March 27, 2010 Sharp Shinned Hawk

Walking in the woods in Wisconsin, the noisy leaves startled and scared off the birds. Except for this guy (or gal). I was using my 55-200 lens and this is still very cropped. Sure would like the 70-300.... one of these days! Not sure of the identity, hawk but is it a sharp shinned hawk or a coopers hawk, I'm leaning towards sharp shinned.... This was a very exciting moment for me! Birds at the feeders really aren't a challenge, they are wonderful but somewhat expected. This however was a capture in the wild and I feel so blessed! If you can help me pin down the identity of this bird it would be much appreciated!
Blessings~

March 26, 2010 Afloat

Last falls leaves on the spring pond. I visited Wisconsin this weekend, beautiful spot and beautiful weather. There's a small man made lake for swimming in the summer. It has jus a bit of water in it right now, mostly snowmelt perhaps, they'll fill it later. On the surface were scattered last falls oak leaves. I don't have an oak tree, don't see them around town. I learned this weekend that many of the leaves stay on the trees all winter even thru wind, storms, rain and blizzards! A friend told me that often they won't fall off til the new ones come. There's a spiritual lesson there, if we want new in our lives, we have to get rid of the old! After a winter of snow cover I found the leaves to be soft and pliable instead of crisp and crumbly like the leaves in my yard. It was like they had just fallen off the tree! I took a long walk around the grounds thru the woods, loved the sound of the leaves as they rustled under foot and the smell of the ground and the forest waking up from the long winter. Feels good to wake up after a nap, rested, energized, refreshed, ready to go and grow!! I'm glad spring is here, I'm ready to go!
Blessings~

Caught you!! March 25, 2010

Been a couple busy days, cutting mats for photos and then matting nearly 50 prints. Not as much time as I'd like to shoot photos. There is always a subject outside my patio door however. Most often birds and fairly often my little squirrel friends. Now that temps are warmer I try to carefully and quietly open the sliding glass door enough to stick my lens outside. Sometimes it works and sometimes all the birds fly away. Such was the case today, the birds scattered buy my friend held his place in the tree. I'm off for the weekend, going to a retreat in Wisconsin, bring some of my photos along for a small exhibit/sale. This is a yearly treat for me and am looking forward to seeing friends I haven't seen since last year! It's beautiful there too near the St Croix River, hoping to stop by a waterfall I know. If I can, I'll share some pics next week!
Blessings~

Pretty Pink March 24, 2010

Today the geranium blossom was fully opened! There are tons of buds and so I will have lots of pretty little blooms in the days and weeks ahead. A little taste of summer days to come! As I look out into my yard and my gardens it is clear that there is some work to be done before I will see any bloom outdoors! All the hard work is worth it when your gardens begin to bloom however! I can't wait to share some of it with you!

Blessings~

Opening March 23, 2010

My sisters geranium is begininng to open! Soaking up the sunshine!
Blessings~

Spring Buds! March 22, 2010

My grandma always kept geraniums in soup cans (instead of flower pots) on a shelf by the window in her dining room all winter long. There were always blooms, I have pics of a Christmas get-together and there were geraniums blooming! I try to bring in a few each fall and have had them bloom for me at Christmas as well. This winter I did not bring them in but have this one my sis gave me years ago, it is blooming for me now just in time for spring. Funny sometimes the things we remember, the traditions we find ourselves enjoying and the connections we have to loved ones. You may not have a geranium in a soup can on your window sill but I hope that you enjoy some little tradition that brings pleasant memories of the past and loved ones passed on. If not, it is never to late to start a tradition!

Blessings~

Hmmmm..... March 21, 2010

Hmmmm...... my only pics today were when I was playing with my manual focus trying to get the little white "tree" lights to bokeh!

Little Red March 20, 2010

Finally, the first day of spring. I hear of places that had snow, not just a dusting, one friend had 7"! Here we still have our old snow but the day brought sunshine with cooler temps. That was ok, slows down the river rise. Spring weather can be fickle! Spring also brings more feathered friends. Thursday evening I saw two robins, they flew off before I got my camera and yesterday I heard and then saw a blackbird. Just one solitary blackbird. Saw him several times, just him, maybe he's a scout! These pretty finches have been about all winter but are hard for me to photograph, they don't stay at the feeders long. Spring is all about hope, I hope to get more photos of the house finches, I hope to see more robins, I hope to have a yellow headed blackbird again this year, I hope we get no more snow, I hope we have more sun now than clouds. Hope does not disappoint, I know that spring brings new birds, warm temps and eventually summer. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 True in regard to spring, true in regard to my spiritual life. I hope for God's unconditional love, forgiveness of my sins, His Spirit with me always and an eternal home in heaven with Jesus, faith in Him and His word bring me the assurance that it is so.
Blessings~

Busy!! March 19, 2010

My little squirrel friend is at it again! This time he found the seed cake. He pulls loose a sunflower seed and then climbs up on the basket or the top of the hook and eats it. Then he goes back to the cake and pulls another seed and repeats the process, over and over and over again. No wonder he needs to eat so much with all that exercise he gets! Hope this day has you busy with the things that matter most, the things you enjoy the most! Blessings~

Lost March 18, 2010

I live in the small town of Abercrombie, so named for the historical Fort Abercrombie whose site is about a mile from my home. It was an early military outpost that served those traveling the oxcart trail, the Red River from Canada to Minneapolis/Saint Paul, early settlers to the area and those traveling west. I'm not an historian, you can find out more from the ND Historical Society. The photo today is taken from the the site and shows how the river and the major flooding we've experienced the last few years is taking it's toll. More and more of the site is falling into the river. It's lost. I've taken some beatutiful photos of the flood waters with reflections and at sunset. That doesn't change the fact that flooding causes damage. I'm concerned about the site, if there is anything they can do to stop the erosion, but all along the river peoples safety, their homes, thier lives are at risk. I'm praying for the people in my community, in Fargo, Grand Forks and all up and down the Red River Valley.

March 17, 2010

Hmmm, do you know what this is?

Reflection March 16, 2010

Finally we see the sun! This was day 11 of NO sun whatsoever. This evening when it finally came from behing the clouds I was so excited! I couldn't sit in the house any longer. Felt so wonderful to be outdoors and it turned out to be a fantastic eveing for photos. It was still and the light was perfect. You can see more of my sunset reflection on the swollen river pictures on flikr in my "Red River Valley Flood 2010" set. I don't get to the lake in the summer so I took advantage of all this water we have right now! A flood is not fun, it's dangerous, it's destructive and for some it can be life threatening and devastating. Tonight however, I found beauty in the reflections of the trees and the sunset. Trials come into our lives unwelcome and unbidden, sometimes they flood our lives with pain, fear and upset. What causes distress for us God will use for our good and at some point we will find beauty, and in His time he will bring calm and peace and the reflection others will see will be of Christ in us.
If you're life is flooded with struggles and trial, trust the Father, He can and will do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think!
Blessings~

March 15, 2010 Sammy's Barn

Today in spite of the clouds and the fog, I took my camera with me to town and on the way home I stopped and photographed every bridge that was under or about to go under if I could get to it! Spring flood season is upon us, the rivers are rising as are the creeks, gullies, and ditches. Not only are the rivers flooding their banks overland flooding is taking it's toll as well. This barn is just one example of what yards and farmsteads look like in the area. While it makes for a beatiful reflection image it tells the story of more frustration, destruction and damage. Hopefully won't be as bad as last year but the word flood speaks.....too much, more than we want, more than we know what to do with sometimes!

Trus you are safe and dry wherever you may be and if you too are in the midst of a struggle, take heart, the Father is at hand to give added strength, wisdom, perserverance and even deliverance!~Blessings~

The Vita Ferm March 14. 2010

One last pic from my excursion around Huron. This wonderful old building caught my attentions. Many of the windows are broken but there are window air conditioning units on the ground level. Cook Seed Co. the sign says and "Vita Ferm". Found out that before the Cook Seed Co. used the building it belong to Swift. Meat packing perhaps?

Familiar Friend March 13, 2010

It is always a joy to find one of these little visitors enjoying my backyard. They have such funny little habits but they go thru seed like crazy! I thought there were only a couple but they all look the same so I could be feeding dozens!

Secrets Kept March 12, 2010

When we stopped to photograph a mural in Huron that day this wonderful door caught my eye. I had to photograph it. Sometimes the things that catch my attention, that intrigue me cause others to look at me strange or even laugh at me, those are often the images that I fall in love with. Don't you wonder what's behind that door, how many cars, trucks and people have passed thru? How did the paint chip at the top? Who were the bricklayers, the painters, the children that ran past? So many questions that perhaps only the door and the wall can answer.....

Blessings~

Mr. C March 11, 2010

I did pick up my camera once or twice when I saw Mr C stop by. He will be harder to see when the trees have leaves!

Blessings~

Symbol of Faith March 10, 2010

I love churches, they symbolize faith. The faith of our fathers, the faith of those who left behind England and journeyed to a new world so that they could freely practice their faith and Worship the one true God. The faith of those who left the east to journey west in search of a better life to find great trial and danger, hard work and meager posessions. The faith of my great grandparents who left Norway and Sweden to find them selves in northern Minnesota enduring bitter cold winters with not much shelter, making friends with the Indians and building a life and a heritage that would one day belong to me. The faith of a grandmother, of two grandmothers who prayed and believed God would answer, of parents who have worked and struggled and endured great loss. Each church reminds me of MY faith. Faith that God has blessed me with, put in my heart. I pray that that faith not be lost with me but that my children and grand children have their own personal faith in the God of creation, a relationship with the Savior Jesus. I pray that for you too dear reader, the churches are symbols of our faith, the faith does not dwell within it's walls. The bible says that God does not dwell in the temples built by the hands of men. Rather the Spirit of God dwells in the heart of man. He dwells in my heart, I pray you allow Him to dwell in yours.

Blessings~

The Painting on the Wall March 9, 2010

The City of Huron SD, has mural painted on many of it's buildings. Beautiful art that depicts bits of Hurons and SDs histories. I believe this one showed the variety of folks that looked to homestead land. I would love to get back there and properly photograph each one. Maybe someday. We all have history, some of it's good, some of it we'd rather forget. The most important is that we've made the decision to accept God's grace in Jesus Christ and trust Him for our eternal salvation. Then, he forgives and forget the history we regret and repent of, and has a plan for our future!

Bessings~

From a Byegone Era March 8, 2010

I fell in love with this old house! Turrets are so cool! I bet this house was a grand one in it's day. Looks like they were trying to do some work on it, I'll have to check on it when I go back and see how she's coming along. We all need a little restoration from time to time, God's Word and some time alone with Him restores my soul!

Blessings~

The Octagon House March 7, 2010

Saturday afternoon we took a little tour of Huron, Barb showed me some wonderful old buildings (I love old buildings!) One of our first stops was the octagon house. Really, it has 8 sides. It is in the process of a slow revitalization! If I can learn more, I'll share it with you!

Due to 11 days of no sun, I've been a little blue, didn't even want to take photos. I'll post a few others from my trip for the days I missed. Sorry for my absence, I've missed this little daily ritual and hopefully am back on track!

Blessing~

Red Robin March 6, 2010

So exciting to see more robins the next day, this was a better shot and by Sunday morning we saw 17 at one time! Yeah for spring :D

Spring 2010 1st Robin March 5, 2010

Spring 2010 1st Robin, originally uploaded by pictureapromise.

This past weekend I went to visit my sis in law in Huron SD. I took my mom in law and off we went on our road trip. We had some sun most of the day but when we were a few miles out of Huron, the clouds rolled in. They stayed around all weekend. We notice birds flying about from the patio door and thought the ones in the far tree looked like Robins. I snapped a few quickly thru the patio door ( and across the driveway) and after zooming in on my pic we were sure they WERE Robins. The pic i posted today isn't great quality, but is is documentation. We saw our 1st Robin of the Spring 2010 on this day March 5. Hopefully some of them followed us back t Abercrombie and spring truly is just around the corner!

Blessings~

I Wonder March 4. 2010

Shell, originally uploaded by pictureapromise.

Low on ambition and inspiration! I have a basket full of treasures on my coffee table. Most of them are rocks and stone I've collected from some of my travels. This shell is in my basket by I have no idea where it came from! I collected shells once on a beach on Whidby Island WA. What a beautiful island, I would love to return. None of my shells that day were this large. When I look at it I wonder what beach it came from, who first picked it up out of the sand and how many pairs of eyes and hands studied it. I Wonder, about my shell, about tomorrow sometimes, and then I am reminded that I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand. And I trust him completely!

Blessings~