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Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 6:36 PM
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Tell it from the mountain

By Pauline Tom.


Remember the Mountain City Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. for ages 0 – 11.


•••


Two nice tidbits came as folks walked in to worship at Fellowship Church on Palm Sunday.



Kevin and Melissa Garraway had just seen an Indigo Bunting at their house on Maple, and they held in hand a smartphone video to show proof.  At first look, they thought, “Painted Bunting.”  With a glimpse, they realized the total blue.  It was an Indigo Bunting rather than a Blue Bunting because history shows only a few records for the entire state, none near Central Texas.





Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with bright orange bills can be seen roosting in trees each evening on Juniper. (Photo courtesy of Pauline Tom)


Eric and Rebecca Perucca both showed photos on their phones of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks with bright orange bills. As many as eight fly in to roost in their trees and their neighbors trees each evening on Juniper.


Eric described another bird species, with a predominant mask. He sees flying-in-treetops flocks. He’s seeing Cedar Waxwings.


The Stork was visiting The Perucca’s on Monday. Look for a stork tidbit next week.


The Garraways are also seeing Cedar Waxwing flocks and, overhead, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.


If you are not in the habit of reporting bird sightings to eBird.org, such habit will provide you with a permanent set of records, and your sightings will be shared with the world.


In like manner, recording details of any bird nesting through www.nestwatch.org, making updates about two times a week, will create a downloadable journal for you and place the data you collect into a searchable database. 


•••


What gorgeous bluebonnets nearby! After a trip along 290, travelling back from Houston last week, we saw the most beautiful displays of the day near 1626 and Kohler’s Crossing.  Those near Brenham were past peak.


During this Holy Week, with thoughts turned to the cross, I went back to saved back tidbits.  In mid-July 2009, the Max Lucado daily devotional quoted from his book, “He Chose the Nails.” 


The Clothing on the Cross


When Christ was nailed to the cross, he took off his robe of seamless perfection and assumed a different wardrobe, the wardrobe of indignity.
The indignity of nakedness. Stripped before his own mother and loved ones. Shamed before his family.


The indignity of failure. For a few pain-filled hours, the religious leaders were the victors, and Christ appeared the loser. Shamed before his accusers.


Worst of all, he wore the indignity of sin. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.” (I Peter 2:24, NIV) The clothing of Christ on the cross?  Sin – yours and mine. The sins of all humanity. 


Instantly, my thoughts rushed back to a sermon by B.O. Baker in the late ‘70s. That was the first time I heard that Jesus Christ hung naked on the cross.


Praise God, Sunday we celebrate the triumphant resurrection.


I invite you to celebrate the Resurrection at Fellowship Church. 8:30, 10:00, or 11:30.


And, I invite you to send tidbits, [email protected] (Subject: Tidbit) or (512) 268-5678.


Thanks! Love, Pauline


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