Bird of the Week - The Black Phoebe

I looked out my kitchen window this morning and was treated to the site of an old friend, a little Black Phoebe.

Last year a little one would sit on a stake outside my kitchen window. It would quickly fly off only to return just as quickly. I remembered how he was out there in the same spot wagging his tail and dancing his little dance while waiting eagerly for the next insect to fly by.

The site of him also reminded me that I had started to study a bird a week last year. This has inspired me to endeavor to do so again starting with this species.
The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is distinctive tyrant flycatchers native to western North America, ranging from southwestern Oregon and California to west Texas and northern Mexico.
The Black Phoebe reaches a length of 5.75 in (14.6 cm), and unlike other phoebes, has highly contrasting plumage, dark brown or black on the head, breast, back, wings, and tail, and white on the underbelly and under the wings. This species also spends more time along streams and ponds than the other phoebe species, and is not migratory but stays in its range year-round. Like other phoebes, it continually wags its tail when perched and "sallies," waiting on an open perch such as a branch or fence post, flying out to catch an insect, and then returning to the same perch.

Silhouette of Fly Catchers:
Family: Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers
Voice: Song is a thin, buzzy pi-tsee, usually repeated. Call is a sharp, down-slurred chip.
Nesting: 3-6 white eggs, with a few faint speckles laid in a mud, moss, and grass nest lined with soft material, often using feathers or cow hair, built under a bridge, on a sheltered ledge, in a crevice in an old building, or among hanging roots near the top of an embankment close to water.

Some helpful hyperlinks to learn more about Black Phoebes:

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

eNature

Wikipedia

Have an Inspiring Indigo day!

Sagacious Indigo Saturday - Arapaho

Today I will share an Arapaho Proverb:

If we wonder often,
the gift of Knowledge will come.

(Unless you're a cat. You could wonder all you want, but you would still be a cat)

May your Indigo Saturday filled peace and relaxation.

Kathleen

Welcome to an Indigo Sagacious Saturday!

This Sagacious Indigo Saturday I have chosen the ancient Shawnee proverb, "Show respect to all men, but grovel to none."
A plethora of birds are singing their soul touching melodies outside my window bringing the soothing, restful Indigo colour deep into my day.

It has been nurturing to my soul to embrace the individual colours into each day of my week. I find that I look forward to the morn of the new day with a new awareness that I can hopefully share with the ones I love. It has helped me to take a fresh look at this gift of life we have so generously been given by our Creator. I feel that I am developing a better appreciation not only of those gifts but also for the sacrifice of his only begotten son so that we might have a chance at everlasting life.

I truly hope that this awareness can help shape me into a person more capable of teaching my grandson.

Ah, I can hear a hen heralding the egg she has just laid.

Kathleen

An Indigo Sagacious Saturday- A Restful Day

It's an Indigo Sagacious Saturday!
If you have been following my "Colour your week" you know today is an Indigo restful day. A day for creativity and to renew and recenter yourself.
Although my allergies are manking my life unpleasant at the moment I thought if I opened the windows and doors...... ahhhhhhh yes!
The sounds of several species of birds floats gently on the cool breeze.
(Along with the occasional crow of my rooster.)
I can close my eyes and breathe slowly, meditating on the many gifts I have been given by God.
This is a quiet reflective moment, that recharges and centers me to help me deal with the burdens of life.
The evidence of God is all around us. How can anyone look at the wonders of this earth and believe in evolution?
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My sagacious Native American Indian proverb of the week is:
"Talk to your children while they are eating; what you say will stay even after you are gone"
Nez Pierce Indian

It reminds me of a scripture inspired by the wisest of them all, our Creator:
Deuteronomy 6:6, 7 “These words that I am commanding you today must prove to be on your heart; and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.”
It is closely related to this one.
Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a boy according to the way for him; even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it."
Kathleen

Sat is Indigo Day

Sagacious Saturday:
"The Soul would have no Rainbow if the Eyes had no Tears." a Native American Proverb.
I shared this proverb on my Erdkinder Blog today too.
It touched me.

Saturday is an Indigo day.
A day to relax, create, center oneself.
Indigo is the colour of infinity. Used for healing, sleep, inner harmony and rest.
Indigo relates to self responsibility, for one's own life; responsibility to oneself.
Indigo is related to being highly intelligent, gifted/talented, creative, intuitive, associated with a strong self esteem and sense of belonging in the world.

How the colour indigo affects us mentally and physically:
* Creative
* Restful
* Aids in responsibility

Happy Saturday
Kathleen

Colours and Activities of the Day

I mentioned that I wanted to bring an order or theme to my blog. I have worked and tweaked on a pattern to follow and think I have come up with something that will work.

Munchie Monday:
Let's start the week off with a Healthy Delicious Snack that is also a great interactive between parent and child. The recipes I will be sharing will be from the "Kinder-Krunchies Healthy Snack Recipes for Children" book that I have had forever. It was written by Karen Jenkins.
There are enough recipes in it to share with this blog for at least a year.
Let your little one do as much of the work as he or she is capable of. Remember that the more they do for themselves the more they will learn. This includes clean as you go and final clean up. Children are actually much more capable than we give them credit for.

Monday is a RED day.
I think that is a good choice for a Mon.
Red has more personal associations than any other colour. Recognized as a stimulant, red is inherently exciting.
What a great colour to begin the week with!

How the colour red affects us mentally and physically:
* Increases enthusiasm
* Stimulates energy
* Encourages action and confidence
* A sense of protection from fears and anxiety
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Daring Tuesday:
I will be referring to "The Dangerous Book for Boys" and "The Daring Book for Girls". Both books are filled with fun activities and information that has entertained children for centuries!

Tuesday is an Orange day.
Tuesday is still the beginning of the week, full of energy and joy.
Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow.
Orange embraces enthusiasm, encourages creativity, stimulates fascination, evokes determination, and is associated with success.

How the colour orange affects us mentally and physically:
* Stimulates activity
* Stimulates appetite
* Encourages socialization
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Rhythm Wednesday:
There is a wonderful book called "Seven Times the Sun" that helps you to guild your child through the rhythms of the day. There are many ideas that help you to show your child how to honor ordinary moments and bring balance, joy and harmony to your family!

Wednesday is a Yellow day.
Wednesday is the middle of the week still a time of joy and energy.
Yellow is the colour of sunshine. It's associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy.
Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy. Use yellow to evoke pleasant, cheerful feelings.

How the colour yellow affects us mentally and physically:
* Mentally stimulating
* Stimulates the nervous system
* Activates memory
* Encourages communication
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Home School Thursday:
Thurs are my homeschooling day with my grandson. Currently we are studying astronomy. We are in the final chapter before moving on to Earth Science.
I will refer to "Children at Play" for articles an information on fostering child development.

Thursday is a Green day.
By Thursday the week is calming down.
Green is the colour of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, and freshness.
Green has great healing power. It is the most restful colour for the human eye; it can improve vision. Green suggests stability and endurance.

How the colour green affects us mentally and physically:
* Soothing
* Relaxing mentally as well as physically
* Helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety
* Offers a sense of renewal, self-control and harmony
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Nurturing Friday:
I will pick a bird for the week and see what I can find out. My goal is to increase my own personal knowledge of birds and maybe yours as well.
I will refer to "Beyond the Rainbow Bridge" for articles and information on Nurturing our children from birth to seven.

Friday is a Blue day.
A perfect colour for Friday the last day of the work week.
Blue is the colour of the sky and sea. It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.
Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect. Blue is strongly associated with tranquility and calmness.

How the colour blue affects us mentally and physically:
* Calming and sedate
* Cooling
* Aids intuition
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Sagacious Saturday:
I have a book called Indian proverbs that I thought would be fun to share a proverb a week from.

Saturday is a Indigo day.
Saturday, a day to relax, create, center oneself.
Indigo is the colour of infinity. Used for healing, sleep, inner harmony and rest.
Indigo relates to self responsibility, for one's own life; responsibility to oneself.
Indigo is related to being highly intelligent, gifted/talented, creative, intuitive, associated with a strong self esteem and sense of belonging in the world.

How the colour indigo affects us mentally and physically:
* Creative
* Restful
* Aids in responsibility
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Environmental Sunday:
This is a wonderful day to reflect on this wonderful gift we have been given by our Creator, the Earth. Teaching our children how to take care of the environment and will help to set the tone for the coming week. I love the book "Earthways", Simple environmental activities for young children and will be sharing wonderful ideas I have found within its pages.

Sunday is a Purple day.
Sunday the last day of the weekend, the first day of the week.
Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, and mystery.
Purple embodies the balance of red simulation and blue calm. This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined at which point the purple takes on the characteristics of its undertone. A sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a colour often well liked by very creative or eccentric types.

How the colour purple affects us mentally and physically:
* Uplifting
* Calming to mind and nerves
* Offers a sense of spirituality
* Encourages creativity

I think this is going to be a beautiful way to guide my blog!
Colourful, and filled with the love and energy of children.

Kathleen