Saturday, January 17, 2009

Winter beauty

Our winters are mild here on the Texas Gulf Coast. We seldom have the beauty of a blanket of pure white snow but we do have our own winter beauty. One form of winter beauty is the splendid array of birds that winter here. Here at OakMeadows we have 6 or 7 various feeders for the birds and JMM faithfully keeps them filled and the bird bath filled with clean water. The large oak trees and the other surrounding trees provide shelter for them. This year we have had a tumult of goldfinches; I know I should say flock of goldfinches but there must be a hundred of them and tumult is a good description. We also have more cardinals than usual. Add in the usual sparrows, chickadees, titmouses, bluejays, mockingbirds, and just this morning we saw meadowlarks. Such beauty!! In a few weeks, we plan to drive down the coast to see the lovely ducks & cranes from Canada that winter here.

Another winter beauty this past week has been the morning frost on the grass. It is sparkly beautiful as the sun comes up. Just beautiful.

It is altogether too easy to get so wrapped up in daily tasks that we neglect to see the beauty that is frequently all around. It is easy to listen to the news and become so worried or depressed that we forget to thank our Creator for the beauty of His creation.

Thought for the day:

Rachel Carson:
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
Rachel Carson:
It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility.

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