When we drove across the country a few years ago we often saw fields of yellow in the distance. Once we asked a farmer-type of person what those yellow flowers were. His answer, “Damn yellow cross pollinators.” That was a variety I had never heard of !
Driving through our vicinity recently I saw a yellow field. I told Bob I wanted to get a photo to see what the plants were.
On a sunny day, which we have not had many lately, these were glowing in the distance!
It looked as if the folks at this construction site had sewn the seeds for this plant.
Sure looks like damn yellow cross pollinators!
“Hairy buttercup (Ranunculus sardous) is a native European weed. It’s indigenous to the Canary Islands and North Africa, but has spread throughout the world. Its saffron-colored flowers are a common sight in fields and pastures. The plant gets its name because it has hairy stems and leaves.” https://www.picturethisai.com/wiki/Ranunculus_sardous.html
That nifty app lets you upload a photo and it identifies. How did we ever live without the internet? Oh I remember, farmers who told us things like “damn yellow cross pollinators” for identification!
Enjoy your yellow fields if they appear in your vicinity! Call them whatever you like!
During Bible study in the room where we do not usually meet I saw a tiny figure of Jesus on a high window sill. I was curious where that came from and who climbed up there to position it.
When we went to the Smoky Mountains the motel we stayed at had the same figures lined up on the computer monitor where we checked in! She told me the story about the man whose idea it was. She said if you read his story online he will send you some for free. I read it, did not find how to get any for free. I did find how to order them from Amazon. I decided, why not?
Recently we went to a liquor store in Northern Kentucky where the selections are much larger than the local stores in Ohio. I put some figures in my pocket.
There was a Banana Pudding man, selling his homemade desserts. I approached him with my hand closed saying, “This is a southern thing.” He put his hand out, palm open saying, ” I’m southern.” I placed the Jesus figure in his palm. I spoke, “We can all use a little Jesus.” He loved it!
When we got to the cash register I told the young man who rang up our order, “I saw your cross.” I gave him one. He turned to his friend as we were walking out and exclaimed with excitement, “Look what she gave me!” His friend took it in his hand and began to walk away with it.
“Hey, that’s mine! Give it back! I’m going to show Susie!!” He was very indignant.
I returned to his register saying, “No need to fight boys. There is enough Jesus to go around.” I gave him 2 more. Now when my computer was letting me type this up it put Hesed in place of Jesus. Yes, there is enough hesed to go around, too! (Hesed: a Hebrew word that encompasses a range of meanings including loving-kindness, mercy, and covenant loyalty, often describing the faithful and generous love that God has for His people and the love that individuals should show to one another. It is not just a feeling but an action that reflects deep commitment and kindness.) Was God using my keyboard there?
In the parking lot was a woman with large cross around her neck. I gave her one saying, “Here is a reminder we all need a little Jesus.” She was enthusiastic about Jesus and told me her Jesus is MUCH larger than this. She declared she needs a lot of Jesus! I assured her my Jesus is much larger than this plastic piece.
Some of you might object to the tiny dolls that say Jesus loves you. I would have to say that anything that sparks this much positive conversation about the Savior is just fine with me.
What have you done lately to share your faith in the Savior? Was it this pleasant for all?
If this posted previously it might be worth another laugh! Not certain everyone got to see it. Bob and I cannot stop laughing about this. We saw this on the news. There is just something about those legs that keep kicking that tickles us tremendously! Click on the link to see the video.
And then the techs came on the scene with a STRETCHER and carried the robot off. I was laughing wondering why they did not just throw the pieces in a box to be examined and reassembled later?
Here is another view! Notice they did not sweep up the pieces 🙂
I wonder what the flat piece was on its head? Oh what man tries to do to imitate God who made men, their brains and all things in heaven and on earth.
For years I have enjoyed two ginger snaps with my morning coffee. To me it is a delicious way to begin the day! I dip a ginger snap in my coffee and enjoy the flavor on my tongue. I take a sip of coffee. I dip another ginger snap and repeat the process. I usually buy Stauffer’s. They brag about being made with real ginger. I can have a couple as they have no frosting and are not likely to send my glucose soaring.
Recently Bob visited Trader Joe’s market where he picked up a tub of their Triple Ginger Snaps. Theirs are made with crystallized ginger, ginger puree, and ground ginger. Yum! We have enjoyed them before. He was disappointed when we opened them and it looked as if they had been dropped multiple times during shipping from California. I told him my friends say the broken ones have only half the calories. We were both content to eat some broken pieces. Mind you, not all of them were broken!
On a recent morning I made my coffee and got out the cookie tin. I grabbed a ginger snap and dunked it in my coffee. 80% of it disappeared into the coffee! Oh NO!! I had forgotten about the shipping damage. It had not looked broken, but obviously was. I got a tablespoon out of the drawer thinking I could get out the piece. Nope it was gone.
When I got to the bottom of my coffee cup later in the morning I was laughing that I had created Ginger Snap soup!
Do you have a recipe for ginger snap soup as easy as mine? Not likely to serve it to anyone but me!
Dunker Styles
Guess the photo defines me as a gone too far dunker! I am more careful now with these maybe broken, but not showing their cracks ginger snaps!
The skunks love to come through our back yard. Somehow their mighty bad fragrance drifts into our bedroom windows. It literally is enough to gag me. So I went in search of a solution.
Online it said they do not like unexpected noises or lights. Well, I figured getting a motion sensitive light was too expensive to begin with. Mom always said that hanging “tin pans” (or now aluminum pie tins) would repel critters.
Tin pans tend to rust and we simply do not use them much any more. Not even certain I could buy one if I wanted to. Maybe I could try an empty vegetable can? Aluminum pans though come with all kinds of tasty treats like fruit pies from the bakery or crumb crusts from Keebler. I have been collecting them.
I moved two small shepherd hooks close to our bedroom window. I put out aluminum pans on yarn strings. Bob saw they needed to be anchored there so he added a wooden clamp clothes pin. The winds have been strong and relentless lately. The yarn wraps around the hook. The wind has even blown a pan off the string a time or two. I refuse to surrender to the stench of skunk.
At first the clacking of the pans bothered me, but then I would remember their purpose. Eventually the sound just became a song the wind played for us. And I am happy to report we have only had one skunk (that we know of) stinking up the yard!
Someone mentioned that the skunk sprays because we have a dog. I have to say I do not agree as the dog is rarely even allowed into the back yard! She is more than likely sunbathing on the cordoned off deck if she is out back.
The winds are gusty again today. I have restrung a pan for the hook. As soon as I can get out without freezing or being blown away I will hang it up again.
Wind is in many places in Scripture. Psalm 104 says God walks upon the wings of the wind. In Job 38 God answered Job out of the whirlwind. And John 3:8 says
The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
Listen for the wind. Avoid the skunks. Rest in the power of the Almighty God.
I was privileged to attend the Stephen Ministry regional meeting last weekend. Stephen Ministry is designed by professionals to train lay people to assist in caring for others through the ministry of listening. Stephen ministry materials are used in all 33 correctional facilities in the State of Ohio! “Since 1975, Stephen Ministries has trained more than 70,000 leaders from the United States, Canada and 29 other countries, who in turn have equipped over 600,000 volunteer caregivers. These caregivers have provide emotional and spiritual support to millions of people affected by cancer,divorce, job loss, chronic illness, grief, financial difficulties, and other crises and life challenges.”
This was an all day educational meeting with boxed lunch (delicious) and new people to meet and befriend. I still think the Stephen Ministry logo should be a large listening ear!
There were folks from all over Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan and likely other places I missed. The speakers were from the St. Louis, Missouri headquarters.
The last time I attended something like this I was younger. This time I was wondering if I could stay awake and not get bored during the lectures. I was pleasantly surprised. The sessions were well run and entertaining. They kept the dialogue moving with NO monotone voices. There were breaks to take a stretch, go to the restrooms or get a snack. It was great.
The Agenda for the Day
The news about the new program to help churches combat the mental health crisis was particularly interesting. There certainly is a crisis in this country. Stephen Ministry leaders have noticed and have been planning materials for a couple of years. They are not ready to be released yet, but certainly sound promising.
The materials for “how to care for and relate to those with cancer and their loved ones” especially appealed to me trying to relate to my neighbors who are both ill. The text book “Cancer, Now What” is used in many cancer facilities all around the country. I bought two copies. One for our neighbors and one for me. Hey! No shipping cost when bought at the conference 🙂 The book looks daunting at first with over 300 pages, but there are blank pages, it is done in large print, and the short chapters are ideal for those who are ill or who have “brain fog.” Here is the link if you are interested https://cancernowwhat.org/default.cfm
I took lots of notes as you can see from this page alone.
And then my humor kicked in. They told us to turn to page 12 in our celebration program. At a glance I thought it said something about shoplifting. I was like ??What?? The actual title was Spotlight Shifting. When I told the other 2 Stephen ministers from our church about my reading error, our fearless leader could not stop laughing. I’m nothing if not entertaining!!
Yikes, Molly!
And each time I say to God, “I am trying, Lord.” He replies, “Yes, dear, very trying.”
Defined as: a person whose personality is characterized by introversion: a typically reserved or quiet person who tends to be introspective and enjoys spending time alone.
So stand me up in front of the congregation, say a prayer over me, applaud .. NOT my cup of tea. Yet to be commissioned as a Stephen Minister I had to do just that. Our three priests and leader of Stephen Ministry and two other Stephen Ministers prayed over me as I knelt. Then there was a reception with cake and congratulations and it was all just difficult for me. The only easy thing was agreeing to serve the Lord through Stephen Ministry.
Pastor Roger is short so you can’t see him here. You can see the soles of my shoes!
Bob and I used to serve on a marriage ministry weekend and our friend Dan always told the people that God chose four introverts to speak to them. The word does say
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God.1 Corinthians 127-29
The only thing I boasted about was thanking the Lord for getting me through it! We do serve an amazing God. This God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above ALL that we can ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:20 Verse 21 says to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
A friend gave me a devotional book for Christmas entitled Amazing Grace. It has a devotion for morning and evening. I am grateful she purchased it for me. I would not have been likely to do it as I own many devotional books. This one has been great! When I read the offering for the morning of February 16 I was deeply blessed. The author mentions being able to receive a sincere compliment.
“This is tricky for many of us, as we tread that fine line we’ve walked since little girls, the one between graciousness and fear of appearing vain.
“One of the many wonderful things about life in Christ is that we can cast this worry aside. Once we grasp that every good thing about us is a gift from him, we are free to appreciate being appreciated. Not only that, we also get to call attention to the awesome work he does through our weak places. Consider responding like this: “Thank you! Let me tell you, that was all God. My human side wanted to run for the hills. I can’t believe the courage he gave me to hang in there.”
I almost hollered AMEN! as I read this during breakfast. (I was afraid I would I make Bob choke on his toast!) I just knew I had to post it to you!
So try to remember this quote next time someone compliments you upon your work with God, for God. He alone is most worthy of all glory and praise, thanksgiving and honor! Revelation 7:12
A friend sent me this and I thought you would enjoy it! “Douglas Florian is one of my favorite children’s poets. Here is his poem called “Cabin Fever”
I've done the wash. I've swept the floor I've fed the cat And fixed the door.
I've read three books and last week's news, and for the fourth time polished the shoes.
It seems like years
since I've had fun.
I look outside
For signs of sun.
I bite my nails.
I crawl the walls.
For lack of space
I pace the halls.
My mother warned me
of cabin fever.
I was a fool
to not believe her.
Sound familiar? They say we might return to more temperature in the Ohio valley soon. I am liking the stay-at-homeness, but will also relish he release to come and go as we please.
We are having a laminate floor installed in teh sewing/sitting room this week. That ought to tear this up, dirty things up and take time to put together again!
The house has been mostly closed up for a couple months now. Occasionally though there is a gnat possibly coming form the basil plants I brought in for the winter? It is especially annoying when I am reading my iPad mini in bed and the gnat visits the screen lit up in the dark bedroom. O try to squish them then if I can. So tiny, so annoying.
I got up one morning and retrieved my denture out of the cup where it rested all night. Yuck! this is what I found.
Gnat drowned in the Polident.
Our lot borders on a lot that is outside of our subdivision. We chose it on purpose because they have large trees and their lots run perpendicular to ours, creating some interesting sights. The houses over there are not built like ours, more unique in design. We have become good acquaintances with the neighbors closest to ours.
Recently it was warm here both day and night. I was delighted to open the bedroom window to get some fresh air into the house. And then it hit me! WHAM!
Roaming the neighborhood and stinking up our bedroom! SO disappointing! No fresh air for us!!
Just a couple nights later it was really cold and the windows were shut tight. I asked Bob if he smelled something burning? I have had terrible sinus trouble the last couple months and do not always trust my olfactory senses. He smelled something but could not identify it. A few minutes later we were both certain. That darn skunk was back and even with the windows closed tight the bedroom was filling up with nauseating odor.
Another question to ask when we get to heaven, “Why God? What were you thinking with the skunk?”
Online sources have a few ideas on how to deter the skunks. Most of them won’t work for us and I have no intention of installing a motion sensor light either. They likely live in my neighbor’s fallen branches or overgrown vegetation. Might even bee under their porch, though I have never witnessed any activity there. They do have two dogs though. Hope neither gets sprayed with Pepe’s cologne!
NOT cute!!
Go back to sleep you dratted mammal! Finding it very difficult to thank God for this black and white pest. I read that they eat some of the garden pests. Wish they would choose someone else’s garden!
I keep an Amazon wish list. My friend Lisa is rolling her eyes about now. It is an easy way to let my family know what I am wishing for. I was delighted to receive two of the items from my wish list this year at Christmas.
When we were making cookies Bob mentioned how some of my spice jars are too small to get the measuring spoons into. He said we should get different jars. These particular jars are from our first year of marriage and I love them for just that reason! I also keep spices in there that I do not use very often such as ground cloves, allspice, etc. So on Amazon I found measuring spoons that have rectangular measuring areas. And I received them as a gift. I just went and tried them out.
All the smaller ones fit the jars. The full teaspoon does not, but hey, I am willing to measure 1/2 twice if need be! And usually these spices are called for in small amounts.
Our son had to explain to our grandson that older people ask for things like kitchen tools because that is what they want. Yep, these are my new toys! I also got a stainless steel rack for my turkey roaster. The roasting pan is fine, but the rack had a seal on it that was starting to come off. Now I can roast a turkey with confidence in the pan and rack.
And to my delight I also got the 12-fifteen-stick packs of Freedent chewing gum. The local stores stopped carrying it. Makes no sense to me! More and more of us are wearing dentures and partials. This is the one gum that does not stick to those appliances. So why discontinue it? The only place I have been able to find it is Amazon. (Sorry, Lisa.)
“WON’T STICK to most dental work”
Dan, I guess these are my sugarplums?
As of this writing, Bob and I have not shared our gifts to one another yet. I am certain there will be more favorite things to come this week. I am especially looking forward to our church services the 24th and 25th. May your holiday also be filled with joy!
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 