He who finds a thought that lets us a little deeper into the eternal mystery of nature has been granted great peace. ~Albert Einstein
Don’t you just love nature? Love going outside to see what you might see? See what gifts the Lord might bless you with on any particular day? That happens to me often when I go walking with my dogs, Frankie and Marley. By the way, they say it was very, very hot when we went walking today. Or maybe that was me saying that. But walk we did. Didn’t see anything unusual, but perhaps the wonders were there. I simply forgot to really look.
Thank you all for playing my mystery game and guessing on the picture I posted on Wednesday night. Some of you were right. More of you were wrong. Several of you guessed a fence with weeds, hay, straw or whatever behind it. As you can see, it was the edge of a bird nest. It was very sweet of that little bird 
to use a twig that looked so very much like a fence or a lug wrench as a couple of you guessed. However, there were some sharp-eyed readers too who figured out what it was. So, way to go, Maria, Emily, Connie Lee, Jacinda and Lisa H.
I tried to find out which bird might have made this nest. Still not sure about that. I think it might be too small for a robin’s nest. Perhaps a finch or a wren. While searching around about nests, I found some interesting facts. Usually the female builds the nest and the male helps. But in some species , the male bird just sits on his branch and does nothing. In other species, the male does the building while the female watches. Could be he promised her a beautiful home when she agreed to fly away with him.
But seriously, have you ever really looked at those nests we sometimes find in our rose bushes or sometimes on the ground after a windstorm knocks the nest out of a tree? Those are usually last year’s nests. Nest construction is amazing. In days or maybe a week, the bird or birds make a safe little haven for their eggs and eventual hatch-lings. They do this with their beaks and feet. No handy fingers to entwine the weeds into a nice cup shape. Plus they have to gather up all the building materials. Birds can be very innovative with materials. The outer part of this nest is leaves and twigs, but the inner part where those eggs and eventual baby birds will be is soft grass. Sometimes birds “glue” their nests together with materials like spider webs, silk, mud, and even their own saliva. If you’re like me, you had no idea a bird could spit.
But perhaps the most amazing thing about birds and their nests is how different they all are. Each bird with its different feathers. Each bird egg with its unique design. Each bird with its own song or squawk. whistle or cluck. And the Lord God made them all. I was able to sneak some birds into my new book, An Appalachian Summer. One of those favorite quotes from the book is about Piper hearing the whip-poor-will. But Piper has a friend there in the mountains who is interested in the flora and fauna. So she tells her more about the whip-poor-will and how it doesn’t build nests. It just lays its eggs on the ground camouflaged in last year’s leaves. The bird too is able to sleep away the day camouflaged on a tree limb or in those leaves. You might step right beside it and never spot the bird. But I always loved hearing it sing when evening came. So I often include it in my stories. An Appalachian Summer gave me plenty of opportunity to let a few birds fly into the story. I’m thinking about a new story now that will let me invite a few birds into the scenes too.
Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young–even Your altars, O Lord of host, my King, and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You.
…Psalm 84:3-4 (NKJ)
Again, thanks to all of you who played my mystery game last week. A new mystery photo is up top. Remember, each time you make a guess on a new photograph, you get another entry in my book giveaway. You must be at least 18 years old to enter the giveaway. Two winners will get their choice of one of my books plus a grab bag book. We’ll play the game with the last mystery picture on Wednesday, July 15th and deadline for entries will be July 18, 2020 at midnight EST. I have one more mystery picture waiting in the wings. After that, I’ll have to rustle up some mysterious picture that might trick some of you.
So, what do you think the picture up at the top of this post might be? I’m ready for your guesses.
Thanks for reading and for playing my mystery photo game.
Comments 34
I think it’s blackberries.
Blueberries or some other kind of berries or grapes.
Something black, shiny and metal ? I don’t really have a clue . We have a song sparrow nest in our shrub with 3 babies , our blue birds are raising their second brood in their box in the meadow , we about 15 swallow nests in the barn shed ; the birds are very busy here on our little farm in OH. Also we have the Baltimore Orioles eating grape jelly all day long at their feeding station outside the kitchen window !! I remember hearing the mournful call of the Whippoorwill during the night at my grandparents KY farm , along with the foxhounds baying as they ran over the hills ; each dog having a distinctive voice. Precious memories of days gone by.
Author
What a beautiful flock of birds on your farm, Nancy. I think Baltimore Orioles are beautiful and they have a beautiful song too. I’ve seen them around here but never tried to feed them. Maybe have to find some grape jelly and give it a try. I haven’t heard a Whippoorwill for a while. I need to step out of my sound proof brick house at night and see if I can hear one, but it might be past their singing months now. Not sure about that. Glad you have good memories of times with your grandparents in KY.
I think it could be a blackberry.
Last week hubby was weed wacking in the front yard and he brought a nest in with 5 eggs he had seen many nests on the job as he goes diff places and he always tells his guys watch where you step etc. So he left it in my kitchen sink well I went out and we have a large wizard in our front yard and a place for a round ball to go and I hadn’t put the ball in as we were having some wind. Well it was in some weeds and that is where i put the nest but we have been watching blue birds build their nests in nest boxes that we have around our yard. So interesting what they grab and make for the nest. Plus how many times they go out for material for the nest. Birds are fun to watch!
Author
Birds are fun to watch, Peggy. I enjoy my birdfeeder outside my office window. In fact I need to fill it up now. It is interesting to watch them make their nests and then feed their baby birds. Glad you’re protecting the birds.
Congratulations to the winners!!! Great guess. On this new picture, I haven’t got a clue! But because of the beautiful color, I’m going to guess blueberries! 🤣
I believe it’s a close up of a blackberry. You saw some on your walk encased in a spider web. Have a blessed week!
Based on the color and texture, I’m guessing eggplant.
I’m in love with Piper’s story, although she’s just getting started in my reading of it. I wish I had time to binge read it all, but this is a busy time for me lately. I read last night til my eyes drooped, dreamed about the mountains, and woke up this morning thinking about Piper. You know it’s a good book when the characters nudge you throughout the day to hurry up and come back!
Author
That’s fun that you dreamed about the mountains, Lavon. I’ve dreamed about books I’m reading at times. But strangely enough, not usually about my own books. Guess I dream enough about them during the daylight hours. 🙂 Glad you’re enjoying getting to know Piper.
Great guess too. Maybe right. Maybe not, but eggplant has been a popular guess.
It’s a catfish!
Looks like the moon coming up through brambles.
It looks like a close-up
of blackberries
This looks like black grapes.
Blackberries! (I hope. 😬)
Love this game! Thanks, Ann!
Again I’m hopeless at guessing these right. It looks like wrought iron fence with the sky behind it.
After how wrong I was on the last photo, I should probably give up guessing. 🙂 I think this might be eggplant on the vine? I also thought I saw the reflection of the sun in the fruit and maybe your shadow from snapping the photo? I am probably wrong again, but it is fun trying to guess these photos! 🙂
This picture really is a mystery- some kind of game piece that has been thrown into a hat????? Not a very good guess!
Honestly, it looks like the bottoms of eggplants! But since they’re not quite in season yet, I doubt that’s what it is. 😀
Is it purple plums? After reading the Paula’s guess, I can’t stop seeing the dog.
Author
Birds are amazing builders for sure, Lee. My son had a robin trying to build a nest on top of a post on his porch, and while he likes birds, he didn’t want the mess of bird poop if the bird nested there. So he’d tear down what she started. The next day, the poor bird would have started building again. This went on for several days. My son thought she’d get the idea and go somewhere else to build her nest. Plenty of trees and bushes in the area, but no. One morning he came outside to find the poor bird had laid her eggs on top of the post in a scattering of twigs. I had to feel sorry for the bird. Those babies didn’t have a chance without a proper nest.
Thanks for your guess. It could very well be a purple plum. Maybe. Maybe not. The dog nose idea is interesting.
I’ve always loved birds. I once had the honor of watching a robin build her nest. It was fascinating to see how she wove the materials around the tree branch, using just her beak.
Close up of blueberries?
Now I think it looks like a dog’s nose!
Author
Paula, I do like dogs and have a few around that might let me take a picture of their noses. And I do like blueberries. Could be either. Could be neither. 🙂 Thanks for playing my mystery photo game.