As Summer Wanes...

Change is in the air!  You can sense the last days of summer melting into the season of fall.  The leaves on the trees have lost the vibrant newness of spring and now look tired from many hot summer days.  Black birds have appeared in abundance, shouting (in bird style) their last hurrah to summer.  Geese, becoming restless in the fields, prepare for their eventual journey to warmer climates as the weather grows colder.  Daylight becomes less.  Our children return to school and by-by to summer vacations.  We move into the glorious season of fall, where the landscape turns from dull green into gold, orange and red.  But for now, we enjoy the few days left of summer....

Nearing the end of haying season - 'hurray"

I was in Bend recently and saw a flock of geese that had decided to make a stop at a parking lot at one of the local stores.  I grabbed my camera and made my approach at this unlikely place for geese to settle, even temporarily.  Obviously, the birds were used to humans as they did not get agitated or fly away as I walked up to them.  They seemed unconcerned and ready for their photo shoot.

Getting comfortable on cement!

Geese are my favorite birds.  I devoted a post to them entitled "Life Lessons from Geese".  Check it out at: http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/life-lessons-from-geese.html
We learn much from these feathered friends.  The below picture represents such freedom, grace and power in winged strength that these birds possess.  Also traffic congestion as they arrange themselves in flight.

From geese with speed in the sky to horses with speed on the ground.  Both, a beauty to watch in motion.  From the top of a hill, I was able to view the pastured horses below putting on their own exhibition of freedom, grace and strength.  It was in the early evening hour, when the sunset glow casts its own color across the landscape....

Diversity reigns in the universe and in the world.  We cannot begin to count the stars, let alone number the galaxies in existence.  On our earth, diversity ranges in seasons, in nature, in humanity and in God's creatures - big and small.  What a tapestry in creation!  I leave you with this quote to ponder on diversity which bursts forth out of combinations of five....

"There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
There are not more than five primary colors, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavors than can ever be tasted." - Sun Tzu


We'll meet again at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, September 15.  See you in a few weeks.... 

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Update  on Derek, Daniel and Josiah - the three cyclists that passed through our area on Day 11 of  their cross country bike ride.  Two weeks ago they were in Kansas and since then, have traveled through Missouri and are nearing the end of Kentucky.  The trio are presently on Day 58 and will soon be in Virginia - only 560 miles to go until they reach their destination in Yorktown.  Derek continues to fly "Old Glory" as illustrated by their amazing photo that they have posted on their blog...   http://transamerica2014.squarespace.com
Many thanks to Josiah for his daily posts and photography and for permission to use the below photo that is on their blog.  It is great fun 'traveling' with you and also makes us aware of the hazards that bicyclists face on the road - some injuries sustained but nothing that God can't heal.  Not to be deterred, Josiah and Daniel bike on with Derek and "Old Glory".   What an adventure!

Continue cheering them on and for their cause....  http://decicco.cccministry.org/pages/Ride+for+the+Family