Barbs This and That

Printers!!

2012-01-30T12:53:00.000-05:00

I am sitting at this desk truly frustrated! I have spent an hour downloading a driver for an older printer my son had stored. I got it all installed after crawling under the desk and plugging in wires and putting wires into the back of the computer and all. And................................... It doesn't work!!!

My other printer is 1 year old. It's a 3 in one which I was reluctant to buy but because the price was right I went a head and bought it. The scanner still works and I guess the copier does too. I never used it. But.... the printer doesn't. It has started to get the paper all caught inside of it!

What a royal pain!

Why don't they make printers to last more than 1 year? I recall past printers only lasting 1 year also!

Retreat time in Lancaster

2012-01-28T09:07:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone-- since I am writing this before 9am on a Saturday morning. I have been up since 6 so it feels almost like mid day to me! Ha Ha! -- We had a busy week last week. We spent 4 days up in Lancaster, Pa. on the Bishop's Convocation. In layman's language, that's a retreat with the Bishop of our Methodist Church and the pastors and spouses of the pastors of the Greater NJ Conference. Not all of them go, but it's always nice to see old friends that we only see once or twice a year because they are spread out all over the state. Our conference includes parts of Pa. and NY also.

We stay at what used to be called Willow Valley Resort in Lancaster. Now it has split up and 1/2 is run by Double Tree, and the other half is called Willow Tree. Still a wonderful place with the Amish country side all around. Lancaster itself is a smallish city. More of a town than a city though. When it was built, the person who founded it had a brick foundary-- if that's what you call it. The buildings had to be made of red brick. So most of the town of Lancaster is red brick.

We took our son James on retreat too. This is what he enjoyed the most!

They have some neat paintings on the walls of the pool room.

and

So James spent a lot of his time here with some other PKs. (Pastor's Kids)

My husband attended all the sessions with the Bishop and heard some good speakers.

I attended some of that too, but I got to go to the spouses workshops. We had a great speaker too.

She really encouraged us spouses to get together as much as possible and be supportive to each other.

So today I am going to a get together our district superintendent's wife is having for pastors spouse.

She lives less than a mile away but I think I will drive. My knee has been bothering me lately.

Have a great day everyone!

This is the Palm Court where we had most of our meals!

January This and That

2012-01-22T12:54:00.000-05:00

A little bit of this and a little bit of that from this past week!

Retreat time for the Church Youth Groups!

3 boys, 7 girls and 5 leaders went! They had a great time too!

We went to the movies and I met a couple of celebrities in the lobby!

Katie out early this morning in the snow!

Was that a squirrel?

Mom! Can I come in now? It's chilly out here!

Have a good week!

Kayaking

2012-01-11T12:10:00.000-05:00

I found some kayaking pictures from a kayak excursion my husband took a few months ago.

Hope you enjoy them!

He loves to Kayak -- a good way to relax and get out. Wish I had more time to go with him!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-31T18:25:00.000-05:00

Christmas was good this year. I loved every bit of it all. I savored it! Although I did catch myself being too much of a Martha and not enough of a Mary, (reflecting on the sisters Mary and Martha in the Bible), I tried to make sure things were as they should be --- warm and comfortable and full of love.


Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Our daughter in law M had never experienced a Christmas celebration. She is from Japan and that is overall not a Christian country. So we wanted to present our traditions to her so she could see how we do Christmas in our home.

Before Santa

After Santa had visited!


Waiting on the steps Christmas Morning

Daughter D

Son A and his girlfriend wearing their new head lights!

Our new grandson.

And most of all it was Jesus birthday!

So now it is past. But the spirit still remains! I will try and keep up the decorations as long as possible. My sister from Florida is coming up in a week or two. We will have to see how long we can stretch the life of our tree. I guess today is the 7th day of Christmas. And by the way.......

Christmas is coming...

2011-12-20T10:15:00.000-05:00

Christmas is coming! The goose is growing fat! Please to put a penny in the old man's hat!

The tree is up....

Presents are being wrapped.... still more shopping to do.

And cookies are being baked.

Here are some of them.


Pretzel Cookies in many varieties!

One sad note is that we had to put down our dear old Cedie. Mercedes was our 13 year old Rottie- Golden Retriever Mix. A dear old friend. She was failing severely and lost use of her hind legs. We were carrying her in and out of the house to do her business. Poor old girl. She will be sorely missed.

Mercedes RIP

So we are proceeding into the big day! Our Cantata at church with it's many practices is done. (It was beautiful!) The Christmas Sunday School Party is done. Next is the Christmas Hayride Caroling tomorrow night around town, then the Christmas Eve Candlelight Services. In between all that our boys and families will start to trickle in. Actually, there are only two who aren't with us now. N up in Maine with his new family (our new grandson too!) and A who is up in NE Pennsylvania. He will be figuring out how to get down here with his girlfriend Christmas Eve.

We always have travelers from a far!

Catch up!

2011-12-02T09:55:00.002-05:00

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted! Life has been pretty busy and hectic too! Let me try and catch up!

Let's see, since I last posted, our son Dave had a birthday. He turned 35! Boy he's getting older!!

He also made a pie that day. His very first apple pie. (I just coached!)

It turned out pretty well. This was right before he trimmed the edges. Every man needs to know how to make a pie! My husband taught me when we first got married! Now I have pretty much taken over the pie making!

Then on the 22nd we put on a Thanksgiving dinner at church for the folks that come out to the food pantry. We fed about 150 and there were about 40 church people involved with the production- either cooking or setting up or serving.

Behind the scene in the kitchen

Serving and being served!

The eating of the feast!

That was job, but it was so much fun and I heard from one woman myself who was really appreciative. I love doing this kind of thing!

During the course of things my husband came down with rosacea. He broke out with welts all over his face, poor guy! He's seeing a dermatologist for it. At first the ointment she prescribed was too strong for him. Now he has it regulated and has learned some foods he has to stay away from, like hot spicy foods, chocolate, and changes in the temperatures of food. He can't be eating a hot meal and then drink ice old ice tea or something.

Right after that was our Thanksgiving at home. We attended a Thanksgiving eve service at the Presbyterian Church and then the next day was our feast day! This year we were 10 less than last year. We only had our immediate family minus our Maine son and family. They decided not to travel with such a young baby. In Japan (where the mama is from) they don't travel long distances with an infant until he is 6 months old! But son Nick told his wife that they ARE coming for Christmas! It's required by HIS mama.

Son Andrew peeling potatoes. He's wearing the Halloween spiked rubber collar he found under the couch!

Son Dave is back in the kitchen too.

Dad making the gravy! That's his official job. Make gravy and slice the bird!


Son James being cool!


Daughter Danielle set the table

Katie looking pretty for the camera!

Cedie (our sweet old lady dog) sniffing the wonderful scents!

We decided to set up a serving table


After dinner when most everyone else wondered off in "food comas" (Andrew's quote!) Danielle sat down to enjoy desert! Look at that smile!

And that was Thanksgiving. Lots of work again on my part, but well worth it! I love holiday meals and fixing them too! Although I do miss our friend Sondra, who passed away in 2010, who we always traded years for the Thanksgivng dinner.

Next on the calendar was a beautiful wedding next door at church. The bride was just beautiful and everyone was so happy! It was a truly joyous wedding!

Then came the funerals! First a brother of a woman in church passed away. He had had cancer and a surgery, but passed a few days later. Next the brother of my husband's secretary unexpectedly passed away!

Since then we have heard of 4 more deaths of people we know. One was an old friend and mother of 3 kids and a wife to a great guy. The doctors say she had a severe allergic reaction to some food she ate and ended up in acoma and life support and then passing! What a shock!

And yesterday was our youngest son's (J's) surgery to his knee. He has OCD (not the compulsive kind!) (osteochondrosis dissecans) on both tibias- the large boned on the top of the legs. It's down between the knee bones. it's hollowed out holes that have developed there. Two on the right tibia, one on the left. The doctor says it's genetic. He's adopted. - So the doctor operated on the right one. In bout 3 months he will get the left one done. ~ The surgery was an hour then recovery was an hour. J stayed very composed for a 13 year old. (My husband said I did very well too! Ha Ha!) The doc said he has never seen this condition on someone so young. Usually it is elderly patients. And I looked up the statistics. Only 30 out of 1000 people even get this! ~ Well- J hasn't felt much pain yet because he's on pain meds, and I must say, so far it has been hard to keep him down with his leg elevated and iced! He will be on crutches for 4 weeks! Good luck with that! They won't know for a year when they do another MRI if this was even successful! It takes that long to heal!

So that's my life lately! I have been thinking of picking up a part time job now that my youngest isn't homeschooled any more, but I don't know if I have enough time! When would I fit it in?
Now onward to Christmas! My favorite holiday. I have started pulling out the Christmas decorations and today I plan on making some lists, and making Christmas cookies!

Last year's cookies!

The "Tea"

2011-11-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

Almost a month ago now we had a "tea" on our porch. The church ladies wanted to have a dedication of the new sign that was rebuilt in front of the church, and they wanted to do a tea on the parsonage porch so people could see the rebuilt porch, which is really nice. So.... the ladies did the whole thing.

The ladies brought pretty old teacups of different kinds. It really was nice. And they

stayed true to the theme and only served tea and light refreshments on the other side of the porch.

I was surprised how many people were there.


People at the sign dedication

People visiting at the "tea"

Sneaking some tea during the dedication!

Cousins.


The only little carrot top out of about a dozen cousins.

My favorite.

Rainy Wednesday

2011-11-16T08:26:00.001-05:00

It is gray and dreary outside today. Not very inviting. Son J doesn't feel well today so he is staying home from school. I am not sold on him being in school this year. Homeschooling was much less stressful, even though we were having problems in math. (If I were to homeschool again, maybe I would hire a tutor for math.) The Christian atmosphere at the school is wonderful, I really like that and I don't have too many complaints about the teachers even though the English teacher is very very strict. That's OK. But it's the constant testing that bothers me. My son has never done well on testing and this just isn't working for him. We are STILL waiting to hear from the child study team for the ILP (individual learning plan)(same as the IEP) to even get started. We got his first report card. He got a C in English; only a few points away from a B. and he got a C in Bible. Gym was an A! But the other major subjects were not so good. And we are not getting any help. They are not doing what they promised. They offered extra help. I am very frustrated and our son has developed an "I don't care" attitude. I am emailing the middle school principal today as well as the woman in charge of the special education. ~

Meanwhile, there has been a lot of stress in regards to the larger family situation and the estate of my grandmother. The two sons and wives are fighting. It is nearly impossible not to take sides. But my sister and I are trying not to take sides. Our dad was the third brother and the oldest. Our dad died in 1960. So we were raised most of our lives by our one uncle and his wife with their kids. So anyway-- this is a mess. Also, our son - the dad of our new grandson - sent me a mean email last night yelling at me for putting 3 pictures of my precious little grandson on my facebook so my friends where we used to live, could see them. Ei ei yi! I really didn't need that last night.

So I am hoping that today brightens up. If not out side, then inside! Today is our oldest son's birthday. He is 35. He is the one who is still recovering from a badly broken leg, and had moved back in with us. I am going to make some cupcakes for him this morning, then I think he wants to go spend the afternoon with his girlfriend in the city.

So I guess my conclusion to all this is... when life throws lemons at you..... make lemonade and relax. Something like that anyway.

Psalm 46:1 "The Lord is my refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble."

The Attitude of God's Grace

2011-11-15T13:53:00.001-05:00

"Why'd You Give Me This Rickety Ole Frame in the First Place?"
(by Karon Phillips Goodman)

"For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust."

Psalm 103:14 NKJV

"Pardon the interruption, Lord, but I have a question. Being omnipotent and all powerful as You are, able to make impenetrable mountains and raging seas, can You please explain why You made me so weak and faulty?

I try so hard to be good, and yet I make so many mistakes and fail for all the world to see. And the inside is even a bigger mess than the outside. I am as weak as dust scattered in the wind, as needy as a new-born. Any Chance for a recall?"

"You want to question My design?"

"Uh, that's not what I meant....."

"You are exactly the way I made you to be. The earth and the sea have no need for Me. I breathed them strong and self-sufficient. Yes, you are fragile in comparison, but you have something they don't. You have a need for My soul. It's a need that you fight now and then; yet it is one that you cannot avoid. Yes, you are as weak as dust, but I made you that way so that you would need Me. My soul lives because of your need."

"But look at this dust all around me. I can't clean it up...."

"I know. Do I look worried? I have the only broom you'll ever need."

"Are You sure" I'm a big mess."

"I have a big broom."

Tuesday: In search of rice bowls

2011-11-08T11:11:00.000-05:00

I woke kind of early today. Early for me anyway. But with the time change it was 5:30am a week ago. But today it was 4:30am. None the less, I needed a nap when I got home from the school run , Just a wee one!

So... what's on the agenda for today? The usual chores, but also D and I are going to do a bit of shopping for some rice bowls to send to our new daughter-in-law. Her birthday is this week! She doesn't read this blog so I am safe mentioning it.

Mika is Japanese. She arrived here in the US last March right after the big earthquake in Japan. My son had met her over there while working on an organic farm and traveling. She is the sweetest girl.

So we are going shopping for these rice bowls. What is a rice bowl you may ask? Well.... obviously its a special bowl for rice. Here are some pictures of some:

Hopefully we will find some pretty ones. Well---- it's off to the grocery store for me now. I need to buy some cheese for eggplant parmesan. We have a cover dish sports banquet at school tonight with an Italian theme.

Have a nice day you all!

Holy Spirt Weekend yesterday!

2011-11-07T13:57:00.000-05:00

We had a busy Sunday yesterday. The whole weekend was "the Holy Spirit Weekend". First on Saturday morning we had a spiritual gifts assessment. That consisted of a list of questions that you tally up the answers and the total scores indicate what your spiritual gifts are. Mine were 1st -Faith, 2nd -Compassion, and 3rd- Service.

On Saturday night we had a healing service in the chapel at church. That was really nice. A young adult from our church led us in some praise and worship music, then my husband- Pastor Dave- led us in prayer and as people came up front for prayers for healing, he anointed their heads with oil and asked for 3 people to come forward to lay their hands on the person and pray with him. It was truly very moving.

Then Sunday morning- we had a guest speaker come in. His name is Jim Hughes. He does a drama and sings his message. He portrayed the apostle John. He wore a striped robe and head piece and had a walking stick that was a twisted thick vine. He was excellent. I was impressed how he had his hands trembling like a very old man ~ He has such a strong outstanding voice too. I love to hear him sing. He told us that this is his 40th year in ministry! He doesn't look that old. He must have been doing this as a teen! We know his parents too. His father is a pastor and his mother is a dear lady. I have heard Jim before, but usually he will be here filling in when we are away. So it was good to see him.

After church we had a Harvest Party for the Sunday School. We had stations for the kids to move about to. I manned the Thanksgiving Hop Scotch. Each square had something written down that we are thankful for, like parents, grandparents, Jesus, food our home and a few more. The kids had fun with that and watching the preschoolers try and do it was lots of fun! We also had a pumpkin decorating group, an bean bag toss, a pin the fruit in the cornucopia and I think there was another one too. I miss having little ones in our house that love to do these kind of things. Son J feels too old for all this.

At the end of the party our old friend Ginny stopped by to visit, so we ended up going out for lunch. (Not that she's old! Ha Ha! She'd get me for that!) We have known Ginny for some 25 years. She was a member of our second church we were appointed to. It's nice to have old friends stop by.

Last night was the Jr. High Youth group. J is in that so I usually go down to help. Last night I was in charge of a trivia game for them. I also did devotions with them too. We all had a good time with the trivia game and then they went upstairs and played some dodgeball in the gym.

So now it's Monday. I have been doing a little bit of this and that all day. Running kids here and there and doing odds and ends around here. I am a domestic engineer. That's my official title!

Dad is going to go get J from school now. Ulterior motive.....he has a star bucks gift certificate he NEEDS to use and there.s one not too far away from school!

Pumpkins!

2011-10-25T13:44:00.000-04:00

You go ahead and figure out what these are! They were gigantic pumpkins!

(550 pounds!)

Halloween is Coming Soon!

Trip North

2011-10-24T12:42:00.000-04:00

Not yesterday, but the weekend before, we traveled North to Maine to meet our new grandson and visit with our son and daughter-in-law. We only had a two day visit, but it was wonderful!


Our grandson E at 6 weeks old!

Our son J went with us too. At the age of 13 he wasn't too excited about his 6 week old nephew! I told him just to give him some time. He will be more fun when he is up and crawling or walking. Give him a few months! Grand mom and Grand pop think he is precious however!

While we were in Maine- which is a place I love to be-- we did get to do a few things that were on our agenda. One of the things we wanted to do was to go to Camden Maine to see the schooners and go to The Smiling Cow. A gifty shop with great fudge and a back porch with water running under it down to a water fall.


S on J in front of the Smiling Cow

Son J right behind the Smiling Cow

We went to Rockport to where Andre the seal used to live. My hubby and I saw him in person bout 30 years ago! My how time does fly!! He was a trained seal that belonged to John Wannamaker of the Wannamaker stores fame. He performed and summered at Rockport Harbor. Andre performed not John!! Ha Ha!

Statue of Andre the Seal.

So here are some more photos of our visit to Maine. ......


Camden Harbor

Lobster Boat in Camden

My husband and our grand- puppy Yuka at Pemiquid Point

Son J rock climbing


Grandpop and Yuka-- I love these rocks!

My husband and I and our grand-puppy in front of the Pemiquid Light house

Our son N- the new daddy- and his little son E


Our son N and his wife and grandbaby


Lobsters for dinner!

Columbus Day

2011-10-11T09:37:00.000-04:00

I recently wandered over next door to our church library which is sadly not visited very often by our congregation. There are many gems there just waiting to be picked up and explored. I guess you can tell I love books! Alas, there hardly ever seems like there is enough time to read though. But, I am not complaining. I am thankful for my distractions from reading! If I read all day, my house would be filled with the dog's hair that sheds so quickly, and my laundry never done! Not to name other everyday chores that I do. But I give thanks that I have the energy to be doing these things, at least until about 2:30 when I need a cup of caffeine.... I mean tea!

But that is not the point I wanted to share in this blog today. ~ I found a small book titled- God Still Loves My Kitchen by Mab Graff Hoover. It is a supposed journal of her year, and hilarious with a moral. I wanted to share the reading for yesterday, Columbus Day.

" In high school, American History was probably my worst subject, next to World History or Geometry. I could not remember dates. To this day, even if my life depended upon it, I could not tell you when Daniel Boone made the Louisiana Purchase. And I have no idea when they first sailed Old Ironsides through the Erie Canal. I'm not even sure when Abraham Lincoln married Barbara Fritchie. One date I am certain about, however, is that Columbus discovered America in 1492. I don't know why that date is so indelibly inscribed on my brain. I've often wondered what the teacher said to make 1492 stand out when all other dates are hopelessly lost in my gray matter. When I help the kids and quiz them on American History dates, it's as though I never heard any of them before. Yet, the other night watching a quiz show they asked when Columbus discovered America, and I piped right up: 1492! The family was amazed, and I let them be impressed. I hate for them to find out that is the only date I know. Even in more recent history I haven't the foggiest idea about dates. I ought to know when the Hindenburg sank after running into an iceberg, but I don't. I don't even know when Glen Campbell landed on the moon. But I know Columbus discovered America in 1492.
I don't suppose it is really going to hurt that I can't remember any of these dates- but I wish I could remember from one year to the next that the banks are closed on columbus day.
"Our days on earth are like a shadow. (1 Chron. 29:15)
I am not the only one who can't remember historical dates, and it points up an important fact. No matter how great a person was, or what he accomplished, the only date that mattes in the light of eternity is the date he accepted Christ as Savior.
The Lord reigns forever. (Ps. 9:7)"

7 more days!

2011-10-07T23:40:00.000-04:00

7 more days till we visit our new grandbaby in Maine! Can't wait!


Daddy giving him one of his first baths!

We just spoke to our son N and his wife on skype and saw little E. He is 5 weeks old now and has really grown since the last time we saw him on skype! He was 9 pounds bout 2 weeks ago. I bet he's gained another 4 or 5 ounces since then. ~~ We will be going up a week from today! Of course son J -who is 13- says he doesn't want to go up and see any dumb baby! But.... he's going anyway!

Son J is having a knee problem at the present. He hurt his knee when he fell on a tent peg about a year ago, but we thought it was just bruised. Since then though, when he runs a lot or bangs it or falls on it, it really hurts a lot. So I finally decided to get it checked out. (He hit it again last Sunday.)

We got an xray and the doctor says it may be OCD. Osteocondritis Dissecans. Big words for a genetic thing where a little crack appears on his femur (the large bone coming down from the leg to the knee.) The doctor saw it on both knees. He said the fall probably aggravated it. If it isn't discovered by the doctor, this can develop into a rounded kind of chip and detach from the bone causing big problems. The only way it can be fixed is by putting in two little pins to pin it back to the bone! It is a very rare condition that only occurs in 30 out of 1,000 people! ~ Wow!

We had no idea this would be the diagnosis! He has to get an MRI on both knees now to confirm the diagnosis. I asked how long the recoop time would be for a surgery like this. He said 6 to 8 weeks no weight bearing. (crutches) And then physical therapy. Wow again! Here's a link to the wikipedia article on OCD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteochondritis_dissecans

So we are supposed to keep him from running. Yeah, right! But we can cut it down a lot! No soccer, no running the mile in gym class! I think if I keep telling him the results that may occur - he could make the crack worse- that he may listen somewhat.

So that's life right now back on the ranch!! I have enjoyed throwing out some expressions lately that my daughter and friends haven't heard before. Like I said to him, "have you zeroed in on the car you like?" He had no clue what I meant! And I told my daughter that tomorrow was grocery day, so we were "scraping the bottom of the barrel today!" She almost fell out of her chair laughing!

I guess we really are from the dark ages!! (Just like our parents were when we were teens!!)

The Shofuso House

2011-10-03T10:35:00.000-04:00

My husband and I went exploring in Philadelphia after dropping off our son D at a friend's house last Friday. We visited an old friend in a senior home where he now lives, and then drove around Fairmont Park (in Philly) for a while. It's on the outskirts of Philly, but still within the city limits. We found the Shofuso House! It's part of the park.

It is a beautiful place hidden away in the park! Here is some information on it:
"Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is a traditional style Japanese house and nationally ranked garden in Philadelphia's West Fairmont Park that reflects the history of Japanese culture in Philadelphia. From the 1876 Centennial Exposition to the installation of it's contemporary paintings in 2007.

Shofuso was built in Japan in 1953 using traditional techniques and materials and exhibited in the courtyard at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was moved to Philadelphia in 1958, to the site of several previous Japanese structures dating to the 1876 Centennial Exposition. In 2007, internationally renowned artist Hiroshi Senju, inspired by our waterfall, donated 20 murals to Shofuso. A viewing garden with koi pond and island, a tea garden, and a courtyard garden comprise the 17th century-style Japanese walled and fenced garden of this historic site and museum."

It was such a nice peaceful place to visit. We took off our shoes and walked around the small house with the rice paper walls and sliding doors. We wondered how they keep warm when it is cold out in Northern Japan. I decided that they must have warmer houses up north. I will have to ask my Japanese daughter in law about that when we see her in two weeks.

Here are some more pictures of our visit there.


Koi in the pond

More Koi- they were huge! Some were a foot long or more!

Sayonara

Some funnies for Wednesday!

2011-09-28T09:59:00.000-04:00

Seeing how it is a rainy, dreary Wednesday where I live, I thought I'd post some things to make you chuckle in betwixt the raindrops!

and

Have a great day..... and smile!

A gray Thursday!

2011-09-22T10:46:00.000-04:00

The skies look gray today. It is forecasted to have thundershowers later this afternoon and evening. I am wondering what school with do about the soccer game that is scheduled? Hmmm.... being new to the school, I have lots of questions. Slowly I am learning all sorts of answers!

My two dogs are snoring away near where I am sitting! Wish I were catching a few more winks of sleep this morning. I got to sleep too late last night and woke at 6 so I am a bit weary already! Maybe a quick nap will help later on!

(Katie a few years ago!)

Well- I plan to finish putting away some boxes that are still in the parlor from moving our son D in. I have been trying to figure out where to put them. We have one closet that is a possibility. We call it the Harry Potter closet because it is half way up the staircase going upstairs, and it is about the size of a small bathroom (or bedroom!) ~ And there's always the dishes and laundry! And of course organizing my bedroom which is always the catch all for stuff that needs go somewhere at the end of the day.

A cup of coffee may be good right now too!

So.... onward and upward!

Zoey has the right idea!

The passing of a great lady!

2011-09-20T22:45:00.000-04:00

My grandmother- Nana to all of her grandchildren- passed away on Aug. 26. She was 102 years old. In October she would have been 103. Her obituary in the paper didn't do her justice. It didn't mention the clubs she was involved in like the Republican Women's club, or the Garden Club, or others. It didn't say she was the Mayor's wife for many years of a growing by leaps and bounds community. It didn't even have her picture. ~ I don't know which of my relatives put it in the paper, but they didn't do a good job.

She was going down hill the last 6 or 7 months. Sometimes she would sleep through most of a visit when we came to see her. She would usually repeat herself after 10 minutes and ask the same questions again. But she was one great lady.

This is her and my grandfather with me on my wedding day. She must have been 67 here. I think she looks pretty good for 67! ~ I spent a lot of time with my grandparents while I was growing up. My father died when I was 4. He was 28. He died of viral encephalitis. It got into his spinal column when he was about 12 (german measles) and it gradually got worse over the next 14 years of his life. ~ I would spend 2 or 3 days at a time at my grandparents house. Wednesdays was our out to dinner night every week. ~ Oh did I mention, I was the first grand daughter born into the family! What fun!

Here is another one of my grandmother holding our first son D, when he was baptized. He was wearing my father's christening gown. You can't see it in the picture, but it had tiny pleats all the way around, and my grandmother pressed them all for the baptism!

Our son is 34 now.

This is Nana and my Aunt D last summer. She went out on their party boat on the lake in Maine. She was always a person to do everything exciting! She even went on the log flume at the amusement pier at the boardwalk. One time not too many years ago she mentioned to my aunt that she and my grandfather (he passed away in '93) had traveled to many countries, but one thing she never did was go on the Concord. So my aunt and uncle bought her a ticket for the Concord and surprised her with it! She was so excited! She went for the ride out and back. What an experience! Oh and she also rode her horses everyday until she was 75!

She was the one who taught me how to set a proper table, to get the wrinkles out of a newly made bed, to write thank you notes, to swim! She and my grandfather were a huge part of my life. And now..... she is with him - oh how joyful she must be!

She will be sorely missed

Eva Annie Davis Gilmour

Finally feels like fall!

2011-09-16T08:09:00.000-04:00

The porch thermometer read 50 degrees this morning at 6:30am! It finally feels like fall and I love it! I pulled out my sweatshirt this morning with the picture of the Amish quilt on it. I have been waiting for this kind of weather! I hope it stays!
But alas, I also have a sick one home today. Our son J has a sick stomach. At least it hurts and he says he was sick last night. No fever, just the stomach. He has been very good about getting up every morning by or before 7am to get dressed and ready for school. We scurry around getting ready, packing the back pack and the lunch etc., then out the door at 8am and on the road to school. We arrive about 8:25ish and he has to be in homeroom at 8:38 on the dot. I am really very proud at how he has adjusted to going to school. He is going to the Christian School and it is great. He is hopefully going to have his needs in the special learning areas that he has, met. I do miss homeschooling with all my heart, but I do believe we are following the Lord's direction here. If there's one thing I learned by homeschooling the last 19 years, it is that there is more than one way to educate a child. So now it's time for us to try this route.

So I wonder what this weekend will bring. I know there is a sub sale tomorrow morning, which for us always also involves the making of the subs. Last time we made about 150. It's a production line and I, myself, have a good time. It's a great time of fellowship too. It's over at church, and the money for each month's sale goes to a different department in church. Tomorrow goes to the youth groups I think.

So... as I said, fall is upon us. I heard low flying geese at 6am reminding me of last year's goose invasion of our little lake in town. Hundreds of them were there! All winter! Canada geese and snow geese too. Snow geese are the all white ones.

It is really an experience standing in the driveway and having hundreds of geese fly over you at pretty low range, honking and making all kinds of noise. Everyday they rise (most of them) and fly to some farmer's field to see what they can find. I guess the farmers must not be real happy bout that!

So to conclude this blog today, I wanted to post some pictures of a late night visitor that was on our porch the other day. My dear husband took so many close range photos that I was afraid he blinded the poor guy!

Lovely, isn't he? Ha Ha! Well, at least he is very interesting. You don't see these insects everyday and the last I heard, they were a protected species. We let a peanut butter jar full of newly hatched ones in the garden last spring. They were 1/4 inch big or smaller.

Have a great weekend!

New Arrival!

2011-09-08T14:25:00.000-04:00

Introducing Enishi! Our new grandson!

Arrived Sept. 5, 2011 at 1:30 AM!

8 lbs. 12 oz. 22 inches!

Proud parents: Nick and Mika!

So blessed!

Summer Camp

2011-08-30T10:24:00.000-04:00

Our youngest son, J, went to camp in August. He went to a Sports Camp and had a great time! It was at Camp Aldersgate, which is a Methodist Camp in the woods of North Jersey. They played soccer, basketball, kickball, baseball, etc. etc.!

The house was so quiet with him away all week, and our daughter at work, and our older son, who is staying here now, away visiting in the city. The dogs did their usual sound off at passing by dogs ect. but I didn't complain too much that week about that.

This is the scene we came upon when we first went to pick him up.

The night before they had had a big party with lots of pizza and pool fun and even a dunking booth with the counselors in it! We heard lots about it all! It sounded like great fun for all the kids. There were 50 at camp that week. They had several camps going on at the same time. J went to Sports Galore, there was Mad Scientist Camp, Sailing Camp, Delaware Canoe Camp (on the Delaware River), and horse camp.

The kids circled up with the parents too and they sang all of their fun and silly camp songs.

J said he had a great time! He wants to go for 2 weeks next time. So we'd better start saving our pennies now! (Camp is a little over $300 a week these days!) ~ Funny, one thing he was the most impressed

with was a friend who could recite all the states and capitals in about 3 minutes in a song!

Mission Trip to Kentucky

2011-08-28T21:02:00.000-04:00

We have been away last week. (I haven't really been near a computer for a while.) We went on a mission trip to Louisville, Kentucky. We have been at our church for 1 year now, and last year they didn't go, but before that they went every year. This year we had 9 people. 4 adults and 5 teens.

It takes 12 long hours to get there. It was raining when we left and we saw 8 accidents on the way. But eventually the weather cleared and we enjoyed the scenery as we neared Louisville.

We stayed on a camp in Indiana very close to the border to Kentucky.

We arrived at midnight.

These are our cabins. The girls stayed in the one with the umbrellas drying on the porch. They boys (all 3 of them) stayed in the next one which was called the Bunny Hut. It had the name plaque on the front of it! It had double beds and double sized bunks too! We just had single bunks, but we had a loft that slept 2.

Our main job for the week was to put in an irrigation system in this orchard that had been planted on a vacant lot in the middle of the city! In the spring they had planted 50 apple trees. They had been watering them with buckets of water. Another group had dug the trenches and we put together the PVC piping for the irrigation. Lots of details!!

Laying pipe in the trench

Putting together some of the pipes

The MSD- the Municipal Sewer Department- donated an unused tank they had so we could have it for water storage. The plan was to run gutters off of the building right next to the orchard and the water would go into the tank and then piped out to water the trees. They started us out with a donation of 15,000 gallons of water!

It was quite a procedure getting that tank put in. It was 15 feet tall and 10 feet in diameter.

The press showed up for an article for the local paper too. It was exciting. they interviewed a few of us working on the project.

The pipes are all in and we are checking for leaks as the water courses through them!

We also had to weed around every tree! I have to admit, I have never done so much weeding in my entire life! And those weeds had the longest roots I have ever seen too! Wow!

This was one of the two interns who told us how to do this whole project.

Ice Cream Break!

(Raspberry Sorbet)

When we weren't in the orchard we were sorting shoes!

These shoes were donated to Edge Outreach. Edge Outreach provides water purification systems to villages in 3rd world countries who need clean water. These consist of a big tank, about 4 ft. tall and about 3 foot round with a filter. It takes 1,000 shoes to pay for one purification unit. The matched shoes are sold to a distributor who sells them to some people who take them to the market places in these countries and sells them to the people there for very little money. ~

Please, next time you donate shoes, tie the laces together or rubber band them together, and if you can, please wash your sneakers first! We handled some pretty dirty shoes! And stinky too!!

We also sorted medical supplies that would have otherwise been disgarded, donated by different hospitals.

We also visited a nursing home and spent time with the residents during a "jazz morning." A man comes in on a regular basis and plays jazz on a keyboard and sings oldies while the folks sit around and enjoy!. There was one woman who was trying to dance while holding onto her walker! It was so funny! She was trying to do her dance steps and didn't care what anyone thought! She was having a blast!

We also got to sing some songs in the dementia unit and visit with the folks there.

We had a good time.

All in all it was a good trip. It was a REALLY long drive ~ 12 hours~ in the 15 passenger van! On the way back we stopped in W. Virginia and spent the night. That helped break up the trip.

This is our team. The sign says "Portland Orchard Project." Portland is that part of Louisville. Now next year and the next and next, the neighborhood folks will be able to pick apples for free. It's a very rough and poor neighborhood and a lot of the kids living there haven't even seen an orchard or anywhere where the food they eat is grown. ~ They plan to put in some raised gardens too next spring so veggies can be grown.

We worked really hard, got hot and tired, but we were satisfied. My son told his grandmom, "Hard work makes you strong." We didn't do just for Edge Outreach, but to be helping hands for the Lord. ~ It was worth it.

New Porch

2011-08-03T09:28:00.000-04:00

We live in a home that dates back to the later 1800's. I am not exactly sure of the precise date of our house, but it's about 140 years old.

That picture shows some of the house. Of course I can't find one of the whole house when I am looking for it! Here are a couple more views of the porch specifically.

So..... where is this all going? Oh yes, they are putting in a new porch after 140 years and I sure did want to get some pictures of it all! Here are some shots of what's happening everyday outside my front and side door starting bout 6:30 am to bout 4pm.

140 year old beams from under the porch. Still in pretty good shape!


No more porch! That was one of the stone pillars!

Dave C is on the right. He's the one doing the work. He has had SO many people stop by to consult and "advise!" It's so funny how many passer bys this project has attracted! But in a small town, it's a big event!

The new posts are going up. Cinder block covered with cement. They will get a stone face to keep the historic look.

They have some flat stone- don't know what kind it is- for the top of the posts. This was just some plastic stuff they had on top temporarily.

And that's all the photos so far. Yesterday Dave C had all the windows covered with plastic and taped and he spray painted the ceiling (the day before he power washed the house and the ceiling of the porch) and the paneling of the house around the porch. I was teasing him about how many spatters he got on his glasses!
He's one of the best natured guys I know! And so strong for a little guy! He really knows his stuff!
Today he has got a couple of other guys working with him. They just had the floor boards delivered. They are the kind that look like wood, but are not completely real wood. They are supposed to last forever!
We really enjoy sitting out on the porch in the hot afternoon with a glass of ice tea or ice water and taking a break, and our son Dave (yes we have a lot of Daves around here) uses the porch as his homebase while his leg is recovering. ---- I think we will have to have a porch warming party when this is all done!

Our new porch will be great!

Within 10 miles of here!

2011-07-30T11:23:00.002-04:00

Some working girls passing in front of a corn field en route to the barn!

The other morning my sweet husband and I decided to go out to breakfast very early, before the troops at home were up. We drove to the town of Bridgeton, which is only 10 miles from here. On the way I decided to get some pictures of the fields of different crops we were passing to share with you, so here goes.

Tomatoes


Asparagus


More corn- it's everywhere! (also view of my bum hand!!)

Boating anyone?

Flowers in the ribs of what was their greenhouse

Grapes

Peaches


Soy beans


Christmas trees! (only 5 months to go!)

A sod farm

The sprinklers to water some field of crops

There are a few I missed, like the field of carrots, potatoes, shrubs, and an apple orchards. And zucchini! There's tons of zucchini! It grows like weeds! But that's another blog!

These were worth the drive! Blueberry pancakes at the Golden Pidgeon Diner!

The weight watchers diet went out the window, just temporarily!

Back to the blog

2011-07-16T07:38:00.000-04:00

I have been so busy as of late that I have neglected blogging! Plus my camera has gone missing AGAIN! I have my suspicions on that one. ~ Our oldest son D has been staying with us recooperating with his shattered tibia. He got his staples out of his leg last week- all 71 of them- and has a brace and still some dressing on his leg. I think he was getting bored as anything here, so now he is back in Philly visiting his girlfriend. He also had a major conflict with is sister who also lives here. She is 20 and needs to be out on her own. But that is another story.

This is an interesting picture my youngest son took of me with our web cam. He was having fun with the colors. He insisted that I needed this picture for my facebook profile picture. ~ I do encourage creativity with my kids. This was fun. And crazy too!

We just got done with a week of Vacation Bible School at our church. I taught 1st and 2nd grades. I had two adult helpers and two young teenage helpers. Our highest attendance day we had 26 kids! Our lowest was 20! We had a great time! The kids were so well behaved and things kept moving right along. The Bible School is from 5:45 PM to 8:30 PM Monday through Friday. They have it scheduled into 20 minute activities. Our schedule was - the opening in the sanctuary first with everyone together, then music, crafts, Bible story (that is in the classroom) then games (all kinds of water games like water balloons and the like) , then back to the classroom for snack and up to the sanctuary for closing. The kids brought in food for our community food closet and each day they had a contest between the boys and girls for offering. The first day they brought in pennies, the next- nickles, the next- dimes, the next- quarters, the next one dollar bills. All together we collected $600 some dollars for the community food closet which our church runs. ~ Almost forgot- the name of our VBS this year was Sonsurf Beach Bash!

While this was happening all week, my dear husband Dave was leading a senior high canoe camp out of the Methodist camp in north Jersey. He had 5 kids and 3 other adult counselors. They started in Narrowsburg, NY and canoed down to Dingmans Ferry, Pa. They camped on the side of the river or on islands in the river. The Delaware River is beautiful up there! The river was really high from all the rain too. He said that the only casualty was one girl got poison ivy very badly and they had to take her to a medical center for treatment. He comes home today so I will hear lots about it all!

Sorry I don't have lots of pictures! As I said my camera is missing- probably "borrowed" by my daughter- and my husband isn't home yet. His birthday is tomorrow and I am running out today to get him a new wheel barrel for the garden (old one died!) and a land line phone. Daughter dropped one of our other two, and it broke. Hope I can find a land line!! Hmmm...

I promise to post lots of pictures next time!

News from India!

2011-06-30T22:37:00.001-04:00

We recently received a letter from our Compassion International sponsored child~ V. (her first initial.)

V is 16 and lives with her mother and father and brother. Her mother works in the market place sometimes, and her father pulls the rickshaw taxi sometimes. ~ V does very well in school and even writes her letters in English herself without the use of a translator! We are very proud of her!
Here's what she wrote:

In V's school they recently celebrated India Republic Day. I think it is a lot like our 4th of July.
Here's what the Compassion International website says about it.

"A Republic Day celebration is organized by every Compassion child development center across eastern India to teach children in our sponsorship program about national pride. The celebrations include a series of programs like a parade and patriotic dances by the children, flag hoisting, a standing salute to the Indian tricolor by children and staff, and a short speech by the guest of honor.

Through these celebrations, children at the development centers are taught about brotherhood and harmony irrespective of their caste and faith. Children learn to become responsible and loyal toward their future duty as citizens of their nation.

Republic Day (26th January) is celebrated every year across India with great pomp and pageant. It is one of the three national holidays of the country.
The occasion is marked by a grand parade in the nation’s capital of New Delhi. It includes a march-past by India’s three armed forces, distribution of bravery awards, and folk dances by tribal people in their traditional costumes, marking the cultural unity of India.

After flag hoisting, the children put together a beautiful patriotic dance dressed up in the tricolored attire, followed by another short message on the theme of Republic Day. Finally the celebration culminates with a vote of thanks and closing prayer from another Compassion-assisted child.
After the program ends, children line up in rows of two to collect sweets and the national flag is distributed at the gate by volunteers

Republic Day fills up every Indian heart with patriotic fervor because it was on this day in 1950 that the Indian Republic and its constitution came into force. On January 26, 1950, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar framed the written constitution of India with seven other members of the drafting committee that finally saw India become a republic nation.
Republic Day has set a milestone in India’s history by giving all Indian citizens the right to exercise freedom in every sphere of their life and also teaching them to live in unity, equality and harmony amidst their vast cultural diversity.

The Marthoma center is ministering to children coming from both Hindu and Muslim families. In the past, village standards were so rigid that Hindu and Muslims would not drink from the same hand pump without first washing it properly. Each had their separate ponds where they took baths. The development center has helped children to advocate the message of brotherhood and unity in their families through which many Hindu and Muslim families have come together in love and harmony."

(Courtesy of Compassion International: http://blog.compassion.com/republic-day-celebrations #ixzz1QoiHSMeo)

Love and Harmony! That's what we are all working towards, aren't we? ~ Hopefully we have made some difference in the life of V and her family. ~ She is growing up to be a beautiful young lady with a great school that is teaching her Christian values and helping her self esteem. Educated girls are the ones who will be able to support themselves and help support their families some day. Less of these girls will be married when they are 14 or 16 and already having babies. ~

Summer Days or Daze!

2011-06-23T08:01:00.000-04:00

"Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Those days of soda and pop corn and cheer. Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer! You'll wish that summer could always be here!" ~ I don't think I got all the words exactly right, but you remember that song! I remember we sang it for 6th grade graduation in Friends School. I wonder why we did that one?

I would love summer more if it weren't so hot and humid. Ah yes, the joys of Jersey summer! I really am going to sit down to day and make a list of summer activities to do with my last remaining kid (the rest are grown) and some that my dear husband would LOVE to do too! Ha Ha! ~ Next Tuesday I am going to Cape May with some lady friends from church to check out some places for our February retreat. That should be lots of fun! I am looking forward to that one!

I have lots of fond memories of summer fun as a kid and with our present family too.

This is just last month! Pools of course are always great fun! Especially with the blown up shirt! There's always games of Marco Polo and Where Where! ~ Is that blown up shirt some kind of safety thing they teach in boy scouts?

And slip and slide fun with cousins! This is an oldie I came across! The lad in the green is my now 24 year old son! The others are a wee bit older now too!

And then there's the beach!

Getting Dad into the ocean is a chore, but once he's in there, he has a great time!

Ah yes!

This is one of my favorite photos! Light, darker, darkest! People at the shore!

And the rides on the pier!

The board walk!

And canoeing and kyacking, and camping, and ...... lots more. The more I list the more I realize that I do like summer a lot! Well---- I am going to go get my calendar and start setting dates! This year we have a recooperating older son with us with a mighty sore leg. So we will see what happens with all this.

But summer here we come! Ready, set, go!!

Monday Monday!

2011-06-20T08:59:00.000-04:00

We have had a busy week last week. Lots of stuff happening within our family. Our son N- son #2- the father to be-- and his wife and their dog Yuka were traveling back up to Maine where they live last Sunday (not yesterday but the one before) and in Conn. they had car problems so they pulled over to investigate.
N opened the hood to check things out, and the radiator hose bursted right then and his face was sprayed with scalding water and anti freeze! He ended up with burns all over his face and around his eyes! Thank God it didn't get into his eyes! ~ So he is doctoring his face with ointment and some herbs. (He's big into herbal medicine.) I don't know exactly what he is using. He assures me he is healing well and doesn't think he will have scars. Only if he gets a very dark tan, there may be white areas that don't tan. For now he is wearing a hat to shade his face and sun glasses for his eyes. But this week is supposed to be rainy down here, so I think New England will probably be wet and not too sunny also. That's good for him.

Next I noticed the dreaded bullseye ring on my husband's lower leg. I told him what I thought it was, and when he begrudingly went to the doctor, they agreed. They said they didn't need to do a blood test. They immediately prescribes antibiotics. Now he has to take them either 2 hours before he eats or 2 hours after, twice a day. (I resisted the urge to say "I told you so!" but I must admit, I thought it! Ha Ha!)

Next I got a message on the computer from our son #1's girlfriend on Sat. that our son D was in the hospital! The previous night he had fallen from the stage where he and his band were performing and landed in the mosh pit. It was apparently quite a fall. They got him back on stage and he sat on a stool and finished his set, while sweating profusely. He was in a lot of pain. His girlfriend and another friend (who was a nurse) took him to the hospital which was the best orthopedic hospital in the city. It was the one where the nurse friend worked. So in the long run, he had surgery and has two rods in his leg- on the tibia (below the knee). One is about 3 1/2 inches long and the other right next to it a little shorter. Lots of screws too. As of yesterday he was still in a lot of pain. I am sure there is going to be some physical therapy in his future before he's well.
It was so hard waiting through his surgery and then while he was in the recovery room! My daughter D and I waited 7 hours in the waiting room, (surgery was 2 1/2 hours) and only got to visit with him only about an hour, most of which he drifted in and out of sleep. My husband came in for about 10 minutes and when son D was awake for a few minutes, his dad prayed for him. Don't you know the next day our son called and thanked his dad for stopping in to see him! Oh well- I had to chuckle to myself. Isn't that just always the way? The mom stays all day and dad gets the credit. That's OK. I was glad to be there.

So I called our son A in Pa. and told him not to get sick or hurt and to avoid all accidents! We don't want this to be a rolling thing of accidents! It has to end now! I hope.

I decided to leave the whole family in the Lord's hands. What control do I have anyway, and I know worrying won't do a thing but wear me out. My mom worries enough for all of us anyway!!

So-- on a different note, I just started a new knitting project for our upcoming grand baby.

Ollie the Octopus

I am making Ollie yellow instead of purple. Son N has something against purple. (?)

Fun Day!

2011-06-14T06:08:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday was my daughter in laws baby shower. She was very surprised! They don't have baby showers where she comes from! Another new American tradition for her!

It was so good to share the celebration of a new life- still unborn- with friends and family!

family and friends playing a shower game


Shower (carrot) cake

My daughter in law is watching what she eats. Her father is diabetic and so she has her sugar checked often, even though she herself isn't diabetic now. She had some cake, but a small piece. She preferred the veggies.


Son J checking out the dip!

She received many lovely shower gifts including lots of cloth diapers. That's what they have decided on. ~ I used them for a while with Son N who is the new papa to be.

And of course there was the traditional "bow hat!"

There really weren't many bows to put on the hat. Most people use gift bags these days! This may be a shower tradition that is dieing off!

Afterwards we had a weary but happy mama and papa to be!

And of course in the kitchen.....

Women doing what women do!!

Psalm 139: 13 ~ 16

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.

Sunday, Sunday

2011-06-05T09:18:00.000-04:00

Well- it's Sunday again. Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, but I have my plate full. As usual. The first service over at church has begun. Living right next to the church (in the parsonage) I can hear the muffled organ music play. I can see the late comers to the early service (8:30am) hurry in. Kind of like I am spying through my lace curtains right next door. ~ Today is confirmation Sunday. Getting son J up and dressed is always a challenge when he has to wear a white shirt and tie. Today is one of those days.

But before the 10 o'clock service when the confirmation is scheduled, I still have to go over to the church office and print a coloring page for my kindergarten Sunday School class. My black ink is used up and I can make copies over at the church office. Don't worry. In this case it is legitimate. I am not making copies where I shouldn't.

After Sunday School, which is directly after the 10 am service, we are supposed to go to a confirmation party at someone's house. I didn't plan one for our son J. He just had a birthday and we are still recovering from son N's wedding. Besides, J doesn't like a lot of fuss. Then later this evening we have a youth rally over at a local church campground to go to . Somewhere in there I have to make cookies to take to some friends tomorrow, and also find time for a half hour catch up nap, which I know I will need come about 2pm!

We finished up our season of soccer yesterday. J loves soccer. The kids have a great time with it and of course it's excellent exercise!

A little soccer action between friends

Next sport will be fall soccer. This last one was spring soccer. Then basketball comes in the winter.
Never a dull moment. ~ I do like it that way. I just have the challenge of finding time for the necessaries of house work, Bible study and reading time. We also have to encourage daughter D to get out there and put some work applications out there. She wants to take some school courses at the local college in the fall, but for now she needs to be working.

And so proceeds the parade of our life. ~ Oh yes~ this Monday and Tuesday we are planning a trip back to our homestead to visit friends, and husband will be canoeing in preparation for the canoe camp he is doing this summer. It will be nice to visit old friends and our son A (who still lives up there and goes to college), and site see at some local falls up there in NE, Pa. Really looking forward to those two days!

An eagle on the edge of our old town

Catch up!

2011-06-03T08:24:00.002-04:00

We took yesterday off from school and me from house work too, to go to our church's (the NJ Methodist church in large) annual conference. I usually go every year and vote on different issues and visit with old friends and what not, but this year with the bum knee - which is recovering nicely- I opted not to go. Son J was very disappointed - he has his regular friends to see, but he did see a couple yesterday while we were there with Dad.

He also got to swim in the hotel pool. Always a plus!

So today it is very sunny and the temps are supposed to be a bit lower. As I look around my house....yikes! I need to vacuum that nuisance dog hair, dust, clear off the dining room table that seems to catch everything, and finish up some school with son J too. Trying to get finished for the summer and do some testing.

Our grand puppy Yuka is back in Maine with our son N and his new wife M.

And Shelby, the dog we were dog sitting, has gone back with her masters. She was a nice dog. Didn't even bark at the ambulances and fire trucks that go by least 2 or 3 times a week! Or day! (We live in the direct path to the hospital!)

But do not fret for us! We have our two other monster dogs to keep us going nuts sometimes..... (they bark at the ambulances!)

Mercedes

Katie

So...... I had better go do chores before 9. I have one hour. I do have sheets and a bedspread and a sleeping bag drying out on the line, so I have accomplished a little bit. But the vacuuming, watering the plants out front, dusting..... etc. etc. .... got to get going!

About the yard this 26th day of May

2011-05-26T09:28:00.000-04:00

A few new happenings around here this week. Firstly, I went and got some meniscus surgery on my left knee on Monday. I am so glad to finally have that finished with! Now I am in recovery! Limping about a bit, but better everyday. We also have a new visitor at our house- supposedly temporarily. Her name is Shelby.

Shelby

She kind of looks like a Korgy but a little larger. I also see some markings of a shepherd, so I'd say she's a Heinz 57! Our other two dogs have mixed reactions to her- Cedie the older one is being an old crab, and Katie the younger (bigger) one loves having a new little sister around! Someone new to play with since Yuka went back to Maine with our son Nick.

Here are some pictures of our gardens and what not in the back yard, and a few in the front too.

The garden just outside the back yard with varied plants including herbs

This is the fish pond- a work in progress. My husband had it looking really good, then a leak sprung up and he ripped it all apart. He is trying to get it put back together now. Yesterday he found a snake and a frog in the pond!


Cana lilies

The grapes are growing back


Katie the baby!

All the tall shoots in the back will be blooming tiger lilies in a few weeks!

Some blue berry bushes someone gave us! Look at all those berries!

front porch (floor to be replaced soon!)

Guardian of the front porch!

Our petunias from the wedding (looks better in person!)

This is our weeping birch tree out front. We had some tulips here but they are done. We need something else in here!

Ah yes, and this is my morning cup of tea.

The way I like to start the day before the crew are up and at em!

Buddy

2011-05-20T08:17:00.001-04:00

There are interesting people all around us and we don't even know it! I had met a man a couple of weeks ago in church. He was visiting. Just to look at him you knew he had a story to tell. He was such an interesting looking character!

Well, he stopped by yesterday to see my husband and I started to chat with him on our front porch, as my husband was out. I must have asked him about his family, because suddenly he whipped out about eight photos he had in his pocket. I think he had been showing them to a friend of his who has the barber shop a few doors down. This fellow I was talking to is known as Buddy.

Buddy showed me the most amazing picture of five generations of his family all together in one photo. It was his great grandfather, his grandfather, his father, himself and his son.

Buddy's great grandfather was a freed slave from Virginia. He became a farmer. ~ Just to think of that is amazing to me! So much history there! Then Buddy's grandfather became a farmer and moved up here to Jersey. The farm stayed in the family all the way to Buddy.

Buddy went on to tell me how his mother is now 91 and in a local nursing home. He said she may seem meek and mild now, but 50 years ago she was taking him out in the woods to cut a switch to spank his bottom~ he was a very mischievous boy!

He graduated high school then enlisted in the army. Shortly he was sent to Viet Nam. There he got involved in drugs and when he came home to the states he continued. He got involved with a black militaristic group in the 60's. He had a picture of his Black Power club; a real club! Then he went to some revival service to please his mother, and ended up accepting Jesus as his Savior. He said the phrase "Jesus Saves" is a very real thing for him, because if he hadn't accepted the Lord, he would have died from drug abuse!

After becoming a Christian, his desire for drugs stopped immediately! He said his desire to be militaristic with the Black Power group stopped too. He married a white girl~ mixed marriages weren't accepted back then~ and his buddies from the army dropped him pretty much. They went on to have 3 or 4 kids, and eventually grand children.

Today he is working his parents farm growing asparagus, watermelons, and some other vegetables. His one son is a barber in a near by town. Buddy is such an interesting guy to talk to! I guess he's in his 70's and still wears a black motor cycle jacket and sports a little white beard, and still drives a motor cycle too!

You just never know who's outside your door! Take a few moments to talk to strangers or even people you don't know very well! You may discover some amazing stories!

Slave Cabin in the 1800's in Virginia

The Wedding

2011-05-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday our 2nd oldest son got married. It was such a busy, hectic, stressful, glorious time!

They got married at sunrise at the state park near here. Only the immediate family, and the pastor of course, were there.


pre-wedding at dawn

It was so beautiful and the two of them are so in love! This is how every wedding should be!


Paddling away after the ceremony

Our first child married. I wonder who will be next! Our 12 year old says he's never getting married. He says he is staying home with mom! What a sweetie he is!

The pastor said we should have had someone with a ukulele playing Over The Rainbow as the newly weds paddled away. ~ I wish we had thought of that because one of our other sons A, plays the ukulele. Oh well.

Here are a few other pictures of the happy day.


Son #4 alias the ring bearer- doing the "box step!"

the bride just learned a new American tradition!

The happy couple

This is such a lovely beginning for a long life together. Not bragging, but I think they make a wonderful couple! We and they have been truly blessed!

Morning has risen!

2011-05-10T07:10:00.001-04:00

"Morning has risen, like the first morning!" And it is a good morning! The sun just came up and is shining brightly through my window. I am about to go out and hang some clothes on the line. I love hanging out clothes. It's quiet out in our backyard very early in the morning. I can listen to the birds singing and the water running over the rocks in our little pond. It will be a fish pond some day soon, but there seems to be a leak that keeps cropping up. My husband keeps repairing it bout every few days, but it is looking better and better. He is enjoying landscaping our back yard with beautiful flowers. I love the colors out there!

Mothers Day was very nice here. My mom came over and had lunch with us. My daughter cooked a ham which was probably one of the best hams we have ever had! Last night I made a casserole out of the left over ham and potatoes. It was really very good, and simple too. Just a little bit of work peeling potatoes and chopping onions. I hate chopping onions! -- But this is not what I meant to be talking about!

After lunch on Sunday we went to the State Park to show my mom where the wedding would be taking place this weekend. And then to the pavilion where the reception would be. It's going to be great! I am trying not to fret over details!

So-- my to do list today is to go over this AM and get a cholesterol test (yuk!), do half a day school with my son J, then go hiking somewhere. My knee isn't great yet, so it will have to be light hiking, but I want to get out and enjoy the day with J today. Later there is chimes practice at church.

You all have a great day too!

Wedding Plans

2011-05-07T08:12:00.000-04:00

Our son N and his fiance M are getting married!

Their date is next Saturday. They want to get married at the state park near us. We are obviously praying for a sunny day! And we are busy as anything getting all the details worked out.

There is a pavilion there next to the lake where the reception will be held. My husband and I drove over yesterday to measure tables and look it over to plan how many flowers we will get for the tables and hanging flowers too. It will be informal. We will be having shish kabobs cooked over the grill, lasagne, mixed fruit, green salad,Japanese rice balls that M will make (don't know what they are called), wedding cake and what ever people bring.

Parvin Lake

This is the lake by where the wedding will take place and the reception too. Before the reception some people will be able to go kayaking or canoeing if they like. There is a play ground for the kids too. It's really a nice place. The wedding will be at 5:30 AM!! They wanted to have it at sunrise! A bit early, but they only invited the immediate family and an uncle and a few family friends. Dear friends and family to get up that early and be there! ~~ So we are working out the details. We are planning the cake, the bouquet, flowers, decorations etc. etc. It's a lot of fun and I am trying to keep things all written down in a notebook so we don't forget anything!

So romantic!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-05T08:55:00.000-04:00

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

2011-04-30T16:29:00.000-04:00

Today has been a this and that day. I started out at 8:30 by going over to the West Jersey Malaga Grove Assembly Camp. I probably got that named mixed up. It's an old Methodist campground (camp meeting) that has many small houses that people live in year round. It also has a tabernacle in the middle where church services are held. It has side walls that roll up like garage doors so it's open air. It used to have saw dust on the floors years ago, but now has cement floors. They have two dorms for kids on the grounds too and have summer camps all summer long. Oh yes, and they have a dining hall and a wonderful pool. They have special speakers during the summer months also- various pastors and especially evangelists. ~ It's a nice quiet place to be. (when the kids are there it's a little livlier!) But this morning I went to help make noodles for the chicken pot pie that will be served tonight. I know there are many versions of chicken pot pie around, but this is the South Jersey version. I am not going to get into the chicken pot pie variations. It would take forever!
Website for the camp. http://www.malagacamp.org/index.htm Doesn't everything have a website anymore!


The front of the Tabernacle

The view a little further back

Anyway, our church is having a drama presentation there this evening and tomorrow afternoon. It's a dinner theater. It has a southern setting and sounds very funny. I will tell you more after seeing it tonight.

After I got home from the pot pie and cole slaw preps, I put my feet up to rest my sore knee! I watched part of movie "The Last Holiday" with Queen Latifah. Very good movie, however I didn't see the whole thing because there was a funeral I had to attend for the son of our organist. He was 63. It is a sad thing when a mother has to bury her son.

Now I am back home. Son J is out playing basketball, son N and his fiance are in Brooklyn, NY today visiting friends, and daughter D is upstairs talking to the boyfriend on the phone. My dear husband Dave is out working on the "Norwegian Grass Project"- he's Norwegian and it's a project!! I am headed up for a little nap before tonight's dinner theater. I haven't recovered from getting up at 4am yesterday for the royal wedding! (But it was worth it! Ha Ha! Loved every minute!)

Zoey

Post Easter

2011-04-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Yes- it's post Easter already. Time does fly! ~ Yesterday was a day of stresses! Didn't start out that way, but it certainly ended up that way. Satan was sure trying to steal our joy! I just listened to one of my favorite TV preachers this morning.~ she had some good tibits on the subject of joy. She said that Joy is one of the fruits of the spirt. Satan will always try to steal your joy and make you miserable any old way he can. Well-- he was at work at that yesterday. But I am trying to not let that get me down today. I handed it all over to God last night, and I am not taking it back! And if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack! (One of our Sunday School songs!)

Wanted to share some more Easter pictures. Believe me- that weekend was so packed with stuff ~ it was busy but a good kind of busy! These are of the Easter Sun Rise Service at our local little lake at 6:30AM. Enjoy.

Chairs were wet from the last night's rain

Music

Shalom.

Happy Easter

2011-04-25T21:36:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter! Here are some of our Easter happenings.

The hunt is on!

Where are those eggs?

Lots of eggs!

The annual Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt. Held inside this year because of rain.

Easter morning at our house!


Telling the Easter Story with resurrection eggs.

My Kindergarten Sunday School class.

Our family

We had great weather and a great day! Hope everyone had the same!

Brrrr... Is it Spring yet?

2011-04-20T09:03:00.000-04:00

The outside thermometer on my porch doesn't quite register 50 degrees! Where is the warm Spring weather??
I am on my second cup of tea! It's freezing in here! We are in South Jersey too! Not in Portland, Maine or Vermont! Come on, I am quite upset with the current state of the temperature! (Are you listening up there? Which angel is in charge of the controls up there? You goofed! )

Well.... I wanted to post some pictures of our cantata we had last Sunday at church. We practiced and practiced and practiced, which was very frustrating to me, but the end results were beautiful. The music in the cantata was fabulous! It was entitled "Come Walk With Me."


The Chime Choir

This is the Chimes Choir that somehow I ended up in. Everyone else is a student, but it is fun and challenging too. Actually, I filled in for a few times in Sept. for absent members, and I am still there!

The Bell Choir

This is the Bell Choir. They never cease to amaze me. They sound so good! Really good!

The Senior Choir

This is the Senior Choir. Not a good shot, but you get the idea. Too bad I can't include a sample of the music. As I said, it was really nice.

The Dinner!

As true Methodists, we had a covered dish dinner afterwards. Yum! It was fabulous too!

My mom made it to the cantata and dinner too. She enjoyed it very much and we enjoyed being with Grand Mom.
So... I do hope it warms up today! It is 9 am and not warm yet! Oh well- time to get going with school, a few chores, etc. Next on the social calendar is soccer practice tonight!

Cherry Blossom Festival!

2011-04-14T09:30:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday there was the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival in Philadelphia! The cherry trees were magnificant!

I didn't get to go, but my son N went with his fiance and they met our eldest son D there to enjoy the spring sights.

There were dancers in the parade

and martial arts

But most of all the trees were beautiful!

Yuka enjoyed it too!

Some of our family tree!

2011-04-09T21:18:00.001-04:00


Great grand ma Louise V.

Genealogy is a hobby of mine. It's fun to unravel the mysterious people in our ancestry. I work on my side of the family and then on my husband's side too. My side of the family has English, Scottish and German roots. My husband has Norwegian, German and Canadian roots.

Here are some photos of our relatives we have discovered. (I love the old photos.)


Aunt Florence V.

These two girls grew up to be my husband's grandmother Louise and his aunt Mabel.

Hiram

This fellow was married to one my husband's great aunts.

I love the mustache! And I love the old fashion names too!

Spring has sprung, and some local beauties!

2011-04-06T08:37:00.001-04:00

My camera is missing. I think I am ready to invest in a second on anyway. It has gone missing in the past when my daughter "borrows" it and forgets to mention it to me. I am trying to continuously ingrain in her that I don't mind if she borrows things, but please ask first. But I don't want to be too hasty. I may have just misplaced it and not found it yet. That happens sometimes!

Well life in our house, right this minute is very quiet. It is 8AM and All is Well! Son J is still asleep as well as daughter D. Son N and his fiance left about 5:30 AM to go to his work. He is a glass blower and works at his friends studio, which is a pretty crude studio so I have heard. It's more like a small barn with no heat. But it is set up for his glassblowing. I guess today he has to get another tank of oxygen. He uses that for fuel. Some days he has to wait hours for the oxygen tanks to arrive in the place where he gets them. Waiting is such a waste of time! I know I have a hard time waiting many times.

I just got some sad news about our old friends, from where we used to live in Pennsylvania. Their grown son Eddie died. I cannot imagine the torment they are going trough right now and will be going through in months to come. The only comfort I can see is to know that he is out of pain now. They are such nice people. My prayers are with them right now this moment, as are the prayers of all those who know them.

Well.... spring has sprung outside, as the old rhyme goes. "Spring has sprung, the sun has riz, I wonder where the birdies is?"

Have a blessed day everyone! And be a blessing to someone else today!

Some local beauty queens!

Isn't she lovely!

Another one of the gals!

Friday Friday

2011-03-31T08:49:00.000-04:00

It is a dreary morning outside. Kind of saps the energy out of a person! One of those days when it would be nice to stay in bed all morning. But I am a morning person, so I am up.

Different things happening on the home front. ~ I made an appointment for the cat, Zoey, to get her shots next Mon. and our old dog Cedie needs arthritis meds too. Poor thing has a hard time getting up from laying down, and a doubly hard time coming up and down the three steps to get into or out of the house.

Our other dog, Katie, is chewing on her dew claws. I think it's time to have them removed. I think she is also working on a hot spot. Oh boy! The up keep on pets is sometimes more involved then the kids!

I've been having some ongoing difficulties with homeschooling this year with our youngest son. He is the last one left in homeschooling. We are strongly considering Christian School for him next year. There is an open house coming up soon at the school. I know our son will bulk at it, but we are praying for guidance with that issue.

A few other issues happening too, but such is life. ~~ Our church is still studying Romans chapter 12 for their Lenten study. We have 80 people in various small groups that meet during the week! It's exciting to see such an interest in this study! This study follows a book written by a pastor named Chip Ingram. It's called "R12-Living on the Edge." It leads the readers in examining their walk with Christ and how to grow as a Christian. My motto lately has been "Let go and let God". Something I need to remember more often.

Well, I have given up drinking coffee. Not just for Lent, but for good. I saw my doctor about acid reflux and he explained how the oils in coffee (reg. and decaf) and chocolate and peppermint, work to keep the end of the esophagus open, and when your stomach is churning up it's acids, they can more easily splash up into the esophagus and cause the acid reflux. Tea doesn't have those same oils. So now I am a tea totaler. I haven't had a cup since. The doctor said I could have one 6 oz. cup a day, but you know, I know I would want more than that~ so I haven't had any. Only a few times lately have I longed for one. But tea is good, so that's where I am.

The flowers outside are starting to bloom. My old friends up north, and my son A also, are expecting 12 inches of snow tomorrow. The school buses are passing the house now, and I am hungry, so I will end. Hoping homeschool co-op is great today. It usually is. Have a blessed day everyone!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-30T08:44:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday- Canoe Trip

2011-03-23T18:34:00.000-04:00

Psalm 139

2011-03-21T08:26:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite psalms.

Psalm 139:1 ~ 16

   You have searched me, LORD,
   and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
   you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
   you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
   you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
   and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
   too lofty for me to attain.

   Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
   and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
   the night will shine like the day,
   for darkness is as light to you

For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth

.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

These are all happy children whom I know and enjoy to be in the presence of.

Praying for an unborn child whom I may never know or see.

God knows and sees this little one and loves them.

I am praying that your mother chooses life.

Remembering a Friend

2011-03-18T10:16:00.000-04:00

A year ago yesterday our dear friend Sondra Ball passed away.

She and her husband Mario were our oldest friends, of 30 years. She was a lot of things for many people. I miss her a lot. Recently I thought about calling her to discuss some homeschooling issues I knew she had dealt with. But then I remembered.... I will have to wait till I see her up above.

Here is one of her many poems.

Over the Fields

by Sondra Ball

Over the fields

covered with great beds of iris

and with flowering reeds,

he carries his canoe

and places it in the river.

He floats

past opening flowers,

under young maple leaves,

sitting very silently

and very still,

not even lifting an oar.

Swans nesting

on islands of tufted grass

do not even waken

as the canoe slides past them

on the brown current.

The sun sinks into the west.

The canoe with the silent man

keeps drifting

slowly and steadily

toward the sea.

East and West Unite.

2011-03-16T09:47:00.003-04:00

We have witnessed the union of the East and West right here at home!

This is my son N and his girlfriend M from Japan. They will be returning to Japan this month at least that is the plan right now. When the date of departure arrives, they will have to evaluate the situation over there and the radiation levels for where they will be living. The plan right now is for him to teach English as a second language. Please keep them both in prayer.

This is pre-tsunami and earth quake. I pray this wasn't ruined in the disaster! So much of beauty was just wiped away. So many lives lost.

Father we pray that you be with those people over in that land that is foreign to us. Comfort them and help the disaster to stop growing any worse. It is unimaginable for us who do not live with these conditions. Bless these who are your children too.

Amen.

The Romans Are Coming!

2011-03-07T09:19:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we started our Romans 12 Campaign in church.

We are doing a study of Romans chapter 12 for Lent. We are using a book called True Spirituality According to Jesus by Chip Ingram. It is a really great study. By the time this is over, anyone taking part will understand what true Christianity is all about. ~~ We have lots of small group studies happening. Yesterday we talked about it during church worship time, then there was a study down the street at the coffee shop from 11:30 to 12:30.

We had a study at our house at 7pm and during the week there will be several study groups meeting. This will go on for 6 weeks. ~ Here are the Romans who barged into church !

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Romans 1:16 - 17

Wordless Wednesday -- Family & Friends

2011-02-23T08:46:00.000-05:00

The Basset Puppies

2011-02-21T16:30:00.000-05:00

Two weeks or so ago we visited my brother in law's farm in Maryland. If you are a reader of my blog, you may remember that I told you I had a story about the basset hound puppies. Here they are Marley and Stitch!

As the story goes, it was a cold wintery night with sub 0 degree winds blowing through the trees. Tom, the kind hearted guy that he is, decided to bring in the two little basset puppies into the kitchen of the house, so they wouldn't be so cold out in their pen. (They do have a good size dog house with lots of straw,and they really aren't that little at one year old.) He penned them into the kitchen so they wouldn't pee on the floors in the rest of the house... just in case that were to occur. Then Tom went upstairs to bed. Some time later, he heard barking in the kitchen. "I am not going down to see what it is!" he protested, and tried to go back to sleep. Finally after not being able to sleep he stumbled downstairs to find flames rising high out of the burners on the gas stove in the kitchen and the dogs barking frantically at them! The puppies had stood up against the stove and pushed the knobs into an on position and a paper bad someone had left on the stove was blazing away!~ Tom put out the fire and went back to bed after strongly scalding the puppies.

A few days later, Tom again put the puppies in the kitchen because of the low temperatures out side again. He made sure there were no bags or paper anywhere near the stove this time, and he went to bed. Once again he was awakened by barking puppies in the middle of the night! He again stumbled down the steps again and this time there were no flames shooting up in the kitchen, but there was the strong smell of gas! It was the puppies again! They had turned on the stove knobs again! So this time he took the knobs off of the stove and now they are on the windowsill right next to the stove!
The puppies do not come in unless the weather is very severe, and they haven't learned to open the refrigerator ..... yet!

This is Holly~ the mama of the delinquent puppies!

These are the other dogs in our lives. These pictures were taken just a few days ago on our front porch.

(Starting at the left) Katie, Yuka, Mercedes (the old lady of the three.)

Yuka (our grand puppy) was a bit dirty here- she had been swimming in the lake

and had waded through the mud!

And Katie..... she is the baby of the group at 2 years old, and always

tries to have the last word!

Chickens in Maryland

2011-02-15T09:23:00.002-05:00

I have been so busy lately that I haven't had a chance to keep up with my blog! But right now I am taking a few spare moments to catch up! ~~ I wanted to post some pictures of my sister's farm and her chickens that we saw in Maryland when we visited there!

These two pictures are of the chickens roosting at the end of the day. Leggie is the white rooster above with the big comb.

My sister Lynn with her chickens! (Leggie at the right)

The Guineas

This is me and our son J standing by this huge old tree in the woods on the property! It must be about 300 years old!

I wonder who lives here?

This is my sister's wonderful old house! It has a fabulous kitchen with a big brick fireplace that has a wood stove in it. The fireplace keeps the whole place toasty warm! We didn't get to see the deer, but we did see some wood peckers and cardinals out the kitchen windows!

We had a great visit with my sister and her husband! We want to come back in warmer weather and camp on the extensive back yard and take a hike or two! And I can't forget to mention, we want to collect some eggs too from the coop! My sister Lynn's blog can be found at http://razzberrycorner.blogspot.com/

A Vacation to the Plantation!

2011-01-31T08:14:00.000-05:00

We took two weeks vacation a week ago. We went down south and visited my sister at razzberry corner (blog) and stayed with my husband's brother who lives and is the caretaker for this big old plantation! It's right on the Patuxent River. His house is about 100 feet from the river!

There's a long walk to the dock where there was still a sailboat kind of frozen into the ice!

Here's my son J walking down to the dock. He has adopted this coat of mine! I think he thinks it's "cool", but at least it's warm! It was so cold with the wind off of the river! He has the white lab Lilly with him. (That's Tom's house in the background straight back from the dock.)

My brother in law, Tom has 4 dogs. One is a white lab named Lilly, actually owned by his daughter, but she is out west working and living on a ranch.

Lilly is such a friendly dog and loves to be with people! Labs are usually friendly critters!

And there is Holly. She is a beautiful Basset Hound. We loved the loooong ears! I had wanted to adopt a Basset from the shelter before we got our last dog, but my husband said we didn't need a howling dog living right next door to the church! He could imagine standing at the pulpit at the early service in the summer with the church windows open, and hearing the dog howling. No he said! ~~

Holly had several puppies a little over a year ago. There are two who still live at the house. Milo and Sunshine. They are two characters to say the least! But I will save that for my next blog!

Time for Basketball!

2011-01-20T07:49:00.000-05:00

It's basketball time again! We play with the Upward Basketball League! It's a Christian League and we love it!

The cute little cheerleaders

Go Lakers!!

Friday

2011-01-14T22:19:00.002-05:00

We did 1/2 a day of school today. We did catch up stuff, plus reading and devotions. We use a book called "Devotions for boys" and are reading "The far side of the mountain" by Jean Craighead George. We already read her earlier book "My side of the mountain." We really enjoy the adventure and can't wait to find out what is going to happen next. I will have to find another good book for when we finish this. We are almost there. We really should do a biograghy.
Right now J is down at our church community center playing basketball. My husband went down too. It's a fun place for the kids.

Here are some pictures we took today and recently; fun times in and out of our house!

Katie had to sit on the toboggan with J!!

In the kitchen

The pink ones on the left are the flowers that my Mom just gave me for my birthday!

Aren't they pretty?

I love the bright colors to brighten up the kitchen!

That's it for today. Now it's time for me to get to bed so I can start over again tomorrow.

Word of wisdom I gained today:

"He who is the strongest, does what is right the longest! "

Lord willing!

Recipe for a New Year

2011-01-09T09:03:00.000-05:00

(I borrowed this from my blogging friend at "Stitchinlife". I hope she doesn't mind. I feel we are kindred spirits, so I figured she wouldn't)

New Years Recipe

Author Unknown

Take twelve whole months,
Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness, hate, and jealousy,
Make them just as fresh and clean as possible.

Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty,
or thirty-one different parts,
but don't make up the whole batch at once.
Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients.

Mix well into each day one part of faith,
one part of patience, one part of courage,
and one part of work.

Add to each day one part of hope,
faithfulness, generosity, and kindness.
Blend with one part prayer,
one part meditation, and one good deed.

Season the whole with a dash of good spirits,
a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play,
and a cupful of good humor.

Pour all of this into a vessel of love.
Cook thoroughly over radiant joy,
garnish with a smile,
and serve with quietness, unselfishness,
and cheerfulness.

You're bound to have a Happy New Year.

Community is what you were created for!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2011-01-08T08:32:00.000-05:00

Loving it!!

Grapevines in snow

The lake

Yuka ~ our snow dog!

Tribute to Mario

2011-01-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

A dear friend of ours passed away last week.It was a total shock for all of us. ~~ He was such a quiet gentle spirit. His wife, also a dear friend, passed away last March. Cancer took her. A car accident took Mario.
One of his passions was his photography. Here are a few of his shots.

These are only a few of his collection. A glimpse into the spirit of the man.

He was an advocate of peace and justice and equality.

A true friend. We look forward to seeing him again someday.

And so Christmas has come....

2010-12-28T09:28:00.000-05:00

Christmas has come but not gone. Christmas is here with me and mine (hopefully) all the time. At least I try and make it that way. Christmas = Christ mass. I want to celebrate Christ everyday, so...... everyday should be Christmas! Right? Here are some of my favorite shots of our Christmas this year.

Our Christmas Cantada at Church. It turned out beautifully!

Christmas Cookies!

Joseph was MIA this year! I think he's still in the garage in a boxed marked "dining room!"

He was separated during our move because of a broken hand!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...... well..... no chimney so they got hung by the stairway with care!

Santa! Where's your red suit! Red presents instead!

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FAMILY IS A GIFT FROM ABOVE

Son # 1- (in order of age)

from left to right> son # 4, son # 3, friend,

son # 2

Daughter #2

Our puppy thinks she's a lap dog!

Our Sunday School Christmas program cast

and last but not least....

The 76ers and Christmas Cookies

2010-12-09T11:31:00.000-05:00

We were surprised with 2 tickets to the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Cleavland Cavaliers game on Tuesday! So my husband and youngest son J went to the game and had a great time! (My husband wasn't totally familiar with my camera, which he used, so some pictures came out blurry.)

Of course my daughter and I cautioned my hubby not to let J use the bathroom by himself and to keep an eye on him. Sometimes husbands are lax with that kind of stuff. But everything turned out well. And the 76ers won to boot, so it was a really good time! Only thing better would have been if Labron James were still on the Cavaliers team and J actually got to see him. But maybe we will still get to see him this season. J is such a basketball fan! He is playing Upward Basketball right now. That's a Christian basketball league. It's really great!

So now with the rest of our week. This is our last week till after Christmas. I normally take off the week before Christmas and the week afterwards. Today's list consists of school, household chores, decorating and baking cookies. I started baking the other day; a little late for me to start! So far I made Mint Chocolate Chunk Cookies. The family ate half and I saved (and hid) half for Christmas presents..

Here is a picture:

I would have included the recipe, but I just took it from the Andes Chocolate Chunks package, and it got thrown away. But it's the basic chocolate chip cookie recipes using Andes Chocolate Chunks, which are little chunks of half chocolate and half green mint. They taste heavenly before and after cooking!

Today is peanut butter and maybe some regular chocolate chippers! We shall see......

A Visit to Dicken's Village in Macys in Philadelphia, Pa.

2010-12-06T15:41:00.000-05:00

We took a van load of Sunday School to Philadelphia.

We went to Macy's to see the light display.

Macy's was all decorated for Christmas.

And then we went to see Dicken's village as in The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

The ghost of Jacob Marley visiting Scrooge his old business partner.

Bob Crachett

Scrooge with the ghost of Christmas past.

The Ghost of Christmas present.

The ghost of Christmas future with Scrooge viewing a future scene in his life.

I really enjoyed the whole thing, but later my son J said he thought it was really creepy the way the figures moved slowly. They looked scary! And the next day in church one of the girls told me the same thing!

We just finished reading The Christmas Carol here at home, so J could at least identify the scenes in the story, creepy or not.

So that was our big outing on Saturday.

Back on the ranch, daughter D was snuggling with the furry friends at home!

Thanksgiving this year

2010-11-28T19:01:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is over. We so looked forward to it, worked hard getting ready for it, and now it's done.
We had 18 people here for Thanksgiving. First was our daughter who came home from our old neighborhood 170 miles up north where she was trying to settle. Didn't quite work out, so she came home. She brought her friend A and they are both looking for work now.

That was a week before Thanksgiving.

Next was Rob and his wife Debbie, and their two little boys. Debbie (and daughter D too) was such a great help to me in preparing the Thanksgiving feast. Then the next day came Mario (Rob's dad and our old friend), and our friends from our old town- Donna & Bill, and their 3 boys. Oh yes, I forgot our son Dave who came Wednesday night from Phillie.

Not a girl to be found in the midst of them!

At 11 AM our son A, also up in our old neighborhood, discovered he and his girlfriend had no transportation down here. Their plans had fallen through. They were too late for the bus and kind of stranded. So... dear old Dad came to the rescue and drove all the way up to get them. 170 miles up and 170 back down again!

(They caught the bus back the next day!)

So- Dad and son A and his girlfriend got back late, but we all shared a Thanksgiving feast. It was great family and friend time.

Thanksgiving Menu

Roast Turkey with stuffing

Gravy

Spiral sliced Ham with glaze

White mashed Potatoes

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Aspargras

Coleslaw with Pineapple in it.

Apple Sauce

Collard Greens with Ham hocks

Chicken-oyster Soup

Muffins: Zucchini, Banana nut & White

2 Pumpkin Pies

Pecan Pie

Apple Crumb Pie

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Strawberry/Orange Jello Mold with peaches & pineapple

Chocolate Cake with choc. icing and bananas on top

Vanilla Ice Cream

Tee Pee Cupcakes (made with help from little hands!)

And that was our Thanksgiving feast. Lots of prep and lots of fun, and tired cooks at the end, but all well worth it.

God has been so gracious, blessing us with such wonderful family and friends!