Bird Scouts!

I heard that the birds are already out scouting

for places to raise their babies when spring comes.

If you want residents in your birdhouses,

probably you need to get them in place!

Last year a little wren, a chickadee, and a tufted titmouse

checked out my little birdhouse that is hung

 in the cherry tree that is quite near our house.

The wren started to build a nest, but then changed locations.

Today I was surprised to have a pileated woodpecker
checking it out!

My granddaughter and I laughed as he tried to stick his head inside,

...even turned his head upside down while trying to look inside.

He didn't give up easily...

and finally started pecking the house apart!

For some reason it reminded me of the verse from Proverbs 14:1 that says,

"A wise woman builds her home,

but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands."

I guess the woodpecker thought if he couldn't fit in the little house,

then he'd just tear it up so no one else could use it!

Not a very nice philosophy!

Or maybe he was just looking for bugs to eat...

I've been doing a lot of Bible Study for an "Affinity Class" 

that I'll be teaching in March and April,

called "A Taste of Grace".

Consequently, I haven't painted a ROCK lately for

Names of God on Rocks.

Don't give up on me!

I hope to get a post done later this week!

Old-Fashioned Barn Restoration!

It was fairly early when neighbors started gathering
to help with preparations to pour a concrete floor
in the old barn that my husband has been having restored.

And they were ready when the truck delivering concrete arrived.

The gravel subfloor, plastic, and grids had been laid.

The truck backed in till the chute would reach
to the back of the barn.

It amazed me how long the chute could be made.

Then the back-breaking job of spreading the concrete began.

First raking it as smooth as possible...

Then smoothing it with a trowel.

Finally the last bit was poured...

Smoothed...

And smoothed...

Then it was time for clean-up of the truck...

...and the boots!

Lots of hard work,

and aching backs!

But a new concrete floor in place!

One of the biggest challenges had been keeping the dogs
from making their foot prints in the fresh concrete!

And in case you're wondering...
Sarah Bella is no longer doing hair!
She's gone back to college in pursuit of another occupation!
Just couldn't throw away the sign!!!

I haven't got another rock painted yet this week,
so check back later on Rock4Today
to see my Names of God on Rocks, okay?

Icy weather brings on color!

With the onset of colder weather,
the bird population at my feeders begins to swell...
(House Finch, Hairy Woodpecker, and Chickadee)

Although this guy only lingered for awhile...

I was happy to catch a few shots of him.
(Northern Flicker)

This little Downy Woodpecker is smaller
 than the Hairy Woodpecker pictured above,

Although this doesn't show his red belly,
this guy is named the Red Bellied Woodpecker.

The Tufted Titmouse worked hard to remove
the sunflowers from the shell...

...and then stared at me as if he knew I was taking his picture!

The Cardinal always adds a splash of color
when he shows up at the feeder.

And speaking of a splash of color...
My daughter and I tried out a few new colors.
Don't worry, though...
They are just wigs!!!

I love all the splashes of color that God puts in this world!

And I love all the different names that describe Him!

For a look at some of those names,

check out my Names of God on Rocks blog for today!

Thanks for dropping by!

(To see many web photos of the above birds,

just click on the highlighted name below each photo.)

For New Year's Day Meal... Gary's Cornbread... and Granny's Iron Skillet

New Year's Day Meal

Southern Style

Gary preparing to add some hot sauce
 to his black-eyed peas and turnip greens.

In the South we have a tradition of eating black-eyed peas,

a ham product, greens, and cornbread on New Year's Day.

But do you know why we do it?

According to Wikipedia,

"the tradition dates back to the Civil War, 

when Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General William Tecumseh Sherman,

 typically stripped the countryside of all stored food, crops, and livestock,

 and destroyed whatever they could not carry away.

 At that time, Northerners considered "field peas" 

and field corn suitable only for animal fodder,

 and did not steal or destroy these humble foods.

In the Southern United States, the peas are typically cooked 

with a pork product for flavoring 

(such as bacon, ham bones, fatback, or hog jowl), 

diced onion, and served with a hot chili sauce or a pepper-flavored vinegar.

The traditional meal also includes collard, turnip, or mustard greens, and ham.

 The peas, since they swell when cooked, symbolize prosperity;

 the greens symbolize money;

 the pork, because pigs root forward when foraging, represents positive motion.

 Cornbread also often accompanies this meal."

Here's our cornbread...
made in Granny's iron skillet,
... and almost ready to take out of the oven...

Granny's skillet makes the best crispy crust!

Then for dessert,
the cornbread can be topped with a little butter
and some wonderfully delicious home-grown and home-made sorghum!
(In case you're unfamiliar with southern style sorghum,
my experience of watching it be made can be found HERE!)

If you think it looks like there is something unusual in the cornbread,

you are right!

That was Gary's idea!

We often add unusual foods to our cornbread...

this time being diced black olives, whole kernel corn, and chopped jalopenos.

Wishing you and yours a 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My verse for this year is from the words of Saint Peter, who said,

"But grow in grace,

and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To Him be glory both now and forever.

Amen."

2 Peter 3:18

My most recent Names of God on Rocks 

from Saint Peter can be found HERE!