Birds, Bugs, and Summertime

Here it is Thursday evening already...I cannot keep up with the days anymore. I think I will have to start making and X on each day of the calendar so I can keep up with the date. Does anyone else have this problem? Be honest!  I know I can't be the only one!  I can't believe we are just a little over a week away from the 4th of July! We haven't made any plans yet for that day. Have you? I wonder what people will be able to do this year. It certainly is a different time these days...

We are into summer full swing...hot humid days, frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and daylight almost until bedtime! I find myself waking up earlier because the sun is rising...and then going to bed later because the sun just doesn't seem to set.  But we are thankful for the rhythm of each day....thankful to be alive and well and praising God for His protection from the storms of "life".  

Since tomorrow is Friday, I might as well show you whatever photos I have managed to take this week. Not a lot going on, but then again...God's creation is always active all around us...we just need to be observant!

This Red Shouldered Hawk was sitting up on the top of the biggest pine tree, minding his own business, and that Blue Jay kept pestering him, flying all around and making lots of noise because he didn't want him there.  After quite a few minutes of this, the hawk finally had enough and flew away. Don't you sometimes wish you could just fly away from all the noise of this world?

One evening this week we had a pretty severe thunderstorm right about suppertime. So we had to wait awhile to go take our evening walk.  I'm glad we did, as we arrived just in time to see this young deer coming out of the woods...

And actually there were two of them! This is the other, which I believe is the mother to the younger one above.

She gave me a good look before she ran on into the woods in search of her youngster.

I saw this "Florida Deep Digger Scarab Beetle" crossing the road this morning. I thought he was pretty interesting. He stopped dead in his tracks and waited on me to examine him and take his picture, and then he went on his way. Pretty cool!

Seeing that this beetle is called a "Scarab Beetle" reminded me of my paternal grandmother's "Scarab Bracelet" that I was given after her death.  Have you ever seen one of these before?  Each of the stones has a "Scarab" design etched into it on the top:

and then the back side is flat, but has these special little x's or stars etched into the stone.

Here is some information about the "meaning of a Scarab Bracelet":

"In ancient Egyptian religion the scarab was also a symbol of immortality, resurrection, transformation and protection much used in funerary art. The life of the scarab beetle revolved around the dung balls that the beetles consumed, laid their eggs in, and fed their young represented a cycle of rebirth."

"Amulets in the form of scarab beetles were very popular in Ancient Egypt from 2,000 BC onwards; soldiers often wore scarab beetles into battle as the insects were thought to have supernatural powers of protection against enemies."

Interesting, huh?

I don't think my grandmother used her scarab bracelet for any kind of "good luck", as she was a Christian woman and certainly not superstitious. This was popular jewelry back in the 1950's, which is when I think she may have received this bracelet. I remember her wearing it a lot, and I was very pleased to receive it in memory of her.  Interesting...this is the same grandmother that I am doing so much genealogical research on right now.  Remember me telling you about her HERE? As an update, I am making very good progress and believe I am truly zeroing in on who her birth parents were. I have also contacted the authorities in the location where she was adopted and have requested  to have her adoption file opened if at all possible.  There are some genetic issues in our extended family that are being researched and this information could be very helpful for some of our family members. So please say a little prayer with me that they will consider this request. You would think that after 125 years it wouldn't be such an issue, but apparently it is.

Back to nature...This cute tiny little dragonfly was flying around the edge of the pond this afternoon.

"As Nymphs, the dragonflies eat mosquito larvae, other aquatic insects and worms, and for a little variety even small aquatic vertebrates like tadpoles and small fish. ... The adult dragonfly likes to eat gnats, mayflies, flies, mosquitoes and other small flying insects. They sometimes eat butterflies, moths and bees too."

So these little guys are eating mosquito larvae around the pond, and I say, "Be my guest! Eat all the mosquito larvae you can!"  The dragonflies are our friends!

Here is a Psalm for us to meditate upon as we ponder life these days:

Psalm 61

"A Psalm of David"

"1.  Hear my cry, O God;

attend to my prayer.

2.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3.  For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

4.  I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;

I will trust in the shelter of your wings.

5.  For You, O God, have heard my vows;

You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.

6.  You will prolong the king's life,

His years as many generations.

7.  He shall abide before God forever.

Oh prepare mercy and truth,

which may preserve him!

8.  So I will sing praise to Your name forever,

that I may daily perform my vows."

Have a blessed and beautiful day my friends.