If you wander around in the woods in the late fall in the eastern part of the US, you most likely have seen these marble-sized fruits. You may have even tasted one. Where fully ripe, they have a very sweet taste, similar to apricots. But unripe persimmons are basically inedible, and may make you ill. There is a persimmon festival each fall in Mitchell, Indiana where persimmon pudding is the featured treat.

It's that time of year. The Opryland Hotel is decorated for Christmas. It is an amazing place anytime of year, but the decor turns toward Christmas for several weeks. But, of course, I found odd subjects for photography. I noticed these poinsettia leaves flowing over and down one of the waterfalls in the complex. But the leaves were caught by the action of the water and held in one spot for some time, long enough for me to watch and be fascinated how they floated and swirled among the bubbles. I thought this was the best image of the ones that I took.

One of the gardening staff told me that the poinsettias are replaced every two weeks.

The leaves are all off the trees. The pear trees in the front yard are the last to shed their summer clothing. It seems backward. We put on clothes and the trees become bare for the coldest season. Even the oak trees just outside the back fence are bare. We rake them up and dump them throughout the woods. It will soon be time as well to take the leaf net off the pool. During the winter months, we can heat the spa and enjoy the outdoors on evenings and days that are not too cold. Last winter was not conducive to many times in the spa. But we hope that this year is not so cold. My niece noted yesterday that it's 100 days until spring. Optimism must run in the family.

I shared this photo previously on SightPsalms, but it is the first time I have shared it on my blog. So often we see sand dollars on the Florida coast that are white, and they become mementos of a trip to the beach. But this one is on the Atlantic coast, and is alive, or was when I took the photo. There is so much life on this planet that is amazing and that we overlook, or step on.

Another photo taken at the wrong time of day. Not in the "magic" light of early morning or late afternoon.

But the image is magical to me.

Today is the second Sunday of Advent.  Last Sunday as we attended worship in McKinney, Texas, with Elke and Robert, their pastor asked for volunteers for lighting the advent wreath. The church with four traditional and two contemporary services each Sunday means 24 families or individuals have an opportunity to participate through the season, with even more on Christmas Eve. Although it's a large membership church, I know from my own experience that it's still a challenge to recruit enough people to serve.  Thankfully, most people consider it a privilege to light the wreath's candles, and read the scripture lesson, and lead the congregation in prayer.

I always thought it important to include the wreath lighting in the advent worship planning as the ritual provides a moment for quiet personal and corporate remembering.  We pause amidst our activity to reflect on the mystery of why God would even want to be involved in human events. Our global family is battered by poverty, injustice, war, hunger, disease, and harm of every kind (much of which we are the cause). Still, we believe that the hope proclaimed for centuries will become real. We certainly need the hope. I do.

The water in mountain lakes is cold. All year around.

The water in this Wyoming lake is clear, refreshing, and cold.

I admit I'm partial to warmer water, and a warmer climate. So the best part of this photo is that I'm not alone. Having fun with Judy, Keith, and Mary Ann.

For five years I served as the superintendent of the Spoon River District which spanned six counties along the Mississippi River in the northern portion of Illinois. I drove over 30,000 miles per year as I traveled throughout the communities. I took my camera with me every day. One of my favorite roads was the highway that extended south of Nauvoo, Illinois. This photo is from one autumn evening with water fowl resting on the water. I enjoyed this side benefit of my job, but it is also a reminder that I had a lot of night meetings and it was still 90 miles before I was home.