Focus is defined as the main or central point of something, especially of attention or interest. Over 45 years ago Bob and I were driving around Kentucky. As usual he was taking photos. After he snapped the one below I commented, “Oh I can’t wait to see how that horse comes out!” He responded, “What horse?”
I said, “Why the horse in the barn!”
“I didn’t see any horse,” he said.
“Didn’t you see the galvanized tub hanging out the side of the barn for the horse to drink from?” I asked.
“No. I just took a photo of the barn!”
As we drove on down the road I said, “Well, when you develop and print those photos you will see the horse. I thought it made the picture special.”
Amazing how people can look at the very same thing and see totally different items. Was it focus or observation? Now fifty years into the marriage we continue to focus and observe different things even when we are in the very same setting. I find that continuously amazing!
Now that the sod is established we have created two tie outs for Lucky, front and back. She cannot be in just a fence as she digs to escape. This morning while I was working to clean the front step, sidewalk and front door I tied her out front. She has been really good about staying out of the flower beds so far!
When I went to the garage to get the window cleaner I noticed she was jumping around nosing at something in the sod. Upon exploration it was a large crawdad!
Not my photo because no phone handy.
She was not liking that thing. I got the poop scoop and scooped him up. Took him to the water flowing along the side of the street. Guess the rains are bringing out every creature! Lucky went on exploring the yard, but seemed more wary than usual. I was delighted it was not a snake 😦 Yuck to snakes. I know they eat small rodents but they freak me out.
Her favorite yard thing seems to be eat a little grass “salad” and rest in the shade. That is a behavior improvement. A few weeks ago she did not seem to have the sense to get out of the sun, even when she was panting and obviously uncomfortable!
I went back to work on the entrance. Needed a little soil where it had washed away from a plant. Bent over to scoop some up and there was a toad! Oh glory! They eat lots of bugs. The one I saw was about 2-1/2 or 3 inches long. It was as black as the composted soil and manure. Wikipedia information digest says: “The color and pattern is somewhat variable, especially for the females. Skin color can change depending on habitat colors, humidity, stress, and temperature. Color changes range from yellow to brown to black, from solid colors to speckled.” There was a brown toad in my garden on Siesta. So glad to have this new friend!
In early spring I bought as inexpensive fragrant rose bush wrapped in paper and plastic, I moved it to this house that way. Following Jeff’s example, Bob drilled a few holes in a five gallon bucket for the new rose. In the bucket it leafed out, but some of the leaves did not survive. It sent up a few sturdy new shoots. We cut off the dead shoots and waited for sod and gardening area. Bob and Jeff planted it for me the weekend of July 10. This week I was delighted to look at the flowerbed and voila!
It obviously needs some rose food with bug resistance in it, but I am amazed it has made it this far! The other larger bush was bought here is five gallon bucket. This is it’s third home. And so fragrant! No Knock Out roses for me, thank you!
There is still a thick layer of mulch to go in the flower bed. Hopefully they will bring our shrubs, Astilbe and mulch soon!
Until our neighbors get sod, I have been enjoying a phenomena during rain showers that I call Muddy Bubbles. Writing in the Wall Street Journal Helen Czerski says:
“When things are just right, the [raindrop} splash rebounds off the bottom of the puddle and the circular wall reaches up even higher than usual. The surface of the water acts as if it’s an elastic sheet, so that as the elongated crown travels upward, it also bends inward to form a dome. The edges collide in the middle but stay intact, leaving a hemisphere of air trapped underneath a watery shell and creating a nice big bubble. In a typical outdoor puddle there is likely to be a bit of organic material that will stick to the bubble’s surface, helping the bubble to last long enough for us to see it.
The organic material in this case is clay, plant material, insect detritus, etc. And Helen is right. These are BIG bubbles. I have not however deliberately ventured out in the rain to try to capture a photo – yet. Below are photos of the puddle area a few hours after a rain.
Walking around our backyard you will find we likely have more water than that trapped under the growing sod. Taking these photos I was sinking over the tops of my flip flops. I do not think having a garden across the back of our property line will be an option. The wild Queen Ann’s Lace is about four or five feet tall due to the water!
Other than the drainage problem the sod is growing, we have had some rain (alleviating the twice a day watering Bob had to do) and the yard is coming along swimmingly!
We have seen a doe and her fawn in our neighbor’s yard. This was an unexpected visit from what I believe is a yearling doe. We were delighted. Not enough time to get another camera!
She was ambling on a walk and decided to check us out!
CloserCloser yet
She walked right up to Bob who was standing inside the sliding glass door. Then she ambled over to the hummingbird feeder in front of the kitchen window. We were absolutely fascinated! What a delight from the Lord.
As the deer pants for water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. Where can I find him to come and stand before him?
We went for a walk to see if the lily pads were flourishing. They were not and they probably wont unless the Center replants them. That is not likely to happen as they are planting plants that grow locally and these are really old plants that the Krippendorf family planted years ago.
There were lovely blue dragonflies (perhaps blue dashers?) darting around the pond. Then one perched (lower left corner) and I snapped a photo. Look in the background (upper right corner) at the large bullfrog on the floating log!
So was the bullfrog hoping for dragonfly for lunch? This one was certainly too far away.
Just love those front legs. Toes/fingers look as if he is praying for lunch!
Turtles on the other end of log could not care less! Keep watching for hidden treasure and amusements along your journey 🙂
Burritos in the trees
Like large Chipotle made
Perched winter mourning doves.
Nah - not the right numbering, but similar idea.
Maybe I will just stick to my forms. Nope, I will keep trying to learn something new! Good for an old person to do!
Praise Him and highly exalt Him forever!! Enjoy the photos! If you click on each photo you can see more detail!
Cincinnati Nature Center
Sunset over fern valley
Early Morning Fishermen
Have you checked your dandelions today?
Click to find the Heron on Harsha Lake, April 19th
April 21
butterfly bush and pussy willow
(The heron was right of the two large trees, showing white amongst the twiggy branches.)
Yes, we had inches of snow yesterday morning! Likely there will be tree leaf damage. No broken trees around us that we have heard or seen. When the leaves are out like this the wet snow can cause so much damage! The sun is out, blue sky shining and the birds seem to be shaking their feathers in disgust. Hopefully this was winter’s last hurrah, though they are saying one more night of freezing temperatures!
Dews and storms of snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. Ice and cold, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. Frost and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. Nights and days, bless the Lord; bless and exalt him above all for ever. Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. Let the earth bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. Mountains and little hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. All things which grow upon the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all for ever. - Apocrypha Prayer of Azariah 46-54
Regardless of the weather, I will praise Him and highly exalt Him forever!! This morning, 21-4-22, we have another 1-1/2 inches of snow. Yesterday it melted before noon.
Not meaning to offend anyone, but if the Spirit and the bride say come, then certainly might we bathe in the free gift of the water of life?
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17 NIV
Drench me, Lord, come and flow. Wash, renew, and overflow. Show me how to soak then splash Rest and float in Your life-giving bath.
Let anyone who wishes take (REV 22:17) Let anyone? – so unlike human ways! Let anyone who wishes – even those who just wish Let anyone? What are we to make of this holy declaration?
Come one and all, old or small Drink from the provision of the Manger King. All heaven says to you, “Come, freely have this gift, the water of life from Jesus Christ.”
Why do we so often choose to remain parched?
Choices to be made here! Examples of spiritual truth in nature! What will your decision be?
I was in the living room chair watching the news when the light seemed to change outdoors. I looked out the window and was wowed. I am always fascinated with the creation. God did not have to make it so diverse and He did not have to share it with us. Daily there are things to marvel at. The photos below could not quite capture the intensity of the stormy looking sky.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 