tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45436919730409489282024-03-16T14:52:32.844-04:00cherith revisited
"...that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things." Titus 2:10Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.comBlogger986125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-39276260335463675762024-02-08T22:55:00.001-05:002024-02-08T22:55:34.075-05:00a chickadee <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> I have taken to afternoon walks in the fields along the side of the woodlands.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Today I carried along a small pair of binoculars hoping to closely observe some of the birds I have seen on my previous walks. But I mostly begin with listening, stopping when I heard the call of a bird. That is when I spotted a chickadee! He was eating the fungi on a tree branch amongst the underbrush and between bites he would stop and chatter. This was the first time I have seen a chickadee here on the property. The sunflower seeds at my house feeder do not attract him, but now I know he is present and that makes me happy.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5ipFTXQ36as0mkkLtB08s5NB427LncNNUZkvEs8yaSM-zAo3ZFgsOUMsmT-sxZdyWkFuvpOCBZaySBLMtU6RfBASmCk27UFGam378y5s1H0EwidkLinq9ipd55DcCaaT_oIDqF_7lPCzZgdyyWtkJFs6nfTkLgJtt1w0aIYZs-sOHIePR4j-A4cl/s720/70C16BCF-7CCF-4022-A1F0-2D9A6A87BEB9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5ipFTXQ36as0mkkLtB08s5NB427LncNNUZkvEs8yaSM-zAo3ZFgsOUMsmT-sxZdyWkFuvpOCBZaySBLMtU6RfBASmCk27UFGam378y5s1H0EwidkLinq9ipd55DcCaaT_oIDqF_7lPCzZgdyyWtkJFs6nfTkLgJtt1w0aIYZs-sOHIePR4j-A4cl/s320/70C16BCF-7CCF-4022-A1F0-2D9A6A87BEB9.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 15px 0px; text-align: left;">In Walden wood the chickadee<br />Runs round the pine and maple tree<br />Intent on insect slaughter:<br />O tufted entomologist!<br />Devour as many as you list,<br />Then drink in Walden water.<br /></p><div style="background-color: #d9d9d9; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-align: right;">โ Ralph Waldo Emerson<br /><span class="quote-source" style="font-size: 0.8rem; font-weight: normal;"><i>Fragments on Nature and Life</i></span></div></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-20410432756394845822023-11-30T15:55:00.176-05:002023-12-02T15:55:52.581-05:00little bits and a bit of reminiscing <p><u><span style="font-size: large;">Surroundings:</span></u></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"> Here in the living room I sit gazing at a "not live" Christmas tree that has been set in its stand since last night. It is naked of baubles, balls, ornaments and garland. Not even an angel or star is donning the top of this tree.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">Yesterday I collected all Thanksgiving and autumn decor to carry upstairs to be stored in the awaiting bins in the attic. After several trips up and down two flights of stairs I thought I should at the least start bringing down some of the Christmas decorations as I was planning to begin decorating in earnest this coming weekend. The tree is always the first thing we bring down and decorate so I thought we could at least set it up with just the lights and I then could imagine it being as an evergreen tree natural -like for the next several days.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">But this afternoon I am just not buying that far fetched idea. It frankly looks out of place and pitiful. The weekend will be here soon enough I daresay.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><u>Reading:</u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">I had to get out the house rather early this morning as I had my annual eye appointment scheduled. I carried along a book to read while in the waiting room. I can remember, and it was not really that many years ago, that you could count on having magazines to read while you waited for any appointment be it doctor, hair, dentist, etc. I actually looked forward to the waiting room experiences because of these magazines. Do you remember this?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><span>But this morning I grabbed my newest read. And it was</span></span><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><span> an air of sybaritism I felt to have the opportunity to read in the early morning hours even if it was in the eye doctors waiting and examining room. I am finding the book, </span><span><u>No One Gardens Alone,</u> the biography of Elizabeth Lawrence. a very enjoyable </span><span> read. She lived in North Carolina and reading the historical parts of her life in regard to what was happening in the state I find interesting. I discovered this book as well as a book written by Lawrence, </span><u><span>Through the Garden Gate</span>,</u><span> at a library bo</span></span><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">ok sale back in September. I consider both of them excellent finds.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><u>Hemming:</u></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">My husband bought a pair of dress slacks that are 2 1/2" too long in the hem. He was actually going to take them back! But he quickly took me up on the suggestion I made to hem them myself. (I thought this was rather odd since I have hemmed his pants many times). Today my memory is sparked from this humble task of the countless times I've hemmed mens' black dress pants in Christmas's past when I was an integral part of the costume execution team for the production of "The Nutcracker" performed by <a href="https://cherithrevisited.blogspot.com/2018/12/sugar-plum-fairy.html">Charlotte's dance group.</a> It has been three years since she graduated and I realize how much more time I have on my hands now that I am not spending countless evenings and Saturdays sewing and altering costumes. But those were priceless, happy times that I feel very fortunate to have had the experience to be a part and there is truly no equal exchange for them.</span></p><p><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PJTLPAxUP48/TtrUPpLwaNI/AAAAAAAAGN4/vxOsXPtCyoE/s640/IMG_0438.jpg" width="478" /><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"> A 2011 photo of the basement where we ladies sewed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-23238757863910443062023-11-27T16:04:00.000-05:002023-11-27T16:04:36.418-05:00comfort food menu<p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><i> "Eating is an agricultural act"</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><i> ~Wendell Berry</i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qy0PbimYMsyqMOO7LTV3ysiJV-Fj1nNgEcdoe98HvDvyS785msSJ3r_8JxQsTiXPkeXY8k4mzFLu8_nHjKnHR6pdZInrqfAHAsV00XYKlxcYdo532RdZE1PROXbZbHJIvmlmOc66nQEHvCF-WHknoHWdkFfFSEJKrHu6FBklnjxoThLXWH_MA_jV/s4032/1103F90B-BED8-41F4-B1CE-34B00493957B_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qy0PbimYMsyqMOO7LTV3ysiJV-Fj1nNgEcdoe98HvDvyS785msSJ3r_8JxQsTiXPkeXY8k4mzFLu8_nHjKnHR6pdZInrqfAHAsV00XYKlxcYdo532RdZE1PROXbZbHJIvmlmOc66nQEHvCF-WHknoHWdkFfFSEJKrHu6FBklnjxoThLXWH_MA_jV/w480-h640/1103F90B-BED8-41F4-B1CE-34B00493957B_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz278pAVklrmsxWxiEZ_oqkaIb09AgiD6_B2l0-G7M2yAENeX80meBxVqkTQ_nQZglhOh1d_MDqQI58HwiGvkm3DQLZywFEL-aheSf4zjjF4-mNgMf7oEKavGc7TfD2bvZTx4Ff89BxQAGYW9Vf4L96Cp9-i10X-F3BvwJVde0LPmZMSJ1YIc08EL/s4032/FF48B566-D7D9-4552-8CB9-99BE4E97E561_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz278pAVklrmsxWxiEZ_oqkaIb09AgiD6_B2l0-G7M2yAENeX80meBxVqkTQ_nQZglhOh1d_MDqQI58HwiGvkm3DQLZywFEL-aheSf4zjjF4-mNgMf7oEKavGc7TfD2bvZTx4Ff89BxQAGYW9Vf4L96Cp9-i10X-F3BvwJVde0LPmZMSJ1YIc08EL/w480-h640/FF48B566-D7D9-4552-8CB9-99BE4E97E561_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">The study of Exodus has come to an end, an insightful as always Bible study. We gather to fellowship at my home tomorrow. I love being with these eight women that I have shared Friday mornings with for the past eleven weeks.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">It is going to be cold outside, plenty of firewood stacked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">Menu:</span></u></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">Homemade tomato soup</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">Grilled cheese sandwiches with sourdough bread and raw cheddar cheese</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">Lettuce/Kale salad with dried cranberries, nuts and pears</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">served with a citrus vinaigrette</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">Apple crisp with vanilla ice cream fro dessert.</span></div><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-41335142194889590362023-11-25T21:17:00.001-05:002023-11-25T21:19:24.078-05:00thanksgiving weekend<p><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Adding</span><span style="font-size: large;"> two days to a weekend, specifically a holiday weekend, may sometimes direct the way in which you find yourselves spending the time. Of course, the people that surround you get a voice and certain circumstances can also play a major part in what you will in fact find yourself doing.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">This year my husband and I were alone on these two days. My idea was we take the day after Thanksgiving and just relax, you know like actually take a no-work day. However, he did not buy that scenario one little bit, he had plans to accomplish much, many things on his to do list both outside and across the street at the little cottage we are renovating. He mentioned going to the cottage to clean out the gutters and since I did not think it was a wise idea for him to be up on a ladder alone I went along. I sat in the red truck and sewed on my newest and most engaging project while he removed all the leaves and goo from the gutters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Last winter I created a quilt, a "nap-sized" one, sewn with my father's pajama fabric I was left with</span><span> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>when he came to live in my <a href="http://shadowpearls.blogspot.com/2011/02/under-shadow-of-his-wing.html">home before he died.</a></span><span> I love bundling my legs in this soft quilt almost every morning and it is the perfect quilt to wrap up in when you need that afternoon nap. It was pieced on the machine, but on long winter evenings and cold afternoons I looked forward to picking up my needle and thimble to spend hours hand quilting. What contentment. It is a simple design and it certainly has its share of mistakes, a true quilter would be appalled. But I had no intention of creating a masterpiece. My goal from start to finish was to merely use something that had great sentimental value and make it into something useful. Mission accomplished and I love it!</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvfXWa4wp7O6C4c2GUUfvsInO8iLula9zCJaR2FrOAGkvMiEFfVvLGfkQ6Rv-hRM6FM9f9Qn1OvQWxMu07S5cfE3o-PosJrmRJYpgIHT-NEEx2v4McgTRNuNZz-SJDshuhDxufJOjYgm7XmiVlmy2EPLtDFpvrwf1sQOv5P-zLhKBaQhkOTKbalou/s4032/BDAFDBB9-C52A-4214-BD80-69633AFD05DD.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvfXWa4wp7O6C4c2GUUfvsInO8iLula9zCJaR2FrOAGkvMiEFfVvLGfkQ6Rv-hRM6FM9f9Qn1OvQWxMu07S5cfE3o-PosJrmRJYpgIHT-NEEx2v4McgTRNuNZz-SJDshuhDxufJOjYgm7XmiVlmy2EPLtDFpvrwf1sQOv5P-zLhKBaQhkOTKbalou/w480-h640/BDAFDBB9-C52A-4214-BD80-69633AFD05DD.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">When we moved into our present home<a href="http://cherithrevisited.blogspot.com/2019/02/rainy-day-sewing.html"> my sewing room</a> had to be packed up and all my stash of fabric, yarns, threads and UFOS (unfinished projects) came rising to the surface. I did rid myself of at least a box worth of things I knew that in my lifetime I would probably not get around to using. In this process I found the fabrics from my mother's sleeping gowns also. This quilt will be different in that I am actually creating it with a particular quilting design, using a 16 inch square block pattern called Fox and Geese. The cotton fabric I cut from her gowns are being pieced with a creamy white cotton fabric that I purchased. I have also decided to hand piece this quilt, hence I was able to sit in the truck and sew. Hand sewing has many attractions, but the best part is the portability.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">I was able to do a bit of cleaning up and meal planning as I do have some family members coming Sunday afternoon and a lunch to prepare for my Bible Study ladies on Tuesday. Sadly, my daffodil and tulip bulbs have yet to be planted and the ironing pile is still waiting. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-71034002895909484992023-11-23T14:57:00.095-05:002023-11-25T15:56:44.858-05:00blessings and gratitude<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: times; font-size: large;"> <i>"Thanksgiving does mean the giving of thanks to God, and it is a holiday belonging only to our country, reminding us of the Pilgrims who found a day in the midst of their battle for survival to praise God and ask for His blessings".</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: times; font-size: large;">Gladys Taber<i> </i><u>The Stillmeadow Road</u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: large;">Thanksgiving Day never looks the same from year to year in our family unlike it did in years past. Those years I could always count on going to the same house with the same people and eating the same foods. The place and who we celebrate with now may be different, some not sitting around the table that were here just last year. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Charlotte was not with us today and this mama's heart tried, unsuccessfully I might add, to ignore the empty spot at the table with the heavy feeling of her absence grabbing my attention more times than I want to admit.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: large;">The foods also may vary a bit from year to year, yet the the main fare definitely does not disappear from the table's offering. The dressing I prepared this year was different in that I added sausage and apples along with the usual onions, celery, and sage. I might revisit this in future Thanksgivings. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: large;">Rose had to work a hospital shift of both Wednesday and Thursday nights, so we opted to eat our meal at 2:30 in the afternoon between her sleeping and going back to work. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times; font-size: large;">After stuffing ourselves properly we walked the land, our blessings are truly felt.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8PCij4F8A8WNtqysSd7ny9DmWcI-ktHanKhGIFbpXbA9IhEfQmLuYOuvPe0pEDq0Efp2JIrWfApEvlaGx4O6TtLjFPnHCXUXBblI2GGAMzDxsUMc5VitN9i44m_j8InhxAULp-RFdf8nIwzxuLaC0OhDmy0UTV7IcYb7swveY_WsrgGrc15J1I90/s4032/02780E3E-E4B9-474A-9DFF-4E9E6A42CE6B_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8PCij4F8A8WNtqysSd7ny9DmWcI-ktHanKhGIFbpXbA9IhEfQmLuYOuvPe0pEDq0Efp2JIrWfApEvlaGx4O6TtLjFPnHCXUXBblI2GGAMzDxsUMc5VitN9i44m_j8InhxAULp-RFdf8nIwzxuLaC0OhDmy0UTV7IcYb7swveY_WsrgGrc15J1I90/w640-h480/02780E3E-E4B9-474A-9DFF-4E9E6A42CE6B_1_201_a.heic" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rYkiiW35cWFh7ToU3w5JMMsPigjn86J7n6Voh4LHcjU2ui290uSf3OnoG7BhJqt7ej0qK5pD7J9X18gZCV4m4v3VNGfJw4HEwVcsUs4s9LSTm2brQ1QKrbJDEU6obGySFv-OBWAmUf_Wjcl5cKULfknHN7ChBE1zgNNvHNjO9bBzcN1IaT8RpSJe/s4032/D3A846B6-3DA1-495A-8269-860E1F082D97.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rYkiiW35cWFh7ToU3w5JMMsPigjn86J7n6Voh4LHcjU2ui290uSf3OnoG7BhJqt7ej0qK5pD7J9X18gZCV4m4v3VNGfJw4HEwVcsUs4s9LSTm2brQ1QKrbJDEU6obGySFv-OBWAmUf_Wjcl5cKULfknHN7ChBE1zgNNvHNjO9bBzcN1IaT8RpSJe/w480-h640/D3A846B6-3DA1-495A-8269-860E1F082D97.heic" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXmBPM5HxXL2nYkjNX10GyzAOKOy1vWlVVkkAeBecckYM-DzeVs4mjZNLzEn5OICSBdsy4qKc5ZP3kqKzBMP4IzF-64s2rM-EQUODzN_W7brT1Lrml2e-SLW0j_fdEtJMFsXjz3w5WJq_Nbj3ZiNlXVkryrmtaEKlqMYM61CXWvuBD5yTCGsIGzgU/s4032/251A9A7B-0D0B-43F9-AE12-CF9393C85A3A_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXmBPM5HxXL2nYkjNX10GyzAOKOy1vWlVVkkAeBecckYM-DzeVs4mjZNLzEn5OICSBdsy4qKc5ZP3kqKzBMP4IzF-64s2rM-EQUODzN_W7brT1Lrml2e-SLW0j_fdEtJMFsXjz3w5WJq_Nbj3ZiNlXVkryrmtaEKlqMYM61CXWvuBD5yTCGsIGzgU/w480-h640/251A9A7B-0D0B-43F9-AE12-CF9393C85A3A_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>endureth forever. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Psalm 136:1</span></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-33943150352794815962023-10-30T21:17:00.000-04:002023-10-30T21:17:26.285-04:00seeing is beholding...eating is tasting<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><i>"What you surround yourself with will bring you peace of mind and peace of spirit."</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>~Stacy London</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: left;">As October is rounding out itself much like the luminous full moon in the evening sky, I am back at home putting things back in order after being away for four days.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYks0p4JAHbWHYbruwh7gOP6Qxs1jrtFPrATUoSgSqJk8VFs-ic7u_UnaxP5oPhnwrwIN5RNGUQNSiNb1w_YUO-IrvP9wQFawE81qU4c5NRqsw_YOiqwScwlIQTwgKM11G1IZq7IoSBqyl2tBsQAXi0pwd8sIY6eymgGcQaXhDzt631QjLmfMrasT/s4032/63D39226-DD50-4FB9-B37E-896ACD838325.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYks0p4JAHbWHYbruwh7gOP6Qxs1jrtFPrATUoSgSqJk8VFs-ic7u_UnaxP5oPhnwrwIN5RNGUQNSiNb1w_YUO-IrvP9wQFawE81qU4c5NRqsw_YOiqwScwlIQTwgKM11G1IZq7IoSBqyl2tBsQAXi0pwd8sIY6eymgGcQaXhDzt631QjLmfMrasT/w480-h640/63D39226-DD50-4FB9-B37E-896ACD838325.heic" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: center;">Do you know what this fruit is called?</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It is an<i> <a href="https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/Fuyu_Persimmons_9071.php">asian persimmon.</a> </i>It has absolutely no resemblance to the wild persimmons that grow in the woods or along the hedge rows in the country. It has a surprisingly mild sweet taste. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> Though my cutting garden is showing sad signs of dryness and extreme tiredness, I was still able to cut several vases worth of zinnias This is my garden haul this morning.The bright orange flowers in the green basket atop the tomatoes are calendula flowers that I am drying for teas, tinctures, and salves.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBw9OLg-XxpAS7tmzS3ljb8YMyVzdyKpjbJ2rZsqd53I7ipqcbqQIljsg9Y1cJs7-d_YQXmCfmTx9pahu31YWTJ5bzgRB8gWluxBPjTjlzsX1WuZLklycKj-Hw1pbdWThj7s_7ou9Rhyb-IYBoQVS8jeCN9QhXQh2-SRKFAQ5U7jdk8AjMH4F6kPT/s4032/B5666F00-4EF7-48E6-98E6-2D314ED6D7CF.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBw9OLg-XxpAS7tmzS3ljb8YMyVzdyKpjbJ2rZsqd53I7ipqcbqQIljsg9Y1cJs7-d_YQXmCfmTx9pahu31YWTJ5bzgRB8gWluxBPjTjlzsX1WuZLklycKj-Hw1pbdWThj7s_7ou9Rhyb-IYBoQVS8jeCN9QhXQh2-SRKFAQ5U7jdk8AjMH4F6kPT/w480-h640/B5666F00-4EF7-48E6-98E6-2D314ED6D7CF.heic" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Two monarch butterflies were seen today. I know they are traveling through and it amuses me to think they make a stop in my garden as they head to Mexico.<br /><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeRvuUPoIu07JRq3_hVVhVSkrs9EWHgkTusHJI0HdJYp5GXn2zX75YwLtuSGGCd5vIv12oUP8zZ7PJYNyOPe7ipBM-S4ZegkAJVHb4lJpMzs1lD3bkZuTvbL5aoIjqPrAC7pnGgF8CiGvzAX2UMI6QwyiYSBKVkrS0d79Ioq7J7O4AM-u096kK9HR/s4032/7BE54833-B56F-4B38-835D-E1AE9B7C98F6.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeRvuUPoIu07JRq3_hVVhVSkrs9EWHgkTusHJI0HdJYp5GXn2zX75YwLtuSGGCd5vIv12oUP8zZ7PJYNyOPe7ipBM-S4ZegkAJVHb4lJpMzs1lD3bkZuTvbL5aoIjqPrAC7pnGgF8CiGvzAX2UMI6QwyiYSBKVkrS0d79Ioq7J7O4AM-u096kK9HR/w480-h640/7BE54833-B56F-4B38-835D-E1AE9B7C98F6.heic" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The weather turned rather warm while we were away so my fall green bean crop flourished a bit more enabling me to pick a basket of green beans to fix for dinner.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpnz1zevM4yrf6QnmkA0xBJESFbV1OJnAz1zdyrZRyYyQhB0mnFKPru0DUvu90GgcqXUpLOcVFNtwFqB2-jH4OLcg6ZrxI-9-GjujNgsp35L8NeoRXev597VQ4hunL6b1G2Q5Uz8yYqoaCXfoLKilaiRgua7gUK6VFCvdxLl1QLIST-mWJ4pCEjCy/s4032/1D013E78-738A-4DBC-A585-8BEB726B5DCF.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpnz1zevM4yrf6QnmkA0xBJESFbV1OJnAz1zdyrZRyYyQhB0mnFKPru0DUvu90GgcqXUpLOcVFNtwFqB2-jH4OLcg6ZrxI-9-GjujNgsp35L8NeoRXev597VQ4hunL6b1G2Q5Uz8yYqoaCXfoLKilaiRgua7gUK6VFCvdxLl1QLIST-mWJ4pCEjCy/w480-h640/1D013E78-738A-4DBC-A585-8BEB726B5DCF.heic" width="480" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I sat in the swing on the front porch with this lovely fall view. Everything is quite dry and we are hoping that rainfall is coming in the next few days.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHfs3Wa2WRVdzKnIjW8KgFNWnVfl8Zksd5faj2PfFx7rXUlEU39vrpIMvGV1rL4pnKrtX_Ks6SN_68ms-lifgfHAYQ4FMRzBRewf_FXQBav_LxDROLzgprMGnqNON1yrSrmOcxtYiMWlCJ2m0BSwvmOc_Gm599ppBGIB3r5Ftta_29sa3IvfAQJFy/s4032/122F7C38-A540-4731-9595-FD017F27633A.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHfs3Wa2WRVdzKnIjW8KgFNWnVfl8Zksd5faj2PfFx7rXUlEU39vrpIMvGV1rL4pnKrtX_Ks6SN_68ms-lifgfHAYQ4FMRzBRewf_FXQBav_LxDROLzgprMGnqNON1yrSrmOcxtYiMWlCJ2m0BSwvmOc_Gm599ppBGIB3r5Ftta_29sa3IvfAQJFy/w480-h640/122F7C38-A540-4731-9595-FD017F27633A.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <br /></span><p><br /></p></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-2676655670354951212023-10-30T20:24:00.001-04:002023-10-30T20:25:18.888-04:00 four days and a few notes<p> <span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">A community park aside a mountain rise and brightly hued trees showing off their splendid autumn apparel.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">Mothers with their children, swings, footballs, and couples walking their tail-wagging dogs on leashes. All are without a doubt enjoying this warm day in late October.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">We had stopped at a small community park in New Market, Virginia where we ate our lunch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">I walked around the park trail to allow my weary legs a good move before my husband said it was time to go. I wished I had my camera, but then my photography skills fall short of the special views I observed.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">Destination: Buffalo, New York. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">The Blue Ridge Mountains along the Shenandoah Valley dotted with prosperous farms never fail to stir a serene feeling to my spirit. It was the most ideal time to drive through the mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania because of the peak of foliage colors.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXX5A7BholIAXLmVjLiKmYxU9wMzXCfi9OHET-fSel0GNzO5EBb75Pvnkz1sJ0kuBBqjhRh8RQeyHeJ6bxcqNf9KaQ9KKzpiWlSLh0p54ngrbqMcxX9UCQcbwiPaFJKLi5acBWdMA5UfKKDhzXabG_yZdPWNRt1yUbPxXmUylrBuRaaz9A6MSkkJ0/s3088/E8BF01E8-1DD5-4CA1-9841-DAE71CD0A9D8.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXX5A7BholIAXLmVjLiKmYxU9wMzXCfi9OHET-fSel0GNzO5EBb75Pvnkz1sJ0kuBBqjhRh8RQeyHeJ6bxcqNf9KaQ9KKzpiWlSLh0p54ngrbqMcxX9UCQcbwiPaFJKLi5acBWdMA5UfKKDhzXabG_yZdPWNRt1yUbPxXmUylrBuRaaz9A6MSkkJ0/s320/E8BF01E8-1DD5-4CA1-9841-DAE71CD0A9D8.heic" width="240" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">We decided to stop in a town in Pennsylvania which in times past meant nothing but now has significant meaning for us. A future family member's home town, more on this in a future post.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAHy1ToTEzrJSFcN1tdQszWufMTseXw7aWbSnri4aZCiscOfDJiW5uabhh3N2EsK5Ph4WvHv5l2ZzDT6d3VinyBfAGlnhHW35tFj_OYnMwpt10Yv63Ev7Ux7FxL7tQTq9VaVN74SZ1Act0jGqsiOJVfbVTrAQcAVVwFq_0ini03eBDGgas4HVrN9R/s4032/D9BE8FA6-C6AD-46FD-84F3-E71EC790C17E.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAHy1ToTEzrJSFcN1tdQszWufMTseXw7aWbSnri4aZCiscOfDJiW5uabhh3N2EsK5Ph4WvHv5l2ZzDT6d3VinyBfAGlnhHW35tFj_OYnMwpt10Yv63Ev7Ux7FxL7tQTq9VaVN74SZ1Act0jGqsiOJVfbVTrAQcAVVwFq_0ini03eBDGgas4HVrN9R/s320/D9BE8FA6-C6AD-46FD-84F3-E71EC790C17E.heic" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">A quick decision to drive up to Niagara Falls on Saturday afternoon.</span></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-17918128094341608902023-09-25T20:55:00.001-04:002023-10-30T20:59:02.865-04:00remembering summer<p style="background-color: white; color: #852302; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 24px; text-align: center;">REMEMBERING SUMMER</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #852302; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 24px;"></p><div style="text-align: center;">Being too warm the old lady said to me</div><div style="text-align: center;">is better than being too cold I think now</div><div style="text-align: center;">in between is the best because you never</div><div style="text-align: center;">give it a thought but it goes by too fast</div><div style="text-align: center;">I remember the winter how cold it got</div><div style="text-align: center;">I could never get warm wherever I was</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I donโt remember the summer heat like that</div><div style="text-align: center;">only the long days the breathing of the trees</div><div style="text-align: center;">the evenings with the hens still talking in the lane</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the light getting longer in the valley</div><div style="text-align: center;">the sound of a bell from down there somewhere</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can sit here now still listening to it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">~W.S. Merwin</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjY3K4QwXTXXMKm60Qc3IpFK1oFOzryVTS003BXxdbpVyqZOzNdBXh5rhRGoK9LU0E5_r783GzHyt6d_LAYTtausftXL7ULdx1XSvonjsD0hwH6UGWkKtqLZA7YCwJOTd0Q2SiADUNm3NXq1hG_dzNbf3JMd4V1oUR1LmUZVbzkwA0Pa_3f4R0YAb/s4032/17270136-DA45-4BB9-B256-8F10E9A5D84B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjY3K4QwXTXXMKm60Qc3IpFK1oFOzryVTS003BXxdbpVyqZOzNdBXh5rhRGoK9LU0E5_r783GzHyt6d_LAYTtausftXL7ULdx1XSvonjsD0hwH6UGWkKtqLZA7YCwJOTd0Q2SiADUNm3NXq1hG_dzNbf3JMd4V1oUR1LmUZVbzkwA0Pa_3f4R0YAb/w480-h640/17270136-DA45-4BB9-B256-8F10E9A5D84B.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOcb9NfIbft1Bcc2vlSVppUH6Un8kCF0B14pvoWuaxaa9RfRPMTscK8aL0_0vvYzTMJzl8syz32krNFIZhkawwBXjn9Pwklmldbs_CSZ75qR0MggnKKkEs5MHn55wzbn9QSloyHKDp4TvVULCbMoSKS254LrrqbhnpQCwZZLZeRUkH9FVedXKPJIS/s4032/5C92B300-A030-401B-B376-33DC53D374B7.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOcb9NfIbft1Bcc2vlSVppUH6Un8kCF0B14pvoWuaxaa9RfRPMTscK8aL0_0vvYzTMJzl8syz32krNFIZhkawwBXjn9Pwklmldbs_CSZ75qR0MggnKKkEs5MHn55wzbn9QSloyHKDp4TvVULCbMoSKS254LrrqbhnpQCwZZLZeRUkH9FVedXKPJIS/w480-h640/5C92B300-A030-401B-B376-33DC53D374B7.heic" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusGmcgAb02uE95NE9wRihSm0l7x4OdqHMVtn8sqjKkP74vIPJ4zOQLFVi7SyziMdvRhy2E54oFuypszWBoxbuEZa49fNNmP-twMPDOIOmMbYTFcpY1sDBe5T3UZQ689Kbfu-CDHZya1aL3408S1j8vVniPSBqkC8sf490Ozi7P-qBPJ6M4qgSBuur/s4032/29B8E57D-63DF-4A85-AE29-EF33F9B0ED66.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusGmcgAb02uE95NE9wRihSm0l7x4OdqHMVtn8sqjKkP74vIPJ4zOQLFVi7SyziMdvRhy2E54oFuypszWBoxbuEZa49fNNmP-twMPDOIOmMbYTFcpY1sDBe5T3UZQ689Kbfu-CDHZya1aL3408S1j8vVniPSBqkC8sf490Ozi7P-qBPJ6M4qgSBuur/w480-h640/29B8E57D-63DF-4A85-AE29-EF33F9B0ED66.heic" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5TAe0CvX-bkaQh_hOlVKu5CTdlLVBp0LN5vzdV4iqQwlBrxL-Xpw7nW7ogA7ULdtP_r4DPA41X_DcEbLxSErHYmxZJNVmMIVvRownwcxgiXbR-OlYxN6j7gD0CzF1juOog3jaQghC6XHjTELAvOwZcKdRQDPGE9Cuso9NSXpGbm2wgfgeoQpDAeR/s4032/ACBB15E9-4A44-4AF3-BAB2-40AFA4101967.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5TAe0CvX-bkaQh_hOlVKu5CTdlLVBp0LN5vzdV4iqQwlBrxL-Xpw7nW7ogA7ULdtP_r4DPA41X_DcEbLxSErHYmxZJNVmMIVvRownwcxgiXbR-OlYxN6j7gD0CzF1juOog3jaQghC6XHjTELAvOwZcKdRQDPGE9Cuso9NSXpGbm2wgfgeoQpDAeR/w480-h640/ACBB15E9-4A44-4AF3-BAB2-40AFA4101967.heic" width="480" /></a></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5iy_WG-WnpPVpApZjtfIV4sMfeeiV1mN0wjVVCSqbN64HXxhEoZvBPECJwENH3OrI2KUC33bgrG62jvYKwGqVjIheh9qEUvvyqtgDnaOgYOQ50vF4r83FPx_-N9xiozB0dfkl4W-Vf1uLUYhzowDbZA1QN9PiY5pNP9SNuaJJMvsbXWd9D909TTP/s4032/48AEA304-5694-4668-AE3B-E60898C6B503.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5iy_WG-WnpPVpApZjtfIV4sMfeeiV1mN0wjVVCSqbN64HXxhEoZvBPECJwENH3OrI2KUC33bgrG62jvYKwGqVjIheh9qEUvvyqtgDnaOgYOQ50vF4r83FPx_-N9xiozB0dfkl4W-Vf1uLUYhzowDbZA1QN9PiY5pNP9SNuaJJMvsbXWd9D909TTP/w480-h640/48AEA304-5694-4668-AE3B-E60898C6B503.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">I think of this time of year, the end of August until October 1, as late summer. September being the star month when we are on hold so to speak. But there is a definite easing into the autumn season. The shortening of the days is always the most obvious sign that summer is beyond its peak and shouting goodbye. Whether we are ready for it or not, and I always am more than willing to move on with a high note of anticipation of the wonders of what the next season brings. Yet sublime remembrances linger. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"> Summer 2023 will be especially remembered as the summer of the butterflies. I planted a cutting/ butterfly attracting garden. I was not disappointed. I have so many photos of the variety of the butterflies that visited my garden this summer. I even began a post titled, "Plant and They Will Come". But who really wants to see my large display of butterfly photos? But I do hope to develop the pictures and place them in a nature study notebook this winter. Some days during the very heat of summer I would walk out into the garden and I was surrounded with butterflies flying all around me. I was beholding one of my Creator's gifts. The monarchs also visited drinking from my zinnias as well as the milkweed I planted last year. I even found a monarch chrysalis then was able to see the completed cycle. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">The black bear was seen one drizzly Sunday afternoon. We knew black bears lived around here and had been spotted, but seeing one ourselves was...well, quite a late summer spectacle!</span></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-48492983682257988332023-09-19T13:51:00.000-04:002023-09-19T13:51:20.808-04:00the library<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvaA87PZnn7BPXxyPkYiNHomqUpFs0sbGEMN52-ChXbEJaPPMXOba8pkVtiDgaho-0NVzwtw2-nCuR_ggclssEp-Sg4AdGKW9JKQ1Nu2YwcKEtLBF-juFZum_veZ4LM_KS-rqrZRk6KjpcRc1ayTXvDoVI5dRR2YSS2vmsdrimpbKB-KWVHkvSyFu/s640/3763116E-1C54-4137-B93F-2BECA7BBA93A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="380" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvaA87PZnn7BPXxyPkYiNHomqUpFs0sbGEMN52-ChXbEJaPPMXOba8pkVtiDgaho-0NVzwtw2-nCuR_ggclssEp-Sg4AdGKW9JKQ1Nu2YwcKEtLBF-juFZum_veZ4LM_KS-rqrZRk6KjpcRc1ayTXvDoVI5dRR2YSS2vmsdrimpbKB-KWVHkvSyFu/w380-h640/3763116E-1C54-4137-B93F-2BECA7BBA93A.jpeg" width="380" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">โWhen I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.โ</span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: -webkit-standard; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">โJane Austen, <a butter="butter" class="butter" data-asin="0141439513" data-author="Jane Austen" data-ean="9780141439518" data-publisher="Penguin Books" data-releasedate="2002-12-31" data-title="Pride and Prejudice" href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1101lkCeo/destination:https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/pride-and-prejudice_jane-austen/248285/" nofollow="nofollow" product-id="0141439513" rel="noopener" style="box-shadow: rgb(255, 208, 7) 0px -0.175em inset; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="Buy from Thriftbooks">Pride and Prejudice</a></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What do they call this room I ask the man showing us the house <a href="http://cherithrevisited.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-new-place-to-call-home.html">we purchased last year. </a>It was a room off the living room through double wooden doors. "A parlour?", he suggests. From that very first day I called this room the library. And plans began forming in my mind almost immediately to the possibilities of making this such a room, walls lined with built in book shelves, an antique bookcase on that wall filled with books, comfy chairs with reading lamps, and maybe even a footstool. Of course, I've had libraries of sorts all my life, wherever or whatever held my large assortment of books was considered a make-do library. And certainly this past year a majority of books have been stored in boxes on the third floor awaiting my vision to become a reality. At last I have a lovely room that embraces the afternoon sun on cloudless days, making it a perfectly wonderful place to be christened "The Library".</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <i style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">โBooks are delightful society. If you go into a room and find it full of booksโ even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome.โ</span></i></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(21, 21, 21, 0.92); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><i> ~William Gladstone</i></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: rgba(21, 21, 21, 0.92); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><i></i><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvJkupNQP1xpAF_3NunZXhIsEGaDVh-3CCQctcjrzyEN8e_a9SNlPd3B_37gUvz9VYdNhiAQXa_J8KbwCh1hC6BYYlF0lHT4skXZ8AfdCqHE75ePxToM8wFS9BcHnKiDqOxGf6OMAjHQ096acJiedtNFG3q_3YXh6b3-cQAwOMZmyShQElScZhFPO/s3840/7B800EB5-B596-43C0-BB12-26DCEB4AF45E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvJkupNQP1xpAF_3NunZXhIsEGaDVh-3CCQctcjrzyEN8e_a9SNlPd3B_37gUvz9VYdNhiAQXa_J8KbwCh1hC6BYYlF0lHT4skXZ8AfdCqHE75ePxToM8wFS9BcHnKiDqOxGf6OMAjHQ096acJiedtNFG3q_3YXh6b3-cQAwOMZmyShQElScZhFPO/w640-h360/7B800EB5-B596-43C0-BB12-26DCEB4AF45E.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I have a friend whose husband was starting a new business and was very capable and interested in building us book shelves.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lq7U5Owuj-obWVe0asp-HBrd_LlOx1mn0lGwl8pc1UMbwqe99YqyyUrrqdUvfFTzCY9Ps3Zur-OmEZDJMf4PtruWzQr4x7jowaO2HMnX1MEwE_-3GeHuFmeiaR9lkL4SaVW6EmB3JZljWU0Y3GKbxlj7K4OVTKu5OixI5_LdUU5nh7vagE6jJxRg/s4032/32F7D065-E96A-408A-ABC1-A3F64499217D.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lq7U5Owuj-obWVe0asp-HBrd_LlOx1mn0lGwl8pc1UMbwqe99YqyyUrrqdUvfFTzCY9Ps3Zur-OmEZDJMf4PtruWzQr4x7jowaO2HMnX1MEwE_-3GeHuFmeiaR9lkL4SaVW6EmB3JZljWU0Y3GKbxlj7K4OVTKu5OixI5_LdUU5nh7vagE6jJxRg/w480-h640/32F7D065-E96A-408A-ABC1-A3F64499217D.heic" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Some days I have my lunch at the table that sits in the center of the room.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">"In a good bookroom you feel in some mysterious way that you are absorbing the wisdom contained in all the books through your skin, without even opening them.โ </span><br style="caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(24, 24, 24); font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; text-align: left;">โ </span><span class="authorOrTitle" face="Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Mark Twain</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><span class="authorOrTitle" face="Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ4bIyH778ElragBpIGIEXF8FtiFJpaqYQbjHRWzjSOgcHwT5-VEuJHxsBrn7atkl0ARYl-9tl0owxeJvEpz6Ngr9bNJ2NoOKOF_F1icpuXJQTPjXaJh96f7-EEQNI5DoiGK2TdyNU4C1LR3glicfey6GiT-iOElYvBYDif9g69shIFexX8uqg8L3/s4032/3F5DB44C-6612-40D8-81B4-704351E2A409.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZ4bIyH778ElragBpIGIEXF8FtiFJpaqYQbjHRWzjSOgcHwT5-VEuJHxsBrn7atkl0ARYl-9tl0owxeJvEpz6Ngr9bNJ2NoOKOF_F1icpuXJQTPjXaJh96f7-EEQNI5DoiGK2TdyNU4C1LR3glicfey6GiT-iOElYvBYDif9g69shIFexX8uqg8L3/w480-h640/3F5DB44C-6612-40D8-81B4-704351E2A409.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: times;">One Sunday afternoon, a berry clafoutis with hazelnut whipped cream with "delightful society". My husband was there too๐, and he is certainly delightful society.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: times; font-size: large;">"A house that has a library in it has a soul." - Plato</span></span></div><br /></div><div class="wp-block-image" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(1, 1, 1); color: #010101; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; font-size: 19px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized" style="clear: both; display: block; margin: 0px auto;"><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6220&awinaffid=258769&pref1=bookriot&pref2=book-lover-quotes&p=https://www.etsy.com/listing/913980442/quote-about-reading-wooden-sign-i-shall" style="color: inherit; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a></figure></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-16377790001356704062023-09-18T15:17:00.001-04:002023-09-18T15:17:45.715-04:00living my life this way now<p style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I enjoy solitude. It's probably selfish, but why bother about it. Life is much too important, as Oscar Wilde said, to be taken seriously. I feel so sorry for those mothers who are devastated by loneliness when their children fly the coop and don't want to live at home anymore. They feel lost, but look what exciting things can be done. Life isn't long enough to do all you could accomplish. And what a privilege to be alive. In spite of all the pollutions and horrors, how beautiful this world is. Supposing you only saw the stars once every year. Think what you would think. The wonder of it!โ</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;">~unknown</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6c2gy90qs8g9zpFiQn7s7RKJLxo6Z4DVdSJobF_6vnNS94Ko42amchGZO3mp1OU4Yg0Xnk3X02Dupau6CEdPKqGzxNBKxvorJKAqP-TM3k7Q7WofNR6bsyW9FDRfo-560ZCYSDQz5NzrwKJbUYLS4DgRmN9Txv50Wm0WZB__7q8LSXzTyYarOJxs/s4032/44A90DF1-274C-493B-8BDD-B318CEFB9549.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6c2gy90qs8g9zpFiQn7s7RKJLxo6Z4DVdSJobF_6vnNS94Ko42amchGZO3mp1OU4Yg0Xnk3X02Dupau6CEdPKqGzxNBKxvorJKAqP-TM3k7Q7WofNR6bsyW9FDRfo-560ZCYSDQz5NzrwKJbUYLS4DgRmN9Txv50Wm0WZB__7q8LSXzTyYarOJxs/w640-h480/44A90DF1-274C-493B-8BDD-B318CEFB9549.heic" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sunrise</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #343434; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #343434; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2LnWodOk-ULv2p9QyndOlyQkdLZso8OwDGTVUPafo9H5liAo7cJdJbE2ieEhZEk6NFdFWfvPGgLho6dEi7hamkU-JrqHho9x2LRCQcqLu26H9GJYUEJ5fuBf1GbxUIf2GD-w-jocmb3UV83Y6wY_5LYVoNkEyU4TCjZ4trpj_ie3YizQr9ct4ZqP/s4032/4955CA59-C3CD-4608-92C4-08DB9E36A787.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2LnWodOk-ULv2p9QyndOlyQkdLZso8OwDGTVUPafo9H5liAo7cJdJbE2ieEhZEk6NFdFWfvPGgLho6dEi7hamkU-JrqHho9x2LRCQcqLu26H9GJYUEJ5fuBf1GbxUIf2GD-w-jocmb3UV83Y6wY_5LYVoNkEyU4TCjZ4trpj_ie3YizQr9ct4ZqP/w480-h640/4955CA59-C3CD-4608-92C4-08DB9E36A787.heic" width="480" /></a></span></span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #343434;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sit in the green andiron back chair while still in my robe, </span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: #343434;"><span style="font-size: large;">a mug of coffee in hand savoring a new morning.<br /></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(52, 52, 52); font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><i style="color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8HECJTNupZNl5CJlwEaFUwPElnjD3nwsuxq3pkrLSW3Z7onfuWUXoHieuYUyiPGjxT3lO0GneeG_J9B0fKuXNtqI0dX4LQ6szyDsNMU89AuqLkKi7253GPEERGkoorSkoNrUnRIA2qH35hrQFWdOLp8g7VR81oqNUbVVfaOvH-wtID0fkqfWFqDc/s4032/75B6885D-2075-4D68-B6B3-585913F1B191.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8HECJTNupZNl5CJlwEaFUwPElnjD3nwsuxq3pkrLSW3Z7onfuWUXoHieuYUyiPGjxT3lO0GneeG_J9B0fKuXNtqI0dX4LQ6szyDsNMU89AuqLkKi7253GPEERGkoorSkoNrUnRIA2qH35hrQFWdOLp8g7VR81oqNUbVVfaOvH-wtID0fkqfWFqDc/w640-h480/75B6885D-2075-4D68-B6B3-585913F1B191.heic" width="640" /></a></span></i></div><i style="color: #343434;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOGj8mihdE4VzIhUfQV79w1BX6fM2LSnW6c-uSEH6btGgtTooEdASePr-CXg-Of-AK2YcAfNTjN7XCNPJB3ogfZ3dpEHqFYa6u_-X3rqzz1nzBnxT70qKU32MPfOFcIPfTNgR3qBEPFzGaa4O5ymp9FpgcLwIo9aYmt2RCdreu5ujiNA1xQ957PA0/s4032/F3FDD31B-3175-4FAB-B7DE-B7C33C02D327.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOGj8mihdE4VzIhUfQV79w1BX6fM2LSnW6c-uSEH6btGgtTooEdASePr-CXg-Of-AK2YcAfNTjN7XCNPJB3ogfZ3dpEHqFYa6u_-X3rqzz1nzBnxT70qKU32MPfOFcIPfTNgR3qBEPFzGaa4O5ymp9FpgcLwIo9aYmt2RCdreu5ujiNA1xQ957PA0/w640-h480/F3FDD31B-3175-4FAB-B7DE-B7C33C02D327.heic" width="640" /></a></div></i><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1CQwSOnl3-Xv7PM3xs9TdbxEHtxwu3IQtP8YNy23AbQiD2f-w1RxeA1K0ySfnnMJ3CFAFRf5zKdjzTFoLwl7bwh95cz55977Kw6nRhEg8UK4Eq7iBjGdCb4T5AcoLtkCj4lsSQPPjFU6DVxbKONsHHt5jjp8vKHeNrmzgP3KXugtiZVPdbQRIn0E/s4032/F12234C8-C788-4F4B-81CE-15A712847661.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1CQwSOnl3-Xv7PM3xs9TdbxEHtxwu3IQtP8YNy23AbQiD2f-w1RxeA1K0ySfnnMJ3CFAFRf5zKdjzTFoLwl7bwh95cz55977Kw6nRhEg8UK4Eq7iBjGdCb4T5AcoLtkCj4lsSQPPjFU6DVxbKONsHHt5jjp8vKHeNrmzgP3KXugtiZVPdbQRIn0E/w480-h640/F12234C8-C788-4F4B-81CE-15A712847661.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A morning's quiet time enjoyed on the front porch.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #343434; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccZ16lOkwn7XJsgQVId3KKWB74aa9jf2u_fM8ZwJpXx2aO9nBihDTAkDnMkuddORRaVsBCy-3t-N4SXWgSIml08AEGRB2tM67UUPenGcejcHramU_BCjR35ynWoi6wwt3kPpI4AJ1GdTvF6DAnY0tQsL5uFw9DEVuXNTtVJo05B6bwPVHM9mWFbRI/s2860/359D4CBC-38F0-48E9-B904-9D9298BBA7A3_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2513" data-original-width="2860" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccZ16lOkwn7XJsgQVId3KKWB74aa9jf2u_fM8ZwJpXx2aO9nBihDTAkDnMkuddORRaVsBCy-3t-N4SXWgSIml08AEGRB2tM67UUPenGcejcHramU_BCjR35ynWoi6wwt3kPpI4AJ1GdTvF6DAnY0tQsL5uFw9DEVuXNTtVJo05B6bwPVHM9mWFbRI/w640-h562/359D4CBC-38F0-48E9-B904-9D9298BBA7A3_1_201_a.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Still in the garden everyday.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large; font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><p></p><div><i><br /></i></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-27486881036154123582023-09-09T16:51:00.001-04:002023-09-09T16:51:48.322-04:00prudent preparation<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3IeWTtn-j9i-0gokt-naGo5RfypLI75_uaogpTx4AtNxxaHhGys1ZMjnl4v57ACCr90FfI7h8I0tES11hivyVwuVEztSU5ttSYKjlK1qOQNTy6LVM5TUu1MKL0S7gbrVPaG84JjpCXC-_i8wDoHoM-uQgjnxqaF1ssaEt0IL-d2gTJscWg4-X2Yu/s600/9E401870-650F-4F18-B5A1-A6EC7419A499.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="441" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH3IeWTtn-j9i-0gokt-naGo5RfypLI75_uaogpTx4AtNxxaHhGys1ZMjnl4v57ACCr90FfI7h8I0tES11hivyVwuVEztSU5ttSYKjlK1qOQNTy6LVM5TUu1MKL0S7gbrVPaG84JjpCXC-_i8wDoHoM-uQgjnxqaF1ssaEt0IL-d2gTJscWg4-X2Yu/w294-h400/9E401870-650F-4F18-B5A1-A6EC7419A499.jpeg" width="294" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">"It has occurred to me that I am only doing what every housewife did as a matter of course only a generation or two ago. She always preserved food for the coming year as it came into season and bulk-purchased staples such as sugar and vinegar. Our grandmothers did this not because they were paranoid, isolated survivalists, but rather because they had learned from experience that blizzards, crop failures, and epidemics happened. The prudent, prepared household prevailed. Others did not.</span></i></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">As the winter storms howl outside my window and the political, economic, and ecological news goes from bad to worse, I sleep well, knowing I can care for my family during times of plenty and times of want."</span></i></p>
<p style="color: #376e7b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="color: #376e7b; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><i>~ </i><a href="http://amzn.to/2k4NMc1"><span style="color: #376e7b;"><i>Just in Case: How to Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens</i></span></a></span></span></p>
<p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">by Kathy Harrison</span></i></p><div><i><br /></i></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-85065664982390895442023-09-01T15:53:00.002-04:002023-09-01T15:54:31.156-04:00figs <p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">If I had words to make a day for you, </span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> I'd sing you a morning golden & true </span><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> I would make this day last for all time </span><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> then fill the night deep in moonshine </span><br style="text-align: center;" /><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> If I had words to make a day for you, </span><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> I'd give you a morning golden & true </span><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> I would make this day last for all time... </span><br style="text-align: center;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> then fill the night deep in moonshine </span></span></i></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was as if I had written a simple letter with one request, placed a stamp in the right hand corner and dropped it in the mail. </span></span></span></p></blockquote><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><i>"Please send a perfect day"</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">And today the letter was answered. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">As I opened the front door and slipped out onto the porch I could not but help sighing with contented happiness. The hot temperatures and humidity of the past week had </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">vanished and instead we had a soothing welcomed coolness. My morning work was already determined, but now I could open the windows and let the fresh air and light breeze fill my kitchen space. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">I have mentioned in a past post a brief intro to <a href="http://cherithrevisited.blogspot.com/2020/08/feeling-figgy.html">my personal fig story</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">And I'm still hoping one day to have a fruit producing fig tree as we have now planted one beside the back screened porch. I have visions of it giving shade to that sunny corner of the porch when it matures. I also have hopes of plenteous figs. It produced two figs this year, since it is yet young I still maintain reasonable expectations of more fruitfulness in the summers to come.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Yesterday my husband stopped by a <a href="http://cherithrevisited.blogspot.com/2020/08/feeling-figgy.html">friend's house</a> who has three large fig trees loaded with fruit and he was more than happy to share several containers of fresh figs with us.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDrZrwO67hfWBDIxNZYDYD5oYf5KRIyAbWIBXu7tNDSi6z26FxlK8WyXpX451w5-YOqfZkkdQi8pvof1AL9loqPnhhYchUFYkNhaB2O7rgJkoWwMXPvwKLczwA2b8A-DUhLo12whGQs_pWc4dwLkYi6rjL1yBxC_BeMbM7dJ9_pWT1x7glJGnSjyA/s4032/E2311B7B-D67E-42E0-AC81-F0B7ED98EDEC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDrZrwO67hfWBDIxNZYDYD5oYf5KRIyAbWIBXu7tNDSi6z26FxlK8WyXpX451w5-YOqfZkkdQi8pvof1AL9loqPnhhYchUFYkNhaB2O7rgJkoWwMXPvwKLczwA2b8A-DUhLo12whGQs_pWc4dwLkYi6rjL1yBxC_BeMbM7dJ9_pWT1x7glJGnSjyA/w480-h640/E2311B7B-D67E-42E0-AC81-F0B7ED98EDEC.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> My morning's work involved making a batch of fig newtons. As a child I did not like fig newtons, that super sticky sweet paste in a dry crumbly cookie was not desirable to my taste whatsoever. But several years ago wanting to give them another chance, I tried a gourmet fig newton and immediately I knew there was so much more to a good fig newton than those cookies I remembered from my childhood. Since I could not find a recipe in any of my cookbooks to the internet I went. By reading what several bakers had done, I somewhat pulled together my own version of several recipes. My jam was not sweet, I added fresh lemon juice, a small amount of brown sugar, a pinch of salt and some water which was cooked down to a jam consistency. Meanwhile I whipped up the dough. The methods of making the fig newtons varied considerably, I went for what seemed was the easiest method for me, but it still turned out to be a bit tricky. The tricky part was getting the second layer onto the cookie.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Yet, I could hardly wait for them to cool so I could cut them into squares and give them a proper tasting. <i>Oh my, how delicious! </i>They certainly are not the prettiest bar, but they are downright bona fide delicious! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmeVEZXPxO9aSTzsb68XxOKikugTkLm0_C2C_8s6zdh_qdipjG-kfX_QkLL_gpGjsHW0fU3-mTl91MvK4pi-fDclNupOVlrxGHALdgVSszY3BG48cX8y3NR8ya2OaW5PoWswtQu02DeH2eiE_8h-2EEXEzZQzJTCWJWsqHI3NRrILpuTWa0RPMKpq/s3256/2AB08406-BA46-4350-90F9-BDFB4C39295A_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3256" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmeVEZXPxO9aSTzsb68XxOKikugTkLm0_C2C_8s6zdh_qdipjG-kfX_QkLL_gpGjsHW0fU3-mTl91MvK4pi-fDclNupOVlrxGHALdgVSszY3BG48cX8y3NR8ya2OaW5PoWswtQu02DeH2eiE_8h-2EEXEzZQzJTCWJWsqHI3NRrILpuTWa0RPMKpq/w594-h640/2AB08406-BA46-4350-90F9-BDFB4C39295A_1_201_a.heic" width="594" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32); color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32);"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></span></span><i style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32); color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> " The fig tree has ripened its figs</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32);"><i> And the vines in blossom have given forth their </i></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32);"><i>fragrances."</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32);"><i> Song of Solomon 2:13</i></span></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><i><br style="text-align: center;" /></i><br style="text-align: center;" /></span><br /><p></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-57249790833419555822023-08-13T15:59:00.000-04:002023-08-13T15:59:39.462-04:00green beans to pickle<p> <span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Many hours have been gladly spent picking, snapping, cooking and canning green beans this summer, truly just for the past six weeks we have harvested many pickings of this <a href="https://www.relish.com/food-wiki/153820/green-beans-important-facts-health-benefits-and-recipes">healthy vegetable</a> from our garden. I decided it was high time I preserved a batch of pickled beans to add to my larder. <a href="https://www.growforagecookferment.com/dilly-beans/">Here is a recipe</a> that is close to the one I will be using, though I am not calling mine dilly beans because the dill has become rather sparse in my garden, but I will include garlic, mustard seeds, peppercorns and a cayenne pepper.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Ever time I speak to my mother-in-law these days the conversation always includes a chat concerning our garden and she never fails to bring up to me those days of the past when I would pickle green beans. Those plenitudinous years of green bean production enabled my pantry to be stocked full with all the green beans we would need through the winter months. So with a tribute to this dear sweet lady I am pickling a batch of green beans with a heart of fun and thanksgiving.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">But first I must make a run to the store because I just noticed that I do not have enough canning jars! </span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> What are you preserving these days?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhbGzpj0YkN7K9EKfJfJRvHrb2Qu4gZL03PeaiTZb_BJZ33AbbyoAJXWP_suSEkDN2hHOOoQZwEPeNl96UexAKuX_MbWyj6J0lOI-0iH2jqqyTZ-lWBvZje5aXOIeHh78EpUBg0u7TFDqFWxYAxWBcJxjbsb6sRvHwfcBJCr0MrVvPHpF_PoQRVP-/s4032/ED07746C-FBA1-43FA-8768-18FA3E388B7A.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhbGzpj0YkN7K9EKfJfJRvHrb2Qu4gZL03PeaiTZb_BJZ33AbbyoAJXWP_suSEkDN2hHOOoQZwEPeNl96UexAKuX_MbWyj6J0lOI-0iH2jqqyTZ-lWBvZje5aXOIeHh78EpUBg0u7TFDqFWxYAxWBcJxjbsb6sRvHwfcBJCr0MrVvPHpF_PoQRVP-/w480-h640/ED07746C-FBA1-43FA-8768-18FA3E388B7A.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-81682510523918461242023-08-01T17:02:00.001-04:002023-08-01T17:02:11.436-04:00turning ninety with grace<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> My father's brother turned ninety last week and his family rightfully honored him with a birthday party. Of course, we wanted to go to be a part of joyfully celebrating his life; I could not imagine not doing so even with the three hour drive on a Sunday afternoon.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeDS-CkepKYNKIzxKzAwLjIGqUeiTykUI6tR_BNSmXzLfMfOgAVD7VuNWsvaeV98YzbFZC0LeHgSDyVJDhbWNubxfRh03zlkDqEQ47MBwCS-_r92BpJ5udE0iQZhOVibCMLGEpVSzR9aLO-o8Vn_Rc0WIUFICgyy-TGGcBnI1NAZgNPucAd5ZBbuY/s4032/53C13796-8B47-4570-AED1-535EC4D66A48.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeDS-CkepKYNKIzxKzAwLjIGqUeiTykUI6tR_BNSmXzLfMfOgAVD7VuNWsvaeV98YzbFZC0LeHgSDyVJDhbWNubxfRh03zlkDqEQ47MBwCS-_r92BpJ5udE0iQZhOVibCMLGEpVSzR9aLO-o8Vn_Rc0WIUFICgyy-TGGcBnI1NAZgNPucAd5ZBbuY/w480-h640/53C13796-8B47-4570-AED1-535EC4D66A48.heic" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">At my brother's funeral several weeks ago I gasped when I saw my uncle because it was like I was seeing my paternal grandfather once again. (He died in 1991 at age 91). How I love family resemblances. My Uncle Gene is sharp and clear-minded as that family line tends to be as they age. When I mentioned to him how much he looked like Granddaddy, he with his soft -spoken voice said, "I know, sometimes I look in the mirror and I can see him too."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-23735340799240907882023-07-05T13:16:00.002-04:002023-07-05T13:17:59.752-04:00photos 2023...words 1776<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcLiza3nhspx6Edhr4hyYTrQL3Ca1dJsPZS0KFxZE0JfBhuZtUeMd_tw-cqJEt6OqkIT0m6xXZumatxygJiqwvg7h0DRu9aH8k2eZ7Y6_z4IyHe6rXmAo7RES3Zsi06oOMgmagGt_zxizPDTh2APbo48o9CgmeagvX6JE1B01dFhu4qxSIQMpHNK5/s4032/61588EC7-89CD-4A6D-9F39-A3445D0C0B7C.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcLiza3nhspx6Edhr4hyYTrQL3Ca1dJsPZS0KFxZE0JfBhuZtUeMd_tw-cqJEt6OqkIT0m6xXZumatxygJiqwvg7h0DRu9aH8k2eZ7Y6_z4IyHe6rXmAo7RES3Zsi06oOMgmagGt_zxizPDTh2APbo48o9CgmeagvX6JE1B01dFhu4qxSIQMpHNK5/w480-h640/61588EC7-89CD-4A6D-9F39-A3445D0C0B7C.heic" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;">that among these are life,</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGCmThqqgXlGVcwWdLfYwuQbFIj6XdtfN8KLCUIdVd8Rn9q6_UDH1MLgMs7uD5EpvcLOYEBZdeC9SqEzHJnCuhZmr1LB9VdtIDFeiO7LM6VELzu8vLDFE611L91VpnlVn4XYPrNmftORMq0l0JjulEZ16D5N-Ob7nCnRqQJUZcLgBwn2ge3pxyyXl/s4032/B9B87E76-9D01-47B1-81F7-CD83DCE1A028.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGCmThqqgXlGVcwWdLfYwuQbFIj6XdtfN8KLCUIdVd8Rn9q6_UDH1MLgMs7uD5EpvcLOYEBZdeC9SqEzHJnCuhZmr1LB9VdtIDFeiO7LM6VELzu8vLDFE611L91VpnlVn4XYPrNmftORMq0l0JjulEZ16D5N-Ob7nCnRqQJUZcLgBwn2ge3pxyyXl/w640-h480/B9B87E76-9D01-47B1-81F7-CD83DCE1A028.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">liberty, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vXQnHb3HXC7RDOVkwXI1ScIRWIUy5f5_iWbZFQu1GiHihWJ91Ltl5XR_0uv6CRolM_bd0NuBz3wIthvVKA79MCjxlm-_dEG2F1XH6wz3lcE3M-jaHbZfO9pSqoEywn6m145_m5QC5DlojsBGXbfnVFuspYxRSpurE_QyUHy-AK3kw1QbQSJVnRR-/s4032/5ADAF538-99BC-44F2-B0DA-E569C843F568.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vXQnHb3HXC7RDOVkwXI1ScIRWIUy5f5_iWbZFQu1GiHihWJ91Ltl5XR_0uv6CRolM_bd0NuBz3wIthvVKA79MCjxlm-_dEG2F1XH6wz3lcE3M-jaHbZfO9pSqoEywn6m145_m5QC5DlojsBGXbfnVFuspYxRSpurE_QyUHy-AK3kw1QbQSJVnRR-/w640-h480/5ADAF538-99BC-44F2-B0DA-E569C843F568.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">and the pursuit of happiness..."</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHoZiQLsESTqwI22OiHk49kBMx3ozzVo9mWNYpl-fke5Bf9aPOv7kxCR7UnbPD38oaGfB0fYrSDdBGF3jLZa_KlF8OzT9DrT1o_7UP6-9dmyrZp-WCBVIGtsdZABJP1aLzVSOhFIAfdmuj1pAtmKTgxZ6CZy7Qh3RLlBcQEWhD3EMmOHkCNZ7QS83/s4032/EE34F726-6581-4A6C-B4BD-C3DA93967FCA.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHoZiQLsESTqwI22OiHk49kBMx3ozzVo9mWNYpl-fke5Bf9aPOv7kxCR7UnbPD38oaGfB0fYrSDdBGF3jLZa_KlF8OzT9DrT1o_7UP6-9dmyrZp-WCBVIGtsdZABJP1aLzVSOhFIAfdmuj1pAtmKTgxZ6CZy7Qh3RLlBcQEWhD3EMmOHkCNZ7QS83/w480-h640/EE34F726-6581-4A6C-B4BD-C3DA93967FCA.heic" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;">"Appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions...."</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJutRuIrQ7UnMq6-XZhO3nfGtMT94XW90ZRyQTGJeDZkIa7oqiOOdXbIG-6ad_5-AvP_b9hMOX_8lp27D4e8H1y2QmZkn4gi-4U7Xnq96tKKBjMtgYDsuJ8xO6rxHINEC2xxBAN2Oc7goT8lwsfS2e8JSkonF2inNXWbsMEApaeLdxH-Euwe-WmIm/s4032/C5000EFF-846A-4CD0-9141-4A48AAE182FD.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJutRuIrQ7UnMq6-XZhO3nfGtMT94XW90ZRyQTGJeDZkIa7oqiOOdXbIG-6ad_5-AvP_b9hMOX_8lp27D4e8H1y2QmZkn4gi-4U7Xnq96tKKBjMtgYDsuJ8xO6rxHINEC2xxBAN2Oc7goT8lwsfS2e8JSkonF2inNXWbsMEApaeLdxH-Euwe-WmIm/w640-h480/C5000EFF-846A-4CD0-9141-4A48AAE182FD.heic" width="640" /></a></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5wjQH19ZnrrRNXRehZhNH3YmLthFm0ACQabDW5qN4i7WSVlamSdstHD7kJw9Ja07gU5mf3ok5IdZn9ewIbV0EWeHWLZyYrXnmxb1WY81q6yX9_wdNfmUlO9ASyRTYwAqek_nxuMskoiw1adzBEHkMuJcPCkA2gQaTwNVKeWttEzpMmByLISgUmts/s3024/8D84C1B4-CA79-4848-8D3B-0A350D90213E_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2633" data-original-width="3024" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5wjQH19ZnrrRNXRehZhNH3YmLthFm0ACQabDW5qN4i7WSVlamSdstHD7kJw9Ja07gU5mf3ok5IdZn9ewIbV0EWeHWLZyYrXnmxb1WY81q6yX9_wdNfmUlO9ASyRTYwAqek_nxuMskoiw1adzBEHkMuJcPCkA2gQaTwNVKeWttEzpMmByLISgUmts/w640-h558/8D84C1B4-CA79-4848-8D3B-0A350D90213E_1_201_a.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;">"With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence..."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><i>The Declaration of Independence</i></span></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-36916324366565639432023-06-30T17:31:00.000-04:002023-06-30T17:31:23.215-04:00green bean canning<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> As you can tell from my latest posts gardening occupies much of my time. I do receive satisfying joy being and working in my gardens. Organic vegetable gardening has been our goal for some time and we are working very hard to make it happen, but we realize at the beginning of the process it does not always produce the prolific abundance we remembered our gardens of past years producing (this was over twenty years ago). It is a definite challenge but an equally definite interest to make our soil fertile while maintaining pest control without the use of chemicals. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Today was not my first green bean picking, but it was the first time I had enough to preserve with canning.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVH8sNZxKDqNDTvzUOPnt6UG0bIrF_rcgxC22ReoMU1FMRmwkgQ2qink2tzzkZ0IagAjenktUMaQ_e6dzySc9eFlTjHPpb4BlqLqYcN3lW_oQ0shycEHNf47_kyUWK_U7iiIPpR-7rCMrPJZWmD6fPY3gqHc9PhyD3BNlQU2g6Y__zhteQspsaRf6/s4032/6B36B9E5-2148-46D3-AD10-0B352D2E526F_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVH8sNZxKDqNDTvzUOPnt6UG0bIrF_rcgxC22ReoMU1FMRmwkgQ2qink2tzzkZ0IagAjenktUMaQ_e6dzySc9eFlTjHPpb4BlqLqYcN3lW_oQ0shycEHNf47_kyUWK_U7iiIPpR-7rCMrPJZWmD6fPY3gqHc9PhyD3BNlQU2g6Y__zhteQspsaRf6/w480-h640/6B36B9E5-2148-46D3-AD10-0B352D2E526F_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5-kAnS9u1zCVLr0HJn0jQdcFzOCp6ycotdCO9tKzcSMUaX8EXdG0XiWD1chcGabp8jA-Zu996pnk-0z4FP-bmXO_CS-MaihEEpvBGdPn_A9yV9s2TZZcaYiCKHIW11XJhAfo5jtqc57UUbZgG-OMmDPZCDtReMleR-vm3FGLGTmuDBZFjo-eP230/s3088/E32BC8D2-8FF0-439D-B8AC-2CBB31CC358A_1_201_a.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5-kAnS9u1zCVLr0HJn0jQdcFzOCp6ycotdCO9tKzcSMUaX8EXdG0XiWD1chcGabp8jA-Zu996pnk-0z4FP-bmXO_CS-MaihEEpvBGdPn_A9yV9s2TZZcaYiCKHIW11XJhAfo5jtqc57UUbZgG-OMmDPZCDtReMleR-vm3FGLGTmuDBZFjo-eP230/w480-h640/E32BC8D2-8FF0-439D-B8AC-2CBB31CC358A_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Today hollered summer with the heat and humidity, therefore, keeping hydrated was important as I picked my beans. I carried along a jar of iced water with a spurt of lemon balm tincture which refreshed nicely.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This winter when pressure canning was still a dream, I ordered a new pressure canner since mine was rather old and I felt it needed some attention and might not be as safe as I would prefer. I bought mine <a href="https://www.lehmans.com/category/pressure-canners">here</a>, it holds four quarts at a time which is perfect for my canning needs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I have never owned or used a canner like this one one and it appeared a bit intimidating at first with the screw lock knobs, but as far as the steam and weight it works just like my other canner.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAus53m7HPTLOMpAZS4khW0FDH3DEIvLEotR8YIUSyROxQIT7N0AWEwzfSSNyNFtSqVod_tOasDIu0aGWwWRSwEPCdl7RKDXoHM5IQyrXnA4SBS1o9pCtGl3YRMrEGVIx_lhQmxrAMEdRnRaD2_3NYy-vzQc_FHXVP59XX4m_UbOw3pXGyOoIcvVv/s4032/CC31A7AE-1EB6-4CD3-8F58-1804003038EA.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAus53m7HPTLOMpAZS4khW0FDH3DEIvLEotR8YIUSyROxQIT7N0AWEwzfSSNyNFtSqVod_tOasDIu0aGWwWRSwEPCdl7RKDXoHM5IQyrXnA4SBS1o9pCtGl3YRMrEGVIx_lhQmxrAMEdRnRaD2_3NYy-vzQc_FHXVP59XX4m_UbOw3pXGyOoIcvVv/w480-h640/CC31A7AE-1EB6-4CD3-8F58-1804003038EA.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-25248433399155608652023-06-29T11:16:00.002-04:002023-06-29T11:18:13.100-04:00lavender joy<i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; text-align: left;">The bumble bees</span></div><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">love my lavender</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">Theyโre on it all the time</div></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">Drinking up the pollen</div><div style="text-align: center;">when the weather is sublime.</div></span></span></i><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">It felt as if I was a thief of sorts, cutting the lavender stems as I was one morning. The bees swayed and dipped on the profusely blooming lavender. If I were a bee I would most certainly choose the nectar of lavender too as I swayed and dipped drinking lavender juice. This year has been a joy to this particular lady gardener as I had not been able to find a happy lavender spot for over 20 years until now. That is a long time to wait to have a happy lavender growing garden. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH8yWTHHGuWsf-W4STULoCVn5LQpjb-yzT7vIR3k-wteb0MPvxMNLo4M-GsoZXvsqq3yZvfcZYu_clQCyJilb6QUO0PzuYlsrVd4bEztbqQ_kEuU4QWFw3ZWOy0CF8Sh_7hqTGv-w_HrQ1Kak5MYhd71jv-7omggyF6nYMGd9QaxCdYI4MyZMKGin/s4032/76B37731-A9E0-4929-80AC-6DEE51AE74FF.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH8yWTHHGuWsf-W4STULoCVn5LQpjb-yzT7vIR3k-wteb0MPvxMNLo4M-GsoZXvsqq3yZvfcZYu_clQCyJilb6QUO0PzuYlsrVd4bEztbqQ_kEuU4QWFw3ZWOy0CF8Sh_7hqTGv-w_HrQ1Kak5MYhd71jv-7omggyF6nYMGd9QaxCdYI4MyZMKGin/w480-h640/76B37731-A9E0-4929-80AC-6DEE51AE74FF.heic" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBi5AtQDgC8Mh7aRrX7y6aLI2n1984jXN2Yq2mc8hDKlbuArd-5vrqKXATBNjSEp6tI9A4b_kIv1El7beKqxuay_LnxXV5UnXWmTKHulO0nZJxIcLoC72S9z8hqMOIbwLIF2AzLT5-M3BIs3rvghdgC5DBiOzgnmi90yeJrW2jf1cganaaHgOo40M/s4032/1B713BC3-280A-427B-84FD-56FCDBDA2E61.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBi5AtQDgC8Mh7aRrX7y6aLI2n1984jXN2Yq2mc8hDKlbuArd-5vrqKXATBNjSEp6tI9A4b_kIv1El7beKqxuay_LnxXV5UnXWmTKHulO0nZJxIcLoC72S9z8hqMOIbwLIF2AzLT5-M3BIs3rvghdgC5DBiOzgnmi90yeJrW2jf1cganaaHgOo40M/w480-h640/1B713BC3-280A-427B-84FD-56FCDBDA2E61.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">Lavender requires certain things to make it flourish. Well-drained soil, even rocky, and limestone enriched soil also helps lavender to grow strong.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> During the warm afternoons we are sipping... what am I saying?... drinking heartily, lavender lemonade tea. First, you make a lavender syrup by taking 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. Bring this to boil adding 1 cup lavender blooms. As soon as it boils put a lid on your pan and allow to steep for about 10 minutes or so, strain all lavender from your syrup. Add this to freshly brewed black tea and lemonade to taste.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The lavender syrup should be stored in the refrigerator.</div></span><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; height: auto; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="background-color: whitesmoke; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3d4a77; counter-increment: my-awesome-counter 1; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 15px 30px; position: relative;">It always seems to me as if the lavender was a little woman in a green dress, with a lavender bonnet and a white kerchief. Sheโs one of those strong, sweet, wholesome people, who always rest you, and her sweetness lingers long after she goes away. <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 600;">โ Myrtle Reed</span></li><li style="font-family: Arial, serif; font-size: 18px;"></li></ul><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></i>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-58731742125925136312023-06-28T17:39:00.000-04:002023-06-28T17:39:40.074-04:00march & april & may<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i> </i><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Due to the course of things and the months squeezing in terribly wonderful ways, my own remedy is to create one blog post to embrace the months of March, April and May. Here is my attempt at the highlights keeping in mind I do this as a means for my own form of posterity. And yes, I am posting this the last week of June, of course, though it was began in </i></span></span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>April!</i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: left;">MARCH</b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35yR6MPQiqDtw0LV_cfEHJ55tqBu8oHqRfWcFYxzXVorxmI3DO1eb7bidcjvsrij-updUZ95xeUkgQ5J8g7J8jKe9DRl7J0Jb_VUIbs40DCzTS3js-0CGf93zbLLFm0nZYUFaHkIzeK9D5y1rUBOC3ur31wkMry_3BBGQpUhl2rqVx52j-3Am0g/s4272/62D898A0-B542-4D8F-96F1-AF5EB149586F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35yR6MPQiqDtw0LV_cfEHJ55tqBu8oHqRfWcFYxzXVorxmI3DO1eb7bidcjvsrij-updUZ95xeUkgQ5J8g7J8jKe9DRl7J0Jb_VUIbs40DCzTS3js-0CGf93zbLLFm0nZYUFaHkIzeK9D5y1rUBOC3ur31wkMry_3BBGQpUhl2rqVx52j-3Am0g/w640-h426/62D898A0-B542-4D8F-96F1-AF5EB149586F.jpeg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gcp3WKf9FFxO2rYi2vy72zQpvW8WyRjheKIF15UnJS5vO1maXilIBJA8v3PEB6aaebhdSRZJBBZqMkTs-zGd6mkSu0YonH6iHhPlNewP0Qotk-rAj4m5VgT1arnz9KcCtgyfHZuRQanvQptpTJQnIE1O5up8Q3-dIOEbdBioP-LBv1fNo5jr7w/s4272/0D1C949F-F917-4320-974F-FB6513E62796.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gcp3WKf9FFxO2rYi2vy72zQpvW8WyRjheKIF15UnJS5vO1maXilIBJA8v3PEB6aaebhdSRZJBBZqMkTs-zGd6mkSu0YonH6iHhPlNewP0Qotk-rAj4m5VgT1arnz9KcCtgyfHZuRQanvQptpTJQnIE1O5up8Q3-dIOEbdBioP-LBv1fNo5jr7w/w640-h426/0D1C949F-F917-4320-974F-FB6513E62796.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKGcVYQqhTojobcz3SytJhdX8yNrGURXq-tEnJsSjgFi3LlsmYhBAyIejicAqEsOUCmGjW0joTsuMzmMib4VgzVbEAzj64L2VpIXj960oCD9O2bT-ZNCyXXWXjBBRkSR5lA7bW1q2ZY8LBRxkG_xPjl4zYZ9M31J4albCtOhXox-i-XvUADbXmg/s4272/53202D37-9515-41A1-A528-DAD89DDB3839_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKGcVYQqhTojobcz3SytJhdX8yNrGURXq-tEnJsSjgFi3LlsmYhBAyIejicAqEsOUCmGjW0joTsuMzmMib4VgzVbEAzj64L2VpIXj960oCD9O2bT-ZNCyXXWXjBBRkSR5lA7bW1q2ZY8LBRxkG_xPjl4zYZ9M31J4albCtOhXox-i-XvUADbXmg/w640-h426/53202D37-9515-41A1-A528-DAD89DDB3839_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">During one of Ivy's spring break days we spent a great deal of time in the woods and then came back to a snack of popcorn, cheese, and warm tea enjoyed outside. She loved borrowing my Canon Rebel camera to take pictures of me๐.</span></div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnROIogm2dXpt2B7gtt8Q3ZSRzSYuECGPxC0J08eHqwiTfExMRtgC0tBpqkkYmlv7BDLpk0o0GQGEQwhQSHN3xnjeKMsFFtziAzQ3U9v6JCDQ2xvb7v7tg0ZPBwAE-8fSGhJO3lM0pFjaYdciolgaIPkUorovCCDV6lZ5uD2kpwAeMxSFw0HxWCg/s3024/E9F6A51C-4A1F-4E09-B960-3571AA778125_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2824" data-original-width="3024" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnROIogm2dXpt2B7gtt8Q3ZSRzSYuECGPxC0J08eHqwiTfExMRtgC0tBpqkkYmlv7BDLpk0o0GQGEQwhQSHN3xnjeKMsFFtziAzQ3U9v6JCDQ2xvb7v7tg0ZPBwAE-8fSGhJO3lM0pFjaYdciolgaIPkUorovCCDV6lZ5uD2kpwAeMxSFw0HxWCg/w640-h598/E9F6A51C-4A1F-4E09-B960-3571AA778125_1_201_a.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A small gathering of young ladies and mothers for an overnighter beginning with pizza on Friday and ending on Saturday afternoon with a high tea.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg721G0eFWgWQfTcoLEhoWhK8dG2EYqwJsWXFxo15JT4EQznl8_sVFSDieYU0h0OO8UkoBL3Wjkx-FA802uo0Sk7L3xeISsZt8MG42NyCZua2KYfcadGTBDZC4FZ9yVjJil_0D92ocFI2gxmMkd4AUZuJSnoyGNzWtUz8PKoku8xAof3W49U8qkeg/s4032/32099991-4CA5-4CE7-994C-DCBD81D54FAB.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg721G0eFWgWQfTcoLEhoWhK8dG2EYqwJsWXFxo15JT4EQznl8_sVFSDieYU0h0OO8UkoBL3Wjkx-FA802uo0Sk7L3xeISsZt8MG42NyCZua2KYfcadGTBDZC4FZ9yVjJil_0D92ocFI2gxmMkd4AUZuJSnoyGNzWtUz8PKoku8xAof3W49U8qkeg/w640-h480/32099991-4CA5-4CE7-994C-DCBD81D54FAB.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Some days in March were unbelievable cold, others were unbelievably warm. On those days of warm temperatures I could not resist taking a little time for tea and stitching on the quilt I began this winter. It is sewn using the fabric of my fathers' pajamas, the ones I inherited when he died in <a href="http://cherithrevisited.blogspot.com/2011/02/walk-to-remember.html">February 2011.</a> During the move I found a bag of his pjs that I intended for creating a lap quilt. This was the winter to make it. I did the piecing on the sewing machine, but the true delight was in the hand stitching on cold winter evenings by the fire.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>APRIL</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6m-NLmoZKjZ-oCU6wIZu_Uk8_g8C9B4zVCzXItvUW0VRyipqFvHD9sVqFcit_qg3ysJyG2efxr5eVFVdiI0A9ow2I-FflhX2vEwsYfq9LiLDab53BHw-MYEy0m5EbwvoDNbdtAAbXG2MyIIhMTHCbExL2acwBTph8IZ1o_kbkSEYevuHHHAQrg/s4272/F012196A-6E84-4B58-B401-1C65A73255F2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6m-NLmoZKjZ-oCU6wIZu_Uk8_g8C9B4zVCzXItvUW0VRyipqFvHD9sVqFcit_qg3ysJyG2efxr5eVFVdiI0A9ow2I-FflhX2vEwsYfq9LiLDab53BHw-MYEy0m5EbwvoDNbdtAAbXG2MyIIhMTHCbExL2acwBTph8IZ1o_kbkSEYevuHHHAQrg/w640-h426/F012196A-6E84-4B58-B401-1C65A73255F2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitt4Y7mzA3vXm_AcoYF5AzV1QM35wc0ND1f8Zxiv_4c6lUMeUzjwpb09Y_YGz8AFRKR7kjza2yWS6c5aBxM9MSMIRldnGRv2Phlb-08cJ3nvzgRpW95esm5nofO5PVaXEAy1zsisCJPL3_gMuO-OIKZIHg5SwDoEXjOkHrAZSBpFVBPZQH9JkByg/s4272/1BDF0616-4E9E-4BB5-B2A9-68827B06FE34.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitt4Y7mzA3vXm_AcoYF5AzV1QM35wc0ND1f8Zxiv_4c6lUMeUzjwpb09Y_YGz8AFRKR7kjza2yWS6c5aBxM9MSMIRldnGRv2Phlb-08cJ3nvzgRpW95esm5nofO5PVaXEAy1zsisCJPL3_gMuO-OIKZIHg5SwDoEXjOkHrAZSBpFVBPZQH9JkByg/w640-h426/1BDF0616-4E9E-4BB5-B2A9-68827B06FE34.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4FYRzBANEJs582acgit2HsnW81hl9SbA4x9Kqw71wE1a6oDdzH85HCfkPIn0DQcajzey70R1Pq3ye4E84CoJeWWqdxMyPpbPDPfPrieMceXWdsT7zxVEAyWvgBt5M0BtX1XFyE76J12YWGn_JeU2wzXpn9Dmmrr6WKdkVKDrEtMbtqhona85MA/s4272/FB8D36F8-07BB-4B72-BAE6-C474F0903808.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4FYRzBANEJs582acgit2HsnW81hl9SbA4x9Kqw71wE1a6oDdzH85HCfkPIn0DQcajzey70R1Pq3ye4E84CoJeWWqdxMyPpbPDPfPrieMceXWdsT7zxVEAyWvgBt5M0BtX1XFyE76J12YWGn_JeU2wzXpn9Dmmrr6WKdkVKDrEtMbtqhona85MA/w640-h426/FB8D36F8-07BB-4B72-BAE6-C474F0903808.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9gRcnaHJAhJqQl3VvaNNHqRp6j3VGA-h_YsX4cJgaB42LS9Tdh0XU4OYmeeK_6cH6Aaz-4EzPDoqycVPjF3pXQ-s7hz7eAaKtPQGk0CWqE6HFQfmJv_IwhymjmZ5HCicnI-0Eq63k--jTtiKw-lOZpXoPIsTsEJrEDc_f7jE138xy7c6xZ025Q/s4272/9E48936E-0FEF-4B87-BB1C-7CD324193E47.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9gRcnaHJAhJqQl3VvaNNHqRp6j3VGA-h_YsX4cJgaB42LS9Tdh0XU4OYmeeK_6cH6Aaz-4EzPDoqycVPjF3pXQ-s7hz7eAaKtPQGk0CWqE6HFQfmJv_IwhymjmZ5HCicnI-0Eq63k--jTtiKw-lOZpXoPIsTsEJrEDc_f7jE138xy7c6xZ025Q/w640-h426/9E48936E-0FEF-4B87-BB1C-7CD324193E47.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGy-vzJSVO1aJhwLnRlv67JAqWM4kT-jlyDoy4XSdgsXG1c7GJ1VlC0h3irldU_31UG3NdLutHFeo3jcMSLL8AwgJxKxXyUu00Ler6E27xY0-Sqghrs_t7EPkIi-Nf6A-HtC68VTiTp_sGAr1Z2QaCQyjnjYu7ICJjcbBV4lpWhMxnFpVV-KZ6A/s4272/7324A2CB-4064-4768-B7C4-D8876D86D044.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGy-vzJSVO1aJhwLnRlv67JAqWM4kT-jlyDoy4XSdgsXG1c7GJ1VlC0h3irldU_31UG3NdLutHFeo3jcMSLL8AwgJxKxXyUu00Ler6E27xY0-Sqghrs_t7EPkIi-Nf6A-HtC68VTiTp_sGAr1Z2QaCQyjnjYu7ICJjcbBV4lpWhMxnFpVV-KZ6A/w640-h426/7324A2CB-4064-4768-B7C4-D8876D86D044.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Resurrection Sunday gathering</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3Un3Fp1vcAy9a6sMamGM4VJ0FpjpNDQ7Qx1kcZ6fM9XC0krM4R_n56SkXHEecsT1Le9Div_URcplk7fJGQCxt31hD3bROU8AIo4lNRBSX5B42uhCmtK5Kp7jSZGtVRuwKc5rcYbF5cSa2a8xcDvHydOOzpxE4uul4v5mbHK1ap2GVOevAzd7RA/s4032/3224544C-7385-4E27-A628-FD262E3BC074_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3Un3Fp1vcAy9a6sMamGM4VJ0FpjpNDQ7Qx1kcZ6fM9XC0krM4R_n56SkXHEecsT1Le9Div_URcplk7fJGQCxt31hD3bROU8AIo4lNRBSX5B42uhCmtK5Kp7jSZGtVRuwKc5rcYbF5cSa2a8xcDvHydOOzpxE4uul4v5mbHK1ap2GVOevAzd7RA/w480-h640/3224544C-7385-4E27-A628-FD262E3BC074_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Drying dandelion blossoms for making salve and continuing with a calendar of firsts journal.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y09g4j4qxT2r7YKPkck02DIcMd8foGpPMC_06CkJijEBQdZaUtBAuWPNzh1-KF07-GN81kIXuFKAixWf_HdIK_3r2Cwq4HCzv-0cJ7h8D7VMmuOeobRmWfzAG37GQy9IwMO7Vu1kEbTPAFSTOow5zc99ct9r-33B95y6SK5qV1QSBnjwAeWvyA/s4032/DAAB06C0-705E-456B-A70B-BC5C10EE496B_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y09g4j4qxT2r7YKPkck02DIcMd8foGpPMC_06CkJijEBQdZaUtBAuWPNzh1-KF07-GN81kIXuFKAixWf_HdIK_3r2Cwq4HCzv-0cJ7h8D7VMmuOeobRmWfzAG37GQy9IwMO7Vu1kEbTPAFSTOow5zc99ct9r-33B95y6SK5qV1QSBnjwAeWvyA/w480-h640/DAAB06C0-705E-456B-A70B-BC5C10EE496B_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMtKL-yJfUXaGKg4i4DydsDn_Hc3IgiJJaL9wXI_t1Q3-dYDsn3Tkv1OStyhOvRFq3gpvdq-WP5B2MJPNYiTpXCa0G0fy2rSDJhS_iEj6J6U8GH9IP1MB-pxBIIpswvPRsNzD1YUPg3KC2tYTj0FbSlAMqKYoh-utoxm3PdNk0JSsCAm2Hj1jiA/s4032/3FC9EC57-6623-4C51-A4FB-ACFC324F0A76.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMtKL-yJfUXaGKg4i4DydsDn_Hc3IgiJJaL9wXI_t1Q3-dYDsn3Tkv1OStyhOvRFq3gpvdq-WP5B2MJPNYiTpXCa0G0fy2rSDJhS_iEj6J6U8GH9IP1MB-pxBIIpswvPRsNzD1YUPg3KC2tYTj0FbSlAMqKYoh-utoxm3PdNk0JSsCAm2Hj1jiA/w480-h640/3FC9EC57-6623-4C51-A4FB-ACFC324F0A76.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Embellishing with cast-on flowers and an initial for one of Violet's summer dresses.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">And a pair of boots to keep the spring mud off my feet!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Practicality is the key.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>MAY</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL02GsBnIMrp8SC8I-9FOVU00KzViBWLNmUGQ4lSm1yOJKhZY8jR57Fu7qOj9WpISKov8prwMPFyYtmXGH64YKkXrlecO4ZYXnMBc93g8XSBdtbjk_upcAJkN4FaHmJxTtolYuFVQnZPwP6HfQtGBz_Plh7EkmCe4J_8cDXDAPmA6mnNiVglE9xVi/s4032/25B08E1C-7F7E-435F-866B-E2ECFF99512D.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL02GsBnIMrp8SC8I-9FOVU00KzViBWLNmUGQ4lSm1yOJKhZY8jR57Fu7qOj9WpISKov8prwMPFyYtmXGH64YKkXrlecO4ZYXnMBc93g8XSBdtbjk_upcAJkN4FaHmJxTtolYuFVQnZPwP6HfQtGBz_Plh7EkmCe4J_8cDXDAPmA6mnNiVglE9xVi/w480-h640/25B08E1C-7F7E-435F-866B-E2ECFF99512D.heic" width="480" /></a><br /></div>A trip to Louisville to gather Charlotte and her things for coming home during the </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">summer months. This was taken on the walking bridge between Kentucky and Indiana.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDNnuSUa1mO_NL4Fb2VCliZDuQH7EI87XbVDYaAq2RNJ1pP14_AGBPvw3kpt1v3KGbV-lTh7thbpbvYc2RBEzd1Ts_LF5kJLWedMOfsId7ypO8A7dyRxCoiwybmxQxaGpgc75iaT2Y2WR_b8qhX9joL3hCEvOH4JmuYDkh0Eid0L5YHI__Z7ZxVzE/s4032/F9F4CCF2-B5A6-4A26-8932-C32D5C9632B4.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDNnuSUa1mO_NL4Fb2VCliZDuQH7EI87XbVDYaAq2RNJ1pP14_AGBPvw3kpt1v3KGbV-lTh7thbpbvYc2RBEzd1Ts_LF5kJLWedMOfsId7ypO8A7dyRxCoiwybmxQxaGpgc75iaT2Y2WR_b8qhX9joL3hCEvOH4JmuYDkh0Eid0L5YHI__Z7ZxVzE/w480-h640/F9F4CCF2-B5A6-4A26-8932-C32D5C9632B4.heic" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">A decided place composed in the front lawn to plant a variety of zinnias, calendulas, and sunflowers one bright morning in order that I may enjoy composed moments when they bloom.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9ogYyPzWYRBf_QWkExZREOC4AY4qMMSRdY1lKa24uVeh0Vn6r7OoqhMffM4ZQalczWA5M9rHKl_jkhONmZS0gMIloKp90aGO0ZtSFyvXNFIPLXJgecFeklobYpOoveQc47POa-3Sg7AEuNR6QeUk8VVJraL-LhtpYS-fNLHG59zdPDCpyFm6joIS/s4032/C3F65655-1ED9-4965-BD9F-31E2A483D7F8.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9ogYyPzWYRBf_QWkExZREOC4AY4qMMSRdY1lKa24uVeh0Vn6r7OoqhMffM4ZQalczWA5M9rHKl_jkhONmZS0gMIloKp90aGO0ZtSFyvXNFIPLXJgecFeklobYpOoveQc47POa-3Sg7AEuNR6QeUk8VVJraL-LhtpYS-fNLHG59zdPDCpyFm6joIS/w480-h640/C3F65655-1ED9-4965-BD9F-31E2A483D7F8.heic" width="480" /></span></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">An evening watching Breanna dance...oh, how I loved those times of my life with my own children performing, and now I am watching my granddaughter's performance.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4JhfsB5rwd2Ap9bkz_bq0XOmA2s4ML4dF0aEux0oIOi9UnUH3bTQ5OoKpO_tgG4D0zgQK6pAB3rCFlE-uK7r2xoBmbeOef_DcbfNzLh0lq0F0ITzxqPmcGPYVfEwe3Hi3tdxsQknVxYJIlJg0MNvcP-CcygraNPuJ95Q-T4A1xpSeznnpc6jXQe1/s4032/1FBB26AF-5086-4C24-8268-2F8FBFC6E9B5.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4JhfsB5rwd2Ap9bkz_bq0XOmA2s4ML4dF0aEux0oIOi9UnUH3bTQ5OoKpO_tgG4D0zgQK6pAB3rCFlE-uK7r2xoBmbeOef_DcbfNzLh0lq0F0ITzxqPmcGPYVfEwe3Hi3tdxsQknVxYJIlJg0MNvcP-CcygraNPuJ95Q-T4A1xpSeznnpc6jXQe1/w480-h640/1FBB26AF-5086-4C24-8268-2F8FBFC6E9B5.heic" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Last but not least, on the 29th Charlotte entered into the second decade of her life. Twenty candles were lit with family and friends gathered to celebrate. When she was born I remember thinking how old I would be when she turned twenty. She is twenty...but surely I am not that old!</span></div></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-49884586283641924762023-06-27T18:09:00.003-04:002023-06-28T16:04:16.414-04:00the garlic harvest<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> I sat outside on a little cane -seated blue chair at the edge of the patio preparing my cured garlic for storage. It was early enough in the morning not so hot, a gentle breeze whispering and the sound of the farmer's tractor cutting his hay field could be heard. A cutting board sat on my lap, a pair of scissors in my hand and a rag to wipe off any excess dirt before laying the bulbs in the basket at my feet, some of which will be placed within a mesh bag and hung in the pantry for future use.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Back late last summer I ordered my garlic from <a href="https://madrivergarlicgrowers.com/">Mad River Garlic Growers</a> in Ohio, deciding on the Italian Purple and Doghouse varieties. I'm now dreaming of the next growing season and am tentatively deciding on growing some other varieties. This was a good company, they provided helpful growing tips and mailed the garlic bulbs at the correct planting time within your region.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">These particular photos were taken about three weeks ago when I harvesting my garlic and hung it in the shed to cure.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KM35u3bCWAybZFdcs1at-b40s960C9VQrZsjpUgRQ2uKUSxm0RSGHe_oE0r99YrW_Om2vc3GmIKczPTlyAtNZgkm7swD0v52UAo8mqiKrc9FcVY22zUfZHXOfLExp3PZZKWEkz0Z4d8BhzOtLFFJSC8aj89o2wIvRw6GTndypX_Jjy8udGA0-8gT/s4032/7F55BBC6-BE37-43C6-98C7-0ACCB28C7F1A.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KM35u3bCWAybZFdcs1at-b40s960C9VQrZsjpUgRQ2uKUSxm0RSGHe_oE0r99YrW_Om2vc3GmIKczPTlyAtNZgkm7swD0v52UAo8mqiKrc9FcVY22zUfZHXOfLExp3PZZKWEkz0Z4d8BhzOtLFFJSC8aj89o2wIvRw6GTndypX_Jjy8udGA0-8gT/w480-h640/7F55BBC6-BE37-43C6-98C7-0ACCB28C7F1A.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlI9Dvfy33A6aln74LAnhQhZBMi3z9RhmgCuZs5xYmjYIGa9Q0XBIMP-tbGfg_f8nmdHU6LfcHmFjLR1sdBBOQdrE2cWEMTfEO1cJcwlQ4GBpvFAyU4_9EyfaZW8FGfYKxUEyD9u6p3f8-db7hPUbsWsxYm6tkeuV757D-fhARPZlDiKjDwGZuyYf/s4032/1D1F414F-E90B-4239-A1A0-1F39A2E157B0.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlI9Dvfy33A6aln74LAnhQhZBMi3z9RhmgCuZs5xYmjYIGa9Q0XBIMP-tbGfg_f8nmdHU6LfcHmFjLR1sdBBOQdrE2cWEMTfEO1cJcwlQ4GBpvFAyU4_9EyfaZW8FGfYKxUEyD9u6p3f8-db7hPUbsWsxYm6tkeuV757D-fhARPZlDiKjDwGZuyYf/w640-h480/1D1F414F-E90B-4239-A1A0-1F39A2E157B0.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">"There is no such thing as a little garlic." </span></i></div><p style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 19px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"> ~Arthur Baer</span></span></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-44168487816550926422023-04-29T12:21:00.024-04:002023-05-02T12:57:15.120-04:00memories of her<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I debated writing this post on <a href="http://shadowpearls.blogspot.com/">Shadow Pearls</a> instead of here since it certainly would be fitting as I recorded those days on that blog when I had full care of her. Those days of grace, those days of hard places, those days that while they were lingeringly long, yet were not long enough.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">First thing this morning I sat down with my coffee and wrote the date and the memory of her opened a door wide, it was just as if I had stepped into the "land of OZ". It bursted of color that only a mother can give, her voice was clearly spoken in my ear, and I saw myself as one looking at a photograph book going back years from my childhood right up to that time thirteen years ago. Truthfully, it then occurred to me why she had been so prevalent in my thoughts all week.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> But that tug of missing her grabbed deep too. There is no wonder that I was able to convince my husband to take a drive to a local nursery where the purchase of a lilac bush made the most sense. She died during the days of blooming lilacs so in my way of thinking I should have a blooming lilac in my yard. Isn't it beautiful?</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYaXoM42vWW_ZCTqt8Kk-vIjQHkbHIkYmj2d5R0ENnjc6fwf92Tql8aS86k63IzLtpCetP_1-cJIlkF-ZokDWzVKo90wofBRjhjFhCqvDHcpzGjIycIuUCDSR9j3R205UJT4NM3tNZPr6ncqxXAIaQ1f7hwAFNA7bZRbQb4ulU18tl9l0Nx4ymA/s4032/207F86D3-1AAA-4479-BDC1-B42985632CD5.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYaXoM42vWW_ZCTqt8Kk-vIjQHkbHIkYmj2d5R0ENnjc6fwf92Tql8aS86k63IzLtpCetP_1-cJIlkF-ZokDWzVKo90wofBRjhjFhCqvDHcpzGjIycIuUCDSR9j3R205UJT4NM3tNZPr6ncqxXAIaQ1f7hwAFNA7bZRbQb4ulU18tl9l0Nx4ymA/w480-h640/207F86D3-1AAA-4479-BDC1-B42985632CD5.heic" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>It will be a long time before I am able to forget my mother as she is this summer, and remember her as she used to be.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><u>The Summer of the Great-Grandmother</u></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Madeleine L'Engle</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-63365927414667513042023-04-13T16:45:00.001-04:002023-04-13T16:47:27.010-04:00on this day of April 13<p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"> One place suits one person, another</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"> place suits another person. For my</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"> part I prefer to live in the country</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"> like Timmy Willie.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"> Beatrix Potter </span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><i> The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">A person can stay delightfully busy doing things about the home and garden whether one lives in the country or the city. Every day I wake up with anticipation nudging me as I slip downstairs to fix the morning's coffee. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnLkZmXH452f7d4ohRpIUSxlvq7dO6QjD2R4aDxjv_cgg3pLCd4YFDGm3MBqXdUTJRAeH1BCu9rF2EFqlwvKYCgjq0K-zBORl4stmedEXe4_6yUj8vF62pn2ibWmllquoLBKVqUjTUqFmz6j0tc6fGvwXpaZKuugf9yjuYVEQDlc9huY6xA6Auw/s4032/D2986749-3B08-460A-B80B-93F49374D0B2.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnLkZmXH452f7d4ohRpIUSxlvq7dO6QjD2R4aDxjv_cgg3pLCd4YFDGm3MBqXdUTJRAeH1BCu9rF2EFqlwvKYCgjq0K-zBORl4stmedEXe4_6yUj8vF62pn2ibWmllquoLBKVqUjTUqFmz6j0tc6fGvwXpaZKuugf9yjuYVEQDlc9huY6xA6Auw/w400-h300/D2986749-3B08-460A-B80B-93F49374D0B2.heic" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /><i> </i>This day a dough was stirred up with my sourdough starter in preparation to bake a batch of cinnamon rolls. These will be carried along to share with the ladies in Bible Study tomorrow. Even though the temperatures have warmed up, still my house remains chillier than outside, so I set it on the porch to rise.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf43KEin4pk7ih-BLsBNlgwwYf1--ydPaLhYAWDjpD1_AuEpGDB3Imr8f93vkBY6mxhozC0gdHo_X51gh4idWWeeu4IZUDH5OmToezcurmgQ0xw1ZFXRxJNzSXvw0HlwrR77eykLjCtnJAd0OkjSfX-5H2Mw79uOLYtyhmEMknza8YV5MYIpbxw/s4032/F796E9B3-215E-4417-B3EB-8F343C3B2C2B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf43KEin4pk7ih-BLsBNlgwwYf1--ydPaLhYAWDjpD1_AuEpGDB3Imr8f93vkBY6mxhozC0gdHo_X51gh4idWWeeu4IZUDH5OmToezcurmgQ0xw1ZFXRxJNzSXvw0HlwrR77eykLjCtnJAd0OkjSfX-5H2Mw79uOLYtyhmEMknza8YV5MYIpbxw/w480-h640/F796E9B3-215E-4417-B3EB-8F343C3B2C2B.heic" width="480" /></a></p><br /><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Sun Tea brewing on the front side walk.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aR8BQRSzYpb3p59oXPvyIkiop4IGf3nSZ54IjwyDGnqTCHX32xUJpqWzwLMsCQ9lMDQcHLmx3QE3k6tPaS5jHhY6WxyuxY2e6Ss2O1W21RHJSX9IOH7KcfB0_F77IGq1TnZ56AqQ9VerjTd20RYQw47cOmTqJykf6_q-qH4ylLYICayzT8Sodw/s4032/C6DEEFA1-1FED-4649-BAEC-A27F8805931B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aR8BQRSzYpb3p59oXPvyIkiop4IGf3nSZ54IjwyDGnqTCHX32xUJpqWzwLMsCQ9lMDQcHLmx3QE3k6tPaS5jHhY6WxyuxY2e6Ss2O1W21RHJSX9IOH7KcfB0_F77IGq1TnZ56AqQ9VerjTd20RYQw47cOmTqJykf6_q-qH4ylLYICayzT8Sodw/w480-h640/C6DEEFA1-1FED-4649-BAEC-A27F8805931B.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">If you have never made your own baking powder I will share this recipe so you may make your own if you so wish. It is easy and works beautifully in all baking recipes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">1/4 cup cream of tartar</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">2 tablespoons of baking soda.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Sift three times in sieve and put in air tight jar. This will last for several months with no problem.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OBJG7fUV_KKJN2NKASNobe-lY4H6q7uZwBlij6vo0UTjowF4EO_wZ2St2mn35sK-sOZatRZ0f6PwaBjYXTfS51pHZR9dXIDtenrKKy8OqTD5UDL5QlqjI5hUb_V9sp8XrTc_R9nQVw4mpIptzjL7zrZ--FxLOPvfgu7lfgEujVAcmBQ0OQIgbg/s4032/C4D80FEC-EC54-48EA-A16D-E8BFFF83148D_1_201_a.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OBJG7fUV_KKJN2NKASNobe-lY4H6q7uZwBlij6vo0UTjowF4EO_wZ2St2mn35sK-sOZatRZ0f6PwaBjYXTfS51pHZR9dXIDtenrKKy8OqTD5UDL5QlqjI5hUb_V9sp8XrTc_R9nQVw4mpIptzjL7zrZ--FxLOPvfgu7lfgEujVAcmBQ0OQIgbg/w480-h640/C4D80FEC-EC54-48EA-A16D-E8BFFF83148D_1_201_a.heic" width="480" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmprESuv5CnM_WbbUov3cO7eqIv-yPs_tQnfD-tbtyCN5CHhHYcr08yS5O7xFQOwLRJkuG_VIonRku9AnEEpuxkpVN1-bw3k3QL1LRZKpyPj8SFwMOnaK_CPwuGXqI-WwHp13221nK_8gbMgNuQ3JwA8HDCXApAYGGDfq6mLLF3UkMYV7W0jfTRg/s4032/B95DBA5A-7AB3-4C05-A060-F2449B07572B.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmprESuv5CnM_WbbUov3cO7eqIv-yPs_tQnfD-tbtyCN5CHhHYcr08yS5O7xFQOwLRJkuG_VIonRku9AnEEpuxkpVN1-bw3k3QL1LRZKpyPj8SFwMOnaK_CPwuGXqI-WwHp13221nK_8gbMgNuQ3JwA8HDCXApAYGGDfq6mLLF3UkMYV7W0jfTRg/w480-h640/B95DBA5A-7AB3-4C05-A060-F2449B07572B.heic" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I am no longer taking my forest walks now that the snakes, ticks and chiggers have awakened from their winter hibernations. I have returned to the wonderful driveways and country paths, traipsing them several times to get a nice allotted walk. The cottage property across the street gives me even more paths to walk and this is a view that greeted me today. I also was able to dig up some Lily of the Valley plants to transplant to my front yard.</div></span><div><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Pollen is very heavy here and will be around for several more weeks, but I just had to come outside on the screened porch and attempt to remove some of it for now. No serious cleaning yet, just some vacuuming and scrubbing a few tables.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">We eat most suppers on the screened porch while the weather is balmy, and because last night was so pleasant we dined on the brick patio.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">I sit outside here until dusk and read <u>The Wind in The Willows</u> by Kenneth Grahame. The older I get the more I am enjoying children's books. This is a reread from the days I first read it to my children. Enchanting.</span></div><p><br /></p></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-86792260684171351852023-02-14T14:27:00.002-05:002023-02-14T14:31:11.107-05:00love has everything to do with it<p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: Raleway;"> "I don't want sunbursts or marble halls. I just want you."</span></span></i></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p> <span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: medium;"> ~L.M. Montgomery </span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: x-large;"> </span> <span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">We might not yet be that advanced in years, but it certainly is true.</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"> </span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa0RA-k8d2kb4hoUhzu5ZjZ4gfWk3wql9Icv7q0L-2ALUoCx3pGaQOJcSNHkeL6ccSM6PQvqWXbFvykaQ-UpdlmFG0zkQrAdsu_xiIgr67R4pbO-FzX2Kk8DFKACZ_ZUAT19wkoZ-yYYqM6cZqHfDd8M69tOfAITNL6OXSYxKxbInz6apo7uZCg/s870/427836DE-B2AC-43F0-87AA-78C257E32AEF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa0RA-k8d2kb4hoUhzu5ZjZ4gfWk3wql9Icv7q0L-2ALUoCx3pGaQOJcSNHkeL6ccSM6PQvqWXbFvykaQ-UpdlmFG0zkQrAdsu_xiIgr67R4pbO-FzX2Kk8DFKACZ_ZUAT19wkoZ-yYYqM6cZqHfDd8M69tOfAITNL6OXSYxKxbInz6apo7uZCg/w414-h640/427836DE-B2AC-43F0-87AA-78C257E32AEF.jpeg" width="414" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;">And speaking of love, my hens need a rooster.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><span>...</span><i><span>and </span></i><i>they lived happily ever after...</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Raleway; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-77194766135204472702023-02-12T18:06:00.000-05:002023-02-12T18:06:06.056-05:00the drilling of a well and a recipe<p> Hello.</p><p> Today we are having a well drilled on a piece of property we purchased back in early December. The house is actually a little low-ceilinged cottage with 3.5 acres located directly across the street from us. We are not sure what we are going to do with it, a guest house? An air bnb? But first we need water and then we can begin making it a place we can perhaps use to serve others.</p><p>As I walked over this morning to meet up with the well drillers, I munched on a slice of coconut apricot bread. The recipe will be at the end of the post. If one likes coconut, I recommend it. It is a tasty, not too sweet and simple loaf to whip up in a short period of time. I was in a mindset to bake it this week. It keeps well too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-xY390--JLtg4SGNpicLWSIe6umQf2-H0UV72CQRdWz-Lg_RyWgZXBOq94ehR4MEHyvLgldLqUS9WvQ1sk_q7ZqnCuOqzHHR5QBY3-PSlPdW_XMD3A3encSFZF0GsFi0J7EZNA2jUEOgjF0tlBTnB0ygYf1vVUx-Ebwfiaj-DWLGsA91s7ebpQ/s4032/BD6FDE02-E1E8-450C-B033-6F00194AD138.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-xY390--JLtg4SGNpicLWSIe6umQf2-H0UV72CQRdWz-Lg_RyWgZXBOq94ehR4MEHyvLgldLqUS9WvQ1sk_q7ZqnCuOqzHHR5QBY3-PSlPdW_XMD3A3encSFZF0GsFi0J7EZNA2jUEOgjF0tlBTnB0ygYf1vVUx-Ebwfiaj-DWLGsA91s7ebpQ/w480-h640/BD6FDE02-E1E8-450C-B033-6F00194AD138.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p> And speaking of wells...we were, weren't we? A list was given to us by the local Health Department when we applied for a well drilling permit. We called around and discovered not only is well drilling very expensive these days, but sometimes there may be a backload for getting someone to come out in a timely manner. We were thankful today was the day our driller could be at the property to drill and it was a super pleasant "spring-like" day to boot. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0BrHMr1rluxyzK2Pi6oSeKTS7RXhp-Oicd8r49peKiAZ2YYa5wvroBMs0Q3Scoy1fIJM9R5Mz-nFwC1ROm2TfMQ_miE-vdyAkSgo53HLl_c9K5y_Z-8Zkb7LoV0cpxRLSg_-MOgycUgL161beOP_zWU5zDSOrcsd2GROVX-3sytN54zCZMND9w/s4032/C296408E-402C-4498-9043-31196ED76844.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0BrHMr1rluxyzK2Pi6oSeKTS7RXhp-Oicd8r49peKiAZ2YYa5wvroBMs0Q3Scoy1fIJM9R5Mz-nFwC1ROm2TfMQ_miE-vdyAkSgo53HLl_c9K5y_Z-8Zkb7LoV0cpxRLSg_-MOgycUgL161beOP_zWU5zDSOrcsd2GROVX-3sytN54zCZMND9w/w480-h640/C296408E-402C-4498-9043-31196ED76844.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Earplugs, that is what I wish I had while this was going on...so very loud!!!! But quite a thrill to watch. I covered my ears and finally had to go inside the house and watch from the window.</p><p>This photo only shows the drill going through the ground until bedrock is hit . After that comes the actual water drilling. All was accomplished by 2 o'clock in the afternoon, now we wait for the pump and lines to be run to the house.</p><p> Interestingly, in my years of old home living I have owned houses containing a hand dug well (shallow, but a great well nonetheless), a driven well ( no problems or complaints ), and drilled wells. But this is the first time we have ever had to be involved with actually having a well drilled. The house does have an original well, but now adequately cemented and covered, on the premises. But it has not been used since at least the 1970's. From that time to present it was hooked up to the previous owners personal well house (about an acre or so away).</p><p><b>Coconut Apricot Loaf</b></p><p>Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease a loaf pan, or you may use parchment paper instead, which is what I like to do with this loaf.</p><p>2 1/4 cups unbleached, all purpose flour</p><p>2 teaspoons baking powder</p><p>3/4 cup sugar</p><p>2 cups dried coconut, I purchase mine <a href="https://www.azurestandard.com/">here</a></p><p>1 cup dried apricots, diced</p><p>2 cups milk</p><p>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</p><p>Begin by soaking your apricots in 2 cups of milk. Since I use unsulphured apricots, the apricots are harder in texture, so depending on what kind of apricots you are using will depend on how long you must soak them. No more than 30- 45 minutes should do.</p><p>Mix all dry ingredients together, pour the milk into the center and stir until well combined. Ladle into pan and bake 50 -55 minutes.</p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-33345402847118531062023-01-24T16:03:00.001-05:002023-01-24T16:03:56.893-05:00mid January<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The woods were calling me with exceptional clarity today. The day was beautiful, cool yet not cold. But besides this I had something very important on my mind too that I wanted to do, the writing of a letter to my dear friend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFVqVCQ2i6QZfqaMajkScyHN54Qu9kWjteLqUaN5uHKQZOkzIeTFBxdsHpYnywWqHlNCX8R_IT0hCbSZV_cu1PvDKmraFlVlPLupVbditg4Zsp8yPZFN57GcZif1FZ-0MBVzW2vCRPFNAFbcSWPGXqYMifZ2ZbSBFC014fxvT1aNcBRFGzACUqg/s3088/4FCEBFC0-08FD-4C57-9C9A-2CADD6F34694.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFVqVCQ2i6QZfqaMajkScyHN54Qu9kWjteLqUaN5uHKQZOkzIeTFBxdsHpYnywWqHlNCX8R_IT0hCbSZV_cu1PvDKmraFlVlPLupVbditg4Zsp8yPZFN57GcZif1FZ-0MBVzW2vCRPFNAFbcSWPGXqYMifZ2ZbSBFC014fxvT1aNcBRFGzACUqg/w480-h640/4FCEBFC0-08FD-4C57-9C9A-2CADD6F34694.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><p style="text-align: left;">I packed a little bag with my stationery, a pen, a hard quote book for a mini "wood desk", binoculars, hot thermos of tea and a cookie. Off I strode on the paths that people and deer share.</p></div></div><p>Since the rocks at the creek in front of the rock dam were exposed enough, I forded the creek to the other side. A favorite place I do not walk often, but it was lovely to go uphill a bit and find a fallen log to sit atop and pen my letter. The tall stately pine trees were singing as the gentle breeze swayed them back and forth. Back before Charlotte left for college we took a walk together and the conversation centered on the sounds of nature and how we can understand that everything heaven and nature sings of our great God.</p><div><br /><div><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-3GxEb1u1Sus5F7Ucd0he0vC6y9q7-8roIfaCxj3FonRRteUYatd3vPbZIcvVY-Y3cf5UvfN0glpWLkm9RTgxU7yWN0oLNvs_mW9iWZWHEPGEYWZD3IRtWmQmdQ9lKIMPpNd39Zpy0d-v5BakQkPOF6fNQ4fasBc8LOUSH-mr4mGl9OPBG6cKQ/w480-h640/9A8F10E8-A725-451A-80DE-3A35F835BF7C.heic" width="480" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even though I had carried along some binoculars, no birds were spotted mainly because I was so busy with my letter writing. For a wee bit of time I was transferred into a wide space of forest, blue sky and a leafy carpet which are perfect backdrops for the mindfulness of writing a letter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This stationery was found during the move. Now I am talking junior high school days here...Look at the words printed on it.๐</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFEli5Arluagn2_P9_rZSeWVqD8dqImHNflmr9uGY64KgGulwYbCUXkLnwpchn7HxH3aaeuEqD4DH1xz4JJHY8gI79JURVpj_VjRbTEr-xWNDtf3aVskxgbg2dcVkWTHvmmRu7WJOzAhf4pHiCGQnZc44z3xPw_qsTKf-hXnHbTN38B76TUYmHQ/s4032/E02D1A8B-F0DA-4E8D-9D9E-B43F4080D1EC.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFEli5Arluagn2_P9_rZSeWVqD8dqImHNflmr9uGY64KgGulwYbCUXkLnwpchn7HxH3aaeuEqD4DH1xz4JJHY8gI79JURVpj_VjRbTEr-xWNDtf3aVskxgbg2dcVkWTHvmmRu7WJOzAhf4pHiCGQnZc44z3xPw_qsTKf-hXnHbTN38B76TUYmHQ/w480-h640/E02D1A8B-F0DA-4E8D-9D9E-B43F4080D1EC.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><i>"Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find them."</i></div><div> ~Wordsworth</div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4543691973040948928.post-77224526259464227632023-01-20T16:13:00.001-05:002023-01-20T16:13:49.832-05:00 first through the fifth day of Christmas<p>1) <b>Hurry.</b> Because Christmas was on Sunday that meant we went to church that morning. Some of my older children are making their own traditions and invited us which was wonderful. Therefore, the day seemed to be more hurried than usual. But we worshipped Jesus and we celebrated His birth and we feasted merrily.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_7SBdjaCW2Ts38-ZUXPWrQLcYRXQyGNvSYLvkI2ZxlZMEjCFrCeGf-bZvb_CMVW4QBNjg6gLi3WksmwZBjgS8xF4ll09HMfHDUiI7OMzA5LQbPlB4gr69yQDE52YgkvP_7bMmXX9U-XXVCZ7xvfkqyQzpQV1YmDyWhX0Twe1xSwh4F155f6xTQ/s4032/97AAEAC2-5006-470E-B900-26A37455743D.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_7SBdjaCW2Ts38-ZUXPWrQLcYRXQyGNvSYLvkI2ZxlZMEjCFrCeGf-bZvb_CMVW4QBNjg6gLi3WksmwZBjgS8xF4ll09HMfHDUiI7OMzA5LQbPlB4gr69yQDE52YgkvP_7bMmXX9U-XXVCZ7xvfkqyQzpQV1YmDyWhX0Twe1xSwh4F155f6xTQ/w480-h640/97AAEAC2-5006-470E-B900-26A37455743D.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>2) <b>Puzzle</b>. This in- between holiday span gives ample time to spend putting together a puzzle. I was thrilled to find this particular puzzle of hand stitching.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUF9214SWt6-L-MbrHQuVGRZQJpw9VYYYqjMxqAK4fdCv_9KmUAXN8V-oxqsvR6Gx9fkEDTqrQTFSPQX7zV7vcWzMNBYH5z9M7hCHyYoDfMQiUKEwtMZ4fesV3sRrtt5Cw9dKts3KB2xopLVM70xorVk5JeayzJIW9MHhnDspSFu2O-pbvVwhSw/s4032/31806686-BEBE-4024-ADD5-4168FC9117F1.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUF9214SWt6-L-MbrHQuVGRZQJpw9VYYYqjMxqAK4fdCv_9KmUAXN8V-oxqsvR6Gx9fkEDTqrQTFSPQX7zV7vcWzMNBYH5z9M7hCHyYoDfMQiUKEwtMZ4fesV3sRrtt5Cw9dKts3KB2xopLVM70xorVk5JeayzJIW9MHhnDspSFu2O-pbvVwhSw/w480-h640/31806686-BEBE-4024-ADD5-4168FC9117F1.heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>3) <b>Crash.</b> Charlotte was on her way to Pennsylvania to visit her boyfriend and she crashed into the back of another car. Everyone was okay and we are so very thankful! But sadly her car is not okay and her plans had to change with great disappointment.</p><p>4) <b>Abruptly</b>. Our plans changed this day because Charlotte's boyfriend worked it out so she could still go and visit with his family for a few days. This guy is a keeper, always going the extra mile for the girl he cares for and is wooing.We drove through the Shenandoah mountains for several hours to meet up with him in New Market, Virginia. It was our entire day, but we were so happy to do it for them.</p><p> 5) <b>Refreshment.</b> The is what it seems I needed after my walk, so I came inside and ate a Christmas cookie alongside a glass of milk. I might regret it later, but at the time I did enjoy it. We bake less cookies and sweets every year and sadly I do end up throwing some of the ones we do manage to bake into the trash can, but I also do my fair part in eating those I do eat without guilt.</p><p><i>I would have loved to have continue on with my twelve days of Christmas but the days activities and duties did not give any breaks to do so. But I do hope the entirety of your days of Christmas were full of Christ and His strength though the good and not so good times. </i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09710910366858293660noreply@blogger.com2