BASKING MY WAY

It rained on and off this past week, and I stayed home on days precipitation was forecasted all day, but there was one day there was ONE three-hour slot open (12-3), so I went.

The turtles were out at Duck Pond. But then, they're always there. The turtles at that pond are strange. Many turtles grasp the rock with their forelegs and throw their hind legs out behind them when they bask. I had to do a double-take when I saw a Duck Pond turtle balancing on the back legs somehow, and I think his front legs were pulled back into the shell.

Then on a drizzly day, an adult turtle could be seen basking on a boulder in the middle of the pond...so I couldn't really blame the three hatchlings I saw later on a rock closer to the edge, on a rainy day--this is a proof photo--trying to bask there too. Don't turtles know you try to dry out shells when basking, so you don't do it in the rain?

GOD'S MINIONS

When I rounded the corner and saw a "Minion Bob" cap hanging on one of the bridge posts, no doubt forgotten by a little boy hot on his walk through the park,

Some readers like my sisters, if you grew up in Japan in 1969, remember "Pinky and the Killers" who hit the top of the charts for her song 「わすれられないの」of a love that could not be forgotten. Titles and groups like "Blue Light Yokohama"; and "The Tigers" were the rage among Japanese teens. But does it have to be said that those titles and names have been pretty much forgotten?

A few years ago, when my daughter thot Minion Bob looked like her little boy--I made her a bookmark of Bob in their stroller. But a while ago, I couldn't remember what those yellow things were called.

We live IN the world, not OF it, and the God Who promised to protect us from evil, not take us out of it, has Infinite Memory, Power, and Love. I remember Minions ran around spewing out gobblygook, but if you watched their faces and what they did, you GOT IT. I wonder what kind of Minion I am and what people GET about my God from the way I act?

FLUTTERING AND SHUDDERING

When I went to the park today, at first, I saw a pretty little butterfly I so wanted to take a picture of, but altho' I tried and tried, I couldn't capture it in the frame. Every time I pushed the shutter...well, finally, I managed to get it...well, it looked like this:

Would you believe it? I think the butterfly actually felt sorry for me!

Because he came back with another one, and then another, and FOUR pretty butterflies settled down by the "Turnstile Gate" while I snapped pictures!

I could almost hear the first b-fly saying to his buddies, "C'mon fellas, humor her a little and hold still down here a while. This poor human doesn't know how to operate a camera."

Before becoming butterflies tho'--have you seen the plump-looking caterpillar? I remember my sister ran around the yard collecting them in a little box. One of our church young people who was over helping organize Sunday School supplies and helping taking care of my sisters and myself too--we were in elementary at the time--came out where we were.

"What do you have in that box?" she lightly asked my sister, who happily opened the lid, showing the caterpillars inside, squished up and crawling all over each other.

Why did she shudder and run?

THAT "TIDBIT"...

When my daughter gave me my first grandchild, Kinya and I were asked to go over to help out about three times a week.

The background? I wanted to draw a flower garden but didn't know how so just cut out the sketch of the baby and plopped it on my Bible cover. Well, of course I felt prayers he would find life in the Word.

I found that picture of "Pearly" and took just the pink gladiolas she pointed to with her tail. And I gave it to the young parents, congratulating them for their new arrival. They told me the picture was perfect, since they wouldn't have to worry about pollen and insects as if I'd given living plants.

Not only that. Naoki, my son-in-law, liked the flowers so much, he right away double-stick-taped them to the baby's crib musical mobile motor, and it fit just right.

I could almost hear Pearly saying with approval, "Looks purrrfect!"

I'd started serious drawing in May, and that was June, just one month later. I'm sure Naoki had no idea what a big encouragment he'd been.

They're just practice sketches, but...

I know I haven't posted a while, but it's not that I haven't done anything.

This past week, I've been looking back over pictures I've drawn to see what can be given away on my trip to the other side of the Pacific. Gifts for my "brother" Brian and his wife Sherri; drawings of my friends who invited me to a lodge 11 mins. from my cousin's; pictures for relatives...

I decided to send something to a friend who was moved to tears by something I drew, altho' she's on this side of the Ocean. I hear God sends added blessing to those who are thankful of them; It's easy to send stuff to someone who's already shown you it'll be appreciated!

EVEN CROWS KNOW THAT

This weekend hasn't afforded time to draw or color, so I'll just post the black/white sketch I started last week plus some of my photos, since my last post did mention how Elizabeth Elliot and I both enjoyed the hobby of photography. I'm sure if she'd been born in an era of computers and blogging, she'd have posted her photos too.

This one looks like turtles at the waters of Lower Bridge are kissing, but you can see the head of the turtle on the left is up closer; he was basking on land, while the turtle on the right is still swimming in the pond so farther away. It's just that the edges of their muzzles align vertically in the photo.

But I think this crow will let all in the park know the way things really are. I wonder how many park residents listen to his announcements from the telephone wire--he has enough antennas set up. What, those aren't antennas?

June...even crows know that.

Just a Water Spider

At first, I said to myself I couldn't get anywhere near drawing anything like what the camera showed, so why even try.

I'd been up on Main Bridge, seen movement in the water below, and with the thought, "could it be?" pulled out the camera and snapped the shutter. I was almost ecstatic later when I realized what I got.

A water spider had surfaced and successfully captured its prey while a swimmer that had barely escaped--the parent of the one that got captured?--looked on from under a neighboring lily pad!

But then I told myself I could look at my drawings and see how poor they were in comparison to God's creative work of art in wildlife's natural various manifestations. Maybe the longer I try, the more I'll sense how great God is to be able to make so much so easily, perfectly

So...I decided to try sketching the photograph I'd taken earlier, and this is what I got. It may not be as accurate as the camera depiction, but with any artist's picture, it communicates just what the artist intends to convey!

I know. Some readers may be thinking, "spiders...couldn't you think of something better to draw?!" Hey; did YOU choose to be born a human?

I'm just so so so (I get carried away sometimes) grateful God created me to be a human, aren't you? And one day I will get to take on the very nature of the Godhead--wow!