Unexpected Faces

Have you ever suddenly noticed a face

that’s been right there all along,

but you’ve just never realized it?!

We have them in our house. 

And when I started thinking more about it,

they all seem to be in the bathroom.

 A little disturbing maybe? 

Anyway, just for fun, here they are!

A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

Nests

Maybe you’d like to take a few minutes

to consider these little works of art 

crafted by some of the small feathered creatures we take for granted. 

Every bird builds its own specific nest,

made with certain materials, woven in a particular way,

distinctive to its breed. 

It’s truly amazing when you take the time

to consider these little bits of God’s creation!

This is most likely the nest of a Red-eyed Vireo

 that hangs its nest from twigs

and binds the grasses with spider’s webs.

 These nests are some from my mother’s collection. 

She’s skilled in the in the knowledge of birds,

and my information here comes from her expertise! 

I appreciate the hands-on love of nature

that she passed down to me.

Another tiny hanging nest secured

with spider’s webs.

 And a quarter to show

just how small it really is! 

A tightly woven nest interlaced

with spider web.

A woodpecker’s residence. 

 The more rustic style

twiggy home of a Cardinal.

The swinging bag style nest made by

Baltimore Orioles using string

and long horse and cow’s hair.

A nest made of hair,

most likely by a Sparrow – probably a

Chipping Sparrow.

This little Goldfinch nest fascinates me. 

It’s woven so tightly into the crotch of twigs

that it looks like it would hold water. 

It’s lashed to the twigs with spider webs.

And here… just look at this perfect, miniature,

Ruby-throated Hummingbird’s nest! 

It's so perfectly formed with lichens.

And again, a quarter so that you can

marvel at its size! 

Amazing!

Here’s the nest of the familiar Robin. 

It’s a good sturdy home,
 lined and held together with mud mortar.

The speckled wing feathers of a

Downy Woodpecker.

And last of all,

another perfectly tiny 

(less than two inches across)lichen nest,

camouflaged to look like a knot on this branch.

This is the fragile nest of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

“What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin?

But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground

without your Father knowing it.”

Matthew 19:29

It’s the Season for…

It’s the season for…

Toughening up the tender white winter feet again…

 And Swinging.

 It’s the season for…

Loosening up the soil…

 And planting seeds – some indoors

and some out.

It’s the season for…

Sunshine so warm that puzzles

should be done outside…

And postponing housework

until two weeks of laundry

absolutely cannot be ignored any longer!

 It’s the season for…

The daffodils to dance in the breezes again…

And wondering when I’ll find time

to sew spring things…

 And tasting a few tidbits of green things

from the garden.

 It’s the season for…

Wishing I didn’t have such bad allergies

and could turn this into and arrangement…

 And the first ride of the year.

 It’s the season for…

Bouquets picked by little girls

(which had to live at Grammy’s house not ours)…

 And finding the flowers, jackets,

and such forgotten for better things!

 It’s the season for…

Buds opening wide…

 And joy for simple things of life.

Oh, that we might know the LORD! 

Let us press on to know him. 

He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn 

or the coming of rains in early spring."

Hosea 6:3

Black and White - I Heart Faces Entry

I know that most of the United States has seen

 more snow than than what they've wanted to this year…

but I still had to pick this photo for my "Black and White" entry!

What a beautiful night it was with snow drifting down

and the glow from the lamp post lighting up

the flakes and my daughter’s face. 

If you’d enjoy seeing more 

 "Black and White" entries, 

just click on the I Heart Faces button!

Flying!

What a thrill!  

A neighbor of ours, Mr. Ross, gave us a fantastic

 family outing one Friday evening.  

He knew that Nathan has always loved airplanes 

and offered to show us his small plane.  

And he would take Nathan up if the weather conditions allowed it.  

So we headed to the local airport.

 Mr. Ross took three years to build this little two

 seater plane himself from a kit.  

It was perfect!

Kadence and Cassia both got to strap into the

 passenger’s seat and talk on the headset.

 Two men just fit in the cockpit.

 Waving to their Daddy in the air.

 And I was offered a ride I wasn’t expecting. 

Yes!
Please!

 The Charlottesville area with a winter landscape.

 Sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains.

"Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you."

Psalm 139:7-12