Thursday Thankfulness and Friday Foto Friends-God's Protection for All His Creation and You and Me

 Well, this week certainly has been one for the books when it comes to weather! Not so much here in our neighborhood, but in our upper parts of the state of Florida, specifically the Panhandle, where they got up to 8" of snow in some places!  We were definitely cold here where I live (and still are), and we were under a winter storm watch, but no snow was found in our yard...just a lot of rain the night before, leaving everything quite soaked.  Still Waters Pond was happy for the added water, and our winter visitors, the Ring Necked Ducks, took full advantage of the deeper pond and even ventured closer to our shore so we could see them better:

By the way, I took these pictures with my "old good camera". It decided to work again most of the time. It still has some issues, but as long as I keep the batteries charged really well, it does a lot better, so I did take back the other camera and got my money back!  I am very thankful that it is still working, because it really does take much better pictures than the new camera did, and is much easier for this amateur photographer to use!

The ring-necked duck is a diving duck from North America commonly found in freshwater ponds and lakes.  We have enjoyed having them come down every winter since we've been here on Still Waters Pond. Usually there are a lot more than just these two males. I'm not sure where the rest of the "family" is this winter.  But they seem to keep themselves entertained, bobbing up and down, diving down for whatever it is they like so well down under the water.  They are are a lot of fun to watch.

It's hard to get good pictures of them both above water at the same time. They seem to take turns diving, and they are quite quick about it, so if you aren't watching they will dive down before you can click the camera!

Even though it was about 33 degrees when I took these pictures, they didn't seem to mind the cold air. I expect the water was a lot warmer than the air. Maybe that's why they dive down under so much! LOL.

I hope you don't mind so many pictures...they just make me happy to see them this close. Usually they stay on the far side of the pond where I think the water is a little deeper, but the rainstorms we've had recently have not only added more water, but they have helped to knock the lily pads further under the water, which makes for smoother 'sailing' across the pond for them I guess.  Also I think the freezing temperatures we've had have killed off some of the lily pads, so they are dropping down to the bottom of the pond.  No worries, they will send up plenty of new ones in the spring and summer.

That's why the bottom of our pond is so mucky. It is many many years worth of layers of dead lily pad decomposition. You definitely do NOT want to try to walk on the bottom of this pond! You will sink up to your knees in muck immediately. Trust me, I know!! Yuck!!

But it provides a rich feeding ground for the birds and turtles and fish, which is why we have a pond in the first place...to enjoy what creatures God provides for us to enjoy!

Today has also been quite cold, again, low temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, with highs only in the 40's. It looks like it will be much the same for the next couple of days.  We are enjoying staying inside and keeping warm and cozy.  I made a pot of beef vegetable soup the other day in the crock pot, but I only added potatoes, carrots, onions and celery and a can of diced tomatoes with peppers, celery, and onion to the chuck roast. Also I added a couple of cans of beef broth, and let it cook  all day. It was really good...but hubby prefers more of a stew rather than a soup, so last night I divided the leftovers into two different pots and I thickened his to make it a stew, and I added some canned green beans and corn to my pot and made it more of a vegetable soup:

soup

I forgot to take pictures of it in our bowls, so these pictures were taken when I was putting the leftovers away after supper.

Stew

And here is my bowl of soup for lunch today:    

There's still some left, but I may have to put it in the freezer for another day. Eating something 3 days in a row is my limit! LOL. But it really was good, and so perfect for these wintry days.  Besides, the "kids" are coming over for supper tonight, and we are making tacos! Yummy!!  We are very thankful for our warm house, hot food, and God's protection from all of the storms of life. And we are thankful for our family being close by so we can enjoy their company often!

Today the action outside has been with the other birds in the trees and at the bird feeders. I try to make sure the feeders are full especially during these cold spells, because the birds really need to keep refueling to keep warm!

I was enjoying watching these Sparrows today:  Aren't they cute all lined up in the tree together?

Oh, I think one of them sees me:

And the next thing I know, they are all converging upon the bird feeder at once:

And then there were more on the ground, finding the seeds that spilled over when I was refilling the bird feeder yesterday afternoon:  Can you see them? They are quite well camouflaged on the ground:

I copied this information from the internet when I asked it "what does the Bible say about Sparrows":

 "In the Bible, sparrows are mentioned in Matthew 10:29-31 and Luke 12:6. These passages describe how God cares for sparrows and how people should not be afraid.

Matthew 10:29-31
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care"

"And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered"

"So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows"

Luke 12:6
"And not one of them is forgotten before God"

What do these passages mean?

God cares for every sparrow, even the smallest creatures

God knows everything about people, including how many hairs are on their head

People should not be afraid because they are worth more than sparrows

Sparrows can serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness

Sparrows symbolize God's care and provision, the importance of humility, and the idea that God loves even the smallest creatures."

I thought that answer was pretty complete, so I really can't improve on that, except to say that these little creatures are a good example to us of God's love and care.  How wonderful that Jesus used these tiniest little bits of His Creation to teach us about how much God loves and cares for us.

The sparrows weren't the only visitors to the yard today, however this Red Bellied Woodpecker doesn't really need the seeds from the birdfeeders to survive. Just give him a bug-filled pine tree, and he's got a feast fit for a king:

Hey! Who are you looking at???

And last, but not least by any means, this beautiful male cardinal came by several times for his dinner.  His mate was with him, but somehow I missed getting her picture:

Well, folks, that about does it for today.  I've got to go start cooking that taco meat before the kids come over.  I'm just very very thankful for how God has protected our family, and even our "wild family" during this cold weather. I know there are many who have it much harder and colder than we do, and we are praying for them as well.

How many of you remember Ethel Waters singing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" at the Billy Graham crusades?  I remember watching those crusades on TV so many years ago, and hearing Ethel Waters sing was always a highlight to me.  Well, praise God, they recorded this way back then so we can still see and hear her today....here she is for us to enjoy and sing along with us today!  What a blessing!!!

Wednesday Treasures...Where Do I Begin?

Where do I begin?  Here it is Wednesday afternoon, and there's so many different pictures to show you I may have to break it up over the next couple of days. Let's get started and when I think you've had enough I'll stop! LOL.  

Remember on Monday I told you about some excitement on Still Waters Pond? (CLICK HERE if you didn't see that post)   Remember that I told you about Mrs. Sand  Hill Crane laying an egg and all the Canada Geese were hanging around bugging them all day long?  Well, they continued to do so for the next couple of days, making a lot of honking noises and splashing and just being regular pests.  But then they kind of moved around into the little cove around the other side of the big island in the pond and stayed there, but they were still making all kinds of noise, so I decided to go see what was going on:

I was hiding in my little hideaway spot behind the bushes so they couldn't see me, and they didn't seem to be bothered by my presence at all.  They were pretty much concentrating on whatever was going on amongst their little group there on the island and in the water around the island.  These photos are pretty amazing to me, and I hope you will enjoy them.

What I have deduced from all of their noise and activity is that perhaps they are also in their mating season, and this couple up on the island appear to be the older members of the group, perhaps the parents of the others, and I'm thinking they just want some privacy and time alone without the others bugging them...

I thought perhaps they might even be starting to build a nest up on the island, as that has been their nesting location in some years past...of course who knows if this is the same family or not?  The last couple who nested here a few years ago ended up with 3 living baby goslings...the fourth one died before they could leave this area to go to the big lake nearby.  The moved to the big lake and that is where they seem to live for most of the time, except when they fly over here and swim around for a while and entertain us.

But I'm wondering if this is that same family...Mom and Dad and three younger geese...it could be...

And if so, will they build a nest on the island and stay and start a new little family?  If so, what will the "kids" do while Mom and Dad are nesting? Seems like they should be old enough to be out on their own, but I really don't know how the goose family does things...

Aren't they a lovely couple?

And here's two of the kids, and the third one in the next picture...

They keep bugging the parents, 

but then eventually the three decided to swim away and give Mom and Dad some privacy

But that was yesterday...and this morning they were still out there in the pond, harassing Mr. and Mrs. Crane for a while, and then suddenly they all took off and I haven't seen them again this afternoon. We shall see what develops.  Never a dull moment here on "Still Waters Pond", that's for sure!

Meanwhile, I thought you'd enjoy seeing how Mr. and Mrs. Crane are living out there on their tiny little island!  It amazes me that they have chosen this small little scrap of marsh to build their nest on, but they seem quite happy with their accommodations.  

And as far as I can see, there is still just one egg in the nest.  It is hard to see when the sun is so bright, but what I have seen looks like one very large egg.  Time will tell if there is another one...

Thought you'd enjoy these views of Mrs. Crane keeping vigil until time for her baby to be born.

Mr. Crane is never very far away, and he will come and give her a break now and then so she can get something to eat and stretch her legs.

Meanwhile, back on shore, the bluebirds are still busily working on their nest. I haven't forgotten them, but I've just been distracted by all the other stuff going on! 

And then today the Goldfinches started showing up at their special finch feeder! They aren't pretty and golden yet, but they will continue to turn yellow as the spring progresses and as they travel further north for breeding.

And I enjoyed trying to follow a beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly around as he was enjoying the nectar from the Carolina Jessamine flowers that are blooming so beautifully.

Carolina Jessamine

We've been working on this song in choir practice, "I Know He Watches Me".  It's a blend of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" and "God Leads His Dear Children Along"....and I kept thinking about this song while sharing all these pictures of the geese, cranes, and other birds.   You might enjoy listening to it while you look at all the pictures above. I guess I should've put this first, but either way, you might enjoy it.  It combines parts of two familiar songs that give us a sense of comfort and peace while we navigate this world filled with difficulties and surprises. Perhaps this is a good way to close this post. I hope you enjoy the song.

Here are the lyrics to both of those old hymns, not exactly the way they are sung in this choir anthem, but it gives you the idea...

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Why should I feel dis­cour­aged,

Why should the sha­dows come,

Why should my heart be lone­ly,

And long for Heav’n and home,

When Je­sus is my por­tion?

My con­stant friend is He:

His eye is on the spar­row,

And I know He watch­es me;

His eye is on the spar­row,

And I know He watch­es me.

Refrain:

I sing be­cause I’m hap­py,

I sing be­cause I’m free,

For His eye is on the spar­row,

And I know He watch­es me.

Let not your heart be trou­bled,

His ten­der word I hear,

And rest­ing on His good­ness,

I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He lead­eth,

But one step I may see;

His eye is on the spar­row,

And I know He watch­es me;

His eye is on the spar­row,

And I know He watch­es me.

Refrain

Whenever I am tempt­ed,

Whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sigh­ing,

When hope with­in me dies,

I draw the clos­er to Him,

From care He sets me free;

His eye is on the spar­row,

And I know He watch­es me;

His eye is on the spar­row,

And I know He watch­es me.

Refrain

God Leads Us Along

1. In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,

God leads His dear children along;

Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,

God leads His dear children along.

Refrain:

Some through the waters, some through the flood,

Some through the fire, but all through the blood;

Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,

In the night season and all the day long.

2. Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,

God leads His dear children along;

Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,

God leads His dear children along.

Refrain

3. Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,

God leads His dear children along;

Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,

God leads His dear children along.

Refrain

4. Away from the mire, and away from the clay,

God leads His dear children along;

Away up in glory, eternity’s day,

God leads His dear children along.

Refrain

Hope you enjoyed this visit to Still Waters Pond today!!