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, April 23, 2021

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.

21 comments:

  1. Thank you for the beautiful pictures, and the excellent encouragement!
    Della

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    1. Thank you, Della, and welcome to my blog! I am so glad you visited today, and I do hope you found encouragement here. That is my goal and aim in sharing these pictures and "food for thought" We can all use a lot more encouragement these days! Hope you have a blessed and beautiful day and weekend.

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  2. Beautiful photos Pamela and Mr. Bluebird is so pretty! I had to laugh about the bat. When I lived in Ocala those few years back in the early 90s I would sit out on my deck and always wondered what kind of birds were always flying around in huge flocks just after sunset lol. Of course they weren't birds at all, they were bats and this city girl was clueless! I would have been scared to death if I would have realized. :D

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    1. Ha Ha, Martha! I would actually like to get a couple of "bat houses" so we can encourage more bats (away from our back porch, of course) to come and eat the mosquitoes. There are quite a few of them out there and they do have a good time flying around catching those buggers. But don't let them get too close to me! Yikes, have you ever seen one up close and personal? It's not a pretty sight, that's for sure! LOL. Have a great weekend!

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  3. Such a beautiful blue bird. I see blue jays here, but I'm not sure I've ever seen a blue bird. We see bats flying around here all the time, but they scare me a little. But if they eat mosquitoes, but I'll try to not be so negative about them. lol

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  4. The photos of the bluebird are so beautiful. He is so sweet.

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  5. Yes, Pamela, may we focus on God and His creation and block out the ugly noises of the world around us. Your photos are spectacular, as always, and I'm cheering for the bluebirds and the geese!
    Blessings!

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  6. That's such a good way of looking at life...and all the disruptions! We have to filter things out and still the noises to hear the beautiful bird song. We hiked on a trail today that had some road noise for a part of it but I don't let it distract me. We see some of the same birds here and I love them all! Enjoy your day sweet friend.

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  7. You do have so much beauty to watch. I am cheering for your bluebirds as well. I do like the Chickadees, but I'm sure they can find or make a nest elsewhere.

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  8. Such beautiful views from your lovely garden, Pam. That blue bird is such a pretty color! I hope they get dibs on the birdhouse!! Keep us posted!! xo

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  9. Well, darn. Earlier this afternoon I watched as my comment floated up and off the page, and I prayed it wasn't lost. (*sigh*) Trying to remember ...

    I love the sanctuary you've created on Still Waters Pond! Neat, how you're so near to the obnoxious traffic noise, but can remain -- like a little girl -- hidden in the Secret Memorial Garden. If they only knew, LOL!

    I never tire of reading the 23rd Psalm. Thank you for blessing us once more!

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  10. You are surrounded by such a lovely variety of birds! Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures and the encouraging words and Bible verses. Have a blessed weekend.

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  11. Whenever someone feels low or afraid, they should say the 23rd Psalm to themselves. It always brings tears of relief to me. What beautiful photos today, as always, but today's were especially stunning.

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  12. Pamela... I haven't visited you in some time. But, I sure picked the right day to stop by...you know how I love birds. Such a perfect outing. Glad I could sit a spell with you.

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    1. Welcome back. You are always welcome to come and watch the birds with me!! Have a blessed day.

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  13. Pam my friend I just love going to your garden and to your beautiful quiet Pond with you, there is always something interesting and/or beautiful to see isn't there? Oh GOSH I AM LOVING YOUR NEW SWING.....that is a real real big nice one!! I am so so SO HAPPY for you that you got it, a wish come true! Someday I'm gonna come sit on that neat swing with you and we can talk and laugh and pray and tell tall tales, and play with our dolls OF COURSE. ha ha LOL! Happy Sunday my friend, enjoy God's day!

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    1. Good Morning! Looks like you were up late or early this morning! And YES, please do come and sit in my swing with me and Lily Grace...and bring your dollies too. We would have such a grand time. I do pray you will have a blessed and beautiful Sunday too. Thank you for starting my day off just right!

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  14. Pam: We all need to have our quiet spots. Mine can be my porch in the summer days or my yard swing in the backyard during the evenings. I love the fact that God brought you to this place and that you love it so much. Peace and blessings to you and yours.

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    1. Thank you, Cecelia. Oh, you have a yard swing too? We just got one, and I am already loving it so much. Very peaceful and relaxing. Thank you for visiting...and I am SO happy you are doing so much better now. Praise God!

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  15. I love the blue birds. Have not seen them yet up here in northern mn. Tons of Finches. There is one that is a red like color they call a Purple Finch, beautiful. It's so relaxing to sit and watch them eat and eat and wonder where do they put all that seed. Now their babies are big enough to come eat at the birdhouse and I love that. We are going to build a patio this summer so I look forward to being able to sit outside and enjoy the birds without a glass window between us. Blessings Pam.

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    1. Oh, I know how wonderful it is to just sit and watch the birds. They are so very interesting and fun. You might like to see the post I just finished about the "special delivery" we received today! It is good to hear from you. I need to go check your post. I started reading it the other day and got interrupted and never got back to it. Now I must finish! have a blessed day. I hear it snowed up there last night! We have some family in the Deer River area.

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