​Alex was a Shepherd and Mastiff mixed breed dog that was picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer in Georgia on February 13, 2019. He was reunited with his owner on February 18, 2019!

“Carmine” was a Shar Pei mixed breed dog surrendered by her owner to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on February 12, 2019. She was rescued by Washington Wilkes DAWGS rescue on February 16, 2019!

​“Rio” was a playful pittie puppy picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer in Georgia on February 12, 2019. She was rescued by Washington Wilkes DAWGS rescue on 2/18/19!

Thursday, 8:59 AM - There are days I walk into the animal shelter and just get so despondent seeing pitbull after pitbull in kennel after kennel. All the other breeds tend to get quicker interest and are rescued almost right away. But the poor pitbulls have less hope of rescue, and even less hope of being claimed.

When there is so many of a particular breed, it can be hard to get them noticed. But one stood out to me this morning because of her sweet, submissive eyes and her pretty white coat. “Sherry” was picked up by a Walton County Animal Control officer on February 6, 2019 and time allowed for “glamour photo” the following day.

Sherry’s soft and gentle nature really showed through in her photograph: deep brown eyes, her chain at rest on the pine needes, and her tail gently padding in the background.  How could someone resist? 

Thank God she attracted the attention of Athens Canine Rescue! A foster came to the shelter, tested how Sherry would get along with their other foster dog, and ended up taking her in on February 11, 2019. Sherry’s rescue was sponsored by pledged donations to Athens Canine Rescue from Barbara, Anne and Lorraine. 

What do you do when life has you down? Pray and go birding! When your job is stretching your stamina to the breaking point? Pray and go birding! When you need to relax and shake off the nerves? Pray and go birding! When the next little thing will tip your headache to a migraine? Pray and go birding!

There is no need for a scientific study to tell me that getting outdoors is a way to reduce stress. There is no need to write a paper about how getting away from a ringing phone will calm my nerves; how unplugging from email and social media will lower my blood pressure; how fresh air will clear my lungs and refresh my mind. I don’t need a scientific study because I know first-hand!

There isn’t a need for the Mayo Clinic to tell me the supernatural benefits of prayer. There is no need for them to post a blog telling me that having a purpose in life reduces depression; that prayer and meditation produces actual physical benefits to my brain; that focusing outside myself can alleviate worry and fear. I don’t need that blog because I know first-hand!

Try it sometime. Stop reading this blog, close your browser, push back the chair and walk out the door. Talk to God; cast your concerns at His feet; enjoy this world that He created. You just might get addicted. I know because I go there every day. So, pray and go birding! 

Thank God its Friday! It is a bright and sunny day, but a very chilly 24°! This is my first birding walk with a brand new pair of Zeiss conquest HD binoculars that I ordered from Redstart Birding. 

To save some wear and tear on my camera, I recently decided to purchase my first pair of binoculars for my routine bird listing. My camera could stay safe on rainy or drizzly days. Being thoroughly entertained by Bill and Ben on the Out There With the Birds podcast, I wanted to purchase from their company, Redstart Birding.

I watched the great videos on their website and somewhat narrowed down a choice. I emailed and immediately received a response from “the LeBron James of Birding Optics”, recommending the Zeiss Conquest HD 10x42. How could he be wrong?

The first time I put these new specs up to me eyes I was blown away. Compared to a 600mm camera lens, the field of view was incredible. I could actually move my eyes around in the frame and see more than through that telephoto lens. And I suppose since I was looking with two eyes, rather than squinting through just one, everything looked so clear and less flat. Even backlit birds had more detail than through the camera lens.

It was a new, awe inspiring experience. But I quickly found one problem. When I spotted two pair of gorgeous Wood Ducks on the pond, I quickly realized there was no shutter release button on the binoculars to take a photograph! I guess you have to rob Peter to pay Paul, or something like that.
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What a great purchase experience with Redstart Birding and a privilege to email chat with Ben. Praying Bill gets well soon!