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Two Sheep

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Here are two lovely sheep, one which is all white, and one with a black face.  Although I feel that the white sheep is nice looking and exceedingly content in eating her grass, my preference is definitely for the black-faced sheep.  I love contrast, and the black and white together is wonderful.  I also love that these two sheep are hanging out together, oblivious to their differences.  (And, so into their dinner that they don’t mind a close-up photograph :))

The contrasts in this life make life so much more rich and full.  A brilliant sun breaking through a cloudy day.  A beautiful voice singing as they stock the shelves in Walmart.  A yellow apple in the midst of all the red ones.  The first shoots of green grass re-emerging after the winter amidst the brown.  An unexpected hug coming in the midst of a hard day.

May your day have beautiful contrasts and differences and quirks.  Enjoy them! Slainte, Lisa

Flawed But Beautiful

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The two dogwood trees have flaws.  There are hollow spots in the trunk, yet the trees are still blooming, producing leaves.  They are still beautiful.  They still provide wonderful shade while I’m waiting for Amy to get off the bus; one of them has a bird’s nest nestled in the branches.

Yesterday, I talked briefly with an older gentleman sitting on a bench outside Walmart as I was leaving.  We talked about the sun coming back out and other weather-related discussion.  I noticed a cast on his arm, and asked if he had broken it.  He told me of trouble he had had with his skin as he was aging, and said, “I looked in the mirror this morning and almost broke it.”  He laughed halfheartedly, but I said, “We all see things in the mirror that we don’t like sometime, but I think you look great.”  He smiled and we said goodbye.

Flawed but still beautiful.  We all have our things, things we would change or fix or erase or improve.  But our God sees us as His creations, beautiful children that He has made and that He loves.  He can still use us, despite our flaws, hollow spots,  failings.  Thank goodness.    Have a beautiful autumn weekend.  Slainte, Lisa

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  (Philippians 4: 13)

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

“As Kind As Summer”

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Some of you know that I’m re-reading “The Hobbit” by Tolkien.  Bilbo and company have just left Rivendell, and are heading out past the Edge of the Wild.  A description of Elrond, the chief elf at Rivendell, struck me.  Tolkien said he was “as kind as summer.”  Sometimes words just hit you, and the way that they are ordered and phrased play around in your mind.

As kind as summer:

cooling breeze on a sweltering day

running outside without shoes and coats

splashing in an obliging ocean or pool

sipping a cool drink on a shady porch in a rocking chair

holding hands outside gazing at the stars

having time to lay back and just relax

greens and blues and yellow sun, white puffy clouds

picnics on blankets and looking for four-leaf clovers afterwards

a break from normal

As autumn is here, it’s kind of nice to look fondly back at the summer we had, and the summer we will look forward to returning.   Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy the changing colors, and kicking the leaves, and sipping on a warm tea.  Slainte, Lisa

….If you have any words to share about “kind summer”, please do.  🙂

Every Day

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“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.”  – Goethe

Well, how about this….

 little song:

 good poem:

“Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

a fine picture:

by Leonardo da Vinci

a few reasonable words:

hmmm…I leave that task to greater wits than me.

May this day be blessed.  Slainte, Lisa

The Misty Mountains

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With “The Hobbit” movie coming out soon, I am feeling Tolkien-minded as I look at this picture of the ascent of Carrantuohill in Ireland.  If you stretch your imagination  a bit, you can almost see Bilbo Baggins and his dwarf companions as they make their way on their great adventure.

“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it’s very difficult to find anyone.” (Gandalf)
I should think so — in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!” (Bilbo)
―    J.R.R. Tolkien,    The Hobbit

“Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.”
―    J.R.R. Tolkien,    The Hobbit

Now I have put myself quite in a mind to re-read The Hobbit.  For about the seventh time, but that’s ok, right?  🙂  Slainte, Lisa