#243: Nantucket Fog

In the morning fog on Nantucket
 the canna lilies fade:

The spider webs glow:

And Jesus speaks in the hush:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go,

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Listen.

#242: Juice Bar

Do Summer Folk wonder about the Juice Bar

in the winter?

Well, it's not quite winter but this is what it looks like now:

Yes, that's the Juice Bar with no line!

It was crowded inside tho'.

Even in late September, on a Monday night,

the excellence of their ice cream keeps them busy.

OK

Do you want to know what we got?

 Mango sherbet, rum raisin and
pumpkin pie spice and chocolate oreo and
chocolate peanut butter cookie dough ice cream.
Some on waffle cones.

I didn't get anything but begged a lick of everyone else's.
Ice cream only has calories if it's your own.
I hope.

#241: Birthday Dude

Birthdays can be traumatic after fifty.

 Not so much if you're keeping in shape:

Climbing

Playing (with a snake!)

Building 

And most of all, running.

It's a blessing to be married to a guy who takes steps

to stick around for a few more birthdays.

Happy Birthday, David.

#240: Sermon Haiku 16: Acts 6-8

Grand story of God
Jesus promised, lived, died. Rose.
Holy Spirit came.

Great wonders and signs.
Some people didn't like it
Arguments ensued.

Stephen, God's servant,
Responds to accusations
with grace and power

A paraphrase:
Why are you so bull-headed?
Hard-hearts condemn you.

They were furious
Stephen saw his Jesus stand,
It's time to come home.

While the mob threw stones
Stephen prayed, 'Hold them blameless.'
Falling to his knees.

What good came of death?
Anger tried to crush the Truth,
Instead, it spread out.

Saul of Tarsus raged
When things go wrong, remember
The Damascus Road.

Who are you, Lord?

#239: Moving Planet, Moving Island

Moving Planet/Moving Island was Nantucket's chance 

to join with people all over the world in 

addressing overuse of fossil fuels.

Islands are especially concerned about global warming as,

well, we're surrounded by rising oceans.

So we all biked out to Small Friends preschool

to weed their garden,

Make seedballs (local clay mixed with winter rye plus

red and green clover),

 then tossed them in to reseed.

A couple rows of turnips and beets 

left the children's garden planted for the fall:

15 of us then biked to various island farms:

Where our local farmers showed us ways they're

growing food sustainably.

All in all, a productive day. 

We had borscht for dinner from our own garden:

 

I slept like a baby after all that biking.

And learned that I don't need a car to get around Nantucket.

#238: What Giant Pumpkins are Good For

Sitting and listening to the music.

Inspiring the Future Farmers of America

Practice Bronco Busting

Don't fall!

#237: Giant Pumpkins

We haven't grown an Atlantic Giant pumpkin for a few years.

They take up too much room in a garden we need
 for food and flowers.

They are, however, an essential element of the County Fair.

What is it about giant vegetables that's so thrilling?

Ray Owen's , the one to beat. 543 lbs.
He wins almost every year.

Not this year:

Marcus Goulding's--662 lbs.

And the thumbs up pumpkin of 2011,
grown by Matt Avery, 736 lbs.
A Nantucket County Fair Record!

Oh, the joys of small town life.

#236: Scarecrows

We had scarecrows or, as they call them

in Scotland, TattieBogals, at the fair.

Here they are:

Just dance.

#235: Sermon Haiku 15-Acts 2:1-21

Bounced around by life

Disciples knew what that's like

Triumphal entry

Betrayal, arrest

Cruel death of their Messiah

then, Resurrection

Jesus' instructions

Wait for the Holy Spirit

Together, praying

Suddenly, a sound

Wind roaring down from heaven

Tongues of fire, resting

Holy Spirit came.

Filling His people to speak

The wonders of God.

Are we still speaking?

Runners get a second wind,

Can we have one too?

Burst of energy

Heat from the not-burning bush

Indwelling Spirit.

God's people on fire

Calling the uncomforted

Come in from the cold

#234: Nantucket Boy Scouts

As our County Fair lasts two days, 

 someone has to stay overnight to care for the livestock.

And keep an eye on some of them.

Who, me?

On Nantucket, the Boy Scouts camp out:

How's that for a campground!

Six tidy tents.

They build a rope bridge too:

Cautious courage.

We won't let you fall.

Mom and Dad at the end,

 ready to catch and hug.

#233: Blue Ribbon Birds

Here they are:

 Kitty and Lydia,
named after the flighty sisters in Pride and Prejudice.

 You can see them,

But they can't see you.

A bit of whimsy from the mind of God.

#232: Nantucket County Fair

Yay! It's the Fair!

Nantucket County Fair is the first time we get to see

all the locals together again after the summer.

This is just setting up:

 Four guys, ready to transfer pumpkins 

 Heave, ho!

And there she is, a beauty.

 Our entries in the Vegetable category.

And poultry.

I'll show you all our ribbons tomorrow.

First worship, then off to the fair!