Heritage Center 6

One of the great things about the new Heritage Center--besides the architecture--is the expanded room inside to tell the story of the people who lived here before Europeans showed up in the middle 1800's. The displacement of Native Americans--here the Otoe-Missouria tribe-- is the tragic flip side to the inspiring story of the adventuresome homesteaders.

Heritage Center 5

I'll have to find out who the architects were for this building; I think they might enjoy my alterations.

Heritage Center 4

. . . one of those crisp, clear, blue-sky November days in Nebraska.

Heritage Center 3

Curves are always interesting!

Heritage Center 2

When a plow is pulled through a field, the soil is turned upside down, and it often falls behind the plow in rounded, curvy shapes. Those smooth, curved earth shapes behind the plow are the inspiration for the curved roofline on the Heritage Center.

Locals look at the building and say, "Sure doesn't look like a plow to me." I keep telling them, "It's not supposed to look like the plow; the curve is supposed to look like the earth behind the plow." But mostly they don't get it. Perhaps it's been too many years since anybody around here has used a plow.

Heritage Center 1

Some of my crosses are of nature, some are of human-made objects. This next series of crosses will include both. The Heritage Center at Homestead National Monument of America sits on the edge of a restored tall-grass prairie. The blending of the structure with its environment is celebrated in the crosses.

Light sticks 3

The Light has come into the world. Merry Christmas!

Light sticks 2

Children are always drawn to light, a sign of the image of God within all people.

Light sticks

Given the season, I looked through my cross collection to find something that looks "Christmasy." This was as close as I could come, with red and green light sticks, from the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville, Illinois.

Deer fur on barbed wire 7

Perhaps this poor deer has suffered enough. But I continue to delight in the fact that of all the billions of photographs ever taken, none is exactly like this one. There's a certain joy in being unique.

Deer fur on barbed wire 6

Did this deer jump higher over the fence next time? Do deer learn by experience? Do the deer that ALMOST get hit by a car exercise caution the next time they approach a highway?

Deer fur on barbed wire 5

There are over 530 patented barbed wires with over 2,000 variations. See: http://www.barbwiremuseum.com/barbedwirehistory.htm

Deer fur and barbed wire 4

Deer fur on barbed wire

Along the south boundary of Homestead National Monument is a barbed wire fence, over which white-tailed deer regularly jump, usually quite successfully, occasionally leaving tummy fur on the barbs.

What Is It? #2

Hint: location is at Homestead National Monument of America, Beatrice, Nebraska.

Think perimeter.

Answer tomorrow.

What Is It?

Time for a guessing game--what is this?

Brown lace 4

If you're decorating in tans and browns, these last four crosses would make a nice little grouping on the wall.

Still 2 weeks until 2008, so there's still time to order my 2008 CruxPhotos calendar. Click on the link at right.

Brown Lace 3

Brown lace 2

Something you don't know--and probably don't need to know: the only occurrence of the word "brown" in the Bible (NIV, at least) is in Zechariah:

"During the night I had a vision—and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses."

Order my 2008 CruxPhotos calender (see link at right) and it should still arrive by Christmas!

Brown lace

late November, Homestead National Monument of America, Beatrice, Nebraska

Still not too late to order your 2008 CruxPhotos calendar--they usually come within a week or so. Click on link at right.

Ball Plant 3

Ball plant 2

ball plant

Any botanists out there? I'd love to know the name of this plant at Homestead National Monument with an almost perfect ball halfway up the stem.

Red berries 2

Red berries

Amidst all the browns and tans of late autumn at the Homestead, there is also some bright color, like these red berries.

Amidst the drab routine of your day, look for spots of bright color, joy, and hope.

Big Bluestem autumn grass

Still time to order your 2008 CruxPhotos calendar!! Click on link at right.