Night-time Critters

Triggered by Dawn's post about having a flying squirrel at her feeder last night, I thought I'd likewise post about the little night-time visitor we, too, had at our feeder last summer.

Our pup was all worked up, insisting that something of interest was going on in the bird feeder.  She kept whining, and dancing all around the base of the feeder while standing on just her hind legs.    So I very carefully put a 5-gallon bucket, upside down, next to the base, grabbed the spot light we keep at the ready near the backdoor, and very carefully stepped on it, to see inside of the feeder.  I   s-l-o-w-l-y   stood up and looked inside the feeder - I had no idea what to expect and was rather on edge!  "Oh!!  A cute little......  what is that?!" I thought.   It definitely was a nocturnal something (look at those large eyes!) - but what?!  It HAD to be a flying squirrel, but who knew we had flying squirrels here??!

It was not interested in me whatsoever, and kept on feasting on the Cheerios, Rice Krispies, stale bread crusts and bits of brownie crumbs that we had dumped into the feeder.  (I reasoned that since it is nocturnal, and I did have a very bright spot light blinding it, it had no clue that I was even there taking pictures of it.)  So I took several pictures,watching it for at least 5 minutes, and then it was done with dinner.  Either that, or really annoyed at that bright light disturbing it's meal...

It was only about 4 inches long from nose to rump, not counting the tail.  It scampered up to the top of the roof over the feeder very quickly.

I barely had time to jump off my little perch and take pictures while shining the spot light!

Then before I knew it, it lept (or "flew" if you will) off of the bird feeder onto the near-by tree and scurried up the tree.   Too quickly for me to find it with the spot, much less the camera!  The skin that expands from leg to belly is so amazingly white that I was able to see it without the use of the spot light.  (Doesn't that fur look incredibly soft?  Click on the image to enlarge.)

The following day I showed these pictures to the kids, and then we went off on a rabbit trail learning that yes indeed, we DO have flying squirrels in North America, two species, in fact: the northern and southern flying squirrels.  (Imagine that!)  It really is pretty amazing.

(This photo from itsnature.org)

Wordless Wednesday

Serenity on my Porch

Inspired by Jaimie Jo's view from her porch and Paula's room with a view last week, I thought I'd share the view from my porch as well. 

This was my fabulously peaceful morning today.  It is a great place to center oneself and spend some time alone with God.  It is so easy to pray out here in the solitude.  At one point I could hear a vehicle off in the distance, sounded like a bigger truck, I think.  But other than that, it was nothing but birds singing, hummingbirds zipping by, and a few noisy crows off in the distance.    Then the kids woke up and got going.

This really is a favorite spot for us to hang out.  The late afternoon sun makes it rather toasty at times, but all in all, we just can't beat it. 

Remember this pic?  The kids often ask to eat lunch out here.

'Nesting' on this porch is an ongoing process for me.  It's fun that it's always evolving.  Any time I get to rummage/yard sales, or go to the annual flea market in a nearby town, I'm on the lookout for 'new' things to go on the porch.  That makes me happy. 

I can see how I want both the yard and porch to look in my mind, and I'm always thinking about how to work things so that what's in my head is actually what everyone else sees, too.  That is a real chore at times, but it'll be worth it.

Wishing well we inherited from my mother-in-law.

I need to remind myself to stop the daily routine a bit more often so as to spend more time out here enjoying the view and the solitude, just as it is.

Summer Evening

We are fortunate to live waaaayy out in the country.  We enjoy our space.  We enjoy the great outdoors.  One of the kids' favorite summer things to do is to light a fire in the fire ring.  We don't do this terribly frequently, only on the evenings when Dad doesn't have to go to work the next day, cuz Dad is the one who mans the fire. 

Even when the wood is soaked with recent rains and creating way too much smoke, they've got to grab the roasting sticks and get some marshmallows toasted. 

And it almost goes without saying that we have to make s'mores.  The kids are pretty good at it - they get the fixin's all ready first, then they get those marshmallows over the hot coals.

It just makes a guy happy to have all that warm, gooey summetime fun in his hand.  And in his tummy!

He finished this s'more, then had to go inside.  He got a good dunking in the tub before falling fast asleep.

Our Fourth of July 2011

 Do you celebrate the Fourth of July with a BANG!??   Do you prefer to celebrate with a quiet, relaxing day?

 Do you decorate your home for this holiday?  Do you go all out?  You know, like, over the top?

 It has been said that I go all out with decorating for the Fourth of July, more so than for any other time of the year.  And I'll admit it -- I DO!  I just can't help it.  I decorate for almost all holidays, but try to keep the focus in the proper place, you know?

 This is a fun secular holiday, not a religious holiday, so I don't have to keep the focus on Our Lord - although we very well know that the reason this country was founded was strictly for religious freedom.  And we do thank God for that!

My maternal grandfather emigrated to the United States in 1922 at the age of 16.  He came here all alone.  His father had come a few years earlier, leaving all his family in their homeland, sending for the family as he could.  My grandfather spoke no English whatsoever.  How could he manage to get across the ocean, through Ellis Island, across over half of this country and find his family in Northern Minnesota, all by himself, without the ability to communicate with words?  It truly amazes me.

I loved to hear his stories when I was a child.  What I remember more than the words, are the emotions I witnessed when he spoke of this wonderful country.  This man was a true patriot.  He loved this country.  And I mean loved this country.  All of his sons, and both sons-in-law, served our country in various branches of the military.  And my grandpa was so proud of that - of them - for their service.

But this post isn't about my maternal grandfather!   That info was just to help explain my propensity for celebrating this birthday of our country with great gusto!

This post is supposed to be about my paternal grandfather!!   You see, he was born on fourth of July.  He's a Yankee Doodle Dandy!

My Grandpa John - on his 99th birthday - July 4, 2011

And he is 99 years young!!  One would never suspect that this man is 99.  Really.  He easily passes for oh, say, eighties or so.  Until he fell this spring and broke his hip, he motored all over on his own two legs.  (and although it took some serious talking, he was finally convinced to hang up the car keys just a year or so ago!)  Do you remember when I requested prayers for him this spring?   Well, he was determined to celebrate his 99th birthday with all the family, and so he did.

His sister Angie turned 90 just two weeks earlier, and so they shared the joyous celebration.  She lives in Southeastern Wisconsin, so they don't see each other much.  But they do talk on the phone every week.

Grandpa and Great-Auntie Ange

And they prayed grace together before they ate.

(My favorite photo of the day)

They posed with immediate family.

And of course with extended family - and birthday cakes!

We always have a family reunion on the Fourth of July, but some years the reunions are bigger than others. This one was one of those bigger years....  

 

Of course, we just had to have some music!

And for the pièce de résistance:  Balloons!  Red, white, blue, patriotic, helium-filled balloons!!  Only 99 of them!

 Do you see the Birthday Boy there, left of center?  Everyone who wanted to participate took a balloon, and on his release, we all were to release our balloon as well.

Ready?!   Set?!   Release!!

 Grandpa's 'red bouquet' is holding together...

 Fun was had by all!   

 When we were helping Grandpa back to the car, and bidding farewell, I thanked him for having a birthday on such a fine day.  And he looked at me and said, "This was a great day, wasn't it?  I sure enjoyed it.  In fact, I think I'd like to do it all again next year!" 

So, as far as our family is concerned, we've got plans made for next Fourth of July already, its marked on our calendar, and we intend to help Grandpa celebrate his 100th birthday.

We made our way home, had some more outside fun while we waited to run off to see the fireworks.

What a great country we live in... despite all her flaws.  One this is certain, our family  surely does enjoy celebrating America's birthday.

May God Bless America!