The camp guy found this great moth yesterday, and I had to share a few pictures with you. These pictures really don’t do him justice – he was really striking.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
old journal entries, part 3b - bonus!
whoops! I lied - there were 4!
O God, you know the events of our lives before they unfold. You understand things that our perspective simply can't or won't. Things like children with serious medical problems.
I understand, God, that because of our disobedience and faithlessness we messed up this perfect world you gave us - we embraced imperfection. I confess, though, that I will never understand babies with terrible illness. I know you don't cause such situations - and I do NOT believe that moments like that are part of some grand design of yours. My understanding of your providence makes such a belief impossible.
It's devastating. And it's not even my child. But you tell us to love one another - to be in community with one another - and so we ache when another part of our community is hurting.
Yet we know that even in these moments - perhaps especially in these moments - you are with us. Comforting us through the community that surrounds us, and through the presence of your Holy Spirit.
Surround them. Comfort them. And whatever happens, give them a measure of your peace.
Amen.
O God, you know the events of our lives before they unfold. You understand things that our perspective simply can't or won't. Things like children with serious medical problems.
I understand, God, that because of our disobedience and faithlessness we messed up this perfect world you gave us - we embraced imperfection. I confess, though, that I will never understand babies with terrible illness. I know you don't cause such situations - and I do NOT believe that moments like that are part of some grand design of yours. My understanding of your providence makes such a belief impossible.
It's devastating. And it's not even my child. But you tell us to love one another - to be in community with one another - and so we ache when another part of our community is hurting.
Yet we know that even in these moments - perhaps especially in these moments - you are with us. Comforting us through the community that surrounds us, and through the presence of your Holy Spirit.
Surround them. Comfort them. And whatever happens, give them a measure of your peace.
Amen.
old journal entries, part 3
thanks for being patient with the ramblings...
O God, you created us with a desire for connection with one another. But it's more than just a desire isn't it? It's a need - an innate longing that will be satisfied by nothing less than community. Was this intentional? I think it must have been. You knew, even as we were being developed how much we would need to be accountable to one another - and how much better our lives would be if we would seek each other out. And you didn't stop there, either.
You made that need for connection even deeper. Not only do we need connection with others, we also must have connection with you. In the absence of that relationship, we fill the void with other, varied things, that may make us happy briefly, but never ease the ache of that absence. You can provide us comfort from our anguish - both in our connection to you and with our community.
Why then, are some, when they need that community most, separated? Not even intentionally, but through circumstance. How do we provide community support to them? How can we provide support to those who don't wish for separation or isolation, but are so broken, that they see no other way?
Help me, God, to honor and uphold my own connections that I am so thankful for. And help me most of all to be a loving presence to those who need one most - whoever they may be.
Amen.
O God, you created us with a desire for connection with one another. But it's more than just a desire isn't it? It's a need - an innate longing that will be satisfied by nothing less than community. Was this intentional? I think it must have been. You knew, even as we were being developed how much we would need to be accountable to one another - and how much better our lives would be if we would seek each other out. And you didn't stop there, either.
You made that need for connection even deeper. Not only do we need connection with others, we also must have connection with you. In the absence of that relationship, we fill the void with other, varied things, that may make us happy briefly, but never ease the ache of that absence. You can provide us comfort from our anguish - both in our connection to you and with our community.
Why then, are some, when they need that community most, separated? Not even intentionally, but through circumstance. How do we provide community support to them? How can we provide support to those who don't wish for separation or isolation, but are so broken, that they see no other way?
Help me, God, to honor and uphold my own connections that I am so thankful for. And help me most of all to be a loving presence to those who need one most - whoever they may be.
Amen.
old journal entries, part 2
Old journal entry #2...
Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? I guess I'm somewhere in between the God as puppet master in the sky and everything is random. I understand the attraction to the notion that everything is part of a larger plan - that all things have purpose. It makes hard things make more sense than if they were just things that happened for no apparent reason. But the trick to that is, that then you must believe in a God that does bad things to people for some unidentifiable and mysterious purpose. And even if it is supposedly for "our own good", that's really hard for me to swallow. I might buy the God as parent rationale for that except that that's pretty limited. There are some things parents just don't do - even for teaching or disciplinary purposes. And I don't think God does them either. I think that God can work through bad things for our good, and that she does - but not that she causes bad things to happen. And I do believe that there are things that God does, in working in and through our lives that we aren't meant to understand.
Mystery befuddles us doesn't it? Oh, we like it well enough - but only in the context of trying to solve it. We're fascinated with the unsolved, because of our innate desire to solve it... but maybe there are some things we're not meant to really understand - at least not yet.
And so, I guess, faith in God's providence and an acceptance of God's presence - even in the most difficult times - will have to serve me for today. And while it won't make me stop asking questions that can't be answered, I'm ok with it.
Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? I guess I'm somewhere in between the God as puppet master in the sky and everything is random. I understand the attraction to the notion that everything is part of a larger plan - that all things have purpose. It makes hard things make more sense than if they were just things that happened for no apparent reason. But the trick to that is, that then you must believe in a God that does bad things to people for some unidentifiable and mysterious purpose. And even if it is supposedly for "our own good", that's really hard for me to swallow. I might buy the God as parent rationale for that except that that's pretty limited. There are some things parents just don't do - even for teaching or disciplinary purposes. And I don't think God does them either. I think that God can work through bad things for our good, and that she does - but not that she causes bad things to happen. And I do believe that there are things that God does, in working in and through our lives that we aren't meant to understand.
Mystery befuddles us doesn't it? Oh, we like it well enough - but only in the context of trying to solve it. We're fascinated with the unsolved, because of our innate desire to solve it... but maybe there are some things we're not meant to really understand - at least not yet.
And so, I guess, faith in God's providence and an acceptance of God's presence - even in the most difficult times - will have to serve me for today. And while it won't make me stop asking questions that can't be answered, I'm ok with it.
some old journal entries
In an effort to clear some clutter in my house, I'm going through old papers and I found an old journal with exactly three entries.... SO.... I'm going to post them here and throw out the journal. Thank you for your support of my wierdness about throwing things away, and your patience in reading my old ramblings!
The sand on my feet is therapy. I love going to the beach anyway, but it's always especially nice when I'm stressed. It's a sort of sensual experience - when I go, what I love is the sand between my toes, the ocean breeze in my hair, the smell of salt and water all around me and the constant noise of the waves. And, of course, the view -
Today we went and the boys played and I enjoyed just listening and watching - like a sponge, trying to absorb as much as I could.
I'm so worried and compressed by what's happening around me, but I go to the beach and for one moment I am free...
the breeze blowing where it will
the gull on the wing
the water relentless and untethered...
I look at the sock lines around my ankles and think they are a metaphor for this moment at the beach.
My socks, like the world, can restrict and contain me.
Thanks be to God that I have these moments to lose them both and I can be loosed from the constraints of worry, doubt, fear...
and yes, even socks!
The sand on my feet is therapy. I love going to the beach anyway, but it's always especially nice when I'm stressed. It's a sort of sensual experience - when I go, what I love is the sand between my toes, the ocean breeze in my hair, the smell of salt and water all around me and the constant noise of the waves. And, of course, the view -
Today we went and the boys played and I enjoyed just listening and watching - like a sponge, trying to absorb as much as I could.
I'm so worried and compressed by what's happening around me, but I go to the beach and for one moment I am free...
the breeze blowing where it will
the gull on the wing
the water relentless and untethered...
I look at the sock lines around my ankles and think they are a metaphor for this moment at the beach.
My socks, like the world, can restrict and contain me.
Thanks be to God that I have these moments to lose them both and I can be loosed from the constraints of worry, doubt, fear...
and yes, even socks!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Garden Pictures and Wine Update
Here are some pics of the camp garden that I took the other day during a break in the rain. It’s really coming along! I picked some lettuce and spinach and a few chives for a salad to go with dinner the other night. It’s SO satisfying to be able to go pick something and take it right to the table!
Strawberries, Spinach and Onions
Cherry and Roma Tomatoes and Lettuce
Bell Peppers, Lettuces, Onions, Herbs and Cherokee Yellow Bush Beans
This is the same bed as the previous one, just a bit closer.
Patty Pan Squash and Variegated Oregano
This picture is the dandelion wine, now strained, but still murky… I am unsure about it’s color, but am pleased to report that it at least has begun to smell like wine! I think I’ll strain it a few more times with some coffee filters to see if I can refine it bit more. I have not been brave enough to taste it yet! Maybe tomorrow…?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Garden update
I got out yesterday and worked in the garden for a few hours. I planted a few more things and just cleaned up some of the empty pots and loose straw that were floating around. We now have the following planted in the camp garden:
Tomatoes (Early Girl, Lemon Boy, Mr. Stripey, Big Boy, Roma and Husky Cherry Red)
Onions
Lettuces
Cabbage
Spinach
Strawberries
Yellow Cherokee Bush Beans
Kentucky Blue Pole Beans
Potatoes (Yukon Gold and Red Pontiac)
Red and Green Bell Peppers
Bright Lights Swiss Chard
Broccoli
Yellow and Zucchini Squash
Triamble Squash (Many thanks to Novella over at Ghost Town Farm, who sent me the seeds. I can't wait to see how they turn out!)
Assorted herbs
If it stops raining long enough, I'll go out and get a picture for you. Until then, I'll keep the laundry going... wheee!
Tomatoes (Early Girl, Lemon Boy, Mr. Stripey, Big Boy, Roma and Husky Cherry Red)
Onions
Lettuces
Cabbage
Spinach
Strawberries
Yellow Cherokee Bush Beans
Kentucky Blue Pole Beans
Potatoes (Yukon Gold and Red Pontiac)
Red and Green Bell Peppers
Bright Lights Swiss Chard
Broccoli
Yellow and Zucchini Squash
Triamble Squash (Many thanks to Novella over at Ghost Town Farm, who sent me the seeds. I can't wait to see how they turn out!)
Assorted herbs
If it stops raining long enough, I'll go out and get a picture for you. Until then, I'll keep the laundry going... wheee!
Friday, April 16, 2010
the Zombies are attacking!
We went to the F.I.R.S.T. World Robotics Championship today with our elementary school's Lego Club, and this was one of the things we saw. I'm pretty sure it's someone's Lego recreation of the Zombie apocalypse...
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Garden Update and Adventures in Winemaking... sort of.
The garden is nearing completion a stopping point, all the vast majority of the dirt is dumped/mixed/ammended, and all MOST of the plants are in. It's really taking shape! Now to sit back and relax, enjoy the fruits of my labors, mulch between the beds... I'll post pics later so you can see how it's going!
Another wild hair that I had was to try making some dandelion wine. Actually, I had this idea last year, but had no idea the sheer VOLUME of dandelions needed for this process! Plus, then someone told me it was not a good idea, which just meant that I HAD to do it this year... FYI - telling me NOT to do something does not always work to your best advantage people!
SO, this year I convinced (by way of bribery!) the two small people that live in my house to help me pick the many, many flowers we needed. And my Mom and my Nana said, "don't bother, it's gross!"
Which means, of course, that I must proceed with my diabolical plan...
SO, I boiled water, poured it over the washed flowers, and let it sit. Today, I strained it through cheesecloth, and while it looked rather murky, it didn't smell unpleasant, just sort of reminiscently grassy. Then I added the other ingredients that the recipe that I'm using called for (some juices, sugar and yeast) and stirred and frankly, now it smells...GROSS!
Like some horribly yeasty weed juice, which, I guess, it is...
It has to sit for a week to ferment before it can be bottled. Bottled?! It better smell a WHOLE lot better by the end of the week for me to go that far!
Just don't tell my mom, ok? ;)
Another wild hair that I had was to try making some dandelion wine. Actually, I had this idea last year, but had no idea the sheer VOLUME of dandelions needed for this process! Plus, then someone told me it was not a good idea, which just meant that I HAD to do it this year... FYI - telling me NOT to do something does not always work to your best advantage people!
SO, this year I convinced (by way of bribery!) the two small people that live in my house to help me pick the many, many flowers we needed. And my Mom and my Nana said, "don't bother, it's gross!"
Which means, of course, that I must proceed with my diabolical plan...
SO, I boiled water, poured it over the washed flowers, and let it sit. Today, I strained it through cheesecloth, and while it looked rather murky, it didn't smell unpleasant, just sort of reminiscently grassy. Then I added the other ingredients that the recipe that I'm using called for (some juices, sugar and yeast) and stirred and frankly, now it smells...GROSS!
Like some horribly yeasty weed juice, which, I guess, it is...
It has to sit for a week to ferment before it can be bottled. Bottled?! It better smell a WHOLE lot better by the end of the week for me to go that far!
Just don't tell my mom, ok? ;)
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