Today Deer Tomorrow . . .

 Spring

Spring is sprung.

Harbinger

For me it is the first crocus

On the Wet Coast I call home.

In the West Kootenays where

I grew up

Bare pavement and the

Appearance of the first

Bicycle signalled Spring.

The grass is riz.

Busi-ness

For landowners, like

My friend Gerry,

It signals long months

Of lawnmower stories.

Another friend, Al,

Professional gardener

Awaits the time of planting

Making beds afresh

To receive new plants.

I wonder where the birdies is?

Musing

I sit in my

Powered chair.

Look out my

Studio window.

I see the deer,

My eco-frienidly

Lawnmowers,

Munching peacefully.

But, where are the birds?

Postscript

Today I visited Your Dollar Store With More and bought . . .
a bird feeder.
Watch this blog for updates.

the April PAD Challenge?

What is the April PAD Challenge?
April is poetry month, and Writers Digest has poem a day (PAD) challenge. I did not connect at the beginning but I'd like to share day one: A Communications Poem

Yesterday I wanted to speak

To you. What I had to say

Was important to both of us.

So important that I could not

Find words.

A reef knot tied my tongue

And fear froze my tonsils.

Fear of rejection?

How foolish!

Fear of failure?

Not my duty.

What would I tell you?

God loves YOU!

And has . . .

A message for me.

“when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

To check out the PAD challenge visit the WD poetry blog.

The Next Step and a Challenge For You!

One of the results of my love of books and reading is that I have wanted to write a book. When I retired I thought I would have time to write. Dr. Bob Butkus was an inspiration to me. He was the principal of the Powell River campus of Malaspina University College and my boss. He retired before me and wrote a book.

I found that even in retirement I didn't find time to write my book. But now I do have the time; so I am trying to get started. To help me get going I am working through The 12-Day Plan of Simple Writing Exercises from the Writers Digest online newsletter.

Now I come to my challenge to you and, incidentally, an opportunity to inspire me. The challenge comes from the first day:

Day 1:
Write 10 potential book titles of books you’d like to write.

I added a short description of the story to each title. Here is one of my 10:

1. A Woman For All Seasonings a cook makes meals for the elderly and listens to their stories

Your challenge: to post a title with a short explanation of the story. 

And now is a good time to encourage you to join the Minister's Cat. If you do join then your posts will include your name and I'll know who you are.

The Minister's Cat says, "Bye for now. Meow!"

A Man of the Book?

I am a man pulled in two directions. Ever since I read The Tale of Reddy Fox by Thornton W. Burgess by myself in grade two I have loved books. I can recall the smell of books, the second hand Kipling stories my Mom brought home from Vancouver or the new books my uncle Bill gave me each Christmas. But since my accident I have lost most of my sense of smell.
Also I can no longer turn the pages of a book. As a result I have resorted to my computer to continue my reading passion. How? I'm glad you asked. I'd like to share three ways I do this.

1. I downloaded a Kindle for pc a free program for my sip and puff equipped laptop. I tried the Canadian version but although they said they had free books I could not find them. I found thousands of free Kindle Books some are modern, many are classics. One treasure I found was a series of commentaries by Alexander McLaren covering the whole Bible. Another was several thrillers by H. Rider Haggard, including King Solomons Mine.
2. I also found a free Bible program, http://www.e-sword.net/ Again there are many free resources. For example, although most modern Bible versions must be bought, I find the English Standard Bible ESV to suit me. On the other hand, I did purchase Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words for e-Sword PCs. I have a copy of the New Testament book in my library upstairs (I haven't been up there since my accident). Now I have both the New and Old Testaments and a direct connection to my Bible. I found an article that I really enjoyed about electronic Bibles. Check it out. People of the Nook
3. One of the recurring problems a quad has is periodic infection. At such times I get too tired to read. Then I like to listen to books read aloud. Two online sources of public domain books are http://librivox.org/ which has a large number of titles but is not easy to browse. http://www.booksshouldbefree.com/ has fewer titles but can be browsed by genre.
4. Yes, I know I told you tshat there were 3 ways. I feel like the writer in Proverbs 30:18  Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: I think I may have written about them before: 1) BC has a wonderful online library of both ebooks and audiobooks. 2) Christian Audio has a free download every month. If you give them your email they send you a notice. I have used this service for years with no problems. 

Finally I leave you with two bookish quotes:
The first from THE BOOK:

 Ecclesiastes 12:12  My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

The second from my favorite essayist, Sir Francis Bacon:

 Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

Judging from this quote I must be an omnivore. Your Sip n Puff friend says so long. I have a book that needs tasting.
John D.

Don't Worry, Read Happy: Alan Jacobs on The Pleasures of Reading | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Don't Worry, Read Happy: Alan Jacobs on The Pleasures of Reading | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction 

At the end of 2011 this was just one of several articles I read to help me form resolutions for the new year. Strange how, when thinking of growing old, the one thing I dreaded was the loss of my eyesight and the inability to read. Little did I know that instead I would lose the use of my hands. I can read but I can neither hold a book or turn the pages.
This could lead to major frustration but thanks be to God for the computer and programs like Dragon and Darcy that enable me to control it.

Update on my health: I am feeling much more alert thanks to your prayers. However, my skin is breaking down and it is a real battle to get it back into shape. I do not feel discomfort and cannot relieve the pressure by shifting position.