Yesterday's Day by Day included these sentences by Luther:
At the same time suffer evil and injustice and yet punish evil and injustice. At the same time do not resist evil and yet do resist it. For in doing the one you look upon yourself and your own interests, and in doing the other you look upon your neighbor and his interests.
Wow. That should help clear up some things I've been trying to make sense of. I keep wondering how forgiveness fits with standing up against wrong-doing. If we wish to defend and protect our neighbor, we must resist evil. But we forgive those who sin against us.
(If only this "right-hand kingdom" and "left-hand kingdom" stuff were as easy to make sense of in real life as it is when you're discussing theology in a classroom.)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Today's Laugh
A noted psychiatrist was a guest at a National Organization for Women gathering, and his hostess broached the subject in which the doctor was most at ease. "Would you mind telling me, Doctor," she asked, "how you detect a mental deficiency in somebody who appears completely normal?"
"Nothing is easier," he replied. "You ask him a simple question which everyone should answer with no trouble. If he hesitates, that puts you on the track."
"What sort of question?"
"Well, you might ask him, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?'"
The woman thought a moment, then said with a nervous laugh, "You wouldn't happen to have another example, would you? I must confess I don't know much about history."
"Nothing is easier," he replied. "You ask him a simple question which everyone should answer with no trouble. If he hesitates, that puts you on the track."
"What sort of question?"
"Well, you might ask him, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?'"
The woman thought a moment, then said with a nervous laugh, "You wouldn't happen to have another example, would you? I must confess I don't know much about history."
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
In summer ...
... you never know whether it's hot flashes or whether the day is just really warming up and you're just now beginning to notice. In winter it's a no-brainer.
Cute Alia Pictures
From August 7
Katie lost her pictures from the move. We had an error on our camera setting, so most of the pictures are blurry. Here are some of the best.
Katie lost her pictures from the move. We had an error on our camera setting, so most of the pictures are blurry. Here are some of the best.
Today's Laugh
A married couple was celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. At the party everybody wanted to know how they managed to stay married so long in this day and age.
The husband responded, "When we were first married we came to an agreement. I would make all the major decisions and my wife would make all the minor decisions. And in 60 years of marriage we have never needed to make a major decision."
The husband responded, "When we were first married we came to an agreement. I would make all the major decisions and my wife would make all the minor decisions. And in 60 years of marriage we have never needed to make a major decision."
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Washing Herbs
Today's discovery -- It is much easier to wash sand and mud off the fresh cilantro and fresh basil when the leaves are still attached to the stems. And drying the leaves is way way easier to do when you've got a stem and attached leaves instead of of individual leaves!
I wish I'd known this yesterday. Or last month. At least I know now.
I wish I'd known this yesterday. Or last month. At least I know now.
Happy
My heart for joy is springing
and can no more be sad;
'tis full of mirth and singing,
sees naught but sunshine glad.
The Sun that cheers my spirit
is Jesus Christ, my King;
The heaven I shall inherit
makes me rejoice and sing.
and can no more be sad;
'tis full of mirth and singing,
sees naught but sunshine glad.
The Sun that cheers my spirit
is Jesus Christ, my King;
The heaven I shall inherit
makes me rejoice and sing.
Moving Day
This is Katie's birthday this year:
Their home in Fort Wayne:
The moving truck:
Andrew and Paul loading the mattress:
Helpers galore! Thank you so much to the Rhein crew (which also included a Grobien and a Harrison) and to the Casey crew. I can't imagine how much longer it would have taken (and how much achier and sorer we would've been) without your help.
In light of the helpers we had, I was amused by a post recently by Pr Weedon about breaking out into song. I had "Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me" stuck in my head. Then I noticed Sarah was singing it too. And then it spread. Funny to be walking in and out of the apartment to the parking lot, and meeting different segments of the song in various spots, but if we'd been gathered all in one location, we were all on the same words at the same time, like a choir. Of course, we didn't just sing Gerhardt. There was a copious amount of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella in there too.
Almost done. Nothing to carry. Just the last few pieces to finagle into their places.
Not much of a chance to celebrate their wedding anniversary, in amongst all the moving boxes. So Nathan bought Katie flowers. Aren't they pretty?!!
Some snacks for Nathan to eat in the truck.
(Notice the empty lawn chairs in the background? They weren't empty for most of the day. The 70ish neighbor fellow watched us as we moved the kids in a couple of years ago. And he sat on his patio and watched us load up the truck again for moving out. He reminded me of Dad.)
We want calories! We want calories! We want calories!
Their home in Fort Wayne:
The moving truck:
Andrew and Paul loading the mattress:
Helpers galore! Thank you so much to the Rhein crew (which also included a Grobien and a Harrison) and to the Casey crew. I can't imagine how much longer it would have taken (and how much achier and sorer we would've been) without your help.
In light of the helpers we had, I was amused by a post recently by Pr Weedon about breaking out into song. I had "Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me" stuck in my head. Then I noticed Sarah was singing it too. And then it spread. Funny to be walking in and out of the apartment to the parking lot, and meeting different segments of the song in various spots, but if we'd been gathered all in one location, we were all on the same words at the same time, like a choir. Of course, we didn't just sing Gerhardt. There was a copious amount of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella in there too.Almost done. Nothing to carry. Just the last few pieces to finagle into their places.
Not much of a chance to celebrate their wedding anniversary, in amongst all the moving boxes. So Nathan bought Katie flowers. Aren't they pretty?!!
Some snacks for Nathan to eat in the truck.
(Notice the empty lawn chairs in the background? They weren't empty for most of the day. The 70ish neighbor fellow watched us as we moved the kids in a couple of years ago. And he sat on his patio and watched us load up the truck again for moving out. He reminded me of Dad.)
We want calories! We want calories! We want calories!
Neti Problem?
Grossness warning --
beep
beep
beep
You have been warned ...
With ragweed season upon us, it's taking forever for me to use the neti pot because my head is stuffy, and the saline leaks through slowly instead of flowing through my sinus cavity. Sometimes it leaks out my tear ducts. Rachel talked about that once and I about barfed.
Last night I noticed pink eye. (I slept with garlic taped to my eyelids, and the pink eye has improved dramatically.) I am wondering if having some of the water from the neti pot exit via the tear ducts is giving me the pink eye. Yuck yuck yuck!
beep
beep
beep
You have been warned ...
With ragweed season upon us, it's taking forever for me to use the neti pot because my head is stuffy, and the saline leaks through slowly instead of flowing through my sinus cavity. Sometimes it leaks out my tear ducts. Rachel talked about that once and I about barfed.
Last night I noticed pink eye. (I slept with garlic taped to my eyelids, and the pink eye has improved dramatically.) I am wondering if having some of the water from the neti pot exit via the tear ducts is giving me the pink eye. Yuck yuck yuck!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Today's Laugh
During the Super Bowl, there was another football game of note between the big animals and the small animals. The big animals were crushing small animals and, at half-time, the coach made a passionate speech to rally the little animals.
At the start of the second half the big animals had the ball. In the first play, the elephant got stopped for no gain. For the second play, the rhino was stopped for no gain. On third down, the hippo was thrown for a 5-yard loss.
The defense huddled around the coach and he asked excitedly, "Who stopped the elephant?"
"I did," said the centipede.
"Who stopped the rhino?"
"Uh, that was me too," said the centipede.
"And how about the hippo? Who hit him for a 5-yard loss?"
"Well, that was me as well," said the centipede.
"So where were you during the first half?" demanded the coach.
"Well," said the centipede, "I was having my ankles taped."
At the start of the second half the big animals had the ball. In the first play, the elephant got stopped for no gain. For the second play, the rhino was stopped for no gain. On third down, the hippo was thrown for a 5-yard loss.
The defense huddled around the coach and he asked excitedly, "Who stopped the elephant?"
"I did," said the centipede.
"Who stopped the rhino?"
"Uh, that was me too," said the centipede.
"And how about the hippo? Who hit him for a 5-yard loss?"
"Well, that was me as well," said the centipede.
"So where were you during the first half?" demanded the coach.
"Well," said the centipede, "I was having my ankles taped."
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Is It Supposed to Take This Long?
At 4:00 I went out to pick beans. Brought 'em in. Gary and I snapped and washed. Put 'em in jars and canned 5 quarts. It took over FIVE HOURS!
Now, to be fair, while they were bubbling away in the pressure canner, I made some freezer pickles. And we watched some Big Bang Theory while working on the beans. But still -- five hours?
Am I doing something wrong? I know these are nice, organic beans. Well, almost organic. Half of them did get one sprinkle of Sevin Dust back when they were tiny plants. They will taste much better than store-bought canned beans, and probably better even than frozen beans. But that's still a long time to work for only five quarts of beans.
Or maybe this is not an inordinate amount of time, and I just don't know what to expect from gardens and canning.
Now, to be fair, while they were bubbling away in the pressure canner, I made some freezer pickles. And we watched some Big Bang Theory while working on the beans. But still -- five hours?
Am I doing something wrong? I know these are nice, organic beans. Well, almost organic. Half of them did get one sprinkle of Sevin Dust back when they were tiny plants. They will taste much better than store-bought canned beans, and probably better even than frozen beans. But that's still a long time to work for only five quarts of beans.
Or maybe this is not an inordinate amount of time, and I just don't know what to expect from gardens and canning.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Job Hazard
Homeschooling moms sometimes have a hard time figuring out what to do when they've worked themselves out of a job. Their kids grow up and go to college or high school, and then what does Mom do? I used to have so many many many things I wanted to get to, thinking that I'd do them later, when I was done homeschooling the kids. I wasn't worried about being bored.
But I've discovered a different problem with the kids growing up: loss of friends.
So much of a mom's life is spent with the other homeschool moms, getting the kids together for field-trips or play-days or book discussions. And then the kids go on with their lives, their jobs, moving away. And then who does Mom hang out with?
A friend mentioned about a year ago that she felt like she didn't fit in anymore with the homeschool moms on our email list. Most of her kids were grown; she was a grandma; she was down to homeschooling only one child, a child who can be responsible for much of her own schoolwork. When we get to be older middle-aged, with nearly-grown kids, we don't have much in common with the mommies who are teaching reading and addition and are potty-training the younger siblings.
And yet, in a way, those are the people we have the most in common with. Even though we're at a different stage of life.
Tomorrow is an event that I would love to attend: a potluck and playtime at the beach and a presentation on telescopes and the night-sky. But my children have other plans with some kids from church. And it's a good activity they're going to enjoy. I'm so glad they have these friends! But it interferes with my play-time with my friends. This is going to take some adjustment.
But I've discovered a different problem with the kids growing up: loss of friends.
So much of a mom's life is spent with the other homeschool moms, getting the kids together for field-trips or play-days or book discussions. And then the kids go on with their lives, their jobs, moving away. And then who does Mom hang out with?
A friend mentioned about a year ago that she felt like she didn't fit in anymore with the homeschool moms on our email list. Most of her kids were grown; she was a grandma; she was down to homeschooling only one child, a child who can be responsible for much of her own schoolwork. When we get to be older middle-aged, with nearly-grown kids, we don't have much in common with the mommies who are teaching reading and addition and are potty-training the younger siblings.
And yet, in a way, those are the people we have the most in common with. Even though we're at a different stage of life.
Tomorrow is an event that I would love to attend: a potluck and playtime at the beach and a presentation on telescopes and the night-sky. But my children have other plans with some kids from church. And it's a good activity they're going to enjoy. I'm so glad they have these friends! But it interferes with my play-time with my friends. This is going to take some adjustment.
Today's Laugh
Two Indians and a hillbilly were walking in the woods. All of a sudden one of the Indians ran up a hill to the mouth of a small cave.
"Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!" he called into the cave, and then he listened very closely until he heard an answering, "Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!" He tore off his clothes and ran into the cave.
The hillbilly was puzzled and asked the other Indian what that was all about. "Was he crazy or what?"
"No" said the Indian. "It is our custom during mating season when Indian men see cave, they holler "Wooooo Wooooo! Wooooo!" into the opening. If they get an answer back, it means there is a girl in there waiting to mate."
Just then they saw another cave. The second Indian ran up to the opening of the cave, stopped and hollered, "Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!"
Immediately, there was an answering "Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!" from deep inside the cave. He tore off his clothes and ran into the cave.
The hillbilly wandered around in the woods alone for a while, and then he came upon a great big cave. As he looked in amazement at the size of the huge opening, he was thinking, "Hoo, man! Look at the size of this cave! It is bigger than those the Indians found. There must be some really big, fine women in this cave!"
He stood in front of the opening and hollered with all his might, "Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!" He grinned and closed his eyes in anticipation, and then he heard the answering call, "WOOOOOOOOO! WOOOOOOOOO! WOOOOOOOOO!"
With a gleam in his eyes and a smile on his face, he raced into the cave, tearing off his clothes as he ran.
The following day, the headline of the Arkansas Gazette Newspaper read...
"NAKED HILLBILLY RUN OVER BY FREIGHT TRAIN"
"Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!" he called into the cave, and then he listened very closely until he heard an answering, "Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!" He tore off his clothes and ran into the cave.
The hillbilly was puzzled and asked the other Indian what that was all about. "Was he crazy or what?"
"No" said the Indian. "It is our custom during mating season when Indian men see cave, they holler "Wooooo Wooooo! Wooooo!" into the opening. If they get an answer back, it means there is a girl in there waiting to mate."
Just then they saw another cave. The second Indian ran up to the opening of the cave, stopped and hollered, "Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!"
Immediately, there was an answering "Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!" from deep inside the cave. He tore off his clothes and ran into the cave.
The hillbilly wandered around in the woods alone for a while, and then he came upon a great big cave. As he looked in amazement at the size of the huge opening, he was thinking, "Hoo, man! Look at the size of this cave! It is bigger than those the Indians found. There must be some really big, fine women in this cave!"
He stood in front of the opening and hollered with all his might, "Wooooo! Wooooo! Wooooo!" He grinned and closed his eyes in anticipation, and then he heard the answering call, "WOOOOOOOOO! WOOOOOOOOO! WOOOOOOOOO!"
With a gleam in his eyes and a smile on his face, he raced into the cave, tearing off his clothes as he ran.
The following day, the headline of the Arkansas Gazette Newspaper read...
"NAKED HILLBILLY RUN OVER BY FREIGHT TRAIN"
Friday, August 21, 2009
Update
Someone asked about the reason for my trip to Texas. Nathan is no longer a sem student. The family moved to Texas (near his parents). Nathan drove the truck; I rode with Katie so we could double-team Alia.
When I got home tonight from dropping off Paul's belongings at his college, I was happy to find a note from Nathan that he got a job. He's going to be working at the local theater for now, while he looks for something better paying.
Paul checked to see that the financial aid office got everything straightened out with his work-study. Whew!
Because of the heat in Nathan's moving van and fear of moving food in that temperature, we became the proud owners of most of the contents of Katie's pantry. Most of the canned soups went over to poxy Philip the other day. He can't very well go to the grocery store. And even though he feels fine, he mentioned that rice might be a bit hard to swallow, and soup might be good. (He feels fine, right? He said so.) The soup was great to have on hand for him!
I started reading Todd Peperkorn's book today.
I guess it's time to start thinking about plans for the new school year.
How is corn supposed to grow when it's only 60°? It's AUGUST, gosh darn it.
When I got home tonight from dropping off Paul's belongings at his college, I was happy to find a note from Nathan that he got a job. He's going to be working at the local theater for now, while he looks for something better paying.
Paul checked to see that the financial aid office got everything straightened out with his work-study. Whew!
Because of the heat in Nathan's moving van and fear of moving food in that temperature, we became the proud owners of most of the contents of Katie's pantry. Most of the canned soups went over to poxy Philip the other day. He can't very well go to the grocery store. And even though he feels fine, he mentioned that rice might be a bit hard to swallow, and soup might be good. (He feels fine, right? He said so.) The soup was great to have on hand for him!
I started reading Todd Peperkorn's book today.
I guess it's time to start thinking about plans for the new school year.
How is corn supposed to grow when it's only 60°? It's AUGUST, gosh darn it.
Today's Laugh
The teacher gave her fifth grade class an assignment: get their parents to tell them a story with a moral at the end of it. The next day the kids came back and one by one began to tell their stories.
Kathy said, "My father's a farmer and we have a lot of egg-laying hens. One time we were taking our eggs to market in a basket on the front seat of the pickup when we hit a bump in the road and all the eggs went flying and broke and made a mess."
"And what's the moral of the story?" asked the teacher.
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket!" Kathy answered.
"Very good," said the teacher. Next little Lucy raised a hand and said, "Our family are farmers too. But we raise chickens for the meat market. We had a dozen eggs one time, but when they hatched we only got ten live chicks and the moral to this story is, don't count your chickens until they're hatched."
"That was a fine story, Lucy. Johnny, do you have a story to share?"
"Yes, ma'am, my daddy told me this story about my Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob was a flight engineer in Desert Storm and his plane got hit. He had to bail out over enemy territory and all he had was a bottle of whiskey, a machine gun, and a machete."
"He drank the whiskey on the way down so it wouldn't break, and then he landed right in the middle of 100 enemy troops. He killed seventy of them with the machine gun until he ran out of bullets, then he killed twenty more with the machete till the blade broke, and then he killed the last ten with his bare hands."
"Good heavens!" said the horrified teacher, "What kind of moral did your daddy tell you from that horrible story?"
"Stay the heck away from Uncle Bob when he's been drinking!"
Kathy said, "My father's a farmer and we have a lot of egg-laying hens. One time we were taking our eggs to market in a basket on the front seat of the pickup when we hit a bump in the road and all the eggs went flying and broke and made a mess."
"And what's the moral of the story?" asked the teacher.
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket!" Kathy answered.
"Very good," said the teacher. Next little Lucy raised a hand and said, "Our family are farmers too. But we raise chickens for the meat market. We had a dozen eggs one time, but when they hatched we only got ten live chicks and the moral to this story is, don't count your chickens until they're hatched."
"That was a fine story, Lucy. Johnny, do you have a story to share?"
"Yes, ma'am, my daddy told me this story about my Uncle Bob. Uncle Bob was a flight engineer in Desert Storm and his plane got hit. He had to bail out over enemy territory and all he had was a bottle of whiskey, a machine gun, and a machete."
"He drank the whiskey on the way down so it wouldn't break, and then he landed right in the middle of 100 enemy troops. He killed seventy of them with the machine gun until he ran out of bullets, then he killed twenty more with the machete till the blade broke, and then he killed the last ten with his bare hands."
"Good heavens!" said the horrified teacher, "What kind of moral did your daddy tell you from that horrible story?"
"Stay the heck away from Uncle Bob when he's been drinking!"
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Free Beer
Katie and Nathan moved to Texas last week. (No, he's not on vicarage. He decided to leave sem. They are now living near his parents, looking for jobs.) Because their car doesn't have air-conditioning, and because a moving truck big enough to tow their car would be pretty expensive, they decided to have Nathan drive the truck and Katie drive the car with me riding along to help keep an eye on the baby.
So it's a very hot day. So hot that when we get out of the car, the 100° day feels refreshingly cool compared to the air inside the car. It's getting to be early afternoon; Alia has been awake for a while and is beginning to droop like she's ready for a nap; Katie and I are going to take any spot to stop and stretch our legs and grab a beverage prior to nap-time.
We go into the gas station, looking for drinks. Lots of drinks. The cheapest pop was priced at $1.69 for 16 ounces. Bottled water was similarly priced. Perusing the refrigerator shelves, I noticed with amusement that beer was cheaper. I pointed out to Katie that we could buy a 24-ounce Bud for only $1.19. Or hey, there was a 32-ounce Miller for $1.19. The man talking to the store owner began to chat. "Where are you from? So what does a beer cost where you live?" I wouldn't know; I don't buy beer at the gas station. Or pop either, for that matter. He asked what beer I drink. The man from Memphis was not familiar with Leinenkugel. (Go figure. LOL.) He offered me a Bud. Did I want a bottle or a can? Uh.... a bottle? But no, he decided I needed one of each. Okay. Thanks!
So Katie and I continue to peruse the shelves for a non-alcoholic beverage or two for the driver. The nice man from Memphis decides that somebody from Milwaukee who likes micro-brews might be interested in their new line, Bud Lime. So he asked me if I'd heard of it. I seldom listen to the radio or watch TV; when I read the paper or a magazine, I mentally block out the ads. Nope, I'd never heard of Bud Lime.
The man decided to remedy my ignorance. He told me he'd buy me a package of Bud Light Lime. Did I want a 6-pack or 12-pack? Given the heat of the car and what Erin told me about not letting beer warm up after chilling it, I told him a 6-pack would be plenty. So he bought me a 6-pack.
Okay, this is weird. I go into a gas station in Arkansas and walk out with eight free beers! Didn't want to drive around with open liquor in the car, even if the driver wasn't imbibing. So we sat outside at the gas station while I had two beers for lunch. With the heat, that went down a lot easier than a hamburger would've.
And you know what? That Bud distributor was right. That Bud Lime is pretty good! I think it's as good as a Corona with a real wedge of lime in it. So if his plan was to hook me on the product, I think his free sample may just have done its job!
I had a beer with my tacos for supper. I had another beer for lunch at the kids' apartment a couple of days later. But I left them with more beer than they're inclined to drink. How do you cook with beer? Bratwurst is not a common item in Texas grocery stores. I guess that leaves them with beer bread. Or maybe poaching chicken breasts in it.
By the way, after the very nice man sent me on my way with free beer, at the next stop some old guy tried to pick me up and take me biking with him and his buddies. My first inclination was that he was way too old to be picking up somebody who was my age. And then the shocker -- he was probably only 5-15 years older than me. He wasn't being a perverted old guy trying to pick up a young girl. Eeeek, I'm old!
So it's a very hot day. So hot that when we get out of the car, the 100° day feels refreshingly cool compared to the air inside the car. It's getting to be early afternoon; Alia has been awake for a while and is beginning to droop like she's ready for a nap; Katie and I are going to take any spot to stop and stretch our legs and grab a beverage prior to nap-time.
We go into the gas station, looking for drinks. Lots of drinks. The cheapest pop was priced at $1.69 for 16 ounces. Bottled water was similarly priced. Perusing the refrigerator shelves, I noticed with amusement that beer was cheaper. I pointed out to Katie that we could buy a 24-ounce Bud for only $1.19. Or hey, there was a 32-ounce Miller for $1.19. The man talking to the store owner began to chat. "Where are you from? So what does a beer cost where you live?" I wouldn't know; I don't buy beer at the gas station. Or pop either, for that matter. He asked what beer I drink. The man from Memphis was not familiar with Leinenkugel. (Go figure. LOL.) He offered me a Bud. Did I want a bottle or a can? Uh.... a bottle? But no, he decided I needed one of each. Okay. Thanks!
So Katie and I continue to peruse the shelves for a non-alcoholic beverage or two for the driver. The nice man from Memphis decides that somebody from Milwaukee who likes micro-brews might be interested in their new line, Bud Lime. So he asked me if I'd heard of it. I seldom listen to the radio or watch TV; when I read the paper or a magazine, I mentally block out the ads. Nope, I'd never heard of Bud Lime.
The man decided to remedy my ignorance. He told me he'd buy me a package of Bud Light Lime. Did I want a 6-pack or 12-pack? Given the heat of the car and what Erin told me about not letting beer warm up after chilling it, I told him a 6-pack would be plenty. So he bought me a 6-pack.
Okay, this is weird. I go into a gas station in Arkansas and walk out with eight free beers! Didn't want to drive around with open liquor in the car, even if the driver wasn't imbibing. So we sat outside at the gas station while I had two beers for lunch. With the heat, that went down a lot easier than a hamburger would've.
And you know what? That Bud distributor was right. That Bud Lime is pretty good! I think it's as good as a Corona with a real wedge of lime in it. So if his plan was to hook me on the product, I think his free sample may just have done its job!
I had a beer with my tacos for supper. I had another beer for lunch at the kids' apartment a couple of days later. But I left them with more beer than they're inclined to drink. How do you cook with beer? Bratwurst is not a common item in Texas grocery stores. I guess that leaves them with beer bread. Or maybe poaching chicken breasts in it.
By the way, after the very nice man sent me on my way with free beer, at the next stop some old guy tried to pick me up and take me biking with him and his buddies. My first inclination was that he was way too old to be picking up somebody who was my age. And then the shocker -- he was probably only 5-15 years older than me. He wasn't being a perverted old guy trying to pick up a young girl. Eeeek, I'm old!
Down-Sizing
Paul left to go back to Mankato this morning.
Why does it seem so quiet? Why does this seem so weird and empty?
Last time I had only two children living at my house was more than 22 years ago.
Last time I had only two cars in my driveway was more than 11 years ago.
I get to see Paul tomorrow when I drive the van-load full of his stuff to dorm. But there's an odd feeling today, like it's time to start a new life, re-arrange the family and my duties and our school in a whole new way.
Where does one begin???
I don't know if I'm up to this.
Why does it seem so quiet? Why does this seem so weird and empty?
Last time I had only two children living at my house was more than 22 years ago.
Last time I had only two cars in my driveway was more than 11 years ago.
I get to see Paul tomorrow when I drive the van-load full of his stuff to dorm. But there's an odd feeling today, like it's time to start a new life, re-arrange the family and my duties and our school in a whole new way.
Where does one begin???
I don't know if I'm up to this.
Easier Pizza Crust
I always have a booger of a time rolling out the pizza dough, patting, patting, patting, trying to get it flat enough and big enough for the pan.
At our second hotel stop on the drive to Texas last week, we turned on the TV to find it already set to Food Network. Ah, perfect! I love Food Network! One of the segments was a pizza-making race for Dominoes pizza-makers. You know what they do? They don't toss & spin the dough into circles. (I usually end up with holes in the middle when I do that, even when I start with a thicker middle. Or I end up with pizza dough on the floor. But you would never make that mistake, would you?) These speedy-delivery pizza-makers do not painstakingly pat the dough onto cookie sheets or pizza pans.
They roll it on the counter. With lots and lots and LOTS of cornmeal.
See, now, every time I try to roll dough on the counter, it sticks. Every time. Pizza crust. Cinnamon rolls. Anything. But what I saw on Food Network the other night was a lavish and messy display of cornmeal.
So when Andrew was making pizza crusts on Monday (32 personal-sized pizza crusts for the company he'd invited for Tuesday!) we tried the cornmeal and rolling pin. I don't know how much cornmeal we used, but the huge amount was no waste. It certainly saved a LOT of time and frustration.
At our second hotel stop on the drive to Texas last week, we turned on the TV to find it already set to Food Network. Ah, perfect! I love Food Network! One of the segments was a pizza-making race for Dominoes pizza-makers. You know what they do? They don't toss & spin the dough into circles. (I usually end up with holes in the middle when I do that, even when I start with a thicker middle. Or I end up with pizza dough on the floor. But you would never make that mistake, would you?) These speedy-delivery pizza-makers do not painstakingly pat the dough onto cookie sheets or pizza pans.
They roll it on the counter. With lots and lots and LOTS of cornmeal.
See, now, every time I try to roll dough on the counter, it sticks. Every time. Pizza crust. Cinnamon rolls. Anything. But what I saw on Food Network the other night was a lavish and messy display of cornmeal.
So when Andrew was making pizza crusts on Monday (32 personal-sized pizza crusts for the company he'd invited for Tuesday!) we tried the cornmeal and rolling pin. I don't know how much cornmeal we used, but the huge amount was no waste. It certainly saved a LOT of time and frustration.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Today's Laugh
A man escaped jail by digging a hole from his jail cell to the outside world. When finally his work was done, he emerged in the middle of a preschool playground.
"I'm free, I'm free!" he shouted.
"So what," said a little girl. "I'm four."
"I'm free, I'm free!" he shouted.
"So what," said a little girl. "I'm four."
These Boys ...
Paul paid his tuition bill. About a week later, the college contacted him about having written a check on a non-existent account. Excuse me??? Kinda scary to have the college say, "We didn't get the payment," when your bank account has already been dinged. You wonder where that money went. After some panic on our part, Paul discovered that the college tried running the check again, and it cleared just fine.
Paul's boss at school contacted him about whether he wants his research-assistant job back. Paul did. The professor began to make arrangements and found that Paul wasn't on the list of students who were approved for Work-Study. His financial aid package offered him work-study. He accepted the offer. But somehow he's not on the list of approved employees. We're hoping that they find it was a clerical error as to his name being on the list, and not a clerical error made in the financial aid department when he was offered a work-study job.
Philip look awful on Sunday morning. One of the moms at church asked him if he was hung over -- LOL. With my ham and au gratins, I enticed him over to our house for the afternoon. He slept quite a bit. Yesterday he felt itchy. Today one of his co-workers pointed out that Philip had pox on his face. He was sent to the doctor. Sure enough, he has chicken pox. He said they had a booger of a time diagnosing it since he has no fever, no aches, no sneeze. Just the pox. He's off work for the rest of this week and probably all of next week.
Mom often says there's never a dull moment with us. It might be nice to try some dullness.
I guess we have people due to become contagious about August 30. I wonder what happens to Paul's classes if he is stuck in his dorm room for two weeks? I wonder if his roommate has had chicken pox? If we're going to do this, the sooner the better; I don't want to miss APT.
Paul's boss at school contacted him about whether he wants his research-assistant job back. Paul did. The professor began to make arrangements and found that Paul wasn't on the list of students who were approved for Work-Study. His financial aid package offered him work-study. He accepted the offer. But somehow he's not on the list of approved employees. We're hoping that they find it was a clerical error as to his name being on the list, and not a clerical error made in the financial aid department when he was offered a work-study job.
Philip look awful on Sunday morning. One of the moms at church asked him if he was hung over -- LOL. With my ham and au gratins, I enticed him over to our house for the afternoon. He slept quite a bit. Yesterday he felt itchy. Today one of his co-workers pointed out that Philip had pox on his face. He was sent to the doctor. Sure enough, he has chicken pox. He said they had a booger of a time diagnosing it since he has no fever, no aches, no sneeze. Just the pox. He's off work for the rest of this week and probably all of next week.
Mom often says there's never a dull moment with us. It might be nice to try some dullness.
I guess we have people due to become contagious about August 30. I wonder what happens to Paul's classes if he is stuck in his dorm room for two weeks? I wonder if his roommate has had chicken pox? If we're going to do this, the sooner the better; I don't want to miss APT.
Monday, August 17, 2009
The French Revolution
Gary and I watched The Scarlet Pimpernel the other night. Every time we see it (or any other book or movie that touches on the French Revolution) I am shocked anew by the cold-bloodedness.
Never once in all my years of schooling did I study world history. The only time we learned about the French Revolution was in connection with the American Revolution. We learned about the guillotine and the "excesses" of the Reign of Terror, but overall we learned that the French Revolution was a good thing: step #2 in the experiment of democracy.
Why did I not learn in school about the class warfare and the blood-thirsty hatred? Maybe it was too scary and horrid for kids to read about?
If the teachers and the textbooks treated the French Revolution as though it were okay, and as if the Reign of Terror were the just deserts for the rich folks' excesses,
is it any wonder to see the class warfare in America today,
the willingness for "heads to roll" with regard to lawsuits and investigations,
the anger that plays out in pleasure at seeing bad things happen to rich people?
Never once in all my years of schooling did I study world history. The only time we learned about the French Revolution was in connection with the American Revolution. We learned about the guillotine and the "excesses" of the Reign of Terror, but overall we learned that the French Revolution was a good thing: step #2 in the experiment of democracy.
Why did I not learn in school about the class warfare and the blood-thirsty hatred? Maybe it was too scary and horrid for kids to read about?
If the teachers and the textbooks treated the French Revolution as though it were okay, and as if the Reign of Terror were the just deserts for the rich folks' excesses,
is it any wonder to see the class warfare in America today,
the willingness for "heads to roll" with regard to lawsuits and investigations,
the anger that plays out in pleasure at seeing bad things happen to rich people?
When Help Is No Help
Maybe it's your car's transmission. Maybe it's your mental state. Maybe it's your homeschool curriculum. Maybe it's your diet. Maybe it's your method of disciplining your kids. Maybe it's spiritual/theological questions. Maybe it's a broken molar. Maybe it's an entire nation's economic woes. Whatever it is, something is wrong, something needs fixed.
I wonder sometimes if the wrong "help" is worse than getting no help at all.
But if that's true, how does a person find the right help, except through trial-and-error, and methodically discarding the "help" that made the problem worse? And what if the "help" resulted in irreversible damage?
I wonder sometimes if the wrong "help" is worse than getting no help at all.
But if that's true, how does a person find the right help, except through trial-and-error, and methodically discarding the "help" that made the problem worse? And what if the "help" resulted in irreversible damage?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Conference This Month
I attended the Wisdom and Eloquence conference in Fort Wayne earlier this month. The lectures and discussion provided lots of ideas to ponder.
Near the beginning of the keynote speaker's lecture, he quoted Luther where he was talking about the rain falling in one place and then going to another. The speaker said we need to take this to heart, that God is sending a blessing to us with classical education, and if we despise it, we will lose it. But Luther wasn't talking about temporal blessings; he was talking about the proclamation of the Gospel. If his countrymen rejected the Gospel, they would lose it. It made me uneasy to hear this quote being used out of context. What other quotes might the speaker be taking out of context? Can't we just say "Carpe diem" without hijacking a Luther quote that had nothing to do with education?
Also near the beginning of the lecture, the speaker posited the statement that classical education can be defined as the education that will make one "fully human." Maybe I have spent too much energy caring about the lives of little [pre-born] babies; this terminology gives me the creeps. Do we really want to say that those who have received mere technical training are less than fully human?
Near the beginning of the keynote speaker's lecture, he quoted Luther where he was talking about the rain falling in one place and then going to another. The speaker said we need to take this to heart, that God is sending a blessing to us with classical education, and if we despise it, we will lose it. But Luther wasn't talking about temporal blessings; he was talking about the proclamation of the Gospel. If his countrymen rejected the Gospel, they would lose it. It made me uneasy to hear this quote being used out of context. What other quotes might the speaker be taking out of context? Can't we just say "Carpe diem" without hijacking a Luther quote that had nothing to do with education?
Also near the beginning of the lecture, the speaker posited the statement that classical education can be defined as the education that will make one "fully human." Maybe I have spent too much energy caring about the lives of little [pre-born] babies; this terminology gives me the creeps. Do we really want to say that those who have received mere technical training are less than fully human?
Green Beans
The beans have been prolific enough that today I opened up the pressure canner I bought a month ago. Having never pressure-canned anything, I carefully read the directions and figured it out. There are now three quarts of beans cooling on the kitchen counter. And Mom, nothing in the kitchen exploded!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Jonathan's Faith
All my life I've heard the story of David and Jonathan's friendship. When we read the story in 1 Samuel 20, the moral of the story was usually about deep friendship and loyalty. Sometimes Sunday School teachers even pointed out that Jonathan was a dear friend of the man who had been anointed to be the next king, the man who would be depriving Jonathan of his kingdom.
But when you start looking at the conversations between David and Jonathan, you realize it's about more than this.
Why does Jonathan love David? Because he believes in Yahweh, and he desires that God's will be done. He loves and reveres the anointed one. Not only does David's coming kingship mean that Jonathan will not be king, but as Jonathan looked to the future, he probably knew David's kingship was likely to bring about his own death. A change of dynasty seldom goes well for the princes. And yet, he loved David and protected David. I don't think this was so much an example of loyalty to a friend, but it was an example of a man taking seriously what we say in the confirmation vows: we will be faithful to this confession even if it costs us our life.
Sure enough, Jonathan's dad, the king, tried to kill him for his faith in Yahweh and his love for the anointed one. Eventually Jonathan would be killed in a battle with the Philistines -- not by David's followers. I suppose it shouldn't be amazing to me how Jonathan could embrace what God said about David being the next king. How big a fraidy-cat would I be with a future like that stretched out in front of me? But God sustained him through it all.
But when you start looking at the conversations between David and Jonathan, you realize it's about more than this.
Why does Jonathan love David? Because he believes in Yahweh, and he desires that God's will be done. He loves and reveres the anointed one. Not only does David's coming kingship mean that Jonathan will not be king, but as Jonathan looked to the future, he probably knew David's kingship was likely to bring about his own death. A change of dynasty seldom goes well for the princes. And yet, he loved David and protected David. I don't think this was so much an example of loyalty to a friend, but it was an example of a man taking seriously what we say in the confirmation vows: we will be faithful to this confession even if it costs us our life.
Sure enough, Jonathan's dad, the king, tried to kill him for his faith in Yahweh and his love for the anointed one. Eventually Jonathan would be killed in a battle with the Philistines -- not by David's followers. I suppose it shouldn't be amazing to me how Jonathan could embrace what God said about David being the next king. How big a fraidy-cat would I be with a future like that stretched out in front of me? But God sustained him through it all.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
My Wednesday Daughter
My Anthea
Once upon a time --I think it was Advent or Lent one year-- Anthea began driving an hour to come to church on Wednesday nights for midweek services. We loved her. And once we actually convinced Rachel that Anthea truly existed and was not an invented & imaginary creature, they got to be good friends too. Anthea would come visit on Wednesday evenings, go to church with us, and then watch the results of that week's American Idol show with us.
We took to calling her our Wednesday daughter, and she called us her Wednesday family.
Then she moved to Texas. Many a sigh from Anthea. And her friends. And her bio-family. And her Wednesday family. When she makes it to her folks' in northern Illinois, sometimes she drives all the way out here to see us -- long haul though it be.
She's living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. So are Katie and Nathan now. But man oh man -- that's one big city. It takes forever to drive around it. Not having time to fit in a good visit at either home, we instead met Anthea (on a Wednesday!) at an Argentinian bakery not too far from the airport. We fit in a 75-minute visit and ate some awesome sweets and drank too much delicious "detox tea."
Ah, it's good to see her. She's still job-hunting. Our metro-area is still on her radar for possibilities if she can't find work closer to her hometown. It'd be sweet to have her closer. Especially if she's as good at scouting out northern coffee shops as she is at finding places in Dallas.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Four Generations
My father-in-law wanted a snapshot of four generations of us women for the newspaper.
Interesting that my mother-in-law (who hates having her picture taken because she thinks they always turn out poorly) was the one captured best in this photo. :-) I betcha it's because my father-in-law was the photographer, doncha spoze?
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Quick Post on the fly
Been out of town for several days this week at the Wisdom and Eloquence conference in Ft Wayne. I have LOTS and lots of things to "think through" by sitting at the computer writing about them -- mostly about classical ed or certain theological points. Met some great people at the conference and spent some time with old friends too.
While there we also helped load up Katie and Nathan's rental truck for their move to Texas. I would have pictures to post of the friends who helped, but my computer is broken. (I'm borrowing one right now, largely for the sake of letting y'all know why I'm ignoring blogs and emails since Thursday.)
We're supposed to visit the zoo today for the summer outing/picnic for Gary's place of employment. It was drizzly yesterday morning, and has been raining pretty much since early yesterday afternoon. My garden is drenched so I can't do any catch-up work out there anyway. But going to the zoo in a downpour isn't a very exciting proposition either. The weather map makes it look like the afternoon may be okay.
Nathan is in Texas unloading the truck. Katie and Alia are here with us for a couple of days to say their good-byes and also so that I can play catch-up in the kitchen (and apparently not in the garden... darn!) and go to church before we girls take the car to Texas. I'll get to see their new place and then fly home on Wednesday. I flew to Florida when Paul was a baby and to St Louis more than 10 years ago. I'm scared of how to pack post-911 and what they're going to take out of my purse/suitcase and throw in the garbage. Frugal people don't like their shampoo bottles and nail clippers thrown in the garbage!
Hopefully the new computer parts will arrive in the mail by the time I return home and I will be able to return to my computer addiction.
While there we also helped load up Katie and Nathan's rental truck for their move to Texas. I would have pictures to post of the friends who helped, but my computer is broken. (I'm borrowing one right now, largely for the sake of letting y'all know why I'm ignoring blogs and emails since Thursday.)
We're supposed to visit the zoo today for the summer outing/picnic for Gary's place of employment. It was drizzly yesterday morning, and has been raining pretty much since early yesterday afternoon. My garden is drenched so I can't do any catch-up work out there anyway. But going to the zoo in a downpour isn't a very exciting proposition either. The weather map makes it look like the afternoon may be okay.
Nathan is in Texas unloading the truck. Katie and Alia are here with us for a couple of days to say their good-byes and also so that I can play catch-up in the kitchen (and apparently not in the garden... darn!) and go to church before we girls take the car to Texas. I'll get to see their new place and then fly home on Wednesday. I flew to Florida when Paul was a baby and to St Louis more than 10 years ago. I'm scared of how to pack post-911 and what they're going to take out of my purse/suitcase and throw in the garbage. Frugal people don't like their shampoo bottles and nail clippers thrown in the garbage!
Hopefully the new computer parts will arrive in the mail by the time I return home and I will be able to return to my computer addiction.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
The Bigger Miracle
Exodus 16:2-3 Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the children of Israel said to them, "Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full!
Exodus 16:11-12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am Yahweh your God.'"
We see the miracles and are impressed by them. Wow -- God gave them manna from heaven! Wow -- God parted the Red Sea and let the Israelites cross over on dry ground! Wow -- the Angel destroyed the firstborn of Egypt but passed over the houses protected by the blood of the lamb! Wow!
But Pastor pointed out there's something bigger. For whom did God do these things?
Complainers.
Whiners.
Rebels.
God-haters.
When they sassed Him, He did not give them what they deserved for their murmuring; He did not make them go hungry but gave them quail and manna. When they bemoaned their fate when they were pinned in by the Red Sea, He didn't blow them off for their doubts: He made a way to rescue them.
Adjusting the laws of nature to do what He desires is certainly a miracle. But how much greater a miracle that He is merciful to those who spit in His face! He does what He does because of His promise and because of His heart of love, not because of anything in us.
Exodus 16:11-12 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am Yahweh your God.'"
We see the miracles and are impressed by them. Wow -- God gave them manna from heaven! Wow -- God parted the Red Sea and let the Israelites cross over on dry ground! Wow -- the Angel destroyed the firstborn of Egypt but passed over the houses protected by the blood of the lamb! Wow!
But Pastor pointed out there's something bigger. For whom did God do these things?
Complainers.
Whiners.
Rebels.
God-haters.
When they sassed Him, He did not give them what they deserved for their murmuring; He did not make them go hungry but gave them quail and manna. When they bemoaned their fate when they were pinned in by the Red Sea, He didn't blow them off for their doubts: He made a way to rescue them.
Adjusting the laws of nature to do what He desires is certainly a miracle. But how much greater a miracle that He is merciful to those who spit in His face! He does what He does because of His promise and because of His heart of love, not because of anything in us.
Today's Very Bad Pun
It was intense like a circus parade.
Someone suggested that, if you don't get it, you could try saying it out loud a couple of times.
Someone suggested that, if you don't get it, you could try saying it out loud a couple of times.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Speaking the Truth in Love
This week's [three-year series] epistle was from Ephesians 4. In it we hear about the gospel, and the ministry, and the Church. We hear how the Faith unites the Church, and that God instituted the office of the ministry so that we might not be deceived by false doctrine but be united to Christ and grow closer to Him and one another. Right in the midst of this is the phrase, "Speaking the truth in love."
Usually when I hear people using that phrase, they're in the process of speaking the Law to you, telling you what you need to do to fix yourself and make yourself holier. But, see, they're doing it "in love," so that makes it okay (they say).
When you look at that phrase in the context of the apostle's letter, it doesn't quite come off that way. I guess your perspective kinda depends on what you believe about "the Faith" and "the truth" and what it means to "grow up" into Christ.
Usually when I hear people using that phrase, they're in the process of speaking the Law to you, telling you what you need to do to fix yourself and make yourself holier. But, see, they're doing it "in love," so that makes it okay (they say).
When you look at that phrase in the context of the apostle's letter, it doesn't quite come off that way. I guess your perspective kinda depends on what you believe about "the Faith" and "the truth" and what it means to "grow up" into Christ.
Today's Laugh
A lady noticed her husband standing on the bathroom scale, sucking in his stomach.
Thinking he was trying to weigh less with this maneuver, she commented, "I don't think that's going to help."
"Sure it will," he said. "It's the only way I can see the numbers."
Thinking he was trying to weigh less with this maneuver, she commented, "I don't think that's going to help."
"Sure it will," he said. "It's the only way I can see the numbers."
Monday, August 03, 2009
Away from Home
It seems to have gotten to be so much harder to go on a trip. When the kids were babies, it was a big to-do: play-pen and diapers and blankies and all that. As the kids became more adept at packing their own clothes and amusements, trips became simpler. But now trips are becoming more intimidating again, and I think I've finally figured out why.
It's hard enough at home to keep track of all the piddly daily self-care items. When we're traveling, it's a booger just to remember something as basic as brushing my teeth! But it's almost impossible when I'm away from my kitchen and my home-routine to remember to take my vitamins and my pills, to drink enough water, to say my prayers, to exercise, to neti, etc. Back when I was young [ahem!] I could skip those things with impunity. But old age means
1) you feel it when you forget those things, and
2) everything is so much harder to remember.
It's hard enough at home to keep track of all the piddly daily self-care items. When we're traveling, it's a booger just to remember something as basic as brushing my teeth! But it's almost impossible when I'm away from my kitchen and my home-routine to remember to take my vitamins and my pills, to drink enough water, to say my prayers, to exercise, to neti, etc. Back when I was young [ahem!] I could skip those things with impunity. But old age means
1) you feel it when you forget those things, and
2) everything is so much harder to remember.
Today's Laugh
A company, feeling it was time for a shake-up, hires a new CEO. This new boss is determined to rid the company of all slackers. On a tour of the facilities, the CEO notices a guy leaning on a wall. The room is full of workers, and he thinks this is his chance to show everyone he means business!
The CEO walks up to the guy and asks, “And how much money do you make a week?”
Undaunted, the young fellow looks at him and replies, “I make $200 a week. Why?”
The CEO then hands the guy $200 in cash and screams, “Here’s a week’s pay, now GET OUT and don’t come back!” Feeling pretty good about his first firing, the CEO looks around the room and asks, “Does anyone want to tell me what that slacker did here?”
With a sheepish grin, one of the other workers mutters, “That was the pizza delivery guy”.
The CEO walks up to the guy and asks, “And how much money do you make a week?”
Undaunted, the young fellow looks at him and replies, “I make $200 a week. Why?”
The CEO then hands the guy $200 in cash and screams, “Here’s a week’s pay, now GET OUT and don’t come back!” Feeling pretty good about his first firing, the CEO looks around the room and asks, “Does anyone want to tell me what that slacker did here?”
With a sheepish grin, one of the other workers mutters, “That was the pizza delivery guy”.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Garden
We picked enough beans earlier this week to add to a stirfry, but tonight was the first time I picked and got almost enough for the supper veggies. I'm beginning to realize that my garden this year is only big enough to be a hobby (because I need a hobby??) and not enough to really supply us much food -- much less produce enough that we can put some veggies up for winter. See my watermelon vines? I think we'll be awash in watermelon. Yummy! The cantaloupes, though, hiding behind the tomatoes, just aren't setting fruit. Gary's even tried hand-pollinating them. We may have to try some more. Cucumbers are in the front corner by the corn -- I hear that the spikey cukes and winter squashes may serve as a deterrent to corn robbers (aka skunks and raccoons).
Our salsa pepper is the plant that bore earliest and, so far, most prolifically. When we picked the first one --not knowing how hot it might be-- I wasn't careful to wear gloves when I chopped it. Burn burn burn! Not gonna make that mistake again! I hope these peppers keep coming along until after the tomatoes ripen. I'm drooling over the salsa possibilities. (Of course, the cilantro ain't doin' squat, so I may have to buy that...)
Beans and one zucchini plant are up in the one raised bed. The other has itty-bitty teeny-tiny rows of turnip and spinach and carrot and lettuce and rutabaga and other stuff.
My sprinkler broke yesterday. The replacement sprinkler doesn't reach as far. My asparagus (in the corner of the "L") was barely dampened with yesterday's watering. We'll need another length of hose or the self-discipline to remember to go out with the sprayer to water that corner. There's a little parsley tucked between the blueberries and blackberries, close to the front of the picture. Yukon Gold potatoes are planted down the middle of this garden section, between the baby raspberries.
Somebody who left hoofprints has been nibbling the leaves of my strawberries. Somebody should die and end up in my freezer. I've heard that the smell of humans can serve as a deer deterrent. So, can you get arrested for public indecency (which in these modern days classifies you as a sex offender) if you decide to pee around the edges of your garden? If you did it at night, the neighbor kids wouldn't catch you. But the mosquitoes would -- owie! Athena does a great job takin' down Thumper, but I don't think she's going to stop Bambi. Given the weird shape of our yard, and the hills and the septic mound, our garden spots are going to have to fit into weird locations with weirder shapes, and 6' high deer-proof fencing could get rather expensive for our garden spaces.
Our salsa pepper is the plant that bore earliest and, so far, most prolifically. When we picked the first one --not knowing how hot it might be-- I wasn't careful to wear gloves when I chopped it. Burn burn burn! Not gonna make that mistake again! I hope these peppers keep coming along until after the tomatoes ripen. I'm drooling over the salsa possibilities. (Of course, the cilantro ain't doin' squat, so I may have to buy that...)
Beans and one zucchini plant are up in the one raised bed. The other has itty-bitty teeny-tiny rows of turnip and spinach and carrot and lettuce and rutabaga and other stuff.
My sprinkler broke yesterday. The replacement sprinkler doesn't reach as far. My asparagus (in the corner of the "L") was barely dampened with yesterday's watering. We'll need another length of hose or the self-discipline to remember to go out with the sprayer to water that corner. There's a little parsley tucked between the blueberries and blackberries, close to the front of the picture. Yukon Gold potatoes are planted down the middle of this garden section, between the baby raspberries.
Somebody who left hoofprints has been nibbling the leaves of my strawberries. Somebody should die and end up in my freezer. I've heard that the smell of humans can serve as a deer deterrent. So, can you get arrested for public indecency (which in these modern days classifies you as a sex offender) if you decide to pee around the edges of your garden? If you did it at night, the neighbor kids wouldn't catch you. But the mosquitoes would -- owie! Athena does a great job takin' down Thumper, but I don't think she's going to stop Bambi. Given the weird shape of our yard, and the hills and the septic mound, our garden spots are going to have to fit into weird locations with weirder shapes, and 6' high deer-proof fencing could get rather expensive for our garden spaces.
Today's Laugh
A man had to attend a large convention in Chicago. On this particular trip he decided to bring his wife. When they arrived at their hotel and were shown to their room, the man said, "You rest here while I register for the convention. I’ll be back within an hour."
The wife lies down on the bed. Just then, an elevated train passes by very close to the window and shakes the room so hard she’s thrown out of the bed.
Thinking this must be a freak occurrence, she lies down once more. Again a train shakes the room so violently, she’s pitched to the floor.
Exasperated, she calls the front desk and asks for the manager. The manager says he’ll be right up. The manager is skeptical but the wife insists the story is true.
"Look, lie here on the bed. You’ll be thrown right to the floor!"
So he lies down next to the wife. Just then the husband walks in.
"What are you doing here?" he yells.
The manager replies, "Would you believe I’m waiting for a train?"
The wife lies down on the bed. Just then, an elevated train passes by very close to the window and shakes the room so hard she’s thrown out of the bed.
Thinking this must be a freak occurrence, she lies down once more. Again a train shakes the room so violently, she’s pitched to the floor.
Exasperated, she calls the front desk and asks for the manager. The manager says he’ll be right up. The manager is skeptical but the wife insists the story is true.
"Look, lie here on the bed. You’ll be thrown right to the floor!"
So he lies down next to the wife. Just then the husband walks in.
"What are you doing here?" he yells.
The manager replies, "Would you believe I’m waiting for a train?"
Friday, July 31, 2009
Rasberry Custard Pie
Combine 3/4 cup sugar
and 2 Tablespoons cornstarch.
Pour sugar over 1 quart of raspberries,
and heat gently (do not cook!) until sugar melts.
(I did it in the microwave.)
While the sugar is melting into the raspberry juice, make a single 10" pie crust and place into pie plate.
Gently stir sugar into berries.
In another bowl, combine
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
Pour berries into raw pie crust.
Pour egg/milk mix over the berries.
Bake at 350 for about 75-80 minutes, until egg is set and top of pie is beginning to turn golden. Do not try to shorten cooking time by baking in a hotter oven. Let cool completely before you even think of cutting the pie.
and 2 Tablespoons cornstarch.
Pour sugar over 1 quart of raspberries,
and heat gently (do not cook!) until sugar melts.
(I did it in the microwave.)
While the sugar is melting into the raspberry juice, make a single 10" pie crust and place into pie plate.
Gently stir sugar into berries.
In another bowl, combine
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
Pour berries into raw pie crust.
Pour egg/milk mix over the berries.
Bake at 350 for about 75-80 minutes, until egg is set and top of pie is beginning to turn golden. Do not try to shorten cooking time by baking in a hotter oven. Let cool completely before you even think of cutting the pie.
Sihon and Og
My mom read me lots and lots of Arch books when I was little, and because of that I tend to know my Bible stories pretty well. But Sihon and Og? That's one I either didn't hear, or it's one I forgot.
So many of the psalms work their way through salvation history, telling the wonders God had done for the Israelites. Our psalm for this week is 136, and we run across it every day: "Sihon, king of the Amorites" and "Og, king of Bashan." And I don't know what's what.
So I dug through the Torah until I found the references. After the forty years of wilderness wanderings following the Passover and the exodus from slavery in Egypt, it was time for the Israelites to go into the Promised Land. The high priest Aaron had just died. The Israelites defeated their first Canaanite foe. Then they headed the long way around Edom. The people started sassing Moses. Again! God sent the fiery serpents, and we hear the story of how those who were bitten were saved when they looked at the bronze serpent on the pole. After they worked their way through a few more campsites, God gave them water.
Then Israel asked permission to pass through Sihon's land, promising not to touch anything. Sihon said "no way" and came out to fight, and the Amorites lost their territory. Then Israel again set out on the path toward Canaan. Og wasn't any more pleased about these millions of people traipsing through his land than Sihon had been. So Og and his armies came out to fight. They fared no better than Sihon's armies. And then we get back to familiar stories again, with the Israelites hanging out in Moab, on the east side of the river, across from Jericho, and the Moabite king in a panic and calling for Balaam to curse the interlopers.
So many of the psalms work their way through salvation history, telling the wonders God had done for the Israelites. Our psalm for this week is 136, and we run across it every day: "Sihon, king of the Amorites" and "Og, king of Bashan." And I don't know what's what.So I dug through the Torah until I found the references. After the forty years of wilderness wanderings following the Passover and the exodus from slavery in Egypt, it was time for the Israelites to go into the Promised Land. The high priest Aaron had just died. The Israelites defeated their first Canaanite foe. Then they headed the long way around Edom. The people started sassing Moses. Again! God sent the fiery serpents, and we hear the story of how those who were bitten were saved when they looked at the bronze serpent on the pole. After they worked their way through a few more campsites, God gave them water.
Then Israel asked permission to pass through Sihon's land, promising not to touch anything. Sihon said "no way" and came out to fight, and the Amorites lost their territory. Then Israel again set out on the path toward Canaan. Og wasn't any more pleased about these millions of people traipsing through his land than Sihon had been. So Og and his armies came out to fight. They fared no better than Sihon's armies. And then we get back to familiar stories again, with the Israelites hanging out in Moab, on the east side of the river, across from Jericho, and the Moabite king in a panic and calling for Balaam to curse the interlopers.
Today's Laugh
One day, an immigrant from Poland entered a New York City Police Precinct to report that his American wife was planning to kill him.
The police officer on duty was intrigued by this and he asked, "How sure are ya that she is gonna kill ya? Did she threaten to kill ya?"
"No," replied the nervous immigrant.
"Did ya hear her tell someone else that she’s gonna kill ya?"
"No."
"Did someone tell ya that your wife is gonna kill ya?"
"No."
"Then why in God’s name did ya think she’s gonna kill ya?" asked the exasperated police officer.
"Because I found bottle on dresser and I think she gonna poison me!" He handed the police officer the suspect bottle.
The police officer took one look at the label on the bottle and started to laugh out loud. The immigrant became indignant and said, "What so funny? Can't you see the label on bottle said, 'Polish Remover'?"
The police officer on duty was intrigued by this and he asked, "How sure are ya that she is gonna kill ya? Did she threaten to kill ya?"
"No," replied the nervous immigrant.
"Did ya hear her tell someone else that she’s gonna kill ya?"
"No."
"Did someone tell ya that your wife is gonna kill ya?"
"No."
"Then why in God’s name did ya think she’s gonna kill ya?" asked the exasperated police officer.
"Because I found bottle on dresser and I think she gonna poison me!" He handed the police officer the suspect bottle.
The police officer took one look at the label on the bottle and started to laugh out loud. The immigrant became indignant and said, "What so funny? Can't you see the label on bottle said, 'Polish Remover'?"
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Not Too Much
It makes for a glorious day full of joy when a person doesn't try to do in one day what should normally be accomplished in the space of three days. Trying to do too much always makes for stress. And it makes for failure when at the end of the day only a small portion of the day's needs were met. It's totally different when a person is trying to do a reasonable amount of work. Then there's satisfaction in what was done!
Parenting Lessons from the Garden
The tender, new, little plants are more likely to be nibbled by the bugs than are the bigger, stronger plants. Maybe sugar and caffeine and TV won't do as much damage to a 15-yr-old as they will to a 3-yr-old.
Plants will live when there's not quite enough water, but they need abundant water to grow lush. Baptism and the Word?
Daily attention to pulling weeds, five minutes here, ten minutes there, every day, when you're not making a "job" of weeding, prevents problems. Going away for a week or two of vacation results in a huge mess that takes a while to fix. That's when you notice how significant the daily work has been.
New little strawberry plants should not be making fruit but should grow strong for their own health during the first year.
Plants take more space and more attention from the gardener when they're big than the gardener expected when they were just little sprouts.
The amount of fertilizer that helps a mature plant will probably be enough to burn a baby plant.
Without pruning, a vine or tree doesn't make proper fruit.
A gardener may do everything right and still end up with a poor crop. A gardener may do loads of stuff wrong and still reap a great harvest. The work is ours to do, but the results are in the Lord's hands.
Plants will live when there's not quite enough water, but they need abundant water to grow lush. Baptism and the Word?
Daily attention to pulling weeds, five minutes here, ten minutes there, every day, when you're not making a "job" of weeding, prevents problems. Going away for a week or two of vacation results in a huge mess that takes a while to fix. That's when you notice how significant the daily work has been.
New little strawberry plants should not be making fruit but should grow strong for their own health during the first year.
Plants take more space and more attention from the gardener when they're big than the gardener expected when they were just little sprouts.
The amount of fertilizer that helps a mature plant will probably be enough to burn a baby plant.
Without pruning, a vine or tree doesn't make proper fruit.
A gardener may do everything right and still end up with a poor crop. A gardener may do loads of stuff wrong and still reap a great harvest. The work is ours to do, but the results are in the Lord's hands.
Today's Laugh
A customer sent an order to a distributor for a large amount of goods totaling a great deal of money.
The distributor noticed that the previous bill hadn’t been paid. The collections manager left a voice-mail for them saying, "We can’t ship your new order until you pay for the last one."
The next day the collections manager received a collect phone call: "Please cancel the order. We can’t wait that long."
The distributor noticed that the previous bill hadn’t been paid. The collections manager left a voice-mail for them saying, "We can’t ship your new order until you pay for the last one."
The next day the collections manager received a collect phone call: "Please cancel the order. We can’t wait that long."
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The New Creation
The beginning of Psalm 148 calls on the angels and the Sabaoth, the sun, moon, and stars, the heavens, to praise the Lord. Then it says why:
For He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.
At the end of the world, come Judgment Day, the world will be destroyed by fire. God will make a new heaven and a new earth. I always thought that meant God was going to destroy it all and start over.
But now I'm wondering.
We believe in the resurrection of the body. We don't believe in a "do-over." WE will be in heaven with our bodies. We won't be different people, with different bodies. We will be our own selves, albeit with resurrected bodies that have been made gloriously free from the effects of sin.
Paul tells us (Romans 8) that the whole creation is yearning with eager expectation for the end of the world, for Judgment Day when the Christians will be revealed, when the world will be made new. Does that mean the sun and moon and stars are not going to be obliterated any more than people will be? Does that mean they too will be freed from the curse and made new? Are the rocks and the stars and mountains going to be like the people, where it's not a "scratch that, let's start over" but a perfecting and remake of what God already created?
For He commanded and they were created.
He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.
At the end of the world, come Judgment Day, the world will be destroyed by fire. God will make a new heaven and a new earth. I always thought that meant God was going to destroy it all and start over.
But now I'm wondering.
We believe in the resurrection of the body. We don't believe in a "do-over." WE will be in heaven with our bodies. We won't be different people, with different bodies. We will be our own selves, albeit with resurrected bodies that have been made gloriously free from the effects of sin.
Paul tells us (Romans 8) that the whole creation is yearning with eager expectation for the end of the world, for Judgment Day when the Christians will be revealed, when the world will be made new. Does that mean the sun and moon and stars are not going to be obliterated any more than people will be? Does that mean they too will be freed from the curse and made new? Are the rocks and the stars and mountains going to be like the people, where it's not a "scratch that, let's start over" but a perfecting and remake of what God already created?
Fat
Butter = $0.95 per cup
Walmart's cheapest coconut oil = $1.40 per cup
Real lard from the Darien butcher = $0.35 per cup
Hydrogenated lard from the store = $0.60 per cup
Aldi's raw olive oil = $2.00 per cup
Woodman's cheapest raw olive oil = $1.90 per cup
Woodman's cheapest olive oil = $1.50 per cup
Off-brand shortening = $0.50 per cup
Pomace oil = $0.70 per cup
I ran out of lard when I made soap last week. I can't find butchers around here that actually kill animals and sell the meat and other parts; the "butchers" here are just meat stores. I think I may actually have to buy some Crisco for use in seasoning skillets; it's killin' me to wipe coconut oil and olive oil on my skillets.
I've been using lard for two reasons. 1) It was the cheapest fat I could find. 2) I'd rather use unrefined fats than chemist-made fats. Of course, pigs are unclean animals, so I'm not sure that my usual plan ("I'd rather eat the fat God made than the fat the scientist made") pans out for lard.
Looking online for information on fats, I discovered that somebody else uses the same thing I'd been using as a shortening-replacement. In recipes that called for Crisco, I was using part butter and part lard, with a little more butter than lard. It seemed to work nicely, giving a buttery taste instead of such a piggy taste, with more of a shortening-texture to the baked goods.
For all the grand things my friends have told me about coconut oil and its health benefits, I'm finding that it stinks as a product for greasing pans. When I've used coconut oil to grease the granola pan or bread pan, I can't detach my food from my baking dish. It also makes cornbread turn out with a weird non-cohesive texture.
I wonder if grocery-store meat departments sell suet at this time of year. I have no idea how much it costs.
Last week I made a batch of home-made soap with Crisco. I wonder if the processed fat will work okay, or if it will give me rashes like the typical store "bath bar." If it works, it'd be a lot easier than rendering and washing animal fats. If not, I'm going to have to take a long drive to a real butcher. On the other hand, pomace isn't that much more expensive than the Crisco imitations.
But in the meantime, I'm gonna have to find me some lard, somehow, somewhere.
Walmart's cheapest coconut oil = $1.40 per cup
Real lard from the Darien butcher = $0.35 per cup
Hydrogenated lard from the store = $0.60 per cup
Aldi's raw olive oil = $2.00 per cup
Woodman's cheapest raw olive oil = $1.90 per cup
Woodman's cheapest olive oil = $1.50 per cup
Off-brand shortening = $0.50 per cup
Pomace oil = $0.70 per cup
I ran out of lard when I made soap last week. I can't find butchers around here that actually kill animals and sell the meat and other parts; the "butchers" here are just meat stores. I think I may actually have to buy some Crisco for use in seasoning skillets; it's killin' me to wipe coconut oil and olive oil on my skillets.
I've been using lard for two reasons. 1) It was the cheapest fat I could find. 2) I'd rather use unrefined fats than chemist-made fats. Of course, pigs are unclean animals, so I'm not sure that my usual plan ("I'd rather eat the fat God made than the fat the scientist made") pans out for lard.
Looking online for information on fats, I discovered that somebody else uses the same thing I'd been using as a shortening-replacement. In recipes that called for Crisco, I was using part butter and part lard, with a little more butter than lard. It seemed to work nicely, giving a buttery taste instead of such a piggy taste, with more of a shortening-texture to the baked goods.
For all the grand things my friends have told me about coconut oil and its health benefits, I'm finding that it stinks as a product for greasing pans. When I've used coconut oil to grease the granola pan or bread pan, I can't detach my food from my baking dish. It also makes cornbread turn out with a weird non-cohesive texture.
I wonder if grocery-store meat departments sell suet at this time of year. I have no idea how much it costs.
Last week I made a batch of home-made soap with Crisco. I wonder if the processed fat will work okay, or if it will give me rashes like the typical store "bath bar." If it works, it'd be a lot easier than rendering and washing animal fats. If not, I'm going to have to take a long drive to a real butcher. On the other hand, pomace isn't that much more expensive than the Crisco imitations.
But in the meantime, I'm gonna have to find me some lard, somehow, somewhere.
Crazy Site-Meter
Since a couple of cyber-stalkers seem to have lost interest in my blog, I haven't been keeping a very close eye on my site-meter to know how many people visit my blog or where they come from. It's usually fairly consistent. But now and then, there's an odd spike in the site-meter, and I wonder who must've linked to me and what the visitors were coming to read that day. I know sometimes I do that to other people, where they are puzzled by a sharp upturn in their hits, and it's because I happened to link to one of their posts.
Yesterday I happened to notice as the same thing was happening on my blog. Wow, my site-meter was spinnin' like crazy! Pr Weedon was amused by yesterday's joke of the day, linked to it on his blog, and I got as many hits just from his blog as I usually get in a day and a half. That was fun to watch, especially thinking of other people chuckling over that joke that I enjoyed so much!
Yesterday I happened to notice as the same thing was happening on my blog. Wow, my site-meter was spinnin' like crazy! Pr Weedon was amused by yesterday's joke of the day, linked to it on his blog, and I got as many hits just from his blog as I usually get in a day and a half. That was fun to watch, especially thinking of other people chuckling over that joke that I enjoyed so much!
Day By Day
In the past, I always got side-tracked during the late summer and early fall as I read Day by Day We Magnify Thee (also available in an updated reprint)*. Somehow, the July-to-September readings on sanctification and fruit and citizenship and good works always seemed so oppressive that eventually I just kinda sorta didn't get around to reading it each day. I'd pray my psalms and collects, but would climb out of bed and "forget" to read Day By Day.
As time went on, as I continued to listen to true preaching, as I began to understand the freedom of a Christian and the way the Gospel (not the Law!) works in us to change hearts and lives, I began to realize that my Day by Day wasn't getting set aside during summer. Those things that Luther had written became joyful and good and comforting, and were no longer seen as the demands that I'd always felt them to be.
But now that we're in the three-year pericopes, now that the readings in Day by Day are disconnected from the flow of one week's sermons into the next, it's getting hard again to keep reading them through this time of year. I find this sad, and I don't quite know what to do about it.
* Footnote -- Interestingly, now that the book is back in print, the price on the used copies of the original has dropped from $40-100 down to $1-4. That's how good this book is, that people were willing to pay $40 or more to buy it when it was out-of-print.
As time went on, as I continued to listen to true preaching, as I began to understand the freedom of a Christian and the way the Gospel (not the Law!) works in us to change hearts and lives, I began to realize that my Day by Day wasn't getting set aside during summer. Those things that Luther had written became joyful and good and comforting, and were no longer seen as the demands that I'd always felt them to be.
But now that we're in the three-year pericopes, now that the readings in Day by Day are disconnected from the flow of one week's sermons into the next, it's getting hard again to keep reading them through this time of year. I find this sad, and I don't quite know what to do about it.
* Footnote -- Interestingly, now that the book is back in print, the price on the used copies of the original has dropped from $40-100 down to $1-4. That's how good this book is, that people were willing to pay $40 or more to buy it when it was out-of-print.
Ebay Sales
We have books that need to be sold. I started listing Paul's textbooks from last semester on half.com. It's so hard to know how to price them. On the one hand, I want them out of the house! I want to be paid something for them. But I don't want to price them so high that they'll be sitting around here while ebay-shoppers buy somebody else's textbook instead of mine. So we've been going with the theory that we'll price it lower than most of the others, maybe what we'd get from a book buy-back at the college bookstore.
You know you've probably picked a too-low price when the textbooks are snapped up in a matter of hours ... by buyers who appear to be dealers. Shoot, I wanted the books to go to other frugal college students, not to dealers who'll jack up the price for a profit. Oh well, at least we whittled down the pile of books on our shelf. And we sold enough to pay for the bulk of fall semester's textbooks. Yippee!
You know you've probably picked a too-low price when the textbooks are snapped up in a matter of hours ... by buyers who appear to be dealers. Shoot, I wanted the books to go to other frugal college students, not to dealers who'll jack up the price for a profit. Oh well, at least we whittled down the pile of books on our shelf. And we sold enough to pay for the bulk of fall semester's textbooks. Yippee!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
For What Reason?
Sunday's [three-year] epistle was from Ephesians 3 and began, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His grace, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."
One thing Pastor has taught us is to go back and look for the reason preceding a "therefore" ... because it matters.
Since the previous verse says, "Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory," I'm wondering if that's what "for this reason" refers back to. Paul is praying that God would strengthen his hearers ... because it shakes them up when they see his suffering for the sake of ministering to them??? It would make sense.
But then you've got another "therefore" at the beginning of verse 13. Why doesn't Paul want his hearers to lose heart? Because God has all this grace and love to pour out on the world, not just on the Jews, but on the Gentiles too. And He sends Paul so that this wisdom can go out into all the world. And Paul's saying, "Look at this awesome mystery of how expansive is God's love in Christ, and don't let it scandalize you that I might suffer a little as I'm preaching it all over the place."
I don't know about you, but for me, looking at the first half of the chapter altogether changes how the second half of the chapter sounds. Almost like as if they were plagued in the first century with a desire for the theology of glory that their pastors were trying to save them from.
One thing Pastor has taught us is to go back and look for the reason preceding a "therefore" ... because it matters.
Since the previous verse says, "Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory," I'm wondering if that's what "for this reason" refers back to. Paul is praying that God would strengthen his hearers ... because it shakes them up when they see his suffering for the sake of ministering to them??? It would make sense.
But then you've got another "therefore" at the beginning of verse 13. Why doesn't Paul want his hearers to lose heart? Because God has all this grace and love to pour out on the world, not just on the Jews, but on the Gentiles too. And He sends Paul so that this wisdom can go out into all the world. And Paul's saying, "Look at this awesome mystery of how expansive is God's love in Christ, and don't let it scandalize you that I might suffer a little as I'm preaching it all over the place."
I don't know about you, but for me, looking at the first half of the chapter altogether changes how the second half of the chapter sounds. Almost like as if they were plagued in the first century with a desire for the theology of glory that their pastors were trying to save them from.
Babysitting
We babysat Gus today! Oh boy oh boy oh boy!
It's so NICE to know that somebody loves me enough that she feels comfortable calling and saying, "Can you watch him for an hour or two?" Ohhhh, I feel so loved!
And babies are fun!
I forgot how much I talktalktalktalk when there's a little one around who gets The Running Commentary On Life, and how to make the bread, and how to sort the clothes, and what we're seeing on a walk, and what color his toy is, and all that stuff you jabber about to babies.
It's so NICE to know that somebody loves me enough that she feels comfortable calling and saying, "Can you watch him for an hour or two?" Ohhhh, I feel so loved!
And babies are fun!
I forgot how much I talktalktalktalk when there's a little one around who gets The Running Commentary On Life, and how to make the bread, and how to sort the clothes, and what we're seeing on a walk, and what color his toy is, and all that stuff you jabber about to babies.
Phil Donahue
Cheryl's got a great little clip of Milton Friedman explaining to Phil Donahue why it's not a wretched, evil, terrible, nasty thing to have an economic system that runs on greed. So after seeing it, one of my children asks, "Who's Phil Donahue?"
I'm old.
I'm old.
Today's Laugh
A husband looking through the paper came upon a study that said women use more words than men. He was excited to prove to his wife that he had been right all along when he accused her of talking too much. He showed her the study results.
It read: "Men use about 15,000 words per day, but women use 30,000."
The wife thought for a while, then finally she said to her husband, "It's because we have to repeat everything we say."
The husband said "What?"
It read: "Men use about 15,000 words per day, but women use 30,000."
The wife thought for a while, then finally she said to her husband, "It's because we have to repeat everything we say."
The husband said "What?"
Monday, July 27, 2009
Wonderful Doctor!
Is this too warped? It was such a relief when the doctor said, "Oh, man! You are SO messed up! You are in terrible shape!"
My tailbone began hurting the last weekend of March. It's been hard to be sitting, hard to get up and sit down, hard to carry things, impossible to run. There for a while it was taking several minutes to haul my body out of bed to a vertical position. I figured I'd bruised my tailbone, and that takes a long time to heal. But it's been four months now. How long am I supposed to be patient?
This weekend I saw a blogpost about the mental-health benefits of exercise. That's what I experienced in the four years that I was jogging two miles daily. But then I had to cut way back because of some [hopefully temporary] bad ramifications for physical health. In April I had to cut out all exercise because of the back pain from my injured tailbone. But after a while, you've got to balance the good the exercise does against the bad it does, ... and so I went out race-walking for just one little mile today. I've got to get back into it.
I also saw the doctor today. After checking for cysts, rashes, or other possible signs of injury to the tailbone, he checked my alignment. (I feel like a Buick.) That's when he burst out with "Oh, man, you are SO messed up." But that's good. If my back is out of whack, he can straighten it. He said he'd never seen my legs so uneven and my hips and pelvis so locked. There was plenty of wincing and gasping in pain, which incited the doctor to a speech about the necessity of anti-inflammatories [read: aspirin and/or Advil] even if I'm not hunting for pain relief.
The doctor straightened my back, popped a pelvic disk back into place, and gave me therapy exercises to keep working on popping that disk into place. He said it's been messed up for so long that I'm going to have to keep convincing it to get back where it belongs.
I am SO sore now, but there's hope that the pain of the past few months isn't just a slow-healing bruise. It's mis-alignment that is relatively easy to correct. Maybe in another week or so I won't be so pokey as I go about my tasks. Maybe I won't ache so much. And maybe I can get back to my jogging and the benefits it brings.
My tailbone began hurting the last weekend of March. It's been hard to be sitting, hard to get up and sit down, hard to carry things, impossible to run. There for a while it was taking several minutes to haul my body out of bed to a vertical position. I figured I'd bruised my tailbone, and that takes a long time to heal. But it's been four months now. How long am I supposed to be patient?
This weekend I saw a blogpost about the mental-health benefits of exercise. That's what I experienced in the four years that I was jogging two miles daily. But then I had to cut way back because of some [hopefully temporary] bad ramifications for physical health. In April I had to cut out all exercise because of the back pain from my injured tailbone. But after a while, you've got to balance the good the exercise does against the bad it does, ... and so I went out race-walking for just one little mile today. I've got to get back into it.
I also saw the doctor today. After checking for cysts, rashes, or other possible signs of injury to the tailbone, he checked my alignment. (I feel like a Buick.) That's when he burst out with "Oh, man, you are SO messed up." But that's good. If my back is out of whack, he can straighten it. He said he'd never seen my legs so uneven and my hips and pelvis so locked. There was plenty of wincing and gasping in pain, which incited the doctor to a speech about the necessity of anti-inflammatories [read: aspirin and/or Advil] even if I'm not hunting for pain relief.
The doctor straightened my back, popped a pelvic disk back into place, and gave me therapy exercises to keep working on popping that disk into place. He said it's been messed up for so long that I'm going to have to keep convincing it to get back where it belongs.
I am SO sore now, but there's hope that the pain of the past few months isn't just a slow-healing bruise. It's mis-alignment that is relatively easy to correct. Maybe in another week or so I won't be so pokey as I go about my tasks. Maybe I won't ache so much. And maybe I can get back to my jogging and the benefits it brings.
Unintended Compliment
As we talked about the garden last night, Gary mentioned how nice it looks and how weed-free. He wasn't saying "thank you" and he wasn't intending to compliment; it was just an observation. Since most of the weeding is done during the day while he's at work --and when the mosquitos aren't quite so vicious-- I don't think he realizes how much time is spent on the weeding. Actually, I'm the one doing it, and I don't realize how much time is spent on it either; I just keep getting distracted out there whenever I go to move the sprinkler and then just grab that one dandelion out of the soil ... and 45 minutes later come back indoors. Oops. That weeding can be addictive when it's not a "chore" for the day and you're "just going to get that one." Kinda like Lays Potato Chips -- betcha can't eat just one.
I don't know why, but his comment last night, which wasn't even intended to be nice or make me feel good, is one of the nicest compliments I've heard in a long time. It makes me think about what I've read on the topic of self-esteem and praise and what kind of compliments actually help encourage a person.
And, really, the garden does look very nice.
I don't know why, but his comment last night, which wasn't even intended to be nice or make me feel good, is one of the nicest compliments I've heard in a long time. It makes me think about what I've read on the topic of self-esteem and praise and what kind of compliments actually help encourage a person.
And, really, the garden does look very nice.
Staking Tomatoes
I have tried all sorts of ways to hold the tomatoes up. We've used the tomato cages; the weight of the tomatoes makes the cage fall over. We've tried having them climb little brackets of criss-crossed fencing, but tomatoes don't want to hang onto it like as if they were peas or grapes with grabby little tendrils. We've tried letting them sprawl on the ground, but that makes it hard to find the tomatoes and is just asking for slugs to snack on the tomato you'd planned to put on your BLT. We've tried staking, but as the plant grows, the stakes either snap or are yanked out of the ground by the weight of the plant.
A week or so ago, Gary went out and bought 6' stakes of rebar. He pounded them 2' down into the ground, and we've been trying to get the tomatoes moved from the sad, sorry, cracked, leaning little stakes to the big, strong, sturdy rebar. They're doing better. I've only broken one branch so far, and it hasn't died in the week since I broke it. (What's up with that? I don't understand, but I'm glad about it.) This morning I noticed that the tiny littlest tomato plant is starting to be all tippy and is now pulling its little stakes out of the ground. I wonder if the store bought any more rebar since Gary cleaned them out?
A week or so ago, Gary went out and bought 6' stakes of rebar. He pounded them 2' down into the ground, and we've been trying to get the tomatoes moved from the sad, sorry, cracked, leaning little stakes to the big, strong, sturdy rebar. They're doing better. I've only broken one branch so far, and it hasn't died in the week since I broke it. (What's up with that? I don't understand, but I'm glad about it.) This morning I noticed that the tiny littlest tomato plant is starting to be all tippy and is now pulling its little stakes out of the ground. I wonder if the store bought any more rebar since Gary cleaned them out?
Today's Laugh
Two workmen were approached by a passer by who asked what they were doing...
"Well, we work for the government," one of the men said.
"But one of you is digging a hole and the other fills it up. You’re not accomplishing anything. Aren’t you wasting the taxpayers’ money?"
"You don’t understand, mister," one of the men said, leaning on his shovel and wiping his brow. "Normally there’s three of us: me, Rodney, and Mike. I dig the hole, Rodney sticks in the tree, and Mike, here, puts the dirt back."
"Now, just because Rodney’s sick, that don’t mean that Mike and me can’t work."
"Well, we work for the government," one of the men said.
"But one of you is digging a hole and the other fills it up. You’re not accomplishing anything. Aren’t you wasting the taxpayers’ money?"
"You don’t understand, mister," one of the men said, leaning on his shovel and wiping his brow. "Normally there’s three of us: me, Rodney, and Mike. I dig the hole, Rodney sticks in the tree, and Mike, here, puts the dirt back."
"Now, just because Rodney’s sick, that don’t mean that Mike and me can’t work."
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Funeral Leave
When a person has an 8-5:00 job, even if he has paid time off, it's still not fully his prerogative to decide whether or not he wants to use his time off for a funeral. Bosses expect notice about days off, and have to shuffle work around among other employees, many of whom are vacationing this time of year. The boss can't let too many people be gone on the same day. It's one thing if it's your kid's funeral, or your dad's funeral, or your sister's funeral; a boss will understand the importance of that. But it's another thing altogether when it's somebody very close to you who isn't on the boss's List Of People Whose Funerals Constitute Excused Absences From Work.
Throw in a 9-hour roundtrip,
That was definitely one of the nice sides of Gary's flexibility in his schedule as a pastor.
Throw in a 9-hour roundtrip,
and now what?
That was definitely one of the nice sides of Gary's flexibility in his schedule as a pastor.
Impressions
I've been noticing recently how much it can affect a person to be wondering (or assuming) what someone else thinks. Even if it turns out later that you're wrong about what the person thought or what his motivation was, it's hard to go back and undo the damage. Maybe somebody asked a question that went unanswered, or maybe a question was phrased in a clumsy way, or maybe there was an odd look on the person's face, or maybe the person tried to joke around and just couldn't pull it off as funny. Even if all those things were totally innocent (the piece of mail with the question was lost by the post office; the person grew up with different slang; somebody was coming down with stomach flu), it's far too easy to let those misunderstandings fester and then influence any further relationship.
Seems like it would be easiest to get things straightened out right at the start of the problem, rather than having to go back and repair the damage of the misunderstanding later.
Seems like it would be easiest to get things straightened out right at the start of the problem, rather than having to go back and repair the damage of the misunderstanding later.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Maggie's Recorder
Did I teach her how to play the recorder? Did one of her sisters?
A friend, Denise, mentioned recently how her daughter was busy teaching herself hymns from Lutheran Service Book. Maggie has been doing that too. She's also been spending time at the piano, plucking out tunes, teaching herself in part by quasi-reading the music, in part by ear, in part by asking questions, and in part by bits and pieces of piano-instruction books. Not your standard way to learn music, but it's working for her. (This is similar to how she learned to read books -- seeing/reading the written words to things she'd already half-memorized. The reading helped out her memory, and her memory helped out the decoding.)
Now, tonight, she uses the piano primer of hymns to start playing hymns on the recorder instead of on the piano. She wanted me to show her the scale again, and then began figuring things out. After a while, she asked about fingering for an F-sharp and a B-flat. And there she went!
A friend, Denise, mentioned recently how her daughter was busy teaching herself hymns from Lutheran Service Book. Maggie has been doing that too. She's also been spending time at the piano, plucking out tunes, teaching herself in part by quasi-reading the music, in part by ear, in part by asking questions, and in part by bits and pieces of piano-instruction books. Not your standard way to learn music, but it's working for her. (This is similar to how she learned to read books -- seeing/reading the written words to things she'd already half-memorized. The reading helped out her memory, and her memory helped out the decoding.)
Now, tonight, she uses the piano primer of hymns to start playing hymns on the recorder instead of on the piano. She wanted me to show her the scale again, and then began figuring things out. After a while, she asked about fingering for an F-sharp and a B-flat. And there she went!
Today's Laugh
An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn’t move.
Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn’t respond.
Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing.
Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.
The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.
The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t even try!"
Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn’t respond.
Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing.
Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.
The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.
The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t even try!"
Friday, July 24, 2009
Grapes Done
Those tiny little grape vines took off growing faster than I'd anticipated. I think I must still have poor impressions of garden-possibilities based on the clay soil of our previous home, and that blasted Bambi that nipped off my blueberry shrub so many years ago. A few weeks ago Gary put up the fenceposts for the grapes. Yesterday Andrew and I put up the horizontal bars. Paul contributed by mowing the whole lawn himself. Maggie contributed by helping me find 1x2s that were only $1.29 each. And Gary contributed by coming out with the camera while I was trimming off the ends of the bars.
Two of the grape vines are above the bottom bar, and the middle vine has nearly reached the second bar. Now my big challenge is going to be to prune it hard enough.
Fire Hazard
Andrew brought out the extension cord yesterday for the power drill as we were putting up the supports for the grape vines. As we tried to unroll it out to the garden, it wouldn't cooperate. The insulation on the wires was sticky. As we continued to remove the stuck-together cord, some of it was in such bad shape that the insulation had melted away to almost nothing.
Well, we know now to make sure that we unroll the cord whenever it's used. The heat of the electricity zooming around in there, still coiled, was just more heat than the insulation could bear.
Makes me wonder about the safety of all those coiled audio wires and electric wires that I see so many places.
Well, we know now to make sure that we unroll the cord whenever it's used. The heat of the electricity zooming around in there, still coiled, was just more heat than the insulation could bear.
Makes me wonder about the safety of all those coiled audio wires and electric wires that I see so many places.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Underwear
Thesis: The mother should have one or two fewer pairs of underwear than the rest of the family.
1. If she runs out, she will realize that it's time to do laundry today before the rest of the family starts nagging her.
2. If certain people in the house still have plenty of underwear left in their dresser drawers when Mom is out, then she knows it's time to start nagging someone about showering and changing his/her undies every day.
1. If she runs out, she will realize that it's time to do laundry today before the rest of the family starts nagging her.
2. If certain people in the house still have plenty of underwear left in their dresser drawers when Mom is out, then she knows it's time to start nagging someone about showering and changing his/her undies every day.
Matthew's Bookends
Scaer* pointed out that the Gospel according to St Matthew begins by mentioning that Jesus is the son of Abraham. What was the promise to Abraham? In you and in your Seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed. And how does Matthew end? Jesus tells His apostles to go and make disciples of .... whom? All nations. This gospel of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus blood is not just for the Jews, but is meant for the whole world!
As I was pondering the coolness of this, I came across the prayers in this morning's psalms. Psalm 132 speaks of the eternal covenant with David, the promise that his Son would be seated on the throne forever, that the Lord has chosen Zion forever, that He will make the horn of David grow.
So what are the words in Matthew 1:1 right before we hear about Jesus being the son of Abraham? He is the son of David too. And what are the very last words of Matthew's gospel, even after the next-to-last verse about "all nations"? That He would be with us forever. How 'bout that?
* David Scaer, Life -- New Life in Baptism, presentation to the Southern California District in 1967.
As I was pondering the coolness of this, I came across the prayers in this morning's psalms. Psalm 132 speaks of the eternal covenant with David, the promise that his Son would be seated on the throne forever, that the Lord has chosen Zion forever, that He will make the horn of David grow.
So what are the words in Matthew 1:1 right before we hear about Jesus being the son of Abraham? He is the son of David too. And what are the very last words of Matthew's gospel, even after the next-to-last verse about "all nations"? That He would be with us forever. How 'bout that?
* David Scaer, Life -- New Life in Baptism, presentation to the Southern California District in 1967.
Today's Laugh
A young man for his first day of work at the supermarket. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and said, "Your first job will be to sweep out the store."
"But I’m a college graduate!!" the young man replied indignantly.
"Oh, I’m sorry about the misunderstanding," said the manager. "Here, give me the broom -- I’ll show you how."
"But I’m a college graduate!!" the young man replied indignantly.
"Oh, I’m sorry about the misunderstanding," said the manager. "Here, give me the broom -- I’ll show you how."
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Kenyan Hymnal Project
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya began in 1948 through the work of Swedish missionaries. Because the congregations were established largely by the laity, services consisted mostly of hymn-singing and preaching. Due to this, as well as the lack of worship resources, worship practice varies tremendously among the congregations. Some parishes use non-Lutheran hymnals because that is the only thing available to them.
Bishop Obare has identified the need for a hymnal as crucial to his church. A doctrinally sound hymnal would aid in catechesis as well as unify the church in her practice. Use of the lectionary would join their practice to that of the church at large.
Our Kenyan brothers and sisters cannot provide these books for themselves. They have few pastors, and many of the Christians struggle to provide food and clothing for their own families. Bishop Obare has requested the help of the Ft Wayne seminary in developing "a good Lutheran hymnal with a Kenyan (African) touch." My friend, Sandy Rhein, is working with men from the church in Kenya, with input from some seminary professors and kantors. The goal is to produce a hymnal by summer of 2012 which will contain:
Donations may be sent to
Kenyan Hymnal Project
Concordia Theological Seminary
6600 N. Clinton
Fort Wayne IN 46825
Checks should be made out to the seminary, with "Kenyan Hymnal Project" in the memo line, as well as including a brief note clearly stating that the money is to be used for the Kenyan Hymnal Project.
If youth groups or Ladies' Aid Societies are looking for a way to help with the mission of the Church, this would be a great project to fund. This is one of those projects where a little money seems to go a long way. Maybe consider it as a use for a quarter's worth of Sunday School offerings. Or a memorial for a loved one.
Bishop Obare has identified the need for a hymnal as crucial to his church. A doctrinally sound hymnal would aid in catechesis as well as unify the church in her practice. Use of the lectionary would join their practice to that of the church at large.
Our Kenyan brothers and sisters cannot provide these books for themselves. They have few pastors, and many of the Christians struggle to provide food and clothing for their own families. Bishop Obare has requested the help of the Ft Wayne seminary in developing "a good Lutheran hymnal with a Kenyan (African) touch." My friend, Sandy Rhein, is working with men from the church in Kenya, with input from some seminary professors and kantors. The goal is to produce a hymnal by summer of 2012 which will contain:
- one setting each of the Divine Service, Matins, and Vespers,
- three-year lectionary
- selected psalms
- 300 hymns
- in the Kiswahili language.
Donations may be sent to
Kenyan Hymnal Project
Concordia Theological Seminary
6600 N. Clinton
Fort Wayne IN 46825
Checks should be made out to the seminary, with "Kenyan Hymnal Project" in the memo line, as well as including a brief note clearly stating that the money is to be used for the Kenyan Hymnal Project.
If youth groups or Ladies' Aid Societies are looking for a way to help with the mission of the Church, this would be a great project to fund. This is one of those projects where a little money seems to go a long way. Maybe consider it as a use for a quarter's worth of Sunday School offerings. Or a memorial for a loved one.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Alia Walks
Mom, if you don't know how to work these you-tube videos, just click on the arrow-button in the middle of the screen. It's less than half a minute.
Lutheran Liturgical Congregations
For those who have been patiently (or impatiently) awaiting the return of the list,
and with much thanks to those who reworked the website and spent time inputting data and verifying that information was updated correctly,
Gary's website is up and running again.
In the past, some people put a lot more stock in LutheranLiturgy.org than they should've. Being listed on the website is no guarantee of a good sermon or excellent hymn choices. And there are good congregations out there which aren't on the list. But this list is a good starting point for those looking for a congregation to attend when away from their home church. Congregations on the list use the hymnal and have no "contemporary" worship, and they report that they practice closed communion and have no women assisting in the chancel.
and with much thanks to those who reworked the website and spent time inputting data and verifying that information was updated correctly,
Gary's website is up and running again.
In the past, some people put a lot more stock in LutheranLiturgy.org than they should've. Being listed on the website is no guarantee of a good sermon or excellent hymn choices. And there are good congregations out there which aren't on the list. But this list is a good starting point for those looking for a congregation to attend when away from their home church. Congregations on the list use the hymnal and have no "contemporary" worship, and they report that they practice closed communion and have no women assisting in the chancel.
Today's Laugh
My boys told me some pick-up lines they heard. (These will work swell if your goal is to have the girl roll her eyes and/or slap you....)
The ones that make the younger guys laugh:
Did you just fart, because you certainly blew me away!
If you were a booger, I'd pick you first.
The one that's not quite so 10-yr-old:
I'm going to a potluck and was told to bring a hot dish. Will you go with me?
The ones that make the younger guys laugh:
Did you just fart, because you certainly blew me away!
If you were a booger, I'd pick you first.
The one that's not quite so 10-yr-old:
I'm going to a potluck and was told to bring a hot dish. Will you go with me?
Monday, July 20, 2009
Rabbit Fence
Guts. Too many guts. On the corner of the driveway, tucked up in the sheltered corner between the living room and the garage. They draw ants when I don't dispose of the guts frequently enough. Oh, and they get stinky!
Loads of the neighbors have rabbit-fence around their gardens. I don't. And no nibbles, no damage, no problem. Nary a bunny to be seen in my garden.
Finally made the connection. All those huge guts must be rabbit guts. I thought they looked way too big for gopher-guts or sparrow-guts. Athena must be catching too many to finish them off completely as she usually does. I have found little bony legs -- she eats the meaty ones. She's not bothering with the less tasty bits of gut. And now I've been finding fur, which clinches the fact that it's rabbit she's been snarfing.
I was getting pretty irritated about all the guts I've been having to pick up (eeuuwwwwwwwww!) but I gotta admit it's a whole lot cheaper than installing rabbit fence. I hope Athena lives a good long --and hungry-- life!
Loads of the neighbors have rabbit-fence around their gardens. I don't. And no nibbles, no damage, no problem. Nary a bunny to be seen in my garden.
Finally made the connection. All those huge guts must be rabbit guts. I thought they looked way too big for gopher-guts or sparrow-guts. Athena must be catching too many to finish them off completely as she usually does. I have found little bony legs -- she eats the meaty ones. She's not bothering with the less tasty bits of gut. And now I've been finding fur, which clinches the fact that it's rabbit she's been snarfing.
I was getting pretty irritated about all the guts I've been having to pick up (eeuuwwwwwwwww!) but I gotta admit it's a whole lot cheaper than installing rabbit fence. I hope Athena lives a good long --and hungry-- life!
Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes, that I may see
wondrous things from Your law.
Usually what we see in the Law is rules. Do this and you will make God happy. Do this and you will prove how much you love Him. Sometimes it's even as crass as "do this and you will earn heaven."
But there are wondrous things in the Law. Things that show us Jesus and His atonement. Things about the ceremonial law and the sacrifices. Things about who Jesus is and how perfectly He obeyed the demands of the Law. There are also the promises God made in the Torah/Law.
Jesus healed the blind. Open my eyes, that I may see the wondrous things in the law and not simply the condemnation.
wondrous things from Your law.
Usually what we see in the Law is rules. Do this and you will make God happy. Do this and you will prove how much you love Him. Sometimes it's even as crass as "do this and you will earn heaven."
But there are wondrous things in the Law. Things that show us Jesus and His atonement. Things about the ceremonial law and the sacrifices. Things about who Jesus is and how perfectly He obeyed the demands of the Law. There are also the promises God made in the Torah/Law.
Jesus healed the blind. Open my eyes, that I may see the wondrous things in the law and not simply the condemnation.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
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