A Carpe Diem Snapshot:
At the end of last summer, we sold our large farm, where we had lived for thirteen years and created many fun memories of caring for farm animals (herds of goats, sheep, chicken, horses, a runt piglet, bunnies, etc.), wild pets (several birds and a baby deer), dozens of cats, and five dogs. Being adjacent to 40 acres of woods, we also had an up-close view of the life cycles of several critters, including skunks, racoons, possum, squirrel, owls, sandhill cranes, turkey vultures, and the occasional eagle. Recently the girls obliged me to re-read A Tarantula in my Purse (and 172 Other Wild Pets), one of their all-time favorite family read-aloud books. It made me nostalgic for all those adventures with wildlife that surprised us during summers on the farm. Our one consolation at our new home has been the delightful new pet kitten, Esme. And, as for wildlife, there is certainly quite a bit to observe if one pays attention-- a host of birds (including blue heron and an eagle), quite a few turtle, and the now omnipresent flocks of Canadian geese. Though their droppings have not improved life on the beach, we never tire of watching their summertime swimming school as the babies mature from hatchlings in the Spring to migratory birds in the Fall. Over the years as I've raised my four children close to the cycles of nature, I've been in awe, and a bit envious, of how seemingly simple and seamless the parenting process is for wild animals, thanks to their instincts. This is beautifully apparent in the video above, in which the goslings literally fall into line behind their mother, like the most accomplished synchronized swimmers.
Liturgical: Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
.“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”
Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections today.
Sanctoral: William of Monte Vergine (1085-1142), Abbot; Blessed Jutta of Thuringia, Prussia, +1235.
Human: Birthday of Eric Arthur Blair (better known by the pen-name George Orwell) – 1903; a 4-day dedication ceremony for Mackinac Bridge began in Michigan– 1958; Virginian Roy C. Sullivan was struck by lightning for the seventh time.– 1977
The Writer's Almanac edition for today.
Natural: The Wisdom of Wildlife-- Lessons from Geese; I missed this piece of natural history on June 18-- 5 English monks witness the creation of a new crater on the moon (or do they?)!
Italian Word of the Day: Prezzo (price / cost)
Quote: "Do you think that I count the days? There is only one day left, always starting over; it is given to us at dawn and taken away from us at dusk." -- Jean-Paul Sartre
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