Such is Life Wisdom

God is Love

2012-02-14T19:07:00.005-05:00

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

I John 4: 10-11

Love

2012-02-13T21:46:00.001-05:00

A quote by Ruth Graham:

"You look at me and see my flaws; I look at you and see flaws, too. Those who love know love deserves a second glance; each failure serves another chance.
Love looks to see beyond the scars and flaws, the cause; and scars become an honorable badge of battles fought and won - or lost - but fought! The product, not the cost, is what love sought.
God help us see beyond the now to the before, and note with tenderness what lies between - and love the more!

Freud's Work

2012-02-11T17:23:00.007-05:00

I have been slowly reading a book I have wanted to read for many years, Passions of the Mind, by Irving Stone, a biographical novel about Sigmund Freud. Stone researched Freud, his meticulous notes and correspondences for five years, and it reads quite true. I am not yet halfway through, but I am where Freud has determined that the cause of some physical problems is neurosis, i.e. coming from the mind, and is successfully treating patients with talk as well as hypnosis.

Life experiences can be neutral, good or bad, but they all affect us. Freud seems to be among the first to have linked emotions caused by negative experiences with abnormalities in the body. “Hysterics suffer mainly from reminiscences,” his friend Breuer agreed. To treat these patients he often used hypnosis. In essence, he talked the patient to a place of mental ease so the patient could tell what repressed fearful or conflicting thing happened. Then Freud would tell them they were no longer having that experience and they could let go of the memory. Within a few visits most were cured. When I was a new nurse, we used hypnosis, and it is remarkable. Today is a different story, and because hypnosis was and still often is maligned, misused and misunderstood, I don't know who would dare to use it therapeutically. And unfortunately psychiatry seems to have declined to the point that it is all about pharmaceuticals. Freud's bio reminds me that some wisely used hypnosis could be beneficial to many people.

whoops

2012-02-10T18:07:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday this week, I got into a car accident. Nothing major really. I barely felt the impact, am not injured at all, and neither is my car. The little bit of rubber on my VW’s rear panel from the bumper of the car that hit me must have easily come off in the car wash today. But the other driver called a policeman, and after his evaluation, he charged me with the accident. I am not arguing it, but I am letting it make me feel pretty stupid. Yesterday the insurance man called and said the young man who was driving the other car is trying to claim some sort of injury. Impossible! Then I moved from feeling foolish to feeling mad. Frustrations and irritations that I get are almost always short-lived, almost gone as soon as they come. I really trust my God, the One who perceives my thoughts from afar and is intimately acquainted with all my ways, the One who sees my past, present, and future and knows what is best for me. I believe that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. I also think it is just fine, and necessary, to take time to process emotional events (as this was to me), get the lesson from it, and then let it go. After all, most things are beyond our control. I think I am ready to move on. Now all that is left is a court date!

How much is enough?

2012-02-05T23:25:00.002-05:00

The prez and his family rankled many Americans in December when we learned they were having a four million dollar holiday vacation. Now the presidential candidates are continuing to spend unbelievable sums to get votes just to be the party nominee. Congrats to the New York Giants, but what huge amounts of money go not only into the event but also those over the top commercials. Enormous spending, and for what? All this in a time when many Americans are deeply in debt, work hard and watch every penny, or live a paycheck away from homelessness. There is such a divide between those who have an extreme amount of money at their disposal and the working class.

Quotations for President's Month

2012-02-02T21:10:00.007-05:00

We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.
Abraham Lincoln

Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.
Abraham Lincoln

That some should be rich, shows that others may become rich, and, hence, is just encouragement to industry and enterprise.
Abraham Lincoln

If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we will be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
George Washington

To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones.
George Washington

I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is the best policy.
George Washington

The Subject is Lily

2012-02-01T16:10:00.007-05:00

Watercolor class is tomorrow, and it is Georgia O'Keefe day. How fun is that! We are to bring in a flower and try to emulate her style. In my mind, she was a sensual painter, and I didn't think that buttercups, the only thing flowering in my yard right now, would do. And though I love the pom and daisy like flowers, I wanted something more voluptuous, like a lily. I knew they were at Whole Foods. They caught my eye as soon as I walked in. So pretty! But I didn't need an entire thirteen dollar bunch, just one for an up close subject. I asked. Bless her heart, the salesgirl would let me pick out the one I wanted for just two dollars. I looked them over trying to choose, but something important was missing on all of them! Though the pistils looked healthy, the stamens were unnaturally pointed at the end. Barren. "The flower girl pinches them off because they are messy." Oh my...The lilies had all been castrated! Georgia would never have approved of that. Because of my artistic dilemma, she also threw in a stem of unopened and intact white lilies. I don't know what I will come up with in class tomorrow, but they made a pretty photograph today.

Sphere of Influence

2012-01-31T12:06:00.015-05:00

Each time I clean my bathroom, I wipe the faucets to a shine and mentally thank a friend from our twenty-something years who planted the idea in my head. I had not thought of it at all, but she loved it when her faucets were pretty and sparkling! Prior to that, when I was eighteen and in college and required to go to chapel daily, I sat behind a girl who was constantly chewing her cuticles. Though I never knew her, I picked up the same (bad) habit. Not too many years ago I sang in choir, altos on the front row, and each Wednesday, Glenn, the bass behind me would ask in a sort of humorous way, “How are you?” elongating the you to a nasal yeew. Another habit learned. I often think of him when I automatically speak a silly yeew at the end of that most frequently asked question. Sometimes a person will tell me something they remember that I have said or done, and I will think…yep, that sounds like me. We all have the potential to impact people's lives in small ways. I wonder if Carol is still keeping her faucets shiny.

Scenic Conway

2012-01-28T22:03:00.009-05:00

A grand old Southern tree. A live oak draped with Spanish moss.

A nice day for canoeing.

Thanks Nikki.

2012-01-26T14:52:00.003-05:00

Today was the second time I have heard our governor speak, and I am inspired by her. Not only did she she wear a pair of those cute boots I mentioned a post or two ago, but she talked enthusiastically and lovingly about the great State of South Carolina. Even though she is not ancestrally Southern, she seems like a true Southern girl, and I really like that; she is pretty, smart, socially skilled, and tough. Some of her talk today was centered around finances such as difficulties working with the obsolete and stubborn Budget and Control Board, fighting for fiscal restraint, yearly tax reforms, backing Romney primarily for his good business abilities, and opposition from the federal government. I felt really glad that this competent, positive and hopeful young woman is passionately working on many of the things I believe in also.

Grapefruit

2012-01-24T17:25:00.001-05:00

January is a wonderful time for grapefruit. It tastes refreshing and cleansing, and I love the way my mouth puckers at first bite. This pretty variety is called Rio Star. Grapefruits are of course loaded with that wonderful nutrient Vitamin C that does so many important functions in our body. Go ahead. Treat yourself to a few.

Sexy Boots vs. Black Pants

2012-01-22T20:05:00.004-05:00

I followed four skinny college girls into church this morning. Three were dressed in short skirts, leggings, and almost to the knee leather boots. The other had on tight blue jeans with the tall boots. Each walked with a confidence that a girl gets only when she knows she is well dressed. Me? I had on my best pair of black pants. As any working woman knows, you cannot have too many pairs of black pants. It is almost a uniform among us women of a certain age and size. They can be denim, twill, stretchy, or dressy. They go with anything, can be dressed up or down, make you look thinner, and people are less likely to notice your below the waist parts when they are covered by the darkest of colors. What a blessing they are! It would be fun to once again have the young body that honestly I hardly got to know. I think I would have loved those long boots. But I am settled into being the mature me now, and that includes a wardrobe of black pants for any occasion.

I voted

2012-01-21T15:19:00.004-05:00

...but I politely declined the I voted sticker. "I'm not going anywhere," I told her. No place but back home. We have had heavy rains and thunder all day and I have been happy to stay put. I checked the weather channel earlier and it said "cloudy" in Greenville. Ha! But the national news guys reporting on the primary got it right when they wondered how the downpour would affect the outcome. Not much in my district, the poll workers said. At least now that it is all over in SC, the deluge of political ads will end. Watch out, Florida. They are coming your way.

In Today's Class

2012-01-19T17:25:00.000-05:00

The watercolor teacher stuck with the apple theme today, working on some basics that I really needed. He gave each of us a picture of an apple with a black background and we were to paint it, the apple, in ten minutes flat. That was a perfect challenge for me because I found I knew more than I thought I did. Then we did another (this pic) focusing on the very black background. When we finished we put all our pics on the board. As you can see, they all look pretty much alike. Mine was not that bad.

Who will it be?

2012-01-18T19:41:00.006-05:00

If you are busy at work, or if you keep your nose in a book or your head in the sand, a South Carolinian may miss all the hoopla. But if you turn on television, answer the phone, or take in your mail, you would think the upcoming Republican primary is all there is! Since I have made up my mind, I find those ads to be just a waste of air time and paper as well as a source of irritation, but on Saturday, the results will be in and the primary will be history. On local talk radio this afternoon, I heard that the pollsters are scratching their heads because they don't see a clear winner. Good for us! The liberal-type media continues to be mystified by the Evangelicals whom they assume abound in our state. Who will those Christians choose? Actually we are a diverse and growing population with about three million eligible voters, and we will come up with a winner. It is interesting, sort of, being a part of the process.

I love that old time Rock and Roll

2012-01-14T23:40:00.004-05:00

The hubby and I went to the Bob Seger concert tonight. Our seats were on the small mezzanine level right near the stage, not too bad for getting the tickets just yesterday. I thought it was a great concert and the rest of the approximate eleven hundred in the audience seemed to think so, too. Bob Seger sang just as good as ever, and at sixty-six he can still move around the stage. There were no pyrotechnics or gimmicks, just great rock and roll music. I took some little videos with my iPhone, but they didn't turn out as well as I hoped and that bummed me out. Anyway...I loved it.

Sometimes an apple...

2012-01-13T14:04:00.018-05:00

So far watercolor seems to be one of those things that I have a hard time grasping. I just know that I will get it eventually. After all, it looks so easy! Yesterday was my first class of a new eight week session, and it is with a different artist with a different style of teaching. To begin, he passed around a bag of apples and we each picked one, first to draw and then to paint. I thought…I can do this. But the more I looked at that apple, the more I saw. I saw the light shifting on its shiny red surface and shadows trying to decide where to settle beneath it. There were specks of gold and stripes of Cabernet, a stem springing from a pale green navel. It was more complex that I could handle! Although I did come up with something that resembled a red apple, the result may not have landed me in the top of the class. I figure it's OK to be a student with nowhere to go but up.

Wild Wild Weather

2012-01-12T21:17:00.007-05:00

We have had some spectacular skies the past couple of days. If I were a meteorologist I may understand why, but my uneducated brain is simply marveling at the intense beauty. Tonight the wind is whipping around, the waning moon is providing enough light to see the ominous gray clouds, and the constellations are brightly visible. Yesterday, rains were alternately heavy and misty, the clouds heavy, stratified and dark, yet at other times the sky was filled with layers of brilliantly lit, angelic clouds. The only pic I got was with my phone in the car. I love an awesome sky.

The Lowly Meatloaf

2012-01-10T17:21:00.003-05:00

I wish I could do vegan. Truly. I am sure it is makes the human body operate at peak performance and makes us feel really good, but being born and bred American, I often crave the food I know the best, especially in the winter. More and more I appreciate the wonderfully versatile meatloaf. It is good out of the oven of course, but also good cold in sandwiches. It can be frozen serving size and popped out to be enjoyed in its usual sliced form, or it can be be cubed and used in spaghetti sauce in place of meatballs. It also falls in that category of comfort food. yum...

Mamas, love your babies.

2012-01-08T09:40:00.004-05:00

Ninety years ago a young woman was one day away from giving birth to her first child. My grandmother often talked of that day and how in the agony of childbirth, she yelled out to the doctor as he was trying to calm her, “How many babies have you had!” My mother grew up very loved, as I was, as my children were and still are, and my grandchildren, too. Lori and I were talking yesterday about the love that we get in our earliest years and how it gives us strength for the rest of our lives. There is no replacement for it. It is a cushion, the spring of self worth, and a place to lick our wounds. That is just how it is.

Warming and more

2012-01-05T13:17:00.006-05:00

Having more padding than the average human needs does not keep me warm in these cold days as it may seem that it should. I have to rely on layers, wool socks, and cups of hot drinks that heat my hands and innards. For Christmas I got some great loose Jasmine tea and a neat floating tea infuser (thank you Trip and Lori) and a fine and hip china mug (thanks Carin), and I have been enjoying them all together. After my last drink of the fragrant and sweet Jasmine tea, I looked to see what the health benefits could be. Honestly I was surprised to see there were so many. It calms your nerves, helps with weight loss, reduces risk of cancer, and helps prevent fat absorption. I have also been drinking some organic white tea from Stuart the tea man. I have learned that this tea, from tender, young, barely processed leaves, is the very best tea for us because it is so high in antioxidants and improves our body’s immune response. Both of these teas need no adulteration by sweeteners since they taste good enough without. I think the case for tea will keep me drinking on through summer.

First Book of the New Year

2012-01-01T14:09:00.001-05:00

Today begins the much anticipated year of 2012. I hope it is a happy and blessed one for us all.

The cold and often gray month of January has become a welcome time of refreshment. With its short days and low demands except for those I place on myself, one thing I feel set free to do is to open waiting books and read with intensity. I just finished The King’s Pleasure, a biographical novel about Katharine of Aragon written about forty years ago by Norah Lofts, and recommended by a co-worker. As we know, a well written book has the ability to take us to another time and place; this one took me to sixteenth century England.

Just about as much as I am taken to a bygone or different era or situation, by the time I get into a book I also start feeling a connection with the author. I wonder what the room is like that she is writing in. I picture her sitting alone, writing by hand, on an old typewriter or new computer, pulling just the right words from her brain, and reviewing for long hours, for that is what it would take to come up with a cohesive and interesting tale. (Unless of course one is manic.) In their pensive, quiet times, authors also must precisely record their astute observations that give stories their character. Here are some simple and true observations Lofts gave about people.

”…it happens when too much power falls into the wrong hands.”

“To become excited, to laugh and cry too readily, to show rage…it never serves.”

“Sharp words, spoken with a smile, can pass for wit.”

“Patience and time sort all things.”

“Smiles are interchangeable currency.”

Being Remembered

2011-12-30T11:11:00.010-05:00

As a year comes to a close, news sources remind us of people who have died during the past twelve months, the people just about everybody is aware of, the ones who have reached the public eye. They didn't get such acclaim when they were born. Who knew what they could or would become? But during their lifetimes they did something to get our collective attention. Maybe they entertained us regular folks or committed nefarious acts; maybe they led the masses or designed products we all use. We will miss many of them, at least for a short while, then their names will be relegated to at best a history book, then forgotten with the passing of a generation or two. In my line of work, we see people who are not famous. Matter of fact many are the least among us. Some have lived marginally all their days and can hardly bear life on earth any longer. Today I remember a couple of those who have died this year by their own will. They won’t make any big world list, but there was someone who loved them, someone who will not just remember but grieve for a very long time.

missed

2011-12-27T20:20:00.003-05:00

At just two days past, we are still well in the Christmas season. Some of the people I have come in contact with are still celebrating or exchanging gifts, and others are talking about what they did on the big day. It is interesting to hear how different people experience it and what their traditions are. One tradition I have kept through the years is the reading of the Christmas story from Luke, preferably by the youngest reader, before the opening of presents. Unfortunately this tradition slipped my mind this year. I thought of it several times during the day, planned to get out the big old Bible, and wondered who the reader would ultimately be. But when the time came…poof…the first time in forty plus years, amid all the fun, I forgot, and we did not read the Christmas story at any time during the evening. Maybe I needed Trip here to remind me. I apologize to my children and grandchildren for missing this tradition. It has been as important to me as placing Mama, the angel, atop the tree.

Reason for the Season

2011-12-25T09:04:00.003-05:00

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:1 and 12.

"Behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins."

Matthew 1:20-21

Christmas Treats

2011-12-24T10:28:00.002-05:00

Sally and Caroline made some adorable goodies: these little mice made of Hershey kisses and maraschino cherries and this covered pretzel made to look like a snowman.

Orange Slices for the Tree

2011-12-23T10:34:00.000-05:00

I saw these on line and thought they would be about the easiest-to-make homemade ornaments ever. You just cut slices of oranges, place on a baking sheet, bake for 4-5 hours at about 175 degrees. Turn occasionally. Mine weren't dried at the end of that time but I took them out and put string through them anyway. They will finish drying out while hanging. They actually give a pretty little translucent glow.

And at Christmas, too.

2011-12-22T16:31:00.010-05:00

In today's mail was what looked like a Christmas card, but when I opened it, the big blue letters on the front of the card showed that it was from the plumbing company that did some work for us this week. Inside were the signatures of employees and a greeting that said, "We hope we put a smile on your face." A look of shock and disgust would be more like it. Have you called a plumber lately? A downstairs toilet had a leak, possibly, and we wanted to have it checked. The other had a handle that had to be held down for an extra second or two for a good flush. When the plumber said he would go to the truck and come back with a written estimate, I knew we were in trouble. We did agree to some work but not all that the friendly young guy hoped. Good grief. "No," I want to say. "There was no smile." Those sinister people...

The Christmas Flower

2011-12-19T09:39:00.004-05:00

The pretty poinsettia. It is named for Joel Poinsett who, I believe, had a summer home here in Greenville. In fact, many places around here bear the name Poinsett.

A Joyful Noise

2011-12-18T13:30:00.006-05:00

In a note in the church bulletin, the choir director said he could use a few more voices for the Christmas program. Happy memories of Christmases past popped in my head and I went to practice that October afternoon. I used to love being in choir. I loved all of it, especially all that went into big seasonal events – learning the music, the anticipation, the dress rehearsals, being one voice among many, and finally the exciting actual performance as we all aimed for perfection. Since I had not done choir in many years, I knew I would have to practice, practice. I knew I would have to dig deep inside to catch a decent note and sustain it. I knew I would have to learn some new music. Could I do it? Though I didn’t get as good as I would have liked, tonight I will be there, one little voice among many. Hopefully I won’t mess up too bad.

Fine Wine

2011-12-14T10:39:00.003-05:00

When we got home yesterday, we saw a box left by USPS on our front porch. The return address told us that a colleague of the hubby's must have sent him something for Christmas. He opened it and found these two bottles of wine, solidly wrapped. Neither of us is a wine connoisseur, far from it, but I knew I had heard of one of them. A quick search showed that the Lafite is worth a pretty penny. He called to thank his friend, who probably bought them at a wine auction, and eventually discussed its value. "Do what you want with it," the hubby was told. It looks like a good investment. The other bottle is pricey, too, but perhaps not too much for a couple of non-oenophiles to enjoy.

A Tree Story

2011-12-11T13:08:00.012-05:00

Today the Christmas tree is going up. Its branches haven't come to a restful position yet as it has been tied up tightly for who knows how long, but with help it will soon be ready for lights and ornaments. Christmas is a time of remembering, and each year when the new tree is still bare, I remember an event from when I was about nine or ten. Mother, Daddy and I had brought our tree home from the Christmas tree lot and were placing it in its stand in the living room when Mother spotted a folded piece of paper hanging from one of the middle branches. She opened it and read the crudely printed words, "Will you please send me a shirt." That simple plea tugged at our hearts, and we wanted right away to send something warm and flannel to the cold young boy or man we imagined had written them. We wondered where he lived and what the circumstances were of his life, and we wished we could help. Every year since, I have scanned my tree for such a note, though I never found another, and thought of that guy who was outside in the hard winter cutting trees that would bring Christmas joy into people's home. I hope he warmed up and had a good life.

Bethlehem

2011-12-09T20:50:00.009-05:00

When I was in Israel, one place we visited was the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, which is believed to be built at the exact place of Jesus's birth. Since we are nearing Christmas, here is a brief account of my experience there.

The bus stopped at a checkpoint when we entered Bethlehem, and from my window, I saw the armed guards motion us through. It felt rough there, a little hostile, but maybe that was just me. Our driver took us up the narrow winding roads to an angled slot in a parking garage filled with other tour buses, and we disembarked and headed up the road to the massive old church. The inside was beautiful, awesome. There were sightseers, pilgrims from all over the world, mostly in groups about the same size as ours. Each seemed to have a leader who occasionally presented a lesson in a language that I did not understand. Pressed together, we the crowd inched along making our way toward the front, and as we did, we became hushed and reverent as if everyone was sensing the holiness of the place. I did not even take a picture inside except for one of the ceiling lights shortly after I stepped in. I just experienced it. In the front, there was a small semicircle of stone steps going down. One by one, each of us, from the four corners of the globe on a single mission, walked down the steps and under a low arched opening called the Door of Humility to reach the site over the grotto where Jesus was born. A metal star on the floor with a round hole in it marked the spot. We could look down into darkness as if it were that night. The sun was setting when when we went back outside, but we saw Manger Square where, we were told, many people will be celebrating on December 25.

Topping off a good hour

2011-12-02T21:45:00.005-05:00

I really enjoy the once a month meeting of Republican women and leave feeling inspired, but I also like the old elegance that I find missing in new America. The table is set properly and pretty, we are served impeccably, and everyone has good table manners. It feels so right! For dessert yesterday we had this delicious baked Alaska pie, a specialty of the house. Peppermint ice cream in a chocolate cookie crust, covered by a high meringue and topped with a rich chocolate sauce. I snapped a pic with my low tech phone. Yummy.

Arabic Coffee

2011-12-01T07:42:00.009-05:00

Something else I experienced in Jerusalem was delicious coffee. When I was offered some, I asked, "Turkish?" because I knew of it, but the vendor, almost offended, answered, "No. Arabic." And I received a delicious, small, sweet, flavorful cup of coffee. I got this half pound bag of the aromatic, brown, powdery grind to bring home, but I have not been able to duplicate the taste of what I had there. From what I read, what makes it Arabic is the specific way it is brewed. In the market, young men were briskly walking the stone streets carrying mesh bags that held round metal trays of filled cups to sell to the public or workers in the stalls.

Old Songs Say So Much

2011-11-27T15:04:00.001-05:00

My remote and I stumbled across a wonderful PBS show this afternoon. I had seen part of it before and was thrilled to see it again. As much as I try to at keep up with and accept the trends in music, it is the old music of my childhood that lingers in my heart. This fundraiser presented the best of the genre that preceded and then collided with a young rock and roll. It is because of my mother, a woman of many loves, that I am familiar with these wonderful old tunes. When I was little, it seems that she was always singing, whether it was her favorites from the forties or along with the pop music on the radio, and by a natural force, I was gathered in to do the same. Now I see what "bewitched" us. I hear honest passions, common yearnings, humor, and clarity of voice in songs such as You Belong to Me, Wayward Wind, and Remember When. I don't know of any song that doesn't come with a memory. (I guess our brains are just wired that way.) They cut across time and place and take us back. It was fun to reminisce this afternoon. Maybe my mother was hanging out somewhere near and singing with me.

Dead Sea Scrolls

2011-11-23T08:11:00.010-05:00

In Israel, we went to or near the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by Bedouins back in 1947 on the eve of the establishment of Israel. Yesterday, yahoo had an item about the Dead Sea Scrolls and the odd behaviored, very strict sect of Jews called the Essenes who wrote them close to 2000 years ago. Because of my trip, I could picture the caves, the Bedouins wandering the mountainous desert lands, the huge pottery jugs holding the time capsules, and even the Essenes since we got such a good education about them. Traveling is wonderful. Interesting to me was that they were written on parchment, on the skin of kosher animals, and in Hebrew, the same language as used today, unchanged. I thought about how much the English language has changed since its earliest time. This picture may not show an actual cave in Kumran (Qumran) where they were found, but it is nearby and one of many of the caves in the area.

Caesarea on the Mediterranean

2011-11-22T08:07:00.004-05:00

Info about Caesarea.

Reflection and Remembrance

2011-11-21T07:03:00.002-05:00

At many of the stops with Christian significance, Bob, the rector of the church and also a Jew, read to us from the Bible and offered inspired teachings.

Nature in Israel

2011-11-21T06:26:00.004-05:00

The spreading trunk and fallen edible fruit of the jujube tree, also called Christ's thorn. It is believed the crown of thorns was made from its spiny, flexible limbs.Rushing waters of the Dan Stream.Pretty acorns from the Mt. Tabor Oak.A coney or hyrax as mentioned in Proverbs.
Proverbs 30:24-28 (NIV)
24. Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:
25. Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
26. hyraxes are creatures of little power,
yet they make their home in the crags;
27. locusts have no king,
yet they advance together in ranks;
28. a lizard can be caught with the hand,
yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

Around Mount Arbel

2011-11-20T06:36:00.012-05:00

A high place near the Sea of Galilee. I chose to stay back a bit, not look at the vista over yet another precipice, and instead take a few pictures of what was on the land. I am sure I enjoyed that even more.It was a barren, rocky place, but really if you look, there was life all around.
These two pictures reminded me of the words of Jesus in Luke 19:42: "...if they keep quiet, even the stones will cry out."

The only tree up there.

People

2011-11-19T13:51:00.008-05:00

Part of a group at one of the bus stops dancing and singing about Yeshua. I actually joined in the dancing with them. My sons would not be surprised at that!
Looked like Jewish men attending a funeral. Thanks to Jacob, I learned that Conservative Jews place rocks on the burial places to show respect.
This woman was in the market.
These folks who may be Nigerian were getting in the gate to Capernaum.
Walking up the hill. Unfortunately I do not remember where.
A bride was at one of the summits having her picture taken.
This guy was preaching into a movie camera. I don't know his intended audience.
This is Hasheem, a shopkeeper in the market. Only 22 and speaks many languages.

Dead Sea

2011-11-19T12:46:00.004-05:00

One stop we made was at the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on the planet. Some of us brought our bathing suits to experience floating in the salt water. This pic is of another group there. The guys have the slimy, black, sandy mud on them. It's supposed to be healthy.

Two Terrors

2011-11-19T08:46:00.011-05:00

1. Descending to the ancient water tunnel at Megiddo: This is not a walk I would ever have desired to do, but I did it rather than seem lame. Afterward, I was lame! The muscles in my upper legs (quadriceps) were so contracted for two days, I had difficulty getting off the bus. I would have taken more pictures but both hands were busy gripping the tiny rail.2. Going through this tunnel in Jerusalem near one of the walls - an archaeological excavation. We thought it must be similar to what miners experience. I wish I could say what the purpose of it was, but I don't know. Perhaps where the Holy of Holies was at one time. I know I was glad to get out.

Date Palm

2011-11-19T08:35:00.002-05:00

The country was rocky and dry but these tall prolific producers dotted the sandy landscape. The dates are also a source of honey, hence the land of milk and honey.

A Holy Place

2011-11-19T05:05:00.006-05:00

Believed to be Golgotha.

People waiting to get in to see the tomb. Only about five could get in at a time.
Believed to be the tomb where Jesus lay.
In the garden, a reminder of God's love.

pomegranate juice

2011-11-18T05:58:00.004-05:00

One vendor in the market offered fresh squeezed pomegranate juice. I love it and had to get some. This dirty fingered guy slashed the fruit in half and pressed each side with a heavy juicer rendering about 8 to 10 ounces. It was delicious!

more on the market

2011-11-18T05:21:00.007-05:00

I am calling the area of the Old City with the long shop lined alley-like streets the market, but it is also called the Arab Market, bazaar, and I don't know what else. What I do know is that once we were there, Casey and I kept saying to each other things like, "This is just fabulous!" And it was. We were able to go twice. The first time was when slipped off by ourselves. It was pretty easy. We walked to a nearby corner to catch the train, then got off at the third stop, the one after Damascus Gate. After asking directions a few times, we reached the gorgeous, modern open air "mall" Mamilla. We enjoyed walking along and were able to resist the fantastic art and jewelry. When the mall ended, we found ourselves atop the roof that began the Old City and found a palpable sense of peace there. We made our way to some market streets and joined in the fun. I loved talking with the shopkeepers, all of whom were enormously kind, helpful, and took time to educate us. We had conversations with Bedouins, Moslems, and an Aramaic speaking Christian. There is a verse in one of the Gospels, which in describing the ministry of Jesus, says something like it would take many books to write all that Jesus had done. That was one thing I thought of there as it applied to my visit. We had too many wonderful experiences in such a short time that I cannot write them all down. The second visit was a couple of days later while it was still light, and we entered through a different gate. It was filled with masses of local people in what I will ignorantly describe as their native outfits. It was just as exciting.

Back home at last

2011-11-17T14:09:00.004-05:00

We took the long way home, but the important thing is that we made it. I got some sleep last night between 0200 and 1100. The swelling is going down in my feet and ankles, and I think I am going to make it. Raymond cooked me a delicious American hamburger, and I am catching up on the news. Although I am so thankful to be able to have had this wonderful experience, I don't think I would choose a tour again. I had mental and physical overload! But tourism is a major business there, tour buses ubiquitous, and it may be the best way to see Israel. Casey was a great traveling buddy, and we laughed a lot and got along well. I hope she is getting some needed sleep and rest today.

Some pics from the market

2011-11-16T17:43:00.006-05:00

In the old city of Jerusalem, a mix of Moslem, Jew, Armenian, Christian. The Moslem call to prayer is haunting in there. It is also where the Via Dolorosa is and busy as it probably was when Jesus walked toward the cross. Casey and I had such a great time there, talking with the shopkeepers, looking at the pretty stuff, feeling the ancient vibes. I will tell about it all later but for now a few pics.

Masada

2011-11-14T14:33:00.009-05:00

Me at Masada.Other pics. It is hard to know what to say about a place with such an amazing history.
We had to take a cable car to get up to it, and then there was still a lot of walking to get to the very top. Here is a pic of people who decided to hike it.

the day

2011-11-13T17:20:00.008-05:00

Men's side of the Wailing or Western Wall.
Great shopping area.
Lots of soldiers with AK47s. It was explained they are just there to learn.

Today we went to the Mount of Olives - I think - and spent a long time at the temple. I say I think because everything seems to run together. More archaeological stuff. It was walking, walking, walking, up and down slick steps of large stone mostly, but we also walked through a narrow tunnel under the Muslim part of the wall. And speaking of wall, we got to go to the Western Wall or Wailing Wall. There was a side for men and one for women. We got to put our prayers on a piece of paper and stick them in the crevices between stones. I will try to get a pic of it. A really fun thing was after we got back to the hotel this afternoon, Casey and I took a train (free) to Mamilla, which is a really cute shopping area an then walked over to the Old City markets. Now that was special and defies description in this small blog. When we arrived there I felt a strong vibe of peace. Mostly Moslems (I think that is what they call themselves) were owners of the stalls and I talked to many of them. Everyone was nice. I think my favorite thing here is all the people. The Jewish men look so cool in their various dress.

You don't come for the food

2011-11-12T16:06:00.005-05:00

I had to pay 20 NIS (shekels) for one hour of wifi, so I will try to write a little more. The dinner and breakfast at the hotel in Netanya were superb, but the food since has been just OK. We have breakfast and supper buffets, Mediterranean fare, which is not as delicious as I had thought it would be. This morning I took a small loaf of challah, left from Shabbat, that served as my lunch. Good thing. I chose it over the greasy spoon where we stopped. Lunch the first day was falafel quickly jammed in a pita pocket along with some veggies. One day of that was enough. The next day when we were at the Sea of Galilee, we ate fried fish, the whole fish. Tilapia. Once I got past the bones, it was pretty good. To go with it were fresh dates. In the buffet line tonight were blintzes, salmon, something like beef stew, and an array of salad fixings. So far there are always potatoes and tomatoes in some form, stuffed grape leaves, olives, parsley, carrots, an assortment of breads.

Busy day

2011-11-12T15:27:00.011-05:00

This had been an incredible busy tour packed full of Israel. Our skilled and calm driver, an Arab Muslim named something that sounds like Mohi, has crisscrossed the country while the knowledgeable Israeli Jew guide pointed out the political, biblical, and historical sights. This is a harsh mountainous land with only a few verdant valleys. Sometimes all the sights run together, and I hope I am accurate in giving today's account. After we packed and left the hotel in Tiberius, our first stop was Gideon's spring. Then we went to an interesting tel, an archeological dig that exposed lovely remnants of a Roman settlement.
We stopped for lunch in a Bedouin area. Across from the "restaurant" there was a little shop with two camels hitched to a post beside it. I liked the contrast of the old and new ways of transportation.We had a really sweet stop by the Jordan River at the place it is believed that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. There are tourists like me all around, giving me a warm and loving feeling. They are from all over, speaking different languages, following different religious customs, singing songs of praise in different languages. It was all so lovely. In this picture you see baptizing going on. By the way, the Jordan River is really quite narrow, chilly and cold but not deep and wide.In the mid afternoon, we "went up" to Jerusalem. Driving in to the beautiful Holy City was pretty amazing. We will see more of it tomorrow, but for today, we drove through it and up to Bethlehem, which in 2011 does not seem very nice or friendly. Our guide, the Israeli, was not permitted in because of political reasons, something like he had not filled out the proper paperwork, so a Bethlehemite got on and after more driving, led us to and through the Church of the Nativity. Apparently the church was built over the site where Jesus was actually born. We spent a long time in line, again groups of people from all over the globe, and eventually got to see the sacred spot which was in a hole. In explanation, there are many layers of history, one on top of another.
When we arrived at home, for the next few nights the Leonardo Hotel in Jerusalem, I think all thirty-two of us headed as quickly as possible to the buffet. I am now sitting in the lobby listening to relaxing, piped in Porgy and Bess tunes.

Megiddo

2011-11-11T10:53:00.003-05:00

We came here yesterday. Do you think it looks like it can be the place of the final battle?

Sea of Galilee

2011-11-10T13:41:00.005-05:00

Did not have time to get on computer yesterday as the day was very full and I was exhausted. Besides no computer access. I will have to tell you some anecdotal stories another date. It has been up early, quickly down breakfast, load the bus, go from one place to another, eat lunch at a local dive, more traveling around high curves, passing other filled tour buses, and eventually getting back to hotel at night in time for supper. The main event today was the beautiful Sea of Galilee. We took a ride (this view is from the boat) and were surprised when the boat stilled, and the crew started singing Christian songs in Hebrew and English. It was great.

The Journey to Netanya

2011-11-08T10:55:00.006-05:00

It is almost 6 pm here in Netanya, Israel. Casey and I checked into our Ramada suite, and it is simple, utilitarian and very nice. A sliding glass door opens from the sitting room to a balcony where we stood and watched the huge golden sun set over the dark Mediterranean Sea. We have our own bedrooms, each with a king sized bed. I am looking forward to a good night's sleep whenever that comes.
Traveling by air is like being in labor, I decided. It is torturous but with the anticipation of a blessed event in its aftermath, it seems to be worthwhile.
When the Lufthansa airbus landed at Munich, the gate to the Tel Aviv flight, the next and final stop, was the next one over. Maybe it was because we were entering Israel, but we had to go through a really close check of person and belongings there. From Tel Aviv, we were picked up in a bus by the driver and guide we will have for the rest of the trip. It is really nice to have everything being taken care of by someone else.
This is just a shot from the balcony of a part of this city.This is the hotel. My room had two windows. One faced the Mediterranean and the other, the city.

In two days...

2011-11-05T14:46:00.007-04:00

I will be en route via Lufthansa to Israel.

It is to be a pilgrimage, said the rector of the Episcopal church who is organizing it, and I see a dictionary defines that noun as "journey to a sacred place or a journey made for exalted or sentimental reasons." I have not been on a pilgrimage before except for the one that has taken me through the trials and joys of earthly life, and I believe this trip to the Holy Land will be an enriching and moving experience. I plan to post as much as I can on this blog as, after all, wisdom is in its title. And where does wisdom come from? As Solomon was inspired to write in the Old Testament book of Proverbs verse 9:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." See you in a few days!

You get the point

2011-11-01T11:47:00.006-04:00

This is a little story I heard recently about the painter/sculptor Giacometti, whom I admit, I had never heard of previously. Nevertheless it goes something like this: It seems as if someone asked him if his barn that held his paintings as well as his two chickens was burning, which would he take to safety. He answered, "The chickens of course, because life is always more valuable than art."

Halloween

2011-10-31T19:22:00.006-04:00

I sit ready to hop up from my chair at any moment and hand out more candy to trick or treaters. We have had a lot of kids so far and they are dressed in some really cute costumes. The last was a happy witch with her plastic pumpkin hanging on the end of a crooked, forked stick. One girl was dressed as a chef and carried a stainless steel mixing bowl with whisk no less for her sweet treasures. An adorable little yellow Woodstock came by. ... Now a group of six well behaved girls old enough not to be under a watchful parental eye. With each doorbell ring, Tillman gets excited and pushes out the door to greet and get petted. With his creepy bad eye and problem with circling, he is perfect for Halloween. Two pretty Asian sisters bedecked in glittery dresses kept exclaiming, "My gosh he is so cute!!!" Boy did he love their attention! It is a good night for us all. Mainly I hope to get rid of all the chocolates I bought because I ate enough earlier today to last me a very long time...

Cute Pets

2011-10-22T21:40:00.006-04:00

I have never seen as many adorable animals as I did at the big pet store this afternoon. Up and down the aisles, people were shopping with their oh-so-cute pets, my favorite this woolly goldendoodle. Then cats and dogs in all sorts of dress started coming in. A green-eyed black cat fully dressed in a pirate costume including plumed hat, a small dog in a pink tulle ballerina outfit got lots of attention and photographing. I didn't know there was a contest for best dressed at 4! I was glad I had my camera.

Opinions from the News

2011-10-22T10:40:00.002-04:00

Another bad character killed. I am not impressed. There will always be evil crazies seeking power, and others will rise to claim the top positions. But it does remind me of a good still left in America, the peaceful transition of leadership.

When a murder is committed, people seek motives, almost as if that will make it understandable or rational. If only it were that easy. I think it shows what mental illness, emotional turmoil, and now drugs can do.

After working hard in a private sector job, I took a government job for two years. It was so slow, I couldn't bear it. I had to stretch out my work to make it last a full day, but when I left, two people were hired to replace me. Back then, I observed that it was the lowest level of the many workers who, because of protocol, actually called the shots and as a result ran the place. I also observed so many unnecessary positions. What a contrast with my well organized, productive private job.

Long lasting gift

2011-10-09T21:16:00.010-04:00

Back in the spring, John gave me something he made at school, a baby zinnia plant in a tiny cup. I suppose he was supposed to give it to his mother, but his little heart is always thinking of others, and he impulsively gave it to me instead. I placed the infant plant in my garden when I got home that evening, but the next day, strong winds and rain battered it, and I wondered how it would survive. But it stayed strong in its little spot and grew beautifully through the rest of the season. In fact it was really the only successful outcome of my pitiful little garden. It is still pretty and producing buds as if it thinks it will last forever, and each time I see it I think of my sweet grandson.

My New Small Appliance

2011-10-08T16:21:00.003-04:00

My old coffeemaker gasped its last a few weeks ago. For me, the only coffee drinker in the house, I usually use a small French press, so the old Braun did not get used so often. Nevertheless, it lasted twenty years, rest in peace. Sometimes I regret a purchase I have made, like the front loading washing machine or the Omega juicer, but other times I think I made a good decision. The Cuisinart coffeemaker I eventually selected was a great decision! There's nothing like a great cup or two of coffee in the morning. I think the water filter and the slow brew make it happen.

Jobs

2011-10-07T09:29:00.004-04:00

With Steve Jobs' death, his life became news. We the public knew him as the brilliant innovator who brought us wonderful new things to marvel over and enjoy, but we weren't privy to his personal side. Now we can glimpse into his gene pool and his fifty-six years to try to see what factors contributed not only to his genius but also to the ability to confidently follow his dreams. I find people infinitely fascinating, and I like to understand them by putting together the pieces that I know about. In his case, I find it interesting and amusing that a man whose last name is Jobs created so many of them. As one obit said, he leaves behind 49,000 employees.

Just today

2011-10-04T15:42:00.002-04:00

I haven't been so interested in blogging lately, although I do think about it. Sometimes I wonder if I should opine about something in the news, compare today to yesterday, provide the answers to all of life's problems, or find something interesting in my day to share with the world. Then I think...nah. In Scarlet tradition, maybe tomorrow. Several tomorrows have come and gone, fall is making its presence, and I am one day closer to experiencing the Mediterranean in Netanya, Israel, floating in the Dead Sea, singing Amazing Grace in the Garden Tomb, and getting my fill of falafel.How wonderful it will all be. I have decided to do my blogging about it right here. So keep posted...

2011-09-25T22:03:00.005-04:00

I love the traditionally Southern gardenia, and I have a bush full of sweet smelling blooms.

A female writing spider seems to like it also, and today I noticed that she had captured a large bee in her stunning, white web.

Applying what I learned

2011-09-21T19:51:00.007-04:00

How inpatient psychiatry has changed! I remember having an attractive woman patient many years ago whose biggest problem was trying to decide which rich man she was going to marry. That was back when the hospitals had swimming pools and tennis courts and when the staff took the patients horseback riding and to the movies. Now it is quite different. The nice amenities are long gone and the patients have become more seriously ill. In fact, several of the folks I have recently talked with have spent much of their adulthood in prison for serious crimes. Thank goodness I had a little preparation in understanding them due to a research paper I wrote for an ethics class when I went back to school at fifty-something. But still... This week as I was sitting alone in a small room with a person who, without giving too much info, had more than a checkered past, I thought about what I had learned then, and I was more empathetic. And empathy can translate into trust, and trust can translate into safety - my own. Sometimes what we learn in school is useful.

Saturday Market

2011-09-17T13:00:00.003-04:00

I love a Farmer's Market. This morning we visited two of them in Greenville.
My watercolor class starts back on Tuesday. Our subjects will be from photos taken at Farmer's Markets, and I think I may use this one that the folks at one booth kindly let me take.

As we remember, a prayer for our country

2011-09-11T21:22:00.002-04:00

Great King of nations, hear our prayer,
While at Thy feet we fall,
And humbly with united cry
To Thee for mercy call.

The guilt is ours, but grace is Thine,
O turn us not away;
But hear us from Thy lofty throne,
And help us when we pray.

Our fathers’ sins were manifold,
And ours no less we own,
Yet wondrously from age to age
Thy goodness has been shown.

With pitying eye behold our need,
As thus we lift our prayer;
Correct us with Thy judgments, Lord,
Then let Thy mercy spare.

John Gurney 1838

Less than two months til Jerusalem

2011-09-10T09:05:00.006-04:00

Two months from today, if all goes according to plan, I will be at the Sea of Galilee and visiting Old Capernaum. A day later, this group of thirty some Episcopalians and I, the lone Presbyterian, will head for four nights in Jerusalem. When I was first asked if I would like to go to Israel, I said no thanks, but then reconsidered. What was I thinking? I am now so looking forward to it. People ask if it is safe over there. Who knows? I figure the tour company will make that decision. My thoughts are that many devout people pray for Jerusalem, and my Jewish friend said people who go there feel safe and protected. I believe it will be a wonderful experience.

Psalm 122: 6 - 9

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”
8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.

A Goldilocks Kind of Day

2011-09-06T18:27:00.014-04:00

Like the porridge and the bed Goldilocks found in the home of the three bears, the weather on this day has been just right. Not too hot, not too cold. Not too dry, not too wet. Not too still, not too windy. Not too sunny, not too overcast. I suppose temperate would be a good adjective, without drama. It's the first between seasons day we have had so far, and I have loved letting nature's air into the house. The first of many like it before winter comes. Maybe it suggests the slowing down of the year. It's been calming, but too much moderation can be very dull.

Officially Home

2011-08-30T17:56:00.003-04:00

While was in New Hampshire, I left my house in the care of my cats. They are such good kitties. They didn’t have any friends over or throw a party, which I thought they might. I had left a small opening for them to come in and out, sort of a cat window, and I had wondered if Sandy would invite her best buddy, another yellow furred feline in to play. But all was intact. Timid Tillman stayed with the vet, and I picked him up this morning. I suppose he was happy to see me, but then he is almost blind and is treated well by the staff there, so it was hard to tell. The main thing is, except for a few tufts of black fur from Nora, everything was in tiptop shape, and we are all under one roof again.

The Storm

2011-08-28T19:34:00.010-04:00

Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm today but not before inconveniencing the people here in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. There were high winds and rain, power outages, and these fallen trees that blocked the winding road to Cathy's house.Yesterday a serene Hampton Beach was scattered with beachcombers and colorful umbrellas. Call us crazy, but we decided to go have a look to see what it was like today. There were others there, too, not kids and surfers, but mostly adults in SUVs with cameras. The wind was still whipping around mixing sand in with the rain. The ocean was wild and frothy with huge angry waves, and if not for the seawall, I believe it could have swallowed us. We drove up to North Hampton where the mansions are and back down. There were quite a few police and blue lights around to keep the curious from doing anything too dangerous. Here is one picture I took from the window.

2011-08-27T23:53:00.002-04:00

We had some time to kill earlier today so decided to check out downtown Exeter and the river that runs behind it, a piece of which is photographed here. We rode by Phillips Exeter Academy, which looks like a college campus, and went in a few cute stores. After I said, "Hi" to one shop owner, he asked, "Do I detect an accent?" Southern girls must be a rarity around here.It was a nice day with a soft blue sky and we drove to Hampton Beach, only about fifteen minutes away. When I saw the sign for Lobster Rolls in a local restaurant, I knew that would be lunch. It turned out to be quite delicious, almost as good as the perfectly prepared fish and chips Raymond ordered.

Traveling

2011-08-25T23:02:00.003-04:00

Today was a long and bumpy road in the skies. The first flight took us around our elbow to get to the thumb called Newark. The second leg was late leaving and we ended up at the brother's house four hours later than expected. But arrive we did. Thankfully. On the few occasions when I fly, I first of all like to work on a difficult crossword puzzle to help my brain zoom in and focus. Then I like to have a good book to read. One I brought today was by PJ O'Rourke, a new-to-me author and quite hilarious. He writes with a cynicism and critical eye - things I have tried to squelch in myself - but I realize it can be bitingly funny. Now I am going to settle in to the inviting bed for a good night's sleep.

Good Book

2011-08-21T12:56:00.008-04:00

Yesterday for the big book sale, I was assigned to work in the hardback novels across the mall from the religion section where I had helped to set up on Thursday. Since I was curious to see how the many “religious” books had done, I slipped over there a time or two to find out. I arrived at noon, four and a half hours into the event, and I saw that about two thirds of all the books that had been stacked on the tables and boxed under them in that section had been sold. It had been a popular area! But I was especially curious about what had happened on the half of one table that was covered with Christian Bibles. On Thursday, there had been about ten big “family” Bibles, King James, Student, Moms and Women's Bibles. There were small Gideon New Testaments, the ones that are handed out at graduations and other milestone events, leather bound and paperbacks Bibles, Jerusalem Bibles, New English Bibles, Scofield and Living, Korean and Spanish, Good News Bibles and so on. Some looked as if they had never been read or opened; some were worn, marked in, and inscripted with names. On the dedication page of one was a note written in an obvious trembling hand to a grandson, encouraging him to read Psalm 23 daily. Another held certificates of accomplishment that belonged to a 1985 graduate of a local high school. I wondered about the journeys the Bibles took to land on the table. I wondered if any volunteer had ever found money stuck between the pages of one. Sometimes the living and active Word of God is mistaken for a book.

Suspended

2011-08-20T09:23:00.005-04:00

Some mornings when I am home, I like to walk around my yard and see what I can find to photograph. I listen and watch for movement in the leaves and grass, but today it was still. No bugs for me. However I did spot these tiny water drops suspended in a diaphanous spider web. Small pretty scenes from nature remind me of Blake's words: "To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour."

Books

2011-08-18T19:52:00.003-04:00

It's that time of year for the big book sale that you may remember I helped with last year. What fun it is! This afternoon, I checked in at the volunteer desk and was given my name sticker and the assignment of neatening the books already on the tables in the religion section. They seemed just fine to me, so what was there to do but to peruse through the stacks in my area and the rest of the aisles of the old mall. A perk of volunteering is that we can buy books early, before the huge crowd comes on Saturday, and I found my heart quickening over some of the nice hard back volumes I could get for a measly one dollar. When it was near closing time, I got the stack I had squirreled away and took it to the guy at the desk. "Very good," he commented on some as he restacked them in my box. I was glad I had been able to control my spending and that I had been to the gym this week as I had to carry the heavy box quite a distance to my car. I will be volunteering Saturday, too, and no doubt will find a few more books that I believe either I or someone else would love.

A Time for All Things

2011-08-13T15:30:00.008-04:00

Mid-August means summer will soon be coming to an end, especially for the kids who will soon be loading up the backpacks and catching school buses. When my boys were little I dreaded the day when they had to be back in school. It felt that we (as I was a young mother) were losing our freedom and all our fun. But I suppose the upside, the benefit, was that the needed, forced discipline probably helped build our characters. During the free time of this summer, I had hoped that all my grandchildren could come visit, and they did. Even seventeen year old Jacob was here for a few days. How thankful I am for them all. But now the routines and expectations of school will be the big things in their lives, and I will also return to my post summer life. Time moves along quickly it seems. One year you are the child visiting your grandmother and bemoaning the return to school, or the mom seeing to it that her sons get their summer visits in, and the next year it seems you are the grandmother. It's all good.

A Grand Summer

2011-08-10T19:55:00.004-04:00

This week I am enjoying my other 6 year old brother and 8 year old sister duo of grandchildren. While Mama and Daddy were hiking in the Smokies, we hiked, literally, around downtown and stopped for this waterfall.

Moonflower

2011-08-09T21:32:00.008-04:00

I had seen the bud and the rounded, closed bloom in the morning, but this evening I spied the opened white flower. Once - years ago - I waited late and watched as one unfurled. It was pretty cool.

One Hot Grandmommy

2011-08-03T18:53:00.015-04:00

With the temperature hovering around 100 all week, I haven't been inclined to take my grandchildren to many places where I feel I could have a heat stroke. The Cars 2 movie we will see tomorrow, but today it was the cool quiet library and browsing and shopping at WalMart, a pet store, and a clothing store. Here is Ashley trying on a hat. There are some at home activities as well, painting, watching the Disney Channel, cooking and dancing. Ashley has taught me a new dance or two, one of which is the Hoedown Throwdown. After several performances accompanied by the youtube music, I thought hmmm...this seems familiar. "First you put your two knees close up tight..." It was Ballin'the Jack updated!

When the kids are visiting

2011-08-02T10:10:00.008-04:00

Having grandchildren around is one way to get to do some fun things. Before it got too hot yesterday, we all rode to the country to Happy Cow Creamery, a wonderful organic dairy farm I have wanted to visit for some time. Its small shop was filled with all kinds of good things, and my two full bags included butter, chocolate milk, sour cream, tomato basil cheese, Ice cream, country sausage, and even shrimp. We also got to check out a field of pregnant cows. Later we went to swim at the Y, visit friends, walk the mall, and now a new day is waiting. I am just about ready to take it on.

What would Jefferson do?

2011-07-30T14:44:00.006-04:00

The brilliant Thomas Jefferson who penned the Declaration of Independence when he was thirty-three and later became the first Secretary of State and our third president had some things to say about how our government should handle its resources.

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debt as it goes."

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas that he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

"When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself public property."

Our Money

2011-07-29T19:44:00.011-04:00

Money is always listed as one of the top three things that couples fight about. I ask, if two people who are supposed to love each other have trouble reaching agreement how well can a horde of representatives, one hundred senators, and millions of citizens do? The finances of our country are in a sickening, unnecessary mess, and logic seems unpopular among many in whom Americans have placed their trust. As a nation, we have made many bad decisions; perhaps we thought we would be rich forever. However I believe it is possible to climb out of this mess we have created if common sense, discipline and wisdom are allowed to have their way.

tomatoes

2011-07-26T20:01:00.006-04:00

One of my co-workers brought in a basket of tomatoes she picked from her garden this morning. She had better boys, a delicious heirloom whose name I can't remember, and a sweet little yellow type called lemon drops. I thought to get a pic before they were all taken. I always have high hopes for my own garden, but it is never very successful because, I think, my yard has too many trees. So I am especially happy that someone is sharing her bountiful summer delicacy.

Ol' Sol

2011-07-24T18:23:00.010-04:00

A television show I like is Sunday Morning on CBS. It always has interesting stories, but it also has a charming assortment of artwork of the sun throughout its ninety minutes of airing. It inspired me to attempt this watercolor of Ol' Sol. Who says Sol has to be a guy?

During the summer it is all about the sun, but in a different way now than when I was a teenager, when a suntan was a most desirable thing to have. The browner our skin got, the better. If we didn't get to the beach for our tans, we would spend long hours lying in our backyards on blankets or what we called "chaise lounges." We would usually grease up with Coppertone or our own baby oil concoction to create a bronzy glow, not to prevent skin cancer, which we never heard of.

The heat was another story. Now when a heat wave is upon us, we are cautioned to avoid it and stay in our nice, cool homes. But fifty plus years ago, before air-conditioning became as standard and necessary as a clothes dryer, a house was too hot to stay in on days like today. Wearing our light summer clothes, families would find a shady spot perhaps under a tree where a breeze would cool our skin, and we would enjoy something cold like lemonade or popsicles and hang out with the neighbors. It was a happy time, back when the sun was our friend.

sorry?

2011-07-23T18:37:00.003-04:00

Among the many news items this week was yet another demand for an apology. What does this accomplish? Does it lay the issue to rest, squelch the truth, or negate what was said? We have all said something we have regretted, and perhaps have needed to offer sincere regrets. Still the words hang. At times in the public arena, the truth is spoken and is not well received, or a politically incorrect name or opinion was voiced, and then an apology is demanded. The speaker usually finds a lame reason for saying whatever it was, and tail between legs, presents an apology to the media. I suppose there is a fine line somewhere in here, but it seems that the demand is a way of keeping high profile - especially political - people under the heavy thumb of compliance.

A Day Away

2011-07-21T22:12:00.008-04:00

Stuart and Paige were kind enough to invite me to share in some of their vacation this week in Sapphire, NC. It is very pretty up here among the steep winding roads, tall old pines, blooming rhododendron, and the misty blues and greens all around. (Don't click on the arrow. It is an ad.)

This picture collage personalized with Smilebox

Something to think about

2011-07-20T14:59:00.000-04:00

I do not know who to attribute this to, but I found it written in a notebook.

"Measure people by the good they do that they don't have to."

What has happened to the long a?

2011-07-19T18:41:00.005-04:00

I have noticed that whether from here or "afar," people rarely use that vowel sound that I call the long a, the a that in the dictionaries I learned from had a straight line over it to signify that the vowel sound of that syllable sounded the same as its letter name. For instance, the word tail is often pronounced tell, hail is pronounced like the proper name of the bad place, whale is well. Which prompts me to ask, whatever happened to the wh sound? Regretfully, it has just about gone the way of the long a. It is no wonder. When I look on - say - wikipedia for a correct pronunciation, I am at a loss as to what all those odd characters that inform the reader how to properly speak a word, name or expression mean. Maybe other people do know, or maybe they haven't noticed. However I do pay attention to details of speech, or should I say detells?

Friends at Work

2011-07-18T19:25:00.010-04:00

During a recent conversation among several of us, one of my co-workers proclaimed, "I know you. I know you well." I immediately wondered what it was she thought she knew, but then I felt pleased. If anyone should know me, it would be this woman I have worked with off and on for thirteen years. I know her, too, at least as much as I know anyone. For me, knowing and being known is one of the perks, and comforts, of working at the same place for a long time. These people who see me day in and day out, the ones with whom I share anything important in my life, good or bad, are indeed the ones who know me best. In my line of work, there is no room for superficiality, and we openly discuss and reveal just about everything. We learn about each other by the stories we swap and comparisons we make, from observing how we treat others, how we respond to difficult situations, and how we communicate. Due to retirement and other life changes, staff slowly turns over, and other friendly, open people come in as replacements, and we get to know each other. With the special people I have been with for over thirteen years, a really long time in my book, I think it is like going from kindergarten to graduating from high school. I really am glad we know each other well.

Sweet Doggie

2011-07-14T21:10:00.004-04:00

Tillman, our anxious little Jack Russell, came to live with us full time over seven years ago when he was six. I was glad to get him. He was such a great puppy, so intelligent and playful, but his later years haven't treated him kindly. In addition to losing sight in his left eye, he developed a weird handicap a few years ago. I first noticed him having trouble with directions and walking in circles, and took him to the vet. He told me Tillman was not fully blind nor did he have a stroke, but that he had a condition called vestibular disease. He and I are used to it now, but it is still strange. When he is supposed to go one way, he will go another, going from point A to point B in the most difficult and circuitous way, in and out of chair legs, bumping into walls. He is still a happy boy and is usually able to run up and down steps, spar with the black cat, and play with his toys, but life is one continuous obstacle course for him!

thinking . . .

2011-07-12T20:18:00.006-04:00

Sometimes I think about this tiny slice of human civilization that I live in and how crazy it all seems. For one thing, there are so many of us now. Even since I was born in 1944, the world population has (approximately) tripled. And we American adults are so busy, filled with self importance as we rush from place to place in our vehicles, earning money doing the work of this era, spending money, fitting into the culture, meeting expectations, being manipulated, living by clocks and deadlines. This is a time of too much stimulation from intrusive noises, enticing chatter, bright lights and entertainment. I sometimes wonder what it was like in past cultures, where a time such as today could not be imagined, when values, clothing, food, family life were different, where people made decisions based on what they knew about nature and the sky. Though human nature does not change, the way we live out our lives certainly has, and I am not convinced of the superiority of the twenty-first century.

Chasing Ladybugs

2011-07-10T18:44:00.008-04:00

I confess I am a terrible piddler. Even though I entertain lofty thoughts, my free at home time is spent moving things around, jumping from one small interest to another, wandering around the yard in search of cute bugs to photograph, making messes in the kitchen, accomplishing very little. And of course there is the computer. And the television. A minute or two here and there and ... time has passed me by. By now - at this point in my life - I could have written the great American novel, finished a PhD, become a masterful watercolorist - that is if I had the talent and drive. Alas. I have come to accept piddling as a piece of who I am.

Handy Keeper Thingys

2011-07-07T20:48:00.003-04:00

I like these shaped, plastic containers that hold the leftover pieces of a fruit or veggie while in the fridge.

Tidbits of History

2011-07-04T13:23:00.001-04:00

A fact from wikipedia: "The former British colonies first used the country's modern name in the Declaration of Independence, the "unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America" adopted by the "Representatives of the united States of America" on July 4, 1776."

You may know that America's second president John Adams and third president Thomas Jefferson died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826, but did you know that the fifth president James Monroe also died on July 4th five years later?

Did you know that our fourth president James Madison is called the Father of the Constitution, and that it was his idea to have three branches of the government? He based it on Isaiah 33:22:
For the Lord is our judge - judicial
the Lord is our lawgiver - legislative
the Lord is our king - executive
He will save us.

Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord.

From Tree to Table

2011-07-03T15:12:00.004-04:00

Nice pears from my neighbor's tree were cut up for this delicious cobbler. Isn't summer great!

Pretty Leafhopper

2011-07-02T17:48:00.004-04:00

This was a speck on a mint leaf. I took out my good pocket camera to get a closer look. Indeed it was a bug! The camera was able to capture not only the pretty colors of this leafhopper, but also tiny other parts. The pic will go on my bug blog, also. The buggy macro world is fascinating!