...SUSAN'S SPACE

CONTENTMENT

2012-02-06T00:30:00.001-05:00

I think the apostle Paul said this first.

Martha must've read her Bible!

Phil. 4:11-13. I hope Martha had read the best part; v.13:

'I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.'

LETS HEAR IT FOR CROWS!

2012-01-23T16:20:00.000-05:00

Crows are among the most intelligent of birds. Experiments indicate that American crows can count to three or four, are good at solving puzzles, have good memories, employ a diverse and behaviorally complex range of vocalizations and quickly learn to associate various noises and symbols with food.

****

This video is of two very unlikely friends!

This is unbelievable!

I'm not sure what country this is from,

or what language the people are speaking,

but just watch the crow!

He has a small, round lid, & is using it

to slide down the rooftop!

So funny!

Notice when he flies away, he takes his lid with him!

These photos are of our 'almost pet', Joe, the Crow.

He & his family are never far from our yard, &

come flying onto the driveway when we call.

Here he is on our back patio, while

I'm standing only a few feet away with the camera.

If he wants peanuts,

he sits on a branch outside my bay window,

or outside the kitchen window,

& waits until I see him.

Joe & his family have been regular members

of our yard menagerie for over three years.
Surprisingly, they are very compatable
with the many chipmunks we feed.
They even (quite vigorously!) chase hawks
from our yard, much to our delight!

We love the crows!

FRIDAY FUNNY: FYI

2012-01-19T20:27:00.004-05:00

For all you trivia buffs, research has produced a list of interesting (possible) relatives from the Family Tree of Vincent Van Gogh

His dizzy aunt: Verti Gogh

The brother who worked at a convenience store: Stopn Gogh

The brother who bleached his clothes white: Hue Gogh

The cousin from Illinois: Chica Gogh

His magician uncle: Wherediddy Gogh

His Mexican cousin: Amee Gogh

The Mexican cousin's American half brother: Grin Gogh

An aunt who taught positive thinking: Wayto Gogh

A sister who loved disco: Go Gogh

The ballroom dancing aunt: Tan Gogh

The bird lover uncle: Flamin Gogh

The brother who ate prunes: Gotta Gogh

The nephew who drove a stage coach: Wellsfar Gogh

His nephew psychoanalyst: E Gogh

The fruit loving cousin: Man Gogh

The little bouncy nephew: Poe Gogh

And his niece who travels the country in a van: Winnie Bay Gogh

Well, there you Gogh!

Happy weekend, everyone! S: )

AND YOU THOUGHT PARROTS WERE COLORFUL

2012-01-13T13:46:00.000-05:00

Golden Pheasant

Lilac-Breasted Roller

Nicobar Pigeon

Fancy Black & White Chicken

Himalayan Monal

What amazingly gorgeous birds!

There are hundreds upon thousands more than the ones pictured here.

When I look at these pictures, I can't help but think

"What beauty God has provided for our enjoyment!"

WHAT'S NEW?

2012-01-02T17:46:00.008-05:00

As we begin 2012, here are some beautiful PROMISES from God's Word for the NEW YEAR.

Even though the Bible was written so many hundreds of years ago, it's pages are filled with NEW, NEW, NEW.

This is just a sampling. I'll bet if you search, you'll find so many more!

*****

New MERCIES...Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are NEW every morning. --Lamentations 3:23

New SONG..He put a NEW song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. --Psalm 40:3

New ATTITUDE..Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made NEW in the attitude of your minds;

New SELF..(continuing)..and to put on the NEW self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. --Ephesians 4:21-24

New THINGS...See, the former things have taken place, and NEW things I declare. --Isaiah 42:9

New NAME...you will be called by a NEW name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. --Isaiah 62:2

New HEART and SPIRIT...Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a NEW heart and a NEW spirit. --Ezekiel 18:31

New CREATION...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has gone, the NEW has come. --2 Corinthians 5:17

New BIRTH.. In His great mercy He has given us a NEW birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. --1 Peter 1:3b

New LIFE...We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a NEW life. --Romans 6:4

New COVENANT...Christ is the mediator of a NEW covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. --Hebrews 9:15

New HEAVEN and New EARTH...But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a NEW heaven and a NEW earth, the home of righteousness. --2 Peter 3:13

*****

WELCOME, 2012

2011-12-31T18:41:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year, family & friends!

Hoping this is a year of joy and blessings!

CHRISTMAS BLOG

2011-12-03T17:26:00.000-05:00

From now until the end of the year,

I'll be over at my other blog:

'JUST CHRISTMAS'

http://susanschristmasspace.blogspot.com/,

so pop on over

and enjoy some interesting Christmas posts,

and a wonderful selection of Christmas music!

GIVING THANKS

2011-11-21T21:52:00.000-05:00

Here are my Thanksgiving wishes for you, expressed in these wonderful postcards from over a hundred years ago.

Wherever you are, and however you spend this day, it is my hope that your heart will be filled to overflowing with gratitude and thanksgiving for a loving God, who blesses us with so much more than we could ever deserve!

A HAPPY THOUGHT!

2011-09-25T14:57:00.000-04:00

GIRLIE WISDOM

2011-09-21T15:28:00.000-04:00

1. A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills... She has 14 kids but she doesn't really care.

2. One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

3. My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

4. The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes .

5. The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.

6. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends..

7. Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.....

8. Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.

9. Amazing! You hang something in your closet, for a while, and it shrinks 2 sizes!

10. Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!' .....Now, I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name, and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat.. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

11. I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!

BEAR-ly THERE!

2011-09-17T18:49:00.000-04:00

Never a dull moment here in the mountains!
We knew something was amiss when we heard the neighbors' dogs pitching a fit. You could hear their barking all over the neighborhood!
Bill snapped these photos from under the tree near our mailboxes.

You can't see them in these pics, but there are two cubs up higher in the tree. They were huddled on a branch on the back side of the tree trunk.

After all the excitement subsided, the bears were still in the tree. They'll probably wait until dark to make their 'escape'.

Hope they don't come to our house!

THE MASTER OF MY BOAT

2011-09-12T15:00:00.002-04:00

I hope you enjoy this wonderful old poem by Joseph Addington Richards.

Young Woman in a Boat

--Pierre Auguste Renoir

The Master of My Boat

I owned a little boat awhile ago
And sailed a Morning Sea without a fear,

And whither any breeze might fairly blow
I'd steer the little craft afar or near.

Mine was the boat,

And mine the air,
And mine the sea,

Not mine a care.

My boat became my place of nightly toil,
I sailed at sunset to the fishing ground;

At morn the boat was freighted with the spoil
That my all-conquering work and skill had found.

Mine was the boat,

And mine the net,
And mine the skill

And power to get.

One day there passed along the silent shore,
While I my net was casting in the sea,

A Man, who spoke as never man before;
I followed Him new life began in me.

Mine was the boat,

But His the voice,
And His the call,

Yet mine the choice.

Ah, 'twas a fearful night out on the lake,
And all my skill availed not at the helm,

Till Him asleep I waken, crying, "Take,
Take Thou command, lest waters overwhelm!"

His was the boat,

And His the sea,
And His the peace

O'er all and me.

Once from His boat He taught the curious throng,
Then bade me let down nets out in the sea;

I murmured, but obeyed, nor was it long
Before the catch amazed and humbled me.

His was the boat,

And His the skill,
And His the catch,
And His my will.

10 YEARS

2011-09-11T09:21:00.000-04:00

ANOTHER DAY

2011-08-31T23:34:00.002-04:00

ANOTHER DAY

~Grace E Easley

Lord thank You for another day,

Within this life of mine

Give me the strength to live it well,

Whatever I may find.

Bestow from Your abundance,

Whatever I may lack

To use the hours wisely,

For I cannot have them back.

Lord thank you for another day,

In which to make amends

For little slights or petty words,

Inflicted on my friends.

For sometimes losing patience,

With problems that I find,

For seeing faults in other lives,

But not the ones in mine.

Lord thank You for another chance,

In which to try to be

A little more deserving

Of the gifts You've given me.

Sunlight and Shadow

by Winslow Homer

SUMMER SUN

2011-08-14T15:15:00.000-04:00

This summer sun has fried my brain,

so blogging for the moment

has reached a standstill!

*****

However,

I'm hoping to come crashing back next month

just overflowing with creative genius...

(or not!). S: )

*****

Anyway,

don't forsake me....

I'll be back.

In the meantime,

I'll still be stopping by your blogs

for a visit,

now & then.

Stay cool,

but enjoy these

last weeks of summer!

*****

And remember to...

SHELTER

2011-07-31T22:27:00.001-04:00

A friend just sent me this amazing photo, and I just had to share it with you!

"He will cover you with His feathers,
and under His wings you will find refuge."

--Psalm 91:4a

"God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble."
--Psalm 46:1

BEAUTY AROUND US

2011-07-10T00:21:00.000-04:00

Azaleas blooming near the ivy bed.

It seems that as soon as the blooms of one type of flower begins to fade and fall, others burst forth to take their turn.

***

Picture below is of the hostas. The gazing ball was a mosaic project from a few years ago, and the statue has seen better days, but the poor little guy is about sixty years old. The previous owners of our Leesburg home had left him out by the pool. He came with us when we made the move from Florida.

***

I think the waterlilies down at our pond are trying to cover the entire top of the water!

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies;
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thyself, best Gift Divine,
To the world so freely given,
For that great, great love of Thine,
Peace on earth and joy in heaven.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the Beauty of the Earth

(1st & last verses)

--Folliott S. Pierpont, 1864

HAPPY 'FOURTH'

2011-07-02T19:22:00.000-04:00

Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 because that is the day when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. From July 8, 1776, until the next month, the document was read publicly and people celebrated whenever they heard it. The next year, in Philadelphia, bells rang and ships fired guns, candles and firecrackers were lighted. But the War of Independence dragged on until 1783, and in that year, Independence Day was made an official holiday. 1941 Congress declared 4th of July a federal holiday.

"The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity...I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."
"[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty."
--John Adams in a letter written to Abigail on the day the Declaration was approved by Congress.
(John Adams, a lawyer, the first Vice President and the Second President of the United States, was one of the members of the Second Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence).

HAVE A SAFE and HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

GIFTS

2011-06-26T00:04:00.004-04:00

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

--James 1:17

You can't change YESTERDAY,

TOMORROW isn't here yet,

hope you
make the very best

of your

'gift' of TODAY!

JUNE 13th

2011-06-13T00:55:00.003-04:00

Famous People Born

on June 13th

Winfield Scott - U.S. General
Heinrich Hoffman - German Painter
William Butler Yeats - Irish Writer
Etienne Gilson - French Philosopher
Basil Rathbone - English Actor
John Forbes Nash, Jr. - Am. Mathmetician
Christo - Bulgarian Artist
William B. ('Bill') Beserock - American
   Engineer, Woodworker, Philatelist,
   Bible Teacher, Super great Husband,
   Dad, Grandad, Friend, etc.
   (the list goes on and on.....)

Happy, Happy Birthday, Bill!!!

GUIDANCE

2011-06-11T19:30:00.001-04:00

A friend sent this to me, and I thought I'd pass it on...........

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance.."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and every day.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.

And I Hope You Dance Through your Life with Him.

...guide me in Your truth and teach me,

for You are God my Savior,

and my hope is in You

all day long.

--Psalm 25:5

RECENT MOSAICS PROJECTS

2011-06-06T19:58:00.001-04:00

I recently completed the last of these three name plates; made using wood pieces as pictured above. You may recall these from last year's 'Make Five' project. Bill had them in a box of stuff in his workshop, so I've been putting them to use!

1. Back side of name plate for Jami. It's difficult to see, but the little gate swings open to reveal a bunny rabbit. Jami has an adorable bunny named 'Chloe', which explains the theme here.
Stare at the plaque for a few seconds, and you'll see the platinum-colored rabbit.
Materials used: vitreous tile, stained glass, glass gems, brooch, & ball chain .

Below, is the front of Jami's name plate.
Materials used: micro-mosaic tiles, pink stained glass, agate slices and Scrabble letters.

2. Lisa's name plate. Lisa likes blue, and had requested the irridescent glass, because she liked the look of it. (Made using irridescent stained glass, large glass gem, bling, and letters made from shells.
Back side also includes decorative tile).

3. Jeff is a train enthusiast, & has a Harley, so these are featured in his name plate. His name is written in the smoke from the locomotive.
Materials are vitreous glass, stained glass and small black beads.

In addition to glass tiles, back side includes wooden letters, a motorcycle, and tiny mille flowers.

I currently have two works-in-progress, so hope to be able to post the completed pieces soon.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

2011-05-30T05:11:00.000-04:00

***

***
I'll be taking a short bloggy break

until the end of next week.

Hope everyone has a safe and

Happy Memorial weekend!

ALMOND SUGAR-FREE COOKIES

2011-05-25T20:54:00.008-04:00

Today, I'd like to share a favorite recipe that I make for my hubby often. Hope you'll try it. These cookies are sugar-free, gluten-free, and have a great taste as well as texture.
I believe Walmart carries almond flour now. If not, it can be found in any health food store.

ALMOND SUGAR-FREE COOKIES

2 c. Almond Flour

1/2 c., or less Stevia (or Truvia)

1 stick softened Butter

1/2 t. salt (if using salted butter, omit salt)

1 t. Vanilla extract

1 t. Almond extract

1/2 c. sliced Almonds, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Combine all ingredients.
Form dough into walnut-sized balls & place onto greased (or parchment-covered) cookie sheet.
Bake for 5 minutes.
Press down lightly
with fork tines, then continue baking for
another 15 minutes. Let cool.

Yields 30-38 cookies. Approx. only 1 carb per cookie;
30 carbs in entire batch.

Sometimes I leave them plain, as in top picture, & sometimes with sliced almonds added, as shown here:

These are really good, even if you aren't on a sugar-free diet, and so easy & quick to make!

Be sure to visit Foodie Friday for more delicious treats to make!----------->

OLD FARMERS' ADVICE

2011-05-13T13:56:00.000-04:00

“Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.”

“Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.”

“Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.”

“A bumble bee is considerably faster than a Massey Ferguson tractor.”

“Words that soak into your ears are whispered…....not yelled.”

“Meanness don't just happen overnight.”

“Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.”

“Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.”

“It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.”

“You cannot unsay a cruel word.”

“Every path has a few puddles.”

“When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.”

“The best sermons are lived, not preached.”

“Most of the stuff people worry about, ain't never gonna happen anyway.”

“Don't judge folks by their relatives."

“Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.”

“Live a good and honorable life, then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.”

“Don 't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.”

“Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.”

“If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.”
(Wish Obama & Congress would heed this one!!)

“Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got."

“The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.”

“Always drink upstream from the herd.”

“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.”

“Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.”

“If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.”

“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

“Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God.”

CAYLIE IS "6"!

2011-05-10T21:09:00.002-04:00

**CAYLIE**

Blowing out her candle

(with brother, Chase looking on)

Caylie modeling her pretty new dress.

and new 'heels'

from

Grandma & Grandpa

Hi, sweet Miss Caylie!!

Lots of hugs & kisses to you!!

xoxoxo

Hope you have a wonderful

6th Birthday!!

*Caylie is my great niece, & in my opinion, she is definitely "GREAT!"

**pictures taken by Aunt Jami with her new smart phone.

FAITH OF MY MOTHER

2011-05-07T14:31:00.001-04:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Faith of my mother, living still,

In cradle song and bedtime prayer;

In nursery lore and fireside love,

Your presence still pervades the air...

Giving thanks today

for the blessings and joys of having

a loving, Christian mother!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

2011-05-01T21:23:00.001-04:00

Happy Anniversary wishes

to all who married

in the month of

MAY!

Bill & I (May 2) 47 years!*

Lisa & Jeff (May 5) 27 years!

Mary & Buddy (May 8)

Wes & Linda (May 9)

Eva & Jim (May 11) 36 years!

Diane & Joe (May 15) 34 years!

* Bill,

it's been 47 GREAT years!

Hope we have at least

47 more years

together!!

WE SERVE A RISEN CHRIST!

2011-04-19T10:45:00.000-04:00

Matthew 28:1-10:
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

I'll be taking a bloggy break for the rest of the week so I can spend some time with my mother and help her celebrate her 93rd birthday.
Wishing you all a glorious, blessed Easter week!

HOSANNA!

2011-04-16T23:44:00.000-04:00

Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting:
"HOSANNA!
BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!"
--Mark 11:9

NEW HAIRCUT

2011-04-11T15:07:00.002-04:00

Here's Chase before his new haircut.....

And (Boo-hoo!, Sniff, sniff!) afterward....

What can I say, HE loves it!! At least he'll be cooler for Florida's hot weather!

*****

Totally unaffected by the whole thing is his big sister, Caylie....
(showing off her jewelry & her pretty nails!)

Aren't these two of the cutest kids you've ever seen?

S: )

TUNE MY HEART TO SING THY GRACE

2011-04-02T20:35:00.006-04:00

This is a wonderful old hymn, written so long ago, but the words really speak to me! My prayer is that God will keep my heart in tune to sing His grace!

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it,

Mount of Thy redeeming love.

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

*Verses 1 & 4 of original text of the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing",(written by the 18th century pastor and hymnist Robert Robinson,who penned the words at age 22 in the year 1757.
Melody is by John Wyeth.

*****

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
--Colossians 3:15-17

ATTITUDE

2011-03-25T14:03:00.020-04:00

Attitude

There once was a woman

who woke up one morning,

looked in the mirror,

And noticed she had

only three hairs on her head.

'Well,' she said,

'I think I'll braid my hair today.'

So she did

and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up,

looked in the mirror

And saw that she had

only two hairs on her head.

'Hmmm,' she said,

'I think I'll part my hair
down the middle today.'

So she did

and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up,

looked in the mirror and
noticed that she had

only one hair on her head.

'Well,' she said,

'today I'm going to
wear my hair in a pony tail.'

So she did,

and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up,

looked in the mirror and

noticed that there wasn't
a single hair on her head.

'YAY!' she exclaimed.

'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything.

(Well, maybe not EVERYTHING,

but it sure helps!)

S: )

Be kinder than necessary,

For everyone you meet

is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,

Love generously,

Care deeply,

Speak kindly,

And pray continually.

*****

Life isn't about
waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Have a great weekend!!

A SONG FOR YOU

2011-03-22T12:45:00.001-04:00

I LOVE this song, performed on piano by Jim Chappell. I love the melody, & the way it stops and starts again, changes mood, etc. Hope you enjoy it too!
You can sit back and listen to it while you're relaxing from all of that 'spring cleaning' that's probably going on at your house! S: )

(Please remember to mute Playlist before listening).

*****

This pic has nothing to do

with the video.

It's just a capture of one of the

last daffodils of the season.

It's still so pretty,

even though the edges

are wilting away.

WELCOME, SPRING!

2011-03-19T19:46:00.000-04:00

All three of our tulip trees are in full bloom!

There are no leaves on the trees until after the blooms have dropped off, & it is such a pretty sight to see the fragile bare branches with their many pale pink flowers waving back and forth when there's a breeze.

*****

We have two trees in our backyard that are covered with these gorgeous bright pink blooms! They do have thorns, though, as I quickly found out when picking a few stems to put in a vase. Can anyone tell me what they are?
The closest thing I could find pictured anywhere is something called 'Chaenomeles', a non-fruit-bearing member of the quince family.

*****

I'm happy to report that it's now been a little over 3 weeks since my husband's surgery, & he is walking everyday....almost up to the one mile at a time mark.

Yea, Bill!

We go back to Atlanta this Thursday for his one-month check-up with the surgeon.

*****

Now to him who is able

to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power
that is at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
for ever and ever!
Amen.
-Ephesians 3:20-21

IRISH BLESSINGS

2011-03-16T10:49:00.004-04:00

Top O' the Mornin' to ya!

Whether you're Irish, or not,
it's fun to read these Irish Blessings!
Here are a few I'm passing on to YOU................

May you always have work
for your hands to do

May your pockets hold always
a coin or two

May the sun shine bright
on your windowpane

May the rainbow be certain
to follow each rain

May the hand of a friend
always be near you

And may God fill your heart

with gladness to cheer you.

- Irish Blessing

Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

CLOSE CALL!

2011-03-14T16:30:00.002-04:00

I'm afraid my few bloggy friends have given up on me, but this break was unscheduled.
On Friday, Feb. 25th, my husband underwent emergency open-heart surgery in Atlanta. A real shocker for both of us, as his only symptoms had been shortness of breath & a painful 'crink in his neck'. (No history of heart trouble at all!) Our alert GP sent him right away to a cardiologist, who scheduled a heart cath. We were anticipating a possible stent; maybe even two.
As it turned out, his main artery was 90% blocked right up against his heart (a scary sight on the x-ray, to say the least!), & he needed a triple bi-pass also. They inserted a balloon thingy in his leg to help take the stress off his heart until he was on the operating table, & removed veins from both calves.
I won't go into the gruesome, but amazing specifics of open-heart surgery, but I shiver everytime I think of it! (Dallas, you can probably relate!)

Ouch!!

Every heart surgery patient receives one of these special pillows

to hold onto in case you have to cough.

It was designed by Dr. David Dean, of Piedmont Heart Institute

(Bill's surgeon).

Let's just say that I've told Bill if I ever need to have this done, SHOOT ME! S: (

It's now been 2 1/2 weeks, & his progress to date has been phenonomal!
We have God to thank! Healing is a slow process, but everyday, he notices a slight improvement.
Family & friends have been SUCH a tremendous help! A special thanks to our daughter, Lisa, who left at 4am & drove from Florida by herself to spend 3 days helping me navigate that big hospital, & to just 'be there'!
Jami, Toni & Johnny offered to come too, & we thank you for your willingness & for your love & prayers!
Thanks to all of you who came to the hospital, or by the house later, called, sent cards, emails, etc., etc. The list is long...I can't begin to name everyone here, but you know who you are, & you are much appreciated!!

Q & A & OTHER SILLY STUFF

2011-02-22T21:10:00.002-05:00

Q & A from AARP......

Q: How can I avoid that terrible curse of unsightly wrinkles?
A: Take off your glasses.

Q: Why should people over 60 use valet parking?
A: Valets don't forget where they park your car.

Q: Is it common for 60+ year olds to have problems with
short term memory storage?
A: Storing memory is not a problem, Retrieving it is the problem.

Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly?
A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon.

Q: Where should seniors look for eye glasses?
A: On their foreheads.

Q: What is the most common remark made by 60+ year olds
when they enter antique stores?
A: "Gosh, I remember all these!"

The Senility Prayer

God, grant me the Senility

to forget the people

I never liked anyway,

the good fortune

to run into the ones that I do,

and the eyesight

to tell the difference.

Now that I'm older,

here's what I've discovered:

I started out with nothing,

and I still have most of it...

***

Everyone needs to enjoy

a little light-hearted humor

now & then!

(Thanks, Marsha,

So funny!!)

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

2011-02-19T23:08:00.002-05:00

..AND THE WINNER IS...

2011-02-12T18:27:00.004-05:00

**ANNOUNCING**

***

the 'LAZY BLOGGER' Award

winner:

ME!!

To what do I attribute this great honor?

hmmmm......

1. Lack of organization

2. Too much time on Facebook

3. Preoccupied with other things

4. LAZINESS!

***

But, now that I'm here,

let me wish everyone

HAPPY

VALENTINE's

DAY!

Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O, no! It is an ever-fixed mark,

That looks on tempests and is never shaken.

It is the star to every wandering bark,

whose worth's unknown,

although his height be taken.

--William Shakespeare

***

*Couple in heart, from

Harrison Fisher's 'American Beauties',

1909

Hope you have an extra SWEET Valentine's Day!!

NICE THOUGHT

2011-01-31T00:19:00.000-05:00

The world is but a canvas to the imagination.
--Henry David Thoreau

An Artist at his Easel

T. Worthington Whittredge

1820-1910

YOUTH IS A STATE OF MIND

2011-01-17T00:25:00.007-05:00

Both of my daughters know I love the daily flip calendars of Bible verses or of quotes, and I received one of each type for Christmas. Here are a few humorous thoughts on aging from the Barbara Johnson
'I Don't Suffer From Insanity...I enjoy every minute of it' calendar:

Inside every older person
There's a younger person,
Wondering what happened.
--Ashleigh Brilliant

***

No matter how incongrously our
youthful minds fit into our aging bodies,
we can refuse to be old.
We can celebrate our youth--
no matter how many decades
we've been youthful!

***

You know you're getting old
when you yearn for those
blessed old hymns
of days gone by,

*"Go Tell it on the Mountain--
and SPEAK UP!"

*"Nobody knows the Trouble
I Have Seeing"

*"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
(I've Forgotten Where I Parked)"
***

Thanks, Jami! I'm enjoying this calendar!

AND SINCE WE'VE NO PLACE TO GO....

2011-01-11T13:15:00.010-05:00

For those of you who aren't on Facebook, here's what our yard looks like this week.
9" of snow...even more than we had last week & the week before. It's quite unusual for us to have more than an inch or two.
I think it's a beautiful sight, but our friends, who have indoor pets aren't so happy about having to take their pets out for a walk with all this snow & ice.

Wishes for everyone, but especially for you, Jami!! S: )

MONDAY MUSINGS

2011-01-09T21:14:00.006-05:00

Here's what Maxine thought of my

'clean slate' idea....

If you made any New Year's resolutions,

here's hoping you have better luck than Maxine!

Perhaps Ziggy has a better approach....

It's worth a try, don't you think?

A NEW YEAR

2010-12-31T10:13:00.008-05:00

Here we are at the beginning of a new year! I came across this wonderful poem written around one hundred years ago.

The Land of Beginning Again

I wish that there were
some wonderful place
In the Land of Beginning Again;
Where all our mistakes
and all our heartaches
And all of our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped like a
shabby old coat at the door
And never put on again.

I wish we could come on it
all unaware,
Like the hunter
who finds a lost trail,
And I wish that the one
whom our blindness had done
The greatest injustice of all
Could be there at the gates
like an old friend that waits
For the comrade
he's gladdest to hail.

We would find all the things
we intended to do
But forgot, and
remembered too late,
Little praises unspoken,
little promises broken,
And all of the
thousand and one
Little duties neglected
that might have perfected
The day for one
less fortunate.

It wouldn't be possible
not to be kind
In the Land of Beginning Again,
And the ones we misjudged
and the ones whom we grudged
Their moments of
victory here,
Would find in the grasp
of our loving hand-clasp
More than penitent lips
could explain.

For what had been hardest
we'd know had been best,
And what had seemed loss
would be gain;
For there isn't a sting
that will not take wing
When we've faced it
and laughed it away
And I think that the laughter
is most what we're after
In the Land of Beginning Again.

So I wish that there were
some wonderful place
Called the
Land of Beginning Again,
Where all our mistakes
and all our heartaches,
And all of our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped like a
shabby old coat at the door
And never put on again.

--Louise Fletcher Tarkington

There is such a land. It is called Regeneration. We enter that land spiritually when we are born again, and all who are thus born again shall enter that land eternally when Jesus comes again. In the eternal Regeneration of Christ's Kingdom, earthly things shall "be dropped, like an old shabby coat at the door, and never put on again." --Duane V. Maxey

Wishing you many blessings in the New Year!!

WINTER WONDERLAND

2010-12-26T17:57:00.031-05:00

I hope everyone has had a special time with family or friends this Christmas!
We have enjoyed a most beautiful White Christmas (the first in several years!).
There is still alot of snow on the ground.

Here are some of our pictures I'd like to share with you......
On Christmas Eve, our daughter Jami fixed an assortment of appetizers. In addition to some of the usual ones we have each year, she also served these delicious stuffed plum tomatoes, and Bacon-wrapped Stuffed Jalepenos. They were so good! I will be posting the recipes on my Recipe Blog shortly.

Table set for Christmas lunch.

Side table set for serving

Appetizers and

Hot Spiced Cider

We usually have brunch on Christmas day

instead of lunch,

but this year decided to have

Hungarian 'Christmas Soup'

served with Sourdough bread and

European butter, along with a

Fruit and Spinach Salad.

Bill made the soup,

which contains primarily

Kolbasi, Sauerkraut, & Mushrooms.

It was very good!

I think our relatives in Slovakia

would've been proud of him!

Paper whites starting to bloom

on Christmas Eve.

Amaryllis on Christmas Eve.

....then on Christmas morning.

The mantel lit up on Christmas Eve.

Our living room on Christmas morning,

after the gifts had been opened,

and the mountain of wrapping paper, bags

and boxes had been removed.

Chocolate Torte, anyone?

This is actually the cross tie wall

outside our back porch door.

Below is the door at the opposite end

of the back porch.

& the walkway leading to

garage apartment.

Jami had to put on my old snow boots

to walk around outside.

6"-8" of snow

with some ice underneath.

Here's her car in the driveway.

Front yard.

Closeup of snow-filled birdbath.

Front porch.

The pond.

(Neighbor's house in the distance).

I'm hoping the roads aren't too icy tomorrow,

but it has been a lovely Christmas weekend!!

Hope it was for you, too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-23T23:43:00.004-05:00

Wishing

friends and family

a wonderful Blessed Christmas!

A JOYFUL YULETIDE?

2010-12-20T20:47:00.006-05:00

I just had to share these

rather humorous old Victorian postcards!

Is that a holly bouquet he's giving her? OUCH!

And PETA would be all over this gal
for all the little critters she's wearing as muff & scarf!
*****
I'm sorry to have to report

that the economic slowdown

has even effected poor Santa Claus.

He had to let the team of reindeer go,

and has resorted to hitchhiking this year.

Uh-oh!

Santa's really fallen on hard times!

It looks like now he's even had to

pawn his red suit!

Some off these old postcards

from the early 1900's

may not have been intended to be funny,

but I get a chuckle out of them.

Hope you do, too!

WE ARE THE REASON

2010-12-17T18:08:00.000-05:00

Another one of my favorites.....
(Please mute Playlist first)

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROL

2010-12-11T19:16:00.011-05:00

There are so many wonderful Christmas carols! This is one of my favorites!

O Come O Come Emmanuel!
The favorite O Come, O Come Emmanuel carol was originally written in Latin text in the 12th Century. Each of the seven verses featured an Old Testament prophesied name for the coming Messiah. The author of the words and composer to the music of O Come, O Come Emmanuel is unknown. It is , however believed that the melody was of French origin and added to the text a hundred years later. In 1851, five of the seven Latin verses were translated into English by John Mason Neale.

O Come O Come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Between now & Christmas, I hope to feature other favorite carols.
If you have a favorite, just let me know, & I will include it!

MUST SEE!!

2010-12-07T19:25:00.002-05:00

(Please mute Playlist first)

DECEMBER IS HERE!

2010-12-04T23:23:00.003-05:00

December has arrived & I've been away, so haven't posted in awhile.

December 1st was my daughter Jami's birthday. Jami, I'm so happy we were able to get together to celebrate with a birthday dinner at Red Lobster, Weds. evening! Hope this will be an especially great year for you!

Bill & I have just returned from another trip to Florida to check on & spend some time with my mother, as she had taken quite a bad fall (the second fall in recent months!), & was hospitalized again.
She's a trouper, though, & even in such a declining condition, still has her smile and sweet spirit!

As we turn our thoughts to the celebration of our Savior's birth, here is an early Christmas wish for you.....

DIRECTIONS

2010-11-27T14:03:00.003-05:00

A little boy was waiting for his mother to come out of the grocery store.

As he waited, he was approached by a man who asked,

"Son, can you tell me where the Post Office is?"

The little boy replied,

"Sure! Just go straight down this street a couple of blocks and turn to your right."

The man thanked the boy kindly and said,

"I'm the new pastor in town. I'd like for you to come to church on Sunday.
I'll show you how to get to Heaven."

The little boy replied with a chuckle.

"Awww, come on... You don't even know the way to the Post Office!"

WISHING YOU A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2010-11-23T18:57:00.002-05:00

We all have so much to be thankful for every day of the year, but it's especially nice to have this special day of reflecting on God's goodness, and offering our gratitude for the many blessings we enjoy!

I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving Day!

THERE'S STILL TIME!

2010-11-14T20:48:00.002-05:00

This is the last week for filling those shoeboxes & dropping them off
at the drop-off location nearest you!
It will give you such joy & blessing to be a part of this wonderful mission effort.
The gifts inside the box are so special to these children from all parts of the world, but learning of the love of Jesus far surpasses the simple gifts.
Be sure to remember to pray for the child who will receive the box (or boxes) you are filling!

National Collection Week is

November 15-22
Click here to learn how to pack a shoe box, to find your closest collection point, information about how to track your box through EZ Give, and more.

FUNNY FRIDAY

2010-11-11T22:49:00.002-05:00

Bubba had shingles.

Here's what happened to Bubba:

Bubba walked into a doctor's office and the receptionist asked him what he had. Bubba said: 'Shingles.' So she wrote down his name, address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat.

Fifteen minutes later a nurse's aide came out and asked Bubba what he had. Bubba said, 'Shingles.' So she wrote down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told Bubba to wait in the examining room.

A half hour later a nurse came in and asked Bubba what he had. Bubba said, 'Shingles..' So the nurse gave Bubba a blood test, a blood pressure test, an electrocardiogram, and told Bubba to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor.

An hour later the doctor came in and found Bubba sitting patiently in the nude and asked Bubba what he had.

Bubba said, 'Shingles.'

The doctor asked, 'Where?'

Bubba said, 'Outside on the truck. Where do you want me to unload 'em??'

HOPE THIS MAKES YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD LIKE I DID....

TURN CLOCKS BACK!

2010-11-06T23:01:00.000-04:00

THE AMAZING CAMEL & ITS CREATOR

2010-11-03T15:44:00.019-04:00

This is a long read, but SO worth it! Truly amazing, indeed!

If you ever doubted that God exists,

Meet the Very Technical,

Highly Engineered

Dromedary Camel.

When I'm hungry, I'll eat almost anything- A leather bridle, a piece of rope, my master's tent, Or a pair of shoes.

My mouth is so tough a thorny cactus doesn't bother it.
I love to chow down grass and other plants
That grow here on the Arabian desert.

I'm a dromedary camel, the one-hump kind
That lives on hot deserts in the Middle East.

My hump, all eighty pounds of it,
Is filled with fat-my body fuel-not water as some people believe.
My Mighty Maker gave it to me because
He knew I wouldn't always be able to find food
As I travel across the hot sands.
When I don't find any chow, my body automatically
Takes fat from the hump, feeds my system,
And keeps me going strong.
This is my emergency food supply.

If I can't find any plants to munch, my body uses up my hump.
When the hump gets smaller, it starts to tip to one side.
But when I get to a nice oasis and begin to eat again,
My hump soon builds back to normal.

I've been known to drink twenty-seven gallons of water in ten minutes.
My Master Designer made me in such a fantastic way that
In a matter of minutes all the water I've swallowed
Travels to the billions of microscopic cells that make up my flesh.
Naturally, the water I swallow first goes into my stomach.
There thirsty blood vessels absorb and carry it to every part of my body.
Scientists have tested my stomach and found it empty
Ten minutes after I've drunk twenty gallons.

In an eight hour day I can carry a four hundred pound load
A hundred miles across a hot, dry desert
And not stop once for a drink or something to eat.
In fact, I've been known to go eight days without a drink,
But then I look a wreck.
I lose 227 pounds, my ribs show through my skin,
And I look terribly skinny.
But I feel great!
I look thin because the billions of cells lose their water.
They're no longer fat. They're flat.
Normally my blood contains 94 percent water, just like yours. But when I can't find any water to drink, The heat of the sun gradually robs a little water out of my blood. Scientists have found that my blood can lose up to 40 percent of its water, and I'm still healthy.

Doctor's say human blood has to stay very close to 94 percent water. If you lose 5 percent of it, you can't see anymore; 10 percent, you can't Hear and you go insane; 12 percent, your blood is as thick as molasses And your heart can't pump the thick stuff. It stops, and you're dead.But that's not true with me. Why? Scientists say my blood is different. My red cells are elongated. Yours are round. Maybe that's what makes the difference.

This proves I'm designed for the desert,
Or the desert is designed for me.
Did you ever hear of a design without a Designer?

After I find a water hole,
I'll drink for about ten minutes
And my skinny body starts to change almost immediately.
In that short time my body fills out nicely, I don't look skinny anymore,
And I gain back the 227 pounds I lost.

Even though I lose a lot of water on the desert, My body conserves it too. Way in the beginning when my intelligent Engineer made me, He gave me a specially designed nose that saves water. When I exhale, I don't lose much. My nose traps that warm, moist air from my lungs And absorbs it in my nasal membranes.

Tiny blood vessels in those membranes take that back into my blood. How's that for a recycling system? Pretty cool, isn't it. It works because my nose is cool. My cool nose changes that warm moisture in the air From my lungs into water.

But how does my nose get cool? I breath in hot dry desert air, And it goes through my wet nasal passages. This produces a cooling effect, and my nose stays as much as 18 degrees cooler than the rest of my body.

I love to travel the beautiful sand dunes. It's really quite easy, because My Creator gave me specially engineered sand shoes for feet. My hooves are wide, and they get even wider when I step on them. Each foot has two long, bony toes with tough, leathery skin between my soles, are a little like webbed feet.
They won't let me sink into the soft, drifting sand. This is good, because often my master wants me to carry him one hundred miles across the desert in just one day. (I troop about ten miles per hour.)

Sometimes a big windstorm comes out of nowhere, bringing flying sand with it. My Master Designer put special muscles in my nostrils that close the openings, keeping sand out of my nose but still allowing me enough air to breathe.
My eyelashes arch down over my eyes like screens, keeping the sand and sun out but still letting me see clearly. If a grain of sand slips through and gets in my eye, the Creator took care of that too. He gave me an inner eyelid that automatically wipes the sand off my eyeball just like a windshield wiper.

Some people think I'm conceited because I always walk around with my head held high and my nose in the air.

But that's just because of the way I'm made. My eyebrows are so thick and bushy I have to hold my head high to peek out from underneath them. I'm glad I have them though. They shade my eyes from the bright sun.
Desert people depend on me for many things. Not only am I their best form of transportation, but I'm also their grocery store. Mrs. Camel gives very rich milk that people make into butter and cheese. I shed my thick fur coat once a year, and that can be woven into cloth. A few young camels are used for beef, but I don't like to talk about that.

For a long time we camels have been called the "ships of the desert" because of the way we sway from side to side when we trot. Some of our riders get seasick.

I sway from side to side because of the way my legs work. Both legs on one side move forward at the same time, elevating that side. My "left, right left, right" motion makes my rider feel like he is in a rocking chair going sideways.

When I was six months old, special knee pads started to grow on my front legs. The intelligent Creator knew I had to have them. They help me lower my 1000 pounds to the ground.

If I didn't have them, my knees would soon become sore and infected, and I could never lie down. I'd die of exhaustion.

By the way, I don't get thick knee pads because I fall on my knees. I fall on my knees because I already have these tough pads. Someone very great thought of me and knew I needed them. He designed them into my genes.

It's real difficult for me to understand how some people say I evolved into what I now am. I'm very technical, highly engineered dromedary camel. Things like me don't just happen.

They're planned on a drawing board by Someone very brilliant, Someone very logical. John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Word means "logical, intelligent One."

TREES SINGING BEFORE THE LORD

2010-10-23T14:20:00.010-04:00

(Photo taken yesterday of trees ablaze in our backyard.)

"Let the heavens rejoice,

let the earth be glad,

let the sea resound,

and all that is in it;

let the fields be jubilant,

and everything in them.

Then all the trees of the forest

will sing for joy;

they will sing before the Lord."

--Psalm 96:11-13

*****
May the glory of the Lord
endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice
in His works
He who looks at the earth,
and it trembles,
who touches the mountains
and they smoke.
I will sing to the Lord
all my life;
I will sing praise to my God
as long as I live.
May my meditation
be pleasing to Him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
--Psalm 104:31-33

HAPPY 20th B'DAY, OCC!

2010-10-20T18:56:00.009-04:00

For the past 20 years, Operation Christmas Child has shown that there's power in a simple gift. It is demonstrating God's love in a tangible way to millions of children around the world.

The concept of Operation Christmas Child began on 10 October 1990, when Dave and Jill Cooke of Wrexham, Wales were watching a broadcast on Romanian orphanages. They asked the question: How can we help the real victims, the children, who live in these situations day after day? They knew they could not stop the wars, but they could offer something – the gift of love. Together, they filled a convoy of nine trucks with medical supplies, food, clothing and Christmas gifts for children, and headed into Romania, which had recently been devastated by war. This was the beginning of the world’s largest children’s Christmas program.
In 1993, Franklin Graham, International President of Samaritan’s Purse, adopted Operation Christmas Child. Since then, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been delivered to hurting children in more than 135 countries.

(Please mute Playlist before watching video)

Get in on the excitement!

Fill a shoebox (or two, or a dozen!) this year!

LOOKS LIKE FALL AROUND HERE!

2010-10-08T17:48:00.011-04:00

The cute ceramic basket below was a gift from (& painted by) our daughter Jami.

This still life of corn, pumpkins and squash was painted by my uncle, Ralph Howell.

The last pic below is of a corner of the Deacon bench on our front porch. When my hubby went out to take a picture, he spied a woodthrush sitting there taking a 'time out' (which means he had bumped into our picture window, & was catching his breath on the bench below). After a few minutes, he was fine, and flew away. Notice also the muddy little footprints on the bench left there the night before by a curious animal investigating the ears of corn. There's always some type of critter activity around our house. LOL

Hope you all are enjoying this fall season!

I'll be taking a break from blogging for awhile,

but hope to return soon.

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

2010-10-02T22:26:00.003-04:00

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:17

The Lord has established His throne in the heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Psalm 103:19

Sovereignty and Freedom from John MacArthur.

MEMO TO SELF.....

2010-09-30T22:28:00.003-04:00

REFRESHER COURSE

2010-09-27T20:59:00.002-04:00

FOR THOSE WHO THOUGHT THEY

KNEW EVERYTHING

*****************************************
The liquid inside young coconuts can be used

as a substitute for Blood plasma.
*****************************************
No piece of paper can be folded in half
more than seven (7) times.

Oh, go ahead..I'll wait...
******************************************
Donkeys kill more people annually
than plane crashes or shark attacks

******************************************
You burn more calories sleeping
than you do watching television.

******************************************
Oak trees do not produce acorns
until they are fifty (50) years of age or older.

******************************************
The first product to have a bar code
was Wrigley's gum.
******************************************
The King of Hearts is the only king
WITHOUT A MOUSTACHE
******************************************
American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987
by eliminating one (1) olive
from each salad served in first-class.
*******************************************
Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

(Since Venus is normally associated with women,

what does this tell you?....
That women are going the 'right' direction...?)
********************************************
Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at

waking you up in the morning.
********************************************
Most dust particles in your house are made from
DEAD SKIN!

********************************************
The first owner of the Marlboro Company died

of lung cancer.
So did the first 'Marlboro Man'.

********************************************
Walt Disney was afraid
OF MICE!

********************************************
PEARLS MELT
IN VINEGAR!

********************************************
It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...
but, not downstairs.

********************************************
A duck's quack doesn't echo,
and no one knows why.
********************************************
Dentists have recommended that a toothbrush
be kept at least six (6) feet away from
a toilet to avoid airborne particles
resulting from the flush.

(I keep my toothbrush in the living room now!)
********************************************

WELCOME, AUTUMN!

2010-09-20T20:16:00.005-04:00

Our chipmunks have been so lazy this summer! We've only seen a few, but now, they are all over the yard. I had really missed having them running in and out of the back porch! A few of them will take peanuts out of my hand, & some climb up on my feet to get the peanuts. If I can ever remember to take the camera out with me, I'll try to take some pictures to share!

Even Maxine is getting ready for Fall.....

Yay! We stopped at the big Farmers' Market outside Atlanta yesterday afternoon, and I finally found a white pumpkin, and a few other interesting pumpkins & squash! Hopefully, they'll inspire me to get going on decorating the house for Fall!

BIKER BILL, (& JEFF & ALAN)

2010-09-12T22:07:00.009-04:00

On Labor Day weekend, Bill, Jeff & Alan took off on their bikes to ride the famous (or should I say 'infamous'!) 'Tail of the Dragon', near Robbinsville, NC. The first pic below shows only a very small portion of the many bikes that were there that weekend.

Here's Alan & Jeff in front of the Deal's Gap sign...

The picture below is of Alan & Bill in front of the 'Tree of Shame'.
Started some time in the 80's by a group of Harley riders, it is a makeshift shrine to those bitten by the Dragon, & is composed of parts left behind by riders who weren't as fortunate as those who have slain the dragon.
Many put their name, date, and a little saying on a part before they add it to the tree to immortalize their dance with the Dragon.

Bill & Alan & the 'Silver Fox'.

I'm happy to say that they had a safe trip.

It is not a place for novice (or foolish) riders!

*****

For more information, check out:

Deal'sGap.com, or

TailoftheDragon.com

9-11

2010-09-11T14:38:00.000-04:00

WISHING YOU A DAY LIKE THIS...

2010-09-07T11:08:00.004-04:00

Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

This is the life!!!!

(This is kind of the way I feel about these

cooler temperatures we've been having

here in the mountains!)

GOOD INTENTIONS

2010-09-02T12:39:00.009-04:00

I meant to do my work today --
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.

And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand--
So what could I do but laugh and go?

Poem: Transgression by Richard Le Gallienne

1866-1947

Art: Beneath the Apple Tree, Daniel Ridgway Knight

1839-1924

GREEN EGGS and sHAM

2010-09-01T09:38:00.008-04:00

I do not like this Uncle Sam,

I do not like his health care scam.

I do not like these dirty crooks,

or how they lie and cook the books.

I do not like when Congress steals,

I do not like their secret deals.

I do not like this speaker Nan ,

I do not like this 'YES, WE CAN'.

I do not like this spending spree---

I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.

I do not like your smug replies,

when I complain about your lies.

I do not like this kind of hope.

I do not like it.

Nope,

nope,

NOPE!

Go green - recycle Congress in 2010!

*I have no idea who wrote this little poem, so cannot give credit.

Pretty clever, though!

*****

"It is not that liberals do not know anything,

it is that they know so many things that are not so."

~ Ronald Reagan

*****

SEA SHELLS

2010-08-26T09:29:00.012-04:00

We're back at home now, after spending last week in Florida. (Most of the week at Cocoa Beach). I've been busy sorting sea shells, so thought I'd share the results with you.
Left picture below shows a group of Jingle shells (also sometimes called 'Mermaid's Toenails'). Picture on right is a large group of beautiful, irridescent Pen shells.

Isn't this a gorgeous array of Florida beach shells? Most of these were collected by my cousin, Toni, on S. Fla. beaches. The two groups of small shells & the little crab shell shown at the top of the photo below are from Cocoa Beach, collected by Justin, Jeff & Bill.

Last year, we found quite a few perfectly intact cockle shells, but this year, not the first one. I've had fun sorting these, & am in the process of planning a shell mosaic (or two, or three).

There are tons of seagulls & small brownish-black birds at the beach, but I was a little surprised to look out & see a crow perched on our balcony railing! (Do you suppose our pet crow followed us here from NC??) These photos came out pretty good, considering they were taken from inside our room, through sliding glass doors.
Even with the scruffy tail feathers, he's a beautiful silhouette against the blue ocean & sky!
He returned again & again when I put some pieces of bread on the railing.

Wings up for balance on the skinny railing, or ready for a fast getaway!

We always love spending time here. (Thanks, Lisa & Jeff!) It was breezy all week, and the weather was perfect!

COCOA BEACH

2010-08-26T09:28:00.004-04:00

We're having a great time this week at Cocoa Beach.

Favorite cousins, Toni & Johnny were here Mon. & Tues.,

& today, grandkids Alan & Amanda are coming over.

Picture below is the view from our terrace.

I'll be back to blogging again in a few days.

HUMILITY

2010-08-19T09:42:00.007-04:00

I am reminded of the man who said to his friends,

"I have been trying to be humble, and at last I've succeeded!"

The friend said, "Well, I know you must be proud of that!"

The man replied, "I SURE AM!"

Humility is not attained by human effort.

We have to be humbled by the Spirit of God.

--J. Vernon McGee

(Please mute Playlist first)

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
--1 Peter 5: 5 & 6

TOO COMPLICATED!

2010-08-16T16:16:00.019-04:00

Does anyone remember the simplicity of the sixties?

Do you sometimes think our lives are just becoming

too complicated?

It's exasperating!!

Wishing you an uncomplicated week!

S: )

VERTIGO!

2010-08-09T11:58:00.006-04:00

Blogging has been minimal lately, as the old VERTIGO bug has bitten me again!
If you've never experienced an episode of vertigo, I hope you NEVER do!
It's been two years since my last one. The following three pictures kinda give you an idea of how much fun it is! First, you're just standing still; your life is moving at a normal pace.

Then, all of a sudden, the room starts to spin, and you have to hold on to something to brace yourself.

Sitting down sometimes helps a little, but lying down doesn't!!. In fact, it gets worse if you close your eyes.

Please don't look at this graphic for more than a glance, but can you imagine staring at it for hours? That's kind of how my brain feels.

The good news, is that vertigo usually goes away as mysteriously as it began. Today seems a little better than yesterday, so I'm hoping it's clearing up!

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

2010-08-03T00:00:00.016-04:00

Ads you'll never see today.......

If you were putting together an ad for Wrigley's Spearmint gum, what are the chances you'd say, "I've got a great idea!

Let's feature a meatloaf shaped like a football'!"....?

Not exactly Levi's finest hour!

Well, if there's one thing that really whets my appetite, it's the thought of pancake batter spreading over a puddle of

bacon grease!

Gag!

Does this say beer?
Oh dear, oh dear!

At least this one was honest!

No matter what your size or color preference,
here's a telephone receiver for you!

No comment.

Oops!

With apologies to Alphonse Mucha!!

'Ah' inspiring?
(NOT!)

Oh, look! BeeGees in a box!

Mothers, hide the kids!

This one's not for prime time!

SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS

2010-07-31T09:19:00.009-04:00

At 11:50 pm, Thursday, July 29th, Clayton Glenn French slipped peacefully into the waiting arms of Jesus, after a thirteen month battle with cancer of the brain stem.

I have been so privileged to pray for him for the past year. The unwaivering faith of his family (especially his mom) have been a beautiful testimony to all!

Please keep this family in your prayers as they face the days ahead without

Clayton.

*****

I will leave the link for 'Clayton's Journal' on the sidebar for awhile, and encourage you to read his mom's touching account of his brief life and homegoing!

*****
Safe in the arms of Jesus
safe on his gentle breast;
There by his love o'ershaded
sweetly my soul shall rest.

Hark 'tis the voice of angels
born in a song to me
Over the fields of glory
over the jasper sea.

Safe in the arms of Jesus...

Jesus my heart's dear refuge
Jesus has died for me.
Firm on the Rock of Ages
ever my trust shall be.

Here let me wait with patience
wait till the night is over;
Wait till I see the morning
break on the golden shore.

Safe in the arms of Jesus...

CLEVER IDEA!

2010-07-28T15:02:00.005-04:00

I couldn't decide whether to title this post 'PRESENTATION, PRESENTATION!, PRESENTATION',
or 'MUSIC HATH CHARMS....'.

Maybe you have a better title.............

Anyway, someone had such a clever idea, so be sure to mute Playlist and enjoy this little 2-min. video sent to me by my daughter, Lisa.

BUSY, BUSY...

2010-07-27T18:01:00.006-04:00

It’s easy to get so busy doing things for God that we don’t have time to cultivate intimacy with Him ourselves. In the Song of Solomon, the Shulamite woman says,

“They made me keeper of the vineyards,

but my own vineyard I have not kept!”

Would you stop and evaluate your schedule? If you’re not spending time with Him in prayer and the Word, maybe it’s time to make some changes.
--from Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

*****

If you feel a finger pointing at you with this post, believe me, three fingers are pointing back to me! The following verses from Psalm 119 offer some very good advice for the priorities of our daily lives:

I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your Word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider Your ways.
I delight in Your decrees;
I will not neglect Your Word.
--Psalm 119:10-16.

SURVEY SAID!

2010-07-22T14:13:00.007-04:00

No, this is not a SURVEY!

I'm just having game show withdrawals after spending a few days at my mother's. (just kidding!)

My mother is 92, and we have a great time visiting. While I'm there, I try not to disrupt her usual routine too much, so we watch alot of shows on the Game Show channel. Family Feud is one of her favorites.

Most days, her TV (game shows) and radio are her main entertainment. That is, unless her great-grandchildren, Caylie & Chase come over to see her. They always brighten her day!

Here are the two little munchkins enjoying an afternoon 'swim' in their pool.
Aren't they cute?
I took a few other pictures, but they were a little blurred, as too much splashing was going on!

Well, now we're back home, and the laundry is all caught up, so we're ready for the weekend! Hope you are, too!

SUMMER DAYS

2010-07-16T13:01:00.006-04:00

This has been a very busy summer, so far. We've had a month of grandkids...with each one taking their turn separately.
First, Alan (& Amber);
then Amanda (& Matt), &,
for the past two weeks, Justin.

It has been alot of fun!

While Justin was here, he & my husband, Bill, took a lapidary class & learned how to cut gems. Here are a couple of pictures of Justin at work..............

Well, make that one picture of Justin at work, and one showing that Justin's learned so much, he doesn't even have to watch what he's doing! (LOL)

And here is the finished product...

a beautiful blue quartz stone.....

Now, it's time to take Justin back home, because he has a camp to attend next week.

While in Florida, I plan to stay a few days visiting my mother & sister (& family).
There's no computer at my mother's, so I won't be able to post or stop by your blog until we return.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!

WALK WITH ME

2010-07-11T15:36:00.004-04:00

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Proverbs 4:18

*****

Walk with me Oh Lord, I pray.

Give me strength

throughout the day.

Take my problems

big and small.

Lift me when I tend to fall.

Walk with me Oh Lord, I pray.

Prompt me what to

do and say.

Let me feel you

always there.

Lift me when I feel despair.

ELEVEN REASONS...

2010-07-03T10:28:00.007-04:00

Everyone's talking about November! "Just wait until November!", we hear over & over.
Well, this should help you have clarity about your vote!!
S: )
(Please mute Playlist first).

Are you convinced?

HAPPY FOURTH of JULY WEEKEND!

2010-07-01T23:17:00.005-04:00

“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Have a Safe and Happy

Fourth of July weekend!!

*****

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

2010-06-27T00:17:00.004-04:00

I lift up my eyes to the hills--
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip--
he who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you--
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm--
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

--Psalm 121:1-8

SUMMER IS HERE!

2010-06-20T23:41:00.005-04:00

Summer is NOT my favorite time of year, but have to admit it's much more tolerable here in the mountains than it was in Florida! Less heat, & less thunderstorms!
Even in the summertime, there's much to be thankful for.
This little poem paints a pretty good picture of life here in 'God's country'.

GOD'S COUNTRY

Give me green rolling hills,

Give me pies cooling

on windowsills...

Give me birds chatting

on telephone poles,

And corn growing midsummer

in patterned rows.

Give me crickets chirping

on warm summer nights,

And children and picnics

and firefly lights...

Give me cows grazing

and sleeping all day,

And children barefooted

and tanned at play.

Give me church socials

and watermelons, please,

And general stores

and swimming holes

and fresh garden peas.

Give me all this,

round the hillside I roam,

And I'll gladly share it all with you

in my country home.

--Barbara Jean Kissel

FISHING 101

2010-06-17T21:43:00.004-04:00

When we lived in Florida, we had a boat, and loved to go fishing miles out in the Gulf of Mexico. What fun!

I was quite a novice, & wouldn't even bait my own hook, (ee-ooh!) but definitely enjoyed catching & reeling in those fish!

Well, if you've never tried it, here's a video you've just GOT to watch!
Nothing like learning from a real expert!!

THOUGHT for TUESDAY

2010-06-14T23:16:00.005-04:00

All that is good,

all that is true,

all that is beautiful,

all that is beneficient,

be it great or small,

be it perfect or fragmentary,

natural as well as supernatural,

moral as well as material,

comes from God.

-John Henry Newman

Nympheas (Water-Lilies)

Claude Monet, 1908

TRIP PICTURES

2010-06-05T21:17:00.019-04:00

My daughter, Jami, and husband, Bill, recently returned from a two-week trip to Hungary & Slovakia. It was her 2nd trip, and his 4th.
Here are some pictures from their trip:

View of Budapest:

Here are Jami & Julika in the courtyard. This is where they stayed while in Budapest. Julika is the mother of Jami's Hungarian teacher. She doesn't speak English, so Jami's 2+ years of studying the Hungarian language really came in handy!

This was taken inside a downtown Budapest cathedral:

The rest of the pictures were taken in Slovakia, where they visited relatives.

A street festival was going on one evening in Velke Kapusany:

Monika (a cousin), had her picture taken with some of the festival musicians.

This is Jami with two of the festival participants:

Milan and Bill making Kolbasi. This is a staple food that you'll find included in some way at almost all Hungarian meals....yes, even breakfast!

Bill was really wishing he could've brought some home with him. This is enough to last at least a week, or two.......

Jami with two other cousins, Kaitlin and Adela.

What's for dinner?

Cabbage soup (a favorite!) is in the pot on the left; the front pot is potatoes boiling, and frying in the skillet is chicken breast (pounded, and fixed similar to chicken cordon bleu).

Here's a closeup of the cabbage soup....

Dinnertime at Adela's. L to R: Elizabeth, Kaitlin, Jani, Jami, Matthew and Milan.

Bill and Jami, and the red (Russian) car that Matthew chauffeured them around in.

Most of the people live in huge apartments with no yard, so they rent garden space if they want to grow vegetables, etc. This is Bill showing off one of these spaces outside Velke Kapusany, Slovakia....

They had a wonderful time. Jami got in alot of practice acting as interpreter, because only one of the family members speaks any English. I think they were so impressed that she cared enough to learn their language.

Thank you to all of our family members in Slovakia, & to Julika in Hungary, for your kind hospitality. Jami & Bill said you really treated them like royalty!

God bless!

WHO IS SHE?

2010-06-02T16:31:00.007-04:00

Please be careful!

This person has found her way
into my house
and could also get into yours.

A very weird thing has happened.
A strange old lady
has moved into my house.

I have no idea who she is,
where she came from,
or how she got in.

I certainly did not invite her.
All I know is that
one day she wasn't there,
and the next day she was.

She is a clever old lady
and manages to keep out of sight
for the most part,
but whenever I pass a mirror
I catch a glimpse of her.

And, whenever I look in the mirror
to check my appearance,
there she is hogging the whole thing,
completely obliterating
my gorgeous face and body.
This is very rude!

I have tried screaming at her,
but she just screams back.
The least she could do is
offer to pay rent,
but, no!

Every once in a while,
I find a dollar bill

stuck in a coat pocket,
or some loose change

under a sofa cushion,
but it is not nearly enough.

I don't want to jump to conclusions,
but I think she is stealing money from me.
I go to the ATM and withdraw $100,
and a few days later,
it's all gone!

I certainly don't spend money THAT fast,
so I can only conclude
the old lady is pilfering from me.
You'd think she would
spend some of that money
to buy wrinkle cream.

And money isn't the only thing
I think she is stealing.
Food seems to disappear

at an alarming rate-
especially the good stuff like
ice cream, cookies and candy.

She must have a real sweet tooth,
but she'd better watch it,
because she is really packing on the pounds.
I suspect she realizes this,
and to make herself feel better,
she is tampering with my scale
to make me think I am

putting on weight too.

For an old lady, she is quite childish.
She likes to play nasty games,
like going into my closets

when I'm not home
and altering my clothes

so they don't fit.

And she messes with files and papers
so I can't find anything.
This is particularly annoying
since I am extremely
neat and organized.

She has found other imaginative ways
to annoy me.
She gets into my mail,
newspapers and magazines before I do
and blurs the print so I can't read it.

And she has done something really sinister
to the volume controls on my TV,
radio and telephone.
Now, all I hear are

mumbles and whispers.

She has done other things -
like make my stairs steeper,
my vacuum heavier
and all the knobs and faucets

harder to turn.

She even made my bed higher
so that getting into and out of it
is a real challenge.

Lately, she has been fooling with my

groceries before I put them away,
applying glue to the lids,
making it almost impossible
for me to open the jars.

She has taken the fun out of
shopping for clothes.
When I try something on,
she stands in front of the

dressing room mirror
and monopolizes it.

She looks totally ridiculous

in some of those outfits,
plus she keeps me from seeing
how great they look on me.

Just when I thought
she couldn't get any meaner,
she proved me wrong.
She came along when I went to
get my picture taken for my driver's license
and just as the camera shutter clicked,
she jumped in front of me.

I hope she never finds out where YOU live!

I really do!

AS WE REMEMBER...

2010-05-28T20:41:00.005-04:00

Have a safe 'Memorial Day' weekend!

THE LORD IS.....

2010-05-22T21:17:00.003-04:00

(Please mute Playlist first)

The Lord is my light and my salvation --
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life --
of whom shall I be afraid?
Ps. 27:1

IRONY

2010-05-19T10:13:00.008-04:00

Hope you're having a wonderful day!

I'm in the middle of Spring Cleaning this week,
with little time for blogging,
so thought I'd
pass along these pics
sent to me by a friend......

MAXINE MONDAY

2010-05-17T12:25:00.002-04:00

???

Not kidding on this one!!

S: )

LOOK UP!

2010-05-10T23:32:00.003-04:00

I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.

--Abraham Lincoln

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:

Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host

one by one,

and calls them each by name.

--Isaiah 40:26

***

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

--Psalm 19:1

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2010-05-08T20:39:00.008-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to my dear sweet wonderful mother, who just celebrated her 92nd birthday a few weeks ago!

She would get a chuckle out of this humorous (but fairly factual) list......

I Owe My Mother

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet." (Actually, we didn't have carpet, but you get the idea).

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"Your room looks like tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

14. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

15. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

16. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

17. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

18. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

19. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

20. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your Aunt Bea."

21. My mother taught me about my ROOTS..
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

22. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

And my favorite:
23. My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

*****

WHATCHA GONNA DO?

2010-05-05T15:51:00.005-04:00

Here are three logs we have tied together in the bird feeding area near our garage.
Notice the pileated woodpecker on the ground looking them over.........

A little later in the day, we looked out and noticed this pile of sawdust.

Uh-oh! Bad Boy!!

The next day, he was back pecking away for more worms. Do you suppose he's wondering if the ceramic squirrel on the log might be a threat?
The giant hole you see is even bigger now. He's pecked away about half of two of the logs. Here, one of the chipmunks (on the tallest log) is staring him down.

In spite of the mess he's made, I think woodpeckers are such fascinating birds!

He'll probably be back again tomorrow. Looks like we need to go looking for some log replacements! S: )

SCRIPTURE for SUNDAY

2010-05-01T23:31:00.004-04:00

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
--Philippians 4:19

Wishing you a beautiful Lord's Day!

*****

Today is our 46th Anniversary.
Happy Anniversary, Bill!
God really smiled on me when He sent you into my life.

I hope we have at least 46 more years together! S: )

*****

GOOD QUESTION

2010-04-29T00:08:00.002-04:00

Sad, but true, huh?

THOUGHT for TUESDAY

2010-04-26T23:10:00.004-04:00

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.

--Goethe

Girls at the Piano, 1892

Pierre-Auguste Renoir