Wednesday Treasures from Still Waters Pond

 On Wednesdays I like to post pictures of things that are special in some way, whether it be in my home, or out in nature, or wherever God leads me to find something special.  I know you are all interested in the Sand Hill Crane family and their new little colts, Spring and Trumpet.  Here's the latest photos of their daily visits to our yard here on the shores of Still Waters Pond:

The thing about Sand Hill Crane colts is that they grow really rapidly...it seems like inches taller almost every day, so you need to capture the cuteness while you can!

They are learning to forage for food in the yard and along the shore of the pond by watching what Mom and Dad do, and they do likewise.

Mom and Dad will feed them some tasty bites of things directly from their mouth to the baby's mouth, but mostly you see them pecking away at things on their own right from the start.

They are so cute and fun to watch...it's no wonder I don't get much done during these days...

I can't tell which is which, nor do I know which is a male or female, but we just enjoy them...

Early this morning the Crane family was walking along the shore and the Canada Geese were out in the water honking at them. However the geese got a little bit too close to the babies for comfort, and Papa Crane went flying at them and chased them away...

What was funny then was the geese charged at each other and started honking back and forth, as if they were having an argument. I can imagine the female goose was telling the male goose, "I told you so! I told you not to get too close to those baby cranes!"

And then they just swam around and kept talking back and forth like she wasn't letting him have the last word on the subject...

"I told you so, I told you so..."

She may have been saying "It's time for us to go get our own nest built and get some eggs laid so we can have our own babies! I keep telling you it's time to settle down and start our own family!"

I think someone was saying, "Quit nagging me or I'm just going to fly away across the pond!" LOL.

What they all have to watch out for is this great big Red Shouldered Hawk, who is sitting up in the trees above the pond and keeping a close watch on all the activities going on.  That's why the parents of the babies have to be so diligent to protect their babies at all times:

Now this is funny.  We have had this white ceramic cat for years and years. We fondly call it our "Guard Kitty", as it has guarded our home from intruders all these years. LOL.  I was looking at it and realized that it looked a lot like our real cat, Sunshine.  So I wondered what Sunshine would do if I introduced Guard Kitty to her:

The pictures pretty well speak for themselves.  Sunshine didn't know what to think at first.

Either she's praying about it, or is deep in thought about what this could mean. Is it real? Am I supposed to acknowledge this strange intruder into my new happy little world here? I really don't know what to think...

So I went back inside the house and left them alone with each other to see what she would do...and look:

Sunshine gave her the sniff test and then sat down in front of it and looked up at me looking at her through the door window as if to say, okay, I looked at it. Now what?

She's still thinking about this new development in her world...

Her ears are perked up and she's really thinking seriously about this...

She checks to see if it's still back there...

And she sits and poses almost identically to the way Guard Kitty is sitting.  It's hilarious to me. Not sure Sunshine thinks it's funny. I think she's insulted to think that she could be replaced by a cold, unfeeling, unscented creature that just sits there and stares and doesn't even purr or meow.  

I decided to bring Guard Kitty back inside and let Sunshine get back to her normal relaxed self.

I think she's greatly relieved.

I don't know how to do a merge of two photos, but I was thinking about using this sign on the wall in my laundry room as a frame for that picture of Sunshine. LOL.  I was singing the song to her today, and she seemed to really love it.

Of course, I don't want to leave out our sweet "Blackie Sue".  She comes and goes as she pleases and doesn't always show up for mealtime at the same time as Sunshine.  So here she is today, chowing down when she finally arrived around noon.

And even though Sunshine had already had her fill of food earlier, she thinks if Blackie Sue is eating, she should be too, so she always helps herself to Blackie's food, and of course Blackie Sue usually does the same thing. They each have their own bowls, but that doesn't seem to mean a thing to them. LOL

And now that feeding time is over, Blackie Sue is doing what she does best...abiding by the "Porch Rules"...

Sorry this picture isn't very clear. I had to take it through my very dirty window in my "Room With A View", or else if I went outside to take the picture she would get up of course and the picture would be ruined.  However, now I know it's time for me to get some spring cleaning done.  It's amazing how dirty porch windows can get between cobwebs, pollen, and just plain dirt and dust. So maybe I should quit watching these cats and birds so much and get to work around here.  

Hmmm, it's already 83 degrees and I think I'll do what Blackie Sue and Sunshine are doing now and just take a nap. 

LOL.

Here's a happy song to finish this post:

1 There is sunshine in my soul today,

More glorious and bright

Than glows in any earthly sky,

For Jesus is my light.

Chorus:

O there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine,

While the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face

There is sunshine in my soul.

2

There is music in my soul today,

A carol to my King;

And Jesus, listening, can hear

The song I cannot sing.

3

There is springtime in my soul today,

For when the Lord is near

The dove of peace sings in my heart,

The flowers of grace appear.

4

There is gladness in my soul today,

And hope, and praise, and love,

For blessings which He gives me now,

For joys laid up above.

And those are my treasures for today. I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into my world here on Still Waters Pond in the springtime!  May you have sunshine in your soul today, no matter where you are.