Tag Archives: BIrds

Cruise Memories-Part 2

16 Dec

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

At the end one of Cruise Memories Part 1 I mentioned our active social life, meaning doctors, doctors and more doctors.

I had no idea how prophetic that statement would turn out to be. My husband developed pancreatitis which involved three procedures to clear it up.

Additionally, we drove a family member to Duke hospital in Durham, NC, a seven hour drive. Fortunately we were able to spend the night with family before repeating the seven hour drive. That was pretty rough on my husband’s strength. but we were happy to help.

Then we began another round of doctor, I mean social visits.

I am happy to say that we have ten whole days with no doctor appointments. And so, I give you, Cruise Memories Part 2

The final day of the cruise was a sea day. My plans for the day involved a trip to the Quiet Cove coffee bar and a lazy day of reading. The daughter had another idea. The Diaper Dash.

I’ve seen the race on the daily activity schedule on other cruises but it didn’t interest me. But hey, if my daughter wanted me to watch it with her, I was in. She promised it would be fun.

The race is held in the ship’s atrium. A specially made race mat is rolled out on the floor for the baby competition.

Point of order, Diaper Dash is the previous name of the event. It has since been “rebranded” but for the life of me, I can’t remember the new name.

As we waited for the event, I was stunned at the size of the gathering spectators.

The event even had an emcee who introduced each competitor complete with funny descriptions of their strengths as well as leading the cheering for the babies.

I hope the video above plays. The babies and their parents are so darn cute. I am now a Diaper Dash fan.

That evening we were treated to fireworks at sea. The fireworks were preceded by a deck party with lots of music. A crush of people went to the upper deck early to get a good viewing place. We didn’t want to be part of the crush so we held back. The husband isn’t a fan of crowds. He decided to stay in our stateroom.

It turned out that was a good strategy. The fireworks were directly overhead.

Off in the distance we could see lights from another ship. I assumed it was lingering for their guests to view the fireworks. I was wrong. To our surprise the ship in the distance began shooting off their own fireworks! It was another Disney ship.

After they finished their fireworks, our ship began. It was as if the sister ships were saluting each other.

We were in a perfect viewing area and the fireworks were spectacular. It turned out we were also in a perfect spot for going inside and grabbing an elevator before the crowds began surging in.

When we made our way back to our room, my husband said that he had a perfect viewing place during the display. The ships position placed the fireworks directly in front of our balcony.

The cruise was only 4 days but that was just right for us. Plenty of time to read, snack and enjoy delicious meals. It was fun exploring a new ship. I wouldn’t say no to another cruise on the Disney Destiny.

Christmas is only ten days away. We wish each of you the joy and blessings of Christmas. The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise

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Hope in Growth

1 Mar

Guest Post

Rebekah Lyn

Reblogged from Rebekah Lyn’s Kitchen

As a teenager, I visited the local zoo and had a close encounter with a bird in the aviary. It landed on my head and its feet became tangled in my long hair. I recall my boyfriend at the time finding it hilarious before he helped shoo the bird away. That gave birth to a healthy distrust of birds for many years.

Jump ahead to 2010. My parents bought a place in North Carolina and we spent a good deal of time on the back porch whenever I visited. They had bird feeders, and I found myself enjoying the finches, nuthatches, cardinals, eastern towhees, and tufted titmice that flitted in for a bite to eat. As time passed, the porch was extended and a hummingbird feeder added.

By 2019, I enjoyed the birds so much, I sought out a unique experience during a trip to Ireland, a morning with a falconer. My friend and I had the chance to hold a hawk, a falcon, and a couple of owls. We sent them out in flight and received them back on our arms and I absolutely loved it! When I posted a short video on social media, my friends who knew about my fear of birds couldn’t believe it.

My friends didn’t see the gradual change in my heart toward birds. They just saw this surprising image of me with a bird of prey on my arm and a grin on my face. Similarly, when we first ask Jesus into our lives, or when we renew our faith by spending more time with Him, our lives should reflect a change that makes those around us ask what has happened.

What does all this have to do with hope? The apostle Peter said, “In His great mercy He has given us new birth and a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fail.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)

Followers of Jesus have a living hope in Him that provides comfort and encouragement through all things. We grow in this hope as we study the Bible, fellowship with other believers, and pray. We move from a fear of death to a delight in eternal life in the company of the Almighty God. That is something to get excited about and want to shout from the rooftops. Is there anyone who wouldn’t welcome a life without physical pain or illness, without hate and anger? Eternity with God, in harmony and rejoicing, was the plan for us all along.

When I sit on the patio or take Ollie for a walk and hear the song of the hawks that live nearby, I no longer fear they will land on my head. Instead, I remember the thrill of holding one of these magnificent birds and how much God has changed my life. That change is available to you too.

Don’t forget to check out the resources page I am developing with content I have found encouraging, that has taken me deeper in my walk with God, and generally builds my hope.

If you want to know more, email me at authorRebekahlyn@icloud.com

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God’s Creatures- Part 3

11 Feb

Melody Hendrix

A Time to Live

Birds

Do you have a favorite bird at the Zoo?

MelodyWelcome! I’m so glad you stopped in to visit. I am retired and enjoying life. My hobbies are my 5 grandchildren, son and daughter, and my loving husband. I am a photographer and extreme nature lover. I love spending time in my garden or in the wilderness connected to God my Creator.
What a beautiful world we live in. We all have that in common. Natural beauty is everywhere, but sometimes we are not connected until we see a picture, taken just right, that makes it really come into focus and be admired. My passion is to make a connection between the lens and your soul. Photography is my passion.
 
My photography passion began when my Father handed me his old Ricohflex box camera when I was 12.  It was love at first sight. I still have it. My hand was never empty of a camera since.
 
 
I am a native Floridian. I am so lucky to call it home. I was born in Orlando BF (before Disney). My family moved to the Winter Park area when I was very young. Central Florida was so simple and quaint at that time. I wandered the streets barefoot with my friends, never worrying that something bad could ever happen. My Mom used to pick the sand-spurs out of my feet. I still go barefoot. It grounds me to earth and connects me to nature.
 
I have extensively explored Florida and its diverse beauty. So much to see and so little time. I would love for you to join me in my travels through the images I have taken. I wish you could hear the sounds, smell the fragrance and feel the breath of it. But for now we must be content with exploring with our eyes and only imagine the rest.
 
Thank you for your interest.

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A Little Christmas Story

23 Dec

Guest Post

Patricia Franklin

 We have not had any birds in our yard since about July when that old chicken hawk took residence in our neighborhood.  We have had suet in our feeder all these months and no one came.  We even had snow a couple of times and no one came.  We had 4 inches of snow the other day, so my husband put out some bird seed in our other feeder.  Still they did not come…. finally I saw one or two of the little snow birds with their black hoodies and galoshes on their feet.  They came and went so quickly, I thought I was dreaming.  Then yesterday I saw one of the little black and white woodpeckers at the suet feeder.  He and his mate used to live here all the time.  I was so happy to see him.    

Image result for Pixabay small birds

 This morning while I was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, I opened the curtains and there was a party going on out there…. the sparrows, the little red headed finches and the snow birds, along with a couple of doves are at the birdseed and are squabbling over it like they normally do.  Three little squirrels are gathering up the remaining seeds from the ground.   Christmas is finally here! 

  Merry Christmas to you and yours! 

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Do Birds Bond with People? 

27 May

 A Few Thoughts

Patricia Franklin

 Our friend Patricia Franklin wrote me this week. Here’s what she had to say about the robin that nests in her back yard-DiVoran

robins

Sorry I have not answered your newsy letter…. and thanks so much for the interesting article on birds!  I guess they live and thrive by instinct, but I think they have a built in intelligence too, that we do not understand.  I think I mentioned that we have a robin’s nest in our back yard.  I have been waiting and watching for a couple of weeks for the 1st hatchling.  I usually sit out on the patio chair, I water my flowers, etc. and sometimes I talk to the robins if they are around.  They have found out that we do not bother them, in fact, I chased some intruders away the other day.  Do you think they bond with us in some way?   Here is what happened today.

We were sitting in the kitchen having a cup of tea after supper, with the patio door open, when I heard this scratching and tapping on the patio cement right outside.  I turned my head, and there right in front of the door was the mother robin tapping a little blue eggshell on the cement.  I got up and walked over to the door and said something like, ” Well, I have been wondering when you were going to hatch the first one.  I’m so happy for you.”  She actually strutted around, back and forth in front of me for a little while and then went flying off to her nest, leaving the eggshell for us.  Is that uncanny or what?  Am I reading too much into this?  I do feel a bond with them, and maybe they feel it too. It was the highlight of my weekend!  (Hey, I’m pretty simple and easy to please!)

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Bold and Demure

11 May

My Take

DiVoran Lites

 

Painted buntings come for lunch

Four pair, an intrepid bunch

Flitting in and out all day

Purple, orange, red, blue, hurray.

Female bunting quiet green

Among the leaves, cannot be seen.

 

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The Snow Bird Shuffle

26 Feb

Our friend, Patricia Franklin is back to share a story about Snow Birds and if you live in Florida or Arizona, they aren’t people from up north!~Enjoy,  Onisha.

A Few Thoughts

Patricia Franklin

I don’t know what the bird’s official name is, but I have always called them snow birds. They show up outdoors in the winter when everything and everyone else runs for cover from the snow and cold.   Late December or early January they show up to spend the winter near our birdfeeder. They are hearty little fellows and very striking against the white snow with their dark heads and back, buff colored bellies and black little “snow boots.” They are about the size of a sparrow and join the little red headed finches and sparrows at the feeder.

I watch the little snow birds trying to find  food while the snow is coming down and covering everything in sight.  The snow piles up on the bird feeder.  When the other birds run for cover,  the little snow birds come soaring in, land on the feeder and start shuffling their little feet back and forth and dig up the seed that is buried in the snow.  They are doing their little dance which I call the “snow bird shuffle.”  They are so flamboyant  and enthusiastic it lifts our mood and carries us on through the dark bleak days of winter into the light of spring.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Nuthatch

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Listening

2 Dec

My Take

Author, Poet and ArtistDiVoran Lites





 I hear the cardinal's, "Tu-tu-tu."
 I know exactly what he'll do.
 He calls his mate; they build a nest,
 she lays the eggs, and there they rest.

 I hear the chuck-will's widow sing.
 I know her song is praising Spring.
 I listen to her in the night,
 And all my fright takes off in flight.

 I listen to the dove's soft sound
 and sense that peace is all around.
 I'll listen to what God will say
 to me through birds (and you) today.





				
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Trade-Off

	
		7
		Mar
	

	

	

		
I think I may have discovered a hidden treasure. While visiting with a friend’s mom we began discussing books and this lead to writing which led to the discovery that she has been writing for years. Of course I pounced at the chance to have her as a guest on our blog. So today I am sharing with you  Louise Gibson, a friend and poet who has a delightful sense of humor Onisha


 


 


 


Trade Off


 


Pigeons are not on my list of favorite creatures


 


They destroy my peace of mind.


 


The feeder in my yard was dwarfed


 


By pigeons of every kind.


 


 


They came each day and flapped their wings


 


As they fought for a position.


 


The feeder was too small, you see,


 


Which affected their disposition.


 


 


 


My patio used to be a place


 


Of quietness and contentment


 


Until the pigeons came in droves


 


And filled me with resentment.


 


 


 


“Lord” I cried, “I need your help


 


I cannot stand their spats.”


 


The Lord obliged, to my chagrin


 


And sent instead eight cats.


 


 


 


No squirrels, no birds, they fled in fear-


 


The cats you see, do domineer.


 


Now you find no pigeons on Chipola


 


God sent them all to Lake Eola!


 


 


 


English: A flock of domestic Rock Pigeons (Col...


Downtown Orlando at Sunrise
Downtown Orlando at Sunrise (Photo credit: camflan)

				
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