bits and pieces

One advantage of sleeplessness is that you can see what is happening in the neighborhood during the middle of the night. Not that I spy on my neighbors or anything.

Last night between one and two a.m. two vehicles pulled up to a spec home up on the hill. This home has been for sale for well over a year. Shadowy figures moved back and forth from the vehicles to the house. This morning the cars are still there. Yay! New neighbors!

There has been a lot more activity real estate wise in our little subdivision in the past month. A good sign?

~~~~~~

Our car is back in our possession. Our wallet is $700 lighter, but we are thankful to have the problem fixed and pray that the car lasts one more year (without anything else major going wrong).

~~~~~~

Daniel went to the ENT Dr. yesterday. You may remember that he had a nasal polyp removed last October. It was very rare for them to recur. Guess what? Mr. Three- Concussions- in -Two -Years had a polyp-like thingy removed from his nasal passage. Now he can breathe again.

I will spare you all the details he gave us. We are just thankful that he is okay and are praying that maybe, just maybe, during his senior year of college he will not have to be hospitalized or taken to the emergency room or have weird things taken out of his nose.

~~~~~~~

I have had a difficult time commenting on other blogs these past few days. Anyone else having trouble?

~~~~~

My brother Roger and my nephews and niece are coming down for a visit today. Unfortunately my sister-in-law Cheryl has to work. But we are looking forward to a nice time with the rest of the crew. I made some french bread yesterday and will put together a pan of lasagna for tonight.

~~~~~~

That is about it from here. Have a great weekend everyone!

tall tale

After transacting my business at the bank yesterday I headed for the door.
Something caught my attention on the door jamb. I hadn't noticed it before, so I think it is new.


It looked (something) like this (blogger is not cooperating with spacing today):

-

6 -

-

5 -

It took a moment for me to realize what it was. A means for the tellers and the security camera to estimate someone's height.

With the sorry state of the economy and unemployment on the rise, bank robberies are occurring more frequently.

With the handy dandy door tool, we will be able to know how tall the 'perp' is.

I think I will do my banking at the drive-up window.

Then I went to the grocery store. The man in front of me at the check-out line had a rather large looking hunting knife in a sheath on his belt. I don't know if my 'city folk' readers are accustomed to seeing this kind of thing, but it is common in the Northwoods.

Reminded me of a story that I may have told you. Please bear with me if I am repeating myself.

It was a summer day, perhaps 15 or so years ago. Pat was out guiding, but I was expecting him home shortly.

A truck pulled in the driveway and Bill hopped out. Bill is a good friend and a funny guy. He explained to me that he was on his way to his son's little league game when the lady in front of him hit and killed a deer.

Bill, helpful guy that he is, asked her if she wanted the deer. "No." she replied in disgust.

So Bill (hunting knife at the ready) gutted the deer on the side of the road and threw it (the deer not the guts) in the back of his truck.

He wondered if he could hang the deer in our garage while he went to Tom's little league game.

I agreed and Bill strung the deer up from the rafters in the garage, promising to come get it after the baseball game was over.

Imagine Pat's surprise when he returned from a day of guiding and backed the boat into the garage.

Oh, deer.

significance

one of the largest homes at Cades Cove

Last Sunday, our pastor made a rather sobering comment during his sermon. The jist of it was that in a few generations no one will remember us. That set me to thinking. All week. Joshua's children may know me or something about me, but Joshua's granchildren probably won't.

Hmmm. This thought was confirmed in a few other sermons I heard on the local Christian radio station this week.

Depressing? Could be, but in a way it is freeing. To the generations to come and especially in light of eternity a lot of the stuff that we fret and agonize over doesn't amount to much. Joshua, his children and grandchildren won't care where I planted certain flowers and if I prepared good meals and set a good table and decorated my home in a pleasing way.

What will matter to them is that they had a praying grandma. Whether they know it or not.

~~~~~

I am reading through the Bible chronologically this year, as are some of you.

This morning I read Numbers 7, as did some of you.

The striking thing about Numbers 7 is that each man gave exactly the same offering and yet God saw fit to record each one. He didn't say ditto or that Nethanel and Eliab and Elizur and all the rest of the guys brought exactly the same gifts as Nashon. He enumerated each gift:

"The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; one gold ladle weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five maled lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering."

This passage is repeated twelve times in Numbers 7.

Here is where our significance lies. Not that we are famous (or infamous) or rich or beautiful or talented or memorable in any way. Our significance comes from our relationship with God. He created us. He loves us .

Each gift we give, each prayer we pray, each hair on our head - all our known by God.

Now that is significance.

simple?

Every time I visit Cades Cove I realize how far we have come from the 'simplicity' of life one hundred years ago.



Houses were smaller, families lived in close proximity, which in my mind is a good thing (I realize not everyone agrees).

Ann and Randy (in shadows on porch) continuing their house hunt :)


Of course there were many disadvantages to living during this time. Poignant inscriptions on headstones gave evidence of this. Infant son born and died March 2, 1887.

God, in His infinite wisdom, put me in this tiny space of history. I can recreate some of the simplicity of the past by the choices I make. But I can also embrace the wonders of this age. Blogging, cell phones, emails, text messages...etc.

And though I am (too) far away from my kids, I can hop on an airplane and go see them. Though, far and away, I prefer to take road trips (stopping and smelling the roses type personality), I have booked a flight next month to go see kids, grands and sibs and fams. My time away will coincide with Daniel's spring break.

He and I will take a road trip together (just what every college kid wants to do on spring break, right? road trip with Ma).

The last time I flew was 1995. I imagine things have changed a bit since then.

But then, that is what life is all about. Change. Not just a presidential slogan, but a reality.

out the door...

Our car needs to go in to the Dr. today. Leaking transmission fluid. Uh-oh. It has 133,000 miles on it and I would really like to see it last (without major repairs) until Daniel graduates spring of 2010.

Jon and Kristi had someone look at their house last night. We have been praying that they will be able to sell it.

Daniel is having some difficulty breathing out of the nostril from which the polyp was removed. These polyps 'rarely' return, but he is planning to get in to see the Dr. soon.

So, these are a few things on my mind this morning as I rush around trying to get out of the house to drop off the car, mail our taxes and get to Bible study.

Hope you all have a great day!

earth and sky

Both Ann and I are captivated by old farm houses. Ann grew up on a farm; I counted the days until I could visit my grandparent's farm each summer.

As we traveled back roads we came across many photo worthy places. Do you wonder, as I do, about who lives there? What crops do they raise? How many children do they have? What are their joys and heartaches? Do they love God?

The swing in the yard makes me think of lazy summer days. Times spent pumping my legs to get as high in the sky as I could on the creaky wooden swing at Grandma and Grandpa's. Thinking about what I would grow up to be. Would my ten year old self be happy with this fifty-four year old wife, mother and grandma?

From the simplicity of a front yard swing to the majesty of multiple mountain ranges. Every day I get to look at the mountains. I do not take this for granted.

Nor do I take my friends for granted. I hope you don't either. Out of all the sights we saw and the experiences we had, the most precious time we had (in my opinion) was when the four of us sat in our living room and bowed our heads and prayed.

Now that's fellowship.

lovely as a tree; scary as a dragon

After riding the Cherohala Skyway, we decided to make a stop at the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

you probably memorized this poem in grade school, didn't you? The sound of the rushing brook and the rustling of wind in the trees

made for a very peaceful setting.

the evergreen rhododendron trees gave a tropical feel to the forest

I was always trying to catch up with these two!

Probably because I stopped to take pictures. Yeah, that's it.

I highly recommend a stop at the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. Even though the day was cold and breezy, it was still a wonderful walk in the woods. I wish we would have had time to walk the whole trail (about 2 hours), but we had other fish to fry that day.

Like this.

The Tail of the Dragon lives up to its name. There are 318 curves in 11 miles. Beautiful mountains, valleys, and woods. Hard on the stomach. Can you spell c-a-r-s-i-c-k? I was the back seat sitter and while I did not actually get sick, I sure had a headache by the time we were done. Front seat people did too!

While I would happily return to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, I think once is enough for the Tail of the Dragon. But you should go once.

We have had an absolutely wonderful time with the Smits. Alas, they left this morning. It is too quiet here. So, I'm gonna make a cuppa tea and thank God for the blessings of friends.

More pics and a few more stories on Monday.

up where the air is clear

We have another day of adventure planned for today. I'll have to let the pictures do the talking about part of our trip yesterday.

We took the scenic route to North Carolina. Up through the mountains. In the vally (elevation around 1000 ft.), the temperature was 39. When we got to the top of the hill (over a mile high), the temperature had dropped to 22.

aren't they cute? It sure is great to have them here!

my camera doesn't do this vista justice - sorry

looking down on lots of mountains


we eventually reached 5390 feet

the hoar frost glittered like diamonds on the tree branches when the sun peeked out

More tomorrow. We are off to Cades Cove today.

we've done us some....

sightseeing
shopping
meals with Mom and Dad
fishing and

house tours.

Ann at Bald River Falls
Randy's big catfish

But the sweetest time of all was last night when the four of us sat in our living room and prayed together. For our families, friends, and churches. For many of you.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6

country drive

While the guys were out catching catfish (and they got some huge ones and for some reason I am having trouble posting those pics....) Ann and I took a ride.

First down to Amish country. We spotted two Amish gentlemen riding into town via horse and buggy. We drove around some back roads and saw several Amish homes (distinguishable by their adjacent windmills) but no more folk.

Lots of charming Tennessee scenery though. Including this (non-Amish, of course) quaint old gas station:


And who is that sitting on the bench?

Ann! How did you get all the way out here?

We are having so much fun!

our Northwoods neighbors....

...got to see a Tennessee sunrise this morning.

I think they liked it.

From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3

~~~~
Oh, and a fried twinkie? Tastes kinda like a funnel cake with a creamy filling and chocolate sauce on it. It was okay, but we both agreed that we don't need to do that again. Been there done that, ya know?

small celebrations

Picking up friends at the airport.

Lingering at the dinner table.

Laughing.

Reminiscing.

Going to church together.

Having the folks over for Sunday dinner.

Guys fishing.

Gals at the flea market (sharing their first fried twinkie).

This is wonderful. And the whole week ahead of us!

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love each other, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

I John 4:7-12

company's comin'!

Ann and Randy are hitchin' up their wagon and headin' South!

I love having company. Love planning the meals, the activities; making our nest clean and cozy. Love the idea of showing our Northwoods neighbors our new digs (and that there are still several homes for sale in our subdivision - hint, hint!)

Tomorrow, Ann and Randy will arrive (by plane, not by wagon) and the fun will begin! Blogging may be somewhat sporadic while they are here.

Gonna run, got stuff to do....

And happy birthday to my nephew Richard! Here's looking at you, kid!

storms

The wind blew and blew and blew here yesterday. Gusts up to 60-70 miles per hour, they said.





I guess this was the our share of the storms that hit Texas and Oklahoma. There were tornado watches in the area, but I have not heard of any actual tornadoes. Lots of wind damage and power outages. Not here though. Since our trees aren't much taller than we are, we were not concerned about falling limbs. And since our power is 'undergrond' (this is what the 'professional' sign in our subdivision said), we were not too concerned about losing power either.





The meteorologists sure were excited about the weather. They were talking much faster than normal, switching back and forth between radar screens and live video feeds of rain and hail and things being blown around. Warning and watches expires just as new warnings and watches popped up. Schools were used as shelters for folks who live in trailer homes.





And then, just as soon as it started it was gone. We could see some huge, dark clouds over the mountains in the east; but the sun was shining here and the wind was calmer. This morning - no wind.





Last night at choir, more than one of the songs we sang talked about storms. Each song reassured us that though storms come (and they will), they will not overcome us.





There is a song we are singing Sunday called, Still. The beautiful melody and harmony perfectly compliment the words.

Still

Words and Music by Reuben Morgan

Hide me now

Under your wings

Cover me

within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father you are King over the flood

I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul

In Christ alone

Know his power

In quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father You are King over the flood

I will be still and know You are God.

~~~~~~~~

Hey Candy, I am not the only person in the family that takes pictures of my feet! This is Kristi in her lovely red cast.

nothing to see here

1:50 a.m.

That is what the digital clock beside the bed read.

I was awake. Fully awake. Can't -shut- my- mind- off- awake (my mind regularly shuts off during the daytime without warning - not so in the middle of the night).

So I got up, went into Pat's office and turned on the computer to check email. Bad idea. An hour and ten minutes later, I was reading the 2007 archives of the blog of some complete stranger.

I decided to go back to bed. Still couldn't sleep. I recited Scripture, sang hymns and choruses (silently of course) and prayed.

Prayed for those of you who have lost loved ones.
..............for those of you who have lost jobs.
..............those of you who have health issues.
..............our troops. Especially this one.
...............those of you who have financial problems.
...............the list went on and on.

4:17 a.m. Still no sleep.

I counted backwards from 100. A few times. Backwards from 100 by 7. A few times.

Apparently that did the trick. I woke up, with a start, an hour later than I normally do.

Lots to do today...did I tell you Ann and Randy are coming? They are our Northwoods neighbors and dear friends. They will be here from Saturday the 14th to the 21st!

Gotta get busy!

Yawn....zzzzzz.....

new every morning

I don't think I could every take for granted the sights I see each morning on my walk. The sun, still well behind the mountains is beginning to cast a glow, subtly announcing a new day.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23

I'm sure I have quoted that verse before, but I never tire of remembering His new mercies; just as I never tire of seeing the sun come up.

And behind me, as I snapped the picture of the sunrise, the moon was still in the sky just behind me.

I was surrounded by beauty and reminded of God's majesty. What a way to start the day!Yesterday was quite an amazing day as well. Near record-breaking temperatures. I was able to spend a good part of the afternoon weeding, hoeing, and raking up mulch. I even planted a coupla rows of lettuce. Outside in a tee shirt and capris. In February!

And I spied this little gal:

Yes, spring is coming!

springish

Pat and I took a little drive down the road on Saturday. Among other things along the way we checked out the conditions on the Hiwassee River. It was a very pleasant day. Seems like spring might be around the corner.

I finally got a picture of this church sign. It always cracks me up:

Sunday was an even nicer day than Saturday. We had an interesting discussion during Sunday School and an impassioned sermon by our pastor. I was challenged and inspired.

I might have fallen asleep for a few minutes on the couch Sunday afternoon. There is something about Sunday afternoon naps. Mmmm. Zzzzz.

After the nap I made several phone calls. Got some cooking done. OPENED THE WINDOWS!!!
Did some weeding (no flowers yet, but the weeds are up!). And sat on the front porch.

and took a picture of my feet....too much time on my hands?

Lest my friends and family in the north country despair, let me assure you spring is on its way. It is slowly and steadily creeping northward. Last weekend the daffodils were in full bloom in south Georgia. This week I saw several flocks of geese heading north. The mourning doves have never left, but they are becoming more vocal. We were having lots of robins in our yard, but those too, seem to have headed north. It is coming!

"For lo, the winter is past;

the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves is heard in our land."

Song of Solomon. 2:11-12.

being spoiled

We stayed at the 1906 Pathway Inn in Americus, Georgia.

It was lovely.

Their motto is that they our 'out to spoil you'.

They live up to that. The inn is decorated in a froufy Victorian style. According to our host, our hostess does a lot of shopping. living room fireplace

details above dining room fireplace


cute little tea strainer - gotta find some of these

Valentine's tree in entry hallway

dining room table set for breakfast

beautiful stain glass window over landing in stairway

The food was wonderful.

Breakfast day one started with a fruit cup and banana Amish friendship bread. Served with tea or coffee, followed with three pancakes, and a slice of bacon, a piece of locally processed and prepared sausage (wonderfully spicy) and a dollop of hash browns - which is coincidentally the name of their very sweet dog (Hashbrown that is).

Breakfast day two started the same as day one. The main course was a substantial breakfast burrito (made with local eggs from free range chickens) and sausage and bacon.

Our host and hostess were very hospitable and extremely knowledgeable about the area. We felt so comfortable and at home there. She is having some health problems so the inn is on the market if you have ever wanted to be an innkeeper. The B&B in Plains is also for sale. I talked to that owner at church. She said being an innkeeper is not really compatible with having a full time job, so she is selling it with regrets. I didn't see the inside of that but the outside sure is cute!

So, once again, thanks so much to Mom and Dad for the wonderful trip. We made memories that will last the rest of our lives. It was great!

One more thing....we saw a beauty shop in north Georgia that was called: "Curl Up and Dye." Wish I'd taken a picture....

Carter's Critters

mules and goats on the Jimmy Carter boyhood farm

The Carter farm had lots of animals on it. In Jimmy Carter's poem, 'Always a Reckoning' he described how his father expected the livestock and fowl to produce results. Here is a portion of an interview in which Jimmy was asked, 'what do you mean by 'always a reckoning'?

JIMMY CARTER: Well, it's extracted from one of the lines of a poem about my father, and how he ran our farm, and everything had to balance. There was no possibility in his mind to have anything on the farm, as I said in the poem, that you couldn't plow or didn't give milk or you couldn't get eggs from or you couldn't find a rabbit or a quail, so it meant that my father required a reckoning from all of us who worked on the farm or whatever.

The National Park Service maintains the boyhood farm. Local schoolchildren plant, maintain and harvest the gardens located on the farm. I think they donate the food to local food pantries, but I'm not sure if I read that or just made it up. Sounds good, though doesn't it? Up until a few years ago the only animals on the the farm were the goats and mules pictured above.

Recently however, a somewhat unlikely trio showed up. A peacock, peahen and a turkey. The Park Service quarantined the animals to make sure they were not diseased. When they released them, they stayed.

gobble

Mr. Peacock felt we were getting a little too close to the Mrs., so he put on his fiercest display: stamping his feet and shaking his feathers at us. Pretty amazing, isn't he?

~~~~~

That is about it for the Carters. I had a great time, learned a lot and am so grateful to Mom and Dad for making it possible. Tomorrow I will share a few pictures of the bed and breakfast we stayed at.

In the meantime, would you please pray for my daughter-in-law Kristi? She fell and broke her ankle. Having a broken ankle is never any fun, but having a broken ankle with an active nine month old (absolutely darling) little boy will be even more difficult.

not neutral

I asked our host at the bed and breakfast if Jimmy Carter was generally well-regarded in the area.

"Oh yeah," he said, "except for some military people who didn't like how he handled the Iranian hostage situation."

We had the feeling in Plains that he was well-loved. Not revered. But loved. And appreciated.

Seems like the whole town worked toward getting him elected. And when he was elected President, Rosalynn asked to Plains Garden Club (I'm sure that is not their real name - but it is close) to decorate the White House.

Everybody in Plains wanted to go to the inauguration, so they chartered a train to take them all up to Washington. The train arrived and Jimmy and Rosalynn had not shown up yet. So, one of the local ladies took it upon herself to call the house. Jimmy answered. "Y'all better get down here," she said. "The train is here."

After she hung up the phone she realized that she had just bossed around the President of the United States.

It became clearer, as we toured Plains, some of the events and experiences and people that shaped and informed Jimmy Carter.

He felt that one of his crowning achievements during his one term Presidency was the Camp David Accord.

Interestingly enough, I am currently reading "Leap of Faith" Queen Noor's (Jordan's King Hussein's widow) autobiography. She and King Hussein and much of the Arab world were appalled at the Camp David Accord. (Although she seemed fond of the Carters personally. Most of the time.)

He has done things that have inflamed his critics. He has also done a tremendous amount of good. He is a fascinating man.

If you have the opportunity, I recommend you make the trek to Plains. It is a very educational experience.

Jimmy's Dad owned a commissary. He provided seeds, feed, groceries and other miscellaneous items to the surrounding community. It is right next to their home and was only open when the family wasn't working in the field (Saturday afternoons and meal times).

The bell would ring if a customer needed to make a purchase and more often than not, Jimmy would be the one to leave the table and make the transaction.

more stuff I learned in Plains

Jimmy Carter slept here.

We were instructed not to stand when Jimmy Carter entered the room. Nor were we to applaud at any time. We were not to call him Mr. President - the only one who has that title is the current resident of the White House. We could call him Mr. Jimmy or Mr. Carter or President Carter. But please not ex-President Carter.

Have you ever wondered what makes somebody who achieves high goals tick? Since my temperament is so laid back I have no clue what would drive someone to seek the highest office in the land.

We found a few clues in Plains, GA. Apparently Jimmy had a very influential teacher. Miss Julia Coleman. She told her class that they should study hard because one day one of the boys could possibly be president. She must have seen something special in Jimmy because when he was 12, she challenged him to read War and Peace. And he did.

The Carters lived in rural Plains. They were the only white family in their immediate area. During the pre-recorded talking tour on his boyhood farm, President Carter recalled that he and his friends would walk together to the train. They would board the train- Jimmy riding in the 'whites only' section; his friends in the back of the train. At the movie theatre he would be down on the 'whites only' main level, while all his friends were in the balcony. At age 14, he said, he had an 'epiphany' and decided that he would do what he could to right this wrong.

As you look back over his life of public service you can see how he has worked for racial reconciliation and for peace between nations.

The Carter's bathroom. The shower was a metal bucket with holes punched in the bottom.

Love this cookstove!

The Carters sold their home in 1949. The same family owned it until 1994, at which time the National Park Service bought it and restored it to its original condition. Jimmy Carter was instrumental in helping with this project. He was very interested in authenticity - even insisting that they re-orient the outhouse because they had built it facing the wrong way.

Here are a few other things I didn't know:

Jimmy Carter has written more books than any other President.

Jimmy Carter is the only President that taught Sunday School while he was in office (that they are aware of) and is the only President who currently teaches Sunday School.

Jimmy Carter is a poet. He recites some of his poetry on the pre-recorded talking tour at his boyhood farm.

Jimmy Carter is a painter. One of his paintings is in the museum at the old high school. He painted the cover for one of his books.

He is a woodworker (made the offering plates and a table for the church).

He is committed to raising $40 million a year for the various foundations in which he is involved.

He and Rosalynn helped fund and build Nazareth Village.

~~~~~

I've got more to tell, if you are still interested. Tomorrow.....