“Karen’s Noggin’ 🧠 Nuggets” #10 ~ September 3, 2022
DUKE AND LUCY!
I’m one of those people that enjoys naming the animals that we have and not just our pets. Our neighbor and friend, Farmer Earl had a pig farm and had 4 little runts that he gave my husband and me. Since these 4 little squealers had a purpose, I was quick to give them names. They were now sausage, ham, bacon, and chops! We even named our 2 cows, horse, donkeys, and goats. And I even remember naming all 20 of our chickens. It was a bit of a challenge to keep them all straight, but I managed to do so with the description of each chicken.
As I am enjoying the peacefulness of our camper at a permanent site, we put up a hummingbird feeder since the campground tends to draw those little birds. What joy to enjoy their little antics of flying around and whizzing by as they dart here, there, and everywhere.
On Sunday, August 14, 2022, I was enjoying a beautiful morning on the deck of our camper and watching our church service online. I noticed the hummingbirds coming to visit our feeder and buzzing all around. Then I noticed something I’d never seen before and never even knew could happen. One of those speedy little zip here zip there feather creatures was actually sitting on the top of the feeder and then sat on a branch of our hostas. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? INCREDIBLE!!! I’ve never seen a hummingbird move slow enough for me to take a photo let alone sit still for any amount of time. My eyes were just glued to my new little friend. After several photos and videos to record what I just observed before that little feather friend darted off, I quickly looked up on google why hummingbirds will sit. It stated that as long as they’re not sick, they sit on top of feeders or branches so they can rest and observe. What? REST and OBSERVE? Those busy little feather friends that are intriguing to so many people know enough that they must take time to rest and observe. Amazing! I immediately thought that if hummingbirds can sit, rest, observe, and just be…we can too!
Did you know hummingbirds weigh less than 2 pennies? They will use their tongues to lap up nectar like a straw and they do it 15-20 times a minute. They migrate alone. They see color better than we do. While resting the average 4-inch hummingbird takes about 150 breaths per minute. They can beat their wings more than 50 times per second and even faster in extreme flight mode. They will fly up to 37 mph and up to 60 mph in courtship dives.
These little fascinating creatures are so incredibly busy. I have had the pleasure of watching a female and a male Ruby Throated Hummingbird come to our feeder to enjoy the hummingbird juice and also rest on the branches. They have also flown close to me at times and I’m truly enjoying our little feather friends. I started to call them Hummy. Hi Hummy, but realize that need more creative names. I’m thinking Duke and Lucy will work. Duke because of my husband’s admiration for John Wayne and Lucy because that was one of the nicknames my husband affectionately gave me after we were married due to my Lucy Ball-type antics.
Duke and Lucy have taught me a lot in the short time they have been visiting our campsite. The importance of rest and observation. Take time to just enjoy and observe my surroundings. I don’t have to be flapping my wings all the time. Can’t live on sugar alone. Protein from little bugs is important to keep going. They don’t worry or fret. God takes care of their every need. And they seem to enjoy their journey. And since God thinks more highly of me than His precious little birds, He will take care of all my needs and even more so. “Consider the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they?” Matthew 6:26 TPT I’m amazed by these little creatures that can bring so much joy and can teach me a thing or two if I will take the time to rest and observe.
I have many more stories about animals and our pets and all they’ve taught me. I would love to hear if you have a story of what animals have taught you. We are blessed to have so many beautiful opportunities to learn from the animals that God has created for our enjoyment.
I look forward to enjoying the time with Duke and Lucy before they fly south later this year and as studies have shown, there’s a good chance Duke and Lucy will be back at our campsite in the spring. I’m sure they’ll have a few more things to teach me. Until then, safe travels Duke and Lucy!
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Thank you for reading “Karen’s Noggin’ 🧠 Nuggets” #10 ~ September 3, 2022