I have a bunch of quotes, notes and pictures pasted on my office wall - some are Sciptures some are airplanes - go figure.
Today I saw again, for the thousandth time a quote by John Adams:
"Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles on which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue; and if this cannot be inspired into our people in greater measure than they have it now, they may change their rulers and the forms of government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty. They will only exchange tyrants and tyrranies."
I could not express this any better - let this sink in before you vote...
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
HDR?
So Lance's post (which I read a few minutes ago) would have helped me a lot on this shoot...
I got to pretend to be a photographer a few weeks ago and am just now getting a moment to post stuff from this summer - and comments on others' posts too.
Before you look too closely, I need to make a few disclosures...
Most of these were shot at 1/125, which makes holding the camera steady VERY critical. I found through the shoot that I could go up to about 1/350 and still keep the prop moving. Next time, huh? I hope there is one.
Lastly, I want to thank everyone involved in this. Along with the photoshoot we took a soon-to-be-deployed soldier (army) for a flight - as a "Thanks for serving gesture". I am grateful on many levels to have been a part of this.
I got to pretend to be a photographer a few weeks ago and am just now getting a moment to post stuff from this summer - and comments on others' posts too.
Before you look too closely, I need to make a few disclosures...
- That day was a smokey one, so all the pics started out gray and blue.
- I was in a chase plane that could not keep up easily, and had only 2 clear angles to shoot from. Distance was difficult to maintain as was angle... ...often you got one or the other, not both.
- Airplanes move. Imagine trying to shoot from a boat plowing through small wakes and you get the idea. My shoulders were sore from holding the camera when I got back.
- I always try to expose for the brightest part of the composition. When you shoot airplanes, you are often shooting a brilliant white or highly reflective surface. Couple this with the motion of everything in your shot and you might want to bump the shutter speed - that would be mistake #1. You DO NOT want to show a pilot a beautiful picture of his airborne masterpiece with a "frozen" prop! Nice, round discs are the thing to have - "it ain't a glider!"
- My wife quite literally saved these pics with her instructions on editing - and I got maybe a half dozen that are "good-enough" - out of a possible 400 that I shot.
- I shot the whole thing without considering a different white balance. Might have helped!
Lastly, I want to thank everyone involved in this. Along with the photoshoot we took a soon-to-be-deployed soldier (army) for a flight - as a "Thanks for serving gesture". I am grateful on many levels to have been a part of this.
Global Warming...
I am sure that I have crossed my mind a few times by now in previous posts - but who's really paying attention, right? So, at the risk of doing that now or reversing my own thinking later...
The recent "carbon footprint" publicity has taken center stage in public life. Scientists, educators, newsies and politicians have presented a global front of man-made global warming. At the moment, it is all about carbon.
Why carbon? It has been learned that carbon, present in the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as other gasses, is linked to temperature increases in lower atmosphere. That part we "know" - they say.
But I think there is a lot that we don't know. I am open to consider anything - as long as it considers itself a truth.
Frankly, I heard Al Gore's debate with Dan Quayle, and I was completely mortified by his logic back then. Now, he has made a LOT of money in purporting an Armagedon-esque man-made global warming theory. I might respect a scientist with the proposition of truth and a "prove-me-wrong-if-you-can" attitude; but my suspicions are on overload when a public figure presents science in a theatrical manner and then shuts down any discussion thereafter. It just resembles the Inquisition or the old Pravda propoganda to me.
I have mentioned before that I am considering things - in spite of a bad presentation, perhaps there is truth in it somewhere, right? My Dad always told us, "There are always two sides to every story." He knows the value of getting all the information before you make a judgement.
It makes sense to me that carbon would increase with our use of fossil fuels. (Though the levels being thrown around seem pretty small in the grand scheme.) However, it also makes sense to me that all that carbon came from somewhere - and I don't think it was space aliens. (That I may never cross my mind about...)
As I read the Bible, I learn that God created the heavens and the earth, and six chapters later, destroyed every land animal and bird in a global flood. The only people and animals that survived were those that were on a boat.
Prior to that flood, the Bible says there was a firmament of water over the earth. That is to say, a vapor barrier that would have blocked a lot of solar radiation and would also have kept the entire planet at a relatively constant temperature. Part of the flood, the Bible says, was the breaking up of that firmament. So, notice first that there is likely the same amount of water before the flood and after, but it now takes the form of large oceans, clouds and lakes, instead of being a vapor barrier high in the atmosphere.
In much the same fashion, I contend that there was a lot more carbon in the system in the form of plants and animals, including dinosaurs. We still have all that carbon; but now we have it, not only in the forms of plants and animals, but also in the form of coal and petroleum deposits in the ground. This is not a disputed point - how it got there certainly is disputed.
What it is doing to the atmosphere certainly is disputed as well. In my mind, we are likely coming out of a 4,000 year ice age that followed the flood of Genesis. What that means is that the processes we are observing are both anecdotal (being too short to extrapolate reasonable conclusions) and irrelevant (because things now are not the same as they always have been).
Change is a scary thing. People naturally want to find a home, find a job, have a family and live happily ever after. Every day, peoples' jobs are lost, homes are lost, wars are started, cancer strikes and people are stressed.
Scientists are people too - analytical people. They want to make sense of things that they observe but they have to make assumptions about things they do not or cannot know. Because scientists are people, those assumptions are often based on the present conditions, and they do extrapolate from their observations without regard to the record of the Bible.
So with all the dinosaurs being burned up in our gasoline, all that carbon being put back into the system but having no firmament, what will that actually do to the Earth? Is carbon actually the biggest cause of global warming?
I heard some discussion of the global warming yesterday on my way home from work. Janet Parshall was interviewing Dr. Roy Spencer. Dr. Spencer is not a new name to me - Rush used to mention him all the time.
He contends that the carbon concetrations are a minimal part of the whole. I try to make things simple, so at the risk of being wrong, consider this: I mentioned the water both before and after the flood of Genesis? I then mentioned the carbon levels in comparison? Those are just two components of a large, complex system. One component's rise or fall is most often and obeservably offset by another's opposing reaction.
I understand that there are 21 climate models presently being studied. These models attempt to take into account all of the systems and cycles to generate a probable response to changes. Dr. Spencer contends that all 21 of these climate models assume that warmer temperatures cause by carbon produces more clouds, which in turn causes more heat (greenhouse effect). He questions that the clouds do, in fact generate more heat. I understand him to say that the effects of clouds is not understood. They could, in fact, actually have a cooling effect. I think that this might also be a part of the greenhouse effect - neither extreme, warmth or cold is reached. I cannot tell you who is right, but I am glad to learn that someone is legitimately trying to learn the truth.
I found his blog and I hope to read some of his writing sometime as well. He is not one to follow the mainstream blindly and is one in pursuit of truth. I think he and I would get along quite well - if I were smarter, that is.
For his explanation of man-made global warming:
http://www.drroyspencer.com/global-warming-101/
The recent "carbon footprint" publicity has taken center stage in public life. Scientists, educators, newsies and politicians have presented a global front of man-made global warming. At the moment, it is all about carbon.
Why carbon? It has been learned that carbon, present in the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as other gasses, is linked to temperature increases in lower atmosphere. That part we "know" - they say.
But I think there is a lot that we don't know. I am open to consider anything - as long as it considers itself a truth.
Frankly, I heard Al Gore's debate with Dan Quayle, and I was completely mortified by his logic back then. Now, he has made a LOT of money in purporting an Armagedon-esque man-made global warming theory. I might respect a scientist with the proposition of truth and a "prove-me-wrong-if-you-can" attitude; but my suspicions are on overload when a public figure presents science in a theatrical manner and then shuts down any discussion thereafter. It just resembles the Inquisition or the old Pravda propoganda to me.
I have mentioned before that I am considering things - in spite of a bad presentation, perhaps there is truth in it somewhere, right? My Dad always told us, "There are always two sides to every story." He knows the value of getting all the information before you make a judgement.
It makes sense to me that carbon would increase with our use of fossil fuels. (Though the levels being thrown around seem pretty small in the grand scheme.) However, it also makes sense to me that all that carbon came from somewhere - and I don't think it was space aliens. (That I may never cross my mind about...)
As I read the Bible, I learn that God created the heavens and the earth, and six chapters later, destroyed every land animal and bird in a global flood. The only people and animals that survived were those that were on a boat.
Prior to that flood, the Bible says there was a firmament of water over the earth. That is to say, a vapor barrier that would have blocked a lot of solar radiation and would also have kept the entire planet at a relatively constant temperature. Part of the flood, the Bible says, was the breaking up of that firmament. So, notice first that there is likely the same amount of water before the flood and after, but it now takes the form of large oceans, clouds and lakes, instead of being a vapor barrier high in the atmosphere.
In much the same fashion, I contend that there was a lot more carbon in the system in the form of plants and animals, including dinosaurs. We still have all that carbon; but now we have it, not only in the forms of plants and animals, but also in the form of coal and petroleum deposits in the ground. This is not a disputed point - how it got there certainly is disputed.
What it is doing to the atmosphere certainly is disputed as well. In my mind, we are likely coming out of a 4,000 year ice age that followed the flood of Genesis. What that means is that the processes we are observing are both anecdotal (being too short to extrapolate reasonable conclusions) and irrelevant (because things now are not the same as they always have been).
Change is a scary thing. People naturally want to find a home, find a job, have a family and live happily ever after. Every day, peoples' jobs are lost, homes are lost, wars are started, cancer strikes and people are stressed.
Scientists are people too - analytical people. They want to make sense of things that they observe but they have to make assumptions about things they do not or cannot know. Because scientists are people, those assumptions are often based on the present conditions, and they do extrapolate from their observations without regard to the record of the Bible.
So with all the dinosaurs being burned up in our gasoline, all that carbon being put back into the system but having no firmament, what will that actually do to the Earth? Is carbon actually the biggest cause of global warming?
I heard some discussion of the global warming yesterday on my way home from work. Janet Parshall was interviewing Dr. Roy Spencer. Dr. Spencer is not a new name to me - Rush used to mention him all the time.
He contends that the carbon concetrations are a minimal part of the whole. I try to make things simple, so at the risk of being wrong, consider this: I mentioned the water both before and after the flood of Genesis? I then mentioned the carbon levels in comparison? Those are just two components of a large, complex system. One component's rise or fall is most often and obeservably offset by another's opposing reaction.
I understand that there are 21 climate models presently being studied. These models attempt to take into account all of the systems and cycles to generate a probable response to changes. Dr. Spencer contends that all 21 of these climate models assume that warmer temperatures cause by carbon produces more clouds, which in turn causes more heat (greenhouse effect). He questions that the clouds do, in fact generate more heat. I understand him to say that the effects of clouds is not understood. They could, in fact, actually have a cooling effect. I think that this might also be a part of the greenhouse effect - neither extreme, warmth or cold is reached. I cannot tell you who is right, but I am glad to learn that someone is legitimately trying to learn the truth.
I found his blog and I hope to read some of his writing sometime as well. He is not one to follow the mainstream blindly and is one in pursuit of truth. I think he and I would get along quite well - if I were smarter, that is.
For his explanation of man-made global warming:
http://www.drroyspencer.com/global-warming-101/
D_____ If You Do If You Don't...
So, a long time ago I had a boss who was always running. I would say that he was so ambitious and must have felt the pressure of doing things better all the time that his thoughts must have gotten scrambled before they became audible - or legible.
I once grabbed a work order for a set of tires to be put on a white Coosco. To my knowlege no one ever made one of those. I figured that he meant Corsica, of which there were at least three to choose from, but I digress...
As to the title of this post, it was his rendition of the well known line... ...I have thought of it often over the years. If you don't know the line, then just wait till you've had to work in a beuracracy, corporate or state - you'll hear it somewhere eventually.
Here is a recent story that emphasizes it even more: http://www.publicradio.org/columns/marketplace/business-news-briefs/2010/09/better_sorry_than_safe.html
It is short and sweet... ...just the way we busy people like things.
My thoughts on the story... ...there is another saying that I have heard used, "Better to ask forgiveness than permission..." What a sorry State of affairs. I hope that the airline in this story finds a way to appeal - or sees fit to.
I once grabbed a work order for a set of tires to be put on a white Coosco. To my knowlege no one ever made one of those. I figured that he meant Corsica, of which there were at least three to choose from, but I digress...
As to the title of this post, it was his rendition of the well known line... ...I have thought of it often over the years. If you don't know the line, then just wait till you've had to work in a beuracracy, corporate or state - you'll hear it somewhere eventually.
Here is a recent story that emphasizes it even more: http://www.publicradio.org/columns/marketplace/business-news-briefs/2010/09/better_sorry_than_safe.html
It is short and sweet... ...just the way we busy people like things.
My thoughts on the story... ...there is another saying that I have heard used, "Better to ask forgiveness than permission..." What a sorry State of affairs. I hope that the airline in this story finds a way to appeal - or sees fit to.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Air Polution...
I am not a big fan of the green movement - not the way it is presented today. I am a big fan of stewardship and proper management of things. What's the big difference?
I don' t really know... ...maybe that I cringe every time I hear a politician or a newsy talk about how people are ruining everything. I like renewable resources. But not at the expense of food crops. I like polution standards, but there has to be a better way than just penalizing everyone for their "carbon footprint"... I am sure that I lost some of you by now, so I am adding this little item that I found on the Market Place site today:
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/standard/display/slideshow.php?ftr_id=81574
The graphics are pretty surprising...
I don' t really know... ...maybe that I cringe every time I hear a politician or a newsy talk about how people are ruining everything
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/standard/display/slideshow.php?ftr_id=81574
The graphics are pretty surprising...
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Old School -
About two weeks ago our then four year old asked me, "Daddy, what's 'old school' mean?" I happily explained it as best I could for being a little blind-sided at the time, but I am thinking a lot about that lately.
For now, I ran into this article in today's update of the big EAA airshow in Oshkosh about an extraordinary long-time hero of mine - definitiely "old school" by any measure...
http://airventure.org/news/2010/100728_olds.html
For now, I ran into this article in today's update of the big EAA airshow in Oshkosh about an extraordinary long-time hero of mine - definitiely "old school" by any measure...
http://airventure.org/news/2010/100728_olds.html
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Rambling....
I can't wait to get old.
One of my running lines for a looonnngg time has been, "I started senility when I turned 18". Ben Franklin said it even better, "I am in the prime of my senility."
Some people have Irish tempers. Others have, well, grumpy, grouchy, snippy, whiskery, thorny, and don't forget sneezy temperaments. So, not exactly the personality that I wish I had - especially not the personality that my wife wishes I had - but honesty, brutal honesty is hard to keep to oneself as one ages.
I don't wish to offer excuses either. Well, except for coffee - and sleep. Sleep is a tough one now and then. I could go on about the subject of sleep for a very long time, but it's a lot harder to ramble when you have to type out your thoughts. It's pretty hard just to finish the sentences...
...that reminds me of a conversation that I had recently. Four of us were discussing various things, some important, some personal, some frivolous and one of the others mentioned that his daughter's yet to arrive baby boy would be named "Calvin". One of the men laughs, "You don't mean the Calvin with the cat?!!"
"No, no" he said. "Calvin, you know, the Reformer."
We all settled for a moment and I piped up, "I like R.C."
Granddad turned and looked my way, "Huh?"
"Like RC Sproul..." What can I say. I do like that. Maybe someday, I'll get to name a boy RC. Ryan Charles though - Charles was one of my grandfathers' names. No, this is not a "reveal"... OK fingers are tired... back to Sproul.
I have been reading RC Sproul for a long time. I have come to greatly appreciate his views on the Gospel and what it means to us. If you ever get your hands on his writings, then relish them. You can tell people you are a slow reader - that's what I do, but then, that's entirely true of myself. I read about three words per minute faster than I can type, which adds up to almost 18.
I once read that JFK could read up to 12,000 words per minute!
Some people talk about him in reverence, saddened to recall the images of that awful day. Others point out that he wasn't exactly a saint. We have our ways of perceiving things - I think its referred to as "subjective." Seeing things from our own perspective.
We perceive everything through a filter of ourselves. Circumstances, surroundings, whatever are OK, or deprived, or happy, or sad, or hungry, or whatever. Long term, we hope that someone will be nice to our legacy when we leave. Personally, that is one of my goals too; and I hope that there is something besides this nasty, grumpy fellow that cannot be pleased with himself.
So, that's where Sproul comes in. (and now my fingers are tired... ...go figure.) In reading Sproul, who is something of a student of Calvin several hundred years removed, I understand better those Scriptures saying that there is none that does good - not even one. He points at Hitler, perhaps the greatest of villains in our culture, that even Hitler likely loved his own mother and did nice things for her. I recall reading that Al Capone, one of the most notorious mobsters in American history regarded himself "a public benefactor". But we miss the point to look to these evil doers and think ourselves far removed.
It's not that I think that we are a hair's breadth from the FBI's Most Wanted List. It is that we, and everything that we do or touch is tainted, ruined by sin. Like a chalk mural in the rain, the paintings of our lives are obliterated with this awful sin. It has fouled all of mankind, and all of Creation.
But just when you realize that the ruined life is hopeless, God in His most amazing, yet often repeated miracle, shows to you the work of Jesus. He offers grace, forgiveness, peace and hope in one fabulous motion.
I remember the moment of my conversion. No, I wasn't "in the gutter" - I was seven. Yes, I know it was then, and not later in any of my later learnings. That is a good way to think of it too. Sproul wrote, perhaps quoting another, that conversion is not the result of our finding God; instead, it is the beginning of our finding Him. I like that for a lot of reasons, but put these two things together and, well I have gone for days pondering how nifty it is.
I have no desire to seek God. I have no ability to offer Him a "good" thing. My best is like the filthy rags that the Apostle Paul talks about, stained with sin and scarred with hurts. But He saw fit to reveal Himself to me. Oh, there really are no words... ...without Him I am helpless, but with Him... ...with Him... ...there is peace, joy - hope.
Glad to be typing now... I couldn't possibly speak. But it is a little hard to see the keys...
One of my running lines for a looonnngg time has been, "I started senility when I turned 18". Ben Franklin said it even better, "I am in the prime of my senility."
Some people have Irish tempers. Others have, well, grumpy, grouchy, snippy, whiskery, thorny, and don't forget sneezy temperaments. So, not exactly the personality that I wish I had - especially not the personality that my wife wishes I had - but honesty, brutal honesty is hard to keep to oneself as one ages.
I don't wish to offer excuses either. Well, except for coffee - and sleep. Sleep is a tough one now and then. I could go on about the subject of sleep for a very long time, but it's a lot harder to ramble when you have to type out your thoughts. It's pretty hard just to finish the sentences...
...that reminds me of a conversation that I had recently. Four of us were discussing various things, some important, some personal, some frivolous and one of the others mentioned that his daughter's yet to arrive baby boy would be named "Calvin". One of the men laughs, "You don't mean the Calvin with the cat?!!"
"No, no" he said. "Calvin, you know, the Reformer."
We all settled for a moment and I piped up, "I like R.C."
Granddad turned and looked my way, "Huh?"
"Like RC Sproul..." What can I say. I do like that. Maybe someday, I'll get to name a boy RC. Ryan Charles though - Charles was one of my grandfathers' names. No, this is not a "reveal"... OK fingers are tired... back to Sproul.
I have been reading RC Sproul for a long time. I have come to greatly appreciate his views on the Gospel and what it means to us. If you ever get your hands on his writings, then relish them. You can tell people you are a slow reader - that's what I do, but then, that's entirely true of myself. I read about three words per minute faster than I can type, which adds up to almost 18.
I once read that JFK could read up to 12,000 words per minute!
Some people talk about him in reverence, saddened to recall the images of that awful day. Others point out that he wasn't exactly a saint. We have our ways of perceiving things - I think its referred to as "subjective." Seeing things from our own perspective.
We perceive everything through a filter of ourselves. Circumstances, surroundings, whatever are OK, or deprived, or happy, or sad, or hungry, or whatever. Long term, we hope that someone will be nice to our legacy when we leave. Personally, that is one of my goals too; and I hope that there is something besides this nasty, grumpy fellow that cannot be pleased with himself.
So, that's where Sproul comes in. (and now my fingers are tired... ...go figure.) In reading Sproul, who is something of a student of Calvin several hundred years removed, I understand better those Scriptures saying that there is none that does good - not even one. He points at Hitler, perhaps the greatest of villains in our culture, that even Hitler likely loved his own mother and did nice things for her. I recall reading that Al Capone, one of the most notorious mobsters in American history regarded himself "a public benefactor". But we miss the point to look to these evil doers and think ourselves far removed.
It's not that I think that we are a hair's breadth from the FBI's Most Wanted List. It is that we, and everything that we do or touch is tainted, ruined by sin. Like a chalk mural in the rain, the paintings of our lives are obliterated with this awful sin. It has fouled all of mankind, and all of Creation.
But just when you realize that the ruined life is hopeless, God in His most amazing, yet often repeated miracle, shows to you the work of Jesus. He offers grace, forgiveness, peace and hope in one fabulous motion.
I remember the moment of my conversion. No, I wasn't "in the gutter" - I was seven. Yes, I know it was then, and not later in any of my later learnings. That is a good way to think of it too. Sproul wrote, perhaps quoting another, that conversion is not the result of our finding God; instead, it is the beginning of our finding Him. I like that for a lot of reasons, but put these two things together and, well I have gone for days pondering how nifty it is.
I have no desire to seek God. I have no ability to offer Him a "good" thing. My best is like the filthy rags that the Apostle Paul talks about, stained with sin and scarred with hurts. But He saw fit to reveal Himself to me. Oh, there really are no words... ...without Him I am helpless, but with Him... ...with Him... ...there is peace, joy - hope.
Glad to be typing now... I couldn't possibly speak. But it is a little hard to see the keys...
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Any ideas what this thing is?
On a short family hike - a walk by many standards - we saw this crazy looking flower. Well, I guess it is a flower. It looks a bit extraterrestrial... ...The Internet has been no help for me so far...
Edit: After originally posting this, I wrote to Mr. Smartyplants at The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and got this response:
"Dear Ryan,
This appears to be a Clematis species and is, perhaps, Clematis columbiana, rock clematis, but other species are possible.
Here are links to more information and photos:
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CLCO2
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?stat=BROWSE&query_src=photos_flora_sci&where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Clematis+columbiana&title_tag=Clematis+columbiana
Thank you for your question.
Best wishes,
Nan"
Thanks to Nan - I am relieved of this nagging question in my brain...
Edit: After originally posting this, I wrote to Mr. Smartyplants at The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and got this response:
"Dear Ryan,
This appears to be a Clematis species and is, perhaps, Clematis columbiana, rock clematis, but other species are possible.
Here are links to more information and photos:
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CLCO2
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?stat=BROWSE&query_src=photos_flora_sci&where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Clematis+columbiana&title_tag=Clematis+columbiana
Thank you for your question.
Best wishes,
Nan"
Thanks to Nan - I am relieved of this nagging question in my brain...
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Economics 101, Reagan's Address to Joint Session of Congress, 4/28/1981
I miss the humor, the clarity and the truth...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
1984 - Optimism, Patriotism - turning points in the face of difficulty...
I miss him more than ever every time I think of his words... ...first a classy one, then a charming one...
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Details...
I've heard it said, "The Devil's in the details..." Sometimes it seems that way - particularly when you find out about the fine print regarding the use of your rewards miles. You THINK you have those miles at your disposal, but you find out that you have to use them on the fifth Tuesday of every other odd year in a month that ends in "A". "Perhaps," I have thought, "it would be easier to forget the way I thought I had 'earned' them and just think of them as rewards for the efforts needed to cash in on them." I found an old rewards card in one of my many junk bins the other day... ...I am tempted to call it in... ...then again...
I've heard it said that some people are detail oriented, a statement left to itself that implies that there are people who are not. (Detail people are re-reading that and are now laughing. Quietly. Because their spouse can read minds, and they can't afford alert them - again. Well, at least this spouse would be...)
Here are a few details that I found around the yard... ...due to the web sizing thing, though, the details are a bit reduced. I had more detail in my mind when I took them. The camera is fabulous, but the combination of "flighty" bees (get it? Flighty!?) and nicely breezy afternoon breezes, and now the web re-sizes (not to mention a rookie photo editor) have taken their toll on the detail that I got vs. the detail that I had in mind.
Strawberries are more showy, but certainly didn't have the bees' attention that day. I shot all of these with my wife's 50D and 28-70 lens. Macro it is not, but then the bees didn't seem to like having me around, and I respected their wishes so the telephoto was useful here. I have a nasty habit of focusing in the middle - another discussion - and framing my shots the way I want them in the prints; so this was an attempt to make use of a low ISO (100) and tight grain to crop them in closely. I think it worked out OK, but Crystal would have gotten the exposure correct and not had any of that blotchy stuff... 
Wild roses are a favorite of mine. I like the smell. I used to draw these - sometimes I would paint them. I found that the domestic varieties are much easier to represent than these for some reason. Details are all over the place in these, and they are obvious, but understated. The petals are sort of a fat heart shape, simple, yet intricate little vein structures weave through them from base to tip. Terms that come to mind - delicate and brilliant. Centers are stashed full of stamens and offer a challenge to any artist's hand at mimicking their short-lived array.
This is a wild lupine - they are thick all over the county right now. I always liked them, but it wasn't unitl I shot this that I realized how the flower structures resemble the Lady's Slipper or the Indian Mocassins - much rarer flowers.
Finally, your "average" columbine. Our weed-infested flower bed has this huge variety of colors of them that just sort of re-seed themselves. Every spring has a large contingent of blues, yellows and whites and, more recently, the ones shown here which are the result of some cross-pollination to be sure.
This is likely one of my best pics of this flower. The challenges are first locating a flower that hasn't had the uppermost nodules chewed ragged by bumblebees who, apparently, cannot or will not sqeeze into the openings on the bottom-side. Focus and angle are made difficult by the shape of the petals and the flower's depth in top-to-bottom as well as front-to-back. I like this pic because it turned out OK (I think?) and there is a lot of subject matter to consider - not only the one flower, but also the others in various stages of blossoming.
I would guess that I might have taken 200 pics on this one outing. Of those, you see here the few decent ones that I liked. None of them is perfect - pics I mean.
The flowers are as close to perfect as I could hope to find. They remind me of Matthew 6, in which Jesus tells us to consider the lillies of the field, which is here today and burned up tomorrow, yet not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. Some details!
In fact, the beauty is exasperating to reproduce whether "on film" or with paint.
I "detail" things for a living. I take an idea drawn on a white board or a "napkin" and put it into the computer in a 3D model, then put that in a drawing with dimensions and tolerances that hopefully work together as a manufacturable part that also fits in an assembly. (I did say "hopefully", right?) Some of the stuff that we do is boxy and fairly easy to do. Some of it is shaped all crazy-weird, defying your every attempt to model. I cannot imagine designing any one of the flowers above. Nevermind the rest of the plant, its systems or the symbiotic relationship that they have with the bees. It is mystifying to me that Someone could see details needed for life like this AND do it with such precision and beauty!
Whether you appreciate detail the way I do or not, our Heavenly Father certainly does, doesn't He? There is no Devil in those details...
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
If I understood it...
In the last two weeks or so, I have learned of an old friend of my family's getting a fatal diagnosis of cancer, a four year old dying any day of brain tumors and today meeting yet another - 29 year-old-woman with maybe a few weeks left in this life.
Yesterday we took McKenna for a follow up exam. We have been monitoring her healing and reasonably hoped for a good prognosis at yesterday's appointment. I just remember the neurologist saying "...cured..." and not really knowing what to say or think for sure. I just remember the thud of reality of what "could have been" just a few weeks ago...
Now, I wanted to rejoice, to feel wonderful - and I did. Something inside held me back though... ...something won't quite let me be relieved in some intangible way. In some ways, it's just another ordinary God- thing. He does it all the time... ...I expected nothing less. In other ways, I look back at the whole thing and I know I had my doubts now and then, but I was truly at peace with God on this one.
This morning I took a call from my boss who had forgotten his camera and had somethings to show me at the airport. He was taking this 29 year old lady and her husband for what he would call a "run around the patch" and wanted some pictures of the occasion as there may be only days or weeks left now.
My morning instantly went from taking tech calls from customers, my stressing about this and that to eagerly running an errand away from my desk and meeting this couple that I had heard so much about.
I am not new to such things. Many of my grandparents have long since gone from my life. Along the way a 26 year old friend who was about to marry died unexpectedly too... I know that I will see many of them again. But I know that grief we feel all too well, how it comes and goes perhaps for many years. Somehow, I want it to be right for the families - "in this life" as the Psalmist would say. I want it to be right in this life.
Here I am today, just sort of watching all of this. I am somehow connected, feeling things in many ways, not feeling, I don't know. My daughter is "cured". we had good news yesterday.
No good news from the doctors for this couple though - just the time they have left to enjoy each other and the good days like today with sunshine and airplane rides; looking forward with smiles to the other side with a new body and no grief.
Yet, here they are in front of me living today with brilliant energy and smiles. They are certain of their trust in God and His will. We talked about that briefly and I am convinced that they are at rest in Him. I would not dare mention it if I had the slightest doubt.
My mind is taken to that story in which God demonstrated his sovereignty in the life of Lazurus and his two sisters. Jesus was a relatively short distance away and could have healed him, but instead He waited and Lazurus died. Then He went. The sisters, understandably, asked Him "Why..." And in the midst of the story, we read "Jesus wept."
Nothing more. No reason for Him to weep - at least that I can clearly see. Understandable that He would have wept for Lazurus who was dead for days, but we also know that He brought Lazurus to life. Was it for the empathy He had for the sisters? I think it might have been.
God's sovereignty runs counter to what I would want. Sickness and death amongst His children just seems so harsh to me sometimes. (I mean no sacrilige.) I think that I run the risk of passing judgement to question it as the sisters did, but I read that Jesus wept, and I know that He is not heartless or cruel. He has some purpose in mind that I cannot understand.
I am rejoicing at His intervention on my daughter's behalf, yet left trying to "keep it together" in front of my brothers and sisters who, short of God's miraculous intervention, will all too soon be telling each other goodbye for now...
This life is so fragile, so short and so hard sometimes. I rejoice that some of the finest people I know have preceded me in glory. I am even a bit envious of them, but I am also greived. Not just for myself, as I hardly know some of them; but for the whole situation. I would take all the grief if only I could for them...
But there is Someone who can take your situation and make beauty from it. He has the power over sin and death. He hold the keys of eternity. He paid the price to cover your sins and be with Him (and His saints) in glory. In this life, we greive for a little while for those we have lost to Heaven, but how much sadder is this for someone whose eternity is not Heavenly?
I trust that you have your eternity in His hands? There is no other good alternative... I pray you have, or that you will... There is so much at stake.
Yesterday we took McKenna for a follow up exam. We have been monitoring her healing and reasonably hoped for a good prognosis at yesterday's appointment. I just remember the neurologist saying "...cured..." and not really knowing what to say or think for sure. I just remember the thud of reality of what "could have been" just a few weeks ago...
Now, I wanted to rejoice, to feel wonderful - and I did. Something inside held me back though... ...something won't quite let me be relieved in some intangible way. In some ways, it's just another ordinary God- thing. He does it all the time... ...I expected nothing less. In other ways, I look back at the whole thing and I know I had my doubts now and then, but I was truly at peace with God on this one.
This morning I took a call from my boss who had forgotten his camera and had somethings to show me at the airport. He was taking this 29 year old lady and her husband for what he would call a "run around the patch" and wanted some pictures of the occasion as there may be only days or weeks left now.
My morning instantly went from taking tech calls from customers, my stressing about this and that to eagerly running an errand away from my desk and meeting this couple that I had heard so much about.
I am not new to such things. Many of my grandparents have long since gone from my life. Along the way a 26 year old friend who was about to marry died unexpectedly too... I know that I will see many of them again. But I know that grief we feel all too well, how it comes and goes perhaps for many years. Somehow, I want it to be right for the families - "in this life" as the Psalmist would say. I want it to be right in this life.
Here I am today, just sort of watching all of this. I am somehow connected, feeling things in many ways, not feeling, I don't know. My daughter is "cured". we had good news yesterday.
No good news from the doctors for this couple though - just the time they have left to enjoy each other and the good days like today with sunshine and airplane rides; looking forward with smiles to the other side with a new body and no grief.
Yet, here they are in front of me living today with brilliant energy and smiles. They are certain of their trust in God and His will. We talked about that briefly and I am convinced that they are at rest in Him. I would not dare mention it if I had the slightest doubt.
My mind is taken to that story in which God demonstrated his sovereignty in the life of Lazurus and his two sisters. Jesus was a relatively short distance away and could have healed him, but instead He waited and Lazurus died. Then He went. The sisters, understandably, asked Him "Why..." And in the midst of the story, we read "Jesus wept."
Nothing more. No reason for Him to weep - at least that I can clearly see. Understandable that He would have wept for Lazurus who was dead for days, but we also know that He brought Lazurus to life. Was it for the empathy He had for the sisters? I think it might have been.
God's sovereignty runs counter to what I would want. Sickness and death amongst His children just seems so harsh to me sometimes. (I mean no sacrilige.) I think that I run the risk of passing judgement to question it as the sisters did, but I read that Jesus wept, and I know that He is not heartless or cruel. He has some purpose in mind that I cannot understand.
I am rejoicing at His intervention on my daughter's behalf, yet left trying to "keep it together" in front of my brothers and sisters who, short of God's miraculous intervention, will all too soon be telling each other goodbye for now...
This life is so fragile, so short and so hard sometimes. I rejoice that some of the finest people I know have preceded me in glory. I am even a bit envious of them, but I am also greived. Not just for myself, as I hardly know some of them; but for the whole situation. I would take all the grief if only I could for them...
But there is Someone who can take your situation and make beauty from it. He has the power over sin and death. He hold the keys of eternity. He paid the price to cover your sins and be with Him (and His saints) in glory. In this life, we greive for a little while for those we have lost to Heaven, but how much sadder is this for someone whose eternity is not Heavenly?
I trust that you have your eternity in His hands? There is no other good alternative... I pray you have, or that you will... There is so much at stake.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
After the rain... ...just thoughts...
I love a good storm... ...the thunder, the wind, and then the downpour...
...but I really love that window after the storm, especially in the evening. I love walking outside and breathing. I love hearing the dripping trees and the warbling songbirds. I love to see the sun as it settles over the hilltops in the west, just beneath the retreating rain clouds.
Today's storms weren't the violent, roaring kind though. In fact I hardly noticed the rain. Spring rain. Cool air. I walked around outside the house with nothing specific in mind to do. I think I should do that more often. I was revelling in the grace of today... ...It felt like I was inside the warmth and comfort of home all day right in the midst of it all.
Work has been tough. Probably get tougher too. When I think too much about that or try to talk about it, I get physically sick. No, there isn't anything but my own anxieties to deal with now. I guess my personality is set to "hyper analyze" and while that is good for designing stuff, it's sure could be bad if you miss something. Over time the tension has gotten to me.
But today... ...well, back to Easter Sunday, actually. The whole church (it seemed like that) pulled off a huge week of preparation for food and the kids' Easter play... ...it was a long week of practices and late nights working on sound and stage and tables, etc. Saturday night I was still keyed up and should have gone to bed earlier, so I was a touch on the groggy Sunday morning - not that sleep would have helped anyway.
So, I leisurely drank my coffee, responding to an email from Lyle, postponed the shower until my first cup was done. (A mistake in hind-sight - sorry honey.) I happened by the upstairs bath where Crystal and McKenna were getting ready - hair stuff. Crystal stopped me and mentioned something about McKenna only seeing only one of my eyes when I poked my head in the door. Hmmm... ...that's wierd, what did I miss on that conversation? Well we have to get going, so off to the shower I went.
The play, the breakfast, the service, the dinner at home with family - all went really well. At the end of it I was sorry that the day had slipped by so fast.
And then there was Monday. Ugh. Monday. Crystal and I had decided to take McKenna to the eye-doctor. They got us in today (Tuesday). No surprises so far. Being me, I thought out loud, "We start with the symptoms. Her eyes are doing weird stuff, so we start with that and maybe its an eye thing." In my head, perhaps out loud though, I thought that this was probably going to be a little more than that.
I think I called home 4 or 5 times today until I got through just to make sure that Crystal called me with any news and "what time was the appointment anyway?" I ended up going along and I was glad to be there to hear things first hand. They started talking (or not talking) carefully and wanted an MRI tonight, but ended up with tomorrow.
No thunder. No lightning. Just a steady rain now. McKenna, Ava and I headed home in Grandma's car. There was sun accross the long bridge, with the rain. I looked to the east, hoping I would see one, and there it was, a beautiful rainbow. The girls and I talked about what it meant - a sign of God's promise, a reminder.
McKenna heard a lot of things today, is starting to ask questions, but no one knows. We arrived home first. I sent her to take care of the chickens and get the mail, then had Ava help me with the kindling and they both helped with the wood. I called my boss to let him know that I planned to be at work tomorrow - the results won't be back until later anyway - but I needed to see how Crystal was first.
One of McKenna's friends had left a message that she wanted her to come over, so I sent her over for an hour. At least Crystal and I could talk more openly. It turns out that we are both pretty much on the same page. Concern, but not sure how much. Me, a little teary, but what's new with that?
I decided to take a walk around outside to look for something that needed doing, but I really didn't have anything in mind. The rain had stopped. The wind was still. I could faintly hear the girls talking and laughing, but in the cool night air they were probably still all the way over at the friend's house. I walked past the garden and started to head for the road that McKenna would ride home on, but then I saw something really beautiful...
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There were drops of rain on every branch and twig of every bush and tree, and the sun's setting behind them was just the right angle to make them look like tiny, perfect ornaments. I couldn't get it on the camera. I really tried. I couldn't get it into words - but I have tried. ...like molten little drops of glass...
Perspective. It seems like right now, my vision is clear, my mind at rest and my heart, is over-flowing with God's grace, affection even.
Peace. Calm. Rest. Somehow, I am there, like the song ...in the palm of His hand...
...but I really love that window after the storm, especially in the evening. I love walking outside and breathing. I love hearing the dripping trees and the warbling songbirds. I love to see the sun as it settles over the hilltops in the west, just beneath the retreating rain clouds.
Today's storms weren't the violent, roaring kind though. In fact I hardly noticed the rain. Spring rain. Cool air. I walked around outside the house with nothing specific in mind to do. I think I should do that more often. I was revelling in the grace of today... ...It felt like I was inside the warmth and comfort of home all day right in the midst of it all.
Work has been tough. Probably get tougher too. When I think too much about that or try to talk about it, I get physically sick. No, there isn't anything but my own anxieties to deal with now. I guess my personality is set to "hyper analyze" and while that is good for designing stuff, it's sure could be bad if you miss something. Over time the tension has gotten to me.
But today... ...well, back to Easter Sunday, actually. The whole church (it seemed like that) pulled off a huge week of preparation for food and the kids' Easter play... ...it was a long week of practices and late nights working on sound and stage and tables, etc. Saturday night I was still keyed up and should have gone to bed earlier, so I was a touch on the groggy Sunday morning - not that sleep would have helped anyway.
So, I leisurely drank my coffee, responding to an email from Lyle, postponed the shower until my first cup was done. (A mistake in hind-sight - sorry honey.) I happened by the upstairs bath where Crystal and McKenna were getting ready - hair stuff. Crystal stopped me and mentioned something about McKenna only seeing only one of my eyes when I poked my head in the door. Hmmm... ...that's wierd, what did I miss on that conversation? Well we have to get going, so off to the shower I went.
The play, the breakfast, the service, the dinner at home with family - all went really well. At the end of it I was sorry that the day had slipped by so fast.
And then there was Monday. Ugh. Monday. Crystal and I had decided to take McKenna to the eye-doctor. They got us in today (Tuesday). No surprises so far. Being me, I thought out loud, "We start with the symptoms. Her eyes are doing weird stuff, so we start with that and maybe its an eye thing." In my head, perhaps out loud though, I thought that this was probably going to be a little more than that.
I think I called home 4 or 5 times today until I got through just to make sure that Crystal called me with any news and "what time was the appointment anyway?" I ended up going along and I was glad to be there to hear things first hand. They started talking (or not talking) carefully and wanted an MRI tonight, but ended up with tomorrow.
No thunder. No lightning. Just a steady rain now. McKenna, Ava and I headed home in Grandma's car. There was sun accross the long bridge, with the rain. I looked to the east, hoping I would see one, and there it was, a beautiful rainbow. The girls and I talked about what it meant - a sign of God's promise, a reminder.
McKenna heard a lot of things today, is starting to ask questions, but no one knows. We arrived home first. I sent her to take care of the chickens and get the mail, then had Ava help me with the kindling and they both helped with the wood. I called my boss to let him know that I planned to be at work tomorrow - the results won't be back until later anyway - but I needed to see how Crystal was first.
One of McKenna's friends had left a message that she wanted her to come over, so I sent her over for an hour. At least Crystal and I could talk more openly. It turns out that we are both pretty much on the same page. Concern, but not sure how much. Me, a little teary, but what's new with that?
I decided to take a walk around outside to look for something that needed doing, but I really didn't have anything in mind. The rain had stopped. The wind was still. I could faintly hear the girls talking and laughing, but in the cool night air they were probably still all the way over at the friend's house. I walked past the garden and started to head for the road that McKenna would ride home on, but then I saw something really beautiful...
.jpg)
There were drops of rain on every branch and twig of every bush and tree, and the sun's setting behind them was just the right angle to make them look like tiny, perfect ornaments. I couldn't get it on the camera. I really tried. I couldn't get it into words - but I have tried. ...like molten little drops of glass...
Perspective. It seems like right now, my vision is clear, my mind at rest and my heart, is over-flowing with God's grace, affection even.
Peace. Calm. Rest. Somehow, I am there, like the song ...in the palm of His hand...
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Good Book...
I don't often post commentary or book reports here, but this is a good read for anyone who is going through a rough patch. Loving God with all Your Mind is written by a woman for women and I don't know much else about the author. I picked it up while visiting my Mother-in-Law a couple of weeks ago (I am a bookshelf scanner).
Long story short, I picked it up and read half of it in the little amount of time that I had while there - the rest of it in the time since being home.
It was the title that caught my attention. Honestly, I would not have picked it up had I known the content... ...I am "mature" enough to "know" all the kinds of things that she wrote. However, in hindsight, it was a good smack up-side the head that forced me to come to terms with God's goodness, again, and in light of "today".
If you or somone that you know is in a valley - there are a lot of versions of those - I would consider this book as a good counseling resource. It sources a variety of Sciptures such as Philippians 4:8, Jeremiah 29: 11, Romans 8:28 and many others that we long-time christians have sent to the cliche bin. But as with all Scripture, the meditation on them along with real testimony from another "who's been there" is not unlike a nice hot shower that washes away the grime of rough day.
Cliche verses... ...cliche comments... ...cliche prayers... ...these things mean very little when a cliche crises hit an individual. Don't underestimate the power of a good word, but don't overestimate it either. Someone who is really hurting will need strong encouragement - Scriptural washing - and most likley you can't solve all the problems in a single conversation. So, rely on the leading of the Spirit to say the right things and consider passing this book along... ...and it may be a long road, stay with it whether you are in it or watching someone else in it.
Long story short, I picked it up and read half of it in the little amount of time that I had while there - the rest of it in the time since being home.
It was the title that caught my attention. Honestly, I would not have picked it up had I known the content... ...I am "mature" enough to "know" all the kinds of things that she wrote. However, in hindsight, it was a good smack up-side the head that forced me to come to terms with God's goodness, again, and in light of "today".
If you or somone that you know is in a valley - there are a lot of versions of those - I would consider this book as a good counseling resource. It sources a variety of Sciptures such as Philippians 4:8, Jeremiah 29: 11, Romans 8:28 and many others that we long-time christians have sent to the cliche bin. But as with all Scripture, the meditation on them along with real testimony from another "who's been there" is not unlike a nice hot shower that washes away the grime of rough day.
Cliche verses... ...cliche comments... ...cliche prayers... ...these things mean very little when a cliche crises hit an individual. Don't underestimate the power of a good word, but don't overestimate it either. Someone who is really hurting will need strong encouragement - Scriptural washing - and most likley you can't solve all the problems in a single conversation. So, rely on the leading of the Spirit to say the right things and consider passing this book along... ...and it may be a long road, stay with it whether you are in it or watching someone else in it.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Ten on Tuesday... ...maybe
Is it legal to start a Ten on Tuesday with One or Two on Tuesday, then add them? I hope I'm not violating the regulations...
1) Crystal got her Blook yesterday. It was her best family pics, most of which were posted on her blog, then printed in this book - thus the blook term that I made up.
2) For the last couple of months, I have been under a lot of anxieties - to the point that I question my ability to make good decisions and constantly suffer paralysis by analysis. It seems like the last couple of years have taken a huge toll on me mentally and physically and I can recall no tougher times. There were good things too though, as reminded by perusing Crystal's hard work. I need to focus on the whatsoever things mentioned in Phillippians 4:8 - thanks to my wife, I have a whole arsenal of wonderful memories to reshape my recollections and balance out those other things.
3) I read the latter parts of Psalms 119, and some of the following Psalms too this morning. What a comfort! What a Father in Heaven! Psalms 127 and 128 really mean a lot to me - His provision in spite of my efforts, or even lack of efforts (even while I sleep in 127: 2).
I might add more later, because there is more, but I have to work now...
4) ...later... On the way home, listened to Dr. David Jeremiah on KMBI (it was a late drive) and caught the end of a sermon about making monuments instead of being a vibrant church - it was about the church of Sardis in Revelation (2?). He caught my attention with a question about how we ought always be able to point to a fresh example of God's working in our life - in spite of any circumstances. That takes a will sometimes, both to fight lethargy and in other times to fight discouragement or in other times to fight over-confidence. So, I thought that was pretty good - "How am I trusting and watching God's working NOW?" Am I sharing that? Or is my testimony getting dusty?
Still more to add, but more work too...
1) Crystal got her Blook yesterday. It was her best family pics, most of which were posted on her blog, then printed in this book - thus the blook term that I made up.
2) For the last couple of months, I have been under a lot of anxieties - to the point that I question my ability to make good decisions and constantly suffer paralysis by analysis. It seems like the last couple of years have taken a huge toll on me mentally and physically and I can recall no tougher times. There were good things too though, as reminded by perusing Crystal's hard work. I need to focus on the whatsoever things mentioned in Phillippians 4:8 - thanks to my wife, I have a whole arsenal of wonderful memories to reshape my recollections and balance out those other things.
3) I read the latter parts of Psalms 119, and some of the following Psalms too this morning. What a comfort! What a Father in Heaven! Psalms 127 and 128 really mean a lot to me - His provision in spite of my efforts, or even lack of efforts (even while I sleep in 127: 2).
I might add more later, because there is more, but I have to work now...
4) ...later... On the way home, listened to Dr. David Jeremiah on KMBI (it was a late drive) and caught the end of a sermon about making monuments instead of being a vibrant church - it was about the church of Sardis in Revelation (2?). He caught my attention with a question about how we ought always be able to point to a fresh example of God's working in our life - in spite of any circumstances. That takes a will sometimes, both to fight lethargy and in other times to fight discouragement or in other times to fight over-confidence. So, I thought that was pretty good - "How am I trusting and watching God's working NOW?" Am I sharing that? Or is my testimony getting dusty?
Still more to add, but more work too...
Friday, March 5, 2010
Mandolins...?
Can't get the idea out of my head that I need a constructive hobby - besides cleaning the garage someday, gardening when the weather warms, finishing the chicken coop someday, organizing my crazy stacks and piles that drives my wife nuts some weekend, etc. - I am wondering why I never kept going with the guitar like my brothers...
I have been wanting to pick up the mandolin for years... I wonder if anyone has any recommendations to learn about and eventually purchase one...
I have been wanting to pick up the mandolin for years... I wonder if anyone has any recommendations to learn about and eventually purchase one...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Neat story...
Pretty cool - had to share... ...we don't get the cable channels - no idea where this airs normally.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
I'm a chicken... ...fan
You might recall our getting into the chicken thing... ...there were some motivations to do it, but it wasn't the money. You know, if you buy a stock in a company you watch the reports for earning or losses? If you buy chickens soley (sp?) for the $$, then you have only losses to add up. At the market, for $1.69/dozen eggs, you won't be getting Return On Investment (ROI) in the lifetime of a home grown chicken, I don't think.
Your results may vary - I didn't have time to work any cheaper - didn't have (still don't have) the money to do it more nicely. ...The good news is that the chickens are still happy, or at least they don't care. Here is an excerpt of last years earnings... [proposed report, I should add...]
As previously shown in the earnings report details, the cost per egg is currently around $75.37. However, we expect the next quarter results to improve a bit as we cut all initial startup expenses and work to improve productivity. We are cautiously optimistic that egg production will increase dramatically as new productions lines mature. Due to the current climate, we will maintain some higher than average expenditures until spring and summer conditions allow natural food supplies and lighting to improve allowing utilities and supplies costs to be reduced.
Additionally, initial fears of production decreases due to losses along the production chain have subsided. In fact, we have more production potential than was originally anticipated. We now expect higher earnings potential with higher production and expected lower costs as the year progresses.
Yeah - you thought I couldn't talk turkey... ...OK chicken. I can at least talk chicken.
Basically, we are excited to be getting eggs on a regular basis now. The amount of daylight exposure turns out to be a key part of their egg laying happiness. The first egg was the day we left for Christmas in Boise - they (she, whichever one it was) didn't know enough to get down from the roost first and it arrived on the floor below - ummm, scrambled. ;) nice. All eggs are consistently arriving in the nesting box now though.
I have gotten a little bird-brained about this - my wife will attest to that with rolling eyes. But it is really cool to watch 'em run around the yard. They have impressive eyesight - bugs don't stand a chance, let alone the cool weather making them veeerrryyy slow on the escape thing right now.
One bird disappeared two or three Sundays ago. (We (I) often let them out while I am home.) Daughter and I looked until sometime after dark that night and found no sign, no feathers, no tracks. I began to suspect predator right away - they just don't wander off too far normally. No coon or coyote tracks - there was fresh snow, so it should have shown something. Anyway, put them away and tried to console Daughter, who did her best and did well praying for her safe return. I got up at 11 pm to make another check - nope. But while I tromped around the coop looking for any sign of that rogue little hen I heard the unmistakable howl of a coyote. My thoughts now went sadly to the certainty of our little hen's demise. I would have to take more precautions now that the coyotes knew of this potential food source...
Monday morning I rousted Daughter out of bed for another search party, but no success. But Monday afternoon I got a call at work and she was back outside the coop on her own - a little spooked and jumpy, but otherwise fine.
I don't know what to think - they aren't really pets. Yet, you get sort of attached to critters. Today I told Daughter that I thought that every animal, regardless of species, has a unique personality. The Bible talks about the breath of life.
(I don't know if you can comfortably assign all of that strictly to genetics. All dogs can bite, for instance, but there are exceptionally good and bad dogs of every breed. )
I recall the examples that Jesus told to show us the care of God - the birds of the air, the lillies of the field... I trust that He is concerned for His kids even more than I could be for "my" kids - and chickens too.
People have more than animalistic life - they have the likeness, the image of God and they are that much more important than the birds of the air... ...and our Father sees fit to teach us by example. I find that touching and reassuring. I hope that you do too...
Your results may vary - I didn't have time to work any cheaper - didn't have (still don't have) the money to do it more nicely. ...The good news is that the chickens are still happy, or at least they don't care. Here is an excerpt of last years earnings... [proposed report, I should add...]
As previously shown in the earnings report details, the cost per egg is currently around $75.37. However, we expect the next quarter results to improve a bit as we cut all initial startup expenses and work to improve productivity. We are cautiously optimistic that egg production will increase dramatically as new productions lines mature. Due to the current climate, we will maintain some higher than average expenditures until spring and summer conditions allow natural food supplies and lighting to improve allowing utilities and supplies costs to be reduced.
Additionally, initial fears of production decreases due to losses along the production chain have subsided. In fact, we have more production potential than was originally anticipated. We now expect higher earnings potential with higher production and expected lower costs as the year progresses.
Yeah - you thought I couldn't talk turkey... ...OK chicken. I can at least talk chicken.
Basically, we are excited to be getting eggs on a regular basis now. The amount of daylight exposure turns out to be a key part of their egg laying happiness. The first egg was the day we left for Christmas in Boise - they (she, whichever one it was) didn't know enough to get down from the roost first and it arrived on the floor below - ummm, scrambled. ;) nice. All eggs are consistently arriving in the nesting box now though.
I have gotten a little bird-brained about this - my wife will attest to that with rolling eyes. But it is really cool to watch 'em run around the yard. They have impressive eyesight - bugs don't stand a chance, let alone the cool weather making them veeerrryyy slow on the escape thing right now.
One bird disappeared two or three Sundays ago. (We (I) often let them out while I am home.) Daughter and I looked until sometime after dark that night and found no sign, no feathers, no tracks. I began to suspect predator right away - they just don't wander off too far normally. No coon or coyote tracks - there was fresh snow, so it should have shown something. Anyway, put them away and tried to console Daughter, who did her best and did well praying for her safe return. I got up at 11 pm to make another check - nope. But while I tromped around the coop looking for any sign of that rogue little hen I heard the unmistakable howl of a coyote. My thoughts now went sadly to the certainty of our little hen's demise. I would have to take more precautions now that the coyotes knew of this potential food source...
Monday morning I rousted Daughter out of bed for another search party, but no success. But Monday afternoon I got a call at work and she was back outside the coop on her own - a little spooked and jumpy, but otherwise fine.
I don't know what to think - they aren't really pets. Yet, you get sort of attached to critters. Today I told Daughter that I thought that every animal, regardless of species, has a unique personality. The Bible talks about the breath of life.
(I don't know if you can comfortably assign all of that strictly to genetics. All dogs can bite, for instance, but there are exceptionally good and bad dogs of every breed. )
I recall the examples that Jesus told to show us the care of God - the birds of the air, the lillies of the field... I trust that He is concerned for His kids even more than I could be for "my" kids - and chickens too.
People have more than animalistic life - they have the likeness, the image of God and they are that much more important than the birds of the air... ...and our Father sees fit to teach us by example. I find that touching and reassuring. I hope that you do too...
Unrelated Observations...
I am told that my interests in documetaries, occassional autobiographies and other somewhat detailed leave the rest of us a little... ...what's the word, "bored?" I guess that makes me a nerd. Or, maybe its just a phase.
Last week I found a PBS documentary about Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) and today another Ken Burns documentary about Thomas Jefferson. In many ways these men were great and we study them in history because of the effect they had on us, our country and even more.
Mark Twain was a successful humorist and author, but plagued with continual failure and grief. He loved to play with his kids, but was also a terrible grump. Later in life, He walked the streets on Sunday mornings in his gaudy white suit with red socks to make sure that all saw him not attending services. Such was his anger that God would allow such suffering upon him. He died a disappointed and bitter man.
Thomas Jefferson, an icon of liberty and American ideals was also afflicted in such similar ways. My regard for him is as conflicted as he must have been to himself. He cherished the privacy of his private home, yet felt it necessary to serve public office before during and after the Revolutionary War. He penned the words of the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men were created equal..." and yet he owned among the largest numbers of slave in the state of Virginia. He labored to have slavery eradicated, but set the issue aside for political practicality in the founding.
He was at once a soft-spoken recluse and a decisive and powerful political thinker. An intellectual of many pursuits, he was a farmer, architect, scientist as well as the famous politician and statesman.
These men, among others I have considered, are a bit lost in the highlights of history. It is unfortunate in many ways, as we lose the personalities to memorize the dates and accomplishments from our lessons. There are more lessons to learn from such men - not necessarily from their greatnesses.
I have at different times envied them for their strengths and opportunities, but not now. Now, I pity them; but I admire them too. Clemens for his wit throughout his life (even he was confused with that); and Jefferson for his will and ambition for this country and for liberty. Conflicted? Yes.
Earlier this week, or last, (I hardly remember the days any more) I listened as a mother of a tragically disabled 12 year old shared how God was continually caring for them and using her to minister not in spite of her circumstances, but through them. Not conflicted - but convicted of God's love, care and values on His Children. "Heroes," the song says, "come in every shape and size, making daily sacrifices for others in their lives..." (Paul Overstreet, Heroes)
It's part of what makes the Frank Capra movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" so, well, wonderful. (Sniff...) Your pastor, your boss, your parent, your teacher, maybe your Senator (though I presently have my doubts on that last one)... ...maybe you - to someone else, your kids?
The irony is that were I you, reading this post, I would blaze through it with little more than a thought.
Have a movie night sometime, to watch something meaningful... ...history is best served with a side of personality, and not all entertainment is completely empty of moral value. But you will find more value in some hostorical characters than most of the present day ones...
I would invite you over, but it would be unbearable to abolish the appearances of my masculinity with my sniffles...
Last week I found a PBS documentary about Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) and today another Ken Burns documentary about Thomas Jefferson. In many ways these men were great and we study them in history because of the effect they had on us, our country and even more.
Mark Twain was a successful humorist and author, but plagued with continual failure and grief. He loved to play with his kids, but was also a terrible grump. Later in life, He walked the streets on Sunday mornings in his gaudy white suit with red socks to make sure that all saw him not attending services. Such was his anger that God would allow such suffering upon him. He died a disappointed and bitter man.
Thomas Jefferson, an icon of liberty and American ideals was also afflicted in such similar ways. My regard for him is as conflicted as he must have been to himself. He cherished the privacy of his private home, yet felt it necessary to serve public office before during and after the Revolutionary War. He penned the words of the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men were created equal..." and yet he owned among the largest numbers of slave in the state of Virginia. He labored to have slavery eradicated, but set the issue aside for political practicality in the founding.
He was at once a soft-spoken recluse and a decisive and powerful political thinker. An intellectual of many pursuits, he was a farmer, architect, scientist as well as the famous politician and statesman.
These men, among others I have considered, are a bit lost in the highlights of history. It is unfortunate in many ways, as we lose the personalities to memorize the dates and accomplishments from our lessons. There are more lessons to learn from such men - not necessarily from their greatnesses.
I have at different times envied them for their strengths and opportunities, but not now. Now, I pity them; but I admire them too. Clemens for his wit throughout his life (even he was confused with that); and Jefferson for his will and ambition for this country and for liberty. Conflicted? Yes.
Earlier this week, or last, (I hardly remember the days any more) I listened as a mother of a tragically disabled 12 year old shared how God was continually caring for them and using her to minister not in spite of her circumstances, but through them. Not conflicted - but convicted of God's love, care and values on His Children. "Heroes," the song says, "come in every shape and size, making daily sacrifices for others in their lives..." (Paul Overstreet, Heroes)
It's part of what makes the Frank Capra movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" so, well, wonderful. (Sniff...) Your pastor, your boss, your parent, your teacher, maybe your Senator (though I presently have my doubts on that last one)... ...maybe you - to someone else, your kids?
The irony is that were I you, reading this post, I would blaze through it with little more than a thought.
Have a movie night sometime, to watch something meaningful... ...history is best served with a side of personality, and not all entertainment is completely empty of moral value. But you will find more value in some hostorical characters than most of the present day ones...
I would invite you over, but it would be unbearable to abolish the appearances of my masculinity with my sniffles...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
God's Grace and Provision...
Hardship, risk, problems... ...all a part of life. So, sometimes, it is hard to get around the emotional side - Fear, worry, anziety, depression, hopelessness - and function "normally"... You feel weak, tired, drained and injured - because you are. But take heart, God is watching and has His best in mind for you.
He is not slack in His promises... ...I read this this morning:
I Timothy 1: 12-20
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
I take comfort often in the thought that my surrender is His opportunity to work freely on my behalf... REST, Assurance and Peace in the knowledge that the Creator of the universe is not only aware of me, but also active in spite of my shortcomings. It is this very reason that God used Paul... ...to prove Himself faithful and able.
So one more, day, one more step. One more fight, one more wound sometimes, but peace inside that I am in Good Hands.
He is not slack in His promises... ...I read this this morning:
I Timothy 1: 12-20
12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
I take comfort often in the thought that my surrender is His opportunity to work freely on my behalf... REST, Assurance and Peace in the knowledge that the Creator of the universe is not only aware of me, but also active in spite of my shortcomings. It is this very reason that God used Paul... ...to prove Himself faithful and able.
So one more, day, one more step. One more fight, one more wound sometimes, but peace inside that I am in Good Hands.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Moody Founder's Week
KMBI - http://www.mbn.org/GenMoody/default.asp?SectionID=511D4F0765C143EC970702C59C11DB5E
Otherwise, you'll need to search it out via Moody Broadcasting Network (MBN)
I thought I'd post - had forgotten that it was scheduled for this week. I caught it on an extremely rare trip to the store for some bit of breakfast.
Otherwise, you'll need to search it out via Moody Broadcasting Network (MBN)
I thought I'd post - had forgotten that it was scheduled for this week. I caught it on an extremely rare trip to the store for some bit of breakfast.
Fresh Tissues from Solid Rock
I don't recommend eating these "fresh tissues" as they are fresh in the primitive sense, but the fact that they are finding tissues in these fossils at all is facinating. In the meantime, the "scientific" community is in denial of the implications, and certain that they can explain it away.
I think they have lost the "millions of years" explanation as a way to make the major evolutionary more plausible. If this ever gets real attention, then that pre-owned car is starting to take on the more apt description of "Used and abused" - a much more accurate, but harder to sell phrase.
"MMMM! Tastes like jerky!"
Here's a fresh "Link":
Fresh Tissues from Solid Rock
Posted using ShareThis
I think they have lost the "millions of years" explanation as a way to make the major evolutionary more plausible. If this ever gets real attention, then that pre-owned car is starting to take on the more apt description of "Used and abused" - a much more accurate, but harder to sell phrase.
"MMMM! Tastes like jerky!"
Here's a fresh "Link":
Fresh Tissues from Solid Rock
Posted using ShareThis
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Nerd Toys Part II - Taper Airplane
I mentioned that you could make your own flying tube nerd toy thing - here is a little diagram that I made up in SolidWorks. Apparently, the depth of my creativity [when it comes to paper-projects] knows no bounds...
Throw it like a football - a little experimenting and you'll be having fun on the cheap! Now, about all that masking tape that you wadded up into balls...
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Nerd Toys...
Call me a sucker, but I will be looking for one of these at the nearest Stuff-Mart.
You can make your own with a long piece of paper and an empty spool of masking tape - That's the Aerocet version that we can't do 'cause they changed the company policy about throwing stuff at each other while "at work".
You can make your own with a long piece of paper and an empty spool of masking tape - That's the Aerocet version that we can't do 'cause they changed the company policy about throwing stuff at each other while "at work".
Friday, January 8, 2010
Good Sport - a class act
Not enough of this going around these days... ...a breathe of fresh air in the fouled world of smack talkk.
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