Just Precious!

Enjoy this precious video of two baby moose playing in a sprinkler with their mother watching over them.  Have a beautiful new week everyone.  Enjoy...

BEWARE OF IDENTITY THEFT THIS EASTER !!!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

Gardens and Prayer In Need

It's been far too long since I posted or visited any of you dear ladies in Blogland.  Life has a way of getting in the way of frivolity on occasion, doesn't it?  As much as I love blogging and bloggers, let's face it.  In the big picture, it's frivolity.  Wonderful frivolity, but frivolity!  It seems like life has been filled with one crisis after another for the last couple of years.  I've had to take a few unwanted breaks from blogging, which I regret.  Spending time in the blogs of the many wonderful friends I've met in this techno world is a most pleasant time of escape! 

My parents are in a real crisis, the simple result of the growing older.  Many of you know that my precious father is in the end stage of pulmonary disease.  He had another heart attack in January and there is in a battle going on between the frailness of body and the desires of a man 40 years younger.  He wants to work hard and drive a car and do his own car and house repairs.  He wants to carry the groceries in for my mother and take her dinner.  None of that is possible now, as he is restricted to sitting in his chair with oxygen every waking hour.  My mother is fairly healthy for a nearly 80 year old woman.  However, heartbreaking sadness has struck again.  She is rapidly going blind from macular degeneration.  I am heartbroken because I strongly pushed her to have cataract surgery.  I went to Tennessee a couple of weeks ago to take her and spent a week afterward.  The cataract surgery has caused her slow moving dry type macular disease to change to a very rapid, much more serious form of wet macular degeneration.  She will lose her vision rapidly.  The only hope to slow the loss down is to begin a treatment of month injections in the eye.  I am heartsick for my poor little mother and I am suffering with terrific guilt that I so strongly pushed her to have the cataract surgery.  Of course I thought it would help her, since she is the only driver in the home when I can't be there.  I mean, unfortunately I can't go down there just to pick up prescriptions or get groceries.  But oh my gosh, what have I done.

My husband and I have been to my parents home 600 miles away four times since Christmas.  We often have to plan these trips immediately after my infusion at the chemo clinic when, to be truthful, I feel as if I can barely take care of myself, not to speak of taking care of others!  We leave again soon and will be making at least monthly trips to take care of everyday business as well as repairs and their medical visits.  It is an incredible "job" to single handedly care for elderly, ill parents, as many of you already know.  But they're incredible parents and it's an incredible heartbreak.  So it's an incredibly easy choice to make.  I am one of four children in my family and this job is mine alone it seems, for a variety of reasons, some absolutely valid, some not.  I never forget the blessing of the husband I have, who willingly and joyously sacrifices and helps me to care for my parents and their home.  We've talked many times about the loneliness and sadness of being alone in this journey and we can only come to the conclusion that we can only answer to God for ourselves and it is the right thing for us to do on so many levels.  I cherish my parents and I will be inconsolable when either are gone, though I know they will be healthy again and joyous with God their Savior.  That thought helps me to face these heart rendering trips to their home, when my mind expects to see two beautiful, energetic people waiting for us with the pool and the barbecue ready! 

If you are a believer I would cherish your prayers for my parents and for me as we face these final days as a complete family on earth together.  Since there's been a bit of storm in my life lately I enjoyed this little poem, oh so true!  I hope you enjoy it too.


Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

How To Plant Your Garden

First, you Come to the garden alone,

while the dew is still on the roses....

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING...

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peace of mind

2. Peace of heart

3. Peace of soul


PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH...

1. Squash gossip

2. Squash indifference

3. Squash grumbling

4. Squash selfishness


PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE...

1. Lettuce be faithful

2. Lettuce be kind

3. Lettuce be patient

4. Lettuce really love one another


NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS...

1. Turnip for meetings

2. Turnip for service

3 Turnip to help one another



TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other

2. Thyme for family

3. Thyme for friends

4 Thyme for prayer


WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN...BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

Take Care of George!

I thought these pictures were kind of cool.  They were taken today from an upper floor of a hotel on Wikiki Beach.  My nephew is working on a movie there starring George Clooney.  I recieved several texts from him today - my nephew, not George!  He and the crew were evacuated to upper levels and watched the changes in the ocean from the windows.  Thank God the tsunami was far less serious that it could have been and those gorgeous treasures of beaches were not damaged and there were no injuries or loss of life or even business.  George Clooney is one beautiful man so, though concerned about my sweet nephew as I was, I told him to make sure to take care of George at all cost...he's a national treasure!

This pictures shows the ocean as it was being drawn out to sea before the surge.

This picture shows the thankfully small surge of water right up to the hotel - not much beach left for a while today.

Finally, I just noticed that this if my 400th post!  Time flies when you're having fun!  Have a beautiful new week, Ladies!

CA NA DUH

Now that Vancouver is hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, these are some questions people from all over the world are asking.   Believe it or not these questions about Canada were posted on an International Tourism Website.  Obviously the answers are a joke, but the questions were really asked!


Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (England)

A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.



Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the streets?(USA)

A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.



Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto - can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only four thousand miles.  Take lots of water.



Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada ? (Sweden)

A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.



Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada ? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax? (England)

A: No, so you'd better bring a few extra furs for trading purposes.



Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada? (USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North...oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary. Come naked.



Q: Which direction is North in Canada ? (USA)

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.



Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada? (England)

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.



Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)

A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and in Calgary, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.



Q: Do you have perfume in Canada? (Germany)

A: No, WE don't stink.



Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada? (USA)

A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.



Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada? (USA)

A: Only at Thanksgiving.



Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany)

A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.



Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada , but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA)

A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.



Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)

A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.

A Valentine Weekend

It's Silver Sunday and Mosaic Monday!  I have some pics of the Valentine's dinner party/Bible study we had at our house Saturday night.  My husband surprised me with the most gorgeous pink (my favorite) long stemmed roses as well as a magnificent pink and white rose centerpiece for our table.  We had a wonderful evening with dear friends.  I have begun using my silver regularly rather than saving it for "someday".  It occurred to me one day, exactly WHAT am I saving it for?  Who more special will I ever serve at my table than my husband and children and grandchildren?  Each time I use my beautiful silver flatware memories flood my mind of happy newlywed days when I was so excited to be married and setting my own table with my own silver and candles daily!  I leave you with some photos and mosaics of my Valentine's table and some other things from around my house - my mantle, family room coffee table, and living room hall and coffee tables.

 Be sure to stop by Gypsy Fish to find the list of participants in Silver Sunday and Little Red House for participants in Mosaic Monday.

The china my husband and I received for our wedding has a silver pattern and rim...

These napkin rings are silver and pearl with some sparkle between the pearls...

I love the delicacy of this sugar shell...

The silver capped salt shaker is an antique, the pepper shaker is not.  I like them mismatched!

Coconut cream and fudge pies were served on pink heart dessert plates and eaten with nothing other than silver dessert forks...

On the table in our family room, an antique silver tray compliments a large glass container with candle and Valentine ribbon...

A hammered aluminum chafing dish...

A vintage aluminum tray holds glasses, lemons, and sweetener for beverage - iced tea, of course...

An old silver pie server on scalloped milk glass dessert plates...

Our Valentine mantle...

Our sweet son dropped by today with these flowers for me...

The gorgeous roses from my husband...

And the centerpiece he surpised me with...

Candles and candy around the centerpiece, which sits on the cake plate matching the milk glass dessert plates...

The front entry table decorated for love...

The table scarf was hand crocheted by my grandmother...