Toads

This morning while I was harvesting some rhubarb and Lucy was getting some Chinese Cabbage in, there was a toad, sitting there looking at us. It was as if we had invaded his turf! He looked most uninterested in our work. Toads are like that.

Toads are also a wonderful thing to have in your garden. They eat and eat bugs. I watched one evening as one let the bugs land on him and in one swoop he gobbled them up one at a time.

Here's to more of nature's helpers. You guys are wonderful!

(Be sure to click on the picture)

Shepherds

When I went to Israel for the first time all I wanted to do was to meet a shepherd. I did. When I was there the last time I had an extended conversation with one.

Shepherds are interesting people.
1. They take care of the sheep.
2. They are alone in their work.
3. They love their work and their sheep.
4. They are in the outdoors all the time.
5. Shepherds are deeply committed to one thing- the welfare of that flock.
6. The sheep love the shepherd but that does not preclude their wandering.
7. The shepherds I met made an impression on me to this day.

Uninvited Guests

Don't worry I am not even thinking about crashing your BBQ today! The title of this entry reflects a cool thing that come with having a pond in your backyard. Wildlife shows up that you never anticipated.

This morning this box turtle came into the yard! He is very young. What a beautiful sight! I love these surprises!

The Rainbow and God's Promises

The date May 12th will never be the same for my family. On May 12, 2000 my brother Mark left this earth for heaven just a few weeks after his 40th birthday. I called my Mom on that morning this week morning... A rainbow appeared Tuesday night - 9 years to the day of Mark’s death, a double one. Lucy and I saw it on our way home from visiting a member of our congregation at North Shore University Hospital. It was spectacular!

After my brother died I began making my own cards for family members. My nephew had made a picture for me of a rainbow with the saying, “God Keeps on Working”. He said, “Remember Uncle Larry we heard that when my dad died?” I honestly don’t remember- it could have been an angel!

Lucy and I have that little picture of the rainbow hanging up in the kitchen. I put the rainbow on the back of my cards with the verse from Psalm 145.13 The LORD is faithful to all His Promises.

This Tuesday nine years to the day later God confirmed His Word to me with a double rainbow. Lucy and I were in awe of it.

What a Great Day!

Today was spent in the yard. The garden is my therapy. An hour out there and life's problems are put into perspective. While I planted annuals, Lucy worked in the vegetable gardens. Everything looks so fresh and alive. We were visited again by the red bellied woodpecker who is nesting in a tree on the premises.
It has been cool to watch him and his mate at the feeders this afternoon, while Lucy and I worked out there. They are such a brilliant bird.

Many things are happening out back, we have begun to get visitors. Come and you'll get to feed the fish and check out all the new flowers in bloom.

Thank God For All The Rain!

For those of us who have traveled to arid areas, we know that a few days of rain there are like a gift from heaven. This mid spring soaking we are getting is going to pay off big time over the summer. It is doing things no watering can do. There is a beauty to rain. The sun will come out tomorrow. Enjoy this day.

The LORD made it too!

Important Announcement on May Day!

For those in the Northeast and midwest...

Please turn off your underground sprinklers for the weekend... The LORD has you covered. He will be watering for us!

Let It Rain!!!