Sometimes, beauty takes you by surprise and makes you gasp and smile. I took the first two pictures this morning: something unexpected but delightful.
Hope you enjoy these pictures.
Unexpected Beauty
nature
Squirreling Away
And soon, so will we.
Nature’s Portal
I love how this spot across the road looks like a passage to a mysterious world.
Why Won’t You Look at Me?
Sometimes, the cutest things just happen outdoors. I took this picture yesterday while I was talking on the phone. Life is full of precious moments.
Without Words – End of a New Day
A Few Visitors
December and January have not been as cold and I have been observing more birds than usual around here, so I take it as a sign that it will be a mild winter. The forsythia is in full bloom, all covered in yellow flowers that did not shriveled with the frost and ice we had or the light snow that never stuck on the ground. The rose bush still has some buds and even a few flowers. Temperatures at night have been in the mid 20s and during the day in the 40s and 50s, with the occasional 30s in the mix. Not bad at all. The birds have been a very welcomed sight that has help me cope with all the sadness and craziness that is going around in our country. My faith has been an anchor, but watching these little ones go on and about with their day and routine has been a pleasure. Nature, as always, has given more than expected, and I have tried to find beauty in everything that surrounds me. I will share a few images with you, and I hope that these bring you joy as well.
I hope you enjoyed these, and that looking at them brought you a bit of joy. The hand of God is everywhere if we care to look.
New Beginnings
As a new year starts, new possibilities and challenges do as well, for us personally, and for Country. I spent the last two weeks pondering many things, letting go of many others, and setting up the stage for a new year, a new year in which no matter what goes around, I expect to keep up the faith as well as a positive outlook. I wrote some goals as well. During this time, I was able to take notice of a new visitor that has been coming around and staying for a while everyday. It is a gorgeous bird that I think it is a hawk or a falcon; I am not sure which one. I have been observing it almost daily and it seems to have established a morning and afternoon routine. Wanting to start the year in a positive note, here are some pictures of this lovely bird.
I have seen this bird around crows as well. It has been a joy to watch it hunt and eat from the ground as well, enjoy the warmth of the sun, and just perch for a while, until in a split of a second it takes fly again.
During the last couple of weeks, I spent time watching nature and its beauty in many forms. I needed to put aside and away all the negativity 2020 left in my memory, and I wanted to start the new year with a hopeful look and a grateful heart. I saw the miracle of nature, the hand of divine creation, the hand of God surrounding me, and it is all I needed to start the new year. May this new year be full of blessings for all of you.
Unexpected Visitor
If you visit this blog from time to time, you know that I love to watch birds and take pictures of them. After the cicadas arrived, I noticed that many birds left, including my beloved crows. Also, missing were the Blue Jays and the Cardinals. The cicadas are gone, and many birds are back. I also noticed the absence of the Katydids. I love their loud song during the night in the summer, and I have not heard or seen any. The number of insects around here seem to be low as well, day and night.
Since I moved here, I count myself lucky to have seen my first mixed flock as well as my first Snowy Owl (during the day) perched on a tree near the back woods. I don’t think Snowy Owls are supposed to be in Virginia, but I saw one last year. Sadly, I could not get my camera fast enough. By the time I went and retrieved it the owl was gone. The other day, I got a treat from nature. I saw my first large woodpecker. I have seen many on the small size range, but never one this size. I was able to grab my camera and take a few pictures, although not as many as I wanted to take. It also kept moving, pecking the wood, so its head came out blurry at times.
This is a picture of a smaller woodpecker that I took when I lived in Jersey.
Photo by Maria Diaz
Here are the pictures I took a few days ago. These were taken from the inside through glass because I did not want to scare the bird. It was very hard to photograph because it kept moving all over. I feel I have to apologize for the quality, but at the same time I wanted to share this beautiful sighting with you.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
I never know when I am due for a treat from nature, so now I keep the camera downstairs, and hanging from the coat rack.
The Beauty of Creation
I believe that God made everything. The beauty of nature has no limits. I have always enjoyed watching nature, even as a kid, I would spent hours observing it, whether it was ants, butterflies, birds, the ocean … Those are some of my favorite memories as a kid. These days, many years after, I still love to watch my surroundings. It recharges me, somehow. Sometimes, one can see the hand of God in the most unusual and tiny places.
One of my favorite wild flowers dressed in the perfect blue.
Photo by M.A.D.
Four leaf clovers – I have found three around here so far, but I am sure there are more.
Photo by M.A.D.
Mushrooms are beautiful. There are so many shapes and colors.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
Acorns abound in all sizes. A perfect pair.
Photo by M.A.D.
Even rainy days offer surprises – water diamonds.
Photo by M.A.D.
Trees present their offerings. This year we will have tons of pinecones, more than in previous years.
Photo by M.A.D.
Critters that play around, always welcomed.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
Photo by M.A.D.
Nature will always be a special treat for me, a sanctuary, the perfect gift from God.
A very young me, one of many hats I’ve worn over the years.
M.A.D.
Hope you enjoyed this post.
What recharges your soul?
All Creation
Photo by M.A.D.
With everything that is going on these days, pandemic news, and all, sometimes one has to look elsewhere and see. This is one of my favorite psalms, and I find it beautiful, so I decided to share its beauty here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do because it is truly lovely and sweet.
Psalm 148 (All creation summoned to praise)
I
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
give praise in the heights.
Praise him, all you angels;
give praise all you hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon;
give praise all shining stars.
Praise him, highest heavens,
you waters above the heavens.
Let them all praise the Lord’s name;
for the Lord commanded and they were created,
Assigned them duties forever,
gave them tasks that will never change.
II
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deep waters;
You lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
storm winds that fulfill his command;
You mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars;
You animals wild and tame,
you creatures that crawl and fly;
You kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all who govern on earth;
Young men and women too,
old and young alike.
Let them all praise the Lord’s name,
for his name alone is exalted,
majestic above earth and heaven.
The Lord has lifted high the horn of his people;
to the glory of all the faithful,
of Israel, the people near to their God.
Hallelujah!
Inkspeare 