What's outside of your picture window today?

Posted by John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop, Nov 25, 2020

As we get ready for the real winter to show up and COVID-19 still playing a major part in our lives I like to spend moments of my day de-stressing about what's going on in the world today. All I have to do is look out the window and observe some of natures beautiful creatures, how they interact and ponder how small it makes my troubles seem. Sometimes I may even get the opportunity to take a photo or two. How about you? Anything going on outside of your window(s) that you want to share?

For those members that have the ability to size your photos before you upload them to the discussion, may I suggest using the following sizes:
– 500 x 335 pixels (landscape)
– 210 x 210 pixels (square)

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@vellen

Apparently my grasshopper pics didn't post. I'll try again.
We have the muncher and a tall weed full of both color, green and brown grasshoppers. There are still hundreds of babies hopping around the yard. It's good to see finally this year.

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Hungry little guys 🙂

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@californiazebra

Hi @lagrange5 -- I love that. It's beautiful. That brought to my mind the story of the hospital window that I would like to share with anyone that hasn't heard it.

Two seriously ill men were confined to a hospital room, one near the window and the other flat on his back near the door. The man near the window was allowed to sit up for an hour each day. The man by the door was envious and asked him to describe what he saw out the window.

The window man described the lovely park below with a beautiful lake. Ducks played in the water and children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. He vividly described the world below each day including a parade that went by. The man by the door began to live for that hour a day description that would broaden and brighten his world.

The day came when the man by the window passed away and the man by the door requested to be moved near the window. He asked the nurse to prop him up so he could see outside, but was stunned to see nothing but a plain wall outside his window. He shared his confusion with the nurse who let him know the man who was previously by the window was blind.

The blind man not only had a beautiful and imaginative mind, but displayed such an act of kindness to the other man. So, the next time your window view isn’t as ideal as you would like, close your eyes and picture every beautiful detail your mind can imagine. Remember that act of kindness and share your beautiful vision of the world with someone struggling to see its beauty.

So, I ask, “What’s outside your imaginary picture window today?”

If you can't make it to a 4th of July celebration, imagine everything you might want to see in that celebration and parade. If others are with you, take turns adding to the story of what you see. You'll end up with a fabulous and vivid memory of the best 4th of July celebration ever! Blessings, Zebra

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Good morning, @californiazebra.

Your very kind words are sincerely appreciated. From my young days, if there was adversity I have said "Tomorrow is a new day". My dear mother taught me hope and optimism. I saw the play "Annie" twice, because I liked the happy ending and because I liked the lyrics "The sun'll come out tomorrow".

Your story of the two men in the hospital is one of compassion, hope and "the milk of human kindness". By being good to others, we can, even if briefly, forget our own problems. How inpirational,,, kindness is contagious.

Keep looking out your favorite picture window!

Thank you for the holiday blessings, and a Happy Fourth of July to you!

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@loribmt

A loony time on the lake this morning. A baby loon out for breakfast ride mom.

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Your duck photos are beauties!

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@vellen

Apparently my grasshopper pics didn't post. I'll try again.
We have the muncher and a tall weed full of both color, green and brown grasshoppers. There are still hundreds of babies hopping around the yard. It's good to see finally this year.

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Wow, you do have a lot of hungry little grasshoppers! Cute!

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@californiazebra

Wow, you do have a lot of hungry little grasshoppers! Cute!

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That I do! And a huge yard of some of their favorite weeds. ^^

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15, 10, 5 minutes ago, with 1 from the news coverage. Central Kentucky.

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@rosemarya

15, 10, 5 minutes ago, with 1 from the news coverage. Central Kentucky.

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Hi Rosemary @rosemary

Neat pix, but yikes on the damage. I'm trying to figure out the second photo. What are we looking at exactly? It almost looked like a rainbow in a sunset. I've never seen anything like that before. Really neat!

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@rosemarya

15, 10, 5 minutes ago, with 1 from the news coverage. Central Kentucky.

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The rainbow is beautiful but such a sad loss of a beautiful tree! Did you have a tornado or a severe thunder storm? Hopefully no one was hurt. 🙁

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Outside my front door in the top right corner is a small round nest. This is where wasps used to start building their nests but since they're aggressive, I knock those down. I've only seen a couple of these guys, sort of a rust color and they ignore me. Info I found:
"Bald-faced Hornets are known for their large ball-shaped paper nest, which they build in the spring for raising their young." They also fight wasps.
And a picture of Tedi, just because.

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@vellen

Outside my front door in the top right corner is a small round nest. This is where wasps used to start building their nests but since they're aggressive, I knock those down. I've only seen a couple of these guys, sort of a rust color and they ignore me. Info I found:
"Bald-faced Hornets are known for their large ball-shaped paper nest, which they build in the spring for raising their young." They also fight wasps.
And a picture of Tedi, just because.

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Hi @vellen. I agree, next to the front door isn’t a good place for these paper wasp nests. But if you have them around in a place that doesn’t pose a threat to you, let them hang until the bees move out in the fall. These are really beneficial bees and usually don’t pose a threat to people and the spent nests make really excellent paper for art projects!

I collect the old nests and carefully pull the layers apart, preserving them for the paper! You can paint on the paper with different mediums, use as backgrounds for artwork, I even stitch the paper in art quilts. ☺️

Aw, Teri is adorable! Thank you for sharing!

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