~ Birding Adventures! ~

~ Since moving to Wisconsin, we have taken several classic "birdie walks", as we like to call them, near and around where we live in Tomah.  Common sights are the American Robin (the state bird of Wisconsin), House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Rock Pigeons, and American Crows.  As fall turns the leaves to warm brittle colors that flee in the wind, branches stand out more, and actually make birds far more visible in the trees.  We've investigated a few parks around Tomah and West Salem (where our church is), but we've had our eyes on a certain birdie spot for a while.

Recently, Mama, Jeremy, Ben, and I finally made it out to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, and started exploring.  The visitor center was closed both times we came, but it looks amazing in there, and is something extra to look forward to.  Necedah NWR is much larger than Ridgefield NWR in Washington, where we often took the auto tour, looking for all our favorites, like Red-winged Blackbirds, Buffleheads, Double-crested Cormorants, and Pied-billed Grebes.  We can still see all of those here, though as of yet I don't have any of those four species on my new lists!  There's always something more to see when you go out looking for birds.  And, there's a lot of land to cover, whether driving or walking, around Necedah.  They have several nice boardwalks, free stationary spotting scopes you can use in key locations, and even an observation tower.

What I didn't anticipate seeing right away though was the beautiful white Whooping Cranes!  We have seen them both times we came to Neceda NWR, and now know where and how to point them out to people.  Work is being done to increase their population.  As stunning as these tall stately cranes are, it's still awesome to see the smaller gray Sandhill Cranes come gliding in over the ponds.  Both species of crane is quite noisy and have loud glugging calls that you can easily start to recognize, even when they are out of sight.  I don't have any good pictures of these birds, but Ben managed to get some with his phone on our last trip.

Some other fun birds we have seen are the Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, White-breasted Nuthatch, Trumpeter Swans, and Bald Eagles.  We even saw a gorgeous Northern Harrier swooping low and slow over a field looking for lunch.  I'm not so skilled taking pics through my binoculars with my new phone yet, so, sorry I don't have much in the way of great bird pics to share.  I guess you'll just have to put up with my usual rambling. 

The walks have been wonderful, and we enjoy seeing all the oaks, maples, and aspen trees, rich with color while it lasts.  I'm getting in my "photo safaris", and more walks with Mama and family, and I love it. 

I do miss the Douglas Firs and Steller's Jays of the PNW, and get homesick at times.  But, I'm also seeing there is so much here to enjoy as well, and new beauties of God's creation to discover.  I hope you get a chance to take a walk this week, and enjoy whatever weather this season of your life holds. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven :"

 

 

~ Fall Begins in Wisconsin ~

Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

~ Wow, 16 years later, and I'm finally reviving this blog.  I'll leave the older posts for your amusement, dear reader.  But, hey, I'm back!  I've missed sharing my thoughts and photos with family and friends, and I'm excited to start sharing them again here. 

Welcome to Ruthie's Journal! 

~ One year ago, I would not have seen myself enjoying the colors of fall right now here in Wisconsin.  Maybe if I thought we were just visiting family.  But, God had bigger plans.  We tried for months to find a new home locally in the Pacific Northwest, but couldn't find any place we could afford.  "We" being Mama (Meg), Jeremy, and I.  The Welches offered to share their home with us while we kept looking, and we and they prepared for that temporary move.  Then God gave us a totally unexpected open door opportunity to move to Wisconsin to live with Robert & Dana and family. 

We talked and prayed, and made a huge decision, desiring to follow God's leading.  

That was one week before we got on a plane and flew out here to Tomah, Wisconsin, on May 2nd, 2024. 

~ While the whole moving process took months from start to finish, and was crazy in the final days before flying out, and the stress on everyone involved was unreal... God kept us safe, and got us out here. We can't thank enough the family, friends, and neighbors who helped us with this move. From planning, and praying, to packing, to helping us move and even store our belongings, or helping us throw away 2.5 tons (a full moving truck) of clutter and furniture we decided not to take with us... To months later driving out the rest of our things, and helping us store them yet again... Just wow!

You all made such an incredible difference for each of us, and your prayers and sacrificial giving and kindness has been so very needed and appreciated, THANK YOU!!!  We love you all so very much!!

 

~ God is at work, as He always has been. I will be sharing more of our new journeys here in Wisconsin on this little bloggy-do-thingy, so follow along if you'd like!

But, really, we've been on the adventure of a lifetime with God all along our family's timeline. 

God is good, folks! He loves you, and goes with you, even when you can't possibly imagine what the next bend in the road, the next chapter of the story, the next unexpected adventure might look like for you and your family. If you know my Saviour, you have a Friend who will never leave your side, and He left Heaven one day to prove it.   

I hope you get to see some truly lovely Fall colors this year.  I will share more as we see more here.  I love you guys.  You are awesome!

 

    

She who writes again! ~ Ruthie