Today, just for grins, we changed church membership. It is the Last Sunday of the Church year, and we're starting something new. But not entirely new. John and I (he in 1981, me in 1959) were both baptized on this Sunday, also called Christ the King Sunday in the synod that baptized us (which doesn't exist anymore.)
So it's no wonder that I like this hymn!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Saturday Farm Report
Yep...I'm back! At least for today.
Today was a busy, tiring day in which we accomplished many things. Our grandchildren are here, visiting their dad. We visited a bit this morning, and then Mary and I headed out to the feed store and a driving lesson. She's been through drivers' ed, and was planning to get her license this week. Last week, however, she told me that she doesn't feel as confident as she'd like, so we're doing a little more practice. She worries too much; she does fine! Even in her little Ranger, which is a stick, she handles herself well. She's a decent driver, and, with a little time, will be a very good one.
After breaking the bank buying horse bedding, steaks for tonight and lunchmeat, we came home to serve that lunchmeat and start our afternoon fun. Over the years, we've collected a nice collection of firewood. It was, however, scattered in various places around the farm, and I wanted it brought together. The boys, who were all home today, helped their dad with that, while I cleaned stalls, stirred compost and fed critters. After work, we all trouped inside for hot chocolate, nachos and salsa, and NAPS. I think the neat woodpile looks lovely, but the loveliest part of the day? That nap!!
Supper was steak, baked potatoes and veggies. After cleanup and jammies, we are now parked in front of Star Wars: Episode V. That's The Empire Strikes Back. It never gets old!!
Today was a busy, tiring day in which we accomplished many things. Our grandchildren are here, visiting their dad. We visited a bit this morning, and then Mary and I headed out to the feed store and a driving lesson. She's been through drivers' ed, and was planning to get her license this week. Last week, however, she told me that she doesn't feel as confident as she'd like, so we're doing a little more practice. She worries too much; she does fine! Even in her little Ranger, which is a stick, she handles herself well. She's a decent driver, and, with a little time, will be a very good one.
After breaking the bank buying horse bedding, steaks for tonight and lunchmeat, we came home to serve that lunchmeat and start our afternoon fun. Over the years, we've collected a nice collection of firewood. It was, however, scattered in various places around the farm, and I wanted it brought together. The boys, who were all home today, helped their dad with that, while I cleaned stalls, stirred compost and fed critters. After work, we all trouped inside for hot chocolate, nachos and salsa, and NAPS. I think the neat woodpile looks lovely, but the loveliest part of the day? That nap!!
Supper was steak, baked potatoes and veggies. After cleanup and jammies, we are now parked in front of Star Wars: Episode V. That's The Empire Strikes Back. It never gets old!!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
At the Risk of Being Accused of Irreverence...
Yesterday, of course, was Reformation Day. I know, I know, many of you thought it was Halloween. You were only partly correct.
As I was getting in the car to go to church yesterday evening, I remembered that I had been in those very same jeans when I cleaned stalls earlier in the day. I wondered if it was appropriate to wear the jeans used for barn cleaning to partake of the Lord's Supper?
Then I thought, "Well, yeah. Jesus was born in a barn, after all. It'll be OK."
And then I remembered the comment my dad made whenever we came into the house and left the door open. "Were ya born in a barn?" (He still says it.)
And then, it came to me. The possibly-irreverent thought.
Did Joseph ever say to Jesus, "Hey, kiddo, were ya born in a barn?"
And--here it comes--did Jesus ever reply, "Well, yeah, Dad. Doncha remember?"
As I was getting in the car to go to church yesterday evening, I remembered that I had been in those very same jeans when I cleaned stalls earlier in the day. I wondered if it was appropriate to wear the jeans used for barn cleaning to partake of the Lord's Supper?
Then I thought, "Well, yeah. Jesus was born in a barn, after all. It'll be OK."
And then I remembered the comment my dad made whenever we came into the house and left the door open. "Were ya born in a barn?" (He still says it.)
And then, it came to me. The possibly-irreverent thought.
Did Joseph ever say to Jesus, "Hey, kiddo, were ya born in a barn?"
And--here it comes--did Jesus ever reply, "Well, yeah, Dad. Doncha remember?"
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, Monday
We made a pilgrimage into Michigan this past weekend, to take our grandchildren to see their dad. He usually visits them here, but we're decided that, once in a while, we will head there so they can see him in his natural environment.
It was quite the trek. We spent about 23 hours this weekend in the car, between the back and forth and a trip to a Halloween party in another city. I really don't want to drive anywhere for a while. Unless it's in a private limo. If I can stretch out, listen to the music I like, or have complete quiet if I want, then I would do it. You know it has to be bad, since I'm a big lover of the Road Trip
But we had fun during those hours when we were out of the car.
This morning, however, I coulda done without. The coffee maker, which has been on life support for a few months now, finally signed it's DNR. For whatever reason, it just didn't brew anything. That is a situation that, in this family, MUST be addressed. Any suggestions for a replacement? This one is a Bunn, very similar to this coffeemaker. It is our second Bunn. I have loved Bunn since I worked, years ago, as a waitress. Fast, good coffee; need I say more? But they are fussy about being cleaned, and I am silly about forgetting that. When they don't get cleaned monthly, they leak, and, once that starts, there really isn't anything to be done. I've also had difficulties with keeping ours plugged in 24/7, which it needs to keep the water hot for providing that fast cuppa. I could be talked into staying with The Brand, unless someone else has a better idea?
Enough for now. The horses have been in since about noon yesterday, and need to be turned out. I want to get garlic in the ground today, and laundry. Oh, the laundry.....
It was quite the trek. We spent about 23 hours this weekend in the car, between the back and forth and a trip to a Halloween party in another city. I really don't want to drive anywhere for a while. Unless it's in a private limo. If I can stretch out, listen to the music I like, or have complete quiet if I want, then I would do it. You know it has to be bad, since I'm a big lover of the Road Trip
But we had fun during those hours when we were out of the car.
This morning, however, I coulda done without. The coffee maker, which has been on life support for a few months now, finally signed it's DNR. For whatever reason, it just didn't brew anything. That is a situation that, in this family, MUST be addressed. Any suggestions for a replacement? This one is a Bunn, very similar to this coffeemaker. It is our second Bunn. I have loved Bunn since I worked, years ago, as a waitress. Fast, good coffee; need I say more? But they are fussy about being cleaned, and I am silly about forgetting that. When they don't get cleaned monthly, they leak, and, once that starts, there really isn't anything to be done. I've also had difficulties with keeping ours plugged in 24/7, which it needs to keep the water hot for providing that fast cuppa. I could be talked into staying with The Brand, unless someone else has a better idea?
Enough for now. The horses have been in since about noon yesterday, and need to be turned out. I want to get garlic in the ground today, and laundry. Oh, the laundry.....
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Announcement!!
I am thinking about looking into the possibility of organizing some regular blogging time. Just in case you wondered.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Interesting ...
Up the hill from us sits a pretty house. It's owners are in the Air Force Reserve, and are deployed at the moment. It's been sitting empty for about a year. They keep telling us someone is going to rent out parts of it, but that hasn't happened.
This morning, after dropping Mary off at school, working out, and hitting the fish market, I was sitting in the dining room, reading e-mail and doing some modest web surfing. I kept hearing conversation, music and other sounds. My initial thought was that someone was doing some work at the house on the hill. My secondary thought was that I wished they had picked better music to work by...
When I was done with the e-mail thing, I went out to feed the critters. I realized that the noises I was hearing were coming from our barn, where the radio was turned on. Hmmm...Odd...I hadn't been out there since last night. I asked around, and found that no one else had, either, except Mary, who tells me she didn't turn it on.
That leaves two possibilities. One is that she's not being truthful. However, our oldest son arrived about 1:30am from Michigan, because he left today for his National Guard drill and needed to be here bright and early. He told me that he didn't hear anything when he got here, so that tells me Mary didn't leave it on.
The other possibility is that some animal tripped the switch last night. They probably got the scare of their life! My money is on a raccoon, since the doggone things are always trying to make my life miserable. And that music went a long way toward doing that this morning!!
This morning, after dropping Mary off at school, working out, and hitting the fish market, I was sitting in the dining room, reading e-mail and doing some modest web surfing. I kept hearing conversation, music and other sounds. My initial thought was that someone was doing some work at the house on the hill. My secondary thought was that I wished they had picked better music to work by...
When I was done with the e-mail thing, I went out to feed the critters. I realized that the noises I was hearing were coming from our barn, where the radio was turned on. Hmmm...Odd...I hadn't been out there since last night. I asked around, and found that no one else had, either, except Mary, who tells me she didn't turn it on.
That leaves two possibilities. One is that she's not being truthful. However, our oldest son arrived about 1:30am from Michigan, because he left today for his National Guard drill and needed to be here bright and early. He told me that he didn't hear anything when he got here, so that tells me Mary didn't leave it on.
The other possibility is that some animal tripped the switch last night. They probably got the scare of their life! My money is on a raccoon, since the doggone things are always trying to make my life miserable. And that music went a long way toward doing that this morning!!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
By Way of Explanation
This summer was a fast and furious succession of trips and events. Europe...Wyoming...Fair...Wedding...We barely had time to breathe, or think, much less take care of everyday things. Now that Mary is in school (gulp) and I have hours of time to myself, I am decluttering, organizing, cleaning, streamlining and simply pulling it all together. I have the goal of using the month of September for this. So, even though I have only recently come back to blog, I may not be doing so on a regular basis for a while. I'm sorry. I'll post as I can and hope this apology serves for the times when I can't.
But I bet all that decluttering and organizing will make for some great stories!!
But I bet all that decluttering and organizing will make for some great stories!!
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