Happy September 1st from Still Waters Pond

September 1st seems to be almost a kind of holiday!  I've noticed so many people posting happy fall pictures and sharing their beautiful Autumn Decor, and generally celebrating the "unofficial beginning of fall."  We know that the "Autumnal Equinox" does not officially take place until September 22nd, but don't try to tell that to all of us who are ready and anxious for fall to be here.  Now, actually, this is Labor Day Weekend, the last weekend of summer according to most people, including school districts across the country.  Here where we live school actually started a few weeks ago, which I think is a bit too soon, but then again, I don't have kids in school so I guess it shouldn't matter to me.   

But anyway...here on Still Waters Pond we have received our first official Autumn Visitors! This Black Bellied Whistling Duck couple showed up and stayed around awhile so I could take their pictures. 

I was thrilled to see them here on our side of the pond, up close and personal, so of course I took tons of pictures.

Psalm 28:7 NKJV

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

And with my song I will praise Him.

They were here for a while in the spring, but then I never saw them again until now. I hope they will stay around for a while. I still have not heard them "whistle", so I am anxious to hear that at some point before they decide to leave the area again.

I hope you don't mind all of these pictures. I just didn't want to miss anything that they might do.

They really didn't do much but just stand there, but that was okay too.  I think they knew I was enjoying watching them, and so they obliged me.

Oh, wouldn't it be fun if they just decided to stay all winter?  That would make my heart happy.  I'll be sure to keep watching, and I will let you know if they stay longer...

Meanwhile, while I was watching the ducks, this beautiful Gulf Fritillary flew in and enjoyed the butterfly garden for a few minutes.

That is one of the new plants I bought last week to plant actually out in front of the house to give it some color.  But these plants are all "butterfly" plants, and so I have decided to move them around to the back to the butterfly garden, where I can see them better from inside the house and hopefully they will attract some more butterflies. September is usually a big month for butterflies.

They haven't been actually planted yet as someone needs to dig some holes in the ground before I can plant them.  I don't think that will be me.  Maybe hubby will do it, but we'd both prefer someone younger.  We'll see if "anyone" shows up to help us. Otherwise we will have to bite the bullet and start digging before these plants die in their pots!

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, 

for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

As I sit here at my computer, looking out the window of my "Room With A View", I can see a couple of maple trees across the pond that already look kind of red on the tops.  The sun is very bright right now at almost 3:30 p.m., but here's few pictures to show you what I am seeing, and it looks like fall is trying to appear already if you ask me!

Can you see them? Way over there on the other side of the pond... (aren't those clouds amazing against that brilliant blue sky?  I love the autumn skies, don't you?)

Here, let me zoom in a little closer so you can see what I am looking at:

Now can you see those little bits of fall over there?  At least it makes me think it's cooler out there, even if my thermometer  says it's still 91 degrees!  A thunderstorm is likely in the next hour, so we shall see what develops. Sometimes they say that, but it skirts around us and never appears. We could certainly use the rain.

Some thoughts to ponder as we begin a new month and a new season of changes...

Isaiah 30:20-21 NKJV

"20 And though the Lord gives you

The bread of adversity and the water of affliction,

Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,

But your eyes shall see your teachers.

21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

“This is the way, walk in it,”

Whenever you turn to the right hand

Or whenever you turn to the left."

Praying that God will guide each of us as we begin this new month and season. May we hear that gentle voice instructing us in the way we should go; whenever we come to a crossroads or a detour or even a brick wall, may we pause and listen for that still small voice of God before we venture any further. Our lives will run so much smoother when we take the time to listen for God's voice before forging ahead. May that be our goal for this new season coming upon us.

Amen.