Yellow Finch and Red Snow Birds Feeding After A Snow Storm

If you enjoyed my last post I hope you'll love these videos too. I think I take better pictures than movies but you can be the judge. These yellow finches were so hungry they would fill up all the spots at the feeder at times. It makes me feel blessed to know we're helping these cute little birds. Kudos to my husband for keeping the feeders clean and full!

Since you couldn't see much snow in the first clip I took this of the birds actually hopping around in the snow. I love the little red tinged finches but all the birds warm my heart.

May God bless you and keep you safe and warm this winter and always!

Related posts:
Snow bird photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/01/snow-bird-photos-and-haiku-poem.html
Red cardinal feeds baby bird: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/09/red-cardinal-feeds-baby-movie-clip.html
Cute green bird's singing is a cat magnet: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/02/cute-green-bird-video-drives-my-cats.html
Cute cheetah cub photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/cute-cheetah-cubs-and-wild-wednesdays.html

Snow Bird Photos and Haiku Poem

We have bird feeders up all year but the birds especially seem to appreciate them when there's snow on the ground. I feel blessed with every bird sighting and that makes for a lot of blessings. The variety of beautiful birds feasting in the snow even inspired me to write this little poem:

Snow Bird Haiku 

Cardinals, finches

titmice, wrens and more flock

to feeders in snow.

 I love the red and puffiness of this pretty finch.

 This bright red cardinal kept his eye on me as I took photos.

This beautiful bird moved around so quickly it took quite a few tries to get a decent shot. I love the little seed sticking out from his beak.

The birds were so hungry they even shared feeders (as you can see with these four yellow finches). It was fun to watch them jockey for position.

God sure is amazing! I'm thankful He created so many beautiful birds for us to enjoy. Imagine how much greater heaven will be! May God bless you and keep you!

Related posts:
Cute green bird: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/02/cute-green-bird-video-drives-my-cats.html
Red cardinal feeds baby: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/09/red-cardinal-feeds-baby-movie-clip.html
Yellow finch feeding: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/yellow-finch-feeding-on-black-eyed.html
Fish grabbing bird: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/04/fish-grabbing-bird-photos.html
Osprey photos and haiku poem: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/osprey-photos-and-haiku-poem.html

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Haiku Poem

Here's a little haiku with big ideas inspired by a great man whose tireless efforts and timeless ideas changed our world and continue to live on today. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day from my heart to yours. May peace reign in our hearts and homes.

 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Haiku

He had a big dream

That we should all share today

Love - peace - harmony

May God bless Martin Luther King Jr.'s descendants and may He bless you too!

Related Posts:
Memorials and Cherry Blossoms: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/04/cherry-blossoms-and-national-monuments.html
Monuments and Cherry Blossoms: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/03/washington-dc-cherry-blossoms-and.html
New Year Blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-new-year-blessings-butterflies.html

Note: Originally published here 

Laughing Llamas or Funny Alpacas?

My friend Pam and I enjoyed seeing these adorably funny alpacas/llamas soaking up the sun on a chilly but beautiful winter day.

This little llama/alpaca is so excited to feel the sun on its fleece that it's even smiling (or maybe laughing?).

Here's an overview shot of the llama/alpaca yard. It's part of the Children's Petting Zoo section of the National Zoo. As you can see, not all of them were lying on the ground to soak up the sun, some were standing too. I just thought the ones lying down were both cute and hilarious.

I hope you enjoyed my funny llama/alpaca photos. May God bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Cute red panda photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/01/red-pandas-eating-grooming-and-grooving.html
Cute baby cheetah photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/search?q=cute+cheetah
Funny cat photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/03/funny-st-patricks-day-photos-of-moose.html

Red Pandas Eating, Grooming and Grooving

This week my friend Pam and I enjoyed a trip to the National Zoo. The red pandas were particularly active and we enjoyed watching them eat, groom themselves and move gracefully around their habitat (that's where the grooving in the title comes from). The male even walked right up to us and was probably only two feet away at one point! Were it not for the glass we could have touched him.

The red pandas move quickly and surely with such beautiful movements they almost appear to be dancing, especially when they climb gracefully up into the trees. I believe this is the male red panda that caused a commotion (and necessitated some security changes to the habitat) by escaping a few months ago. He seems to have adjusted now and the zoo keepers have provided plenty of entertainment in the red panda habitat.

 Here the red panda is enjoying a bamboo snack. I love its bushy racoon-like tail.

After dancig its way up into the tree the red panda took a grooming break and then promptly fell asleep. Even though it looks like she's sleeping, she's groomingherelf in this photo. The red panda's grooming reminded me of my own cat's self cleaning methods. Between the eating, dance-like roaming, climbing and grooming, it was a great day to see the red pandas in action.

I hope you enjoyed my red panda photos! Come back soon for some funny llama/alpaca photos (I'm not sure which they are but they made me laugh out loud). May God bless and keep you!

Related posts:
Baby cheetah sneeze with Pam: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/02/baby-cheetah-sneeze-pam-with-cheetahs.html
Red panda motivation: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2011/12/pull-yourself-up.html
Cute tiger cubs: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/11/sunlit-tiger-cub-cuteness-photos.html

Blooming Tillandsia (Air Plant) Photos

For the very first time, one of my air plants (a tillandsia variety) produced a flower! It bloomed back in November but better late than never with sharing the photos. At first it only showed the reddish pink blooms and later on the blueish purple blooms popped out of the red parts.

Here's an overview of the whole air plant. I lay it here and there around the house and spray it with water once or twice a week.

Here's a super close up (macro) of the air plant's flower.

Have you ever grown an air plant?
How is your New Year going? I pray you are enjoying a productive, safe and happy New Year! May God bless you!

Related posts:
My garden's flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/07/zinnias-roses-joe-pye-weed-day-lilies.html
More of my garden's flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/echinacea-marigolds-dahlias-and-ghost.html
A new way to think about productivity: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-way-to-think-about-productivity.html

Gems and Minerals from the National Museum of Natural History

I thought I'd take a break from my annual goal setting session to share some lovely and interesting gemstone and mineral photos with you. While we were waiting to see the butterfly exhibit, my husband and I enjoyed the Gem and Mineral exhibits in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. My favorite picture is above. It's a small section of a huge piece of what I suspect is amethyst quartz and people seemed to love touching it (and kids climbing upon it).

 I liked the fan like quality of the "rustic inclusions" in this nearly transparent piece of quartz.

 Malachite is one of my favorite minerals and I thought this pretty piece almost looked like a turtle.

This pink gem slice resembles a figure eight. They had an even more impressive and large slice in another display too. I think it's rhodochrosite.

Here are two more forms of malachite (the tall cactus like pieces in the background and the bubbly bowl like piece in the foreground).

I thought this white stone rembled a dragon. I took it in honor of my Castle Age friends.

I hope all of you enjoyed my mini photo tour of the Smithsonian's Gem and Mineral exhibit. There's far much more to see if you go in person and I think it's well worth a tour if you're in the area.

May God bless you!

Related posts:
Live Butterfly Exhibit Photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-new-year-blessings-butterflies.html
Smithsonian's Garden Fest Photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/05/garden-fest-photos-from-smithsonian.html
Brian Dering's Aruba Wildlife Photos: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/wildlife-in-aruba-photos-by-guest.html

Happy New Year Blessings & Butterflies

Mating butterflies: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, 1/2014

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Happy New Year, dear friends! May God bless you, keep you, prosper you, heal you and increase your love, joy and peace throughout this New Year and always!

Hidden Blue Butterfly: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, 1/2014

Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly we become a new creature when born again in Christ. If you're not quite the creature God intends for you to be yet (and as long as we're breathing, none of us are), every day, not just New Year's day, is a new chance to start again. Really, every moment brings the opportunity to do better and live more fully! As long as we're alive we can make choices about how we spend our time and other resources.

Upside down butterfly: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, 1/2014

My husband and I took these butterfly pictures at the live butterfly exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (you can see in the captions which one of us took which photo). It was a really fun time and at least three butterflies landed on me (please let me know if you'd like to see those pictures too and I'll do another post if there's enough interest).

Butterfly on green spike: Copyright © by Ben Wheeler, 1/2014

Butterflies remind me that amazing change is possible. No matter what our situation is, we can change it for the better and, even in those few situations where we are powerless, our God is greater than anything we can imagine. We can faithfully turn those situations over to Him and wait on His leading. We can always pray. And there's almost always someone else we can help and helping others can work a beautiful change in our hearts. 

Butterfly in leaves: Copyright © by Phyllis Wheeler, 1/2014

May God's peace dwell in your hearts! If you make New Year's resolutions, goals and action plans, may you have the strength, perseverence and resources to bring them to fruition!

I'd love to hear your plans for the New Year if you want to share. May God bless you and those you love!

Related posts: 
2013 New Year blessing: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/01/happy-new-year-haiku-and-blessing.html
Butterfly Art by Denise A: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/10/butterfly-art-by-denise-arvaneh.html
Butterflies and dragonfly: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2012/08/dragonfly-and-butterflies-on-flowers-at.html
Butterfly, bee and flowers: http://lovejoyandpeas.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-butterfly-bee-and-bunch-of-beautiful.html