Rainy Sunday Afternoon on Still Waters Pond

Today, Sunday, has been a lovely day...after church we had our 5th Sunday Covered Dish Luncheon, which was well attended and LOTS of good food! I forgot to take any pictures, but if you've ever been to any small town country church covered dish dinner, you know what it's like!  I think the Pastor called it something like "welcome to Crock Pot Heaven".  LOL.  Yes, there were LOTS of crock pots filled with all kinds of good stuff, spaghetti and meatballs, beef a roni,  BBQ meatballs, pork and gravy with rice, baked beans, baked chicken and fried chicken, etc., and then there were things like chicken enchiladas and smoked sausages and jello salads, coleslaw, and then desserts...blueberry cobbler, apple cobbler, some kind of cherry cheese cakes, chocolate cake, pound cake, cake with pretty pink icing, everything except for any healthy foods like green vegetables and fruit! Oh well! I guess we won't die if we missed a carrot stick or a pineapple chunk. LOL.

When we came out of the church fellowship hall after dinner it was pouring down rain, which of course we needed very badly, but it made for a lot of figuring out how to get to the parking lot with our empty casseroles and other bags, etc., and hold the umbrella in place so we didn't get drowned.  We survived and by the time we got home the rain had pretty well stopped, but it kind of came back again in waves. That's okay...we need it!

So, all that being said, what else is going on out here in our neck of the woods, or along the shore of our pond?  Well, some of these pictures were taken yesterday afternoon, and then some today...

I hope you don't get tired of seeing the Sand Hill Crane family.  Oh, someone mentioned in my last post they wondered why the babies were called "colts".  Well it is because of their long legs.  If you look at a baby horse COLT, and a baby Sand Hill Crane COLT, you will see those similarities in their legs, right from the very beginning!

 These babies are born ready to run and follow their long legged parents around everywhere they go right from within an hour or so of hatching from the egg!

And as you can see by these pictures, they grow very rapidly! 

 

I really never tire of watching them, and am so thankful to have a front row seat to do just that while it lasts.

There is definitely never a dull moment around here...I've already told you about these Muscovy ducks and what a pain they are.  They fly up on the porch and eat the cat's food, they try to get close to the Cranes and/or geese and eat whatever they are eating, and they tend to make a general muisance of themselves. I am thinking about finding a farmer or someone who thinks he wants them to come and trap them.  

The Canada Geese are right close by too, but at least they are more polite, and they have become my champions by chasing off the ducks.  Then they strut right past our porch honking and talking to me as if to say, "There, I took care of those pesky ducks. Now may I please have a reward?"  And they know I will probably toss them a few birdseeds to thank them.  We've become allies in the battle against the ducks.

Spring and Trumpet are pretty oblivious to all of the antics going on around them...they just want to know where the food is and they stay really close to Mama and Daddy.

Hey! Which way did they go???

Oh, thank goodness! Here they are!

They do love to forage for yummy worms and tadpoles and who knows what down along the shore of the pond too.

So now, this was today...in between rainstorms the Crane family worked their way around the pond and came calling... Oh, I wanted you to see that my Bottle Brush Tree is starting to bloom!  Hooray! Just in time for the hummingbirds, who have been around for the past couple of weeks at the feeder on our porch, but I just haven't managed to get a picture yet.  I've been too focused on all this other activity going on.

Blackie Sue was also watching all the activity from her latest perch up on the BBQ grill just outside my window in my little Room With A View.  (I did finally wash the window, but it isn't that great because there is a sunscreen on the window to cut the glare and heat coming through the window on this west side of the house)

I was beginning to wonder where Sunshine was during all the rain as she wasn't up here on the porch, and just as I looked out the window at Blackie Sue, look who I see peeking up at Blackie Sue from down on the porch?

Yes, there she is, trying to get Blackie Sue's attention, but you can see who Blackie Sue is looking at...

However, she soon notices Sunshine down there and she immediately goes to greet her friend:

About the same time there was some real action going on down on the shore...one of those ducks got too close to the Crane family and Papa Crane took off after him:

He chased him into the pond by flapping his huge wings and probably scaring the life out of him:

Yes, that duck flew out to the middle of the pond pretty quick when he saw Papa Crane coming after him! Hooray!!!

Once again peace reigns for the very wet Crane family...

And Blackie Sue is keeping a watch over other bird activity out there from her place on the porch...

While Sunshine hides under the wicker chairs until she feels safe...she's a bit more timid and nervous around all this activity...

But it's not long before she climbs up into the chair and takes a nap...

And Blackie Sue is once again on top of the BBQ grill, and notices me inside the window looking out at her!  

And now all is calm and we can relax for a while beside the Still Waters...

Psalm 23 NKJV

The Lord the Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.

Amen.

 

Happy Sunday!! The Baby Cranes Have Arrived!

 Hello and Happy Sunday!  It's a beautiful spring day here on Still Waters Pond, and I've got some wonderful news to share...you've been waiting to hear this, and I am happy that I can finally show you the brand spanking new baby Sand Hill Crane Colts, "Spring" and "Trumpet". 😍   The first one to be born was named Spring, because he/she was born on the eve of the "Vernal Equinox" (Spring), and the other came a couple of days later, and I had promised to name it after a President because the eggs were first laid in the nest on President's Day, so I decided on the name "Trumpet".  One of our blogging friends actually suggested that name, and I thank you, Debbi, from "Debbi's Front Porch" for the suggestion.  I think it is a fitting name in honor or our current 47th President, and also because these cranes sound like a loud trumpet when they call!  I can't tell which is which at this point, because they are growing so rapidly that you really can't tell them apart.  Spring may be a bit bigger than Trumpet because she/he was born a few days earlier.  

Regardless of their names or anything else, let's just enjoy the cuteness, shall we?  

So without further adieu, here they are:

Speaking of cuteness...here's our adopted kitties, "Blackie Sue" and "Sunshine", soaking up some warm afternoon sunshine.  Yes, I changed the name of Blackie to Blackie Sue, because it appears she's a girl, and it also appears that she may be expecting some kittens...time will tell...things could get very interesting around here...

 Thankfully they are not at all interested in the new baby Cranes, because I think they are smart enough to know better than to go near those babies with those ever present parents around.  You don't want to ever make a Sand Hill Crane parent angry at you for going near their babies!!

So, I hope you enjoyed seeing these sweet babies!  I'm sure there will be a lot more photos to come in the coming days and weeks as we watch them grow at the speed of lightning!

Meanwhile, what else is going on?    Here's the video of our church service/choir from this morning. The choir was singing a wonderful medley of songs, "My Jesus I Love Thee", "I Love You Lord", and "Oh How I Love Jesus".  You might enjoy singing along with these beautiful songs.  The Pastor's sermon from Genesis 3 is quite good too.  If you want to know if I am singing in the choir, yes, I am the one behind the microphone that you can't see very well. LOL. But that's okay...I was singing for the Lord, and that is what matters most.

Let's see, what else? Yesterday we went to the "Deep Creek" Farmer's Market because our son Benton had a booth there selling the wooden planter boxes that he builds. He had a record setting day for sales, and that was a real blessing!! God is so good!  These are just a few of the items he makes and sells:

He has to make another trip to Valdosta, GA., to get more of the cedar wood to make more items for a big market sale this next weekend. They can't find the wood he needs anywhere around here, but thankfully that's only a couple of hours away from us here. Anyway, it's a nice problem to have.

Oh, here's just a sampling of some of the animals that were for sale at the Farmer's Market:

Cute "Easter Bunnies"

Anyone need a wake up call in the morning?

Cock a doodle do to you!

Oink Oink!

Uh, I think these are geese, so it would be honk honk, or are they ducks, so it's quack quack?  I need to go back and sing "Old MacDonald had a farm, ee i ee i oh!"

We had a fun time walking around and checking out all the different kinds of booths, crafts, food, plants, etc.  I was good and didn't buy much...a couple of huge beef-steak tomatoes and some home made bread & butter pickles!

Remember a few weeks ago I told you about this old "Brush General Store" being renovated finally? (Click HERE for link) and before pictures.

Well, the progess is slow, but they finally got the new roof trusses and boards on this past week. They had to do a lot of foundation work to shore up the building before they could safely get up there on the roof to work. 

I am happy to see that progress is being made. I will continue to update you as I see it happening!

I guess that's about it for tonight. I am very thankful for all the ways God is at work in our midst every day.  You know, we don't know what the future holds for any of us, but we do know Who goes before us and clears the way.  

Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV
8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. 

He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; 

do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Our congregation sang this song today, and it was very meaningful...perhaps you will find it to be so as well:

God Will Make a Way
Song by Don Moen ‧ 1993
Lyrics

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

Oh, God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
Rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade but His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today

Oh, God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way
Yes, he will, he will make a way for you
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Don Moen / Kyagulanyi Eria
God Will Make a Way lyrics © Integrity's Hosanna! Music, Pt. Nadaku Musik, Tunecore Global, Ninth Avenue Music

Amen!

Be blessed and have a wonderful week!