While shopping for a few odds and ends the other day, we decided to purchase another Hummingbird feeder because it seemed like the other one wasn't getting much attention, although we did have a beautiful Ruby-throated Hummingbird visit it a couple of times. 

He didn't stay around long and it would be days and days before he would show back up, then he disappeared altogether. The feeder is glass and metal so we thought maybe it was getting too hot, plus it doesn't have a lot of red on it. A friend told me to tie a big red bow on top and that would attract him back.

But, I am impatient so I found a new one I thought would work better. And it does!!! Now there is a Hummer visiting us every day and he/she stays around for up to an hour at a time, flitting over to the Crepe Myrtles and back to the feeder. I hung it from an ant guard, which is working really well. Hummer also preferred feeding out of the other side where I couldn't see him/her, so I put a tiny piece of clear tape over the opening, forcing him/her to feed from a flower visible to me and my camera! :-)

The video isn't as sharp as I would like because I have to video (and photograph) through the screen but you can still see how hungry he/she is! I'm not sure if it's a young male or a female since the throat is not red. Could be either one but I don't care. I'm just happy it likes coming here to feed!

Well, I hope you've enjoyed our little Hummer visit! 

What kind of birds do you have at your feeders? 

Genesis 1:20-23
Then God said, "Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. 
Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind."

My morning view is slightly obscured because of the screen but there is no getting by without it in the marsh! I know. You don't see Marshes in the photo but directly behind the homes across the street is dense Marshland and it's also right behind ours. The mosquitoes and yellow flies love to dine here so for our own comfort,
we must have screen! :-)

We've slowly been finishing our porch and landscaping our yard. As I'm not a big gardener, I don't want too much stuff to tend but I am loving our Black Crepe Myrtle. We have one on each side of the brick walkway and they are gorgeous. The morning is overcast after tremendous storms yesterday. Not the best for photos but I'm offering some anyway. :-)

We have many lovely birds but one of my favorites are the Mourning Doves who come by all day long. They love perching on top of the staff that holds our cage feeder and a thrifted wrought iron chandelier that has no votives. 

I have small peat pots, with big globs of hot glue on the edges so they don't fall through the holes but still drain well, placed in the votive spots and fill them with Safflower seed. The friendly birds aka 'songbirds' love them. The mean birds aka Cowbirds and Starlings, do not. 

Psalm 136:25
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

We keep the cage feeder filled with Wild Bird seed and the tiny birds just throw out what they don't want so the Doves, Blackbirds, and Ducks have plenty to eat. I usually fill the feeders every other day. We have a lot of  House Sparrows here. Some even live in the eaves of neighboring homes. But not ours. We made sure all entry points were repaired.

This morning was a great morning for bird watching. We saw a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird!!! I didn't have my camera handy when he came by the first time so we just sat super still and watched him feed from the Hummingbird feeder I JUST hung up on Friday. He then flitted over and landed on a tree branch not far off the porch. He stared and stared at us for the longest time. After he flew away I went immediately to get my camera. I am so glad I did!!!

What I failed to take into account was the fact it is 73* inside and about 80* outside and really humid. My lens immediately fogged up but he was back!! I had to snap the photo quickly or risk missing him. After getting the first one, I quickly wiped off the lens and got a second one.

Hazy but still beautiful!!!

As I was admiring Mr Hummer in one tree, a big Red-winged Blackbird landed in another.

Foggy lens and screen don't deter me though. I still enjoy capturing God's creation especially when the next one is the first I have EVER seen of this bird. I'm not completely sure what kind it is. I'm thinking either a Blue Bunting or a Blue Grosbeak. 

He looked over right at me. Wasn't that nice of him??

If you're a birder, what kind do you think he is?

That's my exciting morning bird watching from my screened in front porch.

Now it's time for food and devotions...one feeds the body and one feeds the soul.

Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, "It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone,

 but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

I thought I would share a few of our successes as far as perennials go here in VA. We've definitely had our ups and downs figuring out what to grow. I planted over 40 bulbs last year and they all rotted. I won't be trying that again. Our soil is too wet and the water table is pretty close to the surface so drainage is a problem. 

The old fashioned Roses were here when we moved in and are starting to bloom. 
I'm pretty sure they're Knock Outs.

When fully open, they're a delicate soft pink in color and will have multiple blooms on one stem.

Our brick walkway goes to the backyard and we had planted a beautiful Palm tree in front of the Artemesia but it died. It actually froze to death because we forgot to wrap it. 

That was a big disappointment. 

I replaced the Palm with a wrought iron plant hangar I bought from a friend last summer. Little did I know she would reach her heavenly home only a few months later. I'm glad I have this visual reminder of her. In a few weeks, it will hold a couple of annual baskets.

There are two large mounds of Ajuga on the right and I'll probably transplant or buy more to fill in the blank space on the left.

The dead looking clump in the top left is actually a divergent shaped ornamental grass. When at its peak, it is huge and gorgeous! It grows about 3' tall and drapes out at least that far, hiding the gas meter. :)

The Burgundy Glow Ajuga were in two small containers and they're spreading like crazy! I read somewhere that in some places it is considered to be extremely invasive. I like it and it seems to be hardy, so I'm keeping it!

I love how it stands out with the bright lavender shades in front of the Euphorbia.

Two small containers of Sedum Acre Gold Rush I planted last year survived the winter!

The yellow is brilliant against the dark brown mulch. It's a little slower to spread but eventually it will. I can be patient for this beauty.

While I was weeding the other flower beds, I noticed this clump of 'weed' (as my husband referred to it) growing all alone among the grass. I thought hmmmm....that's kind of odd. 

As you can see, I quickly dug it up before he mowed over it! I transplanted it into a pot until I could find out what it was.

Isn't it beautiful???

They're so delicate and tiny and they close up in the evening.

I knew this wasn't an ordinary 'weed'. 

It's actually a wildflower commonly known as a Rain-Lily!

The scientific name is Zephyranthes Atamasca and there are many genus of it. Turns out is common in SE VA. It thrives in coastal areas, preferring acid boggy soils rich with leaf mold. That about sums up our yard! I'll transplant it to back into the ground in the 'rock' garden area where the Palm was and hope it survives and spreads. 

And now for my indoor crowning glory...

Uh. Yeah. I have killed every Orchid I've owned. This one was in the dump bin at Lowe's last year with only one bloom on it. I brought it home and it promptly fell off. I was bemoaning its inevitable fate to my sister and she told me to water it once a week by running cool water over the bark, don't let any water touch the leaves, and don't move it from its location. It seems to like being nestled against the coffee pot.

A few weeks after following my sisters directions, that shoot came up, followed soon by three more! I was completely thrilled but thinking it was too good to be true.

Then one by one, those little tiny buds started opening and soon I had 13 blooms!!!

How about that???

It's a miniature Cattleya Orchid and the blooms are only a little over an inch across in any direction. As you can see, the color is a soft buttery yellow with pinkish purple freckles and streaks.

 God made something so tiny, intricate and delicate 
and blessed me with it! 

If you hung with me through this long post, CONGRATS!! haha

I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of our triumphs here in VA. I'm really not much of an outdoor gardener. Yard work is not fun or even stress relieving for me, as it is for many of my friends. :-) 

I'm thankful to have discovered a few beauties that bring me great joy to see them flourishing, though!

How about you? Do you garden? 
What successes and failures have you had?

Hey Y'all! 

I hope this Friday finds everyone doing well and rejoicing in this beautiful Spring God has blessed us with!! 

Of course, some of you may be on the other side of the world and entering Autumn, which is another fabulous time of year and happens to be my favorite. :-) 

The colors in both seasons are always glorious.

If you've been around the blog for long, you know I enjoy promoting and interviewing authors. I was recently contacted by author Debra E Marvin for an interview. Yes. I'm on the other side this time. :-)

I have to say I was slightly surprised but also honored. Debra and a host of other authors facilitate the website Inkwell Inspirations. They're passionate about writing and sharing their love of Christ and books, just like me! 

Come on over and say Hi!!!

https://www.inkwellinspirations.com/2019/04/meet-book-blogger-anne-payne-of-stuff.html

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

1 John 4:19

We love because He first loved us.

Song of Solomon 2:11-12 

For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. 

Just thought I would share some pictures I took recently with my cell phone. They aren't great but I don't usually have my good camera with me. I probably should! With spring starting to show her glorious colors, I know I have missed some great shots. 

 I saw this tree exploding with gorgeous pink blossoms in a local parking lot. 

I think it's a Cherry Tree.

I went on a restful retreat with some friends from church
and took this underneath the pier at South Nags Head. 

Psalm 51:10 

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

 I decided to change up my re-purposed USAF display on the front porch. 
Hooray for yard sale deals. The table was only fifty cents and the 
brand new cherry red ceramic planter, $4.00.

We've had a couple of gorgeous afternoons. 
I love seeing the reflection of Old Glory in the car outside the fence.

 Love this sign! It hangs in our favorite BBQ joint.

Psalm 18:46
The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

 Have a blessed Lord's Day, Y'all!


 Cor. 13:11 
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

 “He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” 

  ~Romans 4:25

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth…”  

~Job 19:25

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
~John 11:25-26

Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.
~Charles H. Spurgeon 




Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
~Col. 3:16-17 


God bless you as you celebrate our risen Savior, Christ Jesus, this Resurrection Day! 

 

Grapes are one of my favorite fruits.

But I am not very good at choosing sweet ones.

This day I was successful!

I hope your summer is happy and healthy, so far.

It's been kind of emotional here but in the midst of it all, 

God is still here and blessing with good gifts. 

Like sweet Grapes. :-)

~Happy Summer Days~

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.