I've made a last minute decision to load up the car and visit my sister in Florida. Hubby can't go (pout), and I hate driving in big cities. Keep us in your prayers! I plan to get home late Wednesday.
Have a blessed week!
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Friday, July 22, 2005
Fair Time!
There was a important meeting in the pasture. Do you see all of them standing with their heads together on the other side of the stream? Except for the black-white face--she's the one who will warn the others if they have been detected. They've pulled the wool over the eyes of a lot of folks--"contented cows". Ha! They're planning a way to expand their property rights to include the corn field to the west and the lush grass to the east!
Today marks the beginning of the 2005 fairs. The children will soon be up and washing their cattle, packing their show box with the equipment they need, and putting together a lunch for the day.
My sister will also be in Wisconsin this weekend. If I don’t post everyday, you can assume that I am simply overwhelmed with activity. I’ll be back with pictures!
Blessings!
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
An Evening on the Town
Another zoo photo...who is this?? Love the tail!
I had a wonderful time last night. Seven of us who use to attend a women's Bible study a few years a go met for an evening out at the Olive Garden. Some have moved away from here, and we had the fun of catching up on each other's news.
No time to chat--it's swim lesson time here and I need to be dressed and ready to go by 8:00 to get there on time.
Have a great day!
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Where the Wild Things Grow
Adorable! This is one of the places my daughter
visited on her trip to Washington D.C.
I’m off. I’m heading into the deep, dark forest where the plants grow tall and the bugs abound. If I don’t come back, please send the puppy dogs out to find me.
Well, I am really only going out to the garden to pull the weeds (which seem to grow even in the drought), pick the beans, and attack the little green creepy things on my kohl crops. I’ll pull the pumpkin and squash vines back into the garden so that the lawn mower doesn’t get them, and I’ll probably water them a while. Wish me luck!
What do you grow in your garden?Sunday, July 17, 2005
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Early let us seek Thy favor, early let us do Thy will;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! We will early turn to Thee.
Blessèd Lord and only Savior, with Thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Words attributed to Dorothy Thrupp
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I remember singing Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us when I was a child. I woke this morning with this song playing in my head. It brings back memories of feeling comforted knowing I had a loving God who cared for me, a small child. I am still comforted by these words.
I have reason to give thanks today: my daughter has arrived safely home. She had a wonderful time, and I am glad she was able to go, do and see so many things. Now she is gathered back under my wings, and my nest is once more complete.
I had a wonderful time yesterday. I visited with Donna B. She and her daughters treated me to a great meal at Whole Foods. She taught me a few things about driving in the big city and Madison parking lots (right, Donna?) We broused a large bookstore and chattered and shared good things. I then rushed off to pick up my daughter when she called to say the bus was arriving.
I'm tired today and I am glad this is our day of rest.
"Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou has loved us, love us still!"
Blessings.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Thursday Three
A Fairview sunset
1. What are you reading?
2. What is the weather like at your house?
3. What did you have for supper last night?
I just finished a book someone gave me to read: The Glory of the Stars: A Study of the Zodiac by E. Raymond Capt. I found I disagreed with his basic premise that Adam knew enough about what was to come (the fall, the Christ, the virgin birth) to give these meanings to the zodiac and that he, himself, could accurately piece together these meanings. Interesting book, but I would not go out and buy it :-)
The weather is hot and muggy. We are living in a drought this summer, and we really did not need another bad crop year :-(. Pray for rain.
I baked one of our home-raised turkeys and served it with potatoes, green beans from the garden, lemon jello (I found a couple of boxes in the cupboard and thought I'd make them up--I don't normally have them on hand!), and fresh black raspberries. Mmmmm.
Have a great day!
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Like a Cat
Warming their toes?
After we grilled steaks last week on a rather cool July day, we found the kittens taking over the grill. Were they warming their toes or trying to find the source of that wonderful smell?
My guess is that they were looking for lunch. Whenever I have meat cooking in the kitchen, I notice an increase in the number of cats on the deck. And when I cook or when the family sits down for a meal, usually both of our inside cats are in the kitchen. They know better than to beg. I always ask them if their noses are bothering them.
Sometimes I think that we would be better off being a little bit more like my cats. Their simplicity of life is admirable—they sleep when they are tired, eat when they are hungry, play hard, and attempt to get what they want in very direct ways.
We, on the other hand, fail to go to bed even when we are tired. We eat too much at all the wrong times, forget to relax, and fail to give our bodies the needed physical exercise. We also wheedle; we try to get what we want without looking like that is what we are doing.
Perhaps today I will be more like my cats. I shall get to bed at a more reasonable time, be sure to get my exercise, and spend some time relaxing. I also will spend time seeking God’s face—not trying to get what I think I want, but attempting to find what it is He wants for me.
Will you join me?
Monday, July 11, 2005
Good Morning!
"Grass! Thank you very much!"
The boys snapped this photo of our donkey last week. What a hoot!
Did you see that my daughter left a comment yesterday? Now that certainly made me smile! I like living in the age of cell phones and computers. When my sons traveled they did not call me once the whole time. This time I told my daughter to call once in a while--we all know these phone calls are for mom rather than for daughter. That's O.K. Since I cannot walk up to her and ask for a hug (don't all mommies need hugs?), this is as close as I can get.
Have a GREAT day, Bethany.
Other good news is that even though the eye of the hurricane swept over my sister's home, they are doing fine. I'm sure they will spend months working on the clean up, though. We are thankful that the hurricane's wind speeds dropped just before coming on shore. That was an answer to a lot of people's prayers.
It is Monday and I have so many projects lined up for this week. I hope I get a few of them done. Bethany is going to miss some of the spring cleaning (yes, I know it is not spring anymore, but the cleaning still needs to be done), but I have two strong sons to help me.
What are your plans for the week?
Friday, July 08, 2005
She's Gone!
Sniff.
She packed most of her clothes and all of her make-up. Even though India Ink sat there watching her, swishing her tail back and forth to show that she did not approve of the suitcases being filled, my daughter continued to pack.
And now she’s gone.
My daughter is leaving for more than a week to take in the sites in Washington D.C. She’ll stay at the 4-H center there, and get to visit the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Smithsonian, and lots of memorials. She’ll take in a dinner theater and do activities that will help them understand how the government is run.
Goodness! If you had the choice of staying home on the farm or going on such a busy trip, what would you choose?
Yeah, yeah. I’d go, too.
So now the rest of us have to exist without her. Her brothers will do her farm chores, and we all will work on taking care of her other responsibilities. Kitty, however, will probably decide that she does not want to sleep alone, so perhaps one of the boys will have company this week. Perhaps she will come to visit me, too, if Snowie is not there.
Snowflake probably will not miss her as much. Since India claims my daughter’s room, he rarely ventures into her domain. Anyway, he’s discovered a mouse living in our entryway to the basement, and all he can think about at night is mousing out there.
And the boys? Well, like all older sisters, she likes to tell her brothers what to do and how to do it, so they think they will have a peaceful week. What they don’t know is that I plan to do my spring cleaning, and they are going to be ordered around the house to help me do it. Ha!
If you think of it, say a prayer this week for their safety in the big city. Thanks.
She packed most of her clothes and all of her make-up. Even though India Ink sat there watching her, swishing her tail back and forth to show that she did not approve of the suitcases being filled, my daughter continued to pack.
And now she’s gone.
My daughter is leaving for more than a week to take in the sites in Washington D.C. She’ll stay at the 4-H center there, and get to visit the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Smithsonian, and lots of memorials. She’ll take in a dinner theater and do activities that will help them understand how the government is run.
Goodness! If you had the choice of staying home on the farm or going on such a busy trip, what would you choose?
Yeah, yeah. I’d go, too.
So now the rest of us have to exist without her. Her brothers will do her farm chores, and we all will work on taking care of her other responsibilities. Kitty, however, will probably decide that she does not want to sleep alone, so perhaps one of the boys will have company this week. Perhaps she will come to visit me, too, if Snowie is not there.
Snowflake probably will not miss her as much. Since India claims my daughter’s room, he rarely ventures into her domain. Anyway, he’s discovered a mouse living in our entryway to the basement, and all he can think about at night is mousing out there.
And the boys? Well, like all older sisters, she likes to tell her brothers what to do and how to do it, so they think they will have a peaceful week. What they don’t know is that I plan to do my spring cleaning, and they are going to be ordered around the house to help me do it. Ha!
If you think of it, say a prayer this week for their safety in the big city. Thanks.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Wyalusing State Park
We visited Wyalusing State Park for a 4th of July celebration with some family members yesterday. This lookout point overlooks the Wisconsin River merging into the Mississippi.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
A Better Night's Sleep
This has been a busy week, as usual. The last two nights, though, have been wonderful; I have been stargazing. Friday night we went to the fireworks in a nearby town, and when I returned home, I saw that the skies were clear—wonderfully clear. I drove the car to the top of a hill, took a lawn chair out of the trunk, and observed the heavens until after mid-night. Just me and the soybeans.
I had a little red MAG-LITE that allowed me to look at my planisphere without losing my night vision. I also had my laser pointer and my copy of Skywatch. I slowly moved from north to west to south to east, identifying each constellation. Usually there are many stars within the constellations that are too dim to find and sometimes an entire constellation cannot be seen, but they were all there in their glory Friday night. I found every star in Virgo and Aquarius that was on my chart—something I had never done before. I found Scutum, Equuleus, Lacerta, Coma Berenices, and Canes Vanetici—so small the average person has never even heard of them. It was glorious.
Last night my husband joined me as I drove out to my astronomy club’s site. One of the members kindly offered to show me how to run the computerized telescope. By the time Leo has slipped below the horizon, I was able to swing the dome around to match the telescope’s direction and push the right buttons to find globular clusters, open clusters, nebulas, double stars, and planets. Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury were all there in their glory—we missed Saturn by searching for her after she had slipped below the horizon. Jupiter’s colorful bands were there along with 4 (or where there 5?) moons. Venus looked like a 1st quarter moon. I did not make it to bed before 1:00 A.M.—and I think I’d go out again tonight if the skies were clear.
What draws me to the skies? It is, certainly, one of the wonders of creation. It is so vast that we cannot begin to comprehend it. I’d like a chance to see a double star close up—instead of one star surrounded by planets, this is a set of two stars circling each other. Even more amazing is the Double Double—a set of double stars circling another set of double stars. And did you know that our sun is considered relatively small? If you were to exchange it with another star out there, you’d have to be careful which one you chose-- many of them are so big that our orbit around the sun would be INSIDE the boundaries of another star. Think of that one for a few minutes.
Next time our lives seem to be spinning out of control, I think we would do well to look up into the skies and remember that the one who orchestrated the dance of heavenly bodies is the one who is caring for us. That should help us all get a better night’s sleep.
Blessings.
I had a little red MAG-LITE that allowed me to look at my planisphere without losing my night vision. I also had my laser pointer and my copy of Skywatch. I slowly moved from north to west to south to east, identifying each constellation. Usually there are many stars within the constellations that are too dim to find and sometimes an entire constellation cannot be seen, but they were all there in their glory Friday night. I found every star in Virgo and Aquarius that was on my chart—something I had never done before. I found Scutum, Equuleus, Lacerta, Coma Berenices, and Canes Vanetici—so small the average person has never even heard of them. It was glorious.
Last night my husband joined me as I drove out to my astronomy club’s site. One of the members kindly offered to show me how to run the computerized telescope. By the time Leo has slipped below the horizon, I was able to swing the dome around to match the telescope’s direction and push the right buttons to find globular clusters, open clusters, nebulas, double stars, and planets. Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury were all there in their glory—we missed Saturn by searching for her after she had slipped below the horizon. Jupiter’s colorful bands were there along with 4 (or where there 5?) moons. Venus looked like a 1st quarter moon. I did not make it to bed before 1:00 A.M.—and I think I’d go out again tonight if the skies were clear.
What draws me to the skies? It is, certainly, one of the wonders of creation. It is so vast that we cannot begin to comprehend it. I’d like a chance to see a double star close up—instead of one star surrounded by planets, this is a set of two stars circling each other. Even more amazing is the Double Double—a set of double stars circling another set of double stars. And did you know that our sun is considered relatively small? If you were to exchange it with another star out there, you’d have to be careful which one you chose-- many of them are so big that our orbit around the sun would be INSIDE the boundaries of another star. Think of that one for a few minutes.
Next time our lives seem to be spinning out of control, I think we would do well to look up into the skies and remember that the one who orchestrated the dance of heavenly bodies is the one who is caring for us. That should help us all get a better night’s sleep.
Blessings.
