Summer Days Are Here!

Time has seemed to escape me.  The summer began June 20th, 2012 a day earlier than normal because we are in a leap year.  Life is busy as usual but honestly it seems to have taken on supersonic speed.  Here we are in July and so far I have to say the summer weather is living up to it's name.

 For those who love the summer I know you are happy.  There is a lot to love about summer. A sweet serenity now possesses the land. The green world is now fully green. It is the days of long twilights, and balmy evenings, a delightful invitation to dine out of doors, with family and friends.  Fruits and vegetables, perhaps from your own garden.  Nothing like a delicious homegrown tomato just picked from the vine.

Picnics, barbecues, boating, fishing, relaxing in those easy chairs at the ocean and swimming at the beach, or pool.  Graduation parties, weddings, and most important District Conventions, being held around the world, and which some of our friends will be attending. Hopefully we will be able to go next time.

Yes, summer is a time to have fun in the sun.  It also can get so hot you can see the heat quiver over fields of ripening grain, and the grass gets sun burnt and dry and you could fry an egg on the blistering hot pavement.  Make sure you wear plenty of sun screen, and have plenty of fans!!

I want to share this beautiful video that captures the sights and sounds of summer, and draws us closer to the one who made it all Jehovah our heavenly Father and Creator.  "How many your works are O Jehovah! All of them in wisdom you have made. The earth is full of your productions." Psalms 104:24,25.




This is Raven - as the crow flies!

Spring Things

April is aglow with spring things.  Why, it's very name is derived from the Latin 'aperire' meaning to open, and in truth April is a month of openings. 

It is a gardener's month, for the trees bud overhead and the bulbs at our feet.  The variety of color among the tree blossoms, pink and white, and the blossoming flowers, as well as the varying shades of green leaves emerging from the trees as if over night, is truly a feast to the eyes and senses, prompting worshipful praise to the one who made it.  "How many your works are, O Jehovah! All of them in wisdom you have made.  The earth is full of your productions." ( Psalms 104:24)


How many spring things have you taken note of that brings you delight?  Yes let's take time to "smell the flowers."  Spring comes around only once a year.

Here are some more spring things I'd like to share with you. Aren't they cute?

Hope this blog on "Spring Things" has brought a smile to your face and encouraged you to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

Also, nothing could be better than to enjoy the spring while listening to Vivaldi's Spring!  Take a few minutes to enjoy this delightful musical masterpiece.  It will put a "spring" in your step.

Have a happy, healthy Spring, and remember, April showers bring May flowers!

This is Raven - as the crow flies!

Springs Around The Corner

March 20th marks the first day of spring.  But truthfully, weather wise, it seems like it already has begun. This winter has been unseasonably warm, and traditionally March is a fickle stormy month either coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb or coming in like a lamb and going out like a lion.

For the most part so far, March has been mild and warm giving us all the proverbial "spring fever".  We have even seen sure signs of spring like the crocus blooming, many Robins appearing, although as Sparrow tells us, they never left.  Soon we will see the many varieties of daffodils bobbing their heads and delighting us with a cheerful array of varying shades of yellow.  In the words of William Shakespeare..."Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, and take the winds of March with beauty".

Although the weather forecast for the rest of March seems to be  calm and warm no snow in sight, who knows what lies ahead with fickle March.  Don't put the snow shovels away just yet.

Remember this too, In March, July, October and May, the Ides are on the fifteenth day!  Beware of the Ides of March!  I love saying that phrase.

Ah Spring - when nature awakens.  It's a time of new beginnings.  A new flower season, a new fashion season, spring cleaning season.

 But most important this is the memorial season, a time of increased activity in showing our love, honor, and deep appreciation to Jesus for willingly sacrificing his perfect life for us, and Jehovah who out of undeserved kindness and love provided his only begotten son Jesus as ransom for our sins.  We always want to show our appreciation, but especially now in obedience to Jesus command "Keep doing this in remembrance of me".  And so Jehovah's people will gather together around the world on April 5th after sundown to celebrate the Lord's evening meal.  We hope all those we invite will be with us as well.

Another sure sign that spring is near is all the seed catalogs coming through the mail.  We have such a delight picking out the different varieties of seed we are anxious to plant in the garden.  Believe it or not I think we will be planting some cold weather crops like snow peas, lettuce, radishes, collards and kale a little earlier because of this warmer weather.  Other vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, squash, string beans and corn will have to wait until May.

Well another season is coming quickly upon us.  Enjoy it for there will not be another like it, and time goes by so quickly.  Until we meet again.

This is Raven - as the crow flies!

February 29, 2012 - It's A Leap Year!

I didn't want to miss this opportunity on the last day of a snow less February to mention a few folk lore "facts" on leap years.  After all we won't have another one until four years from now.

There was a lot mentioned about leap years on the inter-net today and I thought it would be fun to incorporate a few of them on the last blog for this month.  They are funny, and we need some laughter, because if the" weather lore" from my last blog is right, we are not going to have a great summer. Maybe we'll have two dismal winters.  Let's hope not!

With 2012 comes the gift of an extra day.  24 hours for our calendar to catch up with the sun - and for us to catch up on a zillion things which we will need a zillion years.  While February 29 may feel like your average day, its once, every- four- years status has long linked it to myth and lore.  Here are some for example:

Astronomy Lesson

Despite what our elementary teachers told us, a year isn't really 365days.  Our planet actually takes 365 1/4 days to revolve around the sun.  These six additional hours each year add up to an extra 24 hours over four years, at which point we add a day to our calendar in order to keep us in sync with the sun.  Without leap day, annual events would slowly shift seasons - eventually Christmas would be celebrated in July.  It might as well be because we know Jesus wasn't born in December anyway.

One Glitch

While the first leap day was likely observed by the Egyptians, Caesar is credited for incorporating a leap year into the Julian calendar in 46 B.C.  However scientists noticed that annual events were still shifting over extended periods of time.  while the calculation of 365 1/4 days for the earth to lap the sun was close, the true figure is actually about 11 minutes short of that and this tiny miscalculation caused a day of discrepancy every 128 years.  Pope Gregory XIII came to the rescue in 1582, ruling that leap year would be skipped every four centuries to fix the snag.

Farmers' Fears

Though the point of a leap day is to keep our calendar aligned with nature, hundreds of years ago people thought that messing with our months would throw Mother Nature for a loop.  Farmers worried that the change would lower crop yields and sicken livestock.  In fact, a Scottish saying declared that "leap year was never a good sheep year."  Lore also held that leap day babies were unruly and tough to raise. (Maybe we should ask J. Lo, whose twins were born on Feb. 29, 2008 - if this adage proves true.)

Chances of Being Born

Rapper Ja Rule and actor Antonio Sabato Jr. are among the roughly 187,000 lea pings in the U.S. and 4 million worldwide.  Long - expired leap lings include poet John Byrom, bandleader Jimmy Dorsey and writer Dee Brown.  The likelihood of being born on February 29 is roughly 1 in 1,500, and on leap day 2012, (today) approximately 10,000 American babies will enter this exclusive minority.

A Modest Proposal

As the picture in the blog reveals leap year allowed women to propose marriage to men.( that unsuspecting man in the picture is in big trouble.)  Four hundred years ago women were not allowed to propose marriage to men - except on leap day.  While the source of this switcheroo isn't 100 percent clear, folklore traces the tradition to fifth - century Ireland, when St. Bridget supposedly complained to St. Patrick that gals were sick of waiting around for their procrastinating men to pop the question.  Patrick consented to a leap day role reversal and by some accounts, also declared that men who declined the proposal would be fined! ( If I were those men I'd run and hide.)

This was just  a few interesting 'facts' that were brought out on the inter-net.  Times have changed drastically.  Today woman don't wait for leap year to take the lead, any day will do just fine. 

Well, what will you do with your extra day in February? Or should I say 'what did you do' as this day is almost over.  I'm happy to say, I was able to complete this blog. And above all else, let us thank Jehovah and praise him, the giver of life and time.

This is Raven - as the crow flies!

Winter Snow - Where Are You?

Here we are in the month of February, the middle of winter, and unlike this picture there is no snow on the ground.

One of the main reasons Raven loves winter is because of the snow, and for all of those who love snow it hasn't been a great winter.  For those who are happy there is no snow, it's been a great winter.  Jehovah is so good, he pleases everyone.

It's true, we did have a snow storm in October, but it's not the same. It was in the beginning of the fall season.  Totally unexpected.  We did have some snow fall not long ago this winter season, but honestly the next day it was in the mid-50's and it quickly melted away.  We have had some cold raw windy days reminiscent of a real winter. Without the snow it's actually colder, or at least feels that way.

I have a theory for some years now, that if the beginning of the fall season starts out unseasonably cold, it seems we will have a warmer winter with little or no snow.  So far, it appears to be the case unfortunately so.

There still may be hope though.  February 2nd, Ground Hog Day, the ground hog saw his shadow, which means there will be 6 more weeks of winter.  Of course he saw his shadow because the sun was out.  If it was cloudy that day he would not have seen his shadow.

I was curious about how Ground Hog Day got started.  Here is what I found.

Groundhog Day is celebrated every year on February 2nd. The official groundhog lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. His name is Punxsutawney Phil. According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow (the day is bright and sunny), there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow (the day is overcast), there will be an early spring.

The celebration of Groundhog Day began with Pennsylvania's earliest settlers. It stemmed from a combination of religious beliefs and facts associated with hibernating animals. They brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day.

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.

So Ground Hog Day is also called Candlemas Day.  What is that?  


February 2nd is Candlemas Day( The Christian Festival of Lights)  The Ancient Festival marks the midpoint of winter halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox.  In olden times many people use to say that the Christmas season lasted for 40 days - until the second day of February.

It was the day of the year when all the candles that were to be used in the church during the coming year, were brought into the church and a blessing was said over them - so it was the Festival Day (or 'mass') of the candles.

Candles were important in those days not only because there was no electric lights, but people thought they gave protection against plague and illness and famine.  For nominal Christians it was a reminder of Jesus coming to earth.  Before he came everyone was 'in the dark' so to speak.  Jesus coming to earth with his message was like a guiding light to them in the darkness.  Jesus is called the light of the world - and candles are lit during church services to remind them of this.

With all this said, what hope is there for us to get a good snowstorm?  Maybe if we all do a snow dance that might work.  Perhaps we may get a clue from some weather lore and traditions.

Here are a few.

If Candlemas be fair and clear,  there'll be two winters in the year.

It is said that if the weather is fine and frosty at the close of January and the beginning of February,
There is more winter ahead than behind.

When the cat lies in the sun in February
She will creep behind the stove in March.

Of all the months of the year
Curse a fair February.

If it thunders in February,
It will frost in April.

If February give much snow,
A fine summer it doth fore show.

I keep checking the weather report, and I see no snow in the near future for us, so in the meantime we can dream about it and see it in pictures.

This is Raven - as the crow flies

A New Year Begins - January 1, 2012

What lies ahead? Looks like that cute little cat is contemplating that same question.

Of course all of us may have set different goals that we would like to accomplish this year, perhaps things we were not able to do before, or started to do, and didn't finish.

For example, I have a goal to learn how to crochet, or knit. I've tried many times, but just didn't get the hang of it. Now with all the sisters we have in the congregation who are pros at knitting and crocheting, I am hoping to get a lesson or two and finally succeed. I'd love to make a quilt, or a hat, and scraf.

How about painting, or learning to play an instrument? Can't wait until we are in the new world when we will beable to accomplish many of these honorable and enjoyable hobbies, perhaps even learning them from the great masters when they are resurrected. Imagine getting lessons from Chopin, Mozart, and Beethoven. Then there is Monet, Van Gogh, and Michelangelo. Someone else I am looking forward to meet is Fred Astaire. What a dancer! We will have the time and the mind to do it.

My wish for you and me is that we will beable to reach some of our goals, even now.

Of course high on our list of goals are spiritual things, since they are the most important, and they are everlasting. What may they be?

Getting to know Jehovah better.
Reading the Bible everyday. Improved personal study, and meditation. Drawing closer to Jehovah in our prayers, not only in what we pray about, but how often we do. Keeping up to date on reading our precious magazines. We need to feed ourselves before we can feed others. Perhaps making a goal of spending more time in the ministry, or conducting a home Bible study. If not on the theocratic ministry school, why not make that a spiritual goal this year. This may seem overwhelming, so be careful that you don't try and do everything all at once, you don't want to lose your joy. We must pray to Jehovah for wisdom and for his help.

Something that we can do now and will bring immediate benefits is getting to know others better in the congregation. Perhaps working with someone in the ministry we haven't worked with before. Helping those in need, there are so many. Be more forgiving, and forgetting the things we ought to forget. Be more loving, and less complaining, more up-building and less critical. These important spiritual goals can be reached with Jehovah's help, and we will be happy and a joy to be with. If we could chose a theme for this year, and implement it in our lives, what would you like it to be? How about the year of "Love, Joy, and Peace". If we all make a special effort to exhibit these qualities even under difficult circumstances, we will receive in like measure, the blessings we give.

I am hoping to do something different to this blog. If I suceed you will see it. If I don't hopefully next time.

In the meantime I will leave you with this wonderful thought from a fellow blogger "The Dutchess", she says, and I quote: "The grand essential of happiness are: Something to do, Something to love, and Something to hope for". On that premise, Jehovah's people must be the happiest people in the world because we have all three. (1) We serve Jehovah and do his will, the preaching of the good news of God's Kingdom. (2) We love Jehovah, Jesus, our brothers and sisters and our neighbors as ourselves. (3) We have the hope that this wicked system will soon end, and for those who love God and do his will everlasting life on a paradise earth. We have something that others need and are looking for. Let's do our best to help them this year. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19.20)

Winter is upon us, and the beauty of this earth testifies to a loving, wise, and powerful creator who wants us to enjoy life forever. Take a look, and enjoy!

This is Raven - as the crow flies

Winter Welcome!

One of Raven's many delights is the winter season, and by way of reminder it is a gift from God that will never cease. (Genesis 8:22, Psalms 74:17)

There are many positve things about winter. No other season brings such gleeful delights at the sight of the first few snowflakes playfully fallling from the sky, and then as they multiply, unsurpassed beauty that blankets the earth and seems to bring about a clean, quiet peacefulness not only to our mind and hearts but also hides for but a moment this dark, troubled chaotic world.

What other benefit? When else can you go sleigh riding, skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating on a lake or pond, except in the wintertime. What about building a snowman with your children, grandchildren and friends; or, a fort with lots of snowballs ready to fly. These are some of the joys of wintertime.
And think about this, what would hot chocolate be without winter? Not as warming, exciting, or fun; or, the coziness of a crackling fire in the fireplace. Thanks to winter we can enjoy these simple pleasures in life.

We also have opportunity to wear a wide variety of scarfs, hats, and mittens, we sure would look silly wearing them in the summer. I'm looking forward to wearing my new, cute knitted red hat with a long tail on it that I could either let fly in the wind or wrap around my neck as a scarf.

Even the field ministry is so much fun in the winter. I find it very invigorating. And after getting nice and cold, wow, I enjoy that coffee or hot chocolate so much more. I look forward to being with all my pioneer partners. The wintertime draws us closer together spiritually and physically; it keeps us warmer! Yes winter with lots of snow is a dazzling, magical time of the year. We welcome you winter! And we praise the one who made it, not only for us to enjoy and beautify the earth, but in His infinate wisdom the snow benefits the earth. Not only does it gradually feed the ground, but it insulates the ground protecting the roots of trees and plants from dying.

There is so much more to say, but we will leave that for another time. In the mean time winter will officially begin Thursday morning 12:30 am EST December 22 2011. Get your shovels out.



This is Raven- as the crow flies!