Not of this world

I often share feelings with a friend about knowing this is not our home. Aliens on earth, passing through. This morning was rainy and then it rained some more, and then there was a downpour. I had to return a book to the library in Batavia. As I drove away after jumping out in the rain (in my trusty Cabela's raincoat) I noticed something alien in the middle of the street. About 6 inches long and looking VERY out of place.


I turned around in the next intersection and snapped these photos. Where was this crayfish going? Where had he come from? When he began to approach the storm sewer he turned back towards the middle of Third Street! Sort of made me wonder how many other alien species live in the village! Gave my morning a "What's up with that?" moment.

Election Day & "Death by Gardening"

Well, I got through Election Day just fine! It was extremely slow as very, very few voters showed up. There were 3 precincts represented in the school gym. Our table was the busiest precinct. We only had about 120 voters all day long! That's 6 AM to 7:30 PM. Sad that Americans do not cherish and use their right to vote!

There was one gal who had us chuckling all day. First, let me tell you the State of Ohio recognized 6 different political parties this year: Republican, Democrat, Socialist, Constitution, Libertarian and Green. If a voter was unwilling to associate with a political party, they were given an "Issues Only" ballot Many voters changed "their politics" in the last primary in an effort to influence the "other party." In response to that the Secretary of State created form 10-W that any voter "changing their politics" is now required to complete before being given a ballot. This lady came in as she was listed an not having a political party, we asked her if she would like to choose a party this year. She reviewed the list, and stated, "I have issues, but I don't want to vote on them!" She finally chose a party and we gave her form 10-W to fill out. It is also called "Statement of Person Challenged as To Party Affiliation."She started to fill out the form and with a twinkle in her eye asked, "Now I'm Challenged, too?" When the paperwork was finished she was instructed to step down to my end of the table and receive her ballot. When I handed her the ballot she moaned, " I'm too tired to vote!"

Every Spring I participate in an experiment I call "Death by Gardening." As the body ages the work seems to get harder every year, but I just can't help myself. Monday Bob purchased some bedding plants for me at our local grower. I was recovered enough today from Tuesday at the polls to get the plants in the ground. The bad news is that 2-3 hours of gardening does me in physically. PLUS there is a cold front moving in and the temperature is forecast to drop about 40 degrees. That is bad news for those with fibro and arthritis. The good news is the front is supposed to bring rain and that will be terrific for the plants. I will try to send some photos as the plants get established.

The gray feral cat showed up again last evening and this morning. Ellie was delighted to meet him. He is starving and his bones show. Of course, I fed him. I hope to catch him for the neuter clinic.
Saturday is crochet group "JTIS" Journey Together in Stitches at the Convent. Bob caught a foul ball tonight at the Reds game!

More later!

Flowers to Delight Us

I will not be sending a post on Tuesday. It is Election Day in Ohio and I will be working the polls. Hope you will go vote!
All the photos in the post were taken by Bob!

Flowers, flowers everywhere! Thanks to Sam for sharing these rhizomes two years ago. This year they finally bloomed! This is just one of the stalks and there are five blooms on it! When we lived on Danny Drive I learned I had to cut the irises that bore the most blooms or wind and rain would take them down in a hurry. What a nice thing to enjoy as the rains continued from Saturday through Monday! There are other colors out there blooming and some are closed so tightly I cannot tell what color they will be!

One of our very most favorite things to do is to hunt for wildflowers at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This spring we did not plan a trip there as we were traveling to New Mexico and later California. We did make a point to explore the green space around our subdivision as well as some of the State Park Natural Preservation areas. Bob was the most faithful about exploring the green space. He would trek out into the bare woods and see what was blooming. We found many of the same flowers that we find in the Smokys! Have not found a Lady's Slipper yet, but he has not given up hope.

The trout lily is always first on our lot. The leaves are speckled and thus the name.

The blown back petals on the trout lily always make me smile after the trials and turmoil of winter. Somehow they seem flippant in the face of frost and freezing weather.









The daffodils we planted on the hill come next. No, those are not native, but we so enjoy them. One day was breezy and mild. When I looked at the hill it was as if the flowers had become synchronized metronomes all over the hill, blowing and waving, tracing the path of the wind.

With just a few more days the entire hillside and woods exploded with green growth and flowers. Before we knew it looking for flowers was a daily affair! We almost did not make it to the nature preserves to check for flowers.
But those tales can be told another day!

Saturday is for the Birds!

Saturday was Bob's first day back at work. It was rainy and overcast most of the day. I was blessed in the morning when I heard the racket from a pileated woodpecker who occasionally visits our yard. I was unable to get his photo, but I found this one for your enjoyment.

The day was filled with traffic at the feeder on our deck. The Blue Jay was quickly sent away by the Red Bellied woodpecker. If you look closely at this photo below you can see a smear of reddish hue on its belly, hence its name.



I was delighted to see the chickadees, sparrows and the usual population of cardinals. My biggest surprise of the day came with the landing of a male Rose Breasted Grosbeak. It sat on the feeder for a very long time, not feeding, but looking at me and seeming to enjoy being in our yard. I took it's photo, but all I got was it's back. When Bob got home from work he was blessed to see it, too. He managed to get this photo of it's forward view. Do you know the female looks almost like a large sparrow with a large beak?
I thought the day was delightful, but the Lord of Creation was not finished yet! Bob went to sleep fairly early. His weekend to work involves 12+ hour days. I was reading in bed when there was a noise in the yard. Just as I was thinking "Cat fight?" the Great Horned Owl made its call. This bird was frequenting the yard about 9:20 some evenings before we went on vacation. Bob has actually been awakened by the Owl. Here it was 9:26 PM and the familiar call was made. I thought, "Sorry, Owl, Bob is asleep already," and I went back to reading my book. 9:44 PM it was back and this time it called TEN times before the night quiet returned. What a day full of birds!
This morning in church a friend remarked, "I forgot how tied I am to the earth and the geographic changes as we traveled." I realized, that I, too, have ties to the earth. The birds usually get first place, but they often lose out to the flowers.
Fill a feeder and wait for the fun to begin!

ABQ to CVG

We have traveled from the high desert of New Mexico (as depicted in the photo at Chaco Canyon and the land around that area)
to the lush spring green of the Ohio River Valley.

What a change in altitude, attitude and location. Except for the moisture in the air, the weather temperatures have not altered much. But just look at the vegetation!


Earlier this spring I tried to move a shell that I thought was lying next to a columbine volunteer by our front steps. Much to my surprise the plant was growing through the shell.
The Lord never fails to surprise me with His growing things. Just think! Our Creator made every thing in these four photos. And we have not even gotten to the topic of snow covered mountains and underwater glories!
Enjoy your day with the Savior,
Molly D.

The Cincinnati Nature Center brings lovely seasonal flowers into my pondering. On a recent visit the “Resurrection Lily” (also known as “Naked Ladies”) was blooming right next to where I parked the car. I noticed the delicate pink blossoms first. And then the unopened buds caught my eye. They are brighter in color, some were still tightly closed.

I positioned for a better photo.

There were a few buds, not quite as tall as those now blooming. These buds were barely beyond the green covering and displaying the darkest tint of all.

Closer inspection brought a photo of only the buds,

barely opened, if the others had not already been blooming it would have been impossible to tell exactly what the flower would look like. I suddenly was impressed with the thought, “And so it is with your life and your future, Molly Lin. Though your body is aging your future might be just lovely!”

Luke 12: 27 -32 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you--you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

I tried to argue with the notion, but this sort of wisdom endures beyond all my arguments. My prayer this day is “Have Your own way in me, Lord. Forgive me for the sins of worry, fear, and projection into the future. Help me to trust You, more Lord.”

Lily Pads Poem

Well, I had to post the poem here as Facebook would not take the length. Hope this brings you joy and hope! In Him, Molly D.

Lily pads at the pond Molly Lin Dutina 7-21-90

Grow on stalky stems.

Leaves unfold an opened palm,

Cupped at center point.

Summer shower starts to drop

Mercurial glistening spheres,

Gathering in the center palm

Until the bulbous weight

Smears shower drops

Into glistening globs

And tips the pad so full,

To pour its contents overboard,

And rising from the spill,

Stately shielded lily-palm

Begins the cycle once more.

Drench me Lord

In Your shower of love

Let me gather and drink my fill,

Then spill it over on those around

And rise to await Your holy will.

Keep my stalk flexible,

My palm open and cupped,

Eager to receive Your all,

Questioning not Your skill,

Only trusting the shower of love,

To melt my rigid will.

Send the wind of Your Spirit

To tip me over, pour me out,

Then drench me once again

With cleansing water of holy Word.

Let Your light shine through

My enshrouding mist.

Color me with Your promise this:

Abiding presence and constant love,

Indwelling grace that conquers sin,

Transfigured rigid I

Yielded and bent

In the service of Christ,

Spilling forth rivers of living water

And giving rest unto croaky voiced frogs

Who, when Spirit-kissed,

Become priests and kings

Singing their praises to You.