This Morning

Early this morning I took Sheba, my German Shepherd puppy, out to take care of her business. We pass the forsythia, blossoms a bit wilted from a spring freeze. We both stood, looking up. She, smelling the air, distracted by squirrels. Me, feeling the cold air, noticing an overlooked woodpecker hole in a tree, listening to the cardinals. We both are slow, quiet. Odd for both a puppy, but not for an aging woman. 

Eyes to See

Flowers opening timelapse from David de los Santos Gil on Vimeo.
read more about this:  http://www.diyphotography.net/9-months-50000-photos-mesmerizing-time-lapse-opening-flowers/

From that moment in elementary school when I watched my first time lapse film, I've been hooked on this type of viewing experience. It shows so much of life that is imperceptible to the naked eye. Of course that love has expanded to many other ways to view our universe, whether it is through a  microscope, telescope, or photo editing software. All of these give me an opportunity to view what seems hidden, mundane and refuses to let me take things in this life for granted. The wonder and beauty as the mystery is unveiled cause gratitude and moves us to worship

One of my favorites

Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“So I think I'd better go, said Wimsey. "I rather wish I hadn't come buttin' into this. Some things may be better left alone, don't you think? My sympathies are all in the wrong place and I don't like it. I know all about not doing evil tha good may come. I'ts doin' good that evil may come that is so embarrassin'."
"My dear boy," said the Rector, "it does not do for us to take too much thought for the morrow. It is better to follow the truth and leave the results in the hand of God. He can forsee where we cannot, because He knows all the facts.”

It was with this quote that I understood why Sayers designed such an "easy" mystery and places this book on my re-read list. I knew fairly early on the identity of the corpse, but continued reading to see why she would craft the story so and to see where she was taking me.  She took me to a community that cares for its own, and to the church that stands high on a hill, whose ringing bells bring joy, comfort, and alarm in times of need. This church provided shelter during a flood and ensuing tragedy which occurs when warnings are ignored. I hear clearly echoes of the Old Testament story of Noah. In all of this, by crafting several sub-plots, she asks me to consider that the ways of our Lord are indeed the mystery bringing both sorrow and joy, sometimes with a paradoxical comfort that comes from leaving "the results in the hand of God."  Masterly and subtly crafted, it is well worth re-reading.


View all my reviews

The King's Speech

This is one of my favorite movies. Well written, directed, and performed in every aspect, masterfully presenting the themes of perseverance and courage, friendship and loyalty, and trust and devotion we all need and can provide one another as we face our unique weaknesses and difficulties whatever our station in and era of life. 

Favorite quote:

King George VI: Listen to me. *Listen to me!*
Lionel Logue: Listen to you? By what right?
King George VI: By divine right if you must, I am your king.
Lionel Logue: No you're not, you told me so yourself. You didn't want it. Why should I waste my time listening?
King George VI: Because I have a right to be heard. I have a voice!
Lionel Logue: [pauses] Yes, you do.
[Longer pause]
Lionel Logue: You have such perseverance Bertie, you're the bravest man I know.

Images of winter

We have a snow day here and so I'm taking time to clear my camera's card. I wanted to share a few images of our winter here in the area. Currently we are snowed/iced in and waiting for, hopefully, another snow day. Slowing down and taking in the scenery is a good in and of itself. As always click on the photo for a larger view.

Charlotte's Web

What does a fifty plus year old post-menopausal brain need as bedtime reading? Children's literature, of course. Taking C.S. Lewis at his word that “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest”, I added children's stories to my bedside reading table, as there are times in life when even the most trivial adult or young adult novel would give me too much to consider and sleep would not come.
One of my recent favorites has been Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. While I started off reading, I soon switched to the the audio version read by the author himself. Perfection. A reader (listener) can know without a doubt what Mr. White wanted us to hear about life, death, friendship, living, and growing up and older by the gentle inflection of his voice. His impressions of the animals in the barnyard speaking is worth the price of the CD's alone. But don't take just my word for it, you can listen for yourself in the embedded audio below. And for those who simply can't wait you can purchase the audio from Audible and have it before bedtime tonight.

30 Days of Thankfulness 10

Warm house in the woods, fall moonlight on the pasture, chance to go to sleep early--that is what I am thankful for tonight!

30 Days of Thankfulness 9

Thankful for good girlfriends, both recent and past.

30 Days of Thankfulness 8

I am thankful for my Classed friends, who have taught me much about learning, teaching and how to integrate and enjoy life!

30 Days of Thankfulness 6

Thankful for a Sabbath's Rest....the Word preached, lived, given, received and enjoyed.

30 Days of Thankfulness 5

Thankful for my dear son-in-law who makes my daughter happy by working hard and sharing her love of theology, literature, and many more facets of life and shares all that he is with this new family of his! I love you, James!

30 Days of Thankfulness 4

Thankful for a lovely, gracious, compassionate, thoughtful, intelligent, enjoyable, fun-loving daughter! I love you, Grace.

30 days of Thankfulness 3

Thankful for a husband who believes excellence is a gift from God and practices to be a good steward of that gift. I love you, Ed!

30 days of Thankfulness 2

Thankful for a beautiful baby, now a lovely, godly young woman,  that God blessed me with 22 years ago. I love you, Sarah!

The Seen and the Unseen

I've reference MM here often. And this post in particular was poignant. I have so many wonderful memories of museums, nature centers and nature study during my childhood years. I was also blessed to live at the edge of 60 acres of woodlands and creeks, part of which my grandfather or PawPaw as we call him, rented to tend various animals and to plant large gardens. It was mine to roam. Mine to observe, to learn about and from nature in all it forms. It provided me a place and a way to learn to listen carefully to and understand the poetry of Robert Frost and find that others could express what I knew and felt but had not the words for. Above all, I was its child to teach about the seen and the unseen and how they both are the creation and expression, and a delight-filled gift, of a strong, loving Father.

Embodiment of Beauty

"...What a traditional woman did that made her home warm and alive was not dusting and laundry...Her real secret was that she identified herself with her home...her affection was in the soft sofa cushions, clean linens, and good meals; her memory in well-stocked storeroom cabinets and the pantry; her intelligence in the order and healthfulness of her home; her good humor in its light and air. She lived her life not only through her own body but through the house as an extension of her body; part of her relation to those she loved was embodied in the physical medium of the home she made."


"Modern housekeeping, despite its bad press, is among the most thoroughly pleasant, significant, and least alienated forms of work that many of us will encounter even if we are blessed with work outside the home that we like...housekeeping actually offers more opportunities for savoring achievement than almost any other work I can think of. Each of its regular routines brings satisfaction when it is completed. These routines echo the rhythm of life, and the housekeeping rhythm is the rhythm of the body. You get satisfaction not only from the sense of order, cleanliness, freshness, peace and plenty restored, but from the knowledge that you yourself and those you care about are going to enjoy these benefits."

"Our homes are the center of our lives, and we should allow time and resources to mke the most of them that we can, and to care for them in a way that consolidates and elaborates their meaning for each of us. At a minimum, we should avoid thinking that time spent on our homes is wasted time, or that our goal should always be to reduce the time and effort we spend on them."
--Cheryl Mendelson's Home Comforts, Chapter One.

You never know...

what you might see in our pasture. This morning we were treated to watching the now-grown-up fawns chasing our neighbors guinea hens. I grabbed our camera first, so no video. As always, click to enlarge!

Sneaking up...

The chase is on...

Getting in on the action...

Discussing strategums ;)...

Final attack...

*Sigh*

Can't beat 'em, join 'em!

More macro

This will be the last until we get a new camera.

A Little Macro