December 30th, 2017; just one more day left to this year and 2017 will only be a memory. I hope your 2017 was filled with good memories. Mine certainly was. We had lots of travel and visiting with our girls, We have a wealth of good friends from our church and faith families. Our girls all continue to be successful in their jobs and the grandkids are growing up way too fast. Our health continues to be maintained at a fairly good level and I’m not broke! God has continued to bless me as an individual and us as a family. And, —- while not tops on Ms. Kate’s happy list, I have a prospect of going back to some part time work preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I say it isn’t the top of Ms. Kate’s list it is only because I keep promising retirement but I also keep renigging on it and working. I know it isn’t fair to her, —- but I also know that it is a calling that I must follow. She understands that and supports me in it, but —- that doesn’t mean she has to like it; and I understand that too. So, it is good that we did have this year off and were able to do our traveling.
It is a twenty-three degree windy and cloudy morning. Weather forecasts predict dangerously cold weather for most of the next week. We here in southern Indiana are extremely lucky that we don’t have the blizzards and snow that the upper part of the country has. Many parts of the country are getting snow measured in feet not inches. This is the coldest winter since 2008 and the cold streak is not going to let up any time soon. Brrrrr!
Today Ms. Kate and I are going to sister Karen’ss House to celebrate their family Christmas. It will be a fun afternoon. Karen is a good cook so the food will be good. Then they have their Christmas tradition of unwrapping gifts through a “dirty bingo” type of game. It is so funny to watch them scheme and plan what gifts they are going to steal from one another. They literally plan several moves ahead n how to get what gift they want. Karen comes up with these gift from different places and the game is a hoot. While she was in Las Vegas last week she won a Blu-tooth speaker and I suspect that iss going to be the gift they will be fighting over. I just sit back and watch the antics.
Tomorrow I am preaching the sermon at church and I’m ready for that. Then Ms. Kate and I will come home and just enjoy being home on New Year’s Eve. I hope you can make it to church and I hope you take time to give thanks for the year of blessings God has given you. Peace.
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Friday, December 29, 2017
It’s another coooooooold morning, altough not as bad as yesterday. We’re supposed to be having a one day reprieve with temperature almost up to thirty today. But tomorrow the bottom drops out again. Oh well, it is what it is and it is December 29th.
My morning started off with taking the Caddy to the dealership for routine maintenance; oil change etc. Unfortunately, I’m 2000 miles over my free maintenance plan so I had to pay today. No copmplaints; it’s been nice though that I haven’t had to pay for an oil change or anything for the last 50,000 miles. I walked around the Cadillac dealership showroom looking at the new cars while they were servicing mine and decided that $77.00 every 7500 miles is a good deal compared to what they want for the 2017’s they have in the showroom. I was looking at a 2017 Escalade and it had two major things going against it. First, —- it was $97,000 and second, it was so big that Ms, Kate nor I could get in it comfortably. Nah, that won’t be my next car.
The starlings are taking baths this morning. Twenty-seven degrees and they are in the bird bath taking baths and walking around in it like it is summer and they are in a wading pool. How the water doesn’t freeze on their feathers is a mystery to me. The cardinals have been at the bird bath several times since I got home, getting drinks. I filled that bird bath first thing this morning when I got up and I’m going to have to fill it again because of all the water the starlings have splashed out of it. The squirrels this morning are playing “challenge and chase”. They challenge one another at a feeder and then the case one another all around the yard and up and down the trees. It’s fun to watch and noisy when they go tromping across the roof.
Yesterday I published my 1000th Notes From the Sunporch blog. I just want to say that I have enjoyed starting my day out like this each morning and I appreciate that some of you have been steady readers for the last 1000 issues. Sometimes some of you write comments back and they are always welcome. In the meantime, stay warm, talk to God often, and be kind to one another. Peace.
My morning started off with taking the Caddy to the dealership for routine maintenance; oil change etc. Unfortunately, I’m 2000 miles over my free maintenance plan so I had to pay today. No copmplaints; it’s been nice though that I haven’t had to pay for an oil change or anything for the last 50,000 miles. I walked around the Cadillac dealership showroom looking at the new cars while they were servicing mine and decided that $77.00 every 7500 miles is a good deal compared to what they want for the 2017’s they have in the showroom. I was looking at a 2017 Escalade and it had two major things going against it. First, —- it was $97,000 and second, it was so big that Ms, Kate nor I could get in it comfortably. Nah, that won’t be my next car.
The starlings are taking baths this morning. Twenty-seven degrees and they are in the bird bath taking baths and walking around in it like it is summer and they are in a wading pool. How the water doesn’t freeze on their feathers is a mystery to me. The cardinals have been at the bird bath several times since I got home, getting drinks. I filled that bird bath first thing this morning when I got up and I’m going to have to fill it again because of all the water the starlings have splashed out of it. The squirrels this morning are playing “challenge and chase”. They challenge one another at a feeder and then the case one another all around the yard and up and down the trees. It’s fun to watch and noisy when they go tromping across the roof.
Yesterday I published my 1000th Notes From the Sunporch blog. I just want to say that I have enjoyed starting my day out like this each morning and I appreciate that some of you have been steady readers for the last 1000 issues. Sometimes some of you write comments back and they are always welcome. In the meantime, stay warm, talk to God often, and be kind to one another. Peace.
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Wow, it is colder than a polar bear’s butt out there. All I did was go down to the mailbox to put something in it and I was chilled to the bone by the time I got back in the house. My weather channel app says it is seventeen degrees outside and I believe it. I suspect the windchill may have knocked the “feels like” temperature down another ten degrees.
The cold has stopped the flow of crises to the buffet though. I filled everything up yesterday afternoon and this morniing all of the feeders have guests including of course, a couple of squirrels. Again the electric bird bath is the place to be. I have several cardinals this morning and a blue jay at the watering hole. The ground is alive with junkos and finches and cardinals too.
Yesterday, despite the cold we ventured out to do a little grocery shopping. Ms. Kate had it in mind that she wanted to make a pot of stew for supper so we went out to Sam’s Club and picked up some chuck roast and she put it in the cooker. It turned out delicious. It as just was we needed on a cold winter night. We also went to Penn Station forlunch. We love their sandwiches and especially their french fries. I had what they called an Italian sausage sandwich and didn’t really enjoy it. I think that is the first thing that I have had at a Penn Station that I didn’t enjoy. I think it may have been made with Genoa salami rather than what I expected it to be made with. But, I learned to not order it again. Besides, the fries were delicious. I wold be hard pressed to chose between Penn Satation and Five Guys in a french fry battle.
When Julie came over last week she brought me a “23 & Me” dna kit. Since we know nothing about my actual ancestry she wanted me to send it off. I have already done the Ancestry.Com test and it shows that my ancestry comes frrom upper Europe. Being the kid from a sealed adoption makes it difficult to find out anything. There are a lot of mysteries around my adoption; lots of secrets and fabrications. I don’t know that spitting in these little tubes will clear an of that up but what the heck. It will be interesting to see if the rules come back the same as the first test.
Tomorrow I take Ms. Kate’s car in for oil change etc. It is certainly due. My warranty and service plan includes free oil changes etc for the first few years. So it isn’t a painful process at all. And, they will get the car all cleaned up too. My truck is also due to be taken in.
I have set here long enough for the birds to come back for another round of food so I have probably set here too long. I think I need to move on to other things. Have a blessed day and stay warm. Thank God for all of your blessings. Peace.
The cold has stopped the flow of crises to the buffet though. I filled everything up yesterday afternoon and this morniing all of the feeders have guests including of course, a couple of squirrels. Again the electric bird bath is the place to be. I have several cardinals this morning and a blue jay at the watering hole. The ground is alive with junkos and finches and cardinals too.
Yesterday, despite the cold we ventured out to do a little grocery shopping. Ms. Kate had it in mind that she wanted to make a pot of stew for supper so we went out to Sam’s Club and picked up some chuck roast and she put it in the cooker. It turned out delicious. It as just was we needed on a cold winter night. We also went to Penn Station forlunch. We love their sandwiches and especially their french fries. I had what they called an Italian sausage sandwich and didn’t really enjoy it. I think that is the first thing that I have had at a Penn Station that I didn’t enjoy. I think it may have been made with Genoa salami rather than what I expected it to be made with. But, I learned to not order it again. Besides, the fries were delicious. I wold be hard pressed to chose between Penn Satation and Five Guys in a french fry battle.
When Julie came over last week she brought me a “23 & Me” dna kit. Since we know nothing about my actual ancestry she wanted me to send it off. I have already done the Ancestry.Com test and it shows that my ancestry comes frrom upper Europe. Being the kid from a sealed adoption makes it difficult to find out anything. There are a lot of mysteries around my adoption; lots of secrets and fabrications. I don’t know that spitting in these little tubes will clear an of that up but what the heck. It will be interesting to see if the rules come back the same as the first test.
Tomorrow I take Ms. Kate’s car in for oil change etc. It is certainly due. My warranty and service plan includes free oil changes etc for the first few years. So it isn’t a painful process at all. And, they will get the car all cleaned up too. My truck is also due to be taken in.
I have set here long enough for the birds to come back for another round of food so I have probably set here too long. I think I need to move on to other things. Have a blessed day and stay warm. Thank God for all of your blessings. Peace.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
There is a cardinal sitting on the edge of the electric bird bath getting a drink and there is steam or maybe “heat waves” coming off of the water in the bird bath because the water is probably 45 degrees and the temperature out there is eight degrees and wind chill makes it minus nine. So the cardinal just sits there enjoying the rising warmth of the water vapors. It is a neat sight.
On the other side of the story. The starlings are walking around on the ground trying o eat dropped seeds etc. They walk a couple of step and they sit down on their feet to keep warm. I have read about the process that occurs in their bodies that keeps them from freezing, and while I can’t quote it to you, it is `another one of those billions of wonderfully intricate miracles that God put together to create this world and everything in it. I’ll take Divine Design over “accident” every time.
Stacey May, one of our local weather reporters told us last night that we would wake up to beautiful sunshine and a beautiful day but once we open the door, — reality would hit us in the face. She was exactly right. It is a beautiful day. I have the door from the sun porch to the house open or I’d be unable to sit out here. It is 56 degrees out here. Yesterday we kept it closed most of the day and it was forty degrees in here last night when we opened the door.
I never got out and filled the feeders yesterday so I absolutely must do that today. There are still suet cakes and seed cakes out there and some bark butter is still there but by and large, things are empty. I’ll just have to dress warm and go do my duty. I see that the goldfinches and other small birds are finally eating from the thistle feeders that I filled several weeks ago. They had been eating from it and it was totally empty so I made a special trip to get more thistle seed to fill it back up, and they haven’t touched it since. But now they are eating from it. So, like I said, there is certainly plenty of available food for each critter out there, but I do need to refill stuff.
There are only four days left of 2017. I haven’t been very productive this year I think. But, Ms. Kate and I have had a good year with our traveling and visiting our kids. 2018 looks to have some changes coming once again. I may be going back to work —- yes, again. It is in the works for me to serve part time as an interim co-pastor at our church. Our current interim pastor asked me if I would consider doing that. He serves on a part time basis and if I could too it would give the church something fairly close to a full time pastoral care. The church is actively seeking a full time pastor but there have not been a lot of candidates coming our way. But, God could send the right person at any time. Pastor Art is two years older than me so we are both trying to enjoy our retirement years; but —- if God needs a servant, who are we to say no. The last hurdle is the winter congregational meeting where the congregation must vote whether to spend the money for a second part time pastor or maybe they will vote that Pastor Art is doing everything they need to be done. He is a wonderful pastor for them and I can see how they would vote to just use him. God’s will be done.
That’s it for today my friends. Stay warm and pray for those may be out in this weather and homeless. Share your love with someone today if you get the chance. Peace.
On the other side of the story. The starlings are walking around on the ground trying o eat dropped seeds etc. They walk a couple of step and they sit down on their feet to keep warm. I have read about the process that occurs in their bodies that keeps them from freezing, and while I can’t quote it to you, it is `another one of those billions of wonderfully intricate miracles that God put together to create this world and everything in it. I’ll take Divine Design over “accident” every time.
Stacey May, one of our local weather reporters told us last night that we would wake up to beautiful sunshine and a beautiful day but once we open the door, — reality would hit us in the face. She was exactly right. It is a beautiful day. I have the door from the sun porch to the house open or I’d be unable to sit out here. It is 56 degrees out here. Yesterday we kept it closed most of the day and it was forty degrees in here last night when we opened the door.
I never got out and filled the feeders yesterday so I absolutely must do that today. There are still suet cakes and seed cakes out there and some bark butter is still there but by and large, things are empty. I’ll just have to dress warm and go do my duty. I see that the goldfinches and other small birds are finally eating from the thistle feeders that I filled several weeks ago. They had been eating from it and it was totally empty so I made a special trip to get more thistle seed to fill it back up, and they haven’t touched it since. But now they are eating from it. So, like I said, there is certainly plenty of available food for each critter out there, but I do need to refill stuff.
There are only four days left of 2017. I haven’t been very productive this year I think. But, Ms. Kate and I have had a good year with our traveling and visiting our kids. 2018 looks to have some changes coming once again. I may be going back to work —- yes, again. It is in the works for me to serve part time as an interim co-pastor at our church. Our current interim pastor asked me if I would consider doing that. He serves on a part time basis and if I could too it would give the church something fairly close to a full time pastoral care. The church is actively seeking a full time pastor but there have not been a lot of candidates coming our way. But, God could send the right person at any time. Pastor Art is two years older than me so we are both trying to enjoy our retirement years; but —- if God needs a servant, who are we to say no. The last hurdle is the winter congregational meeting where the congregation must vote whether to spend the money for a second part time pastor or maybe they will vote that Pastor Art is doing everything they need to be done. He is a wonderful pastor for them and I can see how they would vote to just use him. God’s will be done.
That’s it for today my friends. Stay warm and pray for those may be out in this weather and homeless. Share your love with someone today if you get the chance. Peace.
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Merry one day after Christmas!!! I hope your Christmas is still bringing you joy and smiles. I suspect most people are back to work today unless they took vacation. Others are on the road trying to make it back home. The winter weather has paralyzed parts of the country yet this morning according to the news reports. Here at the backyard buffet we have a dusting of snow. I’ve seen heavier frost. But it is a cold morning (24) and only going up to twenty-six today. It is a good day to stay inside if you can. In fact the rest of the week is not going to be any better.
There is a flock of starlings that keeps flying in and out this morning. hey land and they either eat of of the ground or at the suet feeders. They will be here for maybe three minutes, running around and fighting over each morsel they can get then they fly out en masse. A couple of minutes later, they start coming back in. My other guests this morning include the cardinals, junkos, a wren or two, and some finches. I also have a squirrel.
As you know, I have a couple of bird baths that I keep filled. One of them is electric and is a ready and available source of water at all times. The other one is not electric and is full but also totally frozen over these days. My squirrel guest this morning was obviously thirsty, but — instead of jumping up and drinking from the electric bird bath, it was laying on the ice of the other bird bath and try to either eat the snow or chew through the ice for its hydration. My critters do entertain me for sure. Unfortunately, twenty-four degrees or not, I have birdfeeders to be filled.
We had a nice Christmas weekend. Julie and Jim and the pups did come over on Saturday. Sunday morning I went to church at Zoar by myself. It was Ms. Kate’s 70th birthday and she stayed home with Jim and Jules. She said that one church service would be enough for her and we were planning to go to the evening service at St. Paul’s, which we did along with Julie. It was wonderful to get to see a lot of old friends that we had not seen in the year since I retired. Unfortunately, Ms. Kate slipped on the ice at St. Paul’s and fell, bruising up her knee, her hand, and mostly her ego. She fell right in front of the windows of the church and everyone inside could see her. A couple of the fellows came right out and helped her up but she was totally embarrassed. She’s still sore and bruised —- and still embarrassed. BUt other than that, she is fine.
Yesterday morning we opened gifts and Ms. Kate made a wonderful baked ham dinner with mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, broccoli, and corn. Karen came over and had lunch with us so it was a nice gathering. Karen left soon after lunch, the kids packed up and headed home soon after that and Ms, kate and I took a glorious nap! For supper, we re-did lunch leftovers and finished all of them up.
Today I reckon will be laundry day as we get back into the routine. I don’t know if we’ll leave the tree up or not. We generally do through New Years. Other than doing laundry, which in reality does not take a lot of effort, I think we’ll not do much else. I have some writing ideas that I want to at least put notes for on the computer. I hope your day and week go well. Stay safe out there if you are on the highways. Today is probably not a day that I would want to go to the stores for anything. I suspect there will be after-Christmas sales going on and people will be out returning and exchanging items they got for Christmas. IO suggest you stay out of the rat-race aand settle in with a cup of coffee and a book. Peace.
There is a flock of starlings that keeps flying in and out this morning. hey land and they either eat of of the ground or at the suet feeders. They will be here for maybe three minutes, running around and fighting over each morsel they can get then they fly out en masse. A couple of minutes later, they start coming back in. My other guests this morning include the cardinals, junkos, a wren or two, and some finches. I also have a squirrel.
As you know, I have a couple of bird baths that I keep filled. One of them is electric and is a ready and available source of water at all times. The other one is not electric and is full but also totally frozen over these days. My squirrel guest this morning was obviously thirsty, but — instead of jumping up and drinking from the electric bird bath, it was laying on the ice of the other bird bath and try to either eat the snow or chew through the ice for its hydration. My critters do entertain me for sure. Unfortunately, twenty-four degrees or not, I have birdfeeders to be filled.
We had a nice Christmas weekend. Julie and Jim and the pups did come over on Saturday. Sunday morning I went to church at Zoar by myself. It was Ms. Kate’s 70th birthday and she stayed home with Jim and Jules. She said that one church service would be enough for her and we were planning to go to the evening service at St. Paul’s, which we did along with Julie. It was wonderful to get to see a lot of old friends that we had not seen in the year since I retired. Unfortunately, Ms. Kate slipped on the ice at St. Paul’s and fell, bruising up her knee, her hand, and mostly her ego. She fell right in front of the windows of the church and everyone inside could see her. A couple of the fellows came right out and helped her up but she was totally embarrassed. She’s still sore and bruised —- and still embarrassed. BUt other than that, she is fine.
Yesterday morning we opened gifts and Ms. Kate made a wonderful baked ham dinner with mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, broccoli, and corn. Karen came over and had lunch with us so it was a nice gathering. Karen left soon after lunch, the kids packed up and headed home soon after that and Ms, kate and I took a glorious nap! For supper, we re-did lunch leftovers and finished all of them up.
Today I reckon will be laundry day as we get back into the routine. I don’t know if we’ll leave the tree up or not. We generally do through New Years. Other than doing laundry, which in reality does not take a lot of effort, I think we’ll not do much else. I have some writing ideas that I want to at least put notes for on the computer. I hope your day and week go well. Stay safe out there if you are on the highways. Today is probably not a day that I would want to go to the stores for anything. I suspect there will be after-Christmas sales going on and people will be out returning and exchanging items they got for Christmas. IO suggest you stay out of the rat-race aand settle in with a cup of coffee and a book. Peace.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
If we need a word to describe the weather this morning —- Nasty! It has rained all night and now there are huge flakes of snow coming down. I have to admit, it’s like looking at my neighborhood through a snow globe which actually isn’t a bad thing. The squirrels don’t seem bothered by it nor do any of my morning aviary guests at the buffet. There will be no accumulation of it as it is melting on contact. I’m glad I’m not having to drive in it and I worry about Jim and Jules as they head this way from Louisville area. All of this weather is headed to her house.
Ms. Kate and I just finished wrapping the last of the presents for the kids (Jim & Jules). I don’t know how we are so far behind. Ms. Kate always has everything done for Christmas by the 15th of December, but not this year. I know we took eight days of vacation a couple of weeks ago but that doesn’t account for it. I think for some reason, we just haven’t gotten motivated or in a Christmas Spirit mindset. I don’t want to become one of those people that says; “It’s just not worth the hassle anymore”, but I feel myself leaning that way. Ten years ago we were still putting up and decorating ten Christmas trees of one size or another in this house. Now —- I got one up and it barely fits the bill. You know, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we don’t entertain anymore. We never have company except when Julie and Jim come over. If the other girls do make it here, it might be once every eighteen months. We don’t throw parties like we used to. We have become Mr. and Mrs. Fuddy Duddy. What a shame.
I think she still has another kind of cookie to bake yet today. They are mixed up but she has to roll them out and bake them yet. I’m not sure what kind they will be. Although, they kind of look like sugar cookies to me. And, since she just asked me to find a box of powdered sugar, I’d say that icing in soon in the making.
We had a nice lunch yesterrday with Bob and his daughter, Brenda. They both seem to be handling this “first Christmas” pretty well. My heart still goes out to them.
The major rain has stopped and we had a few minutes of snow and now it is sprinkling again. BUt, the sky is much brighter and with luck, we’ll be seeing a little sunshine before the day is over. That’s southern Indiana weather for you. Juanita wait, what ever you want will cycle around soon enough.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Ms. Kate’s birthday. We have no big plans. Church in the morning and then I think we are going to go to the Christmas Eve service at St. Paul’s and worship with our friends there. I pray your weekend is full of wonder and joy. Have a blessed day.
Ms. Kate and I just finished wrapping the last of the presents for the kids (Jim & Jules). I don’t know how we are so far behind. Ms. Kate always has everything done for Christmas by the 15th of December, but not this year. I know we took eight days of vacation a couple of weeks ago but that doesn’t account for it. I think for some reason, we just haven’t gotten motivated or in a Christmas Spirit mindset. I don’t want to become one of those people that says; “It’s just not worth the hassle anymore”, but I feel myself leaning that way. Ten years ago we were still putting up and decorating ten Christmas trees of one size or another in this house. Now —- I got one up and it barely fits the bill. You know, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that we don’t entertain anymore. We never have company except when Julie and Jim come over. If the other girls do make it here, it might be once every eighteen months. We don’t throw parties like we used to. We have become Mr. and Mrs. Fuddy Duddy. What a shame.
I think she still has another kind of cookie to bake yet today. They are mixed up but she has to roll them out and bake them yet. I’m not sure what kind they will be. Although, they kind of look like sugar cookies to me. And, since she just asked me to find a box of powdered sugar, I’d say that icing in soon in the making.
We had a nice lunch yesterrday with Bob and his daughter, Brenda. They both seem to be handling this “first Christmas” pretty well. My heart still goes out to them.
The major rain has stopped and we had a few minutes of snow and now it is sprinkling again. BUt, the sky is much brighter and with luck, we’ll be seeing a little sunshine before the day is over. That’s southern Indiana weather for you. Juanita wait, what ever you want will cycle around soon enough.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Ms. Kate’s birthday. We have no big plans. Church in the morning and then I think we are going to go to the Christmas Eve service at St. Paul’s and worship with our friends there. I pray your weekend is full of wonder and joy. Have a blessed day.
Friday, December 22, 2017
Good morning on a dull cloudy morning. As bright and beautiful as it was yesterday —- it is 180 degrees off of that today. The temperature is warmish at 55 degrees although that is the predicted high for today. It appears that we have had some amount of light rain because the sidewalks are damp. We are reported to be getting as much as an inch and a half by tomorrow afternoon and then it is supposed to turn sharply colder just in time for Christmas Eve. The chances for a white Christmas though are extremely low.
Ms. Kate and I finished baking the springerlie cookies yesterday morning and ofcourse they are delicious. She still has one more kind of cookie that she wants to make; I’m not sure what that might be. She wanted to make some phefferneuse cookies but forgot to pick up eggs while we were at the grocery store yesterday. Now she’s decided that it is time to only do one more other kind of cookie. I reminded her that cookies, while are Christmas tradition, —- can be made any time of the year.
Last night we had a late night date and went to the 10:00 pm movie to see the latest Star Wars movie. It was really good and worthy of seeing again. I’m sure when it comes out on DVD we will buy it. I thought that perhaps there might not be anyone else in the theater at that time of noight but thre were maybe a couple of dozen other folks that were in attendance. I had to laugh though when the movie was over and we were leaving. There was a group of young people standing around discussing characters and things that happened in the movie like it was all real. It was “Nerd Heaven”.
Today Ms. Kate and I are meeting friends Bob and Brenda and Andy for our monthly “schrooms & beer” out at St. Joe. Inn for lunch. It has been almost a year since Bob’s wife, Ms. Georgia Ann, passed away and this will be their first Christmas without her. He sure misses her, as do we all, but I think he has done a good job of adjusting to his grief.
Tomorrow Julie, Jim and the pups come over for the weekend. We will be celebrating Christmas and Ms. Kate’s birthday. I am so blesssed that fifty six of her seventy years, she has been part of my life. God is good.
That’s it for today. I hope you have a great weekend and a glorious Holy Spirit filled Christmas. Stop and listen —- you just might hear the angels sing. Peace
Ms. Kate and I finished baking the springerlie cookies yesterday morning and ofcourse they are delicious. She still has one more kind of cookie that she wants to make; I’m not sure what that might be. She wanted to make some phefferneuse cookies but forgot to pick up eggs while we were at the grocery store yesterday. Now she’s decided that it is time to only do one more other kind of cookie. I reminded her that cookies, while are Christmas tradition, —- can be made any time of the year.
Last night we had a late night date and went to the 10:00 pm movie to see the latest Star Wars movie. It was really good and worthy of seeing again. I’m sure when it comes out on DVD we will buy it. I thought that perhaps there might not be anyone else in the theater at that time of noight but thre were maybe a couple of dozen other folks that were in attendance. I had to laugh though when the movie was over and we were leaving. There was a group of young people standing around discussing characters and things that happened in the movie like it was all real. It was “Nerd Heaven”.
Today Ms. Kate and I are meeting friends Bob and Brenda and Andy for our monthly “schrooms & beer” out at St. Joe. Inn for lunch. It has been almost a year since Bob’s wife, Ms. Georgia Ann, passed away and this will be their first Christmas without her. He sure misses her, as do we all, but I think he has done a good job of adjusting to his grief.
Tomorrow Julie, Jim and the pups come over for the weekend. We will be celebrating Christmas and Ms. Kate’s birthday. I am so blesssed that fifty six of her seventy years, she has been part of my life. God is good.
That’s it for today. I hope you have a great weekend and a glorious Holy Spirit filled Christmas. Stop and listen —- you just might hear the angels sing. Peace
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Bright sunshine and a clear blue sky greet me this morning. It is thirty nine degrees but little tono breeze so it shouldn’t feel too bad out side. Neither the birds nor the squirrels have puffed themselves up for warmth. As usual, the sun shining on the feather of the male cardinals makes them the bright spot in he back yard. I went out and filled sunflower seed feeders yesterday so there is ample food to give everybody a good feed today at the buffet. This morning’s guests include titmouse, nuthatch, finches, sparrows, cardinals, wrens, and of course the fuzzy tailed rats. It is amazing how many squirrels there are in this neighborhood. With the trees completely barren, I can see squirrels and squirrel nests in lots of the trees around the neighboring houses. I watch them come from house to house to my feeders.
My youngest daughter, Lisa, turned forty six today. It is hard to believe. It seems like it really wasn’t that long ago that I was forty-six. But, time does march on. Sunday at church the choir used a prop for the cantata that is made to look like an animal feeding trough to lay the baby Jesus in. Ms. Kate reminded me that forty-seven years ago they laid our middle daughter, Heather, in that same trough to be “the baby Jesus.” Heather was only three weeks old at the time. That trough has gotten pretty rickety over the past forty-seven years and I wouldn’t trust putting a baby in it today.
This morning Ms. Kate is baking cookies again. Yesterday she mixed up, and cut up the springerlie cookies. Then thy had to set out and dry out over night before she bakes them today. If you aren’t familiar with springerlies, they are an anise flavored German cookie and when they are sitting and drying or baking they fill the entire house with the wonderful smell of anise. I’ve always said that it wasn’t Christmas around our house until the springerlies were baked. There was a day when Ms. Kate would send tins of cookies to all the of girls and their families. But it is just us these days and she doesn’t do as many cookies and or as many kinds of cookies. I told her she didn’t have to make the springerlies this year if she didn’t want to but she insisted because it is tradition. Bless her heart. She sure takes good care of me. There isn’t a lot of things I’d rather have for a snack than a glass of milk and some cookies. Well, add a bowl of ice cream to that and it’s over the top and to the moon.
It is four days until Christmas. Four days until we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It has been roughly 2018 years since the birth of that child. Were it just a story, it would have faded a millennia so. But truth never dies. The good news of the birth of a Savior is as fresh today as it was as the child lay there in the manger. God came to earth because God loved us that much. Peace.
My youngest daughter, Lisa, turned forty six today. It is hard to believe. It seems like it really wasn’t that long ago that I was forty-six. But, time does march on. Sunday at church the choir used a prop for the cantata that is made to look like an animal feeding trough to lay the baby Jesus in. Ms. Kate reminded me that forty-seven years ago they laid our middle daughter, Heather, in that same trough to be “the baby Jesus.” Heather was only three weeks old at the time. That trough has gotten pretty rickety over the past forty-seven years and I wouldn’t trust putting a baby in it today.
This morning Ms. Kate is baking cookies again. Yesterday she mixed up, and cut up the springerlie cookies. Then thy had to set out and dry out over night before she bakes them today. If you aren’t familiar with springerlies, they are an anise flavored German cookie and when they are sitting and drying or baking they fill the entire house with the wonderful smell of anise. I’ve always said that it wasn’t Christmas around our house until the springerlies were baked. There was a day when Ms. Kate would send tins of cookies to all the of girls and their families. But it is just us these days and she doesn’t do as many cookies and or as many kinds of cookies. I told her she didn’t have to make the springerlies this year if she didn’t want to but she insisted because it is tradition. Bless her heart. She sure takes good care of me. There isn’t a lot of things I’d rather have for a snack than a glass of milk and some cookies. Well, add a bowl of ice cream to that and it’s over the top and to the moon.
It is four days until Christmas. Four days until we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It has been roughly 2018 years since the birth of that child. Were it just a story, it would have faded a millennia so. But truth never dies. The good news of the birth of a Savior is as fresh today as it was as the child lay there in the manger. God came to earth because God loved us that much. Peace.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
“When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.” Well, it wasn’t eight tiny reindeer but it was six fat squirrels that have gone bats this morning with their chasing and running and jumping on and off of the roof of the house and the sunporch. Tails are swishing everywhere; in the trees, on the roof, on the feeders. They have raced across my roof at least ten times while I have been sitting here. Silly critters. I have no idea what is going on with them whether it is play or a territorial dispute this morning. And they aren’t the only ones. The cardinals have been chasing one another too and even the finches are flitting about like crazy. I suspect there may be a weather change coming or something that is making them all anxious. The weather dude did use that “s” word in his forecast for the weekend.
Ms. Kate got a cortisone shot in her hand and in her wrist yesterday. The “good part” of it hasn’t set in yet, she still sore from the injection. Hopefully by tomorrow it will be much better. It is affecting the thing she wants to do like lifting baking trays in and out of the oven. We went out for supper last evening and she even modified what she ate because she couldn’t use her knife to cut anything like a steak. Bless her heart.
I took the Christmas cards to the post office yesterday and they are officially on their way at last. I hope they all make it before Christmas. There was a line all the way out of the building waiting to send packages and stuff and only two clerks working. Luckily all I needed to know was what the rules were concerning extra postage on the cards and I happened to see a postal worker going into the office. So I asked him and then stood at the table out in the lobby away from the line and put my stamps on the cards and slid them through the slot. Whew! I dodged that bullet.
Ms. Kate is out for a hair appointment and permanent this morning and I have some writing to do today. Tomorrow I have a meeting with Pastor Art and I need to do a little prep for that meeting too. Friday we are meeting our friends Bob and Brenda for lunch so our one day of no appointments this week is Thursday. I suspect we’ll be cramming a lot of stuff in on Thursday what with Julie and Jim and the pups coming on Saturday morning. Sunday there will be a morning service and an evening service and it will also be Ms. Kate’s 70th birthday. Then, before we know it, Christmas will be over and life will return to whatever our definition of normalcy is. And then —- it will be 2018. Wow.
So —- before all of the chaos ensues I must stop and give thanks to God and remained myself that life is not about the rush. Life is about appreciating the blessings and sharing the blessings. If that causes us a little rush sometimes; it should be because we are sharing ourselves and our love with others. On that note, I bid you a good day and pray you find the peace that comes with the birth of a Savior called Jesus, the Christ. Shalomn
Ms. Kate got a cortisone shot in her hand and in her wrist yesterday. The “good part” of it hasn’t set in yet, she still sore from the injection. Hopefully by tomorrow it will be much better. It is affecting the thing she wants to do like lifting baking trays in and out of the oven. We went out for supper last evening and she even modified what she ate because she couldn’t use her knife to cut anything like a steak. Bless her heart.
I took the Christmas cards to the post office yesterday and they are officially on their way at last. I hope they all make it before Christmas. There was a line all the way out of the building waiting to send packages and stuff and only two clerks working. Luckily all I needed to know was what the rules were concerning extra postage on the cards and I happened to see a postal worker going into the office. So I asked him and then stood at the table out in the lobby away from the line and put my stamps on the cards and slid them through the slot. Whew! I dodged that bullet.
Ms. Kate is out for a hair appointment and permanent this morning and I have some writing to do today. Tomorrow I have a meeting with Pastor Art and I need to do a little prep for that meeting too. Friday we are meeting our friends Bob and Brenda for lunch so our one day of no appointments this week is Thursday. I suspect we’ll be cramming a lot of stuff in on Thursday what with Julie and Jim and the pups coming on Saturday morning. Sunday there will be a morning service and an evening service and it will also be Ms. Kate’s 70th birthday. Then, before we know it, Christmas will be over and life will return to whatever our definition of normalcy is. And then —- it will be 2018. Wow.
So —- before all of the chaos ensues I must stop and give thanks to God and remained myself that life is not about the rush. Life is about appreciating the blessings and sharing the blessings. If that causes us a little rush sometimes; it should be because we are sharing ourselves and our love with others. On that note, I bid you a good day and pray you find the peace that comes with the birth of a Savior called Jesus, the Christ. Shalomn
Monday, December 18, 2017
A good morning to you on this gloomy, misty Monday morning. I trust that your weekend was a good one. Our’s was busy but also a good one. The Christmas tree issue was never solved. I took it back apart and Ms. Kate and I both looked for any male or female plugs that were left unused but to no avail. So, I had two options. I could use it as is or I could throw it out and go downstairs and drag up another tree that is almost identical to it that we had used in another room. We decided to go ahead and use it as is and then after Christmaas it will hit the street. So, our Christmas tree has a swirl of dark area on it. I put enough Christmas balls on it so as to try and make it look better but I’m not sure I have improved the situation. On the other hand —- who’s going to see it? From the street it appears we have a Christmas tree and the only people that will actually see it are Jim and Julie and they will only be at the house for 72 hours. We’ll just be satisfied that we have met the intent.
Ms. Kate has some cookie dough mixed up and will most likely bake them today. With a little luck there will still be some for Christmas. I am the original Cookie Monster. I’m also very specific about my cookies. They must be crisp. I know that there are people that love their cookies to be warm and gooey right out of the oven. I on the other hand want my cookies crisp. If they are chocolate chip, I want them frozen. Soft cookies just don’t fit my description of a good cookie.
I have all of the Christmas cards addressed. Ms. Kate made over 100 Christmas cards and they are really nicely done. Today I need to take them to the post office and get them mailed. Some of them might need a little extra postage so I’ll run a sample through the post office scales and determine what I need.
Yesterday the Chancel Choir presented their cantata and it was beautiful. I’ve said it before but churches that have a choir are so very fortunate. I think a choir adds so much to the worship experience. It doesn’t even have to be a “good choir” as long as it is a group of people lifting their voices in praise to God. Fortunately, the last two choirs I have had the experience of hearing and or being a part of, are very good and very dedicated even if not large.
I’m writing this morning from the Orthopedic clinic. I brought Ms. Kate to get another shot in her hand for her arthritis. She hates having it done but it does help her for several months. I wish she could get a shot in her upper spine and neck, Her arthritis in those areas give her so much pain. BUt, she just takes Tylenol and we put Biofreeze on it.
I know this will be a busy week for everybody as Christmas Eve is just six days away. I pray you will take time to remember what this season is all about. Christ didn’t come to earth just for them fun of it. He came to save our very soul. Please take time to express your gratitude for thaat in all you do. Peace.
Ms. Kate has some cookie dough mixed up and will most likely bake them today. With a little luck there will still be some for Christmas. I am the original Cookie Monster. I’m also very specific about my cookies. They must be crisp. I know that there are people that love their cookies to be warm and gooey right out of the oven. I on the other hand want my cookies crisp. If they are chocolate chip, I want them frozen. Soft cookies just don’t fit my description of a good cookie.
I have all of the Christmas cards addressed. Ms. Kate made over 100 Christmas cards and they are really nicely done. Today I need to take them to the post office and get them mailed. Some of them might need a little extra postage so I’ll run a sample through the post office scales and determine what I need.
Yesterday the Chancel Choir presented their cantata and it was beautiful. I’ve said it before but churches that have a choir are so very fortunate. I think a choir adds so much to the worship experience. It doesn’t even have to be a “good choir” as long as it is a group of people lifting their voices in praise to God. Fortunately, the last two choirs I have had the experience of hearing and or being a part of, are very good and very dedicated even if not large.
I’m writing this morning from the Orthopedic clinic. I brought Ms. Kate to get another shot in her hand for her arthritis. She hates having it done but it does help her for several months. I wish she could get a shot in her upper spine and neck, Her arthritis in those areas give her so much pain. BUt, she just takes Tylenol and we put Biofreeze on it.
I know this will be a busy week for everybody as Christmas Eve is just six days away. I pray you will take time to remember what this season is all about. Christ didn’t come to earth just for them fun of it. He came to save our very soul. Please take time to express your gratitude for thaat in all you do. Peace.
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Happy Saturday morning!! What a beautiful day with which God has blessed us. Yes, it’s a bit cold outside and the stiff breeze doeesn’t help that any as far as making it feel any warmer. But — the sun is shining brightly and that makes it “look” warmer than it is. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to see these winter days. Even the knockout rose have finally given up blooming. (Remind me to trim those back again one of these days. I also need to cut back the hydrangea stems now too.) BUt, from the warmth of the sunporch, it all is still beautiful to me. The critters have all been through the buffet and flown off again. They will be back in about an hour for another round.
My Christmas tree is up — ish. I have it put together but the lights are not burning correctly. I’m not getting the electrical connections right somehow. I tried to do it last night but didn’t have sufficient light to work by. I’ll go I there this morning with the morning sunlight shining through the picture window and maybe I can see the plugs. But — I’m glad to say I didn’t waste any profane language on it. That hasn’t always been the case when I can’t solve a mechanical problem. My girls used to say, “Dad invents cuss words.” I always said that I don’t use any words not found in the Bible; —- they are just arranged differently.
Ms. Kate and I went to the grocery yesterday to pick up some stuff for cookie making. Of all the things that they didn’t have — Cream Of Tarter. They were out of cream of tarter in every brand. Obviously folks must be making a lot of snickerdoodle cookies this year for them to be out. But, I understand certainly how that happens because we witnessed two incidents of people buying products in mass quantities. The lady in front of at Meijer’s had ten of those small bottles of vanilla extract. Unless she is giving them away, for presents, she could have bought one large bottle. At Schnucks the guy in front of me had 27 Philadelphia Cream Cheese bricks. I asked him if he was making a lot of cheese balls for Christmas and he said “unfortunately yes.” So, when you go to the store and they are out of “that” item —- now you know why.
I plan to attend a special Christmas service this evening at Trinity Anglican Church. My friend Father David Straw has invited me. We went to their St. Patricks Day service last year and loved it. This should be an evening of scripture and song. I’m looking forward to it.
There is a Christmas tree in the living room that is calling my name so I guess I better get to it. I also need to address Christmas cards today. Tomorrow our choir at church is doing a cantata for the worship service. I’m looking forward to that too. Have a blessed day.
My Christmas tree is up — ish. I have it put together but the lights are not burning correctly. I’m not getting the electrical connections right somehow. I tried to do it last night but didn’t have sufficient light to work by. I’ll go I there this morning with the morning sunlight shining through the picture window and maybe I can see the plugs. But — I’m glad to say I didn’t waste any profane language on it. That hasn’t always been the case when I can’t solve a mechanical problem. My girls used to say, “Dad invents cuss words.” I always said that I don’t use any words not found in the Bible; —- they are just arranged differently.
Ms. Kate and I went to the grocery yesterday to pick up some stuff for cookie making. Of all the things that they didn’t have — Cream Of Tarter. They were out of cream of tarter in every brand. Obviously folks must be making a lot of snickerdoodle cookies this year for them to be out. But, I understand certainly how that happens because we witnessed two incidents of people buying products in mass quantities. The lady in front of at Meijer’s had ten of those small bottles of vanilla extract. Unless she is giving them away, for presents, she could have bought one large bottle. At Schnucks the guy in front of me had 27 Philadelphia Cream Cheese bricks. I asked him if he was making a lot of cheese balls for Christmas and he said “unfortunately yes.” So, when you go to the store and they are out of “that” item —- now you know why.
I plan to attend a special Christmas service this evening at Trinity Anglican Church. My friend Father David Straw has invited me. We went to their St. Patricks Day service last year and loved it. This should be an evening of scripture and song. I’m looking forward to it.
There is a Christmas tree in the living room that is calling my name so I guess I better get to it. I also need to address Christmas cards today. Tomorrow our choir at church is doing a cantata for the worship service. I’m looking forward to that too. Have a blessed day.
Friday, December 15, 2017
Friday has arrived . I was up earlier this morning so I could get to the post office ahead of the crowd and get our packages sent. I didn’t beat the crowd by much. By the time I got to the counter there was a line out the door. There was only one clerk working but she had the great customer service attitude. Bless her heart. She is going to have a long day. My grandson Josh works for the Post Office in his area and says it has been slammed for weeks. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Amazon all add to their workload. They are shoving packages out the door as fast as they can. So I send a shout out to the Postal workers this time of year. The customer in front of me thismorning was kind enough to Bros off a couple of donuts for the lady behind the counter. I hope she finds time to eat them. Anyway, that checks one thing on the list to be done.
I managed to get the Christmas tree brought up from the basement last night. I put it together today. Maybe that will be next on my list. Ms. Kate says we have to go to the grocery store today and she plans to start on making the cookies. We don’t need to make a bunch but it wouldn’t be Christmas without cookies now would it? I mean, what would you leave for Santa —— rum and coke??? I hardly think so, He has to drive. (Wow, where did that random thought come from? I haven’t had a rum and coke in twenty five years!!)
I have lots of cardinals here again this morning and somebody let it leak to the squirrels that the feeders had been filled. There have been four here most of the morning. They can’t decide whether they want to eat or chase each other or what. So, between the four squirrels, a couple of starlings, a couple of titmouse & mockingbirds, and maybe as many as fifteen cardinals, I have a busy buffet this morning. It is a wonderful sight, and it is a wonderful blessing.
He sun is trying to peek though the clouds this morning but is not having a lot of luck. It doesn’t feel too cold out there. Sweatshirts and jeans are about all I need unless I stay out for awhile. But, it is is time to get busy and take Ms. Kate to the store. I hope you are having a happy wonderful day fille with Christmas spirit. This is the season of God’s great gift. There is no room for sad faces and bad attitudes. Smile at people while you are out and about today. You just might be the one bright spot in someone’s otherwise terrible day. Peace.
I managed to get the Christmas tree brought up from the basement last night. I put it together today. Maybe that will be next on my list. Ms. Kate says we have to go to the grocery store today and she plans to start on making the cookies. We don’t need to make a bunch but it wouldn’t be Christmas without cookies now would it? I mean, what would you leave for Santa —— rum and coke??? I hardly think so, He has to drive. (Wow, where did that random thought come from? I haven’t had a rum and coke in twenty five years!!)
I have lots of cardinals here again this morning and somebody let it leak to the squirrels that the feeders had been filled. There have been four here most of the morning. They can’t decide whether they want to eat or chase each other or what. So, between the four squirrels, a couple of starlings, a couple of titmouse & mockingbirds, and maybe as many as fifteen cardinals, I have a busy buffet this morning. It is a wonderful sight, and it is a wonderful blessing.
He sun is trying to peek though the clouds this morning but is not having a lot of luck. It doesn’t feel too cold out there. Sweatshirts and jeans are about all I need unless I stay out for awhile. But, it is is time to get busy and take Ms. Kate to the store. I hope you are having a happy wonderful day fille with Christmas spirit. This is the season of God’s great gift. There is no room for sad faces and bad attitudes. Smile at people while you are out and about today. You just might be the one bright spot in someone’s otherwise terrible day. Peace.
Thursday, December 14, 2017
It is wonderful to be home and back in the sunporch. Welcome home me!! We got home around 2100 ours last evening and I have to say, we do love our vacations and we stay at some really nice hotels and resorts but nothing quite beats my own bed and my own pillows and covers. It is just that be home and surrounded by one’s personal familiar stuff that makes life “huggable” again. We had a good time but Ms. Kate likes Las Vegas more than I do. For me, once we got to spend time with the kids, I was ready to come home. But Ms. Kate and her sister Karen like being out there together which is why I encourage them to go together and just leave me home.
The plants in the sunporch were desparate for water and the birdfeeders and bird bath were all empty. So, before I allowed myself my first cup of coffee I watered my plants and then I filled most of the birdfeeders and put fresh water in the electric birdbath. When I first came out to the sunporch this morning there were eleven cardinals out there looking for food. Since I filled the feeders I have had all kids of birds out there so I guess they are satisfied for now anyway. Of course the most popular spot is the birdbath.
It is an overcast day and while the temperature isn’t particularly miserable it is still a cold “looking” winter day. I threw on a flannel jacket over my sweats to work out there and didn’t get too cold. Weather dude last night said that we might have some sunshine today but it would be limited. Since our main job today is to do the vacation laundry I suppose I don’t need a lot of sunshine. It isn’t as if we are hanging the laundry out on a line.
I probably should get started on addressing the Christmas cards today too. Christmas is just ten days away. We also need to box up the gifts to send to North Carolina and get them on the way. I think it is going to seem like a weird Christmas this year. Christmas falls on Monday which I think will confuse church Christmas schedules and programs. Julie and Jim are coming over on Saturday the 23rd and leaving on Christmas Day because they have to be at work on Tuesday. It just seems that people are getting a bit short-changed on Christmas vacation this year. But, we’ll be glad for any time we get with the kids and enjoy every moment of it.
That is about it for this morning. It is great to be back home and back in a routine. Tomorrow is Friday and the start of the last weekend before Chriosstmas. I imagine the roads will be packed with frantic shoppers all weekend. Folks should slow down and remember it is about the love, not about the gift. Until next blog, I bid you peace and blessings.
The plants in the sunporch were desparate for water and the birdfeeders and bird bath were all empty. So, before I allowed myself my first cup of coffee I watered my plants and then I filled most of the birdfeeders and put fresh water in the electric birdbath. When I first came out to the sunporch this morning there were eleven cardinals out there looking for food. Since I filled the feeders I have had all kids of birds out there so I guess they are satisfied for now anyway. Of course the most popular spot is the birdbath.
It is an overcast day and while the temperature isn’t particularly miserable it is still a cold “looking” winter day. I threw on a flannel jacket over my sweats to work out there and didn’t get too cold. Weather dude last night said that we might have some sunshine today but it would be limited. Since our main job today is to do the vacation laundry I suppose I don’t need a lot of sunshine. It isn’t as if we are hanging the laundry out on a line.
I probably should get started on addressing the Christmas cards today too. Christmas is just ten days away. We also need to box up the gifts to send to North Carolina and get them on the way. I think it is going to seem like a weird Christmas this year. Christmas falls on Monday which I think will confuse church Christmas schedules and programs. Julie and Jim are coming over on Saturday the 23rd and leaving on Christmas Day because they have to be at work on Tuesday. It just seems that people are getting a bit short-changed on Christmas vacation this year. But, we’ll be glad for any time we get with the kids and enjoy every moment of it.
That is about it for this morning. It is great to be back home and back in a routine. Tomorrow is Friday and the start of the last weekend before Chriosstmas. I imagine the roads will be packed with frantic shoppers all weekend. Folks should slow down and remember it is about the love, not about the gift. Until next blog, I bid you peace and blessings.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Tuesday evening and our last night in Las Vegas. We have transferred over to Treasure Island for the last night. One of the first things we did when we got over here was to go for lunch in the cafe. It is one of my favorite places out here. The service is always good and the food is too.
It has been a nice vacation, the best part of course being the visit from Heather and the family. Ms. Kate's sister is staying two extra days. But --- I'm ready to be home. I got stuff to do not the least of which is to get started on a sermon for the last Sunday of the month. Pastor Art is taking his final Sunday of vacation and I'm filling in. I am always so happy to be able to do that but I know that I need to get started.
We are going to miss the 65 degree weather that Las Vegas is having. I think the high temperature back home is about 45 degrees on the good days. But, at least it is supposed to be dry when we get home with no snow or ice to drive through. We have come home in the winter and had to do a white knuckle drive on ice the entire way from Nashville. Those are never fun.
When we get home, we'll need to get the Christmas cards addressed and sent out and the Christmas tree put up. I'm not sure if Julie and Jim are planning on coming over this weekend or not. Speaking of Julie, if I may brag a minute, She just finished her first semester of college in many years and brought home an "A" in every course. I am really proud of her. The kid is smart --- always has been. All of our girls are smart and all of them are in Management/Executive positions. God has blessed each and every one of us.
That's it from Las Vegas. I won't be writing tomorrow so the next blog will once again be from the sun-porch. Until then I hope you experience nothing but God's blessings. Peace.
It has been a nice vacation, the best part of course being the visit from Heather and the family. Ms. Kate's sister is staying two extra days. But --- I'm ready to be home. I got stuff to do not the least of which is to get started on a sermon for the last Sunday of the month. Pastor Art is taking his final Sunday of vacation and I'm filling in. I am always so happy to be able to do that but I know that I need to get started.
We are going to miss the 65 degree weather that Las Vegas is having. I think the high temperature back home is about 45 degrees on the good days. But, at least it is supposed to be dry when we get home with no snow or ice to drive through. We have come home in the winter and had to do a white knuckle drive on ice the entire way from Nashville. Those are never fun.
When we get home, we'll need to get the Christmas cards addressed and sent out and the Christmas tree put up. I'm not sure if Julie and Jim are planning on coming over this weekend or not. Speaking of Julie, if I may brag a minute, She just finished her first semester of college in many years and brought home an "A" in every course. I am really proud of her. The kid is smart --- always has been. All of our girls are smart and all of them are in Management/Executive positions. God has blessed each and every one of us.
That's it from Las Vegas. I won't be writing tomorrow so the next blog will once again be from the sun-porch. Until then I hope you experience nothing but God's blessings. Peace.
Monday, December 11, 2017
A good Monday to you. I don't know where you may be reading this but I hope your weather is as good as ours is here in Las Vegas where we will be having a 64 degree day. Ms. Kate and I are still at the Palazzo Resort and will be until tomorrow when we move across the street to Treasure Island Hotel for one night, and then we head home on Wednesday.
Lauren, Heather, Karen, Ms. Kate
Yesterday we did some really fun stuff with Heather and hr family. We went to the Bellagio Resort and walked through the conservatory. They change the decorations in there with each season. One of they first times we saw it, Martha Stewart had done the decorations and of course "they were a good thing". LOL Yesterday was just as beautiful.
After looking around the conservatory and taking a bunch of pictures, we headed out to Green Valley Ranch Resort to go ice skating. Heather, Lauren & Jon all skated while the rest of us sat and cheered them on. It was Jon's first time on ice skates but he did a pretty good job of catching on. Heather and Lauren had skated several years ago in Rockefeller Center in New York.
The kids have gone on back to California today but it was a blessing to have the opportunity to spend this part of Christmas with them. I have said it before but having kids on both coasts of this country and us in the middle robs us of a lot of the joys that "regular" people (those that have their families living in the same community) enjoy. The fact that Jim and Julie moved within two hours of us a decade ago has been a super blessing.
It is time for us to vacate our room so they can clean it. Maybe we can go get something to eat. Until my next blog I hope you have a day full of blessings and joy. Peace.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Happy Friday afternoon. Ms. Kate and I have changed our hotel location. We had a wonderful stay at Green Valley but now we have moved to the Venetian/Palazzo Resort complex for the next four days. And on Tuesday we will move right cross the street to Treasure Island Hotel. Ms. Kate gets all of these free rooms and suites at these places so why not jump around and use them. She and her sister Karen are downstairs right now "earning another free room" for our next trip out here. LOL, --- I'm up in the room and while I'm not earning any free rooms, --- I'm still saving money.
We didn't do a lot yesterday except eat, laze around, gamble a little, read some, and watch television. We went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner last night. Nope ---- we didn't see "Penny" or "Bernadine" working there either. But the food was excellent and the portions were too huge. I hate leaving spaghetti on a plate but I had to surrender or blow up.
Today, we took our time getting ready and and packing to change hotels. We we having a lot of trouble with the WiFi in our room last evening and today. It kept shutting off. I think we figured out the problem. When we tried to log back on, one of the "options" was "FBI Surveillance Van". Of course it was password protected but we thought it was funny as heck that it showed up as an option. I don't know who they were checking on but they were interfering with our signal.
After we checked out of Green Valley we drove up to the "M" Resort and picked up Karen and we drove to Red Rock Resort to have lunch and to spend some pennies. From there we came on down to our hotel, checked in, got the luggage in and here I am. After while we'll take Karen back to her hotel and go to the seafood buffet that they have there on Fridays. Then we'll come back here and cash for the night. Tomorrow morning Heather and her family will be coming over here from southern CA. We'll celebrate an early Christmas with them at some point this weekend. They will head back on Monday to CA.
That catches you up with us. Back home I understand they will have some snow flakes this weekend. Heather's part of the country could use snow or rain or something to help put out the wildfires that are currently raging in the Santa Ana winds.
I may take time to write tomorrow but if I don't, well as the saying goes; "I'll be back!" Until then I pray you have nothing but peace and love in your life. Blessings.
We didn't do a lot yesterday except eat, laze around, gamble a little, read some, and watch television. We went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner last night. Nope ---- we didn't see "Penny" or "Bernadine" working there either. But the food was excellent and the portions were too huge. I hate leaving spaghetti on a plate but I had to surrender or blow up.
Today, we took our time getting ready and and packing to change hotels. We we having a lot of trouble with the WiFi in our room last evening and today. It kept shutting off. I think we figured out the problem. When we tried to log back on, one of the "options" was "FBI Surveillance Van". Of course it was password protected but we thought it was funny as heck that it showed up as an option. I don't know who they were checking on but they were interfering with our signal.
After we checked out of Green Valley we drove up to the "M" Resort and picked up Karen and we drove to Red Rock Resort to have lunch and to spend some pennies. From there we came on down to our hotel, checked in, got the luggage in and here I am. After while we'll take Karen back to her hotel and go to the seafood buffet that they have there on Fridays. Then we'll come back here and cash for the night. Tomorrow morning Heather and her family will be coming over here from southern CA. We'll celebrate an early Christmas with them at some point this weekend. They will head back on Monday to CA.
That catches you up with us. Back home I understand they will have some snow flakes this weekend. Heather's part of the country could use snow or rain or something to help put out the wildfires that are currently raging in the Santa Ana winds.
I may take time to write tomorrow but if I don't, well as the saying goes; "I'll be back!" Until then I pray you have nothing but peace and love in your life. Blessings.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
A very good morning to you from sunny but cool Las Vegas, NV. I'm sitting on a sun-porch (balcony) of my room overlooking the Spring Mountains. I have often been out looking at the Spring Mountains and Red Rock Canyon as the sun came up. I was the commander of the 99th Security Forces Group at Nellis Air Force Base from 1997 to 1999 and it was my habit to be up and walking the track about 0530. I'd walk my seven miles and then head home, and get ready to go to work. It wasn't so much that I enjoyed being out there and doing all that walking but it was more of a situation that if I can do it, I expect all 770 of my airmen to do it too. Leadership by example. But today --- it is great to just sit here on my rear end, have my cup of Starbucks coffee and enjoy life.
I apologize for skipping yesterday's blog but we were a bit busy. We caught the 0800 shuttle from the hotel to the airport in Nashville in plenty of time to get through security and then hurry up and wait. (I have a lot of practice in that particular skill set.) The flight out was full and it was occasionally bumpy. Our aircraft was one of the newer models that has just a tad bit more room between the seats and it made all the difference in the world for comfort. We got in to Las Vegas around 1400 and as soon as we got our car we headed out here to Green Valley, a suburb of Henderson, NV. Frankly, you can't tell where one city ends and another begins out here any more. When we first started coming to Vegas, there was a distance and divide between Las Vegas and Henderson and none of the surrounding "mini-towns" and suburbs existed. My how all of that has changed. We stopped at P.F. Chang's for lunch and then came on over to the Green Valley Resort. We have stayed here often. Our room was free for the three nights we will be here but they offered us an upgrade to a mini-suite with a nice balcony for $30.00 a night. We took it, and sitting out here this morning to do my blog, --- it was worth every penny. We'll stay here for three nights and then move to the Venetian/Palazzo Resort complex where we will spend four night (again comped) and wait for Heather & John and the kids to join us. I know there is a race for Lauren this weekend in Vegas but I still don't know for sure if she is racing or not. Twenty year old women sometimes change their minds!!!!! Heck, I can't keep Ms. Kate and her sister on a single track, so who knows.
I have no idea what we are going to do today. What are not going to do is sit around the casino and play slot machines all day. It would be a beautiful day to drive out to Red Rock Canyon, or Valley of Fire State Park, or maybe drive around Lake Mead. We aren't big into shopping although I have no doubt that at some point on this trip, we will find ourselves at a Coach outlet. She will go in, --- I'll just "hold my spot".
Sitting here looking at the mountains and the palm trees swaying in the breeze, it is a natural thing to turn to God and focus on the life full of blessings I have been given. God's grace extends from the heaven's to the heart. It fills you up with wonder and joy, This being the Christmas season makes it even more obvious. I hope your day is full of blessing too. Take time to enjoy them and to give thanks to God for them. Peace.
I apologize for skipping yesterday's blog but we were a bit busy. We caught the 0800 shuttle from the hotel to the airport in Nashville in plenty of time to get through security and then hurry up and wait. (I have a lot of practice in that particular skill set.) The flight out was full and it was occasionally bumpy. Our aircraft was one of the newer models that has just a tad bit more room between the seats and it made all the difference in the world for comfort. We got in to Las Vegas around 1400 and as soon as we got our car we headed out here to Green Valley, a suburb of Henderson, NV. Frankly, you can't tell where one city ends and another begins out here any more. When we first started coming to Vegas, there was a distance and divide between Las Vegas and Henderson and none of the surrounding "mini-towns" and suburbs existed. My how all of that has changed. We stopped at P.F. Chang's for lunch and then came on over to the Green Valley Resort. We have stayed here often. Our room was free for the three nights we will be here but they offered us an upgrade to a mini-suite with a nice balcony for $30.00 a night. We took it, and sitting out here this morning to do my blog, --- it was worth every penny. We'll stay here for three nights and then move to the Venetian/Palazzo Resort complex where we will spend four night (again comped) and wait for Heather & John and the kids to join us. I know there is a race for Lauren this weekend in Vegas but I still don't know for sure if she is racing or not. Twenty year old women sometimes change their minds!!!!! Heck, I can't keep Ms. Kate and her sister on a single track, so who knows.
I have no idea what we are going to do today. What are not going to do is sit around the casino and play slot machines all day. It would be a beautiful day to drive out to Red Rock Canyon, or Valley of Fire State Park, or maybe drive around Lake Mead. We aren't big into shopping although I have no doubt that at some point on this trip, we will find ourselves at a Coach outlet. She will go in, --- I'll just "hold my spot".
Sitting here looking at the mountains and the palm trees swaying in the breeze, it is a natural thing to turn to God and focus on the life full of blessings I have been given. God's grace extends from the heaven's to the heart. It fills you up with wonder and joy, This being the Christmas season makes it even more obvious. I hope your day is full of blessing too. Take time to enjoy them and to give thanks to God for them. Peace.
Monday, December 4, 2017
Good Monday morning to you. There are strange goings on with our technology. Last night Ms. Kate was on her IPad and complained that it kept shutting of on her. Well, we have three IPads around this house so I had her switch to her other one. I pulled out my IPad and it was doing the same thing. This morning they are still doing the same. I have reset my router and my modem to no avail. So, I’m having to save each and every sentence I write as I write them. I’m beginning to suspect that Apple Corp may have been hacked or something. I haven’t tried working off of my IPhone but I may try that. But, our televisions work fine and our PC’s work fine.
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OK, so after a lot of fiddling around I re-installed IOS 11,2 and that seems to have settled the problem. Now, Ms. Kate and I are in Nashville, TN waiting to fly out tomorrow to Vegas. So, I'll drop off. Have a good evening.
_______________________
OK, so after a lot of fiddling around I re-installed IOS 11,2 and that seems to have settled the problem. Now, Ms. Kate and I are in Nashville, TN waiting to fly out tomorrow to Vegas. So, I'll drop off. Have a good evening.
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Happy sunny Saturday! The cardinals are busy this morning already. They are the early bird but not looking for a worm. They are looking for a good perch at the feeder. So far their only competition has been a couple of finches. The woodpeckers have either been at a suet feeder or the bark butter feeders so the sunflower seed feeders are wide open to first come -first served.
I’m not sure what is on the agenda for today. I don’t think we have to leave the house although Ms. Kate did say we needed to pick up a couple of gifts for the family yet. Other than that, we should be maybe doing last minute laundry to pack for our vacation. I need to check the weather at our destination location so I’ll know what to pack, although I think we might be doing some geocaching with the grandkids out in the desert and it get rather chilly out in the desert this time of the year. The wind will cut right through you. I had never considered that until I spent time out in the desert around Las Vegas in the winter time. Part of my responsibility when I was stationed at Nellis AFB, in Las Vegas area was to run the Desert Warfare Center for Security Forces. We trained Security Forces personnel on how to conduct warfare in that environment. One of the florist things we always told. The troops to pack was their long underwear and winter gear. When they didn’t listen, they quickly learned and had to make an expensive trip to Military Clothing Sales. Of course in the summer it was really confusing because it might get to 110 during the day and then the night desert air would really chill you to the bone.
I’ve just about finished my latest book, “Glory Days” by Max Lucado. Yesterday we went to the Vinyard, a Bible book store and I picked up two more Lucado books. I had a gift card from there and decided to use it. My unread stack is piling up. I’m three behind on Stephen King and I know that Julie has already bought me his latest for Christmas; and now I have these two new Lucado books. But talk about opposite ends of the spectrum for reading —- one writes sci-Ft/horror and the other writes faith and inspiration. What can I say; I’m a complicated guy. I think I’ll throw in Stephen King to read on the plane. It is vacation after-all.
I think that is it for today. God is great. Beer is good, and people are crazy. I hope you have a most pleasant and Spirit filled weekend. See ya’ in church!!
I’m not sure what is on the agenda for today. I don’t think we have to leave the house although Ms. Kate did say we needed to pick up a couple of gifts for the family yet. Other than that, we should be maybe doing last minute laundry to pack for our vacation. I need to check the weather at our destination location so I’ll know what to pack, although I think we might be doing some geocaching with the grandkids out in the desert and it get rather chilly out in the desert this time of the year. The wind will cut right through you. I had never considered that until I spent time out in the desert around Las Vegas in the winter time. Part of my responsibility when I was stationed at Nellis AFB, in Las Vegas area was to run the Desert Warfare Center for Security Forces. We trained Security Forces personnel on how to conduct warfare in that environment. One of the florist things we always told. The troops to pack was their long underwear and winter gear. When they didn’t listen, they quickly learned and had to make an expensive trip to Military Clothing Sales. Of course in the summer it was really confusing because it might get to 110 during the day and then the night desert air would really chill you to the bone.
I’ve just about finished my latest book, “Glory Days” by Max Lucado. Yesterday we went to the Vinyard, a Bible book store and I picked up two more Lucado books. I had a gift card from there and decided to use it. My unread stack is piling up. I’m three behind on Stephen King and I know that Julie has already bought me his latest for Christmas; and now I have these two new Lucado books. But talk about opposite ends of the spectrum for reading —- one writes sci-Ft/horror and the other writes faith and inspiration. What can I say; I’m a complicated guy. I think I’ll throw in Stephen King to read on the plane. It is vacation after-all.
I think that is it for today. God is great. Beer is good, and people are crazy. I hope you have a most pleasant and Spirit filled weekend. See ya’ in church!!
Friday, December 1, 2017
Clack, clack, bang and whack! The Friday morning trash trucks are ging through the neighborhood. Between them and “Lily”, the neighbors dog barking at them, it is a noisy morning out side. But, it was time to get up and get the day started anyway.
It is a lot cooler this morning than it was yesterday morning. It is thirty two degrees but there isn’t no wind to speak of. Although it is a lot harder to tell about the wind now that the leaves are all off of the trees. The sun is shining brightly with no clouds and the cardinals are glistening in the sunlight. This morning’s buffet guest list includes a half dozen cardinals, several junkos, finches, sparrows, a couple of doves, a couple of starlings, and three woodpeckers. It’s a good mix and. They are a lively group, except for the doves. They just walk around pecking at the ground.
Neighbor Dan and I took the mower deck off yesterday and put the snow blade on the John Deere. The winter forecasts for snow are all over the place from two inches for the winter to fifteen inches for the winter. But regardless, I’m ready; the blade is on and I have plenty of snow melt chemicals for the drive way too. The forecasters all say that it is going to be a really cold winter though which will be a big departure from last year.
Happy December 1st! Thirty days until the year 2018. As a child, 2018 was so very far in the future and the world was supposed to be so advanced. In reality though, that time journey has been nothing more than a lot of days all stacked on top of one another with one seemingly no different than the last, and life just happened without us thinking a lot about it. I suppose that is the way God intended it to be. We have gadgets today that were just “sci-fi” thoughts when I was a kid. Remember Dick Tracey’s wrist radio?? Remember Dick Tracey??? But unfortunately as human beings we’ve not progressed much. racism, homophobia, fear, world hunger, threats of war all still plague the world just like they did back in the 1950’s. We have more churches —- but less people attending them.. That alone should tell us where the problem lies.
But, I’m not going to put you in a downer mood to start your December, after all — Christmas is coming and we will again celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So ‘buck up” folks; the wonderful ride we call life is still alive and well and can be as exciting as you want to make it. Start with a prayer each day and end with a prayer each night. God will handle everything in between. Peace.
It is a lot cooler this morning than it was yesterday morning. It is thirty two degrees but there isn’t no wind to speak of. Although it is a lot harder to tell about the wind now that the leaves are all off of the trees. The sun is shining brightly with no clouds and the cardinals are glistening in the sunlight. This morning’s buffet guest list includes a half dozen cardinals, several junkos, finches, sparrows, a couple of doves, a couple of starlings, and three woodpeckers. It’s a good mix and. They are a lively group, except for the doves. They just walk around pecking at the ground.
Neighbor Dan and I took the mower deck off yesterday and put the snow blade on the John Deere. The winter forecasts for snow are all over the place from two inches for the winter to fifteen inches for the winter. But regardless, I’m ready; the blade is on and I have plenty of snow melt chemicals for the drive way too. The forecasters all say that it is going to be a really cold winter though which will be a big departure from last year.
Happy December 1st! Thirty days until the year 2018. As a child, 2018 was so very far in the future and the world was supposed to be so advanced. In reality though, that time journey has been nothing more than a lot of days all stacked on top of one another with one seemingly no different than the last, and life just happened without us thinking a lot about it. I suppose that is the way God intended it to be. We have gadgets today that were just “sci-fi” thoughts when I was a kid. Remember Dick Tracey’s wrist radio?? Remember Dick Tracey??? But unfortunately as human beings we’ve not progressed much. racism, homophobia, fear, world hunger, threats of war all still plague the world just like they did back in the 1950’s. We have more churches —- but less people attending them.. That alone should tell us where the problem lies.
But, I’m not going to put you in a downer mood to start your December, after all — Christmas is coming and we will again celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So ‘buck up” folks; the wonderful ride we call life is still alive and well and can be as exciting as you want to make it. Start with a prayer each day and end with a prayer each night. God will handle everything in between. Peace.
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