Owls, Hummingbirds, and Fireflies

So there are a few things out there in the world that I always seem to be searching for, and it happens to be non-jewelry related. (It's my blog, so I can talk about whatever I want, right?)

A few months ago, my mom and I were in the Highlands, NC driving down a back road when an owl flew past our windshield. It was the largest wingspan I'd ever seen! It was so regal! So we stopped, and I rolled down the window to take a picture of this beautiful animal. It was like he was posing for me. I've always searched for owls ever since I could remember. My Nana collected them, and we were always looking for owl collectables for my Chi Omega sisters until I became a Chi O myself. After that, I just got hand-me-down owls. But this owl experience is all mine. (I must add, and so is my witness of a full grown black bear about 5 yards from me in that same trip. I wasn't in a stable enough state to snap a picture.)

Now a few weeks ago, Andrew and I went with some of his family to his cousin, Paul's farm. The boys did "man stuff" (it's so funny how Southern men love land) and I hung out with Paul's wife, Lauren, and talked all things jewelry. The times I did go outside, I was so fascinated with the hummingbirds. There were probably 30 hummingbirds on the front porch! I've come to search around for them after seeing a few at Andrew's parents house. (They seem to like the back porch flowers in Auburn.) I love God's beautiful design in birds. The form is so pretty. Andrew took some of these pics, and we both commented on how amazing God is to design such an animal where it is nearly impossible to capture through photography. We took a video, the humming is almost like music. Hopefully, I'll learn how to post video's soon.

There's one last thing that I search for: fireflies. (Not the liquor, but I do enjoy the occassional firefly sweet tea vodka.) I'm talking about the real ones; lightening bugs. I've seen some around in the mountains, but I never saw any growing up. I thought they were like mermaids or unicorns. I thought they were part of a fairy tale until I saw one for the first time in Chattanooga, TN in 2005. I've been told that south Louisiana doesn't have them any more because of the chemicals the farmer's use to preserve the sugar cane.

Andrew told me the cutest story when he was growing up in Auburn, AL where they had real fireflies! His mom would allow the kids to catch the bugs and put them in mason jars. So as soon as they caught them, she'd let the kids go to bed where they could use the bugs as a night light. Clever! I sure hope I have lightening bugs around when I have kids.

"I sing for JOY at the works of Your hands." Psalm 92:4