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I am Sandra - faithful steward. listener. shepherd. dream believer. hard worker. collects brass bells, boots. Jesus follower. contented. star gazer. homemaker. farmer. prayer warrior. country woman. reader. traveler. writer. homebody. living life large.

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Meteor Shower, Wife to Widow, Etc.

~ serenity, thy name is Thistle Cove Farm ~

The first meteor shower of 2012 begins tonight but the best viewing is after midnight/pre-dawn tomorrow morning. The Quadrantid Meteor Shower is supposed to peak about 2:30 tonight and is supposed to be one of this year's best. Science Daily has another report. 


I'm planning on having hot chocolate and my heavy boots and coat ready with sweaters on the dogs. Guess I'll find out how they like being awakened in the wee hours for something I want to do!
-smile-

The Joy of Quiet - what farmers have known all along is now being touted as the new, best, biggest, brightest and folks are paying huge
$$$ for the privilege of silence. There are people going to the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur who are paying more than $2,000 a night to not have a television, i-net or radio in their rooms. Heck, they can just come here and I'd only charge them $2K even and make sure they had farm chores to do mornings and evenings. They could really commune with nature!


There are also Internet Rescue Camps...I kid you not!...for those who are addicted to computers. Is it just me or is anyone else wondering why people don't have a life anymore? 


Additionally, in the above referenced article, the author says s/he has friends who buy some kind of software which enables them to disable their i-net connections. HELLLLOOOO! My computer has an off button but, then again, perhaps I am special, just like Dave always told me, eh? -smile- I don't know how to text, can't take pictures with my cell phone and don't have a tablet...at least not one that doesn't use a number two pencil.


OTOH, I've either been without telephone service or intermittent service since Christmas Day, but when I call Verizon to tell them about it, they speak to me...Angel, are you listening...and I don't think she's one of the heavenly realm...tells me, "Well, I don't know why you're calling, my computer shows you have service." Yes, dear, however, it's intermittent...do you know what that big word means, Angel? It means spotty, sometimes, not all the time, infrequently and, sometimes, Not At All. Fortunately, or so time will tell, a supervisor Heather listened to me and said she'd give me a $25 one time credit and I wouldn't pay for the days I've been without service. 


Tie that in with the electricity that's been off and it's been Really Quiet here on the farm. That is, if I don't count the wind which has been Really Harsh. You know, I can stand the cold as well as the silence and, in fact, love both, but the wind is something else. It's determined to suck the warmth out of everything living and last night the temps in my bedroom were 45F above zero. I'm not sure what the wind chill was and don't really want to know. I do know it was a four dog night but it is every night around here -smile-.
~ please, take button from top left, not this one ~
In an attempt to muddle my way through this Wife to Widow journey, I am starting a new blog to help other people do some things that will make the paperwork, etc. just a tad easier. Someone asked me if I'd make it pertinent to men as well as women. Anyone, wives, husbands, singles can glean the information but, statistically speaking, it's the husband who dies first and the wife left. So, the new blog is written from my, the wife's, point of view. However, trust me when I tell you this: Everyone can benefit from what I've learned and, I'm hoping, others will chime in with their experiences. 


The new blog address is WifetoWidow; please grab the button on the top left of my Thistle Cove Farm blog and spread the word. As EBB so beautifully said


"Knowing that when light is gone  
Love remains for shining"


Blessings ~ Madge ~ silence ~ serenity ~ dogs ~ meteor showers ~ journeys ~ we're all on our way from somewhere to eternity ~ 

27 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:21 PM EST

    ALways such a treat to read your posts.....I am so sorry for your loss. I don't get much time on Blogging lately. New puppy, getting business ready to go.....you are so right though....good to be prepared and how wonderful of you during such a difficult time to even think of others...xoxo

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  2. You are doing such a loving thing...I have become a follower of your new blog too! Thank you much for giving of yourself so generously...Take care!

    Warmest Regards,
    Loretta

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  3. I think you are an amazing person. How wonderful that as you go through this journey you are so willing to let people learn through your experience, bless you Sandra. Have a wonderful week, wind, cold and all!

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  4. First of all, good luck with the new Blog. I'm looking forward to reading it. Secondly, I hope you wrap up warm tonight if you go out to watch the meteor shower.
    Let's hope the wind drops soon.
    Warm wishes for you Sandra.

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  5. I know just what you mean about the wind; it can truly drive one out of their mind! Fortunately here it comes and goes, and is a blessing in the summer when it comes over the coastal range in the late afternoon and drops our temperatures to a comfortable sleeping range.

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  6. Thistle Cove Inn - that has a nice ring to it LOL And good for you with the new blog - I'm sure a lot of people will benefit from your knowledge. I'm not a fan of wind either, especially when it's cold wind. Stay warm my friend.

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  7. I dont have a deep insightful comment, just a meaningful, thinking of you and praying for you daily. Hugs my friend.

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  8. I love Thistle Cove Inn!

    We had snow showers off & on all day. The wind howled. Brrrr! 28 high.

    I love meteor showers, but in the cool of summer. You enjoy, sweetie.

    Have a beautiful day ~
    TTFN ~
    Hus & love ~
    Marydon

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  9. We are having truly wicked winds today. I fear that watching the meteor shower outside might mean that I will be blown down the road to another farm. If you knew the folks who lived there, you'd understand my inclination to stay indoors. ;)

    I think your idea of a blog to help others is such a good one. Blessings on the project.

    Perhaps you should use smaller words when you call the phone company.

    I would give people the joy of quiet here for a lot less money. The funds could help my daughter with college. Hmm? A new business?

    I'm not in need of the internet rescue, as I have also learned to use the off button on my laptop. Face it, humans can get addicted to anything!We have many good tools, if we don''t let them take over.

    Have a good week!

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  10. Sandra ... You made me smile really big ..it was good seeing your great logic turned sense of humor pour out in your post today !

    Verizon ..don't get me started .. I really don't like them and that's putting it mildly.

    And I'm in the same boat ..actually Mom, Dad and I all share 1 cell phone and its a flip phone ..yep the dark ages.. and nope we can't take picts or text because we don't want to learn ! ..and I agree the only tablet I use takes a # 2 pencil too.. We have alot more in common ..LOL !!!

    As for the cold ..I love it ..and Sleep with an A/C unit year round in my room .. However we don't get near as cold as you so I don't know that, that counts ..LOL !

    And as for Quiet I love it .. and would like my neighbors to love it alot more than they do ..

    You put a smile in my heart today !

    Sara

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  11. It is quiet on your farm??? I don't think I could sell "quiet" around here. But I can make anyone feel needed. "Needed" as in if you even crack the deck door open, the pony neighs, dogs bark, guineas squawk, goats bleat, and chickens come running. But quiet, no way!
    Stevie @ ruffledfeathersandspilledmilk.com

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  12. I really enjoyed reading your post tonight,Sorry for your loss,and I will be following your new blog, Blessings jane

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  13. Hello dear Thistle.
    I have a friend who lost her husband just last week. He had an accident.
    As soon as I feel she's ready to attend to what you have to share, I'll give her your new blog address.
    I'm so glad you are doing this.
    Oh, I hate it that you are cold and I'm so glad the doggies are keeping you toasty. I am praying for fixing. LOVE.

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  14. Well, I haven't visited in awhile but I'm not surprised that you have taken your challenges and turned them into Preparedness Training. Just like you to want to reach out to those of us who will be needing this in the future. How beautiful~ like you~
    Please pray for us...We are feeling led to come off the road and create a homestead of quiet~
    Blessings, K

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  15. I like this post!!!
    "Internet Rescue Camps.." :o)))

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  16. The wind here has been crazy too and this old Victorian we live in does not have heat up on the second floor where we sleep. Ooooooooo chilly!

    I am so glad you are starting your new Blog and I will follow. I know it truly will help others!

    Sending warm hugs your way!

    Love,
    LuLu~*xoxo

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  17. Good on ya for creating such a site. That'll be helpful to so many people.

    And you crack me up with your $2K/night fees for the peace and quiet (and back-to-nature chores help). :)

    Love to you today--

    Val

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  18. I had a feeling it wouldn't be too long before you turned your experience into something to help others. :)

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  19. This is such a great post ... you had me laughing, too. Our pastor referenced the internet rescue camps on Sunday as he shared his plan to spend less time on the internet. But I am glad that we can use the internet to stay connected.

    Your new blog will be so helpful. I will blog about it sometime soon.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  20. Did you enjoy the star show? I am so glad to see you have started a blog to help others finding themselves not only bereft of their loved one, but dumbfounded and almost defeated by a system that is insensitive or unable to show a shred of common decency when dealing with a person who has lost a LOVED one to death.

    I really do know about the cold nights and early mornings with temps hovering at or below freezing , and only a wood stove to warm the house because of power outages that last beyond a day or two.Add amazingly strong windstorms sounding like a freight train ramming your home non-stop for hours and then you're praising God you survived the night~ makes you downright happy for a pack of dogs and a cat or two sharing a bed with you !

    Sandra, you're in my prayers and I think of you often. Stay strong and share what you have learned. Your knowledge , lavishly interspersed with God's wisdom and word, are precious.

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  21. Hey Sandra what a fun post to read. I am glad you will be sharing your knowledge and your concern for others. Stay warm, please. Hugs, LJ

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  22. Anonymous2:20 AM EST

    "Heck, they can just come here and I'd only charge them $2K even and make sure they had farm chores to do mornings and evenings. They could really commune with nature!"

    This cracks me up Sandra. Well, like PT Barnam said, "There's a sucker born every minute".

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  23. What a great project. Should be very helpful although I'm sure not easy.

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  24. Sandra- only one word about the phone service-- ugh! Is it back on yet? I'm going to try to call you this evening---

    You are amazing- you have taken a heartache that no wife wants to bear and are turning it into a blessing that will help people everywhere! I knew that God will talk to you and give you a purpose. I'm sure that actually- this was probably Dave's idea- a divine intervention for you. Sandra- as painful as this is for you- I am absolutely in awe of this new project. Truly you are going to help so many people at a time when they need it most.

    Kudos to you my friend- I am so very proud of you!
    Love,
    Vicki

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  25. Good luck with the new Blog, what a great idea, and I'm sure it will be a tremendous help and comfort to others going through the same ordeal and sorrow.

    Love your header, and your ridgeback!

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  26. Your internet problems have been going on a long time. I started having issues recently and found out that the wire into the house had all the insulation worn off!

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  27. This new ministry that has been birthed in you will be like none other.

    You'll be ministering to others and them to you.
    God will see you through.
    d

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