On this Memorial Day [observed] our thoughts are on those who served our country.  We also salute those who are serving today.  Deep heartfelt thanks and God’s blessings to you and to yours.

Barbara and me with our Dad, who was home on leave.

Two of Dad’s brothers and two of Mom’s brothers also served in WWII.

I looked for a picture of our younger son, who retired from the US Air Force after 22 years of active duty.  I was unable to find one.  I suspect that he doesn’t mind.

Later today, Sylvia returns after a week with her dad.  Perhaps she can help me find what I’ve been looking for.

Unrelated Trivia

I’m harvesting asparagus twice a day now.  Yes, it grows that fast, and I want to get it at its peak.

So far the Saturn sighting project has been shut out by cloudy skies.  Looks like I might get a chance later this week.

Yesterday, I posted about rhubarb.  It is one of two perennial vegetables that we grow in our garden.  The other is asparagus.

Doing well and ready to harvest

Our asparagus patch is producing well this year.  We’ve enjoyed several meals with it already and more coming soon.

Last evening, I steamed a big batch of it to go with beef and noodles.  My was it tasty!

This morning I did a couple of experiments with the unused portion of the harvest.  First, I cut off the butt ends and chopped those into short lengths.  These I washed, dried and put in the freezer.  Later, I’ll add more in the freezer bag.  These are destined to end up in soups.

The head ends, I cut to length, blanched and then cooled in ice water.  After drying they went onto a tray, which I placed in the freezer.  When they are individually frozen, I’ll place them in a freezer bag for storage.  (Should be good for up to seven months I’m told.)

As I wrote, these are experiments.  The cutting season only lasts six to eight weeks.  We may eat it over a longer period if these work.  Alternatively, drying and pickling are other options, but I’m not inclined to try either method.

I’ve found an interesting Website for Asparagus Lovers.  It has everything you’d like to know about this tasty perennial vegetable.

This PI is round

It was September 2009 when our friend, Lin, wrote: “Is eating pie out of a cup acceptable? Irene had me busting at work this morning, eating leftover pie from yesterday’s birthday celebration out of a cup. Apparently we used all the plates at the party.”

We have all heard of cupcakes, but cup pie?  It didn’t take long for me to respond.

Would you eat a pie?
That’s what I’d like to know.

Yes, I’d eat a pie,
I would eat it in the snow.

I would eat it with a pup.
I would eat it in a cup.

I would eat it with a spoon.
I would eat it very soon.

I would eat it in the fall.
I would like it best of all.

So, my friend, please pass the pie.
It is the apple of my eye.

For what it’s worth, my favorite is Sylvia’s rhubarb pie.  Just ask Sharkbytes.

Picture from a different day

I looked up from the computer keyboard.  Out on the lawn a young doe was moving rapidly across the lawn.  She paused just before reaching the driveway.  I’ve noticed that all the deer, unless they are in panicked flight, stop at the driveway.  They pause and look all around before proceeding.  Do you suppose their mothers taught them to look both ways before crossing a road?  Hhmmm . . .

She continued her deliberate walk until she reached the neighbor’s fence.  There she stopped again.  Looked around as a bird landed on a fence post right in front of her.  That’s when the moment began.  A moment when I felt like this was a Bambi movie.

The bird looked at the deer.  The doe looked back.  This went on for some time.  I almost had the feeling that they were having a conversation.  What would they say?

Conversation over, the deer continued along the fence to the low spot.  The she bounded over it and continued on her cross-country way.

Sorry I did not have time to open blinds and get the camera.  I didn’t want to miss out on the movie.

I enjoy watching our flowers come into blossom.  It seems there is always something in bloom.  There is beauty in everyday, and not just in the flower beds and out on the lawn and in the fields.  If you look you will find it.

Miniature Daffodils

At first glance, these look like the full-size version.  However they are only about 1.5 inches across.  That compares with the 4-inch daffodils, and makes these only one seventh the size (area).  I am fond of these little fellows.

This one was shy

All blossoms of this variety wanted to look at the ground.  I had to shoot up to get capture this image.  The orange gives a nice frilly touch.

Only a few of this type

White and yellow daffodil (no orange) is the least numerous of the many daffodils in our flower beds.  These seem to have a pleasant two-tone simplicity that I find appealing.

It won’t be long before we see tulips in blossom.  The buds are getting bigger each day.

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:20)

At prayer meeting last night, our pastor read a letter from a missionary family in Haiti that we help support.  Toward the end of the letter, they had a list of items that they were thankful for.  We understood the handshakes and hugs from Haitian believers and the smiles on faces of children.  We laughed at “working visitors who are out of breath as they walk up the mountain.”  Most of us could relate to the rich odor of newly turned soil.  (The husband is an agriculturalist, who is developing and introducing new food crops and improved strains of others.)

That listed ended with, “The sound of voodoo drums.”  Several gasps could be heard around the assembled group.  Why would they be thankful for that?

Those were not the final words of the letter.  Indeed, they were not the final words of the sentence.  The sentence continued, “because they remind us to pray.”

It was over forty years ago that Sylvia and I learned of the power in giving thanks.  Three weeks ago, when she fell and broke her wrist she had began a list of “I’m thankful for this because.”

The list has obvious items, such as it was not her dominant hand.  In the ER she discovered that the bone density med that she was taking is not good.  We had just learned that a young lady was unemployed.  She is now coming here a couple of times a week to help with cleaning and cooking.  The list is now very long.

Do you practice giving thanks for every thing?

No picture today.  I received a formal complaint for having posted an image of snow yesterday.  It is snowing again today.  Just take my word for it.  I’ll trouble you no further about that revolting development.

Good News: A year and a half after surgery and I’m still cancer free!

When I went out this morning, our road still had holes in which you could bury a medium sized animal.  The path to avoiding the holes moves around from day to day, but slow driving allows one to avoid the worst parts.

This afternoon, the county road truck went by.  They are working on the road.

The only thing I miss about winter is the roads.  That dirt converts itself into “poor man’s concrete.”  I still prefer warm dry weather.  So does my arthritis.

Okay, here’s today’s picture.  Just one reason why I love this place.

Mom and one of the twins look for better grass

This is what my eye saw shortly after midnight on March 31.  The silvery streaks are ice on apple branches and the golden spheres are caused by sodium light shining through the raindrops on my office window.

This is what the camera saw:

Perhaps it is just as well that cameras don’t have creative imaginations.  What do you think about that?