This is Blue. He is a Western Scrub Jay. Blue is a frequent visitor to the yard of my Aunt Myrna. Blue likes to land on top of heads, especially if a peanut is awaiting him. He also will land on the chest of a person sitting in a recliner if there are peanuts to be found. I have bluejays in my yard, but they are not as friendly, or quite so brilliantly azure blue as a scrub jay. I hope to be able to travel out west one day and meet Blue.
“My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2
I love the display of carnivorous plants in the Longwood Gardens conservatory. They are fascinating and unique. I find joy and peace in knowing that the Maker of heaven and earth loves all mankind, and is the ruler of all the earth, no matter what man might say. The creator of such diversity is able to bring salvation and healing to every man or woman’s heart no matter what their circumstances, past or present. He can bring beauty out of ashes and dust. I think that good thought deserves an, “Amen.” Have a glorious Sabbath Day.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm —he will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
I’ve had this cocoon hanging on a shelf for many months. I’ve become so used to its presence it has been nearly forgotten, until last night…
Yes, the photograph tells the story, a moth was born, a very large moth. I was dozing, almost dreaming, when the sound of beating wings filled the room. Our television was still on, and I think the light drew the newly emerged moth. At first we thought it was a bat, the moth was that large. We quickly grabbed a towel to throw over it. Thankfully, it dawned on me that the moth had left it’s cocoon. The moth landed on the floor, and I placed my hand beneath it’s feet. It climbed aboard, I cupped my other hand over it, and we let it escape into the night through our bedroom window.
I think it was a Polyphemus Moth. My only regret is I was not aware the moth was emerging and missed watching the birth. He or she is out there in the night now, meeting other moths and doing what moths do.
My favorite goose is guarding a brood of eggs and goslings. In the photograph above you can see a glimpse of the egg she has her foot upon. I am thrilled to see this. She often hatches interesting “hybrid” geese and ducks.
Here are a few of her babies from the past, as far as I can tell, crosses between the white goose, mallards and wild geese. I love going to Alcyon Lake to see the “odd” assortment of waterfowl, courtesy of “Blue Eyes,” as I call the old girl. She has been in the park for years. I don’t know how long ducks and geese live, but I hope in her case it is a long, long time.
There are geese and ducklings everywhere. Spring has sprung!
I was walking in Alcyon Park when I noticed a fallen branch. Oh…not a branch at all…
…A long, rather large snake.
I thought at first he was not alive,
until I prodded him with the toe of my shoe. Yikes!
He didn’t appreciate that at all.
He continued to advance and coil, and I retreated…quickly.
He was at least four feet long.
Of course, I posted my pictures on Facebook.
Friends thought he might be a…
Rat snake, King Snake or a
Black Racer.
I am not sure, I just know he was a “BIG” snake.
He/she retreated back into the woods.
I won’t be walking in there anytime soon.
After googling the names my Facebook friend suggested, and checking out the photographs on the sites I found, I am convinced he/she was an Eastern Black Rat Snake. This means he is a very good snake to have around. I’d rather have hundreds of this fellow living in the woods nearby, than have hundreds of rats and other destructive, disease-carrying rodents.
My slithery friend didn’t fall under any category I use for my blog, so I used my blogger’s prerogative, and took some creative license when I created the new category of “Phascination.” (fascination)
