I took these photos at my parent’s house almost 2 months ago. They keep a plate of birdseed on the porch because if the seed is in a feeder, a bear will come to eat it! It’s relaxing to sit and rock on the porch and watch the bird activity. These little creatures make me happy.
Sweet, sweet, sweet! O happy that I am!
(Listen to the meadow-larks, across the fields that sing!)
Sweet, sweet, sweet! O subtle breath of balm,
O winds that blow, O buds that grow, O rapture of the spring!
Sweet, sweet, sweet! O happy world that is!
Dear heart, I hear across the fields my mateling pipe and call
Sweet, sweet, sweet! O world so full of bliss,
For life is love, the world is love, and love is over all!
Ina Coolbrith
We are schooling this morning. The children have been so productive that they’re having a little break while I write. Jacob is playing with Caleb and the other three are outside. Ethan recently came in and gave me a beautiful fall bouquet of goldenrod and other fall flowers. He said that he almost was stung as he picked them. I love it when the children pick me flowers and always take time to sincerely thank them and put them in a pretty vase.
I think fall cleaning is in my blood because I have an uncontrollable urge to sort and organize. I started on David and Caleb’s room this morning, although it does make me sad to fold away little clothes that don’t fit “the baby” anymore. I filled up one big bag to give away. Also, what to do with all the baby blankets? Most of them are handmade. Well, Grace’s room is next. Then Jacob and Ethan’s room.
Also, most of the toys in this house have to go. If we had less, I would spend less time cleaning (and the children would have less time cleaning). It’s hard to get rid of toys, but we have so much that it has become necessary. Please hold me accountable! Give me a week.
I wish you could see the view from my porch in real life. The leaves are turning brilliantly red and orange. It reminds me of a little song that I was taught in Kindergarten. My dad still remembers it. I think he must have thought it was cute when he heard me sing it for the first time so many years ago.
Leaves are falling gently
to the ground.
Red and orange and yellow
falling falling down.
See, just a small little song, but part of me! I sing it to the children every fall.
Thank you for your kindness to me here. Enjoy the beauty of your day–
Good to be Home 
What wonderful pictures.I keep saying I need to keep my camera handy.I’m forever missing a good picture.
God Bless
Morning Shan-Beautiful pics of God’s creation. I love the color red, looks so vibrant in the first pick. Good for you for ogranizing and cleaning. I am starting that too around here. Although, I wish it were a little cooler here, still in the 90’s today. The cooler air will eventually arrive. 🙂 I bet the view from your porch is breathtaking. I know what you mean of putting away clothes that aren’t for the “baby” anymore. I feel the same way. Cole is becoming a little boy now. 😦 Enjoy your day friend.
I would save the baby blankets that were handmade. Do you havea hopechest? I bet your kids would love to have those once they become adults.
What awesome photos! Some day I’ll have a camera that takes better pictures of birds! Have a great day! Lish
The pictures like always are so awsome to look at. I will keep you accountable I’ll be over next Monday morning to see all the progress!!! Oh, what’s the news about the garage? You can message me. love ya
can I please have Daves email address
I love the black caped chickades they are so pretty. I love your pictures. Have a good day. That poem is pretty too.
they are so precious and a gentle reminder of how the Lord provides our every need. i see you are getting to know my dear friend mary (broncomom). i spent three days with her in may and she is one of the neatest ladies on the planet! 🙂
At our house when it was time to decrease the toys, we would donate them to an orphange in Mexico. Somehow, it was easier for my kids if they knew their toys were gong to children who had none. **Loved the bird photos!
You almost make me feel like cleaning a closet or drawer! 🙂
Great pictures of the birds.
Oh, please take a few pictures and post of the fall colors. I LOVE this time of year and miss seeing the the color change. We get a little down here by the coast, but not much! Good luck in the decluttering and organizing! Suz
I love these pictures of the birds! That plate looks like pewter. I am an enthusiastic fan of Wilton Armetale and really enjoy my collection of pewter plates and dishes. Every time you make reference to the Fiestaware, I think about my pewter. Oh, and I LOOOOVE fall cleaning, too! It feels so good to get the house all clean and organized so that it’s inviting to stay in when the weather is cold and wet outside. Last weekend we had our first day of really crisp, cool air, and I opened all my house windows and cleaned to my heart’s content!
wow! the pictures are awesome! I love the way you captured the humming bird…and the shrpnes of the picture where the bird has its back to the camera is amazing! You have a God-Given gift of capturing creation’s beauty…
What wonderful photos of the different birds! I, too, and doing some sprucing — for me it’s paper that has to go — for every bag of paper I toss, it seems there’s another coming into the house lol ! A good thing about getting rid of toys is that there’s always another child or family to enjoy them down the line somewhere. Enjoy your clean house!
Beautiful pictures, Shan! I am getting rid of things here and there as we MOVE!!! Yes, we are moving. This week!! I’m overwhelmed, but so happy!
I’m trying to get things cleaned and organized, too. It must be in the air. The bird pictures are beautiful. So the bear won’t eat the seed off the plate, but he will out of the feeder? How strange!Oh, and we both need to talk to our babies about this growing thing. They need to cut it out. 🙂
Great birdie photos, but also a great new profile pic of you! Very pretty! Loved the music attached as well!
Love the birdie photos!! That chickadee is a great one! We just went through the fall cleaning in our house and got rid of tons of toys, baby blankets, clothes, etc. It felt so good to get rid of all that and much easier to keep organized and clean so I know what you’re going through, hope it goes well and enjoy the fall, I am!!
ryc: I think I will join that blog ring
How I love birds. Did you say “bear’? The photos are so lovely as usual. I love the songs!!! Shanda, save some of those blankets! One for each of the kids for their kids someday and for you to keep for your own grandkids when they come to your house. Those are treasures not easily replaced. Do the same with some of the favorites of the baby clothes and toys. Put them in a box or bag and label them with the child’s name on it. Then save them for their children someday in the not so distant future. I know it is the fad now for simple living, but somethings are just dear enough to save for the future. Just a granny perspective. Love and blessings, M in SC
I wouldn’t want to get rid of the blankets either. Especially if they are homemade, maybe you can put them in a hope chest or something like that. Those pictures are so good!
These photos remind me of the verse: “be still… and know that I am the Lord”
Only your stillness allowed you to capture the beauty of His creation
You have no idea how much I adore birds, so you would have no idea how much joy your pictures brought me!I recently did the “big toy sweep” in my house and it DOES make it easier for the girls to clean up. Not so overwhelming. AND, they can actually *see* what they have in their room!
Oh my goodness, Shanda, I almost missed this post ~ and oh, how much I would have missed! The birds! For some reason, Xanga put it way down on my subscription list ~ it almost got lost. Anyway ~ I love it and you knew I would! About getting rid of toys ~ I read this week that Americans are about the only people in the world who know what a garage sale is because nowhere else do people have so much stuff. Isn’t that mind boggling? How we have so much, that we have to have sales and such to make room for more stuff! Anyway, good luck on clearing out ~ it always feels good to have more space. Again, I am sure glad I found this post ~ tip me off next time, just in case Xanga messes with it again! LOL!
Love the pictures and poem. Last year my children both learned a poem about a bird, can’t remember it now, but it was so fun to hear them say it and to have them think about it. Hope your day is going well!
Aren’t the little birds just amazing?! Beautiful photos, as always!
During the library storytime we have been taking the children to, they sing a very similar falling leaves song. Very cute!
(How’s it coming with those toys? 😉 I am in the same boat.)
I love the birds!! And you did a great job photographing them. Beautiful!!