March Musings - Day 9

I walked outside this evening, and the most refreshing cool air hit me. It washed over me like the moonlight shining through a cloudy sky.

I can sense in the air the coming of spring. The air feels lighter, different, and while it's still cold, it isn't the bitter winter cold. The moonlight is flooding every nook and cranny as if to say, don't lose hope! Spring is on it's way! Sunshine is coming! Sunshine and a warm day for a walk sounds absolutely wonderful, yet at the same time, snow and bitter cold do as well. I'm looking forward to clinging to the last fleeting days of this winter before embracing the warmth and rain of spring. I love each season, despite the rain or snow or shine. I love the moon, the way the cool beams flow over the shadowy trees and then arcs around as if to make a giant smile. I love the way the stars twinkle in the winter. Soon my favorite starry friends, the Pleiades, shall bid me adieu until next time. Yet in the spring, we can spread out a blanket and star gaze sans mosquitoes or picnic in the moonlight!

Two verses regarding the sky come to mind:

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."

Psalm 19:1 (ESV)

(The sky is so beautiful tonight!!)

"Like a moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies."

Psalm 89:37 (ESV)

(This verse always comes to mind when the moon is out and I'm with John...the first time he said I love you in person was under a golden moon...talk about sweetness!)

Enjoy the end of winter nights...soon they will be gone, so grab some cocoa and a good book, or popcorn and a movie. Soon the spring nights will be here, ready for walks and star gazing, campfires and smores!

Beautiful Blessings - 1/7/16

~ Finishing the first chapter in my math book!

~ Having a bit of help from John with it!

~ Being surrounded and lifted up with prayer warriors who prayed for me today as I wasnt doing very well <3 So grateful for these young women!

~ Seeing the stars on this beautiful clear night!<3 I could even see my favorites, the Pleaides!

~ Feeling satisfied with my accomplishments and calling it a day!

Beautiful Blessings - 8/9/15

~ Giggling with my giggle bug!

~ Watching the first stars appear in the sky.

~ Being able to help someone with my sewing skills.

~ Listening to trains outside.

~ God bringing Proverbs 3:5-6 to me when I needed it! 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths.

Beautiful Blessings - 7/24/15

~ Seeing how big my T-bug/little buddy is getting!

~Rockin the shades with my homie.

~ The beautiful night sky! The moon, and stars are out now! :~D

~ Getting a needed unexpected nap today...thanks Mommy!

~ A cup of tea by the campfire.

Throwback Tuesday: By the Christmas Tree!

Sometimes during the Christmas season, you need something special to wear to a fancy fete! A dress like this always does the trick. Especially if it has roses and sparkles! It's also a good dress for a bit of dancing around the Christmas tree or under a star-filled sky! This is one of my favorite vintage dresses as it twirls deliciously! Heehee!! 

The Pleiades

 (Picture credit goes to my Dad. Taken a few years ago)

Every winter, since I was a little girl, I would scan the winter sky for the Pleiades. 

 Every year I'd search until I found them. 

Today I found them in the night sky, and I'm still amazed that yet it's such a tiny constellation, they're mentioned 3 times in the Bible.

Job 9:9 (ESV)

Who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south.

Job 38:31 (ESV)

Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?

Amos 5:8 (ESV)

He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is his name.

From here, they seem so small, yet they are stars which are a clear indication they aren't. 

Stars fascinate me. 

I could look at them for hours. 

While the Pleiades may not be one of the larger constellations, or more important ones, they're always there. 

Year after year. 

For centuries.

It leaves me in awe.

Psalm 147:4 (ESV)

He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names

Isaiah 40:26 (ESV)
Lift up your eyes on high and see:
    who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
    calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
    and because he is strong in power
    not one is missing.

The stars were created by an Almighty God.

When I see what he has made, I'm in awe of his power.

God is good.

Thank you God for making the stars!

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (ESV)

 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Science Saturday: Field Crickets, Shooting Stars, and Nocturnal Animals!

(It's not the shooting star, but it is the night sky! This is Cassiopeia! :~D )

A few somewhat intriguing facts that may stick to your brain so that you can win in Jeopardy* someday:

•  Field Crickets mate in the fall before the frost comes. They lay their eggs in the soil to wait out winter. After they do this, when the frost comes, they die.
• If you can hear crickets, it's the male crickets making all the noise. They have crinkled little wings with 2 unique parts: a ridged vein called a file and a hardened section called a scraper. They can alternate which file and which scraper they use, but commonly they are right-winged. They use the right file and the left scraper.
• Females can be distinguished by their tidy, song-less wings.
• Shooting Stars are not stars that are shooting past. 
• In fact they consist of a piece of debris that collided with the Earth's atmosphere. The friction of the high speed of moving through the atmosphere gives it a glowing appearance until it melts and vaporizes.
• During the time it is visible, it's called a Meteor. If doesn't vaporize, and reaches the Earth intact, it is a Meteorite. 
• One of the most well-known nocturnal animal is the Bat. Bats are a small insect-eating mammal with a unique gift of echolocation. High frequency sound waves bounce off the objects around them and they know what to eat or and what to avoid hitting into.
• Owls are another well-known nocturnal animal. Owls are a bird of prey, and while they don't have echolocation, they have marvelous ears to listen for tasty morsels. They also have large light sensitive eyes that are work very well in very little light. One of the best kept secrets of Owls is their silent flight through the forest, due to unique feathers on their wings.
• The glowing eyes we often associate with nocturnal animals are usually from cats, racoons, porcupines, skunks, and deer. They have special reflectors in their eyes that bounce the light back from behind the retina so the retina has a chance to absorb it.

*If you win in Jeopardy, please give me credit ;~) lol!

Science Saturday: Ants, June Bugs, and Cassiopeia

Ants, June Bugs, and Cassiopeia: not much in common. Though they are all unique in their own way.

(My Dad took this last night :~)

A few interesting things:

• Ants are a close relative of bees and wasps.
• Some of the common Ants in the New England have herds of aphids. They "milk" the aphids for a substance called "Honeydew".
• Ants of the same colony never fight. But if there is another colony or species they will fight over slaves, food or territory.
• Adult June Bugs feed mostly on leaves. They've been found on oaks, elms, ashes, walnuts, and more. Different subspecies prefer different types of trees.
• There are 4 stages of the June Bug: egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Eggs, larva, and pupa stay underground for almost a year.
• They are also known as June Beetles, May Bugs, and May Beetles. 
• Cassiopeia is near the Big Dipper in the night sky.
• She is named after a Greek Myth. The myth itself is rather depressing, in case you want to know.
• She is shaped in a "W"!

Belated camping pictures!

Sigh.... I wanted to post the photos and just plain forgot....

Highlights from camping!

The Almanzo Wilder farm! 

At the playground! 

A dust storm on our way home when we visited the Almanzo Wilder farm. 

Boating on Lake George with new friends!

The Piggy rock! I was wearing a jean pencil skirt.....but I made it up!

The stars were gorgeous!

Swinging fun!

Playground fashion! We went to dinner that day cause it was hot and we didn't feel like cooking. Afterwards we went to the play ground!

A wasp nest!

The moon! (This has to be one of my most favorite photos from the whole trip, and I took it which makes it even better! :) 

The Milky Way and a satellite. The sky is so clear you could see the Milky way with your eyes!

Thoughtful Thursday: Stars

I am studying Astronomy, the first quarter of school. And every time I read, or watch something about stars and outer space, I am in awe.

Psalm 148:3-4

Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
 Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.


Awe of what OUR God, the ONLY God can make.

Psalm 33:6
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

Planets in our solar system, each created uniquely, from
Jupiter's size to
Saturn's rings to
Mars' red socks to
Mercury so close to the sun,
and the rest, including dwarf, are equally fascinating.

Psalm 136:7-9
Who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
⁸ the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.


The sun, a ball of gas, God strategically placed in the sky so we could live here.
It is our light during the day. "The greater light to govern the day." (Genesis 1:16)


The moon, an amazing rock, that glows at night. To "govern the night." (Genesis 1:16)

Psalm 8:3
When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place.

Stars so bright, you can see them from where we are.  "He also made the stars." (Genesis 1:16)

Psalm 147:4-5
He determines the number of the stars
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
    his understanding has no limit.

Galaxies, billions of miles away, but look through telescopes and see them like you can touch them.

Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.

Say thank you to God for his "Starry host" that he created!