How can I keep from singing

It's that time of year again here up north when the creation starts bedecking itself with a multicoloured coat. Like so many opportunities that come by in life, you need to grab hold of it before it disappears.

We were having a typical fall day of blustery winds pushing along threatening clouds alternating  with momentary flashes of bright sunshine and blue skies. I set out for what I promised would be a quick trip to a favourite nearby spot to check how fall colours were coming along. I pulled myself away after 'only' two hours, knowing there'd be more opportunities. soon.

It's amazing how such peaceful beauty can be found so close to home. Reminded me of a song from another of my favourite artists (yes, I have many), Eva Cassidy - click the link below the photos and sing along while you enjoy the good creation given to us by our faithful Father:

you might recognize this road if you've visited my blog before

we've had an abundance of rain this summer/fall and the wetlands were, well, wet ...

 as you can see from the first photo, there's still a lot of green, however, there's also lots of fall colour

 while leaves are starting to fall, the grass is still green

 looks like Monsieur Monet also stopped by

The Heavens Declare ...

1 Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
...

7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
...
    
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
    old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
...

Praise the Lord.

(from Psalm 148)


I was reminded of the awesomeness and majesty of our Creator many times this past week as the heavens declared His glory in our back yard.

A walk in the woods ...

“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it.”
― William Shakespeare

“God has strewn our paths with wonders and we certainly should not go through Life with our eyes shut.”
― Alexander Graham Bell

“Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Going to the woods is going home.”
― John Muir

“If God did not exist, He would have to be invented. But all nature cries aloud that He does exist: that there is a supreme intelligence, an immense power, an admirable order, and everything teaches us our own dependence on it.”
― Voltaire

I visited this secluded area a few minutes' drive from our place - it's a favourite of mine in each season. Sasha contented herself with nosing around in the leaves and finding a comfortable spot in the shade as I wandered around in the woods. It's the height of black fly season and they were voracious. Since I'm a favourite of all biting and sucking insects I doused myself in a 98.9% DEET solution (not available in my nanny state but which I - thankfully - found in Florida) and they were forced to leave me alone.

I made enough photos for several posts so will have to share some others next time. Hope you'll enjoy the walk in His creation.

Consider the lilies of the field ...

"How could I say there is no God?
  When all around creation calls!!"
                           [Brian Doerksen - Creation Calls]

Yes, How Indeed

This song came to mind as I went out recently to revel in how our Creator has clothed his creation. (if you'd like to hear it too, just click on the link below the photos)

Mmm...

My life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

Above the tumult and the strife
I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

Oh though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
Oh though the darkness 'round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that Rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble with fear
And hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that Rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

My life goes on in endless song
Above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
How can I keep from singing?

Lord, how can I keep from singing?
Oh, how can I keep from singing?

From the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly observed in what He made. As a result, people have no excuse. (Romans 1:20)

Somewhere ......

[some of you may be familiar with Eva Cassidy - if so, you undoubtedly are very familiar with the song below; if you aren't, you owe it to yourself to have a listen - I promise you won't regret it - click the link below the photos]

Today started off well enough, crisp but with sunshine. By early afternoon the weather had degenerated into a wind-whipped rainstorm. It had stopped by dinner time so we could take Sasha out for a walk (or maybe she takes us ?), although the sky still looked threatening. We made it back just before the low grey masses of clouds opened up again. But we could see some clearing on the western horizon.

Sure enough, as the clouds were being swept to the east, the sun peeked below the western edge of the clouds and shone through the rain, capping the day off with a magnificent rainbow. I wouldn't have traded this moment for a pot of gold.

October's Party

"October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band."
 
     [George Cooper, October's Party]

I trust you're not tired of autumn quite yet. Why not take a moment out of your day (since you're here anyway) and listen to one of my favourite singers (click on the link below the photos). Then walk along these country roads with me and marvel at the Creator's handiwork.

Winter Wonderland III

I've seen from news reports that winter has arrived across much of the North American continent. I mean really arrived, which those of you driving in it daily don't need to be reminded of. While we were back home in the north over the Christmas season we were fortunate not to have to drive in any adverse weather. In addition, I was able to go out several times to capture the beauty of the creation enhanced by a dusting of snow, before real winter had arrived.

Join me as I traipse through a secluded wonderland not far from home.

This is the creek that flows below the waterfalls I posted recently and which you might have visited with me last spring

A small creek which tumbles from the hill on the other side yields these ice formations

A few hundred yards downstream we come across another waterfall - don't get too near the edge - it's a bit slippery

The snow-covered ice that's formed across the rocks reminds me of cauliflower

At this point it hasn't been cold enough long enough for the ice to completely conceal the stream

The stream disappears around a bend below this waterfall. We have to scramble through the forest, away from the waterfall, and find our way down a side gully to find the stream again. The sides of the gully are coated with ice built up by dripping water - winter must have surprised these plants

Another few yards through the underbrush and we see the stream as it tumbles around the corner. From here it disappears to our left but the steep gully side means we'll have to bid it adieu, and we'll make our way back

 And throughout our trek Sasha has been patiently accompanying us - whenever the camera bag is unzipped she knows it's time for a rest in the snow. But she doesn't mind - she's in her element

For the beauty of the earth ...

     "To look out at this kind of creation and
       not believe in God is to me impossible."
       (Astronaut John Glenn)
   
       "Beauty... is the shadow of God on the universe."
        (Gabriela Mistral, Desolacíon)

       “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
        to receive glory and honour and power,
        for you created all things,
        and by your will they were created
        and have their being.”
        (Revelation 4:11)

        "For since the creation of the world,
         God's invisible qualities - his eternal
         power and divine nature - have been
         clearly seen, being understood from
         what has been made, so that men are
         without excuse."
         (Romans 1:20)

(60mm  f5.6  1/60 sec  ISO200)


(60mm  f2.8  1/1400 sec  ISO200)

 (60mm  f5.6  1/160 sec  ISO200)

(Day 212) The universe - unfolding as it should

We liked this place so much that we made a second visit early this evening. There's a nice beach and a long pier - great places to go for a stroll and watch people. There were children playing in the warm water, other people simply sitting on benches, soaking up the warm rays of the sun, and still others enjoying some late day fishing. Here was the creation, basking in the laughter of children at play and being enjoyed by those for whom the Creator made it. And every day was intended to be like this, from the beginning!

(18-55mm  f11  1/100 sec  ISO200)

(Day 200) Looking closely

I was sitting on the front porch early this evening. The air was very calm - it had been windy the past 2 days - and the fragrance of the flowers wafted up. That spurred me to go get a vase and cut some flowers from another part of the garden. As I brought them in to the kitchen, the sunlight streaming through the window caught the inside of one of the blooms. I knew then what my subject would be - capturing the light inside as it made the colours come alive. It's simply amazing how intricate these flowers were created and yet we're told that we're worth vastly more than one of these!

(60mm  f32  2 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f16  2 sec  ISO200)

(Day 165) Beyond Solomon's glory

From all accounts it would appear that King Solomon from Biblical times was not only endowed with great wisdom, but also with riches, looks, and glory. He was the epitome of what most humans would aspire to. And yet, despite all his glory, we're told that the flowers of the field are clothed in more glory than King Solomon was. So I went out this evening to capture some of that. Here are some more wildflowers found on our land.

(60mm  f5  1/30 sec  ISO200)

60mm  f11  1/40 sec  ISO200)

60mm  f8  1/20 sec  ISO200)

60mm  f7.1  1/60 sec  ISO200)

60mm  f7.1  1/60 sec  ISO200)