My Chicks All Grown Up

I thought today I would let you see my chicks that are all grown up now. I love the little hens, but having 4 roosters is a bit much. They are going to have to go. I am even going to take the rooster that is their father. I may keep one of the roosters that is part silkie.

He is the big red guy in the back. I think he is so pretty and I love his dark eyes. The one in front is the silkie cross and she is a little hen. I still haven't decided because as mean as my rooster is I am still pretty attached to him. He does make me laugh for all of his little pompous ways.
I have to work on my chicken pen today. I went out to feed and collect eggs and there must have been 200 sparrows that flew into the trees and I no sooner got out of the pen when poof, full of sparrows, I had not even turned my back. They were not even afraid of me.
Not to mention that many birds are so unhealthy for my chickens.
I love Saturdays!

The Story of Leaves

The leaves were falling from the great oak at the meadow's edge. They were falling from all the trees. One branch of the oak reached high above the others and stretched far out over the meadow. Two leaves clung to its very tip.

" It isn't the way it used to be," " said one leaf to the other. " No," the other leaf answered. "So many of us have fallen off to-night we're almost the only ones left on our branch."
"You never know who's going to go next," said the first leaf. "Even when it was warm and the sun shone, a storm or a cloudburst would come sometimes, and many leaves were torn off, though they were still young. You never know who's going to go next."

"The sun seldom shines now," sighed the second leaf, "and when it does it gives no warmth. We must have warmth again."
"Can it be true," said the first leaf, "can it really be true, that others come to take our places when we're gone and after them still others, and more and more?"
"It is really true," whispered the second leaf."We can't even begin to imagine it, it's beyond our powers."
"It makes me very sad," added the first leaf.
They were silent a while . Then the first leaf said quietly to herself, "Why must we fall?..."
The second leaf asked, "What happens to us when we have fallen?" "We sink down...."
"What is under us?" The first leaf answered, "I don't know , some say one thing, some another , but nobody knows."
The second leaf asked, "Do we feel anything, do we know anything about ourselves when we're down there?" The first leaf answered, "Who knows? Not one of all those down there has ever come back to tell us abut it." They were silent again. The first leaf said tenderly to the other, "Don't worry so much about it, you're trembling." "That's nothing," the second leaf answered, "I tremble at the least thing now. I don't feel so sure of my hold as I used to." "Let's not talk any more about such things," said the first leaf.
The other replied, "No, we'll let be. But---what else shall we talk about?" She was silent, but went on after a little while, "Which of us will go first?" "There's still plenty of time to worry about that," the other leaf assured her. "Let's remember how beautiful it was , how wonderful, when the sun came out and shone so warmly that we thought we'd burst with life. Do you remember? And the morning dew, and the mild and splendid nights...."
"Now the nights are dreadful," the second leaf complained, " and there is no end to them."
"We shouldn't complain," said the first leaf gently. "We've outlived many, many others."
"Have I changed much?" asked the second leaf shyly but determinedly. "Not in the least," the first leaf assured her. "You only think so because I've got to be so yellow and ugly. But it's different in your case." "You're fooling me," the second leaf said.
"No, really," the first leaf exclaimed eagerly, "believe me, your're as lovely as the day you were born. Here and there may be a little yellow spot but it's hardly noticeable and only makes you handsomer, believe me." "Thanks," whispered the second leaf, quite touched. "I don't believe you, not altogether, but I thank you because your're so kind, you've always been so kind to me. I'm just beginning to understand how kind you are." "Hush," said the other leaf, and kept silent herself for she was to troubled to talk any more. Then they were both silent, Hours passed.
A moist wind blew, cold and hostle, through the tree-tops. "Ah, now," said the second leaf, "I..." Then her voice broke off. She was torn from her place and spun down.
Winter had come.

From Bambi by Felix Salten

Thankful Thursday

It was finally cool enough to burn a fire this morning, I was so cozy to sit and have my first cup
of coffee the R. in front of the fireplace. As I reflected sitting there, I thought how thankful I am I don't have to wait for the fire to burn down a bit so I can cook breakfast. I am thankful that this year I have wood. It is so nice to sit and watch the flames and have the flames to dance and take your mind to places to dream. ( I am a person who loves to dream.)
I am so thankful it is Thursday and it feels like fall and I have a very nice house to live in.
I read this and it has made me think about what kind of person I am.

"There are two classes of people---the complainers and the thankful. Which are you? The difference between a terrible, no-good day and a peaceful, happy one does not depend nearly so much on what happens as it depends on your attitude and your response."

" I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. " Philippians 4:12

Thoughts on Being a Mother-in-Law

When the kids first got married, one of the things that scared me to death was how do I stop being a Mother now and let my now adult children be all that God wants them to be? How do I stay out of their lives and let them live. I even joked I would write a book called " Hands off Parenting," Thankfully, when ever I am in doubt about what I should be doing, I can turn to Elisabeth Elliot and she has already trod the path that I am on. I found this little list and it has helped me so much. I know I have lapses and blow everything I am trying so hard to not do. But, God has given me the best of people to practice on and they are so wonderfully forgiving to me.
( Thank you)
So here is a really great list:

How to be a Good Mother-in-Law
1. Thank God for this acquired son or daughter. ( I do, I am so thankful for God's Gift to me.)
2. Treat this man and woman as adults with adult responsibility.
3. Remember your daughter or son now belongs to her or his spouse.
4. Allow them to form a new family---it's theirs, not yours-now
5. Expect it to be different from you and your family.
6. Let the newly formed family do things its own way.
7. Do not dish out gratuitous advice (Which is what I am doing now.)
8. Pray for them daily.
9. Never criticize the "in law" to his or her spouse ( I would add the rest of the members of the family or friends.)
10. Encourage them in every way you can think of.

I am and will always be learning and will hopefully get this better because I have 4 more chances to practice.

My White Silkie

One of the things that I love, and I mean love is my chickens. I had to go to a funeral on Saturday and towards the end, all I could think of was I needed to get home to my chickens. I came outside and just sat with them because when I am with them the world is a bit brighter. Now I hate to say it but I do have favorites and my white silkie is one of my favorites.
She got sick and I had to isolate her from the others and for a whole day she just stood and didn't eat or drink. I was giving her antibiotics but if they won't drink what do you do? I did put her head in and made her get some on her beak. Then the next day she seemed a bit better and ate and drank and then she ran from the the next morning and now she is all well. I was so happy because I just didn't think I would ever get another hen. When you buy silkies they are mostly straight run so you get what you get. I had got two silkie hens but in the winter a cat broke into my coop and got my gray one, which was my really, really favorite one.

I have some old hens that if I were the killing type and I am not, I would turn them into chicken soup because they don't lay eggs anymore and they beat up my laying hens, so today I was watching them walk around like they own the place and I named them The Witches of Eastwick.

I could see them bending over a pot stirring it making some potion. I have a sharp-shinned hawk that has decided that my chickens are going to be his next meal so now if I want them to have some time out of the coop I have to stay outside with them. The hawk sits on the fence now and yells at me. Sometimes if feels like I live miles and miles away from people.

I just had not told any chicken tales so I thought I would share some "Coop Talk." When I am out there sitting, I always feel just like Fern from Charlotte's Web.

Wow!! It is Monday!

Was that a fast weekend or What? This year is racing by just as fast. Remember when you were a little kid and it seemed like it took years and years for Christmas to come around and then as you got older it seemed as if each year it came around a bit faster. Now it seems I take down the tree and then it is time to put it up again. The kids came over last night to draw names, we do that because we have a larger family than most and with our married children, who have double the gifts to buy it is easier for them to draw names. This year we are doing it before Halloween, so the people who like to make things for Christmas have more time to make things.

One of the things I am looking forward to is watching the boys this year opening presents. I think this year they will be old enough to really have fun. One thing that I am so very thankful for is that I am not going to be a empty Nester. With four still at home, and 5 grandchildren already, unless I decide to be a real jerk, I won't have to listen to quiet. One of the things I asked God for when I was still a teenager was that my home would always be filled with laughter.

I would say, that for the most part that has happened, of course there are the days, when I am a jerk...:)
Happy Monday!

A Few Red Leaves

I was walking around today and there was a few red leaves. It is nice that it is finally cooler all of the time. I bought a new pedometer today. I have sadly not walked since about April when we put in the garden and I spent so much time chopping weeds and canning and taking care of the garden I just couldn't get the walking part in there. Now I think I can get some walking time in for awhile. The funny thing about having a 1/4 of a acre garden is that I got really strong. I was mashing potatoes the other night.

I bent it really bad. I have had to be careful when I hug R. because I know I could just snap his neck, it is kind of scary, like turning into Bam-Bam.

We are babysitting one of our grandsons today. Then later all of our grandchildren will be here.
They make me laugh so much, and then there are the little babies to kiss. Truly, I am the happiest of all women.
Have a very blessed and happy day this Sunday.

Sasha

I haven't posted in a while since Sasha got fixed. She is back to her busy self. In fact she is sitting on the couch upstairs, next to E. ear while he is on the computer, waiting until he isn't paying attention then barking this funny bark, like " you aren't paying attention to me." I am glad she didn't change from the surgery. I can hear ow sounds up there so she must be taking matters in her own teeth and biting him. :) I can see the title of my book, " How To Get Your Teenager Off the Computer. "
I thought today I would post something that I think about all the time and it was something I heard when I was a young Mommy, and had no clue about what being a mother meant, or being a housewife or even being a wife or being happy. I was so ill equipped for the job that God gave me long, long ago. I am so glad He never left me but led me gently ever onward. This was something I still ponder.

This is from Keep a Gentle Heart by Elisabeth Elliot.

" God came down and lived in this same world as a man.
He showed us how to live in this world, subject to its vicissitudes and necessities, that we might be changed---not into a angel or a story book princess, not wafted into another world, but changed into saints in this world. The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances."

How often I have thought about Christ being in me and how He has put me here for this time and this purpose. It is not different circumstances but choosing to have Joy in the place I am at this moment.

Its Friday, A Sewing Day!!

This is my first quilt block in the quilt I am making. I have the other blocks cut out
so today is the day to work on the other blocks. R. came home last night and all of my weird
malady's have gone. It is so weird, I even slept for the first time in 4 nights. Such a wimp!!

I had something I wanted to share, I have looked for this devotional for a long time and today I found it. I guess I was thinking about it because of the sewing needles it talks about.
"I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument." Isa. 41:15
"A bar of steel worth five dollars, when wrought into horseshoes, is worth ten dollars. If made into needles it is worth three hundred and fifty dollars, if into penknife blades, it is worth thirty-two thousand dollars, if into springs for watches it is worth two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
What a drilling the poor bar must undergo to be worth this! But the more it is manipulated, the more it is hammered, and passed through the fire, beaten and pounded and polished, the greater the value.
May this parable help us to be silent, still, and long-suffering. Those who suffer most are capable of yielding most; and it is through pain that God is getting the most out of us, for His glory and the blessing of others." ( Streams in the Desert volume 1)
There is a purpose after all to this life, to shine so men will glorify our Father in heaven.
Happy Friday!!

A New Pumpkin

Yesterday, my daughter came over and brought a pumpkin she had knitted for me.
I think it is the cutest thing with leaves even. I am so proud of it. She never ceases to
amaze me. She has three babies and yet she can find time to knit a pumpkin for me.

I found out something about photography this morning. I am in the middle of my monthly migraine and when they happen no matter what I do I cannot get my pictures to turn out. I can't keep the camera still. The last time this happened I thought I was just imagining it, but this morning after trying and trying I gave up and just put it down to the pain in my head keeps me from being creative.

Another thing I have noticed is that when my husband is out of town, I have no desire to be creative. I turn into a boring ole lump. So when the best half of my body is gone, the part that is me that is left is just boring, uncreative, and very quiet. My mind doesn't even work very well.
I also have this sick feeling in my stomach because he isn't here.
He just called, and said he thinks he might get to come home this evening. That is good news.

One of my favorite verses that has always delivered me from my fears is from Isaiah 46:11
"I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will do it."

He has always done it too.
It still is Thankful Thursday.

Flowers

I do have some flowers, I guess that is why I love Mums, I can't kill them. They withstand my abuse. They even grow when I don't pay attention to them. I have a busy day today. I get to see my girls and all of my grandchildren. I love that the boys are talking and I love the words that they say like "mo" for more and "Pweese" when they want pishes. I really thought I would not be a nutty "Gama", but I am and R. is a nutty "Pa" That is something I never expected. I watched my Dad totally turn into a cream puff when grand kids were around, so it must go with the territory. I remember thinking when I got married, I loved how I felt complete and then when I had my babies, I had that same feeling of contentment. Then again when they got married and came back two by two that was such a nice feeling because I got two more children without going into labor. But then, the babies started coming and wow talk about a feeling of joy all of the time. So deep, that sometimes I think I can't contain the feeling of joy inside of my heart and someday it might just burst. I understand that verse now and what a incredible gift it is from God to see your childrens, children. I can say without a doubt, I have been blessed beyond measure.

Random Thoughts

It is very early this morning and I am feeling very random.
I took these of a tree at the back of the pasture. I stand in my kitchen when I am cooking
and stare at it. Most years this tree is just yellow but this year it is turning red. I am so glad.
The one next to it is starting to turn yellow. The house is quiet, R. is already gone to work. I am on a second cup of coffee and it is still dark outside. About the only thing that is up are the roosters crowing the sun up. ( Cock-a-Doodle Dudley, By Bill Peet) I am afraid my roosters days are numbered. Last night I was taking care of the chickens and he was attacking the fence. I am tired of getting attacked every time I go out there. From the chicks that hatched, I have 3 more roosters who are just starting to crow, so I am thinking they are all going to get loaded up and taken to that man who takes roosters. I just hate that part of myself, getting so attached to animals. I get worse about it as I get older too.
Well, this is today's post, not much going on right now.
It is Tuesday though.

Foundations

This tree is always the first one to loose all of its leaves in the fall. This tree has been here
for a long, long time. I met a man whose family owned all of this land at one time. He said, when he was a little kid, he had great aunts who lived in a tiny house under that tree. When we were building this house we had to take out the old, old foundation, even though it was so old, it was very hard for the heavy equipment to take it out.
So my thoughts today are on foundations, no matter what happens we need our ladder against the right wall and it needs to be on a solid foundation. For me, the foundation, is Jesus Christ.

I take this quote today from "Keep a Quiet Heart."
" This hard place in which you perhaps find yourself, so painful and bewildering, is the very place
in which God is giving you opportunity to look only to Him,
to travail in prayer, to learn long-suffering, gentleness, meekness---in short,
to learn the depths of love that Christ Himself had poured out on all of us."
---Elisabeth Elliot---
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."
Ephesians 1:7-8

Silly Cat

This is Linx. Can you see her smile. She was being pretty bratty.
She didn't want to come in the house and eat her cat tuna. So as I
would walk toward her she would run ahead and roll on the ground
and smile. I thought, I will fix her, I will just take your picture and
let everyone see what a little brat you are.
Have a restful Sunday.

A Good Day

I love Saturday mornings. I love that the pace is somewhat slower than during the week.
I am always in hopes that I might sleep in, but I wake up even earlier on weekends. I think
it is because I am so excited it is a weekend. The weather is lovely, it is like living at the beach.
I can leave the windows open all night and day and the house stays pretty much the same temperature.
I am going to leave this post with a prayer from Lady Jane Grey that she prayed from her prison cell before being beheaded in 1554. She was 17. I may have bad days, but they are never that bad. I mean the beheading part.

O merciful God, be Thou unto me
A strong tower of defense,
I humbly entreat thee.
Give me grace to await thy leisure,
and patiently to bear
What thou dost unto me;
Nothing doubting or mistrusting
Thy goodness towards me;
For thou knowest what is good for me
Better than I do.
Therefore do with me in all things What Thou wilt,
Only arm me; I beseech Thee,
With Thine armor,
That I may stand fast;
Above all things taking to me
The shield of faith,
Praying always that I may
Refer myself wholly to Thy will,
Abiding Thy pleasure, and comforting myself
In those troubles which it shall please Thee
To send me, seeing such troubles are
Profitable for me, and I am
Assuredly persuaded that all Thou dost
Cannot but be well. and unto Thee
Be all honor and glory Amen.

Some day in heaven, I am going to visit with Lady Jane Grey.

Sewing Friday

One of the things I thought I would miss with the start of the school year,
was being able to sew. As I sat and looked at my schedule, I thought to myself
if I could get all of my work, all of my school, and my flowerbeds cleaned and my
Chicken coop cleaned by Thursday, I could use Fridays to be my sewing day.
It is a day, I do not let myself feel guilty about anything except sitting and sewing
or working with my saw, just something I do creative.
It has made my brain feel so rested. I see why in times of old, why women got together and
had quilting parties. There is something so rejuvenating about working with your hands

I think by having the garden this summer, it fixed something that was broke. By biting off way more than you can chew and doing something that is so huge that you question you sanity every single day, you get to a point where, you can say, I did it and then look around for something else to try that is just as huge.
I think why it means so much to me is that when my husband left his job after 22 years and started over at 50 and has had to do such hard things for us, then to see how happy he is, I know that because of him, I can do anything.

Happy Thought
by Robert Louis Stevenson

The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.

Fog

Can you see the fog? I stood and looked out the window and there was fog rising from the field in front of my house. As I walked outside and looked around, the yard looked more like November than October. Every thing is dripping from the moisture in the air. One thing that I learned last year about fog was that even though we don't get a rain like some other places our fog keeps us at least from dropping into full blown drought like other places in the state. So even though, we all say with a groan, "Oh Fog!" It is a good things for the valley.

Just a Dirt Storm

This is how the storm looked, lots of wind and lots of dirt. I kept looking at the Doppler Radar and there was this great storm going on all around us but on the radar there was Bakersfield with nothing showing up. I feel just like Charlie Brown when he went trick or treating. He always got a rock, we just got dirt. It was sprinkling this morning. So at least there isn't dirt blowing. So that is good.
It feels like a tropical storm though. It is very warm. So here is hoping for a bit more rain today.

Another Pretty Sunrise

We may not be getting rain yet, but the sunrise each morning has been beautiful,
each one prettier than the last. I am glad I have caught these on the camera.
There is a faint stirring of breeze in the trees this morning. It always reminds me of the world
holding its breath.
The yard is littered with yellow leaves that are slowly drifting down. I noticed
in the back of the pasture that even the cottonwoods are turning yellow. I have been so busy watching the progress of the Liquid Amber because it is turning red each day, I had not noticed the yellow on the other trees.
It seems quiet this morning, in the distance I can hear the traffic, but muted. My yellow rose bush I call the bride is blowing gently all covered in roses. In a way it looks like she is shivering in anticipation of a storm. I will go outside, to check on the chickens to make sure they can ride out the storm.
Even if we don't get a storm, it is still a good day.

Red Sky in Morning, Sailor

This was how it looked this morning before the sun came up. I was in my nightgown in the front yard when I took this picture or I would have been dancing out there. I have my fingers as well as my toes crossed for a good storm. One of my goals if they ever let people who live in Bakersfield is to be a weather spotter. I think that would be so cool. Living in California that is what I miss sometimes is a good storm.
Here is one of my favorite poems by Amy Carmichael

Thou are the Lord who slept upon the pillow,
Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea,
What matter beating wind and tossing billow
If only we are in the boat with Thee!

Hold us in the quiet through the age-long minute
While Thou are silent, and the wind is shrill;
Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it
Can the heart faint that waiteth on thy will?
---Towards Jerusalem---

I have always loved the words age-long minute. Because so many times I have had to wait at bedsides in that age-long minute, and after all of these years and I remember back, the Lord was always with me in it.
As He is today.

It Feels Like Fall

This morning, if felt more like November 1st instead of just October 11th. I opened the door to look outside before the sun came up and it was so chilly. (I looked around for skunks first.)
The air has that foggy look that it gets around here, so it feels like maybe it is to early and my eyes won't focus. It is the weather though. I made my menu this morning for next week, so I hope it is dreary and cold.
I don't have much to say this morning because the kids were out late and I am grumpy. I stayed up to late sewing waiting for them to come home and then talking as they came in to tell of the places they had went and what they had done. I guess the Milk Duds I ate a midnight didn't help either. Along with the French fries.
Have a great Sunday.
To keep my mind on the day, it is after all The Lords Day,
"The God who rides storm clouds is also the God of Peace. The one who makes darkness His covering is also the Father of Lights."
"The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters...
The Lord will bless His people with peace."
Psalm 29:3-11

Candy Corn

Here is another small project I did, that was kind of fun too.
I am going to try and think up some more for fall projects to cut out of wood.
I bought a piece of new pine and I am anxious to cut it and make it into something.
It is supposed to rain next week, I feel like I have my toes and fingers crossed for a good storm, to quiet all of the dust. So I want to get a sewing project cut out so I can sit and sew and watch the rain. I want to make a quilt and I meant to cut it out today, but spent the day planting flowers. I am torn, the pansies at the garden center did look like they needed a home.
The thing I love about pansies is that when it is cold and you feel as if spring will never come, there is that little flower blooming in the rain. It always makes me so happy to see their happy faces.
Here is a dictation the kids had to learn when they were younger.

Rain in the Night
by Amelia Josephine Burr

Raining, raining,
All night long;
Sometimes loud, sometimes soft,
Just like a song.

There’ll be rivers in the gutters
And lakes along the street.
It will make our lazy kitty
Wash his little dirty feet.

The roses will wear diamonds
Like kings and queens at court;
But pansies all get muddy
Because they are so short.

I’ll sail my boat tomorrow
In wonderful new places,
But first I’ll take my watering pot
And wash the pansies’ faces.

I always loved that and looked forward to walking in the rain and hearing Emilie recite it as she knelt down to look in the pansies faces.

Working with My Saw

Today I got to paint the pumpkin I made on Tuesday. For the first time in eight or nine years I am using my saw again. I was kind of afraid because it had been so long, but it was like riding a bike. I love working with wood and painting and drilling holes and getting just dirty playing with power tools. The one thing that was hard was the last time I used my saw all of my children were children. I would spend so much time cutting out things they drew on pieces of wood so they could paint what ever it was they were making. We would spend hours painting, sanding and making big messes in the garage. Now they are all grown. I was outside by myself, but my mind kept going to when my grandchildren are a bit bigger, I can take them outside and they can draw on pieces of wood, and Ga maw will cut out what ever they see in their minds. Then they can sand and paint. How blessed I am. Enjoy your Friday!

He Gives!

One of my favorite poems, by my hero Annie Johnson Flint. How often have I exhausted my store of hoarded resources when I have to go back and rest on the Lord. Have a great Thursday.

He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

Annie Johnson Flint

Sasha

I have been thinking a lot about Sasha this week. For one thing, she is such a hyper dog and just a day after being fixed she acted like her ole self. I wish I could get well after being sick that fast. She is back to bugging the cats and chasing my chickens.
One of the things she has to do is wear a cone so she doesn't worry her stitches so much.
This has been hard on me as well as herself. She sits and stares at me with these woebegone eyes that just break my heart and I have explained over and over I am not doing it to be mean or unjust. But because I am not a dog she just can't seem to understand.
Well, it got me to thinking, that was why God had to send Jesus to die for us. When God was first in the garden with Adam and He walked with him in the cool of the day, God could have fellowship with Adam, in a perfect world. But then sin entered the world and that fellowship ended.
God then did all of that stuff in the Old Testament to show His people how he loved them but also what the price of sin would be on mankind, well I think that is where the big disconnect came, like me and Sasha, no matter how much God did or didn't do mankind just didn't understand, they had rules lots of rules because mankind likes rules. I mean give me six easy steps to something and I am good. In our world, God gave ten.
God had to send Jesus so we could see what love looks like. Love that is willing to die for those He loves. Willing to explain and teach us what we really are supposed to do. To become a man while still fully God, so we could see for our selves how we are to live a life for God.
So, in my simple mind, as I have tried to show Sasha I only put that cone on her head to protect her from herself, it is the same way God asks us to live not because He wants us to be miserable but to make us safe and happy.
This is something I have been thinking about this week.

The Feeling of Fall in the Air

I don't know what the difference is this year verses years past, maybe it's because I have a post to write, but fall and all the colors of orange, red, brown and yellow just make me so happy. Looking around my house and having all of these pumpkins to play with has made it seem like I live in a New England State. I don't know if we have ever had this kind of crisp weather so early. The thing about living here is I hope it lasts. Walking around the pasture is just wonderful. Today as I was walking out there I was aware of this wonderful breeze blowing across my arms like the feel of silk, the cottonwoods were blowing and the sound was that sound of the waves on the beach. The woodpeckers have returned and I could hear them chattering back and forth. They sound a bit like a Meadow Lark. I caught the glimpse of the red on the underside of their wings. The sprinklers had come on so there was the sound like a fountain in the wells of the trees. The air to breathe is like a perfect wine. Last night there was the smell of someone burning the first fire so there was the wonderful smell of woodsmoke.
I think I was so tired of the heat, I forgot the beauty of where I live. Today though, I remembered how much I love this place, When I was four years old, and for the first time I walked out in the pasture and as I looked up at the tall, tall trees, I knew I was home. The day we moved in after the house was built, one of our neighbors, who knew me growing up and had known my extended family, came to the house and as she hugged me she said, " I am so glad you are finally home." I was home today, and I am so thankful for the gift.

Gourds

These are some gourds I picked. I went out and was just looking for some that looked almost dry. I found these and brought them in the house and wiped them off then I took shoe polish and polished them with that. It gives them the nicest warm color and after I buffed them like you would shoes they had such a nice shine. I am thinking of getting some different colors of shoe polish and see what would happen with that. I talked to a lady today, who told me that her daughter lives in Tulare and she grows and paints gourds and she sells hers from 300 to 500 dollars apiece. I was so interested in that. I think next weekend I will have to see about picking the rest of the ones that are out there. I hope to grow lots more different kinds next year. I love all of the textures and the different shapes. Not to mention I think it would be fun to do different colors. Maybe some orange ones. :)

Beautiful Morning

It is a beautiful morning. The air is as crisp as a new red apple. I know this sounds weird, but if you live in Bakersfield you know what I mean, you can breathe this morning, without it hurting. I mean take really deep breaths. I always like it when it feels nice to breathe
I played house yesterday while R. put in the new water purifier system. He had to do lots of jumping through hoops to get it in but I am happy to say, by noon today we will have very fresh water to drink.
Today is R. birthday. He is 52. I am so happy to have known him 35 of those 52 years. Remember that commercial about your not getting older, your getting better? That is how I feel about him, he is way better now than at 17 when I met him. I mean have you ever noticed that when men get a little frost on the roof how much better they look, a few more lines and whew-we baby, you got some good stuff to look at every day. That is how I feel, I wonder why women just look haggard? So we are going birthday shopping today.

On this day, in 1957 Sputnik was launched, and so began the space race.

More Changes in the Air

The weather man, Ken Clark at Accuweather who is my favorite. Thinks we should have a pretty cool weekend. So does Hanford so I am keeping my fingers crossed for even cooler weather. It would be so nice to wear sweats and lay around the house on a weekend. I don't know if I could let myself but I do think about it from time to time. You know how some people have dreams about going to exotic places on trips or buying fancy cars and clothes. My idea of total bliss would be to stay in sweats and lay around and read a book or watch a nice long movie in the middle of the day. That to me would be a treat. I don't even think about that yet, because I am not completely weed free around here yet. It is getting better but there are still a few weeds that need to be weeded and once the rains start it gets harder to hula-hoe because of the wet dirt. I will enjoy the weather and the weekend no matter what.
Sasha had her surgery. I can't wait until my bouncy happy dog returns. She is so sad and in so much pain. As I get older, I turn into more and more of a wimp.

Changing Colors

I found this leaf on the tree, it is turning red. I hope we continue to have chilly weather just for the color. It is Friday and we are at another weekend. It has been a good week, though a busy one. It sort of passed by like a blur. One of the things I have always loved about October is the way the sky seems to get bluer. The sun seems so much brighter in October. To me October is filled with anticipation. We have made it through another summer and now we can turn our attention to things in the house. I can start looking and doing all the things I have let slide because I was in the garden. I start dreaming of new things to plant and grow.
I have never considered myself a gardener but one thing that makes me very happy is visiting garden shops and nurseries. To me they are places filled with all kinds of dreams. I love seeing the changing of the seasons by the different kinds of flowers and trees.
One of the things I love as it gets cooler, is it is easier to cook. I can think of so much more ways to cook when it is cold rather than hot. Well, rambled on, I have to take Sasha in to the vet this morning to get fixed and I am just sitting here rather than wanting to leave.
Happy Friday.

Thankful Thursday

Today is Thankful Thursday, and I am having to fix my mind on things to be thankful for,
I guess you could say it was " one of those mornings." First, we overslept, we never oversleep, R. had to be in Taft early, which of course, he wasn't this morning. I came in to let the dogs out of the laundry room, and of course it was a mess. Sasha isn't that house trained yet. The worst part of all, the coffee maker broke and no fresh coffee was waiting to chase the blues away. Today is the morning kids have to be at school by 7:00 and W. was making oatmeal which exploded all over the microwave.
So what to be thankful for? It is October 1st!! It is crisp and cool outside. I have a wonderful house to wake up to that has electricity to make coffee or not. I read about this morning the people suffering in the wake of earthquakes and loosing loved ones and my life and my problems are such minor inconveniences.
So one of my favorite passages in the Bible is from Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
and there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail,
and the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold,
and there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation
The Lord God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hind's feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.

That is where peace lies in the hope and promise of God.
Happy Thursday!