Friday Foto Friends~For the Birds!

The other afternoon I sat out in my "Secret Memorial Garden" and enjoyed a very pleasant breeze and the beauty of the birds flying to and fro, sweetly singing such cheerful melodies.

I looked up above me and saw this male Bluebird, way out on a limb...but that didn't seem to bother him at all.

I think it was his lookout perch...watching for the pesky Chickadees, who are still trying to take over the birdhouse.

This is the unzoomed view below...yes, he was definitely way up there out on that limb...

But then he flew back to his house, to continue staking his claim...

Isn't he beautiful?

I am still cheering for the Bluebirds in this situation, and hoping that this time they will be able to raise their babies without unpleasant interruptions...

We've been visited by a pair of these Great Crested Flycatchers this week:

They can stay as long as they want, as long as they keep catching those "flies"!!

And speaking of catching "flies"...if you look very closely in this sunset picture, you can actually see a BAT flying around, catching mosquitoes! They are also very welcome to stay, as long as they stick to eating mosquitoes and not me! LOL.

Back to Still Waters Pond in the daytime...actually this was later afternoon, just before sunset. "Father Goose" maintains his perch on the stump along the shore, watching for any kind of intruders who might dare to enter the pond and disrupt the peace and safety while his lady love is still sitting on her nest.

And there she is: sitting on her nest over on that island.

I keep watching and hoping for any signs of new life over there. I was looking back at my posts from this time last year, and this goose couple was doing the exact same thing...and yet it did not produce any offspring. I am hoping this year will be a better year for them.  

Well, with that I will close this post with another view of that sunset:

Here's some "food for thought" for today:

Philippians 4:8

 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

 We know there is so much ugliness in our world today, and if we spend too much time watching the news or listening to the negative voices of doom and gloom around us, we will become discouraged and sad...or even become negative ourselves.  When I sit in my Secret Memorial Garden I could become frustrated and unhappy because there is a busy highway just on the other side of those trees to my left. The road noise can become deafening at times, drowning out the beautiful songs of the birds in the trees.  But I've learned since moving here to not allow the raucous noises of loud motorcycles, trucks without mufflers and sometimes wailing sirens keep me from enjoying the beauty that God has placed before my eyes. When I tune in my heart and ears to listen for God's voice in His marvelous creation surrounding me, that is what I hear and see.  I can filter out the obnoxious noise of people always in a hurry to get somewhere, and relax and enjoy the peace and serenity of calm that is displayed in God's little place of beauty here on Still Waters Pond.  It is my prayer that you will also look for beauty and peace in your surroundings, wherever you may be, and hold on to the peace that God is offering you each day.

A Psalm of David.

"23 The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever."

Amen.

Have a blessed and peaceful, beautiful day.