Sunday, September 21, 2008

Hawks in My Bird Bath

Remember the Hawk couple nesting in our neighborhood!


All of a sudden it struck me that the Hawk couple might be using our Bird Bath. I did not have to wait too long-once I started keeping my eyes open.
You should have seen it to believe;Hawks frolicking in my birdie bath! All I have are these mere pictures.

At noon on a hot July day, a Hawk sat still at the edge of the bath for at least ten minutes before turning its head 360 scanning the area. Finally, sliding into the bath graciously (or in Hawk's term CAUTIOUSLY), started dipping and splashing around. I wondered where did all this water come from; I never realized my bird bath held that much water.
Once the coast was clear the partner joined in. I am pretty sure he or she kept watch from a tree branch up above. I was on the porch hiding behind the butterfly bush and the Honeysuckles.


They are huge birds and I have sadly witnessed their ferocious appetite and the feeble calls of victimized birdie babies. But, it was a rare sight to witness these birds of prey frolicking in my birdie bath like any of the other backyard birds. Soon they forgot themselves and were like children in the swimming pool.


What an amazing sight! They spent nearly half-an-hour bathing. I wished then... I had a better camera-so I could zoom in from far away. May be Santa will bring me one for this Christmas!


But, as suddenly as they came to the neighborhood in March-the Hawks have left suddenly and quietly in early August. That story is for another time!



-by VeeraMahal Franklin





Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Helper in The Garden

Doggy Digging in the garden-aren't you

Maggie... with a tail so thick and

wagging, sniffing bunny tracks' and

begging... the snail to stop on it trail?

-by VeeraMahal FRANKLIN

Copyright © 2008 VeeraMahal FRANKLIN

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A Trip Tale



Fom Here to there... always looking for heaven,

we are traveling ...
always searching for HAPPINESS!

Below are some pictures from my trip to... you guess where!

Vast Scape of powerline beauty
Powerful and imposing architectural beauty


Beautiful View from Mount Royal-
Residence of St. Joseph!

Below are two beautiful but very different trains...

Just passing by!


Gulls, Gulls Gulls and more Gulls-everywhere!
Below you can see a Gull playing angel... in the church-yard at Our Lady of Capes.


Is this one welcoming guests OR Guarding the Entry?

Last week of my vacation-spent in amusement due to this accomodating squirrel,
who seemed to love Cheesy Nachos
But, the best part was looking out to this beautiful picture postcard sight of the tool-shed and one of a kind Maple with strong but smooth curvy trunk, beckoning backyard birds around the clock. Very Peaceful!


-By VeeraMahal Franklin

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Mid-Summer Dream

It is magical!
Just try to decorate an evergreen bush with bubbles-you will know what I am taking about.
I may be very grown up, but my facination with bubbles still not thwarted; thank God!
I love the way the rainbow colors dance around making each bubble unique and magical. Is that how God feels about each of us? I often wonder-watching the bubbles!
One early misty summer morning, me and my Godson figured out that we could have a christmas tree-complete with decorations. Most of the bubbles we made just lodged on to the evergreen, transforming it into a magical christmas tree.
Ofcourse, why not have a christmas tree middle of summer or even everyday? Just need bubbles and a child's heart/help.

Teaching a kid, kid-stuff? Very Important!!! This is the most enjoyable teaching experience I have ever had!


-by VeeraMahal FRANKLIN

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Beauty Parade-2008

Picture is worth a thousand words; how true! I am lost for words looking at these beauties and having a hard time picking a favourite. They are all very competitive, dressed up so elegantly and parading gracefully in the wind!

If you think you could pick a winner among these beauties, parading in my garden-please, let me know!


Thanks for trying!
-VeeraMahal FRANKLIN






Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Fruits- Gifts...of Heavens and Earth

Are they indeed fruits of my labor? Looking at them made me realize they are really gifts from the heavens and earth.

I devour them more with my eyes than with my palate. The scents of ripe peach on the tree permeate through my breath into brain reaching for my soul.......
Is gardening an effort to recreate Eden?
May be deep within our soul we have the image imprinted, the scents embedded of a wonderful past, happy childhood of human race. That may explain why we feel so happy and close to God when we work in the garden- just sit and look around or even just listen with eyes closed- it feels like heaven! Of course, isn't that the inner-most motivation buried under all the worldly worries- seek heaven-peace, unconditional love and happiness?

We all do have a piece of heaven in our own garden!

-by VeeraMahal FRANKLIN


Friday, July 4, 2008

Independence Celebration!

We have a lot to celebrate; long gone are slavery and colonialism. We are all one-human race; in almighty God we trust!