That elusive hummer

I’m smiling as I write this watching a hummingbird perched on one of the feeders taking his sweet fill.  They fascinate me, and since I’m not an Audubon, I’m dependent on the research and experience of others how to attract these little guys.

Originally, I had spent a few dollars on the store-bought red stuff to put in the feeders.  That can rack up some funds over time—do you know how much these hummers eat?!

A friend indeed

I don’t quite know what male-bonding looks like, but sister love can go something like this:

A true girlfriend will tell you when something’s amiss that is not showing up in the mirror.

A true girlfriend gives you her last Shout wipe when you spill grape juice on the front of your blouse.

A true girlfriend doesn’t mind (too much) that you snore at the lady’s weekend retreat.

And so it goes…

I like finding true comradeship in the most unlikely places—it’s actually something easily taken for granted. True friends don’t grow on trees; they grow in compost, in the refuse and throw-away parts of our lives.  When it all hits the fan, true friends are at their best.

Here are a few of my favorite examples:

I Gotta Question (#4)

I am one to know my resources, and use them as needed.  Therefore, this is not a manipulative ploy to get some “pingbacks” (Still not sure what that is?  I think it’s when someone links to your site?)  On the contrary, over the three (count ‘em, 3!!) years of blogging, I’ve come to trust some pretty cool writers that I’ve met only via the dot-wordpress-dot-com world.

Having said that, they have value, not only intrinsically as friends, but I also appreciate their instrumental value in terms of experiential wisdom and intellectual honesty.

And those are things in somewhat short supply, in case you haven’t noticed.

So, without further ado, I post yet another “I Gotta Question”, with specific links to a few (but not all—I have many) of the blogs I respect.  If you have time to give your thoughts, that would be great.  Better yet, perhaps this could be a prompt for a post on your own site, if you feel so inclined.  (If so, please do link to me so I don’t miss it!)

Question:  How does this apply?  What does it look like? 

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

And now for my panel of experts:

http://letusruntherace.net/

https://mridenourblog.wordpress.com/

https://robertlambertjones3.wordpress.com/

http://brandonjadams.com/

https://melwild.wordpress.com/

http://servinggrace.com/

http://therecoveringlegalist.com/

https://insanitybytes2.wordpress.com/

http://mitchteemley.com/

https://truthinpalmyra.wordpress.com/

http://onetahayes.com/

http://atimetoshare.me/

https://kingdompastor.wordpress.com/

If you’re reading this and not included in the list, please also feel free to comment!  And if you haven’t surfed over to the sites in my list above, don’t miss out!  These would certainly be worth your time.

Thanks, all!  —dawnlizjones

I Corinthians 4: 20 Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Preserving more than berries

My first attempts at gardening several years ago were pretty funny.  The bunnies, as much as I love them, kept helping themselves to my tender tomato plants.  I’d come out to check my little lovelies, and DRAT!  There went another one!  So I started to concoct various creative boundaries and kept replanting.  I even tried that trick of putting a garden hose around the area so the furry thumpers would think there was a snake lurking about.

It was less than effective, except to amuse Bob, who christened the area my DMZ. 

My friend, Louise, has a garden.  I mean, a real garden.  My garden is more of an adult re-living her childhood of playing in the dirt.  Louise and her husband—they actually know what they’re doing.

When they moved in a few years ago, there was no

Elementary, my dear Watson

Man, I love a good mystery!  A locked-from-the-inside whodunit usually gets my attention; our girls grew up with Nancy Drew and even today Father Brown beckons to me from the teley.  So when I saw that Ian McKellen was casted for an aged Sherlock in the recent flick Mr. Holmes, I was all about that.  It quickly became one of our Friday “pizza and a movie” nights—Bob picked up the flick and I made the pizza.

Both were great!  (Well, the crust was a little too thick, but McCellan was superb…)

I continue to be intrigued how the secular entertainment industry often times, if not unknowingly, leaves the door open for otherwise Judeo-Christian concepts.  Such was my impression of Mr. Holmes.  (If you haven’t seen the movie, feel free to proceed to the next post in your Reader, but I don’t think I have any spoilers.  Of course, I’m not done composing yet, am I?)

Sherlock, now 93, is experiencing a degeneration in his mental acuity, forgetting names, events.  (I’m 57, and that’s normal life for me, but I digress.)  Since his life is built on logic and facts, he naturally turns to science to boost his cranial capacity, as he is desperately trying to recall his last case thirty years hence that was the unfortunate catalyst for his retirement. 

Science is of no help to his failing faculties, but Sherlock is surprised by the healing power of something he never truly valued—relationships.  Loving interaction with friends who are faithful, appreciation of the people around us.  In other words, the master detective realizes (better late than never) that life cannot be reduced to facts and figures (a concept that has been increasingly prevalent in our culture).  We are more than the chemicals in our brains, and we need more than what the religion of science has to offer.

Don’t mistake what I’m saying, please.  Just as a point of reference, my husband has a Ph.D. in molecular, cellular and developmental biology from Indiana University.  My father and brother are M.E’s from Purdue.  We’re all about science stuff.  God created it.

 It’s just that there’s more to life.  Much, much more.

 God puts it this way:

^“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.'”

The God/human community of interaction.  We are fashioned for that.  We need that “something more”.  And even though Sherlock  Holmes doesn’t quite make that complete connection by the end of the movie, he’s definitely moving in the right direction.

Hats off the Hollywood on that one!

 

Genesis 2:18  Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

I’ve got your back

I wish I could think of a better title for this, as it was used in a similar offering on Facebook, but it’s honestly the best title for this concept.  A (very) little research reveals that the phrase originated in WW2, when men were cleaning up remaining enemy pockets after a stronghold had been conquered.  Going into a house or room meant his ammo was pointed ahead, but it left the soldier’s back unprotected. 

Unless his comrade “had his back”. 

But sometimes, the comrade isn’t there.  Or is out of