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Friday, March 27

Birds, a Skunk, and Flowers

Afternoon

I think there was a goldfinch reunion in our dogwood tree.

I’m still waiting for them to turn yellow.

Are you looking at me?

Would you please stop taking pictures while I eat?

Toward evening I saw something black in our yard – then it moved and I saw the white and realized it was a skunk.  I tried to keep a safe distance, but it seemed oblivious to my presence.

I think it is the same skunk I met in the woods the other day when I was walking home from my sister’s house.

We have lived in this woodlot for forty-two years, and it is one of the first times I’ve seen a skunk in daytime.  I read on the Internet that it is rare to see them in daytime, but if it is acting normal, it is probably a healthy one.  (I think walking through our yard looking for grubs sounds like a normal skunk to me.)

When outside, I noticed that one of our hyacinths was blooming.

It looks like there are going to be lots of daffodils

I always like that our daffodils and crocus bloom at the same time.  The crocus bulbs were gifts from my mother and the daffodils were from my dad.

Both bring back wonderful memories.

We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need. 

Psalm 33:20 (The Message)

Happy 14th Birthday

To Our Favorite Jenna in the Whole World

We Love You!

Happy 14th Birthday

To Our Favorite Jenna in the Whole World

We Love You!

Happy 10th Birthday

To Our Favorite Jana in the Whole World

We Love You!

 When I heard that our niece Amy was making these pretty fruit arrangements for a birthday party her mom (my sister) was having, I asked if she could make two for me.

 All Amy needed from me was two coffee cups.

 They were beautiful and delicious.

 By 6:30, everyone had arrived, and my lasagna, seven-layer salad, molded salad, rolls, relishes, and desserts were ready.

Left to right:  Eva and Ray Nolt, Merle and Rita Nisly, Orpha and Gary Stevens, and Cerwin. 

Our friendship with Merle and Rita, Red Lake, Ontario, Canada, began in the mid-eighties, when Gary, Orpha, Cerwin and I took a team of twelve young people to Pikagikum (a First Nation reserve) to teach Bible school for one week. 

Merle, who is CEO of Living Hope Native Ministries, was our contact person and pilot.  After a few years of doing this, the Lord called Cerwin and me into TFC.  Ray and Eva and a variety of other couples from our church served on this one-week Bible School team. 

Merle and Rita come to our area for a fundraising banquet every spring, giving the eight of us time to catch up on each others lives. 

I just posted this BENADRYL® Pollen Alert widget for 500 credits. You can earn free credits too!

God can do anything, you know.

Ephesians 3:20 (The Message)

Sunday, March 22

Walking Around the Neighborhood

It was a beautiful day

It was a wonderful, lazy Sunday – calling me to go for a two-mile walk around our neighborhood.  I am a fair-weather walker, so it has been a long time since I took this opportunity.

The crocus in our yard were about the only thing blooming.

This is what I saw when I turned left at the end of our driveway.  The mud sale of the day before was held just beyond the woods on the top, left side of the photo.

I found these tiny, blue wildflowers, after turning right onto the next road.

I am not familiar with their name.

Does anyone know what kind of flower this is?

overacupoftea thinks it may be Creeping Charlie, and I have to agree.  After reading about it on the Internet, I think I don’t want it in any of my flower beds.

This is another familiar weed/flower to our area.  It is not yet blooming.

My forward (southwest) view on this road.

When I look back, I see my brothers’ farm buildings.

As I approached the end of that half-mile road, I was delighted to see the burros who were grazing on the tender, spring grass.

I enjoy visiting with those who come to the fence when I say, “Hi, little burros, how are you today?”

Their ears are alert to my voice…

…but their primary concern is eating.

After turning right onto the next leg of my walk, I notice that trees are beginning to bud.

A view of my brothers’ buildings from this road.

On the other side of road, I get a view of an Amish farm. 

Later, when the trees are full of leaves, I will barely see these buildings.

Another view of the farm – across a neighbor’s pond.

Before long, I turned right again – and forgot to take pictures – maybe because that is the only road where I am concerned about traffic.

The last right soon brought me to our driveway and our familiar crocus.

I love our neighborhood – and that’s a good thing, because I’ve lived here for about sixty of my sixty-five years. 

Exercise daily in God

no spiritual flabbiness, please!

1 Timothy 4:7 (The Message)