Monday, January 28, 2013

Signs that Spring is Coming

I dont' know if any of my readers plant seeds indoors for their gardens, but I do. Here are my first germinated seeds for 2013 .. some Delicious Tomato :)


Aren't they gorgeous and fill you with hope that winter will one day subside and we'll have warmer weather for plants to grow again?

I'm looking forward to the garden, and flowers, and birds singing, and being able to have my windows open again!

Is it a Downy or is it a Hairy?

I think I have it straight, and then I am unsure again and can't make up my mind .. is it a Downy Woodpecker or is it a Hairy Woodpecker?  I believe both pictures of the same bird, but it's possible that they are two different birds.


Another of Joel's woodcarvings

Just wanted to show you two tiny swords that Joel made out of one small block of wood ...
Pretty cute! :)

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Joel's Woodcarving

Hello!:)

For Christmas this year, dh and I got our ds2 (Joel) a basic woodcarving set.  He's been working away at a couple of things .. Here's a picture of him in progress on what I believe is only his 2nd project.  Possibly third.  He's made a letter "P", two tiny swords out of one block of wood, and then this word.  He's using an old Pampered Chef apron of mine so he doesn't get shavings all over the living room.


Here's a project he finished last week.  He's had no training, and is just jumping in .. I think he did really well!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Cooper's Hawk! :)

This morning I had the pleasure of watching this guy for almost an hour.



 He was perched on the archery backboards .. and then flew over to a nearby raised bed.




 He sat at the raised bed and then flew off sometime just after 9 am ... but he returned and I saw him even closer to the house just before 11 am!


This goldfinch was brave and was perched above the Hawk in a small Maple tree .. for only a moment though, and then the Hawk flew off .. did the little bitty Goldfinch scare the Hawk away? lol .. probably not .. rofl.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Bible Study: Acts 9:1-43

Sorry it's been so long between bible study posts .. but let's start back where we left off ..

Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.

"Murderous threats" uh?  Saul was PO'd with the disciples...   Still trying to cause trouble wherever he can. :(  But God knew how to get Saul to see the light .. quite literally!

3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

After this, Saul was blind.  His companions had to lead him into the city of Damascus.  He also fasted - not eating or drinking anything.

God was working ahead of him though, and prepared for a man named Ananias to come to Saul and heal him in Jesus's name. 

This is what it took for Saul to become a believer.  What did it take for you to believe?  Or, What WILL it take?

So after Saul became a believer, he immediately started telling others about Jesus, and support the belief in Jesus in others.  He wasn't trying to kill believers anymore, but he was trying help others belief.  What a turn around. 

And in verse 31 - we stop learning about Saul for the moment, and verse 32 moves on to what Peter was doing . . .

Peter was in the area of Lydda. The first thing we hear about this area, is that Peter heals a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for 8 years. 

As word of this got out, the disciples sent Peter to Joppa to see a woman named Tabitha (also called Dorcas) because she had died.  She was a woman who served others, doing many good works.  Her friends and many widows missed her terribly.  So they wanted Peter to help.  Peter went up, and even after she had died, raised her and presented her to the widows and those who had been mourning.

Now, this may be a little wise-cracking of me .. I mean, it's a great thing that she was able to live again .. , but did they want her alive just so she could serve them again?  Why not let her rest in peace and they could serve each other instead of having Tabitha/Dorcas serve them?  I know God had a reason - to spread the gospel and for people to believe in him, but part of me wishes she could have just rested and remained in God's presence.  For isn't that where she was?  Just a stray thought ..

So - what do you think of Acts Chapter 9?




Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Sewing Knitting Crocheting & Painting.

So I've done a little bit of sewing recently. Just last week I made 11 small drawstring bags to send to Mongolia with some vitamins that my church collected. What do you think?


I also finished knitting this scarf with some really weird yarn which was like large open airy lace.  I used the loops on one long edge to knit with .. and it turned out like this.  I think I may send it to my niece if she still wants it.


I've also made some coasters.  Mostly crochet, but there's a couple of knit ones in there.

I was also inspired by Kelly Gau to start doing a little painting / decoupage .. She's very talented .. to check out her blog- click on her name - to check out her facebook page - click here .  Here's my first attempt .. Would really like feedback on it.. What do you think of it?


I started a second canvas .. but I'm still looking for a verse to put on it .. Perhaps one that says "deeper than the oceans .. " .. but have to find the verse first! :)  Any suggestions?

 
So that's me for the last week or so .. How's YOU?

Monday, January 7, 2013

New Year's Day Birding

Have I ever told you how wonderful my husband is?  :)  Even though he's not really into birding, he went birdwatching with me on New Year's Day! :)  Here's some of the photos.

A few photos from the yard birds...

These first two photos are of a House Finch.  However, it's a first fo rme, because it's orange!  I didn't know that they came in red and orange... so this is my first orange House Finch.  Kind of neat, uh?

 A common red House Finch

 Here's a Blue Jay.  I don't often see them in the yard, but this one stayed around long enough for a photo .. even if it isn't a great one!
 DH and I headed up to Sheboygan to see what we could see at the Marina there.  There were some ducks .. Mallards, of course, they are always there ... but also a bunch of Common Goldeneye ... Those are a new bird for me too .. In this first photo - it may be a Merganser on the left .. not sure though .. If you know .. please let me know! :)


I think there's a couple of Buffleheads in this photo .. see the white heads?

 Back home here is an American Tree Sparrow.

And a Black Capped Chickadee.

I saw a total of 17 birds on New Year's Day.  I figured that's pretty good since my year total was 27 for 2012 ... I'm not THAT avid of a birdwatcher .. But perhaps I'll see more birds in 2013 .. Here's Hoping!

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Christmas

Look at this beautiful sunset just before Christmas.

Joel made Peaches a little Santa Hat to match the one that I had made him a couple of years ago.

This post is Peaches heavy ..so I hope you like cats! .. Here's one with diamond eyes.

I made a triple batch of Crouquets this year. Rob's food request for Christmas and his Birthday which is two weeks after Christmas.  We rolled approximately 120 of those things! There's still some inthe freezer! We'll be having a few today, but there's still a package in the freezer!

The boys were thrilled as always for Christmas Presents. Can't you tell?

I made a few Christmas Yarn items .. two coasters and a dishcloth here .. gifts to give..

I think Peaches had the most fun on Christmas Morning. She played with this jean seam from my sewing stash (this was slated to be thrown away, but Peaches gets to play with it first.

She really got into looking in her Stocking .... What's in there ?

Really, What's in there? Can I see?
 Oh wow .. new mice!

Lots of new mice :)  She was playing all morning with her new mice .. and we didn't have to throw them for her, she was throwing them herself! lol. It was really fun having a "little kid" in the house again.

When she got tired out, she liked sitting on the wrapping paper .. Peaches .. unwrapped!

Are you sure there isn't another present for me under this tissue paper?

I finally got a few things taken to the hospital .. a shawl and a few baby hats/booties .. I hope to do more soon.

December Birding

I suppose it's time to finish up the photos for December 2012 .. seeing as how it's 2013 now. 
Here are some of my birding photos from the end of December.

A pair of House Finches.

House Finch (I think that's a House Sparrow hiding in the back)

A woodpecker -- this is either a Hairy or a Downy. I'm going to guess Hairy .. The Downy would be slightly smaller .. and onthe left hand photo .. the Hairy has all white outer tail feathers .. so I'm guessing Hairy.

American Tree Sparrow
 

Dark-Eyed Junco

House Sparrows

My new birdfeeders .. that DH and Santa brought me for Christmas.

Black-Capped Chickadee :)

American Tree Sparrow

I believe this is a Cooper's Hawk .. it's possible it's a Sharp-Shinned, but when I zoom in on the photo the tail looks a bit rounded .. so I'm guessing here again ..Cooper's Hawk.

The Woodpecker again .. Hairy. I think. Maybe.  It might be a different one then the other I photographed.
 
  Although looking at this picture - it looks like a Downy.
See the bars on the outer tail and the shorter bill?
 
Dark-Eyed Junco 

House Finch :)

And here is a House Finch and a Goldfinch together .. Love this pose .. wish the photo was crisper.

Can't close the post without at least one Mourning Dove .. :)