Goodness Gracious! This week has been one for close encounters with the wild side of life! LOL.
Thank you all for your kind comments on my last post HERE, about our close encounter with the dogs at the boat ramp. I haven't heard anything else about them and I hope they are safe at their home, but I do pray the owner will take better care of them and not let them run wild in the neighborhood. We see way too much of that around here, and it is really sad. But now I will move on to another close encounter...not so much with me, but well, you'll see:
I noticed out my window that the Sand Hill Crane couple was out there, but they were acting kind of strange, hopping up and down and looking at something on the shore.
So when I looked a little closer, I could see this opossum out there, drinking water from the pond.
The Cranes were very curious about him and came over for a closer look, but the opossum just kept drinking, totally ignoring the cranes.
He was very thirsty, which to me, is a bit suspicious, especially to see him in the middle of the day. They are normally nocturnal creatures, and seeing him out like this in the heat of the afternoon sun is very unusual. But I looked it up online
HERE, and I guess it's not all that uncommon for one to be out in the daytime.
The Cranes kept a watchful eye on him and he just ignored them.
He was very thirsty, which makes me wonder if he was sick or something.
On closer inspection (using my zoom lens...I'm not about to get close to a opossum...they have a lot of very sharp teeth and can really bite!), it looks like he may have been injured on his back. Either by another animal, or a near miss with a vehicle. But it isn't bloody or open or anything like that, so it may be an old wound healed over.
The Cranes were very curious about him for sure!
Finally he'd had all he could drink, and he turned away, again, totally ignoring the Cranes, and headed back toward the woods and the cool shade of the day...
He's kind of cute in his own way...One of God's special creatures!
The Cranes watched him go, and then they also went on about their business...
You can see that bad spot on his back better above. I'm not sure about it, but he seemed to be okay and I wasn't about to get any closer. And this picture below is the last I saw of him:
I pray he's okay!
Now onto the next adventure in Pamela's Wild Kingdom! You may recognize one of the actors in this next scene...Yes, that's Blackie, and another neighborhood kitty who hasn't been named. I keep calling him "Yellow", but that's not a very nice name, so maybe "Sunshine" would be better. Anyway, my neighbor has been feeding these kitties for quite a while, and she is having some health issues which make it difficult for her to go out the door and care for them like she always has. So I told her I would be happy to help out.
You will notice that Blackie is not content to just eat out of his dish, but he likes to eat out of "Sunshine's" dish as well! No wonder he looks so fat and sassy!
They are used to being fed twice a day, so for now at least I am going to be going over and doing this to help her out. Oh, and as soon as Blackie was finished eating I noticed he came right over here to our house and plopped himself down in one of our chairs on the back porch, as per his usual habit.
I don't know where Sunshine goes during the day. I've seen him around the woods and sometimes in our yard, but never on our porch. He's much more skittish than Blackie around people.
Now, for the news you've been waiting for, the completion of the
"Washing Machine Saga" Well, after thinking about it and praying for
wisdom, (There's that word again!), and also after doing some research about different options...
And after pricing the options of having this one repaired vs. buying a new one with a longer warranty, with all of those costs, etc. factored in, we decided we would be better off in the long run to go ahead and purchase a new one with an extended warranty, which BTW, the extended warranty costs LESS than the cost of the service call to come out and diagnose the problem, not to mention the cost of labor and parts on top of that...so I shopped online, doing comparisons between different brands and models at the two main big box stores, (Lowes vs. Home Depot), and after all was said and done, we ordered one from Home Depot to be delivered free within two days. Lowes couldn't deliver anything for more than a week, and their prices were higher. So Home Depot won the toss! Anyway, they would have charged an extra $50.00 to haul our old one away, so our son came over and between him and hubby they managed to get the old one out the door and onto his pick up truck.

And he took it away to his house, where his smart wife is going to check things out just to see if she can fix it. I told her if she can, it's hers, but I also told her not to get rid of her 15 year old washer that she inherited from her mother! It may be old, but it's still working and I wouldn't get rid of that unless it was totally falling apart!
Bye Bye Old Washer!
So, with the old one out of the way and everything else cleaned up and ready and waiting, the Home Depot delivery people arrived this morning around 8 a.m.! They said they would've been here sooner except it was so terribly foggy they took their time, which I commended them for. It was definitely another very foggy morning! Here they are, unloading the new washer from their truck. You can see how foggy it is!
And here is the new washing machine, all set up and ready to go. It is a different model than what we had before,
and it is actually a larger capacity than the other one, with a stainless steel tub!
However, the cost was very comparable to the old one, and the extended 3 yr. warranty was, as I said, less than the cost of one service call! They set it up and turned it on, and I loaded it up with dirty clothes and have already washed three loads today! I love it! It was well worth the frustration of the other one breaking down to finally get one that works much better! So this saga has a happy ending. Did I want to have to spend that money to buy another new washing machine when the old one was only 15 months old? No, I didn't, and hopefully we can pay this one off quickly before we have to pay too much interest on it (like, as soon as we get our tax return back!, which I need to get to work on right away!)
This verse popped up in my devotional reading for today:
Matthew 25:21 NIV
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.
Come and share your master’s happiness!’
I know that this probably doesn't really count as what Jesus was teaching in this parable, but right now I feel like I've been trying to be a good and faithful servant in dealing with a "few things", like making wise decisions regarding mundane things like new appliances, etc., and perhaps maybe even Jesus is rejoicing with me for taking care of these things in a wise and prudent manner. I am very thankful for His guidance in this matter as well as in the much bigger matters of life. If He cares about things like working washing machines, can you imagine how much more He cares about the really big things that pertain to our lives? Yes, He does...He knows our needs, and He always provides.
Matthew 6:31-33 is a favorite passage...
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)
for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
I hope you have enjoyed this post today, and that you will see God at work in the "mundane things" of your life as well.
Oh, I almost forgot! Hubby's eye appointment went very well yesterday! The doctor said his eye is seeing so much better because of removing the cataract that he may not need to have the cornea surgery anytime in the near future, for which we are VERY thankful!! So thank you again, for your prayers concerning his appointment yesterday! That is a big answer to prayer!
Glad you got the new machine with the middle agitator. Mine does not have it because for a few years it was supposed to be better but I think they had a lot of complaints on it. I am not a big cat fan, but I do believe they keep the rodents away. I hope the possum is okay cause they eat the bugs. Have a great weekend!
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ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new washer! It's very wise to shop around. And such early delivery!
I enjoyed reading your saga of the opossum and the cranes. I hope Mr. Opossum heals okay.
And I love your cat kingdom. My neighbor feeds a couple of neighborhood cats and I know they appreciate it.
I need to catch up on the dog incident. I hate to see animals roaming like that. They can so easily be run over.
Have a good weekend.
Congratulations on the new washing machine. It is a shame the 15 month old didn’t last longer. My washer and dryer are about 10, 11 years old. I have the front loaders and they stack but that has become hard on my lower back. So we’re going to look into the washer/dryer risers and separate them. That will be an ordeal and we’ll probably have to hire someone to do that for us.
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks for the opossum. They are so misunderstood and they’re so gentle. My husband would have tried to help or call animal control to get him in to be seen. In the ER yesterday a bird flew in the big ER doors. The bird was frightened and people were freaking out. My husband gets out of the wheelchair they had him in, with an IV and gently talked the bird to the door where he pressed on the lever for the bird to go. It was funny and people in ER all clapped. That’s my husband! ❤️
I love cats and if it didn’t upset Susie or Laydee, I’d feed all the cats! I might even be a cat lady when I’m really old. They bring such pleasure and surely lowers the blood pressure.
Exciting post today! Have a blessed weekend - 🌺 Debby
We had to buy a new washer and dryer last year. Our washer is so large we can do one load that is two loads in the dryer.
ReplyDeleteThe possum saga was interesting.
I think you should give Yellow/Sunshine the name Ginger.
that is great news about the eye surgery and yay for the new washer, hope this one last a long long time.. I feel bad for the possum, to me he is so cute, they are ugly but cute. I hope he will be alright. I also hope the thirst is not from someone putting out poison. we have had that happen here and my heart breaks at what it does to them.. thanks for the reminder to get cracking on our taxes. turbo tax I will see you next week
ReplyDeleteI love visiting your blog and taking adventures with you through your "Wild Kingdom", there is always something exciting right outside your window. I have seen the teeth on a mad opossum before and they are not an animal that your want to mess with.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your new washer :)
That little opossum is kinda cute, but I do my best to stay away from them too. But the pictures were fun to see. So glad you got your new washer and love it. Also that's great news on your hubby's eyes.
ReplyDeleteSuch great news about John's eye and your new washing machine, Pamela! We all can use good news each day in our lives. That poor ol' possum looks like he's seen better days. We sometimes see them prowling around our yard, but the sightings are rare. Every time I do spot one, though, I know for a fact that God has a great sense of humor! And it's so kind of you to offer to feed the neighborhood kitties, too. That Blackie takes the cake. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
ReplyDeleteDouble fist pumps ... both for John's eye and the new washer speedy delivery! I've only seen one little possum in the last 6 years, and to be honest he/she freaked me out a little -- I thought it was a rat. Thankfully, my DIL (who's an expert on all things Alabama) informed me they're great to have around -- both for insect and reptile removal. Drinking all that water, now I'm concerned he/she might be rabid. Please let us know if he/she visits Still Waters Pond again!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to read the news about your hubby's eye! Awesome. It does look like the opossum was struck by something. They are so good to have around because they eat all the nasty things we don't like. They also don't get rabies. I hope he is healing. I was amazed that the cranes stayed so close, though. Congrats on the new washing machine! Hooray! I love that Blackie has a companion and Sunshine is a great name for him/her! My friend, Judy, got a new orange kitten and she named him Carrot!! It makes me laugh but it suits him! Sending a hug!!
ReplyDeleteThe bst news was in the last paragraph! No additinal surgery for awhile anyway. Hallelujah!
ReplyDeleteI'm also impressed with your new washer. I purposely bought one with an agitator when we bought our house here in Omaha 4 years ago. And the simplest one I could find with a big capacity. Well, we had to leave that washer when we sold the house. The condo came with a brand new washer and dryer, still in the plastic wrap, but it has no agitator and all kinds of buttons that I never use! :-) I like simple.
The possum is interesting. I didn't know that they were out during the daytime either. It's funny that the crane couple didn't bother him at all. It's really kind of you to help out with the cats. I would love to have a cat but Dennis isn't crazy about the idea at all.
Take care my dear friend and have a blessed Sunday. I'm looking forward to church and Sunday School tomorrow.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
I am happy to know John is feeling better...and that possum is mighty skinny, just saying. Hurray on the washing machine, smiles.
ReplyDeleteGlad the eye is healing nicely and I hope the surgery is never needed! Possums are so good for eating bad bugs, etc. and they are immune to rabies I was surprised to learn.
ReplyDeleteNice new washing machine. It's so nice to have something new and exciting even if it is for everyday laundry. Have a wonderful Sunday. :)
That is unusual for the Opossum. Sunshine sounds like a cute name. Hooray for the new washing machine. Enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice appliance you chose! I hope it serves you well. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement to me in the comment you left.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam! Fun pictures of the wild-life in your area. The pictures of the opossum were very interesting! Your new washing machine looks nice. I hope it lasts a very long time and gives you good service! You are so right about God caring for us - even our mundane every day needs! I hope you had a good weekend. Have a good week, Pam. See you again soon!
ReplyDeleteNice washing machine. Good idea about the warranty. We bought one of those bumper-to-bumper warranties on the 2020 Nissan. Glad we did 'cause the radio quit working. Guess how much it cost to have it replaced? More than what we paid for the warranty. Win-win.
ReplyDeleteNow you have more than one cat. With keeping them feral at least there's no Vet bills involved, right?!
Until recently, I didn't know how beneficial 'possums are. They're not dangerous and good to have around.
Hurray on Hubby's eye doing well! Prayers that continues.
We had such a good day at Sunday School and Church today my feet have hardly touched the ground. We laughed, joked, drank coffee, had a jolly good time all the while learning more in His Holy Word. God is so good to bring all these lovely people into my life. I am very grateful.
Blessings. 🥰
Such an interesting post (I'm wondering if the possum is very near-sighted, since he never seemed to notice the Crane couple). Soooo glad to see this report on John's eye surgery!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new washing machine!
It was interesting to see the opossum with the cranes. Good story and I hope he/she will feel better after drinking water. I am glad you got a new washing machine that will hopefully last for years. Our washer seems to behave more now that we have a new hot water heater. Not cheap but good men who helped us. I am glad your husband is able to view more in life through his eyes. My husband had an eye appointment recently had and good for now. We were volunteers at kids' class at church this morning, 2nd service. It was about David getting chosen by Samuel for David to be king. I liked being there again, being with the kids and helping them a few times. The sermon that I heard this morning was in Malachi. Chapter one was interesting to read. vs 11-"For from the rising of the sun, even to going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; in every place incense shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering ; for My name shall be great among the nations," Says the Lord of hosts." I need to get hot tea as I've not had anything to drink since we came home from eating lunch after church today. We drove a bit further for lunch but we like being at the Ram. Have a good and healthy/blessed week~~Becky
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you've had quite a few interesting encounters in your wild kingdom this week! The story of the Sand Hill Cranes and the opossum was so intriguing. It’s always fascinating to see animals interact in their own way. I hope the opossum is okay too, and it’s great that you're helping your neighbor with the kitties! Keep up the great work documenting these moments of nature.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who enjoys the views of the river below our apartment windows, Pam, I know how much you appreciate your own views of wildlife on the pond. Replacing any appliance can be a chore and glad your washing machine one worked out well for you and maybe the old one will get a new life with Rose's attention. We have never purchased an extended warranty on appliances, yet have always signed up for the AppleCare protection on our tech devices. While, we have never had to use it for replacement of anything, it can also be used for tech advice and I have used that service a few times.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoy the animals you can see by the lake! My granddaughter lives north of Atlanta and heard a flock of sand hill cranes migrating north! What a surprise! Glad you new washer works right off from the starting line! Also grateful for the good news on your husband's eye!
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