Animal Tails

It's story time friends. see what I did with the title there This morning while Ike and I watched a documentary about solitary confinement we were disrupted by what sounded like someone trying to get into the house. He perked up his ears and like the good guard dog I am I got up to either run for the gun or hide behind the chair. I hadn't yet decided.

Then I saw about 6 birds come over to the window right beside our chair and I soon realized they were the ones causing the ruckus. When the door wouldn't open they tried the window:

This little guy pecked on the screen for a good while before giving up. I couldn't decide if they were there to hold me hostage until I put out bird seed or if they were seeking supplies for nests (which I think it may be too late in the year for, I'm a bird-watcher not a bird-psychic).

Since it's summer and I trust they are finding food easily I decided to give them supplies for a nest, should that be what they're after. Ergo:

My second animal tale is a humorous one...probably should've started with it. I took my comforter to the cleaner's last week  to drop off because it smelled like Ike and I wanted it to be clean before I give it away.

I took it in a garbage bag because it is also covered with Ike. The man kindly asked me if he would find any "surprises" in said bag. I responded no and he proceeded to tell me about a woman who came in with a similar bag but wrapped in her comforter was dog poo.

This left me with the uncomfortable task of having to utter the phrase, "No sir, there's no shit in that bag." I can only hope that opportunity will present itself again in my lifetime.

And here's a picture of my favorite animal tail:

 

Actually now that I think about it I have lots of pics of legit animal tail, for your viewing pleasure;

 

 

 

 

I have a real knack for snapping pictures of God's creatures as they run away from me. It's my gift.

Feeling Small

I've been awake for about an hour, sitting at my desk finishing up summer class work. My desk looks out into our yard. Ike sits in the chair to my right and watches the happenings outside of the window. Every day we watch lots of birds. That's pretty standard.

But in the last twenty minutes we have seen  a mama deer pass through the yard, just taking her sweet time. Then we had our Mr. Cottontail, whom we love as long as he stays on this side of the house away from the garden. Ike followed the bunny rabbit watching him from 4 different windows in the house and I followed right behind him to make sure Mr. Cottontail crossed the street safely.

Here I sit consumed by the three papers that I have two days to write and God reminds me how small all of that is. There is a whole wide world happening around me. Animals who are taking advantage of this longest day of the year and are out and about while I sit here like a caged animal. They are free to roam, sure they have dangers (for Bambi's mom my husband is one of them) but they can go anywhere. They can feed off of plenty of gardens in these parts and as I ponder on it, why shouldn't they? as long as they leave a little for us

I get so consumed with this list:

and others like it that I sometimes become consumed with crossing things off of it and forget to do anything that hasn't been qualified as good enough to make that list.


Yesterday with these two was an excellent reminder of that:

Nothing like a day with old friends and new babies to bring things into perspective again.

I usually cringe when people go on and on about being blessed because it comes across as braggy. But in certain ways we truly are all blessed. To be able to be a minuscule part of this great big world and to have a small part in it for a short time. That is God's gift to us, don't waste it siting at a desk and forget what's important.

Happy Summer Solstice, try to get outside for a few hours today that is why God gave us this longest day of the year.

Exploring The New River Valley

Drew and I have tried to let our adventerous spirit shine through the last couple of days rather than just being couch potatoes which we are experts at. Yesterday we visited the Duck Pond on Tech's campus and explored a little before dinner. This morning we woke up at 6 a.m. and hiked to the Cascades then we were back to our old ways with a nap but all in all we have very much enjoyed exploring a bit in the New River Valley.


This is the oldest building on Tech's campus but it is recently closed for renovations, I can't wait till it opens up so I can get a good look at it. It's called "Solitude."

We found some farm animals on our adventure as well.

 This poor guy had a bad foot but was awfully sweet.

 Feeding the ducks.

At the Cascades this morning.

Jesus never fails.