After death, a voice rises The earth groans Thunder rumbles… Live, they say. Live. Live. Live. –BJK

Dear followers of my blog: As I write, my twin grandbabies–a boy and a girl–are being born by c-section at a hospital in Baton Rouge. This is a little early, but they are good weights and should be fine. I’m more concerned about my daughter-in-law, who’s experiencing blood pressure issues. If you are the praying kind, please do. If not, your kind thoughts and encouraging vibes are also welcome. I cannot wait to gather my little flock around me! Thank you. bjk

Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water, who is very useful to us, and humble and precious and pure. Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Earth, our Mother, who nourishes us and sustains us, bringing forth fruits and vegetables of many kinds and flowers of many colours. –from “Canticle of Creation” by St. Francis of Assissi

This mother green heron is protecting her baby from a roadside hawk. The hawk is sitting in a shrub above and to the left, no more than 30 yards away. It had swooped in toward the baby heron alone on the river bank, but the mother heron saw it–long before the human observers on the boat saw it–and came to her chick’s rescue. She was absolutely fierce. The hawk watched like a… well, you know, like a hawk! The humans watched with bated breath. And then the hawk–no match for the mother heron–took off in search of less well-protected prey….

Because you see dear reader, in the garden dry foliage from the previous year’s growth gives its sugars to the new generation. Helps protect plants from desiccating and freezing in the winter. Shelter for birds, hibernating butterflies, and other insects. Death cycle interwoven with the spring. –from “Feed,” by Tommy Pico