Nature Photo of the Week: Violet-Green Swallow

Absolutely stunning photograph of a Violet-Green Swallow from the Nature Conservancy Photo of the Week. I did not take this picture, but I certainly admire GOD's handiwork. Look at that expression!

Mississippi River flooding: Residents build homemade dams to saves houses | Mail Online

Extraordinary measures by some individuals in the flood-ravaged Mississippi/Yazoo River basin to save their homes... Gives a new perspective on the old adage of a man's home is his castle... Also highlights those individuals who take to heart that they (not the government) are responsible for their family's safety.

Mississippi River flooding: Residents build homemade dams to saves houses | Mail Online

Hike - Mtn Creek - May 21, 2011

Hike: All trails Mountain Creek, Sat., 5/21/2011, 10:00-12:00
Distance: 4.0 miles  Rating: 5/5
Difficulty: Easy
Conditions: Mostly cloudy to clear.  Hot.  Humid.  Breeze light and variable.  Trails dry and clear.  Creek was low (typical summer condition). 

Thoughts/Observations:
Fighting a headache but a great hike nonetheless.  First opportunity to "get out" in over a month and did I need it.  Wildflowers, ferns, and vines were showing off today.  The forest is in full foliage - a Treasure Forest indeed!  Several gray squirrels chasing each other and a few cottontails in the hardwood bottom-land.  Observed many different types of ants at work, but was not greatly bothered by flying insects (good!).  Beautiful day to be out in GOD's Creation.  Kept thinking about the verse, "The heavens declare the glory of GOD, And the firmament shows HIS handiwork." (Ps. 19:1)  The firmament (mixed hardwood & pine forest in this case) was certainly showing HIS handiwork.  I am so thankful and blessed to be the recipient of HIS work. 

Iran to Build Missile Base in Venezuela - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

A very sobering thought... Iranian missiles based in Venezuela pointed at the United States. If they are allowed to be deployed, guess what area of the US is within striking distance... the South and Southeast.

Iran to Build Missile Base in Venezuela - Associated Content

Arizona Bobcat Climbs at the Sharp End

While I would not recommend trying to climb a Saguaro cactus, I suppose being chased by a Mountain Lion would make one rethink possibilities. I don't blame this little Bobcat for getting as high up as he could!

Arizona Bobcat Climbs at the Sharp End: "

You’re just minding your own bobcat business, like you always do, sniffing out rodent tapas in your desert home, keeping an eye out for Miss Bobcat, of course, when along comes a freight train of fangs and claws and fur, Felis concolor, who was a jerk and a bully when you were kits and still is, chasing you like nobody’s business until you nearly lost your dignity scrambling up this conveniently placed cactus. Conveniently placed, but ow freakin’ ow.

Southwest photography Curt Fonger received a call from friends who saw the cat atop the saguaro and quickly made his way out to the spot to grab these shots. The mountain lion was long gone, but the bobcat, likely freaked out and in no particular hurry, hung out for six and a half hours.

Then, according to Fonger, it came “down from the top about five feet or so, then the cat launched itself out into space (about three and a half stories up), came down on all fours, and vanished back into the wash, going back up into the Superstition Mountains,” he said. “It wasn’t hurt in any way.”

Maybe not in a visible way. But who knows what scars were left on the inside?

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Survival Survey: Picking up the pieces | The Survival Mom

Survival Survey: Picking up the pieces | The Survival Mom

Some interesting and sobering things to consider. If you are in the path of a mile-wide EF5 tornado, there is no "safe place". All preparations could be eliminated in a "heart-beat". Our ultimate preparation is a Real Relationship with JESUS CHRIST.

Those of us with families would do well to consider "what if"...