The Bluebirds are Back Again!

 Guess who showed up this morning?  The Bluebirds are back!!!!  The last time I mentioned the bluebirds was here, on April 20th., when I discovered that the nest was empty and the baby bluebirds had fledged and left the nest while I wasn't looking!  So that is exactly 3 weeks ago...and now early this morning Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird showed up again, checking out both birdhouses, going back and forth and inside and out, one bird guarding from outside on top of the pole while the other went inside to check it out.  This has been going on all morning long, and this afternoon, now around 2:30 pm, they are still going back and forth.  

Thankfully I had cleaned out the old nests so that both birdhouses are clean and ready for action. There was a small nest in the other birdhouse that the chickadees had started in the spring, but they never did stay or lay any eggs. So that had to be removed as well.

Of course, I am elated to think that we will get to watch them again, building their nest, sitting on the eggs, feeding the babies, and maybe even this time we will get to see the babies leave the nest!

I promise to not bore you with too many details, but then again...I think some of you actually enjoy watching them with me, so for those of you who are rather "ho-hum" about bird life, you may just have to skip over the details if it gets too hum-drum.

I don't know about you, but I find being a witness to God's beautiful creation in nature a joy and a thrill! After all, I believe God created the "wild kingdom" for us to enjoy, so why not make the most of it?

Reminds me of 

Psalm 84

1. "How lovely is Your tabernacle, 

O LORD of Hosts!

2. My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD;

My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3.  For even the sparrow has found a home,

And the swallow a nest for herself,

Where she may lay her young--

Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,

My King and my God.

4.  Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;

They will still be praising You."

11.  For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

The LORD will give grace and glory;

No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

12.  O LORD of hosts,

Blessed is the man who trusts in You!"

It was funny to see the Sand Hill Crane family kind of slink on by this morning, not wanting to get in the way of Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird as they were doing their house hunting.

(this is the view looking out our sliding doors to the back porch and to Still Waters Pond beyond)

Even Colt seemed to be ducking his head as he sauntered past the Bluebird house. Maybe they remember how Mama and Papa Bluebird would dive bomb anyone passing nearby while their previous clutch of baby birds was in the nest.  

Even Mrs. Cardinal appears to be ducking her head as she swooped down to get some breakfast from the bird feeder.

She snatched a few quick seeds and was out of there quick.

And now even our proposed site for the wildflower/butterfly garden might have to wait since the bluebirds might not like us working so close to their house. Maybe we can sneak it in while they aren't looking. I was hoping maybe tomorrow morning to pick up a few more plants at the flea market and do some work here...so we shall see what develops.

So that is our exciting news for today!

Meanwhile, what else is new?

Let's see, I got a haircut this morning, but no selfies to show you. I like to let it "adjust" for a few days before I show it off to anyone.  New haircuts are always just, well, too new... 

but here's a picture that I took of myself a few days ago for the Kentucky Derby. If you are a Facebook friend you've probably already seen this, but for the rest of you I just thought you'd get a kick out of it. We didn't even watch the Derby. Couldn't find it on the tv fast enough when someone mentioned it to me on Facebook and asked if I was wearing my Derby hat!  It's a silly thing I like to do every year...put on a hat and watch the race. I never bet on any horse...have no clue about the race. I just love the excitement of the ladies wearing pretty hats for a horse race.

So there you have my last minute grab a hat and take a picture of it for the Kentucky Derby that I didn't even watch! LOL.

Oh, here's another picture you might get a kick out of.  Someone sent me this picture from our Ladies' May Fellowship last week. Now you can see me in my flouncy flowered skirt that I told you about HERE. Actually I love this picture because it shows me standing next to my sweet Daughter in Love Rose, along with two other lovely ladies who attended our gathering. This was our table and we had such a wonderful time visiting and doing what women do best...just enjoying being together and sharing the love of Christ with one another. That's what really matters...not what we wear or eat or anything material...just sharing God's love and encouraging one another.

I Peter 3:3-4 describes it best:

"3.  Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4.  rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God"

That's the image I pray God will help me portray most of all...that "incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.."  and oh! to be "very precious in the sight of God!"  What could be better than that?

I know I have a long way to go in the "gentle and quiet spirit" department.  I've never been labeled quite that way as far as I know...especially not the "quiet" part. LOL. Just ask anyone who grew up with me.

I like to think I've improved over the years in that regard, but I've noticed that it's usually my section of the table at our ladies' meetings or Bible Studies that often gets the "look" when it's time to be quiet and pray or get on with the meeting... you know that look..."ahem...ladies...we're praying here, or excuse me ladies, but we're trying to have a meeting here..." LOL.  Yeah, it's still something that could use some improvement. But I like to think that God still finds us precious in His sight...after all, He's the One who created us! 

Okay, I guess it's time to wrap this one up for another day. Tomorrow is Friday, and as of right now I don't have any new photos to share...but as you can see by the activities of this morning...one never knows what might appear here on Still Waters Pond at any time.

So stay tuned, and have a blessed Thursday.

 

A Golden October Day

The day started out with a golden glow in the trees as we took our morning walk.

The light was golden all around

I think you can see it better here...

And in the happy faces of these golden wild coreopsis that are growing all through the woods right now, everywhere we looked.

Even this huge spider web took on a golden glow in the early morning sun

The woods are full of God's glory

Not to be outdone, this lovely bright orange Gulf Fritillary butterfly spent some time sipping the nectar of the Penta flowers on my front porch this morning. I just happened to look out the window and saw him there, and he stayed around for quite awhile, having quite a lovely time...and so did I, watching him.

These pictures were taken through the window, so they probably aren't as clear as they could be, but they are still so pretty. I was enchanted.

Hello, lovely lady with your gorgeous autumn dress!

As if that wasn't wonderful enough, this evening we had a nice little rain shower while the sun was still shining...so immediately I once again ran to the front window to see if there might be a rainbow...and sure enough there it was!  I stood outside in the rain and took these pictures...

Yes, it was a double rainbow!

We had one last night too! Amazing!

It seems like God is displaying all His beautiful colors for us during this Autumn season, when things are actually in the process of dying out before the winter begins.  Makes me wonder about life a bit...as we enter the "autumn" of our lives, which many of us here in "Blogland" seem to be getting closer and closer to that if not already there, I wonder if we are also displaying all of our "beautiful colors" and the golden glow of God's glory shining through us.  That should be our goal in life...the closer we get to our "winter days" on this earth, the more we should glow with the beauty of Christ living in us. There should be a radiance that others can see without us having to even speak it out loud.

"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,

If it is found in the way of righteousness."

Proverbs 16:31

Some thoughtful advice to women is found in I Peter 3:3-4 

3.  "Do not let your adornment be merely outward...arranging the hair, wearing gold, 

or putting on fine apparel, 

4.  Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God...."

In other words, may we be more concerned with developing and displaying the true inner beauty that resides within the heart of a woman who puts her trust in God rather than with the outward appearance of having fine clothes, jewelry or having things...not saying those things are bad in themselves, but only that our greater desire ought to be the better things of a gentle and quiet spirit...something for me to ponder when I look in the mirror...

Psalm 34:4-5 says:

4.  " I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

and delivered me from all my fears.

5.  They looked to Him and were radiant,

and their faces were not ashamed."

I hope you have enjoyed this beautiful golden October day.

Now, let us go out and "glow"...

Wednesday Treasures: Vanity, Oh Vanity! (not what you think)-Recycled

Good Morning Friends! Today is my Wednesday Treasure day, and I thought I would go back in time to a previous post about one of my favorite treasures.  This was originally posted on November 1, 2013, for what was then a blogging group called "Random Journal Day".  I am not sure if the link to that will still lead you anywhere since many of those bloggers have moved on to different blogs and may not have the same posts still available...so just disregard that part of this recycled post and move on to the real story, which was an excerpt from one of my old journals.  I hope you will enjoy this story about another special treasure.  I may make a few edits throughout to update it to today.

Original Post 11/1/2013:

Today is "Random Journal Day", when many of us old journalers look back through the dusty volumes of our past and randomly choose something to share with the rest of the world.  You never know what you are going to get on Random Journal Day!  It could be something sweet, or something sad. It may even be profound, or words written from a struggling soul...or like mine today, just some pleasant memories that were meaningful to me and I hope will have some lasting value for you as well.  So here we go...

I thought I would look for something written around this same time of year, so I landed upon a journal entry written on October 30, 1990 at 8:21 p.m.  However, in my first paragraph of this particular journal entry I referred to a previous entry, written a couple of months earlier, but referring to this same topic..."My Vanity".  So, in order to help this little story make sense, I must go back to the previous writing and go from there...please bear with me...this may be a long post!

August 4, 1990:

My bedroom at the time of this writing, 1990.
(Remember to click on pictures to enlarge for viewing)

"Right now I'm sitting in our bedroom on our lovely country blue and white bed and comforter, enjoying the freshly finished mahogany vanity.  I have a blue candle and sconce (chimney) centered in front of the mirror, and it's so lovely to watch the reflections of the flickering candle. It gives off such a soft glow which reflects on the shine of the rich wood and the many glass bottles of perfume and jars of pot pourri on the vanity.  Such a warm, cozy feeling it gives!  It helps me to enjoy and appreciate this little corner of my room.  I also have the lovely cut glass vanity lamps lit on my Grandma Tedlie's dresser~and they add a romantic and nostalgic aura to the room.  Someday perhaps my granddaughter (?) will enjoy and appreciate these links to the past!  I hope whoever receives them will feel a kindred spirit with the author of this book!  It would be fun to watch and see!  I wonder if we'll have that privilege from heaven?  Perhaps heaven will be too full of glory to be concerned with such things.  I hope to leave more of a heritage than just old furniture. Perhaps a love for the Lord."

Move ahead to October 30, 1990:

"After re-reading page 80 about my corner of the bedroom, I see I failed to give the details of the history of my newly-refinished vanity.  So, just for the record~the lovely mahogany vanity was given to me by my Dad for my 18th birthday~my last birthday at home before I got married!  Only when Daddy gave it to me he had "antiqued" it in the popular style of the day~a sort of light avocado green antiquing.  It was lovely, he did a wonderful job of finishing it.  I was so proud of that gift~the only piece of furniture I was to take with me from my old home to my new home.  The only gift I can really remember that my Dad prepared especially for me.  I remember the day he bought it.  We were shopping at a used furniture and antique store in the little town of Eustis.  I bought a special old fashioned plaque for my Mother...to give to her on Mother's Day.  It still hangs in her bedroom (at the time of this original writing...I have it back with me now.)

Anyway, as we were browsing around through the dusty, dark storage rooms of used furniture, Daddy discovered this vanity, and called it to my attention.  It was rather worn and faded looking, somewhat forlorn among all the cast-off furnishings of days gone by.  But it had a "regal" look~a graceful beauty that beckoned to me.  I'd never owned a "real" piece of furniture before~my room at home was rather simple~2 twin beds with no headboards, a large desk Daddy had made for my sister Doris and me to share~and a built-in dresser and closet. Neat, but plain.  The vanity had curves and style~I loved it~it made me feel like a princess.  Daddy bought it.  I don't remember how we got it home, but he set to work on it right away~smoothing down the rough edges and scratches~and then the finish~it was beautiful!  What a happy birthday it was for me!  18!! I don't remember anything else about that birthday, but about 12 days later I met my husband to be...and less than one year later~we transferred that vanity in a U-Haul trailer from my old home to our new apartment~our first home together!  It really didn't match any of our other furnishings, but then, none of our other furniture matched anything else!  We set up housekeeping with odds and ends of used furniture~which is another story in itself.  My Dad again came to the rescue in seeking out "good sturdy furniture" at a low price!  But the vanity stayed with us~through some 24 moves (then...many more now)...from house to house, apartment to house, state to state and back again!

For 21 years it sat in my room and held my jewelry, scarves, perfume, knicknacks and other special memories.  The right top drawer had bits of rice that was from our wedding day...

It sustained many knicks and bumps~the antiqued finish began to chip and peel off.  The mirror frame sustained a major injury and lost one of its Queen Anne curves~but I held on to it in hopes of someday restoring it.

Finally, after realizing it had become quite an eyesore, I determined to refinish it to its natural beauty.  So I began the process of stripping off the green antiquing~under that was a white coat of base paint more stubborn to remove, and under that a coat of varnish-and finally the original mahogany veneer.  During the stripping process I accidentally splashed some stripper into my eye and had an awful time waiting for it to heal.  You can believe I wore safety goggles after that!

Then we moved again~I had only finished the vanity table...not the mirror or stool.  So once again we move it, careful not to put any new scratches on it's freshly stained and tung-oiled surface. It sat in the corner of our new bedroom about eight months without its mirror or stool.  Finally during the summer I made up my mind to get it finished once and for all.  I took the mirror and stool to a professional stripper to remove the finish.  Then I brought it home and stained and oiled it to match the rest.  I covered the cushion of the stool to match our new bedspread and drapes, and then I stood back to admire this "old" friend who had become like new again! Transformed into a thing of beauty and pleasure to behold!

The Refinished Vanity, as she looked at the time of this
original journal entry in 1990

Oh, I know an antique dealer would probably snicker at the "value" of this piece of furniture~it's really not that old, or that good, but to me it is a treasure chest of memories--an old friend who's been by my bedside now for 22 years ( add another 23  30 to that today! (10/14/2020)...a precious link to my past...and my Dad."



 Well, today, this vanity has been with me for about 45  (52) years!  (I really was only one year old when I first got it! Ha!!!!)  It has a few more scratches and bumps and lots of dust.  It has traveled quite a journey with me...and I still hope to pass it down along with my Grandma Tedlie's dresser to a granddaughter someday...if I ever get one...(I currently have one wonderful grandson, and he just may have to take it someday)  or maybe to a great-granddaughter or niece.   I hope this little story will go with it wherever it goes...and that the recipient of this inheritance will possess something even more precious than this story:

1 Peter 3:3-4- A gentle and quiet spirit

"And let not your adornment be merely external-- braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. "

Proverbs 31:30- Fear of the Lord

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

This is how my vanity looks today...a bit cluttered...and
the bench disappeared sometime ago, and I think I
finally cleaned all the wedding rice out of the drawers.
I also have added an antique chamber pot...just in case...

I know that my Daddy, who is now up in heaven, would be pleased to know that I still treasure this gift and honor his memory by sharing this story.  I know my Heavenly Father, Who is also up in heaven, would be pleased to know that I treasure His gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ...and that I honor HIS memory by sharing His Story every chance I get!

I hope you have enjoyed this little journey back into my past.  What kind of special treasures and memories do YOU have to share?  

Here's a link to another story on restoration that you may find interesting as well: "Cracks in My Soul"