This week, Amy is taking a view of Now and Then for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. These pictures are not that great but they help to illustrate my take on the theme. I have to confess, I was feeling rather blue yesterday at the thought of spending Thanksgiving Day on our own. Despite a Zoom meeting with the family in the morning, which just isn’t the same as actually being with them all, I was positively down in the dumps and, just about when we would normally be sitting down to dinner, I had a bit of a cry.

Then I looked out of the window. There, in the garden, were no less than fourteen mourning doves, all sitting comfortably outside the kitchen, waiting to be fed. It was just the number that would have been gathered around our table. What are the odds!! I’ve never seen that many doves at one time before and it lifted my spirits more than I can say.


What a perfect sign that we are not alone on this Earth…the family of Nature is quite large and accessible!
The significance of the number didn’t strike me until the next day when I looked at the picture of the table setting. It did seem like more than a coincidence.
Seeing these many doves is so very comforting. Thank you for shairng this special moment with us. 🙂
Thank you for the challenge, Amy.
Excellent!
Thank you, John!
A serendipitous happening – the doves brought you the much needed family love that was missing. Very pleased that they lifted your spirits.
Thank you, Marianne. I hadn’t planned on posting for this challenge. To be honest, I was rather weary of making comparisons between how things were before the pandemic and how miserable they are now, but the moment seemed too good to pass up. And just like family, some of them came back the next day to finish off the left-overs!
I am sorry about your lonely time.
Thanks, Tom. There are moments when the full impact of being in a form of semi-quarantine gets to us and especially at times like this when we would all normally be getting together. I don’t expect Christmas to be much different but with the promise of a reliable vaccine on the way, hopefully things will be better in 2021.
I am hoping that our government can manage the rollout of the vaccines well. They haven;’t inspired much confidence with test and trace so far.
Awwww, that’s so sweet Sue – Thanksgiving was indeed unusual this year. I reminded myself that really it’s just another day and there will be many TG reunions to come if we are following the rules for this one. Now Christmas….THAT will be my challenge for sure.
Thanks, Tina! Yes, I agree, Christmas will be a challenge. As much as I enjoy seeing the family on these Zoom meetings, it’s just not the same.
Sometimes a good cry 😢 is what is needed to find mental space to be 🙏 thankful.
Thanks for stopping by, Khurt. I agree, sometimes it’s good to let your emotions out.
This year is unusual in so many ways. I am glad you were able to have zoom meeting and feed those birds. Take care Sue.
Thanks, Rupali. It has certainly taught me to be thankful for even the smallest blessings this year.