Posted on in Family

Twinkle Lights

When I was a child, to me, the twinkle lights on the Christmas tree were just wonderful! I don’t mean garish flashing entire strands. These were soft white lights that would turn off and on randomly, thus the twinkling effect. 

Several years ago after Thanksgiving dinner at our daughter’s house, we took the Grandgirls with us to Target for my husband’s first experience of Pre-Black Friday shopping. Low and behold they were selling twinkle lights! I already had one strand to put on our tree, but I thought a new strand would look lovely around the sliding glass door.

So we stood in the miles long line to purchase those and one or two other things. The next day our youngest Grandgirl helped me hang them around the door. I gave her the honor of plugging them in. Will never forget her comment, which Bob and I still repeat with giggles,

“Are they supposed to twitch like that?” 

Obviously the magic was lost on her. Love that girl and her original thinking! 😉 

Posted on in Marriage and Memories

The Firepit

We have had a fire pit for a while. I rarely go outside for the fires. It does not get dark until it also starts getting cold. But after the turmoil of Bob’s illness last year, when he asked me to join him for a fire one evening in November, I said yes.

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We bundled up and stepped into the world of our ancestors. Yes, our fire was tidy and we could go indoors anytime we got really uncomfortable. However, sitting there listening to the logs cracking, watching the sparks fly upwards in the breeze, it was just calming  and brought us in touch with things beyond wi-fi, phones and computers, etc.

It worried me that Bob was breathing over that fire as he played with arranging the logs for the best air movement. I cannot let fear rule my life. I relaxed and enjoyed the fire and time with my husband.

Posted on in Humor

Holy Water

There is a lovely Catholic place that I occasionally go to for retreat or special speakers. I was walking through the cafeteria one day and spotted something that has made me giggle repeatedly. Have you ever had a large jug of grape juice in your refrigerator? This was a repurposed jug sitting on a shelf.

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On closer examination I saw what it was used for.

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Of course, silly me. There had to be some way to get the water into the sanctuary. It just made me giggle! Lord, have mercy upon me.

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Posted on in Amazing Creations

Wow at the Museum!

I have never seen anything like this! We visited the Cincinnati Art museum to see this prayer mandala created by the Tibetan monks.

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It was absolutely stunning. Made entirely using colored sand. The monks lay down the layers with hollow tubes and a tool that vibrates the sand into the tiny stunning pattern above.

I found a video of a similar mandala at You tube. Not exactly the same design, but it has a close up that shows how they vibrate the sand out of the tube. We did not see the opening or closing ceremonies. If they come to a museum near you, be certain to go see their creation. They sweep up the sand when finished to represent the impermanence of life.

 

If you are ever able to see one of these creations all I can say is GO!

 

 

 

 

Posted on in Humor

New Product Old Saying

My mother had an old saying that had to do with a product called boot black. It was similar to shoe polish.

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When my mother thought someone was ignorant or had no common sense, she would say, “He doesn’t know shxx from Shinola.”

Now there is a new product with that name. Makes me wonder if they are aware of the old saying! Hand assembled bicycles and new stylish watches.

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The Shinola company!

 

Posted on in Memories, Traveling

Kentucky or Ireland?

While traveling in Ireland we saw these rock walls over and over in almost every county we visited. The labor alone to build one of these boggled my mind. Evidently the practice was to take the stones from the fields and build border fences. I cannot imagine being that strong!

If you have ever driven through Kentucky you might have encountered a creation such as this!

Ky not Ireland 1In Ireland we thought of Kentucky! Guess my Grandmother Macdonald’s family brought their practices with them!

Posted on in Cooking

Hard Work among a Group

United Christian Outreach joined the Christian Help Center to put on a “Turkey Crusade.” These are the bags of groceries that were donated for the event. Mind you, the donations had to be collected, sorted, and bagged according to the pre-registered needs of each family.

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Our home church hosted the event. We were some of the people who met with families to listen to their prayer requests and then pray with them about each concern.

Then each family was given their groceries and one or two turkeys to prepare for their celebration of Thanksgiving. Sure hoping their celebrations are joyous and festive!

 

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Nature, Traveling

Rocks and Your Voice

Luke 19:35-40 (HCSB) Then they brought it (the donkey) to Jesus, and after throwing their robes on the donkey, they helped Jesus get on it. As He was going along, they were spreading their robes on the road. Now He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: “The King who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!”  Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”

They obeyed by finding the donkey for him. They helped him get on it.

I saw this in South Dakota.

Cathedral spires and He said “if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.” Can you see the man in the right photo above, just waiting to cry out to God in praise? I saw him.

This was by far my favorite though! I see a stately woman in  an evergreeen gown with a turban-like head dress, waiting in prayer and praise before the Lord. Like His handmaiden.stones-cry-1.jpg

Have to wonder if Jesus remembered later when He prayed in the Garden that “as they came near the path down the Mount of Olives the whole crowd had been praising God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen God do.” He knew abandonment and sorrow. I believe we can bring Him joy by praising and crying out to Him with joy now!

Hope you will listen to this song all the way through. When I play it I want to just sing it over and over!

One less stone, one more voice to praise Him!

Posted on in Family

Maybe I fixed it?

My links were not working.

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I might have fixed the link between the two blogs that I write?

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Click on the message to the right and test it out for me.

Comment either way.

I need ALL THE HELP I can get! Just ask WordPress. They educate me often. They are wonderful to work with.

HOPING! this is the right fix

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Posted on in Amazing Creations, Nature

Autumn!!

It is SO difficult to capture a photo of falling leaves! There is one upper left!

The drama of autumn has been happening very rapidly here. Just thought I’d share the changes.

Loved waking up to this flaming tree in the distance!

Same trees less than one week later!

This morning some leaves were falling one by one. Then a gust of wind took bunches at a time. The back hill is mostly naked tree trunks now. We can see more activity with the birds who remain. The grandeur of watching the seasons change that hill is one reason I delight in this house. Our lot is pie shaped and the back hill is just natural woods. It is as if we have a different backyard four times a year!