“A kind word is like a Spring day.” ~Russian Proverb
Face to face
While out for a walk on our country road, I suddenly came face to face with a startled rabbit. He was frozen in his tracks and was sitting like a statue with one eye intently gazing at me. Clearly, he had not expected this encounter. After sizing each other up, I proceeded forward, and the rabbit took off like a shot.
“Courage is facing your fears. Stupidity is fearing nothing.” ~Todd Bellemare
Summer Tanager
I saw this bird sitting in one of our bushes yesterday. It flew in, took a quick look around and flew away. It is a new one to me, but I believe it is a female Summer Tanager.
When April steps aside for May,
Like diamonds all the raindrops glisten,
Fresh violets open every day,
To some new bird each hour we listen.
-Lucy Larcom
Iris season
“Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.” ~Mario Quintana
Mother’s Day Rose
One of my favorite memories of Mother’s Day is of my Mom going out to our rose bush on Sunday morning to select a special red rosebud for each of her kids to wear to church. A red rose is worn on Mother’s Day by those whose mother is still alive and a white rose is worn by those whose mother has passed away. I didn’t realize at the time the significance of the color red, but now as a Mom and a Grandma, I look back with a thankful heart to have had her guiding hand and influence in my life all the years that I was growing up — to have had her wisdom and counsel during the years that I was raising my own kids — and now to have her friendship and listening ear as our kids have obtained their own independence. Thank you, God, for Moms.
“I am, for the most part, who I am because my good mother was who she was.” ~Richelle E. Goodrich
Mississippi River at Memphis
On a recent trip, flying in and out of Memphis, our plane briefly took us along the path of the Mississippi River. It was fun seeing an aerial view of the area.
“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.” ~John Lubbock
Passing through
Every spring I look forward to the arrival of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak as they migrate through our area. They summer north of us and winter south of us, but during migration, they stop over at our feeders to feast on black sunflower seeds. The males are black and white with red chevrons, while the females are brown and white with whitish stripes over the eye. While they are here, they liven up the back yard with their beauty and presence.
“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love … and then we return home.” ~Australian Aboriginal Proverb
Wild Pink Rose
A wild pink rose with a tiny green grasshopper growing along the side of our country road.
“Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others praise Him for putting roses among thorns. ~Unknown
Laying low
“Hello Rabbit’, he said, ‘is that you?’
‘Let’s pretend it isn’t,’ said Rabbit, ‘and see what happens.”
~A. A. Milne
Common Five-lined Skink
A Five-lined Skink basking in the afternoon sun.
Of all creatures in this visible world, light is the most glorious; of all light, the light of the sun without compare excels the rest. ~William Gurnall
walking on a country road 