Mothers

I have vivid memories of this scene from my childhood days growing up on the farm. My sisters and I played in the hay loft of our barn and every year there were nests of swallows that filled my days with excitement. I never knew then, nor do I fully understand now, how one mother bird can feed multiple babies in the nest.
Mothers are incredible creatures. I believe they are made with abilities that are beyond the natural; and believe me, if that wasn't true, I don't think I would have made it through some of my own mothering days!
May each Mother be blessed today. May they be seen and valued because of who they are and all they have given.

Happy Mother's Day - May 2009

*this photo is not mine

ANNOUNCING THE ARRIVAL OF .....

THE FIRST GOLD FINCH COUPLE OF THE YEAR! ! !

I am soooo excited! I've been waiting and waiting and almost resigned myself to the thought that the gold finches had found other yards to enjoy this year. But, today, and it is a glorious day here, I just happened into the kitchen and THERE THEY WERE! ! ! They are soooo handsome and I love to watch them.
I've also seen 3 pair of Tree Swallows in our backyard in the past couple of days, and they are a thrill to watch in action. 'Air-o-batics' plus! ! ! I can't believe how close they will fly to me when I'm out there. Sometimes I can feel the air move as they zoom by.
After the rain, the air is so clean and every blossom and leaf is sparkling. It's music in living color again - and it mesmerizes me.
Hope you're enjoying Spring wherever you are, also! It's an exhilerating time of year!

The View From My Room

Sunny - Spring - Sunday
Blossoms - Beautiful - Blessings
May - Mountains - Majesty
Light - Life - Love

Spring Posts

There are new posts about Spring on
http://www.captivatingwoman.blogspot.com/
which you may enjoy.
You can leave comments there, as well :)

Bursting Forth in Spring

After spending what seemed like a long time 'sorting' through stuff (others might call it Spring Cleaning), I got weary of looking at inanimate objects and decided I needed to go outside and feel Spring in my yard.
Spring is such a vibrant time of year! I love the feeling of everything stretching, bulging with promise and bursting forth in the most beautiful symphony of color and fragrance! I don't know how anyone can be outside and not feel how delicious it is - I wish I could drink it!
I took some photos from around my yard to honor the One who is responsible for all the glorious displays. He has my full attention and I love Him so! I could sing of His love forever!

(above) This Fair Maiden - a purple pansy - over wintered!

You can see that she bears some scars, but she lives! ! !

The Chocolate Bunny

Childhood memories of Easter are vivid in color, aromas and feelings.
I loved the Easter lilies in the church, the ladies' Easter bonnets (which soon went out of style in my life time), the triumphant hymns. Then there were all the colored eggs of all sizes - from regular eggs that were painted to the little foil wrapped chocolate ones.

I don't know why, I've never figured out what it is in me, but the thing I remember most and appreciated the most, was the Chocolate Bunny. I remember receiving one every Easter for years and I remember feeling the same way about it every time.

The bunny would come in one of those display boxes and I never wanted to open it. As a kid, I was amazed by the 'art work', the wonder of 'how this could be made' and I could see a 'personality' in its face - even though I was fully aware that it was only chocolate:)

I remember the struggle - I wanted to eat it because it was always the most delicious chocolate of the year, at least to me, but I also wanted to save it - savor the moment, savor the wonder. Almost always, my desire to save it won out, at least for a while, and the bunny would sit on my dresser for weeks before I would sit down and open it up. I would run my fingers over all the ridges and curves, and then, take that first bite. My, oh my! how sweet it was...

Busy Day

It was a beautifully busy day at the feeders today! Two mourning doves came back to visit a couple of times today. I finally was able to get the camera and some shots before they flew away this afternoon. They are so sweet - and I really enjoy their presence at the station.

Then this gregorious house finch came. I could tell right away that this guy had attitude. He coloring is brilliant right now and he is feeling like the world of bird seed belongs to him! The photo below is a moment when he was interacting with another bird. There was a lot of fluttering going on - I'm wondering if it is a female house finch?

The trees and hedges are fairly vibrating with the sound of bird songs and the feeders are needing to be filled about every other day now! ! ! I can't help but dance inside for joy at all the excitement! What a beautiful time of year!

**Click on photos for an enlarged view**