First Sign of Spring

As I sat placidly reading some bit of fluff this morning, I began to hear a strange sound. I put y book down and strained my ears toward the sound which by now had become something of a noise. It reminded me of the sound of geese flying south for the winter which I got to observe several ties last fall. I grabbed y little Kodak digital camera and ran outside and sure enough, there were hundreds of geese flying formation toward the north and chattering away. I was able to snap this picture just to prove that what I saw was what I saw.

Spring must not be far behind.

Bro. Hardy

Bygone Times

While there are still some of these structures that dot the landscape, this one is being torn down today. It was on my property and every time I looked out the window, there it was. I know that for some people, it is a structure of whimsy, but for me it is a cold and scary reminder of my childhood. The first house I recall living in had no electricity nor running water and the structure "down the path" was a foreboding and scary place. Often there were snakes and always there were insects and spiders!

In gratitude for indoor plubing!

Bro. Hardy

Christmas

It would seem that my life stopped at Thanksgiving, but it didn't. I had the privilege of visiting sister Modine and her brood (5 grand nieces and nephews) some 2000 miles away for the Christmas Holidays. I think it has been at least 25 years since I had been around children at such a time. It was a wonderful experience and one that I will cherish for a long, long time.

But how different things are now than when sister and I were children. The toys are so much more complicated and expensive now. And because they are usually electronic ones of some sort or other, the kids have their noses in them all the time. I hardly had a conversation at all with any of them.

Bro. Hardy