First Post Twenty Thirteen

Yeah!  My first post on this blog for 2013.  I have not been much in the mood for writing, if that is what you would call what I do. 🙂

Anyway, let me give you some updates of what has been going on here on the banks of Flat Creek South of Jenkins, Missouri.  On November 30 and December 1 of 2012 I began working on building a back porch on our house.  I finished enough where we could use it with the form fiberglass steps we bought with the house.  The porch, made of treated lumber measures 8 feet by 8 feet.  Not a large porch, but not tiny either.

With cold and freezing setting in for the past few days our driveway has dropped out of sight – a slight over statement of course.  Because of the softness of the soil, even where we had previously placed gravel, the road was sinking, making it difficult to drive the car of a slight grade through the gate.

This morning I went out before anyone else was up, and shoveled a pickup bed half full or so of creek gravel, not from the creek bed, by the way, and hauled it to the driveway, unloaded it where it was sinking the most; and by the time I was finished; I mean I was finished too.  Too bad I do not have a front loader and a dump bed truck to use.  It would make it simpler, and certainly easier.  It sure is good exercise loading gravel though.

Just a side note.  While I was out gathering my tools for the haul there were a couple of eagles soaring overhead, communicating with one another.  I really enjoy hearing their shrill cry, and playful screech with one another.

With all the trouble in the world, and in many of our lives; it is good to know that there are other things which are peaceful.  Those ought to remind us that God is still on the throne; and all things will be worked out for His glory.

-tim

Eagles at War???

This past Wednesday morning as I was driving home, and along the bluff road to our house there were several bald eagles perching in trees.  I drove a little ways, and suddenly one flew up from just beside me.  It seemed that it was standing on the steep bank, and my driving by it caused it to take flight through the trees.

What I found fascinating was that eagle made a half circle around in front of me, landed in a tree branch just over our road, and attacked another eagle sitting in that tree.  As I drove under the tree they both took flight, one after the other; but when the last one left it flew high, then, made a dive bomb attack on the other one.

A few minutes later I stepped on on the front porch or our house, and though I could not see the eagles I heard the screeching speech of an eagle.  It was a continued piercing screeching sound, clearly that of an eagle.  They were on the other side of the hill that rises slowly to the South of our home.

They are majestic birds.  Wonderful to watch.  I had never seen them behave that way before.  That is why I have the question marks on the end of the title.  It may have just been a domestic dispute.  It may have been a dominance dispute as well.  It is interesting here on the banks of Flat Creek.

-tim

The Return of the Eagle

Our first notice of the eagle’s return last year was October 25.  This morning; November 01, 2012 at 9 a.m.  was my first sight of the returning eagles this Fall.

The first one came and made a short circle before setting in a tree behind our house along the Creek bank.  Then, shortly thereafter the second one came and perched beside the other.  As I watched for a while one of them dropped from the tree toward the water; I lost sight of it at that time, and she came up and set herself down in another tree.  In just a short time she swooped down again and went back to the former tree.

It is so amazing to watch these amazing birds of prey; and they are so beautiful in flight.  One of God’s beings in His created order.

I hope I did not cause them to leave permanently when I went out to burn a brush pile near where they had perched.  I like seeing them around.

-tim

Eagle Call

I was out this morning watering my new trees, and shrubs.  As I was pulling the hose around the house I heard and eagle call just over my head.  It was probably just about one hundred feet above.

I saw one last Saturday as I was mowing the yard.  The reason I mention it is that this time of year with this kind of weather they have usually moved on, and they are not often seen around here.

I know that it is probably not likely, but this eagle seemed as though he called out to me, “I am here.  Watch me soar above” and I did for a moment until I could see him no more.  There are some things about the eagle that reminds me of the Creator.  He needs to constantly remind me, “I Am here.  Watch Me soar over your fears, heartaches and problems; and rest in the shelter of My wings”.   Thank YOU Lord.

-Tim

In the Ground and Growing

At least I pray they are growing.  I am speaking of trees and shrubs I have planted on our near vacant acreage.  It has been pasture land for many years; until we moved our home onto it a year and one half ago.  We just got around to getting some trees planted.

Some of them look as though they will be fine, and take off in a growth spurt.  The trees are called “hybrid poplars” and are expected to grow speedily, and do not have a very long life span either.  But I wanted something that would provide shade in a few years for a few years.  I planted eleven of them, three Colorado Blue Spruce trees and a dozen Rose of Sharon shrubs.

I completed mowing the yard again today.  It had not been mowed in a couple of weeks, and you could really tell it.  It looks wonderful now.

I thought they were gone for the season, but while I was mowing the backyard a Bald eagle flew near the tree tops over Flat Creek.

-Tim

 

Eagle On the Hunt

On the afternoon of December 31 I took a walk along the banks of Flat Creek; from just below the old mill pond down around the bend, and then to the place where our family picnics and swims – the Swimming hole.

It was at the Swimming Hole that I sat down for a spell and just looked, watched, and listened for awhile.  I have enjoyed doing that along the creek since I was a boy old enough to venture away from the house; and maybe even before I was old enough.

As I was setting there a bald eagle came soaring near me over the still water of the hole and I assume was looking for his/her prey for food for the day.  I do not believe I was ever as close to a flying eagle as I was at that moment.  I have seen them in zoos sitting on logs for all the world to gauck at, and admire; but never had I been as close as I was at that time and place; while they were flying.

I watched as she/he soared, flapped wings, turned out over the land on the other side, and back over the water, and then flew on down the creek continuing its search.

A beautiful, majestic, bird.  Yet, “bird” for an eagle just seems so small a word.

Remember to go to church today and worship our Creator who has given us all things to enjoy and glorify His name.

-Tim

By the way… HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Our Driveway

For some who know where my wife and I live you know the drive to our house from the main road is a beautiful drive, and even that, this time of year you just might see an eagle, or two or more.  As you drive along the drive on the bluff overlooking Flat Creek the eagles often roost of the evening in the tops of the sycamore trees which reach out over the flowing water of the Creek.

When you get down to our home in the valley, our driveway is not so good when it is raining or shortly after a rain.  That is because it used to be pasture land, and we have worn a path through the grass, and it is without any gravel.  I have checked on having some limestone gravel hauled in and it is not cheap.  Now the thing about the limestone is that it would look nicer than the old brown creek gravel which we have plenty of.

We need gravel on our driveway, so today, I am going to go, the old fashioned way, borrow a pickup, and get my shovel and do some gravel hauling myself.  I will probably wear myself out again this Saturday, but that is good for me I suppose.

Get that gravel down, and then, we will have much better traction rolling out the drive to the road.  Last winter I could cut through the yard by the old house and get on the road.  This year we have an electric fence around the yard so it would take a little more effort to cut through.

I think sometimes it would be nice to have a tractor with a front loader and a small dump truck.  With those two items I could keep the potholes filled on the road to the driveway too.  But, that is going to have to wait.

Right now a pickup truck, a shovel and manpower is all I can do.  So that is what is going to happen today – God willing, of course.

When I got up this morning at 4 a.m. it was 18 degrees outside.  That is considerably colder than it has been all week long.  The ground will be frozen, but that will not stop the work.

Flat Creek is up and rolling right along in full view out our back patio door.

-Tim

One Year Ago Today…

We moved into our new home along the banks of Flat Creek.  It has been a joyous year being able to step outside our home; especially out the back doors, and hear the sound of the creek as it rolls down toward Table Rock Lake several miles away.

It was a joy to last Winter watch the Eagles as the soared above our heads, house and land.  It was also with joy that when the tornado struck Joplin, MO. we had the house and space for our son James, his wife, and Archer and for a short while even Pillar and Skillet; to move in with us for a couple of months until they could find them a new home.  Archer, ended up finding his home with us permanently.  We have really enjoyed having him around too.  I do not remember as a boy with a dog having as much fun and joy as I have had with Archer.

Anyway, the year has gone by quickly.  There is much work we need to do around our home yet.  We need to get a front porch built on it.  We also want to built a back deck.  That will still come.

One day we would like to get the old house my father was born and raised in fixed up and use it for family and friends to stay in when they come visit.  That will be a while in coming.  There is much work to do, and with being a pastor, driving a school bus there just does not seem to be enough time in the day to accomplish everything I would like to do.

I just thank the LORD Almighty for His blessings, His grace and His mercy.  I also thank Him for our home which we are only stewards; and I pray will be always faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to our care.

Being blessed daily along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Eagles Are Flying

Of course that is not really anything new.  They have been flying, perching, birthing, eating, breathing, and living for millenniums of time.  However,  I did see my first eagle this season flying over our house.

It flew in a circle over the house as though he was checking us out, and to let me know they were back.  There was no doubt in my mind it was a bald eagle.  The white head and tail feathers glistened in the afternoon sunlight.

I was glad to see our friends had returned to the banks of Flat Creek.  A blessing from our Creator, Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God.

And, one other little thing.  Do you remember the “Little Girl” (the little corgy dog which adopted us) well, now she is “Little mama”.  On Sunday evening October 23, she was beginning to have puppies when we arrived home from church.  Monday morning when I left to go drive the school bus, she had seven, though one was dead, laying beside its mother.

If anyone wants a puppy in a few months let me know, and we will see what we can do about that.

-Tim