Expectations

The theme of late March at The Acres is "Expectations." Not my favorite theme--makes patience a labor of love. Once the orchard iris, aconite, snowdrops, Lenten roses, and crocus show up, there's a break in the "action." (Some crocus will keep popping up for awhile. They are the masters of surprise. One morning walk--nothing. Afternoon walk, crocus parties. No social distancing among those gorgeous rascals.) The tulips come up, but they are just a tease. Their early rising is just a reminder that it's time to feed the iris. The daffodils come up, bud, and then say, "I'll just wait a little while, thank you. You want flowers, send some sunshine." Now, how am I supposed to control that? Hyacinth always poke their heads out as well, even look as if they are ready to bloom, but they just linger at ground level for awhile. The iris, of course, have me thinking in late February and early March that I'll be lucky to have a bloom or two of my favorites--but it's not looking good. And then, a burst of growth. Up they come, and the old man's expectations soar. They must be keeping an eye on the tulips. See if they're up yet. But------I still have to wait until May for any blooms; maybe a dwarf iris or two will beat the rush in late April. Maybe. Six weeks of expectations! Expectations, expectations, expectations!? What's an old impatient man to do? Pray for a little sunshine. Feed the iris. And, oh yeah, wait.

And I wonder when the goldfish will bloom this spring?

Day Two Spring Break 2020

Day Two: I keep trying to explain to the cat about the need for social distancing. She won't have it. Ah well, the Boss is the Boss. I am enjoying my days outside and my daily walks--though it's still a little soggy. Lots of things are up--not many are blooming yet. Spent most of the day cleaning out beds and feeding the iris. Still have more of that to do (I have a lot of iris) --I think I will run into school for a few moments early tomorrow; I want to try posting another video or two. One will be a short introduction to Amos; the other a 10 minute or so "lecture" on Thoreau's concept of civil disobedience and the humanism it's rife with. Help them to better understand King Jr. and his view of the concept. It's the 10 minute one I"m worried about.
Social distancing won' be an issue. I'll just be in my car alone, and then in the school alone. I may hear from it when I get back home. Then, I"ll just escape outside to work again.
"More secure is no one ever than the loved ones of the Savior."
Yep, that's me. Loved by the God who is love for no other reason than that He chose to love me. Grace, grace, marvelous grace. Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt." That's a lot of grace.
"For me, to live is Christ. And to die is gain."

Day One Spring Break 2020

First day of spring break--unless you think it starts Monday. Nothing out of the ordinary. Read some. Wrote some. Worked outside some--it was chilly. Had to do short bursts. Sat in the chair by the doorwindow with the Boss and watched the birds feed all day long. First day I've been home all week. Been at school trying to increase my expertise with online teaching. Thanks to the Burn's-Kraynak-Roads triad I'm actually making a little progress. There may be hope for my students. =) If it ever warms up a little bit without a deluge, I may also get some work done on The Acres. Social distancing as most of you know is not a problem for me. Being a hermit comes naturally. Now, I'm just waiting for the daffodils to start blooming. Maybe if the sun comes out? Oh, no goldfish yet. Love you all. Stay safe--or in other words--pray. And not just for yourself!!! Be good!

The Ides of March 2020

Today's walk through The Acres. Still crocus and orchard iris and Lenten rose. Different ones from last week, but lots more of them are popping up here. One new variety--squill.

Beginnings 2020

And so it begins.  Lots of crocus of different colors.  Aconite always one of the early bloomers.  Lenten roses have begun to bloom--finally.  And the first orchard iris.

Snow Day February 27, 2020

Snow day. Not much being accomplished--I didn't bring any papers home because I was at the Lady Warriors' game last night. Impressive victory girls. So, no papers to grade. (Not that I would have wasted a snow day at The Acres by grading papers--but it sounds like a legitimate excuse. Right?) A couple walks were in order, but that's not work. it is cold--temps may not be real low, but the wind is biting. To be expected, of course. The Creator likes to spread His nice warm blanket over the earth before He sends some winter cold. It has continued to snow off and on all day out here in Morrow County. Lovely. Right now, in fact, it's snowing quite heavily.
Mixed signals on spring's arrival. Primrose bloomed. Yellow violets it seems have re-seeded themselves and are blooming way up near the house. Other things are coming up and looking around, but not adding to the beauty yet. I imagine the snowdrops and aconite will be next. I'm surprised the Lenten rose haven't bloomed yet. Crocus won't be too far behind--and the orchard iris. Spring is coming--but only when it wants to. Feathered -friends-wise mixed signals, too. The red-winged blackbirds are back; there's a hint of gold on the finches, but tons of snowbirds feeding today, and the male cardinals are still tolerating each other.
It has just been a lazy day. Homesteader and I have been bird watching. Watching it snow. She does have to charge the doorwindow on occasion. Hey, she's a cat. And I did have a nice long chat with my sister Janice. Thanks for the prayers. She seems to be in good spirits, notwithstanding her disenchantment with her arrogant heart doctor. Oh, I got a little reading in too.
I was, of course, already up and ready to depart when the snow-day news reached me. That's what I get for believing Ben Franklin. "Early to bed, and early to rise" and all that stuff. Not a problem. Sat in the darkness with the Boss, watched the beauty of the snow, then shoveled a place and put down the first catering service for my flying friends. They are probably delighted that I"m home all day. More food; same price.
Anyway, a perfect day for the old hermit. Up early. Enjoying God's art work. Bird watching. Catonese lessons. Reading. Walking. Talking with Jan. Work, work, work. It takes a lot of self-discipline to do nothing all day. What's the forecast for tomorrow?