Remembering Mama

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  ~Romans 12:12

I've been thinking about my Mama a lot lately.  She's always on my mind but the last few weeks she's been there more and more.  I love remembering the times we spent together and talking on the phone as I drove home from class or work.  She was always interested in my day.  It seems that there isn't anything that doesn't make me think of her.  She's everywhere.  She loved spring time and Easter.  This is my second Easter without her and although today is a joyous day it doesn't feel the same without her here. Nothing does.  

I am so thankful for the time I had with her. She was an amazing Mom.  I love you more than I can say Mama and I miss you more than anything.  I will see you again one day.

I hope you all had a wonderful day celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  Happy Easter!

Until next time happy blogging.

~Cindy

Northern Mockingbird

"You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance."  ~Khalil Gibran

This is a small Oak tree that appeared to be dead.  However in the past couple or so weeks it has developed buds which you can see in the photo.  The Mockingbird seems to enjoy its perch here because I've seen it sitting in this tree before and often.

This post would have been up sooner but I heard a terrible noise around 10am and realized it was my Dad.  He had fallen in his bedroom.  My sister and I tried to get him up but we weren't able to.  No neighbors around to help so I called 911.  The EMT's came, picked him up and checked him out.  He's okay!  

Until next time happy blogging.

~Cindy

Yellow-throated Warbler

Yellow-throated Warbler

"Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.".   ~Henry David Thoreau

This was probably the second or maybe the third time that this bird visited the tree where the feeders hang.  I was so excited that it came back.  It's a very quiet bird and at first I didn't even see it but luckily it caught my eye and I had just enough time to snap these before it flew off.

Wishing everyone a magnificent Monday.  Until next time happy blogging.

~Cindy

It's the red bird

Male Cardinal 

"Disappointment to a noble soul is what cold water is to burning metal; it strengthens, tempers, intensifies, but never destroys it."  ~Eliza Tabor

I love the way he's standing.  I think he was disappointed because there were no Sunflower seeds on the post for him.  I've been purposefully neglectful in putting them on top of the post because I want them all to feed from the feeders.  Happily I can say they are but on ocassion they still visit the post.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week.  Until next time, happy blogging.

~Cindy

Grace

Azalea blooms

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  ~2 Corinthians 12:9

Azalea blooms from my sisters garden.  I added an antique effect to the photo using an iPad app called PhotoToaster.

Swallow-tail Kite

Swallow-tail Kite, Spring Hill Florida 03/13/13

"No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings."  ~William Blake

These are amazing birds.  Per my iBird South app they are considered the most adept and acrobatic flier of all the raptors (Audubon does not consider these birds raptors).  It also says that in some nests two eggs are laid but the first chick to hatch kills the younger chick.  Ornithologists refer to this as obligate siblicide.  I think that is sad but I understand it's the nature of these beautiful birds.  I wish I could have gotten a better photo and one of the face but it was flying high and I wasn't able to get in a good position due to trees.

Until next time...happy blogging.

~Cindy

Songbirds

This post was meant to be posted early this morning but due to interruptions I've had to put it aside quite a few times today.  I thought about just posting it tomorrow but I wanted to post something today so, here it is.   

After yesterdays little bit of rain the weather here has turned a little cold but supposedly for only a short time.  The forcasted low for the morning was 39 and our high today is about 74. I really thought that winter was over but I keep forgetting this is Florida.  

Chipping Sparrow on Oak branch

 

I believe this is called a Chipping Sparrow.  I've been seeing this little bird for quite some time now but haven't been able to get a really good photo of it.  This is the best I've gotten so far.  It loves to forage around the bottom of the tree where two of the bird feeders are hanging.  It blends so well into the brown grass that it's hard to spot.  Luckily for me it decided to perch in the tree this time.  Cute little thing!

 

Cardinal (male) on wire fence next to feeders

This beautiful male Cardinal decided to grace me with his presence this morning as I sat near the feeders.  He sat on the fence for quite a while.  I think he was contemplating whether or not to visit the feeder.  After a short while he decided against a visit and flew off...

Cardinal (male) sitting above feeders in Oak tree

 

just as this male flew into the tree.

 

Blue Jay sitting on seed post

 

This was taken a few days ago but I wanted to share it with you.  I love Blue Jays!  I think they're such beautiful birds and I really enjoy hearing their musical "queedle-queedle" call. 

 

.    .    .    .

 

And the songbirds keep singing

Like they know the score

And I love you, I love you

I love you like never before
~ Eva Cassidy

 

.    .    .    .

 

Until next time...happy blogging

 

~Cindy

Ho-hum of a day

Nothing all that great to post today. I'm a little ho-hum about blogging the last couple or so days. I love blogging and I love posting and sharing my photos. I guess I'm a little more tired than usual and the simple things seem to wear me out more easily than before.

The following are three of six photos I took earlier today.  Three of the photos came out horribly and so I won't post them.  I will tell you they are of the Chickadee when it first lands thru take off.


 

Hello gorgeous!

 

Slurp, slurp, slurp...slurp

 

Ahh, that was cool and refreshing

 

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time."   ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Today started off rather ordinary and finished the same way. The sky was overcast and at times some dark clouds rolled in and then out. Tomorrow we have a 70% chance of rain and although we need it I'm dreading not being able to get outside with my camera. Hopefully, it will rain early in the day and then clear out. 

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Attitude

"Having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can't be done." ~Bo Bennett

I previously posted a cluster of these little flowers.  Hope you don't mind seeing this one.  Wishing everyone a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend. 

Little Drummer

 

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting." ~Charles Kingsley

Interesting fact about woodpeckers (that I didn't know) is that they don't sing songs but instead make drumming sounds which serve the same purpose.  Downy Woodpeckers have a Pik, Whinny and a drum sound in their repertoire. 

Wishing everyone a terriffic Thursday. 

Happiness

Carolina Chickadee all fluffed up

Carolina Chickadee

 

"Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it." ~J. Petit Senn

 

It's been awhile since I ventured from home to get any photos.  I keep saying to myself I'm going to one of the local parks or preserves but something always prevents me from going.  So, until I actually make it to the park, I have these two Chickadee photos to share with you. 

Wishing everyone a happy Sunday evening and a wonderful new week.