Shades of White

Window Art

From the kid who constantly grumbled about art classes.

 

One of Those Days

 

 

 

 

I Love Sundays

Find a comfortable chair in the sun and...

 

 

Daybook 17 January 2011

Picture thought . . .

My farm lane...beautiful winter

Outside my window . . . 

Deep snow

Blowing and falling snow

Birds at rest in the rows of pines

Darkness 

I am listening to . . .

The scanner

Ambulance calls (prayer)

Tow trucks needed

Snow plow drivers going in for the night

I am wearing . . .

L.L. Bean flannel lined jeans

A turtleneck (always)

Light blue hooded sweatshirt

I am so grateful for . . .

Family

Kitty purring

The green goddess (aka the wood stove)

Beautiful winter 

I'm pondering . . . 

Growing in God through solitude

I am reading . . . 

The Quest for Serenity by G. H Morling.

Is there another book that captivates my thoughts as his?

I am thinking . . . 

I need to fold my laundry

I am creating . . . 

A Wright Brothers Award for a Civil Air Patrol cadet

On my iPod . . . 

Walden by Thoreau

Interesting to read;

Lacks a dose of reality

Around the house . . . 

Sorting, tossing, organizingl

From the kitchen . . .

 Baked apples sprinkled with your choice:

Brown sugar or cinnamon

Rhythm and beauty in our home . . . 

The church year

The cycle of the moon

Watching the sun move through the constellations

Morning meditation, evening prayer

A wall hanging that says:

Live simply, love life, give generously 

The church year in our home . . . 

Epiphany

The baptism of Our Lord

A quietness that follows Christmas

One of my favorite things . . .

My electric mattress pad

Recent milestones . . .

I've been doing my stretches and weights almost daily

The week ahead. . .

CAP

Visiting mom and my in-laws

Seeing a friend

Full moon

Cooking, cleaning

Cooking, cleaning

Grading papers and homeschooling

Hm. Maybe I'll mail my Christmas cards...

(Daybook idea was snitched from Kerry :)

Time Out

When the phone rings, you answer, right?

Jog-Walk Ponderings (AKA The Not-Much-Of-A-Runner's Journal)

A few stretches and now the running shoes, phone in my pocket (in case of an emergency...you know--a twisted ankle, cattle out, collapsing on the road due to lack of air...), keys (they might lock the doors while I'm out), donkey cookies (she gets mad if I pass her pasture and I don't give her something)--yup. Ready to go.

Hmmm. Sunshine. Fresh breeze. A little chilly. Let's start by walking. 

Walk, walk, walk, walk.

The birds are lively this morning--lots of chatter in the pines.

O.K. Ready for a short run.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.

Better walk a bit again to make sure the muscles are loose enough.

Walk, walk, walk, walk.

Jog, jog, jog...knee hurts, shuffle. shuffle, shuffle. Better walk a bit more to let it rest.

Big decision. The big hill 1st thing or last? No big decision. Turn left and leave the big hill behind me. Time to run!

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.

The pasture is growing up thick, covered with white dandelion heads. Turn the corner and head down the little hill. Legs getting tired.

Oh, good. A hill. I can walk again. Look! It's Penelope in her pasture. She's ignoring me this morning. No cookies for her.

Walk, walk, walk.

Top of the hill. Turn and go back down. A truck is coming. Should I look like I'm checking cattle? Taking a walk? Running? I guess I'll walk. Wave. Smile.

He's gone. Time to run.

Lots of horse manure on the road. Amish buggies. Weave through the droppings until we start climbing the next hill.

Walk time!

I think that tri-colored black bird is going to dive bomb me. It must have a nest in the tall grass along the roadside. Just so it doesn't attack by droppings...Time to unzip the hooded sweatshirt. Breath deeply. Close eyes.

Oops. Walking off the side of the road.

We made it to the top AGAIN! Turn. Run!

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.

WALK! (Heavy breathing.)

The BIG HILL. Yup. Going to do it.

Pant, pant, pant.

Turn and down the hill. Run! Go! All the way to the mail box! Turn the corner and into the drive! YES!!!

Cool down. Walk. Walk.

Nice day! Glad I got out. :)

Monday

...The beginning of another week

Monday: Hair cut

Tuesday: Civil Air Patrol

Wednesday: Astronomy program for 60 students

Thursday: Astronomy business meeting (club #1)

Friday: Astronomy night (club #2)

Saturday: Shop for a mother-of-the-bride dress?

Spring cleaning, grading tests, watching the farm...

Life.

Just For Fun

I found this silly-something at The Author's Corner.

Rules:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, ipod,etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.


IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?  “The Parting Glass”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?  “Learn to Be Lonely”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? "Vesti La Giubba” (translates to "put on the costume")

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?  “Holy, Holy, Holy (Hosanna)”

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? “God is in Control”

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO? “Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh”

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? “The Lord is King”

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?  “The Beggarman Jig”

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? “ The Lord is Present in His Sanctuary”

WHAT IS 2 + 2? “Crusader March”

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? “The Four Seasons , “Autumn”

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? “Little Lotte”

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? “My Sweet Lady”

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? “Come Holy Spirit”

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?  “Christmas Oratorio”

Tip of the Day

The emergency generator should not be stored in a building that is accessible only through the use of an electric garage door opener.

Someday...

There are many countries I would like to visit:

China
I always thought this would be a beautiful place--the wall, the terracotta warriors, the water buffalo in the river winding through unique mountains.

Eastern Europe
I've seen parts of western Europe, but I've heard enough about the eastern countries that have interested me--the people, the land, and not so much tourism.

Puget Sound
Not a country, but I read a book as a child that was set here. Always wanted to see it myself.

Prince Edward Island
Not a country either but this one comes from reading Anne, of course.

Nepal
I've had many friends who lived here--one had a view of Mt. Everest from her windows.

Scotland
We drove through this country way too fast. I'd like to return. Stonehenges, sheep, idyllic landscapes...

Scandinavia
Fjords and reindeer and women who knit so much and so well.

Israel
The country of my Lord.

Japan
The home of many of my international students whom I taught English--a welcoming people.

I bet I forgot some...

What about you?

The Things We Do...

I was standing at the top of the hill on the edge of a cornfield with my camera, watching the dusk settle upon the farm and the clouds move across the sky when our neighbors came running by--their dad muttered something about "the things we do to stay alive" as he passed me. That made me smile.

Next week my daughter and I are traveling to a reunion in Kentucky. She is sewing a Jane Austen style dress for an English Country Dance. We are shopping and packing and planning--and figuring our route with Mapquest (although hubby says he'll loan me his Garmin he uses for work). Today is sewing day. Do you think we can make a dress in a day?

Tonight promises to be clear and perfect for a star party. I'll be spending the evening on our astronomy club's hill...should be the perfect way to end the day!

Enjoy the weekend!

Blubble Wrap

I'm going to wrap my hubby in bubble wrap.

And all the cars, too.

After totaling his car last week, he borrowed mine. While stopped at a stoplight today, someone nicked him--didn't see him until it was too late. It doesn't sound serious, but still...

Anyone have bubble wrap to donate to the cause?

Meme: Two Words

I usually avoid doing memes. I found this one on Vox Vendsel and wanted to try it so....

You can add your answers to my comment box or link to your blog if you want to try it, too :).

1. Where is your cell phone?
       My pocket
2. Where is your significant other?
       Far away :(
3. Your hair?
       Curly girl
4. Your mother?
       White haired
5. Your father?
       Sadly missed
6. Your favorite thing?
       Watching, thinking
7. Your dream last night?
      I dreamt?
8. Your favorite drink?
       Spicy Chai
9. Your dream/goal?
       Godly, gentle
10. The room you’re in?
       Dining room
11. Your hobby?
       Night Sky
12. Your fear?
       Family's well-being
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?
       Happily here
14. Where were you last night?
       Grandma's house
15. What you’re not?
       Dyed hair
16. Muffins?
       Home made
17. One of your wish list items?
       Gracious patio
18. Where you grew up?
       Why, Wisconsin!
19. The last thing you did?
       Ate lunch
20. What are you wearing?
       Shorts, apron
21. Your TV?
       Second hand
22. Your pets?
       Seven cats!
23. Your computer?
       Dell laptop
24. Your life?
       Autumn years
25. Your mood?
       Content, grateful
26. Missing someone?
       Oh, yes.
27. Your car?
       Toyota Siena
28. Something you’re not wearing?
       Reading glasses
29. Favorite store?
       L.L. Bean
30. Your summer?
       So busy!
31. Like someone?
       Like manyones
32. Your favorite color?
       White shades (of course)
33. When is the last time you laughed?
       Just did
34. Last time you cried?
       Church yesterday

A Nearly Full Strawberry Moon

Can you stop long enough to answer a couple of questions?

When you stop to visit my blog, what is that brings you here?

What types of blog posts do you enjoy the most? (I know there are kitty fans here, but are there other things you like to see? Farm? Astronomy? Photography? My thoughts on motherhood? Homeschooling? Or?)

How often do you come to visit? Once a week? Once a month? Occasionally? Or?

What could I do more of or better?

Any other comments?

I'm just musing over what I want to do with my blog. If I knew what people enjoyed the most, it would influence my musings :).

Thanks.

A Friendly Hello

I went to visit my cousins. This is who welcomed me at the door.