Monday, December 26, 2016

The Birds!




             


Sometimes I feel like they are ganging up on me
Those birds of mine.
Its comforting to hear them call
At seven in the morning,” we’re here, where’s breakfast?” Outside the bathroom window. Or “ bye see you tomorrow “.in the late afternoon.
Last week though it was scary as hundreds descended onto our orchard grounds.
Row after row would spear an apple off the ground and throw it into a tree trunk, breaking it into smaller pieces and consuming it bugs and all. As more rows of large winged, long legged dinosaurs of birds landed, scenes of Alfred Hitchcock’s. “The Birds” flicked through my mind, and I got slightly nervous, retreating to my sewing machine to calm my nerves. I was alone…. with dinobirds.

Today was a cold and overcast winter day. The orchard grounds were clear; it was quiet. As we got into the car to drive to Albuquerque for breakfast with the kids, we saw our army of cranes in the neighbors’ yard. Looking up the “general” a larger, grayer bird, ruffled his feathers, and lifted a wing in a salute or a wave. Bye, We’ll be waiting when you get back.
And they were.

Friday, December 16, 2016

A Christmas Story


Little mouse sat
Huddled by the cabbage leaf
Twisted, curled, and drying;
Trying to stay warm
In the cold deserted
Garden

December is no time
To be lost outside he thought,
But Pester the cat sat drooling in
The doorway barring the way
 to warmth and shelter
Burrr

In the distance a bell chimed
The crystal sound striking
In the frozen air
Peace, Hope, Joy. Love, Share
Little mouse crept closer, hopefully,
Please?

Pester turned,and
Lay in the warm, fragrant straw.
Little mouse timidly drew inside;
Judged the cattitude
Cuddled in the arms of his nemesis
Warm
At least till morning.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Prayers Really do work



Last month I asked that you would pray for me and my surgery; that they would go well. Thank you for your prayers. My therapist told me I was two weeks ahead of schedule in recovery. Which I think is funny, since surgery was only20 days ago.!
I mentioned to her that I had a lot of people praying for me. She asked me if I had prayed for her? As part of my team, yes of course we did.
There are many people over the Internet, out in the world, in politics and business, in our neighborhoods who almost act angrily when we say we are praying for them, I guess they feel that if there is no God for them, there is no point of praying.
And then there are people that hope other people are praying for them but are afraid to ask. I am personally afraid of the things that are happening in our country and world. Whether a person believes in a higher power or not; whatever type of entity you look up to; being God, Science, or hard work and good luck. I hope you will keep the future of mankind in your thoughts.

1. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.
2. Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near.
3. Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.
4. Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heav'n with prayer.
5. Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"
6. The Saints in prayer appear as one
In word and deed and mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Their fellowship they find.
7. Nor prayer is made on earth alone:
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus at the Father's throne
For sinners intercedes.
8. O thou by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way!
The path of prayer thyself hast trod;
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Text: James Montgomery, 1771-1854Music: George Careless, 1839-1932