Nature Photo Challenger #28

Denzil Nature challenges us to share photos of wild animals. Being in the suburbs of a landlocked state in the middle of our country does not offer a vast variety but we do have some interesting personalities of those animals we do have.

For whatever reason, we seem to have a lot of rabbits around our church and we are not in the country – not that far from downtown, but this baby was precious.

I am sure he thought if he was very still I would not see him, but I did, all five inches of him.

The squirrels here, and probably everywhere, are very creative in getting to the bird feeder but this one was hanging by his toes, literally.

Since I am originally from south Georgia, we don’t see groundhogs there but here in Iowa, they are everywhere.

My house is just on the outside of a small national park so we see deer here in the city limits like you would see the neighbor’s dog. Here we have mom and babies.

I understand this last photo is not an animal but he is wild. I had to take his picture because he was so sassy. Sea birds are a common thing here because of the Mississippi River. They follow the tug boats that come here from the gulf.

Strutting around like he owns the place.

I remind you as always the value of kindness, even with wildlife. All of God’s creation should be dealt with kindly.

WRITEPHOTO, Racoon

KL Caley has given us a fun photo to write about which brings back many memories of the racoons we fed in when living in the country of Florida as a child.

Dinner Time

‘Scuse me there dear friend, can you spare us a bite

My mate is quite tired while tending the tyke

And water is needed, for washing that bite

Proper washing is a must before taking a bite

Check out the directions to WRITE PHOTO and join in on the fun! If you know anything about racoons, they wash everything before they eat it of water is available.

Remember the beauty of wildlife and be kind with it. They are trying as hard as we are to survive in this crazy world.

God’s beauty

As we look around our world, nature in its rawest form is beautiful and majestic and something God wanted to share with us. If you are on Facebook, I encourage you to check out National Geographic: Photographs of the Day, as photographers show you the beauty, the caring, the loving attributes that animals have through amazing photographs. I posted the names listed on the page of the photo hoping these are the amazing photographers. I apologize if wrong but what amazing photographs.

Many say that animals have no soul. Since I believe in Christ and the Bible, it says that man is made in God’s image where He gave us a piece of Himself so that we would commune with Him, a soul.

However, God also created animals and I believe he created in them an ability to also commune with Him. A, D. Williams, an American football player and also a minister said, “If they love, they are aware. If they are aware, they have a soul.”

These photographs I am posting prove that all creatures understand love. Love given to them by our creator. Its an amazing love meant to be shared one day when man and beast alike will commune together in kindness and love.

“In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10.

Kibeir Maazouz

Keka Banerjee

Kibeir Maazouz

Adriano Garcia

A,J, John Arryadanpakal

Ashkor Patro

Nima Gaming YT

If you start with elephants, you must end with elephants. They are the largest animal we currently have and in my opinion, openly show the most affection and care within their herd and outside of it.

Always remember to show kindness and love as the elephants do. You never know what light you may bring to a weary soul.

Mimi’s Lily

This is Mimi, a wonderful protector that I lost in August of 2021. It was her loss that prompted me to write another book – Our Real Home. I am a firm believer in the Rainbow Bridge and that God created animals for us to enjoy here on Earth…and in Heaven. I believe that all the dogs I had throughout my life I will see again in Heaven when I get there. In the back of Our Real Home, I quoted Randy Alcorn from his book called Heaven, page 381, copyright 2004 by Eternal Perspective Ministries. He said…

Adam, Noah, and Jesus are the three heads of the three Earths. When Adam was created, God surrounded him with animals. When Noah was delivered from the flood, God surrounded him with animals. When Jesus was born, God surrounded him with animals. When Jesus establishes the renewed Earth, with renewed men and renewed women, don’t you think he’ll surround himself with renewed animals?

YES, I do. Why else would so many people be interested in working with animals, saving animals, photographing animals…animals matter, not just for food. Their lives matter, their beauty matters…

When I lost Mimi, I had her cremated for two reasons. One, I am just too old to dig large holes and two, I don’t have the large yard I used to have. So, I placed her ashes in a new flowerbed and a friend gave me a bulb to plant where her ashes were placed. This year the bulb bloomed and it is a beautiful lily.

For those that may be visually challenged, the lily’s main color is a light pink, a salmony pink and the inner color is a rich reddish-pink fading to an orange. Then the very center is bright yellow. The petal edges are ruffled and tinged with the same reddish-pink color. The size leans more to the Easter Lily size but the petals are wide. It is truly striking.

Thank you for reading today and helping me one more time honor Mimi. She will always be remembered as a very special dog…well, they are all special. Enjoy your pets and remember to be kind. They understand kindness and one day we will all be kind together.

Always be Kind!

If Interested…

Our Real Home is now available at Amazon in Kindle format and paperback.

This is fictional story of real life characters as they explain how they see Heaven. I made these book marks for a few of my friends.

The main purpose of this book is encouragement. Encouragement with how the Bible explains to us what Heaven is like and encouragement of just how much we are all loved by God. While the story may make you smile as these characters learn of the beauty that they were made for, it is a testament, according to scripture, of just how much God loves each of us and that he created each of us for a purpose, man and beast alike…so that he could spend eternity with those who love Him. My opening comments of the book…

Encouragement in God’s Love

The sole purpose of this book is showing the encouragement we all need by giving a visual perspective of God’s love for everything He creates. God has a special love and purpose for man, who is made in His image, and for animals who possess a special connection with God’s love. This story is written from the perspective of how I believe a dog is created and how a dog thinks. At the base of any dog’s heart, there is an inherent form of love and devotion, given as a gift from God. This gift is then given freely from the dog to his owner, even when that love or devotion is not deserved. The dog knows no different way to be. Hopefully, to anyone who is an animal lover, the love and devotion you have received from your past pet(s) can now be shared with people. Then in time, you may acquire another pet companion – not to replace one you have lost, but to strengthen you further still, and to expand that love you have been shown with others – animals and people. Life on this earth is hard on a good day and can be worse on hard days. It is my sincere hope that this book will be an encouragement for anyone reading it to realize the love, beauty, and patience of God for everything He creates. God’s identity never changes, but how we see Him changes as we follow His Word and grow closer to Him.

Do you believe in angels…real angels. I do. Scripture speaks of angels as messengers of God. I believe God uses all of creation to speak to our hearts non-verbally….and occasionally verbally of needed. This book takes on the light side of the “what ifs”. There have been many stories about angels…and we have all heard them. What if…

Regardless of your interest in this book, may you always be encouraged knowing God loves you more than you could ever imagine. Have a blessed day and don’t forget about the beauty of all of creation.

And remember to always be kind.

SOCS, Nov 5

I fully realize today, in my time zone, is Friday morning BUT I loved the idea of tomorrows SOCS prompt. My Saturday is going to be out of control busy so I are doing it today.

My favorite word is a word of action or an expansive adjective, and sometimes it can be an adverb. Its a word that is uses in every language on earth. Its an action that is used by every creature ever made that shows our inner hearts. It is a characteristic of one of the nine fruits of the spirit mentioned in the book of Galatians. It is the forerunner of all things beautiful. I close every post I create with it in some form. That word is….Kindness.

Kindness in any of its many forms, like kind, kindly, kinder… etc. is a base word for growing beauty. Think of all the actions you do on a daily basis but kindness is where you start from…like love, sharing, gentleness. It is a word we should always have in our pockets to use at any given moment. The dictionary has 197 synonyms and antonyms for the word kind proving the power of this one tiny word. Animals use it within their family units but how often do you hear about an animal reaching out to a different specie with an act of kindness and even protection of the other specie. I could tell you countless stories I have read, the most recent from National Geographic about a diver and a whale. It happens more than we know.

Kindness can be as simple as sharing a smile, a soft hello to someone scared, or a much needed hug from which you also benefit. It is a word we ALL benefit from so let’s use it often and help the world become a better place.

Always Be Kind

Feeder Pest

Those of us who spend money to be able to enjoy the birds, we don’t always appreciate the antics of these pesky thieves.

🙄

Some love to watch the antics of these creatures but they keep the birds from coming close so I have learned that if you only feed Safflower seeds, the squirrels don’t like them and stay away. But when someone donates a 12lb. bag of birdseed for your enjoyment you don’t complain.

🐷 Guess I should be glad its not a Racoon.

***I gave you food on the ground. Stay there!!***

They can be greedy little pigs as they will empty the feeder in a short amount of time.

***But they are quite amazing hanging by their feet!***

So I guess I will try what I did at home. Not sure if it really works as I changed to Safflower seeds at the same time. But we will add this to see…

The squirrels don’t like the movable slinky…supposedly. We will see.

While I wonder if a paint ball gun would be unkind in this instance…I always try to be kind.

Silliness of the Things We Love

Life can be frustrating, confusing and down right hard. So today we are throwing in a little silliness to bring a smile and possibly a chuckle to the day. I give you Daisy…

Hello, My name is Daisy. Some have seen me before but today I give you my official duties. Its not all love and cuddles. I am the chief protector of the home. The sofa is my favorite perch to look out. The softness of the arm is comfy on my bottom and allows quick jumping to the window to warn anybody of my presence…if they didn’t know already.

I love going outside. The yard is fenced in so no one else is allowed in my yard and I protect it with a vengeance. But sometimes I wonder what’s going on inside , so I go look in the window to see what my mom is doing. She watches a lot of TV.

My most favorite place to snooze is also on the sofa…the whole sofa. I am long and stretch out to the fullest. Preferable on my back. I like hanging my head over too…it stretches out my neck.

I kind of shadow my mom…wherever she goes…you can never tell what may go on in the bathroom…the shower is in there. That’s a bad place.

So hello, my name is Daisy and it was nice talking to you.

And like we all need to remember, animals like kindness too. So be kind to everything.

April 6 #1minFiction Challenge

Cranny’s #1 Minute Fiction Challenge this week made me laugh as my mind went in a whole different direction. Come join in to share you thoughts.

The Glass Box

“Hey George, come look. Those weird creatures are coming up out of the ground again. Hurry, come look before they leave.”

“Ignore them Martha,” said George as he moved away out of sight. “The more attention you give them the longer they stay.”

“But George they are fascinating to watch. Come look.”

“No.”

“One of them has that light box thingy that gets bright when he puts it close to his face. I wonder what it does?”

“George, are you listening to me? Don’t you even care?”

“No.”

Have you ever wondered what goes through the minds of animals at the zoo? I bet they think we are the weirdest creatures of all.

Regardless of the creature you come in contact with, always be kind…but if you need to run first, then run and be safe, then be kind from a distance.

The Fun Side of Christmas

Good morning friends. So far I have shared my living room tree, more on the elegant side; and my bathroom tree, the down under tree. Today I am sharing my bedroom tree, the kitchen tree and the woodland animals tree. Its the fun side of Christmas or at least my quirky side.

My bedroom tree is the more personal tree. It has the ornament that my children made when young, happy ornaments that make me me smile and it is fast becoming the S’more tree.

I know as kids we all ate S’mores, or should have, but over the past 20+ years, I have collected S’more ornaments. Its my kids fault, they started it – I have just kept it going. My S’more ornament this year made me chuckle when I saw it, so, yes I had to have it.

Below are some of my more favorite ornaments from this tree because I cant show them all – they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t a favorite of some sort.

***Notice the date on the bottom of the angel – ’81, my oldest made this when he was three. It always goes on the top of this tree.***

Moving from the bedroom to the dining room and you have the Woodland Christmas including a cabin, the outhouse with cow, woodland animals and the hedgehog Christmas.

Then from dining room to kitchen, yes no room was left untouched by Christmas, we have the rest of the critters celebrating Christmas. All enjoying the fun of the holiday, singing, playing instruments and playing in the snow.

On Thursday I will share the Sunroom Christmas that has the big tree and the Christmas Village. I added a side village this year – the candy cane village. Until then, I hope you have wonderful week. Stay warm, its 12 degrees here in Iowa and remember to always be kind. It shows the very best side of you.