Wrapping up the Museum of Natural History, at last!

Etruscan pottery - these folks were the precursors to the Romans,
who occupied Italy when the Greeks were at their zenith.



Coins from antiquity:



It's funny to think that someday something we now consider ordinary and ho-hum
may eventually be in a museum to pique the curiosity of future generations.

Greek wares:





A model of the Parthenon:





And....on to critters. Remember the butterfly advertisement in the entrance?



They had one of those exhibits where you can walk in and the ethereal winged creatures flutter about and light on you - but it cost $, so we did not go in.



I think God had a tremendous amount of fun when He created these guys.

And bees.....



....making honey for the tumbly.

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The girls have been excited all week.



Tomorrow that is. He was very much missed around here.

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Tonight is our co-op play: Pride and Prejudice. Jenny is helping with the spotlight, Heidie is aiding the action back stage, I'll be taking photos. Heidie worked hours on the set - a backdrop of a garden and two portraits. Here are:

Mrs. Bennett



Mr. Bennett



The best part of these is that they resemble the kids playing those parts.

"Looking at what  happened to [Christ's] life, [we] will expect to be saved, not from danger and suffering, but in danger and suffering. And the resurrection of the body means....there can be no end to the manifestation of creative life." ~ D. Sayers

We may often remember Creation when we contemplate our own longings for beauty, art, and creativity, and that is only right. We are made in the image of our Creator, after all. But, people of faith can doubly appreciate that within us percolates a drive to create, as we are being conformed into the image of the Re-Creator, the Redeemer, who loves to turn ashes into beauty. More than anyone else, God's followers should be some of the most creative people on this earth - redeeming it, along with Him, by using our best efforts to celebrate resurrection life in all manners, styles and venues.

"For we are God's own handiwork, His workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus, that we may do those good works which God predestined, planned beforehand, for us." Eph 2:10

It's nothing less than a call to bring forth and celebrate
the many and wondrous facets of life -
 a reflection of God, Himself,
and His ongoing work of redemption.

I'm in a strange season. I'm down to only two students and more and more of their activity is now outside our home. I have empty time on my hands and I'm at a loss as to what to do with it. I've been putzing. A bit of decluttering, a bit of mending. I'm out walking the dog more - that is a good choice. But, I feel rather directionless. Waiting on God to yet make His plans for us and this season of our lives more clear. Not feeling well of late has also added some serious lethargy into the mix. I guess, in that sense, the lesser demands have come at a good time.

I'm so grateful for One whom I can trust in all things.

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Believe it or not, we will leave the Natural History Museum eventually, but not yet!

Swords and daggers from the Iron Age. They look like something from a movie set.



An Iron Age decoration. Rather top-heavy, I'd say.



I love pottery, even old pottery.



Old dried grapes = antique raisins.



Aren't these cute?



I'd like one of these, but I suppose it'd be rather unwieldy and impractical.
Love the long neck, though.



Useful and pretty.





I believe this is a model of an ancient burial site.



Such a waste of good pots!



An amber necklace.



If, like me, you've forgotten what that is - it's fossilized tree resin.
Maybe it was more attractive way back when.  

Well, yesterday went downhill majorly in terms of how I felt. I understand from what I've read, though, that some folks don't even react to the antibiotic until days after they stop taking it! If I'm not better by next week, however....I'm off to the dr's office.
Yes, any prayers directed my way would be appreciated.

Today are our last co-op classes for this semester. Friday is our "closing program", including the play. (My girls are only helping in the background.) Then we have a nice long break before 2nd semester's classes begin.

Rob's boss came into town last night. Tonight he takes us out to dinner.

I'm going to interrupt my tour of the Natural History Museum with a few shots of Heidie at her piano recital on Sunday.  She did a great job, by the way.



She played the theme song from Chariots of Fire and "The Entertainer" from the movie, The Sting. She's only been playing for a couple of years....I am very pleased with both her progress and her enjoyment of her instrument.  The best part, though, was that whenever she nailed a challenging section of the piece, she could not refrain her smiles.



 



Most delightful to both listen and watch.

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I think I am coming to the conclusion that it was my antibiotic that messed me up. I read one person who testified that while on it, she felt like she was dying. I could concur.
Things are better now....but I think it'll be awhile before it all works out of my system.
But, hopefully and gratefully, I've turned a corner.

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On to anthropology and archaeology, just what you were longing to do this morning,
I'm sure.....

What early human is ever far away from arrow heads?



Or elementary pottery?



This is about the Iceman. He no longer cometh. He was discovered by hikers in the Alps. A very old "natural mummy".  They think he lived in 3300 BC.
The real deal is in some museum over in Austria or some such European haven of relic-ry.



This is the Smithsonian's rendition of what he might have looked like before his big freeze.



He looks all too modern, to me.

A depiction of some Mesopotamian action.



Early writing, cuneiform-ish in nature. Seems to me it would be very challenging to decipher.



Have you seen my Mummy?



We can't forget their fetish with cats.



Can you imagine what he would think if he could wake up now, in D.C.,
and see all our eager faces staring at him?





I don't think I really, really grasp anything that is truly old.
It's all beyond me and my limited imagination.

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Yesterday was filled with a wild goose chase to find a church in the morning - long story, we never succeeded, faulty directions - a piano recital in the afternoon, (Heidie's - she did great, btw), a 2 & 1/2 hour wait - most of it standing - and a phenomenal concert put on by Randy Stonehill and Phil Keaggy last night. Randy gave an amazing tribute to Larry Norman, which is especially remarkable if you know anything about their personal histories. And, Phil performs as brilliantly as ever, all the while sporting an impish grin of little boy-like delight over his own amazing and intricate guitar tricks. That man sure knows how to have fun.

I'm still not feeling consistently well, but I just finished my antibiotic. If things don't settle down soon, I'll have to tootle back to the doctor's office.

And today is the first lit class I am NOT teaching! 

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"A settler is one that stops journeying, stops dreaming, stops taking risks.....
God has called us to set our hearts on pilgrimage." ~ L. Zimmerman

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
       who have set their hearts on pilgrimage." Ps 84:5

Change and uncertainty are uncomfortable. I know firsthand. But, He wants us to keep seeking, to keep following, to keep moving forward into His new day.
Whatever it ends up being.
Lord, help me to embrace the temporary and continually changing nature of this journey.

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Still at the Natural History Museum:

One of my favorite exhibits was a small one on petrified wood. So fascinating and striking.





And here we have an employee/volunteer (?) of a paleontological nature:



Doing very intricate work.



Creatures of the deep. Makes one glad to not be swimming with them.





I think this guy looks like a cartoon character:



And here's some primordial sea turtle ancestor....



I find it mind-boggling that this same museum suggests that they all originated by chance.