Escape from Sheltered-In

Yea! Freedom...perfect place...we escaped to the woods. 

A 'trail walk' was perfect for our get-away!

We wore our masks. We met a few people and were able to stay six feet away. They stopped and stepped away or we did. 

It's great to breathe the fresh air and get a little exercise. 

Highly recommended!

Living in Thin Places

Thin Places is a series of sermons given during Epiphany 2019 by Rev. Siegfried S. Johnson, Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, USA

To quote Rev. Johnson: "The theme is drawn from the writings of early Christianity in Ireland, Thin Places, a term used by Celtic Christians from about the 5th century, having in that beautiful land developed a strong sense of sacred space, certain trees, caves, streams, and mountains regarded as sanctuaries of nature. 

In a 'Thin Place' the veil between this world and the divine world, heaven and earth, seemed somehow sheer, porous allowing God's glory to seep through to our awareness." 

This series got me to think about my 'thin places'. These come to mind:

Muir Woods, California
When I entered the woods, I felt a sense of peace. I needed to be still and quiet. All was quiet, although there were many other people there. 





This theme was covered in The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell.
On Page 92: "I think it's Cicero who says that when you go into a great tall grove, the presence of a deity becomes known to you."

Bohemian Grove, California

I attended a wedding in the Bohemian Grove. All of the guests were driven into the woods by bus from Santa Rosa. The minute I stepped off the bus I heard organ music echoing through the trees. I went very still and listened as did the bus load of guests. There is a full pipe organ in 'The Grove'. The organist played until the wedding began. 

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
When I walked the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, I could feel the presence of the great men that I walked those streets.



I have seen my Guardian Angels.

One night as I was going to sleep, sometime between rest and deep sleep, I slightly opened my eyes and observed two greenish ethereal beings. It seemed that one 'angel' was relieving the other 'angel'. It was like they were changing shifts in order to watch over me.

My Aunt Mary Lou passed a few years ago. As I was dreaming, the veil opened and she peeked through. She was smiling and conveyed to me that she was fine. Then, she danced away, twirling on her toes.

I made a deal with my mother. After she passed, if it was possible, she was to leave me a sign that she was well on the other side. It was a while before I got my sign. Sometime the next summer, I took her Christmas Cactus outside. It wasn't long before it was in full bloom. I believe she is fine and at some time I will see her again. 

St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans

Whenever I go into a Cathedral, I feel close to God. Something happens there that I don't feel in other churches. When I was in the 5th Grade, I visited the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. Even then, I could feel something special.




These are the scriptures Rev. Sieg used for this series:
#1 January 20, 2019 Living in Thin Places Psalms 42 :1-2 
#2 January 27, 2019 Made  for Another World John 3:7-8
#3 February 3, 2019 The Well Is Deep John 4:10-11
#4 February 10, 2019 Step into the Stirring John 5:5-7
#5 February 17, 2019 How Now, Chop Logic! John 6:41-42
#6 February 24, 2019 Concealed in the Crease John 7:3-5
 If you would like to read these sermons, go to link at the beginning of this post. Click on 'Worship'  and then, Rev. Sieg's Sermons 

Side Trip Butterfly Pavilion Westminster Colorado

While on our 'Road Trip Destination Colorado', I took a morning out to visit the Butterfly Pavilion. It was a quick drive from our hotel. It was early on a Friday so it was me and a couple of bus loads of kids on a field trip. It was really fun watching them interact with the bugs, sea creatures, and butterflies. That's the kids you hear on both of the videos.


The first room was the 'bug room'. Most of the kids lined up for a chance to have Rosie, the tarantula, crawl on their arm. I passed the opportunity. (No, I didn't get a picture of Rosie.) There was also a bee hive in glass. I looked for the queen, but she was hiding that day. Most of the bugs were in hiding so I ventured to the sea creatures exhibit. 

Then, on to the butterflies. Everyone has to enter one door into a waiting area. Then, when everyone is in and that door is closed, the door to the butterfly area can be opened. It is almost like a rain forest with butterflies everywhere. Some are posing; some are flying; and some are hiding. Some were even feeding. Who knew that butterflies could be aggressive? (Check out the video at the end of the photos.)
  

Brown Butterfly

When brown butterfly opens,
it is blue.

Then, hit the gift shop and purchased a few things-a garden solar butterfly light and a butterfly for my printer's tray. Fun morning on my own!

The Orioles-Here Today Gone Tomorrow

One day there were Orioles all over Hot Springs Village. Everyone with feeders had at least three birds looking for food. The next day they were gone. I guess they moved on to their summer home. Here are some pictures of the ones that visited my feeder.

HERE TODAY.....

...GONE TOMORROW

THEN AND NOW-THE LIFE OF A TREE

I have been keeping a photo record of a Jane Magnolia tree that we got when we moved into our house in Little Rock twenty-five years ago. We moved to another town six years ago. We go check on it from time to time when we are back in town. It is still growing and putting on its spectacular Spring show.

February 2009

March 2010

March 2018

Eastern Red Fox Squirrel in My Backyard!

This is a first for me. Who knew that an Eastern Red Fox Squirrel would show up in my backyard? I am used to seeing gray squirrels in my yard and have seen black squirrels on a golf courses or parks. Never have seen one of these until it appeared a couple of days ago.

I looked out my window and low and behold there it was gleaning black oil sunflower seeds from around my bird feeder.  There was a grey squirrel gleaning along side, but that didn't deter either one from accomplishing their mission. It was really big in relation to the 'Gray". I checked the next day, but it hasn't returned. 

I'll be vigilant. Keep you posted.

Walking the Trails in 2016 Installment Two

A perfect day for a walk.  Considering that rain is predicted all of next week we decided to check out the Cedar Creek Trail.  It was in the path of some high winds last year and was closed for a long time.  After a major pick-up it was reopened.  It is still winter on the Trail.  I saw a few wild flowers, but no buds on the trees.  The evidence of the damage really showed with no foliage to hide all of the downed trees.  

After parking the car at Lot A we walked about 1.5 miles of the 3 miles of trails.  We took the Blue Bird Path to the Mourning Dove Path and turned around about half way.  

Then, we took the Kingfish Loop and back to the car. We'll go back when it is in foliage and walk the other 1.5 miles. 

Along the trail we saw some cairns, 

a few wild flowers, 

evidence of a beaver (maybe), 

and a lot dormant hardwoods.

The only evidence of Spring is in my back yard. 

 A single omen that Spring might be on its way.

Walking the Trails Again in 2016...

Hot Springs Village has 15 trails totaling 30 miles for running, walking, hiking, or biking. In 2012 and 2013 we walked all of them.  The weather has been so nice this winter we decided to make a return trip to each of them.  The first on our list was the closest to us and we wanted to see how it fared.  The lake beside the trail had been plagued with an algae type scum and was taking over.  It was not a pretty sight and still is a mess.  It looks as if it has been drained in hopes of killing the algae.  I am hoping it succeeds because it is an interesting trail for birds and plant life. 

 

In fact, my first trip down the trail was a bird walk on a cold March morning around 8:00 am. The Hot Springs Village Audubon Society conducted the tour. I was so cold that all I remember seeing was a cardinal and I could see those in my backyard. Oh and I heard a few tweets and twitters.

Pictures from our walk this year.

Turtles

Trees

Turtles and Trees

Trail's End

Sums it up for this Trail in 2016