Learning from History

Happy Memorial Day!

Begun in 1868 to remember those who lost their lives in the US Civil War, for the most part this holiday has turned into a beginning-of-summer party for family and friends. Growing up, it was the day we turned blue getting the dock into the chilly lake and cleaned the cabin after a long winter.

In later years, the weekend has included some visits to local cemeteries where the worn-out bodies of more and more of our loved ones are left behind as the Lord calls them home. Some of those graves are decorated with flags in honor of their military service, and we may add some favorite flowers.

Even if we don't have specific traditions to focus on the meaning and history behind the holiday, I believe we need to take history more seriously as we view all of life. 

True history, that is...

Those of us who are of a certain
vintage find it hard to fathom the
way in which today's students are
being encouraged to rewrite history
rather than to learn from it.

· Alistair Begg

Those that fail to
learn from history,

are doomed to repeat it.

· Winston Churchill

Our task is not to deny or to
denigrate the past but to
recognize that we live in
a fallen world and that the
transformation we long for
in America is that which
will be brought about by
the power of the Gospel.

· Alistair Begg

Sunday in the Garden

After weeks of chilly waiting, it seems as if everything is bursting into blossom at once!

[Side note: Do you remember my post about the significance of this flower's funny name ( at this link ) from June 1, 2016?]

The nature journal comes out often now and helps me notice so many details for the first time in my life! 

Last Sunday I spent the whole, beautiful afternoon outside and got carried away with entries. 

First stop: Lily-of-the-Valley (White Coral Bells).

Fran can never keep her paws off my lawn blanket. But she also needed a nap and so found my bag of supplies to be a good sunshade. 

Next we moved to the perennial garden where Elsa was already sketching the early Iris.

Any guesses what caught my eye in the scene below? (Besides Gull slinking into the shade...) 

Back indoors after dark I tried one more version of this rather rare Double Fernleaf Peony on different watercolor paper.

But before that came some time with the self-seeded Chamomile. When I was done, Elsa harvested the first blossoms for tea.

Oh, and the day also included a pen sketch of the spray of Bleeding Heart we are enjoying in a vase indoors.

So, this is what happens when I don't have a Sunday handwork project going but still need lots of audiobook time. And when we are given the gift of such a glorious day!

"Praise God from Whom all blessings flow"

...Including the blessings of water and paint!

Sing in the Storm

"The birds, the poets of the animal creation—what though they never get beyond the lyrical! —awoke to utter their own joy, and awake like joy in others of God's children."

George MacDonald in Alec Forbes of Howglen

Our bright and cheery-voiced Baltimore Orioles came back to us May 10th!

"How cheery the bird song which was going on in spite of everything! Or perhaps the birds found no fault with the rain. I want to be like that, said Rotha to herself; not to be out of the storm, but to be able to sing through it. And that is what people are meant to do, I think."

Susan Warner in The Letter of Credit

[one of last summer's stray robin-nestlings]

Spring Cleaning

Last week's spring cleaning was outdoors. After three days with no strength, I suddenly had a day able to work hard. So, the morning was given to power washing two decks. Then Mom washed the deck furniture as well as the front porch and cement.

That evening we enjoyed dessert on the deck when the begonia I had picked out at the greenhouse caught my eye. I painted until dark and then knit a mitten cuff by feel. Who wants to go indoors on such a mild spring evening?!

Spring 2021

Spring is finally, undoubtedly here!

Blush Apricots and White Pears

 May 2, 2021

We could tell from the house that our little apricot and pear trees were in bloom.

In an effort to get on top of a bad-body day, I made myself go out to look - armed with camp-stool, nature journal, pencil and pen.

I'm so glad I did!

On the way back to the house, what should I see but another nature-journaler out by what we think is wild plum.

Later in the evening, I put in another session, studying the delicate, blush apricot flower from a photo I took earlier.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

"This is my Father's World..."

Too Cold to Knit

April 29th, 2021

It's hard to knit mittens when your hands get so cold that you need to pull on a pair!

At least I got a little fresh air this chill, foggy morning. The rest of the knitting came later.

Toddler Portraits

The little guy who made my sister a mommy also makes me try the occasional whimsical portrait in my art practice. Very daunting...

But when mommy sent a pic of little J "helping" spread plants in the greenhouses (yes, several feet apart instead of inches), it just looked like a Mother's Day gift waiting to be painted!

Preliminary sketch

2nd version

3rd version

Since my attempts at facial features turned it into someone other than our particular 1.5 year old, I left them out of my third try. Each version is on very different papers, so the results can't quite be compared, but they taught me more about various techniques and water usage.

Which version do you think my sister picked as her Mother's Day gift?!