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