Today's goals:

Transcribe
Inventory pantry
Figure out what is left to purchase for T-day
Garage work
Possibly till the garden
Start grooming process on dog (trim/bath/clip)
Mail book/trip to P.O.
Finish reading chapter for Ladies Class
Clean kitchen table off
Unload/load dishwasher
Clean up kitchen
Sweep/mop kitchen
Sweep/mop bathroom
Laundry

I'm sure there is more and that some of this will end up being done tomorrow or even Saturday :)

Romans 13 thoughts this morning.....

if we (Americans) really comprehend what it means to not resist the authority that God put in place.


ESV:
Rom 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Rom 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.


Does not resisting simply mean not breaking the law or does it include our speech and thoughts? Are we allowed to verbally resist simply because our American citizenship allows us freedom of speech and the opportunity to vote?

I know it's real easy to grumble and complain about the leadership of our country, state, and cities. I do it more than I feel I should. My earthly citizenship will fall away one day. Should I really invest so much energy into it? I know that some would say the key is balance, but how can we balance our duties and not forget where our true citizenship lies? From Scripture, we see that Paul didn't utilize his Roman citizenship unless it advanced the Gospel. Can we really say that involvement in American politics are advancing the Gospel?

Just thinking out loud.......

Romans 13 (ESV)

Rom 13:1  Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Rom 13:2  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
Rom 13:4  for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.
Rom 13:5  Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
Rom 13:6  For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
Rom 13:7  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Rom 13:8  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9  For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Rom 13:10  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Rom 13:11  Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
Rom 13:12  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Rom 13:13  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
Rom 13:14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

I inventoried the freezers (yesterday).

I can't recall how long ago it was done. I finally threw out some old frozen veggies from Sam's that we simply never would eat. I also tossed out some frozen biscuits from Schwan's. I now have room for the 4 turkeys I've bought this week. I am picking up 2 more on Wed. and probably Sat. Wal~Mart's limit is 2 per visit. I figure that I can get 2 more in the basement freezer and then 2 in the fridge freezers up here. I might buy 2 more on Sunday if I can rearrange the fridge freezers.

Turkey is a winter food here. It's so easy to get several meals out of it.

Busy day

I've been digging through the basement working on rearranging things. I have the cold storage room re-organized (as much as it gets anyway). I tossed some pantry items that were stored in the basement and put away a few items. I moved the old basement stairs door out of the way so I could begin work on the steps. I need to get rid of the dumb door. We have screws coming loose on the steps so I need to get a clear workspace and rip off carpet. They stairs are safe as the screws are 1 or 2 ways the steps are held on. Hopefully, next spring/summer, we will get a carpenter in to build new ones. For now, I play maintenance man. :D

I did 3 loads of laundry and cleaned off most of the washer and detergent shelf.

I fixed my computer desk which involved sorting bits and pieces of tools which lead to rearranging some of that stuff.

My kitchen is clean as well, including the stove top and counters which get forgotten since we bought the dishwasher.

I did the checkbook and even viewed a spending report from the bank. I didn't even know that was there until today. It was slightly depressing and encouraging at the same time. *lol*

I posted a couple of books on PBS and ordered two so that was a wash. I actually do have a few more books to list so maybe that will be better. On average, I send out 2 books a week so I'm pretty happy.

I sorted papers on my desk which is actually what made me finally fix it.

I cleaned my purse out and will probably switch to a brand new one later. When I bought the one I am using now, I bought a second one that I liked. It usually takes me months to find a new purse so when I found 2 inexpensive ones, I snagged them both. Mom understood, but my son thought I was nuts. Men! What do they know about IMPORTANT stuff. *roflol*

I've made about 30 round trips on the stairs so who knows what I will be able to do tomorrow. I am hoping to mulch & bag some leaves for my sister. She's not getting all of them, but I will do a couple/three bags.

I still need to get the recycling uptown and get some boxes burned.

Yesterday's Vet Trip

We went to pick up a refill on some thyroid medicine for my old girl Amy.  I had to tell the gal to make a note that Smokie (the older/bigger of my two dogs) had died this past summer.  My regular vet was not the one who helped me when things got bad.  He was out of town so I went to the Big City to get emergency help.  That was actually best for several reasons.  I had to make a quick exit as I just about busted out crying.  I only mentioned it because I didn't want to get a note about her shots next spring.  Not sure I could handle that.  I know, I know I'm a big wuss when it comes to my critters.

I'll miss seeing her out the window sitting like a queen on a snow mound.  This was taken in March of this year.

On a funny note, we took Amy (our remaining dog) along for the ride (about an hour away).  I've been taking her on car rides since Smokie passed.  It's easier with just one dog.  Anyway, she was nervous all the way there.  She refused to lie down and shook terribly.  On the way back, she stopped shaking, laid down, and seemed to relax considerably.  I think she knew where she was going and was relieved to know she wasn't getting shots :)  (yes, I'm being silly!)

Here is Amy on her pillow last month. She loves this thing!  It's like her security blanket.

Comma placement

Eats shoots and leaves. (Panda bear)
Eats, shoots, and leaves. (Hungry gunslinger in a hurry)

******

Let's eat, Grandpa! (calling Grandpa to dinner)
but...
Let's eat Grandpa! (eating Grandpa for dinner)

Oh the joys of a literal son :)

Last night before bed, I readied the dishwasher and told kiddo to start it after his shower. I casually mentioned that if he felt like it, I would appreciate his washing the pots & pans by hand. I also mentioned that it was no biggie if he didn't. Well, he did :) However, he left the two big Tupperware bowls, as well as, the mixing bowl unwashed. I just noticed that the ice cream scoops are still dirty as well. *roflol*

For the record, my son usually does what I ask with very little fussing. What fussing he does is usually good-natured ribbing that brings a smile to everyone's face. He's simply not detail oriented in the kitchen chores. I was not surprised or upset at all. I'm blessed that he did the chore that I requested considering how tired he was when I asked.

Spell Checker funny :)

I have a spelling checker,
It came with my PC;
It plainly marks four my revue
Mistakes I cannot sea.
I've run this poem threw it,
I'm sure your pleased too no,
It's letter perfect in it's weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.

The little ditty above will pass muster with any spellchecker, and you can tell immediately that something is very, very wrong.

"The Criminal On The Cross" Acappella

"All My Tears" by Selah

Love this song!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Lord, Bless My Enemies" (Nikolai of Ochrid)

This prayer was posted on a message board I frequent.  I thought it worthy of reposting.

"Lord, Bless My Enemies" (Nikolai of Ochrid)

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them. Enemies have driven me into Thy embrace more than friends have. Friends have bound me to earth, enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.

Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms. Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath Thy tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.
They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself.
They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments.
They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself.
They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Whenever I have made myself wise,
they have called me foolish.
Whenever I have made myself mighty,
they have mocked me as though I were a dwarf.
Whenever I have wanted to lead people,
they have shoved me into the background.
Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself,
they have prevented me with an iron hand.
Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully,
they have wakened me from sleep.
Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life,
they have demolished it and driven me out.

Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of Thy garment.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.

Bless them and multiply them;
multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:
so that my fleeing to Thee may have no return;
so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs;
so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul;
so that my heart may become the grave of my evil twins: arrogance and anger;
so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven;

Ah, so that I may for once be freed from self deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life. Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself.

One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends. It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies.

Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and my enemies.

A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand.
But a son blesses them, for he understands.
For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life.
Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them. Amen.

Definition of Expert

Expert

Ex = former, no longer.

Spurt = a leak, esp. when caused by water pressure.

Expert = a has-been drip under pressure.

Skywatch Friday

I haven't done a Skywatch Friday photo in a while.  Here's are a couple of sunset photos from last September.

SkyWatch Friday is hosted by a team of bloggers (Klaus | Sandy | Ivar | Wren | Fishing Guy| Louise).  Be sure to stop by and visit them.

Strange day.

It was a good day, but everything felt strange.  I keep expecting to need to do something for or with Smokie, but she's not here and no longer needs me.  Little things remind me of her, like the thunder tonight (which she hated), her collar, or the tree she loved to lie beneath. I keep expecting to need to say "Look out" before I open the fridge as she always laid in front of it.  She's not there. 

I've lost other pets (all much younger), but this one seems to be hitting me harder than the rest.  Maybe it's my age or the fact that I am not as able to occupy my thoughts as before when my son was little and life was super busy?  I don't know.  Maybe I am just having a hard time reconciling my feelings with the fact that she was a dog not a human.  My grief is stronger than I imagined it could be. 

My Secret Sister sent me a condolence e-card tonight that had this verse on it.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (New International Version)

The God of All Comfort

 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

What a sweet verse and very helpful. 

God is good.

I posted this yesterday on a home schooling forum for Christian moms. 

God is good!

After spending the last 2½ weeks dealing with seriously and rapidly declining dog, I was feeling pretty forgotten today when she had to be euthanized. I had prayed intensely and almost without ceasing for this dog to not leave me. I don’t ask God for things for myself very often. Don't get me wrong, I pray for myself, but I don't get specific very often, preferring instead to be open to His gifts and leading. I have never been disappointed and frequently stand amazed at the blessings I receive. However, this time I did ask and was quite specific. I prayed hard, I cried, I considered bargaining with God, and I even got angry at times. I don’t know why He said "No." I am sure He has some greater lesson in mind for me. I have to wait upon Him to reveal it.

I don't know about you ladies, but when I am extremely sad, I need chocolate. I wanted a frozen fudge bar, but thought they were all gone. The cost of today's vet trip was unplanned and expensive. Our pocketbook screamed, "OUCH!" I figured I could be a big girl and just ignore my desire for comfort food. I went about my day trying to put the house back in order after the unraveling of the last few days. I put away her stuff and comforted my son. I cried and shared some laughs with those who knew my beloved pet. I cleaned a carpet and even tore apart my Bissell to clean it afterwards. I mentally charted a timetable for some other chores and prepared things for that. Basically, trying to stay busy and not think too much.

A short while ago, I decided to take a quick nap. Sleep has been rare the last 4 days while nursing Smokie. I haven't eaten much either and knew that I had better remedy that first. I went to the freezer to see what I had that could be fixed quickly. What do I find stuck behind the pancake mix? One lone fudge bar that had fallen out of the box. All I could say was "God has not forgotten me." He hasn't. He won't. EVER! It may seem like a simple thing, but simple things DO MATTER to us and to God.

God is good!




*Now off to eat something nutritious before my nap :)

May she rest in peace

this is back dated 1 day
-----

Today I said goodbye to a beloved pet and friend.  Smokie had been with me 10 years in April of this year.  She was 13½ and a joy to be around.  This beautiful dog rarely ever lost her temper or was grouchy. She loved to run and play and cuddle.  Many times she thought she was a big old lap dog. 

The pictures are all from Oct. of '07.  For some stupid reason, I don't have many recent pictures.  The little dog is Amy and she's missing her buddy.

 

 

Wait......I found a couple from this year.  This first one is from Feb. and this was their usual position in the computer room.  I am at my desk taking this, and my son's desk is to the left.  The kitchen is to the right.

Here is the last picture that I took of Smokie.  During the spring, she always found the highest point in the yard and laid there.  I always said she was playing Queen of the Hill.  She looked so majestic the way she crossed her feet and held herself.  The garden fence that you see behind her is 4 feet tall. 

This is my favorite picture of Smokie and is not by desktop background.  I posted this a while back here on the blog.  It shows off her happy personality.  She was about ready to jump and start talking to me.  She is under what we call "Smokie's tree" which she loved to lie around regardless of the weather. 

Many days I agree...........

Playing on Youtube again

I was going to download a couple of songs to my iTunes, but I need to be sure I was remembering the right songs so I fired up Youtube to verify the songs before paying for them.  Well, that led to spending a good couple of hours viewing various videos after I found the particular song I was looking for tonight.  I started out looking for Mac Davis "Baby, Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" and found Nancy Sinatra's "Bang, Bang" and "These Boots are Made for Walking."  That led me to viewing a few duets Nancy had with her brother Frank, Elvis, and Dean.  Once I hit Dean that is where I got stuck.  Love, love, love Dean Martin!!!!

Dean Martin & Goldie Hawn



 Dean Martin - Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime 1965



I particularly love the comment starting at 1:40.  It's where Dean says, "I feel sorry for you people who don't drink.  I mean it, because when you wake up in the morning that's as good as you're going to feel all day."

Wordless Wednesday and PhotoHunt

Wordless Wednesday   and  PhotoHunt

Another garden update

5/17

Still haven't gotten plants (seedlings) into the garden, but they are definitely ready to go into the ground.  My purchased plants (tomatoes, zucchini, green peppers) are really needing to get planted.  I was finally able to put them outside today as it warmed up above 65°F.

My rhubarb seems to have weathered the recent frost/snow.  I am not sure about the strawberries.   They look about the same.  I won't mind if a few of them die off as they spread a bit too far last year.

Ignore the grass and weeds.  Why does that stuff grow so FAST!

Rhubarb

 

Strawberries

 

The raspberries are doing good.  My sister is sending me some wild raspberry plants, about 6-7, so I have to figure out a good spot for them.  We plan to have the house resided so I need to take that into account.  I don't want to have to move them or have them damaged during the work.  Same goes for planting my roses. 

My son counted up my seedlings the other day and out of 62 started, we have 52 sprout.  Much better than I expected.

5/19

Seen at the bird feeders on Sunday.....how they got some time alone without the sparrows, I will never know :)

This was seen Monday at the humingbird feeder.  We've had a couple humingbird visitors as well, but my camera wasn't at hand :(

Snow and Garden pics

 The deck in the early morning

  

Snow build-up in a tree.

  

Just a slight dusting 

  

 The poor rhubarb......ignore the grass that has yet to be pulled out.

  

My strawberry plants......and grass that needs to be pulled.  Why do the grass and weeds grow quicker than anything else???  I bet they won't be affected by the snow and below freezing temps :(

  

More of *this* fell during the night.

 

  

  

A couple of garden updates

A few photos

5/10/09

Strange view, not sure why I picked this.  Please ignore the messy sink :)

 

Green Beans

  

Peas

  

Cucumbers

  

 5/12/09

I think we can take the top off now :)

 

 Cucumbers (other variety, 1 started 2 kinds as I thought 1 was a packet of duds)

 

Green Beans

  

Cucumbers and 1 row of Watermelon

  

Peas

  

I weeded the garden a bit on Tues with the help of my son (his idea).  It started raining afterwards.  It rained all day on the 13th and this is what I have on my deck at the moment.  

 

  

  

Yep, snow! in May.  This is most definitely Minnesota.  Just more proof why we don't plant until Memorial Day or early June.  

Garden update #1

I have seedlings coming up in my mini-greenhouse!!!  Peas and cukes are coming up!!!  Woo Hoo!! *doing the happy dance*

 

 

Waiting now for the green beans and watermelon seeds to sprout. 

I just picked up some more manure/compost (160 pounds) yesterday along with a zucchini plant, early girl tomatoes (12), cherry tomatoes (12), andgreen peppers (5, but I'm only keeping 2).  Today, I bought some yellow onion sets and basil seeds.  I still need some green bean seeds in case the ones in the mini-greenhouse fail to sprout.  I also want some backup cucumber seeds. 

 

  

I need to get my herb garden started, but it's a whooping 45°F outside so no rush. Yesterday, we made it up to 70° which is the first for 2009.

I also picked up a couple of rose bushes.  This time I *know* they are alive. 

Just look at those green shoots.

Pickles Cartoon, next installment

Garden news. WOO HOO!!!

I just bought a mini greenhouse to start some seeds tonight. I started pea pods, 2 kinds of cucumbers, green beans and a few sugar baby watermelons. The only ones I truly care about are the cucumbers and beans. The others are for fun because I had the seeds and extra peat moss.

I will be buying some tomato plants and onion sets in a couple of weeks. We will buy either cherry or Roma tomatoes along with a sandwich type probably Early Girl as we have an extremely short growing season. I might run up town and grab some zucchini seeds to toss in the mini greenhouse tomorrow. I don't need much as I am the only one who will eat those.


Can't plant until Memorial Day or later due to frost.  I'm hoping it will be dry enough to get into the garden by the last week of May.  We'll see.

We have 2 raspberry bushes. Maybe 3 if I am wrong about the one dying. Those aren't high producing yet, but I'm hopeful. We have several strawberry plants. I need to prune those back so they produce rather than feed the runners all time.

We have one well established rhubarb plant. We transplanted a couple last fall into the garden. I am not hopeful for their survival, but they were free so no big loss. We only make blueberry-rhubarb freezer jam so it's not like we need lots of rhubarb.

I would like to do a herb garden. I have a couple of packets of seeds for chives and Cilantro/Coriander. I have a planter I need to fill and set up for that. I don't cook a lot with herbs so I'm a little unsure of what to plant or how to use it.

I don't compost at this point. I have thought about it, but we really don't produce vegetable scraps to make it worthwhile. I also prefer to compost my leaves back into the yard each fall so that's not viable. I try to keep the grass cut short so as not to need to bag. We did buy some Miracle Grow garden soil/compost stuff last year to add to our garden. That helped and we will probably use some more again.

For us, we have feast or famine with the water. Either it's extremely wet and we can't get into the garden or so dry we have to water 2x's a day to avoid everything shriveling up and dying. We're on the prairie so we get the constant wind.

I am thrilled to say that the rabbits won't be getting into my garden this year. I finally have it totally rabbit and deer proof. I have chicken wire all the way around to keep the rabbits out, and a 4 foot snow fence to keep the deer out. Woo Hoo!

Mom is in charge of the flower beds and will put whatever she wants in those. I will do a few pots with mums and begonias mainly. I think we are going bear minimum on flowers this year. I believe mom wants to work on the height of her flower bed and build up the soil another 3 inches or so.

Pickles cartoon