The Nature In Us Newsletter - 5/1/15
by Donna L. Watkins
“If I will not direct my thoughts, I cannot direct my life.”
~ Dr. James B. Richards
~ Dr. James B. Richards
View Enlarged Image Dancing Lady Orchid - Conservatory Garden Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens - Richmond, VA View More Orchids From Around the World |
Our words can do so much good or so much bad. The Bible says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." What we say changes our minds, hearts, environment and our very lives. It's never too late to be grateful. Any day is a great day to meditate on the wonders of our God ... but consider this article which points out 50 Crazy-Wonderful Things About Earth that we could meditate on any time as we sit in a garden or woodland setting or by the beach or where ever your "secret place" is where you meet with our Lord.
Here's a few of the 50: Some butterflies drink turtle tears, earthworms have five hearts, rabbits can see behind them without moving their heads, a tablespoon of soil contains more than 1 billion living organisms, earthquakes can instantly create gold in the earth’s crust, and I love this one: Half of the world’s land is still wilderness!
If you want to know about Creation renewing itself, read this article I wrote: Doom and Gloom or Peace and Provision. Do you see the world becoming more toxic, or do you see God's promise to daily load us with benefits? ("Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah." - Ps. 68:19).
God's Provision - The GMO issue rages. Some research says "nature" got there first, before GMO ever entered into the minds of the inventors. You never know who's paying for the research ... but that's the case of everything in the media. It's time to regain our sense of intuition and "knowing" inside. Gut feelings or hearing the Holy Spirit is my way of putting it, not what makes sense to our brains or what's on the news.
All facts should be lined up beside the Word to see if it's actually Truth. Consider Mark 16:17-18, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
View Enlarged Image Mr. Bud in All God's Glory - April 16, 2015 |
Trees - Mr. Bud is shining in all God's glory this year. He's been the highlight of our Springtime. What a victorious time of rejoicing! He's such a symbol of God's love and support for us in all trials and tribulations. He will bring us through if we trust and rest in Him. If you've not been following Mr. Bud's story on our property, here's the link to: Mr. Bud Survives The Crimes.
Tidbits - McDonald's announced on April 22 that it's closing 700 poor performing restaurants around the world – half of those in the United States, China and Japan – as this fast food giant tries to "rebound from financial losses sustained around the globe." I hope that means people are eating less junk food and not just changing restaurants.
The USDA is now encouraging people to eat certain foods past their expiration dates. They say that many products may have a sell-by date that is now past but they could be good for another 12-18 months. 21% of available food in America goes uneaten. They've come out with an app for smartphones to help you figure out different products' shelf lives. Read the whole story.
Chipotle Goes GMO-Free - Chipotle just raised the bar on fast food—again! The Mexican grill restaurant, known for offering safer, more humane ingredients, has announced its banning GMOs from their menu. This is the first national chain to do so. Others will need to get onboard. The proof is in the numbers: While Chipotle experienced 28% growth in sales, McDonalds suffered a 2% decrease.
Bugs - They are related to Stag Beetles and the most fascinating thing about them is that they live in colonies. Adults and larvae live together in galleries inside tree stumps and rotting logs. Adults chew decaying wood and feed the larvae. They make a squeaking sound when disturbed by rubbing their wings against their backs. The larvae can also make sounds by scraping their legs against their bodies. They do not carry germs that can be passed to people. (Source: whatsthatbug.com)
View Enlarged Image Patent Leather Beetle Crawling Out From Winter Refuge View Other Photos of This Beetle |
These beetles make tunnels in the wood, called "galleries." Inside the galleries, the beetles will mate, lay eggs, and raise their young. Patent-leather Beetle larvae take a year to develop. When the larvae are ready, they become pupae (like cocoons). Adults hatch from the pupa. Many Patent-leather Beetles may live together in a colony in the same log. Adults can live over a year. (Source: fcps.edu)
Patent-leather beetles like to eat logs of certain trees. Mostly they eat deciduous trees, such as oaks and elm. Wood inhabited by these beetles is usually well decomposed and falls apart readily. The patent-leather beetle is considered beneficial in its activities to decompose dead wood, and is harmless to humans. (Source: Wiki)
Birds - Our Ruby-throated Hummingbirds returned from their winter sojourn on April 23. The males depart about 10 days before the first females begin the journey. Hummingbirds travel alone and they leave their various areas of winter refuge at different times. The migration is spread over a 3-month period, which prevents a major weather event from eliminating the entire species.
Ruby-throats begin moving north as early as January, and by the end of February they're at the northern coast of Yucatan, gorging on insects and spiders to add a thick layer of fat to prepare for the flight to the U.S. Before departing, they have nearly doubled their weight from about 3.25 gms to over 6 gms. When it reaches the U.S. Gulf coast, it may weigh only 2.5 grams. Some will skirt the Gulf of Mexico and follow the Texas coast north, while most cross the Gulf, typically leaving at dusk for a nonstop flight of up to 500 miles, which takes 18-22 hours depending on weather.
Our Catbirds have also returned. A pair nested a foot from one of the breakfast area windows last year and I am hoping it will remodel it and do it again. The male has been calling. They are mimics like the Mockingbird but with a softer tone. Sounds really sweet. View Video of Catbird Singing.
Blue Jays are some of the biggest, brassiest and most colorful backyard songbirds in North America. They’re part of the crow family, so they’re very smart, too. Some people find them too loud and bold, but many more welcome any sighting of this beautiful bird, like me. Most of the Eastern half of the U.S. sees blue jays.
View Enlarged Image Face-to-Face View of Blue Jay View More Blue Jay Photos |
I think their coloring and artistic pattern is quite unique. You certainly can't confuse this bird with anything else in the area. I got this shot of one at the pond getting a drink, but at the moment I released the shutter he was face-to-face with the camera. Certainly gives him a unique look.
They enjoy acorns and peanuts if you want to attract them. We don't do peanuts, but we have tons of oak trees that supply a super abundance of acorns, which we are happy to have eaten up so we don't have to pull out crowded oak trees. They are year-round residents here at Bluebird Cove Habitat.
In The Woods - Whenever we have a tree that has fallen, we make garden stools out of them. They are ideal for places to sit and ponder. The woodpeckers love to check out the outside bark for bugs. You can also use them to put a birdbath on top or a butterfly puddle. Besides all of that, lizards love to crawl in and out of them as they decompose and there's a whole world of tiny critters making use of them.
View Enlarged Image Section of Decomposed Tree Trunk |
It feels so good to allow a tree to go to full decomposition. It gives it an alternate life after it no longer stands tall in the forest. When you consider it takes generations for some trees to reach maturity, the loss of a majestic tree is a very sad moment in my life. Even when a neighbor has a tree cut down for whatever reason, we have asked if we can take the pieces if they're not going to be used for something else.
There's a variety of outdoor things that make use of a tree trunk which allows you to enjoy the tree even if you no longer rest in the shade of its canopy. These will last for various periods of time depending on the kind of wood/tree the trunk comes from. Woody plants take a long time to break down. Fungi is mostly the first agent acting on decay and there are many species that grow in dead wood. The growth of the fungus within the wood helps other things like bacteria and beetle larvae to gain access.
View Enlarged Image Decomposed Cut-Down Tree Trunk |
Next time you have to remove a tree or its time has come to hit the ground, consider alternative options instead of just having it chopped up into wood chips .... unless you're going to use those wood chips in YOUR garden.
Travel - Virginia - We did an overnight trip to the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area of Virginia which is about 3 hours from us. The highlight was to be the Norfolk Botanical Gardens which I mentioned in the last newsletter. But I've had this dream to lay on the beach again. In 1976 I was diagnosed with vitiligo and banned from sun activities. I was a water girl ... my Daddy used to say I was part fish. As a teenager I lived at the local nearby pool all day in the summer with trips to "the shore" in Maryland when I could drive.
So on a bit chilly of a day, we visited First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. I spent a couple hours on Easter morning on a beach towel with my face covered with my hat. I had my Walkman to do some meditation and focus on the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. I don't know what word would express those minutes. It was surreal and certainly boosted my faith and hope in the area of healing.
Quote: “After a visit to the beach, it's hard to believe that we live in a material world.” – Pam Shaw
View Enlarged Image Easter On The Beach at First Landing State Park View All Photos in First Landing State Park Album |
So hope, faith and love had me headed for the Camp Store. And the "greatest of these is love!" I loved riding a bike when I was young. For the first 12 years of my life we didn't have a pool I could walk to so I had some 'free' time to spend on my bicycle going places that kept my mother in worries. I knew my lungs, heart and muscles would be shouting at me, but something leaped within my spirit that I had to do this. And so we did ....
Like they say, "it comes back you to in a few moments." Actually took about 5 minutes to feel steady on it. I stayed in the parking lot on the asphalt since the trails were all gravel and sand which I knew, disappointingly, would be quite impossible. The ride around the Camp Store was exhilarating for sure, but my heart and muscles were screaming at me. So we took the bikes back in 20 minutes, but I was totally thrilled that I chose to do it. View First Landing State Park Photos.
Randal had a grand time also. He's such a great supporter of my "impromptu and stupid moments" as some of my friends call them. I may not have a full day of such things right now ... but if I don't keep myself in the loop of life, there's no life worth living within me. So I enjoy "impromptu and stupid" now and then even when it takes a week to recover.
View Enlarged Image Donna Riding Bicycle at First Landing State Park View All Photos at First Landing State Park Album |
I'll be dancing with Jesus in Heaven. I don't like the thought of leaving my wonderful husband and marvelous son behind ... but it's going to happen at sometime anyway. But before that day in the future, I'll be totally healed.
We also visited York River State Park in Williamsburg on the way back home Easter Day. I slept from First Landing to York River but had enough energy to walk about the visitor center and the level areas around the parking lot. I would've LOVED to be able to do a nature trail, but my body does tell me when "enough is enough." View York River State Park Photos.
I still have a bit of sensibility. Randal has carried me off of nature trails back to the car a couple years ago and that was a "field trip" in itself laughing all the way, but it even takes energy to hang on to him for that and I didn't have it on this impromptu and busy day ... actually I didn't have energy for the week, but after that I began to plan some to visit some natural areas during our next overnight trip to Woodbridge, Virginia, where we were scheduled to attend a day of a 3-day Andrew Wommack seminar (See Meeting Schedule). More on that in the next newsletter.
View Enlarged Image Donna Taking Forest Photos York River State Park - Williamsburg, VA |
Don't just read these words ... ponder the message for days when you lie down to sleep and chew on it when you get up. Begin to look at yourself in the mirror every day and speak to yourself as God would about you. Look up Scriptures that tell you how much worth and value God assigns to you. You need to believe what God says about you ... not what the world and our scarred souls try to cram in.
Jesus said, “I am not praying for these alone, but also for the future believers who will come to Me because of the testimony of these . . . so that the world will know You sent Me and will understand that You love them as much as You love Me.” (John 17:20,23) Can you believe you are loved by God the Father as much as He loves Jesus? That's something to meditate on for a long time.
From Dr. Bill Gillham - Self Esteem in Troubled Times
What am I worth? Jesus wouldn’t flash a financial statement to answer this question about Himself, so neither should I. The value of anything (to a purchaser) is determined by what he’s willing to pay for it.
The Living God bought me. He could’ve bid a used dumpster for me and bid North America for Billy Graham if He’d wished because He can do what He wants. After all, Billy lives in a tall, handsome earthsuit and reaches millions for Jesus, but this is the wrong perception. God offered the only Boy He had to purchase me. He gave the Apple of His eye, His only Namesake! That’s Who God spent to purchase me. Oh, I tell you, I have great value. To God, I’m worth Jesus!
View Enlarged Image Donna Taking One of Many Rest Stops Norfolk Botanical Gardens |
Until next time ... remember ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ God's In Love With YOU! ~~~~~~~~~~~
"For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs." (Zephaniah 3:17) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donna
P.S. Anything in here that might help somebody you know?
Here's a link to the online version of this newsletter. Click on it and on the left sidebar there will be an option to share in various ways.
If you simply want to copy and paste the link into an email, here it is: http://www.thenatureinus.com/2015/05/the-nature-in-us-newsletter-5115.html
Critters & Garden Photos
Travel - USA & International
Costa Rica
Videos
Pets
View Posts By Topic
being 60
creation-nature
gardening
going green
health
my healing journey
newsletters
pets
photos
simplify-frugal
spiritual
travel
travel-costa rica
written by Donna
Posts Since Last Newsletter
Doom and Gloom or Peace and Provision (DLW)
Delicious 3-Day Detox Smoothie Program
10 Reasons Why Your Pets Should Take Fish Oil
Bluebird Babies in Springtime
Roundup Weedkiller Now a Probable Human Carcinogen
Jesus Lifts Us Up When We Don't Bear Fruit
Renamed High Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury
Creating a Butterfly Garden
Earth Day: Celebrate God's Provision for Us (DLW)
The Nature In Us Newsletter - 4/15/15 (DLW)
Previous Posts You May Have Missed
3 Days and 3 Nights - Ending the Confusion (DLW)
What's Hiding in the Garden?
5 Ways to Keep Ticks Out of Your Yard
The 7 Most Dangerous Caffeinated Products
Easter Is A Time To Celebrate Jesus in Us
The Nature In Us Newsletter - 4/1/15 (DLW)
7 Foods & Herbs to Fight the Common Cold
The Amazing Resident Within Us
5 Foods NOT to Eat While Sick
Your Cat May Be Smarter Than You Think
Butterflies in Wildlife Habitat
Belief in God = Better Health
10 Ways to Reduce Radiation from Cell Phone
Use Music Therapy on Dementia, Alzheimer's and Amnesia
How To Use Self Sowers To Fill Gardens
The Nature In Us Newsletter - 3/15/15 (DLW)
Hearing God's Voice
Lasagna Gardening Composting
The Powers of the Canine Sniffer
Sovereignty Redefined (DLW)
Plant Alternatives for Steep Banks
Copyright and Reprint Information - All photos remain the property of Donna L. Watkins, but may be used with proper credit and link back to the website, TheNatureInUs.com. Articles written by Donna L. Watkins may also be reprinted with proper credit and link back to the website, TheNatureInUs.com
2 comments:
I enjoyed every bit of this. Thank you.
How sweet of you to say so, Sandra. Thank you! I see you're from Oklahoma. Our son lives in Oklahoma City.
Post a Comment