Thursday, April 26, 2007

Is This an Ode to Spring?

To Spring

Oh, Spring, now I ask, have you finally sprung?
Or are we so expectant, hung…
Out to dry? (As the Saying goes),
By Winter winds, and wet Spring snows?

Warm the days! Now shine, the sun!
Encourage outdooring, for work and fun;
Rake those leaves! Say, scratch that soil!
Recover from Winter? – well, that’s no toil!

Snow on the lawn, now diminishing,
As soils soon warm, anticipating
The day when seeds drop in the ground
And die, that colors may pop, all around!

Vistas recover, and leaves will be seen,
Brown soon transformed, to bright Springy green!
Oh Spring, you’re a wonderful time of year,
For God made you, and to Him you’ll adhere!

-- Poet Les (04-23-2007)

Look at those Yellows!


Some of the earliest Spring flowers, and flourishing in these Northern climes!

Red Pansy

Pansies -- the Red as well as the Blue!

Bleeding Heart

Delicate, and oh, so colorful!

Pansy, Rich Dark Blue


Beautiful green, blue, purple....

Spring hues

Lilac and friends (which do you prefer)?

A Taste of Spring

Flowering Crab Tree, now nearly one year old!

Sunday, April 22, 2007

"Luck" or God's Blessing?

Thirteen Grandchildren!
LUCKY?
...No!

No, we lon’t live by “luck” or seek for “luck” in our lives, but instead look for the blessing of the Lord. We pray, and seek Him, for His direction and His blessings (benefits/gifts/provisions) from day to day, in our earthly pilgrimage!

What a privilege it is, as the wisest man (Solomon) wrote, to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5).

And with regard to children and grandchildren (with thirteen now), -- we think of what the old Psalmist wrote, “Children are a heritage from the Lord…happy is the man who has his quiver full of them!” (Psa. 127:3-5)

And now that I (Poet Les) am a Grandfather for the 13th time, with the birth of Baby Jed, I think of what the wisest man (Solomon) wrote, “Children’s children are the crown of old men….” (Prov. 17:6) Awesome, eh? And we even have one great-grandson now. Imagine that – (for folks as young as we are)!

POEM FOR A NEW GRANDSON

Welcome dear Jed, Grandson to me,
A treasure you are, I surely can see;
So recently born, just a few weeks old,
For sore eyes you’re surely a sight to behold!

Someday I’ll see you, -- just now I must wait,
Daily you’ll grow ‘til you walk a fast gait;
Hard to imagine that day coming now,
But little by little you’ll gain skills, and how!

Today it’s my wish I could hold you in arms,
Talk to you softly, raise no alarms;
I’d say to you, Jed, now, Grandson so bright,
We waited for you patiently, now you see the light!

If down through the years that for you lie ahead,
You avoid what is foolish, love wisdom instead;
‘Twill be a great life, a life God can bless,
Encouragement to others, free from distress!

w/love to Jed, from GrandPapa (Poet Les)

Attention -- the Baby Is in the House!

Our thirteenth Grandchild -- a Grandson -- and a true Californian!
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The tall and the short of it!

Here they come, friends...Little Brother Jed and Big Sister Chloe!
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Two from CA


Baby Jed and "Baby" Teddy!
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Mary's CA Trip

Look who's napping!
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Monday, April 16, 2007

Happy Patriots' Day Holiday

Happy Holiday to you, feiends and fellow countrymen!

On this dreary, windy, rainy Patriot’s Day, let’s brighten up our holiday with some parade pictures from recent years (below), and one special “bouquet.”

I’m also including a link to where you can read more about Paul Revere and his famous ride. You can also link from there to the Longfellow poem, and read it again. -- A great poetic work!

Bouquet of Flags and Ribbon

On this Patriots' Day Holiday, it is good to remember all that for which our Grand Old Flag stands. This "bouquet" in the Living Room reminds me today to be thankful for our country, the "land of the free and the home of the brave!"

Parade and Fire Trucks

A parade is most interesting, with floats, marching bands, old autos, Church groups, clubs, etc. After a motorcycle here is a magnificent small-town fire truck, with more in the procession.

Booms Forming Arch with Flag

On the parade route, a wonderful patriotic expression with fire-truck booms!

Grandson with Cart of Flags

A bright young patriot!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

A personal question, if you please....

Friend, Do you pray?

If so, when and under what circumstances?...

In wartime, many have been known to pray -- remember the old saying, “there are no atheists in foxholes?”

In the Bible, many prayed, including these --
David (II Sam. 7:27; I Chr. 29:19); Abraham (Gen.18:23-32); Daniel (Dan. 6;10); Paul (Acts 9:11); Jesus (John 17)....

Circumstances vary, but many people pray, -- at least, “Help, Lord!”.

The One Who made us all, desires communication with us.

Today I met with others in another city to pray for our State.
And here are some of my thoughts in poetic form.


PRAY

Now pray for our towns, our cities, our State,
Let not our desire for God long abate;
God cares for us all with love true and strong,
He’s patient and caring, to Him we belong!

Let’s pray to our Father in Heaven above,
Pray in the Name of the Son of His love;
It’s Jesus our Savior Who for us gave all,
That God might forgive every sin, large or small!

God’s mercy and grace, amazing and true,
His power and His splendor no one can outdo;
His plan for His children is holy and pure,
And following our Savior, the outcome is sure!

He made us for this, -- to Him to bring pleasure,
His design was with purpose, for we are His treasure;
But when we fall back or from Him we stray,
We then must repent, -- there’s no other way!

Now pray for revival of God’s work today,
From His work in us, oh let us not stray;
But when we’re revived by His Spirit and Word,
God’s work will be blessed, -- all praise to the Lord!

-- Poet Les

A Man and His Family...


...(with cousin).

Which one am I?

Does this help your identification?


Or this.......


Wednesday, April 11, 2007

High School Reunion, Fifty Years

FIFTY YEARS

Now fifty years have come and gone
Since we our caps and gowns put on,
To march and graduate anon, --
The Class of Fifty-Four!

LFHS is the school,
With education as the tool
That helped us learn a better rule,
Blest Class of Fifty-Four!

When first we started, Freshmen green,
Did we think we’d knowledge glean,
As classes, homework filled the scene –
Our class of Fifty-Four?

How soon we learned to scale the heights
Of learning, as we sought insights
To lead us on to swifter flights,
Great class of Fifty-Four!

Sophomores, and Juniors, too,
Then to our Senior year we flew;
We’d bid each other, soon, adieu,
One Class of Fifty-Four.

In music, sure we were upbeat,
Great melodies at times repeat,
With harmonies we all would treat,
This Class of Fifty-Four!

In sports we would not be outdone --
Competition, -- lots of fun!
Professional moves, and some homespun --
Wow! Class of Fifty-Four!

Oh! fifty years have now transpired
Since in those gowns we were attired, --
Accomplishments we’ve each acquired;
Some Class of Fifty-Four!

We come together to salute
Our class, as now we pay tribute,
Sure all our accolades compute! --
What a Class – our Fifty-Four!
-- Poet Les

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Retirement Trip, continued...


At the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland when we took our retirement trip, What a lot of interesting things to see!

More Transportation Pictures


Need good air-conditioned transportation to DAFS, anyone? Perhaps you could find a fine motor-bike like this?!?

Retirement Trip Included Moody's Diner

Our Retirement trip to that part of the State wouldn't be complete without a visit to Moody's Diner, especially since we could not remember ever going there before!

More Old Transportation

How about a bottle of milk? or some cream for your coffee? Remember when delivery vehicles roamed the roads, and looked like this?

More of the Retirement Trip Pictures

Beautiful old car seen at the Transportation Museum on our Retirement trip!

Monday, April 9, 2007

Retirement Trip to Camden

At the Owls Head Transportation Museum

Retirement Trip to Camden


A great old car that we saw in the Transportation Museum. See other pictures of my retirement festivities below.

First Day of My Retirement

Friday Morning, after I retired at the end of the day on Thursday. Several months ago now. But how fast the days go by! Plenty to do, with gradually diminishing energies.