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.
I looked out the window this afternoon and saw a sky full of ginormous snow flakes. I found my camera and captured this image of those amazingly huge flakes. Scenes like this makes me realize how much I enjoy the shelter of our house. Especially since the snow has been falling all day.
I failed to post anything to this blog during the entire month of October. I took a few pics, but never turned them into a story for you. Perhaps on another day, I will.
Friday and Saturday we had special guests. We’ve known Americo and Kathy Saavedra since the spring of 1975, when we met in Quito, Ecuador. We worked closely with them for the rest of that year and have been in touch with them since then.
It was so good to share stories and dreams with them. Americo told of translating for an Australian who was visiting Ecuador. The Aussie gent kept referring to “kind and eyeball.” It was very confusing. Then he noticed our mutual friend Charlie (also an Aussie) laughing heartily. Charlie whispered to him, “It’s Cain and Able.”
The Saavedras will officially retire at the end of this year. That doesn’t mean sit on the sideline for them. Americo has plans to continue developing Bible teachers and mentors through out Latin America and beyond.
This is the story of a friend who is a life saver. Here’s the story in Amanda’s own words:
August 28 at 1:08 PM
Well, not how I planned my day… Got up to go to Lansing. I thought I would detour though Ionia on my way and see my husband for a second… I pass by what I thought was roadkill, but see it move. I am NOT one to turn around or put something out of it’s misery… I kept driving, but it was killing me. It was a baby kitty…. So I got to the end of the road turned and texted my husband to call me so he could check it…. Well, he didn’t call me, I waited a couple minutes and had to go back. I was so scared of what I would see. I pulled over, cars going by both ways, and even straddling this poor thing in the middle of the road. I opened my door to go look and it started meowing! Well, I put my big girl pants on and RAN! I grabbed this little baby and wrapped it in a sweatshirt and took off to the vet.
I was too scared to look. But didn’t “feel” any guts hanging out. Made it to the vet with just a couple of tears! So glad I went back! She was just scared and scraped up on her face! She’s at the vet clinic in Ionia! They will be re-homing her.
August 29 at 10:27 PM ·
Well, we blew it today! The dogs convinced Jason and I that they wanted a little sister… So it happen! We went and picked Portland up from the vet. She is doing well. Her little nose is pretty beat up, but that’s all. She loves to be held….a lot!
Bowser likes to sniff her and Benny isn’t sure what to think. He won’t look at her too long. Lol.
So that’s the story of how Amanda rescued Portland and gave her a new home. Amanda didn’t want a cat. She doesn’t like cats. (Had a bad experience with one.) With a heart as big as hers, Miss Kitty (Portland) found space there along with a new home and new friends that can protect her.
Yesterday, I heard the door bell ring. Twice. I was on the phone with my sister, Clara. While still talking with Clara, I went to the door and . . .
There at the door were two dear friends from Indiana. David and JoAnn I first met David in the blogosphere through a niece, Clara’s daughter. I put the phone on speaker so that Clara could greet David and vice versa.
Sylvia was clerking at the food coop a couple of villages from here. On those days, she frequently gets Chinese carry out. So I called her to get their choices (and ours) for supper. We had a great time.
We had a wonderful time sharing tales–both short and tall. We even found time to share catalogs of ailments and woes. However, not much time for the latter.
David is the kind of guy with whom I enjoy sharing philosophical and theological ideas. He is highly intelligent and insightful. If I could have an older brother, I’d want it to be him. Too soon it was over.
After a nice breakfast, we shared out good-byes and they left.
We look forward to our next meeting. Either here or in Indiana. Sylvia and I wish them well as they continue their swing through Michigan.
I just hope he didn’t get lost following my directions to Grand Rapids.
Last week, Sylvia and I attended a gathering of my high school class. It has been 61 years ago that we graduated, and now we meet each year. Of the 60 plus grads, most of us are still alive. A couple choose not to attend our gatherings and profess no interest in fellow classmates.
Interestingly, folks who were not close during our school days (daze) who were not particularly close, truly enjoy each other’s company now. Talk is of children (some of whom are already retired), grands and great grands. At least one has great great grands. Catalogs of ailments, aches and pains are also compared.
On the way back home, my thoughts turned to the nature of friendship. From here, it looks like the bonds are friendship are forged from matters held in common. Those matters could be goals, achievements, experiences, commitments, etc.
Some of my younger friends talk of “doing life together.” Perhaps that is, in fact, the very essence of friendship.
What is your view of friendship?
Wednesday, Sylvia and I helped friends with work on their more-than-a-century-old house. First step was to remove plaster from the ceiling. To start, I had to remove 1 x 3 strips that were used to hold ceiling tile in place. They had been there for a while, so it took quite a bit of effort with a pry bar to loose them. One section was particular troublesome, but when it came loose so did a huge section of plaster. Looks like I tried to catch that load with my arms.
It’s amazing how easily old skin bruises.
We’ve had a lot of fun watching this year’s fawns playing on our spacious lawn. For two days we watched one as he raced back and forth across the grass. Then he’d run into the pines, around the trail and out the other end only to race back across the lawn.
Yesterday evening, Sylvia and I went out to eat. The first two places we tried were closed. Fortunately, our favorite place was open. (Note to self: Eat at home next July 4.) As we returned home, a doe with twin fawns came out onto the road in front of our house. We drove slowly as mother and fawns looked for an escape route. They trotted down the road for 100 yards or so. At that point the neighbor’s fence is lower, and Mom went for it followed by the two young ones. Stopped, we watched the three of them bound across the hay field toward the woods beyond.
Life is good. Very good.