Museum of Nature, Ottawa

 It says Victoria Memorial Museum, but it has been called the Museum of Nature for a long time.  Whatever it's called, it is a lovely museum that focuses on the animals, birds, fish and minerals of Canada.  Aren't the moose heads over the doors wonderful?

 The stained glass windows on the left and right feature birds.(click on photo for full width)

The last panel to the right in this set is a bit hard to see but it is a bird (peregrine falcon, maybe?) catching a fish. (click here, too)

The middle panel from the outside and looking out from the inside.  The far panels picture music and painting but I'm not sure what the middle panels are about. (click)

The museum has four floors and a basement level.  This was taken from the second floor balcony.  Each floor has two wings dedicated to a specific topic, and the centre is an open stairway.

 The wooly mammoths are life-size sculptures on the west side of the museum. (Sorry about the lousy picture quality-we were driving).
I have been to this museum several times, but I wanted to go this time to see a large exhibit of rocks and minerals.  They were amazing and there are photos to prove it, but next time I'll share some pics of the mammal and bird areas which are also great.  The rocks will be the grand finale.

Grace

Glad gift
Unmerited delight
Free joy

Flowing from God's unlimited love.

Grace that manifests for me uniquely
In special ways that cheer my heart.

Grace, blooms of beauty, even
Out of the dirt of my life.

Free gift
Delightful unmerit
Glad joy

The Wonder of Seeds

I've been starting seeds for a long time.  I know I started a bean plant in Gr. 5, but it's very possible that wasn't my first sprouting endeavour.  I have started little seeds and big seeds, easy seeds and hard seeds, I have started lots and lots of seeds.  But I never get over the wow  of those seemingly inert seeds turn into some green growing plant.  It is just so amazing!  The other fascinating thing about seeds is that you can't tell what a plant will look like just by the appearance of the seed.  For instance, in the photo there are four different small roundish dark seeds.  What do they produce? primula, hyssop, cabbage and basil. Hardly similar plants.  The white fuzzy seeds are the seeds of everlasting flower that has dry papery flowers.  In the upper left are two dark seeds that are similar in shape to two lighter seeds.  The dark seeds are for statice, another kind of flower with papery blooms, and the lighter seeds are for lettuce.  The funny shaped seed in the bottom right will make scabiosa (pincushion flower).
Tired of all the bad news in the news?  Start some seeds and let the wow refresh you. 

First Day of Spring

The sun is shining and the temperature has crept up past the freezing point, but it still feels like winter.  I am itching to get into the garden, but have to be satisfied with my seedlings on the windowsill. Outside, the squirrels are having fun running on the firm snow, and the chickadees are starting to sing their spring song.
Spring will arrive ; I keep repeating that to myself because deep inside there is a worry that this year might be the unthinkable year when spring never comes.
Of course it will come, right?
 At the end of April, I will be convinced that winter is behind us and I will be able to shout Yippee!

Bird nest

 It was windy this morning, and this little nest blew down from a tree.  I think it may be a vireo nest.
Vireos are pretty common, and are a good bird to have around as they eat lots of insects. So hopefully, they will be back this summer and have lots of babies.

 The nest is a bit worse for wear, but it is still a wonderful piece of architecture.

The bird tore narrow strips of birch bark of nearby trees (how did they manage such straight edges?), and used spider webs to help stick it on.  The inside of the nest is lined with pine needles to make a soft, airy bed for the young birds.

Quite amazing what birds can build.

Poor Monkey

This is Poor Monkey out in the snow.
Our little dog, Jaws, has recently been having issues with Monkey, although he's had him for quite a while. A couple of weeks ago, Jaws insisted on bringing Monkey outside, and left him outside.  Oh well, I thought.  He just forgot to bring him in.  I brought Monkey in, but that was not the end of it.  The next day, Monkey was again banished to the great outdoors.  Once again, a person returned him inside.  Next day, Jaws took Monkey out and hid him under the deck.  For the next few days, he brought Monkey out into the sun during the day, and put him back under the deck at night.   Monkey was ignored for a few days, and then, suddenly, Jaws decided to bring him into the house where he has been ever since.  Very strange.  I guess even dogs get cabin fever and go a little nutty. 

Feathers

 I found some feathers on the snow this morning.

 Almost like frost .

 Upside-down canoe

In flight

 Grass waving in the breeze

Tenuous hold

 Growing out

Feathery squid

Connections

Click on photo for full width.

Connections

To connect with you
I have to be really me
Otherwise you are in
A fictional story.

You may not like me.
That's OK.
God loves me.

I may make a fool of myself.
That's OK.
I can laugh with others.

You may misunderstand me.
That's OK.
God understands me.

I may be grieving.
That's OK.
God loves me and he's been there.

To connect with you
I have to be really me
Otherwise you are in
A fictional story.

These two photos were taken near Tower Bridge, London.

Mini Orchid

A pretty new addition to the houseplants - a mini orchid.

Faithfulness

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise,
give thanks to him and
    praise his name.

For the Lord is good
    and his love
          endures
                       forever,

his faithfulness
      continues
             through
                      all generations.




Psalm 100 NIV