The Rain Song

Little wren flies in to sing a song or two on porch

We got rain, a nice rain, last Tuesday night. It sure perked up the gardens, the grass, the trees. Everything looks better, but did it thunder and lightning. I never saw such in all my days. The whole sky looked like fireworks. Thank you, Lord, for that beautiful rain. It was needed and Lake Chesdin needed it too, a wonderful blessing.

Get ready for this, it's a shock, but it's the truth. I've got four or five witnesses. I sit in my chair at the museum almost all day, from 6 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. depending on the weather. About five weeks ago, a little wren, a beautiful tiny bird, came and started singing to me on the porch. That bird does not come on the porch until I arrive. I had to come to the museum late two Saturdays ago and Jonathan, my son, was on the porch. No sooner than I arrived, that bird came and sat on the table two feet from me and did she sing and talk to me, turning her head left and right. It's almost unbelievable, but it's true. That bird may be a messenger from a loved one passed on, who knows. Stranger things have happened before. That bird is no bigger than my thumb. She is from another world to act the way she does. She will look at me as if she is going to speak any moment. It's scary, I admit, but it has really been awesome to have such an experience. If any more develops I well let you know. I named the bird Emma after one of my granddaughters. Who knows what the real story is, or where that bird came from. I've never had an experience last this before. It's an awesome feeling to know that bird sits and talks to me every day.

We had out of town guests last week from Missouri and Hopewell. Years ago, 40 years ago, we met the Day family from Missouri when Mr. Day had a job here in Virginia. Della Mae, my wife, met Mrs. Day, Dorothy Day when she worked at the bank in Petersburg. They moved away back to Missouri and we lost sight of them, but their daughter, Kathy Day Wannermacher, came back to see old friends and she brought Mrs. Henderson from Hopewell with her, one super fine lady who once ran a daycare center in Hopewell. We all had lunch at our new home on Trench Road and we had one grand time. Never will we forget Dorothy Day and her family. Dorothy passed some years ago, but her husband is still here and is doing fine at 86. Kathy is now retired and doing well, and we were so glad to see her. You girls made our day. Della had a superb lunch for our guests and we had some laughs. It was a great day for all of us.

Rainsong: Bushwhacking on the Mountain Loop

Why Rainsong? I am from the PNW. The sound of the rain is the background to everything. Some of my best memories took place in the rain. Then there is that song that the Varied Thrush sings when it rains. Beautiful, haunting, it speaks to my soul. But finally, there is Elijah's word to Ahab, "...there is the sound of heavy rain" before it came after many years of drought. (1 Kings 18:41) Beautiful words to one who longs for God in a dry and weary land. This was the first day of Rays Vacation. Ray's nephew Dennis joined us for what was supposed to be a day of easy geo caching but it turned out to be some tough hiking on an overgrown trail. Loved it! At one place we had to step over a HUGE pile of bear poop. That is always a little unsetteling, but the poo was not fresh so most of us did not worry too much. That was actually where my little dog, Rudy Valentine, started to worry when he could not keep Ray and I next to each other. He isn't usually whinny out hiking like he is in this video. I love to read and write and am forever thankful to my mom for reading to me and the teachers who put me in a chair and made me sit still and learn. I come alive when I get away from town and am thankful that my dad didn't realize that girls were not supposed to go hunting, fishing and camping. I love hiking, I love paddling and now that I am older, I love taking my camping trailer and finding new places to provide the background for my time in prayer and the word. If I have to stay home and I am not reading or studying because I just cannot sit that long, then I find delight in growing things as well as turning them into food offerings in my kitchen (though I would rather cook in my camper someplace else) 2 white cucumbers (an F1 and an OP) Strawberry Spinach (beetberry) Melon "Prescott Fond Blanc" (85 days) Melon "Alvaro" (65 days) Melon; "Lambkin" (65 to 70 days) Fava "Beans Negreta" (70 days-spring) Fava Beans "Broad Windsor" (80 days-spring) ( http://www.harvestwizard.com/2009/03/how_to_grow_broad_beans.

The Rain Song

The Rain Song

Rain Song

Indian fairy tales, folklore - legends - myths; totem tales as told by the Indians

Kalahari rainsong