free-for-all

free-for-all

 (frē′fər-ôl′)

noun

1. A disorderly fight, argument, or competition in which everyone present participates.

2. A disorderly situation in which there is very little regard for authority of rules.

synonyms: brawl, fight, scuffle, confrontation, clash, altercation, fray, fracas, melee, rumpus, disturbance

~

I guess you could say it was a little of all the above.
That's just the way those little birds roll...especially when it snows.
And speaking of snow, we didn't get that pretty, stick-to-everything-it-touches kind of snow.
It started out that way and then after about one inch, turned to sleet.
Before it was all said and done, we had about 3-4 inches of hard sleet on the ground.
The birds of course didn't know the difference, nor did they care.
All that concerned their little selves was getting their tummies full...no matter what.



It was great fun watching them and I found it hard to stay away from the windows.


In fact, I did very little of anything else for nearly two whole days.

I didn't even color one page in my coloring book!

Jim was supposed to have been off but got called into work Thursday night before the snow came.

He had anticipated this...he knows how those ladies who help out at the group home are... 

...they refuse to drive anywhere when they see the first snowflake hit the ground! 

So, his weekend "off" became a weekend "on" as well as being snowed in with the other manager,

and their six little buddies, of course.

~

It was way too cold to be outside for more than a few moments...

...so I washed the windows (I guess I did do something) set up my tripod, and enjoyed the show!

When Ms. Cardinal came on the scene, she promptly let the others know who was boss.

Two's company...



...and of course, three's a crowd.

 

There...that's more like it.

~

We have blue jays around and I hear them but rarely do I see one on the feeders.

Well let me tell you, I saw more of them on Friday than I have in a long time.

They don't stay in one spot for very long and you have to be quick...



...that is unless you can get them all together at one sitting, like these guys here.

 

There was a feeding frenzy going on at the deer corn feeder...

...a regular blue jay bonanza!

~

So then I went over to see what was going on out front.

Pretty much the same thing.



I sat and watched this little game that a red-bellied woodpecker and a male cardinal were playing.
The woodpecker would hide on one side of the feeder and peer around the edge,
and then jump in front of the cardinal, taking his spot.

The cardinal finally got enough and sent the woodpecker packing!



Some birdies just don't play fair.
~
So as the sleet slowly melts and things are getting back to normal,
I must get back to normal as well...whatever that is.
Oh, and stay tuned for more feathered friend posts...I took LOTS of photos.
Just thought I'd give you fair warning :)


Come and see what others are sharing at:

A simply good fence.

Just a simple fence post today.

 

 

"Fences are made for those who cannot fly."
~Elbert Hubbard

 ~

I'm going to hunker down, eat some comfort food,
 and enjoy the snow when it arrives :)

 



Color Your Blues Away

Okay...so you may not really be able to color your blues away.

 But you can get out your crayons or markers and maybe not think about them for a little while!
I wouldn't consider myself one who gets the blues often,
 but we all have stress from one thing or another in our daily lives...am I right?

~

I suppose you would have to be living in a cave not to notice them...
...these new adult coloring books are everywhere you look these days.
I can't help but snicker...adult coloring books...when I first heard of them I wondered to myself,
just what kind of pictures are in those books anyway?!

 Well, I surely don't know about all of them,
but I found so many which were just full of beautiful illustrations and intricate designs.
 I purchased a couple for my DILs for Christmas and they were just thrilled with them.

I liked them so much that I had to get one for myself too!
This one is filled with lovely worshipful thoughts, quotes and hymn lyrics.

 I really couldn't tell you the last time I colored.

It really is quite relaxing and eases the mind...



...and when you concentrate on the message, it can also become a form of worship.



Who would have ever thought that a coloring book could do that?

Some of the messages really hit home.
Lord knows, I really could stand to camp on this page a while...



...oh yes, and this one too.
Do I have any fellow worry warts out there?

I also found this one marked down just after Christmas and couldn't resist it.

I was going to just put it away with all of my Christmas stuff and get it out next year,
but after paging through, found a design I just had to act on. {{smile}}
~
I do think these coloring books need to come with a warning printed on them...
...right on the front in big letters...

WARNING:
The use of these books may be hazardous to your housework. 
They may also become addictive.
Use with caution.

Now I will be the first one to admit that I don't need another time waster... 

...but if you are looking for something to achieve this,
 it certainly is a great way to do it!

Sharing at:
Mosaic Monday
Roses of Inspiration
Grace at Home

January Skies

It seems like the sky is just so amazing this time of year...



 ...especially as I'm driving home from work.



My drive home is a short one...only about seven miles or so...



...and I sometimes find myself pulling off the road to capture the spectacular views.

Like here, across from this water tower...

...where I sat in the parking lot of a nursing home...oohing and ahhing...and snapping away.

Today, as I was looking back through some of my older photos, 

I realized that it was in January of 2014 when I posted about another particular drive home.

There must be something extra special about the atmosphere in January.

This next group was taken on my way to church a couple of Sunday evenings ago.
I followed this sun dog for a while until I was able to find a place to stop.



I remembered the cemetery on the hill with the big cross so I pulled in there.



Seeing the sun dog was a thrill and I got there just before it faded away,
You can still see it if you look to the lower right of the photo.
I drove back down toward the entrance, knowing I better be heading on to church,
and when I looked back up one more time as I sat in my car at the foot of the hill,
the view outstretched before me nearly took my breath away.

I got out and I just stood there for a little while, drinking in all of the majesty.

The church down the road could wait.

I was having church right here.

I'm linking up with:

Mosaic Monday

Roses of Inspiration

Smoky Mountain Fences

So we traveled to the Smoky Mountains at Christmastime.

I posted a few photos from Gatlinburg and the mountains in a previous post

but I saved the fences to share over at the Run-A-Round Ranch.

I hope you enjoy them.

~
Just a short drive up from Gatlinburg and into the Smoky Mountain National Forest,
we came to a place where Carrie, my DIL wanted to stop...Chimney Tops Trail.
It was mid-morning and was still quite cool in the mountains and misting rain.



This was our view as we exited the car and began the easy hike down to the river below.

I really liked this rustic old fence that lined the walkway down to the river.



This is actually looking back up the stone walkway that makes it's way down to the bridge.



I was really was taken by the serenity of this quiet trail.



And then finally, coming to this bridge crossing the Little Pigeon River.

source

While I was preparing this post and googling the area, I came across an interesting fact.
During the winter of 2013, the old bridge was completely destroyed by flood waters.
(You can click on the source link to read about it.)

I am thinking the new bridge does look a bit more sturdy.
What do you think?



The river that morning was quite ear shattering as it raged underneath our feet.

 

Some of us were braver than others and chose to leave the safety of the bridge.

And speaking of the bridge...

...a bridge is really just a couple of fences with a floor, right?

Then on up the mountain we went and the sun started to pop through the fog.

We all know how hard it is to take just one photo when we are faced with such a view as this.

So I did just what any good blogger would do...
...I just kept snapping away.

There's a verse from my most favorite hymn that states:

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze...

...and I can't help but be reminded of it when I come to a place like this.
So, while we're at it, let's sing the refrain...

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!

Have a lovely weekend, my friends!