Bullies…Even in Birds = Brokenness, #1LinerWed

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After reading the scifihammy post this afternoon about a Fiscal Shrike bird she likes, she also made the comment of it having the reputation of being a bit of a bully. I looked on-line to see how many birds are considered mean and was shocked at how many there were. I have one in my yard that I run off when it gets on the feeder because it bullies the other birds and is known to destroy the other bird’s nest and break their eggs. My bully is the European Starling – taking survival of the fittest to the next level I guess.

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The iridescent coloring really is remarkable. But I was surprised that one of the meanest birds is a bird I have been familiar with all my life – also a beautifully marked bird, the Red Winged Blackbird, known also for its loud mouth.

I saw a story with a video of an adult killing one of its young. I didn’t watch the video. I know this world is broken and meanness is abounding but I don’t want to watch it on purpose. But I remember back to a couple of stories written on the meanness of birds, like Edgar A. Poe’s poetry or Alfred Hitchcock’s movie. Such a tiny creature in the grand scheme of things.

This is a true visual representation of just how broken this world is. We see the large animals in Africa fighting and we are kind of accepting of that but I don’t think we realize birds are just a smaller version of wildlife where the survival of the fittest reigns.

That was not God’s initial intent. Not that I have any clue as to what God really thinks but I believe in my inner most part that meanness was not on His agenda. That came from that other “being” trying to discredit all the good that was created for its beauty and enjoyment by his lies and trickery.

So I remind you even more the importance of kindness shared throughout your world, to man and beast alike. Will the beasts understand what you are doing? Not at first but in time, repeated kindness is always remembered. Will man understand your kindness without thinking you have an ulterior motive? Maybe not but be kind anyway. Kindness is a reflection of God’s love and a shimmering hope of better things to come. Be the good example of trying to show unbrokenness in a broken world and always be kind.

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Are They People or Animal?

Max n Mimi 2 — Are they people or animal

With some this can be a tough question. They look like animals, smell like animals but some of their actions make us questions people or animal? So lets compare a few instances?

1- Only people can snore right? So then who in my house snores the loudest, Mimi or Max or the two legged people?

Both of these are snorers…and log sawing loud.

2-How about getting or never gets treats and having to settle for being under the table?

3-Or maybe the sleeping arrangements will help us decide?

And I know in some instances, some “animals” are smarter than some people? I don’t have pictures of that but you know its true.

Our dogs are our family. We love enjoy them, spoil them, laugh at them and miss them terribly when they are gone. So my answer to the title question is YES.

But most of all they are family. And like family they can get aggravating when the steal most of the bed, stand on the back of the sofa to guard us from the mail, UPS or the occasional plastic bag that the wind carries through the yard. Or when they beg mercifully for food they have no business eating but like us, know its pretty tasty and let us not forget the free fumigation we get from them when they do eat things they have no business eating…like people.

Our four legged family members are precious and a gift from God. If you look closely enough you can see the gifts God gives them to give to us, like unconditional love or the ability to sit next to you when you are sad and lift your spirits with a gently nudge or sloppy kiss. And they are always there for you. They know no meanness…unless they have been taught it and sadly that does happen.

But I remind you today to give your pet some extra kindness. Let them know you love them almost as much as they love you for their love has extra power from above and that is hard to match. And as you receive that love given from your 4 legged friend, remember to share it with others and spread God’s love and kindness where ever you go.

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Memories of Spring, Escapist Coloring Club

For Linda G Hill’s monthly challenge of the Escapist Coloring Club, I have created another idea of spring. Our winter was brutal and spring is not being very friendly either. So I color you a fun idea of spring in hopes that your spring will be kinder than mine here in Iowa.

HOP INTO SPRING!!!

IMG_20190501_204343 — The fun side of Spring

As you enjoy your spring, remember the beauty of new life as plants start bringing forth their beauty. As this beauty makes you smile, remember to share that smile with others and be kind. Kindness is a reflection of God’s love so share it often.

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Our 4 Legged Children Vs. Emotions

You know that look you see …or give when someone says something really…outlandish, (didn’t want to say stupid, oops, said it anyway).

The animal version…

This is the look I give people when they say animals don’t display love, kindness, naughtiness or other “thought of only as human” emotions. Below are a few of my favorite pictures that I repost from time to time as they are precious or hilarious and show a wide range of emotions.

As with all people, all animals are creations of God. God created the ability for emotions. Therefore… ‘Nuff said. But my fun post on this dreary rainy afternoon deals only with one animal in particular…Mimi. For those who may not know Mimi, she is my black and tan coonhound/black lab mix of a best friend. She was a rescue so she is very protective…and loud. When she sees the very idea of someone walking down the sidewalk, it is a high pitched reverberating noise from living room window, running through to bedroom windows then back to living room where I get this look…

IMG_20181210_104817 — Are you seeing this???

I assure her I see it and all is well. You can literally hear her sigh as gives up and comes back to the sofa until someone else breaks “her” rule of walking on “her” sidewalk.

But today it is raining and while she is welcome to go out at her leisure, she looks back at me when on the stoop and comes back inside. Heaven forbid our feet getting wet unless it is absolutely necessary for business. So now we look for ways to entertain ourselves. The rope is no fun, the sick is boring, the chicken bone is not right either. Lets see, oh look, mommy left her hair clip on the end table and left me to go wash clothes downstairs.

A lot of her shenanigans come from boredom or not getting the attention when others are in the room. Jealousy, just a human emotion?? When I came back upstairs, this is what I found.

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I pick it up and say nothing but show it to her. This is the look I got and of course the hiding pace where no one can see her. Dead give away that she knows she did wrong.

I had another dog that thought the dining room table was a good hiding place. Guess she knows she is too big to get under the bed. Knowing right from wrong only a human emotion??

Do they take clues from us in guessing right and wrong, yes, but I think it is already there, just like children. If you don’t keep it in check, it gets out of control. But the majority of the time they are just loves, providing that they are allowed to share their love for us. They love us, they need us, they want us to know they are always there for us. And they want the same from us.

So look at your family pets with a different perspective in knowing they need you as much as they want you to want them. Share in their love and kindness and watch them smile at you when you do.

And remember to share the kindness with others…people and critters. Kindness is a reflection of God’s love so share it often.

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Catastrophe, Not real A-Z Challenge

Note to self…If you are going to participate in providing a word for Linda G Hill’s Not so Legitimate A-Z Challenge, make sure it is a calm word…not a catastrophic word. Yes I am a day late in posting my “C” word, one that I donated to the challenge but that is because my day was a day of mild catastrophe. A mild catastrophe is a situation that is more inconvenient than it is disastrous.

I was awakened at 4:00 a.m. to an odd sound. What is that? Mimi is sound asleep and for once not snoring so its not her. I cleared the cobb webs from my brain and listen closer. There it was again…drat. The field mice are back. I get up to bang on the wall hoping to scare them away, albeit it only temporarily, but maybe I could pick up a few more Zs. It worked so I got back to sleep only to be rudely awaken by the alarm clock. Drat, therapy before going to work…last week…last week.

I trudge to the bathroom and flip on the light and in a matter of a split second, all hell broke loose. The mouse had made it inside, in my bathroom, the light and seeing me scared him into a screaming frenzy, that set off Mimi who was not in full bark chase mode, I am standing in the doorway and fully in the way of the chase and run, ready to scream myself. I am sure if you were a fly on the wall you would have found it a most humorous situation. The mouse scampered behind the cabinet before Mimi caught it and somehow in the catastrophe the glass(plastic, thank goodness) holding my toothbrush and tooth paste had hit the floor and got stepped on with a long squirt of toothpaste shot across the bathroom floor. Beat a cup of coffee any day in waking me up.

Exterminator was called and he came today and found three separate entrance holes beside the house and put out bait. Sorry folks but my rule is you live outside you stay outside or else…The only time mice are cute are in fairy tales and cartoon and I question that logic even then.

And yes as much as I ask us all to be kind, sorry, with vermin(or snakes), it hard for me to be there. So, I ask you to try to be kind in all circumstances and if the mice(and snakes) stay out, then I will be kind in leaving them be. But with people and dogs, I push for kindness. May you have a blessed day.

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Things That Make Me Smile

When I have days like to day that get so busy with other stuff and I get nothing on ‘my list’ completed, I get refreshing relief by going to Pinterest and looking at the various animal categories and scripture categories and get my head back in to the correct groove as it were. Therapy was a beast but I have much improved mobility and only one week left, so that is a plus. The handyman didn’t show so the new curtains and rod are on the floor. I can do that but was trying not to have to climb on a ladder just yet. So that was a bum. Rearranged my living room and got my plants in a position to get outside as soon as the weather stays above 65. So all in all a good day. While we always seem to attribute good days as God being there for us, in reality He is always there for us. Especially on the dark days when we can not see His hand. I saw this picture today and it made me smile so I thought I would pass it on.

Love, what a wonderful word and there are so many forms of love. I wrote a post back in November giving my perspective on just how much God loves us but in reality it can not really be measured. But God doles out love to all who will accept it in all of His creation. Man has the notion that he is superior because of his analytical abilities. I wonder sometimes if that is an admirable attribute when it get so badly misused. Scripture tells us the LOVE is the key. There are well over 100 verses in the bible that involve teaching us about love. Why do we have to be taught about love when it is given so freely to us because he loved us first. Think on that for a minute but don’t over think it with your analytical mind. There are picture after picture of the animal kingdom showing great strides of tender compassionate love to their own kind and sometimes to a totally different specie. Our human minds have a hard time getting around that and we gawk at it in surprise when we see it. I feel sometime we are the silly ones. Its very simple to me, but I am a simple person. 1st – God is love. 2nd – God freely gives that love to His creation 3rd- we in turn are supposed to share that love. Its a circle. This picture I found shows true devoted love between several family members.

God's love — Nurturing, devoted and tender love

Wonder what it is going to be like in Heaven when we all understand what real love is and how to use it with out out analytical minds getting in the way. Then we can use the analytical minds that he gave us as a gift to further His purposes like it was meant to be.

And with love in mind, try to always be kind. Its as much a part of love as love itself.

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A Tuesday Funny

There are things that we see from to time that inspire us, make us feel small, scare us or just make us laugh at the absurdity of it all. That is what this post is about. If we don’t laugh from time to time, we become an old stick in the mud. So I challenge you today to relax and be absurd along with me. I saw this the other day and it made me laugh out loud at its ridiculousness but also its grain of truth.

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Share the love in laughter with those who need it and watch it brighten their day.

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Am I Bored, Tired or Watching You, #SoCS

YAWN – To open the mouth wide and take a deep breath.

Why do we yawn? Is it boredom causing us to not breathe properly? Is it because we are not getting good sleep? If either of these are true, then who do we yawn when we see other people yawn? And is it the same thing for animals?

Linda G Hill’s SoCS prompt for today is yawn. What a funny mechanism to make us breathe better and research has almost as many answers as we do questions about why we yawn. All I know is when a baby yawns, it is precious.

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When adults do it, it sometimes seems rude but when dogs do it, you love on them and tease them about being tired. How can they be tired when the average sleep amount for our dogs is 12 – 14 hours in a 24 hour period. The rest of the time they are barking at a random plastic bag as the wind blows it across the yard. And I guess guard control of the mailman pulls too much energy from them requiring more naps.

Some animals are funnier looking when they yawn, like a horse for instance. As Debbie Smyth of Travel with Intent traveled around the globe, she got some funny photos of yawning animals that I am reposting as they make me giggle.

I found others on line that really remind you the damage these creatures can do to you if you get too close.

Lions, Tigers & Bears, Oh my!

And it getting back to a more cute side of yawning, I leave you with sad pictures of the canines in our house who went right past the yawn into the sleep mode.

While we enjoy the lighter side of life that we have the ability to enjoy, remember to share a little of that light and maybe brighten someone else’s day.

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M Engulfing with N Coming Fast

What a strange title…goes along with this strange winter. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet and the meteorological gurus now name winter storms like they have names hurricanes for many years, using the alphabet. We are at the 13th named storm – the M which is Maya. Folks its only the 11th of February and Nadia, the N or 14th named storm is right on Maya heels. So, since the majority of us are DONE with winter, I refuse to play anymore and am going to post happy thoughts and cute pictures from the internet. Hoping for spring to be calm and gentle; no “lion” antics allowed – you know “in like a lion out like a lamb” stuff. Only lamb stuff allowed this spring.

minsnow — I fully realize this is not a kind attitude but……

On to happier stuff….nothing says happy like a warn puppy…

Or maybe a cute kitten…

How about puppies AND kittens…

Other cute animals babies always bring a smile as well…

So as we push through Maya, I also bring you happy thoughts and many smiles.

Always try to smile…even when you want to scream….

And please remember to be kind. While the weather is not being kind, we need to up the ante and outdo the weather.

Gentle Creature, Tell the story Challenge #9

Due to the not being able to get out much this week because our weather has been soooo lovely, I was super busy this weekend and just now sat down at my computer. I was tagged by sadje of keepitalive to do a writing prompt of a picture she suggested and since I have never done that, I thought I would give it a go. Do come along and play to see all the creative juices flowing from other.

Her picture prompt I had seen before and thought it was so interesting, so…

“Will she bite me?’ he asked as they edged closer.

“No, she is a sweetheart. She was hand raised when her mom got killed.”

“But she has eggs.”

“They are not real. Come see. They are made out of concrete. She knows they are not real but it helps with her maternal instincts.”

“Weird.”

“Not really. She is the only one left of her specie and the lab is trying to see if they can play God.”

“Oh, that’s not good. You don’t mess around with His creation.”

“Yea, you’d think scientist would have learned their lesson with the disaster of the dinosaur island they tried to create.”

“Wild animals are called wild animals for a reason. They don’t understand your reasons of why you do what you do and they are protecting their area.”

As the boys turned back to the main farm area, they could hear in the distance the large waterfall as it cascaded down the mountain side bringing fresh water to large farm area of rare and exotic animals.

“I understand it could be a dangerous task under any circumstance.”

Written for Tell the Story #9

Silly stories can expand our imaginations for those who write. And those who read me know my love for animals and somewhat warped humor, so see what you can do with this. I am tagging those who I know write and those I see doing challenges. Here is my prompt for you.

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