Or Do They Own You?

We in the US have a thing for our pets, not sure if its everywhere but definitely here. For example…

***If you go to the bathroom in the middle of the night you lose your spot.***

Or is there really any question as to who is in charge…

And Heaven forbid you don’t take the squirrel in the yard seriously…

The mumbling and back-talking that goes on is worse than any teenager. And of course, the guard post is a favorite place where we can survey the premises as needed and no one else is allowed there.

So with the fact they sleep where they want, in the most interesting positions, and only allow certain “beings” to get near the house…who really owns who? And I guess we are grateful that they do as they show their love and devotion by snuggling close.

So I guess it all goes without saying but feeling the love and devotion that our pets want to share with us. So, let’s follow suit and be kind in return and spread it to others.

Always Be Kind!!

In the Midst of a Storm

Yesterday for the Midwest, it was a turbulent day of rain, hail, wind, and tornadoes. Fortunately, we survived the madness but others did not fare as well. I don’t think anyone was injured but trees, powerlines and some buildings did get damaged. I got some interesting pictures I thought I would share of the ominous clouds as they passed over my house.

There were two lines of the storm and I thought (foolishly) that I could zip between them to the McDonald’s down the street for a quick burger. As I drove into the parking lot, the sun looked like a glowing ball in dark gray sky, making the area look like a black and white photo.

Then while in the drive-through line, the deluge started. Fortunately, it was a short-lived line. As I was leaving the glowing ball made the sky look it was on fire surrounded by eerie luminous clouds.

Mother nature doing her thing. Even in the wrath of a storm, there is beauty that she creates if you look hard enough. May we also show beauty in all that we do. I think if we are always kind, then beauty will always be seen, therefore…we should always be kind.

FOTD, April 8, Emergence

While I loved the bright orange azaleas in Cee’s pictures, I have to be realistic…we got two inches of snow last week…after Easter. So I give you the emergence of the bulbs in my yard because, NOW…spring is finally here.

In the front yard, we have a daffodil trio of the large trumpet daffodils and then the double daffodils in yellow and white.

The first two shots are flowers the birds planted, a pink and a purple hydrangea, and a red tulip. The last one is the reemergence of a Dianthus. I planted four last year and this is the only one that seemed to have survived our sub-zero winter this year.

And to show you I wasn’t kidding about the snow last week. Snow in April… ridiculous.

The daffodils in the back yard are smaller blooms with bright orange centers.

I love the happiness of a daffodil, plus they are supposed to help deter moles…they are not doing that but they are still pretty.

As spring brings smiles to a lot of us, share those smiles with others and echo those smiles with kindness.

CFFC: Things That Are Cold

Since March is one of those months that can’t make up its mind about being warm or cold, I feel this is a perfect time to share a few cold pics. A couple of them are from winter but even today that white stuff is around.

After a warm December, January dropped 2 feet of the white stuff.

I really like the tree in the picture above. Nature has a way of making cold look beautiful.

Even the birds were cold and saying “Whose bright idea is this?”

My dog Daisy is not a fan of cold. She will burrow down or get completely under the covers. I gave up making the bed.

If we look through a creative lens of almost all things God creates, we can see the beauty in it. One of the things we don’t realize the beauty of it is kindness. Kindness has a beauty that can touch our heart for a lifetime.

I Know Its Still March but…

Old Man Winter is refusing to turn loose his grip. While I am thankful for only the inch we got, as Cedar Rapids got 5 inches…I am still done. Thank you very much for coming but leave…

The sunset the other day was so much prettier but we knew he wasn’t fully done.

As we take a deep breath for being teased that spring would be early…we know soon the sweet lady of spring will be here. And until then we patiently wait and remember to be kind. Kindness can warm our hearts until spring is FINALLY here to stay.

Monday Windows, March 18

Ludwig always has interesting windows with his Monday Window challenge. This week its round top windows.

To me, the arch windows of older buildings are the most interesting, especially to understand the era in which they were made. Some are smooth curves and some are arched with a point.

Churches are noted for beautiful arches.

Windows are the eyes of a building that allow the sunshine to enter its inner being. I remind you in closing the sunshine of kindness. Let kindness radiate from your face like sunshine coming in through a window.

Pic and a Word, Motion

This week’s picture and a word challenge from Patrick Jennings’ Pix to Words blog is dealing with motion.

I think my pic proves that New York City never sleeps, the words, well, they may put you to sleep.

Motion

The restless city she never sleeps

Ever moving with shouts and beeps

Man nor machine never stopping to sleep

Sounds of their moving makes their heartbeat

The one thing that proved itself to me, as much as I express its importance, is the amount of kindness we found when in New York City. It really matters not how large or how small the area or situation is, you can always be kind.

Giving In

Giving in is not the same as giving up. Giving up says you can’t win so quit trying. But giving in says you will accept the outcome even though it was not what you hoped for. My neighbor had enjoyed watching my bird as they fed so she put up a feeder as well…on the fence between our houses. She gets the basic birdseed which draws the sparrows…by the millions. Don’t get me wrong, sparrows are cute but they are hogs and they take over the feeder pushing out the other birds.

I changed the food per the “experts” advice to saffron seeds but these critters are very adaptable. Then I separated the feeders putting the platform feeder out towards the fence and leaving the tube feeders with the stripped sunflowers that they don’t like near the house. You can see from the picture, that they didn’t read the same report.

But at least the peanut and suet feeders are drawing in the two types of woodpecker we have here and the nuthatch. The cardinals can usually fend for themselves and the platform feeder does draw in the mourning doves. So, fine. It is what it is. In a few more weeks I will put out my hummingbird feeder and begin the war with the ants. Never a dull moment when you enjoy your yard. Maybe I will try cayenne pepper at the base of the hummingbird pole. It worked in keeping the squirrels out of my potato beds last year. Welcome to the joy of spring and summer. Enjoy these pictures. They are not real clear but at least they may help you smile. First is the nuthatch.

Then the red-bellied woodpecker. A really pretty bird.

The smaller downy woodpecker is striking with the red stripe on the back of his head.

Now that spring is just around the corner here in the US, try to get out and see its beauty. And remember kindness is a beautiful gift to not only share with fellow man but also to nature.

Interesting Buildings

I enjoyed the post from woollymuses about interesting buildings. When my daughter and I went to New York City in February, we saw many interesting buildings. I have shared some of them off and on but not together so I thought I would do that even if sharing some pictures more than once.

It was amazing to me the mixture of very old buildings along with new modern buildings all throughout the city.

Besides the amazing churches we saw, there were two building in particular that made me do a double look. One was the Oculus Building that was built at the World Trade Center after 9/11 disaster.

The inside is just as amazing.

Another building that I have no clue what its name is or what it is used for we saw from a distance but it made me stop for a picture.

It looks like the game of Jenga. But you can see in this picture a mixture of old and new. New York City, ever-changing. The Chrysler building is an amazing building and to me more interesting that the Empire State Building, which we did not get a chance to see. The new 1 World Trade Center is impressive and thought provoking as well for why it was built because of the unneeded disaster. Over 2000 lives lost.

But we need to remember that buildings don’t last forever but love and kindness do. They get carried with us to our eternal home. So make an extra effort to always be kind. Kindness opens many doors to many situations.

FOTD, 3/12 Spring Rebirth

Cee’s Flower of the Day is always a wonderful reminder of the beauty of this earth. Spring is a time of rebirth of many bulbs, trees, and sometimes even us humans. Last fall I moved stuff around in yard and covered up one of my daffodil bulbs without realizing it. This morning as I was moving things again, I moved that block and was sad that I had coved a bulb and shocked at its determination to survive.

Without the sun, no chlorophyl was made but still the plant pushed through. By this afternoon, it was beginning to stand tall reaching for the sun, broken but alive. Other bulbs coming up in my tard are the crocus as well as other daffodils.

And my lilac bushes are budding. Can’t wait for their fragrance to fill the air with their beautiful and delicate blooms.

Other Daffodils and crocus flowers…

While pollen and I are not friends…I still love the beauty of spring. May you all have a wonderful and colorful spring. And remember the beauty of kindness and may you share it often.