Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Two Special Blessings!


I finally figured out how to use my camera, now I have to learn how to take better pictures and how to post them correctly. So this is a test, to see how these turn out. The first picture is of a white squirrel that appeared around here this summer. At first, I thought I was seeing a mirage. But then the mirage moved! He is quite large, and the gray squirrels seem to think he is just like them, for they get along quite well. But he is different; he is my special gift from Nature!

White squirrels are very rare in our area. In fact, The Conservation Department told me this is the first time they have ever heard of one. The picture could be much better, and I have several others that could be better as well, but I'm hoping I will improve, as I get more acquainted with my new camera. The white squirrel isn't as bold as the gray squirrels. He is very cautious, and runs up an oak tree as soon as I try to get a little closer. But he has to be cautious, his color makes him more vulnerable to predators. Seeing him every morning fills me with joy!


The second picture is of Dottie, the doe. I have known Dottie for almost 5 years now. The first time she appeared in my field, she looked like she was going to die on the spot. A walking skeleton, with a lump on the side of her face, followed by a tiny fawn! It broke my heart to see a deer looking like that. Do you see the lump? It's quite visible. I have cared for her as well as I could, at first feeding her soft things like whole grain bread. It took a while, but she began to gain weight, and is now a healthy looking girl, each spring proudly bringing along her newest fawn to show me. I don't know what the lump is, but she has lived with it all this time, and seems to be healthy and well these days. Dottie's presence puts joy in my heart as well. In fact, both of these animals are my very special blessing!

Now that I am able to use my camera, I'll be posting more and more pictures. I hope you have enjoyed the first two.

30 comments:

Jmkdreak said...

Very nice photo's to add to your wonderful blog! Your words are beautiful enough without them, but I'm glad you're figuring out your camera. The white squirrel is a gift, glad you could share that with everyone. The doe must like the bread and corn, it seems to have helped her out a lot.

xox

Renie Burghardt said...

Thank you, sweetie! Yes, the white squirrel is a gift, and I'm privilidged to have her/him around. Wait until you see her next month! And I can't wait to see you.

xoxo

Michele said...

Hi Renie,

Love the photos and the story! I can't say that I've ever seen a white squirrel, so this is a treat!

You've done a fine job with your camera and your writing. Thanks so much for sharing ;0)

I'm curious about Dottie's lump but I guess she's making out alright.

Smiles,
Michele

Anonymous said...

You took wonderful pictures! Your white squirrel reminded me of an albino deer which was a regular visitor to our backyard when I was growing up. Thank you for sharing your "two special blessings!"

Renie Burghardt said...

Michele,

I have read that deer can get tumors just as people can. But she seems fine these days, even with the lump. When she first appeared in my field, she looked like she was at deaths door. I have some old pictures of her, so thin all her ribs stuck out, and she could barely walk. And yet, she had given birth to a fawn, who followed her. And I heard that "they" would have just shot her, she was in such bad shape. That's why I decided to try and help her. I'm glad I did.

Thanks for your always nice comments. It's greatly appreciated,

Renie

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Cynthia!

I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. We had an albino doe a few years ago as well, but someone actually shot her. And by the way, albino doe's are more common than white squirrels, although, of course, they are rare too. The Conservation Department told me that.

Thanks so much for visiting! Hope you visit again.

Blessings,

Renie

Anonymous said...

beautiful pictures, renie. i can see the lump on dottie's face. you're an angel to dottie to have saved her life. bless you...

Renie Burghardt said...

Pia,

How nice to see you here again. Thank you for the nice comment. Dottie is one of God's beautiful creatures, and I was so happy when she began responding to my help. She looks great these days, and I'm thankful for that.

Have a blessed day as well!

Renie

Deborah Wilson said...

Renie,

This is a treat, I've never seen a white squirrel before! Maybe the lump on Dottie's face isn't a tumor at all but only a birth defect.

I'm glad that you are getting your camera going, I'm sure we'll be seeing lot's of good pics on your blog! O how I wish I lived in the country!

Renie Burghardt said...

Deborah,

I have only heard of colonies of white squirrels before, I think in Illinois and somewhere in North Carolina. In Ohio, where I lived previously, there was a colony of pure black squirrels. So it is a treat for me to have this white squirrel here.

I'm happy I figured out how to upload the pictures from my camera to my pc. I'm looking forward to taking lots of pictures.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day!

Renie

Mary said...

Renie,

I have never seen a white squirrel, although I know there can be albinos in all species. From your post, I'm thinking that the white squirrel is not an albino, but a species. Am I correct?

I can see the lump on the doe. She is beautiful and I'm glad you saved her by feeding her. You are definitely blessed by visits from all of your animals.

The photos are great. You are doing a good job with the camera and I look forward to seeing more photos.

Blessings,
Mary

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Mary,

I don't think this squirrel is an albino, but the only way I'd know for certain is to see if it has red eyes. I can't get that close to it though. Which is good. He is very cautious, and he should be. The Game Warden recently told me it's probably just a freak of nature, or just a very light version of the gray squirrel. But it is very rare for around here, he also said.

Mary, Dottie was totally starved when I first saw her. She could barely walk, she was so thin and emiciated, and on top of it, she had given birth to a tiny fawn. I was told that they would most likely shoot her, to put her out of her misery, so I gave it my best shot to try and save her, and I did. I am glad that I did. She comes to visit every day, and seems to be doing wonderfully well now, thank the Lord!

Thank you for visiting, Mary. We've been having rain around here for a few days now, although today it is light rain. Hope the sun is shining your way.

Have a blessed day and week.

Renie

audrey` said...

Dearest Renie

Hi my Friend =)
Wow! Two pets given by God.
So cute and special.

You're an angel to both of them.

Take care.

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Audrey,

It is always so cheery to see you here. Thank you, my friend. Yes, two very special "pets" I'm thankful for. And i'm thankful for the nice blogging friends who stop by here as well.

Blessings,

Renie

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

What a thrill to see a white squirrel. They are very rare although in some communities they are quite numerous http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/squirrels.html

North of where I live in Ontario, there are several white moose, which are now protected against hunters.

The whilte bison has great spiritual significance to the native Americans.

The best of all are the white black bears in British Columbia, "the Spirit bears", who existence has lead to preserving a signigicant temperate rain forest.

Renie Burghardt said...

I'm glad the white moose are protected. And I know the white bison has a great significance to native Americans. But I didn't know about white black bears, or spirit bears. I'm glad their existence has led to preserving a significant temperate rain forest.

Yes, there are a couple of colonies of white squirrels, one in Olney, Illinois, I believe, another somewhere in North Carolina, I believe. They are almost unheard of in the Ozarks, I've been told. I was amazed to discover I had one here back in June and I see it every day since then.

Thanks for an interesting comment, Philip. Take care.

Renie

Susie said...

Your words alone are truly a delight to read Renie, but the pictures add a special touch!
I've never seen a white squirrel!
I agree that the doe looks like she may have some sort of tumor on her face. How wonderful that you've helped her regain some of her health.
((hugs))

Renie Burghardt said...

Susie,

It's a pleasure to have you visit again. I hope your grandfather is doing better. Thank you for your very kind words. You've made my day!

Hugs,

Renie

Mountain Mama said...

I wonder if the doe has a tumor of some sort? It's great that you can enjoy her and her babies.
I have never seen a white squirrel. We have lots of gray and tan ones, and are now seeing some shiny coal black ones. I don't have any idea where they came from but never saw them when I was a girl.

Renie Burghardt said...

Mountain Mama,

The gray and red squirrels are the usual colors here as well. I have seen black squirrels several years ago, and they are so cute, but not around here.

Thank you for commenting. I hope everything is going wonderfully well in your beautiful mountain world.

Renie

Merle said...

Dear Renie ~~ Congratulations
on your first photos ~ they are both great and your story about each of them made this a really nice post ~ thank you.
Thank you also for your comments about my flowers and jokes etc. Glad you enjoy.
Thanks for your nice words my
friend. Take care, Love, Merle.

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Merle,

Always a pleasure to see your smiling face and read your nice comment. Thank you for visiting.

Warmest regards,

Renie

Greatfullivin said...

Hi Renie,
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am so glad you liked it. We post what we are thankful for each day, I hope you will come back. I think your pictures are really nice. I too, am a kepper of wild animals, not lucky enough to have a white squirrel though. I will be stopping by again! ( you really should do Thursday Thirteen) it does increase your traffic! Have a Great Day!

Leann said...

Oh so blessed you are.when hubby and I were still together we found 9 white sqirrals in our town.yes 9 I was surrpised to.cause had never seen one let alone 9.but I have pictures of them all.they are in diffrent parts of town.they are all just alittle diffrent.some more white then others.we seen them alot one summer and fall,and for a little while in the winter.but for over a year now I havent seen them.

your deer has a growth that could be a tooth problem or growths deer get my uncle had one that came to his place who had a growth like it.she lived along time.just pray for her.God loves his creation and he does heal yet.he healed me of cancer so a bump on a deer is easy.

have a great day and lovely week.love the pictures keep up the good work.

Karen H. said...

Hi Renie,
I want to "Thank You" for stopping by my blogsite. It is nice to meet you. Well, since you are not that far from me, maybe someday, you and Diane and me, could maybe meet in Jonesboro and have lunch. That would be really nice.
I am also new to the blogworld. I started blogging last month. I am not computer literate, so I have alot to learn and to figure out. It's gonna take me a good long while to do that.
I have never seen a white squirrel either. It is so wonderful that you helped that deer. What part of the Ozarks do you live in if you don't mind me asking?
Well, guess I'll go for now. Just want to stop by and "Thank You" again for dropping by and hope that you will come back again.

Take care my friend,
Karen H.

Renie Burghardt said...

Grateful Living,

Hi, and thank you for stopping by as well. I loved your blog, and will do the Thursday Thirteen soon. I love animals, and feel so blessed to have them around me. I will be visiting again.

Best wishes,

Renie








Leann,

I'm always happy to see you here. Wow, 9 white squirrels? That's amazing. I'm fortunate to have one around here. Well, as you can see, my little white squirrel is more of a creamy white on its body, but it does have a snow white tail.

You know, I thought already that the lump on Dottie's face might be tooth related, but I don't know. She has had that lump in the five years she has been coming around, and is doing very well now, even though the lump has not gone away. In fact, I just came inside having just given her something to eat. She is around here a lot, and sleeps in the woods just beyond the house. And yes, I am blessed to have her. The Good Lord is watching out for her.

Thank you for commenting, my friend. I'm always happy to see you.

God bless you, Leann!

Renie






Hi Karen,

Nice to meet you as well. I am over on the Missouri side, but right on the Arkansas border. I'm outside of a small rural town.

Perhaps one day we could meet for lunch. I appreciate you stopping by, and hope you visit again. I will come and visit your blog again, too. Have a wonderful day!

Renie

Michele said...

Hi again, Renie! If you're up for some fun, feel free to check out my latest post:

http://writingthecyberhighway.
blogspot.com/2007/10/crazy-8s-
meme.html

This is only if you have time to participate ;0)

Smiles,
Michele

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Michele,

I will probably do the crazy 8's early next week, if you don't mind. Got to get a special blog up sometime today, plus I have to go out this morning, rain or not!

Thank you for tagging me!

Have a great day. I hear the rain will be moving out of here finally. I long for some sunshine after so much dreary weather.

Renie

Renie

2 LMZ FARMS said...

Really enjoyed the pictures. I just know that you are enjoying your camera. Hope you and yours have a blessed day.
Laura

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Laura,

Thanks so much for your kind words and visit. I always enjoy visiting 2lmz farms. Have a blessed weekend, with a pnone call from the loved one you are always waiting to hear from.

Renie