>A junco who visits our deck to pick up seed that falls from the hanging feeders has a broken wing feather. It sticks out at on odd angle, as if stuck in a permanent salute.It doesn't seem to interfere with his ability to fly; however, I can only imagine the havoc it must play when … Continue reading >Pity the Poor Junco

>...all's right with the world.My DSL connection, which went down Monday morning, has been restored.

>This morning, while I was simmering in the creative juices of what I've long called the "cozy cocoon" of my early morning bed, a poem began to come to me. I went into my office and wrote this:In a Cold GreenhouseGray filters throughdirt-encrusted glass panes;dead, withered plants hangfrom basket gallows.Stumbling along a pathlittered with filthy, … Continue reading >Cold Greenhouse

>I'm a pretty big Lord of the Rings fan. I don't consider myself a huge fan because I haven't tried to learn the languages, but I'm enough of a fan that I've read the three volumes of the book through each January for nearly thirty years.Last night Sam came home, took Eleanor on his lap … Continue reading >LOTR

>I finally understand why I've continued to feel discombobulated even after curtains are hung and lamps are in place following our painting project.My husband put together a couple of new bookshelves for my office last Saturday and I've been gradually shelving a few books each day this week.Now I know: It was the books. During … Continue reading >It was the books…

>Bearing in mind the saying, "When God sends you lemons, make lemonade," I've begun to record some of the more interesting subject lines of the spam I receive on my Yahoo account. I'm intrigued by the possibility of incorporating the unique word combinations into a novel or some other piece of fiction writing. It would … Continue reading >When God sends lemons

>The Americanism "discombobulated" is a perfectly suitable word to describe my feelings recently. We've been painting. But there's a whole lot more to painting than the mere verb.About a year ago, I purchased one of those "Bed in a Bag" sets of new linens for our bedroom. These sets include matching sheets, a comforter, pillow … Continue reading >Discombobulate

>There are many things I love about celebrating the incarnation of Christ, and singing Christmas hymns nears the top of the list.During our Christmas worship service yesterday, a couple of things struck me while singing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”While singing the second stanza, I was pierced with the beauty of the phrase: “Incarnate Deity”. … Continue reading >Incarnate Deity

>Last night Dave and I enjoyed watching Renee Fleming perform Christmas music with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and orchestra on PBS. Fleming's performance was a treat; she obviously relished each song. The show also featured Claire Bloom reading the biblical Christmas story in wonderfully rich tones. It was a great show. I stayed up another … Continue reading >Renee Fleming

>"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my … Continue reading >Knowing Nothing