Red sightings do give me joy. Always.
For Lent this year I am doing Pray40, which is on the Hallow app. On Sundays, Father Mike Schmitz gives a Bible reading and homily. Yesterday, the theme was “Looking for Joy.” Father Mike mentioned the following quote:
“Suspicion often creates what it suspects.” C.S. Lewis from the “Screwtape Letters.”
My major takeaway was that if we often find what we’re looking for. If we’re looking to be disappointed, most likely we will be. Distrust can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. I realized that life truly is what we make of it. It’s was a reminder that our attitudes can be our destiny. If we look for joy, we can find it.
I’m sharing some bits of joy I had this week, birdwatching at home:
The joyful couple together at the Bird Buddy AI feeder.
I watched as Red fed Mrs. and then gave her a turn at the feeder, but I wasn’t fast enough with the camera to capture it. It was heartwarming though!
Quail Egg Update:
I’ve only peeked a couple times on our quail nest. Last week I said we had four eggs. We’re now up to a dozen! I wrote about our quail nest HERE.
Where do you look for joy?
I don’t know that I’m exceptionally good a “looking” for joy, although possibly when I’m out in nature… but I do love it when an unexpected moment pops up full of happiness or delight or wonder.
Wonderful news on the quail eggs 🙂
I’m so excited with the quail eggs. I wonder if they hatch at the same time? Or if it’s on a schedule like they were laid? There were two a day for six days, so there’s a difference in the timeline. I’ve seen so much wildlife lately. It must be the season.
I’ve always liked the ancient Arabic saying, “Trust in God, but tie your camel.” A little bit of distrust never hurt anyone. But too much, and you become paranoid.
That’s a good saying. But if you’re distrusting all the time, it can be a problem.
That’s true, but I find it hard to trust solutions to problems like that.
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Beautiful photos of Mr and Mrs, Elizabeth!! They are a beautiful couple! ❤️
It was so joyful to watch them together at the bird feeder. First he fed her and then gave up his spot and chased other birds away.
So sweet! There’s joy all around us, if we just look for it. ❤️
It was such a nice message that resonated with me. I’m enjoying the 20 minutes a day during Lent to listen to their messages. They are covering The Brothers Karamazov.
It’s sounds wonderful! I may need to listen in.
It’s good. They have a format of what they do each day of the week. Saturday is an interview with a different person each week. One week was Gwen Stefani. Sunday is a homily. Friday is Chris Pratt and Mark Wahlberg. The rest of the week is the The Brothers Karamazov.
very beautiful picture 👌
Thank you! 😊
Such great wisdom that we will find what we are looking for. Beautiful pictures and I love how you share what brings you joy and it creates a ripple effect for all of us!
It’s so simple, but true! I’m glad you’re enjoying my photos, too.
I try to find the little moments. I recently saw a Broadway show …Every Brilliant Thing….which really made me think about all the little things that make life worth living. a times journalist was so moved by this play she’s starting a weekly column about little good things
That sounds like a great play. How inspirational it must be to have been to have a journalist start a column with little things that make life worth living.
Beautiful photos, Elizabeth…and the C.S. Lewis quote was new to me!
“Suspicion often creates what it suspects.”
So true…so perfectly true!
😊💝😊
I’m glad you enjoyed the quote and my photos. Sunday was the first time I heard that quote too. It was such a simple but truthful sermon.
So good…sometimes the simpler, the better! 💝💝💝
😊 💕💕
I think I am between idealist and pragmatist. I look for ideal but accept reality and give myself options.
That’s smart!
Thank you! I’m an Aquarius, so we try to think outside of the box which either makes us somewhat of a rebel or a leader.
My daughter is an Aquarius too. She was team captain of her college swim team. Now she unionized admin at UC Berkeley and led a rally. So I guess she’s either a rebel or leader, too!
A dozen eggs and Red is primping and posing. A good day! Ha, ha.
It’s been wild out here. The other day I saw one javelina stick his snout through the fence. I went with my iphone to get a photo and six more popped out from under the brush. Then yesterday I saw the biggest coyote I’ve seen in my life. Then a hawk swooped in today. I much prefer Red preening and can’t wait for the baby quail.
The javelina are new to me. They would scare me. The coyote too. Too unpredictable for me. Yes, yes, baby qual and Red are more my speed! Ha, ha, the joy and challenges of running your very own EA Nature Preserve!
The javelina can be dangerous so I’m thankful for our fence. I was out looking for the coyote to get a photo. Then it dawned on me it might be a good idea to go inside the house!
You get the most beautiful birds. We had 113 birds visit the feeder yesterday but in California they are mostly bluebirds, Goldfinches, Juncos, Warblers, Doves and such. I had to turn off my notifications because it was non-stop. Your bible study sounds fascinating. I used to show clips of Father Mike in my classes back in the day. He’s fabulous. And you have a dozen eggs. Now that’s joy! Hugs, C
I’ve been doing Father Mike’s Bible in a Year on Hallow also. He’s really good. I’d love to have goldfinches. Mostly my feeder is all doves. Today I had a Cooper’s Hawk fly into the yard and I managed to get a decent photo as he sat on the fence. Yay to a dozen quail eggs. Hopefully they’ll all hatch.
Wow – a dozen. They are some busy quails – and about to get busier!
Last time we had 12 eggs they were by our garage door while we’re on vacation. Once we got home, we scared them away with the garage door and car. I’m trying so hard to give these mamas and papas space.
That’s a power couple. I don’t get tired of seeing them, and the quails. So cool.
I’m so glad you enjoy Red and Mrs. photos. I am thrilled every day I see them.
Yes, they’re absolutely adorable.
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Wow… a dozen little ones.
I sure hope so! I’m giving them lots of space.
I’m also in a finding joy frame of mind these days. Your bird photos and stories do make me smile.
I happy you enjoy my bird photos and stories! It’s so rewarding to look for joy each day.
Beautiful birds to keep you happy. My joy comes from doing what duties I’ve assigned to my self and then visiting a friend
I agree with your joy, too!
Thanks dear friend