A-Z 3rd

C 

If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 
-Matthew 16:24

(What are these crosses we carry?  We could say sitting around waiting for the pandemic to pass is a cross.  The biggest crosses, it seems to me, are the ones we've made for ourselves such as clinging to selfish habits and refusing to acknowledge that we aren't in charge- that God is in charge.  Happily, we don't have to do this alone when we stay yoked to Jesus.)

O my God, I thank you for this cross you have allowed me to carry. Please give me the strength and faith to persevere so that I may bring glory to your name while withstanding the burden of its weight. Thank you for offering me a share in your suffering. I know that you have always been, are now, and ever will be, at my side every step of the way. Thank you also for every "Simon" that you have sent to help me bear this cross.

I have prayed so often that this thorn in my flesh would be removed, but I trust that your grace is sufficient. Change my heart's troubled cry of --"How long, O Lord", into words of trust: "However long, O Lord". May I seek only to do your will and to unite my sufferings with your passion. Help me to not get lost in my own self concerns, but may I find in these trials a way to greater virtue, a call to prayer and a path to trust in you alone. Permit me not to waste my pain, but to make of these struggles a sacrificial offering for others.

Lord, when I am weary and I fall, exhausted under the weight of this cross, please give me the courage to press on as you did. Lord Jesus, I embrace with love my cross, as a share in your own. By your grace, may I carry it all the way to the vision of your glory. I abandon myself totally to your will. Christ Jesus, I trust in you. Amen

A-Z 1st and 2nd

April is A-Z blogging month.  Let's give it a go, shall we?  April 1st and 2nd now.





A

Alternate A:  autonomy.  In light of our current social distancing reality, maybe better to call it anti autonomy.








B

Only yesterday I was wandering around in the mist deciding which bush needed pruning.  This Korean Lilac has lots of deadwood.

Trail Camage 4

Classic deer stare.

It's tempting to believe they know about the camera.

Peek a boo

Cute deer pose

Ham deer.

Going places.

Travelling Tom.

Has he found love?  (A couple weeks ago I was on the road in my car and had to stop and wait for a couple of toms to finish strutting for about six hens.)

Staying at Home

We're still under house arrest here at the homestead as we are considered non essential beings according to Gov. Whitmer's Executive Order.

Clover and Lily don't generally cuddle.  They are being defiant to the social distancing diktat.

Meanwhile, Henry thinks it's time to do some spring chores.

A certain cabin fevered gardener is all for that idea.  We'll begin by setting up the rain barrels.

These robins may watch, if they wish.

Fallen Log Trail Camage

Set up the camera a bit further off trail this time.

Deer fleeing the scene.

Gray squirrel.  (On the left atop the log.)

Red squirrel well camouflaged.  (Look to the left in front of the log.)

Here he is again, this time trying to lift up the log?!  (Near the center, framed by branches.)

Here we have a mysterious critter.  See his tail left of the log.

Here's his head and body. 

And this is freaky.  Is that black plastic partially buried?  Somebody hiding a body? 

In Before the Lock

I gave blood on Monday.  We entered the nondenominational church's gym through a single door met by a woman who squirted hand sanitizer onto our palms and ordered us to rub it in.  Then she took our temperature.  If we were normal we were allowed in.


Checking in was the same as usual.  A volunteer scanned my donor card then told me to sit and wait.



The chairs in the waiting area where positioned approximately five feet from each other.  I've been giving at this location for years because everybody is so nice.  On this day nobody talked to each other.



When it was my turn to be checked out by a nurse things got even less friendly.  She stuck my right middle finger to check my iron level.  I scored an eleven.  She said that was too low.  I remarked that I'd had a physical about three weeks ago.  Surely, they would have noticed if my iron was low.

Nurse Terse said, you must be 12.5 to give blood.  (One time a nurse told me my iron reading was low due to my cold hands!)  Nurse Terse asked if I wanted to try the other hand.  I'd already put 45 minutes into this venture so I said yes.  My left middle finger scored a 14.5.  I asked how can there be such a huge difference between them?  Nurse Terse said, that's just the way it goes.



Now I was back in the waiting area.  My fellow waiters stared into space or into their phones.  Things were slower today though the woman at the door said many blood donors had cancelled.



At the blood drawing station they sanitized the entire cot after each donor then waited till it dried.

The phlebotomist was nice.  She even smiled at me a couple times.



Now it was time to sit for a minimum of ten minutes to "recover" from giving blood.  Though I've never felt the need, I cooperate and spend that time drinking juice and enjoying the hospitality.  At this location they usually have a table set up with sandwiches and crudites and homemade brownies.  You help yourself family style.  This day of course was different.  Individual tables with a single chair were set up about five feet apart.  Someone wearing gloves served your snack.



The lady who usually offers shoulder rubs was there but didn't touch anybody.

It felt like Us vs Them.  But who is who?

Breed Profile: Spinone Italiano

The Spinone Italiano is easy going, affectionate and a versatile hunter.  Spinone Italiano means Italian Griffon.

Photo by  Caroline Granycome

Believed to have originated in the Italy's Piedmonte district where the terrain is rough, the sturdy Spinone was used to point, set and retrieve water fowl, upland fowl and small furry animals.  Fifteenth century Italian artwork features dogs that look very much like Spinoni.

Photo by I, Johami

Spinone Manifesto


-  I am not a hyper pointer, don't hog the couch.

-  my beard disguises loose jowls.  There will be slobber.

-  if you want a watch dog, get an Akita.

Photo by Alephalpha

Some Spinone Italiano Facts

-  weight:  male 75-86 #, female 64-75#

-   height:  male 24-28", female 23-26"

-  lifespan:  12-14 years

-  single wiry coat.  Colors:  white, brown roan, orange and white, orange roan

Photo by Brad Patrick

Some say the Spinone is such a natural hunter that he doesn't need training.  That is probably hyperbole.  Still, he is an able hunter who does not limit himself to just pointing, setting or retrieving.  He does it all.

He is also a family dog and would be unhappy living outside in a kennel.  The Spinone gets along with other dogs and is patient with children.  His webbed feet make him a good swimmer.

Photo by Alephalpha

Spinone are loyal and docile.  However, they are intelligent enough to learn quickly and are therefore not keen on repetition or drilling.

They are friendly and amiable to strangers.  Though Spinone are an active breed, their exercise needs can be met by a daily walk and a romp session.

What is It?

This was caught by the trail cam.

Is this some sort of mutant or what?   Let me know what you think!