The people built a golden calf and worshiped it. God was angry. He threatened to wipe 'em out. This incited Moses to claim the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -- promises of mercy and grace to all nations, sent through the sons/Son of the patriarchs.
So after that interchange, Moses goes down the mountain. He sees what the people are doing. And when Moses sees, he gets as ticked as God was. Then comes the punishment: "drink your god" and all the killing and bloodshed. Then Moses says he'll go back up the mountain: "Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." Like Pastor said during matins this morning, of course Moses can't; he'll learn that.
But this is what happens when he goes back to the top of Sinai to meet with God:
"Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin -- but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."
That never made sense to me. What good is it going to do the people for God to kill Moses? What good will it do Moses? I always used to think that it was like what Paul said (Romans 9:3) about yearning so much for his people's salvation that he would almost wish that he could trade places with them. Except both Paul and Moses knew that taking God's wrath would not get their people off the hook. And God goes on to explain that punishment will be for the sins you have committed yourself.
So what's the point of Moses' statement in verse 32? Did he not understand that he couldn't take the Israelites' punishment for them? And then today I had a thought.
Maybe Moses is saying, "If you are not a God who forgives, then I really don't want to have anything to do with You. And you might just as well blot me out of Your book right now, because I'm never gonna stay in that book anyway if You are a vengeful God who does not forgive sin."
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Monday, September 01, 2008
Bike Training
When a young mom takes her toddlers and pre-schoolers for a walk, the mom does not get exercise. She is taking the kids on a walk for the good of the children -- their fresh air and exercise and intellectual stimulation.
When an older mom takes her 13-yr-old kid on a daily bike ride, that likewise is not going to do any good for the mother's exercise and health. It is a time for the child to be out, getting fresh air and sun and exercise, and learning to transport herself from one place to another.
When I was learning to ride a 10-speed bike, I lived in the flatlands of Illinois. There wasn't really a need for different gears on my bike. But it seemed easy enough to learn to operate them: when it was too hard to pedal, simply lower the gear. When I explained this to Maggie, we thought she understood. But as we rode back and forth to chapel this week, it became clear that she didn't really understand. When I told her to "lower the gear" she didn't know if that meant going to a bigger or littler number. So all week I hollered at her as we were going up the hill, "Go down a number,... go down to #5 now, ... down another number," and then repeat the instructions in reverse when we got to the top of the hill.
I'm also seeing that bicyclists who do not drive cars/trucks need a lot more instruction in defensive driving/biking and in rules of the road -- especially when the bicyclist isn't yet old enough to anticipate possible problems arising (like a vehicle coming around a blind corner) and how to respond. I'm going on the theory that riding beside Maggie and repeatedly telling her what to do and how to do it will "teach" her --if not how to be careful on her own-- at least how to follow instructions.
At least she has learned this week (I think!) which corners and which directions to turn so as to find her way home from church or the library.
When an older mom takes her 13-yr-old kid on a daily bike ride, that likewise is not going to do any good for the mother's exercise and health. It is a time for the child to be out, getting fresh air and sun and exercise, and learning to transport herself from one place to another.
When I was learning to ride a 10-speed bike, I lived in the flatlands of Illinois. There wasn't really a need for different gears on my bike. But it seemed easy enough to learn to operate them: when it was too hard to pedal, simply lower the gear. When I explained this to Maggie, we thought she understood. But as we rode back and forth to chapel this week, it became clear that she didn't really understand. When I told her to "lower the gear" she didn't know if that meant going to a bigger or littler number. So all week I hollered at her as we were going up the hill, "Go down a number,... go down to #5 now, ... down another number," and then repeat the instructions in reverse when we got to the top of the hill.
I'm also seeing that bicyclists who do not drive cars/trucks need a lot more instruction in defensive driving/biking and in rules of the road -- especially when the bicyclist isn't yet old enough to anticipate possible problems arising (like a vehicle coming around a blind corner) and how to respond. I'm going on the theory that riding beside Maggie and repeatedly telling her what to do and how to do it will "teach" her --if not how to be careful on her own-- at least how to follow instructions.
At least she has learned this week (I think!) which corners and which directions to turn so as to find her way home from church or the library.
Accepting Mediocrity
A friend of mine wrote recently about Excellence in Mediocrity. I agree so heartily with what he said about how we idolize ourselves and our hard work, and how we always want to be The Best. I agree too with his assessment that mediocrity which flows from laziness is just not okay.
As I mused on what he wrote, however, it struck me that it's not only "average ability" that can cause mediocrity in spite of a person's working hard at what he does. Sometimes it's the great number of responsibilities. I mean, a person can only do so much. When he is trying to be a good husband, a faithful father, a son who honors his parents, a decent neighbor, and a hard-working employee, he may not be able to do an exemplary job at any of those things ... even if he theoretically could
if he had fewer people to love.
There is no "solution" to this other than do what you've been called to do in whatever way you can do it. Somebody will always be telling you that you're not doing it well enough. Most people in this society think that kids should have the priority, so whatever you have to ignore for the sake of giving your kids The Best should be ignored. (Hey, I'm not saying I agree with it, but that's the popular wisdom out there.) Some people will tell us that interacting with our non-Christian neighbors should be a priority so that we can "witness to them." Other people will encourage us to put our paid-employment as top priority. And others will say that our marriage should be the focus of our time and attention.
When you have people in your life to love, it's sad to recognize that you are unable to give each and every one of them the time and attention you wish to lavish on them. So we do what we can, and fail. And then we thank and praise God that we have so many loved ones that are still here on earth for us to spend time on! And we remember that God uses our weakness and inadequacies to do what HE wants to do in our loved ones' lives. And most importantly, when we still feel our failings for how we can't do it all, we go back to what Pr Stuckwisch was talking about as the only real solution: that excellence is found in what Jesus does for me, what He gives to me, and not in my response or in my love for others.
As I mused on what he wrote, however, it struck me that it's not only "average ability" that can cause mediocrity in spite of a person's working hard at what he does. Sometimes it's the great number of responsibilities. I mean, a person can only do so much. When he is trying to be a good husband, a faithful father, a son who honors his parents, a decent neighbor, and a hard-working employee, he may not be able to do an exemplary job at any of those things ... even if he theoretically could
if he had fewer people to love.
There is no "solution" to this other than do what you've been called to do in whatever way you can do it. Somebody will always be telling you that you're not doing it well enough. Most people in this society think that kids should have the priority, so whatever you have to ignore for the sake of giving your kids The Best should be ignored. (Hey, I'm not saying I agree with it, but that's the popular wisdom out there.) Some people will tell us that interacting with our non-Christian neighbors should be a priority so that we can "witness to them." Other people will encourage us to put our paid-employment as top priority. And others will say that our marriage should be the focus of our time and attention.
When you have people in your life to love, it's sad to recognize that you are unable to give each and every one of them the time and attention you wish to lavish on them. So we do what we can, and fail. And then we thank and praise God that we have so many loved ones that are still here on earth for us to spend time on! And we remember that God uses our weakness and inadequacies to do what HE wants to do in our loved ones' lives. And most importantly, when we still feel our failings for how we can't do it all, we go back to what Pr Stuckwisch was talking about as the only real solution: that excellence is found in what Jesus does for me, what He gives to me, and not in my response or in my love for others.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Ingenuity
I am married to SUCH a smart guy. When we were living at the parsonage, and there were problems that the trustees couldn't fix, Gary would find ways to resolve a problem. He figured out mistakes made in the past, and fixed them. Sometimes he made repairs that were done wrong by the person who did it the first time.
And now at the new house we have/had this mess where the swimming pool used to be. There were mistakes made in building, and he's figured out how to fix those mistakes without trashing the whole project and starting from scratch. He's filled in the mega-deep hole that was the diving area in the pool. He's figured out how to refurbish the deck that was not kept up properly. And it looks so NICE. Now, I cannot believe how humongous this deck is. But it's what's there, and it would take a whole lot more work (and even a whole lot more money) to shrink the size of the deck, so we're gonna have us one humongous deck for many a year to come. :-)
Y'know how the skeleton of a house always goes up SO fast? You can't believe how fast that building goes up. When the construction crew gets to putting in baseboards and light-switches, the speed of the progress seems to slow down considerably. Well, the deck seems to be the reverse of that. Right now (not unlike my housecleaning yesterday, where the slow part was the decision-making at the start of the task), Gary's gotten himself past the pokey parts of the job and is just burning through his job of piecing things back together. Every day when I go out back to hang laundry, I see what he accomplished the preceding evening, and am amazed that anybody who spent his study time with theology and educational methods and Greek has managed to get so good with building and working with his hands and problem-solving.
This afternoon we sealed the new lumber that replaced rotted boards. Assuming the weather holds up, he may only need another week or two to finish the project. Then it will be on to making raised beds for gardening, as well as obtaining topsoil (for where the pool used to be) and planting grass seed. And Gary even had some really cool ideas about the garden beds that will recycle used lumber to save money, terrace the spots where the pool was cut down into the hill in back of the house, and look really classy and artistic as well as being practical. Wow!
And now at the new house we have/had this mess where the swimming pool used to be. There were mistakes made in building, and he's figured out how to fix those mistakes without trashing the whole project and starting from scratch. He's filled in the mega-deep hole that was the diving area in the pool. He's figured out how to refurbish the deck that was not kept up properly. And it looks so NICE. Now, I cannot believe how humongous this deck is. But it's what's there, and it would take a whole lot more work (and even a whole lot more money) to shrink the size of the deck, so we're gonna have us one humongous deck for many a year to come. :-)
Y'know how the skeleton of a house always goes up SO fast? You can't believe how fast that building goes up. When the construction crew gets to putting in baseboards and light-switches, the speed of the progress seems to slow down considerably. Well, the deck seems to be the reverse of that. Right now (not unlike my housecleaning yesterday, where the slow part was the decision-making at the start of the task), Gary's gotten himself past the pokey parts of the job and is just burning through his job of piecing things back together. Every day when I go out back to hang laundry, I see what he accomplished the preceding evening, and am amazed that anybody who spent his study time with theology and educational methods and Greek has managed to get so good with building and working with his hands and problem-solving.
This afternoon we sealed the new lumber that replaced rotted boards. Assuming the weather holds up, he may only need another week or two to finish the project. Then it will be on to making raised beds for gardening, as well as obtaining topsoil (for where the pool used to be) and planting grass seed. And Gary even had some really cool ideas about the garden beds that will recycle used lumber to save money, terrace the spots where the pool was cut down into the hill in back of the house, and look really classy and artistic as well as being practical. Wow!
Blog Visitors
It's funny. I write this thing primarily for the purpose of keeping in contact with family members and dear friends, as well as for the entirely selfish purpose of remembering (and thinking through) some matters regarding theology and homeschooling and other topics. But every now and then, I write something that MANY complete strangers find interesting. Over the last couple of months, anywhere from 10-20% of my blog-hits per day have been about cleaning stove-tops, cleaning white-boards, making and bottling kombucha, making grape jam, wart removal, eliminating cigarette-smoke smell, exercises for a collapsed lung, and a variety of recipes (particularly the sugarless banana cookies and the cowboy soup).
By Grace I'm Saved
The distribution hymn this morning was LSB 566 (aka TLH 373). Kneeling at the altar rail this morning, the words being sung were some of the loveliest in the whole hymn:
For though I know my heart's condition,
I also know my Savior's voice.
And what was my Savior's audible voice saying, right at that very moment, to ME? "The body of Christ, given for you."
How sweet is that?!!
For though I know my heart's condition,
I also know my Savior's voice.
And what was my Savior's audible voice saying, right at that very moment, to ME? "The body of Christ, given for you."
How sweet is that?!!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Why I Don't Want a Maid
My husband teases that I would have to clean before a maid came to clean. I wouldn't, though. At least not in the way that he means.
Today I have been cleaning. All day I've been working, and it looks like I've accomplished next to nothing. "Cleaning" involved getting the massive amount of produce on the kitchen counter turned into an all-veggie lunch. "Cleaning" involved filing insurance papers, paying bills, and making notes of various things. "Cleaning" involved lots of picking up things that don't have a proper place, and deciding to put them in the garbage or where their Proper Place was going to be. "Cleaning" involved checking with the kids about what projects they were in the midst of, and which could be taken down and put away.
Maids can't do any of that.
Maids dust and vacuum and mop and clean toilets.
Once I get the hard part of cleaning done --the deciding part-- wielding the vacuum or the broom or the swiffer cloths is no big deal. It doesn't take thought; it goes quickly; and I can set theminions children to torturous labor helping.
Maids have the easy part. I don't want to pay somebody else to do the easy part.
Today I have been cleaning. All day I've been working, and it looks like I've accomplished next to nothing. "Cleaning" involved getting the massive amount of produce on the kitchen counter turned into an all-veggie lunch. "Cleaning" involved filing insurance papers, paying bills, and making notes of various things. "Cleaning" involved lots of picking up things that don't have a proper place, and deciding to put them in the garbage or where their Proper Place was going to be. "Cleaning" involved checking with the kids about what projects they were in the midst of, and which could be taken down and put away.
Maids can't do any of that.
Maids dust and vacuum and mop and clean toilets.
Once I get the hard part of cleaning done --the deciding part-- wielding the vacuum or the broom or the swiffer cloths is no big deal. It doesn't take thought; it goes quickly; and I can set the
Maids have the easy part. I don't want to pay somebody else to do the easy part.
Our God Is Not a Contritionist
So often we hear that we forgive those who are sorry. We forgive those who repent. It seems a logical corollary to the idea that a pastor would "withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant, as long as they do not repent." But forgiveness is not parceled out based on the sinner's repentance.
Yesterday's Bible story was about the golden calf (Exodus 32). Pastor pointed out that, on the mountain, God threatened the punishment the Israelites deserved. Moses interceded for his people and reminded God of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord reiterated that He would be faithful to His promise, that He would forgive His people. But what was happening at that moment? Were the people repenting? Were they saying how sorry they were that they'd made this idol? Were they putting the idol out of their midst and making sacrifices to the true God?
Nope. They were still reveling in their sin.
And yet, we see God's heart of love and mercy that yearns for them even while they are still despising Him. His love for us is because of what's in Him, not because of our sorrow over sin. And that's good to know.
Yesterday's Bible story was about the golden calf (Exodus 32). Pastor pointed out that, on the mountain, God threatened the punishment the Israelites deserved. Moses interceded for his people and reminded God of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord reiterated that He would be faithful to His promise, that He would forgive His people. But what was happening at that moment? Were the people repenting? Were they saying how sorry they were that they'd made this idol? Were they putting the idol out of their midst and making sacrifices to the true God?
Nope. They were still reveling in their sin.
And yet, we see God's heart of love and mercy that yearns for them even while they are still despising Him. His love for us is because of what's in Him, not because of our sorrow over sin. And that's good to know.
Humility
If a person does something well (like make bread, or sew a dress, or play trumpet) and recognizes his/her own skill, and appreciates the results (such as beautiful taste/clothing/music/etc), does that indicate a lack of humility? Is it possible to be pleased with something you have done and even compliment your own work, with no more pride or self-congratulations than if you were complimenting your sister or your neighbor or your pal on something nice they had accomplished?
This musing came about when I realized I had just commented on the stupendous taste of something I'd made, ... and then realized that such a comment must sound pretty self-promoting and arrogant to other people.
This musing came about when I realized I had just commented on the stupendous taste of something I'd made, ... and then realized that such a comment must sound pretty self-promoting and arrogant to other people.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Celebration
Gary's got some pictures over on his blog.
Last night, we went out to eat at The Fox and the Hound. When somebody asked yesterday afternoon what time our reservations were, I realized how long it had been since we'd dined at such a nice restaurant: I don't think we made reservations since we moved away from Wautoma. It was a lovely evening --a date for just the two of us!-- that started with lumber-shopping at Menards (okay, okay, that was the practical part!) and ended with awesome food in a beautiful atmosphere.
Reminder to self:
Gotta try two of the drinks on the menu. (We seldom drink liquor when we go out to eat. Too expensive. Much cheaper to have those treats at home. And then you don't have to worry about driving either.) An ice-cream drink was orange juice with peach schnapps and vanilla ice cream. That sounds like something that definitely should be taste-tested. Likewise, a winter drink: hot apple cider with peach schnapps and Capt Morgan spiced rum.
Last night, we went out to eat at The Fox and the Hound. When somebody asked yesterday afternoon what time our reservations were, I realized how long it had been since we'd dined at such a nice restaurant: I don't think we made reservations since we moved away from Wautoma. It was a lovely evening --a date for just the two of us!-- that started with lumber-shopping at Menards (okay, okay, that was the practical part!) and ended with awesome food in a beautiful atmosphere.
Reminder to self:
Gotta try two of the drinks on the menu. (We seldom drink liquor when we go out to eat. Too expensive. Much cheaper to have those treats at home. And then you don't have to worry about driving either.) An ice-cream drink was orange juice with peach schnapps and vanilla ice cream. That sounds like something that definitely should be taste-tested. Likewise, a winter drink: hot apple cider with peach schnapps and Capt Morgan spiced rum.
Palin
What a perfect day to have been stuck in the car, doing errands, giving Andrew practice driving on the interstate. The radio was on all morning (incidentally driving Maggie nuts).
Palin sounds perfect in so many ways. When I heard Fred Thompson thought McCain made a great choice, that was thrilling. What I heard her say in this morning's speech was encouraging. What I heard from the talk-show callers was exciting.
But I still can't get over the fact that she has a little baby who should still be nursing and not even on solids yet, and the mommy is out there with a career. When I heard "mom of five" I figured this was a woman who had to be organized, who wouldn't put up with guff, and who would know that disagreements can't always be solved by just talking nice. But we're not talking "mom of five" where the youngest is age 10 or 15. We're talking about somebody who should be nursing and changing diapers. Annnnd we're talking about the mom of a little boy with Down Syndrome, a little boy who will need his mom's attention and help and love longer and more intensely than most kids.
No matter how perfect a choice Palin is for McCain and for the country, I can't help but wonder whether her son will be sacrificed "for the greater good." And all us conservatives are thrilled about it.
Talk about mixed feelings!
Palin sounds perfect in so many ways. When I heard Fred Thompson thought McCain made a great choice, that was thrilling. What I heard her say in this morning's speech was encouraging. What I heard from the talk-show callers was exciting.
But I still can't get over the fact that she has a little baby who should still be nursing and not even on solids yet, and the mommy is out there with a career. When I heard "mom of five" I figured this was a woman who had to be organized, who wouldn't put up with guff, and who would know that disagreements can't always be solved by just talking nice. But we're not talking "mom of five" where the youngest is age 10 or 15. We're talking about somebody who should be nursing and changing diapers. Annnnd we're talking about the mom of a little boy with Down Syndrome, a little boy who will need his mom's attention and help and love longer and more intensely than most kids.
No matter how perfect a choice Palin is for McCain and for the country, I can't help but wonder whether her son will be sacrificed "for the greater good." And all us conservatives are thrilled about it.
Talk about mixed feelings!
Blessed
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 16)
I don't know about you, but when I hear "blessed are you," my inclination is to think it's a pat on the back, a "good for you!" But let's pretend that we like to diagram sentences. What does that verse actually say?
Look at the main clause. We don't usually put the adjective first. We usually have the subject, then the linking verb, then the predicate-adjective. So let's flip the word-order of the first three words.
Now look at the subordinate clause: FOR flesh and blood.... "For" is like "because." What if we put the subordinate clause first in the sentence?
Isn't this what it says?
-- Because My Father has revealed to you that I am the Christ, you are blessed.
Now, I don't know about you, but for me, this makes it oodles easier to see that "blessed are you" isn't praise from God, but rather it's all about the wonnnder that we have received from God His good gifts (trust in Him, dependence on Him, knowing that Jesus is the one whom He has sent to save us) and these gifts HE gives is what has blessed me.
Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 16)
I don't know about you, but when I hear "blessed are you," my inclination is to think it's a pat on the back, a "good for you!" But let's pretend that we like to diagram sentences. What does that verse actually say?
Look at the main clause. We don't usually put the adjective first. We usually have the subject, then the linking verb, then the predicate-adjective. So let's flip the word-order of the first three words.
Now look at the subordinate clause: FOR flesh and blood.... "For" is like "because." What if we put the subordinate clause first in the sentence?
Isn't this what it says?
-- Because My Father has revealed to you that I am the Christ, you are blessed.
Now, I don't know about you, but for me, this makes it oodles easier to see that "blessed are you" isn't praise from God, but rather it's all about the wonnnder that we have received from God His good gifts (trust in Him, dependence on Him, knowing that Jesus is the one whom He has sent to save us) and these gifts HE gives is what has blessed me.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Paul's Move (3)
Teigen Hall, the boys' dorm
Looking out from Paul's room, across campus toward Old Main, and then the other direction
I don't know what they call this at Bethany, but at U of I, it would be called the Quad. It's the big pretty outdoor area in the center of campus.
The study area on the main floor of the library. The library is at the top of the ridge, overlooking the Deep Valley. It's a beautiful campus!
The communications building, where a LOT of Paul's classes will be held... until the new building is finished in summer of 2010. The current communications building is a short block from his dorm, about the same distance away as the cafeteria.
Looking out from Paul's room, across campus toward Old Main, and then the other direction
I don't know what they call this at Bethany, but at U of I, it would be called the Quad. It's the big pretty outdoor area in the center of campus.
The study area on the main floor of the library. The library is at the top of the ridge, overlooking the Deep Valley. It's a beautiful campus!
The communications building, where a LOT of Paul's classes will be held... until the new building is finished in summer of 2010. The current communications building is a short block from his dorm, about the same distance away as the cafeteria.
Paul's Move (2)
This is probably boring to most people who aren't closely related to me. But for their sakes....
:-)
Paul's room:
These are pictures of the lounge for their floor:
:-)
Paul's room:
These are pictures of the lounge for their floor:
Paul's Move (1)
Last Friday we loaded up the van. Not too bad a load. It is amazing to me, after moving a whole houseful of stuff twice, to remember what it's like to move a single person who doesn't even need furniture. Look at this picture. That's it. That's all there is to it!
It's a six-hour drive to Mankato. We spent Friday evening with Glenda and her family, eating awesome food (!!!) including mouth-watering pie, chatting with friends and getting to know them better, and even discovering that her kids are Playmobile-fans every bit as much as my kids.
It's a six-hour drive to Mankato. We spent Friday evening with Glenda and her family, eating awesome food (!!!) including mouth-watering pie, chatting with friends and getting to know them better, and even discovering that her kids are Playmobile-fans every bit as much as my kids.
"100" -- More Neighbors' Gardens
72. I loved growing red and white IMPATIENS at the old house in what used to be the sandbox. Pink and purple impatiens is okay (just like pink petunias), but the red and white ones are lovely!
73. There weren't many HYDRANGEA bushes where we used to live. We had a couple of them next to the house in Wautoma, but they seemed scarce where we recently came from. But boy oh boy, they're all over the place here! When we moved to Wautoma, I didn't know what the bush was, but Gary told me that he knew the "snowball bush."
74. Why is it that wild roses bloom in mid- to late-June, but everybody around here has ROSES blooming now in late August? What happened with the domestication of roses that it so drastically changed the blooming season?
73. There weren't many HYDRANGEA bushes where we used to live. We had a couple of them next to the house in Wautoma, but they seemed scarce where we recently came from. But boy oh boy, they're all over the place here! When we moved to Wautoma, I didn't know what the bush was, but Gary told me that he knew the "snowball bush."
74. Why is it that wild roses bloom in mid- to late-June, but everybody around here has ROSES blooming now in late August? What happened with the domestication of roses that it so drastically changed the blooming season?
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
SUCCESS
Rosie caught a mouse!
Athena's not sure what she thinks of this. She attacked Rosie's tail during her play with the prey. Athena went tearing around the yard like as if she were chasing something too. And when Rosie wouldn't eat all her mousie, Athena refused to finish it. The balance of the world is upset in the eyes of Miss Huntress-Supreme because...
Rosie caught a mouse!
Athena's not sure what she thinks of this. She attacked Rosie's tail during her play with the prey. Athena went tearing around the yard like as if she were chasing something too. And when Rosie wouldn't eat all her mousie, Athena refused to finish it. The balance of the world is upset in the eyes of Miss Huntress-Supreme because...
Rosie caught a mouse!
List of Liturgical Congregations
I don't know if it's the time of year, or what, but there have been lots of questions recently about the temporary unavailability of the listing of liturgical Lutheran congregations.
It will be back. The webmaster has been short of time recently. He spent months working a full-time job (with a 2.5-hour daily commute) alongside being a pastor. Then there was a move, and major re-adjustments for his family. Following that, he has been spending a huge number of hours moving dirt with a hand-shovel, sanding boards, staining deck, and other tasks necessary to making our backyardusable into something that's not a dump. Furthermore, he spends 9 hours a day staring at a computer screen at work; it's not easy to come home and sit down to more screen-time.
Unfortunately, keeping up with changes to the list can be difficult, especially when pastors do not report changes, or report lots of minor changes. The plan is for the list to be back. But the poor fellow needs to finish dealing with his messy backyard before he can get to the intense computer tasks. Please have patience, and we'll try to remember to announce when the list is up and running again.
It will be back. The webmaster has been short of time recently. He spent months working a full-time job (with a 2.5-hour daily commute) alongside being a pastor. Then there was a move, and major re-adjustments for his family. Following that, he has been spending a huge number of hours moving dirt with a hand-shovel, sanding boards, staining deck, and other tasks necessary to making our backyard
Unfortunately, keeping up with changes to the list can be difficult, especially when pastors do not report changes, or report lots of minor changes. The plan is for the list to be back. But the poor fellow needs to finish dealing with his messy backyard before he can get to the intense computer tasks. Please have patience, and we'll try to remember to announce when the list is up and running again.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
First Day of School
Some people have a tradition of taking a picture of the kids on their first day of school each year. Well, Paul, who will be voting in his first presidential election this fall, had his "First Day of School EVER" picture taken on move-in day last Saturday. In the red shirt is Andy, his RA. The Gullixsons, in the blue shirts, are the RDs (in essence, the house-mother and -father).
Good Intentions
Yesterday's story was Exodus 24. The Israelites had just gotten the Law from God, including the Ten Commandments. They responded with, "All that the Lord has spoken, we will do!"
Yeah. Right.
Pastor pointed out what happened after the people's well-intentioned vow, made sincerely, out of trust and faith in the one true God. In verse 4, Moses made an altar. In verse 7, Moses sprinkled blood upon the people.
Likewise, what's today's story, from the very next chapter? After God's people promise to do all that He has said, God gives them the tabernacle and the altar and the mercy seat.
He knew them better than they knew themselves.
He knew that sacrificial atonement was the only way.
Obedience wasn't going to happen.
Yeah. Right.
Pastor pointed out what happened after the people's well-intentioned vow, made sincerely, out of trust and faith in the one true God. In verse 4, Moses made an altar. In verse 7, Moses sprinkled blood upon the people.
Likewise, what's today's story, from the very next chapter? After God's people promise to do all that He has said, God gives them the tabernacle and the altar and the mercy seat.
He knew them better than they knew themselves.
He knew that sacrificial atonement was the only way.
Obedience wasn't going to happen.
We Give Thee But Thine Own
Today's story was Exodus 25, the instructions from the Lord for building the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle. Moses was to invite the people to bring their gold, silver, bronze, fine linens, and other items which were prescribed by God for usage in the tabernacle.
These people were slaves. These people had been in bondage. These people were not wealthy. BUT just before leaving Exodus, God had told them to go to their neighbors, ask for gold, and God would cause the Egyptians to just simply hand it over. So suddenly, after probably not having too much, the Israelites had riches!
They didn't hang onto it. When God said they could bring it for the building of the tabernacle, they DID. Eventually, Moses even had to tell them to knock it off and stop bringing so much because the artisans had enough materials.
We SAY we believe that we are giving God what He has first given to us. But do we really believe it? Don't we really believe it's ours, and we're pretty good Joes to be giving our offerings? When you look at those Israelites who gave their treasures for the tabernacle, it is SO obvious that they were only giving to God what He had given to them so that they could then give it back to Him. It should be that obvious about our wealth too. But it's not.
These people were slaves. These people had been in bondage. These people were not wealthy. BUT just before leaving Exodus, God had told them to go to their neighbors, ask for gold, and God would cause the Egyptians to just simply hand it over. So suddenly, after probably not having too much, the Israelites had riches!
They didn't hang onto it. When God said they could bring it for the building of the tabernacle, they DID. Eventually, Moses even had to tell them to knock it off and stop bringing so much because the artisans had enough materials.
We SAY we believe that we are giving God what He has first given to us. But do we really believe it? Don't we really believe it's ours, and we're pretty good Joes to be giving our offerings? When you look at those Israelites who gave their treasures for the tabernacle, it is SO obvious that they were only giving to God what He had given to them so that they could then give it back to Him. It should be that obvious about our wealth too. But it's not.
The Problem with Matins
When things started falling apart last September, and bedtimes got messed up, and the parents were talking and worrying, our schedule did not fare too well. When Gary got the secular job and was no longer home in the evenings, the schedule took another hit. Then we started house-hunting and packing and moving and unpacking, and all semblance of a schedule (even meal-time) was shot to pieces.
Now I'm unpacked. Now it's time for the start of a fresh new schoolyear. Now it's time to get back to a schedule ... at least a schedule of mealtime, prayers, and bedtime, but probably not a rigid schedule of math and spelling from 9:25 to 10:40 daily. If we usually go to Matins each day at church, and if we usually go to chapel each afternoon at church, that will definitely provide some outside force for a schedule.
But the thing I worry about is what happens when there's no school and thus no prayer services, like, say, during Christmas break or on Saturdays, or next summer for three months straight. Will we just skip prayers? Will we become lazy as to providing our own schedule and our own discipline, so that when the outside discipline isn't there, we ain't got none left? I wonder how we will handle that.
Now I'm unpacked. Now it's time for the start of a fresh new schoolyear. Now it's time to get back to a schedule ... at least a schedule of mealtime, prayers, and bedtime, but probably not a rigid schedule of math and spelling from 9:25 to 10:40 daily. If we usually go to Matins each day at church, and if we usually go to chapel each afternoon at church, that will definitely provide some outside force for a schedule.
But the thing I worry about is what happens when there's no school and thus no prayer services, like, say, during Christmas break or on Saturdays, or next summer for three months straight. Will we just skip prayers? Will we become lazy as to providing our own schedule and our own discipline, so that when the outside discipline isn't there, we ain't got none left? I wonder how we will handle that.
"100" -- Trees
69. A little OAK tree.
70. Here's a close-up picture of the leaves of a tree. This looks just like the one I found growing as a weed in my garden about 10 years ago. Rather than pulling it out or plowing it under, we chose to transplant it. This is how much it's grown: about 25' tall in a decade.
It took me a long long time to figure out whether it was a quaking aspen or a cottonwood, both of which are members of the poplar genus. But finally I figured out that it is a COTTONWOOD.
71. The SUMACs have large compound leaves and "drupes" of berries. Sumac is often noticeable along the interstates in autumn. The shrubs are short and spreading, often with bright red leaflets and bright red/orange bundles of berries. Sumac is in the same family as poison ivy. Some species of sumac have edible berries. I think it's interesting how these heavy berry-clusters can stand up instead of hang from the branch. This sumac appears to be a staghorn sumac, but I didn't take a good enough (i.e, close enough) look to be sure.
70. Here's a close-up picture of the leaves of a tree. This looks just like the one I found growing as a weed in my garden about 10 years ago. Rather than pulling it out or plowing it under, we chose to transplant it. This is how much it's grown: about 25' tall in a decade.
It took me a long long time to figure out whether it was a quaking aspen or a cottonwood, both of which are members of the poplar genus. But finally I figured out that it is a COTTONWOOD.
71. The SUMACs have large compound leaves and "drupes" of berries. Sumac is often noticeable along the interstates in autumn. The shrubs are short and spreading, often with bright red leaflets and bright red/orange bundles of berries. Sumac is in the same family as poison ivy. Some species of sumac have edible berries. I think it's interesting how these heavy berry-clusters can stand up instead of hang from the branch. This sumac appears to be a staghorn sumac, but I didn't take a good enough (i.e, close enough) look to be sure.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Today
Kids and I accomplished:
Trip to town for Matins and mailing a package of left-behind items to Paul. Had Larry over to look at the electric lines for the stove's new vent. Washed almost all the bed linens and towels, as well as several loads of regular laundry, hanging it all on the line outside. Cleaned most of the floors in the house. Helped Andrew to dismantle the bunk bed and take it downstairs. Bought gas and then used it to mow most of the lawn. Dead-headed the snap-dragons with Maggie. Ate three sit-down meals together (quicky home-mades though they be). Phone calls to arrange for more beef for the freezer. Dug out some info on herbal remedies for a sick kid, and passed along what I knew. Biked to town (PE class!) for chapel and mailing another package, this one to the sick kid.
Started the bread to soaking, but didn't get around to making it yet. Cooked the eggs for deviled eggs which Gary is planning to take to the hors d'ouvres lunch at work tomorrow, but didn't get the eggs done yet either. Didn't make that second batch of soap. Didn't spend any time working on the next volume of Fabrizius's stuff (which I wanted to print out as my scribble-copy on Wednesday). Don't have the sheets back on the beds yet. Don't have Paul's bed put back together after the bed re-arranging. Didn't get around to making a to-do list for Maggie which she so desperately needs AND wants.
What I didn't get done today was SO much. But when I look at the items crossed off the to-do list on the refrigerator, it seems like we did a lot. No wonder we didn't have time for math or reading today. It was cool, though, to watch the honey bees opening the snapdragons to crawl inside and do their nectar/pollination thing!
Trip to town for Matins and mailing a package of left-behind items to Paul. Had Larry over to look at the electric lines for the stove's new vent. Washed almost all the bed linens and towels, as well as several loads of regular laundry, hanging it all on the line outside. Cleaned most of the floors in the house. Helped Andrew to dismantle the bunk bed and take it downstairs. Bought gas and then used it to mow most of the lawn. Dead-headed the snap-dragons with Maggie. Ate three sit-down meals together (quicky home-mades though they be). Phone calls to arrange for more beef for the freezer. Dug out some info on herbal remedies for a sick kid, and passed along what I knew. Biked to town (PE class!) for chapel and mailing another package, this one to the sick kid.
Started the bread to soaking, but didn't get around to making it yet. Cooked the eggs for deviled eggs which Gary is planning to take to the hors d'ouvres lunch at work tomorrow, but didn't get the eggs done yet either. Didn't make that second batch of soap. Didn't spend any time working on the next volume of Fabrizius's stuff (which I wanted to print out as my scribble-copy on Wednesday). Don't have the sheets back on the beds yet. Don't have Paul's bed put back together after the bed re-arranging. Didn't get around to making a to-do list for Maggie which she so desperately needs AND wants.
What I didn't get done today was SO much. But when I look at the items crossed off the to-do list on the refrigerator, it seems like we did a lot. No wonder we didn't have time for math or reading today. It was cool, though, to watch the honey bees opening the snapdragons to crawl inside and do their nectar/pollination thing!
Tractor Pun
Driving Paul to college last Friday, we happened to see a road sign for "WARNING: Deer Crossing."
Sitting between the road sign and the cornfield next to it, was an orange tractor (aka an Allis-Chalmers). I laughed!
(For those of you who need an explanation, an Allis-Chalmers is NOT a Deere.)
And then I laughed at myself. Because, really, how many people would've been amused by this? Probably the kind of people (like me!) who enjoyed Beer for My Horses.
Sitting between the road sign and the cornfield next to it, was an orange tractor (aka an Allis-Chalmers). I laughed!
(For those of you who need an explanation, an Allis-Chalmers is NOT a Deere.)
And then I laughed at myself. Because, really, how many people would've been amused by this? Probably the kind of people (like me!) who enjoyed Beer for My Horses.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sauce for Cucumbers
Kathy asked for the recipe. Recipe? I'm supposed to have a recipe???
Well, for the sake of enzymes and the lacto-fermentation and all that jazz, I do start with homemade mayonnaise. Y'know, the kind with raw egg that the government warns us not to eat? The kind that will kill you? Well, that's what I make. Because this stuff will kill you, and we eat it, obviously we must be zombies or mummies or ghosts or something. But if you wish to remain alive and non-zombie-like, you can certainly use store-bought mayo or Miracle Whip. You know, the stuff that will just make you fat and clog up your arteries. But it won't kill you with the rawness of the eeeevil eggs.
Mayonnaise:
1 raw egg (from a happy chicken)
1 raw egg yolk (from a happy chicken)
teaspoon of prepared mustard
fat pinch of salt
3/4 ounce whey (made from raw milk gone sour)
1/2 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice
Put ingredients in blender and whip 'em up for a few seconds.
Measure 3/4 cup raw, extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil into measuring cup. Add another tablespoon or two of raw, cold-pressed flaxseed oil. With blender running on high, slowly (over the course of 80-100 seconds) dribble/pour oil into the egg mixture. Mayo will have a firmer consistency if you let it sit out at room temperature for 5-7 hours before refrigerating.
Now, on to the sauce I make for cucumbers.
Uh, well, uh,....
it depends on how many cucumbers I have to use up. Let's say 3-4 cukes about 6" each. You can throw in a very small, thinly sliced onion too. I'd probably start with about
1/4 or 1/3 cup mayo (or Miracle Whip if your husband insists...),
and stir in about 1 or 1.5 tablespoons of sugar,
1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
And then other spices. I like adding about
1/2 or 1 teaspoon of Emeril's Essence OR
1/8 teaspoon cayenne.
Also maybe some black pepper
and some garlic powder or real-live minced garlic.
After this sauce sits on the sliced cucumbers and flavors them, the leftover mayo sauce diluted with cucumber juice will make a fantastic (but thinner) sauce to drizzle over sliced tomatoes, or to dip your deli-meat sandwiches in, or to make a fake gyro.
Well, for the sake of enzymes and the lacto-fermentation and all that jazz, I do start with homemade mayonnaise. Y'know, the kind with raw egg that the government warns us not to eat? The kind that will kill you? Well, that's what I make. Because this stuff will kill you, and we eat it, obviously we must be zombies or mummies or ghosts or something. But if you wish to remain alive and non-zombie-like, you can certainly use store-bought mayo or Miracle Whip. You know, the stuff that will just make you fat and clog up your arteries. But it won't kill you with the rawness of the eeeevil eggs.
Mayonnaise:
1 raw egg (from a happy chicken)
1 raw egg yolk (from a happy chicken)
teaspoon of prepared mustard
fat pinch of salt
3/4 ounce whey (made from raw milk gone sour)
1/2 ounce fresh-squeezed lemon or lime juice
Put ingredients in blender and whip 'em up for a few seconds.
Measure 3/4 cup raw, extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil into measuring cup. Add another tablespoon or two of raw, cold-pressed flaxseed oil. With blender running on high, slowly (over the course of 80-100 seconds) dribble/pour oil into the egg mixture. Mayo will have a firmer consistency if you let it sit out at room temperature for 5-7 hours before refrigerating.
Now, on to the sauce I make for cucumbers.
Uh, well, uh,....
it depends on how many cucumbers I have to use up. Let's say 3-4 cukes about 6" each. You can throw in a very small, thinly sliced onion too. I'd probably start with about
1/4 or 1/3 cup mayo (or Miracle Whip if your husband insists...),
and stir in about 1 or 1.5 tablespoons of sugar,
1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
And then other spices. I like adding about
1/2 or 1 teaspoon of Emeril's Essence OR
1/8 teaspoon cayenne.
Also maybe some black pepper
and some garlic powder or real-live minced garlic.
After this sauce sits on the sliced cucumbers and flavors them, the leftover mayo sauce diluted with cucumber juice will make a fantastic (but thinner) sauce to drizzle over sliced tomatoes, or to dip your deli-meat sandwiches in, or to make a fake gyro.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Chancel Changes
The first picture was taken prior to the addition of the corpus. The wedding was the last day of Eastertide, so that explains the white on the cross and the extra candelabras. The second picture is what we have now.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Knowing the Baby's Sex
Almost everybody nowadays knows whether the baby is going to be a girl or boy before the child's birth. That can be really fun in some ways. You can start calling the baby by name, and pick pink/blue outfits, or little dresses instead of little bib-overalls.
But Katie discovered one problem. If you're expecting to have several children, and the sex of the first child is known ahead of time, there will be plenty of color-coded gifts. She said Liz doesn't want to know her baby's sex so that whatever they buy (or receive) for the baby will be appropriate for future children as it will be neutrally colored: white or those baby-pastel yellows & greens.
Being from the olden days when you discovered the baby's sex after he/she was born, I had never realized that Not-Knowing could be a frugality measure. It also crossed my mind that in these days of one-child-per-family, maybe a whole lot of people don't care whether the baby's things can be used for future siblings ... who are likely to not come into existence anyway.
But Katie discovered one problem. If you're expecting to have several children, and the sex of the first child is known ahead of time, there will be plenty of color-coded gifts. She said Liz doesn't want to know her baby's sex so that whatever they buy (or receive) for the baby will be appropriate for future children as it will be neutrally colored: white or those baby-pastel yellows & greens.
Being from the olden days when you discovered the baby's sex after he/she was born, I had never realized that Not-Knowing could be a frugality measure. It also crossed my mind that in these days of one-child-per-family, maybe a whole lot of people don't care whether the baby's things can be used for future siblings ... who are likely to not come into existence anyway.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
DONE!
As of 4:28 this afternoon, 166 days after moving, I am done unpacking.
Now, that doesn't mean things are totally done. There are plenty of projects that still need to be accomplished that go with moving (the vent over the stove, digging up a garden plot so the grass can rot over winter, finishing the deck repairs, improving the wireless, hooking up the tv antenna, repairing a slightly mildewy spot under one sink, and re-painting with scrubbable paint. But if we get to only a couple of those things in the next months (or year), I will survive and even be able to function just fine. Ah, yes, there are also boxes of books and homeschooling items and wall decorations in the garage that need to be sold or otherwise disposed of ... or possibly stored.
But the unpacking and the decisions of where to put things,
THAT IS DONE.
And it's worth rejoicing over!
Now I can get on with life. (Whew. It's about time.)
Now, that doesn't mean things are totally done. There are plenty of projects that still need to be accomplished that go with moving (the vent over the stove, digging up a garden plot so the grass can rot over winter, finishing the deck repairs, improving the wireless, hooking up the tv antenna, repairing a slightly mildewy spot under one sink, and re-painting with scrubbable paint. But if we get to only a couple of those things in the next months (or year), I will survive and even be able to function just fine. Ah, yes, there are also boxes of books and homeschooling items and wall decorations in the garage that need to be sold or otherwise disposed of ... or possibly stored.
But the unpacking and the decisions of where to put things,
THAT IS DONE.
And it's worth rejoicing over!
Now I can get on with life. (Whew. It's about time.)
A Subtle "Pro-Choice" Perspective
When I was pregnant with my kids (back in the Dark Ages, when kids were born without ultrasound pictures ahead of time) a pregnancy was 38 weeks. When I went to the doctor for prenatal visits, they told me that I was thus-and-so-far along ... and it was measured from the time of conception.
The stuff you find online about pregnancy today states that a pregnancy is 40 weeks. So now, instead of counting how far along Mommy is according to the conception of the child, we count how far along Mommy is from the date of her last period.
In other words, pregnancy is about what's happening to the mom's body, not what's happening with the baby's body.
Whenever somebody in the house asks me how far along Katie is now, I have the biggest booger of a time figuring it out ... because I don't count like the medical world today counts.
The stuff you find online about pregnancy today states that a pregnancy is 40 weeks. So now, instead of counting how far along Mommy is according to the conception of the child, we count how far along Mommy is from the date of her last period.
In other words, pregnancy is about what's happening to the mom's body, not what's happening with the baby's body.
Whenever somebody in the house asks me how far along Katie is now, I have the biggest booger of a time figuring it out ... because I don't count like the medical world today counts.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Manure
There was a lot of gravel in the dirt around the swimming pool that was here when we moved in. Our shovels and our muscles moved a whole lot of it on Saturday. But with clay soil, over the course of many years that gravel got smashed down into the dirt and embedded ... and we just ain't gonna be able to move it.
So Gary talked to one of the neighbors, a real-live farmer, one of the hold-outs who still has cows and pigs and hasn't subdivided his land into one-acre plots for mega-houses. We're going to pay him to come over with his bobcat and shove this dirt and gravel around for us so that we can get some topsoil and plant grass.
As we enjoyed a nice chat, he mentioned that they were looking to move further out from the city. He's had some of the new neighbors complain about farming. That just makes me mad. People move out into the country, and then complain about tractors on the road, or the smell of manure, or the sound of the machinery. He said he had some problems hauling manure once. And I'm thinkin', "What do people want?" If a farmer has to dispose of his manure, that will be costly to him. And where would it go anyway? To the town dump? And if he put his manure in the garbage can for the garbage man to pick up (LOL!) what would Mr Farmer use for fertilizer? A bunch of chemicals that are more toxic than cow manure. Do we want that in our nice little "country neighborhoods"?
Putting manure on the fields is a really good plan that works with nature. And yet, city folks get all upset about it. Those people should stay in the parts of the city where there is lots of concrete, and where they see cows only on long trips or when they go to the zoo. And if they get hungry someday because we've turned all the farms into corporations and run the farmers out of business, well, then what?
PS: This neighbor milks cows. I am glad. (Let the reader understand.)
So Gary talked to one of the neighbors, a real-live farmer, one of the hold-outs who still has cows and pigs and hasn't subdivided his land into one-acre plots for mega-houses. We're going to pay him to come over with his bobcat and shove this dirt and gravel around for us so that we can get some topsoil and plant grass.
As we enjoyed a nice chat, he mentioned that they were looking to move further out from the city. He's had some of the new neighbors complain about farming. That just makes me mad. People move out into the country, and then complain about tractors on the road, or the smell of manure, or the sound of the machinery. He said he had some problems hauling manure once. And I'm thinkin', "What do people want?" If a farmer has to dispose of his manure, that will be costly to him. And where would it go anyway? To the town dump? And if he put his manure in the garbage can for the garbage man to pick up (LOL!) what would Mr Farmer use for fertilizer? A bunch of chemicals that are more toxic than cow manure. Do we want that in our nice little "country neighborhoods"?
Putting manure on the fields is a really good plan that works with nature. And yet, city folks get all upset about it. Those people should stay in the parts of the city where there is lots of concrete, and where they see cows only on long trips or when they go to the zoo. And if they get hungry someday because we've turned all the farms into corporations and run the farmers out of business, well, then what?
PS: This neighbor milks cows. I am glad. (Let the reader understand.)
Gyro Secret
I like gyros. But the meat is specially processed, and not easily available. And pita bread is not something I always keep on hand.
Well, Andrew and I made a discovery today!
He was being inventive with his cooking. He put together sandwiches made of whole-wheat tortillas smeared with a little cream cheese, and then added some spicy deli beef, cheese, and sliced cucumbers. A couple days ago we made creamed cucumbers (mayo, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, cayenne, and garlic). Well, we've discovered that you never never never ditch that sauce. The cucumbers soak in that sauce, and after a day the sauce gets thin and runny with this cucumbery taste. It makes a great dressing to put on fresh tomatoes. But today (oh, heavenly-tasting day!) Andrew used some of this sauce on his tortilla concoction. And the result had THAT flavor, the flavor I LOVE from the gyros. So it's not really the gyro that I love, but the cucumbery sauce.
And that means I can revel in this flavor a whole lot more often! Wooo hooo!
(Somehow we are going to have to turn Andrew into a world-ranking chef....)
Well, Andrew and I made a discovery today!
He was being inventive with his cooking. He put together sandwiches made of whole-wheat tortillas smeared with a little cream cheese, and then added some spicy deli beef, cheese, and sliced cucumbers. A couple days ago we made creamed cucumbers (mayo, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, cayenne, and garlic). Well, we've discovered that you never never never ditch that sauce. The cucumbers soak in that sauce, and after a day the sauce gets thin and runny with this cucumbery taste. It makes a great dressing to put on fresh tomatoes. But today (oh, heavenly-tasting day!) Andrew used some of this sauce on his tortilla concoction. And the result had THAT flavor, the flavor I LOVE from the gyros. So it's not really the gyro that I love, but the cucumbery sauce.
And that means I can revel in this flavor a whole lot more often! Wooo hooo!
(Somehow we are going to have to turn Andrew into a world-ranking chef....)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
"100" -- Pines
I am cheating SO badly on this project. I've identified few species, but loads of genuses. Oh well, if I can get that far, I figure "good for me." And if I can teach some of this to the kids, then really really good for me AND good for them. After we learn the genuses, we can narrow down to species someday.
All the items in this post are of the pine family. Ain't that confusing? A pine (genus) is a pine (family). But a spruce or a fir or a hemlock is not a pine (genus) but IS in the pine family. But we do that with toads/frogs and we do it with cypresses, and I'm sure there are loads of other examples.
A tree in the pine family will have cones and needles and is evergreen.
67. SPRUCE needles are stiff. The needles are four-sided (like mint stems) and the same color all the way around the needle. Different from fir and hemlock, spruce needles are usually very sharp (which you know if you've tried to decorate one as a Christmas tree!).
Spruce cones are papery. The cones will hang along a branch or at the end of a branch.
68. Trees in the pine genus have bundled needles. The needles are often longer than other genuses/species in the pine family. This is a RED PINE. The long needles (5") are bunched by twos. Red-pine needles will snap when bent, while the other long two-needled species has flexible needles.
Pine cones will be more woody than spruce or fir cones.
The HEMLOCK doesn't have needles around the twigs, but one row of needles on each side of the twig. The flat needles are very soft and pliable. The underneath side of the needle will be lighter than the top, and also will have two stripes.
Hemlock cones are woody (like pine cones) but are tiny. Hemlock cones drip from the ends of branches.
The hemlock tree is not poisonous. It was the hemlock wildflower that killed Socrates.
I didn't give hemlock a number because, although I've occasionally seen them around the southeastern part of the state, I haven't seen any within a mile of the house.
Like hemlock, the firs have soft, short, flat needles. Also like hemlocks, the underneath side of the needles is lighter colored than the top side.
The cones of firs are different from the other "pines"; the cones on a fir will stand up on the branches. My FRASIER FIR is not numbered because firs aren't native to the area. You can usually only find firs in the midwest in arboretums and at Christmas tree farms, ... or by our old house where I planted a Christmas-tree patch.
So identifying the genus within the pine family begins with:
woody or papery cones,
-- tiny woody ones at the end of a branch = hemlock
-- bigger woody ones = pine
-- papery ones standing upright = fir
-- papery ones hanging = spruce
needles,
-- square, stiff, and sharp = spruce
-- long and bundled = pine
-- short, soft, arranged around the twig = fir
-- short, soft, two rows along each twig = hemlock
I'm sure I've oversimplified this. But it's a start in separating out the different kinds of trees.
All the items in this post are of the pine family. Ain't that confusing? A pine (genus) is a pine (family). But a spruce or a fir or a hemlock is not a pine (genus) but IS in the pine family. But we do that with toads/frogs and we do it with cypresses, and I'm sure there are loads of other examples.
A tree in the pine family will have cones and needles and is evergreen.
67. SPRUCE needles are stiff. The needles are four-sided (like mint stems) and the same color all the way around the needle. Different from fir and hemlock, spruce needles are usually very sharp (which you know if you've tried to decorate one as a Christmas tree!). Spruce cones are papery. The cones will hang along a branch or at the end of a branch.
68. Trees in the pine genus have bundled needles. The needles are often longer than other genuses/species in the pine family. This is a RED PINE. The long needles (5") are bunched by twos. Red-pine needles will snap when bent, while the other long two-needled species has flexible needles.Pine cones will be more woody than spruce or fir cones.
The HEMLOCK doesn't have needles around the twigs, but one row of needles on each side of the twig. The flat needles are very soft and pliable. The underneath side of the needle will be lighter than the top, and also will have two stripes.Hemlock cones are woody (like pine cones) but are tiny. Hemlock cones drip from the ends of branches.
The hemlock tree is not poisonous. It was the hemlock wildflower that killed Socrates.
I didn't give hemlock a number because, although I've occasionally seen them around the southeastern part of the state, I haven't seen any within a mile of the house.
Like hemlock, the firs have soft, short, flat needles. Also like hemlocks, the underneath side of the needles is lighter colored than the top side. 
The cones of firs are different from the other "pines"; the cones on a fir will stand up on the branches. My FRASIER FIR is not numbered because firs aren't native to the area. You can usually only find firs in the midwest in arboretums and at Christmas tree farms, ... or by our old house where I planted a Christmas-tree patch.So identifying the genus within the pine family begins with:
woody or papery cones,
-- tiny woody ones at the end of a branch = hemlock
-- bigger woody ones = pine
-- papery ones standing upright = fir
-- papery ones hanging = spruce
needles,
-- square, stiff, and sharp = spruce
-- long and bundled = pine
-- short, soft, arranged around the twig = fir
-- short, soft, two rows along each twig = hemlock
I'm sure I've oversimplified this. But it's a start in separating out the different kinds of trees.
He's Leaving
When we took Philip to college, it was a 70-80 minute drive to get there, depending on traffic. He lived in dorms 6 [long] blocks from Wietings (his brothers' godparents). Wietings had been like the local aunt, uncle, and cousins when we were in central Wisconsin far from family. Pastor Wieting had been Philip's pastor from age 3-7. Furthermore, because of Steve's illness and hospice care, we had reason to be going up that way frequently in Philip's first half-semester of college.
When we took Katie to college, it was an 80-85 minute drive to get there, depending on traffic. She was at a Concordia, with friends, one of whom had a car and would assure she would get to church in Sussex and Greenfield, more than once a week.
When Rachel moved away, we knew her "roommate." We knew she and her husband would be attending a good church. We knew they had their young friends nearby and our middle-aged friends nearby. And they were closer than either of the others, only a 45-50 minute drive away.
When we took Katie and Philip "away" to college, we said "Bye, see you Monday" when the Dead Theologians Society would be getting together for the Labor Day party/barbecue. We knew that there were frequent enough trips to Milwaukee that we could easily drop off treats or care packages (with enzyme capsules or raw milk?? what kind of mother puts THAT in a care package?) or items they had forgotten to pack.
It's different this week. Paul is going to south central Minnesota. That's further away than Katie and Nathan are. That's further away than my parents are. It's a 6-hour drive. I'm not going to say, "Bye, see you on Monday at the barbecue." I don't know what the church is like he'll be attending. (Everybody tells me it's great. But I don't KNOW that for myself.) If he forgets his snow-boots, we'll have to mail them instead of drop them off sometime in the next couple of months. Anything he forgets will have to be purchased there (eeeks! says the tightwad mother) or shipped. I don't know whether we'll see him before Christmas.
This is different.
When we took Katie to college, it was an 80-85 minute drive to get there, depending on traffic. She was at a Concordia, with friends, one of whom had a car and would assure she would get to church in Sussex and Greenfield, more than once a week.
When Rachel moved away, we knew her "roommate." We knew she and her husband would be attending a good church. We knew they had their young friends nearby and our middle-aged friends nearby. And they were closer than either of the others, only a 45-50 minute drive away.
When we took Katie and Philip "away" to college, we said "Bye, see you Monday" when the Dead Theologians Society would be getting together for the Labor Day party/barbecue. We knew that there were frequent enough trips to Milwaukee that we could easily drop off treats or care packages (with enzyme capsules or raw milk?? what kind of mother puts THAT in a care package?) or items they had forgotten to pack.
It's different this week. Paul is going to south central Minnesota. That's further away than Katie and Nathan are. That's further away than my parents are. It's a 6-hour drive. I'm not going to say, "Bye, see you on Monday at the barbecue." I don't know what the church is like he'll be attending. (Everybody tells me it's great. But I don't KNOW that for myself.) If he forgets his snow-boots, we'll have to mail them instead of drop them off sometime in the next couple of months. Anything he forgets will have to be purchased there (eeeks! says the tightwad mother) or shipped. I don't know whether we'll see him before Christmas.
This is different.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Illogical
Some Christians believe that they choose to accept Jesus into their hearts, or they choose not to. Other Christians believe that it's not our choice, but God's predetermination whether we will go to heaven or go to hell. Lutherans believe half of each. If we come to faith, we believe that it is all God's doing and God's gracious choice. If we are not Christians, it is not God's plan that we reject Him but entirely our own fault. This may not make sense logically ("Hey, if I can choose to reject Him, then I must be able to choose to accept Him!"), but nevertheless Lutherans are confessing what the Bible says about the matter.
Okay, probably most of you folks learned that in confirmation class. But now here's another aspect of the same thing. Some people will say that if our children are good or bad, it must be because the parents raised them right or botched something up. But that's not true. Other people will think that if our children are wretched or if they're wonderful, it's entirely chance (or God's will, or whatever). That's not true either. Rather, if our children are bad, we can attribute that to any number of things: the child's sinful nature, or something that God is allowing temporarily for the sake of a bigger good that He will work in the future, or maybe even sometimes mistakes that the parents made. If our children are good, however, that is no feather in the parents' cap. The catechism tells us that God certainly gives devout children even without our prayer, but we pray that He would lead us to realize this and to receive our devout children with thanksgiving.
We want so much to go on the assumption that raising kids is like making a cake. Do this, add a little of that, mix it in the right manner, and [voila!] you should get a certain result by following the particular recipe. Except child-rearing just doesn't work like that! Why not? Don't the social workers tell us to "do this, do that" and all will be well? Don't fellow Christians sometimes tell us the same thing? But like coming to faith, it's not a matter of reasonable logic. Whatever good God gives is to His glory, and we thank Him. And whatever bad may come cannot be blamed on Him but upon sin.
It's silly for me to take the credit when my kids turn out well. But likewise, it is freeing (in a way) to know that I'm not the one in control of the final outcome ... especially if someday things should not work out as I would choose.
Okay, probably most of you folks learned that in confirmation class. But now here's another aspect of the same thing. Some people will say that if our children are good or bad, it must be because the parents raised them right or botched something up. But that's not true. Other people will think that if our children are wretched or if they're wonderful, it's entirely chance (or God's will, or whatever). That's not true either. Rather, if our children are bad, we can attribute that to any number of things: the child's sinful nature, or something that God is allowing temporarily for the sake of a bigger good that He will work in the future, or maybe even sometimes mistakes that the parents made. If our children are good, however, that is no feather in the parents' cap. The catechism tells us that God certainly gives devout children even without our prayer, but we pray that He would lead us to realize this and to receive our devout children with thanksgiving.
We want so much to go on the assumption that raising kids is like making a cake. Do this, add a little of that, mix it in the right manner, and [voila!] you should get a certain result by following the particular recipe. Except child-rearing just doesn't work like that! Why not? Don't the social workers tell us to "do this, do that" and all will be well? Don't fellow Christians sometimes tell us the same thing? But like coming to faith, it's not a matter of reasonable logic. Whatever good God gives is to His glory, and we thank Him. And whatever bad may come cannot be blamed on Him but upon sin.
It's silly for me to take the credit when my kids turn out well. But likewise, it is freeing (in a way) to know that I'm not the one in control of the final outcome ... especially if someday things should not work out as I would choose.
Picture Day
I managed to get the last of the unpacking indoors done today. Yee haw! When I finally got that last room neatened and orderly, (like, y'know, I am finally able to WALK THROUGH that room) in a much quicker time-frame than I'd anticipated, I was rarin' to go finish all the unpacking and get the boxes in the garage taken care of.
Instead...
Maggie and I sat down at the computer to sort through some photos for a gift we're working on. We looked through Facebook pages. We looked through our files. And then Paul came home from work, and we started sorting through hundreds (thousands?) of his pictures. We copied some of them into our picture files. We were having way too much fun, and not getting supper made, and not unpacking any boxes, and not doing any schoolwork, and not sweeping nor dusting anything.
Pictures are addictive!
Instead...
Maggie and I sat down at the computer to sort through some photos for a gift we're working on. We looked through Facebook pages. We looked through our files. And then Paul came home from work, and we started sorting through hundreds (thousands?) of his pictures. We copied some of them into our picture files. We were having way too much fun, and not getting supper made, and not unpacking any boxes, and not doing any schoolwork, and not sweeping nor dusting anything.
Pictures are addictive!
"100" -- More Roadside
62. The way I learned MILKWEED was by going out with my mom and my grandma, looking for milkweed pods that had already gone to seed, popped open, and dried. I think they used them for craft projects. I don't know that I ever saw milkweed flowering until about 10 years ago when 
63. The flowers on GOATS BEARD are not remarkable. They look like dandelion or hawkweed, except that there are points that make it look a little more "starry" than the others. The time you recognize goats-beard, though, is when it goes to seed. The seedhead is reminiscent of a dandelion puffball, except it's airier. And bigger. The seedheads on goats-beard are the size of a baseball.
64. CURLY DOCK doesn't have burs like burdock. Instead it has a flower stalk that is a spiraling pillar. It will be green early in summer, but by this time of year curly dock is identified as the very dark brown, twisty weed along the roadsides.
65 & 66. One of the most beautiful sights in the world is a long ribbon of CHICORY and QUEEN ANNE'S LACE growing together in a lovely intertwining of blue and white. The kids taught me that chicory roots were used as a coffee substitute during the Civil War. And I Sunday, August 17, 2008
Soap Mistake
It's been a long time since I've made soap -- more than a year and a half. My supply was fine through last fall, and I kept telling myself that I had to get to it so that the new soap would have time to cure before I ran out of the previous batches. But I still had soap, so I procrastinated. And then the soap-stash began to get really low: only a couple of bars left. Still I procrastinated.
After several months of using store "bath-bars," somebody pulled the last bar of real, home-made soap out of the drawer. Oh, it is so nice and smooth and silky. And it doesn't itch. That was the impetus to get to making another batch.
I did tonight. But I noticed a problem with the lye-water (a problem which I'd had before) and attempted to intercept the problem and correct it. But I over-corrected. Now I have soap with lye-water oozing from it as it begins to cure. The internet tells me I can melt the soap and add fat and re-pour it into molds. But I think first I'm going to let it cure for several weeks and try one bar. If it burns like I expect it will, then I'll try fixing the batch. But for right now, I'm just going to wait and see what I've made. And probably make another batch so that I will have a proper soap all done and finished before I even figure out just what's up with tonight's batch.
After several months of using store "bath-bars," somebody pulled the last bar of real, home-made soap out of the drawer. Oh, it is so nice and smooth and silky. And it doesn't itch. That was the impetus to get to making another batch.
I did tonight. But I noticed a problem with the lye-water (a problem which I'd had before) and attempted to intercept the problem and correct it. But I over-corrected. Now I have soap with lye-water oozing from it as it begins to cure. The internet tells me I can melt the soap and add fat and re-pour it into molds. But I think first I'm going to let it cure for several weeks and try one bar. If it burns like I expect it will, then I'll try fixing the batch. But for right now, I'm just going to wait and see what I've made. And probably make another batch so that I will have a proper soap all done and finished before I even figure out just what's up with tonight's batch.
Meals
In recent months, preparing meals has been overwhelmingly hard. Making food, however, doesn't seem like a big deal.
I don't know if I'm putting too much pressure on myself to have a nice, organized, pretty, appetizing meal. I don't know if I'm just thinking that I need to keep coming up with new ideas instead of being okay with recycling the same meal 2-4 times per month. But whatever it is, hamburgers or pizza or roasted vegetables or salad or fried eggs or tuna salad or burritoes don't stress me at all. But neither do I consider them meals.
Somehow I have to elevate these foods (especially when they come alongside 2-3 veggie side-dishes) to MEAL-status.
I don't know if I'm putting too much pressure on myself to have a nice, organized, pretty, appetizing meal. I don't know if I'm just thinking that I need to keep coming up with new ideas instead of being okay with recycling the same meal 2-4 times per month. But whatever it is, hamburgers or pizza or roasted vegetables or salad or fried eggs or tuna salad or burritoes don't stress me at all. But neither do I consider them meals.
Somehow I have to elevate these foods (especially when they come alongside 2-3 veggie side-dishes) to MEAL-status.
"100" -- Nuisance
59. I think NIGHTSHADE is one of the reasons parents teach their children not to eat wild berries. The flowers are attractive. The plant looks tomato-like. But it's poisonous. 
60. SOW THISTLE has flowers that look quite similar to dandelion, goats-beard, and hawkweed. Except it's a thistle. It is, however, a whole lot easier to pull than Canadian thistle or bull thistle.
61. These heart-shaped leaves just love to pop up in any disturbed soil: plowed fields, construction sites, gardens, or where you recently dug up your yard for a new septic system. You can see pictures of the various stages of growth of VELVETLEAF.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
"100" -- Rehashing
Here's a taller picture of burdock (#17) and also a picture of the flowers. I didn't know they were purple. I usually see them once they're dried and deeply entangled in the cats' fur.
Ragweed (#9) getting bigger and making lots of pollen now.
The bottom photo better shows the shape of grape leaves (#49).
OIympics
If it weren't for the blogs of a few friends who are hyped over the Olympics, I don't think I'd even know they were going on. Sixteen years ago, though, we cared. The kids were younger. My aunt Mary gave us a package of activities for the kids to compete with: baseball and lightweight horseshoes and plastic golf clubs. It was fun.
Long after most of the presents had gone to Plastic-Toy Heaven, those horseshoes still hung in the garage. Every time I got out the ladder, or when a younger child had to try out the horseshoe-tossing, I would see those blue and red horseshoes, and fondly thank God for Mom's sister.
Long after most of the presents had gone to Plastic-Toy Heaven, those horseshoes still hung in the garage. Every time I got out the ladder, or when a younger child had to try out the horseshoe-tossing, I would see those blue and red horseshoes, and fondly thank God for Mom's sister.
A Big, Big Hole
We moved gravel today. And dirt. And sand. We thought the pool that had been here was about 4' deep. Well, when the pool had drained itself through the gashes in the liner, we discovered that there was a deep spot for jumping (diving?). That was one deeeeep hole. Furthermore, there was also a LOT of gravel around the pool so as to prevent huge mud puddles from developing. Well, Gary got to a point in his deck-sanding and -staining that he finally wanted that hole filled in. So with shovels and wheelbarrows, we transferred rocks and bricks and old broken concrete pieces into the hole, and we packed gravel and dirt and sand in around the layers of rocks. The hole is nowhere near as full as it should be, but it's lots better. The backyard also looks a little neater, what with so many of those rock piles now hidden and serving as fill.
Gary thinks he's going to have to rent a Bobcat. We moved loads of gravel, but some of it is just so pounded into the soil that it's not going to be very nice about coming loose with garden forks and human-powered shovels. Looking forward to finally undoing the mess that was once a pool into some nice lawn or garden or both. It's been a long haul so far, but after today it seems like we might be halfway.
Gary thinks he's going to have to rent a Bobcat. We moved loads of gravel, but some of it is just so pounded into the soil that it's not going to be very nice about coming loose with garden forks and human-powered shovels. Looking forward to finally undoing the mess that was once a pool into some nice lawn or garden or both. It's been a long haul so far, but after today it seems like we might be halfway.
Oink
Five pizzas. Five pizzas, each as big as a cookie sheet.
Six people for supper.
With the kids going to a barbecue/swimming party this afternoon, and with Gary having a big project going outdoors today, I figured I could make plenty of pizza for supper last night and have some leftovers for three of us today. Do you know how much pizza was left over?
None.
I guess we'll eat pbj's for lunch.
Six people for supper.
With the kids going to a barbecue/swimming party this afternoon, and with Gary having a big project going outdoors today, I figured I could make plenty of pizza for supper last night and have some leftovers for three of us today. Do you know how much pizza was left over?
None.
I guess we'll eat pbj's for lunch.
Friday, August 15, 2008
New Cross
Oh my goodness! Running errands this afternoon, I stopped by church just to peek into the nave and see the change. Late last winter, a corpus was ordered as a gift to the church. It was finally finished in July. Last Wednesday, the cross was missing from the chancel because it was in the shop, having the corpus added. Dedication is this Sunday, but I didn't want to wait to see it. Oh, it is so beautiful! I can't believe how different it makes the chancel look. The cross is absolutely breath-taking!
(And for the first person who says, "Why didn't you show us a picture," well, I didn't take a camera with me to town to buy a part for the van. So have a little patience, okay?)
(And for the first person who says, "Why didn't you show us a picture," well, I didn't take a camera with me to town to buy a part for the van. So have a little patience, okay?)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
"100" -- Neighbors' Gardens
53. There's a little bit of DUSTY MILLER in the center of this planter.54. These MARIGOLDS are the smaller kind. I'm not too fond of marigolds, but I suspect that if I manage to pull of some garden next year, I should plant some, to keep bunnies away. Although Athena-the-Huntress really is doing a bang-up job this summer!
55. The PETUNIAS are pink and white. I didn't plant any petunias this year because all I could find were the pink ones; I just love the brightly colored red and purple ones.
56. This picture was from the old house, but there's plenty of both around our new neighborhood too. The shrub in the background is FORSYTHIA, well past its early-spring bloom-time. 57. The SEDUM in the foreground flowers in fall, but the buds of what will become the pink flowers are already forming. I don't know why, but there's something I really like about succulents and their fat little leaves. This variety is called "Autumn Joy" sedum and is one of the most popular varieties for planting around homes or in borders.
58. We weren't sure what to plant by the lamp-post where we took out a very prickly and overgrown tree. Not getting started until way too late, and not knowing that SNAPDRAGONS take quite a while to grow when seeded directly into the soil, we didn't have any blooms until the last week of July. But it's starting to look quite cute out there in that little patch. And Jane tells me that her snapdragons come back year after year, so I have hopes of there being flowers next May or June, even if I don't get around to figuring out where I want daisies and other day-brighteners.
Temps
The weather has been awesome the last two weeks. (At least, it has for people! Not so much for tomatoes, corn, and green beans.) Highs have been in the high-70s, and lows during the night in the high-50s. That's mighty comfortable for sleeping. And the days have not been the hot, miserable, muggy days you expect from August. Maggie asked a few days ago if summer is done. I doubt it; I expect some days yet in the 90s. And my tomatoes need it. But I won't be surprised if they don't materialize. Even the Chicago Tribune, not exactly a right-leaning newspaper, reports how cool things have been this entire decade.
Tell me again about global warming?....
Tell me again about global warming?....
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Playground Risks
Today on his show, Charlie Sykes brought up playground safety. As if playgrounds haven't been simplified enough already in an attempt to "keep children safe," now there are complaints about the black rubber matting under the playgrounds being too hot ... and harming children. There's a really fantastic article by David Hinz that talks about playgrounds, and personal responsibility, and the bumps and bruises that come with kidhood.
So on Charlie's show today, discussion ensued about how this epidemic of obesity in kids has probably been caused in part by Keeping Kids Safe. It is "safe" for them to sit on the couch and eat potato chips and watch tv or play with their Gameboy. But it's not safe. Not in the long run. Kid need the physical exercise. But they also need the chance to take risks, to learn from their mistakes, to test their strength. Kids who are kept perpetually "safe" do not grow and develop into healthy adults.
There was one different thought that crossed my mind as I was listening to all this debate on Charlie's show while doing errands this morning. Kids love video games. They love them in a way that many middle-agers and senior citizens find hard to comprehend. What's the thrill? What do you find enjoyable about those video games? And you know what the answer from the kids usually is? It's something to master. It's a challenge. There is excitement in conquering the next level.
Video games are about the only place we let kids take risks anymore. But because they still NEED the risks and the excitement and the chance to conquer, they're now finding it in cyber-ways instead of in reality. And that's sad.
What's more damaging to a kid? Some bumps, bruises, cuts, and maybe even a broken arm from playing on a real playground? Or the personality changes that result from being kept safe-safe-safe all the time, and having to find excitement on a screen instead of in the real world?
So on Charlie's show today, discussion ensued about how this epidemic of obesity in kids has probably been caused in part by Keeping Kids Safe. It is "safe" for them to sit on the couch and eat potato chips and watch tv or play with their Gameboy. But it's not safe. Not in the long run. Kid need the physical exercise. But they also need the chance to take risks, to learn from their mistakes, to test their strength. Kids who are kept perpetually "safe" do not grow and develop into healthy adults.
There was one different thought that crossed my mind as I was listening to all this debate on Charlie's show while doing errands this morning. Kids love video games. They love them in a way that many middle-agers and senior citizens find hard to comprehend. What's the thrill? What do you find enjoyable about those video games? And you know what the answer from the kids usually is? It's something to master. It's a challenge. There is excitement in conquering the next level.
Video games are about the only place we let kids take risks anymore. But because they still NEED the risks and the excitement and the chance to conquer, they're now finding it in cyber-ways instead of in reality. And that's sad.
What's more damaging to a kid? Some bumps, bruises, cuts, and maybe even a broken arm from playing on a real playground? Or the personality changes that result from being kept safe-safe-safe all the time, and having to find excitement on a screen instead of in the real world?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Global Warming
A friend posted a You-Tube video by Minnesotans for Global Warming. It's not only funny, but makes some good points. However, what is even better is their website which is full of pertinent information regarding what's going on with the weather and the politics surrounding it.
I love the quote from Congressman Bachmann regarding the refusal of the Democrats to open up more areas of the U.S. for drilling for oil: "It's like having a room full of hungry children and a pantry full of food with a lock on it." Go check out the M4GW website!
I love the quote from Congressman Bachmann regarding the refusal of the Democrats to open up more areas of the U.S. for drilling for oil: "It's like having a room full of hungry children and a pantry full of food with a lock on it." Go check out the M4GW website!
"100" -- More Eat-It (wild)
51. I have seen recipes for stir-frying PURSLANE or making it into pesto or putting it into salads. But I don't have too much of it around here. Well, a friend asked me to keep an eye on his garden while he was gone and to please keep his green beans picked. So we have plenty of beans to enjoy right now. He also warned me that his garden was full of pigweed, and that he'd started weeding but still had a long way to go. When I got there for my first batch of green beans, I discovered his "pigweed" was what I call purslane and which is the best plant-source of Omega 3's. So when I went back for my second round of bean-pickin', I gathered some of the greens too. The purslane pesto isn't as delicious as basil pesto or parsley pesto. But it's decent. The raw leaves, however, have a very nice, tangy, "fresh" taste to them. A few could really brighten up a lettuce salad. When Andrew reluctantly tried some, his eyes lit up and he said, "Hey, that's actually good!"
52. LAMB'S QUARTER is another weed, and I have plenty of it around here. Tasting them raw, I like its flavor better than the purslane. Plenty of pictures of lamb's quarter help a person be sure of what's he gathering before he begins to cook it and learn more about the plant in various stages of growth and how to use it for food. Jackie Clay had a whole article on greens not too long ago, including purslane and pigweed and lambs quarter.I think it should go without saying, but just in case ...
NEVER eat plants you can't identify with certainty.
And NEVER eat plants that you've poisoned. Andrew was at the park one time and picked some white clover flowers, popped them into his mouth, and quickly spat them out. He said they tasted like a bag of chemical fertilizer. Well, yeah, that's what most people do to their lawns, and the city does the same thing to the park grass.
Also avoid eating these greens/weeds if there is a lot of chemical use in nearby soils that could be contaminating your plants. Using pesticides or herbicides on plants where you eat the fruit doesn't seem as dangerous as eating the leaves of plants that have been
Also remember that these weeds (not unlike spinach) tend to be so high in some nutrients when eaten raw that it is usually considered best to consume them only once a week.
Monday, August 11, 2008
"100" -- Poison Ivy
I'm not putting poison ivy on my list of species I can identify, because I'm miserable at identifying it. I've tried and tried to learn, but can't.
Tonight I was on a quest (a ten-year-old quest!) to identify a particular tree which I'd long ago narrowed down to the poplar genus, that is, either a quaking aspen or a cottonwood of some sort. While hunting, I stumbled upon a website that does the best job of showing poison ivy, explaining in words and pictures what it is, and how it varies throughout the year. I'm going to need to remember this site, and I thought somebody else might benefit too. Most guidance on recognizing poison ivy falls woefully short, telling us only "leaves of three, let it be." Well, then I'd avoid clovers and strawberries and all sorts of other good things. So I need lots more help in the ID dept, and this website is a step in the right direction!
Tonight I was on a quest (a ten-year-old quest!) to identify a particular tree which I'd long ago narrowed down to the poplar genus, that is, either a quaking aspen or a cottonwood of some sort. While hunting, I stumbled upon a website that does the best job of showing poison ivy, explaining in words and pictures what it is, and how it varies throughout the year. I'm going to need to remember this site, and I thought somebody else might benefit too. Most guidance on recognizing poison ivy falls woefully short, telling us only "leaves of three, let it be." Well, then I'd avoid clovers and strawberries and all sorts of other good things. So I need lots more help in the ID dept, and this website is a step in the right direction!
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