Great Backyard Bird Count

Time to lighten this place up! Thanks to everyone who offered advice and words of comfort on my last post. I have the wisest, kindest blog followers in existence. Love y'all!

Today was the last day of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), so I decided to visit Arsenal Park and Capitol Lake, which are side by side in downtown Baton Rouge. Somewhere between the two areas I dropped my iphone and after a frantic 20 minute search found it lying in the grass. Whew, that was close! I was having severe anxiety, lemme tell ya!

I counted 16 different species of birds and got a bonus animal that I was not expecting. A windy, cold, but totally fun couple of hours. As I was about to leave there were two trees that suddenly became populated with birds. Thinking they were the annoying red-wing blackbirds or grackles, I pointed my lens up to the tree and saw that they were Cedar Waxwings! There must've been a hundred of them. Unfortunately, they were very high up so I could not get a decent shot. But I am posting some photos of them anyway because it's the first time I've ever laid eyes on one. What a great way to end the event.

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing line-up

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Eastern Phoebe

Ring-billed gull

Downy Woodpecker

Another sweet pose by Phoebe

Ring-billed gull

Ring-necked duck, male

Ring-necked duck, female

American Coot and Ring-necked ducks feeding frenzy

Nutria, my surprise visitor

Yellow wildflowers growing through the rocks

At Odds

I had a very long post written, but decided not to bore you all with the details, so here is the condensed version: Once again I am at odds with the Catholic Church. It all came to a head last week when the parish priest informed us that we could not be accepted into the church until our prior marriages were investigated and annulled. Not willing to open old wounds, fill out paperwork that amounted to an IRS audit, and a $500 administrative fee, we walked out of the cathedral office with me in tears. But not before Double D had some choice words for Fr. Paul about the church being filled with pharisees. I wish he hadn't said that. I'm just sick over the whole mess. Sick I tell ya!

After the meeting, and still in a daze, I took off in my car driving up and down River Road. As I drove along I noticed beautiful pastures filled with yellow wildflowers. The earth really does laugh in flowers, and God's creation still brings me great joy. This was like a postcard from God, reminding me that His world is still a beautiful place despite my feelings of rejection and disappointment with the church.

This blurred frame is compliments of Steve Rich.
Thank you, Evelyn, for the link so many months ago.

The Catholic Church may find our 22 year marriage unworthy, but we know better, and we thank God that His mercies are new every morning. (By the way, I still love my Catholic brothers and sisters, and have talked to many who feel that the church's requirements are completely over the top, including Sister Cynthia!) Sorry if I've offended or made anyone feel uncomfortable. Sometimes I just need to vent.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

One Year

Today marks one year since my mother passed away. Mama, you were a doodle and I miss you. It's been a year of soul searching, reconnecting, disappointments, growth, and learning. There are things I would do differently if I had the chance, so it's also been a year of accepting and letting go. Or trying to.

Betty, Portsmouth, NH, 1959

We thought of you with love today,

but that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday,

and days before that too.

We think of you in silence,

we often speak your name;

All we have now are memories,

and your picture in a frame.

Your memory is our keepsake,

with which we will never part;

God has you in his keeping,

we have you in our heart.

It broke our heart to lose you.

But you didn't go alone,

For a part of us went with you

the day God took you home.

-Author Unknown-

***comments closed***

A Blessing

The sun returned on Feb 13, after a drab, rainy week. It so happens that I had an appointent that day with Sister Cynthia (the nun I am seeing regularly for spiritual guidance). Afterwards, I went to a lake by our State Capitol where I saw ring-necked ducks, egrets, house finches, goldfinches, woodpeckers, and one very vociferous mockingbird. Out of all those birds I was dazzled by this sweet little Eastern Phoebe who graciously posed as though sitting for her portrait.

At the end of my session with Sister, she handed me a book of blessings. She asked me to open the book, and without looking, hand it back, instructing her to read from the right side or the left. I requested the right side and this was my special blessing that she read to me, inserting my name in the sentences with such love:

KINDNESS

May the God of KINDNESS be with you, Gail, gazing upon you with understanding eyes. May you see in those eyes unconditional acceptance of who you are and how you are in any given moment of your life. And may you know God's gentle call to grow in kindness toward those people in your life. May the God of KINDNESS bless you, Gail.

How I wish you were all gathered here around me. How I would love to offer a blessing in such a way to each one of you!

Fat Tuesday

Happy Mardi Gras, y'all! Unfortunately, rain arrived on Sunday and won't be leaving until Thursday. Glad we didn't plan on going to any parades today.

Hubby went to a Mardi Gras party Friday night because the home was on a parade route. (Carnival time starts early around here). He came home with a big smile and lots of beads, amazed at the amount of food and drinks. Made his little Baptist heart blush. :) Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, which essentially means to eat all the fats and sweets today, because tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, and those observing Lent had better live it up while they can!

I was forced back into the archives since I haven't been able to get out with my camera. I don't know why I haven't posted some of these before.

This is Pierre, our resident Ruby-throat on 10/1/12

The trunks of the Virginia Live Oaks at Oak Alley Plantation. 12/8/12

Sunset on Christmas Day, 2012. I hadn't seen a good sunset since I left Texas.

Snowy Egret, LSU Lakes, 12/27/12

Another Snowy, LSU Lakes, 12/29/12

Toad, 8/5/12

Rooster, 7/28/12

I'm sorry. This sprang up next to my hibiscus tree on 11/15/12.

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