Let Freedom Ring!

Happy July 4th, 2014 to people everywhere who love freedom 

"... This week marks the anniversary of America's birth as a free nation, when we fought a war against a tyrant and seceded from his kingdom. We thought we had banished tyranny from our shores. We thought we had ratified a Constitution that would compel the government to respect our natural rights. We thought we had established a society based upon the rule of law.

We were wrong. We have gone from an inherited tyrant to an elected one. I have never heard President Obama say this, but it seems logical that if he thinks he can lawfully kill Americans abroad, he also thinks he can kill us here."

 ~ Andrew P. Napolitano, 

former judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey" ~

to read Mr. Napolitano's entire article, click here

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

If you've never read the Constitution, or if it's been a while, click here. It will take less than 5 minutes.

To read an account of these brave 56 men who signed the Constitution of the United States of America and, thus, birthed this great nation under God, click here. To read more about each signer, click here; to read more about their fates, click here.

Blessings ~ William S. Johnson ~ Roger Sherman ~ Richard Bassett ~ Gunning Bedford, Jr. ~ Jacob Broom ~ John Dickinson ~ George Read ~ Abraham Baldwin ~ William Few ~ Daniel Carroll ~ Daniel Jenifer of Saint Thomas ~ James McHenry ~ Nathaniel Gorham ~ Rufus King ~ Nicholas Gilman ~ John Langdon ~ David Brearly ~ Jonathan Dayton ~ William Livingston ~ William Paterson ~ Alexander Hamilton ~ William Blount ~ Richard D. Spaight ~ Hugh Williamson ~ George Clymer ~ Thomas Fitzsimons ~ Benjamin Franklin ~ Jared Ingersoll ~ Thomas Mifflin ~ Goevernour Morris ~ Robert Morris ~ James Wilson ~ Pierce Butler ~ Charles Pinckney ~ Charles Cotesworth Pinckney ~ John Rutledge ~ John Blair ~ James Madison ~ George Washington ~ Betsy Ross ~ 

Rhythm or Arrhythmia...?

~ wise man, wise words ~

Rhythm or arrhythmia is the question of the day. I am most fortunate because my days are spent doing those things of my choosing. Granted, it's mostly work, in fact, the overwhelming majority of my day is spent in work but...it's work of my choosing, so I am blessed. I don't intend to ever retire and, when my time comes, want to die doing something useful in being of service to God.

Some days Rarely are my days spent thusly:

"I meant to do my work today ~ 

But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,

And a butterfly flitted across the field,

And all the leaves were calling me.
And the wind went sighing over the land,
   Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand—
   So what could I do but laugh and go?"

~ Richard Le Gallienne ~

Even when I'm outside, enjoying the bounty of God's nature, I'm working...chopping thistles, mucking the barn, repairing fence, water proofing the porches, sweeping, checking the livestock water troughs, but always, always enjoying the weather, scenery, voices of birds, horses, sheep (neighbor's), cattle and wind. There is a rhythm to my days and, like most, I am a creature of habit. The night before going to bed I check my lists, cross off that which was accomplished, write in what needs to be done the next day. My very early mornings are dedicated to needs of house animals, then coffee for me, followed by devotions and a walk to the barn to tend to farm animals. After, I check e-mail, various businesses and then begin my real work...whatever that is -smile-.

A few days ago, I began mowing the pasture between the house and the hay field. This pasture has some steepness to it and wasn't long before my nerve left me and I called Andy. He's my help from last year but, this year, has been helping the neighbor down the road. He said he'd be here one day after work and today was the day. He showed up while I was across the mountain buying diesel for the tractor; I didn't want him to run out! Andy drives like he was born in that tractor seat, as do I when on flat ground -smile- but on hills, I'm frightened of turning over. I've known, or heard of, a few farming accidents already this year and don't want to be yet another statistic.

This week's housework is limited to shampooing rugs. Faith shampooed 9 yesterday and another 4 today; tomorrow we're going to begin taking out the rest of the Persian rugs for cleaning. My brother said, "You know you're Appalachian when you have rugs hanging on the fence." Some might look askance (perhaps even Dave) but the sun both dries and disinfects while letting them dry inside on the floor means they'll take days to dry. That's stupid and I hadn't bothered to consider what the neighbors might think until my brother brought it up. I mean, surely the neighbors have better things to worry/wonder/talk about.

Remember the tomatoes of last week? I canned 39.5 quarts of tomatoes and 9 pints plus 1 quart of sauce. I gave away 7 quarts to the woman who gave me the tomatoes and still have plenty for winter. I've already dipped into the spaghetti sauce and, frankly, if I get tired of spaghetti, it'll make dandy Bloody Mary mix, with or without alcohol.

Coming home I saw several deer, including this one being chased by the other. Not sure what that was all about, territory I suppose, but they were serious.

Eventually, the one being chased dropped over the hill and began wading in the creek. It was only there safety was found.

About a quarter mile away, this doe and her fawn grazed along the fence line. When she heard my car stop, she turned and watched me until they walked deeper into the grass.

There's a rhythm to my days that Dave would have called, "full of ennui" but I prefer to call "full of languor", that pleasant feeling of tiredness that comes from doing work I love. The children are no longer staying here and that's a good thing...for all of us. The time opened up by them leaving took as long as putting my hand in a pail of water and seeing the resulting space empty then fill...iow, not very long at all. There's always work.

I live a slow life; I am pleased to live a slow life and it's by choice. Dave and I lived slowly; we savored what we were able to do here on this farm. When we traveled, we traveled slowly and rented apartments or condos where locals lives. Hardly ever did we stay in a hotel...except for that memorable time when we stayed in the Hotel George in Kensington (his favorite section to stay), London. We'd been on a trip to Morocco, camped in the desert with the Bedouins and Blue Men or Tuareg people , visited a Berber village and Dave wanted civilization, with a capital C. So, he booked us at Hotel George and it was fabulous! What I remember most were the breakfasts...lush, extravagant, hot tea, scones, fruit, omelets made to order...ahhhhh... Breakfast has always been my favorite meal and I've always enjoyed a huge breakfast. When I've had a good breakfast, I can go the rest of the day, until supper, and not flag; well, not flag too much. Dave wanted to sleep in good beds with clean sheets, have a hot shower of indeterminate length, go to theatre (we saw Wicked) and, in general, have too much of a very good thing.

Einstein was a smart man but he never knew Dave.

Yes, I am a blessed woman; my life has been full of love, laughter, travel, good food and all those things that make memories worth remembering. Lately, grief has visited and it's been difficult but remembering good times and praying, a lot, has made it easier. I even dreamed about Dave; we were in an airport, somewhere, and he was trying to figure out our flights. Usually dreams are strange, disjointed and this was no exception. In the dream he went ahead, leaving me in the terminal while he "sorted this out, wait here for me". 

I'm still waiting, Dave.

Blessings ~ travel ~ interesting countries ~ K&K Hotel George ~ Kensington ~ London ~ Morocco ~ Dave, always Dave ~

Sabbath Keeping

"When you lie down,

you will not be afraid;

when you lie down,

your sleep will be sweet."

~ Proverbs 3:24 ~

"Fatigue makes cowards of us all." ~ Vince Lombardy ~
"Sleep makes each night a sabbath for the day. Sleep shuts tight the door of the soul and bids all intruders wait for a while, that the life within may enter its summer garden of ease. The toil-worn believer quietly sleeps, as does the weary child when it slumbers on its mother's breast." ~ Charles Spurgeon ~ 

"Early to bed and early to rise probably indicates unskilled labor." 

~ John Ciardi ~

"I love sleep. My life has a tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?" 
~ Ernest Hemingway ~
"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." ~ Dr. Seuss ~

"Sleep is my lover now, 

my forgetting, 

my opiate, 

my oblivion."

~ Audrey Niffenegger ~

"And if tonight my soul may find her peace in sleep, and sink in good oblivion, and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created."  ~ D. H. Lawrence ~

"To be, or not to be: that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;

No more; and, by a sleep to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd. to die, to sleep;

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub."

~ Shakespeare ~

"No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap." ~ Carrie Snow ~

"Life is too short to sleep on low thread-count sheets." 

~ Leah Stussy ~

"Do this, 
knowing the time, 
that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; 

for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 

The night is almost gone, and the day is near. 

therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

~ Romans 13: 11-12 ~ 

Prayer Keeping ~ Dustin ~ Jim ~ Stephanie ~ Donna ~ Austin ~ unspoken requests ~ 
Sandra ~

CrAzY Busy, But Aren't We All?

"Do you think I've gone round the bend?"

I'm afraid so. You're mad, bonkers, completely off your head.

But I'll tell you a secret.

All the best people are."

~ Alice in Wonderland ~

Thanks be to God I found a farrier! He's Jared Brown and a graduate of the Heartland Horseshoeing School. If you're in southwest VA and need a farrier to trim or shoe, send me a note and I'll give you Jared's phone number; his e-address is jb_farrier at hotmail dot com. He's excellent at his work and, already, my beasties are showing signs of improvement. They'd have to because they've had me trimming their feet and I'm not a farrier. My work was shoddy but it was better than being lame...not much but still better than being lame. The mare above is Meri Go Lightly, an American Curly horse, who showed her behind while Jared was working on her. I told Jared, "I'm going to the house for water, back in a minute". While I was gone, Jared said Lightly jerked, twisted, reared and, finally, threw herself down on the ground in a petulant fit. My only comment was, "Did you take 3 seconds to kill her?" 

That's the rule...when a horse is being stupid, you've got 3 seconds to "kill" them. Usually, 3 seconds is all it takes, along with a lot of noise and jerking of the lead rope. I take excellent care of my animals but I refuse to put up with any foolishness...not the least bit. They're huge, I could get hurt in a NY second and it's not above me to get a horse whip and use it. Jared has my permission as well but he's a lot stronger and it doesn't take as much for him to control a horse so what I do is get out of the way...quickly!

Jared has us on a schedule and comes every 6 to 8 weeks. In the past, Lightly has foundered and her feet grow wonky but Jared is confident he can restore her to wholeness, given time. I'm grateful he's put us on his schedule; it helps him and it helps us...a win win for all!

Before he comes, I have the horses with halters on and have cleaned their feet. He doesn't require it nor expect it but it's a small kindness I can do and it pleases me to work with the horses. 

 First, he takes nippers and trims off the excess around the hoof. In a horse that's foundered, that's a delicate job and requires skill, expertise, knowledge and education to do correctly. 

The hoofs in the two photos above belong to HayJ, a Curly x Percheron. At one time, HayJ was the only black and white Curly x Percheron stallion in the world...then I had him cut or castrated. He's about 18 hands, about 72 inches, and around 2,000 pounds and, with hormones, he could get a little frisky. Best to nip that in the bud, so to speak; as it is, if he doesn't want the halter on, he will raise his head and look down at me. Thank God he's a gentle giant! 
After trimming, Jared uses a rasp to file the hoof smooth. I always had to use gloves because the horse would, invariably, jerk their hoof and the rasp, or file, would scrape across my hand, leaving a bloody mess. When that happened, I'd finish up, come to the house and wash the wound with tea tree soap then pour alcohol over the wound and finish with peroxide. It might sound extreme but better a little sting now than septis later.

One of these days, HayJ will be trained to pull a cart, wagon or Meadowbrook; I want to drive!

The bluebird box can be seen from the barn and Mrs. Bluebird is doing her duty.

While getting the horses ready for Jared, in addition to picking their feet, I brushed them, cut some manes and then combed some manes. Everyone enjoyed the attention but, after working 6 horses Saturday, yesterday I took it easy. Sam like to hide under my skirt and peer out at the world; he's a funny little feller. Sam and 

Sadie took it easy with me. 

Today, Gypsy helped with laundry. By noon, there were six loads washed and hung on the line; last week was rainy so no laundry was washed. What was meant to get done today...taxes and bills...will have to be moved to Wednesday's to-do list because tomorrow is going to be a repeat of today. 

Evening plans were to shower and go to bed at a respectable hour but that's not happening. For a good reason though...someone blessed me with Tennessee tomatoes that have to be canned. These tomatoes are fresh and some still have their stems attached! When the phone call came, I thought it was going to be enough tomatoes for a dozen quarts or so, but it's two huge boxes, about a bushel, and I've already got the first seven quarts on the stove. They should come off in about an hour, time enough for that shower and a cup of chamomile tea which has a variety of good things but especially to aid sleep. 

I was down to my last quart jar of tomatoes so this is a huge blessing. I'm going to can seven quarts to give to the woman who remembered me with this gift. She's not able to can this year, I am able and want to say "thank you" in a tangible way. When the snowballs fly, is there anything that says "summer" more than a quart of home canned tomatoes. I think not.

Blessings ~ a bushel of tomatoes ~ Jared Brown ~ horses with trimmed, cleaned feet ~ Mrs. Bluebird ~ Sam ~ Sadie ~ Gypsy ~ canned tomatoes ~ sweet dreams ~

Sabbath Keeping

"You made my whole being;

you formed me in my mother's body.

I praise you because you made me

in an amazing and wonderful way.

What you have done is wonderful.

I know this very well."

~ Psalm 139:13-14 ~

"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." ~ Marilyn Monroe ~
"The worse loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself." ~ Mark Twain ~
"Don't let what you can't do, stop you from doing what you can do." ~ John Wooden ~

"Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. 

Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it."

~ M. Scott Peck ~ 

"Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand brake on." ~ Maxwell Maltz ~
"Parents need to fill a child's bucket of self-esteem so high that the rest of the world can't poke enough holes in it to drain it dry." ~ Alvin Price ~
"Self-care is never a selfish act-it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others." ~ Parker Palmer ~
"The greatest thing in the world is to know you belong to God." ~ Sandra Bennett ~
"If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person." ~ Fred Rogers ~
"Be careful how you speak to yourself because you are listening." ~ unknown ~
"Talk to yourself like you would to some one you love." ~ Brene Brown ~
"When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life." ~ Jean Shinoda Bolen ~

"Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, 

you have an obligation to be one." 

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

"Antonio Stradivari s a seventeenth-century violin maker whose name in its Latin form, Stradivarius, has become synonymous with excellence. He once said that to make a violin less than his best would be to rob God, who could not make Antonio Stradivari's violins without Antonio.
He was right. God could not make Stradivarius violins without Antonio Stardivari. Certain gifts were given to that craftsman that no other violin maker possessed.
In the same vein, there are certain things you can do that no one else can. Perhaps it is parenting, or construction houses, or encouraging the discouraged. There are things that only you can do, and you are alive to do them. In the great orchestra we call life, you have an instrument and a song, and you owe it to God to play them both sublimely." ~ Max Lucado ~

"Two sparrows cost only a penny,

but not even one of them can die without your Father's knowing it.

God even knows how many hairs are on your head.

So don't be afraid.

You are worth much more than many sparrows."

~ Matthew 10:29-31 ~ 

If you'd like a name added to the prayer list, let me know. Around the world, people are praying.

Prayer Keeping ~ Stephanie ~ Donna ~ Jim ~ Dustin ~ Madge ~ Sandra ~ 

Chatting with Patrice

~ I miss my sheep! ~

I'm exhausted. I'm beyond tired. I'm cranky, whiny, grumpy and want to run away from home. Dare you ask why? I'm keeping Mary's children, a labor of love, but trust me on this...no one has enough money to pay me for this job. No one. Not even Warren Buffet or Bill Gates. N.O. O.N.E. Get my drift? Am I clear? Tomorrow will be the end of the second week. The SECOND week. Of the summer. They aren't bad children but they are 10, 11 and 13 and I am 61. God help us all. Me especially. There's not enough booze in this house. Heck. There's probably not enough booze in this world. You know what I'm doing every afternoon after I deliver them to their mother? I come home and chop thistles with my stirrup hoe. I'm not sure what that means. Heck. I'm not sure I want to know. There might be some deep, dark thoughts, way beneath the surface...don't go there. Prayer helps but it's impossible to pray as much as I need to pray. I have to eat and sleep sometime. O Lord. Did I mention it's only week two? 

Maybe it's the boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes...you get the drift...of packed stuff goods belongings stacked in the metal building or upstairs hall or in the bedrooms or...everywhere...that reminds me this season of life is drawing to an end. That's a good thing but it doesn't mean it's an easy thing. For you who've still got your spouse to snug up against tonight, you don't understand. You can't understand and you may thank God for it but for those of us whose husbands have gone Home, it's tough. Linda Sue has found Michael and I rejoice with both of them at their happiness. I'm also envious even though I don't want a spouse; I want to move. Rainey knows what it's like; she's been struggling as well and we send each other little notes, keep each other tucked in prayer. It's still dang hard, tough as nails and something we wouldn't wish on someone we didn't like. I told Rainy, "Yes, God takes care of us, all of us, but it's not the same as having someone with skin on." Fortunately, she didn't think I was being sarcastic or sacrilegious; unfortunately, she understands. Even though I'm ready to go, I'm not homesick and still love my life. Mostly.

There's been a lot of interest in the farm but no offers...yet. See number five below.  Patrice, Everyday Ruralty, hosts Chats on the Farmhouse Porch, Number 144 and I'm playing along. Yeah, it was yesterday but I'm feeling real blessed I remembered at all, much less late. For small mercies, make us me grateful, dear Lord.

1. Do you like lemonade? I think this is what she means although she said lemon-aid; different sides of the same coin, perhaps? Yes, I like lemonade when it's freshly made with real lemons and simple syrup. I detest that fake powdered stuff and don't much like flavored lemonade. I mean, if you want to drink raspberry flavored something, why not just make raspberry flavored something? 

2. How many place settings of silverware could you come up with? Personally, I like paper goods especially since I've been keeping three children. Paper plates, paper napkins towels, paper cups. Over the years, I've saved a few hundred thousand million a whole lot of trees and planted my fair share. If I want to use paper this summer, I'm dang going to use paper. 
Oh wait. There was a question. 
Well, there's the dozen silver place settings, the dozen silver plate place settings, the dozen bone handled place settings, the eight place settings of everyday stuff (minus the odd spoon or knife that's missing) and then the odd mix of utensils that have been collected over the decades. Don't get me started on dishes...Dave's mother had 50 years worth of dishes, Dave and his first wife had 25 years, I had 25 years...I am grateful to Stephanie that she packed up most of that stuff. By the time I get to unpack, it'll all be new again.

3. Have you ever been to a party in a barn? Yep and spend every Christmas Eve in the barn talking to the animals. 

4. Do you wear nail polish? Maybe 2 or 3 times a year but it's such a bother, you know? My idea of a manicure is a pair of nail clippers. For what a manicure costs, I can buy all kinds of lovely books, chocolate or special treats. I see an expen$ive manicure on some woman and think...uh huh. And you wonder why you don't have any money? 

5. Please finish this sentence...I wish I could...SELL AND MOVE. NOW. SOON. NOW.

What I'm going to do is take a shower, put on a nightgown, grab a book and escape into fiction. Tomorrow is going to come too soon and like a freight train...unstoppable.

Blessings ~ I'm able to help ~ cold, clear, sweet tap water ~ thistle chopping ~

Sabbath Keeping

"For you shall go out in joy

and be led forth in peace

the mountains and the hills before you

shall break forth into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

~ Isaiah 55:12 ~

"Without pain, how could we know joy? This is an old argument in the field of thinking about suffering and its stupidity and lack of sophistication could be plumbed for centuries but suffice it to say that the existence of broccoli does not, in any way, affect the taste of chocolate." ~ John Green ~ 

"Joy is not the absence of suffering,

it is the presence of God."

~ unknown ~

"They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: 

someone to love,

something to do,

and something to hope for."

~ Tom Bodet ~

"Joy is the serious business of heaven."

~ C. S. Lewis ~

"Joy is the echo of God's life in us." ~ Abbot Columba Marmion ~ 

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with." ~ Mark Twain ~ 
"The beating heart of the universe is holy joy." ~ Martin Buber ~ 
"The gloom of the world is but a shadow; behind it, yet within our reach, is Joy."
~ Fra Giovanni, Within Our Reach...Joy ~

"Freshness trembles beneath the surface of

everyday, a joy perpetual to all who catch

its opal lights beneath the dust of habit."

~ Freya Stark ~ 

"Winning is important to me, but what brings me real joy is the experience of being fully engaged in whatever I'm doing." ~ Phil Jackson ~
"Joy is the infallible sign of the Presence of God." ~ Rev. Joyce ~ 
"Joy descends gently upon us like the evening dew, and does not patter down like a hailstorm." ~ Jean Paul F. Richter ~

"Joy is prayer

Joy is strength

Joy is love

Joy is a net of love by which you catch souls.

She gives most who gives with joy." 

~ Mother Teresa ~

"...keep knocking, and the Joy inside will eventually open a window and look out to see who's there." ~ Rumi ~ 

"The artesian well of joy never rungs dry.

We clog it with our thoughts."

~ Don Blanding ~

"Heaven, the treasury of everlasting Joy." ~ Shakespeare ~ 
"... You are wrong if you think Joy emanates only or principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us. It is in everything and anything we might experience. We just have to have the courage to turn against our habitual lifestyle and engage in unconventional living. ..." ~ Jon Krakauer ~ 
"Joy is the flag you fly with the Prince of Peace is in residence within your heart."
~ Wilferd Peterson ~ 

"Scatter Joy."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

"Without Joy in your life you are powerless." ~ Joyce Meyers ~
"Now and then it is good to pause in our pursuit of Joy and just be Joyful."
~ unknown ~

"Goodness of heart is life to a man,

joy is what gives him length of days."

~ Solomon ~

"Rejoice in hope,

be patient in tribulation

be constant in prayer."

~ Romans 12:12 ~

In the winter season of life, Friends recently found each other and are now approaching their wedding day. Linda Sue and Michael, may all your days be blessed with the warmth and joy of your love for God and for each other; may God bless your marriage now and always.

If you have a name to be added to the prayer list, please let me know. Around the world, people are praying.

Prayer Keeping ~ Jim ~ Stephanie ~ Donna ~ Linda Sue and Michael ~ Ashley ~ Dustin ~ Sandra ~

Blogging and Books

 ~ 9 years of blogging turned into books ~

Recently, Karen at This Old House 2, asked about blogging and is it dying due to other social media? I've been blogging since 2005, had my share of ups and downs, good comments and not so good comments and still enjoy the process. Some years ago, I blogged about leaving blog land; Kathy, Cedar Pond, encouraged me to continue and I'm glad I took her advice. Dave always enjoyed the blog documentation of our farm and lives; now that he's dead, it means all that more to me. 

 "There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind" so says Jack Lewis. In November 2011 Dave died suddenly of a heart attack and this quote brought, and brings, me much solace. 

My blog into soft cover books were done by Blog 2 Print and contain front and back photos varying from valley views to photos of the house to, in 2011, a photo of Dave and I while we were in the Azores, islands about 1,000 miles off the Portugal coast. Book prices begin at around $15 and, depending upon what one wants, can go upwards of $100.00. Each of my books cost around $95 to $125 and, yes, that's expensive but I chose to go without other things so I could do this one thing. I will never regret that decision! If you visit their website, they'll give you a 15% coupon which helps. They also have some sort of Rewards program which I'm too stupid to understand -wry smile-.

My comment on Karen's post: "...about the only blogging "rules" I follow are "Keep it nice". If others want to follow a bunch of rules, fine by me but don't try to impose them on me; to each their own. I started blogging in the dark ages of 2005; an acquaintance was blogging and she said it was fun. Along the way, I blogged that I was thinking of stopping and a reader sent me a kind note imploring me to continue, so I have. I'm grateful to her for helping me make that decision; when Dave was alive, he loved reading my blog and took an enormous amount of pleasure in how our days/farm were being documented. Since his death, it's been an enormous source of comfort to me. As you know, I've often written Dave "blog letters" where I poured out my grief stricken heart and worked through the emotional pain and turmoil. I've had my blog made into soft cover books and they too have been a source of comfort. I also blog to sharpen my photography and writing skills and watermark my photos because they are MINE. Like others, I've had them stolen and watermarking them makes it a tad more difficult for the thief. I'm proud of my work, why wouldn't I want to take credit for it?
Finally, I've met a lot of lovely people in "blog land" and have visited some of them in person. I've stayed with Mags and her family in Ireland, Timi and her family traveled by train from their village in Hungary to the city of Budapest and we spent two lovely days together; Jane and Lance opened their home and we shared a delicious luncheon in Budapest. 
Blogging has brought a huge world to a more manageable level and has given me untold joys. Christian sisters, whom I'll never met this side of the veil, pray for me and I for them. When Dave suddenly died, people around the world tucked me into prayer and those prayers, heard by a sovereign God, sustained me.
It's like anything else in life. It can be used for good or evil; I choose good and my life has expanded in ways I could never have dreamt. Is blogging dead or dying? Perhaps but for those with eyes to read and hearts to share blogging will never die." 

This photo of Thistle Cove Farm was taken 2 or 3 miles, as the crow flies, away from the farm. Every now and again, I'll take a drive throughout the valley, camera in hand, and amuse myself by taking photos; a lot of those photos end up on the blog, in the books and on the book covers. Also, all my books have the tag line "The View From My Window, My Cup Overflows" on the front spine. There are two years left to print and one change I made with the 2011 book was to have the year printed on the cover. How much easier it is to find what I'm looking for when the date is on the cover, or spine, of the book!

I've mentioned, too many times, how I'm gathering the information gleaned after Dave's death, into a book. It's a far lengthier process than I'd first imagined due, in part, to the fact I'm still uncovering things that need processing and finishing. Just recently, I found several items that Dave never finished for his mother's estate and she died in 2008! Additionally, I found several items for Dave's estate and, for both estates, my lawyer has to petition the court to re-open the files and have me appointed Executor so both estates can be finished. AAAHHHGGGG doesn't begin to cover my emotional status! 

Added to that particular mix is the fact I have absolutely no clue how to publish a book. I don't have an agent...do I need an agent?...I don't have a publisher...do I self-publish, e-publish, publish a hardback or a spiral note book type that can be placed on the table and, along with a 3-ring  notebook be fully utilized particular to each person or family's needs? If you have any ideas or comments or help...whatsoever...please chirp. 

Finally (you say...finally! -smile-), Leigh, has written 5 Acres & A Dream The Book - The Challenges of Establishing a Self-Sufficient Homestead. I've looked through the table of contents and it's packed full of useful information. Somewhere in Southern Appalachia (hey, we could be neighbors!) Leigh and her family live on a 5 acre homestead where they live an agrarian lifestyle. We share many similar interests both in the home and on the land and, to date, she's sold more than 1,100 books since first published in December. If I were starting out, her's would be the book I would buy, read and heed.

Why do you blog? Please comment here and then write a post on why you blog and, if you have your blog printed, let me know it worked for you. 

Blessings ~ the myriad women and men whom I've met in blog land and in reality ~ my blog into books ~

You've worked me like a convict!

If laughter is good medicine, my heart is full and healthy. For almost a week, Stephanie, Beloved Sistah, visited and I haven't laughed so much, so loud and so long since well before Dave got sick in 2010! Steph is eight years younger than I and slipped into my heart the first moment I laid eyes on her, cradled in Mom's arms. When Mom brought her home from the hospital, the very first night, I slipped her from her crib and into my bed and was fully prepared to do my duty as Big Sister. Except for a very few times (that, frankly make me cringe) I've done just that. I'd definitely give that woman a kidney and, quite possibly, my liver if she needed either. 

Recently, she's had a few health problems so her husband brought her to Roanoke where I picked her up and brought her to the farm where I expected her to do a bit of R&R. Oh no, she did not! What she did do was pack up the dining room and Dave's office...massive jobs both as there were four pieces of furniture in the dining room and all filled with dishes and breakables. Some quite ancient, some antique, some only vintage but all extremely fragile. She would work feverishly (the only way the women in my family know how to work) and then, around 4 in the afternoon, we'd sit on the front porch where we'd shred paper. That's right...we filled eighteen fourteen gallon sized bags full of shredded paper from Dave's grandfather, his uncle, his mother, his first wife, Dave, a couple of companies...madness! We spent half dozen hours, on three nights, shredding paper that dated from 1932 in preparation for selling Thistle Cove Farm, here. The shredded paper was taken to Dr. Anne's for use in cat kennels and wasn't wasted. 

At one point, Stephanie turned to me and said, "You're working me like a convict!" then we both collapsed into laughter. These are halcyon days, even with all the work and made sweeter by Beloved Sistah's presence. She's home now, sorely missed but, God willing, the farm will sell so I can move closer to her and the rest of our family. In the meantime, I feel like Abraham; I'm preparing to move even though I don't know when nor where, exactly but am confident God, in His time, will make things clear. I'm hopeful and prayerful God will move me sooner than He moved Abraham; Abe was 75 when God said, "Go!" and Moses was 80 when he led his people out of Egypt! "Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me..."

In past years, God has moved me, several times, and truthfully sometimes I've never understood why. Dave has been dead a trifle more than 2.5 years and it's taken me this long to become emotionally ready to leave this farm. Like I've always said, "It takes as long as it takes"; grief cannot be rushed and it cannot be avoided. Grief will have its way and I believe it's best to walk through that valley of the shadow of death in order to come out the other side, in order to move forward with life.

I've been working on Thistle Cove Cottage, the Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach, SC rental condo and lots of other people have been enjoying it. (wry smile) This photo shows a portion of the dining and living areas but the table has been turned so the long side is against the wall. That gives much more space for both dining and walking through the area. 

The cottage is filled with meaningful things from home, such as this Hoosier cabinet in the full sized kitchen. Little touches like embroidery, baskets and Home Sweet Home plaques fill space. 

The master queen bedroom, with private bath, is comfortable and cozy and has balcony access to sit and watch the ocean. I best enjoy early mornings, sitting on the balcony, coffee in hand and having devotions, it's a sweet start to the day.

The second bedroom, with private bath, has twin beds and wall hangings from Budapest. The condo is deliberately not "beachy" because I wanted people to have a sanctuary, a place where they could feel the balm in Gilead when they returned after a long day on the beach, playing mini-golf, shopping or doing what they enjoy. The condo has a private pool, hot tub and rental rates haven't changed in two years. If you, or someone you know, would enjoy a beach vacation, please contact me for available dates. Peggy, "connected kin", is Manager and lives local so there's someone to call upon if need be.

My life isn't all that exciting right now...mainly work, work and more work but it's all good. I'm at a better place, emotionally, since I've been since Dave died and God is healing the hurt. I bless your name for remembering me in prayer; if not for your prayers and God's grace, mercy and love, I would not have made it. If you've time, please listen to Do Lord and Balm; both will lift and renew your spirit. God loves you with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms.

Blessings ~ prayers ~ Thistle Cove Farm ~ Thistle Cove Cottage ~ a balm in Gilead ~ laughter ~ Beloved Sistah ~ God's timing ~

Sabbath Keeping

"Where there is no vision,

the people perish."

~ Proverbs 29:18 ~

"The bad news is, times flies.

The good news is, you're the pilot."

~ Michael Altshule ~

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take,
all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.
The longer I live, the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and the wonder of the world."
~ John Burroughs ~

"Ordinary people think merely of spending time.

Great people think of using it."

~ unknown ~

"Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in."
~ Napoleon Bonaparte ~
"The Universe is centered on neither the Earth nor the Sun--it is centered on God."
~ Alfred Noyes ~

"Appreciate the moment." 

~ Isamu Noguchi ~

"...I was rich, if not in money, in sunny hours and summer days. ..." ~ Henry David Thoreau ~
"This time, like all other times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it."
"Time is a created thing. To say I don't have time is to say I don't want to." ~ Lao Tzu ~
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
"TODAY, I pray for --
1. A few friends who understand me and yet remain my friends.
2. Work to do which has real value, and without which the world would feel poorer.
3. An understanding heart.
4. Moments of leisure.
5. A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed.
6. A sight of the eternal hills and the unresting sea, and of something beautiful the hand of man has made.
7. The power to laugh.
8. Nothing at the expense of others.
9. The sense of the presence of God.
10. And the patience to wait for the coming of these things with the wisdom to know when they come."
~ Walter Reid Hunt, Ten Wise Wishes ~

"Beyond the sundown is tomorrow's wisdom,

today is going to be long, long ago."

~ Thomas Hornsby Ferril ~

"The time for action is now. It is never too late to do something." ~ Carl Sandburg ~

"Live as if you were eternal."

~ Andre Maurois ~

"We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you 

not to receive the grace of God in vain. 

For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, 

And in the day of salvation I have helped you." 

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

~ 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 ~

If you'd like a name added to the prayer list, please let me know.

Prayer Keeping ~ Jim ~ Donna ~ Stephanie ~ Sandra ~

Sabbath Keeping

"The Lord is my strength and my song;

He has become my salvation. 

He is my God,

and I will praise Him,

my father's God, 

and I will exalt Him."

~ Exodus 15:2 ~

"In our journey towards God, we proceed like those small birds whose flight is in loops. They always seem to be about to drop, but the drop in their flight seems to urge them forward." ~ Gerard W. Hughes ~
"Though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not. It is not wearied by our sins, or our indifference; and, therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sings, at whatever cost of us; at whatever cost to Him." ~ C. S. Lewis ~

"My dearest Lord

be though a bright flame before me,

be thou a guiding star above me,

be thou a smooth path beneath me,

be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,

today and for evermore."

~ St. Columba ~ 

"My strength fails; I feel only weakness, irritation and depression. I am tempted to complain and to despair. What has become of the courage I was so proud of and that gave me so much self-confidence? In addition to my pain, I have to bear the shame of my fretful feebleness. Lord, destroy my pride; leave it no resource. How happy I shall be if you can teach me by thee terrible trials that I am nothing, that I can do nothing and that you are all!" ~ Francois Fenelon ~ 

"God does not lead His children around hardship, 

but leads them straight through hardship. 

But he leads! 

And amidst the hardship, 

He is nearer to them than ever before."

~ Otto Dibelius ~

"Lord, teach me the art of patience whilst I am well, and give me the use of it when I am sick. In that day either lighten my burden or strengthen my back. Make me, who so often in my health have discovered my weakness presuming on my own strength, to be strong in my sickness when I rely solely on thy assistance." ~ Thomas Fuller ~ 
"Contentment is not satisfaction. It is the grateful, faithful, fruitful use of what we have, little or much. It is to take the cup of Providence, and call upon the name of the Lord. What the cup contains is its contents. To get all that is in the cup is the act and art of contentment. Not to drink because one has but half a cup, or because one does not like its flavor, or because somebody else has silver to one's own glass, is to lose the contents; and that is the penalty, if not the meaning, of discontent. No one is discontented who employs and enjoys to the utmost what he has. It is high philosophy to say, we can have just what we like if we like what we have; but this much at least can be done, and this is contentment: to have the most and best in life by making the most and best of what we have." ~ Maltbie D. Babcock ~ 

"Lord, I am a countryman

coming from my country to yours.

Teach me the laws of your country,

its way of life, it's spirit,

so that I may feel at home there."

~ William of St. Thierry ~ 

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,

we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven,

not built by human hands."

~ 2 Corinthians 5:1 ~ 

If you'd like a name added to the prayer list, please let me know. 

Prayer Keeping ~ Stephanie ~ Donna ~ Jim ~ Sandra ~