Whew, this week went by fast! It took me up until yesterday to remember I had to post today. It's tough when that happens. Anyway, here are some photographs I took that I hope will make up for the lack of words. Enjoy! I hope you enjoyed! Which one was your favorite? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.
Do you have a nature photo to share with me? If so, please send it to [email protected], to win a chance to have a post with your photo and your story on this blog! What to include in your email: Your nature photo Your first and last name A short summary of you Optional: The link to your blog Optional: A small picture of you Don't be afraid to send your photograph. Remember, anyone can snap a photo even just using a camera on a phone. I would love to see your favorite nature shot, so please send it over!
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Here in New England, many leaves have turned beautifully crimson and gold. The temperature is crisp, and many birds have begun to gather for their long trip down south.
Although it may seem like a season to cuddle up by the fire in your warm house, Autumn is a wonderful time for you to go outside and enjoy nature. How, you ask? Here are five powerful ways to enjoy nature in autumn: 1. Take a walk. Even if you live in the city, simply getting outside will bring you closer to nature. All you have to do is grab a hot cup of coffee, a camera (even on your phone), and step outside. Maybe find a local trail through the woods, or even take a short hike. As long as you are close to God’s creation, you will find something to enjoy. 2. Smell. Go outside and smell. Smell the leaves. Smell the treas. Try to find ten smells that make you think of autumn. 3. Take a drive. Get in the car, stop by Starbucks, and drive. As you drive, try to notice the brilliant colors in the trees by the road. Of course, pay attention to the road as well! 4. Decorate your house with autumn items. Go outside and try to find anything you would like to put in your house. Maybe some fall flowers, or some colorful leaves. If you can’t find anything around your house, go to the store and get some pumpkins, pine cones, or anything festive that catches your eye. 5. Get out your sketchbook. Even if you simply aren’t talented with art, give it another go. Grab a pencil and some watercolors and get outside. Try to find a tree with brilliantly colored leaves that you feel like you could sketch. Ready? Set? Go! Just draw what you see, not what you think you should see. Don’t draw a tree, draw the shapes in front of you. If you aren’t happy with the result, don’t be discouraged. Remember, your sketch doesn’t have to be perfect, just do your best and have fun with it! Of you practice these five things, you will find yourself enjoying these months of autumn, even if the weather isn’t ideal. I would love to hear what you think! Do you have anything you like to do in autumn that brings you closer to nature? Please share in the comments below. Have you ever wondered why leaves start falling in autumn? What about why some very green trees don’t lose any leaves at all? These are very good questions that many people never take the time to answer. You know that little saying, “Ignorance is bliss?” I don’t agree. So, let’s get going. When the days start getting shorter and the leaves get less daylight, the tree triggers a process which slowly sucks the nutrients from the leaf, which kills it, forcing it to fall from the tree. This process is called abscission. This is also the reason why leaves change color. The first thing that the tree absorbs is the leaf’s chlorophyll, which is what makes it green. The leaf then changes its color to yellow, orange, red, and/or brown. To dig deeper, here are five reasons why leaves fall in autumn: 1. To Survive Harsh Weather ConditionsDuring the freezing moths of winter, all the leaves on the trees would freeze and die, which would damage the tree. Instead of simply dying, the leaf gives all of its remaining nutrients the its tree, then glides to the ground, where it will decompose, fertilizing the tree. 2. Helps Pollenate in the SpringIn the spring when all the trees are releasing their pollen, leaves would simply get in the way. With the leaves gone, however, the pollen can easily glide through the air unhindered, thus covering much more ground. 3. Keeps Weight Under Control in the WinterDuring the winter, the leaves would act as a net, catching all the snow that falls. This would cause much damage and many more trees to collapse during the cold, snowy months. 4. Gives them a Fresh StartWith all the old leaves gone, there is space for new leaves to emerge. Leaves are usually very damaged and diseased after autumn, but with them gone, there is room for fresh, new, green leaves to appear. 5. Conserves Energy for the Spring After the tree loses all of its leaves, it becomes dormant during the cold months. With its leaves, however, this couldn’t happen, and the tree would lose energy all winter. But instead, it goes to “sleep” in a way, conserving energy for the spring to come. What about those trees that don't lose their leaves? There are types of trees that lose their leaves, and those that don’t. Deciduous trees are the ones that lose their leaves, and evergreen trees are the ones that don’t. Here is a list of common types of trees in these categories:
Evergreen trees do not need to lose their leaves because they are coated in wax which protects them from the cold. Also, most evergreen leaves don’t hold as much snow, which is why they don’t collapse much in the winter. The reason God created these leaves coated in protective wax and not every tree’s leaves is a mystery. Your homework:Take a look outside. See any trees? Can you tell if it’s a deciduous tree, or an evergreen? Take some time and try to find at least one of each. Maybe you can identify the trees you find? I would love to hear what you found in the comments below. Why do you speak? And why doesn’t your dog? When did language start? These are all great questions to ask. Language fascinates me. I find it incredibly beautiful, useful, and sometimes confusing, but I love it. I have always liked it. Recently, however, something struck me that made my appreciation for it spike. I was awed. Let me share with you this powerful realization that brought out my love of language. Language is UniqueHere are some reasons why language is unique:
Language is Beautiful Here are some reasons why language is beautiful:
The Purposes of Language Why did God give us language? There are so many reasons, I couldn’t possibly list them all. Also, there are probably reasons for language that we don’t even know. Only God knows. However, here are some that I collected for you.
Language is a remarkable thing that has been around for all time and will last for all eternity. This great gift to human kind is a blazing reflection of God’s love for his children. I hope you have learned as I have to appreciate this priceless present God has given to us. Do you have anything about language to share that I may have missed? Please leave a comment below. I'd love to hear what you think! |
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