View from the Swamp

Some fall pictures from the swamp. After dropping my camera in the swamp, I've been without for the summer. Yesterday I only managed to get down at noon time so things were pretty quiet ~ a few turtles sunning themselves on some logs, startled one waterfowl but I have no idea who it was, it flew quite noisily to the other end before I had myself in a spot where I could see clearly. The last picture is my "gateway" to the water's edge. I have to duck underneath this arch. It's so exciting to have a camera again, now I just have to learn how to use it!

The Rock

A favorite poem by David McCord:

This is my rock,
And here I run
To steal the secret of the sun;

This is my rock,
And here come I
Before the night has swept the sky,

This is my rock,
This is the place
I meet the evening face to face.

Reminds me of a favorite song/chorus that I can only remember a piece of but it is the PEACE in the song that permeates my spirit and reminds me of My Rock..."Jesus, I am resting, resting" I don't know why I can never seem to remember the rest but that is enough for me.

My favorite birthday present~ a rock my son in his mid teens brought all the way up a steep hill from the edge of the swamp. When my children were very young, I would take them on swamp walks following an old stone wall on the edge of our property, down the hill steeply till it disappeared into the swamp/beaver pond. The last rock before it became submerged was a distinct white rock, I always raved about it because it was so unique from the gray stones that made up the rest. One birthday, my son decided to give me that rock for my present, asked his dad to help and they pried it away from the rest and rolled it up the hill to put in my garden. Funny how a rock can melt your heart...and remind you to rest.

Kayaking One Year Ago

Kayaked a small pond yesterday late afternoon ~ no camera. These are some pictures from a year ago, different location, a beautiful afternoon with my best friend and God's glorious creation.

Kayaking With Friends

A Saturday in late September on a beautiful, pristine lake in New Hampshire, four couples, a few loon pairs,

Then a Monday morning with my very best friend and this guy

who rode on my forearm for quite a long stretch of the river...I didn't capture his body, bright red...the river was a different challenge for us, quite shallow in spots, a lot of current, couldn't find a take out and had to paddle HARD against the current to come back to a spot where we could take out, then hubby walked back to the truck. Hoping to get a paddle in this Monday as we only have two more opportunities to kayak together before 2011 :/

Unexpected Blessings

Who would think that attending baby showers for two young women would result in special blessings for me??? August ended with a baby shower for a young woman who has an indomitable spirit of JOY! At her shower, a dear woman in our church family shared a devotional ~ with a teddy bear theme, the devotional was on momma bears,....I think this devotional was like three in one - so incredibly packed and as each segment ended my cup was full yet she brought another segment and then another. I wanted to stand up and cheer, feeling so renewed as a mom and so encouraged as a mom....wish someone had taped it. The second shower in mid-September was for my daughter. Yes, I am always touched when I see love poured out by just the attendance of some people, never mind the gifts. Well, imagine my amazement when I was the recipient of two gifts ~ a grammy brag book-photo album from my dear sister, and books for my grammy shelf from a dear friend! Thank you!! And yet another incredible blessing, from a midwife ~ who purchased a special car seat and gave it to my daughter and son-in-law, greatly encouraging them on a day that had started with tears...and for two special women who brought in meals even though the new parents are living with me!.....reminds me of this ...