Robins

Every year I get to witness a robin and her babies.

Each year, they find a different spot to build their nests.  

This time these particular robins built it in the 

birch tree at the front of our home.  

Aren't they sweet?

One morning as my husband went out to mow the lawn,

 he peeked into the nest and realized that it was empty.

During the day, I would catch the momma bird hopping about on the lawn.  

As I would search, I would see that the baby was not too far off.  

The momma (or daddy, who can tell) was keeping an eye out for him.

As we were filling the fountain out front, 

Al told me to take a look at our front door.

There was the baby bird.  

Maybe he wanted to be invited in?

 Then he took off and flew to the window.

That evening, we sat on our lawn chairs out front.  

I was curious if the baby would return to the tree for the night. 

 It wasn't long until I heard the mother calling out.

"Chirp!  Chirp!"

It is a distinct sound.

 Then it wasn't too long and the momma and the baby were in the tree!  Above the nest.

The momma stayed by the baby's side for some time and then took off.  The baby was probably quite tired from the day of exploring, finding worms to eat and places to hide from cats!

 I once again heard the chirp chirp cry of the momma.  This time I saw her and another baby fly into the maple tree, next to this tree.  Since there was not a nest in that tree, I am assuming it was baby #2.

I don't know what happened to baby #3.  He had actually taken off the day before these two.  Probably the other parent had his eye on him too.

                                                                         * * * * * * *

I'm sure it was a little scary for the baby birds to go off on their very own.  But the parent was always close by.  "Despite how it may seem, the Lord 'is not far from each one of us' (Acts 17:27).  This is true even when we feel abandoned."

Under His wings I am safely abiding;

Through the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust Him - I know He will keep me;

He has redeemed me and I am His child.

                                                                             Taken from the Daily Bread

Autumn Glen pond, part 2

Our neighborhood sometimes has a work day when we get together to do work around the area - picking up trash, pruning, putting down mulch.....                              

                                              
This year, Al had to work at the hospital on that particular workday.  I helped some, but we also offered to put in time another day.

John Unruh used to do a lot of the work on a volunteer basis.  When he passed away from cancer, our neighborhood planted this tree in his memory.  Now it takes many hands to do what he did!

This past week, Al and I spent a morning out working.  We clipped suckers off trees, pruned limbs that were not growing where they should, trimmed, picked up trash (not too much since we had just had workday).....  Lots of work!

 But of course, I can't go around the pond without my camera!!

 At one spot where we were trimming some branches that were too low (bike riders would get smacked in the head!) we made sure we did not disturb one little mama bird!  Luckily her branch was not in the wrong place!

 As I was trimming one tree, I got poked.  I am not sure what tree this was, but we had to be careful!  Very sharp thorns on it!

 Mulberry trees.  The birds love them and of course deposit nice black stains on our sidewalks and driveways.   My grandma used to make mulberry jam!

 When we would get too close, the geese and ducks get into the pond.

Whatever work you do, put yourself into it, as those who are serving 

not merely other people, but the Lord.  Colossians 3:23

There is still more work to do.  

We'll need to do some spraying.  Both of us ended up getting poison ivy!!  We are both a little miserable!  We looked for it as we worked, but evidently got too involved to keep out a close enough eye.  Now we need to find out where it is and do kill it!

Autumn Glen pond, part 1

One feature that I love about where we live is our pond.

 
It was one of the reasons we chose to build where we did.

                                        I love to take walks around the lake - camera in hand.





       
  The other day when I went out, I wanted to find the oriole's nest.  I never did see it among the foilage.  I have in the past, but this year I could not spot them.

I got among the trees and could hear them and watched them fly about.

I pulled out my smart phone and found my bird app and played oriole songs on that app.  It was so fun to see the birds in the trees call back!  They were probably confused!                    

In the early summer female cottonwood trees release "cotton" into the air, giving an appearance of snow.  I tried to capture it on my camera, but it didn't do justice.  Fun to watch.  These "flakes" would land in the pond.

Cottonwood trees are the state tree of Kansas.

"The explanation that the Kansas Legislature selected the tree in 1937 was: "Whereas, if the full truth were known, it might honestly be said that the successful growth of the cottonwood grove on the homestead was often the determining factor in the decision of the homesteader to 'stick it out until he could prove up on his claim'; and Whereas, The cottonwood tree can rightfully be called 'the pioneer tree of Kansas.'"

Fairest Lord Jesus!

Ruler of all nature!

O Thou of God and man the Son!

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor

Thou my soul's glory, joy and crown!

Fair are the meadows!  Fairer still the woodlands,

Robed in the blooming garb of spring;

 

Jesus is fairer,  Jesus is purer,

Who makes the woeful heart to sing.