becca's knitting problem

Ah...Summer

Summer, or what feels like "Summer" emotionally, may finally be upon us. My nails have been painted thanks to Becca, Sandals bought while in Md, and now the sun is out. Not that I am a sunshine girl myself, it's all I can do to be out to get my vitamin D requirements (I don't.) Herbs have been bought and await planting (hold on dears I haven't forgotten you!) and the annual watching of the fireworks from our upstairs window is near. And yet, I still had a fire on a few mins ago thanks to our freezing air conditioning. We can never seem to get it just right, it's either too hot upstairs or freezing in our bedroom downstairs. It seems to have to do with the big ducts in the garage that control how much of the air goes downstairs and how much upstairs, so I can still think about doing something as "hot" as knitting with wool.

I've got nothing to say of any significance, just a early July hello.

Izzybelle's JOY

Is it just me, or do children "do joy" facially better than adults? Of course, based on my recent experiences living with a toddler, (not to impune Izzy as I expect she might be sweet all the time) they also "do not-joy" pretty well too! I have absolutely nothing to say and this is a cheap excuse for me to post this adorable little munchkin's picture. She is my "step" grandaughter though I'll gladly pretend she's a full one (-: I just don't want to take any credit where none is due. My favorite recent tale from Izzy's mama Shelley, is that Iz who's real name is not IzzyBELLE...has taken to calling her mama "MamaBELLE."

I'm still sick (got a flu or virus of some type, seemingly on the trip back from M.D)I've moved on to the secondary stuff that follows a flu/cold. There is nothing like being sick to make you want to get a TON more things accomplished each day than you would ever really attempt in a normal day. In lieu of any actual accomplishment, I've have brought you this brief ramble.

Photography courtesy of Beks

Back from Maryland

Ah, my beloved hometown. Annapolis will always be in my heart. How I love the sounds of the boats in the harbor. I grew up on the water hearing the nightly sounds of the Navy rowing crew going up the river with the crew master keeping the time. My father's office was on Maryland Ave, an old cobbled road outside of the Naval Academy gates. These roads were my playground. As a teen I road my bike through the academy and into town a few times a week and enjoyed the harbor and shops and city dock market where I bought the occasional crabcake or a cheap dozen roses to take my mom. (They were perfectly nice though selling for 5 dollars a dozen)

It was in this setting I chose to meet up with my firstborn daughter who as I'm sure any of my few readers know I placed for adoption in 1979. I wasn't given any other options by my parents and would encourage any girl in the same situation today to do all she could to keep her child but that is another story. For those of you who aren't on facebook, I post these few pics of my delightful day out with "my girls" The pictures were all taken downtown, mostly at Carol's Creek Cafe (fabulous food and one of the best wine's I've ever had) and McGarvey's.

You know you're blind when...

You know you are blind when...

1.You have to take pictures of yourself trying glasses on to know what you look like in them...

2. You can't see the signs in the grocery store telling you what is in the aisle.

3. You can't read the concourse numbers in the airport until you've already walked the whole way to stand under the wrong one.

Well, they say my prescription is mild, I hate to think what really bad vision must feel like. I'll be glad to get my new glasses if for nothing else but to feel better driving.

I arrived safe in sound, praise God, to Md. The first flight was the tightest flight (read sardine cans came to mind)I've ever been on. I was glad my seatmate was a lady since we really were joined at the hip, and elbow, and leg. Thankfully, no seat belt extenders were needed (-: The good thing about a tiny, hot cramped first leg of the journey is it makes you feel like you are in first class when the second (albeit shorter) leg finds you in an aisle by yourself, in larger seats, in one that reclines (who knew the seat in front of the exit row doesn't recline) It was whohoo time for me.

I did note that the quality of light in the sky flying into the dusk, was gorgeous. Also the view flying into Reagan (on the left side of the plane) was spectacular. That said, the concourse I arrived on was so dingy, the parking lot so poorly lit and somewhat desolate, I can see why they have to bribe folk with cheaper flights than going to BWI.

Saw something new to me driving back with Son in Law Joe (he lets me drive, bless him) We came to an exit ramp, where about 10 feet AFTER the information would have been helpful , a sign said "alternate merge." I thought, what??? lets see, is that a merge for aging hippies? freethinkers? (yes ok it didn't say alternative" but it was still Greek to me, and again, way too late to be helpful) Joe said it's like the verse in Ephesians, each of us to consider the other better than ourselves, but in D.C I think it means, whoever is the most aggressive and willing to risk life and limb, goes first.

When I arrived, my dear daughter had made me some Chicken Korma on a lovely Sweet Brown rice. Joe poured me half a glass of Pilsner. (Tasted like the Busch beer of my youth) And I enjoyed a lovely hot shower and crisp fresh bed linens. Ahh, so nice.

I may have killed my fish today. I was taking him out of his glass abode, with my hand (I can't seem to get him in the net) and he squirmed out and fell to the counter. I struggled to pop him back into the bowl only to have his tale knock against the glass rim. My friend Erin who is fish sitting, has a 48 hour reprieve on "blame" if he dies. I hope he doesn't. We've grown rather attached. Of course I won't "blame" the dear girl, come what may.

Glenn told me his grand-daughter Emily, said to him, "You want to see my ballet?" And then after a short performance asked her Grampa "you want to lift me over your head and spin me in the air?"

OK, I've rambled enough...just entertaining myself in the quiet house while I wait for east coast time to sink in.

My own little "store"

I have been blue for a couple days. Yesterday I decided that the best thing to do in such a case was/is to put order to something. So with much handholding from my “Craigslist specialist” (Rebecca) I managed to take all the stuff I gathered up to get rid of, photograph said stuff and post in on Craigslist.

It took me an unbelievable 7 or so hours to photo, write up and post 18 things. Hopefully it won’t always take so long. So far I’ve managed to get bites on about 40 dollars worth of stuff. This reminds one why one ought not to BUY the stuff in the first place as it sells for way less than it “buys” for.
I kinda had fun trying to make my photo’s look like I live a decent enough life but whether that sells better than things thrown on top of a pilly blanket or not, I don’t know. We’ll see

Even though I’ve not sold much yet, I think I could get kinda addicted to doing this. I’m now looking at everything around here as fuel. I’ve long been an “ebayer” but have gotten fed up with their high fees.

Yes I know this is riveting blogging, but it’s new, isn’t that worth something (-:

On other notes…I’m praying swine flu just blows over but I also know it never does us any harm to consider our mortality or our eternal state.

I’m getting my first pair of “all the time” glasses, the kind you don’t take on and off, which enable you to see long distance and short. I hope to have them in hand and tried out for a couple weeks before departing for MD, Lord willing. I know some folk feel all sick and headachy and wooey with progressives.

Confession: I’m a bit worried about fitting in the seatbelt on the plane. It was really tight last time (I weigh the same, but it was SCARY tight, like oh no, what if I have to ask for a seatbelt extender?) I think my health has been so poor of late that I can almost say “who cares…so I ask for an extender”

Thankfully they can only charge you for a second seat if you can’t put the arms down and actually overflow into the seat next to you. I can’t believe I am confessing this fear on the web but truth be told, I just am amazed how age and infirmity takes away one’s vanity just a little bit. Yeah if I lost 10 lbs the seatbelt would be a breeze, but when you are so anemic you can barely move or stay awake the whole day, “dieting” and exercise are no. 2 on the list of priorities. Getting well is no 1 and that involves taking iron and vitamins and trying to get sunshine and fresh air and function enough to keep up my relationship with the hubby and our house. If I wore a pair of spanx (the modern version of your grandma's girdle or tights that are 5 sizes too small) I could surely have no issue with the seatbelt but who wants to be sausaged for 12 hours?

In answer to Christie’s questions, Nope, Noah’s now “ex” girlfriend (as best we can tell) never did get her whole phone no. down on paper. He’s moved on to Brianna who sends him a paper ever day that says “I love Noah.” That said at the last party he went to at school, two girls claimed him as their very own. (the former and the newer one)
Yup I’m still on Augustine A Betta fish. I’ll be sending it to my friend Erin’s house for 3 weeks to be fishsat. We shall see if he (or Erin for that matter) survives the experience.
Well that’s it for my mundane life. I need some decorating ideas so I might post a picture and ask for some in a not too distant future blog.

47, my year for madness.

Forty Seven is apparently the year I lose my mind as is evidenced by my buying myself Dolls for my Birthday and getting a Betta Fish. (It is also the year that I need to buy glasses to wear all the time, more on that later) The dolls are Blythe dolls, the one on the left is "Miss Sally Rice" the one on the right is Bronwyn Noelle, like me she needs glasses. The Betta fish, seen to the left of the silk plant) is named Augustine (of Hippo of course.) I decided in my lack of optimism about being able to keep a Betta alive (I prefer things that thrive on neglect) that I would name the fish alphabetically, thus sparing me of the inquiries as to how was it going with the fish. I.e, if I say my fish Calvin is doing well, you'll know he's no. 3 in the line of "failures" (short lived success's?) Glenn says we could name the next one Barabbas but I know that I would not want Barabbas to live. Perhaps Glenn was thinking that name would insure his longevity, but we cannot cheer for the wicked. My fish may not have souls but they'll be named as if they do (-:

On a side note of fishdom, I note that the local legislature has passed a bill allowing one to be fined 1,000 for animal neglect/abuse. I wonder if that includes fish and what that would look like? If my Betta gets too many pellets cause he is so happy when I give them to him, do I get fined for his obesity? If he gets a one way boat trip down the "porcelain river" will I be fined? (Do they do fish autopsy's to prove he died of natural causes?) If his bowl is colder than is recommended for Betta's will I be required to turn the heat up or place him for adoption? I certainly can't afford 1000 dollars...(and I'm all for laws against animal cruelty as long as they are actual cruelty not imagined PETA versions of cruelty) besides, 1000 dollars would get me from Augustine to Zachariah a few times.


Most of my friends already know I have done this and none have blocked me from their Facebook pages or email addy's yet. They are a committed bunch.


I know I've pretty much let blogging go, though not consciously. Other technology has forced it to the background and for the most part I say good riddance. I still enjoy the blogs of others, but am at a time of life when I don't feel I have much I want to say. Perhaps I am tired, or experience has finally convinced me of that proverb about fools with shut mouths seeming wise.


By way of mundane and "safe" blogging (i.e the kind that won't garner much by way of criticism), nothing is much different here at the Ferrell house, Glenn still works, I still do whatever it is I do, and Noah still goes to school. I will say that Noah has seemed to have "gone through" three different girlfriends at least since he's been in his "LIFE" program. This most recent one is Brianna. The last one got as far as sending her phone numbers home with him on scraps of paper, but given her disability, she only managed to get 2/3 of the numbers written down, not enough to make a proper phone number. I wonder if the reason they are "no more" is that she was mad he never called. (-: No worry, given Noah's lack of verbosity, a phone call from the dear fellow might have ended the relationship anyway, unless she could carry her end and his. Each of these gals has either sent home a picture or he's found a way to wrangle one from them. This never ceases to amaze me, given the trouble non-developmentally delayed fellows report in the whole world of getting a girls number, much less her photo. Noah must be the heartbreaker of his group.

He went to a Valentine's day Dance wearing a bow tie I found him at the Goodwill charity shop (brand new) and a Suit jacket Shelley and I bought him at the same, and a shirt I bought his dad that was too small for the former. The suit doesn't fit him correctly but we've not gotten it tailored yet, he liked it just fine however and was the most dapper dresser there according to Glenn who took him.
After watching John Wayne movies, Noah's favorite thing in life is to dance.




















Random other news...we have enjoyed some company in the New Year, or friend Andrew from the UK and the Conleys, a young ministry couple who are moving back east. Both were enjoyable fellowship.

I had the best split pea soup I have ever had in my life at Rembrandts a couple weeks ago. I hope they make it again. It is so good I think I'd pay big money for the recipe if I had the chance.

I am now the proud owner of a Kindle 2, whatever that means. (it's an e-text reader of sorts, sold via Amazon) Now if I could just have the rest of the books in my house shrink and insert themselves in there I'd have a whole lot more room.

I don't observe Lent but I am using the notion of 40 days, to try and reach the goal of getting rid of a bag of unused stuff, being it junk or clutter, every day. I got this off my friend Sally years ago.

Glenn and I have been sick 3 times this winter, twice with a stomach thing and once with a more flu like thing. Spring might be very welcome when it comes. As always we are missing our grandbabies and children.

That's all for now...

End of summer ponderings...

Ah the joys of summer! Now just a memory as the cool nights slip in and the air has a crisp feel and sound to it. Ok, the air probably doesn't make a sound itself, but there is some sound that says "fall" to me. I am guessing the leaves and crunchy yard bits create it.


What used to provide a feel of "summerness" to me is no longer part of my life, that being the pool, the lake, the ocean, gardening, suppers on the screened back porch of my wee 30's house. Trips to Rehoboth beach, possibly New Hampshire.


Now summer is that season when the house is colder inside than outside cause we can't seem to get the A.C just right. I'm learning that it takes time in a place to create a new image of what each season means in that place. Summer here in Boise is much nicer weather than back east but what makes it special is visitors, whose presence drags me out into the heat to do the "tourist" bits.I loved going to the water playground with Sam and Becca as well, that felt like summer.


Summer was the strangest in Glasgow, mainly because it was hard to tell one was in it, except the rain was a bit more welcome and when the sun would peek out for a moment between the clouds, it made me stand in place and turn my face up and say, ahh! Here, the baking oven feels if one stands still for even a minute outdoors, says SUMMER!!!

I had wonderful times this year enjoying guests from back east, Sally, Becca and Sam, and Leia. Now it's time to stop slacking and get the house looking like someone actually lives here rather than "vacations" here, before the fall/winter guests start arriving.

It hit me with a twinge of sadness a week ago that I no longer need to pay attention to "back to school" time because Noah is no longer in the 18-21 program which required us to buy fresh pens and school boxes and such. Now his program is the same year round with the exception of various seasonal school outings etc. My local bff has her kids going off to school en mass for the first time and I am enjoying the overflow of "back to school" feelings as she goes through all that.

Lately I'm more aware that time is passing and I'm not getting any younger. I don't know if this is a good thing or not, depends on what I do with it I suppose.

I'll try to blog a bit more faithfully in the coming months. I've still got the occasional thought in my mind but as I age I have less bee's in my bonnet and don't feel the same need to communicate as I used to. I'm a lot happier sitting quietly with my knitting and a great cup of java.

This Friday we're having a local pastor and his wife over, the wife I've never met but I hear tell she's a Maryland native like me. That should be interesting. I get occasionally misty when I hear a hometown accent (-: How odd considering where I come from where the accent is definitive if not desirable! Could be worse.

Bad blogger, bad!

My friends, I am sorry I've not turned out to be one of those folks who can "handle" a blog. I don't update often, I rely too much on grandbaby pics and tales to keep things alive, and I don't even feel guilty about any of it.

I did enjoy the process of blogging in that it kept my friends up with what all goes on here, but I also found I have very thin skin and can't necessarily take the heat in the kitchen.

That said, I'll shove a couple grandbaby pictures up here and give a wee ramble.

What I have observed since I last blogged....

Brown Sugar Cinn. Pop tarts are only good for 1 minute after leaving the toaster. Hot tea is only good for it's two minutes or so. I must have A.D.D cause it takes me a lot of "focus" to get to them in the window. I get sidetracked and then oops, cold everything.

My newest tea craze is starting my day with a cup of strong peppermint tea (trader Joe's preferred but unavailable in Boise, I have to make do with Stash brand) with some sugar and some half and half. I've never been a milky tea person but living in the UK where most of my friends took their tea without sugar and with milk, I learned to like the milky stuff. I'd never ever have considered putting milk in peppermint tea. I discovered it by accident. When I was back east at Sweetbaby's house (Becca's and Joe's) and many of you know I was very sick with bronchitis that wouldn't respond to treatment I managed to go out with the two of them the last few days I was there, just for tiny single stop car trips. Our first such trip was to Trader Joe's. I felt glorious to be out, to be well enough to leave my bed, trader Joe's was perfection embodied, it felt like the store itself was welcoming me and rejoicing in the gorgeous springy day.

First there were the samples, ahh, chicken tempura on little plates, two whole bites worth and a broccoli spear in sauce. There was a basket of warmed Naan bread both plain and curried. Then there were tea and coffee samples, and happy music, and balloons and perky employees and other grandma's pushing grandbabies in carts and chatting in the yogurt aisle. (One of them tried to matchmake a prom date between Sam with her grandbaby daughter who was making eyes at him) Sam of course, thought this whole taste of food in the store thing was the stuff of legends and he gobbled up his tempura and reached for anything I was having. Hot peppermint tea in hand, I looked round for a way to give him a drink too. I decided the way to go was to make him a proper baby tea and load a cup up with sugar and milk. I tasted it before handing it on, and voila, my new fav was born. Sam was more interested in the cup.

When we were leaving we got a helium balloon. Trader Joe's balloon colors are the hippest combo's known to man. There was a bright Irish green with darker green letters and my favorite, a hot pink balloon with orange letters, mondo cool. We got a whole days play out of that balloon. (of course being the paranoid factoid grammy I am, I was aware that popped bits of rubber balloons are the number one choking hazards for little one's so I made sure we eliminated said toy at the end of the day)

Grammy danced, literally to and from the door of the store....what more could one ask for in a day, the mercy of God, improved health, sunshine, a happy grandboy, a loving daughter, chicken tempora and N'aan and a balloon, all made sweeter and sharper in my heart and mind by the many preceding days wondering if I'd ever be well again.

Thanks out to my peeps Sharan and dear sister Angela who made their way to see me at Becca's knowing it was the only way we'd have been able to meet up this visit. Sis and I and Bec and Sam took in a local diner, the kind with the perfect comfort food for a recovering sick person. Sharan took me from Becca's door to a knitting store front door and enabled me to find some lovely red cashmere yarn to make my much missed husband a "love" scarf. Thanks also to my dear friend Lisa who prayed for me lots and tried very hard to visit me but my health window didn't allow it when it would have worked for her.

Having been at Becca's 5 weeks instead of the intended 2, and having been horribly unwell for pretty much all but the last few days, I longed to be able to make a few pleasant memories (vs scary discouraging ones like group trips to the emergency room and afternoons in doctor's offices) with very little energy to do so. I knew I'd have to trim my hopes and Rebecca's to a very low level. To do so I pulled out my trusty "what's your giraffe" (gorilla, monkey, elephant)plan. For those of you unfamiliar with this I shall elaborate.

When Becca was in her first two years of school (before homeschooling) and I would go with her class on a zoo trip to the large overwhelming but lovely National Zoo in D.c, I realized a few mins into wandering around said zoo with more children than I had hands, that the little one's pulled at every sign, every animal, every trail to every animal that came their way, each time exclaiming Oh giraffe, oh elephant, oh bears, I have to see bears, no, no I have to see penguins, yes this way, no that way....It seemed that 5 children could literally spend the whole day in the place and still pass one more animal cage and swear they did not get to see what they came for. So I took the little tykes in hand, lined up against a wall, got eye to eye with them and solemnly asked each one, IF, You can ONLY see one animal today, which one would it be? I then told them that our little band couldn't possibly see every animal in 3 hours and that we would have to be selective. I also enforced a "no changing your mind 50 times rule"...this worked a treat! and it became a life theme for me in relating to Becca's desires, and even my own.

I asked Becca, 5 days before my departure, "What's your gorilla" and she said Mom, I hate to break this to you, but I really don't prefer the gorilla's, I'd rather it be a giraffe." Hers was a shopping outing. Mine was to help her with some knitting she'd started, and work with her to figure out a new bread machine she got from a generous cousin but which had no instructions with it so she could regularly make whole grain bread for her household. Praise God, we got our giraffe's and gorilla's and even a penguin or two. We knitted and shopped (albeit with grandma collapsed on the fitting room floor trying to contain energy boy while his mama tried on some stuff) and drank Mocha's and even visited Cakelove to buy decadent chocolate rasberry cupcakes which we ate on the way to the airport (I kid you not, I spork fed Becca while she drove) We drank gallons of chickfila sweet tea (which God bless my son in law Joe and Becca, they drove 20 mins each way every couple or three days to keep sick mama in supply of a gallon at a time, they also picked up countless bags of ice to have it with)

\

These are the things mama's live for with their kids, to help them learn and do and practice things that will bless them for years to come (ala teaching them to fish) It was very hard to leave, but I was so glad to be well enough to go home that the tears were mitigated.

The trip home, even though it was though Salt Lake City airport, a very small manageable airport, I was shocked to find out that I had a very hard time feeling like I was getting enough air in my lungs and had to walk very slowly to my departure gate, taking rests along the way. That was a real eye opener to how much healing I had left to do.

Free Hugs Scotland

I've always maintained Glasgow is better than Edinburgh! I think this prooves it! Yes, I know the whole "hug" thing is a bit simplistic, and I've never been much of a hugger myself, but watching the video at least makes me want to be sure to hug those in my life more.

Becca and Sam in Boston

Becca and Sam went to visit her Auntie in Boston. He looks like a proper UK boy in his Cable knit sweater. He seems so grown up for only 8 months old. In the other photo he is bundled up in a lion suit. Praise to God for the lovely red coat Becca is wearing in the lion pic. I was praying she'd find one that suits her and low and behold she went to a thrift shop that day and found a red J. Crew wool coat for 5 dollars. I think the Arran Sweater on Sam was also a thrift (charity shop for my UK friends) find.

Like_youknow

Grammy's Cowboy!

"Why, HOWDY Ma'am. My Momma done raised me right and taught me to tip my hat to the women folk."

Sam is now in Texas for 10 days, where his other Grandmother (not sure what she's going to go by) and Grandpa live. He is having his first visit to his dad's home state and with his cousin Will, affectionally called "Wills"...and his three Aunties and three uncles and more cousins to boot.

He is I think about 8 weeks older than Wills but when they went to the mall with the boys, some folk did ask if they were twins despite the fact that if they were, it would be clear who got most of the "vittles and grub"!

Here's a picture of Will (Left) and Sam (Right) both current.

As for Grammy, I've been laid low since my dental work on the 13th. I do report though that I have felt an added portion of the Lord's comfort and nearness in this time of discomfort, though Glenn has been away for nearly 18 days. He returns home, Lord willing, tomorrow. I'm up late trying to make the house look like Howard Hughes didn't live here the last few weeks. I literally have gone from pain, to medication, to sleeping, and crawling out to kitchen to find the odd soft food to eat, not wanting to add peckishness to the already dizzy whooey feeling from pain meds.

I usually get a lot done round the house when Glenn is away (not that he cares, It's all my pushing myself, he's just happy if I'm happy.)but this time, it was moment to moment and I'm just glad to be free of pain for a few hours despite not accomplishing a lot. God's providence is good and right.

Smile!

A picture that is NOT my grandson. If I didn't have cat allergies, and I had an amenable spouse, I'd have a cat in a heartbeat. Hopefully that wouldn't make me one of those "cat women" who are the butt of jokes about lonely old spinsters with houses full of felines, but it is true. There is nothing like a purring soft fuzzy mewing idiosyncratic beast to make one's house a home.

That said, there is also nothing like said beast to make one's house a furry maloderous box if things go awry, so no notes blaming my cat love post on your obtaining said critter and it going badly.

I have cat on the brain because a sister of a friend and fellow blogger just posted about losing her own dear furball. I also am so in the wonky world of peri-menopause so deeply that I figure a cat would just about round out the picture of midlife insanity. My right cheek is on fire on and off some days and not at all on others. Today I can't get warm. My right cheek is still on fire but right next to it the tip of my nose is an icecicle. Good news: after a couple hours of this I realised I could take my ice cold hand and cover my burning cheek. I'm not always that fast on the uptake.

Friends, having been plagued with increasing migraines the past 8 weeks or so, on and off (like everything else and totally unpredictable like everything else) I have to say that there is a great HIGH that comes from not having one for a few hours or a day...I just about jump around, giving DH big hugs and getting giddy about the potential thrill of cooking a meal or having company in. (and that is from a hermit...company...what a notion!)


I'm at that cyclical stage where I'm likely to start back with the head pain again. I'm hoping it holds off till Wednesday. I realised in the past couple or three weeks that I miss having little girls in my life, particularly that wonderful age between 8-11 where they are able to do crafts and baking and just love to do all things domestic. I've asked a friend if I can borrow three of her five to do some crafts with and she said they'd be pleased to come.

If I had to do it over again I'd have probably done even more of that kind of stuff with my own sweet baby, but I suppose that we actually did that stuff the best and not enough of the "hard core academics"...oops. If I had to do it over again I'd have read to her more though. I missed the window for Peter Rabbit and Pooh for instance. I didn't know about "windows"...that if you don't hit the right book at the right time, your little one's can find them over their head or boring. Live and learn.

So I'm hoping to make little melty beady things that serve absolutely no purpose in life except the joy in making them, called Perler Beads. Their mom is moving house, all by herself (well with help from parishoners) but with hubby off to a family funeral so perhaps the girls being out and having hopefully fun will be a help to her. It's probably pretty pathetic that my life has come to this...the highlight of my week being crafts.

I try not to put too much hope into it going well because my brain runs ahead to all the other crafts I could do with them, and maybe even BAKING!!! Perhaps they'll let me read Peter Rabbit? Is this what peri-menopause does to one? I'm not out changing the world, or writing for fun and profit (forget the great american novel)

So if you think of me, this is where I am....an icebag on my face, a heating pad on my side, with fairly low but happy ambitions....next week perhaps I can share my riviting schedule of a root canal and making a carrot cake for my lady dentist's birthday? Lord willing (said with mixed enthusiasm...root canal..ugh, carrot cake, yeah!) And on a potentially actually important in the grand scheme of things note, the Holy Spirit has been prompting me to pray a bit more this past week. Will try to write a bit more, though it may be no more exciting than this.

I've got nothing else...

2 Corinthians 4 (King James Version)

1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Me biased? Um...YEAH.

Sorry no actual "posts." I am struggling through headpain and dental pain. Had work done recently on teeth and one of them just isn't "settling down" like one would like. Prayers appreciated. Will post when able.

Indulge the Grandma!

<---I have a weakness for stern baby photographs.



Perhaps because they are rare?
Sam and his Mama.


This boy already knows his way to Grandmama's heart -->



As always, Apologies for the long time since I last posted. I totally enjoyed having the grandbaby in the house. As soon as they left for the airport I had to do a sweep of the house and put away all the baby gear so my heart wouldn't be torn out seeing it without my dear boy in it. I am most thankful to God for the blessing of having time with them. Will try to write "Soonish"...

I'm so far behind...

I'm so far behind, I might have to pretend I'm ahead. I have wanted to post a tribute of some type to my dear friend Seonag, who went on to Glory this winter. I have wanted to do some type of official announcement of Sweetbaby's baby (seen at left approx 1 week old), though all my friends have long since been put to sleep with Baby pics and tales of wonderment. And I have wondered if I should just retire the old blog, since I'm such a random poster. For now, I shall leave it as it is, and see if I might not get back into the rhythm of the occasional post. I hope this wee note finds my handful of folk who at least used to read this before possibly giving up on me, knowing much of the Lord's blessings.

Yes, I am a grandma. Folk ask me what the wee one will call me and the way I see it, he'll call me whatever he can pronounce with reasonable accuracy in my direction. Of course I'd prefer "Granny" if he could simply learn to roll the r in it like Scottish weeuns do. Baring that, well it's likely something between Grandma, Grammy and Mama Lucy. I'll probably answer to any thing that comes of of his sweet mouth. I confess I already have a larger toy collection than he does, his mother rightly not going in for such a waste of space at his young age, but Grandma has found a wooden train set at a thrift store and since it was priced for a song, I had to buy it. I figure it will come in handy with visiting parishoners if nothing else. (well, OK, their children...though it's brilliant enough I'm pretty sure some parishoners might be tempted to get down on the floor and play trains as well. (There is even a London bridge to go with it lest friends from across the pond visit and feel homesick.)

I know when he was still on the "inside" I was calling him the Pea in the Pod, but now that he is on the outside, I shall call him the nickname he earned himself in his early days, that being "Squeaky." Rather than cry, the wee dear would just squeak. It was certainly more endearing than an full out howl, though I'll admit by week 5 he'd pretty much mastered the latter. He is now, praise God, 10 weeks old. Born Feb 20, 2007 weighing 7 lbs 3 oz and being I am not sure how long...at 8 weeks he weighed 14 pounds 3 oz and was 24 and a half inches long. He rolled over (and over and over) for the first time at 6 weeks. He has a very sweet disposition and has started smiling and cooing to the joy of all. On the night the youth come over for a bible study his mother "loses him" to the assortment of young ladies who all want to enjoy cuddling with him. She uses the time to catch up on her domestic routines.

Grandma, yup, that's me, was blessed to be able to spend from week 2-5 with her first grandbaby and enjoyed every second of it. I also was able to meet a couple dear sisters for coffee, you know who you are, thank you for coming to me, as I didn't rent a car for purposes of economy. Lord willing the little brood of 3 will trek out here at the end of May for a 16 day visit. Please keep mother and baby in prayer as they are flying without the Mr. He will, DV, join them a week later when he is able to get off from work.

All else is well here, we continue to praise God for the opportunity to live and work here and his many blessings.

On a not so "side" side note, I was through a remarkable providence able to find my birthdaughter, who I placed for adoption 28 years ago. We are taking things slowly and just emailing for now, as this has surely been quite a surprise for her to be found at this time, and really just as shocking to me, that I found her, having looked for years to no avail. God's timing is his own and perfect, and I very much appreciate your prayers as we figure out what type of relationship we might enjoy in the future. "Daughter number's one and two" are enjoying writing each other as well, and getting to know each other a bit via email" neither of them having been raised with sisters.

Well, that is all for now. My old friend from my teens, I didn't post your cute comments simply for lack of room. Thanks for sending them. My friend from up north, are you still in the land of the living? We've really lost touch. UK friends, also apologies for losing touch. It's been a long 12 months health wise, I'm having about 12 days of migraines a month so know that I've not forgotten any of you and hope to do better in future.

It's a Meez

A friend of our's from church had one of these "Meez" things on his web so of course I had to make one for my site. It likely being a shameless waste of time (or perhaps refreshing recreation?)I note that I listened to an excellent sermon whilst doing the meez. For those of you who did not get enough playing with dolls as a child, it is the closest thing one can get to the experience without starting tongues wagging, unless you are under 12 in which case you SHOULD be playing with dolls. That said, I was not a doll playing child, finding it incredibly boring, but this meez thing, well it was fun. I made one for hubby and arkboy as well as sweetbaby, but they didn't have an expectant mother form so her's will have to wait for posting. You'll note I am not anywhere NEAR the shape of my meez, they only have one size fits all. When they get a chunky meez form I'll be sure to update in the interest of truthful representation. For my less netsaavy friends the purpose of having a meez is so that one can essentially have a picture without posting one's real picture on the big scary web.)

I am sorry I've been so long since posting. It seems a very long time and the gap is a bit fuzzy. We have all been doing fairly well here. Sweetbaby's bump is now about 33 weeks along and doing well. I enjoyed a wonderful 5 days with her in Maryland as well as seeing my dear friend SW a tiny bit as well as my half sister. I would have liked to see all my "homegirls" but it just wasn't possibly in such a short visit. My main goal had been to be "mother" and fill SweetBaby's freezer with vittles so that they would have some homecooking to thaw out post partum. I hope to see my Maryland friends perhaps when the weeun arrives.

We had a fantabulous visit with my daughter in law, hmm, lets see I need a net name for her, we'll call her Sunny since that's what Arkboy calls her. Sunny's hubby is in Afghanistan and so she spent the 18-25 of December with us. She asked me to teach her to knit. She is about the 6th person I've taught, but the first one who I don't think I had to twist her arm to do so. She was some student, she had two scarves made before she left our house, and was teaching herself things and inventing patterns as well. She made me a hilarious gift which I got in the mail a few days ago. I shall leave you all in suspense and post a picture of it when able.

Some of you may know that my dear sister in the Lord, Seonag, passed away a few weeks ago. I haven' mentioned it because I wanted to post a nice picture of her and a bit of a note of rememberance of her. I've not gotten to that yet, so I'll note her passing here but know I want to do a proper review of the blessing she was to my life at some point in the future. God was most merciful to her in that the doctors were able to keep her free from overmuch pain and according to her daughter, she had as comfortable passing as one could hope for.

On a final note, I have recently came across a really well done series on the topic of Depression in the Christian experience. It was done by none other than a dear brother from my FCC days, David Murray of Stornoway. I cannot recommend it too highly for those who are despresed or have family or church friends who have that experience. It does an excellent balanced job. It is available for free on sermon audio in both audio and video formats. A link to the first of six messages is below.
http://tinyurl.com/y5x3bw