Twenty-five months ago, I posted a picture of snow drops for you to see. They came up last year and they came up again this year. I hope you will forgive my absence. I make no promises, but will try to do better.
This picture was taken by Sylvia on Monday. We are enjoying the signs of new life in our flower beds and gardens.
I’m going to end this post here, because I have run out of words.
As last week was ending, your friend and mine, Lin Kay, posted a pic of her snow drops. In past years, hers would appear before ours. However, the last two years they appeared at about the same time. I had to check it out, and with an assist from Sylvia, we found ours were out too.
Sylvia captured this image late Saturday afternoon. It is good to see the annual cycle of life continue with the coming of spring. These beauties are just one of many signs.
I miss the crocus blossoms and hyacinths that used to grace our grounds. It seems they became lunch for some burrowing critters.
Today I saw grackles and heard the trill of a red-winged blackbird. Robins have been around for a few days and vultures are patrolling the skies.
What are your sure signs of spring?
It has been two months since I last posted on this blog. Even then, I did not share the most exciting news. On Christmas day, our granddaughter called to announce her engagement.
Briana and Jared
Sylvia (aka Abuela) and I (Abuelo) are very pleased and wish the very best to this beautifully happy couple. No date or plans have been announced at this time.
Perhaps this is enough news for today. It has my heart overflowing with good feelings.
It was eleven years ago today that I started this blog. It was a good time for me to start something new. Amateur radio had been my main interest apart from family, work and church for forty-nine years. Amateur radio informed most of my career decisions, with the last twenty years spent in employment with ARRL – the National Association For Amateur Radio.
Eleven years ago sunspots were at their minimum. That meant short wave radio contacts were not easy to make. So it was easy to take a break from miserable radio reception and transmission conditions and explore something new. Blogging consumed my days, and being retired I was free to enjoy this new interest. Recently, I read that the first sunspots of a new cycle had been spotted on the face of the sun. Yes, solar activity has a roughly 11-year cycle.
Those early days and years of blogging consumed much of my day. That eventually changed and online social networks capture the public’s interest. Some of us still blog, but not as many as before.
I’ve gotten into social networks. I resisted until Sylvia took a trip to Honduras. She communicated with our granddaughter via Facebook. I heard nothing until she returned. Then I signed up for Facebook.
I continue to blog, but only at about four to six week intervals.
While I’ve considered discontinuing this blog, I’ll not do that while certain friends continue to be active on their blogs. They know who they are.
Sylvia joins me in wishing you all the very best in 2020.
It is that time of year when we turn our minds to all the good things that we have and that we have received. It is a time to give thanks for all that–as is good and right.
The other day I was asked what I was thankful for. My answer surprised me.
I first said, “Pain.” It makes me aware that I’m alive and that my body is functioning properly. Without pain we would soon be in deep trouble. For me pain has been a constant companion for some years. I even use the Latin motto, “Dolore ergo sum.” It means, “I hurt, therefore I am.”
My second response was, “Failures and bad decisions.” From those I have gained knowledge and learned wisdom.
When I was younger, I would not have seen pain and failure as things to be glad about. Perhaps surviving them is what it takes. It took me nearly eight decades to gain that outlook. Perhaps it can only be had when one is able to look back over a long path.
I’m thankful that my basic physical needs are met. That I have Sylvia at my side, and we have a great family in whom we take great pride. We also enjoy our faith and faith community and the wonderful circle of friends that surround us. If you are reading this, you are one of those.
There has been much to report since my last blog post. Today, I’d like to share three items with you.
Fall has fallen. One sure sign is seedum in blossom.
We keep milkweed around just for these regal folk. I took two step to my left to get different light on this beauty.
It was some time later that our tree guy came to give us an estimate on removing a couple of dead trees and trimming others. As we walked across the lawn, I saw one . . two . . . three puffballs.
As puffballs go, they were not very big. They were, however, tasty. Found two more in the days that followed. Sylvia pickled some, which we have not yet sampled. But soon.
The third item has no supporting pic. Sorry. You’ll have to take me at my word on this one.
It was Friday and a friend was dropping by to pick up a couple of things from me. As I looked toward the road, I saw a pair of turkeys. Then three and eventually four. As the friend’s vehicle neared, the turkeys were sent scurrying across the lawn.
After the friend left, I went to the far end of the house and saw the four big birds sauntering across the lawn. I walked swiftly to the office, retrieved my camera and returned. Too late. Those turkeys had left no trace when they exited the lawn.
I felt bad that I missed capturing an image, but I also felt good that I had seen them.
The last couple of weeks, I’ve been seeing four of these fellows on our lawn. They particularly like to congregate beneath the mulberry tree.
For a while, I thought they might be immature turkey vultures. I have yet to spot one, even though they nest nearby. But much observation and the above photo show that they are American crows.
While the American crow enjoys his freedom, children in the area are not. The new school year started today. In my days as a scholar that didn’t happen until after Labor Day. Today, the students end their school year earlier.
That came back to me when I saw a bus whizzing by yesterday. Strange that it was neither early morning nor in the mid to late afternoon.
Sylvia informed me that it was a new driver who was driving the route under supervision of an experienced driver. That makes sense.
Do keep an eye out for the school bus and obey the safety rules for the children’s sake.
This is the scene a week ago looking east out of my office window.
Bright sunshine (that means very cold) and friend, Al, has cleared our driveway.
Seven days later. The weather has warmed and rain has changed the view.
It’s mid-afternoon and there is still fog over the field behind our barn. Rain forecast for the rest of today and all of tomorrow.
On the follow-up visit to the podiatrist after surgery. He removed the original dressings around the foot. Then he wrapped it up in a soft cast, which was topped off with a colorful (and tight) wrap.
The tight cast and wrap did their job of reducing swelling in the foot and lower leg. Last week, the doctor removed the cast and its colorful adornment. He smiled when he saw my foot and said, “You’re healing like a teenager.” Sure made me feel good–and I agreed things are going better than I had hoped.
Another month, and he’ll remove the two wires that skewer my big toe and keep it connected to the foot.
Sylvia said, “I see a couple of deer.” I looked out the window and saw one. Then two, which were followed four, seven and more coming. When I counted nine, I went for the camera. Then there were ten.
I used a spring operated clothes pin to lift one of the slats on the blinds. I raised the camera only to find it was off. I turned it off and back on. Dead. Battery flat.
I put the battery in its charger and hoped for the best. Then there were twelve–some reclined on the ground others grazing on the lawn.
Maybe I had enough charge in the battery for one shot. I did not.
Then they left. First one, then three followed quickly by the rest.
Not really my surgeon.
Friday afternoon, I went in for a bunionectomy on my left foot. Fortunately, that went well, and I’m at home recovering and watching too much TV. I’m also trying to listen to an audio book. I say “trying,” because I keep falling asleep. That’s okay. If the body needs sleep, then let it sleep.
There are two wires coming out of the big toe. These will be removed in about a month, and there will be no hardware left behind. Color me delighted!
First follow-up appointment this afternoon.
Our first January thaw, followed by a day of rain, revealed this beauty in granny’s garden.
This flowering kale had been buried in snow. It grows in a protected spot near the basement wall, where it sheltered from most winds.
It is so good to see these brilliant colors among the white and brown that seem to characterize our winters. It was snowing when I took this shot, and yes, that is snow on those lovely leaves.
I particularly like the textures of snow and kale in this closeup shot. It also makes me glad to be sitting back in this warm office.