mysterious hieroglyphics

Sunday night reading in bed, I heard a thunderous roar of a crowd of Amish youth,  after the singing at the next door neighbors,some walking past our house, some at a distance.  A primal scream?  A ritual of that gang's leaving after a day of volleyball and singing by gas lanterns?

Today a silvery marking on the zelkova tree caught my eye.  Youth on a rampage marking territory, or doing graffiti?  Some ancient spirit writing hieroglyphics as a warning, as a sign.  Or, a lost snail confused about which way is up in the dark. Or two snails' courtship, leaving their slime which in sunshine turns visible.

All speculation.

the M. Div. graduation oil

At the local graduation recognition party--way back in April--guests were asked not to bring gifts, but, if they wanted to contribute to the purchase of an original oil by Christine David as the grande graduation gift, that gift would be deeply appreciated.

Finally the painting was chosen, framed, finished with varnish, signed, sealed, and delivered.  Here is the graduate receiving it from the artist, Christine David.  I can't think of the title, but it is an abstract poppy.

valentine gift

Dorcas gave me a garden sculpture. It's a poppy. The ribbon and tag will come off. Since the ground is frozen I couldn't sink it into the poppy bed. It's in the poppy bed, slid against one of the bricks (which came from the Milton/Lois estate in Kirkwood).

I love this abstract shape. Thanks, Dear! She got it at the garden shop close to Central Market.

Poppies were propogated on our Monterey property by my mother. We left them grow and they spread.