"COUNTRY MOUSE and CITY MOUSE"... Miscellaneous ramblings of a COUNTRY BUMPKIN gone CITY SLICKER!

2010-02-19T18:39:00.001-05:00

Sorry....this blog is getting very little attention from ME.

I have been putting my efforts into my other blog and just generally doing other things.

Thanks for visiting!

2009-09-15T22:25:00.007-04:00

This past weekend my daughter visited! I had a wonderful time just spending time with her. We shopped, lounged on the beach, ate out, talked and even watched a little TV (which I plugged in since I knew she was visiting!).

On Sunday afternoon, just before she headed back to PA, I solicited her assistance as I had decided that my patio table and chairs would be much more usable if I moved them from a small deck off my back door (upstairs) to a secluded little area in my front yard! Meg gladly helped with the move and the past two evenings I have enjoyed sitting outside in my newly created little 'garden spot'. Tonight I snapped a photo to share on this blog!

The table and chairs are black so they don't show up real well in the photo, but they are pictured in the background...you can see the candles lit on the table. In the foreground of this photo is a fall display that I also arranged on Sunday. The gate that is pictured is one (of two) that was at either end of a small fenced yard off the back door of my childhood home. My sister has the other gate and she uses hers in much the same fashion as I have done for this autumnal season.

Hope everyone else has their own little 'garden spot' where they can relax, retreat and refresh after a long day! May you all be blest and refreshed in the love of Christ!

2009-09-06T11:05:00.005-04:00

I'll post a bit more later, but for now, my 'free time' is running short! I'm spending Labor Day weekend in Mystic, CT. (1.5 hour drive took 3 hours!)

My employer's brother is getting married TODAY and of course, all three of my 'charges' are in the wedding! Today is a big day for them!

I am having a cup of coffee and enjoying the Mystic view while waiting for the family to return home from a birthday party. As I sat and sipped, I heard the whistle blow....announcing the raising of the famous Mystic drawbridge in the center of town. (The coffee shop is right next door!) I snapped this photo while watching the boats pass through the open bridge!

Hope it gives you a feel for this BEAUTIFUL day in Mystic, CT!

2009-08-11T17:13:00.005-04:00

As some of you know, this is the third summer I’ve spent in Maine. Today I finally snapped a photo that will help convey a funny misunderstanding I had in the very first days of my experience in Maine!

Upon my arrival to Maine, in June of 2007, one of my first priorities was to find a church to attend during the summer months. If you know me personally, or even if you read my blogs with any regularity, I suppose you have learned that I worship in a style that is free and without many of the trappings or strongholds that is often found in traditional, denominational church styles. As I sought a church family those first few days, I prayed for sure, but as I traveled through the towns of Maine, I also kept my eyes open, searching for a church that might be what I was seeking.

Now, I don’t know where you live or what, in recent years, you have done with your recyclables, but in CT, we put our recyclables out on the curb in a separate container for the garbage collector to take away! When I grew up in the country of central PA, everything was simply lumped together, burned in an old oil drum we called “the incinerator” and eventually taken to the local “dump” and from there, hauled by the township to a landfill. Anyway, I had never heard of a place called a “Redemption Center”!

Can you guess? Well, you got it! As I quickly drove by this very location, seeing only the first few words on the sign, I got very excited! In my thinking, any place called a “Redemption Center” could only be a Holy Spirit-filled house of worship! I was feeling really great about my new discovery when a few days later, in another small town in Maine, I drove past yet ANOTHER “Redemption Center”!

DUH! I quickly realized after visually investigating the facility that the Redemption Centers that I had seen were, indeed, places to drop your RECYCLABLES! You know….you drop them off and REDEEM them for cash, I suspect!

Imagine if I had actually gone to THAT kind of “Redemption Center” on Sunday morning! Pretty funny, huh? Seems I’m often confusing things like this; guess it’s the price you pay when you live in “La-La Land”.

As you may know, I have, since that early experience, found two great little places of worship where I summer in Maine. I am thankful for the REDEMPTION I have found in Christ! I pray that you each experience His power of Redemption in your own life!

2009-08-05T14:22:00.003-04:00

Hey blogging friends.... anyone wonder where I've been?

Truth be told, I spend what little internet time I have checking email and visiting Facebook! Seems I have little time to write blog entries. Another factor is that my days here in Maine, as I continue my job as a full time nanny, focus pretty much entirely on my three young charges and daily life at camp. To honor my employer's request to keep "camp" life discreet and non-public, I do not post photos or camp happenings on my blog or elsewhere....so that leaves little else in my life to post about! :) Well, I'm not entirely immersed in work ALONE...I do have other interests and activities...so perhaps the greater deterrant is the lack of internet accessibility! If any of you blog, you know that writing a post isn't always quick and easy....it takes thought and time....and these days...I'm just plum short on both!

I've been working on completing (now in editing phase) the material I have compiled for Nursing Home (or other) Visitation Ministry. This project has been years in the making and takes a big chunk of my time. I love doing this and I'm following what God laid out for me to do....so I am not complaining....just explaining where I've been and why no posts!

My life is full and rich and God-centered and I really would have it no other way! Sometimes I get weary and SELF-centered....but it's then when I have to press on and dig in and be the woman God wants me to be! Hope you all are blessed and experiencing God's Presence and Power today!

2009-05-28T20:08:00.004-04:00

My visit to PA included celebrating the FIRST birthday of my FIRST grandson, Tucker! His birthday is actually TODAY so in his honor, I made this photo mosaic. His mom and dad hosted a cookout birthday party on Sunday, May 24. Just like their own wedding day, the weather held out until the very end of the festivities....then strong gusting wind and downpours of rain!

This is Tucker Patrick Devine, and family, celebrating his FIRST birthday. :)

Included in this mosaic is Tucker's mom, Emily, in the green shirt (and pregnant with little boy #2). Tucker's dad, (my son) Tim, in the orange and white striped shirt and ball cap. And in the bottom center photo is my sister, Kay, her husband, Al, and "tuckered out" Tucker is resting his head on the shoulder of my niece, Molly.

2009-05-25T18:15:00.003-04:00

Happy Memorial Day! I am spending a few days relaxing with family in PA.

Today I attended our small community's Memorial Day Service. It was meaningful and allowed for time to reflect on the many acts of sacrificial service our military has given throughout our country's history. My own father, who is now 93 years old, served during WWII in the Pacific Theater Operations. I have two sons who served in the military as well. Navy and Air Force. Today was a day to honor the many veterans of our country. I have always loved seeing the many cemeteries in our country that are adorned with flowers and flags to commemorate our veterans and honor loved ones. The above photo was taken in Darien, CT at the Spring Grove Cemetery.

As the second photo indicates, I am thoroughly enjoying the relaxing country air in my hometown of the village of Beaver Springs, PA. At this moment, I am sitting on my sister's front porch watching a baseball game which is being played on the local middle school ball field. (across from her home). Life is good :)

See you in CT on Wednesday!

2009-05-18T08:04:00.008-04:00

Good morning bloggers! Here's hoping that everyone has a great day and good week ahead.

I am looking forward to a week of vacation from work BUT FIRST I have this coming week of work to ENJOY. I will be training a new nanny this week! The new nanny will be going along with us to spend the summer in Maine. She will be one of the summer nannies who will be providing child care for the younger children of staff members at camp. For the next three weeks, though, she will be working with the children here in CT. The "new girl" has previously babysat on occasions through the past winter so at least the children will be comfortable with her. (hoping that they won't be inclined to go through that "show off" / testing period that often goes along with meeting new sitters)

Back to my impending vacation! I will have the next TWO weekends off work and the entire work week in between! 9 days! YIPPEE!

My plans are to:

enjoy a leisurely Saturday, including my weekly Bible Study at the mall, then
leave early Sunday morning for a few days visit in PA.
PA plans include visiting with former "church friends and family" at the local restaurant in Beaver Springs,
lunch with my sister and her family (a new boyfriend for my niece, I hear!),
then celebrating the FIRST birthday of my grandson.....all that on Sunday!

Monday is Memorial Day and I will

visit local cemeteries and honor our veterans by attending the local Memorial Day Service. I am SO looking forward to spending time with my daughter, as well. I don't know her schedule yet, but I'm hoping to visit with her on Sunday AND Monday! (I DO know that she has off work on Monday).

Tuesday morning I have scheduled

a 'check-up' for my van at a local auto repair shop and I am SURE that the morning will include
breakfast out with my mom! I also hope to squeeze in a trip to State College to
visit my daughter at her new (to me) place of employment,
take her out for lunch or dinner and
do a bit of shopping.

In between all that, I want to visit with my parents, who I haven't seen since last September. My dad is 93 and my mom 89 so every visit is important and appreciated. OF COURSE, I will be popping in and out of my son's home to cuddle with my grandson! A one-year old is so fun...I hope to enjoy some 'play time' with him! Maybe a walk to a nearby park will be included in my visit.

Any time I have a break from work, I also like to spend some carefree days back in my own home in CT. This vacation, I am hoping for SUN so I can relax on the beach! (most likely I will relax on the beach even without sun!) I also love the library so I will not worry even if it does rain! Saturday, May 30, I will be attending my weekly Bible Study in the mall, followed by a baptism service at a nearby river! Friends who attend the Bible Study will host the baptism at their home, which conveniently borders the Housatonic River and park! We will follow the baptism with a picnic. I'm really looking forward to Saturday, May 30! Rounding out my vacation will be my church's annual "Unstructured Service". This service is open to anyone who would care to contribute what God has laid on their heart. Music, testimonies and praise fill this service, so I will enjoy that visit to "Calvary Baptist" one last time before my summer in Maine.

That about sums up my coming plans....like I said, I have to enjoy THIS week first! And now....it is time for me to prepare for my work day!

Wishing you all God's very BEST for this day!

2009-05-07T19:38:00.007-04:00

Another wonderful day! I worked from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

My work day consisted of:

attending a Mother's Day Tea (brief musical program by 2, 3 and 4 year olds) and refreshments in their classrooms,
lunch...of leftover beef vegetable soup served over rice....which was actually fairly well received by the children :)
nap-time for the youngest and 'quiet-time' for the 4 year old.
By 2:15 we headed out the door to pick up the 5 year old at her school and then due to an imposing thunderstorm and rain,
we headed to the library for an hour or so. We had a lovely time at the library since I toted along some drawing paper, stencils,'writing' tablet and assorted pencils. The girls really enjoyed finding a table in the "Children's Section" of the library and doing, what they called "homework"! (Just wait until they are FORCED to do the real thing!! Wonder how that will go?) The 2 year old played very nicely with the many puzzles at the library as well as a car that he carried with him into the library. The older children selected a few new books to check out and
then off we went to the family's church's public supper that is held every Thursday night. We have been attending this supper since the beginning of Lent and the kids seem to enjoy it....and I don't have to cook!! Tonight's meal was very good; pork loin, macaroni and cheese and fresh cooked green beans. Always on the menu are chicken nuggets for the kids and a really nice buffet of assorted fruit and light desserts. My work day ended at 6 p.m. with 'mom' taking the children home from the supper. Of course, in between all that 'scheduled' activity of the day, my responsibilities include all the normal household tasks that any 'stay-at-home' mom would be doing during the day. You know the saying, "my work is never done"!

Following the afternoon thunderstorm, the evening turned out to be quite nice so I decided that a walk at the beach and some scavenging for 'sea glass' would be therapeutic! After about 40 minutes of combing the beach, I ended up with a large handful of nice sea glass! I spent much of my time praying as I combed the beach so the time was well spent and very relaxing!

As I sat in my car for a few moments before I left the beach I noted how still and calm the water of the Long Island Sound looked. I had to get out and snap a photo! (in the distance, even on this somewhat hazy evening, you can see Long Island in the distance!)

It's times like this evening....of sheer quiet, peace and joy....when I wish that a photo could capture the heart and emotions of a moment. Even though, I'll share the photo with you and assure you that the evening was one of intimacy with God and experiencing the fullness of Him. I pray that you, too, would experience God-filled days and know His joy and peace like only He can give!

2009-05-07T08:10:00.005-04:00

Wow.....how quickly the days fly by! "May Day" has past and we are already approaching Mother's Day!

Today I was invited to attend a "Mother's Day Tea" that is held annually at the pre-school where my charges attend. I have gone to this event for the past two years and it is always nice. I recall that the first year I attended, my employer ('mom') was not able to attend as she had just given birth to the third child in the family! I can hardly believe that this little guy will turn TWO years old this Saturday!

Rain is forecasted once again for this day and already the roads are wet. Though wet weather might keep us from an afternoon of outdoor fun at a local playground, I will not let it dampen our spirits! I am praying for a wonderful day filled with God's Love and all the 'fruit of the Spirit' that He will bring forth from me! Lately, I've been in need of PATIENCE!

Hoping you all have a glorious day!

2009-04-08T17:54:00.005-04:00

Ugh....we had SNOW FLURRIES in CT today!

I snapped this photo as I was entering my favorite eating spot, Orem's Diner in Wilton, CT!

2009-04-08T16:35:00.007-04:00

My PA trip was great! I'm now back in CT and enjoying one last day before getting back to care for my 'charges'! My mini-vacation was restful, though brief. I'll add a photo mosaic that I've posted on facebook. It's just a few shots as I was driving home early on Tuesday morning. Spring is "in the air" even though the temperatures were below average for this time of year!

Of course, the highlight of my trip was spending time with my grandson, Tucker. I snapped quite a few photos and videos of him but I always seem to end up with BLURRY photos! This darling little 10 month old is walking and seems fairly sturdy on his little legs!

My sister prepared a really great Palm Sunday dinner and her table looked very nice! She has a very lovely home and it's always nice to 'kick back' and enjoy the time there! All three of my children were able to join us (my sister and her family) for Sunday dinner and we had fun reminiscing and chatting. I have a few videos of our dinner, but haven't tried to upload those yet! For now, enjoy the photo mosaics!

2009-03-29T18:10:00.008-04:00

My photo editor now seems to be allowing me to edit my photos!

Here are photos of a few of the things I have been doing lately!

The little guy, "Brubby", and I went for a walk at a local park one day. You can see he was intrigued by the Canadian Geese that are always at the pond! It was too cute...as he kept approaching the geese he was telling them to GO, GO! He wanted them to go in the water...which they did, with a BIG splash that Brubby loved!

I snapped a few other shots at the same park and then last weekend when I was at the beach, I found two young boys flying kites. The wind was almost TOO STRONG for kites, but it was worth 'freezing' to watch those kites soaring!

If you visit my other blog, "Walking God's Way" you'll see a mosaic I did of some recent "Spring" shots here in CT! I'm SO glad that Spring has arrived!

2009-03-29T15:17:00.002-04:00

Hi friends!

Wow...last post I made here was 29 days ago!! WHAT have I been doing??? And even WITHOUT TV for the past month! I did have some trouble with my photo editor so my zest for blogging was dampened. It's not quite as much fun to post an entry when you can't share photos. I'm working on the problem and HOPE I've straightened it out!

Life goes on....work is great, warm weather is approaching (or at least some signs of it)! My 'charges' and I have begun counting down the days until we head to Maine for the summer! It seems like we just got home from our summer at camp and already we are approaching the time to head north once again!

I sure wish I'd be able to post photos and such of my dear, sweet charges....cause they are just so adorable and fun! I respect my employer and others associated with her work, though, so I try to stick to my own life. As this blog conveys, my life is quite mundane to most people. Life for me is filled with GOD things and the stuff of His Kingdom. I seek out little entertainment (for entertainment's sake) and I'm very selective when it comes to relationships and 'people pursuits'. I do TRY to be open to those relationships that God ordains and orchestrates, but it gets a bit tricky, cause in and of myself....I'd just as soon be alone (sitting in the library or going for a walk, etc.) I admit that I have to FORCE myself to engage with others at times. (Not sure what that's about....cause I do LOVE people and enjoy getting to know what 'makes them tick', etc.) ?? Who knows, it may be a 'shield' of some sort. I tend to protect myself and guard my heart carefully. I was just thinking about this yesterday....and wondered if there may be a spiritual angle in this 'shielding' of my soul ?? (another post...probably for my other blog) :)

Anyway....I am sending love and saying my HELLO's to any blog readers! I am heading to PA for a brief visit very early this Sunday morning, April 5. Isn't that the date for Palm Sunday?? I will be visiting family and friends....and YES....watching TV!!! I will stay in my parent's home while I'm visiting Beaver Springs (they are currently in FL) and they have CABLE TV! Something I have not experienced since March of 2006! :) When I DO get the opportunity to view cable...I'm a remote freak!! Again...I have been known to sacrifice RELATIONSHIPS and spend vacation time in front of the TV!! Pretty weird, huh? :) I also CANNOT WAIT to see my little grandson, who I am sure is growing like a weed! He will be 1 year old the end of May, so he is at an awesome age! (I'm sure I'll find out that EVERY age of my grandchildren are "awesome ages"!)

I HOPE I can add a post sooner than another 29 days! I will most definitely be taking my familiar PA photos and will share them with my blog readers!

I have been posting more entries on my other blog lately....Walking God's Way. You may have visited that site in the past, it's a blog that shares my spiritual journey and Christian faith walk. Anyone is most welcome to visit that blog and leave a comment. I also spend time at facebook.com . If you use facebook, feel free to look me up (Lindy Kline-Geertz) and be my friend! Until the next post.....hope all is right in your world and that you know the Christ who saved me! :)

2009-03-01T19:25:00.004-05:00

I worked on a few craft projects today. Pictured is the start of the spring banner I am working on. The best word I could think of to use on a banner for spring...was HOPE. I'm actually making two of these but have no clue at this point what I'm going to do with them! Also finished an "Easter Egg" decoration that I started last weekend. This might go on my front door!

Last weekend I made a couple head bands that I might try to sell on 'etsy'. I currently don't have a store there, but I might check out the site and try to do some selling. I don't have many items so I hesitate to do this....maybe eBay would be better? I could give the head bands to the girls, but I've already given them SO MANY! They could wear a different head band every day for a few weeks!

2009-03-01T09:30:00.005-05:00

"Could-a, Should-a, Would-a"!

Friday I was driving in Darien and caught a glimpse of ....YES!!!...Crocus blooming! They were white and peaking up through some dried leaves and other rubbish. How I LOVE to watch for these first signs of SPRING! I "COULD-A" stopped and taken a photo....but I was in a fairly busy residential area and didn't stop. :(

Yesterday I took my three charges to my church's annual Spaghetti Supper. (I'm a nanny to three of the greatest children in the world....ages 5, 4 and 1.75). The kids all behaved WONDERFULLY and the yummy dinner was followed by a 'Talent Night". Earlier in the month, I had discussed with another mom, the idea of the children of the church (and my charges) all joining together to sing a little 'kiddie song' for this Talent Show, however, we sort of left the idea drop and really didn't make any definite plans. I had, however, mentioned the idea to "Monkey" and "Peanut", my two older charges, and suggested we might sing "Jesus Loves Me". We even 'rehearsed' the song in the car earlier in the week and again as we traveled to last night's supper. Nothing more was said to the children, but as the kids sat in the front row last night, with two other little ones from the church, one of my charges spoke up and told the Pastor (as he introduced the Talent portion of the evening) that they were going to sing a song! As he 'bantered' with the kids about singing, I spoke up and told the pastor that the kids DID practice a song and would like to sing! I helped the kids out a little bit, but really didn't need to since the older girls sang their little hearts out! The middle child ("Peanut") even did the hand motions to the song and when she sang, "They are weak, but He is strong", she raised her hands and squeezed her fists to show His strength as hard as she could! It was SO CUTE! I "SHOULD-A" taken a photo, but didn't. :(

If I HAD been prepared to take advantage of these recent photo opportunities, I "WOULD-A" had a much nicer blog entry for today!

This was a lesson to KEEP THE CAMERA READY!! Have a SUPER Lord's Day!

A New Baby!

2009-02-27T09:36:00.006-05:00

WHOO HOO!!! Just found out that my next grandchild...due in July....is another little BOY!! How fun is that????

Here are a few recent photos of the new baby's big brother...my grandson Tucker.

Gotta be a cat lover to appreciate this 'cat in the crib' shot!

2009-02-23T10:30:00.019-05:00

It's Monday and I have the day off work! I had a great weekend and break from work....Thursday-Monday!

I did a bit of shopping on Friday and found some great items at TJ Max. I snapped photos of my new handbags!

The first is a Liz Claiborne bag that I got on sale for $19.99 (brown, shiny and big)! The second bag was just SO CUTE and only $7.00 so I couldn't resist it!

This smaller bag (about 5x7") was inspiration for me to design a 'big girl' hairband. I completed the headband on Sunday and look forward to wearing it!

I did a bit of crafting last evening and began an Easter/Spring banner to use for decoration. (I'll show you a photo upon completion!) Today I hope to do some more crafting today...gotta take advantage of the natural light that falls on my craft table! Also on today's schedule is meeting a friend for lunch around 1 pm...which will turn into a couple hours of visiting! Hopefully I'll also be able to get a bit of spring decorations out in my home. Seems like a lot of stuff to accomplish today but I will dig in and do what I can! (Gotta' watch "The Bachelor" on TV tonight also!

Looking out my window it APPEARS to be spring, but the temperatures sure don't reflect that! It's SUNNY, but only 33 degrees and blustery! Spring can't come soon enough for me! Perhaps my indoor decorations will help bring spring INDOORS, at least!

2009-02-20T17:20:00.009-05:00

Hi bloggers! Guess most of you are saying TGIF today!! I actually had yesterday off work and will go back to work next Tuesday, so I was saying TGI-W earlier in the week! My employer is SO GOOD to me!

Yesterday I had some minor out-patient surgery done and today is a recuperation day! The surgery went well and the general anesthesia WORKED!! Today I can hardly tell I had surgery! I am very thankful for God's awesome protection and care.

This morning I spent time reading God's Word and getting 'refueled' and ready to serve Christ.

I then ventured out and had a late breakfast at a local diner. I just LOVE diners and there are many in the area where I live. My favorite is the Orem Diner in Wilton, CT. It's a bit of a drive, but well worth the trip!

Following my leisurely breakfast, I stopped off at Wal-Mart to pick up a few items and found some SUPER sales on leftover Valentine's Day merchandise! I purchased a few packs of sparkly silver 'wands' for my two little charges to use at a future "Little Girl Party"! (at 50 cents for a pack of 4!) Also found a few pairs of VERY COMFY stretchy pants that I like to lounge around in on sale for $8.00 so I purchased those and of course, I HAD to pick up a bag of "Jelly Belly's" that were on sale. Don't ya' just love those gourmet jelly beans???

Next stop after Wal-Mart was Panera Bread in Darien. I took my lap top with me when I left the house this morning as I had planned to end up at either Panera or the library for an afternoon of web-browsing. I have Wi-Fi in my house, but I really wanted to be out in public. (needed a change of scenery!)

Here's a photo of me.....sitting at Panera enjoying the afternoon! You can tell by the photo that today is definitely an R & R day! I'm dressed in very comfy clothes and even threw a scarf over my hair so I wouldn't have to fuss with it!

Also pictured is my view at Panera Bread from my little round corner table!

It's been a fun day and I may even proceed to another diner for a later supper! This life of 'leisure' is great! Hope you all are having a fantastic day! I am sensing God's Presence and Power in a wonderful way lately. I am blest to know Christ and to know that HE knows and loves me! Best to you all!

2009-02-08T16:34:00.009-05:00

Hi friends,

Not too much that is newsworthy to write but thought I should let everyone know I'm alive and well! I've actually been busy "playing" on FACEBOOK!

Facebook is not new at all but I've just recently found it and it has allowed me to connect and re-connect with many friends and family. Facebook is a great program to use to network with like-minded people and it's just plain fun to find out what is happening in the lives of the folks you know! If you aren't already on facebook, check it out and join soon! Make sure you look me up and send a "friend request" to me!

Have a blessed day!

2009-01-31T07:47:00.007-05:00

Hope it's OK to highlight a blog that I enjoy...

I visit a blog titled "Lists From a College Girl" and enjoy reading the posts written by a cool Christian girl, Beth, from Michigan. I don't even recall how I 'stumbled' on her blog but I imagine it was through the blogger.com search on the word "Christian".

Anyway, Beth's January 27 post included a few very nice photo mosaics and I wanted to share them with you! I love how Beth used the photos and a few comments to depict an event and 'story'. I've done a few of these mosaics myself, at the Flickr web site but Beth did such a great job with hers! (Beth created her mosaics at picnik.com) I LOVE the thicker black borders that she selected and the minimal use of just four photos. I've seen mosaics like this done with MANY photos and that's appealing also, but in this case, "less is more", as four photos were definitely all that were needed to tell the story! "The Long Road Home" is my favorite mosaic!

I'm impressed with Beth's photos and wanted to highlight them, feel free to pop over to this college girl's blog to view her photos! (Sure hope that's OK with you, Beth!)

You will most likely see some of Beth's ideas in use on my own blog! Thanks for the great examples, Beth!

2009-01-30T19:43:00.008-05:00

Hi friends,

Cold symptoms are GONE and I'm finally feeling WELL again! I treated the symptoms this time as allergies and within a few days...VIOLA...I'm well! Praise God!

This week FLEW by, I can hardly believe it's already Friday....and the end of January! Tomorrow morning I'll attend my weekly Bible study then I will work tomorrow evening 5-11 pm. Sunday is church which is usually followed by some good times of fellowship lasting into the afternoon.

Funny how the weekends fly by even faster than the work week!

Blessings to you all!

2009-01-25T07:00:00.003-05:00

Grrr..... I can't believe that I've got ANOTHER cold!!

I'm sitting here with a stuffy nose and scratchy throat. I don't know....maybe it's allergies?? I've been treated before for allergy symptoms and the Clariton that I took at the time sure did the trick! Perhaps I should treat these symptoms as such.

Oh wow....gotta share this with you all! Last night I came home from work....an hour earlier than scheduled since my employer was out of town and 'dad' was in charge of the household. We had everything under control and he sent me home! Yippee! So, I arrived home and decided to color my hair. This time I used a dark brown color and WHAT A MESS I had! I was sure my forehead and ears would be stained blackish purple for weeks! As I was cleaning up all the excess color, including drips on the floor and even the wall, I decided that perhaps I shouldn't keep this color on my hair for the full 25 minutes. After about 15 minutes I hopped in the shower and rinsed my hair and washed. I actually decided NOT to shave my legs since I had just done that a few days ago and, as all you girls will agree....why do it if you don't NEED to!!!

Now, here's the amazing part.....! I got out of the shower, wrapped my hair, dried my body and headed to my bedroom and put on a shirt. I returned to the bathroom and hung up the towel and attempted to wipe off the counters and tidy the area and as I went to turn on the water.....THERE WAS NONE! Neither was there water in my kitchen! WOW....was I happy that I decided to rinse my hair after only 15 minutes, instead of the normal 25 minutes! Can you imagine having dark brown color on your hair and finding out you don't have WATER!!!???

Of course, I DO NOT believe in coincidences.....I fully trust that God orchestrated my getting into the shower to be fully washed and rinsed by the time the water shut off! HE knows all things and my hair coloring experience was not out of His observation and care!! Pretty amazing testimony, huh???

It's now Sunday morning and I'm still without water. I heated some Newman's Own Lemonade and added a tea bag to it in an effort to replicate my ever essential cup of morning tea. Not much luck....for future reference! After calling the water company, I learned that there is, indeed, a water line break just around the corner from my home and they say, "your water should be back on in a few hours". I'm thinking......do I want to go to church and brush my teeth and wash my face in the bathroom there????? It's early...guess I can wait the few hours to make that decision. I sort of wish I had slept late this morning!

Have a wonderful day today!

2009-01-21T21:34:00.007-05:00

I don't know....to me some of this agenda seems pretty far from God's agenda:

(taken from "Slice of Laodicea" blog and paraphrased from whitehouse.gov site)

"Within an hour of his swearing-in, the following was posted on the official White House website, as Obama’s immediate “civil rights” goals.

* Protect cross-dressing and transgenderism in workplace (including schools) through federal law: Pass “Employment non-discrimination Act” [EDNA] to prohibit “discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression”.

* Expand hate crime statutes, including the radical “Matthew Shepard Act” which would allow the federal government to prosecute and punish if the crime was perceived to be “motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived . . . gender, sexual orientation, gender identity” of the victim.

* “Reinvigorate” the federal Department of Justice to pursue prosecution current hate crime laws against citizens.

* Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA]

* Push for full civil unions and federal recognition of homosexual couples, with benefits equal to actual marriage. (This appears to be leading up to full federal recognition of same-sex “marriage”.)

* Allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military - repeal “Don’t ask don’t tell.”

* Use the federal government to expand adoptions of children by homosexuals.

* Using the federal government to push for more sex-education and contraception in schools and throughout society (especially in light of the goal to repeal DOMA)."

2009-01-20T10:52:00.006-05:00

Hi friends...

I'm blessed to have the day off work today and I just turned the TV on to catch the proceedings in Washington. This is a very influential day in the history of our country. I enjoy all the historical commentary as well as the interesting 'human interest' aspects of the proceedings. The coverage of this inauguration is a great venue for "people watching". I enjoy that too! Wow....it's incredible to see the 'age' that appears on the faces of many of the dignitaries of the past years.

As a Christian, though, it grieves my heart to watch our country head 'downhill'. I am saddened that God has been (is being) taken out of the foundational values and policies of our country. The leadership certainly does not personally acknowledge God nor seems to credit or trust in Him for his own life and salvation nor for the peace and prosperity of our country. Nonetheless, nothing occurs that has not first passed through the hands of our Lord. I continue to pray for our country, for our new leadership and especially for our service men and women who are serving our country.

I'm including a few words that I shared with a friend earlier today in an email. May we all "Seek first the kingdom of God".

“i just turned on the tv and am keeping my eye on the events in washington. incredible...the 'fuss' and hoopla that is occurring for this event. i find it curious that though the power of the Holy Spirit is WAY more than man's efforts could ever be......still man puts forth so much energy for the "things of man". if these same people would be surrendered to our Lord....imagine what the Holy Spirit would do in their lives and for His Kingdom! May God be glorified in our lives......in even the smallest way. THAT power (Holy Spirit power) will bring forth far more 'fruit' than even all this hoopla of today in DC. i just pray i can surrender daily to HIM.

Enjoy this Inauguration Day!

2009-01-19T20:46:00.006-05:00

More snow again today!

I wish I had been able to capture today's beautiful snowfall for all to see! The flakes started falling this afternoon. They were HUGE and seemed to fall so slowly...it was just breathtaking!

As I drove home from work later this evening, though the roads were nasty and I was focusing on driving, I was still able to appreciate the beauty of the fresh snow on the trees and bushes that I passed. I noticed one bush that was especially pretty; it was a leafless shrub of twigs and sticks, and it was covered with little white lights remaining from the holiday season. Today, with the new snow on the lights...it looked just lovely! I wished I had been able to stop to snap a photo! I DID scour my favorite photo sites and found this stock photo that seemed to capture some of the serenity and peace that I thought was present in today's snowfall.

Hope each of you are able to appreciate and experience the beauty of God's creation, the peace of His Presence and HOPE that He gives for the future!

2009-01-18T20:58:00.009-05:00

Another full day!

My day started when I left home....in a new layer of fresh, light snow...and headed to my church for the weekly worship service. The church I attend dedicated a new part-time Associate Pastor as he began his ministry at our church this week. He's been a youth pastor for the past 21 years and currently directs a regional organization that teaches and trains youth leaders.

For me, it was a real blessing to interact with this Spirit-filled man. This new pastor plays guitar and is a very gifted worship leader, leaning often to a more contemporary worship style. It was sure refreshing to be part of the worship team that is forming in our church. We began with an early rehearsal, where I accompanied a few songs on the piano, then Sunday School and then worship. The morning service was followed by a luncheon and fellowship at the church. This week, once again, I helped a gentleman of the church as I accompanied his trumpet solo with some background music of "Let There Be Peace On Earth". Another rehearsal or two and we will be ready to share the music at worship!

A few of the women of the church and I were having such a stimulating conversation and good fellowship after lunch that we decided to continue the session at the home of one of the women. It was nice to enjoy an extended time of 'girl talk' and Christian fellowship with two sisters in Christ. I decided at 8 pm that it was time to head home!

For the second time today, as I went outside to leave, I was greeted with new falling snow and a vehicle COVERED with white flakes! Fortunately, the snow was light and very easy to clean off my van. The roads were quite nasty, it was dark and I was in a neighborhood that was unfamiliar to me; I was glad that the Lord guided me home safely!

I'm now munching on a few pretzels and mostly 'listening' to a PBS television show about inhabitants of the North and South poles. I'm thrilled that I don't have to work tomorrow until 1 pm! I LOVE having my morning free...I normally spend extended time in devotions; prayer, Bible study and reading.

I hope everyone had a great Sunday! Stay warm....where ever you may be! And for those who are fortunate to have Martin Luther King day OFF WORK....enjoy the day!

2009-01-17T23:16:00.007-05:00

Hi blog friends!

Today I attended my weekly Bible study that is held in the food court of the Westfield Mall in Bridgeport, CT. I LOVE this study and look forward to it each week! Today our discussion and teaching was on (what I believe is the false doctrine of) "eternal security". I happen to believe that a Believer can chose to walk or drift away from Christ, no longer trusting Him as Savior and Lord of their life. I believe that one's salvation is only as 'secure' as one's FAITH is secure! Today we discussed the confused understanding that many have of God's Love and Salvation being the same thing; they are not the same thing. Anyway....the study and the fellowship were great today!

I then drove to Milford, the town where I lived when I first moved to CT. The Boston Post Road (Route 1) in Milford has absolutely ANYTHING that a person could need or want! Today my first "need" was a turn signal light bulb for my van so I headed to Pep Boys where I purchased the bulb and had it installed for a mere $5.00! Next stop was a late lunch of "Skillet Queso" and tortilla chips at Chili's. I solved a few crossword puzzles while I enjoyed my relaxing lunch! I then leisurely shopped for nearly 3 hours at a fairly new and HUGE Jo-Ann Fabric Store in Milford. The fabric selection at Jo-Ann Fabrics always seems endless! I browsed and shopped for fabric and other materials that I needed to begin some new craft projects. With all that shopping, I sure hope I stay motivated to dig into my crafting! I always have such BIG plans but too often end up with too little motivation!

All in all, I had a SUPER Saturday! This day of leisure was especially appreciated and enjoyed since this is my only work-free Saturday in January! I spent a few hours at the piano tonight, preparing for worship and piano accompaniment at church tomorrow. I'm now watching "Judge Judy" and catching up on blogging!

It is FREEZING here in CT; warmer than yesterday day, but still the high today was about 20 degrees! How's the weather where you are?

Hope you had a great day, no matter the weather!

2009-01-12T19:14:00.007-05:00

Just thought I'd display this photo that I took this morning. I was getting in my car to go pick up "Peanut" at school and noticed the ice on autumn's leftover hydrangeas.

It seemed that there might be a 'spiritual lesson' in this photo, but I've yet to 'hear' it. I was thinking that the dried hydrangeas are symbolic of the 'fragility' of one's life and the crusted icy snow...well...not sure. Any thoughts?

The photo helps convey the weather that we are dealing with here in CT. Coming later this week.....FRIGID COLD! I guess the temps are MUCH worse for folks in many other parts of the country, but HATS, COATS, BOOTS, SCARVES....(put them ON then take them OFF, then put them all ON again).....UGH....that all gets old fast!

May we all be warmed by God's LOVE, no matter the weather!

2009-01-11T17:07:00.005-05:00

Greetings from snowy Connecticut!

Yesterday afternoon and last night we got some snow and sometime during the night we received a covering of ice. Today was a beautiful sun-filled day! (Cold...but still SUNNY and bright) I snapped this photo as I returned home after church and grocery shopping. This is my downstairs neighbor's simple light display on a large shrub in the front of the house. It is very pretty with the snow-covered lights lit up at night.

About the time I needed to leave the house this morning to head to church, my landlord faithfully arrived and shoveled and scraped sidewalks and the driveway! YEAH! I was 'good to go' as soon as I scraped the ice and snow off my mini-van! I found the main roads clear and passable.

Church was good and I had a nice opportunity to visit with a few friends after church, even met a new girl from South Africa who has done nanny work in many different cities and countries! I also spent some time after the worship service assisting an older gentleman who is working on a trumpet solo (with my piano accompaniment) and was also able to provide piano accompaniment for a duet that the pastor and a woman of the congregation are practicing to share in the future. It is so rewarding to be able to assist anyone who wants to use their talents to glorify God! My piano playing is not "accomplished" by any means but comes from a very humble heart. I simply play to please the Lord and it seems that He honors that desire. People tell me often that the piano music sounds "so wonderful" and I have to laugh, cause I KNOW that it can only be a supernatural thing that God is doing in their ears! It reminds me in a very practical way that God is most concerned with our HEART condition and our attitudes that come from within, and not so much on the 'external' results! It's a wonderful thing to be able to provide this service for Him and I am thankful for the many piano lessons I was afforded as a young girl!

Next week is the start of a new (and very belated) contemporary Praise and Worship segment for the Sunday services at my church. I am SO looking forward to this opportunity to worship the Lord in a style that I find intimate and personal....direct from my heart to His!

We are anticipating COLD weather for the coming week. I'd rather be in Florida, visiting my parents and relaxing on the beach! Hope you all make each day count for eternity!

2009-01-03T09:52:00.007-05:00

Well, friends.....I am happy to report that today, I FINALLY feel a bit better! I think that after I shower and wash my hair, I MIGHT even feel GOOD about facing the day!

Ever have a "bout" of feeling crappy? UGH.....it's no fun! It SURE feels good to wake up with a new lease on life, though!

I will work later today from 3 pm - 9 pm but I'm not attending my regular Saturday Bible study this morning....it's been since the last Saturday in November that I've been there! I DO love to attend this Bible study that is held in the food court of a local mall and it's a great opportunity to share Christ and make His presence known...but not today.

On the "to do list" for today is a shower and then perhaps even tackle Wal-Mart and some other shopping. (The last toilet paper roll is just about empty!) My daughter is visiting. It was a surprise to come home from work last night and see her car here! How fun is that? I DO wish I was feeling a bit better, but I think I am on the road to recovery and surely will feel OPTIMUM soon!

May God SHOWER His best upon you today!

2009-01-01T20:26:00.004-05:00

I've been sick for weeks.....from a minor head cold to violent coughing, to sore throat, and now a stuffy nose along with watering eyes and runny nose. Go figure.....I haven't felt much like blogging.

SOMEDAY I will be feeling well and back in blogging form. 'Til then.....Happy New Year and may you all experience God's best this year!

2008-12-24T19:55:00.006-05:00

YEAH! Shopping is finished and gifts are wrapped!

Next on my list is to color my hair, shower and pack some clothes for a 2-day trip to PA. Then I'll be ready to sit down and enjoy some Christmas music and a late supper.

I'll be leaving early tomorrow morning and am SO looking forward to sharing Christmas 2008 with my family in PA. Oh....and a very Happy 89th Birthday wish to my mom who is in Florida for the winter!

A happy and holy Christmas to all......."and to all a good night" :)

2008-12-23T08:55:00.014-05:00

Here's something new that this "country bumpkin turned city slicker" experienced today....

Thanks to my mother's Christmas gift every year, I have been a member of AAA (American Automobile Association) since 1993. For all those years, I haven't had too many occasions to use AAA services, but when I have, their services have been INVALUABLE in my estimation!

Today I had to call AAA today to recharge my mini-van's dead battery. (I attempted to start the vehicle yesterday at 10:30 am and found it quite DEAD!)

I've had some warning signals in the past month that the battery might be screwy, but after taking the van to the place where I purchased it they assured me, after a test, that both the battery and the alternator were fine. Today confirmed for me that the battery is, indeed, NOT FINE! The AAA service man reported that a cell (inside the battery, I learned) is dead, which means the battery will no longer hold a full charge and likely not start again. (That is my interpretation of the serviceman's explanation...from my very limited understanding of cars and batteries!). Anyway, the AAA man said he could put a new battery in for just over $100.00 or I could find another place to have that service done. I opted for the 'other place', thinking I could save some money, and decided to run into my house, with the motor running and prepare to head to the nearest autozone or back to my dealer. After a few phone calls, I realized that $110.00 wasn't too bad of a price for the convenience of having the service done IN MY DRIVEWAY! Autozone, locally, wasn't able to install the battery, the dealer wasn't yet open for business and on and on. My decision? I called AAA back and asked them to come back and install a new battery for me! I'm happy with my decision. Yes...it will cost a bit more but this is SO EASY and CONVENIENT. I'm willing to pay for that service on this cold and frosty morning as it is! I am now waiting for the AAA serviceman to return and install the new battery.

Now, the new thing that I learned this morning (among other miscellaneous auto details) was that here in the CITY in CT there is an actual AAA service center that sends out their own service van's, equipped with all the batteries, jump cables and whatever else it is that they use to assist clients. Back in good old rural PA, AAA is normally performed by a local service contractor. You know, a "service station" that contracts with AAA to serve their clients. Back 'home', the customer calls a AAA hotline number and the AAA organization then contact the nearest local contractor to serve your needs. I think in the town where I grew up, there was ONE service station (out of only 4 stations in town) that was associated with AAA service! So, I learned something new and was very happy with my service!

Now....my next question was, "Do I tip this guy, or what?" Ah....in the spirit of the holiday....I gave him a nice tip and wished him Merry Christmas!

It has been a good 'day off work' so far and no matter if I need a new ($100.00) battery or not, I am enjoying the holiday already!

Season's best to you all!

2008-12-21T19:15:00.011-05:00

Anyone want to see photos of some craft projects that I made for Christmas gifts this year?

I just completed these three banners today. Whew...just in time for Christmas! Some ideas for these banners are to use them for wall decoration, as a drape over furniture, or cupboards, etc. or use as an accent or a window treatment.

The first photo is of two similar banners that I made for two wonderful little girls. Shhhh....don't tell them! These banners will be great to use as a 'valance' at the girl's bedroom windows and they match (co-ordinate with) the four wall hangings that the girls and I made a few years ago, which are now hanging over their beds. I used fabrics and scraps from that previous craft project and added some 'girly' embellishments. The banners really DO look much cuter in real life than the photo conveys.

The next photo is of a banner I made for my grandson's bedroom. While in PA over Thanksgiving vacation, I was able to get a pillow from the crib bedding that is in my grandson's bedroom. I purchased co-ordinating fabrics, added some embellishments to these flags and ended up with what I think is a really great banner! This banner looks great next to the matching crib pillow that I snatched from Tucker's bedroom and I'm hoping his mom will also enjoy this! (and is not reading this blog!) Of course, this grandma came up with an additional (more "fun") gift for Tucker, as well as a savings bond to start his investment portfolio!

What is pictured in this post is the extent of the craft projects that I did for Christmas gift giving this year. UNLESS, of course, I get a wild idea in the next few days!

Update on my cold...

I'm pretty convinced that I now have a sinus infection along with the cough and cold I am battling. I may have to see a doctor and am glad for Tuesday and Wednesday off work so that I can get treatment before I travel! Hope everyone is busily accomplishing their pre-Christmas tasks!

Happy Hanukkah!

2008-12-16T19:17:00.006-05:00

What's new with me? Not much...I'm getting over a cold and cough and feeling MUCH better every day! Allow me to share this report about some over the counter medication that I've found to be very beneficial!

I am very happy to recommend the medication ZICAM to anyone who battles colds and it's symptoms during the winter. I heard this medication advertised on the radio and the announcer sure sounded very convincing! I went out and purchased the stuff and have been using this medication (off and on) since early November. At the first sign of a sniffle, I start using! I am convinced that my most recent cold was drastically reduced to only minor symptoms and the duration of the 'inconvenience' was shortened significantly. The initial cold symptoms that I had really never even materialized into a full-blown cold.

I did, however, end up with some chest congestion and then started some coughing. I then went out and purchased MUCINEX, which was highly recommended to me by my employer. I am happy to report she was CORRECT! After just two pills of this medication, I am feeling and sounding MUCH better today!

Just thought I'd share those two recent finds. It is so great to find some over the counter medicine that really does what it claims to do!

Unfortunately the down-side to being a nanny and working with children is that the kids bring home EVERY BUG that is out there! I wash hands, use anti-bacterial gel and still.....I get sick! Oh well, today I am happy that I found ZICAM and MUCINEX! Try it for yourself!

2008-12-14T17:56:00.006-05:00

I suppose many of you have mile-long lists of things to do before the holiday! I've begun my 'to-do list' also but it's not too long. Life is fairly simple for me and I try NOT to complicate it!

I'm a bit Bah! Hum-Bug about Christmas, actually. You can read on "Walking God's Way" my feelings about the celebration of Christmas. In a nutshell, I'm not in agreement with the manner in which the Christian community has come to pass off Christmas as a 'holy day' or a God-ordained celebration. I've delved into the roots of the holiday and now take the position that Christmas is not a Biblical holy day and no where in scripture are Christians instructed to set aside December 25th to honor the Lord and worship Him. I view Christmas pretty much as a pagan holiday, complete with all the pagan rituals and practices, but now twisted, shaped and 'packaged' in a way that appears acceptable and palatable for Christian participation. BAH! (just my opinion)

In spite of all the negatives of Christmas, I must say, I DO enjoy the spirit of the holiday season, though. I appreciate the attitude of benevolence that is in the air, the special acts of kindness that people perform and the many occasions of fellowship and love that are shared during this season. I fully intend to embrace the season with a visit to PA, to visit family and loved ones. I will share my love in the form of special gifts and acts of kindness as well. I like the warmth of white lights and fireplaces, the smell of pumpkin pie and gingerbread cookies and so much more! I like snow falls here in New England, vacation days from work, holiday carols and PEACE ON EARTH. I actually began enjoying the 'season' before Thanksgiving and will continue through the winter. In all of these enjoyable activities, I continue to keep Christ central and honor Him each day.

As for the birth of Jesus? I celebrate the birth of the Christ in my life EVERY DAY. I proclaim His Name, share His Love, spread His Hope and so much more; this is the manner in which I chose to celebrate His birth.

All that said, allow me to post a photo of an activity that was enjoyed by my charges on Friday. The oldest daughter hosted a "Little Ladies Lunch" for 7 of her friends and part of that fun was decorating Gingerbread Houses! In advance, I made 12 Gingerbread Houses from graham crackers and icing and then provided gobs of candies, cereal and goodies as decorations! The 8 little girls had loads of sticky fun and the two younger children got to make their own Gingerbread Houses later in the day! This was a very simple activity that anyone could adapt depending on age. If you'd like instructions, just drop me a note!

Enjoy the season!

2008-12-14T09:45:00.015-05:00

I'm thinking that I might begin posting on this blog again.....

I am seeking a format through which I can share my life as a nanny, the projects I work on and the fun that I experience in my job; yet a concern is ever with me. As I attempt to share my daily activities on this blog site, my concern and struggle is how I can best capture and share the true essence of my experiences and yet NOT disclose any information that could potentially harm my employer, her family or others who may be inadvertently effected. It's a crazy world out there! One can never be too careful when accessing or divulging information on the Internet! Additionally, I understand that some folks simply prefer (or may require) to remain 'private'.

This writing struggle that I face today is a perfect example of my life as a "Country Bumpkin Gone City Slicker". Having been raised in a small community where "everybody knows your name and your business", I grew up trusting and relying on others to be discreet, caring and respectful of each other. Of course, there was always the neighborhood "busy-body" who found it a thrill to divulge certain tidbits of "information" when it was not necessary to do so, but by and large, people in my community were honest and respectful of others privacy, suffering or struggles. Within my own family, I cannot recall the sharing of slanderous or inappropriate 'gossip' at our dinner table or in a family setting. I was taught to display consideration and respect for others. Perhaps, therefore, I am too trusting today; I struggle when I encounter people who are skeptical, slanderous and just plain evil! Why ANYONE would want to do something hurtful or evil with small tidbits of information, (as found in a blog post) I can't imagine, but I DO know that the threat is real. In this world of the 21 century, it is all too common to observe heartlessness, self-centeredness and evil in people. It is with this great concern that I seek to share the fun experiences that occur in my life while at the same time, discretely honor the privacy of others!

If you recall, last summer, I shared many snippets of my daily life at summer camp, only to learn in September that my postings had left some people feeling violated, or at least they expressed the potential for that to my employer.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, please understand that as you read, you may find 'holes' in my writing or you may experience the feeling that there are "things left unwritten". I will utilize editorial liberty; all in an effort to maintain privacy of others. I may change names, use initials or simply use ______ (blanks) to avoid revealing a location, event or person. Mostly, I will just try to stick to 'general' information instead of person or location specific details. I WILL TRY!

Best to all as the holidays approach!

2008-11-29T20:30:00.007-05:00

This blog is no longer active.

Feel free to visit http://walkinggodsway.blogspot.com/

to view that blog and read the latest post.

2008-11-24T20:23:00.004-05:00

Greetings...

I know....it's been ages since I last posted on this blog! I guess I've lost a bit of enthusiasm for blogging.

Truth is, I'm finding it a bit difficult to share snippets of my life and NOT to include highlights and photos of my work and my lovely little charges, as I did in the past. If you readers recall that around mid-September I found it necessary to change direction of my blogging posts in an effort to more discretely protect information about my employer, her family and her work. It was much more fun blogging when I could share a slice of my life as a nanny and the various escapades of the three best kids in the world, but I completely understand the need for discretion in this crazy world we live in!

While I am quite thrilled with my life, I am sure that to most people, my daily life would appear very mundane and even 'weird'; maybe just plain 'nuts', to some! My "First Love" is Jesus Christ and serving Him in whatever way He needs. On a daily basis, I try very hard to stay focused on my relationship with Christ and the direction that He is leading me in service and in the work of His kingdom. I am not ashamed to say that it is my heart's desire that ALL of my thoughts would be from Him and of Him and that all my activities would fall directly under His umbrella of Godliness and Goodness. That is an extremely HUGE aspiration and I know very well that I am (and always will be) very far from that goal. HOWEVER, it is clear to me that just because a goal is HUGE and very lofty, it doesn't mean that I am excused from pressing on to reach the goal.

It is the Holy Spirit, I am sure, that is directing me to chose very carefully, the thoughts that I think, the words that I write and the messages that I share, specifically pertaining to blogging. Since I began blogging in early March of this year, I have maintained TWO blogs, one being about my work and related activities, and one that reflects my spiritual journey. While my "Walking God's Way" blog has very few readers, I have, nonetheless, decided that I will solely focus my blogging efforts on that blog, which is more in keeping with the goal for which I strive and the purpose for which I live. Therefore, I will discontinue THIS blog and will look forward to sharing my true and deepest thoughts and ramblings....about my first love...Jesus.

I completely understand if any current readers do not wish to 'follow' my blog 'footsteps' to my "Walking God's Way" blog. "Walking God's Way" is written to share where I am in my walk with Christ, to encourage other committed Christians in their own spiritual journey and to reflect on the teachings and Truth of Christ. If you DO read "Walking God's Way", you will soon learn that I have a deep love of Christ and very strong FAITH in God. In my life, there is little 'wiggle room' to make concessions or compromises that would condone or embrace other 'religions' or beliefs as Truth. For me, TRUTH is found in the Word of God; and it is my sole desire to live out that Truth.

Please understand that I am living a 'FAR from a perfect' walk with God! I am a WAY too weak and carnal Christian; and that grieves me much of the time. In no way do I want to condemn other bloggers or those who use blogging as a therapeutic activity or even as part of their income and work. I ENJOY blogging and writing as many others do and enjoy reading many blogs online! However, the choice to discontinue one of my two blogs, is one I'm making FOR ME, FOR NOW. This choice will allow me to focus more on Christ and the things of God; thoughts and words that have more 'eternal significance'.

While I will inevitably share some of the activities and events that are occurring in my life, please know that my writings in the new blog (well, new OLD blog) will be from the perspective that GOD is Creator and Controller of all things in my life and in this world. It is a Biblical foundation on which I stand and it is a Biblical perspective that leads me onward on my journey. At the same time, this spiritual walk, while I'm here on earth, is carried out while living in my own skin and body. Therefore, my walk varies; at times it is fallible or even foolish. "Walking God's Way" will reflect my spiritual walk...good and bad, certain and strong or weak and wavering. My heart to yours! Feel free to visit that blog at anytime or to pass the blog address on to others who may benefit from encouragement or the lifting up of the name of Jesus!

2008-11-09T14:57:00.006-05:00

Sunday greetings!

Spent some time at the beach today. The sun was shining so beautifully and today was the FIRST day in over a week that I could walk without pain in my "innards" so a walk on the beach was due!

My beach combing finds were two pieces of sea glass (green and clear), two rocks that were just 'pretty' and a very nice shell that was in good condition. I also got to talk with a few fishermen as I stood at the end of the pier. I noticed they had caught what I thought was a large Blue Fish but after our conversation, I learned that there are much larger Blue Fish out there in the sound than this one! Actually, the fishermen had to tell me the type of fish they had caught....I hadn't even noticed the huge fish in the nearby bucket as I asked if they had caught anything! Anyway, I like talking to strangers and learning. As I headed to my car, I saw quite a few people standing around with LARGE telescopes focused on a large mound of rocks by the edge of the water. I retrieved my own pair of very 'little' binoculars and realized that these local ornithologists were observing (stydying) a beautiful large white owl perched on one of the rocks! It was quite a breathtaking site, even with my little binoculars!

Oh, I wished I had carried my camera with me...just to capture the 'feel' of the beach on this wonderful sunny November day. When will I learn? :) Above is a stock photo of a 'snowy owl'.

My walk ended with breakfast out at a local diner then my return home to do some blogging, emailing and other online tasks. Just finished listening to a radio broadcast that is presented weekly by a man with whom I used to attend Bible study. This was my first listen and I found it pretty darn good! There were weak areas, but overall I got his point and it was presented VERY well. I have a few exceptions with what he shared, but I am thrilled that he is getting out there and sharing the message of HOPE IN CHRIST!

Next for this day will be....crafting! I have been looking for red glitter to repair a pair of shoes for one of my charges. "Peanut" is SOOOOOOOO into glitter and sparkle and now has two little pairs of slip-on "Mary Janes" covered in red and hot pink glitter! Both pairs of shoes have lost glitter on the end of the toe so I was able to find what I think will be matching glitter and I will now set about repairing the shoes! I'll share photos of the 'before and after'!

OK...off I go a-glittering!

2008-11-08T18:32:00.003-05:00

ugh.....i'm very bored with the look of this blog. blagh! i've used the templates on blogger to do my blogs and i can't seem to find a 'fit' that is right for me. i don't like the wide margins. seems like a total waste of space to me!

today was bible study at the mall.....which i love....then shopping and onward to another town to hit 'michaels' for craft supplies. i always go through the aisles practically SALIVATING with every new item and craft idea i have. yet.....i have MANY unfinished projects or visions...just waiting to be completed. motivation, motivation, motivation....

i decided to treat myself at Chili's for an early supper since there are no Chili's in the area where i live. so far i haven't felt any adverse effects from the "skillet queso" and tortillas that i ate. (you know....the whole possible "gastric" problems that i referred to in my last post)

i'm now home and trying to decide if i should take an Excedrin migraine for the headache i have. i haven't had any significant caffeine in over a week and Excedrin contains it. but....it also ALWAYS gets rid of my headaches. hmmm.

i'm going to relax a bit and pray :) more later bloggers.....

2008-11-07T21:30:00.013-05:00

Hi friends,

I'm alive and well in Norwalk! It's been 12 days since my last post and I apologize to all who faithfully read this blog and who are not 'subscribed' to a feed, therefore needing to check daily on this blog site for a new post. Did anyone wonder what I was up to? :)

Of course, as with any story or commentary, there are always details that make a story LONG; I'll spare you all the details and just say that I've been busy with work and even more, I've been feeling "under the weather" the last few weeks. I'll keep the story short, but it begins with a VERY aggravating and painful 'rotator cuff' problem. I've had the same symptoms previously and I'm convinced the current symptoms will pass, but unfortunately the pain is effecting my work and my overall well-being.

In the midst of the rotator (shoulder) problem, my daughter, who moved to CT to spend some interim time with me, decided that a move BACK to PA would be best for her. She moved back to her home in Lock Haven on Thursday, Oct. 30. One positive note is that since her move, she has secured employment in PA and when talking with her on the phone, sounds quite happy and optimistic about the new job.

The day my daughter moved I woke up with a migraine headache, treated it as I always do, with Excedrin Migraine and a heating pad and felt fine within an hour. As the day wore on, I began to feel a strange sense of 'jiggling' just under my sternum/chest with every step I took. If I walked VERY slowly, the pain/strange feeling wasn't there. Friday morning and Saturday mornings I woke again with a migraine headache, but both days the same 'home remedy' relieved the symptoms.

The whole situation was beginning to trouble me a bit and by Saturday afternoon, I felt the strange symptoms were significant enough to get checked at the local emergency room. *I resisted a LONG TIME since I'm WITHOUT health insurance at present time! My plan was to wait until the beginning of the year to subscribe to the insurance since the new plan requires a large deductible which is calculated per calender year. I figured....two months..... what could possibly happen??

Well, the emergency room doctors did test after test, standard blood tests, chest x-rays and more....only to determine that they weren't sure of the problem! Additionally, they COULD NOT conclusively rule out a heart related problem. The ER doctor (and residents) wanted to do additional testing to verify any or NO damage to the heart and strongly suggested I spend the night in the hospital. One particular test required a follow-up blood test 8 hr. after the initial test as well as a walking and nuclear stress test.

UGH....well, I can report that I DID spend the night in the hospital and decided by Sunday morning that I needed to check out and trust God! I wasn't ignoring the medical wisdom, but considering my lack of health insurance and the unavailability of the technician to perform the stress tests, I checked out and went home! The Drs. suggested that the symptoms I presented COULD be a result of the large doses of Ibuprofen/Motrin that I take. (I take it for bone and joint pain from arthritis regularly and additionally I took it round the clock through the summer for a toothache and more recently for my rotator cuff problem) Drs. also suggested that the current symptoms COULD be anxiety related. I came home with a prescription for "Previcid", which may help if the problems are gastric/stomach related. I decided to take the following day off work to rest and recoup and then dug back into the 'daily grind' on Tuesday, November 4. I began my new regime of NO ibuprofen and two Previcid daily.

Today is now Saturday and amazingly, I am feeling quite a bit better as each day passes! I can still sense the 'jiggling' in my "innards" as I walk or move, but am definitely feeling better! (because I don't have a clue what area inside me is being affected, I've taken to using the term 'innards' to localize my symptoms) :) Oh....did I mention that I have not had ANY COFFEE since last Saturday morning??????? I have a small amounts of caffeine, but am trying to stay away from it in large amounts. Nor have I taken any ibuprofen or other Motrin based medication!

Anyway....all of the above sort of explains my absence and lack of enthusiasm for blogging and computer use. I'm slowly getting back into the 'groove' of life and things are looking up! I even had a call from the hospital that eased my mind a bit regarding payment. I will be deemed a "charity case" eventually and my bill will be reduced. (hopefully by a HUGE amount!)

I truly wanted to get back in touch with my blog friends, just wasn't feeling quite up to it this week. I DID think to snap a few photos in the emergency room to share with the blog world! That's not a corpse or anything, just the pillow at the head end of my gurney! :)

Best to all for this Autumn weekend!

2008-10-26T17:17:00.006-04:00

Another glorious day in CT! The sun is shining, slight breeze is blowing and temps are in the mid-60's!

I played the piano this morning at church and spent some quality time with friends there. I am growing to love the church family where I currently worship and find the pastor VERY grounded in Truth. Today's message focused on 'false prophets' and confirmed exactly what was taught yesterday at an unrelated Bible Study that I attend every week.

Spent a few hours reading and 'sunning' at the beach and as I was driving home, I caught sight of an artist, seated by the side of the road overlooking the landmark stone bridge here in Darien, CT. She was capturing the beautiful sights of autumn on canvas. Wish I were an artist. :) Or....wish I had free time to develop the tiny glimmer of artistic talent that I have.

I re-potted two nice asparagus ferns into a single wooden crate to bring indoors for the winter. Not sure how that will work, as I THINK these ferns tend to be dirty. Anyone have any experience with asparagus ferns? So far, they look great and add some GREEN LIFE in my living room.

I have off work tomorrow and have a few tasks I want to accomplish. I am thinking I'll make a few posters/invitations that will help to promote an 'open door' prayer opportunity that my church is sponsoring next Saturday morning. I'll visit a few local 'hot spots' tomorrow and hang the finished posters on bulletin boards. (good reason to have lunch at Panera Bread!) I hope to do more work on the material that I am creating for nursing home visitation and ministry. It seems the closer I get to completing this project, the more material I find to enlarge and extend the project! I am also in the contemplating / planning stage of designing a project for two Christmas gifts and would like to do a bit of work on that project. So far, I have the 'vision' for the project, but I need to 'dig in' and start selecting fabrics and colors to use. I will be creating a 'lettered' flag banner for each of the girls to hang in their bedroom. I'll keep you posted on that project and provide more explanation and photos as it comes to fruition!

When I have a day off work, I seem to have the mindset that I should just RELAX and do nothing, yet, it is one of the few opportunities I have to take advantage of a large chunk of time and actually be productive! What's your vote? DO NOTHING or BE PRODUCTIVE???

2008-10-19T14:22:00.008-04:00

Sunday greetings to all...

Last night I worked from 5 pm until about 11 pm. I took materials along with me to do some crafting after all the little ones were soundly 'tucked in' for the night.

I enjoy making hair bands and barrettes for the two little girls that I care for. I've made many different styles of hairbands, clips and barrettes during this last year. For the hairbands, I use both the hard plastic-type and the stretchy elastic bands. I can't seem to locate the photos I have of the many hairbands I've made, but the themes have included 'spring flowers', patriotic, 'buttons and bows', glitter and gold, princess, back-to-school and other styles that match specific dresses that the girls have. The girls LOVE the hair bands and their teachers and other moms always look for new designs! Tomorrow the girls will be able to wear "Halloween Hairbands" to school!

I sorted through materials that I had on hand and was able to locate 3 black plastic headbands and miscellaneous ribbons and trim that would be suitable for a Halloween theme. Previously in the day I purchased a small pack of Halloween buttons to embellish the head bands. About 9:00 pm I set to work with the glue gun, scissors, wire cutters, ribbons and buttons. By 10:15 pm I had the new creations completed and the mess cleaned up! As I do most any type of craft, design or decorating project, I tend to create as I go. I select the raw materials and then let my creativity run!

Some crafters and artists enjoy lots of planning and long, tedious art and craft forms, like quilting, needlework and more detailed painting. I like "short and sweet" projects! Any project that can be completed in one sitting is SUPER for me! I enjoy most any activity that can be accomplished quickly and where I am able to see "instant" results. Flower arranging, computer graphics and even cleaning are some of my favorite past time activities that offer quick rewards for little effort and 'investment'. Recently, one of my MANY visionary 'schemes' has been to create bridal head pieces and sell online. I am a great one to 'DREAM', though I seldom 'DO'; I guess Vera Wang won't have to worry!

Anyone have any comments or thoughts about why some people can feel OK and 'at ease' doing long-term projects, while others (like me) need QUICK results and would become bored or perhaps frustrated with an 'open-ended' project? Which method is YOUR style and why? I'd love to hear from you!

2008-10-15T10:20:00.010-04:00

Hi friends...

Today I work from 12-9 pm so I'm taking a little time to post an update.

Not a whole lot of news here. I was glad to be back to work yesterday, even though my shift began at 7:30 am! I shuffled kids to schools, brought "Brubby" home for a morning nap then spent some time walking with the little guy at a local park. The ducks at the pond sure intrigued the 1 year old and the next time we visit that park we'll take 'food' for the ducks! Lunch for the kids and I consisted of leftovers and that was followed by afternoon naps, during which time I prepared a casserole for supper and did a bit of organizing/cleaning. My work day was capped off by another outing to pick up the oldest from school.

The cutest thing happened yesterday as we traveled back and forth to school. "Peanut" announced during our morning travel time that she saw a "John Deere" sign! I found it odd that she would have recognized the familiar (to me) green and yellow trademark colors of John Deere, but remembered that she is quite familiar with a John Deere "Gator", a golf cart-like utility cart, that the family uses during the summer and assumed she spotted an advertisement for John Deere along the road. (though HIGHLY unlikely in Fairfield County, CT) Unfortunately no one else saw the sign so we just commented to Peanut and acknowledged her discovery.

On the return trip in the afternoon, I decided to take the same route to the school, specifically so that Peanut could view the sign again...as we hadn't been able to find it on the way home during the morning run. (must admit I WAS a bit curious about this sign!)

As we drove, I began asking questions about this "John Deere" sign and after much investigation, realized that the sign "had antlers", as Peanut described. I truly had no clue that a John Deere logo included a picture of an antlered deer.

I smiled as I drove and realized NOW what Peanut had seen! I finally spotted the big yellow sign, right by the edge of the road and yep.....there was a picture of an antlered deer, leaping across the sign!

Of course, what Peanut had seen was a sign indicating potential "deer crossing" in the area. Somehow, somewhere, Peanut had become familiar with a John Deere logo, enough to associate this very similar "deer" image on the highway sign with "JOHN DEERE". :) How cute is that?

What a joy to be a nanny for these three wonderful kids!

2008-10-12T17:00:00.018-04:00

Did a bit more photo snapping today since our weather here in CT was fabulously warm and sunny! Any photos below can be enlarged with a click!

I spent two hours at the beach this afternoon and as I left, noticed these three empty chairs.

As I drive home from Darien to Norwalk (where I live), I pass a small cemetery in the town of Rowayton. Today I drove into the cemetery grounds, parked my car and started snapping photos.
Here are two photos taken at the cemetery. I like the fall foliage with the flag!

I live quite close to this very large high school in Norwalk; so close that I hear the band playing at the football and other games nearly every night! This "country bumpkin" came from a high school graduating class of about 85 students! A GENEROUS 'guesstimate' would have been about 500 students MAX. in the entire 7-12 grades at good old West Snyder High School! Brien McMahon High School is HUGE! Take a gander at other pics and read about the school's history and demographics....very interesting to compare this city school to Midd-West High School, a school in rural, 'small town' PA where I grew up. *Take note of the average teacher's salary at this school in Norwalk....$89,587.00! Any PA teachers want to move to CT? Although, be advised that Norwalk teachers pay about $1500.00 - $2000.00 AND UP for rent each month for a reasonable home or apartment! Guess it's all relative!

The last photo is of my home. I live in the upstairs apartment. The house was recently painted and new shutters were added. I think they were brown formerly and now are maroon. Anyway, I have a very well maintained home and good landlord. I'm blessed.

I began my day at church and was blessed as a church member shared his personal testimony and reminded us all that God IS who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do! It was a strong message of FAITH.

Tomorrow is another day off work for me...guess I'll celebrate Columbus Day!

2008-10-11T21:16:00.009-04:00

Hi bloggers...

I was snapping photos today as I journaled my activities of the day!

This first photo I took as I drove home from my weekly Bible study. This highway is the Merritt Parkway, which I think is a lovely stretch of road running east and west through CT. I snapped the photo to try to capture the fall foliage, which really is not even near it's peak yet. The Merritt Parkway was named for a US Congressman and was opened in 1938. It is one of the oldest scenic parkways in the US. Check out more information on the Merritt Parkway at Wikiepedia.com.

Following Bible study at the mall in Trumbull, CT, I had my van washed. Pictured is my Ford Freestar mini-van going through the car wash at "Splash". The cool thing at this car wash are the two 'soap guns' that are shown in the photo. I asked the two youngsters who are pictured to demonstrate the "soap guns" for my photo...they happily obliged! I have been known to use the guns myself on occasion! They shoot colored soap foam onto the vehicle as it passes in front of the window!

Next photo was taken at Pear Point Beach in Darien today. I spent about 3-4 hours relaxing at this beach and taking in the wonderful SUNSHINE that was very abundant in CT today! I clipped recipes and did some crossword puzzles as I enjoyed the sun! If you click on this photo to enlarge it, you will see the northern coast of Long Island in the distance!

The last photo I snapped as I drove home from the beach. This stone bridge is a landmark of the town of Darien, CT and really is quite beautiful in architecture and style. For more history and photos on this bridge and town of Darien, visit the Wikiepedia link of Darien, CT. I pass over this bridge nearly every day as I go about my duties related to work.

In the middle of my leisure activities today, I stripped my bed and laundered my sheets and blankets. I dried all of those items outdoors and now my entire bedroom smells of fresh linen! Can't wait to crawl under clean sheets! YUM!

I had a lovely day today and am thoroughly enjoying my 3-day weekend! Hope your weekend is going well!

2008-10-10T20:26:00.013-04:00

Ah.....a THREE day weekend! I am so blessed to have paid vacations and Monday, as you know, is Columbus Day!

I'm dragging once again tonight. Not so much from work, as my daily duties were fairly light today. (Grandpa was visiting and shared the afternoon with the girls, making pottery projects!) My biggest tasks today were preparing two meals "from scratch"; Chopstick Chicken, a family favorite casserole for lunch and a big pot of vegetable chili and home made cornbread for dinner. After those tasks were accomplished, I spent the late afternoon playing at the beach with a 1 year old!

We are having a wonderful streak of BEAUTIFUL weather; much more like September than October! I am relishing every moment of it!

This evening after work, my daughter and I popped in to Subway and picked up the $5.00 foot long sub deal. We went to a nearby park to share our sub and I enjoyed a relaxing time. We then headed to the dreaded grocery store... where we spent the next 1 1/2 hours stocking up on necessities and other "NON-NECESSARY" stuff of course!

How many of you come home from the grocery store with FAR MORE than you ever planned on purchasing? And.....Have you ever bought stuff that you were SURE you HAD to have, only to end up throwing it out 'cause you didn't get around to using it????? Oh....I am guilty there! What a waste!

We Americans live very carelessly and even "extravagantly", compared to many people in the world. From those of us who are moderately secure in our finances (IF there are any of those folks left these days!!) to the poorest of Americans, we have it better than many, many people of third world countries! I have often said that if schools sent their students on 'class trips' to third world countries, instead of the Bahamas and Jamaica and other vacation spots, Americans would grow to be a more conservative and much more THANKFUL and THRIFTY nation.

Anyway....it's GOOD to be home and relaxing for the next THREE days!
I pray weekend blessings to all!!

2008-10-08T20:40:00.007-04:00

This has been a long week....and it's only Wednesday!

I have worked 8 am - 4 pm three days this week and I guess I'm just not used to the early morning 'daily grind'. The whole "early to bed, early to rise" philosophy has not been working very well for me lately!

Now, I have worked many jobs when I have had to report to work even earlier than 8 am and I actually ENJOYED the morning hours and had no problems heading out to work early, but for some reason, these days.....I appreciate and enjoy a 'slow start' in the morning. I like my cup (or two) of tea in the morning and I cherish the extended morning hours for Bible reading, prayer and meditation.

Perhaps because my brain is still on "summer hours" schedule, or perhaps it's sipmly that I have not been getting the sleep I need, I don't know, but I am not feeling "on top of my game" this week. I have a few aches and pains that are occuring with this 'out of the ordinary' work schedule and that fact doesn't make the days (specifically the mornings) any easier!

Well, tonight I am sure THANKFUL that tomorrow's work day begins at 11 am! **OH....Happy Big "40" Birthday to my nephew, Brandon! WOW...40 years!!!

What time do YOU get up and 'out the door'?

2008-10-05T15:16:00.009-04:00

Hi bloggers! Happy Sunday Afternoon!

This morning was my weekly worship service and fellowship afterward. The morning at church was very enriching. I came home and straightened up my bedroom, my closet and my mess of shoes, clothes and various 'eBay auction items' that are designated for sale this week. After those tasks were finished, I decided to forage for some lunch.

What I found in the fridge was a surprise! Seems my daughter was at it again and made a quiche yesterday. It looked yummy and smelled even better! After I spread some cream cheese and some 'pumpkin butter' on a bagel, I decided my little plate of lunch looked so good I'd snap a photo and share it with the world! I have now consumed my lunch which consisted of a delicious portion of vegetable quiche, a mini-bagel and cup of hot tea! Lunch was great! The day is going fabulously and I am a 'happy camper'!

How was YOUR lunch today and who was the cook?

OFF TO THE BEACH

2008-10-04T14:24:00.009-04:00

Not sure where you are or what your weather is today but here in Norwalk it is a GLORIOUS autumnal 60 degree day! I am off to the beach for some solace and intermittent sunshine!

I work tonight at 6 pm and need to close my eyes and pray, dream, sleep...whatever for an hour or so before squaring off with three little ones for the evening!

Anyone else have sunshine today? Care to share how (or if) you got to enjoy the SUN today?

Best to all of you! Hope you experienced SON-shine in your life today also!

2008-10-02T09:33:00.013-04:00

Good Morning Blog friends!

Today I work from noon until 8 pm so I have some time this morning to post an update on life!

While my daughter continues to cook at home, I do all my cooking at work! Yesterday I cleaned a whole chicken which I roasted the day before...took me the better part of an hour! I then made a new recipe, "Chicken Stew with Biscuits". (stock photo) My employer bought a new cookbook with 'down home' type recipes; this recipe was one she wanted to try. I left work at 3 pm yesterday so I haven't gotten the report on the finished product and the 'review' from the children yet! The 'stew' part tasted very good and all my employer had to do was to top it with canned biscuits and bake. It sure looked good!

I worked so hard yesterday, I was DRAGGING til I got home! Not sure why, but I guess just NON-STOP action is tiring! My youngest charge is SO BUSY!! He literally CLIMBS everything! He 's actually quite good at climbing but, he IS only 1 and of course, there are spills and falls and required assistance and supervision while he practices his new skills of climbing! My part in that equation forces me to drop everything else that needs to be accomplished, which then forces me to work DOUBLE-TIME while he is napping! Oh well....a little work never hurt anyone. A friend of mine always says, as I whine about being tired, "you'll sleep well tonight"! Waaa, waaaa....I'd prefer sympathy! :)

Best to all for this day!

2008-09-28T17:29:00.012-04:00

Happy Sunday evening!

I spent the afternoon today cleaning out my closet! Forty-eight empty hangers later, I have a large garbage bag ready to take to the Goodwill and have also uploaded 36 photos in preparation to sell some of my better clothing items on eBay! Tonight I will take a stab at compiling eBay ads and posting some VERY CHEAP auctions! Some of the clothing are very nice and thought I might be able to sell them online...we'll see! (even a little extra cash helps pay for Starbucks!) I'll keep you posted on the auctions!

I am learning that an added benefit of having my daughter living with me is that she enjoys COOKING! I am enjoying a slice of really TASTY green pepper, onion and black olive pizza that she made just moments ago! (Had to snap a photo!) Wish you all were here so you could enjoy a slice too!

2008-09-27T21:18:00.006-04:00

Well, I did it! I purchased a TV this evening!

It has been over a year since I packed up my television and this past spring gave it to my daughter who was in need of a new, digital TV. Because my daughter lived out of a very small bedroom in a house with other college girls in PA, she decided to put her TV on a very high corner shelf in her bedroom.

This week my daughter moved to CT to spend a few months working and living with her mom (me) in CT. I'm so happy to have her here with me and am hoping for the best for her related to work and leisure for the next few months. I sort of figured that Megan wouldn't be moving the TV that I had given her last spring with her when she moved to CT and I wondered how long she would be content to live without a television in my home! I honestly think she would have lasted a bit longer, but today I suggested that perhaps we should do some TV shopping! Meg was obviously agreeable with the idea and after a trip to Best Buy, we decided to check Wal-Mart before purchasing at Best Buy. After finding a clerk at Wal-Mart that actually had some knowledge of the television sets that were on display, we decided on an economical, 19" flat screen model and purchased at Wal-Mart. About $250.00 later, we left Wal-Mart with the new TV!

Meg placed the TV in the living room, thinking that would be a better location than in her bedroom...just in case I may also want to watch the TV on occasion. Well, already tonight I joined her to watch Seinfeld on FOX network. The color was great, contrast and other settings seemed perfect and everything was just right! And the bonus is that it seems that since so many shows are now going digital, I am able to pick up many more digital channels than in the past! I don't have cable, but am able to get many channels with a decent set of rabbit ear antenna.

So, all seems well in my home tonight! Meg watched a bit of the Penn State football game and then turned the TV off! I snapped a photo to share on my blog! Yes, the new TV is currently sitting on a dining room table that is in a corner of my living room. My home furnishings really aren't designed to have a TELEVISION SET as a focal point...so we sort of improvised and used the dining room table! I'm sure the TV will be appreciated in the next few months!

I am brushing up on my piano playing this evening as I will be accompanying the hymns tomorrow in church! I'm looking forward to that ministry tomorrow at my church in Darien, CT.

Best wishes to all....

2008-09-26T20:59:00.018-04:00

Hi friends....

I am a self-professed a-political "pilgrim", passing through this land and on my way to heaven. That makes me normally not inclined to be involved or active in the political realm. This year, however, I actually registered to vote and I may well cast my vote this November. Tonight I am anxiously awaiting the presidential debate!

Unfortunately, I feel that the situation in our country most likely won't get any better, no matter who is elected president this fall. I take my rest and find my peace knowing that I am simply an 'alien' in this land and my home and inheiritance are in heaven. When 'push comes to shove'....all that really matters is the condition of our soul....not our wallets, our home or our jobs.

It sounds idealistic, but it's Truth. In the last chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes:

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." NIV

Anyone for "Pheasant Under Glass" ?

2008-09-22T21:10:00.012-04:00

Well, I might be a 'country bumpkin' but I sure never had to cook a PHEASANT, or any type of wild game, before today! I'm actually not even sure that what I cooked today WAS pheasant!

I returned to work today after a 10 day vacation and as I was scanning the refrigerator for suitable food to prepare for lunch and dinner, I found some type of GAME item, dressed and ready to cook, and in a vacuum sealed bag! UGH....I was pretty sure this food item was in the fridge for MY benefit....so that I could prepare it for dinner tonight! When I asked my employer (I'm a nanny, for any new reader) what type of bird this was, she said she had no clue, nor did her husband! But, she DID know that a friend had given it to her husband and it was ready to use, as it had been frozen and recently thawed.

Well, as much as I dreaded the task, I set out to determine what to do with it and how to prepare it! My employer has an old (vintage) cook book that I occasionally use, (cause my mother has one just like it!) and wouldn't you know....there was a recipe for PHEASANT! Also were instructions to prepare Quail, Snipe, Duck and other small birds. UGH!!!! My suspicions were confirmed as I read that this smaller bird (whatever it was) should be prepared just like chicken. I followed the preparation instructions, added some garlic and thyme and water, stuck the bird in the oven and headed to the playground for about an hour this afternoon!

Viola! This bird turned out much like chicken and was well received by all the kids! The children never even batted an eye as they chowed down on the meat that I'm sure they suspected was chicken! I must add that I also made a pot of black beans and rice, in case the entree didn't go over too well, and that is what I ate for dinner! It's a stretch for me to even eat chicken off the bone so I certainly wasn't about to try this unknown bird! It seemed a bit dry, but the recipe stated that it would. I suppose tomorrow I'll need to take the meat off the bone and stretch the meat to make another meal. Anyone have any good ideas?

Well, guess now I can add one more recipe to my file and one more cooking experience under my belt! I felt a bit like a real 'pioneer' today!

Please note the new format of this blog! Don't forget to change your settings and title of this blog on your favorites list! THANKS!

2008-09-21T20:45:00.027-04:00

I spent the last 10 days on vacation from work! It was a lovely vacation but I am very ready to get back into the groove of work and routine! I love my job and look forward to work tomorrow.

While on vacation, I visited my family in central PA. I enjoyed the slow, quiet life in the country but am very happy to be 'home' in CT. My grandson, Tucker, is now just about 4 months of age. Of course, I think he's the cutest baby ever!

The Beaver Fair, an agricultural “county fair” was in full swing (their 80th year!) the week I visited PA. (If you visit the link to the Beaver Fair, on the right side margin of the home page, you can view the logo that I designed and created a few years ago for a contest sponsored by the fair organization commemorating the 75th year of the Beaver Fair!)

Following are a few photos from The Beaver Fair in Pennsylvania!

2008-09-18T23:24:00.007-04:00

Hi Bloggers...

I am officially announcing tonight that this blog will be taking on a new 'identity'. I will no longer be posting details of my work experiences or information about my charges or the family that I serve. While it was enjoyable for me to recapture the sweetness of childhood and the uniqueness of the children for whom I care, I want to honor the privacy of the children and their family and will no longer share the everyday activities of my charges or my interaction with them with the blogging community. Though I made every effort to be sensitive to the identities and privacy of the children and family, it seems I inadvertently exposed some information that could have been potentially dangerous or revealing for the families of clients of my employer. I am extremely sorry for any inappropriate posts and certainly never intended, as my employer knows, to jeopardize the integrity of her business, clients, work or family. I have expressed my apologies to my employer and am happy to shift the focus of my writing to another aspect of my life!

I am, however, a bit uncertain of the direction I will go with my blog posts in the future. My hope is to find some snippets of life that will be of interest or encouragement to others. I actually think my life is quite boring and uneventful save for the interesting job that I have caring for the three best kids on the planet!

Perhaps I will share my "country bumpkin gone city slicker" perspective of life in Connecticut. While I don't see myself as a 'city slicker', I DO definitely feel I still carry within me my 'country' roots and values...and, I definitely live in the city and am part of the busy and crazy tri-state area that surrounds New York City,one of the busiest cities in the world!

Having just returned from the rural life of central PA and back to city life of CT...I can testify that there is GOOD and BAD everywhere one travels. There is no PERFECT location, nor is there a PERFECT type of person. We must always learn to appreciate the 'not so good' stuff in life along with the GOOD things. Perhaps, my blog posts should focus on finding the GOOD in all situations and all people. I'll think about that....seems it would sure be a positive exercise for ME...to write with that focus in mind. It would do us all good to continually seek out the GOOD in other people, places and things.

Till I have more time to think about my 'new' blog.... Goodnight and God bless us all!

2008-09-11T21:32:00.009-04:00

Oh my....there is always a FIRST for everything! I am 53 years old and never called in to a 'talk radio' station....until tonight!

Anyone listen to 77 WABC news radio? It's out of NYC but I actually listen via the web. I have been enjoying the various programs lately and the commentary on the political race and other issues. Tonights' program on the Bob Grant show was focused on the anniversary of the attack on Sept. 11, 7 years ago. Mr. Grant was asking listeners to call in and share their recollection of that terrible day.

I called in because I felt it important to share my perspective as someone who did not live in this tri-state area during the time of 9-11. I had heard mentioned in the past, the very significant way that 9-11 effected almost every person who resides in the tri-state (NY, NJ and CT) area.

I recall feeling the horror and grief of this terrible day, as people all over the country did, but it was not until I moved to CT that I began to realize just how profoundly this terrible attack effected the people of this particular area. You can talk to almost any person and each one will have known someone who lived and worked in the city at the time of the attack. It's a little like just 'hearing about' the death of someone as opposed to EXPERIENCING the actual death of a loved one. Intimate experience of an event changes one's entire perspective and view of that event. New Yorkers as well as residents of New Jersey and Connecticut experienced this terrible and tragic event in our nation's history in ways unlike any other residents of our country.

I must admit that I was a bit 'nervous' to call in; I don't speak well "off the cuff". I MUCH prefer to write or to read what I want to say. Bob Grant comes across on his radio program often as quite 'hostile' and I SURE didn't want to be yelled at like he does many of his callers! Because of the topic, I felt fairly 'safe' that he would respect my comments and listen. He did...and the call went well! He actually thanked me for my call.....which he DOES NOT do for too many of his callers!

If you have opportunity, check out the 77 WABC News radio web site and listen online to some very good programs and commentary. Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and others...

On another note: I began a 10 day vacation today at 3:30 pm!! Whoo Hoo! I have photos and experiences from this past week that I want to share, but just haven't had the time or enthusiasm to do the posting! I hope to relax and have some free time during my vacation and I'll update you all as I'm able!

May We Never Forget....September 11, 2001

2008-09-07T18:29:00.015-04:00

(finished office space)

A few days ago, I mentioned that I was beginning a project to reorganize, compress and move my personal office space and all related items from a spare bedroom, into a corner in my bedroom. Well, the project is FINISHED!

Today I began my office project by preparing the desktop; covering a board that I purchased yesterday at Home Depot. Using white contact paper, I covered a 60" board that will replace a pre-made, 7 foot countertop that I used in my previous office space. Have you ever used contact paper to cover a large item? UGH, that task alone called for patience and diligence!

I then tackled what seemed like an insurmountable task, to clear off the current desktop so that I could move the two filing cabinets to the bedroom, providing the base for the new desktop.
(previous office space)

After all was moved to the new location in my bedroom, I decided to cover a few more items with contact paper to tie the desk, shelves and ‘cubbies’ together.
('before' space in bedroom)

I also purchased some fabric yesterday, found at Wal-Mart for $1.50 a yard, to make a skirt for the desk base and various other projects that hadn’t been decided on yesterday! I bought 5 yards of each fabric; one, as you can see is a dark and lighter plum stripe and the other is a plum background with creamy flowers…sort of a ‘calico’ type pattern. After the desk was assembled, I began making the skirt by simply folding the fabric to the correct length then taking tucks around the outside of the desktop about every 4 inches and anchoring it with a thumbtack! Pretty darn EASY and CHEAP!

The next project I decided to undertake was to cover a very unsightly ‘varnished’ door that leads to a storage closet directly behind the desk area. I covered this door with the dark plum stripe (using DUCK TAPE to anchor it...I won't show you the INSIDE of the door and no one else will see it either!) I then hung a 22-pocket shoe organizer on the front of the door, to use for storing small office type items. I also covered the ‘header’ of the organizer with a strip of the coordinating ‘calico’ fabric. (Very cute and "custom made"!)

I tend to go ‘fabric crazy’ when it comes to making over a room or decorating. I find it SO easy to simply measure and RIP!!! I covered a black plastic 5-drawer chest (from Staples) that I have used for years and it now looks like it fits right in with the new office décor!

Another project I did was to make a ‘skirt’ for a shelving unit that I use in the 'dressing area' of my bedroom. Many years ago, I became spoiled by having a large walk-in “California” closet and since that time, I have stored all my clothes on shelves instead of in drawers. (MUCH simpler and easier!) Since moving to this apartment, I have used ‘make-shift’ shelving including an over the toilet organizer that I had used in a previous home. For over a year, I have looked at a huge empty and unsightly space under the shelves (where the toilet would be) and where now my laundry basket has fit perfectly. Today I now have transformed the ugly space into a cute shelf, complete with calico ‘skirting’ that conceals the dirty laundry! One cool thing about this project was that as I fooled around, trying to attach the skirt to the metal frame of the shelf, I could not, for the life of me, think what type of bracket or fastener I could use to attach and gather the fabric. I finally, after trying a few options, decided that I would simply TEMPORARILY use clothespins and then scout around for a different type of fastener in the future. Well, just as I moved on to another project, I found a long strip of the dark plum fabric and, "VOILA", I got the idea to wrap a fabric sash around the entire shelf and simply HIDE the clothes pins! (except I think one may be peeking through in the photo) I secured the wide sash with a big knot and cut the ends to make it look so pretty! It turned out very cute and I had to take a photo of that project also!

I THINK I have covered the basics of this project. The pictures probably don’t do the entire project justice...you are invited to come and see it in person!

I am very happy with the outcome of my new cozy bedroom office and it was SO inexpensive and easy! Oh..Another cool thing…I can now use my laptop at my new desk AND while I’m snuggled in bed, without having to even unplug the computer! YIPPEE! Isn’t life grand? It sure doesn’t take much to thrill me!

Hope you enjoy the photos of today’s project! My jaw is considerably better and I even forgot to take my meds at the scheduled time, which I guess is a good indication of no pain!

2008-09-05T19:21:00.007-04:00

OK....here's my dentist update for anyone who cares!

After nearly 2 hours on the dental chair and at least 7 shots of novocaine, I still experienced pain. The dentist called in his associate and I received yet ANOTHER shot of novocaine...and still pain when the dentist blasted it with air. The conclusion was that I must have an odd bone structure at the area of this tooth and therefore the numbing would not get through to the nerve. Though, thankfully, all around the tooth was quite numb!!

My dentist's recommendation was that I go to a specialist who would be able to reach the BONE with novocaine, a procedure that is not done in my dentist's office. Added to the $1500.00 for the pending root canal AND the price of a crown on top of that, would be another $300.00 for services for the specialist! Anyone guess what my next question was???? You guessed it!!! I asked the dentist, "What about PULLING THE TOOTH"??

Obviously, that was not a scenario that my dentist wanted to do, but he realized that my finances can only go so far. I refuse to become deeply indebted with bills that I can not keep up with and that would quickly get over my head. Because I knew I would already be needing a temporary partial for a few other missing lower teeth, I opted to have the molar (today's problem) pulled and simply added to the lower partial. And.....did you know this? That when you get a partial...it doesn't matter HOW MANY teeth are included in it, the price is the same! So...I will soon become the proud (?) owner of a few FAKE lower teeth!

What is someone to do? You know? My dental insurance ran out in May and I don't see any type of good dental insurance in my future, unless I give up the job I really enjoy and go back to the work force where I would no longer be self-employed..so I was forced to make a choice today. It may not have been the optimum choice of many people, but finding myself in the pinch (literally!) that I was in today...I decided that I will simply have to adjust to life with a few fake teeth!

I must say, through the entire, 2 1/2 hour ordeal, God faithfully kept me calm and at ease. As I got up from the dental chair, I said to the dentist, "God is good, and so were you"! :) (He liked that!)

My employer ended up taking the kids to the beach this afternoon to meet a friend and she INSISTED I go home to recouperate! How nice! I finished up a few tasks while the kids were all away and by 4:45 pm I left for home. The evening has been quiet and I just finished my supper....a little cup of pudding!

Has anyone else ever had a tooth pulled on the dentist's chair? I'm getting pretty good at it and am always AMAZED how really simple and quick the procedure is! (And THAT is coming from a major 'dental-phobic')

Well, here's hoping we all sleep well tonight and have a blessed and PAIN-FREE Saturday!

2008-09-04T22:21:00.006-04:00

This nanny will be heading to the DENTIST tomorrow morning! Grrr....I think I'd rather have a baby than a ROOT CANAL! Oh well, I have been dealing with pain for some time so the root canal should be a relief!If anyone thinks of it, feel free to offer a prayer on my behalf tomorrow morning! I am a HUGE 'scaredy-cat' with the dentist!

I DO recall many many years ago, when I was about 10 years old and needing to go to the dentist. My mom advised me to PRAY since I was feeling afraid. I prayed and asked God to somehow "make me not be afraid". Well....the testimony is that during my time on the dental chair, a young boy arrived at the dentist's office and for some VERY ODD reason, the dentist brought the young boy right by my side, to observe what actually happens while in the dentist chair! The dentist advised me, on the side, that it would be good of me to act "brave" so that the young boy would not be afraid. Wouldn't you know, that did the trick for me that day and I was as brave as any soldier on the front line! What's even better.....is that this was the first time in my life that I KNEW that God was real and that "He is who He says He is" and "He will DO what He says He will do"!!

God has a way of showing Himself to us....if we just ask!

I'll report back tomorrow! Have a good Friday!

This is where I live!

2008-03-28T16:21:00.006-04:00

Ok….for my sister who wanted to see photos of my apartment here are a few shots of my humble, 2nd floor abode! I took the pics. at her request cause I KNEW the place was clean and somewhat orderly! I’ve been quite productive since my return to CT! Included are photos of my transformed office/craft room. Now on to crafting!
Hmmm...I may have to do another post to add more pics.