Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our Lord was raised,
Breaking the kingdom of death.
Lo, the fair beauty of the earth,
From the death of the winter arising!
Every good gift of the year
Now with its Master returns.
Refrain
Rise from the grave now, O Lord,
The author of life and creation.
Treading the pathway of death,
New life You give to us all.
Refrain
He who was nailed to the cross
Is Ruler and Lord of all people.
All things created on earth
Sing to the glory of God.
Refrain
Daily the loveliness grows,
Adorned with glory of blossom;
Heaven her gates unbars,
Flinging her increase of light.
Refrain
Bright and in the likeness of fire,
On those who await your appearing,
You Whom the Lord had foretold
Suddenly, swiftly descend.
Refrain
Forth from the Father You come
With sevenfold mystical offering,
Pouring on all human souls
Infinite riches of God.
Refrain
God the Almighty Lord,
The Ruler of earth and the heavens,
Guard us from harm without;
Cleanse us from evil within.
Refrain
Jesus the health of the world,
Enlighten our minds, great Redeemer,
Son of the Father supreme,
Only begotten of God.
Refrain
Spirit of life and of power,
Now flow in us, fount of our being,
Light that enlightens us all,
Life that in all may abide.
Refrain
Praise to the giver of good!
O lover and author of concord,
Pour out your balm on our days;
Order our ways in your peace.
Refrain
Words: Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) (Salve festa dies toto venerabilis aevo); translated from Latin to English by Maurice F. Bell in The English Hymnal (London: Oxford University Press, 1906), number 624.
Music: "Salve Festa Dies," Ralph Vaughan Williams, in The English Hymnal (London: Oxford University Press, 1906)
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Sunday, April 9, 2006
Spring Fever... and a complaint
It happens every year. As soon as the days are clear and warm I experience this overwhelming urge to build and plant, and a thousand more projects than I can possibly accomplish intrude themselves into my thoughts so that it's nearly impossible to stay indoors washing dishing and folding laundry and doing grammar lessons.
We've already planted eight new fruit trees - four peaches and four pears - we've planted our early peas and some early root crops - potatoes, onions, turnips, radishes, carrots... Tomorrow and Tuesday we'll be planting lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes and other things.
But we have building projects, too. I'd really like to build a grape arbor over our west-facing front door and windows, but that will have to take a back seat to two other projects. We built a portable chicken coop during the winter and a couple of weeks ago, a coworker of my husband's gave us a rooster. Chanticleer is a beautiful buff and cream cockerel with greeny-black tailfeathers, but I've no idea of his breed. As soon as we build nesting boxes into the coop, a friend from church is bringing us four Araucana pullets, and she'll be able to tell us for sure what breed our young man is.
We also need to build a goat shed. Two weeks ago, Mike bought a young doe and her first kid, a male, and they've been spending the nights in our smokehouse and the days either in a largish pen behind our garage, or picketed out in various parts of the yard so they can forage. It's working out okay, but the smokehouse will be too hot in the summer so we need to build a permanent home for them, and we need to put up fencing that we can move around to different "pastures" rather than keep them picketed. We've been getting close to a quart of milk a day from Queenie, which is not bad considering how young she is and that Blue*, the kid, is allowed to nurse freely. Her production should peak in June and by then we'll be weaning him, so hopefully we can get a half a gallon or more per day, which would give us enough for drinking and cooking, but probably not enough for making cheese. I've half a mind to keep buying pasteurized milk for cooking with so I can have some to make cheese with.
I also want to build a nice tall fence across the east and south sides of our property and plant some trees there to screen the view. Those two lots were bought by a builder and he's putting up two huge houses. The one to the south of us I think I can adjust to. It's sited next to our house and faces the street as we do, but I'm very disgruntled about the one to the east of us. It's a two-story obscentiy on a raised basement, and it's sitting just behind our back yard right smack dab in the middle of our view of the Potomac. Let me correct that - we no longer have a view of the Potomac. To make matters worse, their drain field is planned to be just a few feet away from our property line and that's where our garden is. I suppose after someone moves in there we won't be growing our food over there any more, since we do our best to grow organically and there's no telling what other people put down their drains.
This kind of thing is going on all over out here - the great American tragedy: Country people selling off their property to developers. Several farms in our county have recently been sold and about a thousand new houses are going up, and they are all of the McMansion variety. An elderly woman at our church told me last week that so many large houses have been built out here in the last couple of years that property values, and therefore taxes, are going up so quickly that many people who have lived here for generations are having to move away. It's very sad.
So, while we are being greatly blessed by the Lord, and feel like we're learning more of what it takes to run a homestead, and giving our children the skills to do so themselves, and enjoying fresh goat milk and looking forward to fresh eggs, we're seeing some of our neighbors thow away their inheritances, and doing so in a manner that makes it more difficult for their neighbors to keep their own heritage.
*sigh* All this work we need to get done and I'm reluctant to spend the time outside with my children doing it, because of the construction workers all around our house... and no privacy.
* A note about Blue's name, especially for Kelly M, since I told her he was going to be named either "Bucky" (that is, let him grow up to be a buck and breed with him) or "Easter Dinner" (heh). Number One Son talked us into having him castrated when he's a little older and keeping him as a companion for his mother - and allowing #1 Son to train him to pull a cart and maybe even a plow. While we were debating what his name should be, the girls took to calling him "Little White Thing with a Blue Collar" and I said, "Why don't we just call him 'Blue' then?" and it stuck.
:-)
It happens every year. As soon as the days are clear and warm I experience this overwhelming urge to build and plant, and a thousand more projects than I can possibly accomplish intrude themselves into my thoughts so that it's nearly impossible to stay indoors washing dishing and folding laundry and doing grammar lessons.
We've already planted eight new fruit trees - four peaches and four pears - we've planted our early peas and some early root crops - potatoes, onions, turnips, radishes, carrots... Tomorrow and Tuesday we'll be planting lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes and other things.
But we have building projects, too. I'd really like to build a grape arbor over our west-facing front door and windows, but that will have to take a back seat to two other projects. We built a portable chicken coop during the winter and a couple of weeks ago, a coworker of my husband's gave us a rooster. Chanticleer is a beautiful buff and cream cockerel with greeny-black tailfeathers, but I've no idea of his breed. As soon as we build nesting boxes into the coop, a friend from church is bringing us four Araucana pullets, and she'll be able to tell us for sure what breed our young man is.
We also need to build a goat shed. Two weeks ago, Mike bought a young doe and her first kid, a male, and they've been spending the nights in our smokehouse and the days either in a largish pen behind our garage, or picketed out in various parts of the yard so they can forage. It's working out okay, but the smokehouse will be too hot in the summer so we need to build a permanent home for them, and we need to put up fencing that we can move around to different "pastures" rather than keep them picketed. We've been getting close to a quart of milk a day from Queenie, which is not bad considering how young she is and that Blue*, the kid, is allowed to nurse freely. Her production should peak in June and by then we'll be weaning him, so hopefully we can get a half a gallon or more per day, which would give us enough for drinking and cooking, but probably not enough for making cheese. I've half a mind to keep buying pasteurized milk for cooking with so I can have some to make cheese with.
I also want to build a nice tall fence across the east and south sides of our property and plant some trees there to screen the view. Those two lots were bought by a builder and he's putting up two huge houses. The one to the south of us I think I can adjust to. It's sited next to our house and faces the street as we do, but I'm very disgruntled about the one to the east of us. It's a two-story obscentiy on a raised basement, and it's sitting just behind our back yard right smack dab in the middle of our view of the Potomac. Let me correct that - we no longer have a view of the Potomac. To make matters worse, their drain field is planned to be just a few feet away from our property line and that's where our garden is. I suppose after someone moves in there we won't be growing our food over there any more, since we do our best to grow organically and there's no telling what other people put down their drains.
This kind of thing is going on all over out here - the great American tragedy: Country people selling off their property to developers. Several farms in our county have recently been sold and about a thousand new houses are going up, and they are all of the McMansion variety. An elderly woman at our church told me last week that so many large houses have been built out here in the last couple of years that property values, and therefore taxes, are going up so quickly that many people who have lived here for generations are having to move away. It's very sad.
So, while we are being greatly blessed by the Lord, and feel like we're learning more of what it takes to run a homestead, and giving our children the skills to do so themselves, and enjoying fresh goat milk and looking forward to fresh eggs, we're seeing some of our neighbors thow away their inheritances, and doing so in a manner that makes it more difficult for their neighbors to keep their own heritage.
*sigh* All this work we need to get done and I'm reluctant to spend the time outside with my children doing it, because of the construction workers all around our house... and no privacy.
* A note about Blue's name, especially for Kelly M, since I told her he was going to be named either "Bucky" (that is, let him grow up to be a buck and breed with him) or "Easter Dinner" (heh). Number One Son talked us into having him castrated when he's a little older and keeping him as a companion for his mother - and allowing #1 Son to train him to pull a cart and maybe even a plow. While we were debating what his name should be, the girls took to calling him "Little White Thing with a Blue Collar" and I said, "Why don't we just call him 'Blue' then?" and it stuck.
:-)
Saturday, April 8, 2006
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday
This is only my second Easter season in a liturgical church and I can't get over how beautiful and meaningful this annual cycle of presenting the Gospel is.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Church year (or liturgical calendar), the year begins at Advent which is a season that both looks forward to the second coming of Christ as well as remembers the first coming. Then comes the Christmas season, which runs from Christmas day to the 5th of January, during which we celebrate the incarnation of Christ and why that was necessary for our salvation. The Epiphany season begins on the 6th of January, the Day of Epiphany, and the purpose of that season is to see how the Lord revealed the Messiah to all the nations. The principle Scriptural events associated with this season are the visit of the Magi (Christ revealed to the Gentiles, he is to be the savior of all the nations, not just the Jews), the baptism of Jesus (Christ revealed to the Jews as the Messiah), and the wedding at Cana (the divinity of Christ revealed).
Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, which is a time of quiet reflection on one's need for a savior and for continuing in repentance and faith in Christ. In our church, each Sunday morning begins with a recitation of the Ten Commandments (the people responding to each one, "Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law"), and then confession of sin. The Scriptures that are read during Lent generally relate to our sin and need for a savior, and the suffering that the Lord will undergo for our sakes.
Tomorrow begins "Holy Week" - the week of the Lord's passion, his death, and resurrection. Mike brought me a copy of the bulletin for tomorrow's service and it's so beautiful I wanted to share it here. The first part of the service is called "The Liturgy of the Palms," but the second part proceeds as a normal Sunday service with communion, which we have every Sunday.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
The Liturgy of the Palms
(We will gather at the parish hall, each taking a palm branch, and will process to the church building, singing.)
Pastor (singing): Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
People (singing): Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Processional Hymn: All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Now inside the church - the Gospel according to Mark 11:1-11a
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, `Why are you doing this?' just say this, `The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.'" They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
"Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple.
Hymn: "Hosanna" sung by the children's choir
Pastor: Let us pray.
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
First reading, Isaiah 45:21-25
Thus says the LORD,
Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the LORD?
There is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is no one besides me.
Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
"To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear."
Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me,
are righteousness and strength;
all who were incensed against him
shall come to him and be ashamed.
In the LORD all the offspring of Israel
shall triumph and glory.
Psalm 22:1-11 (sung)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *
and are so far from my cry
and from the words of my distress?
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
by night as well, but I find no rest.
Yet you are the Holy One, *
enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
Our forefathers put their trust in you; *
they trusted, and you delivered them.
They cried out to you and were delivered; *
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *
scorned by all and despised by the people.
All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
"He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; *
let him rescue him, if he delights in him."
Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *
and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.
I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *
and there is none to help.
Second reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Gradual Hymn: Ah, Holy Jesus, verses one and two
(Note: Half of the gradual hymn is sung before the reading of the Gospel, while the pastor walks up to the middle of the center aisle, and the other half is sung after. The Gospel is always proclaimed from the midst of the congregation.)
Reading of the Passion: Mark 14:32-72; 15:1-47
(I'm not posting it here because the passage is so lengthy. This passage will be read in "parts" various people taking the part of the Evangelist (narrator), Jesus, Judas, Pilate, etc., with the congregation reading the part of the crowd. This is very moving because, you remember, we've just declared Jesus to be our King, and here we are calling out for his crucifixion. Oh, how fickle are our hearts!)
After that, we will sing the third verse of "Ah, Holy Jesus," and then the service will continue as usual. You can read the whole service here if you're interested.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
This is only my second Easter season in a liturgical church and I can't get over how beautiful and meaningful this annual cycle of presenting the Gospel is.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Church year (or liturgical calendar), the year begins at Advent which is a season that both looks forward to the second coming of Christ as well as remembers the first coming. Then comes the Christmas season, which runs from Christmas day to the 5th of January, during which we celebrate the incarnation of Christ and why that was necessary for our salvation. The Epiphany season begins on the 6th of January, the Day of Epiphany, and the purpose of that season is to see how the Lord revealed the Messiah to all the nations. The principle Scriptural events associated with this season are the visit of the Magi (Christ revealed to the Gentiles, he is to be the savior of all the nations, not just the Jews), the baptism of Jesus (Christ revealed to the Jews as the Messiah), and the wedding at Cana (the divinity of Christ revealed).
Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, which is a time of quiet reflection on one's need for a savior and for continuing in repentance and faith in Christ. In our church, each Sunday morning begins with a recitation of the Ten Commandments (the people responding to each one, "Lord have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this law"), and then confession of sin. The Scriptures that are read during Lent generally relate to our sin and need for a savior, and the suffering that the Lord will undergo for our sakes.
Tomorrow begins "Holy Week" - the week of the Lord's passion, his death, and resurrection. Mike brought me a copy of the bulletin for tomorrow's service and it's so beautiful I wanted to share it here. The first part of the service is called "The Liturgy of the Palms," but the second part proceeds as a normal Sunday service with communion, which we have every Sunday.
The Liturgy of the Palms
(We will gather at the parish hall, each taking a palm branch, and will process to the church building, singing.)
Pastor (singing): Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
People (singing): Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Processional Hymn: All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Now inside the church - the Gospel according to Mark 11:1-11a
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, `Why are you doing this?' just say this, `The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.'" They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
"Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple.
Hymn: "Hosanna" sung by the children's choir
Pastor: Let us pray.
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
First reading, Isaiah 45:21-25
Thus says the LORD,
Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the LORD?
There is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is no one besides me.
Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
"To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear."
Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me,
are righteousness and strength;
all who were incensed against him
shall come to him and be ashamed.
In the LORD all the offspring of Israel
shall triumph and glory.
Psalm 22:1-11 (sung)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *
and are so far from my cry
and from the words of my distress?
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
by night as well, but I find no rest.
Yet you are the Holy One, *
enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
Our forefathers put their trust in you; *
they trusted, and you delivered them.
They cried out to you and were delivered; *
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *
scorned by all and despised by the people.
All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
"He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; *
let him rescue him, if he delights in him."
Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *
and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.
I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *
and there is none to help.
Second reading: Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Gradual Hymn: Ah, Holy Jesus, verses one and two
(Note: Half of the gradual hymn is sung before the reading of the Gospel, while the pastor walks up to the middle of the center aisle, and the other half is sung after. The Gospel is always proclaimed from the midst of the congregation.)
Reading of the Passion: Mark 14:32-72; 15:1-47
(I'm not posting it here because the passage is so lengthy. This passage will be read in "parts" various people taking the part of the Evangelist (narrator), Jesus, Judas, Pilate, etc., with the congregation reading the part of the crowd. This is very moving because, you remember, we've just declared Jesus to be our King, and here we are calling out for his crucifixion. Oh, how fickle are our hearts!)
After that, we will sing the third verse of "Ah, Holy Jesus," and then the service will continue as usual. You can read the whole service here if you're interested.
Thursday, February 2, 2006
Thankful Thursday
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18
I'm thankful for the much-needed package I ordered last month, and which got lost in the mail, that finally arrived yesterday.
I'm thankful for Miss Kelly M., who's visiting with us right now, for being so much fun to talk to and for knowing How to Do Things Without Being Told.
I'm thankful for the trials the good Lord sends to us his children for our sanctification and for his glory.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18
I'm thankful for the much-needed package I ordered last month, and which got lost in the mail, that finally arrived yesterday.
I'm thankful for Miss Kelly M., who's visiting with us right now, for being so much fun to talk to and for knowing How to Do Things Without Being Told.
I'm thankful for the trials the good Lord sends to us his children for our sanctification and for his glory.
Friday, January 20, 2006
I.Q. Test
muchas gracias to Heidi
Here's a one question IQ test to help you decide how you should spend the rest of your day....
There is a mute who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper, and the purchase is done.
Now - if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?
Think about it before scrolling down for the answer...
He opens his mouth and says, "I would like to buy a pair of sunglasses."
If you got this wrong - please turn off your computer and call it a day.
muchas gracias to Heidi
Here's a one question IQ test to help you decide how you should spend the rest of your day....
There is a mute who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper, and the purchase is done.
Now - if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?
Think about it before scrolling down for the answer...
He opens his mouth and says, "I would like to buy a pair of sunglasses."
If you got this wrong - please turn off your computer and call it a day.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Thankful Thursday
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
Technology stuff: electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, central heat, a dry house
Fun stuff: Set daily puzzle, family read-alouds (currently Prince Caspian), my children's plays
Homely stuff: crochet, my husband's great-grandmother's bread bowl, my grandmother's quilts
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
Technology stuff: electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, central heat, a dry house
Fun stuff: Set daily puzzle, family read-alouds (currently Prince Caspian), my children's plays
Homely stuff: crochet, my husband's great-grandmother's bread bowl, my grandmother's quilts
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
I need my space
Tonight Mike took me out to a cute little seafood cafe just down the road from here. When we first went in there were only two other tables occupied, each in a corner on the far side of the place, so we took the booth in the third corner. I like being able to converse and not worry about being overheard. Shortly after we ordered, another pair came in and took the booth directly behind me, and then a family came in and took the table right beside us.
What's up with that? There was so much room for folks to spread out, but no, they had to sit right beside us and I had to listen to their conversations all night.
I hate it when people do that at the check out lane, too - stand so close behind me that I can practically feel their breath on my neck. I guess I'm just an abnormally private person, but when I'm in public amongst people I don't know, I really need my space.
Tonight Mike took me out to a cute little seafood cafe just down the road from here. When we first went in there were only two other tables occupied, each in a corner on the far side of the place, so we took the booth in the third corner. I like being able to converse and not worry about being overheard. Shortly after we ordered, another pair came in and took the booth directly behind me, and then a family came in and took the table right beside us.
What's up with that? There was so much room for folks to spread out, but no, they had to sit right beside us and I had to listen to their conversations all night.
I hate it when people do that at the check out lane, too - stand so close behind me that I can practically feel their breath on my neck. I guess I'm just an abnormally private person, but when I'm in public amongst people I don't know, I really need my space.
The epistomology of gratitude
God has given us rain and sunshine, grain and beer, wheat and bread, so that we might grasp the most obvious of all untouchable and objective truths -- our obligation to be grateful.
God has given us rain and sunshine, grain and beer, wheat and bread, so that we might grasp the most obvious of all untouchable and objective truths -- our obligation to be grateful.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Monday
I'm trying to post something every day so that extra-wide post with the snow pictures that's messing up my sidebar will hurry up and drop off. Unfortunately I can't think of anything worth saying today. The alternative, I suppose, would be to find out if there's some code I need to learn so I can fix it.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Yesterday I walked around the north side of property for the first time since we've been here. About half of the land is woods that are so overgrown with brambles I've just never bothered to venture out, but the kids have been busily cutting a trail around the perimeter since we moved in.
From the front door you walk west down to the wide grassy area that has to be kept clear on account of the fiber optic cable that lies buried there, then you turn northwest and follow that path along into the woods, and then turn west along the trail. The path is still fairly narrow and uneven, and it's wise to bring along a sturdy walking stick. You climb over a fallen tree and then walk along the edge of a ravine until you come to another fallen tree that makes a nice path when you get up on top of it. Several feet along the trunk you jump off and you've come to The Point - the place where the east-west ravine is met by the southwest-northeast one. The kids can scramble down that ravine and up the other side and come out behind our garage on the eastern edge of the yard, but until they finish the proposed footbridge I don't think I'll try it.
The smells were wonderful - that pungent, earthy, rotting-wood, leafy smell that was so much a part of my own childhood. I'm glad my children have this place.
I'm trying to post something every day so that extra-wide post with the snow pictures that's messing up my sidebar will hurry up and drop off. Unfortunately I can't think of anything worth saying today. The alternative, I suppose, would be to find out if there's some code I need to learn so I can fix it.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Yesterday I walked around the north side of property for the first time since we've been here. About half of the land is woods that are so overgrown with brambles I've just never bothered to venture out, but the kids have been busily cutting a trail around the perimeter since we moved in.
From the front door you walk west down to the wide grassy area that has to be kept clear on account of the fiber optic cable that lies buried there, then you turn northwest and follow that path along into the woods, and then turn west along the trail. The path is still fairly narrow and uneven, and it's wise to bring along a sturdy walking stick. You climb over a fallen tree and then walk along the edge of a ravine until you come to another fallen tree that makes a nice path when you get up on top of it. Several feet along the trunk you jump off and you've come to The Point - the place where the east-west ravine is met by the southwest-northeast one. The kids can scramble down that ravine and up the other side and come out behind our garage on the eastern edge of the yard, but until they finish the proposed footbridge I don't think I'll try it.
The smells were wonderful - that pungent, earthy, rotting-wood, leafy smell that was so much a part of my own childhood. I'm glad my children have this place.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
The Queen's Return
Susan couldn’t pinpoint exactly when she stopped believing in Narnia completely, but she knew when she started to stop. It was the term after the trip to America, when she finally became one of Those Girls.
Of course, Lucy's my favorite character in the Narnia stories, but being the oldest in my family I've always understood Susan, and I grieved upon learning that she'd betrayed Narnia herself, and often wondered what happened to her. This fanfic is a very well-done "what if" and one I think Mr. Lewis might approve of.
Thanks to Alexandra for pointing it out.
Susan couldn’t pinpoint exactly when she stopped believing in Narnia completely, but she knew when she started to stop. It was the term after the trip to America, when she finally became one of Those Girls.
Of course, Lucy's my favorite character in the Narnia stories, but being the oldest in my family I've always understood Susan, and I grieved upon learning that she'd betrayed Narnia herself, and often wondered what happened to her. This fanfic is a very well-done "what if" and one I think Mr. Lewis might approve of.
Thanks to Alexandra for pointing it out.
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