Picture of the Day for January 6, 2016

Today some people are celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany, which marks a visit to the baby Jesus by three Kings, or Wise Men. The word ‘Epiphany’ comes from Greek and means to show, referring to Jesus being revealed to the world. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the three kings (Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar) found Jesus by following a star across the desert to Bethlehem and brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

One might sing the song “We three kings of Orient are , Bearing gifts we traverse afar” but as kids, we seemed to come up with different lyrics to songs and some weren’t all that nice. When we were are a sheep sale in Montana, we heard the  singing cowboy group “The Ringling 5” and one song on their album was “If Jesus Was Norwegian” with some cute lines about having lefse for communion and instead of Amen, it would be “ya sure, you betcha”.  But the last line on why Jesus couldn’t be a Norwegian was that when God searched around Norway “Three wise men were not found.”

Three Wise Men Were Found

Three Wise Men Were Found

Picture of the Day for January 2, 2016

After a snowfall, you notice evidence by way of tracks, just how many critters are visiting your yard. The ‘freeways’ in the snow can be found leading to the bird feeder from the trees as the squirrels attempt to steal seeds. While most of the squirrel tracks go from one tree base to another, the rabbit tracks head towards the thicker underbrush. Varying sizes of bird tracks can be found in the snow under the feeder as they look for fallen seeds. The tiny mouse tracks where running around the outside garage walls, looking for a way inside to stay warm or to get away from the fox who wanders through the yard too. This morning, fresh deer tracks led right up to the house to graze on my shrubs next to the porch. So the “pretty” snow doesn’t stay new looking very long before it turns into a maze of animals trails.

Trails in the Snow

Trails in the Snow

Picture of the Day for January 1, 2016

The start of a new year is here, a day when many make resolutions for changes in their lives and make some new choices. Sometimes it is old things getting a new life or purpose, like this old round barn built in 1895, which was moved a half mile and set on a new cement base in 2006 and in 2012, new siding was added and given a bright coat of red paint. While the barn’s old life as a dairy barn ended in 1944, it has a new life as a historical site for education of agriculture for hands-on learning and museum as well as a gathering place for family celebrations.

New Life for Old Round Barn

New Life for Old Round Barn