Weblog
Saturday, 07 November 2009
-
It's about time to stir the stagnant waters of my little pool again. When I did my previous post I never dreamed it would get this stagnant! I don't know when I've ever seen a busier summer. I guess our move to Heron in July made us pretty busy to start with...packing up, and then unpacking and trying to get settled in inbetween canning and other activities.
We've moved many times already, this was only our 20th time in our 20 years of marriage, but I don't remember that it ever before bothered me to be touching so much newspaper, or to have my arms rub against the edge of box flaps. It gave me almost the same feeling as it does when someone scratches a chalk board.
While we lived in Kalispell we used to drive down here to Heron for church but we didn't attend regularly because of the distance. Now we're enjoying it here very much and find it very encouraging and inspiring to meet with a body of believers regularly. At first it seemed really strange to go to church so often, It was almost like having meetings!! We didn't have this privelege in over 7 1/2 years except for a short while in Michigan where we went to a church service every Sun. afternoon. So it's very good to be here, especially for our children! It is harder though to find family time and I have to admit, I miss that. Life seems to be more fast paced here than what we've been used to in quite some time, but it is quite interesting.
I didn't have a garden this year so for awhile I didn't know if I'm going to be able to do any canning this summer. I needn't have worried too much. My shelves in the basement now hold over 100 quarts of tomato juice, and now I'm wondering who's going to want to drink that one can of store bought tomato juice we still had leftover.
We also did some salsa, green beans, jams and jellies, and this past week was major Apple Week. On Wed. we did 120 quarts of applesauce and yesterday we did some pie filling and a little bit of applebutter. We've still got lots of apples to eat fresh, or bake with, and also have fresh cider to drink. Our church did an apple glean in Washington and picked up around 6 1/2 tons of apples, so that's where all these apples come from.
Apple Sauce
Apple pie filling
Apple Cider
It's been a busy but delightful summer!
Monday, 06 July 2009
-
Stagnant a: not flowing in a current or stream b: Stale: long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul
It reminds me of my xanga site. I came here today and had to scrape some of that green slimy stuff away so I could get my boat into the water. I looked around and saw a few other boats out in the stagnant pool, the occupants sitting there with a blank, vacant look in their eyes. They didn't remember why they were here or what they are supposed to do now that they are on the stagnant pools of Xanga. I shouted across the green slime and suggested they just start paddling or they might wither and die. They turned their hollow gaze on me, startled at hearing a voice breaking through the silence. A few picked up the oars and gave a feeble attempt at paddling, then helplessly shrugged their shoulders and dropped the oars into the murky water. Their eyes once again turned longingly to gaze off into the distance beyond the barren Xangan landscape. I squinted through the stale atmosphere hoping to catch a glimpse of what they were looking for. Glimmering on the horizon was a port of entry into another world. A huge crowd of people surrounded the gate, clamoring to get in. The boats on the stagnant pools floated slowly through the heavy green waters toward the horizon, slipped through the gate and faded into the magical blue haze of facebook, never to be seen or heard of again.
I'm glad that's not the story of everyone on here, but I know my site is rather stagnant! I don't spend much time on facebook either. I just seem to have too many other things to do and even my email has suffered and fills up with junk mail.
We are enjoying deliciously warm weather, bordering on actually being hot over the week end. Today was a little cooler because of the beautiful thunder storm we had. We needed the rain.
I also love the longer daylight hours during the summer, and may have avoided a scary experience this spring if it wouldn't have been dark. I went outside after dark to shake a few carpets. I figured it should be perfectly safe for me to do that at my own home. A car came down the road while I was out there but I thought nothing of it until it unexpectedly slowed by our driveway and turned slightly like it was going to turn in here. I turned toward the stormdoor behind me which had no handle, but we fixed a string through the screw holes which can be used to pull the door open or shut. At this desperate moment the string was pulled to the inside, so I stood there frantically clawing for the string, but not getting anywhere. It was like a bad dream. Then I held a little consultation with myself, telling myself, "O.k. now calm down. The string is pulled in to the other side and I need it on this side immediately. Just pull yourself together and focus on that tiny part of string you can see from this side...pull on it...the string will come through which will then allow you to pull the door open. You can then let yourself into the house quickly before you turn up missing." The consultation, along with actually getting into the house, took probably about 3 seconds. I didn't realize how scared I was until after I was in the house I got weak and shaky. The people in the car only used our driveway to turn around, but who knows, if they would've had enough of a chance they might've left with an extra passenger. Good thing I stayed calm and cool, and got back into the house so quickly!! :) The string doorhandle works o.k. under normal conditions, but in a desperate situation such as that night I learned that if I go out late I want to make sure the string is pulled to the outside in case I need to escape from another harmless u-turn vehicle. I wonder if the people in the car detected that I was in a big hurry to get into the house.
Mark and a few of the boys were in the garage today when it started pouring, so they found some cardboard and boxes to use as umbrellas to come into the house.
My nephew Justin Garber
niece Bethany Yoder
horses and sunset
Sunday, 14 June 2009
-
Yesterday we were up in the Kootenai for the annual auction put on by the Amish up there. We don't know any of the Amish but have some other friends up there that we figured would be at the auction so we went up there for a day of fun.
We don't go to auctions often and most of the younger ones didn't know what to expect. Delano figured he would be better off at home, so I had to convince the children before we left that it will be fun. Sometimes I think they fear boredom more than any other life threatening danger in the world.
When we arrived at the auction we stepped out of the van directly into Little Boys Paradise. The ground was literally hopping with some kinda small grasshopper type of creature. I never saw them that thick before. The little boys immediately got busy entertaining themselves with catching grasshoppers. Oh, Auctions are indeed delightful!
The children did get pretty bored part of the time, but I don't think they have quite as negative an opinion of auctions as they had.
Mark and I enjoyed very much meeting up with friends we hadn't seen in awhile. Several of those friends were Jerry and Ruth Gingerich. Ruth and I had been classmates and hadn't seen each other in 17 years, now we both have families, and we had such a good time getting re-aquainted and meeting each other's children! In these 17 years we've both undergone major heart surgeries....not literally in the physical sense, but as the Lord dealt with each of us, changing our hearts, drawing us closer to Him and doing a deeper work of His grace and deliverance.
After the auction we spent the evening at Jerry and Ruth's house where we enjoyed wonderful hospitality and fellowship with them and her sisters Keturah and family, and Julia.
Nine of the 12 boys that were at Jerry and Ruth's house. Pausing their play and sitting quietly long enough for mealtime prayer and a pic!
Koocanusa Lake bridge we crossed yesterday.
Friday, 22 May 2009
-
Spring is here and we are enjoying it! I don't feel like blogging the last while, but I'll put on some pix and let them speak for us!
The boys saw hummingbirds outside and they were coming up to the window because we have a red Geranium at the window and they wanted it!! Delano made some nectar and hung the feeder out. We had the feeder out last summer for a little while but it brought us thousands of bees so we had it taken down. I guess we'll try it again!!
Awesome cloud hanging over the mountain. Looks a little threatening!
My Mother's Day cake and flowers from my wonderful family!
This brought back memories from my childhood when us kids would have a real burial for some small creature. One of the children was asking what happened to that beautiful pink tulip we had. Merritt smiled a little sheepishly and said he put it on the toads grave!! :)
Delano chopping an onion with goggles to see if it would keep his eyes from burning. He said it worked!
Wesley and Merritt eating breakfast
Daryl popping a wheely!
Melanie
A new sport. Playing on the roof!! Their "ice cream lid frisbee" went up there so they had to go get it. It took quite awhile to get it!! :)
Michelle and Daryl went up too then and took a few pix. These next three were taken from the roof.
Joel and Erma's two youngest, Craig and Bethany.
Heron, MT
Heron, MT
Noxon, MT
Just plain cute!
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
-
We've been down to Heron for church the last two Sundays. Yes, unbelievably, two Sundays in a row after not having been there for several months. The Lord made a way for us to go, and we were so thankful! It was so good to see everyone again and be blessed by the messages and fellowship.
On Sunday we had ordination services, one in the morning and another one in the evening. David Shrock is appointed as a Deacon, and Phil Weaver ordained as an Elder. A few of our younger ones made the observation that Phil doesn't look old! I guess they figured an Elder would be an old man!
We have to get up pretty early to get to church on time as it takes 2 1/2 hrs. and then if we stay for the evening service the day gets pretty long and it's really late by the time we get home. It was 1:30 a.m. Monday when we arrived home. We slept in a bit but somehow it seemed to take all day to wake up. On Monday evening Mark told me to stay in bed the next morning and sleep it out. I did, and then he served my breakfast in bed! Isn't he great?!
The little boys asked, "Is she sick?" And Mark told them, "No, we're just treating her like the queen she is." Later after I got out of bed Merritt asked me, "Are you done being treated like the queen you are?"
We've had, (or are having), an extremely difficult time for the past year or so. A lot of disappointments, severe testings and trials, almost overwhelming us sometimes. We thought we had some mountains in our life and were trusting the Lord to move those mountains. Somehow those mountains just seemed to grow! It's been a challenge to hang on and somehow I feel that's partly what we need to learn, to hang on with a tenacity and never give up. Keep believing when it looks beyond impossible. Just keep walking, and keep your eyes on Jesus. Just think of how small these trials will look when we stand before the Lord and He welcomes us into eternal bliss with Him. Will we even remember some of these disappointments?
The Lord has blessed us and provided for us in a few unique ways this past winter, so I've been feeling convicted about spending too much time dwelling on the disappointments and dark times instead of thanking Him for those blessings.
On Sunday after church we had a good time at Anthony and Sharon's house and enjoyed some delicious food. It was way better than the sandwiches we had taken along! We saved those sandwiches then and ate them for supper at the Noxon Park.
Anthony and Sharon live up kind of on the side of a mountain and here is part of the view from their house. Seems to me if you'd live there you'd spend a lot of time gazing!
We went to see the Noxon Dam after we left Anthonys'
Noxon bridge
At the park
Scenery pix from places between Heron and home
Kalispell, MT
Kalispell, MT
Time to pay Obama what is Obama's! Although, I don't think he gets anything from us this year due to a lack of sustenance around here!
If you get stuck behind a big fat purple truck, it's nice if it's at least a cheerful truck! Whitefish, MT
Sunday, 05 April 2009
-
Daryl and Melanie left for Heron this morning and will be down for the week to attend the Youth Meetings this week. It doesn't seem long since they were just little kids, very dependent on me for survival, and now they're off on a trip all on their own and will be gone for a week. The thought of it was going to disturb me last night and keep me from sleeping but I pushed it out of my mind, thinking that this is a healthy and natural thing for teenagers to do. This is Daryl's third year at the youth meetings and Melanie's first. I just haven't got this letting-go thing down pat yet. Since they've actually left it isn't as bad as it seemed last night at bedtime.
I don't spend much time reading the newspaper but last week I picked one up and looked through it. I paused at the section they call "Law Enforcement Roundup" where you can read of burglaries and other "criminal mischeif." Some things the cops get called for sound rather petty. Someone called in once to tell the cops they saw someone walking by with a black jacket and he looked weird.
I saw someone walking up the road with a terrifying ski mask this winter but I didn't call the cops. Since it was a very cold day I thought that even a bad guy should be allowed to wear a ski mask with out having the cops called out on him.
I was not disappointed last week when I scanned the Roundup section for silly calls. A man had called in to tell the cops that his wife had beaten him with a broomstick and bit him. The cops deposited him somewhere else for the night where he would be safe from his wife. If I'd be that man, I'd hide all the broomsticks from the wife.
I don't remember of ever before reading of so many burglaries in that section as I did last week. With the economy being in bad shape and people getting laid off, I suppose some are getting desperate. The next thing we know we're going to have to hang onto our purses like you do in some other countries. The last time I was at Walmart I was more conscious of the safety of my purse, as you never know when they'll start grabbing purses and I don't want to be in the statistics when that starts happening!
Also in last week's newspaper, there was a cult (no longer functioning) where a member had starved a boy for not saying "amen" after a meal. After he died she prayed for his resurrection. She agreed to plead guilty only after the prosecutors said they would drop the charges if the child comes back to life. They will drop the charges on Resurrection Day.
That's about enough on law and order but here's just one more, although this one did not come from the newspaper. A child had been found guilty of a certain domestic violation so the mother takes the child to a private part of the house and lovingly starts administering appropriate discipline. The disciplinary device in this particular situation had been taken from a willow tree some time ago and the mother had not taken into consideration the oldness or brittleness of the device. All of a sudden the disciplinary action was brought to a swift and immediate halt as a lengthy piece of the rather thin stick went flying across the room and the mother was left staring at about exactly 2 inches of stick remaining in her hand. The child had just been gathering in air to start weeping penitently but what came out sounded much more like giggling than crying. I think the child got the message inspite of the interruption. No names were mentioned in the story so I assume the mother and child both appreciate the anonymity.
It sounds like something that could've happened back in the 40's and could be put down in history along with the stories passed down from my parents, like the one where my dad, as a little boy, was running around a shed with his mother in hot pursuit with a stick in her hand. After hearing that story I vowed I will never chase down a child to punish him. If they would run from me they'd get a double punishment. It's very funny though to picture my good grandmother chasing my dad with a stick!
Fresh snowfall we had Friday morning. Most of it melted before the day was over.
Tomato plant waiting for spring.
adoremyguy
-
- Name: Bertha
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 12/1/2007
Connect
Weblog Archives
About Me
Subscriptions
Pulse
-
...in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psa. 16:11
Chatboard (3)