A drama unfolding before my eyes in the sky above the pasture, and the camera in the house (sigh). I knew I'd never make a good Boy Scout. No way I can constantly honour the motto "Always be Prepared"!

I have gone out in the heat of the day to get some wonderful new potatoes out of the bin that passes for our potato patch. I notice that the plants look wilted, and go to get a small sprinkler to revive them. I hear the sound of a bird in the sky, look up, and there is a beautiful Osprey, swooping ever lower over the pasture.

It is being chased by two smaller Hawks who circle and dive, circle and dive. The Osprey does a graceful roll in midst air, his claws protecting his chest from the fierce hawks that are determined to exile him from their skies.

Is it his mere presence, or is he up to some kind of mischief that causes such consternation on the part of the Hawks?

They don't linger, - the 'dog-fight show is brief, but exciting. The Osprey gradually circles away and one of the Hawks breaks off and leaves the fray, while the other accompanies the Osprey on his way, probably muttering dire imprecations, but I am too far away to hear.

I gaze down the valley until they are out of sight, turn to go in, and suddenly feel the wings of a hummingbird whizz by my head. There are two. Very tiny - probably this year's young. Joyful at the newly filled feeders and the Bee Balm.





No. 2 Son gave me instructions on how to capture these whirring wonders on film, but first you have to have the camera close at hand........

Sky Watch Friday

Sunrise in the Similkameen

While looking for Buried Treasure in old blogs I came across this spectacular sunrise in a blog dated December 29th, 2006.

From what the posting says it was a bitterly cold morning accentuated by a freezing wind.

The sunrise hardly warmed the temperature, but it did cause a bit of excitement around the breakfast table.



Eventually it faded to a golden glow, and so the day began.......



To see wonderful skies from around the world follow the SkyWatch link in the sidebar

SIMPLY ASSISTING GOD

I am a humble artist
moulding my earthly clod,
adding my labour to nature's,
simply assisting God.

Not that my effort is needed;
yet somehow, I understand,
my maker has willed it that I too should have
unmoulded clay in my hand.
Piet Hein

Oh yes, I am at it again, - delving into the wonders of digital designing; changing nature's pure and lovely flowers into images which might be seen by a 'humble artist'.

A sweet common poppy.....



transformed into a sophisticated flirt..



The tendrils of a Clematis, curled into the symbol for pure wool.



A cheery golden sunflower, with its centre plate of deep chocolate seeds...



Gorgeous watercolour roses...



age suddenly into timeless photos....




I'm here to tell you it's a marvelous way to fritter away an evening.

ABC Wednesday

Z is for Zephyrus



Here is Zephyrus, the Greek God of the West wind, - the most gentle of all winds, protective of the flowers of spring, and rather a naughty and sexy boy to boot! He is the son of Eos and Astraeus, the brother of Boreas, Eurus and Notus, and one of the Anemoi - the Gods of the Winds.

Amongst his many conquests was the goddess Chloris (reputedly his sister) to whom he gave dominion over the flowers and plants of spring.

Is it the sound of his name, the sweetness of the west wind, or his rather appealing racy character that have inspired so many namesakes. Zephyr motorcycles, cars, restaurants, resorts, musical groups, orchids, and prettiest of all, the Zephyrus butterfly.

Letting go.....

A few weeks ago I resigned as organist at the village church.

A sign of the times as this meld of Anglican and United churches fades into the shadows of the free wheeling, Sunday morning concert music that accompanies the worship service of the Pentecostal type of church, and attracts young families to a more casual holiness.

The organ is passe, - the piano much more lively and the guitar and other instruments provide more contemporary, and sometimes very beautiful music.

For two Sundays now we have sung a Capella, under the leadership of the minister's true, pure. lyrical voice and it has been amazingly satisfactory.

We are a very small congregation, - middle aged, elderly, and some even ancient. Occasionally we have visiting children, but for two years, as some small ones moved and others grew older, we have had no children attending church in the parish. Indeed, the grandchildren of our parishioners join with enthusiasm the activities and classes in the various contemporary social churches, - they play piano or guitar. or other instruments, and mostly they make beautiful music.

So now when I sit to play I am practicing The Peacherine Rag and the Heliotrope Bouquet, and trying to regain my dexterity for the Beethoven Sonatas and the Chopin that once slid off my fingers.

I did notice, as we sang 'This is the Day' a Capella, that the congregation maintained the rhythm and beat with which I have always played it, so perhaps those years at the organ were not all in vain.

It is a sad time for traditionalists.....

The parish board presented me with a thank-you gift certificate, and this is what I bought, to hang on the wall beside the piano.