Adventures with Penny

Aug

Keep Your Song Alive

Categories: Nature, Penny at Home

Here we are, celebrating a beautiful summer. The rains have been plenty lately and the gardens are lush and colorful. I wanted to share a little of that with you, not that photos can do it full justice, but I hope this will add a little brightness to your day.

These hibiscus were grown by a neighbor who brought them over to us. They are simply HUGE!! One I measured was ten inches across! I took a big one out and propped it up in the wisteria so I could pose Penny beside it. It gave her a rather shrinking feeling. What an enormous beauty.

“Oh, that we could reason less about our troubles, and sing and praise more!…

We can sing our cares away easier than we can reason them away.”

“Sing in the morning. The birds are the earliest to sing, and birds are more without care than anything else that I know of.

“Sing at evening. Singing is the last thing robins do. When they have done their daily work; when they have flown their last flight, and picked up their last morsel of food, then on a topmost twig, they sing one song of praise.

“Oh, that we might sing morning and evening, and let song touch song all the way through.”

“Don’t let the song go out of your life

Though it chance sometimes to flow

In a minor strain; it will blend again

With the major tone you know.

“What though shadows rise to obscure life’s skies,

And hide for a time the sun,

The sooner they’ll lift and reveal the rift,

If you let the melody run.

“Don’t let the song go out of your life;

Though the voice may have lost its trill,

Though the tremulous note may die in your throat,

Let it sing in your spirit still.

“Don’t let the song go out of your life;

Let it ring in the soul while here;

And when you go hence, ’twill follow you thence,

And live on in another sphere.“

quotes from Streams in the Desert (May 5th ) – Mrs. Charles Cowman

A peek through the wisteria arbor at our sunflower “trees”.

Gracie in the evening rain at sunset. I love this shot.

My quiet time lately has been in the Psalms enjoying these two books in the photo below with their comments. Today’s reading was in Psalm 37. “Fret not” is repeated three times in this Psalm. Then I highlighted the thoughts, “Trust in the Lord and do good… Delight thyself in the Lord… Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him… Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him… The Lord upholds you…. He is ever merciful… The Lord shall help… and deliver… because they trust in Him.”

Don’t let the song go out of your life, (fret not), but cling to Him.

Rest in the Lord. He upholds you.

Jul

Hawaii – Part Two

Categories: Evangeline, U.S.A.

Comments: No

Welcome back to our Hawaii tour with Evangeline! (Click here to see the first post Hawaii – Part One) We are enjoying this stunningly beautiful tropical beach. Oh, the blueness of the sky and water and the softness of the sand. How fascinating to find this odd turtle fellow traveling along at his thoughtful pace.

Seeing all this sand makes me think of the “grains of sand” verse in Psalm 139. Do you remember it? Speaking of how tenderly God loves us, the Psalmist says:

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand.”

On the Big Island of Hawaii, Evangeline took time to do a little lounging on the Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. What a funny idea, black sand! So much of Hawaii is lava related!

More black lava is evident in this cove below.

Mike and Chip are exploring and trying to identify fascinating new water items.

Just think of the beautiful mind that created and formed these unique and colorful discoveries. Our amazing Creator!

Could these be mulberry drupe shells? and “ha ‘uke ‘uke”, a helmet or shingle urchin? Fascinating!

A wee bit wind-blown is Evangeline here as she is out sightseeing on a cloudy day. Such expanse of moody ocean.

Now she is relaxing in a quiet display of water-related finds just her size.

Evangeline highly recommends this great bake shop from waaa-aaay down south.

Yummy, yummy, yummy!! Such sweet and sticky deliciousness.

A bit of memorabilia to bring home in remembrance of that visit. Now don’t get any coffee stains or frosting on Chip’s new hat, Evangeline!!

A unique bit of Hawaiian history was shared at this Kona Coffee Living History Farm.

Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s many Japanese emigrated to Hawaii and became industrious farmers of coffee. One farm was this 6 acre Uchida Coffee Farm purchased by a Japanese family in 1913 and through two world wars it kept producing large amounts of coffee beans and macadamia nuts. This farm has been preserved to display what their lifestyle in that period must have been like.

Hello there Mr. Burro! I learned that coffee doesn’t come from “beans” at all but from the pit inside a fruit like a cherry!

My craft-loving side was tickled by this sewing machine in the Japanese home.

Evangeline wanted to perch in this display of native fruits bought locally. A pineapple, of course, some stubby bananas, and hairy strawberries among others. Juicy and sweet!

From the Big Island of Hawaii, our friends traveled on to Maui.

March is a good time to do a bit of Whale Watching, as the humpback whales are wintering here at the Hawaiian Islands and when summer comes, they head up to Alaska. On the tour boat, our friends saw lots of whales in the water, and what a thrill to hear their song humming so deeply. Psalm 148:1,7 says “Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above… Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths.” And so they do in song!

Then a trip on the famous Road to Hana. An ad proclaims: “There are few words that can describe the beauty of this drive with its cliffs cloaked in green and lush valleys bursting with waterfalls. Curves hug the coast and gaze over an ocean.” Rustic and jungle-like sometimes, and not for the faint of heart!

Another highlight was to see the Giant Banyan Tree in Lahaina town. This huge landmark, covering nearly two-thirds of an acre, was imported from India and planted in Maui back in 1873. It was a memorial to the 50th anniversary of the first American Protestant mission to Lahaina. It stands 60 feet high and boasts over 16 major trunks that spread out in all directions creating a shady place to congregate beneath. Quite a landmark, I say! (This is a borrowed photo).

The Haleakala mountain volcano is unforgettable. This “House of the Sun” is a sacred place of many legends in original Hawaiian folklore. The mountain was formed by layers of lava increasing over the years. This information sign explains the forming of the giant crater.

Here we are up above the clouds. Magnificent!

An incredible view.

And some time was enjoyed splashing in the waves before it is time to say good bye to the Pacific Ocean.

Toward the end of the trip, a visit was made to the famous Mama’s Fish House.

Is your mouth watering for fresh local caught fish?

They say the menu lists the name of the fisherman who caught the fish and where he caught it. Did I see octapus on the menu as well?

Outside the restaurant you can stroll down to the ocean, and enjoy the sunset view.

Here are Evangeline’s friends that so kindly included her on their trip to explore the Hawaiian Islands. She had a great time and sends you all a Big THANK YOU!! for your hospitality. It was a good project for me to look up all these places and facts to flesh out this post. I’ve learned a lot about Hawaii! What a marvelous place.

Farewell, fair land of tropical beauty.

Psalm 148

¹Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
²Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
³Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
⁴Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.

⁵Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
⁶and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.

⁷Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
⁸lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,
⁹you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
¹⁰wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
¹¹kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
¹²young men and women,
    old men and children.

¹³Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens…

And speaking of the Pacific Ocean, on the way home, our friends took Evangeline to the Big Basin Redwoods State Park in California. The tour guide made friends with li’l Evangeline. Imagine being a little clothespin doll among the giant redwood trees. Awesome.

*******

Postscript: After Evangeline’s Hawaii visit in March, the news came that there was a giant volcanic eruption in one of the very places they visited. The Kilauea Volcano was pouring out lava near Leilani Estates on the Big Island of Hawaii. There 1,500 residents were ordered to evacuate their homes in May of 2018. We were praying for their safety. Quite a topic of interest after our friends were just there!

Jun

Visit to Hawaii – Part One

Categories: Evangeline, U.S.A.

Comments: 2

In March of this year, the clothespin doll, Evangeline, had a lovely chance to travel with our friends and do some exploring in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. Would you like to come along on her journey of favorite memories from there?

In one of the guest houses the host, who was a champion wind surfer, provided this beautiful Hawaiian bouquet as a warm welcome to his visitors. Notice the uniquely formed Bird of Paradise flower and the pretty pincushion protea.

Don and Chip spent time relaxing with their feet up, admiring the brightly colored Hawaiian pineapple socks my Dad sent with them for their trip. They were also admiring the effect of those socks against the amazing tropical scenery.

The Hawaiian State Flower is the yellow hibiscus that is native to these islands.

On the Island of Oahu, our friends visited the Dole Plantation – in celebration of pineapples! Hawaii has built up a large pineapple industry even though I learned that pineapples are not native there, but come from South America originally.

Don and Chip enjoying the inside of a cool pineapple.

Yum, Yum!!

Below are windsurfers on Oahu Island.

Oahu is home to the State Capital, Honolulu.

Also of interest is Pearl Harbor, a powerful place to visit in remembrance of its history to our nation. It was a very moving experience for our friends who were able to be there. Awesome.

Below, Evangeline, got her picture taken at Hanauma Bay at the south end of Oahu.

The land of sand and palm trees. So unlike our home in New York!

The North Shore is the legendary birthplace of big wave surfing. I don’t think Evangeline was keen to try it this time. “Have fun, guys!” says she.

Ker-splash, and away they go!

It is amazing to see God’s handiwork expressing His personality in so many ways. Some places He designed to be rugged, powerful and mighty. Some gentle, quiet and peaceful. Some places are colorful, bright and joyful.

He is present in all places, and delights to have our company. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

“If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23

Part Two coming soon…

May

A Song Unique to You

Categories: Nature, Our Farm

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One of the great joys of Spring is the music of the birds. It is sweet to take time to listen in awe to the harmony of the many, many songs lifted in praise to their Maker. I took these bird pictures all from our front porch one rainy day, thrilled to see so many birds in so short a time. Then I thought of them again yesterday when I was reading in the book Streams in the Desert, by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. Below are quotes from the reading dated May 30th describing how we are given a special song and trained to sing in a special way, so each of us can sing a song like no other.

“And no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” Revelation 14:3

“There are songs which can only be learned in the valley. No art can teach them; no rules of voice can make them perfectly sung. Their music is in the heart. They are songs of memory, of personal experience….

“In Heaven there will be a song that can only be fully sung by the sons of earth… Doubtless it is a song of triumph, a hymn of victory to the Christ who made us free. But the sense of triumph must come from the memory of the chain.

“No angel, no archangel can sing it so sweetly as I can. To sing it as I sing it, they must pass through my exile, and this they cannot do. None can learn it but the children of the Cross.

“And so, my soul, thou art receiving a music lesson from thy Father. Thou art being educated for the choir invisible… There are chords too minor for the angels… There are depths which belong to thee, and can only be touched by thee. Thy Father is training thee for the part the angels cannot sing; and the school is sorrow.

“In the night He is preparing Thy song. In the valley He is tuning thy voice. In the cloud He is deepening thy chords. In the rain He is sweetening thy melody… Despise not thy school of sorrow, O my soul; it will give thee a unique part in the universal song.

“Is the midnight closing round you?
Are the shadows dark and long?
Ask Him to come close beside you,
And He’ll give you a new, sweet song.
He’ll give it and sing it with you;
And when weakness lets it down,
He’ll take up the broken cadence,
And blend it with His own.

“And many a rapturous minstrel
Among those sons of light,
Will say of His sweetest music
‘I learned it in the night.’
And many a rolling anthem,
That fills the Father’s home,
Sobbed out its first rehearsal,
In the shade of a darkened room.”

*******

Apr

Spring Hatchings

Categories: Our Farm

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Finally the snow and ice have melted and gone, and we find that spring is really here. The sunshine is warm at last. The breezes are gentle and refreshing.

I always love to get pictures of Penny with the first blooms because I am so eager to see color after the cold harsh winter. What welcome cheer!

These mini daffodils are just her size.

Welcoming joyful blooms!

Now I’ll take you back a few years to some happy hatchings. I had this incubator set up to hatch some silkie chicks. Silkies are a favorite bantam chicken of mine. Their feathers are soft and hairy making them quite a novelty. They are naturally gentle and friendly.

After 21 days in a warm, moist environment, the chicks can be heard making little peeping noises inside the shell. Then cracks begin to appear where they are poking through with their beaks to come out. Each one has a special “egg tooth” on the end of their beak as a tool to get through the shell.

These eggs are dirty, but its best not to wash them so that the natural coating will protect them inside. Below is the chick at last appearing warm and wet, all perfectly formed and very tired!

And here is the empty shell left over. Isn’t it amazing that God makes them so carefully and delicately alive and functioning sealed inside that shell where we cannot see them?

As hatching day progresses it is a thrill to see shell after shell develop first a little peephole, then a larger crack, and finally open with another live chick emerging.

In the incubator they flop around a bit to try out their limbs and stretch free, then they take frequent naps to gain the energy to move around some more. Once their feathers dry and fluff up, we move them to a large cardboard box with a towel and heat lamp to keep them warm.

Oh, warm and happy, they love to snooze in here. Cozy. Cozy.

The family is growing!

Penny sings a lullaby as they relax and rest together.

Each will grow up to become a big white pom-pom. Here is a picture of the silkie rooster father.

Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

II Corinthians 5:17

Mar

The Lord is My Shepherd

Categories: Doodles

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I have another Doodle post for you today. Penny and I are illustrating Psalm 23, a favorite Psalm to many of “His sheep”. To recite this Psalm when you are burdened is a great comfort. To doodle it was a good exercise for me to try to picture each verse. I was impressed by the immense love God has for us and the many ways He takes to express it. If we could but immerse ourselves in all that is said here, we would have much lighter and more thankful hearts.

I know that the House of the Lord is Heaven itself, where God dwells, but I chose to illustrate it here like a welcoming cozy living room. There will be no night there, and no need for the heat of a fireplace, of clocks or lights, (for “the Lamb is the Light” see Revelation 21). In our limited human view this is a picture of a warm welcome home at the end of a day, and in Heaven that will be at its best, far beyond our imagination!