From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

To bear good news to every home;

Glad tidings of great joy I bring,

Whereof I now will say and sing.

 

To you this night is born a child

Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;

This little child, of lowly birth,

Shall be the joy of all the earth.

 

This is the Christ, our God and Lord,

Who in all need shall aid afford;

He will Himself your Savior be,

From all your sins to make you free.

 

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,

Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,

Within my heart, that it may be

A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

 

Glory to God in highest heav'n

Who unto man His Son hath giv'n!

While angels sing with pious mirth

A glad New Year to all the earth.

 

by Martin Luther, 1535

 

 

We wish you God's blessings

at Christmas

and in the New Year!

 

 

 

 



A House Finch Invasion

 

Last Friday there was a lot of fluttering

going on at the feeders.

 

 











A flock of House Finch must have been flying through.

They were obviously dressed in their
Christmas attire.

The Mr. and his Mrs. were
even sharing one little feeder.

Such welcome color on these cloudy, Winter days.

Later in the afternoon I heard some loud squawking.

 

A herd of Wild Turkeys were strolling down in the valley.

 

Towards evening, everything seemed really still.

I looked out and saw why...

 

 

He was hard to see and the light was not good.

Isn't it amazing how he blends in with his surroundings?

 

 

 

 

 

Catch of the Day

A Red-Tailed Hawk

 

I haven't seen any "different" or unusual birds

around here for quite some time.

 

But today, I saw a lot of activity

at the top of a broken-off tree in the valley.

 

This Red-Tailed Hawk had apparently

made his "catch of the day".

 

 

After I went outside to get his picture,

he sat pretty still for quite a while.

 

I guess he was watching me too.

Of course, when I got tired of waiting

and picked up the camera to go inside,

he flew off carrying his prize.

 

It would have made a great picture.

I guess it is kind of like

the "big fish" that got away.



Deer Passage

Recently, every afternoon around 3:30 pm or so,

three young deer take a stroll through our yard. 

 

 

 

They still have their spots,

but obviously their mom

has sent them off on their own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing them is always a thrill.

 

Their presence, to me, is a

special gift from God.

 

 

Something New

Several days ago, I saw this little bird outside my window.  It was smaller than the usual Titmouse and Nuthatches that I usually see.  I did get a couple of pictures before it flew away.  Today I noticed the pictures on my camera and am trying to decide what kind of bird it is.  Maybe it is a female or non-breeding male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

Does anyone have any ideas?