The closing of 2010

I'm cleaning a chicken.  Well, not literally. It 's just that I am tired of eating chicken.  This afternoon I sliced off the largest of the breast pieces and put them in the freezer.  The smaller pieces were made into chicken salad on toast.  The carcass and fat are on the stove simmering in vegetable broth left over from the other afternoon. 

The final broth or stock will find a home in the freezer, as well.  The skin and bones may go over the fence to the dog next door.  Maybe dog and I can become friends that way.  As you can tell, nothing will go to waste. I  can not afford to to NOT use everything wisely.  Hey!  Maybe one of these days I will try "bone soup!"

This year goes out poorer than last year.   I have spent a lot of money on dental repairs and medicine that my "agent" did not think to add to my coverage.  This year I did it myself and now I have insurance for the pharmacy.  I don't know what he was thinking.  I am watching my nickles and dimes, esp. now that gas is over $3.05 per gal.  It isn't because there is a gas shortage; it is because the dollar is so weak.

 

A friend is one to whom one

may pour out all the contents

of one's heart, chaff and grain

together, knowing that the

gentlest of hands

will take and sift it,

keep what is worth keeping,

and with the breath

of kindness,

blow the rest away.

*

Arabian Proverb

*
DISCARD NOT AN OLD FRIEND,
FOR THE NEW ONE
CAN NOT EQUAL HIM.
A NEW FRIEND IS LIKE NEW WINE
WHICH YOU DRINK
WITH PLEASURE
ONLY WHEN IT HAS AGED.
*
Sirach 9 vs. 10
*
2010 leaves on the wings of a thunderstorm.

END

Trembler

I am still making changes.  Every bit of the snow is gone.

The Earth  is never still.  Something is always going on, above, on the crust or down below. It's an illusion to think that the ground beneath your feet is solid and unmovable.  Here we sit, on thee New Madrid fault line, thinking that what is here today will be here tomorrow.  From the New Madrid fault, smaller, known and undiscovered faults branch out in many directions...like the roots of a great spreading tree. New earth fractures occur and are found fairly frequently.  And here we, oblivious to what moves us.

We had a small awakening...except it didn't wake me.  Yes, I too, was oblivious, snug and warm in my bed early in the morning.  I think the Ohio River often acts as a buffer against the "small" one.  When when we get the "big one" the buffer may not 'buffer."

We had a little trembler.  In my post about having a survival kit I forgot to mention that it would be good to have an adjustable wrench available for turning off the gas line and knowing just where the shut off valve is.  Yes, I do have one(wrench).  I know where the shut off valve is.  I know how and I have done it. If you don't know how, have someone show you.  It isn't hard and it is important.  It could be the difference between a fire or an explosion.

I went to the Goodwill store this afternoon.  I didn't get much.  There was a man there buying up all the woven baskets he could carry out. It isn't really fair that dealers  come in and clean out all the good stuff.  That is free enterprise at work, I suppose.  I still am not thrilled about it, but so it goes.

*

Fellow Travelers

-

Today I take your hand,

Tomorrow you may need mine;

We share in one great love,

The love of thee Devine.

-

Today I sooth your brow,

 Tomorrow you'll comfort me,

We have a common bond,

It's called humanity.

-

Dorothy Niederburger

_*

The New  Virtue

_

There is a virtue that may be new to the hearing of many.

It was discovered and named by Aristotle.

He called it Eutrapelia.

Eutrapelia may be defined as

"playfulness in good taste."

****

If you see oppression of the poor,

and violations of rights

and justice in the realm,

do not be shocked

by the fact,

for the high official

has another higher than he

watching him

and above these

are others higher still-.

*

Ecclesiastes 5,vs. 7

*

END



  

Changes

SOME OF THE BASICS TO KEEP IN YOUR CAR.

I have a kit in the van and another, larger "Go Bag" in the house."

I am trying to make a few changes in the blog page; hope you like them .

And I am not done yet!

This cracked me up!

I, like the rest of the country, have been trying to keep up with the 2010 blizzard that has brought a lot of the East Coast to a crawl and NY city to it's knees. It makes me wonder what would happen if there really were a terrorist attack of great magnitude. How would NY cope , let alone evacuate or care the millions of the city?

Everyone should have a least a blanket, a flash light, some food and water.

an extra pair of shoes and socks(or boots) a big plastic bag and or an extra

coat. The large plastic bag can have a hole cut in the top and worn over clothing to repel wind, rain or snow. Most of this will make sense...to most people, but who abides with good sense. These are basic items that don't take up all that much room. A friend of mine tells me I could live in my van, umm, but I wouldn't really want to. If I had to survive in it, I could or at least until rescue might be available.

Don't count on a blizzard bailout. The people who drive the plows, salt and sand trucks and, ambulances, fire trucks and police may be more "stuck" than you are. Depend on yourself and self preservation. Even better, when a blizzard is predicted well in advance...STAY THE HECK HOME unless you are an essential worker.

I am already trying to diet a little bit. I got some home made bean soup out of the freezer yesterday and finished it today. I got another container out this evening to thaw out overnight. Beans and or bean soup is a bowlful of protein and fiber. It will also rapidly rid your body of toxins and chemicals found in the intestines! So, with one bowl of bean soup late lunch, a chicken sandwich for supper and some oatmeal around 10-10:30 P.M., I hope I have a start on my lazy diet. I won't stick to this menu all the time, but it is a beginning. Wish me "weight free," not luck.

*

TRUTH SHALL SPRING

OUT OF THE EARTH,

AND JUSTICE

SHALL LOOK DOWN

FROM HEAVEN.

THE LORD HIMSELF

WILL GIVE HIS

BENEFITS.

*

Psalm 84, vs. 11-13

*

END

I have a whole slew of old socks, mostly white, that have holes in most of the toes or the elastics have gone bad and they won't stay up. There is nothing like going to work and having your socks wrinkled up around your ankles! Looks kind of tacky, but not as tacky as the nurse who came to work in a wet uniform because she "didn't have time to put her uniform through the dryer." This is a true incident..I kid you not! Anyway, I am thinking of ways to re-purpose all my old socks-other than the obvious-dusters and such. I am open to ideas and suggestions.

I think my New Year's resolutions will to be to lose some weight. I'm thinking about it, but hardly thinking.

A Notation for Alice: My hair is just about snow white now, so there will be no pictures! How did that happen, anyway??

*

FOR BEHOLD

I CREATE A NEW HEAVEN

AND A NEW EARTH;

AND THE FORMER THINGS

SHALL NOT BE

IN REMEMBRANCE,

AND THEY SHALL

NOT COME UPON

THE HEART.

*

Isaiah 65, vs. 17

END

Plan now Hoe later

The snow is almost gone..good..goodby to snow.

As the holy(i)days ebb and the season slowly changes, so will I, in accordance with Mother Nature. The garden catalogues are starting to find a home in my mailbox and they my set my earthly instincts growing. I know that I will do things a little differently this spring. I will use a method that I used way back when, and gave me the best garden I ever had. Straw bales broken up and strewn between the rows and plants. The straw held the moisture and retarded the growth of weed. In my old age I don't like bending over and pulling weeds down a long row of plants and having to water every day. Nope, don't want to work that hard anymore, but I like to eat 'though! So...I am planning.

I am not buying much in the way of groceries for the time being. I have lots to use up and don't need much, other than an occasional loaf of bread and some milk. In truth, I have both in the freezer and a box of powdered milk...just in case. I don't need to go out in the cold or brave the roads in bad weather. That makes me happy because I don't like cruddy weather.

I went to the library the other day, as I mentioned. The books I brought home just don't grab my attention. I may take them back and look for something else.

I am trying to think of a good New Year's resolution.

*

OF KINDNESS AND JUDGEMENT

I WILL SING;

TO YOU O LORD

I WILL SING PRAISE.

I WILL PERSEVERE

IN THE WAY OF INTEGRITY;

WHEN WILL YOU COME TO ME?

*

Psalm 100, vs. 1-2

*

He who tills his own land

has food in plenty;

but he who follows

idle pursuits is a fool.

*

Proverbs 12, vs. 11

*

Sometimes I will repeat something from the Bible as it may be appropriate for my thoughts or strikes my sensibilities. Proverbs is in a way, a long, long list of do's and don'ts. You don't hear much about Proverbs as no one wants to hear a list of "don'ts.

*

END

Garden-itis

I hope everyone had a joyful, holy Christmas.

I snitched this picture from another web site; http://backwoodhome.blogspot.com/JackieClay/

Well, I was going to take a picturesque picture of the snow, but the batteries are dead in the camera. The batteries are in the charger now....waiting, waiting...for a slow charging. By the time plant the batteries are up there will not be much snow left to look at. It is melting and we only got about 2-1/2 inches of it anyway. However, I am sure it will snow again before winter is done and gone.

I am looking at my seed catalogues trying to decide what I want to plant and how to go about it, or the easiest way for my arm to handle a garden. Also, I got to thinking that last year I had a tractor come in and till the garden. As I consider this, I consider that the it was tilled too deeply, turning up the heavy clay soil of the Ohio Valley. That may be the reason that my garden did so poorly in the season of drought. We have had droughts before and will again. This time the root systems of the plants had nowhere to go. Things just don't grow well in heavy clay.

I have been watching the weather reports for the east coast most of the day. It looks like they are gonna get it. I hope they all have bread, milk, flashlights and lots of toilet paper. I am sure lots of people have leftovers from Christmas dinner.

*

BEHOLD I SEND MY ANGEL,

AND HE SHALL PREPARE

THE WAY BEFORE MY FACE.

AND PRESENTLY

THE LORD WHOM YOU SEEK,

AND THE ANGEL

OF THE TESTAMENT,

WHOM YOU DESIRE,

SHALL COME TO HIS TEMPLE.

*

Malachi 3, vs. 1

*

END

As the day got cooler the snow began to stick to the ground. By six PM there was two inches on the ground. We may get another inch or so, but the young at heart will have a White Christmas. I got the snow shovel out for my "White Christmas."

I pulled a roasted chicken out of the freezer and it is thawing out. Tomorrow I may get ambitious and fix a few things to go with it.

It is so quite with the snow on the ground and no cars going up and down the street. It looks like 'most everyone stayed at home, just where they should be. I didn't get out for the Christmas mass I had planned on going to, either.

*

BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN

SHALL BE WITH CHILD,

AND SHALL BRING FORTH

A SON;

AND THEY SHALL

CALL HIS NAME

EMMANUEL

*

Matt. 1, vs.23

*

END

For some reason-and not from overworking-I have been tired the past few days, so I have been lazy. I even went to bed early last night. For that reason I am just putting up some pictures. The one below I put up before, but I find it appealing.

More Guardian Angel pictures.

A Nativity picture.

I guess it will snow for Christmas, for sure. I guess if it does, I will stay home, for sure.

I have everything I need right where I am. I am going to bed early again tonight. I have been yawning all day. I did wash and dry two loads of cloths, but that isn't very hard, so I attribute my sleepiness to the changing...full moon. Gotta have some excuse, don't I.

*

THE LORD WILL GUARD

YOUR COMING

AND GOING,

BOTH NOW AND FOREVER.

*

Psalm 120, vs. 8

*

DO GOOD, O LORD,

TO THE GOOD

AND TO THE UPRIGHT

OF HEART.

*

Psalm 126, vs. 4

*

END
v

v

Winter Wren
Ho Ho
*

By the time anyone looks at this it will be on Thursday, the 23rd. As there isn't much to write about this will be short. Also, I may not post anything on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day unless there is something unusual or stupendous to expound upon.

*

BEHOLD, THOU SHALT

CONCEIVE IN THY WOMB
AND SHALT BRING FORTH
A SON;
AND THOU SHALT CALL
HIS NAME JESUS.
HE SHALL BE GREAT,
AND BE CALLED
THE SON OF THE MOST HIGH;
*
Luke 1, vs. 30-31
*
END

sYes, there really was a Saint Nickolas. He was a Greek Bishop in about the third century and many wondrous miracles were attributed in his name. He was called Saint Nickolas by the Dutch...or Sinterklass. There are many old, artistic depictions of the Saint, and no, he didn't look like a jolly old man with a rotund belly and a snow white beard. Its OK to enjoy the modern version as long as you remember that there was a real Saint Nickolas and what he perpetuated through the history of the celebration of Christ Mass; giving to and prayer for the poor, sick, and needy. You can find the story of Saint Nickolas by doing a simple search here on the Internet.

I went back to the library today and found some books to read. I also took a big bag of plastic bags in for their use. They and The Goodwill Store can always use more plastic bags and they are recycled and not in the landfill right away.

It looks the kids will have a "White Christmas." I have been invited out for Christmas, but I probably won't make it if we have what the weather man is predicting. I was thinking about going to an early Christmas Mass over at the Nursing home, but I will not fight with Mother Nature or Old Man Winter. Well, who knows, the weather guy isn't always right...we shall see.

*

TRULY YOU HAVE

FORMED MY INMOST BEING;

YOU KNIT ME

IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB.

I GIVE THANKS TO YOU

THAT I AM FEARFULLY,

WONDERFULLY MADE;

WONDERFUL ARE YOUR WORKS.

MY SOUL ALSO YOU KNEW

FULL WELL.

*

Psalm 138, vs. 13-14

*

END

Pictures from the Christmas Party

in random order.

A visitor on the roof having its own party.

Food-and more coming-Pizza!

She has an Angle or a tree topper.

Debbie with balloons stuffed into pantyhose:

makes a good reindeer antlers!

Just below, Mildred hold up her glass Angel.

Who knew that Angles came in boxes!


"Reindeer Antlers" around the neck looks like

a giant string of pearls!

Rhonda helping to pass out lot of goodies.

Sister Charles and Debbie passing out soft drinks.

Sister on her way to help.

I have a few more pictures of the Christmas Party at Saint John's Home, for the year of 2010, but I ate too much and I'm too tired to put them up!

*

IN WORKS OF CHARITY

ONE OFFERS FINE FLOUR,

WHEN HE GIVES ALMS

HE PRESENTS

HIS SACRIFICE

OF PRAISE.

*

Sirach 35, vs. 2

"CHOICE OF ASSOCIATES"

*

THE THROAT CAN SWALLOW

ANY FOOD,

YET SOME FOODS

ARE MORE AGREEABLE

THAN OTHERS;

AS THE PALATE TEST

MEAT BY ITS SAVOR,

SO DOES THE KEEN MIND

INSINCERE WORDS.

*

Sirach 36, vs. 18-19

*

END

T'is the Season

This is the only Christmas tree I'm putting up this year. It doesn't take up much room, I don't have to decorate it, and it is easy to "take down" and put away 'til next year. When I first moved into this house I went out and bought a full size tree and did the whole decorating deal. Then, it was time to undo everything I did and put it all away. A lot of effort and not the real meaning of Christmas. Lots of symbolism and tradition, all well and good, but don't you think Christmas should be a "mind think" all year long instead of just a few weeks of frantic buying, expecting, begging and demanding material goods? I don't want to be the one to toss cold snow on your holidays, but Christmas is supposed to be about the Christ Mass, the celebration of the coming of Emmanuel...not the birthday of Jesus. Historians will debate the true "birth date" of Jesus , although most will indicate a springtime arrival of the Christ Child. Celebrate when you wish, just don't forget the meaning, you know, "The Reason for the Season."

I made it out to Wal-Mart. It is still very cold. The ice on the front steps melted, but the van still had a covering of ice. Even after driving it out to Wal-Mart and back, the ice had not melted off the van.

I didn't get much from Wal-Mart; money is tight. That is why I have hit as many grocery sales as possible. Not to just spend money, but trying to save money in the long run. Wouldn't you know, my eye drops cost $98.00 today and that smarts. Och.

*

AND A GREAT SIGN

APPEARED IN HEAVEN:

A WOMAN CLOTHED

WITH THE SUN,

AND THE MOON

WAS UNDER HER FEET,

AND UPON HER HEAD

A CROWN OF TWELVE STARS.

AND BEING WITH CHILD

SHE CRIED OUT

IN HER TRAVAIL

AND WAS IN THE ANGUISH

OF DELIVERY.

*

Apocalypse 12-IV, 1 &2

*

Won't you become a follower?

-

END

Something different: I didn't feel like getting my big roaster out just to cook a small Cornish Hen, so I cooked it in a big iron frying pan instead. I only used basic seasonings and draped several strips of bacon over the hen. I covered the pan with some aluminum foil and cooked it for about two hours. In the last half hour, I removed the foil so it could brown. It is still bubbling away here. The picture isn't that good, but the Cornish Hen is. I already ate the bacon. I didn't cook vegetables as I have plenty of left- overs in the refrigerator.

I like the old engravings and depictions of yesteryear.

Looks cold to me and I have cold feet.

Very little new or interesting going on. My front steps are iced over and I tossed a liberal amount of salt on them . And so time slowly moves forward. I wish I had a good book.

*

ASK NOW OF THE DAYS OF OLD,

BEFORE YOUR TIME,

EVER SINCE GOD CREATED

MAN UPON THE EARTH;

ASK FROM ONE END

OF THE SKY TO ANOTHER:

DID ANYTHING SO GREAT

EVER HAPPEN BEFORE?

WAS IT EVER HEARD OF?

*

Deuteronomy 4, vs. 32

*

END

P.S. Become a follower or a subscriber.

Make me feel wanted!

GUARDIAN ANGEL

"The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary

and she conceived of the ghost..."

We had abut an 1/8 of an inch of ice. We got off lucky, whereas others didn't.

I am keeping an eye on the cake. I set a trap for the cake rat and the sugar rat, but pieces keep disappearing.

The DND(dog next door) is back; it either found it's way home or they went out and found the mutt.

Sometimes my brain just taps out and goes into mental fatigue. I occasionally have writer's block and can't think of anything hasn't that hasn't been said before. There is an old adage, "There is nothing new under the sun."

I had planned a couple of projects for the day, but interruptions sent my day astray, so I finally gave up. I had gathered up all my wayward recipes and started punching holes in them so I could put them into a folder. Then the phone starts ringing. One call from my nephew I didn't mind, but when someone calls to tell me that they "are bored as h**l" and take up a good hour repeating the same stories that have been repeated a hundred times before, it causes brain drain. I lose my focus. So, I didn't get much done except run to the phone for worthless surveys, sales calls and hang-ups.

*

ON THE WAY OF WISDOM

I DIRECT YOU,

I LEAD YOU

ON STRAIGHT FORWARD

PATHS.

WHEN YOU WALK

YOUR STEP

WILL NOT BE IMPEDED,

AND SHOULD RUN

YOU WILL NOT STUMBLE.

*

Proverbs 5, 11-12

*

I have a very old children's prayer book. It was printed in 1862. It is in pretty bad shape with water damage, a couple missing pages and severe cover wear. I am thinking that I could salvage many of the small engravings/prints and frame them. I just don't know if that would be the wisest use of the old book.

END

CHRISTMAS IS SOON UPON US

AND WILL SOON BE GONE.

I went out to get milk for $1.68 per half gallon. I bought two, one for the freezer. Without a saving stamp card the milk would have been $2.28 per half gallon. I also bought some cream cheese for 00.97 cents.

The icy rain has started. I can see it forming on the back door. I will be staying in.

The dog next door, which I thought was gone, came after me again. I started swinging my pocket book at him and chased him off..by a few feet and got into my van. This is the third time now and I will not put up with this anymore. I called the police and they sent the dog catcher out. They were not able to catch the dog. The last I saw of that dog, it was running down Sand Lane, faster than a Gray Hound. I hope it keeps on going.


I frosted my cake today. Right after I frosted it, less the two pieces the cake rat got into, the sugar rat got into it and it's missing another piece! Who knew there were cake rats and sugar rats within? Not me!!


Tomorrow I am going to try to gather up all my recipes and put them in some kind of order and into a folder or notebook. Right now, I have various bits and of paper(recipes)drifting in about in various places. So, if I want a recipe that is not already in a book I have to hunt 'til I find .the one I want. This a task that is long overdue. If I get it done I can reward myself with some "rat" cake.

*

FOUR THINGS ARE AMONG

THE SMALLEST ON EARTH;

YET THEY ARE

EXCEEDINGLY WISE:

ANTS-ARE A SPECIES

NOT VERY STRONG,

YET THEY STORE UP

THEIR FOOD IN SUMMER;

ROCK-BADGERS-

A SPECIES NOT MIGHTY,

YET THEY MAKE THEIR

HOMES IN THE CRAGS;

LOCUSTS-THEY HAVE

NO KING, YET THEY

MIGRATE ALL IN ARRAY;

LIZARDS-YOU CAN CATCH

THEM WITH YOUR HANDS,

YET THEY FIND THEIR WAY

INTO THE KING'S PALACES.

*

Proverbs 31, 24-28

*

"Glorious indeed is the world of God around us,

but more glorious is the world of God within us."

*

Henry Wadsworth

*

END

Let me eat cake

There is nothing going on so I baked a cake. I was going to make icing for it, but don't seem to have any powdered sugar. Well, it is good without icing and I have already eaten two pieces. It is spice cake and I like spice cake! I was going to take a picture of it, but it is missing two pieces out of the corner. The cake rat got into it(me).


I woke up this morning thinking it was time to get up because it was "light out." I looked at the clock and it was only 5 AM! Light was reflecting from the snow cover giving the illusion of daytime. Needless to say, I snuggled deeper into my blankets and went back to sleep until 8 AM. The radio comes on at 8 AM and says it it is 7 degrees outside and that the low out at the airport was 2 degrees. It warmed up to 17 degrees today.


I want to go to the store and get more milk for $1.68 and a savers card. l want to get two half gallon jugs and put one jug into the freezer. I have two cards to use and then they are gone and I have to start saving all over again. I will probably get the powdered sugar while I am there.


We are supposed to have an ice storm starting tomorrow afternoon. Then it is supposed to turn to rain. Then who knows. I just know that Al Gore is probably hiding out somewhere where IT IS warm.


As I am on a yummy, good things to eat kick, I will add a recipe for your pleasure. Ti's the season,you know.

*

GOLDEN PEANUT BUTTER BARS

-

2 Cups unsifted flour

3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup(1 stick butter or margarine)

1 cup chopped peanuts

1 can sweetened Eagle Brand condensed milk

1/2 cup Peanut Butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

-

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, sugar and beaten egg. Cut in butter

until crumbly Stir in peanuts.m Reserving 2 cups of crumb mixture. Press remaining mixture in bottom f 13X9 inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, with mixer, beat unsweetened condensed milk with peanut butter and vanilla. Spread over prepared curb crust. Top with reserved crumb mixture.

Bake 25 minutes longer or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars. Store covered at room temperature.

*

WE ALWAYS HOPE

AND IN ALL THINGS

TO BE...

IT IS BETTER TO HOPE

THAN TO DESPAIR...

WHEN WE RETURN

TO TRUST IN GOD

THERE WILL NO

LONGER BE

ROOM IN OUR SOULS

FOR FEAR

*

Goethe

*

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

AMONG THE GODS, O LORD,

AND THERE ARE

NO WORKS LIKE YOURS.

ALL THE NATIONS

YOU HAVE MADE

SHALL COME

AND WORSHIP YOU,

O LORD, AND GLORIFY

YOUR NAME.

FOR YOU ARE GREAT,

AND YOU DO

WONDROUS DEEDS;

YOUR ALONE ARE GOD.

*

Psalm 85 vs. 8,9,10

*

IN THE END

IT'S THE END

When I took this picture the Baked Beans

were still so hot and bubbling! There is

bacon in the Baked Beans.

Baked Beans and Scalloped Potatoes.
I will never be the cook that my

mother was or sister Beverly is...but I won't

die from starvation!

This must be meant for me! A random funny cartoon.

Picture from out the window in early part

of the day. No way was I going outside

to take a picture.

There isn't much going on. The weatherman said we got about 3.2 inches oof snow, but maybe more as the wind was blowing and drifting the snow. It was very bitter and cold. That is why I took a picture through the window as the snow was really just starting.

Usually when you take a picture through a window or glass you wind up with a glare. As the sun was vanquished by Mother Nature and Old Man Winter., the shot was OK, almost like an old black and white.

Now that it is cold(30 t0 40 degrees below normal) I can do some good cooking and warm up the kitchen at the same time. Yes, the scalloped potatoes and baked beans are pretty good. Next, a cake!

*

A PHANTOM ONLY,

MAN GOES HIS WAYS:

LIKE VAPOR ONLY

ARE HIS RESTLESS

PURSUITS;

HE HEAPS UP STORES,

AND KNOWS NOT

WHO WILL USE THEM.

*

Psalm 38, 7

*

I have a closet and pantry full of food. It is time to start using what I have.

*

CAST YOUR BREAD

-

Cast your bread

upon he waters

and it comes floating

back to thee.

-

Ti's true of every

word and deed we cast

upon life's seas.

_

by Diane Denise Lake

*

End

This is a beautiful Ivory carving that you may wish to enlarge to see the details better. I am not sure, but I think it is Italian.

I bought a 5 lb. bag of loose Oolong Tea from the Chines Restaurant for $8.00. This is the best tea. I need to find some canisters or containers so I can make smaller storage units of tea to freeze.

Here is a nice photo that I borrowed from another site. Pretty as a picture.

I have stayed in all day. It was raining when I got up and it rained all day. The temperatures went up, now they are going down. Mother Nature must have gotten her yo yo out to play with. Tomorrow, Sunday, we are supposed to have snow off and on all day. Yet, it is only supposed to be an inch or so. Thus, I have written:

DON'T TRUST MOTHER NATURE

SHE'S AS FICKLE AS CAN BE

SHE SNOWS AND BLOWS

AND NO ONE KNOWS

WHERE FROM HER WRATH

TO FLEE

-

HER LOVER'S OLD MAN WINTER

AN AIRY KIND OF GUY

FROM IN HIS LAIR

WITH HOARY HAIR

HE SENDS HIS CHILLY CRY

-

NO, DON'T TRUST MOTHER NATURE

SHE 'S FAITHLESS AND UNTRUE

A FICKLE FRIEND, BUT IN THE END

SHE 'LL TURN HER FACE

FROM YOU

uh hu...by me...LOL's

You can tell it's been a lazy day. The only thing I have accomplished is to shred a bag full of junk mail.

*

FOR ALL CREATION,NEW,

IN ITS SEVERAL KINDS,

WAS BEING MADE OVER ANEW

SERVING ITS NATURAL LAWS,

THAT YOUR CHILDREN

MIGHT BE PRESERVED,

UNHARMED.

*

Wisdom 19, 6

*

This verse is in the conclusion chapter of Wisdom. I have thought about it and don't know what to make of it. The Bible is a mystery.

*

BE JOYFUL IN HOPE,

PATIENT IN AFFLICTION,

FAITHFUL IN PRAYER

*

Romans 12:12

*

Tomorrow, Sunday, will be a bacon 'n eggs kind of morning. If it snow I may take a picture. I forgot to get the snow shovel out!

*

END

Someone called me(at least twice)to tell me(brag) about all the presents and all the money she is spending on Christmas. Is that what it is all about? Sending money on gifts she can ill afford(she is a spender on ANY day) and then complains that money is "tight." She isn't getting on that well with her husband; he calls her "greedy." That she is, but also she has a need to impress or outdo others. She said she is "cutting back" this year. Really?

I have written about this before-about the rank commercialism of Christmas which was intended to be a holy observation of the Birth of Christ. Do you know that Christmas was never celebrated or mentioned in the Bible by the early Christians? Not until the late 1890's did it become a popular holiday(holy day). In its early beginning it was a observation that was intended to supplant a Roman pagan ceremony of "eat, drink, and be merry" of the winter solstice, the darkest days of winter. I guess they needed something to cheer themselves up with. Sort of like football on Sunday and every holiday. Look it up; it's pretty interesting.

I went out for a short time this, just to get out and about. I stopped at the Family Dollar store to pick up some odds and ends that needed, such as Peanut butter. I won't be going out tomorrow as we are supposed to have copious rain, turning to snow on Sunday.

A word that drives me crazy whenever I see it misused...and that is often.

I suppose-to suppose is to assume, to think as true...

I am supposed to go-to think probable, inclined to...

Don't they teach the basics in English...in school, anymore? Oh me...

*

NOW IT CAME TO PASS

THAT WHAT WAS SPOKEN

BY THE LORD

THROUGH HIS PROPHET,

MIGHT BE FULFILLED.

BEHOLD THE VIRGIN

SHALL BE WITH CHILD,

AND SHALL BRING

FORTH A SON;

AND THE WILL CALL

HIS NAME EEMMANUEL;

WHICH IS, IINTERPRETED,

"GOD WITH US."

*

Matt. 1, 22-23

*

How good God is to the upright;

the Lord, to those

that are clean of heart.

*

Psalm 73, 1

*

The way to gain a good reputation, is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear....Socrates.

*

END

Nature

I wonder if Saint Nickolas will fit down the chimney when the time comes.

More Sacred Tau Symbols.

I've been out shopping and looking for bargains. I went to Sureway which is part of the Food Giant Grocery chain. Here is what I brought home.

Four loaves of Aunt Hattie's Bread at 85 cents a loaf.

Four boxes of cake mix at 5o cents a box.

Two containers of Cool Whip at 98 cents a container.

Three lbs. of yellow onions for $1.98-not on sale.

Twenty lbs. of Potatoes for $4.98-a pretty good price.

I cleaned out the last four loaves of the 85 cent bread. Everyone is looking for a bargain these days, including me. You have to get to the store fairly early to get the bread, so I was happy to get the last of the "cheap" bread. The bread went right into the freezer. I wanted the Cool Whip for pies and I ran out of onions the other day. I didn't get all that was on my list; I need to go to another store to finish up my bargain questing. I spent $14.98 today.

We are having a heat wave. The temperature went up to 34 F. today, it was and may hit 40 F. tomorrow. Even so, it was colder than I like it. It may rain tomorrow and Saturday and maybe snow on Sunday. Mother Nature at work.

A notation to Mother Nature. When I took the trash out for pick-up I spied a few green onions peeking up in the garden. I'm gonna get um if Mother Nature doesn't get um first.

*

NEVER LOOSE AN OPPORTUNITY IN SEEING

ANYTHING THAT IS BEAUTIFUL,

FOR BEAUTY IS GOD'S HANDWRITING-

A WAYSIDE SACRAMENT.

WELCOME IT IS IN EVERY FAIR FACE

IN EVERY FAIR SKY, IN EVERY FLOWER,

AND THANK GOD FOR IT

AS A CUP OF BLESSING.

*

by Ralph Waldo Emerson

*

MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD

IS HEALTH AND WELL-BEING,

CONTENTMENT OF SPIRIT,

THAN CORAL.

NO TREASURE GREATER

THAN A HEALTHY BODY;

NOT HAPPINESS, THAN

A JOYFUL HEART!

*

Sirach 30. 15-16

*

I can do anything

through Him

who gives me strength.

*

Philippians 4. 13

*

As anyone can see the feed burner widget doesn't work. I had it up once before and took it down because it wouldn't work then, either. I don't know why it wont count; it just wont.

"LIFE IS FULL OF ENDINGS, BUT FOR EVERY ENDING THERE IS A NEW BEGINNING." author unknown.

END