Hello, blogger friends:

I just have to tell you all that I got my "Heroes" devotion published on our Portions of Grace blog site today. Hooray! I hope everyone enjoys it. I was so worried about getting it done without calling my friend, Virginia again this time.

Today is so windy and cold, almost blustery. It feels just like it will snow soon. We do need the snow for the sake of the farmers and their crops of winter wheat, barley and other hardy grains that are grown in Maryland. I saw, even at this late date, several corn crops that had not been harvested yet. I wonder why the raccoons haven't gotten into the field and destroyed the ears of corn hanging down on the stalks? I remember once I had planted several rows of corn and just as they were in the half-way mark of developing full ears, I found them all knocked down and the corn ears eaten. I was so angry that had I owned a rifle or even a pistol at that time I would have gladly shot every one of those marauding varmints to pieces and celebrated at their demise. It is so devastating to have a whole crop of corn destroyed over night after I worked so long and so hard to be able to harvest and enjoy the food that I grew.

Since we've been here at this Mountain Rd. address, I have seen many, many deer roaming on our property. Oh, they are such beautiful animals, so much like the goats I used to raise. I enjoy watching them wander along the edges of the woods behind our house. Sometimes the doe will bring her new babies out of the woods and they will nibble off the green grass in the spring time. The babies frolic about while the mother deer nibbles here and there, keeping her eyes on them.

Just yesterday I was walking our pug dog down in the clearing in the woods and in just a short distance away was a doe and three yearlings. The mother saw me and Krickett so she stood very still, ears pointed toward us, just watching to see how close we were coming to her and the youngsters. I walked very slowly behind Krickett. She didn't seem to notice the deer just yards away from us. Presently the three youngsters wandered off away from us. The mother doe still stood her ground. She stomped her forefoot, a warning to us not to come any closer. Krickett still did not see her and continued sniffing through the fallen leaves. The doe stomped again. I held the leash so Krickett could not advance further. By this time the little yearlings were a good way off from us. The doe sensed that her youngsters were not in any danger so she finally turned and slowly followed their trail. In just a few seconds they could no longer be seen. They "melted" into the darkness of the trees.

I never tire of seeing nature at its best. I feel the blood of my Indian ancestors stir in my veins when I am walking in the woods, watching the animals and birds in their habitat. I was also blessed to see a beautiful bluebird with it's red vest lite in a tree overhead. I'm glad Krickett did not see him or he would have flown away too soon.

How blessed I am to see such beauty all around me. I can't wait for spring to come so that the bulbs, which are already up more than an inch, will be shooting up higher every day. But for now, they are asleep in their earth nests, awaiting the rays of sunshine that will be strong enough to awaken them again. I sigh heavily and I dream. Until next time, bloggers. Happy reading.