Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain

Heart's-Ease

by Amy Carmichael

Oh, there was never a blossom 

That bloomed so blithe as she,

On the bitter land, by the salt-wet sand,

On the margin of the sea.

Where never a flower but the gorse can blow,

And the dry sea-pink that the mermen sow, 

There grows she.

Oh, there was never a blossom

That bloomed so brave as she, 

On the narrow ledge of the mountain's edge

Where the wild fowl hardly be.

And over her head the Four Seasons go

With a rush of wings when the Storm Kings blow-

There grows she.

Oh, there was never a blossom 

That bloomed content as she,

In the heart that burned, and loved and learned

Of the Man of Galilee. 

And plant her high, or plant her low, 

In bed of fire, or a field of snow, 

There grows she. 

Western Tiger Swallowtail

     Today, this western swallowtail emerged from his chrysalis. We found the caterpillar, 11 months ago, hurrying across our back porch. We scooped him up and put him in a container with some host plants. In a few days he went through the process of changing from a caterpillar to a chrysalis. We expected him to emerge in a week or so, but he did not. We had read that western swallowtails can overwinter, but we did not expect to wait for 11 months.

     We had left the house early this morning to go to a 5K race. We came home a couple of hours later to find this beauty in the butterfly house. It was quite shocking to see him there after waiting so long. Once he was ready, we took him outside and let him have his freedom. What a beautiful creature!

western tiger swallowtail
  Papilio rutulus

November World in the Rocky Mountains

Today, we went for a nature walk with camera in hand to document our November World. We took a hike up the hill behind our house looking at the colors and also following some deer tracks. At this time the predominant colors are brown, green, straw, blue, and a little white. It will not be long before our entire landscape is covered in white. Usually, by this time it is already blanketed in snow. We are not complaining though. It is nice to be able to hike these trails this late in November wearing tennis shoes.

Big Sagebrush 

Artemisia tridentata

Ice and snow on the trail. 

The Continental Divide, in the distance, covered in snow.

Fairy Slipper

Calypso bulbosa

On a hike, last week, I saw this beautiful flower. I have been looking for this flower for about 3 years. It is the fairy slipper and is an endangered species here in Colorado. It was only about 3 inches tall.

Orion

"During the evenings of January, February, and March the splendid constellation of Orion takes possession of the southern half of the heavens..." Handbook of Nature Study, pg 823

September in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocket Launch

Wendell Berry and A Sabbath Mood

The Angelus, by Jean-Francois Millet

 

 

Whatever is foreseen in joy
Must be lived out from day to day.
Vision held open in the dark
By our ten thousand days of work.

 

The hand must ache, the face must sweat.
And yet no leaf or grain is filled
By work of ours; the field is tilled

And left to grace. That we may reap,

Great work is done while we’re asleep.
When we work well, a Sabbath mood
Rests on our day, and finds it good.

 

-Wendell Berry, 1979, no. X

I read this poem a few years back on the blog that takes its title from this same poem. I was struck by the beauty and realism in this poem for us homeschooling families. We work hard and yet the growth is up to God. It is to Him we look. Yet we don't leave the fields unplowed. Indeed, "the hand must ache, the face must sweat." But it is God who gives the increase as the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians. We are not in this alone and that should give us great comfort.

*************

A few weeks ago, in the library, I came across a book of poetry by Wendell Berry. I was eager to read it because of my experience with the above poem. So I have been reading my way through it and then this week I came across an article, on The Gospel Coalition, about our need for Wendell Berry's perspective on nurturing as opposed to exploitation. Read it here: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/wendell-berry-and-the-revitalized-pastor

Wanderers

 Wanderers

by Walter de la Mare

 

Wide are the meadows of night,

And daisies are shining there,

Tossing their lovely dews,

Lustrous and fair; 

 

And through these sweet fields go,

Wanderers amid the stars --

Venus, Mercury, Uranus, Neptune,

Saturn, Jupiter, Mars.

 'Tired in their silver, they move,

And circling, whisper and say,

Fair are the blossoming meads of delight

Through which we stray.

Summertime

We have such long winters here in the mountains that one almost forgets what summer is like. Yet, it has finally arrived and we are thoroughly enjoying it! Along with baseball games or practices every night here are a few signs that summer has indeed arrived.

Our Prayer-----Build Your Kingdom Here! by Rend Colletive

More Artist Reproductions

Refreshing Read on Parenting

Your Child Is Your Neighbor

I have often heard people joke about babies being a "little bundle of depravity" and it has always bothered me. I understand that it is somewhat tongue-in-cheek and it is a joke intended to drive home the reality that we are all fallen, but I think it overlooks a great truth--namely that we are created in God's image. The personhood of every child coming into this world is something at which we should marvel! That is why I appreciate the following article by Jen Wilkin.  Your Child Is Your Neighbor

Poetry Study-Langston Hughes

Mother to Son

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

 

"Never be within doors when you can rightly be without." -Charlotte Mason

 

Visitors

For the past two mornings we have had some lovely visitors at our bird feeders. They arrive just a little after 6 a.m.

Signs of Spring

Signs of spring in the Rocky Mountains are definitely different than what I grew up with on the Great Plains. For one thing there is still plenty of snow when March 20th rolls around. The daffodils have not even sent up their green shoots, nor the tulips. This is our fourth spring to live in the mountains and we are growing more accustomed to this winter wonderland and what early signs of spring look like. For instance today I saw the first bluebird and a red winged blackbird. The ice on the river has begun to break up and the river is flowing nicely amid its snow banks. We are still skiing, but the snow is not so much powder as it is icy, and there is mud everywhere. One thing that we have not yet seen, but are looking forward to as a sure sign of spring are the white pelicans that nest just down the road from us. When they arrive we are told it is surely spring.

Vivaldi- It's Spring Time To Sing Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi- The Four Seasons: Spring

 

Although, it does not yet look like this in the high Rocky Mountains, it won't be long!

Springtime in the Rockies

Written In March -
by William Wordsworth

The cock is crowing,
The stream is flowing,
The small birds twitter,
The lake doth glitter
The green field sleeps in the sun;
The oldest and youngest
Are at work with the strongest;
The cattle are grazing,
Their heads never raising;
There are forty feeding like one!

Like an army defeated
The snow hath retreated,
And now doth fare ill
On the top of the bare hill;
The plowboy is whooping- anon-anon:
There's joy in the mountains;
There's life in the fountains;
Small clouds are sailing,
Blue sky prevailing;
The rain is over and gone!

Georgia O'Keefe Reproductions

This year for Artist Study we studied the works of Georgia O'Keefe. We read two short biographies and attended an art exhibit where we were able to get an up close look at her original work.

Each week after reading from the biography we would do a picture study. In conclusion to our studies we have now started doing our own reproductions.  Here are our first reproductions.