Saturday, January 31, 2009

Ho Hoe Ho


I ordered our '09 garden seeds from Heirloom Acres Seeds yesterday.  Knowing my harvest may bear little resemblance to the thumbnail photo representations of each garden delight daunts not my excitement, as I sit comfortably at the desk in the dead of winter.  Check with me in the dog days of summer and see if there are any hos alongside the hoes.  Realistically, there will be more hooo-weees than any other utterances, but on January 31st, I'm dreaming of a dreamy garden.

Alexandria Alpine STRAWBERRIES
Rutgers and Brandywine Black TOMATOES
Green, Red, Yellow, and Orange SWEET PEPPERS
Large Red HOT CHERRY PEPPERS
DiCicco and Green Sprouting BROCCOLI
Black ZUCCHINI
Lolla Rossa and Green Ice LEAF LETTUCE
Detroit Dark Red BEETS
Ebenezer WHITE ONIONS
Golden Self-Blanching CELERY
Bloomsdale Long Standing SPINACH
Orchard Baby SWEET CORN
Small Sugar PUMPKINS
Long Island Improved BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Blue Lake Bush GREEN BEANS
Atomic Red and Cosmic Purple CARROTS

Heavy on the carrots, because who wouldn't be excited over atomic red and cosmic purple carrots ... even if a girl isn't all that keen on eating carrots.  I think they'll make a lovely bouquet.



While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.  ~Genesis 8:22

Thursday, January 29, 2009

No Secret


[There are no images of dismemberment or death in these films.]



I do not endorse the makers of the following film.  [What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.  Philippians 1:18]



Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, and shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.  Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.  Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.  And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.  Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.  Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.  ~Psalms 106:37-43

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ~John 3:19

Loafing

"Has this been opened?" Son4 asked, rotating the loaf a bit, so I could get a good look at it.

"No, I don't think so," I replied.  After all, it had come into the house just the evening before.

"Then why'd they give us just half a loaf?" he asked, a look of consternation on his face.

"That's just the way they do it.  They must bake it in a pan (*pause*) ... twice that size (You go, math and abstract thinking skills!) ... then package it in halves to sell."

In his defense, I normally buy our pumpernickel from the bakery, where we receive a whole loaf the size of this halfer.  By the way, Son4, they didn't give us anything.  I'm sure your dad paid dearly for that bread, even at the Dolly outlet store.

I'm dreaming of a ham sandwich ... chased with a SuzyQ.

*singing*

Do you know Dolly
Like I know Dolly
Ooh, ooh, ooh what a gal!


Wait.  I'm dating myself.  And I don't even believe in dating.  Forget that singing part.


And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.  ~John 6:35

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Puzzling

If you write something to me in an email, another soul's eyes will never see it, unless I have your prior permission.  If, however, you send me photos, everyone and their brother may get a peek.  Mayhap I should have warned Cousin Annie of this fact long ago, but this won't be the first time her photos have not-so-mysteriously appeared on the www.

'Round about the time I was blathering here about jigsaw puzzles being one of my favorite things, Cousin Annie told me she was also working on a puzzle.  In time, she sent me a photo of said puzzle-in-progress.

It's going to be beautiful.  She chooses much harder puzzles than I, and she'll get her reward, when the lovely picture is complete.  Right now, though, it also makes me laugh.  I happen to do the same thing, and perhaps all puzzlers do: piece together particular elements within the puzzle before their connecting segments have been completed.  This one has given me chuckles:


Maybe it's just me, but I sure think this looks funny.




Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.  ~Psalms 103:13, 14

Monday, January 26, 2009

Blockhead

*raising hand*

I've had blogger's-block for a while.

Couple of things:  1) There are several layers of that's-really-not-funny hanging around, and a girl can't just keep beating that sort of literary drum; 2) One of the unfunnies intermittently ramps-up and requires a gazillion emails and phone calls, so that there's little time and less oomph for chronicling inane tidbits from life on earth.

Charles (who you realize isn't really "Charles" at all) phoned me from work this afternoon to say he'd ordered a propane fill.  Told that we'd be put in a 4-day delivery schedule, together we decided the truck was surely days away from pulling into our country driveway.  NOT!  You never saw a woman paint her face so fast in your life!  I probably look, though, like Bette Davis in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane."  I'm afraid to do a mirror survey, because it's too late now.  Don't be afraid about the movies I'm watching, because I haven't seen that one in decades and never will again; my vivid recall of Bette Davis' face is just one of several reasons to be faithfully and critically selective in movie-viewing.

Speaking of painting, I was recently led to the blog of a gal I went to school with many moons ago, a folk artist, whose wares are delightful.  In fact, Mrs. Piecrust has one of Cathie's prints framed and hanging in her living room.  If you've a heart for folk art, drop by Pigment of Your Imagination and treat yourself to a lovely journey through her wonderful works.  ºÜº


Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.  ~I Corinthians 15:58

Thursday, January 22, 2009

More Visions of SugarPlum











And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.  ~Mark 9:42

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

I Came - I Watched - I Sobbed

It was worthy to be deemed a current events class, so we sat to watch the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America.  As President-elect Obama entered the scene, the director switched to the camera which would televise the ocean of people cheering and waving flags from up-stretched arms.  Wholly unexpectedly, I began sobbing.  The ocean, the cheers, the humanity.  The humanity.  That's what grabbed my soul.

A)  They don't realize what they've done.
B)  They do realize what they've done.

Neither choice was a comfort.  I sobbed for the people.

"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."


And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.  ~Revelation 22:17, 20, 21

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Don't Look Down

Some celebrate.  Some frenetically, really.  Scary.
Some are somber.  Very somber.

I tell fluffy, lighthearted tales, provide photographic evidence that dinner rolls will successfully bake on a 45º angle, and implore you to admire chicken feathers with me ... but important things are happening.

This former republic (not a democracy, in case you've fallen prey to propaganda) is on a fast train to socialist civil government — at best.  The speed and agility with which the change has been crafted have amazed me.

Things are changing and will continue to change.

Clearly, the vast majority of U.S. citizens and illegal aliens chose in the voting booths Barack Obama and his ideology to lead this nation.

In his Philadelphia speech yesterday, President-elect Obama said, "...It was these ideals that led us to declare independence and craft our constitution, producing documents that were imperfect but had within them, like our nation itself, the capacity to be made more perfect." (emphasis added)

If he swears to uphold the Constitution, we will know he has signaled in advance that he deems it faulty and desires to change it.  The types of changes he has in mind remain to be seen, and I wonder if one might pertain to the qualifications of candidates for the office of U. S. President, since no proof of Barack Obama's natural born citizenship has been produced, and evidences that he is not a natural born citizen are many and varied.

Just as troubling, President-elect Obama also stated, "What is required is a new declaration of independence, not just in our nation, but in our own lives — from ideology and small thinking, prejudice and bigotry — an appeal not to our easy instincts but to our better angels." (emphasis added)

Independence from personal ideology?  Ideology is a person's or group's collective concepts of human life or culture.  No person or group of people can live in a vacuum of thought or belief.  Will someone determine — for everyone — what is right thinking, right living?  Who are these "better angels?"  The Bible says even Satan can appear as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14).  I'm concerned about Barack Obama's better angels.  I don't know them and have never heard of them before.  I'm inclined to believe I'd rather not encounter them, given his beliefs and practices.  ["To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa 8:20]

This is off-topic, but I've been looking for a place to pose this question, and I'm choosing this place: Can anyone tell me why a man whose dad is so-named black and mother is so-named white — and is, himself, a shade of tan — is called a "black man?"  What's the criterion for choosing a racial identification?  I suppose the Scots gave me my polka-dots; the Cherokees lent some cheekbones and the ability to tan; the English may have plopped this nose on my face. What am I?  I am not, singularly, any "race" or color in the rainbow.  It kinda sounds to me like I'm a mutt, but I've never encountered that choice on any forms or documents.  I wouldn't be the least offended by that offering, because it fits me.  Why is Barack Obama being called a black President? 

Jesus, the Messiah, will come.  In these days of increasing darkness and deception, be reminded to look up, not down, for the feet of the Messiah.  We are given a litmus test for identifying Jesus, the Christ: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words (I Thess 4:16-18)."  When He comes again — and He will — the Messiah's feet will not touch the earth.

As we watch the machinations of national and world civil governance and mark how circumstances are aligning for the fulfillment of end times prophecies, look up.  Our redemption draweth nigh.  \o/

Be Ready!



Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.  ~I John 2:18

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Cat-in-the-Box Not

He wanted to.
It wasn't gonna happen.


This is not his face.
If you could see his face, you'd know he was pretty sad.
Even his stumpy little tail looks sad, doesn't it.


Yep, that's a pretty sad tail.
Stop snifflin'.
Grab a tissue, and get a grip on yourself.

The very next day, a box arrived for Purrle.
Leaned against a wall, he stood on his hind legs and opened it.
Climbed right in.


We closed it for him.


Fat, happy Cat-in-the-Box.



Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  ~Hebrews 11:1

Friday, January 16, 2009

Favorite Thing - Jigsaw Puzzles

I used to do only the artwork of Charles Wysocki.  When, over a period of several years, I'd exhausted his offerings, I switched to Hometown puzzles for a while.  Although his paintings are beautiful, they're not my favorite in jigsaw puzzles, but I enjoyed a collection of 10 Thomas Kincaid puzzles my brother bought for me.  Now I've discovered the artist Roger Nannini and am hooked on his puzzle offerings.  His artistry is similar to Wysocki's, but I can tell you it's a whale of a lot easier to identify and piece Nannini's trees, and I'm all about easy.  A girl just doesn't want her puzzle play to be ... work.  And he's keen on chickens, inserting some in each painting.  I'm keen on chickens too.

These most recent acquisitions came in tins.  Ah, tins.  Now, I'm not one to glue together a puzzle and decorate my house with it, but I'm heartin' those tins so much, that I may allow them to lolligag in the living room for a spell.





Favorite thing — Jigsaw Puzzles


There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  ~Hebrews 4:9

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Shameless Continuation

As if it wasn't bad enough that I blogged my own birthday, I'm not even finished yet.

"Last year, you thought I was kidding, and you bought me a cake.  Now I mean it.  I want you to make me a cake."  Their poor little stricken faces.  For cryin' in a bucket, I didn't ask for raspberry cordial.  I think, though, they'd sooner have jumped on building an automobile from scratch.

They did it.  And they did a right fine job — especially for a couple of young manly men, who are happiest in a tree stand or studying Constitutional law.


Gotta love that cake.
Gotta love those sons.



Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord.  ~Psalm 127:3a

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

About That Rule

I like rules.  I think they make me feel comfortable and secure — like I know what I'm doing (or supposed to be doing) or something.  I made a rule before the end of the year that I wasn't going to blog birthdays in 2009.  When nothing appeared here last week upon the occasion of Son4's thirteenth birthday, someone asked how his birthday got passed-over, so I explained about the new rule and told of his lunch at Long John Silver's, seafood pasta salad for dinner, homemade raspberry cordial, Son3 doing his chicken chores for him, and the chocolate cake with white icing and green trim — all in accordance with the little darlin's humble, but specific, requests.

This post, though, is so like me: 1) Break a rule; 2) Break it for ME.

I can't help myself.  Just look what I awakened to this morning:


Now really, could I keep that to myself?


Moreover, that little fancy pants dawwwwg had left me a gift beneath the banner.  You think I'm kidding?  Calm down.  I possess more couth than to photograph that.  I'm telling myself he decided it was more thoughtful to not wake me in the wee hours of my special day.  Yeah, that's it.

Additionally, I chose and ordered some of my own gifts.  "Here, I can't open this.  You open it and hide it somewhere.  I ordered myself some jigsaw puzzles, and I can't remember which ones they are, so they'll be a surprise."  I'm such a squirrel.  Confession: I remember the name of one of them — "Moo Cows."  But I don't remember what it looks like.  SURPRISE!

I came down with the epizudiac on Sunday, so I'm sniffling and sneezing and hacking and whining.  Heavy on the whining.  Therefore, my birthday dinner is of little-to-no importance, as long as it's chocolate.  I'll be hanging out with Nurse Purrle today:


Attentive in his ministrations, isn't he.  What happened to the first knuckles on my toes?  Do I need to swallow my pride (and less chocolate) and buy bigger hosiery, so my piggies can stretch out and wiggle?  I'll think about that tomorrow.


I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.  Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.  ~Psalm 119:16, 17

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Cereal Art

They grabbed the camera and took off with it.  As so often is the case, I had no idea what they were doing, until it was too late.

It might not have been a big deal, if company wasn't to partake of the medium. They were, so I decided to not publish the photos until they'd had their fill of the boy-germs and gone home still healthy.

Uh, sorry.





*Sons brushing salty hands*


For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  ~Matthew 24:38-39

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

What Not to Wear

SugarPlum's Mama2 sent me some photos recently.  She's good about doing that.  Included this time was one of a beautifully enhanced Plum.  It seems the little Plum's daddy bought her some make-up.  Sweet.  I reckon it's never too early for a little girl to give attention to her grooming.  I reckon.  Ya think?


Bless her little pea-pickin' heart.  Doesn't she just look so pleased with herself.

Now, only on special occasions, Son2.  She's only 3 years old, so only let her wear her make-up on special occasions — like when you're taking her shopping or going out for dinner.


Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  ~Psalm 29:2

Monday, January 5, 2009

New Year - Old Habits




And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  ~Acts 17:30-31

Friday, January 2, 2009

1 Way

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  John 14:6

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  John 3:3

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  I Peter 1:23

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  Matthew 7:13, 14

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.  Hebrews 9:27, 28

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6:23

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  Romans 10:9

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Romans 10:13

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:1

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.  Ephesians 2:8, 9

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  Romans 8:1

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.  Amen.  Jude 1:24, 25

Thursday, January 1, 2009

2009

Tagged to list 10 New Year's resolutions, I prefer to reflect upon those things I want the Lord to do in my life, as He molds me into the person He wants me to be.  [For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.  Romans 7]  I am weak, but He is strong.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Philippians 1:20

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.
Matthew 6:13

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Luke 21:36

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
I Thessalonians 5:15

Rejoice evermore.
I Thessalonians 5:16

Pray without ceasing.
I Thessalonians 5:17

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I Thessalonians 5:18

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
I Thessalonians 5:21

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20


Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
I Thessalonians 5:24