Pages

▼

Friday, February 15, 2013

Newsletter - 2/15/13


The Nature In Us Newsletter

Hello Friends!

I hope each of you had some happy moments on Valentine's Day.  It was a sweet celebration with my honey of a husband.   As mentioned in the last newsletter, we had scheduled to go to the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond and to see the IMAX film, Born To Be Wild, at the museum.  All of that for $16 through Groupon.  What a deal!

Donna and Randal at Science Museum of Virginia
Richmond, VA
The museum was interesting and a great place to learn new things, but the IMAX film was really inspirational.  Years go by without us going to a movie, but this one was so awesome.  It's about two different women, one in Borneo who rescues orphaned orangutans (due to rainforest destruction deaths of mothers) and another in Kenya that rescues orphaned elephants (due to poaching of mothers).

It was rated G so it didn't have any of the gory details of the bad events.  You can contribute to these efforts also.  I knew from the moment we were walking out of the auditorium that I wanted to be a part of something so magnificent.  Enabling the hands that can do the work to be compensated and full of provision is such a blessing that God allows us to have.  I highly recommend this movie.  View the trailers.  Find a location near you.

I also took advantage of another Groupon deal for our lunch at Baker's Crust.  Apparently it's a chain restaurant, but we've never seen one and we don't have any here in our town.  We loved the Portabella Panini with roasted portabella mushroom, goat cheese, fresh spinach, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella and sweet chili mayo on house-made foccaccia bread. It was a sweet day!

My love for Valentine's Day probably began with lots of goodies being in the house when I was growing up. Goodies being sugary junk food. Why do we call such a thing a "goodie" anyway? Maybe because we were bribed with them to be good? We gave up white sugar in 1978 so our goodies now are truly good with whole grain flours and local honey as a sweetener.

I don't eat chocolate, so I use carob powder for anything chocolate. I baked a German Carob Pie as a treat for my honey of a hubby.  It was the night before Valentine's Day and we were listening to a message by Cecil Paxton on healing.  The dishwasher, which is the loudest one we've ever had, even though billed as quiet, was running nearby so I didn't hear the timer go off.  The crust got a bit brown but the flavor is still scrumptious.  It's a favorite for both of us and to everybody that's tasted it.  Carob tastes like chocolate without the addicting side effects. If you want the recipe and a photo, you will find it in this blog post, A No Chocolate Valentine's Day.

Robin At Our Backyard Wildlife Pond
Maybe you know somebody who can't eat chocolate due to an allergy or one who has chosen to no longer be a chocoholic as I did. Be sure to share the recipe with them. It's truly really really good! The article also mentions more on sugar and chocolate addiction and a spiritual approach to getting free. Praise God, 14 years ago I gave up chocolate for good! Now that's what I'd call a real "goodie."

The Robins have been nice to see.  To me they've always been a picture of Spring on the way.  I love their big bright breasts and that white eye ring.  Since they come in flocks it's quite the show seeing them all around.  They prefer to drink from the pond rather than the birdbath.

The Tufted Titmice seem to think it's Spring.  They've got their super songs going to attract females.  We had a lot of them born around our property last year.  Couldn't believe how many we've had at our feeders this winter.  We had a lot of cardinals last year also.  I guess all of our plants growing bigger and bigger provides more and more food supply for various species and they make more babies.

We haven't seen the naughty raccoon that damaged our screened door, so I'm thankful for that.  Maybe he was just in a really bad mood that night.  After all, we've lived here over twelve years and we've not had them do anything naughty.  Oh yes, they do work their way around our birdfeeder baffles now and then, but they don't make it a regular habit and if they're that hungry, it's okay with me.

Squirrel on Mailbox in Backyard
Oh, Mister Postman, look and see … 
is there a letter, a letter for me...
Our "old" mailbox painted and placed in the backyard
for whomever wants to nest in it.
Squirrels are the ones I would often call naughty.  You never know what the new batch coming in is going to be interested in.  Like the one that preferred to chew on our new vinyl deck rail.  Randal was actually praying for the fox to make more frequent visits.  I couldn't do that but it sure was disappointing to see the ruts in many places around the top and bottom rails and even on the post caps.

And then at the same time, there was another one that chewed on the metal furniture on the deck.  It was painted black and made of aluminum, so not only could you see the bright shiny aluminum, but they actually dug away the metal.  I painted the pieces last summer and it now looks like there's "designs" all around the table and on the arms of the chair.

Now we have one that enjoys eating dried mealworms that we have out for our beautiful bluebirds.  My goodness!  There's always something exciting going on here.  I guess the name WILDlife is a good one for these critters.

© Donna L. Watkins - Eagle In Our Front Yard
View Enlarged Image
Don't miss the 2013 Great Backyard Bird Count.  It's today through Sunday.  You only have to participate for 30 minutes on any day or you can do more counts and then submit the one with the best numbers.  It's a fun family project.  Randal and I look forward to it every year.  Two years ago we had an eagle come in during the last five minutes of one of the times I was watching.  You can be sure I chose that day and segment to report!  We were so excited!  You can really learn a lot and it's fun to see what kinds of birds visit your property.

You can count somewhere else if you are in an urban environment and want more diversity to view.  You can join a group of people doing it also.  Click here to see if there's something in your area.

Nobody is more excited about seeing Spring than me!  I've been reading since November.  Our daffodils should be up before mid-March arrives.  Daylight Savings Time is a big day on my calendar.  It seems that when the days are lighter longer it shouts of Spring.

Donna and Randal
A Beautiful April 10, 2010
Our 33rd Anniversary
Downtown Greenville, SC
I've been getting more interested in quotes, so here's one of my latest:
"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret."--Lawrence J. Peter
Our mouths can certainly get us in trouble.  James wrote a lot about the tongue being so unruly.  Proverbs mentions the challenge also.  I like Proverbs 17:28:
"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."
I will close with one last quote since it's one to truly ponder and consider for a lifestyle change.

"The dryness in a Christian's life comes when we substitute other things for the living water that only Jesus can give. Anytime a Christian begins to thirst again, it is not a reflection on the living water that Jesus gives, but rather an indication that we have been drinking from some other source." -- Andrew Wommack

Only Christ can satisfy every need we have.  "As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God." (Psalm 42:1)  There is none but thee, O Lord!

Love, Hugs & Blessings!
Donna

P.S.  Know somebody who needs to see something in this newsletter? 

Send them the link to the website:  www.TheNatureInUs.com.  
or the link to this newsletter post.  Thanks for sharing!  


View Posts By Topic


Posts Since Last Newsletter

A No-Chocolate Valentine's Day (With a Recipe)  (DLW)

 75-98% of Mental & Physical Illnesses Come From Thoughts

 Pesticide Turning Males Into Females

 Dung Bettles Use Milky Way to Navigate

 A Sure Win Over Our Troubles  (DLW)

Mystery of Christ in Us

2013 Great Backyard Bird Count (*TODAY - SUNDAY*)

MYTH: Milk Is A Good Source of Calcium

Newsletter - 2/1/13  (DLW)

Previous Posts You May Have Missed

Valentine's Day Reminds Me of God's Love  (DLW)

Helping Feral Cats in Winter

Reaping Your Harvest

New Health Food for Large Breed Puppies

The Star-nosed Mole - A Face To Love

Why Shop-a-holics - Where It All Began

A Focus on Love  (DLW)

7 Ways to Curb Your Addiction to Stuff

Cause of Chemical Imbalance & Depression

Most Store Brands Honey Isn't Honey

So Great a Faith

Video Pet Talk - Winter Care Tips

The Web of Love

How Do Birds Survive the Cold?

 Newsletter - 1/15/13  (DLW)

Stand Against The Darkness  (DLW)

Crows Can Distinguish Faces In a Crowd

17 Easy Ways to Simplify Life

Growing in Grace

Do You Know How Big God Is?  (DLW)

Equal & NutraSweet: Leukemia & Lymphoma

Consumer Reports: Bugs & Drugs in Pork

Tips and Tricks For Brushing Pets

Newsletter - 1/1/13  (DLW)

When The Devil Returns  (DLW)

Sufferings and Eternity  (DLW)

Mix Up Your Routine to Boost Your Mood



The Art of Essential Oils






The photo(s) and article are copyrighted. You may use either of them if you include the following credit and active link back to this website: © Donna L. Watkins - This article was reprinted with permission from TheNatureInUs.com. The link to use is: www.TheNatureInUs.com.

This Blog is Sponsored By:

The Herbs Place - Wholesale Prices Always

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: All comments need to be approved before they post.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.