Category: Amazing Creations

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Art, Cooking, Faith, Humor, Praise, Special Event, Thanks

Art Museum Adventure

This month we finally made it to the Cincinnati Art Museum. Bob wanted to see the exhibit “Farm to Table.” Such a catchy contemporary title, don’t you think? It featured food in works of art and as the museum says, “The exhibition showcases over sixty paintings and sculptures, including the work of Claude Monet, Eva Gonzalès, Victor Gilbert, Paul Gauguin, Jules Dalou, and Vincent van Gogh, artists who examined the nation’s unique relationship with food. The bounty of France’s agriculture and the skill of its chefs had long helped to define its strength and position on the international stage. ” For more details click on the link below.

https://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/art/exhibitions/farm-to-table/

The painting above was huge. The features on the faces of the sheep enchanted both Bob and me.

Here is the description of another painting.

We studied the painting and discovered many unusual details such as the man with his hand on the bottom of a woman. What caught my attention the most was the woman along the back wall. Is she crocheting or knitting?

I find the detail almost unimaginable. How did they paint these?

We finally decided she is likely knitting and holding her needles in continental fashion. Obviously, she was relaxed and enjoying her work in the midst of the hubbub!

I give thanks to God for those talented enough to paint these amazing descriptions of daily life. To me, some of them actually looked as accurate as photographs.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Art, Faith, Listen, Music, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Trust

Perspective

All glass. That photo above is made of glass and spaces. I find that difficult to comprehend. The Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida did not give us an explanation of how they created this.

Looking at the same piece, here you can see the glass fibers. Also notice the tunnel that goes through it. There were eight pieces, block-like that were placed side by side. From the end you could look through the tunnel.

The blue and brown rectangle to the left is another display. I do believe this is art. I just cannot fathom how they created it!

We saw a similar creation at the Cincinnati Art Museum once.

These are Native American symbols. There was a fan gently moving air over the display. The piece was as large as a wall! When the air moved there was a soft tinkling sound. Images with shadows, tube with light and space, all intriguing and beyond my understanding.

How my perspective on life has changed in almost 75 years of living! This I once thought I knew and understood when taken in different perspectives and experiences over time have changed dramatically.

What I do know for certain is that love and compassion are needed every place on earth. We are given the power to live in love through the Holy Spirit who inhabits those who embrace the death and resurrection of Christ. Others have learned love and compassion from other sources and I cannot comment on that. I just know we all need grace, love and compassion, a willingness for others to understand and accept us. God, give us eyes to see like You see, a heart to love like You love us! Unreservedly, grace-filled, unconditional love.

Look again at the images in this post. What do you see this time that you missed at the last glance? Perhaps it time to also look at others in the same way. We think we know people, but many times we miss their essence with our preconceived ideas of who they are. Those same people might be someone lovely we have missed altogether!

We are known intimately by God and loved.

"Not because of who I am, but because of what You've done,
Not because of what I've done, But because of who You are!"
Such wisdom in those words. God help us to live in such a way to bring honor to You.
Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Memories, Nature, Praise, Rest, Thanks, Traveling

Under The Sea

I just love the underside of the ocean surface. Here is an an example why!

When we traveled to Cozumel many years ago I could have sat and just watched the underside of the waves for hours. Of course, I could not hold my breath that long, though the snorkel certainly helped! I was mesmerized by the sight.

How many other things upon the earth have we never seen or contemplated? What fascinates you?

Have you ridden in a plane recently? Bob caught this photo of the clouds for me when we recently flew to New Mexico. I was thinking of the underside of the waves and wanted to compare the water of the ocean and the water in the sky visually.

rmdutina

How wonderful our Creative God made all things!!

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:7 NIV

rmdutina

Even on days when the ocean is dark and seems foreboding, God is with us. The One who spoke to waves and winds can still command our lives.

In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
    and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

6 O come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! Psalm 95:4-6 NRSVUE

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Faith, Family, Memories, Music, Nature, Praise, Prayer, Rest, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Trust

Parents Love Song

When I was mourning my mother recently, nothing seemed to comfort me. Then I heard this song rolling through my soul. The first version I heard was done by Willie Nelson. He almost nailed it. It amazes me where comfort can come from!

Then I found what was likely their version from December 1951.

With someone like you, a pal good and true
I'd like to leave it all behind and go and find
Some place that's known to God alone
Just a spot to call our own
We'll Find perfect peace, where joys never cease
Out there beneath a kindly sky
We'll build a sweet little nest somewhere in the west
And let the rest of the world go by

As I listened repeatedly to the song, I realized that my sister has a sweet little nest, somewhere out in the west. She spends June into September there! And we have been privileged to stay there a time or two!

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NRSVUE

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Humor, Nature, Rest

How Do You Sleep?

Have you ever said,”I am so tired I could sleep standing up?” Sperm whales actually DO sleep vertically. I’ve seen it before on TV, but I am never bored by the scene.

Here is a link

Why Do Sperm Whales Sleep Vertically?

The same website says, “In a nutshell, it’s so that they can float near the surface and stay alert to potential predators. Sleeping vertically means they can breathe when needed and quite literally keep one eye open whilst they sleep!“

The Americas narrated by Tom Hanks has been entertaining and fascinating us. If you have not seen it yet, this is a show certainly worth your time!

Praying your sleep is restful and hopefully horizontal!

I will both lie down and sleep in peace,
    for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. Psalm 4:8 NRSVUE

Posted on in Aging, Amazing Creations, Faith, Family, Humor, Memories, Praise, Prayer, Thanks, Worship

Births

The birth I told you about recently reminded me of my daughter’s birth. Fifty years ago today she came into the world. It is hard to grasp that number. I was in labor for 32 hours. Finally the doctor decided to do an emergency C-section. When I awoke they held her up for me to see. She was sticking out her tongue! (Of course, they had just popped a pacifier out of her mouth.)

She is a delight now, just as she was as a newborn!

Celebrating her daughter’s birthday this month, too!

When this woman turns on the joy there is no mistaking how she is feeling! She loves dogs.

For Mother’s Day her daughter took her to Puppy Yoga!

She is her Dad’s clone. They are so much alike I often wonder if I had anything to do with her birth! Emily is a joy and a blessing to us.

Happy Birthday, my dear!

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3 ESV

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Art, Collection of Quotes, Faith, Humor, Music, Nature, Traveling

Humor

Two quotes that captured my imagination.

Things are far too serious for us to lose our sense of humor! by Terry Patten

That one is almost to difficult to type after the bombing of Iran. I am having great difficulty understanding that event.

“Let the laughter come, even if it has not been heard for a very long time, especially if times are hard and the future uncertain. Laughter is as important in adversity as wisdom and courage.” Steven Charleston

So I had this image two nights in a row.

A pianist works in the kitchen cutting up meat. Careful of those fingers, I think. Then I wonder is there a funereal fugue for pork tenderloin? Play 2 minutes and you will get the idea!

So we were driving along in New Mexico and this caught our eye at the side of the road. I found the slideshow online. Click on the link that says Home. Then choose slideshow on menu across the top. That is a pink rose I would to have in my garden!!

Home

A friend of mine has been expecting her baby girl. The due date came. The due date passed. She tried everything she could think of to get that child born safely into this world. Had something called a membrane sweep. I did not want the details on how that is done. No progress. I teased her that perhaps she would have liberty by the 4th of July? I asked if she had tried walking in the pool. Her response, “I’ve tried it all LOL!!”

Last Sunday night they went to the hospital. As they entered the building, her water broke. The baby arrived 18 minutes later! All is well. At least they made it to the hospital!! Baby is lovely and weighs 8 pounds, 1.8 ounces. All this from a tiny woman. There was not even time for her to be medicated for the delivery! Unplanned natural delivery 🙂

This little girl is likely to be a corker! Entered the world on her own timetable and will certainly have mom, dad and big brother answering to her!

I looked out the office window yesterday and was delighted to see the first nasturtium blooming!

Speaking of humor. My daughter and grandgirls took me to a shop in Batavia for Mother’s Day. I got a “string of pearls” plant. Previously I had killed mine by over watering it. While there I saw this plastic planter. I thought, “no, I am not going ask for that.” Well, then I could not forget it. Last week I went back and bought one. Got a plant to try in it and voila!

Just makes me giggle!

Along with the rest of America we are sweltering here with high heat and tropical humidity. I am uncertain if these pansies will survive this weather. They looked nice, though leggy, this morning.

Snapdragons are blooming happily! Geranium is one I brought in the house over the winter. It should bloom again soon.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Music, Nature, Praise, Prayer, Worship

Awoke with a Hymn Again

This morning pieces of this hymn were rolling about in my brain. I could not catch the title. I finally sat down to breakfast with a hymnal and began paging through it, trying to find the song. I suppose the Lord felt badly for me as eventually a phrase popped up. I put it into Duck Duck Go and the title came up. The hymnal I was looking in did not even have this song!! Grace and mercy, loving kindness extended to this old woman.

The lyrics here are slightly different than the hymnal I have. Text by Walter Chalmers Smith and traditional Welsh Hymn melody.

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17 RSVUE

The opening photo reminds me of “Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above, Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.”

yes, rainbows!
Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Nature, Special Event, Thanks, Traveling

Albuquerque Sky

If you have ever traveled in the western United States you have likely heard the term ‘big sky’ referring to the clear vistas and blue almost beyond imagination.

The Splendor of the Sun

The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear firmament,
    the appearance of heaven in a spectacle of glory.
The sun, when it appears, making proclamation as it goes forth,
    is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High. Ecclesiasticus or Sirach 43:1-2 RSV

This book is included in the part of the Bible called the Apocrypha or Deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament. It is not generalized recognized by the Protestant churches. Why is this sometimes called Ecclesiasticus and sometimes Sirach? Wikipedia says ….

The Book of Sirach, also known as The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, The Wisdom of Jesus son of Eleazar, or Ecclesiasticus, is a Jewish literary work originally written in Biblical Hebrew. The longest extant wisdom book from antiquity, it consists of ethical teachings, written approximately between 196 and 175 BCE by Yeshua ben Eleazar ben Sira, a Hellenistic Jewish scribe of the Second Temple period. Ben Sira’s grandson translated the text into Koine Greek and added a prologue sometime around 117 BCE. Wikipedia

Regardless of who is right as to inclusion with other Scriptures, I do believe that ‘the pride of the heavenly heights is the clear firmament! The appearance of heaven is a spectacle of glory!”

by rmdutina

I already forgot the name of this tree. Bob took one or two photos of the tree, I took the close up .

Oh, that sky! When the New Mexico morning air was cool I would just step outside and breathe deeply. In fact, you could do that now as you look at the photos! 🙂

Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of the earth. Thank you for the privilege of seigneur our dear friends again in their home. Thank you for the splendor of New Mexico.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Nature, Special Event, Traveling

Day Trip to Los Cerillos, NM

Once while in Los Cerillos (fondly called Cerillos) Dan and Bob visited a rock shop where they found a lovely tube of yellow stone from a mine. It sat for years on my windowsill or as a paper weight in my office. Recently a strong wind blew it out of the windowsill and a piece of the end broke off. It is much too rough for me to try to grind down.

Our trip 2-1/2 years ago to New Mexico Dan tried to take us to the same rock shop. Though the sign said open hours, they were closed. This visit we tried to visit there again. They were open!

This man is the actual owner and quite a character!

The shop was much cleaner than when we looked through the windows.

We found another yellow calcite tube for our son. My favorite new rock is the photo above, orange calcite. It seems to draw light to it and through it.

Dan also found a restaurant listed that seemed to have a great menu. I wanted to order my first elk burger. The Blackbird Saloon was very historical from the old wood floors …

to the neat idea for beer pulls …

The elk burger was tasty and not too gamey like venison. I can likely purchase it at Jungle Jim’s, though I hate to think what that would cost! The burger very very thick. I asked for it well done, no blood. It was served with blood on the plate. I sent it back. It was still too raw in the center. drats. I ate around the edges and took the rest home to have for supper. If I was running the restaurant I would have made it into 2 patties and cooked them through before serving. But, no one asked me!

We had a nice ride on another lovely day. If you get to Albuquerque try to visit Los Cerillos. It was fun!!

for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 NRSVUE

God even made the rocks!