Loving the birds here!

How I enjoy the birds!  My kids call my place the "bird sanctuary".

One morning I heard the loud call of a Carolina wren.  For such a tiny creature, it sure has a LOUD call!

 It was close by!  Peeking out the bedroom window, I saw it in my neighbor's vine that was wrapped around their stairs.  See it?       On the edge of the vine.  As I checked my camera to make sure I got a clear photo, I noticed another bird.  Rather, birds, plural.

Another look out and I saw lots of little baby sparrows!  I didn't see all of them at first as they blended in.

 A male downy woodpecker enjoying some nuts.

(female downy does not have red spot on head)

We have had lots of barn swallows!

We've taped foil strips above our speakers on the deck

so they won't build a nest there!  They were not happy.

What kind of "bird" is this?

My mother taught me this song.  Do you know it?:

The birdies in the tree tops sing their song,
The angels chant their chorus all  day long,
The flowers in the garden blend their hue
So why don't I, why don't you, praise Him too!

Psalm 66:4, ESV 
All the earth worships You and sings praises to You; they sing praises to Your name.

Flowers enjoy the rain!

We have had so much rain this year!  I really feel sorry for the farmers and for those whose homes are under water.   It has been an unprecedented spring...and even going into summer, it has continued to rain. 

 

We get some spectacular "thunder boomers"!

Al and our neighbor, Dalton, share yard work.  This last week it began to rain just as they were finishing up.

The rain has been really good for our plants though.

We purchased a 2nd tractor sprinkler for the front yard and have yet had to use it.  I suppose by August we will be having drought though.

                 

    And on a sunny day, the doves were enjoying sunning on the deck.      

                              

This is My Father's World

This is my Father's world, and to my list'ning ears,
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world!  I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas - His hand the wonders wrought.

     This is my Father's world - The birds their carols raise;
     The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.
     This is my Father's world!  He shines in all that's fair;
     In the rustling grass I hear Him pass - He speaks to me ev'rywhere.

          This is my Father's world - O let me ne'er forget
          That tho the wrong seems oft so strong God is the Ruler yet.
          This is my Father's world!  The battle is not done;
          Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and heav'n be one.

This hymn was written by Maltbie D. Babcock (1858-1901), who was a minister from Lockport, New York.  He would often take walks overlooking a cliff, where he would enjoy the view of beautiful Lake Ontario and the upstate New York scenery.  As he prepared to leave for his walks, he would often tell his wife that he was "going out to see my Father's world."