Squirrel

Caught this squirrel running across a power line by my house. He had an acorn in his mouth and we don't have any Oak trees in our yard. He had gone a ways to get that acorn.

Each event of nature points me to God and the abundance there is in nature.

Psalm 65:13 

"The meadows are clothed with flocks 

And the valleys are covered with grain; 

They shout for joy, yes, they sing."

Bur Oak Revisited

This tree above is the same tree as the one below. The one above was photographed 9/26/17 and 28th while the lower photo was taken in November 2006. The circumference has increased in the last 11 years from 156" to 162 3/8". If you look close there are vines on the tree bowl that I chopped away to measure the bole.

The height was an estimation in 2006 now I have a clinometer.  It was  63' now I measured it as 81'

I don't know what I was measuring in 2006 but I came up with 88'  for the average branch spread. Now I have a branch spread of  99 and 121'

Height 81'

Canopy 99 & 121

Circuference 162

Points 271

There is a lesson as I was chopping vines. A healthy tree is endangered by the vines taking vitality from the tree.

Just because you are healthy now does not mean something is not attacking you. Resist the enemy at every turn in life.

James 4:6
"But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Grace is God giving ability to us.

Father, I pray the eyes of my heart my be enlightened to see my victory in my endeavors in life.

Water Hemlock

Every day I see God's goodness and His provision. When there is a storm that destroys, I see growth returning. When there is sun I see the plants worshiping God. When I see rain I see the plants being supplied.

Psalm 65:5-13

"By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation,

You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;

6 Who establishes the mountains by His strength,

Being girded with might;

7 Who stills the roaring of the seas,

The roaring of their waves,

And the tumult of the peoples.

8 They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;

You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.

9 You visit the earth and cause it to overflow;

You greatly enrich it;

The stream of God is full of water;

You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.

10 You water its furrows abundantly,

You settle its ridges,

You soften it with showers,

You bless its growth.

11 You have crowned the year with Your bounty,

And Your paths drip with fatness.

12 The pastures of the wilderness drip,

And the hills gird themselves with rejoicing.

13 The meadows are clothed with flocks

And the valleys are covered with grain;

They shout for joy, yes, they sing."

Blacked Capped Chickadee

Because of the bird feeder being busy this Blacked Capped Chickadee pulled some grain out of a side hole in the bird feeder.

People are hindered at times by the busyness of life. Those who continue asking, continue seeking and continue knocking will find the answers they are looking.  Don't give up because of opposition. If it doesn't work one way try another way. Keep believing, trusting, relying on God.

Matthew 7:8 Amplified

"For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened."

Bur Oak Acorns

Bur Oak Acorns are unique in that the cap covers most of the acorn with fringe. They are larger than other types.

Bur Oak grows to be a dominate tree in the Oak/Hickory forest. Just as people collect pine cones for decorations, Bur oak acorns could be used for decorations also.

Let us remember it is God that gives strength and increases power. It is from Him that life flows from us to others. O bless the Lord and give thanks to His holy name.

Psalm 68:32-35

"Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth,

Sing praises to the Lord, Selah.

33 To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times;

Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice.

34 Ascribe strength to God;

His majesty is over Israel

And His strength is in the skies.

35 O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.

The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.

Blessed be God!"

Osage Orange

2 or 3 trees are in this group of Osage Orange trees.

These hedge apples are on an Osage Orange tree. I heard they are good to keep bugs away in your basement.

We came across more hedge apples along the trail.

Psalm 64:10 

"The righteous man will be glad in the Lord and will take refuge in Him;

And all the upright in heart will glory."

Father I look to you for my strength. I look to you for deliverance. For in You I have all I need.

Carolina Wren

Caught this Carolina Wren without its tail pointed up.

A small bird but it has a lot of songs to sing. We can worship God with our voice and our attitude. It doesn't matter what our status is in life. Our life lived in following Jesus points to His glory.

Psalm 63:3,4

"Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips will praise You.

4 So I will bless You as long as I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name."

Large Limbed Tree

Height of tree is 61 feet

The canopy is 98 and 77 feet

Circumference is  10' 7 1/2"

Points 209

What I find interesting is the long branch which is 49' long and the circumference is 5' 8 1/8". The branch itself is like a large tree and it is attached to the tree at almost 90 degrees.

The tree is a wolf tree. A wolf tree, is a tree that grows wide mainly because there are no other trees near by that would inhibit the branches from expanding.

Dark green multi-lobed leaves are characteristic of Oak trees. I did not find any acorns but the leaves seem to show it is a Bur oak.

The group of buds on the end of the twig are characteristic of Oaks.

Oaks are strong trees that dominate the woods around here. The uniqueness of this tree has caught my eye for years as I walk by on a trail.

Psalm 118:14 "The Lord is my strength and song and He has become my salvation."

E Red Cedar Color Variation.

Why does Eastern Red Cedar have different colors? The green in the tree is due to the chlorophyll. But why does the trees have different amounts of chlorophyll? The different colors absorb a different wave length of light. Maybe this causes the tree to be more adaptable. Each tree seems to be a little different.

In the winter the color has a lot of brown in it. This photo was taken in Jan 2015.

Psalm 62

"My soul waits in silence for God only;

From Him is my salvation.

2 He only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will you assail a man,

That you may murder him, all of you,

Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?

4 They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position;

They delight in falsehood;

They bless with their mouth,

But inwardly they curse. Selah.

5 My soul, wait in silence for God only,

For my hope is from Him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;

The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah.

9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie;

In the balances they go up;

They are together lighter than breath.

10 Do not trust in oppression

And do not vainly hope in robbery;

If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

11 Once God has spoken;

Twice I have heard this:

That power belongs to God;

12 And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord,

For You recompense a man according to his work."

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Water Wild Flower

Psalm 61

1 Hear my cry, O God;

Give heed to my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For You have been a refuge for me,

A tower of strength against the enemy.

4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever;

Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.

5 For You have heard my vows, O God;

You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.

6 You will prolong the king’s life;

His years will be as many generations.

7 He will abide before God forever;

Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.

8 So I will sing praise to Your name forever,

That I may pay my vows day by day.

Ginkgo Tree

Height 51'

Circumference 3' 0"

Canopy Spread 27' & 31'

Total points 94

Here is a capture showing the veins of the leaf.

The leaves are whorled around the bud.

The Ginkgo tree lives for a long time in China. There are some trees over 3,000 years old.

It survives in many different regions of the world. The sole survivors of the atomic blast over Hiroshima Japan were several Ginkgo trees. The bark and leaves are fire resistant.

As the Ginkgo tree provides protection against fire, let us turn to Jesus to help us in the trouble life brings.

Psalm 46:1 

"God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.”

Red Fox

Saw this fox on a creek bank that had been dug deeper for flood control. He ran along these rocks until he noticed I was watching him.  Then he took off.

The Red Fox eats mostly small animals and is no match against a dog, or wolf. It can out smart them, by walking in a creek or on top of a fence to hide their scent. 

The Fox and the Crow Aesop's Fable

A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree.

     "That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree.

     "Good day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds."

     The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox.

     "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future: "Do not trust flatterers."

Proverbs 29:5

"A man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his steps."

Gray Dogwood

Here is Gray Dogwood in early September. Nice color change

Great Lobelia

Found these flowers at the entrance to a woods hiking trail we were on yesterday.

Red Mulberry

Came across this downed tree that had been cut to clear the trail. I counted the rings and there were 60. At this point in the tree it was 11' tall. The diameter is  16" at the cut. So it took 60 years to grow 16" wide.

Seeing the tree bud still shows life means the tree fell this past year and there being no leaves on the tree means the tree fell before April. The green buds mean it is a Red Mulberry.

The bark does not have the horizontal lines that I see on Mulberry trees. This characteristic may happen only on the lower level of the tree. I measured the height of the tree at 53'

I wasn't sure of the type of the tree because of no leaves showing on the branches. A few Mulberry leaves had grown from the twigs that sprouted on the standing stump.

Here is the reason the tree blew down. The trunk and rotted and became too weak to support the tree. A wind storm may have been the final event that caused the tree to fall.

Psalm 11:3 "If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?" Even though the tree showed good wood further up the bowl. The base of the tree had rotted and the tree was not able to survive.

Father, remind me to always look to you in all I do.

I added this photo to show the growth rings. Growth had slowed way down in the latter years.

Here was the piece of log that was cut off to clear the trail.

Morning Dew

Hiking in early got this photo of dew on grass.

Psalms 63:1

 "O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;

My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,

In a dry and weary land where there is no water."

P.S. The next day this field was mowed. 

Cup Plant Wildflower

Ran into these flowers growing in some tall grass.

I look for beauty and unusual things in nature. Usually I find it when my eyes are open to see. It is the same with spiritual things. If we just look at what is natural we will miss spiritual things. Many times we find what we are looking for. God is with us if we will yield to Him and listen to Him.

Let us live in expectation of God showing up. It will change your day.

These Brown Eyed Susans are similar.