March Awakenings

April 3, 2026April 3, 2026 / Rebecca / 3 Comments

Here are a few photos taken around the lake and wildlife refuge in March. It’s always exciting to witness the flowers blooming, the leaves turning green, and the little creatures stirring after their winter rest.

One of my favorite sightings was a mink that ran across the road in front of us and quickly vanished into the swampy woods, showing no inclination to stop for a photograph.

Just as the earth awakens and renews itself in spring, so too Christians celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, during this Easter season.

“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time.” ~Martin Luther

A Splash of Color

March 24, 2026 / Rebecca / 17 Comments

A group of Sandhill Cranes spent the winter at a nearby refuge, giving us the chance to see them during their stay.

Notice the rusty tint on some of these cranes’ feathers. Sometimes they stain their gray feathers with iron-rich mud during preening, resulting in this rusty coloration. Though it is not known exactly why this is done, various theories suggest that it may help with camouflage, enhance their appearance during mating season, serve as an alternative to dust bathing, or assist in controlling feather parasites. Regardless of the reason, this splash of color adds an interesting touch to their ash-gray feathers.

Below are a couple of photos of Sandhill Cranes we spotted flying over the fields near our house.

“When melodies dance and colors splash, the world becomes a little less gray.” ~Unknown

Credits: https://blog.nature.org/2024/03/20/did-you-know-sandhill-cranes-dye-their-feathers/

A Hint of Spring

March 11, 2026 / Rebecca / 16 Comments

Every day presents fresh indications that spring is right around the corner, filling the heart with thankfulness and joy for every new blessing that appears. Unfortunately, winter isn’t quite ready to relinquish its reign just yet. We hope the little plants can hold on as winter makes another appearance and the cold temperatures return next week.

“And just like that … winter opened cold bleary eyes to the newborn colors of spring.” ~Angie Weiland-Crosby

“Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle.” ~Barbara Winkler

“The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.” ~Gertrude S. Wister

White Blossoms falling, falling from on high
Before the bitter Winter has gone past,
Can it perchance be that beyond the Sky
The Spring — the longed for Spring has come at last.
~Shotaro Kimura and Charlotte M. A. Peake

The Eagles Have Landed in the Osprey’s Nest

March 5, 2026 / Rebecca / 13 Comments

We enjoy watching a pair of ospreys that have built their nest in a cypress tree out on the lake, where they have spent their summers for the past several years.

By late autumn, the ospreys have migrated and the nest sits vacant, waiting for their return in the spring.

So, it was a surprise recently when we looked out and saw two black and white birds sitting snuggly in the nest. It was a pair of bald eagles making themselves very much at home in the osprey’s nest. One of the eagles had been hunting and had just returned with a small fish for its lunch.

“Houses are really quite odd things. They have almost no universally defining qualities: they can be of practically any shape, incorporate virtually any material, be of almost any size. Yet wherever we go in the world we recognize domesticity the moment we see it.” ~Bill Bryson

Terrapin Tussle

February 23, 2026 / Rebecca / 9 Comments

There was a touch of terrapin drama during our last visit to the lake. The rising temperatures had them out soaking up the sun. In one location, an individual had taken possession of an ideal position at the “climbing on” section of a log. Even though there was plenty of room for others, this terrapin refused to share. We watched as two others tried to climb onto the log, but he used his body to block them and his foot to push them back into the water. Despite their attempts, neither of the two newcomers was able to secure a position on the log. Ultimately, they gave up and went on their way to look for another place to bask in the sun.

Other terrapin that we saw that day had greater success at sharing their sunning spots.

“Getting knocked down in life is a given. Getting up and moving forward is a choice.” ~Zig Ziglar

Reluctantly Sharing a Catch

February 18, 2026 / Rebecca / 33 Comments

For a couple of weeks, the roads and lake were covered in ice. Once the temperatures rose and the ice started to melt, we ventured out to enjoy the lake’s beauty. The ice and snow added an extra layer of charm to a well-known setting.

The highlight of the excursion was watching two adult and three juvenile bald eagles perched way out on the frozen lake. Each eagle was striving to secure its portion of a sizable fish that had been caught. They were certainly putting on a show with their posturing, prancing and high-pitched cries.

“Life is filled with treasures, if you’re a lucky one. Be grateful and be humble, and share them with someone.” ~Julie Hebert

A Flurry of Confusion

February 7, 2026 / Rebecca / 25 Comments

This last week, a flock of over a hundred American Robins unexpectedly descended upon our neighborhood, bringing with them noise and chaos. They appeared ravenously hungry, favoring the bright red berries on the holly bushes.

Besides eating berries, the robins foraged through the farm fields and along the roadsides for scattered grains and seeds, while also drinking from and bathing in puddles created by melting snow.

Once they had satisfied their appetite, they congregated on adjacent branches to roost for the night.

They lingered for a couple of days, systematically stripping the berries from the bushes and gathering those that had fallen to the ground.

Our resident Mockingbird, quite displeased with the invasion of his turf, occasionally dived-bombed the bushes, vocally expressing his dissatisfaction with the circumstances. The native cardinals faded into the background and were often nowhere to be found.

Eventually, apart from a handful of stragglers remaining as part of the clean-up crew, the flock departed as swiftly as it had arrived.

Silence and tranquility prevailed once more.

“Four things to learn in life: To think clearly without hurry or confusion; To love everybody sincerely; To act in everything with the highest motives; To trust God unhesitatingly.” ~Helen Keler

Surprised by a River Otter

January 21, 2026 / Rebecca / 9 Comments

I walked down a wooded path to a shady spot along the lake’s edge where I occasionally observe ducks and different species of birds. This time, much to my surprise, a river otter surfaced and I was able to watch for a brief time as it hunted and munched on prey that it pulled from the shallow lakebed.

It seemed to be aware of my presence, pausing several times to glance in my direction before resuming its hunt.

There was something special about this quiet little connection with nature. For me, getting outdoors and spending time with the created and the Creator offers a peaceful escape from the chaos and unpredictability of the world around us.

“When the news of the day upsets me, I pause and worship the eternal God who is never surprised or caught unprepared. This keeps me from fretting and getting discouraged, and it helps to keep life in balance. ~Warren Wiersbe

High in the Sky

January 16, 2026 / Rebecca / 18 Comments

I was at home, going about my usual routine, when I heard a commotion outside. At first, I tried to ignore it, but the clamor continued. Curious, I looked out the front window and was thrilled to see long strings of Snow geese soaring high in the sky over the fields adjacent to my house. What an amazing sight! Occasionally, we drive for an hour or more just to see these beautiful birds. Apparently, sometimes you go looking for them, and sometimes, they come right to you.

Below is a small segment of the geese that passed overhead.