I was drinking my coffee, Sunday morning, when I spotted the quail from the window. Putting the mug down, I picked up my camera, opened the door as quietly as I could, and went towards him with all the stealth I could muster. And pleaded silently for him to stay put, and not get all skittery and shy.
I was surprised he didn’t move, though he kept a wary eye on me. The shot might be sharper if I'd been more fully awake. Emboldened, I tried to creep closer, for a better shot. But he decided it was time to cut and run. Only then did I realize he must have been perched there as a lookout, because half a dozen of his family were disappearing into the bushes with him!
I was glad he’d lured me outside. It was a beautiful morning. The rain had made the fairy lilies pop.
Water, like drops of liquid crystal, trembled on leaves in the shade.
A dinner plate sized mushroom had materialized from nowhere. And over it all the morning sun sparkled through the trees.
God, I thought, is surely in His heaven. And telling me to embrace the moment. This moment. Because fretting about yesterday, or worrying about tomorrow, just distracts us from fully appreciating today.
End of sermon. You can stop yawning now. Amen.
22 comments:
Magical indeed. Thanks for sharing the moment with us.
Love, love, loved the photos, the story... and the sermon ;) No yawning, here, Molly!! Thanks for the post!
You take lovely, lovely shots, Molly.
Beautiful pictures Molly. I love the one of the quail!
Oh, my! I'm not yawning at all. Thank you for sharing this private slice of heaven.
What a wonderful way the start the day!!
Lovely photos Molly. The quail was indeed the lookout. We have flocks or large family groups of about 15 meandering across our lawn most days. One or two will always be on guard for the rest. I love the cute topnot the males have. Quails always look alert and smart to me.
So true Molly. Thankyou.
Amen, Lovely pictures, Miss Molly. Quail are the cutest birds. My parents used to live in Naples and a little covey of quail came to visit their condominium every morning. This was such a treat for my parents and their visiting grandsons. I am also fascinated with fungi; there is such a variety in God's world.
What beautiful, magical pictures you've shared with us today, Molly! You do excellent photos. :> What type of camera do you use?
what a great way to start the day!
I wasn't yawning. I was enjoying the photos. Thank you.
Beautiful. We'll all feel emboldened after this inspiration!
Good Golly Miss Molly ... A splendid use of your time ... and not a yawn in sight ....Lovely pics ..
But I do have a mental picture of you snaking through the undergrowth, hell bent on the quail with Casper the Intrepid watching jealously from afar ...
All they said - not yawning at all - and also: what in the world are fairy lilies? Well, little pink flowers, obviously, but do they have another name? Maybe I'll Google them...
What an educational blog.
Also, what an unsnailnibbled hosta. My hostas are like lace by now. Do you think I could train the kittens to hunt and eat snails? So far they seem to prefer to chase things that move faster, for example toes.
I wish I could take pictures like you do. Somehow mine never turn out very well. Really really loved your posts (just caught up with the last 3). You write so well.
What a lovely post!
I am so glad you have got the hang of posting photos. These were real treats!
ditto to rise.... Good Golly Miss Molly was the first words that came to mind. Love your blogs, but love your blogs with photos. :)
Thank you for all the encouraging comments on the photos. I figure if I repeat the uploading often enough the technique will burn itself into my brain.
Quail would be my favourite bird IF there were no eagles in the world,or cardinals, or herons, or sandhill cranes, or robins....kind of like choosing your favourite child. Can't be done.
Delighted to hear I was right about the lookout Ali! Maybe I have a few brain cells after all. So, this particular quail must be a female?
MJD---your own mushroom shot was pretty cool....
Angie----I've always loved photography, but was intimidated by digital cameras. The OC gave me this one for Christmas. He likes to do that...he did it with my first sewing machine. Just brought it home one day; same with a microwave. The worst was a food processor. It stayed in the box for at least a year....When I finally decided to give it a shot I wanted to kick myself......it was so easy!
The camera is a Canon PowerShot SD 900, and I LOVE it.
Not sure fairy lily is the correct name, Isabelle. They came from our neighbour. Might also be called rain lilies. The rain makes them burst into bloom. Those are not hosta leaves but canna lilies...
Great photos.
And you're so very right.
What's the expression? "Today is the future you were worrying about yesterday" or something similar...
Stunning photos, just LOVE that!
What a charmed morning. Serendipitous.
Thank you so much for sharing it!
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
Well, I'm yawning. But that's only because it's 5:38 a.m. on my east coast. Definitely not because of these beautiful pictures and the poignant words that accompany them!
I like Your blog, mucho mucho!
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