The Number Of The Stars

Awhile ago, we were driving around with our friend Beverly, who was visiting. And she asked what is the meaning of all the stars on houses, barns, and yards. I think people not from this area are surprised when they see them, they are all over our area, and you can hardly go a block without seeing at least one. About 300 years ago, groups of religious refugees came to Pennsylvania, most speaking German. They collectively came to be known as "Pennsylvania Dutch". And they continued their tradition of painting large geometric patterns on their barns. A story slowly evolved that these were hex signs to keep evil spirits away, maybe because the word HEX means witch in German, but there is no proof of this. Experts actually disagree on the symbolism of the origional stars. Folk tradition suggests love, hope harmony, energy, and fire protection. Colors had significance, too. Blue for peace, green for growth, white for purity. Nowadays they are sold everywhere and just used for home decoration.


"He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit."
Psalm 147:5

The Poe Tour

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In the past few years, Phil and I have done a mini Edgar Allan Poe tour. The first picture is Poe's dorm room at U.V.A., we live only a half hour away. The next picture is the desk he wrote at, perhaps he even wrote "The Raven" there. No wonder he wrote about horror, can you imagine sitting for so long in that  tiny backless chair? The last three pictures are in the house in Richmond where Mr. Poe lived, which has been turned into a tiny museum and gift shop. If you look closely, you can even see him peering out the window, I think he's on the lookout for mean critics. This is the oldest house in Richmond., likely built in1737. We even had our picture taken with the king of horror! In the first picture Phil looks pretty scared, but he felt better when I explained it was just a life size cardboard picture.


"Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there. So he did what the Lord had told him...the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening..."
1 Kings 17:2,5

Baby You Can Drive My Car

Do you recognize the title of my post? It's an old Beatles song, beep beep, beep beep, yeah!! The girls just love to sit in our car and pretend to drive. And in the first two pictures, they are just pretending. But last month, we really let Anne Marie drive our car! This is the last two pictures. The age for getting a learner's permit has recently been lowered to five! Just kidding...here's what really happened. When we went to the drive through safari, Anne was up front sitting between me and Phil, and she crawled in his lap, touched the wheel and looked up at him. He knew the time had come, and let her steer through the trail, through all the animals! You can see how delighted she was, no more pretend! And I'm proud to report that not a single animal was wounded or killed! Though some of the places were really rough, Phil made them all smooth by his gentle and quiet guidance.


"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them."
Isaiah 42:16

Double Your Pleasure

 

 "Most persons do not see the sun. The sun illuminates only the eye of man, but shines into the eye and heart of the child."

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

I took these pictures on the evening of July 21. Take a good look and tell me if you notice anything different.  See the reflection behind the sun? It makes a double sun! It looks rather like a bad camera shot, or that I shook and blurred the camera. Not so. I assure you that I saw this with my own two eyes before I even got my camera out! It looked just like this! I don't know how such a thing could be, some kind of atmospheric phenomenon, perhaps. I am thinking not many people have seen this, have you? I consider myself so blessed to have been in the right place at the right time!

"Now no one can look at the sun,

bright as it is in the skies

after the wind has swept them clean.

Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;

God comes in awesome majesty."

Job 37:21,22

Weaving

Paper weaving is a fun craft, and both of the girls like to do it. In small doses. After weaving for a bit, they tire of the repetition and want to go on to something else. So it can take us many days or even weeks to finish just one project. You see that Anne's birthday cake is not done yet, nor is the cow in my header. But after a rest, they are always ready to get back to it and give it another go. Sort of like life. See you on Tuesday!


My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me
I cannot choose the colors, He works steadily.
Oft times He weaves sorrow, and I, in foolish pride
forget He sees the upper, and I the under side.


Not til the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly,
shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful hand
as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.
He knows, He loves, He cares, nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those who leave the choice to Him.
Unknown

Shelter From The Storm

 I came in from the wilderness a creature void of form
"Come in" she said
"I'll give you shelter from the storm".
Bob Dylan

We live just a few minutes from the Wildlife Center Of Virginia, where they rescue all kinds of injured birds and animals, nurse them and return them to the wild. I went on a tour there once, very interesting. So when I saw this picture in the paper, I knew I had to snap it and show you. The Center has over 100 baby squirrels that were blown from their nests in the recent hurricane. They range in age from one to three weeks, and most haven't opened their eyes yet. They need to be fed almost all day, and the workers must refrain from talking baby talk to them, because they want them to grow up scared of people, like they should be when they are released in the wild.


"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest-
I would flee far away...
I would hurry to my place of shelter
far from the tempest and storm."
Psalm 55:6,8

Having Dinner With The Dinosaurs

 

When we went on the drive-thru safari, these were just some of the ostriches that came up to the car wanting food. I couldn't decide whether they looked goofy or mean. How would you like one of these sticking their head in the window demanding food? Or actually pecking on the window to be fed?? Not ME, I cowered in the corner and took pictures while my family held out their food buckets. They somehow looked like they were about to fly off the handle at any moment. The ostriches, that is, not my family!


It is true that ostriches were used for pulling chariots in ancient Egypt, but that never lasted because the ostriches had such a bad temper. Ha ha ha, just the thought of this fills me with hilarity!!! Don't their faces look primitive? They are real dinosaurs, dating over 120 million years ago. In fact, ostrich tissue is very similar to what is found in a T-Rex dinosaur! Ancient creatures indeed!


"...you, O Lord, are our Father,
our redeemer from of old is your name."
Isaiah 63