One of my favorite things to watch and appreciate in the Spring are the return of the hummingbirds. They are such a unique group of birds. So very tiny, with an overabundance of energy and they gather fairly noisily around flowers and feeders. Their wings hum, almost like the buzzing of a bee, and they chatter with high pitched excitement.
I’ve enjoyed watching hummingbirds flit and dash hither and yon, flying to and landing on my feeders. And then once fed and satisfied, watched a self-appointed “guard” who would dart out and protect all of “his” feeders. It always makes me laugh. I have a minimum of four feeders…and really? Really? You have to try to keep all others from stopping for a drink? You don’t realize, I guess, that you need other members of your kind to continue to have a life of fruition. There is a bountiful supply of food in my yard–flowers, bugs such as ants, aphids, and so forth, and feeders. Yet you have no problem dashing in front of my face in a humming, buzzing hovering manner, demanding that I quickly refill any that have become empty. Oh foolish little flitting flyer! All your lovely colors of iridescent green and a throat of radiant red. Your long beak seeks long throated flowers and the small holes in the commercial hummingbird feeders.
And you are the only birds brave enough to disregard the fury of hurricanes as they blow and bellow, bending trees. But you and your crew, flit to the feeders land and while the feeder sways, you calmly drink and seek your satisfaction. I don’t see sparrows, swallows, bluebirds, or others during the hurricane’s fury; but you all come calling. I’ve braved the winds and rains to take pictures to prove to the world how vast you are in your tininess. There seems to be no guarding during these storms. The feeders are full of females, and suddenly you males seem tolerant now of taking turns. But truly only at the big feeding times of the day, early mornings and early evenings.
Let me share some of the facts of these tiny amazing birds. They are among the smallest of birds, measuring 3-5″ generally, and the very smallest of the entire group is the bee hummingbird, which is about 2 inches, and weighs less than a penny. As they hover, their wings are moving at about 50 flaps a second. Yikes! That is moving! And they are also able to fly backwards and can fly at speeds up to 30 mph. They may travel 500 miles during migration, although there is one species that travels 3000 miles, going from Alaska to Mexico.
Hummingbirds eat half their weight in sugar each day, and they use their tongues to lap at the nectar of the feeder or flowers; their beaks do not suck the nectar. They also will eat bugs, needing the proteins, fats and amino acids they gain from them for their own muscles and feather manufacture. Hummingbirds have a very high metabolism since they are a high energy user. They breathe about 250 times/minute. There is usually one dominant hummingbird who will guard all the feeders, and will also chase out bigger birds who fly into its territory. These birds are only found in the Western Hemisphere. I hope you get the opportunity to sit and watch these fascinating, busy creatures.
How rich is God’s grace, which he has given to us so fully and freely. Ephesians 1:7,8
Such a privilege that I’ve witnessed and enjoyed these exceptional birds.
These are some of my bellaviews. Blessings
This picture was taken in 2011 during one of the NC hurricanes SONY DSC
This is one of Patty’s photos. Check out more at her site Lifesblessingsbiz
In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? Psalm 11:1
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26
Watch the hummingbird
Flit, flit, and chatter, chatter
Taking in flowers
Dart here, dart there, land
Drink in the nectar, small one
Guard territory
You stop for a rest
No, you are standing on guard
Keep those off what’s yours
I don’t understand
How you just don’t see plenty
To drink for you all
Quick! Dash, dart and charge
Keep them all away. It’s yours…
Come back, land, stand watch.
While day is ending
There are several to behold.
Flit, dash, land and feed
Come morn, I hear you
Chittering excitedly
Buzzing all around you go
So many land and
Take their drinks until he lands
Again as guard of all
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
1 John 5:14,15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we have asked.
Matthew 7:7,8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.
John 14:13, 14 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 15: 16, Matt 21:22, Luke 11:9-13, James 1:5,6
Have you noticed how often different verses appear in the Bible, often spoken by different people? It is part of the reason I have justification, truth, knowledge, belief that the words herein are from the mouth of God to us, his children. I know God spoke to these people to write His words to give life direction, guidance, and hope to all. There are so many examples, but I am going to show you a couple on ONE subject, and maybe write and show examples of other subjects in later blogs.
Now I have just quoted four verses, written by different men and at different times, speaking the promises of God for us. Each one who claims the promise, prays and believes, then receives. ( realize it is not necessarily on YOUR timeframe, but in God’s! I sometimes I have a difficult time with waiting. . . . Do I hear an “Amen!”?) Now you may not always receive the immediate answer to your prayer. God wants you to be at a specific point before He gives you all sometimes. And as you wait, you need to wait patiently, pleasantly, and positive that in His time, you will receive.
Admittedly, I am not always patient waiting, but it’s improving. I know I have already received so many promises, answers to prayers over the years, and although I still wait for some things I yearn for, I know in time, they will come.
So, even though at times I want them yesterday, I am waiting…(and praying for patience when I feel impatient!)… and looking forward to tomorrow…and the day after. Each day is its own blessing though, and one day will bring my prayer.
Until then, I am thankful for “mybellaviews.” 
Disregard for Life
“Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13
I truly hate we are living in a time when many people have reached a point in their existence of easily ending the life of others. How is it so many persons don’t care that they violently omit someone else’s life, or attack and maim them and apparently shrug it off? I don’t understand it, will never understand it. Profound callousness. But where did it come from? How are we suddenly so saturated with it? Has it always been this way and now the media just thrusts it into our knowledge more blatantly? I don’t think so. I think this apparent easy snuffing of lives is a deterioration of the “modern” world.
How did this happen? I am not sure how we have arrived here at the point where there is so little regard for life. Are these thugs, terrorists, gang members so calloused they don’t care even if their own family, friends or even acquaintances are casually killed? Are they horrified when a bullet rips into the flesh of another and blood explodes from the wound? Are they capable of caring? Do they weep at losing a loved one? Do they weep for anything?
How is it that lives are so trash-able to these…I am not sure what to even call these persons who do these acts? Even animals kill to eat; they don’t kill just to kill with no regard. They hunt, attack, kill and feed themselves and their families. We are supposed to be the supreme animal. Of what awful species, then?
‘Bang, bang, I shot you down.’ Now a song, written in 1966, but I remember when it was a saying when we played cops and robbers, or cowboys and Indians. No intent to do another harm, only to win a game. The intent was just to reach “safety,” the corner of the house or tree where you counted when the “search” began for the ‘bad’ guys. But these were your neighborhood buddies, family, kids who were just like you: out enjoying the fresh air and the freedom to pump their legs in a good run, be healthy and have fun.
But now, the play is with real guns shooting real bullets, and machine weapons that should be only used by the police and military. They should not be in neighborhoods and available with any kind of ease.
How have so many students become so depressed, so entitled to feel they can cut down and annihilate others and then themselves?
There is no respect in blatantly driving around, aiming a gun and maiming or killing innocents; or strapping a bomb on oneself or another and convincing them it is a heroic deed to kill as many others with yourself as possible. That is total disregard. And those who do that have no respect for anything, I don’t think. You have to honor and respect life before you can regard it as important. There will never be a way any of these…persons…can convince me that there is a reason or just cause for the blatant murder of others.
I am a nurse, and I believe that since we all die, it should not always be a horrific affair. There is a time for medical heroics, and a time to hold a hand of a person and the loved ones who are left grieving the loss of that him/her. No place in my mind or heart can acknowledge that life is not important, and does not deserve respect. It does. Always.
I will never respect the viewpoint that there is. Just to pull a weapon and hurt/maim/kill another is not in any way justifiable.
I have no idea how we have gotten here…but I wish we could put it in reverse.
God teaches love, not random killing.
Just saying….one of “mybellaviews.”
A Spring poem 
Flowers spring forth and birds sing; Winter fades, days are longer
This is the glorious Spring, When all feels new and stronger
Birds chirp, and hummingbirds flit Here and there, and everywhere
Blue skies above, here I sit Breathing deeply the Spring air.
Enjoying the bursts of color As they sprout from trees and ground.
Spring smiles with rebirth galore; Green grass and flowers abound
Happy Spring 
It’s Spring, it’s Spring, let my heart sing! Thank you, God for earth’s rebirth
Here come the plants, the trees budding; All is new in the Spring on earth.
It happens each year Spring renews. I sit out and let it all seep in
Blue skies, sun, warmth and comforting views, I know God has washed away all sin
It is the time of rebirth, Birds excitedly chirping,
Green leaves poking up and forth, More colors yet still lurking.
Crocuses, narcissus and more, Daffodils and azaleas burst
All these colors I just adore, I smile as I quench their thirst.
The warmth of spring kisses my face, The sun shines longer each day
So thankful, I enjoy this place, Longer days, we’re into May
Thank You, God that I live here, There’s four seasons which come and go
But winter’s short here, spring’s near….I’ll just watch the coming show.
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!