Winner, Random 5 Friday

~ two barn owls roost in my hay loft ~

Lately, a lot of folks have been saying, "Can you believe it's the end of January already?!" That's what happens when you blink and breath...tempus fugit with skates on winged feet. Pretend with me...it's Wednesday and the winner of the $50 Visa gift card is being announced. To mimic Susan Branch, "Oh Vanna! Vanna, Dahling, please, would you come here a moment? Your adoring audience beckons because they want to know whose name you'll choose." Vanna comes schlepping through my house, dodging the ball of yarn that the cats captured, unrolled on the floor and now all over the kitchen, into the living room where she comments, "Ah, that wood stove feels DiViNe!" as she reaches into the dog basket.

Hey, around here we used what's available; remember Fat Charlie going under the knife...as in Leatherman?

Vanna taps her toe, delicately, against the Persian carpet, glances around the room (Hey Vanna, the vacuum cleaner fits all hands!) and draws a name...Lynne of Irish Garden House! Right after Dave died and I was all over the place, emotionally, spiritually, physically, Lynne would write notes of encouragement because she knew what I was going through; she'd "been there, done that" and was one of the people who showed me such great kindness and love. She blessed me greatly, many thanks, Lynne! I'm glad you won and hope you enjoy the Visa card, spend it wisely -grin-. And, no, Vanna didn't actually draw the Lynne's name, that was done by random generator...Vanna just makes a better story.

~ saw this young buck on the way home today ~

Random 5 Friday is by Nancy at A Rural Journal. Wonder of wonders I remembered it was today and there's even barely enough time left in the day to join in. It's been a COLD day today and chores were accomplished but left my bones achy. After I eat my meatballs and pasta, I'm going to have a lovely tot of B&B...just because I'm finally an adult and old enough to drink legally. so there!

Nancy's guidelines are (1) link up a blog post with 5 random facts about you, your day, pets, whatever; (2) posts must contain 5 random facts; (3) visit other participants; (4) wait a minute...only 3 guidelines that even a idiot could follow...right? Yeah, well, we'll see...

1. I gave up sat television as in Direct TV. I put pencil to paper and figured out I was paying almost $160 per television show I enjoyed. I really loved watching NCIS, Elementary, PBS and a couple of others but not $1,000 worth per year. I decided that money would be better spent on a sunny, Caribbean island...St. Lucia or Bonaire or even going to Puerto Rico (no passport needed) and take a Southern Caribbean cruise and visit many islands...that's the ticket...yeah! As for television, the county library has a lot of PBS shows and tonight I'm watching Dame Margaret Rutherford as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in Murder She Said...delightful! A little tidbit...Mr. Stringer, Miss Marple's "friend" is, in real life, Dame Rutherford's husband. Click on Dame Margaret's name and read some true hair raising facts about her and her family.

A number of very fine actresses have played Miss Marple - Angela Lansbury, Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan (oh my, another favorite!), Julia McKenzie (liked her better in Cranford), Helen Hayes, Margaret Rutherford and others, but my favorite is Dame Margaret. She knows she's over the top and plays the entire role tongue in cheek always and with great aplomb.

If you think you could write as well as Agatha Christie (HA!), try your hand here; entries for Chapter 4 are now being accepted.

~ Black Angus cattle country ~

2. And speaking of Vanna (she was born in Myrtle Beach, SC)...this past week, I went on a road trip to my condo at Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach, SC. Folks are renting it for February and March and I wanted it to be ready for them and also wanted to escape the frigid cold but that didn't happen. There, it was 18 above zero one night, 28 above zero another night but got into the high 50's during the day. One day I saw 61 on a bank thermometer but we all know how unreliable those things can be.  My week was work, work and more work just different location which is turning into the story of my life. Or, perhaps it's just that time of year when it takes everything I've got, plus some, to get the work done. Today, after doing town errands, I came home to throw out square bales for the horses, take food and water to Harry and Sophie, meds and food to Carly and load up the Ranger with a load of work wood (oops) which I'll bring to the house tomorrow. It's supposed to warm up to 32 - glory! - but will snow; Sunday it'll be 42 but rain and Monday is more snow. I'd rather deal with snow, it's not as much misery on my old bones but considering I've got to get out the tractor to put out round bales of hay, what difference do it make? Animals have got to be fed so work has got to be done.

3. Carly Shetland is 20 and still loving her groceries; Harry Shetland is up there and also enjoy his groceries. Today I found Sophie Shetland, cast, and heaved her to her feet. I'm not sure how long she'd been down but, judging from the spot, it'd been a while. Now, she's in the small lot with blind Harry where they'll both receive grain, corn, hay and water twice a day. "Good grief, Pa, but I do love my critters!", says Ellie Mae nee Sandra Bennett. -grin-

~ snow drifts of 3+ feet ~

4. Gosh, it's imperative I come up with 5 random things and it's harder than it looks. Hmmm, there's a fire in the wood stove and it feels wonderbar! It's a boatload of hard work but it warms me thrice...bringing it to the house, bringing it into the house and carrying ashes out. Have I ever mentioned I dislike boring people or people who say, "I'm bored" suggests a decided lack of imagination! There's always something to do even when we don't want to do it. I've developed a bone spur on the bottom of my heel; any ideas on how to make it go away? I'm figuring a huge, family sized KJV and have someone smash it against my heel...yes or no?

5. I'm fixing meatballs and pasta for supper. Not very exciting but it's what I want...protein and carbs with a glass of red is just what I want/need. I'll fix it, bring it into the living room where the wood fire is blazing and watch Dame Margaret Rutherford as she careens through Murder She Said. This evening is my idea of bliss!

Whew! These things are more difficult than they first appeared. My hat's off to Nancy, she comes up with this week after week. The only thing I come up with, week after week, is dirty laundry.

Don't forget, Vicki's Blog Party is happening tomorrow; I'm excited!

Now, go out there, be safe and make it a week to remember wonderfully!

Blessings ~ warmth ~ Nancy, A Rural Journal ~ Dame Margaret Rutherford ~ Lynn, Irish Garden House ~ my critters, beasts and varmints ~ 

Sabbath Keeping

"So God created mankind in His own image.

in the image of God He created them;

Male and female He created them."

~ Genesis 1:27 ~

"The ultimate end of all revolutionary social change is to establish the sanctity of human life, the dignity of man, , the right of every human being to liberty and well-being."
 ~ Emma Goldman ~

"Cowardice ask the question, "Is it safe?"; expediency ask the question, "is it politic?"; vanity asks the question, "is it popular?"; but conscience ask the question, "is it right?"; and there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic nor popular but because conscience tells one what is right." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. 

"Abortion kills the life of the baby after it has begun." ~ 1963 Planned Parenthood pamphlet ~

"Any nation that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want."
"Today...the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion...because if a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for me to kill you and you to kill me - there is nothing in between." ~ Mother Teresa ~

"They (the women) are never allowed to look at the ultrasound because we knew that if they so much as heard the heart beat, they wouldn't want to have an abortion." ~ Dr. Randall, former abortionist ~

"The care of human life and happiness, 

and not their destruction,

 is the first and only objective of good government."

 ~ Thomas Jefferson ~

"When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit." 
~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton ~ 

"Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women." ~ Alice Paul ~ 

"I have come that you may life and have it more abundantly." 

~ John 10:10 ~

If you've had an abortion, help is available. Please, see here, here or here or send me a private note. God loves me, He loves you; He doesn't love our actions but He loves us.

If you'd like a name added to the prayer list, please let me know. names will be kept for one week; around the world, people are praying.

Prayer Keeping - women who have had abortions or are thinking about it ~ medical personnel  and staff who assist in abortions ~ 

Don't Waste Today

Why do we waste today by worrying about tomorrow? 

Tomorrow never comes; 

it's always and forever...simply today.

"Use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind. ... Hear the music of voices, the song of the bird, the mighty strains of an orchestra, as if you would be stricken deaf tomorrow. Touch each object as if tomorrow your tactile sense would fail. Smell the perfume of the flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow you could never smell and taste again. Make the most of every sense; glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty which the world reveals to you." ~ Helen Keller ~

~ Sam P. Spade, Secret Agent ~

"Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities 

no doubt have crept in;

forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely

and with too high a spirit

to be cumbered with 

your old nonsense.

This day is all that is

good and fair.

It is too dear,

with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on yesterdays.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

"We should live each day with a gentleness, a vigor, and a keeness of appreciation which are often lost when time stretches before us in the constant panorama of more days and months and years to
come." ~ Helen Keller ~

Spend it wisely,

time is money.

"If everything is under control, you're going too slow." ~ Mario Andretti ~

"No pressure,

no diamonds."

~ Mary Case ~

~ my paca nation ~

"Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

"The largest living land mammal is the absent mind." 

~ Capt Beefheart ~

~ Abigail, my heartbeat ~

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of those." ~ George Washington Carver ~

"The beginning is always today." 

~ Mary Shelley ~

~ play like you mean it ~

"A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another day, another time that traumatized them and caused them to spiritually stutter so they miss out on this day." ~ Steve Maraboli ~

Once the question of why we're here has been settled, we can focus on while we're here. Today, each of us is one step closer to death. Make today count, live like you meant it knowing God's blessings surround you.

If you're looking for the Visa card give away, please click here.

Blessings ~ the gift of today ~ promise ~ hope ~ family ~ companions ~

Fat Charlie, Deer and Visa card Giveaway

It's not as cold as it has been but we've got snow, as evidenced by frozen laundry on the line. Yesterday, I took advantage, or so I thought, of the afternoon's clear skies, sun and mild breeze, to pin a load of laundry to the line. I detest using the dryer for a variety of reasons, the main one being, I'm cheap frugal thrifty Appalachian to the core, love the smell of sun drenched laundry and I'm cheap. Oh, sorry, been there, done that.  I thought there was time (don't we all, wry smile) to finish the day, get in the laundry and then get to my evening meeting.

No, to all the above. Oh I finished the day, but it was simply by being so far behind, I gave up. I fed the dogs and Carly, then raced out the door to do errands, take Charlie (story follows) to Mary, eat and attend the aforementioned meeting.

Bills mailed at the post office, Charlie delivered to Mary and then me to Italian Village to have hot chicken salad for supper. If there's anyone in town who makes a better chicken salad, please tell me who it is and I'll go eat there...but there isn't, so don't bother. Anyway, as I finished supper, I kept one eye on the encroaching twilight; the darker it gets, the slower I drive because of all the wild life. Yep, I left the restaurant and was within a mile of home when it dawned on me...I'd missed the meeting! Fortunately, it wasn't critical but apologies must be made and, hopefully, accepted.

~ Fat Charlie, knocked out and ready ~

Yesterday morning, about 7:10, Dr. Anne showed up to cut Fat Charlie because I believe very strongly in spaying and neutering. Fat Charlie is a barn cat, rescued, given another chance in life and I told Mary, "If you'll take him, I'll pay to have him cut." Happy, happy all around with the, probable exception of Fat Charlie -smile-. However, he'll live longer and healthier and, possibly, happier because he'll never know what he's missed in life.

Dr. Anne arrives to find the "operating theatre" all set up...table in front of the window, bright lights with towel spread over table. She gives Fat Charlie his "go to sleep" shot, arranges her vet supplies and says, "Dang! I have twenty scalpels  at home and didn't bring a one. Do you have a sharp knife?"
"Yes," I replied, "do you want a kitchen knife or pocket knife...?" "Hmmm, I think pocket would work." So, I hand her my Coleman hunting knife and Leatherman. It turns out the Leatherman is as sharp as a scapel so she proceeds and finishes in five minutes. By noon, Fat Charlie was fine although, due to meds, still staggering around a bit but by the time I got him to Mary, late afternoon, he was ready to leave me...ungrateful cuss!  I would show photos but last time I did that, folks got squeamish.

A few days ago, coming home, I saw this mama doe with her fawn. The field behind them held a dozen, p'raps more, deer of all ages although I didn't see a buck, only does and fawns. Beautiful!

A week ago, this was the sight...Dry Run creek was frozen, not solid, but enough to put a shield of ice over the top...again, beautiful!

The cave at Maiden Spring is frozen as well; this is where the Little River begins as it meanders down to the Holston River in Tennessee.

Thank you, Folks, for following Thistle Cove Farm; you are the reason I blog. It continues to amaze me that people find life on the farm interesting but I bless you for the gift. Someone once told me, "You're such an interesting person" to which I replied, "Not really but I do interesting things." I still think that true; God has blessed me (well beyond my deserving!) and I honour Him by giving Him credit and my life. He's getting the short end of the stick but it's what He wants and within my power to give.

A few weeks ago, I said when the follower count reached 500, I'd give away a Visa $50 gift card; that goal number has been reached. Would that I could to each, but I cannot, but to one follower, leaving a comment, you'll receive a $50 Visa gift card. Next week, Wednesday, January 22 at noon, the winner will be chosen by random generator and announced.

Blessings ~ Dr. Anne ~ Fat Charlie ~ Maiden Spring ~ the Cove ~ Dry Run ~ you followers, greatest folks on the planet! ~

Sabbath Keeping

"How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? 

How long will you mockers relish your mocking?

How long will you fools hate knowledge?

~ Proverbs 1:22 ~

"He who buys what he does not need steals from himself." ~ proverb ~
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." ~ Leonardo da Vinci ~ 
"I recommend to you holy simplicity." ~ Francis de Sales ~
"Seldom or never do we hear anything about simplicity as an essential discipline of the spiritual life. Most of us have only a vague idea of the meaning of the world.  ...Simplicity means "absence of artificial ornamentation, pretentious styles, or luxury. It is "artlessness, lack of cunning or duplicity." 
"Where there is simplicity, words can be taken at their face value. There are no hidden or double meanings. One says what one means and means what one says. There is no "joker" concealed in the language to nullify its obvious intent. Simplicity does not mean "easy to understand." Paul was not always easy to understand. Nor was Jesus. Men are still wrestling with their great utterances. But both Jesus and Paul are characterized by simplity. Their intention was not to confuse to deceive but to clarify and illumine.
Where there is simplicity there is no artificiality. One does not try to appear younger, or wiser, or richer than one is--or more saintly! Moffatt's translation of 1 Corinthians 13:4 hits it exactly, when it says: "Love makes no parade, gives itself no airs." ~ Albert E. Day ~
"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." ~ Hans Hofmann ~
"Beware the barrenness of an empty life." ~ Socrates ~ 

"The more you have, the more you are occupied. 

The less you have, the more free you are."

~ Mother Teresa ~

"When you have cleared all of your clutter, you can be of greater service to those around you." ~ Michael B. Kitson ~
"The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go." 
~ Steve Maraboli ~ 
"In order to seek one's own direction, one must simplify the mechanics of ordinary, everyday life." ~ Plato ~ 
"Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them, you have to take care of them." ~ Peace Pilgrim ~
The waste of life occasioned by trying to do too many things at once is appalling." 
~ Orison Marden ~

"It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. 

Hack away at the inessentials." 

~ Bruce Lee ~

"It is vain to do with more what can be done with less." ~ William of Occam ~
"Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." 
~ Lin Yutang ~
"the art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." ~ William James ~
"Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough." 
~ Charles Warner ~

"Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; 

wisdom lies in their simplification." 

~ Martin H. Fischer ~

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius...and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." ~ E. F. Schumacher ~
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be 
beautiful." ~ William Morris ~
"Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art." ~ Frederic Chopin ~
"How many things are there which I do not want." ~ Socrates ~
"Dress to enjoy your day, not so that others can enjoy you." ~ Courtney Carver ~
"Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like." ~ Will Rogers ~ 
"To be simple is to fix one's eyes solely on the simple truth of God at a time when all concepts are being confused, distorted, and turned upside down." 
~ Deitrich Bonhoeffer ~
"To poke a wood fire is more solid enjoyment than almost anything else in the 
world." ~ Charles Dudley Warner ~
"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery ~
Voluntary simplicity means going fewer places in one day rather than more, seeing less so I can see more, doing less so I can do more, acquiring less so I can have more."  ~ John Kabat-Zinn ~
"The cost of a thing is the amount of life which is required to be exchanged for it."
~ Henry David Thoreau ~ 

"And he said to them all, 

if any man will come after me, 

let him deny himself, 

and take up his cross daily, 

and follow me."

~ Jesus, Luke 9:23 ~

If you'd like a name added to the prayer list, please let me know. Names will be kept for one week, around the world, people are praying.

Sabbath Keeping ~ Miki and Timi ~ Max ~ Rui Mota ~ Debbie ~ Sandra ~ 

Cold And Alive

Patrice is hosting Chat Number 123 and, after playing along, I'll do a little farm update. I'll admit right now, I'm fairly stunned...physically and emotionally...due to the terribly cold weather so any mistakes, my apologies.

1. How much baking did you do before/after Christmas? Do you get more inspired to bake when temps are cooler? I baked shortbread and carried it around to folks to say "thanks"; I'm still baking shortbread and carrying it around to folks to say "thanks". Good manners are never out of season, eh? I bake all year 'round, especially bread. The only thing grocery store bread is good for is croutons...and that's only if it's sturdy bread and not sliced white bread. Sliced white bread is what Carly and the dogs get for a treat, it can't be beat...a pound loaf of white bread for eighty-nine cents and treats galore!

2. Do you have any food intolerance or allergies? No food intolerance as far as physical limitations but I'm not crazy about liver. There are certain meds I cannot take, due to allergies.

3. When was the last time you were in a restaurant? Mary and I had lunch last week at a local place. It's going to be a while before we return, the place was nearly empty and service didn't exist. Trying to get the waiters attention was like trying to push molasses uphill, he seemed to be oblivious to the fact his tip was, directly, dependent upon his service.

4. What's your favorite accent? Patrice, I'm like you, a myna bird and can mimic folks when I've been around them for a little while. When Dave and I first met, he thought I was former CIA because I used English terms...in hospital instead of in the hospital, and because I cannot pronounce aluminium the American way, pronounce it the English way, etc. It took him a long time to become convinced otherwise...silly goose. -smile- My sheep, horses, dogs and cats understand me and I them.

5. My favorite ___ is ____.  Right now, my favorite thing is being warm...wonder what it feels like?

How cold has it been in your part of the country? At 7 a.m. this morning it was 20 degrees below zero; not sure what it was at 4 a.m. but it had to be colder and with the wind chill last night, it was around 30 below. I did the best I could to get the animals ready; extra hay was set out, Christmas trees were put out for the sheep, Carly got extra meds, grain and chicken scratch while Harry got extra chicken scratch and grain. I'm missing one of the guineas; not sure what's happened to it. By the way, Christmas trees, when stripped of all ornaments and not dyed, make excellent fodder for sheep, not for horses. They love the fresh green taste and some believe it aids in de-worming.

Even with the de-icer, the water still froze and my gloves instantly froze and any time I had to touch a lock, gate or fence, they stuck to the metal. Using Harry's black rubber water bucket (which was frozen solid), I bashed the three inch ice and managed to break enough to increase the drinking area. Tomorrow I'll let the sheep into the yard so they can drink from Carly's electric water bucket. I guess that means the alpacas will come too.

The horses have frozen whiskers and I have frozen nose hairs. TMI, is it?

Sadie is a Rhodesian Ridgeback and has a very short coat; she freezes in the winter so I gave her my scarf as well as her sweater. It helped keep the wind from going down her throat and back; she seemed to appreciate it. When I held it up to her the second time we went out, she immediately sat and waited for me to wrap it around her head.

Carly turns 20 this spring and I figured she'd not make it last night. Even with a wool coat, the temps were nasty and the wind shill nastier, yet at 6:00 a.m., she was at the back porch, bleating for her breakfast. She's a tough old ewe!

"The ancient white house with its steep roof and low eves 

looks like a ship anchored in a still, white sea." 

~ Gladys Tabor ~ 

Tonight is the second night of extremely cold temps but, so far, not much wind. The temps are supposed to get warmer...please God!...and my old bones are going to be grateful. Y'all stay warm and safe.

Blessings ~ heat ~ food ~ safety ~ well animals ~ Gladys Tabor ~

Sabbath Keeping

WHEN...

~ in sorrow, read John 14
~ people fail you, read Psalm 27
~ you have sinned, read Psalm 51
~ you are worried, read Matthew 6:19-34
~ you are in danger, read ~ Psalm 91
~ God seems far away, read Psalm 139
~ your faith needs stirring, read Hebrews 11
~ you are lonely and fearful, read Psalm 23
~ you grow bitter and critical, read 1 Corinthians 13
~ you feel despondent, read Romans 8:31
~ you want peace and rest, read Matthew 11:25-30
~ the world seems bigger than God, read Psalm 90
~ you want Christian assurance, read Romans 8:1-30
~ you leave home for labor or travel, read Psalm 121
~ you want courage, read Joshua 1
~ you think of investments and returns, read Mark 10

IF...

~ you are depressed, read Psalm 27
~ your wallet is empty, read Psalm 37
~ you are losing confidence in others, read 1 Corinthians 13
~ others seem unkind, read John 15
~ you're discouraged about your work, read Psalm 126
~ self pride takes hold, read Psalm 19
~ you want to be fruitful, read John 15

FOR...

~ a better understanding of Christianity, read 2 Corinthians 5:15-19
~ a great invention or opportunity, read Isaiah 55
~ how to get along with others, read Romans 12
~ Paul's secret to happiness, read Colossians 3:12
~ dealing with fear, read Psalm 34:7
~ security, read Psalm 121:3
~ assurance, read Mark 8:35
~ reassurance, read Psalm 145-18

If you'd like a name added to the prayer list, please let me know. Names are kept for a week; around the world, people are praying.

Prayer Keeping ~ Miki and Timi ~ Veronica ~ Maxine ~ unspoken requests ~ Chris ~

2013 Year's End Post

~ Miss Emma ~

Do you celebrate Hogmanay? Read my post, here, for more information. I don't but that's mainly due to the fact I keep my front gate locked -smile-.

It's year's end and a lot of people are busy making plans and resolutions. If you're a long time reader, you may have read what Daddy has to say about New Year's Resolutions: "If you're living the way you're supposed to live every day, you don't need to make resolutions that you're probably not going to keep anyway."  Amen.

~ Levi Lilly ~

So, I  make no resolutions but do make goals and steps to achieve those goals. A year ago, December 11th, I began a two post series entitled PDS - Pretty Darn Smart, Part 1, of how to dream dreams, make goals and see fruition. The series continued January, Part 2, and now, a year later, I'm looking at what I hit, what I missed and what I simply forgot. Overall, the biggest lesson learned has been to print off that valuable information and keep it in front of me. Out of sight, out of mind and not realized. ouch

I was hit or miss (mostly miss) on the Wife to Widow book and, truth be told, I got discouraged. In July, I met with two book publishers and both said, "Great idea but not what we're looking for." I've since met with an independent agent and she suggested self-publishing but I'm not sure I'm capable of that learning curve.  Do I put all the information on the 1 Wife to Widow blog or print into a spiral bound book form? My original intent was to teach classes, using a 3-ring binder for myself and participants so each would have everything they need to prepare their affairs. I'm not sure what to do; what's your opinion, which would you prefer and why? Please help me make a wise decision.

~ Tippy and Gypsy ~

These last few days have found me reviewing my finances and making decisions on what to cancel, what to keep or delete. For example, today I canceled Direct TV for a purely financial reason. I'm paying $959.40, yearly, to watch no more than half dozen television shows and that averages $159.90 per show. I'm not sure but that might be obscene with Bill Gates' money! So, I canceled and, of course, they told me I'd been a good great customer for more than thirteen years and they wanted to give me $10 off each month.

Big Whoop and I don't think so. For $959.40, I can fly, round trip to almost anywhere I want to go in the world. For that same money, I can buy a truck load of movies and for $7.99 a month, I can rent as many DVD's as I want every month through Netflix. (I lack the bandwidth watch movies on computer.)

The nice young man at Direct TV wanted me to "save more money by bundling" which is another way of saying "gotcha!" Maybe it works for some folks but I refuse to bundle; I refuse to be caught in a loop where the contract date is different for television, telephone and internet. When I want to cancel one, they say, "You can't without paying a huge fine to get out of the contract and the contract dates are different for each. HA! The only thing bundled around here is laundry.

~ Sadie ~

I'm not suggesting you should cancel your cable television but I am suggesting you review your finances and see if there's money you're spending here, you'd rather spend there. I'm already looking at where I could go with that same money...a sunny Caribbean beach sounds fabulous, as I sit here, watching the snow pour.

Earlier in the year, I reviewed my land line telephone and dropped that bill by $25 a month or $300 a year. I was paying for stuff I didn't even know I had nor how to use! I also had to replace my mobile phone and, unfortunately, only had the choice to purchase a lesser quality phone due to the monthly amount I want need to pay. I would love to have a fancy smart phone but, around here, it makes no sense but should I ever move to a less rural area, I'll research a better phone.

~ Sam and Tom ~

Here's how I look at money as a tool...the basic Straight Talk phone costs $50 and $30 a month for the call plan. The basic Jitterbug phone costs about $30 and the basic monthly plan begins at $15. The first year, the Straight Talk phone costs $410 and the Jitterbug costs $210 and Jitterbug has a 30 day return policy. After that first year is over, the yearly cost is $360 for Straight Talk and $180 for Jitterbug. Guess what? I just talked myself into saving $200 a year! I've never been one of those people who are impressed with what someone else has; especially when they're treading water due to credit card debt. I'm not impressed with what kind of car someone drives; rather, is it safe, reliable transportation? Does a person provide for their family? If yes, that impresses me; if no, the Bible says a man (woman) who won't provide for his (or her) family is worse than an infidel. I agree. Like Dolly Parton said, "I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb and I'm not blonde."

If you've been thinking about identity theft insurance and heard the LifeLock commercials, you should know this: LifeLock charges about $150 a year (single) and Zander charges $75 (single) plus Zander provides more and better coverage. Wow, seems like such an easy decision when put in black and white numbers.

~ part of my small flock ~

The only reason I'm telling you about some of my personal financial decisions is to help you think about money. Money is a tool, just like a vehicle, and it can take you where you want to go...but you have to have a plan. Mom and Daddy brought us up to give the first ten percent to God, save the second ten percent and we could spend the remainder. It's a plan I follow today and have found I've never run out of money for my needs and, often, have enough to pay for my wants as well.

Dewena, Across the Way, recently blogged about her decision to stop blogging and I found her post interesting. Especially in light of the fact I've been thinking along similar lines. I don't want to stop blogging but I do want to change directions; I'm spending the next few days pondering directions.

~ dressed for chores ~

I trust your Christmas was memorable, in all good ways, and New Year's will be safe and sane. God's blessings on you, yours and the work of your hands and heart.

Blessings ~ blog world ~ readers ~ smart financial decisions ~ saving money ~ spending wisely ~ dreams ~ goals ~ plans ~ travel ~

Sabbath Keeping

"Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness

And his chambers by injustice,

Who uses his neighbor's service without wages

And gives him nothing for his work."

~ Jeremiah 22: 13-14 ~

"Nothing is really work, unless you would rather be doing something else."
~ J. M. Barrie ~

"Hide not your talents,

They for use were made.

What's a sundial, in the shade?"

~ Benjamin Franklin ~

"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by."
~ Douglas Adams ~
"One can never consent to creep when one feels the impulse to soar." ~ Helen Keller ~
"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life."
~ Confucius ~
"All happiness depends upon courage and work." ~ Honore de Balzac ~
"In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you." ~ Leo Tolstoy ~

"Without ambition one starts nothing. 

Without work one finishes nothing.

The prize will not be sent to you.

You have to win it."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

"Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds." ~ Gordon B. Hinckley ~
"I believe you are your work. Don't trade the stuff of your life, time, for nothing more than dollars. That's a rotten bargain." ~ Rita Mae Brown ~
"Never say anything about yourself you don't want to become true." ~ Brian Tracy ~
"You can't depend upon your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." ~ Mark Twain ~
"I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate." ~ George Burns ~
"The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else...The driving force of a career must come from the individual. Remember: Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career!" ~ Earl Nightingale ~
"If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful 
after all." ~ Michelangelo ~
"My mother said to me, "If you become a soldier, you'll be a general, if you become a monk you'll end up as the pope." Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso." ~ Picasso ~
"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. 
The amount of work is the same." ~ Carlos Castaneda ~
"He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying." ~ Nietzsche ~
"Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction." ~ Anne Frank ~

"...the worker deserves his wages."

~ Luke 10:7 ~

If you'd like a name added to the prayer list, please let me know. Names are kept for one week; around the world, people are praying."

Prayer Keeping ~ Maxine ~ Miki and Timi ~ Tiffany ~ Sandra ~

In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,

Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,

worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;

Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

by Christina Rossetti

sung by Gloucester Cathedral Choir

Blessings ~ Christina Rossetti ~ poetry ~ Gloucester Cathedral Choir ~ Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ~

God's Favor

~ my fat flock ~

Since 2009, Alece Ronzino has been the author of

ONEWORD 365 

Forget New Year's Resolutions, 

Just Choose One Word.

She writes, "...The whole point of One Word 365 is living with intentionality..." and
from her blog, "Well, it's time to start thinking of your One Word for 2014...What do you want to focus on this coming year? Who do you want to be?

"Your word can be anything you want. All that matters is that it has personal meaning for you. It can be something tangible or intangible. It can be a thought, a feeling, an action, a character trait. Your word will stand as a reminder, a nudge. something you can reflect on, that will challenge you, inspire you. A touchstone you can return to time and time again to help you stay the course this year...

The second page of her website says, "Find your tribe" where you can type in your word and find others who have also chosen that same word.

Unless you're me. If you're me, the word you've chosen isn't a popular word, it's old fashioned, out of date and akin to naming your child Oscar or Henrietta. My word is favor...as in God's favor. As in, I want to, deliberately and with great intention, focus on seeking, and finding, God's favor in my life in 2014. His blessings surround me daily; indeed, the very breath in my body is a gift from the Almighty, is His enthusiasm over and in me, meaning His inspiration showered upon me.  The very thought makes me gasp.

God's Favor

Some of you may remember my Daddy's saying, "If you're living the way you're supposed to be living, there's no need for New Year's Resolutions." I can't say I ever remember making any such resolutions but have been choosing a word since Dave got sick in 2010. In 2010 I didn't choose a word and can remember being totally clueless about what lay ahead. Neither Dave nor I had any idea of the path we were going to have to walk in that coming year. The word for 2011 was breath because I had trouble remembering to breath and was, constantly and continually, gulping huge, deep lungs of air. In 2013, the words were intentional grace. (apparently, I have a problem with only one word -wry smile-.) Frankly, I don't remember much of anything since he got sick in August 2010 and died in November 2011; keeping this blog has been a good thing for me, it's allowed me to have a sounding board and then, go back and read my posts. I am truly amazed at some of what I wrote; emotional shock is a hard thing to live through, especially when it seems to never fade or go away. Even today, there are days when I feel, somewhat, in control but, mostly, I'm still walking around in a deep fog, still crying bitter tears, still grieving like the past two years haven't happened; thank God for the animals and the farm.

Anyway, think about what Alece has written; think about choosing a word to be your focal point for 2014 and then, let both Alece and me know what word you've chosen.

Blessings ~ Alece Ronzino ~ One Word 365 ~ Daddy ~ God's Favor ~

Sabbath Keeping

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind,

as with womankind; 

it is abomination."

~ Leviticus 18:22 ~

"Alcohol doesn't console. It doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the contrary, it encourages him in his folly, it transports him to the supreme regions where he is master of his own destiny." ~ Marguerite Duras ~
"If any case, whether homosexuality results from genetics or upbringing, people don't generally choose to be homosexual. Many homosexuals testify how agonizing it is to find yourself with these desires and to fight against them, and they'll tell you they would never choose to be that way. And the Bible doesn't condemn a person because he has a homosexual orientation. What it condemns is the homosexual acts. It is perfectly possible to be a homosexual and be a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian."
~ William Lane Craig ~
"Passion is the evil in adultery. If a man has no opportunity of living with another man's wife, but if it is obvious, for some reason that he would like to do so, and would do so if he could, he is no less guilty than if he was caught in the act." ~ Saint Augustine ~

"No adultery is bloodless."

~ Natalie Ginzburg ~

"Just because someone is a homosexual does not mean that we cannot love him (or her) or pray for him (or her). Homosexuality is a sin, and like any other sin it needs to be dealt with in the only way possible. It needs to be laid at the cross and repented of." ~ Matt Slick ~
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body." ~ Paul ~

"There is more refreshment and stimulation in a nap, 

even of the briefest, 

than in all the alcohol ever distilled." 

~ Ovid ~

"One reason God tells us to honor marriage and keep the marriage bed pure has to do with baggage. We carry baggage into our sexual relationships. Memories from the past, emotional scars and unwanted mental images can defile our thoughts and make our marriage bed less than pure. Certainly God can forgive the past, but that doesn't mean we're free from the baggage that can linger in our minds."
~ Mary Fairchild ~
"The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside marriage is that those who indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all the other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and make up the total union." ~ C. S. Lewis ~
"Avoid using cigarettes, alcohol and drugs as alternatives to being an 
interesting person."  ~ Marilyn vos Savant ~

"Adultery is an obvious violation of the rights of another. 

You are stealing what doesn't belong to you."

~ Sam Storms ~

"I got sober. I stopped killing myself with alcohol. I begin to think: 'wait a minute - if I can stop doing this, what are the possibilities?' And slowly it dawned on me that maybe it was worth the 
risk."  ~ Craig Fergurson ~

"When adultery walks in, 

everything worth having, walks out." 

~ Woodrow Kroll ~ 

"I have certain moral parameters that I do not cross in writing. I don't write about adultery or kids having premarital sex." ~ Nicholas Sparks ~
"An idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand." ~ A. W. Tozer ~
"As conscience grows more passive and the evil spirit supplies his guidance, some Christians begin to lower their moral standard - thinking they henceforth live according to a higher life principle, and therefore treat immoral matters as not quite so immoral any more." ~ Watchman Nee ~
"A god who let us prove his existence would be an idol." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer ~

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? 

Do not be deceived; 

neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, not effeminate, 

nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, 

nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, 

shall inherit the kingdom of God."

~ 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ~ 

If you'd like a name added to the prayer list, please let me know. Names will be kept one week; around the world, people are praying.

Prayer Keeping ~ Maxine ~ Miki and Timi ~ Sandra ~ unspoken requests ~