Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

. . . some shared writings from Wine Brook Cottage . . .

Thursday, April 27, 2006

More Spring pictures . . . .



Our provincial flower, the Mayflower (Trailing Arbutus) is one of the first wildflowers to appear. I brought some inside today and their fragrance is gorgeous. They are a flower that I would love to have around all year long; however, the best idea is to enjoy them while they're here of course. :-)



This may not be the best picture to show a deer hoof print at a drinking hole but it will have to do for now. Difficult to see in the dark mud but it is there. Unfortunately, I did not sight the deer. He, or she, was long gone by the time I wander by that section of the Wine Brook.



No one was home at this residence on the day that this picture was taken. Perhaps another day . . . . :-)

Friday, April 21, 2006


Beautiful sky beyond the treetops of my 'Observation Birch.' I call it that as at its base is one place that I sometime stop to rest and observe what life is springing forth. Evidence of spring is beginning to show up near Observation Birch. Marsh Marigolds are appearing, and shoots of various plants that I haven't identified as yet. The old railroad bed and truss are a short ways away; and part of the old sheep fence line remains. Reminders of the days when trains were common . . . . but now the tracks and the trains are gone. That pathway is silent except when a fourwheeler rumbles by or in winter a snowmobile streaks through the path of white snow.











Though today is overcast and the north winds are blowing cold, there is plenty of evidence that spring has begun here in New Scotland.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Stillwater


It's wonderful to have this little brook flowing near us, and recently Shel has cut out the old, overgrown pathway to this stillwater, which I intend on making good use of when weather and time allow. Maybe I'll head for it irregardless of weather or time and glean from it the calm my soul requires by spending time in nature with God. I've always found God to be more real to me while on the nature trail than in buildings surrounded by strangers.


The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
- Psalm 23:1-3

Sunday, April 16, 2006

He's Alive!



http://hometown.aol.com/songgirl3031/page5.html

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Dawn by Edward Everett



(Upon the opening of the Dudley Observatory, at Albany, August 28, 1856, Everett gave an address on the Uses of Astronomy, containing this fine description of dawn. Notice that he is describing something so beautiful as to be worth going miles to see, yet so common that we can see it almost any morning.)



I had occasion, a few weeks since, to take the early train from Providence to Boston; and for this purpose rose at two o'clock in the morning. Everything around was wrapt in darkness and hushed in silence, broken only by what seemed at that hour the unearthly clank and rush of the train. It was a mild, serene, midsummer's night, - the sky was without a cloud, - the winds were whist. The moon, then in the last quarter, had just risen, and the stars shone with a spectral luster but little affected by her presence. Jupiter, two hours high, was the herald of the day; the Pleiades, just above the horizon, shed their sweet influence in the east; Lyra sparkled near the zenith; Andromeda veiled her newly discovered glories from the naked eye in the south; the steady pointers, far beneath the pole, looked meekly up from the depths of the north to their sovereign.

Such was the glorious spectacle as I entered the train. As we proceeded, the timid approach of twilight became more perceptible; the intense blue of the sky began to soften; the smaller stars, like little children, went first to rest; the sister-beams of the Pleiades soon melted together; but the bright constellations of the west and north remained unchanged. Steadily the wondrous transfiguration went on. Hands of angels, hidden from mortal eyes, shifted the scenery of the heavens; the glories of night dissolved into the glories of the dawn. The blue sky now turned more softly gray; the great watch-stars shut up their holy eyes; the east began to kindle. Faint streaks of purple soon blushed along the sky; the whole celestial concave was filled with the inflowing tides of the morning light, which came pouring down from above in one great ocean of radiance; till at length, as we reached the Blue Hills, a flash of purple fire blazed out from above the horizon and turned the dewy teardrops of flower and leaf into rubies and diamonds. In a few seconds the everlasting gates of the morning were thrown wide open, and the lord of the day, arrayed in glories too severe for the gaze of man, began his state.

I do not wonder at the superstition of the ancient Magians, who in the morning of the world went up to the hilltops of Central Asia and ignorant of the true God, adored the most glorious work of his hand. But I am filled with amazement when I am told that in this enlightened age and in the heart of the Christian world there are persons who can witness this daily manifestation of the power and wisdom of the Creator and yet say in their hearts, "There is no God."

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Edward Everett 1794 - 1865

When Daniel Webster was studying law in Boston, he once helped his brother Ezekiel for a short time in the teaching of a private school. Among the pupils was a boy named Edward Everett, the son of a Dorchester clergyman; this boy became in later years an orator scarcely less distinguished than Webster himself, and was one of Webster's warmest personal friends.

Young Everett's father had recently died and the boy was working hard to obtain an education. He fitted for college at Phillips Exeter Academy, entered Harvard at thirteen, the youngest member of his class, and graduated four years later with the highest honors. Thinking to follow his father's profession, he then studied theology and in 1813 became pastor of the Brattle Street Church, where his eloquence and charm of manner attracted large congregations. After a two years' pastorate he was offered the professorship of Greek literature at Harvard and was allowed four years of foreign travel and study to prepare himself. This position he accepted, and while at Harvard lived for a time in the old Craigie house, later framed as the home of Longfellow. During his professorship he was also editor of the North American Review.

Everett was already known as a brilliant orator, and in 1824 was elected to Congress, where he served ten years. Then he was made governor of Massachusetts and three times re-elected, losing his fourth re-election by a single vote. President William H. Harrison next appointed him ambassador to England, and upon the conclusion of his term of office he returned to this country and was made president of Harvard University.

At the death of Webster in 1852 Everett succeeded him as Secretary of State, and upon retiring from that position entered the Senate. He was one of the Republican electors in 1864, and his last political act was to cast his electoral vote for Lincoln's re-election.

Everett did not have the natural gifts of Webster or Clay or Calhoun, but what he lacked in force he made up in scholarship, judgment, and good taste. He was the highest type of a cultured gentleman of the old school; and his fine face, his noble figure, his full, clear voice, were well fitted to the graceful style of oratory in which he excelled.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

A bit of knitting

Even though I haven't been posting a lot lately I have been keeping busy. Of course knitting with an 18 pound dog napping on your lap can add an extra challenge to the process. Have to hold my hands up high than usual to avoid poking said dog with the needles. A pair of socks for me . . . .

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Getting wood at the camp


In late March, as we had some fallen trees to attend to near the camp and it was time to get some more firewood down there, Shel drove the tractor and wagon down and I joined him; mainly for photo taking and companionship.




Tree down, trimmed, and blocked, and ready to go for a wagon ride.



While we were in the woods I naturally had to go 'walkabout' and discovered where a bear had pulled off the bark of this tree and left some 'tell tale' black bear hairs behind. Later I discovered a fallen tree where the hungry bear had ripped more bark away as he continued his spring search for food.

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Snowdrops



Both the single and double . . . . .

Walking dogs

Two days ago the girls and I had a couple of enjoyable walks while the warmer weather moved in. Dinah happily poses as she points her nose into the wind . . . . checking for scent no doubt.







Dream 'inspects' the banks of Wine Brook and blends in with the grasses and bushes. It's like a "Where's Waldo?" cartoon . . . . only this one is "Where's the Curly Tail?"

Busy Spring Days





Clearing bush and thinning out trees in the area between house and road has kept us busy these past few days but I kept my camera handy and even took time out for a short, leisurely drive locally. A break in the midst of hauling bush is also welcome . . . . especially when the sun shines and you hear the voice of Spring calling you. In one small marsh I found many Cat and Nine Tails displaying their fluffy stuff so I brought one home to put in a vase where I could view it close up. Well, what to my wondering eyes appeared but a wee little worm hanging by a thread. So, it's a worm that makes this fluff right? Anyone know what 'kind' of worm this would be?

We are definitely on a major flightpath. See some of the tell-tale exhaust streaks across our beautiful blue sky.










Our first Robin appeared early in the morning of March 29th and since then his singing and that of his many friends has greeted me each morning as I wake. What a wonderful sound!




The pair of wild ducks has been flying in and out of the stillwater so it looks like we may hear quacking for a while again. They're quick on the wing which makes it difficult to get a picture of them in the air and the bushes are thick surrounding their chosen summer home with a swampy area leading to it so I'm not sure if there will be pictures of those particular ducks or not.

It is so very good to experience the return of Spring!

"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive." - Eleonora Duse