An Avid Gardener

Blueberry Zuchini Bread

2011-10-10T13:37:00.001-07:00

Ingredients

3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup vegetable oil
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups white sugar
2 cups shredded zucchini
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 pint fresh blueberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 4 mini-loaf pans.
In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar. Fold in the zucchini. Beat in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gently fold in the blueberries. Transfer to the prepared mini-loaf pans.
Bake 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Cinnamon Rolls, again

2011-10-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love breakfast for dinner. It is always so tasty and quick, whether you're whipping up pancakes, dipped bread for your French Toast or making fresh, warm cinnamon rolls with bacon and eggs.

I posted an excellent Cinnamon Roll recipe here, but with dough that rises overnight, you kinda have to plan ahead. I'm not that smart. So I combined a bread dough recipe from my mom and with the filling and glaze and now I have a ready to go cinnamon roll recipe in time for dinner!

*this dough is made up in the bread machine where it kneads and rises for 1 hr & 40 minutes. To speed things up even more, mix and knead the dough in your kitchen aid and rise 45 minutes in a warm oven.

Blue Ribbon Roll Dough
put in pan in this order~

1 1/2 Cups very warm water
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup veg. oil
4 1/2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbls yeast

Mix on dough cyle. Punch dough and shape. Makes 2 loaves of white bread or 18 "grandma" rolls in 9x13 pan or 16 cresent rolls. Bake rolls @ 350 degrees for 15 minutes and loaves of bread for 30 minutes. For cinnamon rolls, roll, spread filling and bake at 350 dgrees for 15 minutes.

Officially Fall

2011-10-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

Our weather is late by about 3 weeks this year. The cold fall rains have begun, the skies are gray, and all I can think about is baking and cooking! Woo hoo! Let's see what I can get done today. I'm thinking zuchini bread, molases cookies and something with cranberries for dinner.

Trees outside our windows.

Open Hands

2011-09-29T16:12:00.001-07:00

Many of you have heard of our friends Joseph and Sarah and their adoption story that just unfolded. They went to Indiana last week to pick up their baby. He was born on Sunday and not long after the birthmom backed out of their adoption plan and decided to go with a local agency. Joseph and Sarah asked for prayers and said they would be flying home in a few days. Jesse and I couldn't imagine their sorrow and having to pack up all the little boy things, but no little boy. On Wednesday Joseph was getting ready to re-schedule their flight home when the birthmom called them and asked if they still wanted to adopt her son. What a emotional roller coaster! They signed papers last night and Joseph and Sarah are bringing home their child.

Jesse and I have talked about how adopting feels like you have no control over the situation. There are so many more people involved than a father and a mother having a baby. Things get complicated. But the story about Joseph and Sarah proves that there is control. God is the one in control. He turns the heart like a river. We are constantly reminded to trust God and let it go. And in losing it, we gain it.

DIY: Chair reupholstery

2011-09-28T16:46:00.000-07:00

Look at this thing. What a mess. No wonder it was out by the dumpster. But beyond the visual asthetic appeal of a water stained seat cushion, the chairs were just fine! I claimed them for my own and began the recovery process. I decided to use a vinyl material since I wanted to keep the chair outside on our porch all year round.

Flip the chair upside down and begin unscrewing the chair seat from the frame. It's best to unscrew screws in a "star" pattern and never in a "circle". In other words, undo one and then move to work on a screw opposite from the first, not next to. Another good tip is to only unscrew half way before moving on to the next screw.

The dismantled chair seat and frame:

Keep track of which screws went where. I had one small screw and four larger ones with this chair.

You need enough material to fold over each side of the seat. Excess material can always be cut later, but it's better to have more at the beginning.

Pull material taut around the first side of the chair seat. Have a helper pull and hold the seat in place, otherwise you'll have to use your knees. Staple first in the middle, then pull again and staple on the left side, then on the right.

Two sides, stapled.

Four sides, stapled.

When you get to the corners you'll have to pull the material around the corner and readjust a couple of times til you get it the way you like it.

Cut into each side for a smooth pull and fold over.

Pull firmly til tight and staple down.

Do the same on the other side.

Trim off any excess material.

Completed corner:

Oh, and my husband took this picture...

One down, four to go!

View of the folded and stapled corner.

You can see here that I did trim away the excess material near the staples. And now that the chair seat is newly recovered(!)....

reattach the seat to the chair frame (this is where it's important to remember which screw went where).

The completed chair! Ta da!

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls, or How to Rot Your Teeth

2011-08-05T17:40:00.001-07:00

*Not my recipe. This comes from Pink Perfection.

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
makes 12

dough
1 cup milk
1/3 cup butter
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/2 cup white sugar
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs

filling
1 1/3 cups (packed) golden brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons unbleached all purpose flour
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

glaze
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup maple sugar (if you can’t get maple sugar, use 2 cups powdered sugar, and you could add some maple flavoring, if desired)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons (or more) whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add eggs and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, adding more flour as needed, about 5 minutes.

Cover the dough and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together filling ingredients.

Roll out dough into a 9×12 inch rectangle. Spread dough evenly with filling mixture. Roll up dough from the long end and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal size rolls and place cut side up in a 9×12″ baking pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, remove cinnamon rolls from refrigerator and let sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to take the chill off. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until browned. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together glaze ingredients, adding more milk to thin glaze, if necessary. Remove rolls from oven, and pour glaze over hot cinnamon rolls. Serve warm.

The God of Catastrophe

2011-08-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

This was Pastor Leitart's exhortation this week:

------------------

At the Trinity office this week, you will find printed copies of Pastor Sumpter’s pastoral report from last Tuesday’s Heads of Household meeting. I encourage you to take one and read it carefully and prayerfully.

You’ll find that, as we celebrate our eighth anniversary as a church, we face several intense pastoral situations. Hidden sins have come to light; previously quiet sinners have turned defiant; apparently harmonious marriages have unraveled; family secrets have been revealed; accusations have been hurled at the elders.

Reading that report, you may be tempted to think that God has abandoned us for a season. The opposite is the case. Whenever God comes near, He throws the world into turmoil.

He brought flood waters in the time of Noah. Sodom was cheerfully decadent, until Yahweh showed up. No one had ever seen a nation plowed up as Egypt was when Yahweh came to rescue His son.

What surprises us is that God traumatizes the righteous as well as the wicked. Abraham the just was called to sacrifice his beloved son, faithful Joseph was sold as a slave, and David spent his early life on the run. When God the Son draws near in human flesh, He bears a cross. God’s presence is unspeakable joy; in a sinful world His presence is also, necessarily, unprecedented grief.

Many of the situations at Trinity emerged after we started our regular days of fasting and prayer. We have considered asking you to stop praying. But we need this. We are so content with our sin, sloth, and immaturity that we need trauma to grow up. God has answered our prayers. He has come near as the God He is, the God of catastrophe.

Even if you are not involved in any of these situations directly, don’t miss this chance for taking stock, self-examination and repentance. Don’t be proud when you read about other people’s problems. God is among us, and He is bringing hidden things to light. Beat Him to the punch; expose yourself before he exposes you. As Paul says, “let a man examine himself . . . if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged.”

June 2011

2011-07-31T21:53:00.001-07:00

The email that we sent this week

2011-07-15T11:25:00.001-07:00

Dear Church Family,

Kate and I wanted to let you all know that we are currently in the process of pursuing adoption. We are working with an agency here in Idaho and hope to have the home study and application process done by September. After that we will be waiting for the right child. We are excited to be able to take part in the ministry of caring for the orphan and the fatherless. So far God has blessed us very much and we look forward to His coming blessings as we seek to bless others. Please be in prayer for us that we would have wisdom as we work through all the paperwork and that we would be patient as we trust in His good timing.

We are excited about all this so feel free to ask us about how things are going. We will also keep you posted when more things develop. We love you all very much and are thankful to have such a strong family community to support us.

The Lord be with you!
Jesse and Kate Sumpter

Books To Read

2011-06-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

Recently I went through my hope chest and reorganized the stuff that was inside. I found, among a lot of other things, 6 sheets of authors and titles that I should I read. I think I made this list when I was in highschool.

C.S. Lewis
-Four Loves
-Pilgrims Regress
-Reflection on the Psalms
-God in the Dock
-Medieval and Renaissance Literature
-Mere Christianity
-Screwtape Letters
-Space Trilogy

Tolkien
-The Lord of the Rings

Dorothy Sayers
-The Lost Tools of Learning
-The Man Born to Be King
-The Nine Tailors

Chesterton
-The Ballad of the White Horse
-Everlasting Man
-Orthodoxy
-Father Brown

Dickens
-The Tale of Two Cities
-Bleak House
-David Copperfield
-A Christmas Carol
-A Cricket on the Hearth
-Our Mutual Friend

Alcott
-Jack and Jill
-Under the Lilacs
-An Old-Fashioned Girl
-Good Wives
-Jo's Boys

Jack London
-Call of the Wild

J.M.Barrie
-The Little Minister

Howard Fast
-Spartacus

Mark Twain
-Tom Sawyer

Nathaniel Hawthorn
-The House of Seven Gables
-The Scarlet Letter

G.A. Henty
-For the Temple

Aldrich
-A Lantern in her Hand

George McDonald
-Lilith
-Princess & Curdie
-Princess and the Goblins
-Littler Daylight and other Stories

James Hilton
-Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Sir Walter Scott
-Ivanhoe
-Rob Roy

George Elliot
-Middlemarch

Christopher Morley
-Parnassus on Wheels
-The Haunted Bookshop

Robert Lewis Stevenson
-Kidnapped
-The Black Arrow

Geoffrey of Monmouth
John Buchan
Agatha Christie
Flannery O'Connor
Rudyard Kipling
Elizabeth Gouge
Charles Williams

-Master and Commander
-Metamorphasis
-Astrophel and Stella
-The Tountine
-The Seven Laws of Teaching
-Silver Chalice
-Ben-Hur
-Portrait of a Lady
-Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
-The Brother's Karamazov
-Crime and Punishment
-War and Peace
-I Capture the Castle
-Wuthering Heights
-Adam of the Road
-Captian's Courageous
-Lorna Doone
-King Solomon's Mines
-The Red Badge of Courage
-Penrod
-Les Miserables
-Scottish Chiefs
-Uncle Tom's Cabin
-The Yearling
-To Kill A Mockingbird
-The Killer Angels
-A Year in Provance
-Under the Tuscan Sun
-

English Muffin Bread

2011-06-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

This recipe comes from Grace Penney. It's very good mostly because I stick pretty close to it.

English Muffin Bread
1.5 cups flour + 1 cup flour
1 package rapid rise yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup milk + 1/4 cup water (120-130 degreees F)
cornmeal

Combine 1.5 cups flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and baking soda. Stir in milk/water combination.
Use your hands to mix in remaining flour until dough is soft. Grease 8 1/2 by 44 1/2 inch loaf pan. Sprinkle with cornmeal, put dough in pan and sprinkle with more cornmeal. Cover pan and let dough rise in warm, draft free place for 30-40 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. It will stay 3 days in an air tight container, or frozen for a month.

Pork Carnitas for Crockpot

2011-06-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

Pork (any where from 1lb to 4 lbs have worked well)
1 bunch Cilantro
½ Red onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
A sprinkle Garlic salt
A dash Oregano
16 oz jar of Salsa
Splash of Olive oil

1) Pour olive oil in crock pot. Add ½ chopped red onion and minced garlic. Put meat on top. Tear cilantro on top of meat (or use scissors to snip leafy ends of cilantro; some steams are ok). Sprinkle all with garlic salt and oregano. Pour salsa over everything; add ½ bottle of water. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve in tortillas and with chips, salsa, sour cream and humus.

A New Beginning

2011-05-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

This video is neat to watch. While I don't agree with everything, I enjoyed watching it and was touched by the ladies' interaction.

C.S. Lewis' Top 10

2011-05-25T16:55:00.001-07:00

In 1962, The Christian Century magazine published C.S. Lewis’s answer to the question, “What books did most to shape your vocational attitude and your philosophy of life?” Here is C.S. Lewis’s list of his top ten books, not including the Bible.

1. Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women, by George MacDonald

2. The Everlasting Man, by G. K. Chesterton

3. The Aeneid, by Virgil

4. The Temple, by George Herbert

5. The Prelude, by William Wordsworth

6. The Idea of the Holy, by Rudolf Otto

7. The Consolation of Philosophy, by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius

8. The Life of Samuel Johnson, by James Boswell

9. Descent into Hell, by Charles Williams

10. Theism and Humanism, by Arthur James Balfour

The Longest Spring

2011-05-14T14:49:00.001-07:00

"7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold the Judge is standing at the door! 10My brethren, take the propbhets, who spke in the name of the Lord, as an example of sufering and patience. 11Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. 12But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes be "Yes" and your "No", "No", lest you fall into judgement. 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms? 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayers of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."

from James 5

Hoeing

2011-04-08T12:40:00.001-07:00

by John Updike

I sometimes fear the younger generation will be deprived
of the pleasures of hoeing;
there is no knowing
how many souls have been formed by this simple exercise.

The dry earth like a great scab breaks, revealing
moist-dark loam--
the pea-root's home,
a fertile wound perpetually healing.

How neatly the green weeds go under!
The blade chops the earth new.
Ignorant the wise boy who
has never performed this simple, stupid, and useful wonder.

Information for the Playbill

2011-03-25T12:41:00.000-07:00

Murdered to Death
by Peter Gordon
April 7th, 8th, 9th
7pm at All Souls Christian Church

Role: Elizabeth Hartley-Trumpington

Previous roles include minor parts in home school productions, the stage manager in The Importance of Being Ernest produced by Blue Milk Productions, and 'Hermia' in A Midsummer Night's Dream performed for Trinity Fest 2005 during which I met my future husband.

Thanks to my family for all the dinner conversations when nobody could get a word in edgewise; for the lovely, I say the lovely Foghorn Leghorn comments; and for champagne on Christmas Eve. Thanks to our director and assistant director for all the time they put into this play. Thanks to my husband, who encourages me in everything I do and for fighting the occasional dragon I bring home to dinner.

Other items: Christ said that we must become like little children. In play acting we are those little children and play games for our parents to laugh at. The Lord loves to tell stories and we imitate Him as we act out His world. We love the world and the silly things in it, like kangaroos and palm trees and French accents and knitting. He made it all and it is good.

Home decorating update

2011-03-21T21:12:00.000-07:00

Our living room as of January 2011. Pictures on the wall make such a difference!

South West living room wall. New loveseat and I moved my desk to the living room for more sun light while I work.

From the living room looking at the front door

Another view of the front door and dining room

Bathroom - new shevles from Ikea!

Bedroom

Bedroom - other side

Autumn 2010

2011-03-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

Lydia and Hannah joined me for lunch at Smokey Mountain Pizzeria!

Jesse decorating my birthday cake.

Fall SRO Ball 2010

2011-03-21T20:59:00.001-07:00

My and my cousin. Ain't he great?

I was the only Callihan girl at the dance so I had my two brothers all to myself.

Nieuwsma Flowers

2011-03-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

Liz dried all the flowers that Luke gave her when they were courting and engaged. I arranged them for her and sent them to her in Oregon for her birthday.

These are more various flowers from other occasions and people.

Doughnuts with Maple Frosting - Sept 2010

2011-03-21T20:47:00.000-07:00

Family Fun

2011-03-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

Oma, Aunt Molly and Uncle JJ came for a visit in September!

Felicity and Tovia

Add River

It's a party with everyone here!

Flying River-Boy!

Felicity and Aunt Kate

Felicity and Oma

At Uncle Jesse and Aunt Kate's house watching Lady and the Tramp

Cooking in my home

2011-03-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

Julia Child's Haricots Verts a la Provencale, or Green Beans with Tomatoes, Garlic, and Herbs

It was so tasty!

and went really well with Julia Child's Poulet Roti, or Roast Chicken

Cranberry and White Chip cookies for my niece Sophia Ruth's baby shower - August 2010

Gumbo

My husband took this one

Tuesday Bookgroup

2011-03-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

What we've read:

Sept. 2009 - Flannery O'Conner short stories

Oct - I Serve: A Novel of the Black Prince Roseanne Lortz

Nov - In Defense of Food Michael Pollock

Dec -

Jan 2010 - Bucer's meeting for planning next few books

Feb - Til We Have Faces C.S.Lewis

March - The Moonstone Wilkie Collins

April -

May - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society Mary Ann Shaffer

June - The Scarlet Pimpernel Baroness Orczy

July -

Aug - The Supper of the Lamb Robert Farrar Capon

Sept - The Number One Ladies Detective Agency Alexander McCall Smith

Oct - The Book Thief Markus Zusak

Nov - Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science Atul Gawande

Dec - Christmas Stories

Jan 2011 - The Hiding Place Corrie ten Boom

Feb - The Blue Castle L.M. Montgomery

March - Choosing Rest Sally Breedlove

April - Buffalo Coat Carol Ryrie Brink

May - The Man in the Brown Suit Agatha Christie

June - Social night :)

July - Endurance: An Epic Polar Adventure by F. A. Worsley or The Endurance: Shakelton's Legendary Antartic Expediton by Caroline Alexander

Next up ...
August - 84 Charing Cross Road

October - All Hallow's Eve Charles Williams

Other Suggestions:
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Name of the Rose
The Yearling

House Summer 2010

2011-03-08T20:54:00.000-08:00

Living Room corner South East

Living Room corner South West

From the living room looking towards the front door

From the front door looking towards the living room

Bedroom Update

2011-02-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

While I haven't been able to check off my earlier list on account of our budget tightening, I have improved the room.

Two weeks ago we were in Grants Pass and bought picture frames for our wedding photos. After all, it's only been three years since the actual wedding. I hung a large one over my tall dresser and three were put over Jesse's shorter and wider dresser. I think it really helped the room feel fuller and "lived in".

My other accomplishment has been keeping the bed made! Such a difference.

I'm looking at this on Craigslist. Perfect in everyway, except a tad big. Oh, and their a pair! Love it!

2011-01-06T22:01:00.000-08:00

I inherited a bed frame from my great-grandmother. The headboard is rather large and I've been trying to decide what to put over it.

I like the use of the 3 frames over the headboard in this picture (from google images).

Love the lamps in this one!!

This one give a feel for our bedroom, lots of dark rich wood. The headboard is even taller. I'm almost ready to opt out of anything above it.

We'll see.

Bedroom Makeover

2011-01-06T14:50:00.001-08:00

I've decided that our bedroom is an important room of the house. Statistically we will spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping so the room we sleep in ought to welcome us in. The marriage bed is in many ways the binding of the marriage and that too should be welcoming. Our room should be inviting at night when we want to rest and sleep and also a place to welcome in the day the next morning.

My room doesn't look like it's important. There are piles of towels (I'm hoping for another shelf in my bathroom soon), a sewing machine and it's related accoutrements, a rocking chair that the Christmas tree edged out of the living room, etc.

I'm beginning a project today and this post seals the bargain. I aim to remake my bedroom so that it reflects my feelings towards it in a positive manner (it currently reflect my negative feelings, I guess).

TO DO:
Paint wife's dresser light blue
Paint husband's dresser deep blue/purple
Purchase taller nightstands and bed side lamps (our current lamps shine into our eyes when reading in bed)
Hang new curtain rods

*more to come latter! Off to the thrift store.

Newest Nieuwsma Cider Punch

2010-11-29T17:03:00.000-08:00

In honor of Benjamin and Kate, as prepared for their Moscow Wedding Reception.

makes 5 quarts of cider punch

Heat over medium heat in a large sauce pan until sugar is dissolved:
2 C sugar
2 C cider
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp allspice

Remove from heat and add:
6 oz orange juice concentrate
1 gal cider

Chill. Add 2 quarts ginger ale just before you serve it.

Advent, Week 1

2010-11-29T16:44:00.001-08:00

Creation Week
Since this is the beginning of the church year, oh best beloved, it is fitting to begin with Creation. We set up our Christmas tree to remember those two trees, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We put white twinkle lights on it to make it beautiful. We also decorate our house in honor of what is coming, Christmas. A wreath on the door, Christmas trinkets and nick-nacks, plaid tablecloths and holly berry dishes.

Readings:
Advent Calendar, a poem by Rowam Williams
The Best Christmas Pagent Ever, a short story by Barbar Robinson

Scripture:
Read through Creation story

Thrid Street Paper Co. Giveaway!!

2010-10-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Miss Katie and Miss Kelly from Third Street Paper Co.are giving a $15 gift certificate over at The Searched and Found.

Seen this stuff in person at the Fall Jolly in September. Excellent work!

The African Queen

2010-09-27T20:38:00.000-07:00

I have just finished reading The African Queen by C. S. Forester, author of the famous Horatio Hornblower stories. The African Queen is the name of a steam launch owned by a mechanic in Central Africa. The story takes place during the open stages of World War II and revolves around the mechanic and a missionary woman and their journey on the launch.

Rose Sayer grew up in a rigidly religious home and when her brother, Samuel, was called to the mission field in Africa she went along with him. They serve together for 10 years before the story begins. At it's opening Samuel dies and Rose is left with Germans closing in on her. Mr. Allnutt arrives on the river to help her bury her brother and offer her a means of departure. Throughout the next few chapters we find Rose a liberated woman after her brother's death. Though a faithful Christian, he was a puritan in the worst sense of the word and held the two of them to such rigid standards that it's a relief to be away from the mission. She discovers a strong sense to aid their country, England, in "her most desperate hour of need" and convices Allnutt to journey with her to destroy a German patrol boat.

Unfortunately Allnutt is not a man to whom one needs to work very hard to convince. He is a weak man and to avoid an argument he conceeds to Rose's plan saying that perhaps the launch engine should suffer in the heat, or perhaps she should run aground and then there would be no question of going on. Rose proposes of traveling down an almost uncharted river, through rapids only a canoe could safely shoot, past a German outpost, into an unknown delta and finishing at the entrance to the lake guarded by the German patrol. On the other side of the lake are the British and safety. But entering the lake from the river would have the elimant of surprise; who would dare to travel down the Bora and her rapids?

The African Queen covers about 4 weeks of adventures, but to both the characters and the reader it seems ever so much longer. Rose and Allnutt descover friendship in each other; Rose's strength of purpose and diligence aids Allnutt's lazy streak and he's carefree manner frees Rose and puts her at ease with life. They are well written characters and very interesting characters.

Half way through the story Rose and Allnutt develop a romance. After an exhilerating day of triumphanting through the rapids and being unable to contain their joy, they share the night together. C. S. Forester is modest in his description of their love making, but nevertheless I was rather shocked. It was hardly believable that a missionary woman, a virgin, of 33 years would so quickly forget the Lord's commandments. Did she never really believe? Why wouldn't a day of excitement and night of passion produce remorse and regret? But there was none. I was very dissapointed in Rose's character and Forester's depicted of Christianity. Allnutt's character was rather debase to begin with; been married before, but never divorced and prostitutes and a mistress were his companions in Africa. Forester writes joy and love into their new relationship. They become as husband and wife in each other's eyes as they truly develope a tender respect for one another. This is his excuse for their behavior, but I don't buy it. I complained to my husband about this relationship in the book, and he said how does it end?

Well, near the end of the story Allnutt and Rose are faced with death as they approach the goal of their journey. Their scheme involves ramming the launch with denators and explosives in the bows into the German patrol, which can only be done by hand. They tell each other they'll jump off at the last minute, but they know this might not work. Rose's mind turns to God at the thought of meeting Him face to face within a few days. She first recalls how she has not even prayed since leaving hte mission. No thoughts were directed toward her Maker, no prayers and for this she is over come with grief. After a life devoted, she forgets. In the midst of her penitance she blushes with the thought of lying with Allnutt in a manner forbidden by God. And "she enjoyed it as no woman should". She cries out for forgiveness and thanks God for such a man as Allnutt who did not abuse her, but truely loved her. The end of the story is not what I expected, but quite satisfying. Rose and Allnutt decide it would be best to be married before joining the world of civilization.

While I heartily enjoyed the adventures of the story and Forester's writing style, I would only be able to recommend this book with a few qualifications. It is well worth the read as far as adventure and the wonderful descriptions of Africa go. The characters are extremely well written, very true to life. Forester writes as one who is practised in the art of story telling.

Equipping My Home

2010-08-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Our lovely new apartment has so much stuff in it. I feel like it's a totaly mess most of the time and I'm constantly complaining to my Grandma that I have no storage. Must stop that.

However, our living room was deprived of a couch when we moved 2 months back. It was too big and should have never been bought in the first place, but we did and crammed it into a basement apartment. We decided not to try to remove it. So we are couchless.

We thought a loveseat might fit perfectly in our home. It would be so snug and cozy. Hopefully, we've chased down the right one and we'll be posting pictures soon!

Quote of the Day

2010-07-07T07:56:00.001-07:00

.
me: "I have sadness in my heart."
husband: "Well, get it out!"
.

Happy Summer!

2010-06-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

It's the firs official week of summer and our palouse weather has decided to cooperate with everyone's wishes.

It's HOT!

And, of course, Jesse and I picked this time to have our own "staycation" so to speak. We're inside watching movies and more movies.

I showed Jesse this old classic and favorite from my childhood:

Then you have the seafaring Acting Leftenaint Hornblower, sir.

Star Wars... an inter-generational movie. We watched episodes 2, 3, and 4.

And lastly, this new one (for us, at least). Titled "Wit" and based on a play. It concerns a woman who is diagnosed with an agressive form of ovarian cancer with no known cure. She accepts a position as a research patient and this story deals with those struggles as well as the dwelling she does on her life as it comes to a close. An interesting story with a resurrection ending.

Easter Haiku

2010-05-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

For Jesse. Happy Easter!

Twitch goes the tail as her eyes
follow the flights above.
Feathers on the ground.

Curled on top cement step by
the door, her insides rumble.
Ants crawl across her nose.

Chesterton

2010-05-16T07:16:00.001-07:00

If nothing else, I'll post here a favortie quote from G.K. Chesterton. This comes from a letter he wrote to his new fiancee telling her of all the things they shall do together as a married couple.

"We shall have bad things in the house and make them good things."

I LOVE this and I use it all the time. When I'm cooking food I look at the raw meat and say "You are bad, but I will make you good." Sometimes I have dust in my living room and dirt and grime in the kitchen, but those are bad things too and I make them good things.

Have a wonderful Sabbath!

Encephalitis

2010-03-08T08:54:00.000-08:00

--- is an inflammation of the brain caused by a primary viral infection to the brain or spinal cord, or a by a secondary viral infection which first infects a part of the body and then infects the brain.

Symptoms:
*Headache
*Irritability
*Lethargy
*Fever
*Joint pain

More serious infections can cause:
*Confusion and hallucinations
*Personality changes
*Double vision
*Seizures
*Muscle weakness
*Loss of sensation or paralysis in certain areas
*Tremors
*Rash
*Loss of consciousness
*Bulging in the soft spots (fontanels) of the skull in infants

Info taken from the May Clinic website.

Julia Child

2010-01-28T20:43:00.000-08:00

Been reading My Life In France by Julia Child! So good. What an encouragment. This woman taveled the world following her husband and his government relations job and learned to be content with it all. She was willing to try new things and discovered a love of something very much *not* native; French Food! She flung herself into learning the language in order to go to cooking school.

This book is an excellent read. I recommend it heartily (even though I haven't finished it yet) and hope to update with a full review when it's completed.

P.s. I just needed to post something QUICK!

Guiness Meat Pie

2010-01-09T17:23:00.000-08:00

As taken from the cookbook Hot Providence and credits go to Nola Swanson

"This dish is a real magnet for gourmets! Since it is sort of an English dish, it might be fun to serve with popovers. It would go great with steamed asparagus, or some kind of root vegetable (beets!). I served a chocolate dessert which followed the red meat and wine very nicely.

Filling:
1/4 C oil, preferably olive
1 1/2 lbs beef top round, or stew meat
4 slices of bacon, chopped
1 large onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 carrots, sliced
1 stalk celery, sliced
8 oz mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
2 Tbsp. flour
1 C beef stock
1 C Guiness beer
1 C chestnuts, peeled and roasted
salt
peper

Crust:
2 C flour
1/4 C fresh white bread crumbs
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 C chilled butter
1/2 C cold water

Topping:
1 egg, beaten

For filling: Heat oil in a medium pot. Add beef and bacon; sear over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until beef is browned on all sides. Add onion, garlic clove, carrots, celery, and mushrooms, and cook 8 minutes or until soft, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle in flour and cook 1 minute before adding the beef stock, Guiness and chestnuts. Season with salt and pepper turn down heat and simmer at least 2 hours, stirring occassionally.

For crust: Mix flour, bread crumbs, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add cold water and stir just until sticking together. Make balls out of 1/3 and 2/3 of the dough (one twice as large as the other) and chill for 30 minutes. Roll out large piece of dough, and place in a greased 9x9 pie pan. Add flling. Roll out small dough; cover pie and crimp edges. Brush top of crust with beaten egg and cut vents in the top crust.

Bake at 375 degrees Farenheit and 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with Guiness or Cabernet Sauvignon or a French Bourdeaux."

Pumpkin Cranberry bread

2010-01-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin Cranberry Bread
Prep time: 15 mins
Bake time: 1 hour

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups granulated sugar
1 (15 ounce) can LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup orange juice
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans.
Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, vegetable oil and orange juice in large mixer bowl; beat until just blended. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Fold in cranberries. Spoon batter into prepared loaf pans.
Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

The Blind Side

2009-12-02T21:54:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Kate Sumpter

The Blind Side, which is based on a true story, was written and directed by John Lee Hancock. Hancock also wrote and directed The Alamo and directed The Rookie. Quinton Aaron plays Michael Oher, a ward of the state, and Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mother in the family that eventually adopts Oher.

The Blide Side depicts a post-millenial view of the world. It also depicts a world that God controls.

From the opening sequence of 4 seconds in football history to the closing sequence of the newpaper article about the boy dying in a shoot out, the director and script writer describe actions that have consequenses. The 4 seconds (counted as "1 mississippi, 2 mississippi, etc.) mark the time it takes for man to make change in his life. The Tuohys change their lives and consequently Michal's by being a family that loves God and honors His commandment to love their neighbor. This ultimately comes in the form of Michael, ward of the state, with no warm bed to go to at night. The Tuohys adoption of Michael into their family against what is understood as "cool" (which is protrayed by Leigh Anne's friends who meet for lunch) proclaims God's love toward the unlovely. While we are commanded to dwell on "whatever is true, whatever is good, whatever is beautiful", we are also commanded to redeem what is lies, right what is wrong, and love what is unloveable.

Written above the entrance to the k-12 Christian school are the words "With Man this is possible. With God all things are possible", indicate that God is control of all things, yet man has been given dominion over this world under the lordship of King Jesus.

The closing sequence ends with Leigh Anne reading an article in the newspaper about a boy of Michael's age who dies in a shoot out on the wrong side of town. Her comment is "that could have been anyone. It could have been her son."

The movie aptly describes man's fallen nature and sin when the NCAA sends an investigator to question Michael about his family and his college choice. Michael is poisoned by the investigator's lies and believes that maybe his family doesn't truly love him and didn't adopt him because they cared for him, but because they wanted to put on more player on their alma mater's football team. I appreciated this part in the story as it truly shows man's sin and jealousy. Man cannot understand love, only God can for He is Love.

Happy Early Thanksgiving!!

2009-11-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

In 1 and a half short little hours, Jesse and I will be driving the long haul to visit dear family for Thanksgiving! Things are packed, plants have been watered, garbaged taken out and I commanded to rest.

Things I am thankful for:
1. My husband, Jesse, who works hard for and with me
2. Trips in which I get to see my sister, Liz!
3. Have rest time in my day
4. Reading and praying
5. Thinking. I love thinking about ... things. And stuff.
6. God and His word. Our Savior's saving grace.
7. Mercies when I'm tired
8. Flowers and sunshine
9. Dad and Mom who take me out to lunch! Woot!
10. Getting to hang out with my hubster for 10 hours in a car. This means that we can talk and talk and talk. :-)

Read By My Hubster At My Birthday Party

2009-11-19T19:36:00.000-08:00

My Wife, My Home
To Kate on her 24th Birthday, 2009.

My wife is my home,
Wherever we go, wherever we roam.
In our living room while she sits and she reads
I sit in my blue chair and consider her deeds.

Sometimes we are in the jungle, and she uses a machete
Cleaning out our bedroom, always on the ready.
She swings it high and she swings it low
She cuts up spiders in a single blow.
Then she picks up my clothes and swings out on a vine
Leaving our bed made and the room clean by nine.

Sometimes we are in a fairy tale, and she uses her magic skills
She plants every bean she finds, from here to the hills.
Then she waves her hands and she waters it all
And then she dances around, until the corn is nice and tall.
Then she whistles a tune and all the rabbits come out to see
As the amaryllis grows big and blooms prettily.

Sometimes we are at a construction site, and she uses big machines
They rumble and they growl and they blend food to smithereens.
Sometimes in the kitchen, food will fly as she cooks
So, she wears a pretty apron, just like all the books.
This makes her the boss and she tells me what to do:
Dice that onion and whip the moisture out of that potatoo.

Sometimes we are in a garden, and she weeds our house
She plucks up the chairs and vacuums and cleans like a mouse.
Then she rakes in my study and moves piles from here to there
So that when she is done, everything is in its place, even my hair.
Last she puts on a breathing mask and sprays down the shower
Calm and collected she blasts it clean in less than one hour.

This is my wife, this is my home.
Wherever we go, wherever we roam.

from C.S. Lewis' Weight of Glory

2009-10-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

“It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbour. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbour’s glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendours. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously—no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption. And our charity must be a real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner—no mere tolerance or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment. Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbour is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbour he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat—the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.”

Manga Salsa

2009-10-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

• 1 mango - peeled, seeded and diced
• 1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced
• 4 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 3 tablespoons olive
DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, combine the mango, avocado, tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, and garlic. Stir in the salt, lime juice, red onion, and olive oil. To blend the flavors, refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving.

Ooo la la! So sweet and tasty with the zing of hot pepper and cilantro! So wonderful for a hot Summer day. It went well with our Sloppy Joes and potato salad tonight.

Sabbath ... 1 week later.

2009-10-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

Today was my turn to be sick and miss choir. Morning on the couch watching "Mighty Mouse", all the old Silly Symphony Disney cartoons (includding "Music Land", which is one from my childhood) and some of "The Office".

Jesse came home from church delivering jello, yogurt, mini doughnuts and children's liquid Tylenol. I seemed to have an adverse reaction to yesterdays Tylenol Cold meds and had a rough night. So the soft foods and child's tylenol was for a tender tummy. The doughnuts were to entice me to eat. My husband knows me well; I ate 3.

Tried to nap while Jesse did my dishes. I couldn't so I praised him for his faithful servanthood to me. We've been reading and blogging this afternoon. I found Grace Penney's blog. Great stuff!

I made some huckleberry muffins. Mostly because our house was getting cold and Jesse turned our oven on to heat up the place. I really shouldn't let him do that; so I put something into the oven to justify it. 20 minute muffins will do the trick.

I can eat huckleberry muffin when I'm sick, can't I?

Happy Sabbath

2009-10-04T20:34:00.000-07:00

Sabbath means singing psalms with kids on laps. Kids that you poke and tickle and they laugh.

Sabbath is choir and kneeling and folded hands. It's congregational and bodily.

Sabbath is lovely our neighbors, starting in and working outward. Latimer is set aside and husbands are cared for.

Sabbath is a day of rest. It's watching the premeir of Stargate Universe while eating ham-cheese-squash-cilantro-corn-carrot quiche and sourdough bread. It's 2 hour naps, speed Scrabble, blogs, facebook and books.

Sabbath is making brownies to the glory of God. And eating them to His glory too. Amen!!

Happy Sabbath!

Fall!

2009-10-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

It's officially cold and rainy today! *woot*

I am baking bread in my bread machine for the second time ever. If it works I'll certainly be doing it more. I don't like store bread and neither does my husband (that makes one of us!) so I bake my own. Trouble is when I work a long day at work I don't want to. The bread machine will save me from my lame excuse.

Oh, and does anyone remember this guy?

Recipes

2009-09-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

What is agar?

What's for dinner?

2009-09-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

The questions that is asked every day by every wife... what's for dinner? If you are smart you've got a weekly menu (or a monthly menu, if you are brilliant. I am not.) from which you can remind yourself, "Oh yeah, we're having ______ for dinner tonight.

This is a fun one. I bought a sirloin roast on sale -- $1.38 per lb!! It's been in my freezer for 2 weeks now and I pulled it out yesterday and told it that it would be eaten in less than 24 hours. It promptly defrosted. Good boy.

Meat is such fun now that I am married. It really scared me for a while because I hadn't really practised meat when I lived at home. I made lots and lots to ground beef recipes.

So here I am about to enbark upon another meat experiment. Note to self: don't plan anything else on a "Meat Experiment" day. :-)

Here is where I am getting my recipe! Complete with pictures too!

Enjoy!

Be Fruitful and Multiply

2009-09-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

"Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominon over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" -Genesis 1:28

This dominion mandate is easily divided into two commandments as stated in the middle of the chiasm: "fill the earth" and "subdue it". We assign the female to the role of filling the earth and it the lot falls to her to people the world. But is this only answer to the Lord calling?

"but all the members do not have the same function...having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them." -Romans 12:4, 6

Perhaps she says to herself, "I can never have children" or "perhaps I will never marry." And yet the commandment is still directed towards us. "Be fruitful!" "Multiply!" How Lord? How can I accomplish this?

Remembering that you can not accomplish anything. You must remember that all things are from the Lord. He brings two together to make one; that He opens and closes the womb; that He brings the rains in the spring and the sun in the summer for the multiplication at harvest. Rembering that God is the one who does all this, what has He multiplied for you? How has He increased your number? Be thankful for that increase, whether it be related to only you, or if your husband got a promotion, or if he got a compliment, or if you were given a new opportunity.

Thanks be to God for a faithful husband, good jobs for us, an increase in wealth, a growth in maturity, and a desire for more.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of you heart." -Psalm 37:3,4

Chocolate Cream Pie

2009-09-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

One of the first recipes shown on the movie Julie and Julia is Chocolate Cream Pie. Julie says, "No matter how awful the day was at work, melted chocolate whisked into egg yolks will always firm up and make a pudding." Today was one of those days so I made a chocolate cream pie.

I bought Bakers semi-sweet chocolate from Winco. It comes in an 8 oz. box with each 1 oz cube individually wrapped! Cute!! I found this pie recipe online and substituted 2 cups soy milk for the regular non-Jesse milk and added 1 Tablespoon of almond extract. It lost a bit of the chocolate flavor; rats! Next time I'll leave out the almond or decrease it by half, but I was trying to mask the soy taste (I tend to notice these things).

Happy Kitchen Time to You!

INGREDIENTS
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
3 egg yolks
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked

DIRECTIONS
1. Combine sugar, flour, milk, and chopped up chocolate in 2 quart saucepan. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until mixture begins to bubble. Continue stirring for 2 minutes.

2. Mix a little of the hot mixture into the egg yolks, beating rapidly to avoid cooking the yolks. Stir the warm yolk mixture into the remainder of the chocolate mixture, and cook for an additional 90 seconds. Remove from heat, and stir in butter or margarine and vanilla.

3. Pour filling into pie shell, and chill until set. Top with whipped topping, and a little grated chocolate

2009-09-20T20:32:00.000-07:00

Jesse took me to see the movie Julie & Julia this afternoon. It was wonderful; I laughed, I cried, "it moved me, Bob". We walked home and discussed the 2 characters. Jesse called it a "Plutarch plot"; comparing 2 characters against each other. My favorite was Julia Child played by Meryl Streep, if only for the fact that she was protrayed as more feminine. I loved her cheerfulness and courage in the toughest times ("I am SO happy" and "well, I certainly was busy"). I feel like that is not me, but it's who I am becoming. Jesse loves me so much when I am strong, when I am couragous and thankful and contented. I strive for subduing my selfishness and taking dominion over my sin so that I may be 1)more God-like and, 2)more lovely for my husband.

I came home from the movie and read 3 cookbooks on cakes and eggs. Then I fried french bread in sausage grease, poached 2 eggs (for the first time in my life) and didn't poach a third (yuck.) and made a hollendaise sauce (also a new recipe for me). Jesse and I had our evening snackers and then he asked me to make French toast. He's a sucker for sweets and I'm a sucker for him. I made the French Toast.

This evening Jesse found 2 blogs by Julie Powell. The "salon" blog is the original blog which the book and latter the movie are based on. It's still on the web and comments have been made in the past recent months, but only fans are reading it now. Julie is currently posting on a blogspot. It's pretty good. Curse words are visible, however. View with a grain of salt and tongue in cheek.

http://juliepowell.blogspot.com/

http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/2002/08/25.html

My Neighbor Totoro

2009-09-18T18:51:00.001-07:00

Do you remember watching My Neighbor Totoro when we were really little? I think our cousins brought it from Boise when they came to visit. Anyways we watched the movie during a rest time (I think it was a nap time for the little kids) at Grandma's house. I remember liking it, but Grandma didn't.

My husband introduced me to the films of Hayao Miyazaki. He wrote and directed films like "Howel's Moving Castle", "Castle in the Sky", "Porco Roso", etc. I watche all those with Jesse before realizing he also did the Totoro movie. So I got it this week and we watched it. Pros and cons.

The characters in the story are very well drawn. It was reviewed as a rare film where the kids really act like kids. And they do! Running around, the little sister following the big sister and mimicking her. It was very amusing to watch the family's interaction. The father was pretty good too; enjoying his children and loving them up. I really did enjoy them in the story.

The story was good too. About a family that moved from the city to the country because the mom was sick (and in the hospital) and she needed the clean country air. The children explore their new home and find "forrest spirits" (as they say in the translated English). The father doesn't contracdict this, but even teaches his daughters to ask the forest spirits to protect them when they play in the forrest. At one point in the story, the two girls get caught in a rainstorm and find shelter at some form of an ancestor memorial. The girls again bow and ask for shelter til the storm is over.

Although spirits and demons dwell on this earth with us, they have been put under our Brother's feet. God has commanded us to put all things to submission under Him. This includes spirits and forrest fairys. We have no need to ask for their protection when we are protected by the Protector Creator. We have no need to ask for shelter when we are sheltered by the Storm Maker. We bow in reverence to no one, but Him.

This movie might be a good one to use to teach some of these things, but at the same time I think it's one to show the kids when they are older and can talk through these things. Our toddlers up to teenagers probably have enough outside play time and books and other movies that they don't need this one.

Tuesday Morning

2009-07-28T11:46:00.001-07:00

"Reading Augustine on free will.
In the kitchen, my wife holds a broom
Looking for big spiders to kill."

~Jesse Sumpter

Brave Little Piglet

2009-06-30T16:38:00.001-07:00

This is me being brave! :)

Jesse has left for his 1st "business" trip. He is attending a Conventiculum for a couple of days, but it's the first time we've been apart. I've sniffed my way through packing for him and sending him off this morning, but I didn't cry. And so far, I'm still golden! I've got projects to do and people to see. I will miss my husband terribly, but I know he'll be happy if I'm brave. He told me once that I could only cry happy tears and only if he is there to kiss them away. Well, I'm not exactly happy ... persay... and he's not here. So no crying!

Persuasion by Jane Austen

2009-06-19T09:14:00.001-07:00

I just finished reading Persuasion by Jane Austen.

In Persuasion we find the words and action of “persuading” throughout. My husband read this for a class in college and he underlined every word that could be used to persuade. I found that so helpful reading this time through. I discovered how many different people used it; the woman who didn’t want Anne to marry Captain Wentworth is very persuasive. Almost all of her speeches are to push the listener in one direction or another. Anne is very aware of this and more than once is described as “looking towards Lady Russell” to see what her next reaction would be. Anne’s father, Sir Elliot, and sister, Elizabeth, are easily persuaded. They follow fashion, trends; they are vain, and conceited and desire followers, though they have no strength of soul.

The greatest persuasion, of course, is in the course of love. A cousin, Mr. Eliot, attempts to woo Anne. His words are all flattery and his actions are good. She and the rest of the family are over come by his attentions. However, Anne remembers his character from years ago, even that which was only a rumor and it is not consistent with his conduct now and so she doesn’t trust him fully until the two characters are reconciled. There is another love story, one between Anne and Captain Wentworth.
Anne is persuaded that Captain Wentworth doesn’t love her. She avoids him when she thinks he is wooing another. Captain Wentworth is persuaded the he still loves Anne by watching her from a distance and seeing her character. He says at the end that “her character was fixed on her mind as perfect” and he never saw her “equal”. He is persuaded by her good character that she truly was the one for him. In other words, Anne herself persuaded him to marry her.

There are two scenes in which Anne goes out of her way to influence Captain Wentworth, and rightly so. She knows they are both free to marry and she suspects him of admiring her and encourages him in the hope of a proposal. The first scene is at the concert where she catches his attention and talks with him for a good while before the evening begins. During the concert, Mr. Elliot sits with her and Captain Wentworth discovers a rival. Anne is persuaded the he is jealous, but can’t do more than act and her actions aren’t loud enough to convince yet. The second scene is in the rooms with the Musgroves and while Captain Wentworth is writing a letter, Anne falls into conversation with Caption Harville, which is famous for it’s conclusion. Captain Wentworth over hears and, I think, Anne knows he is listening and thus says more than she might have. Harville is persuaded that men love deeper, while Anne is persuaded that women love longer and thus better. When a man must toil through life, his love though deep and rich must not last long or it would be too much to bear, says Anne. While a women has not the same cares and concerns, her love last longer and is the better of the two. Captain Harville and Anne don’t agree in the end, but she has said enough for Captain Wentworth to be convinced that she could be in love with him still.

Not only does Anne persuade Captain Wentworth to marry her through her words and actions, but through her character and steadfastness of heart. Captain Wentworth, in turn, persuades Anne through his loyalty towards his friends and companions. He also persuades himself by watching Anne and how she treats those around her.

From Strength to Strength

2009-06-17T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have been attending Nancy Wilson's recent bible study on contentment. This past Monday she spoke on dealing with discontent. She told a story about one of their first homes which you can read about here

Our little home is in the basement of our landlords house. We live on the corner of the block and park on the street. In the months of February and March, my husband is my greatest encourager as I vaccum lots and lots of sugar ants. It's perfectly cool in the summer, but cold in the winter. We wear lots of extras in the winter time. Our house is painted a maroon red in the kitchen and a wheat color in the living and dinning room areas. I love the colors! Lots of newlyweds live in the places painted "apartment white".

Our little home has been our since we were married. We came home to it after our wedding and honeymooned here. We've enjoyed our first year and a half here. Every spring, after the bugs and during the cold, I complain. I ask to move! My requests are for a place "above ground". I miss the sun in the winter time. A basement can be pretty dark sometimes.

After listening to Nancy Wilson's story of their home and moving, I realised that I should be pleased with the wonderful home we have. We have no reason or need for moving, other than being discontent.

When I was little Dad and Mom would pray with us. They taught us to be thankful for everything and I should remember that lesson from childhood; thank you for the roof over our heads, our bed, our warm house, our furniture, the color on the walls, the pictures, the flowers from my husband, the carpet, the blankets, our books, our friends, warm weather in the summer time, sunshine, etc.

"The Word of the Lord"

2008-01-23T10:20:00.000-08:00

"The Word of the Lord"

"Thanks be to God"

This call and response is so common. We say it every Sunday in Worship. We repeat it after the head of the house reads during Devotions. We so easily fall into the trap of repetition and forget what we say. This morning I stumbled across this Credenda/Agenda article from Pastor Liethart (C/A Vol 14. Issue 3) and re-awoke to what my own mouth was saying.

"Every seven years, Israel was to gather at the central sanctuary for the reading of the law, "that they may hear and learn and fear Yahweh your God." In this way, the children who did not hear Moses preach Deuteronomy will "hear and learn to fear" (Deut. 31:9_13). At the rededication of the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah assembled "men, women, and all who could listen with understanding" (Neh. 8:2), so that the law could be read in their presence (8:3_8). At the original assembly at Sinai, Yahweh was heard but not seen, a point that Moses emphasized when he reminded Israel of the event: "you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form—only a voice" (Deut. 4:12)."

I have often fallen into the mistake of feeling sorry for us modern Christians who have never seen God. We have our Bibles, sure, but we have never seen God. How lucky were the Apostles and Disciples who walked and talked with Christ! But, then after reading these passages that Dr. Liethart quotes I was reminded that the Israelites themselves never saw the Lord either. "you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form-only a voice." Deut. 4:12

What is it that is happening when we sit in church and listen to our pastor (or elder or deacon) or when we sit in our living room and hear the HOH read to us from scripture? It's the Word of the Lord. It's the "sound of words" without seeing the form of God; "only a voice." As we worship each Sunday we are lifted up into the Heavens and we worship with our people; faithful Israelites, faithful Gentiles, saints both quick and dead. Thus even as the Israelites did not see God, but were commanded to follow His law through the hearing of the Word so are we the new Jerusalem not able to see God, but we have been given His law and are likewise commanded to obey our Lord. We are blessed to be able to hear Law and read it through Grace. Our response is a thanksgiving and rightly so.

So, on Sunday close your Bibles and hear the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

Meet Me In St. Louis

2007-11-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

Katie the Maid: Why must we have dinner an hour early?
Esther Smith: Because Rose is expecting...
Katie the Maid: Now don't go blaming your sister.
Esther Smith: Blaming her? Why, we're doing this for her. You know Rose's problem. Warren Sheffield has been writing to her for six months without one word that even smells like a proposal.
Katie the Maid: What's that got to do with having dinner an hour early?
Esther Smith: Warren is telephoning Rose long-distance from New York at half-past six.
Katie the Maid: Long-distance?
Esther Smith: Yes, and if the whole family is sitting here drinking in every word, she may be loathe to say the things a girl's compelled to say to get a proposal out of a man. If that man, unfortunately, is Warren Sheffield.
Katie the Maid: Personally, I wouldn't marry a man who proposed to me over an invention.

To all you gents out there: Don't propose over an invention! She won't even have the satisfaction of smacking you!

2007-11-12T10:57:00.000-08:00

A General Announcement to the General Public:

CHRISTMAS IS IN 6 WEEKS STOP TIME TO PANIC STOP UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR TOWEL STOP

Good News!

2007-10-23T20:12:00.001-07:00

As my dearest fiance' puts it, "I have good news". :-) I've mentioned elsewhere that when I get married I'll become an aunt. My love's oldest brother and wife have two darling kids, River and Felicity.

About a month back we were told that they are expecting again! Thrills ran through the Sumpter family and I was includded with a call from River to tell me that he is getting a brother (the "brother" is his wish and if he could have his way, he would name his "brother" too :).

Today my fiance' said "I have good new. Toby and Jenny are getting double the fun. Jenny is going to have twins!!" I think he should have told me when he *wasn't* driving because I clutched his arm in girlish glee and said, "Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!!" Needless to say, he managed to stay on the road.

May God's blessings and rich kindess rest on you, my dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law to be!

New things

2007-10-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

As I prepare for marriage and a radical change in my life, I realise what I've been given and where I have been for the last 22 years.

*I have been set down in a godly family. My dad has been the most wonderful dad that I could have ever imagined. Even better than that. He has led me through many tricky spots, he has corrected me and chastened me, and he has loved me continually. My mom has always given us girls the best. Best training, in fact. She home schooled us through many grades, subjects, and family interruptions. She taught me how to sew, to cook, to clean, and to do all with a cheerful attitude.

*I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. How many girls can say that? I have joyous memories of sharing a room with each of my sisters (and actually the boys too! lol Robert must have been 4 and George was a new born when there were four kids in one room that year).

*I have known city life, town life, and country life. My dad took a position teaching at Veritas Academy in PA and we lived right in the heart of Amish country. What an experience!

*I have enjoyed being close to, and living near my grandparents all my life. My grandparents are most wise and I am grateful for their presence in my life. They've been to every birthday celebration (minus two, I think) and many choir performances and piano recitals. They have given me great gifts of time with them, walks, trips to Lewiston to feed the ducks, dinner out, shopping trips together, Easter egg coloring, "Grandma day", and the amazingly special memories of welcoming Grandad home from work on his lunch break.
When we heard the garage door open, we all would shout "GRANDAD!". And his response would vary. Sometimes he said "Woof! Woof!" Sometimes he said "Quack! Quack!" :-) But he always smiled really big and I knew that we made him happy.

Times are changing. I'm thankful that my fiance' isn't moving me across the country, or far, far away. I'll be happy to handle the new change of "wife" without the added difference of a strange environment. But, of course, if he decides to move I'll go with him, cheerfully and willingly. And he knows it.

All I did was sort through childhood photos and this is the post I wrote! :-)

God is good.

And so it goes...

2007-10-04T23:58:00.001-07:00

85 days! Yippee!

Carbon Leaf

2007-09-29T23:42:00.000-07:00

"What About Everything?"

Holiday quiet on these streets, except for some stubborn leaves
That didn't fall with the fall, and now they clatter in vain
Holiday sky, midnight clear
Wind is high, hard to steer
Old muffler rumbles like an old fighter plane
In search of some rest, in search of a break
From a life of tests where something's always at stake
Where something's always so far
What about my broken car?
What about my life so far?
What about my dream?
What about.....

What about everything?
What about aeroplanes?
And what about ships that drank the sea?
What about...
What about the moon and stars?
What about soldier battle scars
And all the anger that they eat?
I am not in need

Get away and come with me
Come away with me and we'll see
If I was right on that night, that a future was made
Before time takes each year, like a knife cuts it clear
It's school, then work and then life that just sharpens the blade
I think about time for fun
I think about time for play
Then I think about being done, with no resume
With no one left to blame
What about fortune and fame?
What about your love to obtain?
What about the ring?
What about....

What about everything?
What about aeroplanes?
And what about ships that drank the sea?
What about...
What about the moon and stars?
What about soldier battle scars
And all the anger that they eat?
I am not in need

Holiday quiet on these streets, except for some reason me
The hometown harbor lights bright, the sailboats clatter in vain
Holiday sky, midnight clear
Wind is high on this pier
I find it hard to complain when compared with what about...

What about everything?
What about aeroplanes?
And what about ships that drank the sea?
What about...
What about the moon and stars?
What about soldier battle scars
And all the anger that they eat?
What about...
What about aliens? What about you and me and...
What about gold beneath the sea?
What about...
What about when buildings fall?
What about that midnight phone call...
The one that wakes you from your peace?
Well, I am not, I am not, I am not in need

Not only counting days...

2007-09-28T00:37:00.000-07:00

But did you know that it's:

2 weeks til a vacation -

8 weeks til Thanksgiving Break -

12 weeks til Christmas -

And 13 weeks til a certain double wedding!!

Ho boy! Time's fun when you're having flies! .... Uh... wait

"Strike that. Reverse it." ~Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

update

2007-09-20T21:57:00.000-07:00

I was handed a note tonight. My sister was the means of transporting said note. Robert reviewed the whole senario and, of course, commented.

Robert: "Hand written?"
Me: "Of course!"
Robert: "Hmm. Well, he knows how to please his woman."

I'm someone's woman??

Maybe... not yet. Soon!! 100 days!!

Rime and Reason

2007-08-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

Rime and Reason is a group of (on average) 14 college aged folks who read books which they assign themselves and meet once a month to discuss what they read.

We've read so many titles over the past 2 years includding, but not limited to Comas, Til We Have Faces, The Song of Roland, Mansfield Park, Twelfth Night, Descent into Hell, and more!

It's been a great group to be involved in. Well, for one I got to know Jesse through this group. Two, it's been encouraging to be involved with these peoples lives. We've encouraged each other in our work, studies, relationships, etc. One family went through an adoption process while our crazy group met in their home. They are a gracious family and a blessing to us all. I don't know how we can ever repay them for their kindness and goodness to us poor college students. Other students have plunged through papers, overwhelming work loads, a legendary sophmoric year, and more. My sister, cousin, roomate and I have grown closer through being involved with this group.

Check out my other blog, Four Things, for a poem that I read at our first meeting of this year. We read a Chesteron poem from an ancient book that the group owns as a whole at each meeting. I was asked to read the poetry this time - it was an honor. And I hadn't been asked before.

More "Queen's Friends" photos

2007-08-17T23:29:00.001-07:00

Jesse and I.

Cast.

Go to Backstage Musings for some good photos.

Sneak peek

2007-08-17T00:47:00.000-07:00

Before each show these two could be seen sneaking a look at the audience. We would ask, "How does it look?" Meaning, how full is the house. This shot captures them to a 'T'.

2007-08-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

The Queen's Friend

An original play

Written, produced, and directed at the World's Premiere

By Doug Jones

Doug and Paula Jones.

Director and director's assistant. Good team work pulled this play together, from costumes and sets to character development and technical work.

The royal court.

From left, Queen Catherine Parr played by Nellie Dimelar, Princess Elizabeth played by Anne Harrell, and Henry VIII played by Ed Iverson.

The church folk.

Bishop Gardiner played by Joe Williams, Anne Askew (martyr and heroine of the story) played by Cat Sentz, Margarate, maid to Anne, played by Chealsea Jones, and Chanselor Writhsley played by Marty Becktell.

Ladies of the court.

Clockwise from left: Lady Champernowne played by Kate Hendrickson, Lady Herbert played by Alison Bradley, Lady Tyrwitt played by Cynthia King, and Lady Jane Grey played by Erin McIntosh.

The same ladies after a costume change.

Laura Blakey, our fearless makeup artist, and Marty Becktell.

John Marbeck played by Jesse Sumpter and the servant played by moi.

2007-08-15T00:21:00.000-07:00

Cute picture, huh? My mom can snap some good shots! This is a good image of Aaron and Emily and Jesse and I. This depicts the coupling very well.

Ah, and yes.

A double wedding is being planned for December 28th, 2007.

2007-08-13T18:47:00.000-07:00

I am so happy.

To quote Miss Jane Bennet, after her own engagement: "Oh, Lizzie, I wish that everyone could be as happy as I am right now."

Much Ado About Nothing

2007-07-28T01:15:00.000-07:00

Mom took me and my two younger sisters to see the IRT perform 'Much Ado About Nothing'. Excellent show.

The set was minimal; gauzing curtains, a chapel door frame, 4 chandelabras, and 4 benches that were moved in and out for the different scenes. The scene changes were done with acting in the background - no lag time! That's a plus for the audience.

All the actors were very animated and vivacious. Everyone exerted such energy. It was needed because the performance was outdoors (no mics), and the evening was warm. The audience needed to be captivated. All the costumes were simple white gowns for the ladies and the men wore black suits with red scarves around their waists. The play was set in 1812 Mexico after the war for independance from Spain.

I took some pictures and I'll upload them latter. Perhaps Sunday evening...

Favorites quotes:

"I wonder you are still talking, Signor Benedict. No one marks you." ~ Beatrice

"May God condemn you to everlasting redemption." ~ Dogberry

Ladybird, Ladybird

2007-07-22T02:17:00.000-07:00

I'm Home! Finally.

After working for a weekend in the kitchen to feed 29 students and a full week of intensive greek study, I was ready to be home. I missed my familiar surroundings.

Pictures will be here shortly - perhaps a couple of days, actually, but they'll get here.

Skink

2007-06-20T22:37:00.001-07:00

2007-06-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

In case anyone wants to know.....

Leeks
Europe's classic fall favorite is being enjoyed more and more in America. Remarkable earliness and length. Beautiful, full-sized leeks. In favorable soil and culture, the white stems are over a foot long to the 1st leaf. Not hardy for over-wintering, but hardy to 30 degrees F - 20 degrees F befor losing healthy appearance.

Shallots
Considering their elegant European lineage, shallots are remarkably easy to grow. Essential in French cooking, with a flavor described by some as in between onions and garlic. For soups, salad dressings, vegetable dishes, and casseroles. Bright copper skins with pale yellow interior. Suitable for very long storage, through Spring.

Table Ace Acorn
Cucurbita pepo
85 days
This winter squash is dark black-green colored. The taste is fairy good, nutty and moderately sweet if allowed to fully mature. The fruits are medium-small sized, 2 1/2 lbs; each plant will produce 5 - 7 fruits.

Delicata
Cucurbita pepo
100 days
Unique, cream colored winter squash with green longitudinal stripes. Small fruits, 7" - 9" long x 3 " wide, about 1 - 1 1/2 lbs. Taste is very sweet, excellent for stuffing and baking even right after harvest requires no curring. Yield 5 - 7 fruits per plant.

Rouge vif D'Etampes
Cucurbita maxima
115 days
The bright scarlet French pumpkin."Rouge vif" means "vivid red." This is an attractive French variety, actually a squash, for fall display. Shaped flat, looking like a red cheese wheel, the fruits average in the 10-15 lb. range. The moderately sweet, orange flesh is suited for pumpkin or squash pie. Also known as Cinderella. Avg. yield: 2 fruits/plant.

Don't rain on my parade

2007-06-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in a previous post that the clown car and I would be in the summer parade. Sadness... I shall be gone that weekend.

But, there is always the Christmas Lighted parade!

"He's out of his gourd"

2007-06-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

I've added some more strange veggies to my garden.

*Delicata Honeyboat winter squash
*Rouge Vif D'Etampes, aka Cinderella, pumpkin
*Table Ace Acorn squash

The delicata is a white oblong squash with green and yellow stripes. The Cinderella is a story-book shaped, bright orange pumpkin. The acorn is a dark green squash.

All are edible, but I'm growing them to be my decorations at the Harvest Ball.

~Stay tuned for info on the Harvest Ball.

Sunday

2007-06-19T19:26:00.001-07:00

I took him to see where I work. We wandered slowly through the yard of trees and shrubs, and passed the tables of annual flowers and the perennial benches. I describe the difference between the working greenhouses, our saleshouse, and the cold frames. He told me a story of when he was little and he overheard his mother and aunt talking about a greenhouse. He said that he envisioned a house in the color green. He was interested in my work and asked questions about this or that plant that we passed. A plant with purple-blue flowers and yellow leaves caught his eye. I laughed inside myself because the plan was named "Sweet Kate". He said it was a lovely name for such a lovely plant.

Don't we like surprises?

2007-06-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

This afternoon went by quickly. I had something to look forward to in the evening and though the day was somewhat slow, I was content to wait.
In the last hour of the day I was sent to water one of the greenhouses. We have three greenhouse on the property - only one is "open" to the customers. The other two are "working" greenhouses. I headed up to the farthest one and set to work screwing on the water wand and untangling the hoses. Once I was set up, I went on autopilot; watering doesn't take much thought.
I finished watering the outside tables and got started on the inside of the greenhouse. I was still on autopilot. More often than not, I sing to myself or even talk to myself (how embaressing). It's generally safe; customers don't come up there and I can usually hear people walking up to the door. Today, however, I never heard him coming.
Suddenly a voice came up from behind me, "Is this where the leeks and shallots are?"
I was shocked at the sound of a man's voice, and nearly scared out of my wits, but I turned around thinking I was some what composed. But when I saw who it was I'm sure I came unglued!
A friend had stopped by to see me at work. I kept saying, "What are you doing here?" (How rude of me.) We chatted for a minute, just long enough for me to regain my balance, then he left and I finished watering. He waited for me to finish working and then he drove me to town.
We met up with the fam for dinner and watched Ocean's 13. It was a fun evening.
And I like suprises. :-)

Tumble Weed

2007-05-31T00:52:00.000-07:00

In the Spring, when the dandylions were blooming so profusely, my boss pointed to a mess of yellow fluffy heads growing in her bed of Asters and Lamb's Ears.

"Can you hop in there and pull them out?"

Of course, I said. But like so many things, it was easier said than done. I squeezed passed four Japanese maples and slid by one prickly spruce - ouch - in order to reach the bed. My boss raises most of her flower beds with boulders, brick, or railroad ties. This one was a boulder bed; it also happened to be situated on a slope. I clambered over the boulders and stood surveying the enemy.

Dandylions must have been created with a hint of cleverness in them. They have a knack for finding small cracks between walls or they grow right up against a tree or other shrub. These were smack against the asters. So the trick is to pull the dandylions, roots and all, without pulling the asters.

Hmmm...

I knelt and pulled. Nothing. I stood up, bent over and pulled. Nothing. I squatted down next to the dandylions and pulled with all my weight using the down-hill pull of gravity. The dandylions realized their own defeat and gave up the ghost.

The roots popped out of the soil, and I rolled downhill into the Lamb's Ears! I was quite a sight, laying on the sloped hill, my feet in the air and my head against a boulder with the blood rushing to it.

Listing this under "I feel out of a tree today while pruning", I decided that my occupation can be hazardous to my health.

G.H.

2007-05-26T21:25:00.001-07:00

Tonight at dinner, George thought I was calling him names.

me: "Good stuff - milk."
george: "Did you just call me 'Milk'?"

Later: while dipping our chocolate chip cookies in the said milk,

me: "Pretty good stuff, huh?"
george: "First I was 'Milk'. Now I'm 'Huh'."

...

Just now:George comes to the bottom of the stairs: "Hey, Emily!"

Lol!

Life

2007-05-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

Life is a blast.

*(think firehose!)

Sometimes things hit you just right and you're caught off guard. Othertimes you've had more sleep you can catch those around you whom life has caught off guard. In either case, maintaining balance is good. :-)

Balance your life with books. Reading is instrumental in a life less petty.
Balance your life with sleep. Sleep is necessary in a life less boring.
Balance your life with family. Family is necessary in a life lived worthily.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday a customer's car didn't start. She was loaded down with soil and plants, and the stearing wheel was stuck and the car wouldn't start. Kindly gentlemen each took a turn pulling on the stearing wheel and trying the key, but to no avail. She finally called her husband, but even after detailed instructions she was still stranded. So I took her home (about two minutes away) and brought her husband back. He started the car and drove away.
How do they do that? Guys seem to know everything about cars; how to work them, drive them, fix them, even down to what part of the engine is making that sound. I have no idea what they are talking about sometimes! But I'm so thankful for the men who fix my car. We take all our family cars to a local automachanic/pastor. He is so generous with his time and with our money. We like giving him our money when our car breaks down

Whee!

2007-05-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

The clown car and me get to be in the Potlatch Days Parade!! We'll be washed clean and the car will be painted, and I'll be spruced up good.
Come and see us!

Trying some new things

2007-05-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

This year I bought shallots and leeks. Mom tried a recipe this Spring with them in a stew and they were tasty.
Also, I'm growing an artichoke. Unfortunately I don't know anything about artichokes so I'll be doing some research this summer.

2007-05-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

I think I haven't posted in ages! (mostly because I couldn't remember my password.)

Well, I'm back.

Messiah

2006-08-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

After singing Messiah twice today I have strains of music running through my head.

"Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne"
"Since by man came death, by man came also the resurection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even in Christ shall be made alive."
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Amen"

That Amen chorus is so beautiful. I sang most of it in Mexico, but in the end we didn't perform it.

"Agnus Dei, qui tolis pecata mundi"
"Behod the Lamb of God, that takth away the sin of the world."

2006-08-03T23:31:00.000-07:00

St. Augustine

How wonderful is it, to be taught by a dearly loved Saint? One who although is dead speaks through time and both worlds, in truths that are both hard to grasp in the finitude of our mind, and simple surprising astonishments, in order to instruct us in our learning of the city of God. This He Himself even foreknew that His servant Augustin would be speaking directly to us during a week of reading, laughing, prayer, intense thought, and submission to God. What am I speaking of, you wonder. Picture this: Schola. Nine alumni have traveled to our home. They will be staying for two wonderful weeks. We will read (already have been reading) out loud for seven hours a day. Two extra hours are our traipest hours. We eat three meals a day. We have been refered to as monks and nuns. We meditate and taste the words in our mouths. We ponder. We tire. In short, Lectio Divina, or the Rule of Faith.

More to come.

2006-07-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

I got my first Tag thanks to Irish_Dancer!!

You know your are crazy about Gardens when:

1. you create blogs with names like An Avid Gardener and missgardener.

2. you stay awake at night researching plants pics like rudbeckia(see pic above), and daylilies.

3. driving around town, you recognize flowers, shrubs, and trees by name. "Hello, friends!"

4. you spend free time (what's that?) landscaping your South lawn.

5. you work for Fiddler's Ridge Farm.

2006-07-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

Honoring the Men

Wives are called to honor and respect their husbands. As young girls, we may begin this to obey this by respecting our Dad andIhis judgment and honor him as his daughter. I have the most wonderful father in the world. He is kind to his children and loves his wife so much. I have never seen him angry nor upset with Mom. He talks to us and listens to us when we have troubles. He works so very hard to provide for our family. His work keeps him busy teaching 9 months long, then in the Summer he travels. He speaks at conferences, conventions, starts schools, develop curriculum, and teaches intensive Latin courses (which isn't only intensive for the students). He does all this and still has time to spend with his family. He sits long at the dinner table listening to us talk or laugh or tell stories or quote movies. He reads to us. He leads us in prayer and listening to God's word. He instructs us as we live each day. He watches movies with us. He takes our family camping. He taught me how to swim and shows us how to start a fire with gasoline without getting your eyebrows burnt. :-) With all of the work that he does, he definitely knows how to relax. He mows the lawn with Robert, plays catch with the boys, reads each night as he puts the boys to bed. He tells us stories, and recites poems (he would recite poetry to my sisters and me when we were little. We all liked Requiem by R. L. Stevenson, but loved Homer. Dad would recite line after line while we waited to hear our favorite, the syncopated line). He helped us memorize books of the Bible. He dances with us at Balls. He taught us all to shoot. And aim. :-)

To Dad, my father. Thank you for your love. May these next two weeks be refreshing to you and an enjoyment.

2006-07-09T10:08:00.001-07:00

I just finished The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. The book is a wonderfully written story of Haarlem and the hiding of jews during the second world war. If you haven't read it, read it. Much better than the Diary of Anne Frank. Corrie ten Boom survived consentration camps only by miracles which she recounts in her book. She went on to travel world wide, preaching the gospel and telling the story of her imprisonment. She died in 1983. Jim Wilson was a friend of hers.
Well, we're off to go camping. For three days. So I'm taking another book. Zane Grey. See ya.

2006-07-09T10:08:00.000-07:00

The Hobbit
I just finished reading the Hobbit to myself for the first time. I had never read it. The last time I heard it was when Dad read it out loud to our family. Sometimes it seemed wierd to be reading at my own pace, or sometimes I would hear Dad's voice for such and such a character. But nevertheless, without Dad reading it to me, I managed to finish it. In 3 days. Woot, as the cuz would say. It was so amazingly good! Tolkien is one of the best story writers that I've ever read. He creates a whole world filled with unadventurous hobbits who won't leave their holes unless Gandalf marks up their doors or sends them off without even one handkerchief. One of my favorite parts is when Gandalf takes the dwarves and Bilbo to meet Beorn. The well woven story entices Beorn to accept the 15 strangers into his home. Also, the encounter with Gollum is not over-rated; Tolkien is a master riddler.

2006-06-30T22:31:00.000-07:00

Just Wondering

Before she left for Upstate New York, my roomate and I were talking one night about quick sand. What is it? Is it really bottomless? What happens when you fall it? Only now have I looked it up.

Quicksand is exagerated in movies. It is only a few feet deep, usually even less. It is ordinary sand that has been saturated in water to the point that friction between the sand particles is virtually nil. (There are different levels of saturation).
If you step in quicksand, it won't suck you down. If you move your arms or legs quickly, you'll cause a vaccum which is what you fight.

"When soil liquefies, as with quicksand, it loses strength and behaves like a viscous liquid rather than a solid, according to the Utah Geological Survey. Liquefaction can cause buildings to sink significantly during earthquakes.
While quicksand can occur in almost any location where water is present, there are certain locations where it's more prevalent. Places where quicksand is most likely to occur include:
- Riverbanks
- Beaches
- Lake shorelines
- Near underground springs
- Marshes "

The human body has a density of 62.4 pounds per cubic foot (1 g/cm3) and is able to float on water. Quicksand is denser than water -- it has a density of about 125 pounds per cubic foot (2 g/cm3) -- which means you can float more easily on quicksand than on water. The key is to not panic. Most people who drown in quicksand, or any liquid for that matter, are usually those who panic and begin flailing their arms and thus have to fight the vaccum they create. Don't panic; stretch out your arms and legs to cover more area and use very slow movements to paddle to a safe shore.

Isn't that cool? I know that is only touching on some of the info, but I'm tired so that's all for now, folks.

*info from Howthingswork.com

2006-06-30T22:28:00.000-07:00

Heat Wave
"This is my island in the sun ... oi! oi!" (Muppet Christmas Carol)Work has been hot this week. Quite hot, in fact sweltering. The first part of the week I was at the Potlatch store. Now it generally takes 3 to 4 hours to water all the plants. On hot days we have to water twice. We didn't do much else those days.

I worked in Moscow today. Boy, was it hot! I watered plants most of the day. Around 2:45 it was too hot in the sun, so I retreated to the limited shade of the trailer. I finished reading An Ideal Husband in the afternoon. I don't like it as much as The Importance of Being Ernest. Wilde is an excellent writer, but AIH is more drama than IBE. IBE is ridiculously funny, ubsurd and very witty. AIH is similar to Lady Widener's Fan; the plot revolves around someone who is blackmailed with a scandal.

Next on my list to read is Tolkien. It's time to read him again.

2006-06-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

What have I read?
These are the 25 most popular kids books at What Should I Read Next?

I liked it!

I didn't like it!

I want to read it!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling

Charlotte's Web - E.B. White, Garth Williams

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

Sabriel - Garth Nix

Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

Watership Down - Richard Adams

Eragon - Christopher Paolini

The Giver - Lois Lowry

The Once and Future King - T.H. White

Abhorsen - Garth Nix

Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle, Keith Scaife

The Witches - Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake

Time Quartet - Madeleine L'Engle

The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

A Little Princess: The Story of Sara Crewe - Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett, Robin Lawrie

The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - L.Frank Baum

Take the 'What" have I read?' test now!
Eight different categories to try!
Buy your books at Amazon US or Amazon UK

2006-06-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

Holy Sonnet X: Death, Be Not Proud

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which yet thy pictures be,

Much pleasure, then from thee much more, must low

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones and soul's delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men

And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell,

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well

And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die

I've always loved this one. While at work I have quotes running through my head and this one will often take precedence. I love the end quatrain and couplet. "Thou art slave to fate, ... desperate men ... poppy or charms can make us sleep as well and better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?"

p.s. Speaking of poetry, I have a friend who quotes Shakespeare without knowing it. Would that I could too.

2006-06-19T22:33:00.000-07:00

Red Sox vs. Nationals
The phone just rang. Faith and I quickly read the caller ID ... "DAD!" I grabbed it first and answered it. Dad said "Guess where I am?" I heard an enormous applause and cheering. The Red Sox game! (Emily would be jealous). He said that he was sitting over left field by the Green Monster.

The above pic is of Fenway's Green Monster. The Green Monster is the wall in the background that was built in 1912 as part of the original ballpark. 1934 it was covered in tin and concrete and in 1976 again covered in hard plastic. It wasn't painted green until 1947. It is said that it was built high to protect the neighboring residential homes from fly balls.

The Green Monster is the highest wall in professional baseball, thus preventing home runs on many line drives that would have otherwise cleared the wall of other ballparks. When the ball is hit off of the wall the most common result is a double. If compared with other pro ballparks, the wall is shallow at 310 feet from the plate at the left-field foul line. This allows a high, but short fly ball to clear the wall for a home run.

Below is a pic of the wall now. The seats were added in 2003 and 2005. This is where, if I'm not mistaken, Dad was sitting.