Aging Star
(for Vincent, Robin, and me)

I pour out my heart’s fire

Like water in the bird bath,

Sustenance for each of you.

I serve up cracked corn,

Simple seeds of wisdom,

Nutty, crunchy knowledge.

My spilled blood nurtures,

Fertile seed beds flourish,

Sprouts rise, buds bloom.

Some birds take flight, soar;

A tidy garden grows, thrives,

But my light wanes, steadily.

You shine, my young friends,

My spirit flows through you,

But my soul is growing dim.

If a wick, I, me would trim,

Shed the excess, diminish,

Lose light, gain longevity.

But I am not a wick—

Enjoy my light, bask,

It will not last for long.

This is a Magpie Tale. For more Magpies or to add your own, click here!

University Day at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium!

Our new new partner/parent university...the one that bailed us out last Spring when it looked like we might go under, hosted a day at the zoo for faculty, staff, and families! When I say hosted, I mean we got a parking pass, a zoo ticket, and a great lunch, cook-out style with hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, pasta salad, cookies, fountain drinks...the works. I have to say it was the nicest single outing I've ever had on an employer's tab. If you are not familiar with it, Columbus Zoo is big for a walking zoo. We were unable to cover all of it, even though we walked five miles, according to The Bug's workout calculator. Here are some of the pics I took. I chose to use the pocket Nikon instead of my DSLR, but they cleaned up pretty good.

HEART OF AFRICA

 The other lions were in the shade, but this one was sunning

 Happily the lions are separated from the gazelles

 Wildebeest herd roaming free

 Zebras milling about

 East African Crowned Cranes!

 Giraffes and ostriches and guinea fowl

 A lion entertaining the kids...or contemplating lunch

 Cheetah in the shade

 Giraffes and a gazelle
I see why they have mesh on the trees...

 Awww...looks sleepy

 They look fast standing still

 Ostriches

 Giraffes playing to the crowd

 But I like this scene better

 Beautiful!

 Watch for crocs!

Flamingo says none in these waters...

This Black Rhino was as close as we got to Asia this time

ARCTIC ANIMALS

 Reindeer!

 I named this one Sven

 Arctic Fox

 Polar Bears

This one was being silly

NORTH AMERICA

 Bison!

 Bald Eagle

 Bobcats

 Cougar/Puma

 Moose

 Prong-horned Antelope

Antelope Butts

 Lovely Trumpeter Swans!

Great Blue Heron

 Sea Turtle...so graceful

 Manatees!

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

 Aldabra Giant Tortoise!

A younger one

 Humboldt Penguins!

DOWN ON THE FARM

Free-range sparrows and a chipmunk

 Jacob Sheep!

 Goats!

And, um...this (The Bug's favorite)
Male Angora Goat, I think

Reveling in Summer

People think I must have a magical garden...I don't. What I do have are numerous pockets of beauty around our rather plain yard, and I try revel in the magic each pocket contains. And when all else fails, I turn my eyes skyward. Living thus, I find myself amazed by my surrounds...and so I feel compelled to share my daily joy. I hope you don't mind...

 This post features our yellow lilies

 And our double orange lilies!

Along with this pic of our other orange lilies, which continue to be spectacular!

 Grape tomatoes

Clouds

 The moon!

 Daisy Nation, trimmed hedges, Heather the Sheep, and our own good flag

 And the Occasional Squirrel

 Shaping up nicely!

Almost full Supermoon!

This may be the best shot I get of the Supermoon, as it is partly cloudy today...we shall see.

 Finally, Pinky, the two-tone pet geranium

 And the moody Supermoon!

 Being shy