Wintry Potpourri

I decided to do March 3rd's post with photos in continuance of our winter scenes experienced in January and February in Grant County.  Now that March is upon us, green grass is beginning to shoot up through the dormant earth heralding the advent of spring.  I notice the miracle of life with buds beginning to form on trees, the first indication of spring and summer foliage.  This country is known to have the odd snowstorm which comes in March or April, but it doesn't last since winter is in its "last hurrah".

January Sunrise (click on photos for enlargement)

I'm usually a night owl rather than an early bird, but I'm glad I was up early enough to catch this gorgeous sunrise which bathed the hills in all its colored glory.  A sharp contrast from the gray days that winter can bring.  

The classic strawberry mountain range is always a photographer's dream, no matter the season.  The shots below are just a few of many taken on a winter's drive along Highway 26 above Prairie City in February.

Mountain Road on Highway 26

Strawberry Mountain Range near Prairie City

We also have our resident geese, which stay throughout the winter season.  They don't seem to mind the snow and manage to eat the crumbs of hay left behind after pasture feeding.  You can spot them in various fields throughout the John Day Valley surviving the winter weather.  You can read extensively about geese in a December 9, 2013 post that I did, entitled "Life Lessons From Geese" that includes a PhotoShow.    
Link is:  http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/12/life-lessons-from-geese.html

Resident Geese

The Eagle Pair

Several eagles flew into our area and for a short time, liked to perch in the same tree surveying the activity around them.  Perhaps they had an "eye" for dinner, looking for a solitary rabbit or a carcass to eat off of.  Perhaps they were just resting until they took flight for a meal elsewhere.  These were the same two that I photographed and had in my recent post, "The Eagle Factor" written on January 20th.

Also in January, we were treated to a hoar frost nature display.  One of the simplest explanations for hoar frost is frozen dew that forms a white coating on a surface.  Trees, brush, weeds, wire fences and fence posts are suddenly transformed from the mundane to magical as they are painted in nature's array of ice crystals.  The frosty wonderland slowly disappeared as the day warmed.  But for a while, it was great to view the sights that took on new life in this splendid coat of white crystal.

Pasture tree painted with hoar frost

Cobweb Magic in white crystal

Wire, weed & fence posts

In my last post, I introduced you to Charlie.  In today's post, I'd like to introduce you to Ring and Bud.  They are two new members of our family acquired this winter.  They are Border collie dogs and brothers from the same litter.  At the time this photo was taken, they were barely two months old.  They are quickly growing and doing stuff that puppies like to do, such as trashing the back yard with all kinds of things they find to chew on.  Now, don't they look sweetly full of mischief??  (Oh yes, they do get along with Charlie!... the dog-cat has taught them some manners.)

Ring and Bud

Until we meet again at the Turn-Up Patch, here is a wonderful quote by St. Francis de Sales ~
... God attracts our minds to himself by his supreme beauty and incomprehensible goodness
... So God, Father of all light, supremely good and beautiful, by his beauty draws our intellect to
    contemplate him,        
... and by his goodness he draws our will to love him."


 See you on Monday, March 17th, which by the way, is St. Patrick's Day.

Wintry Home On The Range

Oregon was treated to a heavy snowfall, which lasted for several days during February 7 and 8th.  For those of you who do not live in Oregon, this was welcomed since we have had very little moisture in the form of snow or rain throughout the winter months.  I share with you several photos of "snowstorm feeding"on the ranch. Despite the weather, daily feeding must be done to sustain livestock during the winter season in Eastern Oregon.

Today's post will be more on photographs and less on words.... but then, it is said that a picture can be worth a thousand words....

  "Snowstorm feeding"

 

Countryside scene beyond the back of a snowy horse

Chow time!  Come and get it...

Delicious!... (if you're a horse)

We inherited a special cat that came our way that decided he liked our ranch home and hasn't left since.  He is more like a "dog-cat"!  Charlie, (which we call him), doesn't think like a normal cat... he plays with the dogs and is very involved when ranch stuff is happening.  You can find him walking on irrigation pipes and wheels, on the top rafters of the arena and doing a balancing act on just about anything he can find just to be part of the action.  Charlie shows up at the door for his dinner and a warm bowl of milk and then he's off again for more adventures. Since the dogs have accepted him as one of their own, you can occasionally find him curled up with one of them for a warm nap.

"Charlie"

As I write this particular post, we are now experiencing rain and warmer temperatures.  The snow has fast disappeared into a very wet and soggy land in the John Day Valley.   Such is the experience of winter's fickle weather at home on the range. 

One last photo that I'd like to share with you, my friends.  Several days ago, while driving through mountain scenery on Hwy 26 east of Austin Junction, fog had settled in the higher altitude causing this effect on the forest trees.  What is amazing is my camera - a Nikon Coolpix 510, which captured this great image out of the window of a moving truck as we traveled down the highway....

"See you" on March 3 for my next post on The Turn-Up Patch....  how quickly time is flying by!  Until then, enjoy your remaining winter days with or without snow, for the promise of spring is fast approaching.

Here is an interesting thought by Charles Kingsley that could apply to all the seasons we go through in life:  Make it a rule, and pray to God to help you keep it, never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say:  "I have made one human being at least a little wiser, or a little happier, or at least a little better this day."  I could also add a footnote to the above thought and include our animal friends as well.

Jelly Beans

I love jelly beans and enjoy each and every flavor as I pop them in my mouth and savor their individual taste. You can find just about every flavor there is to offer, even popcorn.  My favorite is strawberry among the many sweet varieties to salivate over.  I like using jelly beans in story illustration and would like to share with you a perspective if we looked at one another as a jelly bean. We are all the same and yet so different in "flavor"...  each of us carry our own personal history and beliefs which has molded and shaped us.  You and I; we are different flavors or personalities and it is God's intention for us to blend and yet, remain individual in our own taste.

We could extend this illustration further into His Church... all the varied denominations under the umbrella of Christianity.   I think of them as flavors; we enjoy a certain flavor that a church denomination offers or in the instance of the "sheep of My Pasture".  These are ones who for personal reasons do not belong to a particular denomination, but follow the Shepherd, where there is no church building or structure. Nevertheless, they are part of the whole, which we refer to as His believers.  I have tasted different flavors in my spiritual journey and they all whisper of God, the unifier being Christ.  We are distinct in color and taste and should come together to be enjoyed in corporate gathering with one another.  That is my definition of ecumenical, which in simple terms, is unity among the Churches and in appreciation of one another as spiritual brothers and sisters.

 

These photos are an unlikely combination.  I poured some jelly beans into a champagne glass to explain visually an aspect of this unity.  The champagne glass itself would usually contain champagne, which is an effervescent wine - a noted symbol in celebration of quality, authenticity and excellence.  I will take these same words and apply them to all of God's jelly beans:
Quality - the attributes of God lie within you as a child of Light.  You are worthy in all the flavors that HE IS and not to be deemed worthless in your own eyes.
Authenticity - be yourself in your own flavor rather than try to be the flavor of someone else.  Be true to who you are as His special child of God.
Excellence - You are of great worth paid by a great price... the Cross of Christ.  Don't devalue yourself  for you are uniquely your own flavor to God.

There is even a jelly bean prayer.  Here is how it goes:  The NEW Jelly Bean Prayer by Lorelei Francis.....

RED  is for the blood He gave,

GREEN  is for the grass He made,

YELLOW  is for the sun so bright,

ORANGE  is for the edge of night.

BLACK, WHITE, BROWN, YELLOW and RED  is for the children He made

All of these colors receive the grace He gave,

PURPLE  is for the hour of sorrow

PINK  is for the new tomorrow.

Until later, my fellow jelly beans!  We'll meet again at The Turn-Up Patch on February 17.

The Eagle Factor

My first eagle photos taken just last month!  I was thrilled to end 2013 with such pictures.   They are around but either I am in the right place without my camera or the wrong place with my camera... in other words, it is a matter of timing, sighting and "shooting".  These great birds happened to be close by and within range of the zoom of my camera.  The eagles didn't stay long; just time enough for a quick look around before flying off.  I wasn't able to get a photo of them in flight since I was enjoying watching them and not thinking about the camera.   The below shots may not be the best of eagle pictures that you see, but they are my first that I share with you my dear friends and readers.

As I looked at the surrounding scene where the eagles perched,  the tree branches look so dead and devoid of life with a few dried leaves still attached.  A stark setting but in its simplicity,  I am reminded of the power of life contained within these trees unseen to the naked eye. They surprise us each spring as the branches burst forth with amazing fullness of green in proud foliage of life.

Eagles are symbolic of so many noble defining moments, which we as humans can display, such as.... bravery, beauty, freedom, honor, courage, determination, grace, pride, strength.  As situations unfold before us, God has equipped us with wings of eagles that we can soar and rise above the storms of life. We just need to become spiritually aware that we were meant to fly.  Isaiah 40:31 says, "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles."  This is easier said than done sometimes when we are embroiled in a struggling situation, which can or cannot be of our own making.  

Some interesting facts about the eagle that can illustrate a spiritual lesson in trust and rejuvenation:
-  Learning to trust... an eaglet learns to trust the nudgings of its parents when it is time to fly.  The eaglet doesn't know it has this ability to fly until it first tumbles from the nest and spreads its wings.
    How often do we struggle in trust towards our Father God. When we fear rather than trust, we are unable to spread our wings to rise above circumstance and experience freedom.
-  Rejuvenation... an eagle molts and loses its feathers periodically throughout the year... a little here and a little there; just enough to require nature's maintenance to renew and repair the eagle for continued strength and ability for its preservation and flight.  
    It is necessary for us, as God's children, to become quiet and allow the healing power of God to renew and repair our hearts and minds that have become worn from adversity. 

I discovered this video showing what it is like to fly like an eagle and how it must feel to be airborne in flight above earth's landscape.  Enjoy being with the movement of this magnificent bird as it is in flight near the French Alps, Chamonix.   A small video camera was cleverly attached to the eagle to give us this amazing viewing pleasure.  Many thanks to Srachi - Flying Eagle Point of View.  Chip Ivory presents it with music "Fly Like an Eagle" by the Steve Miller Band.  Part of the lyrics say, "Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'  into the future...."

"I want to fly like an eagle

To the sea

Fly like an eagle

Let my spirit carry me

I want to fly like an eagle

Till I'm free...."

You can also watch the clip at this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miItc6JMTTA

There is a similar post on eagles which I wrote on December 31, 2012 which gives additional information on the eagle.  At that time, I hadn't had the opportunity to take any photos of eagles until these two showed up last month.  You can also read this particular post, "Fly Like an Eagle" at this link: 
http://turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2012/12/fly-like-eagle.html

Can you tell that I think eagles are amazing??  Can you tell that I think Isaiah 40:31 is amazing??


We'll meet again at "The Turn-Up Patch" on February 3......  see you then!

The Megaload

What is a megaload?  Since our area has been introduced to a megaload, the following facts are given to help understand the "what, where and why" of such a megaload.
- It is a gigantic shipment of massive equipment that is heading for the tar sands oil region of Northern Alberta, Canada.  There are three such megaloads which will travel through Eastern Oregon as part of the route to the Alberta destination.  At the time of this post, two megaloads came through our area at separate times during December.  
- The equipment carried is called an "evaporator" and used in the extraction and processing of the tar sands into crude oil.  The first megaload that traveled through is 22 feet wide, 376 feet long and weighs 901,000 pounds. The equipment is made in Portland, Oregon, shipped to the Port of Umatilla, where it begins transport across Eastern Oregon, Idaho, Montana and into Alberta.
-  The industrial transporter, Omega Morgan out of Hillsboro, Oregon, mostly travels at night between the hours of 8:00 p.m. through 6:00 a.m. to avoid traffic problems and in compliance with ODOT.  Traveling speed is only 35 miles per hour in ideal weather and road conditions; often it crawls at 8 to 12 miles per hour.
-  Eastern Oregon was chosen after previous megaloads faced opposition through the Nez Perce Reservation and a federally designated scenic river corridor on U.S. Highway 12 in Idaho.
-  The new route through the John Day Valley has also been met with environmental protesters resulting in arrests made due to disorderly conduct.

1st Megaload - (click on photos for larger view)

2nd Megaload

The second megaload came through Mt. Vernon on the evening of December 30th.  There has been a lot of "buzz" about these megaloads making a turn in its approach from Highway 395 onto the intersection to Highway 26.  Mt. Vernon is a small community of about 500 and the cross intersection is tiny for such a mega turn.  Since it was determined that the load couldn't negotiate a left turn onto the highway in Mt. Vernon, the load negotiated a tight right turn, then reversed course on nearby private land to head east on Highway 26.  "We have to turn right to go left," Omega Morgan explained.

I was told the expected time that the megaload would be coming through Mt. Vernon, so I grabbed my camera to take some shots of this epic event.  Here are a few photos shown for your spine tingling excitement of seeing a megaload making a right hand turn at an intersection where the stop sign pole had to be removed to make more room.  A string of Christmas lights adorned the load to add festivity for the occasion.

Approach from Hwy 395

  Mt. Vernon Intersection where Hwys 395 & 26 meet

Spectators watching the tight turn

Making the turn

Success!

Continued travel on Hwy 26

An excellent news article can be found on the following link.  It also has a map showing the route up into Alberta.  If you click on the map, it entails the route in full detail into Lethbridge, Alberta.  However, the map doesn't show that the route continues on into the upper northern region, destination at the tar sands near Fort McMurray.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/12/22/2941009/megaload-could-be-in-southwest.html 
Other recent Megaload news links:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/12/13/2926527/megaload-traveling-megaslowly.html
http://magicvalley.com/news/local/megaload-attracts-mega-looky-loos-near-pine/article_ae74c5ba-71ab-11e3-911c-0019bb2963f4.html

Hmmmmm!  How can megaloads be equated over to our personal lives???  Let's take a look at a few illustrations:
- We can take on megaloads of worry and cares that slow us down in our journey in life. We weren't really meant to carry megaloads; this alone is to be borne by the Almighty God.  You'll notice the name "Mighty Matt" on the industrial truck, first photo on the top; no little half-ton truck displayed here carrying such a load.  That would incur a breakdown fast!  
- Worries seem to compound themselves during the night causing lost sleep and anxiety of heart and mind.  Never take burdens to bed, as they only increase as they unravel in darkness.   
- Your path in life can be slowed to a crawl trying to carry a load that was not meant for you to bear in your own strength.  Wisdom can be clouded, wrong choices made and back roads taken for a long and wearing journey with a faded destination.

The Bible says in Matthew 11:28 to 29... "Come unto me all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Join me in two weeks at The Turn-Up Patch on January 20!  As we live out our days throughout this new year of  2014, let us not try to carry megaloads of cares, troubles and worries.  Instead, cast it to the "Mighty Matt",  which is in this case, the power of God well able to carry the load and help us arrive at our destination, most often peace.

So Great a Love....

As we settle down and take a deep breath from all the activity involved in the celebration of Christmas - the shopping, gift decisions, decorating the Christmas tree, wrapping presents, sending greeting cards, anticipation of family gatherings, school, church and community events to attend; just to name a few.  It's time to say STOP and look beyond the seemingly endless list of doing, become quiet and tap into that spiritual silence where you find His Presence.  Allow His Peace to wash away the deadline of the "have to do list" by absorbing Him in reminder of so great a love, that He gave His only begotten Son. 

Jesus, the Christ!

... He came as the ultimate gift

... to give the ultimate sacrifice

... to become the ultimate Savior

I'd like to share a profound quote by St. Augustine which is worth reflecting on:
"He was created of a mother whom He created.  He was carried by hands that He formed.  He cried in the manger in wordless infancy.  He, the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute."

I hope you will take time out to watch the following music clip.  May you experience peace as you breathe in the words of the following song by Selah, "The Rose of Bethlehem".  Lowell Alexander wrote the lyrics with video clip by emmysue20.  You can also view at:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmjIcpIzHxo

 I invite you to check on my post entitled "The Infinite Holding Infinity" that was written on December 24, 2012, which includes "The Star" Christmas presentation.  You can locate it in the archives in the right column of this format or click on the below link:http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-infinite-holding-infinity.html 

From The Turn-Up Patch, MERRY CHRISTMAS  to all my faithful readers.  May you catch the Light of Christmas this season and experience God's brilliance in the warmth of His Love throughout all the seasons of your life.  See you in the new year of 2014 on January 6.

Life Lessons from Geese

I have taken many photographs of geese that fly into our area in the spring and predictably leave in the fall.  Grabbing my camera at the first sound of geese, I run to visible points to take pictures of these marvelous birds which make their descent onto the fields in our back pasture.  I look forward to the noisy honking of these migrating geese as they make their announcement that Spring has arrived in Grant County.  With the passing of the fall season, fields have become vacant of geese; another realization that winter is upon us.  We do have a few that stay and brave the winter season.   The photo below is one that I took several years ago.  These two geese are together throughout all the seasons on the ranch.  How do I know that they are the same two??  An educated guess, since they appear to be the only apparent pair who are in constant companionship throughout the year.

In my research on geese, I discovered that they mate for life and stay together throughout the year.  A goose can go into mourning at a loss of a mate and will often stay by himself for a while.  Eventually, they will find a new mate and begin anew. 
  
It is interesting to watch them fly in their characteristic V-formation, usually accompanied by their honking....
          Why fly in a V form?   Their wings create an uplift current for the bird immediately following.  It is an instinctive systematic design to increase strength and stability.  By flying in a V-formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if a bird flew alone.  If one flies out of formation, it struggles with strength and speed and becomes weak in stamina.  It doesn't take long for the goose to find it's way back and integrate itself into formation for an easier flight.

          Why do they make a honking noise while in flight?  It was most interesting to find out that geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.  Also, when a lead goose gets tired, the bird has no problem in rotating to the back of the flock to let another goose take the lead point.
          What happens to the wounded or sick?   When wounded or sick, a goose flies out of formation and is accompanied by two other geese that stay with the bird until that goose is able to fly again or until he dies.  In either case, upon recovery or death, they launch out on their own or join another formation to catch up with their own group.
          What is migrant and what is resident?   Migration is moving from one region to another and geese are on the move from October through March and are known as migrating geese.  The flight range can be 2,000 - 3,000 miles.  Then there is the resident goose, which stays in the same region.  Their flight range is 100 - 200 miles but typically stay within a smaller radius.  I love this fact about the resident goose:  Resident geese can fly long distances such as their migratory cousins but they generally learn that it is not necessary.   Hmmmmm!  Maybe we could learn something about that.

People can learn a lot about improving their own human behavior in studying the attributes of geese.  Not only can we learn about depth of commitment but also the depths of encouragement, support, alliance and cohesion.  As humans, we are part of a greater whole, forming our circles of families and friends in expansion of community; regional and global.  We are also spiritual beings formed with the intent of our heavenly Father......          
                      ... to rise above our circumstance
                      ... to follow in the current of His leading "up-lift" for an easier flight
                      ... to have commitment in relationship towards our Lord and significant others
                      ... to have time proven friends who stay by your side, adding a deep richness
                          in the physical and spiritual experience of life                                          
I'm sure you could think of many more ways to use in analogy that we have with this winged creation of God. The above are just a few in reflection.

I put together the following PhotoShow entitled "Wings of Freedom",  with various photographs taken of geese throughout the past few years. They co-habit the pasture with horses, an occasional dog (who pays no attention to the geese) and other forms of birds.  However, they did take objection to a two-legged critter (meaning me) if I tried to approach them in their territory.  So I stayed my distance and thanks to the invention of "zoom", was able to get a few close up shots.  Some pictures show a little hillside scenery in this beautiful valley where the geese return every year.  The photos of a species of geese, called "snow geese" were taken in Burns, Oregon.  They are all white with black tipped wings.....

I came across this saying...  "The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white.  Neither need you do anything but be yourself." - Lao Tzu    Now there's a statement that gives some food for thought!

See you at the Turn-Up Patch for my next post on December 23.  Since we are in the advent of Christmas, let it be less about shopping and more about a defining moment when God entered our realm to take on human form, which forever changes the dynamics of destiny.