A WRINKLED TIME

Psalm 46

2011-06-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

In light of all that is happening in our world which can be frightening, the following excerpts from Psalm 46 (NLT) rang so clear to me this morning that I decided to pass them on. I pray these ancient, but relevant words will give you hope today also as together we face the natural disasters, wars, and general upheavals in this tumultuous place we live in. Remember...

"God is our refuge and strength,
   always ready to help in times of trouble,
So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come
     and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
     Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!" (vs 1-3)
"Be silent and know that I am God!
     I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.
The Lord Almighty is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress." (vs 10-11)

To God be the glory forever and ever! God bless you dear friends.

Talking Dog

2011-05-24T17:33:00.002-07:00

I know this is a lazy way to post on my blog...forgive me, but this is the BEST!!!!!!!!

Jay and I have a great little mini schnauzer named Sherman who's most important activity to him is EATING and I can so picture him saying this to us!!!
I have a very close friend that used to babysit Shermie and forwarded this video to me. Thanks Shirl!!! TOO MUCH....

Get ready for a good belly laugh!!!

Some folks are outrageously clever....

American Idol Fan?

2011-05-13T13:43:00.001-07:00

A frog fact is heavy on my mind this morning. If you place a live frog in a pot of cold water on the stove, then turn on the burner, the frog will remain in the water as the temperature rises to boiling because of the ever so gradual change in the water temperature, and won't even realized he's being boiled alive.

I confess I feel very much like that frog this morning and have been all over the internet trying to find a place to express my shock and concern about the American Idol results show last night. I confess, I've been a faithful fan of this show since it began 10 years ago. Last season, it disturbed me that Ellen Degeneres was one of the judges because of her openly gay lifestyle, so I was glad she chose not to be one this year. Steven Tyler replaced her, and has been a bit much for me, but I've considered his critiques of the contestants kind and have enjoyed some of his wit inspite of...

I really hate judgmental people. I like to be positive and try to be more open to the way others choose to live and "love them" with that unconditional love that I experience daily from the Lord, but...at some point it's time to draw the line. Last night (Thursday) the AI results show was the last straw because of the performance aired by woman "GaGa." (I refuse to call her "lady.")

If you saw it, you might better understand my concern than if you did not. Her appearance and gyrations at the piano was pure porn. We switched it off because it was so disgusting, but my heart grieved and is grieving for the young preteen girls they'd shown in the audience earlier, and the 700 million + viewers following American Idol, so many of whom I know are young people. Why? I'm naive enough to believe they tune into AI to watch undiscovered young singers compete and perform. Idol has morphed into so much more.

I've been that clueless frog in the pot of water...yes. I'd been noticing more and more skimpy outfits and sexually oriented performances (Jennifer Lopez' video included), but just tried to dismiss it as "art." I've been so deceived. My heart breaks anew today for so many young people who've been and will be exposed to such nastiness sprinkled throughout what is generally considered "family" entertainment.

I'll finish the season off watching Scotty, Lauren and Haley's performances on Wednesday night, but the Thursday night results show is out, and American Idol is off the very short list of shows I watch.

I was in boiling water, and I almost didn't realize it.

Toss those potato peelers...

2011-04-19T09:24:00.001-07:00

A friend forwarded this little bit of magic to me so I thought I'd BLOG it since my poor blog has been neglected for so long...Hope you find this as helpful and instructive as I did.

Pantoum-ming Again

2011-01-27T14:53:00.005-07:00

The pantoum-style poem seems to suit me fine...I will eventually want to move on but today will share another pantoum I wrote in response to a workshop assignment.

Each of us thought of five words that have weight to us. One of mine was "process." Each participant thought of the first word that came to mind when they heard "process" and I wrote each of their words down. This gave me the following word list, which we were challenged to use in a poem. It's a great exercise and I was fairly pleased with the result.

Poem extracted from the following word list: Process, design, progress, mind, journey, maze, time

Too Slow

by Susie Talbot

She tried to pry open a rosebud

To make a flower sooner

Because it takes too much time

Wanted to see the flower

To make a flower sooner

She forced the rosebud’s progress

Wanted to see the flower

The opening process too slow

She forced the rosebud’s progress

To see its lacy design

The opening process too slow

Wanted to rush its journey

To see its lacy design

With more than her mind

Wanted to rush its journey

Tore through its maze of petals

With more than her mind

Because it takes too much time

Tore through its maze of petals

She tried to pry open a rosebud

Okay now. The next challenge was to turn this poem into free verse rather than a pantoum with the repeating lines. So this is the result of that.

Free Verse:

Too Slow

by Susie Talbot

She tried to pry open a rosebud

To make a flower sooner

Because it takes too much time
The opening process too slow

Wanted to see the flower

She forced the rosebud’s progress 

To see its lacy design

With more than her mind

Wanted to rush its journey

Tore through its maze of petals

She tried to pry open a rosebud

Which one do you like best--the first or the second version? Thanks for your input.

Where Have I Been?

2011-01-16T10:27:00.001-07:00

Where haven't I been is the answer...5 week trek to Australia nearly ruined this blog! We had a great time, then Christmas came with our wonderful children and their children...amazing families, and then, and then, and then. So now it's January 16 (I know that because it's on the bottom left-hand corner of my screen).

I have continued to write, and have since been to a poetry workshop where we were taught different forms of poetry. I learned the Pantoum and P and I are good buddies now. Its form repeats lines and seems to work well for me. (Those of you who know me, know how adept I am at repeating myself.)

I've written several pantoums, but am ready to share "Poem Whittler" with you. Hoping you enjoy it and, if it interests you poets out there, pick up the Pantoum pattern and send me one of your poems.

Pantoum

Poem Whittler

by Susie Talbot

I must say I love, as a poet

When lively rainbow thoughts

Tumble out of a rubble of words

Onto a page, exposing their wily truths

When lively rainbow thoughts

Flow from a willing pen

Onto a page, exposing their wily truths

A thing called a poem is born

Flow from a willing pen

The poet holds in her hand

A thing called a poem is born

And creation repeats its song

The poet holds in her hand

A mighty and precious gift

And creation repeats its song

From Creator to poet to you

A mighty and precious gift

Tumbles out of a rubble of words

From Creator to poet to you

I must say I love, as a poet

A Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Prayer and Praise

2010-10-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

Beloved Redeemer

by Susan Talbot

Beloved Redeemer I’m asking You to

reshape me and mold me to be more like You.

My heart needs repairing, it’s ripped and it’s pained.

My mind needs renewing; this world is insane.

Too often I fail You, forgive me again.

My sin overtakes me around every bend.

Your kindness and gentleness draw me back in.

I’m loved by Christ Jesus - He died for my sin.

My Father’s provision supplies every need

to overcome sinning like lust and like greed.

I fall down on my knees in this physical state.

Until life is over I’ll patiently wait,

for heaven to graciously welcome me in.

That day I’ll rejoice, no more struggles with sin.

His grace is magnificent, eraser of hate,

in mansions above we will all celebrate.

This weekend we lost one of our Mission Royale friends to a car accident. I dedicate this poem to Dave's memory, to his widow who remains in critical condition, and to the other couple with them

who are also recovering from injuries and the pain of loss. We are so saddened by this news.

Who is Flavia?

2010-09-29T16:55:00.000-07:00

Flavia said:

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."

Today I saw this on a poster, also by Flavia.

"It's difficult to hold on sometimes,

but someday beyond our

tears and all the world's wrongs,

beyond the clouds

and all we can see and touch,

there will be love,

compassion, and justice and we will all

understand."

Anyone reading this know anything about "Flavia?" I looked the name up online and found several references to a Flavia coffee brand, but not much about a writer...Please let me know if you do. Thanks!

Grandbaby Number Six, but who's counting!

2010-09-24T16:05:00.001-07:00

Meet our newest grandbaby and second grandaughter!
AP was born Sept. 10 in Alabama

(one day before we could get there), but we saw her when she was only one day old until she

was 10 days old, so that was okee dokie.

Mom, Dad, little brother, and baby are doing super. AP was 6 lbs 3 oz and has surpassed that already at the ripe old age of 13 days today. Notice those cute forehead wrinkles and bright eyes!

Brother J is very pleased with his new sister. So far so good. He hasn't picked her up by her feet yet, but he has loved on those cute little feet. He's been very interested in AP and so far calls her "beabee". It sounds kind of like "baby" with a southern drawl (to me).

We were all very excited and some of us were just plain worn out after a day or so.
Being a big brother is exhausting!

Sleeping most of the day and playing at night is kind of fun though. Grampy are you sleeping too?

I guess you earned a little shut eye.

What a wonderful ten days we had grandparenting in Alabama. We love you dear little family, and thank God over and over for each of you. Thanks also to all of our wonderful extended family for their generous hospitality and kindnesses to us while we were visiting. We are truly blessed!

What is your Favorite?

2010-08-23T12:20:00.004-07:00

When people ask me "What's your favorite ______, (i.e. color, food, place, etc)?" I try to come up with the one and only answer that will truly reflect a discerning mind, offer an accurate picture of the fabulous person I am, and of course be a wise and creative choice. Because of all of the above expectations, a barrage of answers flood my poor anxious brain at once, I choke, and just throw out one of my many many favorites. It happens I like a lot of colors best, chocolate and coffee run a pretty close race for food/drink, and so on.

Today I realized a truly legitimate "favorite" of mine that's stood the test of time in my life as a believer. I'm sharing it with you today not to sound wise, convince you I have a discerning mind, or even show off what a fabulous person I am, but instead to encourage you in the JOY that comes from being QUIET before the Lord in prayer and meditation, which is not natural for me (okay that's enough snickering under your breath thank you), but the effort is well worth it. To just step off the perpetual treadmill now and then.
This morning I found a portion of scripture in Lamentations that I believe shows us it may be one of God's "favorites" too.

"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.
Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him."
Lamentations 3:25-28

Wow, doesn't that go down like a nice morsel of dark chocolate? Jeremiah uses the word
GOOD three times in this short passage. He uses WAIT twice.
"Wait for Him...seek Him...hope and wait quietly...sit alone and keep silent."
Please take out time today to wait, to listen, to be quiet before Him.. It is SO good!!!

How to Leave a Comment on Blog Posts

2010-08-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

So many of you tell me you read my blog, but you don't know how to leave a comment. It continues to puzzle me so I copied the format that pops up at the bottom of comments after you hit the bar below the post that says: comment.

The first thing you'll see is a weird spelled word to copy in the box below it. I understand that some internet sites put us through that to protect the site from spam. If you can't decipher it and get it wrong the first time, no worries, they give you other chances.

Now if the Google account circle is checked, uncheck it by clicking on it. Next you'll see boxes for signing up for a google account. If you don't have a g account, or even if you do, you don't have to fill in those boxes--just skip that option, and skip the username/password blocks. Continue to scroll down, and read the final options. If you want your name to show up with your comment, push the button that says: Name/URL. That will bring up two boxes--one to put your name into and the other box says: (optional) which means you don't have to put anything in it, so you don't need a URL or a google account to comment.

Now if you don't want your name floating around cyberspace, make up an alias or mark Anonymous and then, your clever, encouraging comment will be recorded with the others, but your name won't appear.

I hope this explains how to make a comment on a Blogspot Blog. I'd love to read your reactions to my postings. Try it and see what happens. Thanks for listening...xo hugs to all my buddies out there. (See the format just below the blue words "Choose an identity".

Google Account

Username

Password

No Google Account? Sign up here. You can also use your Blogger account.

OpenID

Name/URL

Anonymous

Now, if you missed the blog just before this about The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls, you can scroll down and see it too! This is a two-for-one today. Good luck.

The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls

2010-08-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

My daughter-in-law loaned us Jeanette Wall's memoir in audio to listen to in the car on our trip home from California. It's the unabridged edition (10 CDs) so it took several hours to get through, but sure made 300+ miles go by quickly. Last night we listened to the last chapter. What a delightful HONEST book. It made us and laugh and cry.

Her unique message of survival demonstrates how resiliant the human spirit really is. I'm so inspired by this memoir. I love reading about people who make lemonade lives out of lemon childhoods. She was basically raised by parents who didn't mind being homeless...in abject poverty, but chose to believe she was loved and determined to make a better life for herself and her siblings.

My enthusiasm drove me to google Jeanette Walls and I ran across the following video clip. If you've already read the book, you'll really get it. If you haven't, it may inspire you to pick it up.

Clutter Putter

2010-08-17T07:42:00.002-07:00

by Susie Talbot

So much I want to do
but then, I ask Him is it true
is it so much hay and stubble
is it really worth my trouble
something You want me to do?
Am I like a circus clown
bouncing all around
from one thing to another
making others laugh or shudder?
How aimless this all seems sometimes
even when I write these rhymes
but then I tell myself it's true
it all makes sense when serving You.

Been tripping around...

2010-08-08T17:07:00.000-07:00

Left Casa Grande early Sunday morning on August 1 and made it to Tonopah, AZ.

We took these photos of each other at a quaint little restaurant called Tonopah Station.

Left Tonopah the next day heading for Susanville and then onto Eagle Lake.

Wednesday we made reservations to rent a boat to go fishing. Scott checked us out on the boat and taught us how to THREAD a WORM...never heard of such a thing, but he guaranteed it gave fishermen the edge on catching an Eagle Lake trout. GROSS, GROSS, GROSS...!

Thanks Scott! (name and photo used with permission)

Heading out to fish at 6 a.m. Thursday morning...beautiful sight...The chill in the air felt wonderful.

Six of us fished, three per boat. Jay, Dean (brother-in-law) and I on one, K family on the other boat. Three and a half hours later, one trout to show for our trip...ah well. As it should be the youngest of the pack snagged the big one! Here's little J. K. with his gorgeous Eagle Lake trout.

PS...he didn't thread his worm!!!!!

Is that a cute picture or what? Look at that fish will ya? Barbecued, it was a tasty morsel.

So, that's what we've been doing. The rest of the time, eating and sleeping, enjoying sunrises over the water and evening skies smeared with milky ways and stars.

Alas, on Saturday it was time to say goodbye to our "rellies and the lake and motor on down to Chico to see our dear friends. This is T and J (buddies since childhood) standing in front of the house they rented together over 45 years ago. It was painted a morbid yellow back then, but otherwise looks pretty much the same. The guys haven't changed that much either! We're doing a little reminiscing.

Enjoying our trip...Next stop Davis, CA and then on to Coarsegold to see our son and family.

I don't cry easily, but

2010-07-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here crying at my computer after watching this clip...PURE INSPIRATION!

Another poem dripped from my pen...

2010-07-21T07:09:00.001-07:00

Writing poetry is one of my greatest joys. I'm teaching a Bible Study on Colossians and was inspired to write this little poem from Colossians 3:14.

Love Coat

Joseph had an amazing coat

A gift from his father

We too have an amazing coat

A gift from our Father

I want to wear Your coat of love

For everyone to see

So all will know Your sacrifice

For love You set men free

You tell me I may put it on

I’ll find it on a tree

You paid Your life for this coat

I’ll wear it with humility

To My Friend

2010-07-19T07:52:00.001-07:00

To My Friend, With Love , Susie

Dear sister in Christ, my dearest friend

I’ve hurt you in a way I didn’t intend

I thought “I can help, I love her and so…”

But I wounded instead—that I now know

I can talk about virtue, and teach it too

But living it out is harder to do

I read in Colossians about gentleness and grace

Oh boy did I miss it when I got in your face

I’m grieved at the memory—pricked to the core

I beg your forgiveness. I can’t ask for more

Dear sister I love you in Christ it is true

Next time with His grace I’ll do better by you

I pray for our friendship to be even more

Stronger and brighter than ever before

Not ‘cause we’re deserving or perfect or right

But because of God’s Son Who gives us His sight

He’ll guide us through dark times side-by-side

As we live in His love and enjoy the ride

Akiane-Artist/Poet Prodigy

2010-07-11T11:32:00.002-07:00

Hi Friends,

We're in Payson AZ this weekend and I've come across a book about AKIANE, a child prodigy artist and poet. She started drawing at the age of 4 and then went on to paint amazing large works of art, some featured in this video. She's 15 now.

I'm absolutely carried away by her work so thought I'd share with you. I found this video about her on YouTube and will copy down one of her poems at the end of my post. Enjoy and I pray you'll be as inspired as I am by watching what God can do through a yielded vessel, a listening heart. Some think she's a hoax, but I choose to believe "all things are possible" through Christ and commend her diligence.

I copied the following poem from Akiane's book called: akiane her life, her art, her poetry

Courage

Our hands

still

hold today's future...

I still see the mill

standing way on top of the island in the ocean

and feel the last chill from steadily rolling heavy wave...

Changes fold back the past folding the heart

reminding me where I lived

up high there on the tree with the nature's view...

where faith

immediately could see

and immediately could believe...

Making the slide from the charcoal paper of times

I will tape my self portrait

on a trumpeter swan...

Maybe she will explain my voice

writing for miles

for centuries and for choices...

Crossing the bridge that is not even built

is courage...

I hope Akiane has inspired you as she has me to be all that you can be in the Lord. Nothing is impossible in Him! Do you believe it too?

Bitty Bits of Nonsense

2010-07-06T08:43:00.001-07:00

Tweedle-lee-diddle-lee dum
I once drank a bottle of rum
It washed down the hatch with a burn
Next time I'll give you a turn

Fiddle-lee-diddle-lee mink
I once knew a guy named Hink
He sputtered, he stammered and then he swore
That's all I know--or I'd tell you more

Rinkle-dee-dinkle-lee-do
I have a great story for you
About an old man who never lied
But bragged about it until he died

Frankle-lee-dankle-lee-bee
Can this life be all about me?
I can't believe the answer is "no"
Yet I hear it often wherever I go

Petrified Forest plus Petroglyph Fun in AZ

2010-06-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

We've escaped desert temps of 112 degrees this week in Pinetop, Arizona with friends. Yesterday we visited the Petrified Forest National Park, which is right across the highway from the Painted Desert just outside of Holbrook, AZ. What a interesting day. How do you picture a petrified forest? Without previous knowledge or photos, the word "forest" makes us think of a tree covered landscape. This area looks more like a moonscape with its wide open spaces and odd rock and sand formations, but considering this forest's age, we understand why trees are no longer standing, and the fallen ones are petrified--hard as rock and impressive to see. Here's a petrified log that was probably about 6' in diameter.

This is a smaller sample (about 15" x 20") of petrified wood. Stumps, fallen trees, and pieces of petrified wood are scattered throughout the park. Here we are on a trail stop next to the Rainbow Forests Museum, that has several examples of the rock-hard wood. The colors were beautiful.

I especially enjoyed our stops at Newspaper Rock and Puerco Pueblo, where we saw several petroglyphs dating back 600-800 years ago. Our first photos were taken at Newspaper Rock where it is said over 650 petroglyphs have been discovered. We didn't see that many, but here are a few of my favorites. An obvious couple pictured here with animals...the coils may depict snakes. What do you think?

Hands haven't changed much over the years...feet either. The one below I guess is a lizard. Evidently, the interpretation of these drawings is wide open. Local Native American's have been consulted and are as puzzled as we are at the meanings. My thought is that they were just like us...communicating, recording, leaving something of themselves behind, just plain having fun with art? Speaking to the gods?

Look at this guy playing his horn with his hand on his hip. Loved it!

Next we were off to see the petroglyphs at Puerco Pueblo, a large archeological site occupied over 600 years ago...wow..

Most of the Park's drawings appeared to be anywhere from 10" up to 30" (?). It was a little hard to tell, as the closest we got to any of them was about twenty feet...these photos were taken with our zoom lense. The clearly crafted deer trio in the left-hand corner in the photo below, for example, stood only about 10" at the most. Do you suppose a hunter was keeping a tally of his kills?

Here I'm standing in front of some of the rock faces bearing the petroglyphs. What a fun time we're having looking around up here in Northern Arizona. Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of our travels!

No Time for photos this time...

2010-06-21T18:33:00.003-07:00

Poolside Party
By Susie Talbot

Mission Royale "ites" convened at the pool
to talk, and to laugh, and to eat barbecue
on a blistering evening, the 18th of June
acting nice and polite, some even sang tunes
Some folks in bathing suits came prepared
to play in the water, to swim if they dared

Each table displayed at least three water guns
orange, pink, and green, they were loaded for fun
As soon as one fired, the others began
Before we knew it, courtesy was banned
Water streams spiraled, no one stayed dry
as a hot sun sizzled in an electric sky

Some shooters were cautious, almost discreet
But others were wild as tangled Mesquite
While folks were still eating, and others at dance
a few played volleyball, but some took a chance
to see how much water could shoot from their guns
If you were there, you’ll remember the ones

Very clean fun, I hope shared by all
I know for one, I had a ball!

(I'm submitting this one to our Mission Royale news magazine...publish? Maybe?)

Texas T-Ball and All

2010-06-17T16:05:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, we drove 710 miles in 13.5 hours (very little stopping) to see our daughter's great little family, and specifically to see our grandson Riley play T-Ball. The weekend before that, at our annual Womens Expo in Casa Grande, sponsored by our local Lifestyle's magazine, I put together this little cowgirl for our grandaughter Megan.

I know, the doll is kind of weird looking. I think I liked the clothes. She isn't getting much love, but maybe she'll be cute decorating Megan's room? I love children's honesty. Approximately 2-5 minutes after we gave the doll to Megan, Riley said, "She doesn't like it." Ha!

Megan loves her frog, Kelso, and he IS cuter than "Sarah?" "Jane?" "Amelia?" "Sally?" Here she is with her little buddy, Kelso.

Saturday morning, getting ready for the ballgame. Photo shoot of Riley, Megan and Kelso. Cute faces huh? Say CHEESE!

All ready for the game. Yes, Kelso came along. Notice any ATTITUDE in our two-year old there? She makes us smile! Lucky girl, she has legs just like mine. Riley's team, the Redwings played the River Bandits. Love you in that cap Riley!

Here's our grandson "on the mound." I forgot to pack my good camera. The zoom on the iPhone isn't too clear, but this gives you the idea. He is SO CUTE out there. They don't pitch in T-Ball. The ball is placed on a "T" for hitting, but the pitcher does "kill" the ball and throws it back to the catcher to be placed back on the "T" for the next batter. In this game, Riley and the first baseman, Landon, were shooting that ball back and forth pretty well! We were proud.

Here's lil sis really cheering brother on! Yep...just like cheerleaders--backs to the game. Mama is pictured in the foreground keeping score. Megan is with her friend Presley.

Redwings beat the River Bandits 14 to 4. Raise your snowcones to victory!

This T-Ball team ranged in age from 4 to 6, which we noticed is a huge spread. Riley started at age 4 but is now one of the six year olds. We observed outfielders lying in the dirt during play, making "dust angels." Others were busy filling their ball caps with dirt and then putting the full caps on their heads. (Every mother's dream for her son.) We so enjoyed watching the game! Children--so precious!!!

Thanks for a great weekend dear Texas family!

Meet the Dove Family

2010-06-02T09:57:00.006-07:00

If you remember from a May post...these "doves in love" built a nest on our friends' lounge chair headrest. Did I mention this was a brand new lounge chair? Last photo on May post, only one egg occupied the nest, but a day later, another showed up.

When our friends came back from their trip, they agreed it was too late to destroy this family, so they left the nest on the lounge headrest, and kept their blinds closed so as not to scare Mother Dove during two weeks of incubation. Voila hatchlings. C U T E !! How did they fit into those tiny eggs?

And then they looked like this after a few days.

Meantime, the new lounge chair is putting up with a little "overflow." Sorry 'bout that W and D. Messy little critters. Next saga...will this bird c wash off or not?

And now, we present our ten-day-old dove babies. Are they beautiful or what?

It was on this day that one of them took his first flight, while lil brother or sister stayed cozy in the nest waiting for Mother Dove to return.

And so, mucho thanks to our dear bird lover friends, who were willing to put up with these intruders for several weeks so we could get this up-close-and-personal view of Mr. and Mrs. Dove and siblings. Now we have two more additions to the dove population explosion in our neighborhood. Ah well.

Calling all dove hunters!

Whimsies

2010-05-18T10:04:00.001-07:00

April WAS poetry month. I know it's May, but anyway. A little slack okay? In our town, during poetry month (which does run into May here in the west), local artists come together to exhibit their paintings accompanied by poems in our local library. I belong to the Art Council, so am called upon to participate. I don't "do" visual arts much anymore (too busy blogging?), so I had to dig deep for an original artwork and decided to exhibit these two abstracts I made in 1994 when I was taking an art course in Australia. The girls and I dubbed them my "Whimsies" as abstract art was not my usual.

First I'll show you a photo of the painting, then the poem that's posted next to it in the library.

HAIKU

by Susie Talbot

Tentative flower

stems spring like coiled wires

vibrantly greet life

And TA DAH!

Celebrate

by Susie Talbot

Rainbow skies explode into

shimmering ribbons of color

harmonize and dance to golden melodies

gilding the broad city's face

her buildings, her streets, her people

expectant, celebrating, welcoming

His spectacular, long-awaited return

The Truth is Who You Are...

2010-05-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

This young man has something to say. I hope you'll take a minute to play this.

What did you think?

Still and always my HERO...

2010-05-05T11:23:00.003-07:00

Yesterday Jay and I were checking on our friends' house, because of a nasty wind storm that came through on Sunday. We found everything to be in pretty tip-top shape at their place, except for a dove nesting proudly on their lounge's head rest. Today I went back and snuck up on the nest and got this photo. It's blurry because I took it with my iPhone and at a distance, then zoomed in so you could see the bird.

When I tried to get closer, she flew out and started whimpering around the yard acting wounded. They do this to distract predators away from their nests and eventual chicks. We have a surplus of dove in our neighborhood and they make their nests in the weirdest locations. This is an AWWWWW shot and I'm praying Wes and Diane won't feel it necessary to disturb this family's home.

Is that amazing or what? Anyway, back to the real story of the day about "my hero." While J and I were there, we couldn't help but notice the neighbor's Palo Verde tree. Sunday's wind ripped a substantial limb off the beaut mature tree at a winter visitor's house. That means these folks, B and Sue won't be back until November.

While I was feeling bad for the tree, J suggested he get his trusty saw and relieve it of it's broken appendage, so we went on home, picked up the saw, loaded into the pick-up and returned to the site.

This here's my hero. For him, this was a dangerous undertaking as the Palo Verde was buzzing with bees, and he is highly allergic to bee stings. You know, where they sting you and you immediately swell up, can't breathe, etc? We hummed a nice tune and spoke softly to them and thankfully escaped without an angry bee attack. Next he had to chop the limb into smaller pieces to haul and fit the branches into the truck bed. He's so CLEVER. I never would have thought of that! (maybe eventually?)

Almost finished, bear with us here. Loading the truck. I helped...yes I did.

See truck full of tree.

One last shot of what this tree suffered...a great wound. The beautiful thing about desert plants (the Palo Verde is native to this area), is that they are hardy!

Mother Nature pruned this wonderful tree, but it will continue to flourish in spite of its recent catastrophy. What does that make you think of?

Anyway, my point is, this is what our neighborhood is like. We're still in the busines of taking care of each other and helping where we can. It's nice. Last July a huge wind came through. J and I were on an extended trip, and a neighbor found our Palo Verde completely uprooted and restaked it back into place for us. Very nice!We enjoyed our little outing and maybe saved a tree? Does that make us GREEN?

One more photo...I just can't resist! Isn't this beautiful?

AWWWWWW...

First Chapter of my Children's Book

2010-04-29T11:14:00.001-07:00

I've written a children's chapter book, which means it's geared toward 8-10 year olds and is around 12,000 words. Today I'm posting the first chapter just for fun...it makes kind of a longer post than usual, so I don't know how many of you will be patient enough to read its approximately 1300 words, but if you have time, thanks!

ROSIE BUSH CREEK Adventure

Chapter One
On the Other Side

Mother told me never to cross the creek behind our house. She said, “Josephine Marie Jenkins, if I ever catch you crossing Rosie Bush Creek…” Well you know the rest. I didn’t disobey on purpose, but it wasn’t always easy to follow the rules.

One day my best friend Mags and I planned to meet at the stone bridge, that crossed our imaginary moat, to write in our diaries and plan out our summer.

As soon as I’d finished helping Ma with the breakfast dishes, I’d put on my favorite striped shorts and pink blouse, brushed the tangles out of my snarly dull brown hair, grabbed my diary and fountain pen, and headed for the creek.

We’d named our favorite meeting place along the creek bank, Flat Rock, after the great smooth rock we used for a bench and a desk. I got there first, sprawled out on the rock’s sun-warmed surface, and had just written down Monday, June 13, 1955 in my diary, when I heard a door slam, and saw Maggie heading toward me. We were both ten, and about the same height, but she was fashionably thin. I’d always felt fat and clumsy around her even though Ma said she was too skinny and that I was just right.

I noticed she didn’t have her diary with her. “Hey, I thought we were going to write in our diaries today.”

“Yeh, I guess we were, but I really don’t feel like it after all. Instead, let’s go over to that house across the creek and see if we can spy on the witch.”

Maggie had often talked about a witch, who supposedly lived in the large rocked house sitting smack dab in the middle of the field, on the other side of Rosie Bush Creek. I never knew for sure if she honestly believed that a witch lived there, or if it was just another one of her made-up stories.

“Let’s not go over there, and say that we did. Okay?” That was kind of a smart-aleck phrase we used a lot with each other, especially when we were annoyed.

“No, it’s not okay. I want to go over there and see what she looks like.”

“Maggie, you know I’m not allowed to cross the creek. Besides, can’t you see the NO TRESPASSING sign on that giant tree over there? It means we are supposed to stay off of that person’s private property. If a witch does live there, I don’t want to see her and I sure don’t want her to see us.”

“Oh come on Jo. Don’t be such a party pooper. It’ll be fun. We’ll just sneak up to the house, peek in the window, get a quick look at her, and then run away. No one will ever know we were there. It’s not any worse than calling people on the phone and hanging up on them.”

She knew I didn’t like to do that either.

Before I had a chance to say another word, she was off, galloping across the creek, like Roy Rogers’ horse Trigger, cutting a trail through the grassy field.

“Oh man, Maggie. I’m coming. Wait up.” I hid my diary, and my lavendar Esterbrook pen under Flat Rock, and took out after her.

Almost immediately, my legs broke out into welts from the field’s tall mustard weed slapping against them. All I could see ahead of me was Maggie’s curly red ponytail waving behind her like a flag and her white cotton blouse popping up and then back down like a shiny yoyo bouncing through the field.

Running behind her made me feel like an elephant trying to keep up with a cheetah. We ran right past the NO TRESPASSING sign posted on the ancient oak, and then were slowed by a barbed-wire fence with a BEWARE OF DOG sign hanging from it sideways. Oh great.

“Ple-e-ase Maggie, We can’t get through that barbed-wire fence and she probably has a humongous dog just waiting to have us for lunch.”

“Come over here.” she bossed. “See this loose piece of wire? We can crawl under it easily enough if we hold it up for each other.”

Like a dummy, I grabbed the rusted piece of barbed wire and held it up while she scooted under on her belly. When it was my turn, she held it up for me. I had a little harder time fitting under the wire, but I finally made it. Soon my arms were itching as much as my legs from crawling through the weeds.

As we edged closer to the mysterious ancient looking house, I could feel the hot wind breathing down my neck like a warning. Chill bumps ran all over me and my stomach was starting to hurt.

“We shouldn’t be trespassing on this lady’s property Maggie.” I said. “We’re going to get in trouble. In fact, isn’t that Ma I hear calling me for lunch?”

“I don’t hear anything. Hush up Jo, and stay low…”

We crouched down and crept around to the backside of the house like cat burglars. We peeked through several knotholes in the fence and bright splashes of color looked back at us. The garden was small with a lot of plants and flowers crowded together—some in pots and others in hanging baskets. A narrow gray stone path wove its way through the landscape like stitches on a quilt. All sorts of critters; squirrels, rabbits, a fox, and even some turtles sat amongst the flowers. They looked real, but they were still as stone. The tiny garden looked like a colorful poster of a fairyland frozen in time—.

“Wow!” we said together, and then a woman’s thin scratchy voice startled us back to reality, “Hello. Who’s over there?”

It’s her—Oh no. She sees us.

And then, Maggie popped up and answered in her sweetest voice.

“It’s me and Josephine Jenkins, M’am.”

Why did Maggie use MY name?

“And what are you and Josephine Jenkins doing here, may I ask?”

I cleared my voice and said, “We live just across the creek and were out exploring. We accidentally ended up right here by your yard is all, but we’re really sorry.”

“You’re SORRY, are you? Come over here closer where I can see you and hear you better.”

Isn’t that exactly what the witch in Hansel and Gretel said?

For the first time ever, I saw purple fear cross Maggie’s freckled face. We both turned and ran as fast as we could. This time I kept right up with the cheetah, past the leaning BEWARE OF DOG sign, back through the gap in the barbed-wire fence, and past the NO TRESPASSING sign. In no time, the woman with the scratchy voice, the magical garden, the fence and the grassy field were all behind us. We fell panting onto the damp creek bank.

“Do you know what we saw, Jo?” Maggie said, gasping for breath.

“A very colorful garden, but something about it gave me the creeps.”

“It was creepy all right. Don’t you know those flowers and animals used to be real? I knew it—I was right. That woman is a witch, and through some type of magic, has turned all of those live flowers and animals into stone.”

“Are you sure about that Maggie Claire McClain? If that’s true, shouldn’t she be arrested or something?”

“For sure.” Maggie said. Her normally pale complexion shone hot with excitement, but tears gathered in my eyes and started spilling over onto my blotchy cheeks.

“What are you being such a baby about, Jo?”

“I’m sad for the animals. I wish I’d never seen them and now I can’t tell Ma about it because I wasn’t supposed to be over on that side of the creek to begin with. Stupid Maggie. You and your big ideas.”

I headed for home leaving my best friend with a surprised look on her face. I’d never talked to her like that, but she deserved it. It was her fault I’d disobeyed. Now I’d have to keep this secret from my mother, or she’d know I’d gone out of bounds. I wouldn’t be able to ask her about the witch, the stone flowers or the poor little petrified animals.

Best Post Ever.....

2010-04-24T09:53:00.001-07:00

Meet Tamara Lowe and hear some relevant rap

Now that's POETRY

What is a poem not?

2010-04-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

I like to read and write poetry, but I know a LOT of people that just throw up their hands at the very word---POEM. At our writer's workshop this week, we talked about poetry, what it is and what it's not which must have inspired me enough to write the following poem. I hope it'll help some of you, who find poetry nauseating, to see that it can be fun!

WHAT IS A POEM NOT?
by me

A poem is not a how-to manual
A poem is not an artificial stance
nor a convoluted puzzle to decipher

A poem is not a rhyme
although it might like to rhyme
A poem is not a recipe guaranteed to delight

A poem is not fraught with ulterior motives
A poem is not mysteriously profound
And those are some things poems are NOT

A poem IS a collage of words
bumped up against one another
some simple words--some absurd

Most words are ones most have heard
A poem is made like a child's bouquet
of random thoughts one's observed

A poem is just what a poem IS
Oh my gosh--this might be one!

Quiltmaker...wish I'd written this

2010-04-19T10:35:00.001-07:00

Poem by Luci Shaw:

QUILTMAKER

"I make them warm to keep my family from freezing;

I make them beautiful to keep my heart from breaking."

--From the journal of a prairie woman, 1870

"To keep a husband and five children warm,

she quilts them covers thick as drifts against

the door. Through every fleshy square white threads

needle their almost invisible tracks; her hours

count each small suture that holds together

the raw-cut, uncolored edges of her life.

She pieces each one beautiful, and summer bright

to thaw her frozen soul. Under her fingers

the scraps grow to green birds and purple

improbable leaves; deeper than calico, her mid-winter

mind bursts into flowers. She watches them unfold

between the double stars, the wedding rings."

Quoted from Moving Into Light, Poems by Luci Shaw

"Truth shall make you free..."

2010-04-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

Are these guys free or what?

“Truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

In Writer's Road Workshop last night, J.J. talked about how “as women” we are so prone to having to justify everything we do for ourselves. We will do for others without making excuses—it’s the norm, but if we do for ourselves, we have to justify our reasons, or name ourselves selfish.

An example. E said she likes to sleep in on a Saturday morning, but feels guilty if she does. I said, “It’s okay. Your body probably needs the sleep.” J.J. pounced on that statement (thank you J.J.) by explaining we don’t have to justify a simple sleep-in by saying our body needed it. What if we just slept in because it’s pleasurable. Now there's a unique thought. Why not revel in the luxury? Be grateful to God for the opportunity?

I thought again about all the negative self-talk I exercise. Why do I do that? One of many reasons is because it’s a cop out—gets me off the hook for not measuring up to my own unrealistic standard, or to someone else’s expectations.

It may be absolutely true, that on occasion, my writing is not as good as a fellow writer’s. Though that may be an honest evaluation, where does it take me? Do I berate myself for not being as clever as another, diminish my own ability and value, or do I let the other’s skillful work inspire me to keep at it, and assure myself if they can do it, then so can I? I'm learning the latter.

Thank the good Lord I am not like another and that no one is like me. I believe in the unique individual God has created me to be. I purpose to let go of every speck of self recrimination, and move toward the light God has given me for my journey. I won’t try to veer onto or share another person’s path.

This honesty, these truths leave the sin of negative self-talk writhing in the dust. My new story propels me out onto a new level of confidence, rest and joy. It sets me free to be the outrageous, the serious, the authentic self (and writer) I’m designed to be. It gives me power to choose freely.

My judge, my only Judge is my heavenly Father who has put His seal of approval on me because of Jesus, my Savior and Lord, Who long ago freed me from condemnation.

Yah God!!

From the desert...

2010-04-13T11:30:00.001-07:00

The variety of dead-looking, thorny configurations growing in our arid landscape (some which are so weird that we have to stop and marvel at their odd features), utterly amaze me. They present a threatening exterior--DON'T TOUCH ME, they announce, or I'll poke you good, and yet yearly they yield stunning blossoms. Do you know any people like that?

This magnificent creation, in our friend's yard, is still not quite finished blooming. This one stops traffic.

Look at this thorny little critter. It stands only about two feet tall and it's multiple flowers were as much as eight inches in diameter. This guy's been working overtime!

Here's a species of prickly pear cactus about ready to present us with a grand show of magenta blossoms.

And then, we see God's humor in plants like the ones below. These blooming stalks stand about 12-15' tall and are made up of tiny yellow flowers...not sure this close-up does the flowers justice. They are a rich shade of golden yellow.

I've been showing you the native desert plants, but I'm also amazed at how well some of our imports adapt to our desert soil and rock yards. These are a few we enjoy in our backyard. These magenta beauties surprised us when they bloomed out of a small patch of ice plant we recently planted. Can't wait to see them next year. Can you see their smiles?

This is another favorite of mine that thrives in this landscape both winter and summer. It's a type of Hibiscus (thanks Diane)...another shade of purple. I like purple. We have two large bushes covered with these flowers. I thought I took a photo of the bushes, but guess not. You'll have to trust me...they are covered...

Bird of Paradise are happy here also and present in different colors. We have a yellow one in our yard, but I can't put every plant in the post...how frustrating!

I hope this sneak preview whets your appetite to consider a little wander out our way to enjoy the sunshine and interesting desert landscape. In May, the grand Saguaro cacti will put out their golden crown of flowers, not to speak of the poppies painting our hillsides along with desert sage plants' colors and bright pink bougainvillea lining our freeways.

I continue to revel in God's blessings in the midst of our corrupt and wayward world. I marvel that He can take dried-up thorny bushes (and people), and produce such richness and beauty in spite of their inherent deficits and hostile environments. Glory to our Creator God!

Guess who this is?

2010-04-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

You know, photos are the BEST aren't they? To freeze a moment in time...to wonder what is going through the mind of the photographed at the moment the shutter recorded the expression? I found a few more photos I decided to share with you of...guess who? See any resemblance to the rest of the family here? I'm guessing a year old here, but not sure exactly...never mind what year that would be.

Here she is again...a few years older. Love that new tooth coming in. Wearing pearls? Don't remember that! The dress was red and white and I know she liked it.

This is my personal favorite. I do wonder what's going on in the head of this child. I think she had the flu this day but went to school anyway. Not her usual sparkling self. Dress was in pastels. Yes, girls wore dresses to school.

Recognize her yet? Don't know what happened to third grade. There's a ponytail back there somewhere.

Oops....a few years have gone by here. This is her engagement photo taken in 1965. Note the carefully teased hairdo...stiff as a board I can tell you!

Okay, here she is today...hmmmmmm....She loves being "blond".Still smilin' y'all and blessed!

I really enjoyed doing this blog. (smiles) It's ALL about ME today!

Happy Birthday Babies!

2010-04-08T12:40:00.001-07:00

April 8, 1973 our first baby daughter was born around 10:30 on a Sunday morning. We named her Anna Jaylene (Anna means "gracious one") and Jaylene is a girl form of her daddy's name. Here she is at about 4 months old. Is that the sweetest little face ever?

Then ten years later to the day, God blessed Jay, me, Vance, and Anna with a second baby girl. The four of us named her Lindsay Kay. (Kay after Jay's sister) Another sweet face. Can you see the fire in those eyes?

What a beautiful family God has blessed us with. Here we are in the 80's just before Vance married Katie and four of us were about to move to Australia.

Back to the girls...motorcycle mama's on a camping trip in Mojave desert.

What have we here? All ready for Easter Sunday church, Casa Grande, AZ.

This is just TOO CUTE! Wha happened to your two front teeth Lindsay?

Perms were in---what can we say! First time in front of a computer at Vance's house in the early 90's.

Graduation came too quickly for mom and dad...Anna, 1991

Lindsay Graduation, 2001

Our beautiful, inside and out, girls. It's all about you two today. Dad and I are so proud of the women you've become, the wives, moms with babies of your own now. We love you so much and thank God for allowing us to be your parents. God bless you and yours real good!

Love, Mom and Dad

"Good Friday" Meditation

2010-04-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

I copied this poem from John Stumbo's blog--couldn't resist posting it here. John is a Christian Missionary Alliance pastor in Salem, OR. whose blog address is on my list. He has suffered extremely the last couple of years with some unidentifiable, debilitating disease. He has made some progress back, but is still needing further healing. I'm assuming John wrote this poem, it as he didn't give credit to another. If I find out different, I'll let you know. I pray it will bless you wherever you are today.

The Friday We Call "Good"
When we wish someone a "good day," we don't wish for their death.
How then dare we call this Friday, "good"?
If we had lived in Jerusalem that Friday, we would have only called this a good day
if we had been Christ's enemies.
The protectors of the status quo, the fickle mob, the demonic forces and Satan himself,
they thought it a very good day indeed.
But those who followed Him, those who loved Him, those who knew who He really was,
thought it the worst day of history.

Good Friday is good only if God Himself is truly good.

After all, what is good about betrayal, mockery, abuse, beatings, torment and blood-thirsty violence?
All of these were suffered by Jesus.
What good do we possibly see as evil is victorious, injustice rules and hatred overpowers love?
What good do we find in death?
Death is our enemy. Death is feared. Death is avoided at all costs. Death is a tragedy,
especially for someone so young.
How do we have the audacity to look upon something so tragic, so heinous and horrific
and declare it "good"?

Good Friday is good only if God Himself is truly good.

Everyone in our culture today wants to believe that if there is a God, He is good.
No one wants a "bad" God.
But the great weakness of our culture--Christian or not--is that we want to be the ones
who define "goodness."
Health, prosperity, long life, harmony with others and the world…these are all good.
Anything less is not.
We will define the term, we will act as judge, we will determine good and evil.
We shall be as God.

But Good Friday is only good, if the God of Good Friday is good.

Our reasoning continues: since we know what is good, we know that a good God would only give us
what we consider to be good.
Certainly if suffering or hardship enters our lives, it comes from the hand of another,
but never His.
But what if we're short-sighted? What if His definition of "good" looks to a farther horizon than ours?
What if we're blind?
Could it be that God is indeed very good--that He, in fact, is the definition of goodness--
but He is utterly different than we expect?

Good Friday is indeed good because the God of Good Friday is good.

On that day when the sky became a shroud, the earth trembled and the righteous wept,
God knew what we could not:
Suffering was necessary, bloodshed mandatory, evil temporary
and death the entry to life.
The Definition and Definer of Good revealed that His power is so great, his authority so complete,
that even the cruelest of this world is redeemable.
The worst day of all of human history became good because God is good...
good beyond our imagination.

May His goodness bring new hope to your suffering today.

Spin, Spinning, Spinned

2010-03-30T07:08:00.001-07:00

When you tell your own story and it feels like you're telling someone else's story, then you know you're healed from its pain.

My head, neck and upper back feel amazingly well after yesterday's fall at Line Dancing. Yep, a dangerous sport to be sure. We'd just finished a dance that I enjoyed so much, I did my own celebratory twirl afterwards. When I stopped my carefree spin, I was DIZZY. I decided if I spun the opposite direction, I'd unwind and regain my equilibrium. Not so.

I toppled over like a child's slowed top and banged my head on the parkay floor. OUCH!

I learned that it's not a good idea for a woman in the 60's age group to spin herself around like a top. I learned that you don't "unwind" by going the other direction. I learned that it hurts to bang the back of my head on the floor, and I learned I have a hard head and am thankful for it.

A fellow dancer immediately put together an ice pack for the knot forming on my head, sat me in a chair, and from that safe distance, I watched the second hour of dance class holding an ice pack to the back of my head.

Regrets? Sure, I have them--every one of us does, but today I can tell the story without pain or embarrassment (not even a headache) as if it happened to someone else. That's how I know I'm better.

Every person has a life story. Some are worse than others, but it is possible to move on, and even come to the place of being thankful for every wound. Without them, how would we know about healing? About the Healer?

I've decided to have another good day. How about you?

Youth Haven Ranch

2010-03-13T14:21:00.003-07:00

This is a photo of our program from last night's annual Candlelight Dinner held as a thank you to supporters of Youth Haven Ranch in Eloy, Arizona.

If you listen to Family Life Radio, you're familiar with psychologist, Dr. Randy Carlson who answers people's questions on the air daily. The Carlson family started this children's camping ministry in Arizona in 1968 and Dr. Carlson's brother, Larry and his son Lars lead it.

This is Larry Carlson and his son Lars below:

What impresses me most about this ministry is that the same children come out on weekends (in the winter) and for week-long camps (in the summer) year after year. Last night Charles interviewed several of the children asking what they like about Youth Haven. For some is was crafts, others the animals, others the food, play, archery, but all said "learning about Jesus" or words like that. Some have been nurtured in this secure, upbeat atmosphere for seven or eight years. We were told some don't have hot running water in their homes and rave about getting to take hot showers at camp. Other don't get three good meals a day like they do at the Ranch, and all of them meet Jesus and are taught hope for their futures. There is no charge for their times at the Ranch.

This little girl was about twelve years old and has been coming out to Youth Haven since she was seven. They all had a glow of excitement about them and plenty of giggles to share.

Amy Shreve and her husband/producer Gary Wixtrom, from Nashville, TN, ministered to us in worship and song. Amy plays the harp, guitar, and mandolin while she sings (one instrument at a time), and is an amazing musician, song writer and child of the King.

It was an evening of inspiration and joy. The children performed some great songs, and at the end handed out chocolate Easter eggs to the audience thanking us for supporting Youth Haven.

The candlelight...

May we, and every child that is touched by Youth Haven Ranch, never forget Who is the Light of the world. Amen!

HAIKU

2010-03-10T07:33:00.004-07:00

Haiku is an interesting poetical form made up of three lines. The first and the last lines have five syllables, the middle line seven syllables. Here are two Haiku poems I wrote that I thought I'd share with you.

Morning shadows fade

Giving way to light's bright rays

Filling hearts with hope

Your holy precepts

Warm me like liquid letters

Poured into my soul

Have a blessed day!

Dr. Phil's Test

2010-03-08T05:59:00.001-07:00

Hi Friends, I took the following test and scored a 41...see how you do! It's kind of fun if you have time on your hands...haha...It is Dr. Phil after all...Great for a Monday morning!

"The following test is pretty accurate and it only takes a few minutes.
Don't peek!
Answers are for who you are now and not who you were in the past.
This is a real test given by Human Relations Departments at many of the major corporations today. It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and in their prospective employees.
There are 10 Simple questions, so grab a pencil and paper. Record your letter answers to each question.

Ready? Begin.

1. When do you feel your best...

A) in the morning

B) during the afternoon and early evening

C) late at night

2. You usually walk...

A) fairly fast, with long steps

B) fairly fast, with little steps

C) less fast head up, looking the world in the face

D) less fast, head down

E) very slowly

3. When talking to people you...

A) stand with your arms folded

B) have your hands clasped

C) have one or both your hands on your hips

D) touch or push the person to whom you are talking

E) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with..

A) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side

B) your legs crossed

C) your legs stretched out or straight

D) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with...

A) big appreciated laugh

B) a laugh, but not a loud one

C) a quiet chuckle

D) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you...

A) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you

B) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know

C) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted...

A) welcome the break

B) feel extremely irritated

C) vary between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most.....

A) Red or orange

B) black

C) yellow or light blue

D) green

E) dark blue or purple

F) white

G) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep you are.....

A) stretched out on your back

B) stretched out face down on your stomach

C) on your side, slightly curled

D) with your head on one arm

E) with your head under the covers

10. You often dream that you are...

A) falling

B) fighting or struggling

C) searching for something or somebody

D) flying or floating

E) you usually have dreamless sleep

F) your dreams are always pleasant

POINTS:

1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6

2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1

3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6

4.. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1

5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2

6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2

7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4

8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1

9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e ) 1

10 (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINTS: Others see you as someone they should "handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered, and extremely dominant.. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality, a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once, someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting, someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding, someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expects the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you, realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy.. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions and who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well, know that you aren't."

What's your score?

Thomas Merton wrote...

2010-03-07T06:31:00.001-07:00

"Hope not because you think you can be good, but because God loves us irrespective of our merits and whatever is good in us comes from His love, not from our own doing." by Thomas Merton

Mork and Mindy

2010-03-02T10:11:00.002-07:00

We met them this weekend and now want to introduce you to them. Mark and Becky Mindek tell us they are often mistaken for Mork and Mindy. It's because of their names, of course, but in my opinion, the work they're involved in for CMA (Christian & Missionary Alliance) in Macedonia is definitely out of this world. They've ministered in Bitole, Macedonia for ten years, along with rearing their two beautiful daughters, the oldest one married and expecting their first grandchild.

Our church supports this missionary family, and this weekend Jay and I had the opportunity to meet them for the first time. Saturday afternoon, we started out with lasagne at our friend's house (she's sitting next to Jay), and Mark and Becky are to her left and another good friend is at their left.

Xuse the backlighting, but there's more...be patient.

Next photo please. Whoops, that AZ sun is wrecking our photos!

Is this what happens to a missionary man after being in the field for ten years? No one, I mean NO ONE takes me seriously when I say "smile" for this photo. After dinner, we motored on over to our house to host several other couples and to hear about Mindek's work in Bitole. It was a wonderful evening in our home--so good, I forgot to snap photos.

Here we are at church on Sunday morning. This is the Macedonian artifacts table with dolls wearing the traditional clothing of "ancient" Macedonia (they dress western-style nowadays).

A close-up of the dolls and the jar of Ajvar, which contents we got to sample. Ajvar is a traditional pepper relish the families in Macedonia get together to make like we might gather with family to put up canned goods. They make a festive day of cooking, using all fresh ingredients, the main one being beautiful large shiny red peppers. It's served on french bread and topped with cheese...yummmm.

Check out this link for "a" recipe for this relish...recipes would vary from tradition to tradition, but I liked this one as it seemed to include the same ingredients we saw go into the process of making it the sauce in photos presented by Mindeks.

http://www.grouprecipes.com/107328/ajvar-spread.html

This is "Biljana," a young Macedonian women modeling the traditional costume. A beautiful dark green embroidered vest should have topped off this outfit, but it was too small for this "doll" to get on. BTW, I didn't want to give the boots back. They were classy and comfortable.

A close-up of Becky and Biljana. Am I blessed or what?

Here's Mark doing his power-point presentation at the Douglas's house on Monday night. We had a lot of questions and learned a few facts about the people and the culture Mindeks work with. Before CMA's go to a mission field, they are required to learn the language and customs, which help them to adjust and fit in better, and to more effectively come alongside their new friends. They minister not only to the Macedonian people, but also bring the Good News of grace to the Albanian and Gypsy cultures by mentoring their leaders and pastors in the Evangelical Church in Bitole. They shared so many wonderful stories with us, but so many more they could tell if they'd and we'd had more time.

(There is NO TIME!--family joke)

The evening ended all too soon and we were forced to say goodnight and goodbye until we meet the next time--maybe in Macedonia? Well that's up to the Lord.

Goodbye for now Mindeks! We love you bunches and count it a privilege to have spent these quality times with you here in AZ!

"same kind of different As me"

2010-02-26T23:13:00.001-07:00

If you don't want to be inspired to greatness, don't read same kind of different As me, written by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. If, on the other hand, you aspire to shake and move your world, go for it. I read this fantastic true story, written like a best-selling novel, at my daughter's house in Alabama and promptly bought a copy to bring home to share with the rest of our family and friends. (I had a little time to read when our little guy and his mommy were napping.)

This book has something for everyone.

For cooks, page 33 has a recipe for Cow-lip Tea. "The way you make cow-lip tea is you get the toadstools and a little dried cow patty and grind em up in the sifter. You can't use no fresh green cow patty to make no good tea, 'cause you can't grind it. So you take that dried patty, and after you get it ground up like fine powder, you put it in a rag and tie a knot on top. Then you add a little honey to a boilin pot and drop that rage in the water till it bubbles up and turns good and brown. Now you got cow-lip tea."

For marriage advice, page 69 addresses Deborah and Ray's troubles. "She wanted to spend a couple of months in counseling, she said, so we could figure out what was broken, how it got that way, and how to fix it. 'If you'll do that, 'she said, 'I'll forgive you.' ...it was a gracious offer, considering that I, and not Deborah, had been the traitor. Faster than you can say 'divorce court,' I said yes."

To learn more about God's goodness, page 155 Denver preaches to Mr. Ron: "Launching into a sermon, he assured me that God didn't make cancer because cancer is not good, and he cautioned me not to blame God for something He didn't make. The theology lesson helped, for a little while."

To witness friendship of the best kind. Page 113. "His brain had filed away everything he had seen over the years, and it seemed he had just been waiting for someone willing to listen. I was privileged to be the first to lend an ear."

If you feel like a good laugh, a good cry, and an absorbing read, be sure to get a hold of this little book. I think it is one of the best I've read in a while!

One Year old plus one week ALREADY...

2010-02-21T14:16:00.001-07:00

One week ago...our daughter and youngest grand

"Hi Grammy and Grampy!"

Last Saturday in Alabama started out like this. We got to see J take his swimming lessons at this beautiful indoor pool at the YMCA.

Grammi was trying to get J to look at the camera and look what happened.

That's a better one, but J's still not posing for his pic.

In the afternoon, we celebrated J's First Birthday. Curious George came too!

J had lots of people to love on him.

A little tug-a-war with Uncle C

Getting the hang of opening pressies here!

Best and last present from Mommy and Daddy comes later.

J is digging into his smash cake!

"Daddy, Mommy, Me and Momo and Popo"

"Daddy, Mommy, Me, Grammy and Grampy"

And now for the BIG SURPRISE!! A small gift bag

contained this sweet little T-shirt...

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GROWING FAMILY!!!

God bless you real good! Love, Grammy and Grampy xo

Do you ever feel like this?

2010-02-20T11:54:00.002-07:00

I DO when I'm trying to learn how to create and import a collage from Picasa onto my blog as a header!

Escapafacadology

2010-02-14T12:44:00.002-07:00

This morning at Southwood Presbyterian (in Huntsville, Alabama), James Parker sang the following song, accompanied by his guitar, in the worship service. I love the above "ology" word. I met James after the service, and he explained that Escapafacadology is a word Southwood has come up with to encourage people to recognize how many of us tend to wear masks instead of being the beautiful, unique creations God intended for each of us to be. This song ministered to my heart as I continue to learn how not to be "too terrified to be myself." I hope it blesses you too dear reader as much as it did me.

Escapafacadology, Escapafacadology

I'm an example of the type of guy you always only wished you could be.

I've got a squeaky clean persona, I'm descended from the highest pedigree,

or so it seems...

I've made my home with people I don't really like, and not because I want to.

I'm a chicken in the worst sense of the word because I'm just too terrified

to be myself...

Escapafacadology, Escapafacadology

When I look at all the folks that crowd around me, I'm thinkin it's not that bad,

But all the people I call friends, I don't know for sure if they really have my back,

And I can't blame them...

I feel like no one knows me, and I don't think I'm off the reservation.

Somehow I've stayed underneath their radar, but that's no consolation

at all...

Escapafacadology, Escapafacadology

I can't see your face today, there's a concrete wall that's in the way,

and I'd like to know it's you when I come around.

I'm here to walk this line with you, and I know that it's a painful truth,

this big facade is comin' down,

it's comin' down,

it's comin' down...

Escapafacadology, Escapafacadology

James Parker gave me permission to share this and to take his photo!

What a lovely young man. Thank you Lord for inspiring us today through James' talents

and heart for you!

www.escapafacadology.com

See Dick Clark Grill photos

2010-02-11T18:01:00.004-07:00

GeoTagged, [N35.04494, E89.98334]
A great and fun restaurant we found at the Phoenix Airport today. Our flight was delayed due to snow in Dallas. We were rerouted through Memphis instead and departed four and a half hours later. We're just happy we weren't delayed overnight like the couple next to us.

I'm trying to blog on my iPhone and have some great photos of the Grill, but don't know if I have the tools to import more than one photo per post. Hmmmmmm...a tiny bit frustrating. Sitting here in Memphis with a tummy full of deep fried catfish and okra. Only a couple of hours away from Huntsville to see our kids!

I'll post a series of posts here to show off this neat little airport restaurant. The shiny white faces were blotted out by the spotlights shining on the wall. This "photo" takes up a huge portion of the wall, as do most of the following. At least our hero isn't blotted out. Yah American Bandstand!!!

Dick Clark Grill-Are you old enough to recognize these faces? Oh Ricky! Oh my heart!

2010-02-11T17:56:00.002-07:00

GeoTagged, [N35.04494, E89.98334]

Scroll down to tour the rest of the restaurant photos on following posts. Thanks.

Another photo of Dick Clark Grill

2010-02-11T17:50:00.001-07:00

GeoTagged, [N35.04494, E89.98334]

See below...

More Dick Clark Grill

2010-02-11T17:48:00.002-07:00

GeoTagged, [N35.04494, E89.98334]

See yourself in there anywhere?
.

Dick Clark Grill

2010-02-11T17:41:00.002-07:00

GeoTagged, [N33.43741, E112.01143]

MEET PAWSCILLA!

2010-02-07T14:11:00.002-07:00

Sherman met a new friend this week at Koyote Kutz, where he goes to be groomed. She is a beautiful, but angry, Persian cat named Pawscilla. Neither Sherm nor I could take our eyes off of her. She would have been cute if she'd smiled, but she was NOT a happy kitty when we met her! Sherman tried his best to encourage her, but she wasn't buying it.

She stayed still as a statue on that table for the groomer. Maybe that's what cats do when they're angry?

"They're pushing and pulling and hurting my neck," meowed Pawscilla. "Oh the indignity of it all!" Does it look to you like she's curling her toes? Oh, poor kitty.

"It's okay Pawscilla, It'll be over in a few more minutes." I thought Sherman was going to shed tears.

"Easy for YOU to say, dog. Get out of my face."

And so, we said farewell to Pawscilla, and to all of our favorite groomers at Koyote Kutz.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN!

2010-02-02T22:57:00.005-07:00

Death and Dying

WARNING, don’t read this if you don’t like morbidity. I’m about to talk about one of two inevitables, death and taxes…I really hate them both. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.

The older I get, the harder life is getting because people I know and love are disappearing from the earth, I mean dying. I’m tempted to shake my fist at God because so much of it I don’t understand, because I love life, because I love people, and then I fall to my knees when I realize how little I can do about it. You see, I can believe what I want about God, but it doesn’t change Whom He is one bit—it only changes who I am.

We think we are SO in control. Death and taxes are only two obvious items completely out of our control. Can you make yourself taller by choosing to be so? Can you turn yourself into an Olympic athlete without the required health and talent? Can you make the sun come out on a cloudy day? How many more and better questions I could ask that show how powerless I am in multiple ways? Who am I, Susie Talbot, to shake my fist at God when He determines it’s time for His created one to die?

We saw the new movie EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES, the true story of a family fighting for the lives of their two beautiful children. It was inspiring at the very least. The love that went on within that family was truly Brady Bunchish and better. They didn’t let the children’s Pompe disease get in the way of fun and laughter every day in every way they could make it happen. The outcome of the real life story is amazing. I won’t ruin the story’s outcome if you haven’t seen it.

My point—the parents fought a good fight to find a cure for their children. They didn’t give up. Do I fight that hard for the people I know and love? It’s bad enough for the body to die, but if the soul perishes without saving knowledge and grace from God, through Jesus Christ because His children don’t speak up, then that is true disaster.

If you read my blog, you probably already know what fuels me. You also know that I do love people and would be the last one to pound religion on them. Even God doesn’t pound on anyone to follow Him. He only knocks at the door of each heart, which must be opened from the inside. He won’t barge in, but only knocks. He’s gentle. He leaves it up to us whether or not we choose to open that door.

It’s not about being good. That’s impossible. If you know me, you know that I’ve failed often at that. It’s about being open to Truth. If you don’t know Truth yet, ask a “higher power” out there for it and it’ll come to you. Remember the movie line, “If you build, they will come.” If you seek the truth, you will find Him, the One Who knit you together in your mother’s womb.

Yep, we’re still gonna die, but if there is a remote chance that our spirit man within us lives on, I’m prepared. Not because I’m more special than anybody, but because of Who He is. If you’ve read this, I pray you too are prepared.

This is my love letter to you, From Susie

Hubby's Favorite Dessert

2010-01-30T11:32:00.004-07:00

Forty-four years ago...yessss, it's been that long, I learned how to make Jay's favorite dessert, Chocolate Pie. It's a simple recipe, especially now that a crust that tastes better than mine, comes all ready to go. Here are the ingredients you need to make a spectacular 9-10" Chocolate Pie.

Didn't I tell you this is easy? First, open up your pre-made pie crust, pat it in your pie pan thus, and after making a nice little pattern of holes in it with a fork, bake it at 425º for 8-9 minutes until just a tinge of golden shows up on the edges of your crust. Let the crust cool for about 40 minutes.

Next, pour four cups of milk into a saucepan to cook on medium-high heat. Add two 4 oz packages of cook-to-serve chocolate pudding. (Jay doesn't like the instant and it DOES have a distinctively different taste.) It'll look something like this...stir continually to keep the pudding from sticking to the bottom of your pan.

It'll start to look like this. When it reaches a rolling boil, take it off of the heat and let it cool for about five minutes, again stirring about every minute or so to keep the pudding from forming a skin while it cools.

Now for the fun part. Pour that rich chocolatey pudding into the cooled crust.

I usually put either waxed paper or plastic wrap on top of the hot pudding to keep a skin from forming, and then let the pie cool before topping with fresh whipped cream.

For Jay, the whipped topping must be made from real cream. Since we're trying (but not too hard) to keep an eye on our growing waistlines, I used about 2 tablespoons of Splenda this time (you could also use a granular Stevia or real sugar, of course) to sweeten the whipping cream plus a teaspoon+ of vanilla. It looks kind of funny in the photo, but here's the mix before it's whipped.

Mmmm, I love vanilla!

Whip the cream until it forms nice stiff peaks.

Apply to cooled pie and voila! You've made a simple chocolate pie that looks like it's taken hours to prepare and tastes like it comes from the finest restaurant, which is YOURS of course!

If you're short on time, this pie also tastes great slightly warm, but Jay and I probably like it best chilled. It keeps fairly well in the fridge, but over time, the crust softens and loses some of its flakiness.

Enjoy!

Blackwood Brother Follow-up

2010-01-28T12:03:00.001-07:00

Hey, look...I sent my blog address to the BB's and I got a nice reply from Randy Byrd:

Hey Susan!!!

Great blog!!! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of it!!! You all make us feel sooooo welcome!! We love coming to your church!! Thank you for being so wonderful!!
God bless,
Randy Byrd

Isn't that fun????

Blackwood Brothers at our Church

2010-01-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

Lf to Rt: Wayne Little, Jimmy Blackwood, Billy Blackwood, & Randy Byrd

"The Blackwood Brothers Quartet was formed in 1934 with brothers Roy, Doyle, James and Roy's, son R.W. That heritage of gospel music is carried on today as James' oldest son Jimmy joins tenor great Wayne Little, the smooth bass of Randy Byrd and the baritone singing of Billy Blackwood to present a modern-day version of that great quartet."

To read more about them and hear their great sounds go to: http://www.blackwoodbrothers.com/

Sunday, THE Blackwood Brothers sang at Oasis Church, our church, in our town. This is the third time we've seen them, but this time I actually got to hug two out of the four of them, be photographed with Jimmy and Randy, AND Jimmy Blackwood sang with our choral group at practice (so I technically SANG with a Blackwood Brother)!

Our small choir practices at 8:00 Sunday mornings, and as I entered the building, Jimmy Blackwood was walking out! I welcomed him and then spontaneously hugged him like I do my other Christian friends. That's how it is in the Family of God!

Now, I know, the Blackwood Brothers are just people...just like us, but STILL...They are also famous, well-respected, mighty ministers of God's music and joy. I count it a privilege to not only have attended another one of their concerts, but to also have had a bit of one-on-one time with each of them, which they so graciously offered to anyone in our gathering. (BTW, They gave me permission to post their photos on this blog.)

Sadly, I didn't have my camera at practice, so I missed the great photo of standing next to Jimmy in choir, but I did bring iPhone along to their second performance and J snapped these great photos.

Jimmy Blackwood and Me

Randy Byrd and Me

This is a nice one of Wayne Little and Jimmy B.

Oasis Community Church meets in the Mission Royale Ballroom. Here's a shot of the crowd at one of the performances. We had about 250 folks at this service. Many folks from outside of the Mission Royale Community came to see and hear the Blackwood Brothers. It's a great outreach for Oasis. I met some fine new folks on Sunday.

(You can almost see Billy Blackwood, on the left, at the piano)

Here he is!

That's J helping Randy with the last of the packing up.

Bye Blackwood Brothers! Thanks for another great time of ministry, worship and laughter! See you next year. May God's abundant grace and power be with you every where you go and in all that you do!

Arrogant Christians

2010-01-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

Think of the book of Job Christian friends...think of how we read about Job's friends reasoning WHY all the destruction came into his life. They thought they knew the whys...they couldn't leave it alone and just come alongside of Job, tend to his needs, weep with him, they felt the need to answer for God.

Haiti...No words for this disaster fit but words of supplication to our God, Who, as Creator of each individual affected by this catastrophic earthquake, grieves along with us like a parent would if his/her children were suffering. Couldn't He have prevented it...IF He is God, you say...How can we know that? We, with the pea brains, who can't even cure the common cold?

Here's an article, by Greg Albrecht, I want to share from PTM that I think addresses this arrogance well.

PTM E-UPDATE -- JANUARY 19, 2010

Did Haiti deserve this earthquake?

Q. I am amazed to hear a respected televangelist say that the earthquake in Haiti happened because long ago the nation of Haiti apparently "swore a pact with the devil." I think I know what your response to this kind of nonsense is -- but please speak out!

A. Here we go again. Remember Katrina? MANY Christian ministers and pastors, trying to "make sense" of Katrina, said that God sent Katrina as punishment for the permissiveness allowed and practiced in New Orleans. Remember 9-11? Two prominent, well-known televangelists said that 9-11 was proof that God had removed his "hedge of protection" from the United States because of, among other things, homosexuals.

Now we have a prominent televangelist saying that Haiti has been cursed because long ago, in order to earn their freedom from the French who occupied their country, they made a pact with the devil. I have never read such a thing in a history book. What proof is being offered of this pact? And even if there were a pact, even if a contract with the devil exists, executed in the name of the people of Haiti, does the devil have the power to instigate deadly earthquakes? Is that the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ? This kind of stuff sounds like more religious superstition, ignorance and fear.

Even if some pact could be unearthed, with the signature of the devil and of Haitian political leaders (?!??! -- don't hold your breath) what exactly was the Resurrection of our Lord all about? I thought Jesus defeated death and the grave, the devil and his demons. Given the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, I have a hard time understanding how anyone who calls themselves a Christian could actually believe that God would be "bound" to some pact that someone made with the devil?

I have also heard that some are saying, in God's name, that Haiti was asking for such a disaster, among so much other suffering they have endured, because of their practice of Voodoo. The one, true, loving God of the Bible continues to be painted and depicted as a primitive, pagan mythological god -- by people who call themselves Christians!

In the Plain Truth November/December 2001 cover story I asked "Did America Have it Coming?" Of course not -- not in the sense that Americans are, or were, more sinful and more deserving of a "special, God-given curse" than citizens of other nations! Did Haiti have this killer earthquake coming! No, not at all ! May all of us turn our hearts and minds away from futile and vain attempts to determine what might have motivated God to cause or allow this catastrophe in Haiti, and rather turn our hearts and minds toward prayer for all those who are affected, and those who are courageously involved in relief efforts -- and will be for some time to come.

In Christ
Greg Albrecht

Copyright © 2010 Plain Truth Ministries -- Worldwide.

I confess my arrogance Lord. Please forgive me, a well-fed, prosperous American, for even trying to understand WHY. Instead show me WHAT I can do to help these people now and in the future as they try to rebuild their world. C'mon people...let's pray for this suffering nation and send money or whatever type of support we can manage.

Where have I been?

2010-01-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

My blog is missing me...where have I been since Riley's birthday celebration? In a funk? In bed asleep? On the dance floor? Buried in studies? Ladies Bible study? Walking Sherman? Playing Wii? Watching movies? Watching football? Taking photos? Shopping at flea markets? Laughing with friends? Playing Balderdash? YES>>>> all of those! Which one should I have blogged on?

When we lived in Australia, we often used the expression that would be appropriate here. Hmmmmmmmm...You might see me with my hand on my chin, eyes gazing upward, with a wondering look saying...Hmmmmmmmm...

Actually, I've had a few ideas, but haven't been organized enough to put them together and now this morning, well, I just can't STAND it anymore! I miss A WRINKLED TIME! Love posting! It's addicting like Chai, chocolate, Wii, iPhone Scrabble---you name it. If it's fun, I can be addicted...hmmmmmm...maybe I'm addicted to FUN!!!

Okay y'all...a question for you. I have exactly seven commitments per week that roll around leaving only Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays free. (Some days I have TWO commitments) Now I'm looking at taking on one more, but this one sounds SO once-in-a-lifetime-ish!

Thursday nights at Central Arizona College (about 10 min. from here), a class called the Fundamentals of Publishing is starting. It'll be from 6:00 to 8:45 and will cover internet opportunities, self publishing, types of publications, editing, style, agents, copyright, cover design, printing contracts, and that's not ALL!!! Hands-on workshops...Oh...doesn't that all sound like a writer's dream? I WANT to do it, but then I want to DO everything don't I?!

My fears---taking on too much, no time left for blogging (ha), giving up another evening, tests, homework? No time left for Scrabble? No time left for hubby and friends?

Hmmmmmmm....any advice?

Look Whose Big Day it is TODAY!!

2010-01-12T12:22:00.003-07:00

TA DA!!!!

NUMBER SIX

by GrammiSu

Hey Riley, it's your B-day

How we thank God for you

You add joy to our lives

You're ALL boy--that's so true

Today you turn six, but

you're smarter than eight

full of mischief and might

with your sister you're great!

So we celebrate your big day

Say how much we love you

As we hug you, give you presents

And sing "Happy Birthday to you!"

Do you have Cochineal Scale?

2010-01-12T12:10:00.000-07:00

If you have prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.) in your landscape, you might have cochineal scale. If you have Santa Rita prickly pear cacti, you probably do have this obnoxious invisible insect weaving its snowy-looking, cottony masses of wax on the surfaces of your plants’ stems (pads). If you’ve investigated closely, or tried to scrape off these tiny webs, you’ve uncovered the blood red liquid ooze, (see close-up--upper left-hand side of pad..tiny drips of red) and can be sure you’ve discovered cochineal scale (Dactylopious spp.)

The Aztecs used this red inky substance for dying and painting. Jeff Schalau, in his article of December 22, 2004 in the Backyard Gardener, states, “Cochineal scale remained one of the most important sources of red dyestuffs until the 1850’s, when the first synthetic dyes, called aniline dyes, were produced. Cochineal is still commercially produced in Mexico and India to furnish the permanent brilliant red dye for foods, drinks, cosmetics and artists’ colors.” I don’t know about you but that freaks me out a little—to spread that stuff on my lips? Here's another close-up of the "scale." I don't think it's pretty.

Schalau’s article further states that this insect “uses the cottony wax to shelter female insects (that produce the red dye) and egg masses. The eggs hatch into nymphs (called crawlers) that feed for about three weeks before settling and becoming immobile. The crawler stage is when they spread on and among cactus plants. Once settled, they spin the waxy fiber that shelters them from predators and the weather. Multiple generations are produced each year in warmer areas.”

Don’t panic immediately if you notice these white spots all over your prickly pears, but you might eventually choose to address the tiny nesters to rest your plants from their sucking appetites. I panicked as I watched “multiple generations” make their tiny white castles on my beautiful Santa Rita. I wasn’t thrilled about the polka-dotted look, and our plant began sicken and lose its color. We had sprinkler drips on this cactus and watched it grow a number of plump pads until these microscopic (you can’t see the actual insect) fellows moved in.

On our walks, we’ve noticed several Santa Rita prickly pear plants in our neighborhood covered with the scale. I began to ask around. We found that we could wash them off with our high-pressure hose, but also discovered that the scale are drawn more readily to the well-watered cactus (possibly over-watered), so we removed the drips from our cactus and voila, they’ve been free since.
I realize, we’re all different. You may like seeing your Santa Ritas looking like they’ve been through a snow storm, (one man I talked to did), but I prefer to see their clean faces. It is a natural symbiosis between the prickly pear and the cochineal scale. If you like to dye your own fabrics, make paint and your own lipsticks, I say let them camp out on your cacti, but I think I’ll hose ‘em off of mine if they show up again.

I like the way this one looks. This one isn't in our yard--ours isn't this mature yet, so it didn't make the blog. I notice the drip next to it, and surmise this neighbor isn't overwatering this Santa Rita prickly pear.

70's Family photo

2010-01-09T14:44:00.002-07:00

One good thing about cleaning out the garage, treasures pop up along the way. Here's a great old photo of our family, (before our youngest daughter arrived) that we've always thought was fun...from the day it was shot, and now to see it again thirty plus years later! Do you recognize these people? It was after seeing this photo that I decided to remember to "smile" in every photo from now on, no matter what the photographer said.

It's no wonder we've gone on to bigger and better things, ayyy?

Oh yes, and then in the 80's Baby L came along....here she is at about the same age of her own baby now!

CUTE huh?

Do you see any resemblance to J?

Con-cen-tra-tion

2010-01-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

Does it look anything like this?

I've been guilty in the past of praying for such virtues as pa-ti-ence, kind-ness, long suf-fer-ring, but for some time now, I've noticed a lot of my behavior problems (large psychology term) revolve around a lack of con-cen-tra-tion. Do you think that is a virtue?

When you run these three syllables together, it equals a tall order for some. If you're young, you may find this easier to do than if you're wrinkles are pronounced. If you're hovering around my age group, well...you might understand---maybe.

Remedy? If I knew, would I be talking about it?

Surprisingly, I think blogging is helpful. Staying aware that I want to keep the blog press rolling, causes me to pay at-ten-tion to the seemingly insignificant daily details that if lacking even a snippet of intentional con-cen-tra-tion swirl by me unnoticed.

So all that to say, G'morning. I hope you have a blessed day. Still a little nervous about teaching this morning (see yesterday's blog), but I know Whom I serve, and He will intervene. Still, a little con-cen-tra-tion might come in handy.

A little nervous today...

2010-01-05T13:21:00.001-07:00

Why, I ask myself, am I sitting here blogging when tomorrow morning, Spring Session of our Ladies' Bible Studies begins and I need to finish my lesson. The next twelve weeks, our fellowship will host three studies with about fifteen ladies present at each one. The one I'm leading will be a study of Esther and I'm nervous. I find this task overwhelming, don't consider myself "teacher" material, do it because I see a need and want to fill it, and because I love ministering to ladies, so...here I am ready to lead this study, but not completely finished with the lesson, and writing about it here! Hello? Anyone home here? Not always.

Anyway, every week I try to write a poem pertaining to that week's lesson. I usually don't get the inspiration for the poem until the last day and it happened again. Thought I'd share it with you. I hope the spirit of it inspires you to cuddle up with God's Word on a regular basis.

Here we go:

Prayer for our Study of Esther

by Susie Talbot

Dear Father in Heaven please join us
As we study the life of Esther
Guide us through each and every chapter
Nurture us with Your answers

We acknowledge our lacks, our ignorance
We admit that we are weak
We plead for Your inspiration
We depend on You to speak.

For our deepest needs, for our health,
For each one who meets in this room,
We pray for Your grace and mercy
On our lives not late, but soon

Let each one of us never forget
It is You Whom we glorify
Whatever we learn in this place
Flows from Your abundant supply

So help us to learn more than knowledge
From Your Blessed Holy Word
May we gain sound wisdom for living
May we know it’s from You we’ve heard.

Eagerly, we approach You
Bow low at the foot of Your throne
Fill our lives with Your infinite goodness
Make Your gentle presence known.

Amen.

"Home, home on the range..."

2010-01-01T10:25:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year Friends!

A new year--a new day! Each morning can be a new start if we choose--and I do--today can be an opportunity to extend a helping hand to a stranger, better yet to family and friends--to help them out by offering grace, a smile, or an encouraging word, one tiny step at a time.

"...where seldom is heard, a discouraging word..."

     But, an encouraging word will first have to be alive in my own heart. Where will I find that? Who will fill me with grace, with warm fuzzies, put a smile on my face, show me the way? Do I have to admit that deep down, I don't often feel all the mushy goodwill? I don't always have a smile to give---I have my own lot of troubles, thank you.

     Hold on... I've been in that place of receiving, <the quiet place.> Sometimes I find it before my feet hit the floor in the morning, or during a shower, yes, a subtle burp of time in the midst of busyness, where I'm able to stop, to call on the One who smiles on me no matter what condition I'm in, Who sticks by me even when I don't remember to acknowledge Him, Who'll never leave me because I've asked Him not to, but more accurately, because He is faithful, He is waiting with loving arms extended to each one of us on an up-close-and-personal basis.

     My New Year's Day resolution is to recognize daily my own emptiness, fall on knobby knees and beg Him (with every sincere nerve of my being), to fill up the holes in my heart with the putty of His gentle expertise, His peace and joy, and then allow me to be His emissary to each person I meet along the way.

     If each of us could only stop, shift down a gear, and choose to focus on Him. If we could leave behind our own agendas and tune into His, what a change we'd see in ourselves, around us, and in our troubled world. It's all about Him.

"...and the skies are not cloudy all day."

My Brightest December Moments

2009-12-31T13:26:00.000-07:00

Christian recording star, Evie sings, "How can I say thanks for all the things that You've done for me?" My heart is full today as I think back on December's bright spots.

It started out with the pitter patter of some very cute feet at our house..

That belonged to this little fella, our youngest grandson, who lives way too far away from us.

And then....we partied a little with our best friends in AZ.

Snacked on one of these "hurmongous" (about 8" square each) pecan rolls on our way to Lubbock.

Then, woke up to a white Christmas Eve day...snowed in through to Christmas afternoon. Sherman is not understanding that he must go "out" in this to do his business...

It was beautiful, but Mary Todd was not all too keen about her soft white cloak. She's an AZ girl.

So great to be with the grands Christmas morning. We didn't realize our two-year old granddaughter is such a clothes horse. She tried on every new piece she opened. This red coat from her auntie, was one of the first presents she opened and she wore it until she saw her new Minnie Mouse jammies. Is she gorgeous or what?

Next, we have R modeling his new blue sock monkey! Do these children melt a grandma's heart or what?

And now Christmas afternoon in town at Big Pop and Big Mom's house, we strike a proud pose in our new coat once again.

The FAM....

Some more very nice feet...

And then some yummy feet!

It's been great....We LOVE YOU little darlings. xo

Nitie nite...

My Christmas Prayer

2009-12-21T19:26:00.001-07:00

by Susie Talbot

May our eyes stay focused on God’s holy Son
in this Advent time acknowledge He is One
with the Father and with the sacred Holy Ghost.
Lift faces and voices with all heaven’s hosts
while we light Advent candles and sing our songs
may our lives portray Jesus, reverse our wrongs.

Will Christmas lights everywhere shine out bright
in our towns, in our world be a startling sight.
May each and every greeting, wish, and hug
be thoughtfully given with generous love.
Every card and present, given or received,
come from hearts filled with Jesus, not filled with greed.

Oh glorious season exalt God’s Son
Who came to this world to redeem each one
by His life, by His dying, He’s shown us love
invited us to live in His courts above.
One and all please laud Him this Christmas Season
receive God’s goodness for the intended reason

Dec., 2009

Fortune Cookie Quote

2009-12-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

I really like this one...

"Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence."

(Old Chinese Proverb)

Our Four-Day "Hi"

2009-12-20T15:38:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, I get high on babies! My own were amazing and now I have the privilege of grandparenting! It’s the BEST…all the JOY anyone could handle. Is it no wonder that Christmas, the celebration of God’s baby Son’s arrival, sparks such pure delight, good will, and warm toasty feelings in the hearts of men, women and children? Babies do that.

Our time together a couple of weeks ago with L and J was definitely our best Christmas gift thus far. If you go to www.traveledroad.com you’ll see little J’s mama’s post about our time and here I’ll attempt to share a few of my thoughts about it too.

First glimpse of our kids! Yay they made it!

Airplane all washed off in the tub and now a little time to play…is he gorgeous or what???

Sherman dog meets Baby J…neither one is quite sure. Sherman is not used to sharing his "daddy's" lap with anyone except maybe me now and then.

This is the next favorite spot for all of our tiny grandbabies. We wondered if J would get into stuff as he putz around the tables, but he’s not tall enough to reach much of anything. He did manage to pull off the rubber doorstop ends and attempted to put a quarter in his mouth. You have to be quick around this little guy.

He’s still trying to make points with Sherman. This was a tough shot to get because every time J would walk over to him, Sherm would move away…even through the glass! Scaredy dog!

Baby J’s a bit of a challenge to feed when life is this exciting. He’s way too busy to eat. Hold on Grandpa J!

He got me…What a tease at only ten months old! One more pic, I can’t resist! Look at that face…too cute!

Of course our time went by all too fast, but we had to let J and mama go home to dada. Thanks M for sharing. We love y’all bunches. See you in February!

Posted in Family, Smiles
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