(Cape Point, South Africa)

Good Friday

Pretend the seagull is a wolf.  Or a lion if you prefer.    (Isaiah 11:6)

Bug Kiss

Bugs kiss too.  Or are they passing the peace?  Maybe both.

(Rwanda)

Happy Mother's Day!

We love you Mom! You have been a wonderful mother to us.  Let's go camping together soon.  Oh, and thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you...

Master Kate!

 Today is graduation day on the island.  One graduate is my sister Kate.  I think it's for a degree in how to be cute, which we all know you mastered a long time ago.  Now I guess we have to call you Master Kirby.   Congrats!!!

 Masters of Superman, Emo and Thumbsucking Interdisciplinary Studies. 

 Masters of Arts in Botany and Camping

Masters of Fashion and Style

Good Friday Lamb

(Isle of Mull, Scotland)

The Flower Girls

Last weekend we were invited to the wedding of a good friend from work.  The bride and groom were beautiful, but I couldn't stop taking pictures of the flower girls and ring bearers (stay tuned for upcoming post).  It was illuminating to see their emotions change throughout the ceremony, from the nervousness of walking in, the anxious anticipation during the vows,  ending with the joyous exit (above).  It definitely brought back memories of when I was a rather shy ring bearer myself (though for years I thought I had been a ring bear).  Enjoy!

MacGyver

 (photo by GC)

We will miss you, Mac.  All you wanted was to be petted.

Happy Mother's Day

Love you, Mom! (and Grammie! and Mommom!  and Patty!)

The Lamb

Still thinking about Easter...

 (photos top to bottom from Corsica, Lake Bunyonyi Uganda, and Bungoma Kenya)

Calvin and Hedgehog

Hello All.  An odd thing happened on the island a couple weeks ago.  So I've written a poem about it.  Enjoy.  **16 Nov 2011 Update:  The hedgehog has survived!  He is alive and well**

 

Calvin and Hedgehog

Calvin brought in a paper bag

Flimsy, brown, crinkling

As if a tired lung.

Reaching in he pulls out

A tiny hedghog, a fuzzed

Furball, a quivering creature

Snug in the hand.

It’s been hurt, Calvin says,

Hit in the street,

A wound with worms, look at its eyes:

Do you have medicine?

Our sleepy morning interrupted by purpose,

We apply the creams and gels of humans,

Turn on the hose to

Bathe the babe breathless

And hope for healing.

Last we poke holes in a lid

To make a home of a shoebox.

Even the dogs came to watch. 

 

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday Dad! 

You (along with Mom) helped instill in me a love for God, the outdoors, music, travel -- and islands of course. 

We may live apart right now but I know we're all on the same island.

Love,
   Me
 

 

The Red Balloon

 

 Have you ever been followed by a red balloon?  Well, it happened to me the other day on Miles Island.  Being familiar with the 1956 film Le Ballon Rouge, I knew this was something special.  The balloon followed me around for the better part of the day, before dancing off on its merry way to make another friend.  To see the original short film, go to youtube... Part 1 and 2.  Check out the trailer for the recent feature film version.  Let me know if you've seen the red balloon in your part of the world...

 

Let Peace Prevail!

 This islander reminds us to pray continuously for peace throughout the world.  He walks throughout the city slowly (this day, at the local market) and sings as a cantor, "Let peace, prevail, everywhere, in the country, of Tajikistan!"  He then speaks the chant softly "Everywhere, in the country of Tajikistan."  Contemplatively he works his way through all of the countries of the world.  We heard him sing through Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tromelin Island, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu...    good man, what is your name and what is your story?  Blessed are the peacemakers...

Happy Mother's Day!

 I don't normally blog (or blob, as one of my grandmothers calls it) on Sundays, but since it's Mother's Day, I'll make an exception.  Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!  (and my other moms, Grammie and Mommom and Patty and Renee and Marcia and Beth!)  Here is a little digital tulip bouquet for you... it'll take some time to get around the island to each of you in person, but we'll work on it.  Hope you have a lovely day, see you soon!

Island Grandparents Care for Plants

On Miles Island, grandparents water plants--both literally and figuratively.  I love how these flowers are being nurtured, almost like children.  Note the pack basket pot--you can take flowers along for hikes when they want a change of scenery!  Also, I should let you know that my grandmother calls this Miles Island website (quite appropriately) a 'blob', so I think that from now on I'll refer to myself as a blobber!