Good Monday Morning! Here's the view from where I'm sitting right now as I try to write this post:
Yes, I have a little "helper", and he's quite taken with the image of the beautiful red Cardinal on my screen. I had to hold him back to keep him from getting a closer look!
This is what he's looking at...the birds have been quite active in our yard this past weekend...
The Bluebirds have also been busy...I do believe there must be babies in the nest by now, as I see Mama and Papa Bluebird come and go to find food for them. That is so exciting! Last year they never did build a nest, and this year we've missed out on watching our Sand Hill Crane family have any babies, so it will be exciting to see if we get to see the baby Bluebirds when they leave the nest. I'll be watching!
On Saturday there was a flock of birds that kept flying from tree to tree and landing in our pine tree, but the sun was so bright behind them I couldn't make out what they were. However, I took a picture of them anyway, and then I had to brighten it up until I could make out the color and markings on these birds...and finally I was able to determine that they were Cedar Waxwings! HERE is a link to a time several years ago when they came and we were able to enjoy watching them better.
They normally come in the fall when the hollyberries are ripe and they clean off a tree in no time at all. But now, at this time of year there are no hollyberries or other berries on other bushes yet, so I'm not sure what they were eating. I assume they are migrating back up north now since it is springtime, so if you are used to seeing them where you live further north, be on the lookout for their return! They are such interesting and unusual looking birds!
This is a picture from when they came in November of 2020...when the hollyberries were quite abundant!
Also on Saturday we noticed way over on the other side of our still very dry "Still Waters Pond" a group of birds gathered at the only puddle of water that remains of the pond...
There are two Great Blue Herons and three white Wood Storks, gathered at this little tiny pool of water to search for whatever food they can find.
Oh how badly we need rain! The weather report keeps teasing us saying we might get some rain, and then somehow it keeps circumventing our location and we are fortunate if we even get a drop! Rain is predicted for today and Oops! It WAS predicted for later today, and I just now looked at my weather app again on my phone, and it's no longer in the forecast! Less than one hour ago it was showing up there, and now they've removed it again! That happened yesterday afternoon as well!
So here is the current revised forecast for this week...There's a couple of days of possibility of rain, but I am not holding my breath! However I will keep praying...
Blackie and I have been spending a little time together on some afternoons sitting in the "Secret/Memorial Garden", watching the birds and enjoying a pleasant breeze in the trees...
He's such a sweet companion...although you have to wonder what's really on his mind when he looks at me with those squinty eyes and perturbed ears..."Oh no! Here she goes again with that camera! Always taking my picture! Good grief, woman! Get a life!" LOL.
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Finally he decided to go hide in the azalea bushes and camouflage himself from me and the birds...
Meanwhile I was enjoying watching this Northern Parula enjoying the birdbath! We don't see them here often, so this was a real treat!
As I walked around the yard I was thrilled to see that all four blossoms on the Hippeastrum plant were blooming. This link tells the history of when we first discovered this plant blooming in our yard and what a surprise it was. It always seems to bloom just in time for Easter!
Much like the Easter Lily, it looks like four trumpets announcing the good news of the Resurrection of our Lord!
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!
Luke 24:5-6...
Because He Lives...I can face tomorrow....
Because He Lives Lyrics
God sent His Son, they called him Jesus,
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died, to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride, and joy he gives;
But sweeter still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight live's final war with pain;
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
Have a blessed Holy Week my friends...
P.S. Thank you for your kind words on my "Palm Sunday" post yesterday. I was a little under the weather, but I am fine today, praise God!! I have to be...it's going to be a busy but wonderful week.
