This Week at Iten's Acres: The Lull June 15, 2017

It's the lull between the end of the iris and the beginning of the lilies. A few bearded iris remain. A few lilies have bloomed. The Japanese and Louisiana iris are starting to bloom, and the flag iris have yet to stop--all the rain has made them delirious. And, of course, the wild things are being wild, and the annuals are starting to mature. There is plenty of beauty here to make the walks a delight. On one walk I almost got run over by a fawn racing down the driveway oblivious to the old man walking up the driveway. She--or he--veered at the last moment into the trees. No sign of mom. Anyway, enjoy the walk.

Tonight at Iten's Acres: It's Official June 5, 2017

Fireflies!! Lightning Bugs!!! Morse Code On Wings! Ashes Falling From A Bolt Of Lightning! Whatever they are; whatever you call them, summer is officially here!

This Week at Iten's Acres: June Swoon June 5, 2017

First full week at The Acres. I did go out into the world once--to a grad party. I missed two--I shall have to ask forgiveness. Last weekend was a "best laid plans go awry" weekend. No great tragedies at The Acres this week--spilled some gasoline in the trunk of the car--yuk: and the refrigerator quit--new one coming today. Other than that all is well. It stopped raining long enough for me to cut both the front and the back. A former student, good friend, stopped by for a chat and walk. Got some work done--slowly moving the heavy bags of dirt where I want them to finish redoing some beds. Slowly is the key word--the old back needs slowly. The iris are about finished unless some re-bloom later in the summer. One has yet to bloom, and a few are hanging on, but almost done. Lily time will be next. Anyway, here's your first June walk. Enjoy!

Backroads of Morrow County Update: June 4, 2017

Backroads of Morrow County Update: I took the backroads home from church today. Obviously, it was more than Morrow County that I traversed. I go to the 8:30 services at Grace for several reasons: I'm old so I wake up early. I'm old-fashioned--Yes, I'm an old hymn guy. I think it was Dr. Buzz that said once that you could teach a course on Bible Doctrine just using an old hymn book. Anyway, another reason I go early is so that the rest of the day is mine to do as I please. Oh, the message this morning was on Joseph--we're studying him this month. Anyone that knows me knows that Joseph is my favorite. Lesson for the day--when everything that can go wrong does go wrong, and the last people on earth are the ones doing the "wronging," God is up to doing good. Great goodness!! You may have to wait awhile but just wait until He's finished!!
The backroads--almost forgot--are a puzzle. With all the rain everything is luscious green--except the fields. In most places the corn and soybeans are just starting to come up--if at all. The corn will have to hustle to meet the knee high deadline. The fields of wheat are gorgeous--just starting to turn gold. Can't wait--one of my favorite vistas--waves of grain. The cattle and the lambs are all about--lots of grass to eat. And their guard donkeys as well. Free roaming chickens are roaming. The birds are doing their high-wire act--singing away. Meadowlark corner has two families this year!!! Their farmer friend will have to be patient to get his haying done. Not too many people out this morning--had a nice slow jaunt. Even had a surprise memory moment--clothes hanging on a line in a back yard. I could just see Mom out there hanging up the wash--beats a clothes' dryer every time. What dries better--and fresher--than God's sun and a cool breeze? Eventually, I made it home to The Acres. Don't think me too strange, but I feel the serenity when I pull in the driveway and wind my way back to the cave. (Home is where the heart is--or is it, the heart is where Home is? I can never keep it straight.) My driveway cruise takes a while too--I'm always stopping to take in the beauty of the blooms. And, of course, up near the cave I have to be patient as the posse moseys their cat paws out of the way. I'm sure they think the car exists merely so they have a shelter from the rain and shade from the sun. Cats do own the world. Mine at least. But don't worry--the backroads are beautiful and busy as always. If you haven't taken your excursion into the countryside yet. . . I'll keep praying for you. Great way to meditate on The Creator. Beauty is His favorite language.

Today at Iten's Acres: A Soft Rain Walk May 26, 2017

A soft rain day at The Acres--lovely day for a walk. The iris are still in full swing; in fact, a dozen of them with buds have not bloomed yet. In the wild area it's the beginning of daisy and spiderwort time--islands of white and blue are slowly rising from the waves of green. Psyche has had her kittens. They are somewhere in the garden next to the house. I've been feeding her a little extra. Wonder how large The Posse will be? The thistle feeders are full so I catch glimpses of yellow and gold as I meander around the pond. A snake has taken over the "turtle log." He is there daily and unafraid of the human. The peony should be blooming in a day or two. And soon it will be lily time. I think I may just need another soft rain walk before nightfall.

Walking Iten's Acres: May Flowers May 26, 2017

Iris, of course, are not the only beauties glorifying The Acres.  It has been such a strange spring weather-wise, some things are blooming early, some later than normal.  If there ever is a "normal," when it comes to bloom times.  Anyway, some May flowers:

News at Iten's Acres: Gender Idenity May 26, 2017

News Flash:  Psycho the Tiger cat--the third member of the Posse triumvirate--will henceforth be known as Psyche the Tigress.  Kittens anyone?