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!

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Wednesday Treasures...From Still Waters Pond

Happy Wednesday evening! Sorry I didn't get around to posting anything earlier today, but, well, the day got away from me. Spent the morning at Dixie Cottage, which was kind of a slow morning...hopefully once we get over the "hump" of "hump day", business will pick back up. We are still in the post-Christmas slump, but spring is on the way and hopefully people will decide to get out and do some shopping again soon!

This sign hangs in the store...but I will apply it to my Wednesday Treasures for today from the porch overlooking  Still Waters Pond...

Actually these pictures were, for the most part, taken yesterday afternoon, when it was a delightful sunny and warm 69  degrees after an early morning start around 39 degrees...so I decided to sit outside on the swing and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine...
(the mug says "Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God..." Job 37:14, and so I sat still and considered the beauty around me...all wondrous works of God. 


It was rather extra pleasant because I had inadvertently left my cell phone at Dixie Cottage yesterday, so I had nothing else to distract me and I could actually sit and listen to the sounds of nature and perhaps even hear God's voice in the whispers of the breeze around me. 
Thankfully I still have my "real camera" with a zoom lens, because in the distance I could see some kind of action down in the cove around the bend of the pond...


Mr. and Mrs. Sand Hill Crane were being rather close and intimate, or so it would seem...


Thankfully with my zoom lens I could see them, but hopefully they couldn't see me...yet...



It was so pleasant just to sit there and observe God's creation in their natural state, without concern about man or other enemies surrounding them...




This will give you a better glimpse of where they were...

But soon their actions changed, and they may have caught my scent or saw my movements, because soon they started moving more in my direction...


And so I quickly hurried up on the back porch as they made their way around the bend and up onto the shore. You can see that it was a bright sunny afternoon, so the pictures are not as clear because the color kind of gets washed out by the sunshine...


Here they come! They are seemingly unafraid of me, although at first they started to shy away when they could actually see me, but I started talking softly to them and they came up on the lawn and started eating some birdseed on the ground.


I stayed up on the porch and tried to be inconspicuous so they would come on up ...

You will notice with Sand Hill Cranes that one will usually stand guard while the other eats...

He keeps a watchful eye out for predators or nosey humans...

It was a delightful time of watching them enjoy their afternoon snack and talking softly to them...I love that they seem to trust me somewhat...


But soon I went back inside and they headed back into the pond and over to the island where they usually roost for the night...


However, a little later I noticed that the Cranes were not our only visitors on the shore...

There were four Canada Geese walking along the shore line nibbling at whatever they found in the muddy beach (yes, this pond has a mucky, muddy bottom...no pretty white sand here, but it seems to be teeming with life for the waterfowl and other birds, so that's fine with me...


A little blurry, but it was getting darker and the camera doesn't focus well in the dusk...

And then when I woke up this morning and looked outside what did I see?  Ah! Mr. Bluebird on the birdhouse! And it appears that he and Mrs. Bluebird have started bringing things for nesting in the house already! I am excited to know that perhaps we will be watching another bluebird family develop and grow here! Such a joy to behold!


Isn't he beautiful?  

Oh, and the geese were back out there this morning too!


I had stepped outside to fill the birdfeeders and didn't realize they were there, but they saw me and started getting nervous and soon were honking at each other to get ready to take flight...


And this is the last view I had of them...yep, I missed their actual flight, but you can see their takeoff wake in the water below:


Such a lovely way to start the day!

Oh, I told you HERE last week about our new Ladies' Bible Study in the book of Acts. I mentioned to you about finding my "one Word" LISTEN mentioned already in the beginning of our study guide. Well, this week it happened again...here is a quote from the lesson:

"Acts is a true story. A good story. I pray the Holy Spirit will use this story to intersect with your story and awaken you to see Him at work today!   "Lord, I need Your Holy Spirit to guide me as I study Acts. Help me to learn what it means to sit at Your feet and listen. Help me to apply these ancient truths in my modern context. I can't do it without You. Amen."

I love it when God brings a plan together, don't you?

Well folks, that's it for tonight. I hope your Wednesday has been filled with special treasures as well.
Good Night.

 

31 comments:

  1. This was an enjoyable read, Pam. I like hearing about the cranes, geese, and that handsome Mr. Bluebird. Looks as if you have a fun time ahead.

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    1. Never a dull moment here on Still Waters Pond! Good Morning! Hope you are doing well with all the snow up there!!! Please take care and try to stay warm and cozy!!

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  2. Pam, you always have such beautiful photos to share! I just LOVE the cranes and that they are almost pets in your yard. Seems like they will be having another young one in a few months to share with you too!! Keep us posted!! xo

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    1. Thank you, Terri. I hope they are going to have another young one, but I'm not sure. I haven't seen them sitting on a nest anywhere yet, but maybe it's still too soon. They surprised me last year as I never saw them nesting either, and then all of a sudden there was that baby with them! I need to go back and see what month that was. Time will tell! Stay tuned.

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  3. I have never seen a Bluebird in my life. We have them here I just never saw one. Its nice to use a real camera. They take great photos I think. You have such a lovely place to sit and enjoy nature.

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    1. Thank you, Annie. I am sorry you've never seen a bluebird before. Perhaps you should have a bluebird house put up outside where you can see it. They don't feed at birdfeeders, (unless you have a special one for mealworms, I understand). But they are attracted to a Bluebird House. If you could get someone to set up one for you where you can watch it, it might surprise you to see them come set up housekeeping this spring! Just a thought! I never saw them either until I put up the birdhouses!

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  4. The sandhill cranes said to eachother, "Oh, there's our waitress!"

    😊

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    1. LOL! They probably did! But they didn't leave a tip! LOL.

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  5. Such beautiful pictures as always. My favorite are the bluebirds. They are such a beautiful color of blue. The sandhill cranes are really cool too. Of course, I love seeing all the birds. Yes, I love it when God works things together like that. You just know that He's doing it just for you. What a great God we serve. Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a good day.

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    1. Thank you. I am glad you enjoyed the pictures of the birds. They are such a treat for us to see. Yes, "what a great God we serve", indeed!! Have a blessed day.

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  6. Love all the fun pictures Pam! Maybe a little brother-bird or sister-bird for Colt..?? Debbi @ debbis frontporch-- anonymous today I guess!! LOL Have a great day!!

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    1. Thank you, Debbi! Maybe they will produce a new baby this spring. I don't know if they have been sitting on a nest or not...time will tell!

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  7. I sure do enjoy your Still Waters Pond! And how lovely to be temporarily without your cell phone ;)
    Exciting to see the bluebirds’ return!
    God is faithful and He is good. And you are listening!

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    1. Thank you, Carol. And yes, I think we all need to put down our cell phones occasionally and listen to what God has to say to us from His special calling station of His Creation. Yes, God IS faithful, and we are blessed!

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  8. Oh, those cranes crack me up! Thank you for illustrating what treasures await when we put down our cell phones.
    PS - I love your coffee mug; do Ben and Rose sell them at Dixie Cottage?

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    1. Yes, we ought to put down our cell phones more often, and we might be surprised what God will show us that is right before our eyes and ears...if we'd just take time to notice. Re: the coffee mug...no, they don't have these at Dixie Cottage. I wish they did. I bought this a long time ago from Christianbook.com I think. It's been a while back. I love it so much.

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  9. Pam: You have such a way with your visitors. May God continue to bless you for your efforts. Peace and blessings to you and yours.

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    1. Thank you, Cecelia. I enjoy my little bird visitors, or anything special God sends our way to enjoy. We just need to open our eyes and behold the beauty around us!

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  10. I really need to get back to a real camera, Pamela. There's nothing like a zoom lens to truly capture nature at a safe distance. It's great to see all those birds in your pond and yard; I'm especially glad that the cranes and bluebirds have returned! Looks like you're in for an eventful spring and summer in your backyard.
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Martha. Yes, I try to keep the real camera handy for taking pictures at the pond because the cell phone doesn't have much of a zoom lens and I miss so much. Yes, we are enjoying the winter visitors to the pond. They've been quite active lately. Very thankful!!

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  11. Listen...we all need to do more of that. I love your little touch of God's creation. Nothing is more fun that watching those birds. The bluebird is beautiful.

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    1. Oh, so nice to hear from you, Sandy. I am glad you are still popping in from time to time. Hope you and your family are doing well. Yes, watching God's little wild kingdom around us is always a blessing and a treat. Thank you again.

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  12. Lovely pictures of the Sand Hill Cranes, Geese and the little blue bird. I love watching birds in the wild. :-)

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    1. Thank you, Deb. I am glad you enjoyed seeing God's sweet creatures here in "my neck of the woods"...or pond... Have a blessed day.

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  13. Smiling, smiling, smiling!! They came up so close to your porch, how wonderful was that???!!! I so enjoyed sitting in your swing and looking through your camera. God has given us so many things to make our heart sing.

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  14. Such beautiful pictures Pam, you just warmed my heart on this cold Pennsylvania night Thank you for sharing God's beauty!

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  15. It is nice when we disconnect from the world and can enjoy the pleasures of nature if even for a short time. Forgetting your phone at the store turned out to be a blessing in disguise, Pam.

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  16. Oh Mr. Bluebird - he is such a beauty!! I can't wait for the weather of afternoons in the swing!! Bring it on:) Happy Friday to you, friend!

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  17. I enjoyed this post, like always. *grin* What a wonderful way to start the day. Water sources always have something going on, don't they. It's a blessing to be able to sit and meditate on God and His creation. I do that too. I've been trying to thank Him more for the songbirds, the trees, the pretty flowers, etc. He does all that, and more, just for me. It's awe inspiring, almost overwhelming sometimes, how loving, merciful, generous and kind He is.
    Blessings to you my friend. xx

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  18. Looks like a relaxing and peaceful place to sit and post on a blog. Tad to chilly for me to be out and about on the deck doing that but hopefully come spring I will be able to enjoy mine more. A radio playing and a wooden wall on one end of the deck to help drown out the sounds of the air unit and planes that GO RIGHT OVER THE DECK....Deck time on the screened deck with the felines, nice temps. Can't wait.

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  19. Stop in tomorrow and check on the blog. I went into detail to post a post about the questions you had on your last post.

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.