The Arrow's Path

I detest when editorials and newspapers insist on using the "scare quotes" in articles. I find them annoying and usually it denotes bias on the part of the reporter because they often will not use the same "scare quotes" for words from the other end of the political spectrum. That i s neither here nor there. They are also often hilarious when used inappropriately .

People come from all over the world to see the Sandhill Cranes come and nest along the Platte River in Nebraska between Grand Island and Kearney. Luckily, I live about 20 minutes from there, so they are literally in my backyard. Here are some pictures I took this evening.

So, I thought I had it figured out today. I would get my car worked on as I worked, then have my eye doctor appointment later in the morning, and have enough time in the afternoon if they were still working on the car to read my excellent book I have been into lately. Yeah, that worked well. They had to end up dilating my eyes. I don't know why I didn't think they would have to do that, as they always do because my eyes are so dark in color. I really have trouble seeing after I have my eyes dilated for at least two or three hours. So, as I sat in my office doing nothing, I felt like the guy in the Twilight Zone (particularly the scene at minute 22 near the end): Time enough at last:

I found a book on DIY Icons (don't ask), and thought I would give it a whirl. This is my first attempt at Icon Writing. It is a water color on paper. I thought I would try that first before doing it on wood. I think this turned out pretty well for a first time, considering I was using a $10 watercolor 8-color watercolor kit I found at Hobby Lobby.

This seems appropriate, given the goings on in the Ukraine and Crimea, which is where this poem takes place, and given the fact that this actual charge was a complete tactical disaster because they charged into their own lines... ------------------------------------------- The Charge of the Light Brigade Half a league, half a league,   Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death,   Rode the six hundred. 'Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns' he said: Into the valley of Death   Rode the six hundred. 'Forward, the Light Brigade!' Was there a man dismay'd? Not tho' the soldiers knew   Some one had blunder'd: Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death   Rode the six hundred. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them   Volley'd and thunder'd; Storm'd at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of...