Just a walkin'...

Faith and I took a spontaneous walk around the block yesterday. The last time we tried to do this, we were scared back home by a very territorial pit bull who was off leash, barking, and headed our way. That day, we got home safely and I called animal control. Not fun, and enough of a scare to keep me from taking her walking again until yesterday.

Well, it was pretty fun! She is getting so big and is really starting to participate in life more as a kid than a baby or toddler. As challenging as this age (2 years) can be, I am also finding lots of joy in our time together. Before we even got to the end of the street, we found a fabulous Japanese Maple tree that was shedding the most gorgeous red leaves that I have seen this fall. They were so delicate and beautiful, we stopped to collect some! Then, we trekked on around the block, admiring the looming mountains above our neighborhood shrouded in low hanging clouds, giving them a mysterious, alluring air. (I guess I should've taken pictures of both the leaves and the mountains, huh???)

Well, then we hurried on around the block, as a man was using a chain saw in his yard, and Faith is definitely not fond of loud noises (her father is like this too). And as we turned back onto our street, I spotted this on a low branch:

What a find! We pulled the branch down to get a closer look, and it was the most perfect little round bird's nest you ever saw! (I usually detest the word "perfect," but often find that God seems to reveal His perfection rather often in nature.) Faith and I admired it thoroughly before heading for home and a nap. And I was satisfied that we were able to have three encounters with breathtaking, surprising nature all within a block from our home!