Well, pardon my foul mouth but —- Crap on a Cracker!!! The milk has turned. Don’t you hate that when it happens? I was all set for a bowl of cereal; had gotten the box out, poured the cereal on the bowl, put my cold milk on it and was anticipating that first bite. Then yuk!!! The milk was sour and I had no back-up plan. And, I hate the taste of sour milk.  Okay, I admit, I did check the expiration date and it said it expired today but that’s not generally a hard and fast rule. And yes, I did smell it first and it did smell maybe a little “iffy”, but it went way past “iffy” in a “Jiffy”. So, I reckon it will be bagel and creamed cheese again this morning. Which when you think about it is weird because what is creamed cheese other than flavored concentrated sour milk????? What a strange morning.

I filled the backyard buffet up again withe the exception of finishing up the sunflower seed holders. I picked up another 80 pounds of seed yesterday afternoon but still need to carry that around to the shed in the backyard. But I had enough left to fill up a couple of the feeders and I got everything else fill with the exception of the safflower which as I said yesterday, I’m out of. I guess I have another stop to make while I’m out today. We changed out the hummingbird food yesterday and the “sweet-bees” are all over it and keeping the hummingbird away from one of them. I wonder what’s up with that. I had the same problem when I was changing it out yesterday. The sweet-bees were flying all around me up and almost into my mouth. That’s the first time we have had that this year. So that is strange. 

Right on time —- 0930 the phone rings with morning robocall from “Breast Cancer” . It never fails. My phone tells me the person or number that is calling so I just let it ring. Too often though it just gives me a number  and it is a local number or a Ft. Branch number and  I feel like I need to answer it because it might be a parishioner and it;s “Amy” or “Karen” from Medicare and they have been trying to get hold of me.  I just hang up. It does no good to try to block them, argue with them, or tell them not to call. It is a  national problem affecting millions of people. AARP magazine just did an article on them this month. They are trying to get you to give them personal information and then they sell that to another crook. Out of the millions of robocalls, they have prosecuted one person. 

We have another business closing up out here on the north side of town. It’s a pizza place and bar and does a great business. However, like so many other places, they can’t get anybody to work. What is going on in this country that people aren’t looking for a job? I really don’t understand it. I hate to use the phrase “When I was a kid” but kids went out and looked for jobs because it was the grownup and adult thing to do. Besides, if you wanted a social life, you better have the money to afford it. Mommy and Daddy didn’t just hand you money. But that was the days before your entire social life was at the end of your thumbs on an IPhone or Tablet. That was before kids had to be enrolled in every sport and and lessons to keep them entertained. New world, new rules, new society I guess. 

Time to go carry some birdseed around to the shed and fill a few more feeders. Then, we need to go to the grocery, finish up decorating cemetery plots, go to the churches to run bulletins and with any luck, get some yard work done today again, And ——- maybe even work in a nap today. 

Have a blessed day. If you are looking for a Beagle dog or two, my backyard neighbor has a couple that are barking their head of for most of the morning; you’re welcome to come get them as far as I’m concerned. LOL  

Peace.

 I think I feel like I just woke up from a coma or something. It is wonderful to feel good again. Last Saturday as you know I spent a good deal of time outside working in my front flower bed, the one up next to the house on the left side. (I have way to many flowerbeds.) I got it under control but by the end of the day, I could hardly move because I was so danged tired. I should preface this by saying that Ms. Kate has been “not feeling well, and extremely tired for well over a week.” Sunday morning we got up to go to church and she wasn’t feeling any better and I was feeling just totally wiped out and it took me forever to concentrate on doing anything. Just getting dressed required concentration. I took a couple of Tylenol hoping I would get to feeling better. I offered Ms. Kate the chance to skip church because she wasn’t feeling a whole lot better either, and she reluctantly took it. But, I had to leave for the church NLT 0800 and it was coming up on that. It was too late to cancel church service so I went on up and did my service. I avoided being close to anyone at all. I explained what was going on, I did the service (I felt like I did a terrible job) and as soon as the service was over, I got in the car and came home. 

Once home, I changed into my comfy clothes  and crawled into my recliner. I slept almost all day and again through the night. Yesterday, I got up, was feeling somewhat better but I was still not “connected to the world” mentally. For one thing, I had lost a day and spent the day thinking it was Tuesday. I was even concerned and anxious because I felt like I was already running behind for the week in getting my “stuff” done. In fact, it wasn’t until last evening when I said something to Kate about us running the bulletins tomorrow and she said, “You do realize this is only Monday don’t you?” No, I did not.  

We usually go to bed somewhere between midnight and 0100. Last night I announced that I was headed to bed at 2330, kissed Ms. Kate goodnight and went to bed. I have no idea when she came to bed. I have no idea when she go up this morning. But, I woke up at 0930 this morning for the very first time all night. No middle of the night trip to the bathroom, no toss and turns, just dead sleep. This morning I feel great except for being hungry. I’m ready to throw on my clothes and get some outside work done and face the world. I give God praise for that. You know, —- I get sick so very seldom so this was just totally weird. It was like following yourself around the house and being two steps behind at all times. 

One of the first things I need to do today is refill the Backyard Buffet. It is empty and has been for a few days. Well, not totally empty but the guests are certainly having to work harder to get a meal. It’s so bad that I’m not sure what I have and don’t have for food. I know for sure that I need to go to Pet Food Supply and get a couple of bags of sunflower seed. I’ll be scraping the bottom of the barrel to fill the feeders today. I think I’m out of safflower seed and the cardinals love that so I need to check on my entire supply. I’ve been a bad host and my guests deserve better. 

So that is it for today. I’m alive and I feel alive. I hope you feel alive today too. If you do, takes in a couple of deep breaths and give God thanks for them. It’s a beautiful day. Peace. 

 Good morning on a very chilly Friday morning. It’s 46 degrees this morning. Although I was outside a few minutes ago and it didn’t feel all that bad. At least where the sun was shining. I thought I might do some yard work this morning but the grass and everything is really wet. I mowed my yard yesterday afternoon but I was going to get to work in the flowerbeds this morning. I’ve known that my front flowerbeds were out of control with work to be don, but, —- I had no idea had bad they really were. Yesterday I got out my new string trimmer and was going to trim along in front of those beds. I guess I just had not looked at them as I mowed time and again. They are so over grown that it is going to take me at least a week, maybe two to get them cut back and cleaned up. I need to get some good lawn and leaf bags to put the refuse in. Sam’s Club used to carry them but I don’t see them advertised now. However Ms. Kate is going on line this morning and see if they have them and if they do, we’ll do a phone in order. If they don’t have them, I know that Lowes does have them advertised. I have plastic bags but that doesn’t help the landfills at all. At any rate, I’m going to let the due dry for a bit. 

At 1030 this morning I’m going to be on my computer watching the 56th annual Buffalo Roundup in Custer State Park. That is such an exciting event and the one time that we got to see it in person was so very exciting to me. The fact that they are going to televise it this morning is super. 

I went to the church yesterday and ran a the bulletin for this coming Sunday It went fairly well. The copier didn’t give me any trouble. Sometime it sounds like it is on its last leg. I’ve told the council that it needs to be cleaned and tuned. It’s not an expensive machine but it has sure held up well. A couple of the parishioners bought it for the church back in the 2004/2005 time frame. Generally if you get a copier to last five yers, you are doing good. This thing has been in use now for at least 15 years. But, I doubt they can afford a new one so we’ll do what farmers always do, fix it until it can’t be fixed. Besides, I know where to knock on this one when it gives me trouble. LOL

That’s about it for this morning. It is almost time to watch the cowboys and cowgirls round up Bison. I really hope the feed is good and the production goes well. 

It’s the weekend. I hope your week has gone well. Whether it has or not, stop what you are doing and give God thanks for the good days and ask for strength during the bad. Peace. 

 A rainy Tuesday morning has turned into a rainy Wednesday morning and will continue for most of the day. But tomorrow starts a period of great weather, or so they predict. The Autumn Equinox arrived at 1430 yesterday afternoon and brought all of the indications of fall with it. The wind is whooping out there right now and it is 59 degrees. It’s a great time to be in the house I think. 

What’s on your plate today? Normally I would head up to the churches today and run the bulletins but I think I will wait until tomorrow when the weather will be nicer. So for today, I will go downstairs and write. I did some yesterday but not nearly enough. I’m still working on my October 3rd message; actually I’ve barely started beyond finding the correct scriptures and topic. OI have the worship service prepared but that is generally the easy part. 

I got a call yesterday afternoon requesting a visit from a family, so I hopped in the truck and went to see them. I spent two and a half hours with them. I’ll be putting them on my weekly visit list for a while. The man is terminal. I really hate to see that. They are great people and staunch supporters of the church. In fact their historical family are some of the founding patron of the church. But, God will walk with the family through this tragedy and in the end, we all must pass through the veil between earthly life and eternity.

I got an email from the South Dakota Tourism folks yesterday telling me that this year’s Buffalo Roundup is going to be telecast virtually. Ms. Kate and I went to this a couple of years ago and it is on my bucket list to go again because it was so exciting. I’m so glad to see that it will be available on my screen this year. I suspect that a lot of it is going to be covered by drone footage so it will be like actually being on the drive. Although, when we went to watch it in person, They ran right in front of us. They will be rounding up 1500-2000 bison. The thunder of the hooves is enough to make he ground rumble and give you goosebumps. 

Time to pop my bagel in the toaster. I love having my bagel and Creme cheese for breakfast, unless of course I’m going to go full on with the everything breakfast. 

Try to stay warm and dry today. Peace my friends. 

 Good morning on a rainy Tuesday morning. I was outside a few minutes ago and it wasn’t raining but has started to sprinkle now and is supposed to rain for about 45 minutes to some degree. But the temperature was wonderful. We’re supposed to have rain again tomorrow and then the cold front is through and fall weather begins with morning temperature in the upper 40’s. The seasons just roll on don’t they?

I’m in the kitchen this morning while the appliance installers take out my old dishwasher and install the new one. They are having a heck of a time getting the old one out because the floor has been raised a bit when we had the new floor tile installed several years ago. But that’s why you hire stuff put in and don’t try to do it yourself. First of all, I wouldn’t know what to do and secondly, I’d probably make 83 trips to the hardware store for stuff. But, they are definitely earning their pay for this job. 

After they do get this one changed out they are supposed to do some measuring for for another couple of appliances that we are going to replace. We have a set of couple oven that were put in place when the house was built back in 1977. Neither one of the oven registers a true temperature nor has the “self cleaning” mechanism worked since we bought the house. We found a good Kitchen Aid replacement model but we need to make sure they will fit in the space we have. The same thing goes for the refrigerator. 

I guess since it is raining today I will spend most of my day downstairs in my office. I have enough writing to do to keep me busy all week and then some. We have new mission projects coming up at the churches and we have new members joining in about three weeks. I also have a wedding coming up fairly soon that I have to write the homily for. So, there is plenty of work to do on a rainy day as soon as these folks get out of my kitchen. 

My Backyard Buffet guests are all hiding this morning and sheltering out of the rain. I don’t blame them. What started as a sprinkle a few minutes ago has turned into a downpour. Neighbor Dan was sitting out on his front porch this morning but I see the angle of the rain has run him in the house. He sits out there every morning and talks on the phone constantly. He tells me it is his brothers calling him but I think he is as chatty as they are for sure. I couldn’t talk to anyone on the phone that long. Although, I spend time like that on Facebook Messenger talking to either him, or Art or my girls. I guess I’m a chatter box too just via a different method. LOL

I see the rain has backed off to a drizzle again. That’s good because they are bringing in the new appliance. I done here for today. I hope your day is great. Peace. 

 A blessed Monday morning to you and a blessed beginning of a brand new week. I pray your weekend was a fabulous one. Mine certainly was.  Saturday morning we went to the church to distribute the bicycles that we had assembled the week before. It was very rewarding watching the kids come get their brand new bicycles with their foster parents. There was one little girl in particular, maybe three years old, cutest little face that was just so proud of her new bike. She got on it as soon as I handed it to her and just kept telling me “This is my bicycle”. I think she would have ridden it home if she could. But that little smile made all of the work we did absolutely with every bit of effort. 

Yesterday was the actual celebration of our 100th anniversary for St. Lucas. It was an absolute success. I think we had a little over 150 people there. The service went very well, Brenda’s music was beautiful, the food was excellent, and the people stayed and stayed and talked and visited with folks that had not been back to the church for several years. The Isaiah 117 folks were extremely happy with our donation of over $15,000.00 toward their program. It was a great day, — working for the Lord! I try to envision what the parish will look like in another 100 years and I can’t even begin to put my head around it. 

But — I have reminded the parish that was yesterday and God has opportunities for us to serve every day so we are already working on new mission projects from each church. St. Lucas is going to be doing “The 12 Sunday’s of Christmas” Beginning October 3rd we will assign an item to be brought to the church to take to a local food bank. Christmas and Thanksgiving are both coming up and the need will be plenty as it always is. I don’t know what St. Paul’s will do yet. But you can bet they will have a project going to help the community. 

That’s it for the beginning of my week. We’re looking at rain for the first three days of the week so outdoor stuff goes on hold and I can put my fingers to the keyboard of my computer and maybe even put my finger to the keyboard of the piano. Have a blessed week my friends. Peace. 

 Happy Friday morning. Are you having a TGIF or a “meh, it’s Friday” type of day. I think I’m going to have the latter. There is nothing in particular on my plate today, although I certainly have plenty to do. I never run out of flower beds to work on or stuff that I need to write. But either of those takes motivation and I’m not motivated beyond my recliner this morning as I sit and watch the birds and listen to the birdsong on this comfortable 66 degree morning. 

This is the big weekend! This is the 100th anniversary weekend that we have been working toward at my St. Lucas church. This evening I’ll go up and help set up tents, then tomorrow morning I’ll go help distribute the bicycles that we built last weekend. One of the two days we will print the bulletins for Sunday. I think I may run 100 just to keep the theme going. It would be great to have 100 people show up for this event. It appears that God is going to bless us with wonderful weather for this event. All I really have to do is play host and serve a liturgist for our guest speaker/pastor. I’ve asked the Reverend Dr. Stephanie Weiner to come speak the message during the worship service. Stephanie is “good people”. She’s one of the clergy in our Association that I really trust and can talk to. She’s non-pretentious which is hard to find these days. 

We did “on-line” grocery shopping yesterday through Meijer’s. Kate did all of the “shopping” and setting everything up. Then we just drove up, they put the groceries in the car and away we went. It is so very simple to do that. Speaking of which, I should maybe pop a bagel in the toaster and then put some Creme-cheese on it for my breakfast. We also went to Wild Birds Unlimited yesterday. I bought a new feeder a couple of weeks agar and just could not get it to work. So I took it back to the store and told them that I couldn’t get it to work and could they show me what I was doing wrong. It turned out that I was simply using the wrong kind of bird food in it. The lady showed me what to use and it worked just fine. Fortunately I have a large bag of that food so it was easy-peasy. I brought it home and hung it back up and it is almost empty this morning. I knew it looked like it would be a favorite. By the end of next week I bet I’ll have to place another on-line order through them. At least they do free delivery when you order over $75.00 worth and I always easily do over that much. I also need to get to Pet Supply today and buy some black-oil sunflower seed. I could get it at WBU but it is a lot more expensive. 

My son-in-law Jim, bowled his first perfect 300 game last night. They caught the final roll on camera and posted it. He’s always been a good bowler but that 300 has eluded him forever until last night. I asked hime this morning if his feet had touched earth yet this morning. He said “no”. If he never does another one, he’s done it once. I’ve never come close to that and have seldom ever bowled over 200. So congratulations to him. He’s gonna have a great day today. 

That’s it for me this morning. This is a weekend. Enjoy it, celebrate it, relax in it but don’t forget to give time to God and give thanks and praise for your week of blessings. 

Peace.