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)

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Just Want to Talk Support Group.

SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Jul 31, 2023

In reply to @ess77 "@susanellen66, @californiazebra, and all...I hate you can't help out the birds with feeders and a bath...." + (show)

@ess77 hi Elizabeth, you are blessed indeed!
I do have a hummingbird feeder up, and the others come and go as they wish. I have woodpeckers, grackles, roadrunners, and more. There is a golf course a short distance away that has several lakes and waterfalls so the animals can sneak around and get water.
It is going to cool off soon I hope…

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 31, 2023

Just wondering how a rodent can be so cute 🐿️🙃

Zebra | @californiazebra | Aug 1, 2023

In reply to @johnbishop "Just wondering how a rodent can be so cute 🐿️🙃" + (show)

That little chipmunk is adorable!!! Hug, squeeze!

olderdiva12345 | @olderdiva12345 | Aug 1, 2023

Looking out my homes windows all I see are big houses whos owners leave for six months in the Summer, Palm Trees and my lanai with a beautiful colorfully lit pool. No photos...don't know how to do that.

joyces | @joyces | Aug 1, 2023

In reply to @olderdiva12345 "Looking out my homes windows all I see are big houses whos owners leave for six..." + (show)

Here, on the Oregon coast, the tourists just keep arriving. Our little town of almost 10,000 hosts roughly 50,000 visitors most weekends, plus lots of folks who stay all week. That means the residents pay for the infrastructure (fire, police, water, sewer, etc.) to handle all those visitors. Every fourth home is a vacation rental, with many others illegal vacation rentals. Those owners have zero interest in what's done here. We go to the store early Friday and need to get everything we'll need until Monday afternoon, as it's impossible to shop weekends. It takes 45 minutes to drive the four miles of Hwy 101 that runs straight through "downtown."

The good news for me is that I live on forested acres, with deer, elk, coyotes, and birds for neighbors. Although I'm less than a half mile from the ocean, my nearest neighbor of the human sort is a quarter-mile west or east. Every window in my home offers views of...trees! This year's fawns are now old enough to play games of tag right outside my office window.

The real downside of a tourist economy is all the minimum-wage, part-time jobs. Property taxes are high (to pay for all that infrastructure), so high that even some full-time workers come to pick up monthly food boxes from Backpacks for Kids. Every kid here gets free lunch and free breakfast every day, due to the low average income of the parents. Once school begins for the year, we will return to our program of sending food home with kids every Friday, to feed them over weekends when there aren't any free meals.

All in all, in spite of the weekend traffic jams that mean staying at home weekends, and the hikers who appear along our road every day who can't find where they parked their cars (!!), the people who live here are extremely generous and always friendly. I wouldn't trade, in spite of the downsides.

olderdiva12345 | @olderdiva12345 | Aug 1, 2023

In reply to @joyces "Here, on the Oregon coast, the tourists just keep arriving. Our little town of almost 10,000..." + (show)

If you think you have tourists? Visit Sarasota/Bradenton. It is crazy with the traffic, the crime and the building of new condo's, homes, etc. I hate it but where to go at an advanced age? Your home surrounings sound so beautiful and full of nature. I am jelous. Thanks for the word picture you have painted. It made my day. If we could we would move back to S.C. on the lake with the desired fauna and flora. I''m not giving up on that and will continue to look in the fall.
Have a lovey, Nture day.

covidstinks2023 | @covidstinks2023 | Aug 1, 2023

I had two beautiful fawns still with spots gracefully grazing in my backyard earlier today. I stepped onto the back porch and one of them kept walking up very close to me. I said, "Thank you Lord for these beautiful creatures" you sent me today. My hummingbird feeder has been very busy today and the ruby throated male is so beautiful. My angel trumpet bush is gorgeous this year. The bees are buzzing around my bee balm and even my marigolds are extra pretty and full this year. What a beautiful day God gave me today!

artist01 | @artist01 | Aug 13, 2023

@jakeduck1 Hey Jake! As I recall, you were the instigator of the above topic. I'm going to attempt to post a picture of what I see on a daily basis here at my new digs.

covidstinks2023 | @covidstinks2023 | Aug 13, 2023

In reply to @artist01 "@jakeduck1 Hey Jake! As I recall, you were the instigator of the above topic. I'm going..." + (show)

I'm so blessed. Today is gorgeous, the preaching was wonderful at my church, the hummingbirds are so busy at the feeder, my flowers are gorgeous today. Due to my ongoing upper respiratory stuff, I can't go outside much due to the humidity, but, I am so grateful for what I can see outside my window today. God bless all of you! Hugs & Prayers.....