First Photo - December 2019

No profound thoughts today.  Not even any mildly pithy ones.  I'll leave all that to GKC.

Any one thinking of the Holy Child as born in December would mean by it exactly what we mean by it; that Christ is not merely a summer sun of the prosperous but a winter fire for the unfortunate.

– “The Streets of the City,” The New Jerusalem

AMDG

First Photo - November 2019

Well, it's not the best picture I could have taken today, but I managed to remember to take it just before dusk. Things changed quickly this month.  Just a few days ago, many, if not most, of the trees had leaves.  I supposed the forty to fifty mile per hour winds yesterday may have had something to do with the barrenness.

Every saint is a man before he is a saint; and a saint may be made of every sort or kind of man.

- GKC

Happy Feast of All Saints!

AMDG

First Photo - October 2019

The calendar might say October but the temperature is yelling mid-July, with a forecast of near ninety today.  I'm loving every minute of it!

There was something special about this summer.  We enjoyed our property, in many ways.  Working in it was theraputic.  Relaxing in it was peaceful.  Sharing it was joyful.  And, for all that, I am grateful.

AMDG

First Photo - September 2019

 Yikes this is late!  The picture was taken on time, almost, but lazy me just never got around to posting it.

The dog days of summer may be over, but the froggy days of fall have just started.  We have been enjoying the patio and falls more than ever, and it seems the frogs are as well.  We have christened our water feature as the Five Frog Falls.  See if you can spot all of them in the first photo below.

AMDG

First Photo: July 2019

Summer has arrived!  What more is there to say?  It's been bright and shiny and hot and sticky - all things wonderfully summer.

Life has busy this summer, both in good ways and not so.  When it's good, it's great.  When it is not so, it has been stressful.  Perhaps it is time to enjoy the Adirondack chairs and watch the world go by.

AMDG

First Photo: June 2019

This time of year, we sit on the patio and say "Yeah, God!"  Lately, it couldn't be prettier around here, and for that I am oh so grateful.  This picture doesn't do it all justice.

Sun tea brewing on the post.  Flowers blooming in pots and in the ground.  Birds serenading us in the trees.  Water running in the falls.

What else is there to say, but "Yeah, God!" 


AMDG

First Photo: May 2019

I keep my fingers crossed, hoping that Spring has finally arrived.  We have noticed the return of a number of summer birds and have spotted fox and coyote and rabbits running through the yard once again.  And, better yet, that patio furniture is back in place!  There is nothing better than sitting back with a bottle of water or an adult beverage and watching the world go by.  Life is good!

“The modern philosopher had told me again and again that I was in the right place, and I still felt depressed even in acquiescence. But I had heard that I was in the wrong place, and my soul sang for joy like a bird in spring.”

― G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

AMDG

First Photo: April 2019

April fools!  At least that's what the patio feels and looks like to me today.  Last week I was out in the yard cleaning up the detrius left from this winter's storms and wind.  Saturday night we went to bed with a rain storm raging outside.  And, Sunday we woke up to three or four inches of wet, heavy snow. 

I have been ready for winter to be over.  So very ready.  I hoped when March ended so would winter.  Aparently not. 

But maybe the joke's on winter.  The home opener is this afternoon.  Play ball!

“There is a certain solid use in fools. It is not so much that they rush in where angels fear to tread, but rather that they let out what devils intend to do.”

― G.K. Chesterton, Alarms and Discursions

AMDG

First Photo: March 2019

There's a saying we use around here - wait five minutes and the weather will change.  That seems to describe February.  Up until yesterday, the falls were solid ice this week.  And that's because we had some warm weather last weekend and turned the water on.  The temperature fell quickly and froze it over in just a couple of hours.

The scenery changed in just minutes today, too.  When I came home from my outing, there was a migration of Grackles going through the area.  Some were checking out the falls and others feasted on the suet on the shepherd's hook.

AMDG

First Photo: February 2019

What a difference a couple weeks make!  Not long after I took the January photo we got pounded with a blizzard of epic proportions.  Okay, maybe not epic, but it certainly was a lot of snow - 15+ inches in just over 24 hours.

They warned us, the weather people did, but I didn't believe them.  Why should I?  They kept changing their forecasts. One day they said 8-10 inches, the next 5-8, then back to 8-12.  They were right, finally, but still off.  When I measured it was almost 14 inches and we got several more inches after that.  Since we didn't have to do anywhere, it was kind of fun to watch.  But, please, I don't want that again!

The snow was followed by wickedly cold weather - a couple of days of below zero highs.  Ah!  Winter in Ohio!

The board on the patio is there for the birds.  Tim shoveled out some snow there after the blizzard and put seed and suet there.  They usually make short work of what he spreads out there
 and often wait patiently in the trees for more.

I didn't realize while I was taking the photo above that I had a visitor.  We hang suet on a shepherd's hook off to the right of the waterfalls.  A Downy Woodpecker wasn't at all bothered by my presence.

14" and not done snowing yet

AMDG

First Photo: January 2019

Happy New Year!

At the start of this new year, I find myself reverting, going back to things I have done previously.  I dug out my old day-timer and have decided to keep my calendar on paper rather than electronically.  I have years worth of paper calendars that I can look back at and see what was happening at any given time.  The years that I kept electronically, not so much.

I am going to try to resurrect my "First Photo" in which I take the same picture from the same spot on the first of every month.  I might just be odd, but I like to see how one thing changes, but it doesn't.

A couple of years after  we moved into our house, we replaced the ugly wall and water fountain that the previous owners had built.  Tim had a vision of what he wanted - a waterfall surrounded by plants.  It came out better than we could have hoped and we have enjoy it throughout all the seasons.

We are lucky today that the falls are running and there's no snow or ice.  I think the birds are enjoying it, too.  Some Woodpeckers and Chickadees have been visiting the suet on the pole at the far right of the falls.  It is always a treat to see the birds this time of year!

“The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.”

- GK Chesterton

AMDG

First Photo: December 2016

December, at last.  I have to admit I am glad to see November end.  It's not that anyting bad occured.  We celebrated my birthday and Thanksgiving, so there was good to be had.  We had some remarkably good weather, bookending the snow that arrived mid-month. 

It was dark, very, very dark.  The shorter days are so noticble, especially with the time change.  When I get home from work, all I want to do is either curl up under a blanket with a good book or go to sleep.

I know December brings more of the same.  But, somehow it's different.  I think observing Advent helps.  We are in a time of both preparation and contemplation.  We start out in the darkness, and week by week another candle glows bright. 

“Any one thinking of the Holy Child as born in December would mean by it exactly what we mean by it; that Christ is not merely a summer sun of the prosperous but a winter fire for the unfortunate.”

AMDG

First Photo: November 2016

Gold Leaves
G. K. Chesterton

Lo! I am come to autumn,
When all the leaves are gold;
Grey hairs and golden leaves cry out
The year and I are old.

In youth I sought the prince of men,
Captain in cosmic wars,
Our Titan, even the weeds would show
Defiant, to the stars.

But now a great thing in the street
Seems any human nod,
Where shift in strange democracy
The million masks of God.

In youth I sought the golden flower
Hidden in wood or wold,
But I am come to autumn,
When all the leaves are gold.

Something to ponder on this Feast of All Saints.  God Bless!

AMDG

First Photo: October 2016

I waved the white flag last month, admitting that the heat of summer had gotten the best of me.  We endured a couple more weeks of unseemly heat.  I wanted so much to just hide in the cool recesses of the air conditioned house. 

 

And then it changed.  Glorious, wonderful, sweet cooler temps.  Oh, Fall, you are my favorite!

 

 

"How shall I show my love is proved by deeds? Well - the little child will strew flowers...she will embalm the Divine Throne with their fragrance, will sing with silvery voice the canticle of love.

 

Yes, my Beloved, it is thus that my life's brief day shall be spent before Thee. No other means have I of proving my love than to strew flowers; that is, to let no little sacrifice escape me, not a look, not a word, to avail of the very least actions and do them for Love. I wish to suffer for Love's sake and for Love's sake even to rejoice; thus shall I strew flowers. Not one shall I find without shedding its petals for Thee...and then I will sing, I will always sing, even if I must gather my roses in the very midst of thorns - and the longer and sharper the thorns the sweeter shall be my song."

Story of A Soul, Chapter XI

St. Therese Lisieux

 

AMDG

First Photo: September 2016

At the beginning of summer, on a warm, no, hot day, I would often remark "I refuse to complain about the heat.  In just a few months we will be complaing that it is too cold."

I give in.  I'm waving the white flag.

I've had enough of the heat. of the humidity, of the scorching sun.

Bring on autumn's cooler temperature and softer light.  Give me oranges and yellow and reds decorating the trees.

I'm ready for the soft end of the year.


AMDG

First Photo: August 2016

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”  

 - Orthodoxy  GKC

I look at the cacophony of colors in the garden and say to God "Again!  Again!"  and am ever grateful that He does.  How could I ever possibly tire of such beauty? 

AMDG

First Photo: July 2016

As June progressed the rain of the prior month was quickly forgotten.  The gardens turned green and purple and orange and yellow and so many other colors.  Birds and bugs became frequent visitors.  It was a joyful month.

 

I expect this month to bring more of the same.  There is much to admire.

"The main point of Christianity was this:  that Nature is not our mother: Nature is our sister.  We can be proud of her beauty, since we have the same father; but she has no authority over us; we have to admire, but not to imitate."

- Orthodoxy GK Chesterton

 

AMDG

First Photo: June 2016

It felt like we skipped Spring.  Most of May was cool and rainy and just a few weeks ago we had snow.  Well, it was only a few flurries, but it was cold.  This last week, however, it was in the mid and upper eighties.  Go figure.

Things are growing and green and beautiful and lush.  I've spent many hours weeding and mulching.  My back aches and my hands hurt and the poison ivy itches on my wrist.

And I love it all.  Summer is here.

"Let a man walk ten miles steadily on a hot summer’s day along a dusty English road, and he will soon discover why beer was invented."

- GK Chesterton

AMDG

First Photo: May 2016

“Properly speaking, of course, there is no such thing as a return to nature, because there is no such thing as a departure from it. The phrase reminds one of the slightly intoxicated gentleman who gets up in his own dining room and declares firmly that he must be getting home.” 

– The Chesterton Review, August, 1993

Spring definitely has sprung!  The garden is greening up.  Actually, it's somewhat greener and much more yellow than it should be.  April tended to be a month where we needed to pick our priorities wisely - spend time with and help elderly and sick family or pull weeds.  By the abundance of dandelions you can tell that family won out.

My guess is that May will bring more of the same.  But, unlike Chesterton's drunk, we know exactly where home is and we indend to stay there as much as possible.

AMDG

First Photo: April 2016

 

What's the saying?  A day late and a dollar short.  That's me recently.  Good intentions but behind as always.  The picture was taken on time, processed on time, just not posted on time. 

 

At least Spring has arrived on time, and in all its glory.  Green is showing up everywhere along pops of color - peach and purple hyacinths and golden yellow daffodils. 

 

Yeah God!

  

AMDG