Alrightnowyoutellme (9)

Seriously, tell me. Knowing my lack of ability in the observing of details concerning butterflies, I need all of the help I can get. I have an idea of what this might be but I do not want to embarrass myself by being wrong again. This was found on the lilacs right off the edge our deck last summer. So jump in and see if you can tell me what these are.

C'mon get involved... we already know it is a butterfly...right?

March Madness

Alright already, where do I live; the north pole? I can hardly believe the snow, it is almost depressing. This sort of thing is very maddening in March. I even missed church last night because the road we live on had so much snow on it.

We have had Robins and Red Wings in our yard already this year and then the snow; oh well. We saw our first Robin on St. Patricks Day this year; which was before than my brother-in-law Bruce, I think he thinks it is a competition of who is going to see a Robin first. I won this year...maybe I am making it a contest all by myself.

I have no new Robin pictures for you but I did see this funny little deer on the sidewalk this morning shortly after 6 a.m. I purchased a trail cam for Mary this last Christmas (but this is a much nicer photo than the trail cam) and we have enjoyed having deer in our yard, right up until they begin chewing on the perennials, or tipping over something. I don't mind too much though it is a nice diversion from the routine.

We had a big winter storm move through yesterday, and this little deer was trying to get food that the birds had dropped from the feeder into the new snow.

This Is Only A Test

I am old enough to remember when at any given moment, yes, even in the middle of my favorite television program (arghhh) the network would flash the test pattern screen and the annoying tone. It was only 30 or 60 seconds but it came unexpectedly and it made for a very long 30 seconds; "for crying out loud, Giligan was just about to kiss Mary Ann...". I was totally helpless to the plans of the TV station and network. It was an unwelcome interruptionan with that infernal tone; Lord help me! But I guess I could always turn the channel and pick up another show if I chose to, so all was not lost.

Unfortunately, interruptions in life seldom last only a minute or less, and they are often unwelcome and unexpected. We may not be able to see things headed our way when we become the unwilling the subjects of the "Network's" decisions; we may not be able to control that sort of thing, but we can control how we respond to life's interruptions. We must find a way to keep our attitudes in check. We are all faced with opportunities to live a blessed and vital life each day, unfortunately each opportunity is hidden in the "unwelcome interruptions" that the Lord allows to come our way.

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.
Chuck Swindoll

The Persister

Persistence is defined as a firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that every new day brings a new opportunity to give up. I am not speaking of "giving up" although many do every day. I will not be one of those. Really I am willing to guess that within the next 24 hours you will have an opportunity to be offended. Offense is almost a given in all of our lives. The question is not "how" we are offended but what we will do "when" we are. I have had people tell me that I could not possibly offend them; seeing as being offended is a choice, they might be right.

But really, things will come along everyday that try to derail our good intentions, but we must stay on track and see our dreams and goals through to the end. Maybe you want to be the next Iron Chef, don't be discouraged when someone tells you that your cooking is terrible; get back up and pop a better bowl of popcorn. What if it is your dream to fly an airplane don't stay grounded because your mom is afraid to travel by anything but a car...or covered wagon. Dream big and don't listen to the nay-sayers; persist, and be persistent.

Here are some of my favorite persistence quotes.

When the world says, 'Give up" Hope whispers, "try one more time"
Author Unknown

Fall seven times, stand up eight.
Japanese Proverb

Consider the postage stamp: it's usefulness consists in it's ability to stick to one thing until it gets there.
Josh Billings

Difficult things take a long time, impossible things take a little longer.
Author Unknown

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway: we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.
Earl Nightingale

I can do all things through Christ who give me strength.
The Bible

If you are on the right track, facing the right direction, keep moving ahead.
Mr Toad

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

Calvin Coolidge

Words From Ben, On Regret

Mr. Meant-To, has a comrade,
and his name is Didn't-Do;
Have you ever chanced to meet them?
Did they ever call on you?

These two fellows live together
In the house of Never-Win,
And I'm told that it is haunted
By the ghost of Might-Have-Been.

Benjamin Franklin

Today Is My Birthday

Wow I am very excited to be a grand old 53 years young. I am glad to be here, and grateful to be as healthy as I am. I am blessed. I have known, I think, three other people who have shared my special day and one of them was actually born the same day as me. There is Theresa, (she is the same age as me), also an elderly neighbor,who passed a number of years ago, that I had growing up by the name of Esther, and a sweet girl from church who is about to become a mommy for the first time, by the name of Lucinda (Lucy).

If there were men or women who did not age or had discovered a way to cheat aging and death I would feel bad, but everyone ages. I am convinced that it is not how old you are that entitles you to respect or love; it is the way that you love and respect others. There seems to be point in the aging process that some reach, when an imaginary filter of civility wears out, and people become extra opinionated and crabby. If I ever get to the place where I feel like I no longer need to be polite and caring please let me know, and if I resist your help and insist being a grouch; just shoot me. I just don't want to be divisive or discouraging, at any point in my life.

I have had a number of relatives who have passed away prematurely; cousins and an aunt who have gone away to soon. I am glad to be here.

Happy Birthday to me.
I am only 53
I don't mean to be conceited
But I'm awesome, just ask me.
(sung to the tune of Happy Birthday)

Alrightnowyoutellme (8 reveal) The Muskrat

 Yes it is a Muskrat. The other guesses were good guesses; even the duck and platypus, both are water lovers. He is not really a true rat, but he is a rodent, he gets the name musk because of the scent glands that he uses to mark his territory with a "musky", rather smelly odor. Muskrats through history have played a vital role as food, and the fur is said to be warm. Indians and settlers used the muskrat pelt/fur for trading so that they would be able to purchase things.

The muskrat has a near relative that is larger and is an expert engineer; do you know who it is?

Muskrats love plants that grow in the water like reeds and cattails. They will also eat clams, crayfish and frogs, (no thank you I will have a salad); they will even eat dead fish. Muskrats are nocturnal, which means that they are most active at night,.


Here is a picture taken at the same pond but on a different day...maybe it is a mom or dad.

Babes

 
Or was that babies? Baby Robins; I found them while looking for something else. The mother built a nest in a lilac bush right next to our deck. Ugly? Cute? You decide. Won't be long and they will be back in the area. Just remember when you see a Robin it does not mean that spring has arrived, the rule of thumb is: "It will snow three times on the Robins tail, then Spring."

I will call it spring when I see them in my yard. Might only be 4 or 5 weeks until we hear the "cheery, cheery, cheery up" call outside the window.

"Enough already of winter, curse you little wooly caterpillar"

Discouraged In The Fog

Florence May Chadwick was a swimmer born in 1918, at age ten she began competing in swimming events, at age 11 she had her first rough water competition and placed 4th. At the age of 32 she swam the English Channel from England to France, a distance of 21 miles, setting a new world record by a woman. A year later she crossed again making her the first woman to swim the channel both directions setting yet another world record. Florence's first attempt to swim the channel lasted 13 hours 20 mins breaking the record set by American Gertrude Ederle; the second swim was made in 16 hours 22 mins.

In 1952 Florence May Chadwick was determined to swim the 26 miles between Catalina Island and the California coastline. She began the swim surrounded by small boats to keep an eye on her safety and to help her in case she need to be pulled out of the water due to exhaustion or injury. After about 15 hours in the water a thick fog set in so that Florence was unable to see anything in front of her. Florence's mother, and her trainer, in a nearby boat offered encouragement telling her that it was not much further; but all that Florence could see was the very thick fog. With only a half mile to go for the first time, Florence quit; it was not the fatigue or the cold it was the discouragement of not being able to see her goal. In spite of the encouragement that others offered she was not able to see the coastline and gave up hope.

Two months later she attempted the swim from Catalina Island to the California coastline for the second time. This time despite the same thick fog she accomplished the swim; this time she swam with the goal clearly pictured in her mind becoming the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel.

The message is to have a clear goal in your mind and never to quit.
Florence Chadwick

It's always to early to quit.
Norman Vincent Peale

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
The Bible (Proverbs 13:12) 


Even when there is not single shred of evidence for proof, keep moving forward.
Me...Mr. Toad

Alrightnowyoutellme (8)

Well as long as we seem to be a rodent sort of mood lets try another one. This photo was taken at Bluegill Bay Park in Wausau. It was a late morning walk and I heard this little rat splashing along the shore, it took me a minute but I found him and he did not seem too annoyed that I took his picture. I think this is a juvenile so it may not look exactly like it's adult parent. This is a very common water rat in Wisconsin.

A very popular "70s" group sang a song about this sort of love. (was that too obvious?) Tell me what you think.

He is sort of cute...for a rodent.