Farewell we call to hearth and hall!
Though wind may blow and rain may fall,
We must away ere the break of day
Far over wood and mountain tall.
To Rivendell, where Elves yet dwell
In glades beneath the misty fell,
Through moor and waste we ride in haste,
And wither then we cannot tell.
With foes ahead, behind us dread,
Beneath the sky shall be our bed,
Until at last our toil be passed,
Our journey done, our errand sped.
We must away! We must away!
We ride before the break of day!
In my musings about the Farm my thoughts have wandered to this poem. Perhaps the poem comes to mind because my dear child-hood friend, who also experienced the magic of the farm, described it as "the last homely house," a term used for Rivendell; A haven of rest on one's journey. Of course, one is tempted to think that a person's childhood home (if it is a good home) will always conjure up nostalgic feelings. But the Farm really is different. It's not just us kids that talk about the farm like that; our friends do too. And even more telling, our parents and their friends do too. It's a safe place; a happy place; a place of quiet and rest; a place of activity and work; a place of gathering, sharing, coming together. Sam captures it when he says:
"... we've been far and seen a deal, and yet I don't think we've found a better place than this. There's something of everything here, if you understand me: the Shire and the Golden Wood and Gondor and kings' houses and inns and meadows and mountains all mixed."
Though Rivendell is a haven of rest, the poem is actually about journeying - We must away! We must away! But the two go hand in hand. There is no homecoming without a journey; And a journey without a home to come to is actually being lost.
Now in all of these musings about saying goodbye to the Farm and recalling the happy memories and the part it's played in my life, the transience of earthly life has come to the foreground. All things pass away . . . except Love. "Now these three remain; Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Even though all passes around us - our loved ones, our homes, our health, our belongings - One remains ever constant. And this One, who is Love, is our home. Our sojourn on earth, our journey, ends at "The Last Homely House."
With foes ahead, behind us dread,
Beneath the sky shall be our bed,
Until at last our toil be passed,
Our journey done, our errand sped.
To Rivendell . . .
20 June, 2008
19 June, 2008
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Another very interesting bird we've spotted. Not only is it a very unique looking bird, but it's flying habits are very distinctive. According to a website on the bird, it "captures most prey by aerial hawking" - which means it sits on a fence, pole or tree branch and when it sees a bug it will make a great swoop up into the air and then down, down, down towards the ground and snatch the unsuspecting bug right out of thin air. If it needs to, the Flycatcher can hover - quite an amazing site to see such a large bird hovering!
17 June, 2008
13 June, 2008
The Critters of Dallas
Though Texas isn't exactly known for it's wild life, we here in Dallas do occasionally see a critter or two. Nothing too exciting, but it helps us remember that the whole world isn't covered in endless urban sprawl. (As an aside, the last time I left the "Metroplex" was in March, when I went home for a week long visit; and since we've moved down to Texas, one year ago, we've taken 2 trips out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area - one to Austin and San Antonia, the other to Fort Scott KS) (As a second aside, the term "Metroplex" is actually how Texans refer to the monstrosity that is Dallas/Fort Worth and it is 100% fitting.) (As a third and final aside, I really am a country girl at heart. I'm pretty certain there isn't a city in the whole country that I would really love living in - though most would be better than Dallas)
The wildlife we see the most of is birds. 2 roadrunners since we've been here - for a brief moment before they scooted into the underbrush. Cliff swallows under the nearby bridges - reminding me of the barn swallows from back home, chattering as the swoop and dive. A few pair of house finches at our feeder along with an array for sparrows. There is a very large breed of black bird that is all pervasive - we have 4 nests in the large tree outside our condo - and a smaller starling like bird that "grazes" on the ground - literally they walk through the grass nibbling and pecking. A pair of morning doves occasionally ventures onto our patio to eat the seed scattered by the finches. Finally, in the bird realm, there is a beautiful grey-brown flicker-type bird, with distinctive white lines on it's wings and beautiful song. Up until a few weeks ago I didn't know what kind of bird it was - but we saw them all over the place. Come to find out it is the Texas state bird - the mocking bird. I have to admit, in a way Texas captivated me - the mocking bird was almost Romantic and I found myself on the lookout for the graceful fliers every time I stepped out of doors. And of course their song is lovely - never predictable, ever changing, but always a beautiful array of trills, chirps, twitters and occasionally machine like sounds. They sometimes sing long into the night and quite often I hear them as I walk out to my car at 5:30 in the morning on my way to work.
As far as other critters, here is the run down.
We've had a few Possum sightings as well.
The wildlife we see the most of is birds. 2 roadrunners since we've been here - for a brief moment before they scooted into the underbrush. Cliff swallows under the nearby bridges - reminding me of the barn swallows from back home, chattering as the swoop and dive. A few pair of house finches at our feeder along with an array for sparrows. There is a very large breed of black bird that is all pervasive - we have 4 nests in the large tree outside our condo - and a smaller starling like bird that "grazes" on the ground - literally they walk through the grass nibbling and pecking. A pair of morning doves occasionally ventures onto our patio to eat the seed scattered by the finches. Finally, in the bird realm, there is a beautiful grey-brown flicker-type bird, with distinctive white lines on it's wings and beautiful song. Up until a few weeks ago I didn't know what kind of bird it was - but we saw them all over the place. Come to find out it is the Texas state bird - the mocking bird. I have to admit, in a way Texas captivated me - the mocking bird was almost Romantic and I found myself on the lookout for the graceful fliers every time I stepped out of doors. And of course their song is lovely - never predictable, ever changing, but always a beautiful array of trills, chirps, twitters and occasionally machine like sounds. They sometimes sing long into the night and quite often I hear them as I walk out to my car at 5:30 in the morning on my way to work.
As far as other critters, here is the run down.
Rabbits - everywhere on UD's campus. Cute little hoppers out in the early morning or late evening shadows. (An interesting story: when Chris and I first moved down last summer we were out for a walk close to UD's baseball field. As we got closer to one of the batting cages we noticed a little bunny suck in the nets. It was so sad seeing the little critter jumping and flipping all tangled in the net. So Chris and I set it free)
Last week on my way to work I saw a skunk. (You know you're desperate for the country when a skunk sighting is exciting!) The little stinkers have actually caused a lot of problems at the University and Cicstercian monastery.We've had a few Possum sightings as well.
Of course, for those of you who have visited Chris's blog you'll have seen our most recent run in with a new Texan critter - the Nutria.
The little wall lizards have reappeared. Every evening pale, black eyed lizards creep out of the siding and cling to the outside of our condo. To be honest, I think they are kind of cute.
Unfortunately an overview of the Texas critters we've encountered has to include the ever present roach. Ugly, disgusting, gross - enough said.
Still no armadillos! I really want to see one before I leave the area - though it may require getting out of the Metroplex.1 year (2 weeks late)
1 wonderful year with Chris. It has had it's ups and downs; but on the whole it's been quite wonderful. In fact, it's been surprising to me how great it's been. I had very set expectations that it would be one of the more difficult years of our marriage - with all the different things to adjust to and just figuring out how to "do" marriage. Not just a new roommate - but a new "life-mate" a new job, a new house, new friends - figuring out how to make a home together, how to run a household together, how to do life together, how to communicate well, how to love each other well, how to grow together (spiritually and relationally), how to coordinate and balance preferences, desires, schedules, expectations, etc, etc, etc. Big adjustments and big things to learn.
But, year 1 was not only vastly different than my expectations, it was surprising. Surprising how smoothly the transition into all the new aspects of life has gone; surprising how few disagreements we've had; surprising how down right easy this year has been. (Perhaps this has to do with the incredibly easy nature of my husband who is so quick to let go of his own desires and humor mine). The most surprising thing is how much more "in love" with Chris I feel each day. I miss him when we are apart for the day, can't wait to see him at the end of the work day, and delight in seeing him walk through the door. I thought all the "in-loveness" happened before you got married, and then, when you have to live with the person day in and day out - dealing with all their annoying habits and you're own disappointment that marriage isn't all you thought it would be - it starts to wear off. But that has not been the case for me. Of course, I've had my disappointments, and Chris may have 1 or 2 small habits that I have a hard time dealing with :) - but the "in loveness" has stormed me by surprise.
On the flip-side, we've certainly had to learn what it really means to "love the other as yourself" - the daily laying down of your own desires, preferring the other, the work of really knowing the other, choosing him and actively working for his good. In other words, we are learning how two become one flesh.
I am extremely thankfully for my wonderful husband and this year together.
But, year 1 was not only vastly different than my expectations, it was surprising. Surprising how smoothly the transition into all the new aspects of life has gone; surprising how few disagreements we've had; surprising how down right easy this year has been. (Perhaps this has to do with the incredibly easy nature of my husband who is so quick to let go of his own desires and humor mine). The most surprising thing is how much more "in love" with Chris I feel each day. I miss him when we are apart for the day, can't wait to see him at the end of the work day, and delight in seeing him walk through the door. I thought all the "in-loveness" happened before you got married, and then, when you have to live with the person day in and day out - dealing with all their annoying habits and you're own disappointment that marriage isn't all you thought it would be - it starts to wear off. But that has not been the case for me. Of course, I've had my disappointments, and Chris may have 1 or 2 small habits that I have a hard time dealing with :) - but the "in loveness" has stormed me by surprise.
On the flip-side, we've certainly had to learn what it really means to "love the other as yourself" - the daily laying down of your own desires, preferring the other, the work of really knowing the other, choosing him and actively working for his good. In other words, we are learning how two become one flesh.
I am extremely thankfully for my wonderful husband and this year together.
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