Cute Green Bird Video Drives My Cats Crazy!

Blue-Crowned Hanging-Parrot Photo By Ben Wheeler

I took this cute little bird video (below) at the Smithsonian National Zoo's Bird House today. The bird house is a fantastic place to visit in cold wintry weather. The birds are beautiful and usually quite a few are active.

Another one of the birds was making loud sounds and this cute, beautiful and funny little parrot seemed to respond by grooming itself on the branches of the tree in which it rested. The video is cute enough on its own, but I found that with the sound on it makes my cats come running and they love watching it! I hope it makes you smile and maybe entertains your cats too (I'd love to hear about it if it does!). In our house it's definitely a cat magnet!

Our God is amazing in His creativity! This little bird is another testament to that. May God bless you!

Happy Valentine's Day & Funny Cat Photos

Moose the cat doesn't appreciate her Valentine monkey

Happy Valentine's Day! I thank God for my wonderful husband who showers me with love every day of the year but also takes the time to make Valentine's Day special! I admire and love him beyond what I ever thought possible! Thank you for loving me, Ben!

I hope you are blessed with someone special to love today! If you aren't you could still make the day special for someone else. You could call, write or visit someone who is suffering, volunteer at a charity that speaks to your heart or otherwise reach out and make the world a more loving place. In addition to helping others, you'll probably feel happier for having done so.

My cats weren't too interested in their annual Valentine's Day photo shoot but I thought some of the photos were still funny and/or cute so here are my favorite five. I hope they make you smile. 

I suspect Moose (our old, fuzzy cat) is thinking, "Just hand over the treats already. How many pictures do you need anyway?" I almost titled this photo "Anti-Valentine Cat"

Here Moose the cat is yawning (looks ferocious though, doesn't she?) and Baby cat is just watching and waiting. I think I've spoiled them with post photo treat expectations.

Baby cat did enjoy marking the prop Valentine bags though (I think I made that wire "Love" decoration in 2011).

Moose the cat tried to eat the Love wire art decoration so I ended the photo session. These two cats bring a lot of love and joy into our lives. May God fill your heart with His love and joy on this Valentine's Day and always!

Snowy Morning in Maryland

I took these photos a snowstorm or two ago but figure better late than never with the posting. I hope to post some zoo and flower photos to brighten your winter over the next few weeks too.  Above is one of our bushes covered in snow and glowing with soft morning light.

I think this is our variegated mondo grass. It looks nicer covered in snow than without the snow. I love how things look purer and more graceful when covered with fresh snow.

These four birds took turns feeding and watching for predators. Their activity knocked the snow off of the top of the feeder but it's still piled on top of the seeds inside the feeder.

Snowy sunrise in a Maryland suburban neighborhood.

Hope you enjoyed my snowy photos and that you and yours are safe and warm. Please join me in praying for all those who aren't. May God bless and provide for them and may He bless you too!

Native Trails Performance Photos By Barry Walker

Copyright © by R. Barry Walker, February 2013; Used with permission

I'm thrilled to share Barry Walker's fabulous photos of the Native Trails performance at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Someday, I'd love to see this in person. In the meantime, I thought you all would appreciate this vivid glimpse into Native American performing arts to brighten your day and bless your soul. You can see more of Barry's fantastic photos and get details on these photos at his travel blog.

Copyright © by R. Barry Walker, February 2013; Used with permission

Barry explains, "Every spring, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts presents a lunchtime concert called Native Trails It features Hopi, Navaho, Apache and Pima dancers and musicians."  The warrior dance is pictured above.

Copyright © by R. Barry Walker, February 2013; Used with permission

 Amazing eagle dance is captured above.

Copyright © by R. Barry Walker, February 2013; Used with permission

Native American Flute performance. You should be able to hear Barry's video of the beautiful flute music by clicking this link (it said it was set to public).

Copyright © by R. Barry Walker, February 2013; Used with permission

 Skillful hoop dancing by "Derrick Suwainha Davis, a five-time World Champion."

Copyright © by R. Barry Walker, February 2013; Used with permission

Mr. Davis in spectacular full ceremonial dress. 

Hearty thanks to my friend Barry for sharing his photos and to Native Trails performers for sharing their culture with us. May God bless them and may He bless you too!

What trip have you always wanted to make? What travel experience sticks in your mind as the best? 

Full links and sources:
http://www.rbarrywalker.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151492308206823&set=vb.566736822&type=2&theater
http://www.rbarrywalker.blogspot.com/2013/02/native-trails-concert.html

Disclaimer: 
I have no material connection with Barry Walker or the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and wasn't asked to write this post. All opinions are my own. Quotes are taken from Barry's Facebook page and blog.

Never a "One" & Free Inspirational Art

Today on my prayer walk the phrase of the Beatles' song "One is the Loneliest Number" played through my head. This surprised me because, even though I was walking by myself, I wasn't lonely. I wasn't even alone. God is always with me. I am never a "one!" And then I realized that God was giving me a post for today.

Dear friend, YOU are NEVER ALONE! At least you don't have to be. If you are a born again Christian who has accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, He is always with you! How amazing is that? No matter where you are, what you're doing, or who else you are or aren't with, God is with you. He loves you beyond anything you could ever imagine! This is an amazing and comforting thought for me and I hope for you too.

So, as a little reminder that we're never alone I created a little piece of inspirational Art using part of Matthew 28:20 (the Paint photo (.jpg) above) as a free gift to you. You can download it and use it however you like. If you post it on the web a link to my blog would be great but isn't required (sample: photo courtesy of Phyllis Wheeler at http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/).

May you feel God's loving presence in your life today and always!

PS The three hearts in the photo symbolize God the Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit.

Full links:
http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/
http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/

Orchid Delights at Longwood Gardens

This weekend my husband and I took a trip up to Longwood Gardens, PA for their Orchid Extravaganza. It was a visual delight! Above is my favorite orchid photo from the trip.

This amazing orchid arch looks even more impressive in person. I suspect it is over twenty feet high. Behind it you can see another huge orchid display (hanging from the ceiling) and further in the background there is a circle of roses surrounding a lotus fountain.

 Here's a close up of one of the featured orchids.

Here's one of their huge orchid balls. I think it was about 10 feet in diameter. They had some behind the scenes employees showing how they put the giant orchid balls together and, while I don't expect to ever make one myself, I enjoyed seeing how it was done.

This is the orchid display that greets you when you enter the Longwood Gardens conservatory from their "new" side entrance. You can see the back side of this display in the first photo of this post.

Hope you enjoyed my photographic mementos of our trip. I love to visit conservatories in winter. What are some of your favorite winter activities?

May God bless you!

PS To the couple who asked me to take their photo and let me take one of them with my camera - mine didn't turn out that well so I didn't post it on the blog but if you want a copy just email me at lovejoypeas@gmail.com and I'll send it. And if you want to be featured just send me the one I took with your camera phone (assuming it came out). It was great meeting you!

Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens!

Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens on their well earned Superbowl win!