Today we are visiting the small ponds that flow next to the Biology Building on campus. And could there be a more appropiate place for them? I SAY NOT. Right next to the pond is an incredible green house filled with exotic plants and flowers. I really must say that I think it is wonderful that the university uses this green house and pond for research and learning experiences. It is also a peaceful placve to sit and meditate over our lives and thoughts, just as I am doing now. Today is rather cloudy and dark and the wind is very strong. But I can tell the sun is really trying to break through. I really like the stones that encircle the pond. I think they match up well with with the natural envioronment and also provide a place to sit and reflect. And speaking of reflections, I can look into the water and see the rippling images of the tree branches that hang over the pond. A fly just landed on my leg, is it really true that when a fly lands somewhere it threws up? Gross! Someone told me that once and I have always wondered if it was true. I had a very long and busy weekend, so I am using today to just relax and right down the many thoughts that are passing through my mind as I sit here and look at this beautiful work of creation before me. Darwin says,"She[nature] can act on every internal organ, on every shade of constitutional difference, on the whole machinery of life." To me this means that nature can affect anything and everything. It affects all manmade buildings and structures that are built on it, it affects the animals that live off it, and us in so many areas from physically to mentally to spiritually. As I look at the trees I can see the many little animals such as the birds and squirrels hopping around. But since it is so windy they not do not stay too long. There is a tiny waterfall that flows out of the stones at one end and then joins the main body of water in the pond. I can tell all the plants and the pond are well taken care of. They are very neat and clean. This is wonderful and it is an encouragement that they will still be here for years to come.