§ Sunday Driver!!!

I made it to the  park in Calallen Texas just after sunrise.  It was a beautiful morning...birdsong, mild temperature with a slight breeze, no bugs trying to penetrate my nostrils or ears, no people, quiet, peaceful, and quite a few four legged critters to see as I walked the park's perimeter.  Since I did see many birds and other critters, plus the beauty of the mirror-like river and morning glories on the river bank, I will make this into a two part blog post.  First the sunrise and deer.

Once I climbed the hawk watch platform [above photo], off on the eastern horizon a picture post card perfect symbol of a Sunday...

...shortly after sun-up:

Even before entering the park's gate, two deer were grazing by the roadside and then along the river bank...

§ C'mon Autumn!!!

Church Steeple in the Morning Mist

On a still, warm, humid, morning, I drove to the river and the park...to walk. Well, after the heavy flooding rain from the week prior there was still a lot of standing water here and there. I was amazed! At our home, the water soaked in in a couple of days... after the rain stopped falling...but I guess the difference in the 15 minute drive [at 75 MPH], the storm dropped a LOT more than in town where I live!!! There was evidence of the river being out of its banks and flooding some of the near-by park land.

Normally dry grassy picnic areas, this was still under water. And the one with the trees in the foreground, look thru the branches and you can see a bit of the remnants of river water [near center of photo]...

I didn't do too much walking. Too humid and my insect repellent wasn't working too well either. The air was close to suffocatingly still...nothing stirred; as you can see by the flag that flies over the country club golf course...

After checking for any wildlife, and finding very little, I left the park and drove a short distance on a county road to the TURF FARM thinking maybe I could find an Upland Sandpiper or two. What I found instead was the land utilized for growing turf to sell; it too was still flooded! And I had to whip a "U" turn before I came to an intersection...the road was under water and barricaded. Stopping right in the middle of the road [there were no cars to be seen 'cause of the road closure], I spotted egrets and herons taking advantage of the flooded land - hunting for breakfast...

Tho the calendar says Autumn is the 22nd, here in the Coastal Bend of Texas we still have another long month ahead with soaring temps!!!! I'm so ready for Fall!!!!!!!!

§ Hot, Hot, HOT...and Birding for a NEW bird

As I type this...

There's a fine mist falling from the clouds and the temperature is a blistering 90 degrees with a heat factor of 97!! I did go out for a short time early in the morning, but the heat index kept me from walking much. Besides, my outing had a specific purpose...Monk Parakeets are nesting. And ironically they've been reported found busy building their communal nests in palm trees....ON CATHOLIC PROPERTY!! Imagine that. Do they know something that we can only wonder about?  I had to see for myself if I could also locate them.

Fr. James Kelleher, SOLT, founding president of Our Lady of Corpus Christi, was given the inspiration to build a world class perpetual adoration chapel. The chapel would be built in the shape of a cross, with a 75 foot blue dome adorned with gold stars
from the history of the chapel

Anyway, as I said, it was a short time out and about. The heat and humidity at the time of day was way too intense. The particular place is within the property boundaries of a beautiful blue domed church. Our Lady of Corpus Christi. Not only a wonderful church, but also a retreat for people [men and woman who have religious issues/health issues/ in need of strengthening their devotions, etc.], and a campus for degrees in theology I assume. As I walked the grounds and drove through the winding narrow roads throughout, searching for the nesting birds, I stopped and walked around the church, taking pictures...

...the main entrance




- and on the wooden doors there are four bronze plates depicting Christ's life -birth to resurection

...around the sacred grounds, from stain glass, another view of the blue dome from afar, the darkened candle room for silent prayer, and to the illumination of the alcove I thought was inspiring

...side entry, one bell tower, Our Lady in Stain Glass, and the candle room



...statue of Jesus Christ and the statue above the vast fountain

...as I walked back to the car so I could drive around more in search of the parakeets, I walked up to the bookstore/gift shop and snapped this photo near the entrance

The chapel you just visited can be seen as you come from the bayfront, or from Padre Island Drive, OR from either direction on Interstate 37. It's an awe inspiring sight to behold. And, oftentimes I find myself very thankful, knowing I'll be home safe soon since it's only about ten minutes from our house. I got back in the car and cranked up the air conditioner while the car was idling to cool the interior. Then, as I backed out, I left through the shaded narrow road that meanders through the grounds, putting my windows down and listening for the tell-tale uproar and commotion parakeets are known for. I ended up hitting the way out, and as I slowed for a speed bump near the exit gate, the ruckus was heard! I slowed down, found a shady area to pull over and got out of my vehicle and walked a bit, following the furor of the winged beauties. I found 'em. A LOT of THEM. As the mosquitoes gnawed at my ankles, I took pictures. The Monk Parakeet, introduced to the USA in 1960 from South America, is a new species photographed by me. I tried to find them about three or four years ago from a tip of a friend...but by the time I got there, they were gone. On this sweltering morning in June...I was elated!!

PS...I have a post already pre-scheduled that IS NOT the parakeets for Saturday's I'd Rather B Birdin' so, NEXT week, I will share the photos of the birds I got on that blog!!

§ Holiday Cheer II

This is my 2nd post for a feel good story!  You may have noticed the special graphic above with a link explaining the 'Feel Good Holiday Spirit Reading"....

It's about a teen-aged girl and boy. And a church choir. In the hot month of August, the Catechism Class held on Wednesdays each week was attended by a couple of dozen young Christians. One day, the pastor's wife [who directed the adult choir each Sunday during services] came in and she announced that on Christmas Eve Service the teens will have a program for the congregation, along with the pre-teen  Sunday School Class. And there will be a 'behind' the scene singing of Carols. Volunteers were lined up, and 'auditioned'. One girl and one boy were chosen because of their soft, yet strong-carrying voices - and the ability to carry a tune and read music. Late August, the whole Catechism Class began rehearsing. Long hours, along with a bit of fun and games afterward at times, took a good deal away from any social life outside....something perhaps a high strung teenager would miss. Weeks and months swiftly went by. The routine, and the songs were pitch perfect  From the story, to the chosen holiday hymns.  Everything was as good as gold!! The night of Christmas Eve, the class did their last rehearsal, dressed in their choir robes, and with the silence of the night's congregation already seated, the pomp and circumstance of the evening brought anxieties and last minute direction and suggestions on the upcoming performance that was embedded in their minds.  A bit of stage fright all came rushing forward, giving them butterfly stomachs. Faint smiles were shared between classmates as they promenaded down the aisle, the eyes and recognition of family members seated in the candle-lit, holiday atmosphere, gave off a silence that prevailed until  everyone was seated in the choir pews.

Passages were read from the Bible, a few songs from the congregation, a sermon...then, the  service began with our special show intermingled. At the end of the stable scene staging of the story, the teen-aged girl stood up. Alone. And all eyes were on her. The silence was deafening. The choir director, giving her a vote of confidence nod as the organist began the song's first chords, it all began. Her voice carried up and out amongst the parishioners. Perhaps a little weak at first.  Then, the organist stopped playing any background accompaniment, but as the hymn progressed it was beautiful! Tears flowed from the director's eyes...and a keen sense of pride swept over the girl's soul!! It was a hit!! As the last stanza of the first verse was being sung, the teen-aged boy stood and chimed in with the girl's last words. She sat to a subdued applause as the boy continued singing the 2nd verse.

When the song ended. The two soloists were acknowledged and stood up. At that instant, the thunderous applause broke the silence!!  Then a silent reverie....

The song? O Holy Night

[video - song sung by Josh Groban - beautiful!!]

The Teens? Robert and........it was me...ANNI

After the Christmas Eve Service, and the congregation began to filter out, shaking hands and giving out accolades to us all,  it began to spit snow with stars brightly shining in the sky above... so ever-ebony!!  It was a most perfect, divine, holy night...a Christmas Eve that remains unforgettable.

O holy night the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angels' voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night
O night divine
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angels' voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine, O night
O night divine

I still love the hymn, I still feel a bit of butterflies in my stomach of the memory of that night back long ago.  I still sing it loud and strong when I hear it...or sometimes just break out in song for no other reason than to be singing it again....the words make me, literally, FEEL GOOD.   And at times, if the mood is right, I have tears well for the memory of the long rehearsal time, the pride throughout the choir/classmates and the elation of the congregation.

[above graphics courtesy of Google Images]

§ Shadows of Time

I can never resist the sweet, cute, loveable squirrel. Especially this time of year when the little ones are out scampering about, testing the world's bounty and finding what their life is all about!! Of course, this past month going to many of the parks, Bud and I have seen quite a few of those furry ones. A few weeks past, I posted the two little ones as they played about their territory. When we returned, Bud said he had thought he'd seen a hole in the tree that they were at the time before, so this time when we stopped by there in the vicinity to search for some lingering migrant birds, he had to check it out and called me over...

...of course, there was adult supervision!

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As y'all know this past month we've been gone nearly every day, traveling the near-by towns and parks to find the migrating birds before they leave our state, pointing themselves farther north into the mid sections and perhaps way up north to our neighboring country, Canada, for the summer months. For years, and I do mean years, nearly a decade...we've traveled this state highway a lot, and never have stopped to read a particular historical marker. And thing is, Bud being a history buff that he is, has never once said "Let's pull off and see what this one is about.". I happened to be driving this time, and it was still before midday on our return to the city -- I pulled off the highway and turned into the parking lot where the Texas Historical Marker was. There were two other men, chatting by their trucks as we got out of our car...I with my camera strung over my shoulders. The men both said "Howdy". And Bud and I walked to the state marker, along with other historical, local, historical markers and read about this church. In order for any subjected property to be deemed worthy of preservation, it must be first added to the National Register of Historic Places. This church, Old Saint Anthony's Catholic Church of Violet, Texas has such distinction!! Now the ironic part of this whole post is that the two gentlemen that were chatting as we read about the church, one chimed in and said "Do you folks want to see the inside of the church?" "David is the curator.". Well, David was one of the two men there at the same time we were. Talk about being at the right place at the right time!! I jumped to the chance of seeing an historic church that so few have had the opportunity, now that it's no longer being used as a religious facility [there is a newer one close by]. David escorted us indoors through locked cast iron security bars...and the daylight was shining through the altar's stain-glass. It was awe inspiring to say the least. He walked us through the interior, talking of the church's history --the priests came by horseback, or horse and buggy from Corpus Christi long ago to preach the sermons. While there, the priests had a room in the back of the church to stay overnight before returning to the Diocese of Corpus Christi. This facility, quite unique in the area, was a GERMAN CATHOLIC church. And the kindness of this gentleman by my side; he allowed me to photograph some of the interior...I was then allowed to go up to the choir box, the priest's room, the confessional, and also allowed to take photos of the altar. Along with one special vestment that was all hand sewn and shipped here from the native country...Germany. To keep this from becoming a novel about the special [to me] outing, I will share more photos...

...and the historic cemetery adjacent to the church property:

This week, I'm also linking to:
InSPIREd Sunday

I most appreciated Mr. K for taking time from his day to allow the two of us to go through the piece of history and learn about some of the trials and tribulations of the German Settlers in the Coastal Bend area of Texas. It was a most interesting hour or two or our day in April!! Thank you!