Flower Faces

[Okay, this just isn't right. Since my little experiment -- uploading larger images in the last post -- resulted in the links to larger images not appearing in the HTML, I resized all my flower photos to fit within the text box before I uploaded them for this post. NOW the links are in the code for these photos. And I'm going to yank all the links code out, because what's the use of linking to an image the same size as appears in the post? *unladylike growling*]

I'd liken my knowledge of flowers to my knowledge of car makes and models: "What kind of car is it?"

"Umm...blue."

Try as I did to memorize the informational spikes in those flower flats, nearly all of the names have escaped me, and I'm not about to go digging through the trash to relearn what I'm going to forget again tomorrow. So, for the most part, this year I'm purple. Just as I wasn't even sure I like marigolds when I planted them 3 times in '06, due to late frosts, I'm not so sure I'm keen on purple either, but that's what I chose and planted this year. Someone else can try to sort that out...or poke me in the head, then maybe I'll know why I planted purple flowers.

Since we visited the silk flowers in this little basket during the mid-winter ice storm, we'll give it a spring update. Thereafter, humor me as I enjoy and share the little purple flowers.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. ~Isaiah 40:7-8

Busy Spring Squirrel

This one serves a dual purpose: 1) Expose more of my squirreliness; 2) Discover whether or not leaving the a href HTML tag on my photos will make them clickable for full-size viewing.

Number two is all about having noticed how pixelated my uploaded photos are and noticing the recent, sudden inclusion of a photo link (which I've been manually removing) in the blog HTML code and how I've been painstakingly resizing all the photos to fit within the margins of the text box anyway and how sometimes I just get way too embroiled in trying to figure out how things work. *inhaling*


I'm not a very patient person, either. I'd no sooner slogged into the mud in the field across the road, when a cloud covered the sun, which had been shining brightly 3 seconds earlier. Looking up, I noted the size and slow speed of that cloud; looking down, I noted my feet sinking in the mire. I took the shot.

This image, this size, isn't very clear. Kinda looks like what's inside my head. If poking this photo brings a larger, clearer image on a second screen, I need to try poking myself in the head.

And now, having typed all this mumbo jumbo about HTML and codes and tags and photo sizes and poking things, I've looked at the HTML for this post, and those a href tags have disappeared just as quickly as they recently appeared. I don't know what made them suddenly appear, and I don't know why they've disappeared. Mayhap I'd do well to (ever) read blogger technical news, but that's not likely to happen. Soooo, I'll include a photo crop of the sign, and we'll be finished.

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. ~Romans 15:1-2

Foto Frenzy

This first one is an Elvis update, because there he is -- alone. We don't know why, but none of the other chickens like him, and his is a solitary life. Poor Elvis. It's also a jonquil update, because that arctic blast was short lived, and the predicted snow was a mere spit here and there. They survived. Last year they didn't. Also, notice the figure in the background, in front of the fence. Does that look like Bigfoot in clothes, or does it look like Bigfoot in clothes? It was the first thing I noticed when this photo came out of the camera.

Maybe you can't see the nature of the photo-captured stride, so we'll give it a zoom.

There's more to this photo than the breaking news that Bigfoot has visited someone's clothesline and helped himself. Look at the fence behind Bigfoot. See the section which is more gray than white? That's how I paint. The fence extends many feet to the left of the photo, and it's all painted white. The gray section is probably 6 feet wide -- unpainted. This isn't the only fence on our property which is partially painted. Some might say I have a problem staying on task. I think I'm missing a chromosome or something. Those are peach blossoms in front of Bigfoot's face. Pray for no late frosts. Global WarmingNot expunged every fruit on our property (peaches, apricots, apples, pears, plums) last year. I'd like to have a big old sit-down with Mr. Gore...as would a giant bank of scientists.

Upcoming is a piece of Zoomer's church. In my yard I have part of Zoomer's church, which was refashioned into birdhouses last year. See the piggledy roof on the gazebo? It needs to be replaced even more than the roof of our house does. I have to rat on myself, too. It actually has holes in it. I cloned the holes out of the photo. That'll work with the gazebo; if we reach the point that I'm cloning holes out of the house roof, we'll need to do some roofing.

Chickens crossing roads always amuse me. Okay, I'm simple; easily entertained. We have a hen that crosses the road to lay her eggs in the neighbor's hay bales. This isn't a road, though; it's our driveway. Still makes me think of chickens crossing roads.

Here's what they did when they got to the other side. To me, they're like moving flowers dotting the landscape.

I cropped this zoom, because it's the closest I've come to getting a clear photo of a partridge rock hen. From a distance, they seem like ordinary brown hens. Up close, the detail of their feathering is pleasing. It also sets me to thinking about bangs of any size.

You've seen a lot of the golden laced Wyandottes, but I can't think bang and not include one.

I wasn't there, so I don't know how noisy it may or may not have been. As I ponder the creation of the billions of things God thought to make on 6 successive days, I reckon it might have been noisy. This little gem of a chicken may have warranted at least a !*!POP!*! when it arrived on the scene. But mostly I look at the chicken...the trees, the flowers, the insects, the oceans, a hippo's twirling ears, a kernel of corn, the magnificent human body, and know these spring from intelligent design. Since a person possessing any measure of intellect -- from the smallest to the greatest -- could so easily recognize that chicken didn't come forth from an explosion, I reckon it's a heart matter. And it's heartbreaking when anyone would be so desperate to expunge God that they would place faith in a clearly and utterly ridiculous theory of creation through explosions and evolution. You can't make somethin' out o' nothin' anyway, so what do they think exploded?

I wasn't there. Neither were they. They're guessing. I read the historical account. And it makes perfect sense -- visually, intellectually, and scientifically.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. ~Revelation 4:11

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Romans 1:20-22

Alexander and the Goofball

We're letting Alexander Scourby read the New Testament for us, as we follow along in our Bibles. We're moving at quite a clip, because Alexander doesn't stumble over names like Tychicus and Trophimus. And we're currently not having a whole lot of discussion -- just reading, with occasional comments or cross referencing.

As we gathered in the living room for Bible study one day last week, and I saw what our next book was to be, I said rather exuberantly, "Ohhh, we're ready for the Timothys. I love the Timothys! They're so meaty. ... Mmm, I always feel kinda bad when I say things like that, because all of God's Word is good."

Son3 looked up and said, "You don't need to feel bad. You say it about every book."

"Oh, I do?"

"Yeah."

Two days later, "Ohhh, we're doing Hebrews today! I love (*halt*)"

Son3's eyes darted to my face ... and we both laughed. I'm such a goofball.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. ~II Timothy 3:16, 17

Many Faces of a SugarPlum

affectionate

attentive

(a bit too) amorous

focused

amused

occupied

frozen

precious

And a couple from Nana's gene pool

crazed

dork

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. ~Acts 20:28-31

In the News

Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

Hath not my hand made all these things? ~Acts 7:48-50

In the News

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. ~John 19:30

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. ~Hebrews 10:10-14

[...Jesus...] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. ~Hebrews 7:26

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he [Jesus] entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. ...And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. ...Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. ~Hebrews 9:12, 22, 25-28

In the News

I listened to a speech by a religious man this morning. I'm thinking it was broadcast to millions of people. What a wide audience; what an opportunity to talk about one's god. He called his god God of Nature, the only god he mentioned. I think the speaker before him mentioned that god too.

It seemed like a lot of people thought the religious man was a god. He appeared to really like the adoration he received.

So, so many religions in the world. It's interesting to learn who people's gods are and aren't.

[JESUS answered and said,...] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ~Matthew 11:29

In the News

Every word of God is pure:

he is a shield unto them

that put their trust in him.

Add thou not unto his words,

lest he reprove thee,

and thou be found a liar.

~Proverbs 30:5-6

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. ~Acts 17:11

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. ~Acts 10:25-26

These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: ...And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. ~1 John 17:1, 11

I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. ~Isaiah 42:8

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. ~Matthew 23:9

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. ~Ephesians 5:23

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. ~1 Timothy 2:5

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ~Hebrews 4:14-16

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. ~Psalms 32:5

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. ~1 Timothy 4:1-5

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ~Colossians 2:8

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ~1 Peter 1:18, 19

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. ~Mark 7:13

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ~Matthew 15:9

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. ~Matthew 6:7, 8

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. ~Matthew 23:14

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) ~1 Timothy 3:1-5

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. ~Matthew 8:14

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas [Peter]? ~1 Corinthians 9:5

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ~1 John 2:1, 2

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ~John 14:6

[...Jesus Christ of Nazareth...] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. ~Acts 4:12

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ~1 Corinthians 3:11

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ~Joshua 24:15

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ~Acts 5:29

To the law and to the testimony:

if they speak not according to this word,

it is because there is no light in them.

~Isaiah 8:20

_________________________

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ~II Timothy 3:1-5

Treasures(not)

There's a trash treasure heap on our land. Hey, it came with the place -- was included in the contract price. And it may well be the boys' favorite feature on the acreage. I had to crop it out of one of the Meadow Muffin Avenue photos, since it added angst rather than ambiance. Now you know one of my piggledy little secrets. I also cleaned one pane in the back door yesterday morning, so I could take one of the following photos. Man, it was cold, standing outdoors in my nightgown at 31º, with a brisk wind! Our part of the globe just isn't that toasty. C'mere little polar bear. C'mere. You can come live with us. You'll like Kansas.

There's been renewed interest of late in Treasure(not) Mountain and excitement over the finds. Who wouldn't want a still-sealed can of beer, rusty oil can, and trophy toppers?


Dad, that's who, and that's why they went back out the door as quickly as they came in.

One treasure was merely described to me, sight unseen. "I found an arrow in the dump. You know, like a sign; an arrow showing the direction to go to get somewhere."

"Oh, that's nice."

I was amused the following morning, when I glanced out the back door and saw clearly what is not-so-clearly seen in this photo. I circled it:

I cropped the photo for a closer view:

I pondered its possible meanings:

Leave
Escape Route
Go This Way to Blow This Joint
The Rest of the World Is Out There
One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure

Who needs a directional sign in their driveway? We don't. And maybe that's the reason I like it: it makes no common sense, so one can make of it what they will.

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ~Matthew 7:13, 14

Googles

According to statistic reports, the second most used search criterion which plops visitors onto my blog is an image search for "ancona." I've long wondered what the ancona attraction is, so I ran ancona through Yahoo! Image Search and sifted through 15 pages of photo thumbnails without seeing a single image generated from my blog. Okay, I thought, the stat identifies Google as the engine, so I'll do the Google Images search. Still, it wasn't until I'd reached page 12 that I saw the photo.

That? That's bringing people to my blog? Weird.

And I wonder if they're disappointed when they get here. Do they growl? They knew they were going to get a wad of chickens (clear, even in the thumbnail), so they're happy? Were they just curious about what sort of nutcase person is posting fowl fotos?

More interesting to me, though, was running through Google Images the word which generates the most hits on my blog -- from all over the world and with regularity: HenNots.

I was very, very scared to run it, as evidenced by the fact that it's been showing up in the stats for months, and only today was I able to make myself give it a go. I don't know why, but I feared it was the name of a porn star. Or an uncomely website. Or a brothel in Indonesia. Why ever on earth are so many people typing hennots into Google Image and poking the button? I cannot tell you. What I can tell you is that doing so will bring one a single (1) page of results, with 13 photos, 12 of which are on my blog: 3 blog entries and 2 sidebar photos neither of which are hens...which I suppose does make them HenNots, although hen and/or not don't come to my mind when I think of a child or a dog. Go figure.

The first photo in the results, though, is of a family named Hennot: "The Hennots in deep family...," and I've not yet followed the dot-dot-dots to learn in what the Hennots are deeply engaged. Based on the thumbnail, they may be engaged in a pitcher of tea. Or ale. (Is ale served in pitchers?) They may be discussing Cousin Herman's balding pate. Ah, the URL indicates it's a genealogy site. Mayhap they're in deep family distress over Aunt Scarlet's escapades and laying plans to lop her branch from the family tree.

All jesting aside (and desiring not to be sued), the Hennot family looks lovely in their thumbnail, and I'm confident they're merely in deep family...conversation of the finest sort. Cousin Herman, you still have plenty of hair on the crown of your head. I was just joshin' ya! Aunt Scarlet, anyone can experience embarrassing moments. Why, I once (decades ago) tripped while stepping away from my table in a popular nightspot and unwittingly broke my fall by latching onto the waistband of the man seated on a stool opposite my table, and who had a plumber thing happening with his backside. Hey, it could happen to anyone. Couldn't it? Tell me it could happen to anyone.

The sleuth in me sent me searching this morning; I just thought I'd share the googles.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. ~John 8:12

Avenue

I liked all of the suggested names -- delightful, one and all -- for the CowNots' path to the north pasture. Thank you for the shared fun.

I also like seeing my middle initial; it is all about me.

avenue: a broad passageway bordered by trees

Next, I'm fond of alliteration. A couple of decades ago, my dear husband addressed me as "my little meadow muffin," which warmed the cockles of my heart...until I learned what a meadow muffin is. Even so, I've never shaken that initial, warm, fuzzy feeling derived from such a dainty sounding endearment, flowing to me from the lips of my beloved.

With this preface, I present:

Meanwhile, back at the house...

They're still just being chickens.

Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. ~Jeremiah 33:2-3

Spring

SPRING

*sigh*

It's beautiful.

I just had to take pictures today, even though it was overcast most of the day. I wanted to capture the beauty of spring.

The jonquils are blooming.

The trees are beginning to flower.

I planted gerbera daisies.

Daisies are so cheerful. ºÜº


and some pansies


happy little faces


Hello, little pansy.

I just had to take pictures today, even though it was overcast most of the day. I wanted to capture the beauty of spring.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO SNOW SATURDAY

Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ~Galatians 1:3-5