We started feeding the birds again.
I washed our windows and took off the screens in our kitchen and now I find myself peeking out to see who is visiting the feeders. It changes from week to week. Beginning with grosbeak earlier and now the yellow and red finches are everywhere. Chickadees, titmouse, wrens and cardinals are permanent residents here.
I’ve finally managed to entice the bluebirds to visit the dried mealworms I’ve placed in a feeder under our big basket oak tree. I put a handful or two in each more and sprinkle some of the ground and it’s gone by the end of the day. Most mornings I spot them waiting on the feeder. Such joy! There are 4 that visit and they come in to the bird bath by my window to get a drink.
I’ve gotten a few visits to my hummingbird feeder. Although not regular, I’ve seen them and that makes me happy.
I’ve been sewing, doing computer work and reading all by the windows to watch the world going on among the feeders and bird bath. Even the seed stealing antics of the squirrels and the chipmunks make me laugh.
A chickadee raised a nest of littles by the side porch. I sat on the side porch steps and watched the comings and goings of the parents. I watched them flap their wings from the nearby tree before they approached the nest with food. I could hear the babies chirping. 
As I sat with my camera, I decided to take as many pictures of beautiful things without leaving the porch. I enjoyed this self challenge and share my results with you. 
So how did I do?
There is so MUCH to see! I can’t stay on the porch!!
Spring has loosened her long gentle hold and has allowed summer to move in. The birds are finished with their first nest of eggs, the squirrels just eating the seeds, not worried about storing away and all summer critters have visited. The blackberry bushes are full of red berries, and even the lightning bugs, I saw last night, let me know it’s truly summer.
God is so creative! And He gave it to us to care for and enjoy. 
God the Artist
by Angela Morgan
God, when you thought of a pine tree,
How did you think of a star?
How did you dream of the Milky Way
To guide us from afar.
How did you think of a clean brown pool
Where flecks of shadows are?
God, when you thought of a cobweb,
How did you think of dew?
How did you know a spider’s house
Had shingles bright and new?
How did you know the human folk
Would love them like they do?
God, when you patterned a bird song,
Flung on a silver string,
How did you know the ecstasy
That crystal call would bring?
How did you think of a bubbling throat
And a darling speckled wing?
God, when you chiseled a raindrop,
How did you think of a stem,
Bearing a lovely satin leaf
To hold the tiny gem?
How did you know a million drops
Would deck the morning’s hem?
Why did you mate the moonlit night
With the honeysuckle vines?
How did you know Madeira bloom
Distilled ecstatic wines?
How did you weave the velvet disk
Where tangled perfumes are?
God, when you thought of a pine tree,
How did you think of a star?
A dried maple seed.
Take time to revel in God’s creation. It’s in the tiniest of details or the biggest of them. 
Blessings to you, my friends.
Katey
Wonderful pictures, Katey. And I love that Kevin is in the pics of beautiful things from the porch!
Thank you! I think he is pretty handsome. Katey
Way to go my” precious” Girl
Thank you Deddy. You are precious to me. KD
i wish I could see with your eyes for just a day…you don’t miss a thing!! you see the beauty in each little thing and I usually just overlook it!! what a gift you have. thank you for sharing it with us. love you, mom
Thank you Mom. I am glad my “gift” brings happiness to others. Love you.
What a wonderful collection of Nature Moments! I love them, including the poem & the picture of your husband, as Gay Lynn mentioned! All God’s blessings & little miracles in our lives! As always, thanks for sharing the treasures in your life, & reminding us of the treasures in ours!
I love that wording, reminding us of the treasures in ours. That is so true. We have them all around. Thank you Jerry. Katey
Thank you sweet Katie for the beauty you share of nature. I don’t get to see much here in the city as I one time did at home in Ala. You have an eye for natures beauty and I get excited when I see your post. Thank you!
Jo, Thank you. I am glad you enjoy it. I do love this time of year when so many things are blooming and it’s easy to find beauty. Thank you for your sweet support. Katey
What a wonderful way to begin my day! I’m amazed at your gorgeous photos – your really have such a talent there! And what a nice view you have from your porch (Kevin!) Ms. Morgan’s lovely poem simply says it all, doesn’t it! Its been years since I had a bluebird feeder and I must get one here at him new home. I haven’t seen a single one in my yard since I moved here 3 yrs ago!
Cynthia, Thank you so much. Your kind words are an encouragement to me. I hope you see bluebirds soon. We have had them since we’ve been here and recently set out some more houses last fall and this spring. I don’t know that they live in them but I’m hoping so. I don’t pass the window without looking to see if they are at the feeder. Katey
May I come sit on your porch with you one afternoon? Your kitty must be nicer than these two adorable killers that I love. They are not successful with birds though. Mice, voles, chipmunks, lizards, however, will be profoundly short in the next census.
Yes Please do Alice. I have two swings and we can spread out on them and drink sweet tea. I use to have outdoor cats and the last one would camp out under my feeder. I felt like I was tricking them. Annie did catch a skink the other day on the screen porch and she proudly brought it to me in the tub!!!! Come see me soon. Katey
Very beautiful pictures. You did very well! I wish I could sit there with you and see all the beauties with you. And I also wish you could come to my country house to see my beauties here. Love you, Katey.
I would love both of these things to happen. I know your country house is wonderful. Deddy has told me all about it. It would be a treat to just be with you. Love you. Katey
You always make me smile and bring on such warm fuzzies!! Thank you for sharing so beautifully! Patty
Patty,
Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your sweet encouraging words. Katey
Just beautiful, Katey! You have such a gift with words, and with eyes to see our wonderful world. Love the poem–I feel that way often, but could not express it so beautifully!
Jeri, Thank you! I know when I read the poem I totally feel that way. Our creator is so creative! Katey