a journey through landscapes real and imagined

Month: April 2020 (Page 2 of 3)

How Firm a Foundation

This is Earth Week! Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of Earth Week, and so we want to spend the week highlighting God’s amazing creation! One of the most spectacular things I’ve been able to show Wren was the Milky Way. When we were in Utah last summer, we went out into Canyonlands National Park (one of the darkest skies in the US) to watch the sunset and the stars emerge.

Milky Way – Utah (2019)

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:3-9

Milky Way – Utah (2019)

What an awesome blessing that we have been asked to care for this amazing creation! Earth Week is a great time to think about how we are living out this call! This Earth Week is giving us a unique opportunity. We are all being forced to live more simply and more slowly. Scientists are already noticing changes – carbon emissions are down, light pollution is decreased, air quality is increased…and I’m sure there are other less-obvious benefits. Things we haven’t thought to measure yet. I know scientists are measuring changes in the soundscape, and I’ve noticed slight changes in animal behavior! Living out this “shelter-at-home” lifestyle might just help us see the ways we can change our impacts on creation through our consumption of resources! Creation will benefit if we see how we can maintain these changes.

Wren’s hymn of comfort tonight is How Firm a Foundation. We were thinking about the stars today before she recorded, so you might hear a little Twinkle sneak it’s way into what she played…

How Firm a Foundation / Twinkle

I’ll Fly Away

Whenever Wren plays her cello, the birds flock to the tree just outside our window. This Robin flies in so fast, we sometimes think it will fly right into the room!

American Robin

We thought that this old tune was a good one, considering all of the birds we have watched this weekend! I’ll Fly Away is a gospel song written in 1929 by Albert Brumley. Supposedly, it’s one of the most commonly recorded gospel tunes out there. I know I grew up with it, and even played it in high school marching band!

I’ll Fly Away
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Cooper’s Hawk
another shot of the red-bellied woodpecker
Downey Woodpecker

We also wanted anyone who’s been following to know that when we went out to check on the owls last night, the mamma owl was there, but in a different place and the baby owl was gone (daddy was gone too). I went again this morning hoping that the baby was just hiding last night. Sadly, the baby wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Since it takes 5 weeks to fledge, we are pretty sure that the owlet was predated. Predators of owls include raccoons, hawks and other owls. We are hopeful that the parent owls will try again, and we are so very thankful for the tremendous blessing it was to know this owl family for a few weeks!

Recital Day

I could write about so many things today…snow…the sad decision about schools staying closed…. However, I’m going to write about my amazing child! (I hope you don’t mind). This child is such a blessing to us. She is loving and kind and so full of life! She is also a pretty amazing cellist for an 11 year old! Today, she performed her book 7 recital! This is always a really big deal! In the Suzuki method, once you’ve learned (memorized) and polished all of the pieces in your book, your teacher invites you to perform a recital. Normally this is a wonderful excuse for Nonnie (my mom) to come visit and accompany Wren. They work so well together, and, as you can see, they are members of the mutual admiration club:

2017 (Book 3 Recital)

Of course, we can’t do what we NORMALLY do! So, our wonderful Nonnie recorded all of the accompaniment, and we invited friends and teachers to join us via a zoom call! She played beautifully! First some pictures, then all of the videos (these are substituting for the “Hymns of Comfort” today).

Book 7 Recital
The Zoom Recital!
Sonata in G min. Largo by Eccles
Sonata in G min. Allegro by Eccles
Govotte by Popper
Bourees from the Suite in C Major by Bach
Sarabande from Suite No. 1 in G Major by Bach
Courant from Suite No. 1 in G Major by Bach
Sicilienne by von Paradis

I also thought you might like to see how she’s grown…

First Cello
First Recital, 3 years old
Honors Recital at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, 2015, 6 years old
2015, Book 2 Recital, 6 years old
2018, Book 4 Recital, 9 years old
2019, 10 years old

Have No Fear

We might learn the whole hymnal before this is over! Actually, that’s not a bad thing!!! This was one of the first hymns I learned as a child – and I love the sweet tune. We hope you find comfort in it.

Have No Fear Little Flock

What a Beautiful Earth!

I have been very blessed to see so much of this amazing earth. It is overwhelmingly beautiful, and I’ve loved introducing Wren and Rick to the many amazing places and creatures. Two summers ago we went on a long camping trip though many of the National Parks. Because Wren always has her cello with her, and we try to practice (or at least play) every day, we began a(n) (accidental) tradition of making music in some of the most beautiful places. I’ve included some photos below of the places and the “concerts”. We are so thankful that we have a safe home, and that we can make beautiful music while we are “sheltering”, but we are also longing to be back among the many beautiful places of this earth!

For the Beauty of the Earth
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan
Sleeping Bear Dunes – it was raining, so played inside the lighthouse
Mississippi River – border of Wisconsin and Minnesota
Badlands National Park – South Dakota
Custer State Park – South Dakota
Devils Tower National Monument – Wyoming
Devil’s Tower National Monument, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park – Montana (this entrance)
Tetons National Park – Wyoming
Beartooth Pass – Montana
Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Dakota
Canyonlands National Park – Utah
Arches National Park – Utah

Easter!

Happy Easter!! He is Risen!!!

Siberian Squill

Today has been a wonderful day of exploring and discovering so many amazing things!! We started the day visiting our favorite Owls – and we were so happy to meet the newest member of their family!!

Great Horned Owlet

Momma (pictured) and Daddy owls were close by and we tried to keep our distance and stay pretty quiet.

Great Horned Owl

Look! All creation joins in Hallelujahs!

Ruby Crowned Kinglet
House Finch
Grape Hyacinth
Northern Flicker
Cherry
Tree Swallow
Lilac (first blooms)

Waiting…

Today we anticipate Easter! This “hymn of comfort” is not a hymn, but we thought that the beautiful melody prepared us for the joy that will come in the morning! This is Sicilienne by Maria Theresia von Paradis (1759-1824).

Sicilienne

This weekend has been so beautiful. So many reminders of God’s love for us. The most important reminder …. is tomorrow!

Black Capped Chickadee
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Peonies
Red-winged Blackbird
Mayapples
Red-tailed Hawk
…Until Tomorrow!!!

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