TRANSITION

September 22nd is almost here! Fall will arrive! Some blossoms are beginning to fade, Fall ones are coming on...the tomatoes and blueberries are on their "last legs", but the grapes, kiwi and nectarines are ripening nicely! I took some photos around our yard this afternoon that show these very things.

You wouldn't want to see photos of me in transition! I can go from Spring to Winter in an hour! However, the transition comes less often, not welcomed nor enjoyed and the joy of sharing all my moments with my Lord becomes paramount. This morning in church, two words were spoken that added to my journey in this life. It was not a Bible verse, but just two words intertwined with others, that made a difference...not in spiritual growth, but in perspective! In about a week, I'll share those words. They are in the process of being printed on a T shirt, along with other appropriate words! The past 5 weeks have caused a "soaring of my spirit"...cementing my purpose and therefore my passion!

Yesterday...I attended an event in one of the downtown parks with a couple of friends...found some great items, including a couple of Christmas gifts. Can you believe Christmas is only a smidge over 3 months away! Earlier that day, I went to a soccer game that 2 of my grandkids were playing in. They're just learning the game at age 4...not what they expected. My granddaughter is EXTREMELY competitive, you know, a Legend In Her Own Mind type of thought...she was already pro, screaming crowds, etc. Well, the reality was that she got kicked in the shin (by one of her own teammates, no less), a big bully boy (not really), on the other team kicked the ball away as she was about to score and, she realized that the other team was making way more goals! This caused her to fold her arms across her chest (always a sign of impending trouble), march off the field, announcing she was quitting soccer, never playing again, it was too hard! (At her mother's wise insistence, she returned to the field as part of the TEAM!) My grandson hung in there, although I'm told on the way home, he too was DONE with soccer. He's waiting for baseball. His sister hates baseball! However today, they are both anticipating their next game!

Even earlier than the soccer game, I was a guest at a bridal shower for my daughter-in-law's sister, who is getting married early next month. It was so much fun...beautiful people, food and surroundings! Whenever I attend a shower or a wedding, I find that part of me is a little jealous. You know, all is ahead of them...not many mistakes made yet...and they have all this opportunity to get it right! Then, I remember I had the same opportunity...all was fresh and new, the anticipation was huge and we both KNEW what it would take to keep it continuing to be fresh and new! What it has become and will continue to be, is a journey of love, disappointment, love, anger, love, self-centerdness, love, disbelief, love, loneliness, love, laughter, love, tears, love, but above all, commitment! We have the Lord to thank for that, because in our own strength, we may not survive the hard days! (Don'cha know?!) I'm traveling to North Dakota later this month, so thought I'd throw that in! ;-)

I hear that the channel has been changed in the next room...why, I do believe I hear...can it be? football! Actually, I don't mind, rather enjoy it! So, enjoy your evening, whatever it is and have a beautiful and blessed week!

SOME PICS AND A BIT OF THIS AND THAT

I love making a few changes in my home here and there...rearrange nic-nacs, a little paint, a new pillow...nothing too major (yet!) Wait till next Spring, though...have BIG plans for the kitchen. So as you can see by the pictures above, my fireplace mantel is now black and I love it! It used to be a glaring white that just didn't compliment the look I was going for. My hubby also phoned me about a great buy on a wicker trunk, so moved out the footstool and in with the trunk. He also phoned me about a VERY great buy on a wicker rocker. That just didn't go with my living room (actually, no room for it as you can see!), so moved it into the bedroom and it makes for a cozy corner for reading and Bible study. My desk is just to the right of it. Very nice.

I moved a bedroom lamp to an end table in the living room, purchased another table lamp on sale, bought a "boat basket", placed it on its side on the mantel, bought a few silk flowers, snipped and arranged, added some candles and voila...it has a totally new look.

In the kitchen, I purchased an old tray, probably from the '50s, and placed my folded cloth napkins on it. Have had trouble with my computer "freezing up" tonight, so don't know if I can get anymore pictures on at this time. Will try.

We'll be camping, doing some traveling and helping with a wedding between now and mid-October, so probably won't be writing until then. I do have some subjects (surprise!) that I very much want to share thoughts on, so hope you'll check back!

GREAT RECIPE FOR FREEZING CORN

How quickly time goes! I did not realize how long it's been since I've posted anything here! What with summer camping, 3 or 4 short trips and a myriad of other things, time does get away!

One of my little projects this summer was to freeze corn. My hubby shucked 75 ears one afternoon, and I cut the kernels off of 60 of those ears! This recipe is so delicious! Out of 60 ears, I got about 12 freezer bags, each filled with 2 or 3 cups of cooked corn.

8 cups of raw corn cut off the cob
1 cup half & half
1 stick margarine
2 Tbs sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt

I doubled this recipe, completed it, then started over again with another double batch.

Mix and bring to boil, continue boiling and stirring constantly for 5 minutes. (Be sure to stir as it can easily burn) Cool by placing pan into sink filled with ice water. Bag and freeze. To serve, place bag in hot water until it loosens, than dump corn into a pan and heat thoroughly. Enjoy!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

This is the 12th year that I have not looked for that special Mother's Day card. I loved to read and purchase the ones that made me cry...then I knew they were really good!

I didn't know any of the women ancestors in my family beyond my grandmother's. On my dad's side of the family, I remember his mom so well. I often spent the night with her and grandpa. She would let me take her long white hair out of it's bun, and comb it. Grandpa always made sure to caution me, somewhat gruffly as I remember, to be careful and not hurt her. She would assure him I wasn't. The next morning I pretended to enjoy the lumpy mush or oatmeal that she made for my breakfast! My grandma had 8 children. She had 2 sons, then a daughter, then another son (my dad), then another son who died at birth, then another son who died accidentally when he was 4, then she had her 7th child, a girl, who is the only living sibling, and then her 8th and last child, a girl, who lived just 6 days. I often wish I had been of an age where I would have been mature enough to talk to her about the deaths of these children. I am sure I know how she found strength during those tragedy's, and that was through God's word. Her Bible was well marked. She had a very sweet spirit and I look forward to seeing her again!

My mother's mom was of Swedish descent and came to this country with her son and daughter (my mom), in 1914. My grandfather had been working here and saved enough money to send for her and his children. He was a police constable before coming to the US. Six years later my grandparents had another daughter, who is the only living sibling. This grandma was very short, as opposed to my paternal grandma, who was tall (like me!). My little Swedish grandma became a widow in her early 40's, and never remarried. She never lost her heavy accent. She was a very hard-working woman. Both she and my grandfather became US citizens and learned English. I sometimes spent the night with her and she was so thrilled. She was a harder woman to get close to and again, I wish I would have had more maturity as a child, more compassion. I look forward to seeing her again!

My mom was a shy person and suffered from mild depression. She loved my dad very much and loved me and my brother. She was known as a "giver" and liked to help others. My dad passed away in 1980 and my mom in 1997. She did not remarry and I know there were some lonely times for her. But she filled them with things and people that she enjoyed. She very much enjoyed all six of her grandchildren and would be thrilled to know she has 16 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren!

We are a part of all those who have gone before us...one grandma's height, (and I like to think I've developed her sweet spirit, or at least am in the process!), the other's tenacity, my mother's love of care-giving, and other qualities given me by the beautiful women I have yet to meet! The picture above is of my paternal grandmother as a little girl, and the other picture is a rare one of my very shy mother!

What a glorious reunion we will all have when God calls us home! So, Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful women...past, present and future!!

BLUE SKIES, GRAY SKIES, SUN AND RAIN

My lovely sister-in-law passed away May 4, 2009. She was 69 years old and my husband's only sibling. She was diagnosed with breast cancer about 7 years ago and it has been a continuing battle, metastisizing to many places in her body. Praise God, she was a follower of Christ. She is singing with the angels; healed; home. What a joy and blessing to know that we will spend forever with one another and with our saved families and friends!

Recently, one of my daughters and I left on a 4 day trip together...mainly to visit her son in college, but did leave one day early to just have a getaway at the beach. What pleasure to write in the sand, find treasures washed up on the shoreline, feel the salty breeze and gaze into the forever horizon. Bitter cold and raining one afternoon while the morning brought sunny skies and warmth! Amazing!

Visiting a 21 year old grandson in college is also amazing! The familiar and oft-used phrase..."how did that happen"...comes to mind. Yet I know exactly how it happened...I got old! He's still young! Reading news articles that give ages of the deceased, or the victim of an accident or crime, makes me gasp if the given age is 70, give or take 5 years. They are referred to as an "elderly person". Well, the faces may be more or less creased with wrinkles, but the heart and mind isn't!! I don't "feel" old. But lately, I do think I've begun to understand that I am getting there! My eyes tear up more easily, I long for things I can't have, loneliness overcomes me more often and the aches and pains hit a bit harder and more frequently. I have never been a complainer, but find I want to be! Guess it's just a call for understanding, not sympathy.

I'm a bit of a "ramblin' rose" today! Gonna' head for the shower and get ready for the day, since I've already had breakfast and lunch! Got hooked on watching DaVinci's Inquest this morning. No, not THAT DaVinci...this guy's a coroner on a TV crime serial. Good program! Hope you're blessed with a beautiful day!

FRIENDSHIPS AND ........

The handsome gentleman in the above picture, is a personal friend that I visit once or twice a year! He never gets any older and therefore doesn't realize that I do! He's really a "steady Eddy", don't you think? ;-)

We spent 3 wonderful days with my best friend and her hubby, over the Easter holiday. Had such a great time. My best friend and I met when we were age 5. We've had such a special sense of how to keep our friendship going...even after a terrible year in high school where we didn't speak to one another for several months! I don't really remember who "went first" to patch things up, but we did! That's pretty tough when you're a teenager of 16! Our lives after high school went a different direction, and other than for a short period of time, we haven't lived in the same town, or even state for that matter. We have lived 4 hours apart for the last several years and talk on the phone frequently. Even though we were half a continent away from one another for an extended period of time, we never lost our connection. How precious to have a friend that has known you since you were a child, and can still laugh, cry, reminisce over one another's families, and feel that we are truly sisters! Love you, best bud!

When I was young, it was difficult to have more than one friend at a time, unless it was a very large group and no two were "best" friends. There was an exception to this when 4 of us just got along and had the best time together! I think that was due to personalities that just meshed. But as I age, my heart has expanded and made room for several friends. Some are only a distant memory now, others are simply gone, yet many remain so necessary to me. By this, I mean there are friends that cause me to think more than I'd like to, sometimes! Others that keep me in stitches. Some who bring out a more tender, compassionate side of me and still others who are steady and reliable. Each one fills a niche in me whose loss would be noticed if they weren't in my life! I also have a cousin that is like a sister to me! We no longer live in the same area, but each time we visit one another, it's like it was yesterday! The most special part, is that nearly all of my friends are saved, and we get to spend forever together!! Whoo-hoo! :-)

One of my friends and I went to the mall the day after we returned from our getaway. My friend walked out with such an adorable puppy! A little 3 month old Bichon/Poodle mix. She has future plans for him to be a hospital therapy dog! What an inspiration that is. This particular friend has health issues that would have laid flat the strongest of men! God picks her up time and again and gives her the most amazing joy I've seen in a person! The next day we met at the vet's...her puppy for a well-puppy checkup and my dog for his rabies and bordatella vaccine. So, all the best to her and Benjie!

Also this week, visited one of my daughters a couple of times, had fun conversations with my son and also my other two daughters. My oldest daughter and her hubby will be visiting soon! Today, I had lunch with another friend, and as usual, the time went too quickly! We could visit for hours, if we could find those extra hours! Tomorrow night, some fairly new friends are coming to dinner, and we are both looking forward to that.

To round up the next couple of months, going on a 4 day trip with one of my daughters to visit her son in college, modeling in a hair and fashion show in mid-May, attending my son's college graduation and a grandson's high school graduation when another daughter and grandkids will be visiting, then in early June, having shoulder surgery if I don't chicken out! :(

Intersperse this with birthday club, church activities and some home projects, and I should lost a pound or two!

I am so excited about my home projects, and expect to get those underway this next week! Or, maybe not, as I look at my calendar realistically. Wish I could just phase out sleep!

WHAT AM I THINKING?

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Keep it short,
Or your readers will be few!

Just read on the internet that written articles on blogs should be short and sweet! Mine are long and opinionated! Well, well! So, I guess that answers my question as to why I'd put out a request to nearly 50 people to read and comment, and about 2 a day check it out, no comments and about zero time spent reading! Sorry about that! Guess this will be for my venting time! She was a legend in her own mind! ;-)