Poised and intense, the
chipmunk nibbles maple seed -
      Watchful, yes, watchful.

                        or

         Watchful, yes, always. 

Thunder and lightning,

early morning wakeup call -

        some rain but all's well.

 

 We've had some issues with rain gutter downspouts, but we're all good for now.

 Loving God,

you care for all people -

  young and old,

  rich and poor,

  even the just and the unjust 

    upon whom your rain falls,

and it grieves your heart 

  when anyone of us fails to find 

   the good life you have for us.

I confess I'm not sure what it means 

  to receive anyone "in the name of a prophet"

  or "in the name of a righteous person"

  or even what their rewards might be. 

 But I go to bed with a heavy heart tonight

  knowing that there are "little ones" all over the world

  who are thirsty, or hungry, or alone, or afraid tonight 

  and in need of "being received", 

  given a cup of cold water,

  and a safe place to sleep.

I wish I had done more for them today. 

 Daisies, buttercups 
form roadside constellations
          in a fresh green sky.

Big meal at breakfast,
Smaller as the day goes on -
       Did just opposite!

Going to bed stuffed - not good!

Woodwinds sigh and squeal, 

horns blare, drums rumble, kids run -

     moon over it all. 

 

First band concert in new bandshell.  

Showers end at six.

Big deal or not a big deal?

         Picnic starts at six! 

 

 And bonus from Monday:

Square dance at Eastwood -

"I really like to polka" (1)

          Roll out the barrel! 

(1) audience member!

 

 

A poke in the arm,

an hour in the waiting room,

          a poke in the rear.

 

Figure it out? 

Green purple leaflets

emerge, unfold, and stretch out -

               "Hello potato!" 

 So - Father's Day.

And the lessons are Abraham dismissing Hagar and Ishmael (son),

and God saying he will make it alright (what world does that make sense in?)

and Jesus saying "I have come to set a man against his father and a woman against her mother"

and "whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me."

 

I was asked today what I have learned about being a father -

   +that someone else's success 

       brings you greater joy than any of your own,

   +that someone's else's struggles 

       bring more anguish than any of your own,

   +that someone else's suffering hurts more than your own,

   +that in a family you simply love each other, 

       not one person more (or less) than another.

Is that how it is for you, God? 

 

Joy, sunrise, coffee (1) -
longest day and shortest night -
      coffee (2), moonrise, peace.

(1) on a chair looking out the window?
(2) on a bench looking over the lake?

Small tomato plants
snug in their "wall-o-waters" 
       are holding their own.

Lettuce, rainbow chard,

spinach, radishes, summer - 

         first CSA box.

 

And cilantro, carrots, bak choi, sugar snap peas, scallions, basil(plant)!  Summer indeed; a good start. 

On the patio -

Chipmunk, squirrel, another,

          Chasing side to side. 

                    or 

In the maple tree -

Chipmunk........

       Chasing up and down. 

Boxes to the trash,

stuff set aside "till next year" (1) - 

        cleaning the garage.

 

(1) along by the stuff we set aside "till next year" last year! 

Swoop of white against 
a gray and darkening sky -
      a seagull dives by.

God,
  we are indeed your people 
  and the sheep of your pasture.
And yet we so often feel 
  and even behave
  as if we have no shepherd at all.
When the disciples  
  come to our house 
  offering your peace,
  help us greet them 
  with warm hospitality.
As they move along 
  to bring your peace to still others 
  help us find ways to support them
  and maybe even go along.

Pieces cut from old

flannel shirts - back, two front sides 

        for a (some day) quilt.

         

Five tomatoes, two
pumpkins, three squash snuggled in - (1)
       banquet on the way!

(1) snuggled into the garden bed, that is. Along with the garlic and onions already in.

Fibers, drawings, pots:

art reception at The Pete -

        crackers, cheese, cookies.

Dark cloud horizon,

long day care line approaches -

           Get 'em back before.......

 

It didn't rain after all. 

 Ate breakfast and lunch

and dinner, took out the trash -

      slow day for Charlie.

 

Ok - I did do a couple other things, helped clean a bit,  helped sort the kitchen drawers, moved seedlings out and in, went to the Visibility Brigade (sorry - trying to keep politics out of this), but not a whole lot to point to today.

Against a pink sky

trees turn to black silhouettes

         as evening descends. 

 

And holy smokes - the web page says this is post number 500.  Who would have thunk it! 

 God of us all,
You led Abram and crew through the land where the Canaanites were living.
Did you perhaps mean to suggest that they could share the land?
Could it be that instead of the land belonging to us
in reality we belong to the land?
Could we find ways to live in peace and share the land?
Help us think about other ways to live,
with other people,
and in other lands.
Let your love guide us
instead of our own pride and aquisitive nature.

 Gray skies cleared to blue
with pleasant temps, gentle breeze -
           but there still are BUGS!

as in black flies, mosquitoes, horse flies!

 Right from the freezer,

toasted, with maple syrup -

       a waffle at ten.

Ten PM that is - homemade waffle, crispy, overly sweet, delicious! 

 

 From the radio -

chance of showers, thunderstorms.

      Still dry, still waiting.

 

Still hot! 

Earth's gifts inspire our
grateful reciprocity -
       The Serviceberry

 

The Wednesday Reading Group talking about Robin Wall Kimmerer's book.  Nice thoughts.

Mom, two kids wading,
Me on the bench eating lunch -
         Lake Superior noon.

Cute little bunnies
chase each other shrub to shrub -
          Springtime athletics.

                         Or

            Rabbit Track and Field?