With temperatures in the 70's over the week-end you know where we were... our back porch of course!!! I could hardly wait to get out there on Saturday; but first I had errands to run and groceries to buy. Once all of that was accomplished I got a large stack of devotionals, my Bible, nature journaling books and my North Carolina Bird's field guide and I settled in for a wonderful afternoon in the sunshine. Here are a few highlights from the week-end:
Bethany and I were chatting and she noticed a bird that she hadn't seen before. Her eyes are better than mine so I had to use the binoculars to see it. Sure enough it was a beautiful Cedar Waxwing. A few years ago my friend Ruth called me telling me to grab my binoculars and come over to her house to see some beautiful birds. Her trees were covered with Cedar Waxwings. But I had never seen one in our backyard before. The porch off of our kitchen is very high up and my field guide mentions that Cedar Waxwings like to hang out in the tops of very high trees. So that is how we were blessed to be able to view this lovely bird. Go here to read about the Cedar Waxwing
I noticed a small finch on our railing and it seemed to be in some kind of distress. Samuel walked right up to it and didn't fly away. So I went over and scooped it up to check to see what was wrong. We took it to the front yard so we could sit in the grass with it before we released it. I cleaned it's beak off as it had gunk all over it and then it started chirping. It's right leg didn't seem right either so we prayed for it and considered taking it to the nearby wildlife lady. But it flew up into a tree and finally flew away. When I went back outside to the backporch the same bird was back eating seeds and drinking water. He stayed for most of the afternoon. I tried to reach the wildlife lady and she didn't answer her phone. He eventually flew away and I didn't see him again. What a treat to hold him! We identified this bird as a Pine Sisken,
We enjoyed our first dinner on our backporch in 2009. David grilled burgers (he makes the best burgers) and I made potato salad and baked beans. We had a wonderful time around our table!
While running errands on Saturday I paid a visit to my favorite nursery and bought some violas. Yesterday I planted two containers of violas and have enjoyed the color they add to our backporch.
David is doing a sermon series on the Psalms. Yesterday he was in Psalm 19:1-6. "The heavens are telling of the glory of God: And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; it rejoices as a strong man to run his course. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, and its circuit to the other end of them; and there is nothing hidden from its heat." Readers - the heavens are continually declaring what God has made with His almighty hands. His ambition from the beginning has been to reveal Himself to us. How wonderful that the Awesome Creator God desires a personal relationship with us. Draw near to Him today. Marvel at His beautiful creation. He is closer than your very breath and loves you right where you are.
I would love to hear what your husband had to say about Psalm 19! It it my absolute FAVORITE of the all psalms. The heavens declare the glory or the Lord...it's so beautiful. I think this psalm helped me to become the nature lover that I am now. Every THING in this world says, "God made me!" (Now if we could only get PEOPLE to do that!!!
Your backyard looks so inviting! Wish we could bring the family over for burgers. One of these days, you and I will sit on your porch and have tea...I just know it!
• Mar. 9, 2009 - Untitled Comment