Beauty

God blesses us with much beauty.

 A scissor-tail came to visit in the early evening.

 Baby cardinals outside my kitchen window!

 

Caught this one's first flight into the tree

Just before his first flight!

Momma bird watches over her baby

This little finch is blind.  We thought he wouldn't last long, but he keeps flying around somehow.  He's been here for several weeks.  Not sure how he makes it but he does!

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

     I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
     Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
     Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
     If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.

These days

I have been posting a lot of pictures from our Israel trip, but today I digress.

The fog this morning was so pretty!  Almost looks like mountains.


The sun rise through the fog.

The weather has been nice and I got a shot of Al having his morning devotions out on the porch.

Look at this guy riding a 3-wheeler out back.  I wonder how comfortable those are.  I have remarked to Al that I should get training wheels for my bike.  I don't have the balance I used to and have taken a couple of spills.

A dove on my deck

Looking out my front window I see a robin who has laid her eggs in the tree in front of my kitchen window.  Every year it seems I will find a robin in a different tree.  This is a first time for this birch.

I got a shot of only 2 eggs.

Yesterday I thought I would look again.  Usually robins lay 4 eggs.  I was surprised to find babies!

I don't want to bother mommy robin, but I will try another peek.  Are there 2 or 3 babies?  I heard a kitty meowing around.  Mommy robin and a cardinal were scolding it.  I hope the kitty won't climb into the tree and get these sweet little babies!

Yesterday I had LOTS of shopping to do.  The list was long!  It was time to go to Wichita.  Some things I just can't find in our town.  I like to shop locally and I really like the size of our town!, but I do enjoy a hop to the big city!  I especially like this place!!  

It is not uncommon for Jill and I to spend 2 hours in that store!!  My younger daughter does NOT like to shop with us when we go there.  She is more of a "check it off my list and get out of there" kind of girl.

I had to put up the shades for the first time this year.  I have resorted to the air-conditioning too.


By Target was one of these trucks that transports huge panes of glass.  There was shattered glass all over the road!  Poor guy!  He and a fellow truck driver were sweeping up all the broken glass.  There are going to be some unhappy customers!  And an unhappy boss I imagine!

I was hoping to meet up with my younger daughter, but it ended up she was not able.  But between my shopping list and the 6 stores I had to hit, I turned off at all the garage sale signs I could spot!

I LOVE good bargains!!

And who doesn't love a stop here!!

I have to admit that after 9 hours in the big city, I was totally exhausted!!  My body paid for it and I had to hit the pain meds throughout the night.  Aahhh, but what an enjoyment to make good deals!

A walk

The flowering crab across the creek are so beautiful!

I enjoy the birds who come to visit  - an oriole


Harris' sparrow

the woodpecker who comes each day 

amazing how he can reach through the wires to get at a peanut!

I noticed something a little cock eyed.  My feeder was not where it was supposed to be!

 ???

I believe these are the culprits!  They were also digging in my flower bed on the deck and I found a geranium on the ground that needed to be repotted.  They must have been looking for some seed that dropped from the feeder into the flowerbed.

Jill and Claire came and we took a walk around the lake.  What a beautiful walk!!  I had not taken my camera, so when they left, I went back on the walk around the lake with the camera!  There were pictures to be taken!! 

This swing is waiting for the children to get out of school!

 

There are so many dandelions!!  Seriously they pop out overnight!  I think you can almost watch them grow!

I heard my woodpecker and found him in the hedge tree!

Is this an American coot?

An oriole nest, I believe.  Hanging over the lake.

I heard chattering above my head

Last week we counted 24 turtle heads bobbing in the water!

 So you see the turtles in the water?

 The water reflection is so pretty!

Our first Canada goose babies!  Swimming with Mr. and Mrs. Mallard.

 Kingbird perched on top of the evergreen

 Look at this turtle's nose!

I came home through the back yard and guess who is perched on my deck looking for more food?  Maybe it is hard to tell, but it is the woodpecker sitting on the post.

I think winter might finally be done with here in Kansas??  It has been a crazy spring but we finally started up our fountain and I hope I don't have to cover my flowers again.  How I love walking and seeing God's hand in His creation!

Creation displays Your wondrous works!  Psalm 145:5