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, September 24, 2021

Friday Foto Friends

Good Morning Friday Foto Friends!
I hope you have been having a good week thus far...and now we are heading into a lovely weekend!
Believe it or not, we are experiencing some lovely fall-like weather even here in Florida!  Our current temperature at 6:49 a.m. is 64 degrees! The high is expected to be 84, and it looks like a perfect sunny early fall day for us!  I would love to spend the day outdoors, but we shall see what develops!

The Sand Hill Crane family came calling again the other evening. They seemed to be enjoying the late afternoon sunshine along the shores of Still Waters Pond, searching for grubs and whatever it is they love so much...


I am always amazed at how big these birds really are!  I told my hubby I could almost get on his back and ride, but I'd have to figure out how to lasso him first. That might be quite a wild ride!


I don't know if this is mother and child, or father and mother, or  father and child...but these two seem to stick together while the third member of the family is over on the other side of the yard pecking away at bird seed in the ground under the bird feeder...


These two are slowly working their way over to meet him, and if you look closely in the window of the birdhouse below, you will notice our resident lizard quietly watching the parade go by:


I don't think he wants them to know he is there, because it probably wouldn't be beneath a Sand Hill Crane to make a nosey lizard his dinner!


Hey! Which way did he go?


This is how lovely the pond looked in the glowing rays of the late afternoon sunshine:


Ah! The family has finally been reunited below...


I was trying to get a picture of the one bird scratching at his underbelly, and this young upstart decided to photo bomb the picture! Must be the youngster, don't you think?

After that they sauntered away out of sight. I did hear them making their usual loud raucous noises from somewhere on the other side of the house as they wandered around the rest of the neighborhood. I hope you enjoyed watching them as much as I did.

We did have a couple of really rainy days earlier this week...one afternoon I sat on the back porch and listened to the rain on the tin roof...and watched our lizard friend enjoying the rain as well.


It was quite a gully washer! I did make a video of the sounds and shared it on Facebook.You can listen to it HERE if you want.  (but you may have to have a Facebook account to access it.)


In my meanderings around our yard this past week I discovered this interesting cocoon on the Rose of Sharon bush in the Memorial Garden:

It's quite large, and I had no idea what it was, but I looked it up on Google, and it might be a Cecropia Moth.  Not sure yet. I am keeping an eye on it to see if I can see it emerge. Here is a video about these huge, beautiful moths. I hope it is one, and I really hope I get to see it!

"Complete Metamorphosis: A Cecropia Moth Life Cycle"


If you read my Tuesday 4 Post earlier this week HERE, you already know the story about the rose that blooms in the Secret Memorial Garden for special occasions...and that I picked this rose the other day and brought it inside to enjoy all week long for my special "heaven-sent birthday gift" from my son Matthew.  I thought perhaps you'd like to see how it looks now:

This was yesterday,

And this is today.  It's been blooming for 4 days now, and tomorrow is my actual birthday! It looks like it will still be beautiful for my special day! Oh, and it still smells just as sweet as it did on the first day!  Thank you for the many kind comments of understanding and agreement that indeed, God does love to bless us with special little gifts that seem to be "heaven-sent", just to let us know we are loved and we haven't been forgotten, even by those dear ones who have gone on before us.  


Yes, tomorrow is my actual birthday, but we will be celebrating with friends and family on Sunday afternoon after church at our local "Hog Wild Country Cafe'" restaurant. It is a fun place to go and we were able to reserve tables for a large group.  It will be fun to see loved ones all together again. It's been a long time. We will also celebrate our son's 50th birthday with the extended family since we weren't able to on  his birthday, as well as celebrate several others in the family who have had birthdays in the past few weeks. It should be a loud, happy and blessed celebration! I believe in celebrating life while we are alive to do so!  Life is just too short to ignore these special occasions.

So my dear friends, I hope that you have a blessed and wonderful weekend! Get outside and don't forget to smell the roses!

Here's some good "food for thought" from the little "Choose Grace" devotional book that was actually a gift to "Lily Grace", but I like it too!


Let us "overflow with love" for others each day!
Amen!


On another more somber note, please remember our dear blogging friend Mildred, from her blog Laurel Wood.  She has been battling cancer and has now been placed in hospice care at her home.  I know she would appreciate your prayers for her and her husband John and their loved ones. Thank you dear friends.


 

16 comments:

  1. The cranes are magnificent! We also had a "gulley washer" of a rain here in central NY state yesterday. I love it, with the metal roof and all, but today we're having a sunny 69 degree perfect fall day, and I love that too. Matthew's rose is brilliant, what a good idea for remembrance. God bless you, and I hope you have a really good birthday with family and friends.
    Della

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  2. I so love your pictures and the rose is so beautiful, it seems to get prettier every day. Happy Birthday tomorrow and I hope you enjoy your celebration on Sunday. I'm not familiar with Mildred, but I will pray for her and her family. Have a blessed weekend.

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  3. I did not know that about Mildred...I lost contact (and now I know why, sigh)...so sad...keeping in prayer.

    On another note, wishing a beautiful Happy Birthday my friend.

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  4. Enjoyed this post so much! The sand hill cranes are fascinating.

    We are experiencing a "gully washer" rainstorm at this very moment ... predictions are for at least an inch of rain throughout the day.

    The rose is simply gorgeous and I can only imagine the wonderful scent. It seems to me that many roses today are not as fragrant as I remember.

    I was sorry to learn that Mildred has been placed in hospice care. I have been praying for her.

    Have a wonderful birthday, Pam!

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  5. It is rare that I am able to wish an early happy birthday 🎈

    Praying for dear Mildred...

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  6. Watching the Sandhill Cranes would be amazing. I have only seen them a long distance, but they are impressive. Hope you have a super day tomorrow and enjoy all the celebrations.

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  7. Oh Pam, I'm stunned and saddened to hear about Mildred. Shouldn't be, but your words just hit me like a ton of bricks. Lifting prayers for mercy!

    I'm so glad you and your family make time to carpe the heck out of every day, every special celebration. Take it from your much older (*smile*) by 6 months friend, 71 feels great!

    PS - I don't think those photographers at National Geographic have anything on you!

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  8. Happiest of Birthdays to you (a day early)! I hope your Sunday celebration and gathering will go off without a hitch and without any more gullywashers! Thank you for sharing those wonderful pictures of the cranes and the sweet lizard! How funny that the lizard likes the bluebird house. He has a safe refuge from storms there (and cranes!). Just as we have a safe refuge in Our Father's house!

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  9. Your pictures are so nice. I enjoyed seeing them. The rain is so pretty. So glad you're having some cooler weather. Have a nice weekend.

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  10. Marvelous photos of the crane family, Pamela. They are so majestic! And Happy Birthday!!! Your upcoming celebration with family and friends sounds like it was made to order. We so need to be around loved ones again, especially after all the pandemic woes. And I do hope that you are able to see what emerges from that cocoon.
    Enjoy that rose that blooms ever brighter!

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  11. Yes, enjoy your birthday and do it up right! Your plans sound wonderful. Happy Birthday to you!

    As for that lizard in the bird house, like you, I wouldn't put it past a Sand Hill Crane to dine on a little lizard if he gets the chance!

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    1. Thank you so much, Barbara. I am looking forward to a great time with family and friends tomorrow. Today will be a day of relaxation I hope. Maybe the "crane" family will visit again! Have a blessed day!

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  12. When I see the pictures of your pond, I want to go right out and find a pond close to our home and just enjoy what I can see of it. I love seeing the Sand Hill Cranes. They look so majestic. Happy Birthday to you. My Hubby's is on Sunday. Our son, Roger will be here tomorrow, Saturday, around 2:00 P. M. Enjoy your celebration!

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    1. Happy Birthday to your hubby tomorrow, even though you are celebrating today. And we are celebrating mine tomorrow, even though my birthday is today. Funny!! We should get together on these parties! LOL. Have a blessed day...and you are welcome to come see my pond any time!

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  13. Happy happy HAPPY BIRTHDAY my sweet friend!!! Have a lovely day--- looks like great weather!!hugs!!!

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  14. Late getting here but loved this post!1 xo

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