faith

Now Faith is the Substance of things Hoped for,
The Evidence of things Unseen...

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Hey, Y'all!

Image courtesy of the Art Renewal Center online. (I really just need to put their link in my sidebar!)
And speaking of links- I've got a really great one for all of you out there who would love to read the classic literature but cannot stomach the crummy, modern translations- you know the ones where the translator makes Hector sound like a surfer dude? Ick. Well, see, the older and better translations are public domain so, thanks to our friends at the Gutenberg project, we now have access to some of the greatest books of all time- for free.
http://www.gutenberg.org/
The files do not take up too much room on the computer, either. And all stuff can be copied and pasted into your favourite word processing program and the font changed to one that you prefer. The font used over there is a bit small.
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Well, another thing I thought might be helpful was to put a few of our country's great documents in here in a sort of series. I know it's not always convenient to follow links, so I'll put the thing right in here. First up is that really great paper we call The Declaration of Independence.
While not the first document of its kind in our country (The Fincastle Resolutions of Virginia predate it for one), it is certainly one of the most awesome things ever written. Its eloquence ought to speak to us today.
http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration.html

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offencesFor abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here.

We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
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Pretty great, hu? I left off the signatures, 'cause it got really long on here. But, the national archives web site has the pictures of the original, if you'd like to follow the link at the top and see it.
My husband talked to some old farmers down at the bank today and they all said that it was a durn good thing we hadn't planted anything much. They said it would be another 10 days before it'd be safe for anything more than taters and the other cold crops (onions, lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage).
Another reason I'm glad that things didn't get in the ground yet is that 6 horses and a pony had lots of fun in my garden spot today. My neighbor just got some new ones and they apparently came over to visit the horses in the pasture next to my back yard. While they were at it, they rolled around a bit in the dirt at the garden spot and ate some of the grass there (where I haven't hoed yet) and nibbled on various other plants in the back yard.
It's pretty cool when horses get out around here- it's a community effort to keep them out of the road (dump trucks and other trucks from the mines) and to help round them up for whichever neighbor they belong to. So, it's kind of a happy, pulling together kind of time. :-)
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Well, I guess this post is really long by now, so I'm going to go and download some more books from Gutenberg. Y'all have a great weekend. Please remember our troops and their families.

Rose

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Yes, I'm Gonna Say It!

Dalek image came from the CakeWrecks BLOG a few months ago. I put it on here because I just like the Daleks for some reason... I wonder if America is ever going to get the next season of Doctor Who. Last one we saw, Donna was stuck in the Library as was that professor lady who knew the Doctor in his future. I miss that show! (whine, sulk, sniffle)

But now on to the main point.
ISRAEL
Yep, I said it. Israel.

Now, just as a matter of common sense, it seems a little off to me that a nation involved in "the war on terror" would be supporting the institution of a legitimate state that was run by confirmed terrorists. Call me quirky, but doesn't this just seem like um, a conflict of interest perhaps???

And the other thing. Israel is a sovereign nation. Right? Well, who the heck does everyone think they are constantly telling a sovereign nation what to do all the time? I don't see anyone dictating to us for instance, that we need to cede Miami to a particular ethnic group. Or that we need to divide NYC among the groups that reside there. We'd be morally outraged- and rightly so. But what makes us think that we can dictate to Israel on what she's allowed to do and where she can build her houses? Did we somehow draft her into our union yet give her none of the benefits thereof? This madness needs to stop. I'm asking everyone who prays to pray for Israel. She really needs it. Yes, pray for us too, (America) and the British Isles, etc., etc. but Israel in particular. I can think of no other nation on earth that has so many people jumping down its throat all the time, nor any other nation that so many people want to go extinct.
"...with liberty and justice for all" does not just apply to our country, you know? (For those of you who may not know, that's a quote from the now nearly defunct "Pledge of Allegiance"). I'd throw in a prayer for Daniel Hannan, too- that dude has to be on somebody's hit list by now- he just speaks too much of the truth. Viva la Jeffersonians!!

Another country that deserves a shout-out is France. I get a little sick of only seeing negative press about the country that was responsible for giving us such good grammar. If it hadn't been for the French, we might be speaking Viking- which does have some merit, but it was limited in form and vocabulary. I mean, can you imagine Shakespeare having to work in the language that Olaf brought over? Also, French Bread- need I say more? Have we any other people who understand our absolute need for freedom than do the French? I think that aside from their media and our media, we'd get along quite well. Their poetry is really beautiful, too. And the Louvre has a very nice Website, beautiful art! Their cathedrals are quite lovely, and their spirit- their concept of liberty- yes, we pray for the French. Our world would not be quite so nice, I think without these particular sons of Japeth. (tracing things a bit far back- but Japeth's children now only make up 14% of the world's population and that has me a bit concerned.- this is per a textbook from the University of Phoenix).

Ah, yes. I think my husband would have a conniption about this post. He is the one who had me take the pictures off this time. I haven't posted because I've been doing school- which I love! and gardening which is pretty instructive about life. And I think the epoxy that is now holding my hoe together should be dry by tomorrow- so back to it. So crazy- the cold snap is really here now- we've had frost the last few days, so it's a good thing my hoe broke when it did, else my wee, germinating plants would be burnt.

Amy, we're praying for you and Phil. Mama passed on to me that y'all were facing some tough times. I wish y'all could move down here. Please know that you're always welcome.

And Lori- my son is thrilled. He wants to know how much annual dues are and when he gets his T-shirt. ;-)

LOST's season finale was really great, I thought. There's nothing at all good on TV right now, IMO. It kinda reeks, really. I mean, there's only so much Food Network a person can watch- they seem to repeat every few hours. And speaking of Food Network...
1. The Challenge should go back to doing runners up
2. Alton Brown has somehow become part of the culture of our family. He has an evil twin named Allton who sometimes doubles as Altron on the Avengers. He's the one who keeps saddling our challenges with broke food, too. And my kids are convinced that somehow he and Paula Deen are distant relatives...
Really, we do have a life!

And Beck- THANKS so much for saying I finally look like a Drexler! You're the BEST! I was thinking I had been switched at birth or something 'cause there's nobody that I favor in looks on either side of the family. Now, even if I was switched at birth, at least I look like the family God put me with. (I honestly can't see how my sweet mother could have given birth to as creepy a kid as I was... It must've been some annoying lady- and she ended up with the sweet dark-haired child.)

Well, I hope y'all have a great rest-of-the-week. God Bless America and please save and/or guide our leaders in Jesus' Name. (Yes, I said Jesus and not as a cuss.) I'm really pushing the free speech (1st Amendment right, btw) envelope tonight, aren't I?

If you haven't read the WWII books by the Thoene's you're really missing out. They're Christians, so the books are pretty clean and the story is historically accurate with excellent plot and characterization.

ttfn again!

Rose

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Evil Broccoli?

Is there anything nicer than a child studying of his or her own free will? Here are two of them. Cute, ain't they? Yes, those are a bunch of "For Dummies" books on the shelf. No "Gardening for Dummies", though.
And another day. Blurry and unflattering. I do not like this camera at all. It took me 25 pictures to get two clear ones of miscellaneous children studying. The one below was interrupting laundry detail. Really, the couch is not usually decorated with odd socks.

Well, Lori. You did it. My youngest asked if he could join your "I Hate Broccoli" Fan Club. You'll have to let me know. He used to like it raw and dipped in Ranch, but then I was calling it baby trees (oh, deceiver me!)- once he found out it was broccoli, he started begging not to be made to eat it. Since my husband was an early proponent of broccoli banning, it wasn't like I was going to make him eat it. My husband said that would be cruel- yes, and he said it in front of the kids. So my son at least equates broccoli with cruelty and the curse of the earth. And he thinks you should add cauliflower, cabbage, and squash to your list of evil vegetables. Well, I'm planting it anyway! It works better than grounding for a misbehavior correcting device. Evil? Maybe...
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No, if you haven't looked at the broccoli BLOG post from Because Two People Fell In Love (Link to the side), you should. My cousin ought to be a professional writer.
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Well, I spent most of the afternoon on the phone with schools. But, I did at least get my roses and a few baby trees planted with help from my daughter. My son's project is using the rocks from the garden to make a border around the house. Lots of rocks build up when a spot hasn't been plowed in over 50 years. We're hoping to get an earlier start and get more veggies in the ground tomorrow. Including broccoli. Hey, ya think that's what keeps stalling the planting?? Is it really a broccoli conspiracy? ;-)
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So, at the moment the kids are doing their evening study time. I need to get to mine, too. But... I gotta share with you about the nice walk my neighbor took me on. We moved in too late in the summer for me to see all of her flowers. They were so lovely! And so now we're doing a plant exchange thing which is really nice. She has Clemantis which are much bigger than they look in the catalogues. Also Yellow Rose of Texas, Bridal Wreath, Zinnias, Money Plant, and all sorts of Roses and other lovelies. It was really a sweet visit.
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And my husband calls me from work and puts me on hold for 20 minutes... He is such a nutcase!
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My Mama made me this nice book in case my head injury acted up and I forgot what my life was about. It was one of those things that was so precious that it makes you cry. The woman missed her calling. She should make memory books for folks in nursing homes and such. That or work for Hallmark.
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Well, I reckon I'd better skedaddle. Y'all have a good week now!
Rose


Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Cold Snaps around Mother's Day

Image is Thomas Anschutz's 1879 painting The Way They Live courtesy of the Art Renewal Center Online http://www.artrenewal.org/

We always get a cold snap around Mother's Day. Best not to plant nothin but taters and onions, cabbages and lettuce till after that happens.

And you know what? The old timers tell me that every year and they're invariably correct. This year, it was the day after Mother's Day. Silly me, hanging my long curtains before the stupid cold snap... (our heaters are beneath the windows). But, all the rain probably saved my plants since it stalled any work being done. I might have planted something this blasted cold, damp would have killed. I hope we have a long fall this year so that all the late planting has time to reach harvest before the frost. The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/ says that it should be warming up by Wednesday (the season finale for LOST) so that's good. I've got to get this stuff in the ground- whether it's tilled or not.

I want to say THANKS to my sister-in-laws. Both of you NC gals have been real lifesavers to me. Y'all are great and I thank God for you and my other sister-in-law overseas. God bless you!

So, after a day of driving myself crazy trying to get acclimated to a new school, my Mama and Daddy came up for a visit. Mama brought me a bunch of baby maple trees for the edges of my yard, a baby pin oak and two baby rose bushes. Wonderful! I don't feel so bad about getting rid of those cedars/junipers now. It was a nice visit and even though I was out of it, I really enjoyed the conversations. After they left, I spent several more hours trying to figure out the school, and asking my sister-in-law a mess load of questions about it. She's a very patient soul. So I'm plumb wore out (exhausted for you city folk).

I'm looking forward to planting my baby trees and relocating my Rose of Sharon hedge. The ground's definately soft enough to make digging easier than usual. My wonderful neighbors said they'd take the trees out for me for the wood- Oh, how I love the trading system. It's so much easier and no IRS involvement is a plus, too. :-)

I also just wanted to say I LOVE YOU, KIDS!!! To all 5 of my sweeties. Y'all mean the world to me. I'd tell you how proud I am of all of you, but I know how that jinx thing works. But, I don't think that a mama ever had such wonderful kids as you are. God bless you soooo much!!

Well, sleepy, sentimental old me is going to call it quits. Thanks, Mama for putting up with me when my brain's asleep and a million miles away. I'm glad you're not like one of the dynamic carreer women- that you are exactly the kind of Mama that is the ideal: soft and sweet, cuddly and kind. Exactly perfect for all of us. Thanks for being you.

Rose

Thursday, May 7, 2009

It's not Invasion of the Body Snatchers, It's Cedar Apple Rust




So, this winter we noticed these creepy things growing on one of our cedar trees. Mama had no idea what it was (It's the brown one). Then spring arived and lo and behold, it was on the other one out front of the house. So creepy. To me it looked like body snatcher pods had affixed themselves to my trees. It was obviously not some strange pinecone, but we let them stay, thinking it might be some insect or something.
Then they started to grow...
It rained. And suddenly our trees had these creepy anemone looking growths where the body snatcher pods used to be! (Orange image is courtesy of http://rurality.blogspot.com/ she has a great BLOG out of Texas- beautiful pictures, too.) Anyway, then I knew they had to be a fungus. So, I removed all I could reach from the trees out front (and got really scratched up in the process). But, alas! The ancient Juniper in my back yard had them, too. It was too tall to reach, so I decided to use the Web to find out what was growing on my trees.
You guessed it! Cedar Apple Rust. And it kills Apple Trees. It also explains why my apples were so sickly last year. :-(
Now, I'd hate to have to have that grand old juniper cut down, but there is NO treatment I can find that will stop the problem except spraying my apple trees every week with a fungicide that Lowe's does not carry. So, if anyone out there has any idea how to cure my juniper and thusly my apple trees- you know- what the old timers used BEFORE schmancy fungicides came into vogue- please inform me! I know this is not a problem that only showed up after chemical fungicides and I'm pretty sure our much smarter rural folks of days gone by actually treated the cedars/junipers, too. It's unfortunate that the trees are so close together, because an ancient juniper will not win over an ancient apple tree if it comes to having to cut one or the other down.
Well, I think I can make it to the corner store to get some Gatorade without incident. This stomach bug is horrible! Maybe I shouldn't have insulted it by saying it wasn't like the one in the '70s- it apparently got its feelings hurt and now has something to prove. :-P
I may have mentioned it before, but an upset goat sounds really creepy when its bleating is echoing off of surrounding ridges. ((Shudder)).
Ok, I'm off- maybe more later. Have a glorious day, and for all who live nearby- maybe just stand in the sun for a few minutes and just look around. It just might do ya good. The breeze is perfect today, making it not too hot nor too cold and the leaves are still in their whispery stage. When there's a break in the weed eaters, it sounds really, well- like what I imagine an heavenly sound would be like.
Have a good day all!
Rose

Rainy Days and Gardenin' Catalogs



I had to put this on here because there is just something so beautiful about new maple leaves. They're so soft and the wind just seems to sigh through them, whispering... Not like the ocean waves sound they make in the summer wind, which is also lovely.

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My sweet youngest son just brought me some grape Kool-Aid mixed with Mountain Dew to help my stomach feel better. Ah, the stomach flu- the gift that keeps on giving. It's my second go 'round and it's worse than the first time- but still nothing at all like that horrible swine flu from the '70s. Now why on earth would anyone want to bring that wretched decade back. I mean really, don't we have enough problems?

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Now same son is wreaking havock with my Total Gym. Yea, I have one. Watched too many episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger last year and couldn't resist the easy payment plan. Plus, I figured maybe if I used it enough I could do those spinning-kick-the-badguy-in-the-head maneuvers. All I've noticed is slightly bigger biceps, but I still haven't watched the DVDs and I just have cleared out my office enough to leave the thing set up all the time. When it's put up in its convenient foldy position, I never use it. All told, it's a decent piece of machinery.

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Ok, so out of all my gardening catalogues, I picked the number one today. It comes from Plant Delights Nursery out of Raleigh, North Carolina. (You know, where Barney went after he left Mayberry) Anyway, even though they don't sell any veggies, their catalogue is the most informative and entertaining one I've ever come across. The Website is http://www.plantdelights.com/ Do yourself a rainyday favor and get put on their mailing list. You won't regret it!

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Another great thing to do on rainy days besides drink coffee and look at gardening books with your daughter is to read aloud. I know, the easy thing to do (especially when one is feeling icky) is to just watch TV. But, TV can happen any time. I read aloud to the kids for hours yesterday and they loved it- they'd missed it. I've been having them read aloud most of the time except at Christmas and it's been a couple of years since we did a big book together. Well, that's excepting the Bible and school-type books- we all take turns with those. And thank the Lord, we still like to play together. When Dad's home, we usually play cards or video games as a family. But when he's at work we still like to play with the toys like the action figures and HotWheels and stuff.

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It's about time to record another of Shakespeare's plays. We haven't done one of those in a while. Maybe Hamlet or Julius Caesar... Hmm. They're a lot of fun- like an old radio show. Coming up with the stuff to do sound effects with is a challenge.

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So, decisions about school. Homeschool that is. Keep it up with the Charlotte Mason Method, which has worked pretty well, or shock their systems with straight ABeka this year? Which is very time consuming, but very thorough... Yea, that and college have me "praying about things". Charlotte Mason works best for the broke homeschooler. ABeka is so flippin expensive! And it's not like we get $8000 per child for education per year like the public schools do. But, know what? God ALWAYS provides just what we need each and every year. It's been truly amazing, lemme tell ya. With absolutely no funds for it most years, somehow we have always had exactly the materials and resources that are needed for our studies.

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Well, as I feel really yucky right now, I'm gonna get away from my computer. I haveta say, I still don't like FaceBook all that much. But, I'm getting more used to it. At least I finally found where my Wall was hiding. I had messages from last year on there. ((blush))

Oh, shoot. I also need to say, the Art Renewal Center (http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/contents.asp) has an amazing collection of art that you can download and use for your screen saver or t-shirts or whatever. It's from all over the world and well, it's just great.

Ok, also before I go... A story about my Mom. Mama has always been a very tidy person. Like my husband and my daughter. But, she had real slobs for siblings. Like my husband and daughter- see, we're not really slobs, just easily distracted... Anyway, she had to share a room with her sister who would rather be reading than cleaning. So, she'd write "Judi's Dust" on her sister's half of the dresser. Just like a sibling- instead of being nice and dusting the whole thing, she only dusted her half. I wonder if Mom was the one who used to write "wash me" in the dust on my car... hmm.

Ok, so it's not that great of a story. BUT Mom won't tell me any, so I had to use one her sister told me. So, c'mon Mama! Tell some stories like Uncle Mark does for Lori or I'll just ask your sister... You know how she embellishes... like the time you snuck out the window to be on American Bandstand and your Dad just happened to watch the show that night; which you said never happened but Aunt Judi insisted was true. Mmmhmm. Naw, I promise I won't get icky like that, after all I'd hate for my foibles to be in a BLOG. I can see it now, my daughter M starts a BLOG and tells about the time... eegads. Not pretty.

More later. I'll probably have to do my planting in the mud since it looks like it's gonna rain thru June. That ought to be entertaining. I'll see if I can borrow a working camera for that.

God Bless America and Israel and the entirety of the former British Empire and Japan. According to my previous school, the sons of Japeth including Japan plus Israel only amount to 14% of the world's population. It'd be great if all of us except the 144,000 were outta here in the catching away. It could happen. With God nothing's impossible, remember? But, I'd not wish the tribulation on anybody. So, trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved today and you don't have to be here for all that crazy stuff. Global Warming indeed. I wonder how they'll explain the rest of it... "Um, folks, this was just an unfortunate instance of movie magic gone terribly wrong." "Um, folks, that was just an unfortunate case of genetic engineering gone terribly wrong." "Um, folks..."

Well, I'm really outta here this time. Have a great day everyone!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Miscelaneous Pictures that Should be OK with TWP: So, I like to live dangerously sometimes...


Ok, so, here's to living dangerously. Muwahahahaaaaa! FYI, most of these are from our old place and are from before my camera broke. To the left is our oldest son M. He is really a great person and is currently serving our country to keep America safe and free. The girl is a friend of his. Anyway, I am really glad to have a son like M. He does his Mama proud, and that's saying something in this day and age.



Here to the right is Main Street Wytheville, Virginia. Oh, yea! I LOVE this town. It is really one of the wonderful places to raise a family. The old roots live here- like the philosophies of the Founders (AKA Founding Fathers) and many of the old ways still survive.
To the left (if the whole things hasn't gotten mixxy by posting time) is from one of Wytheville's parks. And below is one of the truly beautiful VA Hospitals. It's located in Salem, Virginia and has been our home-away-from-home over the years.







Last year's Irises. Beautiful- but this year's are even prettier. And below is my husband J. with our grandson E. who is a toddler now and ever so cute!











Left is an older pic of my dad and grandad taken at Pilot Mountain (Mount Pilot to all you AG Fans). Judging by the hair it was the late 70's early 80's.
Below and left is our precious daughter M. and her husband P. on their honeymoon.

















This blurry pic is from a joint birthday party that my brother J. and husband J. had a couple of years ago- the toilet seat is Brother J's 30th birthday present. Handpainted by yours truly. I imagine it will puzzle the archaeologists of the future... And the left pic is me with one of our dogs and reminds me that I need to get on the TotalGym a little later.





























Our granddaughter J. SWEETIE!!! She just had a birthday and also now has a baby brother.













Our kids K and J walking to dogs on a beautiful day last summer. And below is the sky over Surry County, NC from the Low Gap area.




















Ghost Mom picture. The kids determined that since I took all the pics and wasn't in any of them that it was like Ghost Mom and they determined to take various unflattering and/or blurry pictures of me to make up for it. Gee, I wonder if that's why my camera broke...

















Lastly, our daughter J and her husband T and their daughter A. My father in law is in the background- it's not a floating head. This was with the "new" camera which doesn't work so well.







Ok, so there you have it. I actually posted pictures that I don't really intend to take off in an hour. We'll see how it works out. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. And, now it's time for supper so BLOG out.
God Bless America and Israel and all of the former British Empire.
xoxoxo
Rose



Yep, I'm Ever so Slack


Ok, so chalk it up to my Mom's slight paranoia and a healthy dose of conspiracy theories, but I try not to put too much personal info on the BLOG. Mom let me know it was probably a bad idea to post pics, so I hope everyone (kinfolkswise) got them before they were deleted. I didn't put any names with them, so I figured it'd be okay. Sigh. I'm mixed on whether it's a good idea or not- wacky times we live in...
note on Mama (see left)- she RULES!! What a princess she is- like one of those characters in old books. I LOVE YOU Mommy!!!!

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So, about the slack part. No BLOGging lately because after school was out for me, I just turned the computer off. ZAP. No email, no BLOG, no looking stuff up that wasn't in a book. But, now I'm back up; there are just too many things with school starting again next week that need looking into.

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Hi, to BusyGrandmaElsie!! :-) I love Hillsville- it's such a pretty town. In fact, I spend quite a bit of time in Hillsville. I always did like Hillsville growing up- it's one of the reasons I moved up into the mountains. I always felt more like I belonged here than down the mountain. Thanks for posting. I'm sortof a newbie to the gardening thing, but now I've cut classtime down, I hope to get more of it in. And, have you noticed how lovely the dogwoods, redbuds, and irises are this year? Oh, my. It fair takes your breath away, you know?

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Amy, :-) you can email me any time and I'll give you all the info on kids names, etc. I'll give you a holler if you send me your phone number. You are precious and I wish I could give you a great big hug right now. ((((((HUGS)))))

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Hi, Aunt Judi!! :-) I'll do another one day post if you'd like that includes pics of my brothers. I love to share- but is there any way to keep it secure and witness protection-y? Or should I just download them all to a CD and mail it to you? ;-)

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Ok, mini rant section. Cows and sheep did not cause "global warming" if they did, would the world not have melted long since? A resounding DUH to those who think they're wise and have become as fools. Aren't you folks about saving the animals for Pete's sake? Or is it just domesticated animals that don't deserve to live by your book? Again I say, SIGH.

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Well, hee hee. I am in serious need of a Gardening for Dummies book. I know I'm working 100x harder than I need to on this thing. And, guess what? A 4.0 GPA does not qualify one for the simple things in life- the necessary things. But, maybe my research skills will come in handy... I can see it now, holding a printout from ehow.com in one hand and an unweildy hoe in the other. I tell you true, I'd rather chop wood than deal with a hoe. Though, I haveta say that after taking 5 hours to do half a row! I think I might be getting the hang of the durned thing. And the neighbors just watch and scratch their heads...

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Ok, well, I'll try to post again later. And again, I'll try to get better at posting regularly. I might just throw caution to the wind and make this a really personable, informative BLOG. Na, who am I kidding? I've been living like witness protection for too long. But, I may loosen up a bit about it... maybe a little. :-)


ttfn

Rose