. Praise God for your good reports from your doctor!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Terri. Yes, we do praise God for good reports. At our age, that is truly something to be thankful for!! Thank you for visiting. Praying your weekend goes well.
DeleteI never get tired of seeing a beautiful red cardinal. We have so many of them all year around and we make sure the feeders stay full around here too. We all need a sanctuary to go to! Good to hear about the positive doctor visits. Have a blessed weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debby. Don't you just love the beautiful red color flashing through the sky and around the trees and feeders? I never tire of seeing them. Yes, we do all need that quiet place where we can just sit in awe of the Lord and His goodness to us. Praying for you each day as you walk through this current waiting period. God is with you, and He is taking care of you day by day. So glad we have met here and can encourage one another. Have a blessed day.
DeleteSo beautiful to see a red cardinal like that!! Special to have a welcome little visitor like that to your sanctuary!!♡
ReplyDeleteThank you Shayndel! And welcome to my open window today! I pray that your day is filled with welcome visitors and peace as well.
DeleteBeautiful photos of the male cardinal Pamela. We don't get to see many here in my neighborhood. Happy 1st day of March my friend.
ReplyDeleteHappy March 1 to you as well. It brings us hope of spring and brighter, happier days ahead. I'm glad you enjoyed the cardinal. I wish I could share some with you. We have many here year round. Hope you have a blessed weekend.
DeletePam, your post is beautiful and filled with joy and love. Ahh...to have that quiet place of rest--to have a sanctuary away from the noise of life.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Yes, I enjoy my little sanctuaries here, both for me and the birds! We need to create these little spaces whether they be indoors or out...a place to pray, reflect, read, or just watch the world go by...but a place to rest our spirits for a while as we contemplate better things with the Lord. Praying you will find that space in your life today.
DeleteI believe Bobby Squirrel is thanking His Maker for the nut he is about to eat! Sure looks like he's praying!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do believe Bobby the Squirrel is praying. I like to think that too. He's a sweety. I'm glad I found him at my MIL's house, laying in the bushes, and waiting for someone to come along and rescue him. I am sure my MIL is smiling at him here in the birdbath with the birdies. She would have loved that. Have a blessed day and weekend. I know you are on the countdown.
Delete