North Carolina Birds

I have been SO very blessed and entertained by the birds that I have seen here in North Carolina over the past six months! I could write a book just about my observations of their habits and antics but this collage of the majority of them will have to suffice. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

(Back & forth from top left: dove, grackle, mockingbird, sparrow, baby sparrow (?), eastern bluebird, robin, junco,
purple finch, male & female cowbird, male/female/juvenile cardinal)

       But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

   Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

   Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

   In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:7-10)

The Perfect Storm

Those who know me know that I love to observe the weather. Some also know that I have tried capturing photos of lightning. Yesterday, with our electrical storms in the area, I tried again.

Here, the storm is approaching...

An hour or so later, I made the attempt with my camera...

After several attempts like that, I finally got one! You can't see the streak of lightning,

 but I sure got the full flash effect! I was thrilled that I "happened" to click the shutter

at the right second...

(no photo editing done here)

It looks like it is daytime but this was taken only a few seconds after the previous photo,

 one hour after sunset. I researched a bit and discovered that a flash of lightning 

averages one billion volts but can have as much as six billion! I don't know how many volts

this one had but, this I do know, the Creator of this lightning is my all-powerful God and I am blessed

beyond measure to know that He is in control of my life and can do ANYTHING!

The voice of Thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world:

the earth trembled and shook. (Job 36:32)

He covereth His hands with the lightning, and giveth it a charge that it strike the mark. (Psalm 77:18)

Final Frost Fling

Well, we HOPE it's the last one! Right?...all you waiting-to-plant-my-garden people? It gave us a little beauty and a little damage but, of course, several photos to post, too...

The morning was cold, down to at least 32, and the schoolkids had to bundle up...

...I had to bring our tomato seedlings inside the night before...

...and many new leaves of the outdoor trees and plants got frost-bitten.

But the frosty scenes were beautiful, it looked like a dusting of snow.

Aren't the ice crystals lovely? Looks like white fur growing on the deck railing!

Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

(Job 38:29)
He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? (Psalm 147:17)

As Gold

Creatures In The Snow

Here's another post about the snow we had several days ago, this time of the various "creatures" and other things that I saw there.

I'll start off with the birds. They began flocking around pretty early, obviously looking for food. Poor babies, couldn't find much of it elsewhere, I guess, so I welcomed them with open arms...or maybe I should say open lens, heh.

I saw a flash of red in the trees, starkly contrasted against the white snow. The cardinal decorated the winter scenery so beautifully.

He flew to a tree that was a bit closer to me...

...and finally only a couple meters away. I guess he was hungry enough! Yes, that's birdseed that I scattered on top of the snow. 

Then there was the lovely robin, a bit more shy than her cardinal cousin. There's something about birds in the snow that looks picture-perfect, don't you think?

Well! It's obvious there's some sort of creature prowling around! Let's see if we can find it...

Aha, there he is. He looks a bit bewildered with the white stuff all around him, don't you think?

Here's Kitty, my daughter's cat next door. It took her several minutes to get adjusted to accepting her first snow. But she obviously liked it because she stayed out all day.

This little junco is all balled up, trying to keep warm while sitting in 2 inches of the cold, soft stuff. Or is she sitting ON it? I'm not sure!

What about this creature?! Looks like a rose but it's a camillia. She certainly contributed a lovely decoration to the scenery. I felt sorry for this beauty but she seemed to survive just fine.

Speaking of surviving, I've been amazed at my little pansy that I bought a month ago. It has survived at least 2 strong winds, 5 or 6 frosts and now this 2-inch snow. Look at the next photo to see how she's still as perky as ever...

I think its theme is: "Just keep on keepin' on"! A fantastic winter flower.

I shall end with this photo which might just be my favorite of all the ones I took of the snow. I've been calling it my little snow family. Aren't they the cutest?!

"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow...?" (Job 38:22)

God's Breath

Frosty Morning

I've heard that in the halls of old
They plated everything with gold-
The chandeliers, the pillars, floors
With spoils from their latest wars.
Yet all this splendor cannot be
As rich as what is given me.

For every night as soft we sleep
Out in the dark, and midnight deep
A beauteous miracle is done
Before the waking of the sun;

And if I wake just at the dawn
I catch a glimpse of what went on:
Each leaf is clad in crystal cloak,
The grass glimmers in fairy smoke.
The rudest bramble, tinged with rust
Is sprinkled well with diamond-dust.

The thorn, the tree, the hidden flower
Are glittering with a silver shower
And things that never caught my eye              
Are regal in their shimmering dye.

This miracle is but for those
Who early from their beds arose
And I can say I'm wealthy quite:
My world is gilded every night!                        -Rachel H.(from her delightful blog!)

By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. (Job 37:10)

Hope

"For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease." (Job 14:7)

"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." (Psalm 31:24)

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." (Psalm 42:5)

"But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Romans 8:25)    

My Feathered Friends

I've been enjoying the birds that come to our back porch. And, yes, that's the seed with which I keep them supplied. Feeding God's creatures, that's my job. And pleasure. Here are a little pair of doves and of cardinals, birds which come now and then, although not near as often as the sparrows and juncos. But they all are a delight to see and I am honored to have them for my daily guests!

Now for Mr & Mrs Cardinal...

        I love the comical little masked face of the male. Makes me laugh just to see him!

These simple but beautiful creatures teach me much about their Creator. I'm sure that if they could speak my language they would tell me that it's SO very easy to trust God to care and provide for them!

^"But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee."

(Job 12:7)