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Hope for better times ahead
Three guesses as to what this is? It’s not a kitty hairball. It’s not a photo of my hair in the morning. Okay. You guessed it. It’s an up-close photo of a bird’s nest found on the ground at a local park by a friend. This little nest gives me hope for the future. If a tiny bird can have the innate intelligence and the patience of Job to find specific materials and build such a beautiful, sturdy nest that survives beyond several seasons, I can learn a few lessons from these crafty creatures. I imagine it can take days for the bird to first find a safe spot, and…
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CTST: Baby birds and new life
Celebrate the Small Things: New life in nature reminds us of God’s care for all creation. This week I’m celebrating the new life of these baby barn swallows. They are the second brood of the season. I marvel over the intricate design of the nest that the birds built outside the building where I work. It takes commitment from both parents to make such a sturdy family home with mud pellets, sticks, grass and other plant fibers, working through natural elements (rain, wind, heat, humidity) to create the nest. They even sometimes battle humans whose first instinct is to remove the nests so they don’t make a mess outside the doorways.…
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A to Z Challenge: “W”inter ornaments
We’re well into spring and it’s wonderful to open up my window while I’m getting ready for work in the morning. I feel the cool air, smell the budding plants and hear the beautiful songs and communication between the birds. It’s just about the best music around. I ran across these photos of how beautiful birds are, even in winter, when everything else is asleep and regenerating. Even though it must be freezing out and quality food and water are scarce, the birds still appear on the stark, bare branches of the trees and brighten my day. It makes me even more grateful for birds. No only are they beautiful…
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Newport Beach – a gift from a loving God
© 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner There is something magical about the beach. I never gave it much thought until two of my good college friends from California showed me pictures of the beach at sunset. What a spectacular site. Just as I cherished the beautiful, lush mountains from Colorado, they had the same fond memories of spending time at the beach. I have since been to several beaches: those in California, Florida and Mexico. One of my favorite places to visit is Newport Beach, near Los Angeles, California. © 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner The evening tide comes in to meet the sand as if on schedule and it leaves a…
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Owly visitors help us celebrate our anniversary
Two barred owls around 8:15 p.m. in our back yard. Joe and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary July 1. We gave each other a card and promised to go to dinner soon to celebrate (Joe’s parents had sent us an anniversary check to sweeten the deal.) It was a busy time at work that included the weekend. I was glad and happy to celebrate 13 years of marriage (and 18 years of relationship) with my best friend and love, but it happened without fanfare or revelry. We actually received our “anniversary” gift two days earlier. On Saturday evening, I was working at the kitchen table and periodically took a…
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Up close and personal
For Christmas, I got a zoom lens for my Canon Rebel camera. I was thrilled. I received gift money, and saved up additional funds, to buy the lens, which I have dreamed of since 2006. I was happy with my camera but wished I could capture more close-up moments when traveling around Indiana and beyond. I’m a “Sunday” driver, but that’s a whole ‘nother story. This photo of two doves taken in February is the product of my first real photo session with my lens. It means a lot to me because of the different textures, the beauty of the birds and the fact that I took it (it’s not…
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Blogging from A to Z: Amish hunting
Martins eat mosquitoes so they are good to have around. Amish culture fascinates me, partly because it holds true to a simpler, more traditional way of life and its community is grounded in strong Christian beliefs. After moving to Indiana, I was thrilled to learn that it is home to several Amish communities. While the largest ones are located in Northern Indiana, there are several just northeast of Terre Haute. My friend, Sandy, and I enjoy weekend driving and unearthing treasures, whether it be at a garage sale, knitting shop, backdrop for the perfect photo or Amish farms (hence the term “Amish hunting”). Last year, we came across a small…
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Simply for the birds
Having moved from a Denver townhome to a small-town Indiana house with almost an acre of land, it was imperative that my husband, Joe, and I have a bird feeder so we could become avid bird watchers. And, what’s a new home without a pigeon poo christening? Bird feeders were also automatic cat entertainment so it seemed like a no-brainer. I trotted off to Menards, our local hardware emporium, and browsed through the bird feeders only to find cute, country-painted bird feeders shaped like southern plantations, quaint cabins and rustic lighthouses. However, they also would require almost daily filling. I then passed by the ultimate in bird feeders – the…
