Monthly Archives: September 2016

Saving a Bird

Okay, I don’t have any pictures today because I have been too busy to take any.  I went boating with my daughter’s family and didn’t take the camera.  Went to two of our grandsons’ soccer games and didn’t bring a camera.  Maybe my next post will have pictures.  I don’t know. I’ve been living in the moment lately and too busy for pictures.

Anyway, today I went outside to fill the bird feeders.  We have this metal one and a bird had gotten its head caught in it the other day and I managed to slip it out and free it.  Today I went out and once again another bird had its head stuck.  I worked and worked trying to get that bird out, but it was still stuck, so I went inside and got some cooking oil and rubbed over as much of the bird as I could and tried to slip its head out, but it was still stuck.  The only thing to do was take apart the bird feeder.  Now this feeder is metal and put together very well.  I took the lid off and used a screw driver to try to loosen the area where the bird’s head was.  That bird had its head wound around in there so tight, there was no getting it out without completely dismantling the feeder. So with screw driver I pried and pulled at that bird feeder while continually talking to the little bird telling it I was trying to save it.  I was also doing a good deal of praying For God to help me.  He must have been having a good laugh in Heaven, because He wasn’t that quick to help me.  I worked on that bird feeder for over an hour trying to pry it apart. I kept checking on the bird and it kept blinking its eye at me.  I then went and got some pliers to see if they would work.  They did a little better than the screw driver, but still that bird’s head was stuck.  Then I remembered the wire cutters David had so I found them and began to snip at the metal around the bird’s head while telling it I was really trying very hard to get it loose.  Finally, after much prying, pulling and snipping the little bird’s head got loose and it took off flying so I knew it was okay. Wonder how it explained to all its friends how it got oil all over itself!

But my day of saving birds had not ended.  We have this circular bird feeder that the birds eat from the bottom. I went to fill it and yes, another bird had its head stuck.  I got that one out pretty quickly, but I got rid of that feeder too.  Then, I went to get a watering can and there was a dead bird inside it all moldy.  What are birds doing around here.  Committing suicide?  Or are they just so greedy they stick their heads wherever they think they can get more delicious birdseed?   I was just about done with birds by then.  I was almost afraid to go out and feed the chickens for fear one of them had stuck her head in something, but they were all okay.

That’s all I have for today.  Feed the birds and hope they don’t get their heads stuck.  Bye.

Note To Self

Labor Day Weekend.  David and I have to get away from the house or we will labor all weekend because that’s what we do.  We are always puttering around this old house and its gardens.  So, we planned a trip to see Noah’s Ark.  The Ark Encounter is located in Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati.  It was built as an exact replica of the ark described in the Bible.   This time we took no grandchildren nor did we go with anyone else.  We decided we wanted to see this for ourselves and take the time to see it properly.

DSCN3810

So with David behind the wheel, we were off.  Driving on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River this time. I must say, I really enjoyed the ride as it was different from how we usually go to Cincinnati.  We followed the Ohio River a good portion of the way.

DSCN3685

We got to the park about 11:30 in the morning. We had stopped at this really nice coffee shop where they had the best Boston crème donuts I have every eaten and I liked their coffee too.  Anyway, see that lady there?  Just want to say she and her husband were so nice and were smarter than David and I. Know why?  They bought their entrance tickets online and suddenly someone came along the line and said if you already had your tickets. you could get in line for the bus.  David and I did not have our tickets. They did, so they left us.  Note to self, if we are going to a popular place where tickets are required, buy them online.  We would have saved at least an hour’s time in line if we had done so.

DSCN3688

So, we waited and waited in line.  I don’t think the people at the Ark Encounter were expecting so many people, but it being a holiday weekend, there were thousands there.  People just kept coming.   Thankfully, it wasn’t too hot and there was a nice breeze.  Finally, we got to the ticket booth and purchased our tickets.  Everyone gets a wristband to wear to get on the bus to the ark.  Then we got into another queue to get on the bus.

DSCN3687

DSCN3689

These buses ran continuously all day taking people to the ark.   It was so nice to finally get to sit down.  The bus takes you on a winding road to the ark.

Then, suddenly, there it is in front of you and I have to say I said out loud, “Omigosh!”   It was huge.

DSCN3696

DSCN3684

And so beautiful.

Then we got into another queue to get into the ark.  After the obligatory picture they take of you, that they would try to sell to you in the gift shop after your trip though the ark, we finally actually stepped into the ark, two hours and forty five minutes after arriving at the parking lot!

By that time we were exhausted.

We began to walk through the ark.  It was so beautifully made.  The largest timber-framed  structure in the world today.  It is hard to imagine one man and his three sons making something so huge in Biblical times, but it was God’s plan and people lived a whole lot longer when the world was fresh and new and didn’t have the distractions we do today.  It probably took them decades to build.   This ark took men just a little over a year to build with all the modern equipment we have today.

DSCN3787

There were so many exhibits. This may have been what their living spaces

looked like on the ark. Since they had no idea how long they would be on the boat, they would surely have wanted their living spaces to be comfortable.

DSCN3708

Food may have been stored in earthenware pots such as these.  Think how much food was needed to feed all the animals and the eight people on board for such a long period of time.

DSCN3703

Cages of all sizes lined the walls.  Young animals of every species of the day were brought on board, one male, one female.  Noah would probably not have brought elderly animals or animals past their prime for having babies.    We have no idea what some of the animals looked like back those many millenniums ago.  Elephants may not have looked like they do today. Giraffes may have had shorter necks.   The truth is, we don’t know what animals looked like in Noah’s day for the most part.

DSCN3717

Who knows what animals were all on the boat?   There were thousands upon thousands.   Even then, there was room for more.  The only things we do know for sure is the size of the boat, what people were on it. and that animals were rescued to replenish the earth after the flood.  By the way. Did you know there have been stories all over the world down through the centuries telling about massive floods but that in only one of them were there survivors?  Noah and his family are the only known survivors of a worldwide flood that killed everything that could not breathe under water.

DSCN3762

This was a robotic Noah who told his story.  Children were captivated by him.  I noticed how they would go right to the front and listen with interest to one of the most amazing stories of  mankind.   So thankful parents are teaching their children the Bible and its truths.

DSCN3755

There was no rest on the ark for all those days they were aboard.  Cages needed repaired, animals fed and watered and the animal waste disposed of.  What a job!

DSCN3761

When they had time to rest, they probably studied the scriptures. Noah was a righteous man and his family must have been righteous people.

DSCN3747

They were metal workers and wood workers.   All these skills were needed to build the ark and would be needed after they returned to dry land.

DSCN3746

Some people scoff at the story of Noah and the ark, but if it’s in the Bible, it’s a true story.  This sign says it all about how satan wants to convince us that it isn’t true. Then you won’t believe any of the Bible.  You cannot pick and choose what to believe and what to set aside.  It’s all in there for a reason, whether to teach a lesson or show the way to Jesus Christ.  Did you know the story of Noah and the ark is also an analogy of how people accept or reject Jesus Christ?

You see, God has a plan.  Has had it since the beginning of time.  He knew men would be sinful and need to be made fit for Heaven because sin cannot abide in Heaven.  So, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for all of us.  Jesus bore our sins upon himself on the cross.  God’s only requirement?  That you accept this gift of salvation and His Son as your Savior.  Many people reject that gift and would rather live a sin filled life.  That is what happened in Noah’s day.  Men were so sinful, God was going to destroy his entire creation, but He saw one man, Noah, who was righteous and decided it was worth a second try.  The ark represents salvation.  Then there is the door.  There was only one door in the ark.  Just as there is only one way to Heaven.

DSCN3734

The day the rains began, God shut that door and no one else could enter.  Jesus is the door to Heaven, and one day that door will be shut also, if you reject Him.  There will be no second chances.  God will close the door once for all and those who are in Christ will be with Him in Heaven.  When I stood by that door, my heart ached for all those who have rejected Jesus.  Who think there is no Heaven or Hell.  Do you know Jesus talked more about hell while He was on earth because He doesn’t want anyone to go there?  No one. He loves us all.  Everyone around the world.  If you are reading this, He loves you, too.  I hope you have a relationship with Him.

Another thing I noticed about the ark was the lighting.  It wasn’t bright, but you could still see everything.  Almost like it was lit by oil lamps. Every once in a while I would stand back and just look around at the ark, at the people and think how amazing it all was.   Some of the exhibits were in little alcoves which became quite claustrophobic for me when twenty or more people crowded around.  People were taking pictures, as was David and I. Note to self.  Next time you go to the ark, leave the camera behind and just soak in the atmosphere and read all about the exhibits.  One man backing up to take a picture stepped right on David.  I was wishing that cellphones had not been invented because at some of the exhibits that was all you could see.  But all in all, people were kind to one another and it was a really nice day.

After we got out of the ark we realized we hadn’t gone to the zoo there yet, but we were so exhausted, we said, “Next time.”  We bought some drinks and a big bag of kettle corn and walked to get back on the bus.  Note to self.  Wear crocs next time.  They are the only shoes I can walk in for hours without my feet hurting.  By the end of the day I felt like I was walking on stumps.  We got to our motel and I laid down and went right to sleep!

The next day we returned home, again along the Ohio River. We took back roads and came across one area where people had Summer cabins on the river.  Some were already closed up for the season.  We went through some little towns with neat old houses.

DSCN3816

 

 

DSCN3815

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I saw something on my window and I thought it was inside the car and I screamed and David swerved the car.  What was it?

DSCN3805

This gigantic praying mantis had landed on my window, thankfully, outside.

DSCN3804

David had to get outside and take more pictures of it.  It was the biggest one I have ever seen.  He knocked it off the window and we went on our way.

DSCN3818

Watching barges make their way slowly down the Ohio River.

It was good to get home, but I would recommend seeing the ark.  Whether you are a believer or not, it’s an amazing structure.

Today was Labor Day and David and I did labor. David had to work today so I decided to stain more boards for the fence we are replacing.  I worked all day and I am glad I finished them today because it is suppose to be hot and humid once again tomorrow.  Ugh.

DSCN3820

DSCN3819

DSCN3823

Fifty boards, after staining hundreds of others, and we are only half done with the fencing.  Next year.

Hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend if you celebrate it.

Here’s to a righteous man who listened to God.  Bye.