Wild Goose Chase

 

About The Book:  Most of us have no idea where we're going most of the time. Perfect. "Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit-An Geadh-Glas, or `the Wild Goose.' The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it's like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something....Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure." --from the introduction.

About The Author:  Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC's National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America's most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC'ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (www.markbatterson.com). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children.

My Thoughts On The Book:  If you are looking for a feel good book, this is not it.  This book is a get in your face kind of book that makes you made enough to make some changes.  Batterson definitely challenged me to come out of my cage and chase the Wild Goose.  My favorite part of the whole book was the challenge given at the conclusion of the book:  "Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.  Set God sized goals.  Don't take the easy way out.  Expand  your horizons.  Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.    (My favorite) Take off your sandals.  Blaze new trails.   Don't make a living.  Make a life.  Quit makeing excuses.  Chase the Goose!  Ready or not goose....here I come. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Blogging for Books Program. I was not required to write a positive review. All they asked for was an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

Secretly Smitten

 

About The Book:  Summer, fall, winter, spring—Smitten, Vermont, is the place for love . . . and mystery!  There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?  The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?  Join popular romance novelists—and real-life BFFs—Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for four delightful intertwined tales of mystery and sweet intrigue.

LOVE BETWEEN THE LINES: Author Colleen Coble produces a wonderfully written murder mystery/romance. Protagonist Tess loves a good mystery and Ryan has an attic full of clues.

MAKE ME A MATCH: Kristin Billerbeck brings to the forefront Smitten's own matchmaker Zoe.  Sister to Tess she begins her Cupid's shop in an old building and William, new city manager, must either do his job and enforce rules and codes or resign.

KNIT ONE, LOVE TWO:  Author Diann Hunt opens up the Sit `n Knit shop, owned by Anna (divorced mother of  the  single adult girls we meet).  Anna finds her life changing when Michael enters for a shopping spree. 
LOVE BLOOMS: Denise Hunter writes about daughter number three,  nursery manager, Clare It is in this final novella that all secrets, mystery, conflict, begin to unravel.

About The Authors: 
Colleen Coble - is an American Christian author of romance, romantic suspense and historical fiction. Her thirty-five novels and novellas have sold a total of about 2 million copies, and have received numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA, the Holt Medallion, the ACFW Book of the Year, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, the Booksellers Best, and the 2009 Best Books of Indiana-Fiction award

Kristin Billerbeck - is an American writer, who writes fiction novels for young women. She is the author of over 17 novels.

Diann Hunt - In 1997, when Diann Hunt and her husband, Jim, started on their three-mile trek through the Amish country, she had no idea she was taking her first steps toward a new career. Inspired by their walk, she wrote an article, which was published a year later. Other articles soon followed. After studying fiction writing, she celebrated her first novella sale in 2001, with CBA bestselling novellas and novels reaching the bookshelves soon afterward.

Denise Hunter - Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

My Thoughts On The Book:  Secretly Smitten is the second in a series, yet it stands alone.  I had no trouble feeling as if I were a character in the stories/  All four authors are master wordsmiths and create totally believable characters.  It was a fun read and once I started reading I did not want to put the book down. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing Booksneeze Program for bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. All they asked for was an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Superest of Hodge Podges

It is Wednesday again and time for Hodge Podge.  I so look forward to seeing what Joyce's questions are going to be and then trying to come up with an answer that looks half-way inteligent.  Want to play along?  Then hop over to Joyce's blog, grab the questions, answer them on your blog, and hop back and link up.  It is pretty simple.  Here are the questions and my answers for this week:

 

1. In the USA this coming Sunday millions will be watching as the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49's in the Superbowl. What was the last event you attended that could be described as super?  2002 the Alabama State High School Play-offs.  My school walked away with number one in 6-A. 

 

2. Share something you're a fan of these days?  Crafting!  I am loving my new things....crocheting scarves, making cake plates, and making mesh wreaths.

 

3. How do you feel about wings? In case anyone is confused, I'm talking the edible appetizer kind. What's your preferred seasoning on a wing-hot, mild, teryiaki, sweet and sour, other? Do you make your own or is there a favorite place you like to go for wings?   I love wings!  My favorite wing place is Wild Wing Cafe...and Colorado Coppers are my favorite flavor.  I like teryiaki, sweet and sour, mild....Italian....not hot!  If you are every in Charleston, Knoxville, or Greenville you must try this place.  It is to die for.

 

4. As long as we're talking sports today...have you followed the Lance Armstrong story? Did you watch his interview with Oprah and if so what was your reaction to his confession and subsequent remarks?  It actually saddens me that it went this far.  He was a hero.....and he knew he was lying.  I hate that athletes do this period.  We place too much power in their hands.  But....they are human....and deserve the same forgiveness and grace as the normal person who never stands in the limelight.
 

5. What's a question you hate to be asked?   How much do you weigh?

6. The coaches in this Sunday's big game happen to be real life brothers. Jim Harbaugh coaches the 49er's and his older brother John Harbaugh coaches the Baltimore Ravens. Were you and your sibling(s) competitive? In what way? Are you still? If you're an only child how did you handle competition growing up?   I had a sibling until I was 8 and he was five.  After that time I grew up with a neighborhood full of kids and was (and still am) highly competitive.  I enjoy winning....and hate losing...but I do lose gracefully....except at Monopoly against Frank....(I never win...he always does....so we don't play it anymore).

7. What's your favorite game involving a ball and when did you last play? Softball.  I played it forever on church leagues.  I love the game...and I last played it about 15 years ago after an accident caused me to hang up my gloves and cleats.  

8. Insert your own random thought here. Since we are on sports and ball games I had to ask this.  Did you ever play dodge ball or tether ball as a child?  Did you like it?  Which was your favorite?  I played them both and loved them both.  I have sported many bruises with death balls in dodge ball and was a power hitter in tether ball.   

Is It Ever Enough?

I know most of you have read this....or heard it in a sermon....but for some reason today I got it as an email and sat at my desk and cried.  I wish I could say I had this profound thought but I did not.  This little reminder about life is from Bob Perks.  I wish I could tell him thanks for sharing it.  I have flown many times and I love watching people in an airport.  Back before 9/11 I loved sitting in the airport watching people come and go.  I loved to see people returning to their loved ones....I always felt sad for the ones that no one met....and I cried for the ones who said goodbye and turned away with tears in their eyes.    I have been that person....the one who was met by loved ones, not met at all, and said goodbye....it can be tough.  The story he writes goes like this:
"At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door, he said to his daughter, "I love you, I wish you enough." She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied.  Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked. "I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral, " he said.  "When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?"  He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more.  "When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.  "I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye."  I have been there....and done that....on both sides of the coin....it is not easy....especially when you know that this is the forever goodbye.  When my father died....I knew it was the end....and when I left...I knew it was just a matter of time.  When my mom died it came out of left field and it knocked my knees out from under me.....but I learned a valuable lesson thanks to this story.....to always wish the people I love enough.  God bless you real good today.....and may you have enough!...ALWAYS!

Matthew 25 and Uncle Willie

(From left-L.T., Emma (grandparents), Uncle Willie, Aunt Polly, Mom, Dad, Uncle Toby and Aunt Jo-Anne, Uncle John and Aunt Jo, Uncle Charlie and Aunt Shirley, Uncle Trollis, Uncle Larry)

 

35For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'37"Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'41"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! 42For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. 43I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'44"Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' 45And he will answer, 'I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'

I loved my uncle Willie.  He was my mom's oldest brother and was quite a character.  He ran shine when he was younger but it is his adult years I want to tell you about today.  He was an amazing man.  Very active in the Church of God of Prophecy he would literally give you the shirt off of his back.  I loved him because he had the best hugs and the greatest laugh.  When we would come to Alabama to see my grandparents he was the first person I wanted to see on my mom's side(I will tell you about Uncle Wilson in another post).....I called him, "Robert"...and no...Robert was nowhere in his name.  He had all boys and his wife wore her hair in a bun....and it was so long....because she never cut it.  They did not have a lot....but they had love and God and that made them very well off.  He worked hard for a living in the cotton mill to support his family. In Alex City the cotton mills was pretty much all there was.  You could work for Russell Corporation or you could work for Avondale.  My grandparents worked for Avondale.  It was right across the street from their house.  They lived in the mill village.  I loved hearing the mill whistle blow when the shifts would end.  Alas, I am wandering.....Uncle Willie would give anyone anything if he thought they needed it.  I remember hearing him quote Matthew 25 : 35-45 when someone would ask him why he did it. His actions really stuck with me as a child....and still do as an adult.  I want to help people who need it.....and not just give them the cull of what I have....but the first fruits.  I have enough.....I have more than enough....and there are  so many who don't.  Uncle Willie touched my life in such a profound way....and I wish I could have told him this.....but before I realized the lesson....he was gone....brown lung/cancer from working his whole life in the cotton mill......but you know....I know he is in heaven....watching me....knowing....and I want to make him proud.  I love you Uncle Willie....and I wish you enough.

Project 365 - Week 4

 

 

It is that time of the week again and time for Project 365.  We are early into the year so there is still plenty of time to play along.  If you want to participate or just view everyone else's offerings then head over to Frans blog and check them out.  Here are my feeble offerings for the week.

 

Sunday, January 20th

Should have been home cleaning my nasty house but instead we were enjoying the sun and some of the local dirt roads.  I love Rock Mills!

 

Monday, January 21st - MLK Holiday

 

Since Kat and I both had a holiday today we met her in Auburn at Red Lobster for lunch.  Frank gave her all her prizes, explained the Herodian Tear Vase, and they watched 400 of his pictures.  It was a wonderful day since I got to spend time with two of the people I love to the moon and back.

 

Tuesday, January 22nd

 

 Tuesday, when I got home the sky was gray, sun was going down, and these two birds just made me feel sad for them.  I had to go to a workshop today and while I was there I wrote a little ditty.....

"The darkness wraps its arms around me, drawing me into a pit of nothingness.  The room is cold.  The talking is old.  I feel my eyes slamming shut....when did I lose the joy of my job?  Why do we have to do this?  I feel the me inside wanting to scream...I WANT OUT!!!!  Out of this room, out of this place.....gone!  The lady drones on and on.  I yarn and continue to write....we are down to six minutes....time crawls.  Help me I cry!  I feel I am becoming a bobble head as my head grows heavy with all this new info...my eyes droop....the voices....drone on and on.  Three minutes to go.  The voices are raking against my eardrums....and hurt....sharp.....the final bell rings....I pack my stuff...and begin my long drive home.

 

Wednesday, January 23rd

 

My new IPads for my class came in.  I am so excited.

 

Thursday, January 24th

IPad training in the Media Center with my boss, Mr. Reyes.  We stayed until 4:30.  This was a really long day.  We bowl on Thursdays.

 

Friday, January 25th

 

 

Headed to South Carolina with the Porch Bunch today after school to visit with Tracey.  This was the camper Sherry, Keith, Glenda and I housed in. I have never been much of a camper....and after a trip to the bathroom in the middle of the night...remember why.....LOL.  We had a great time.

 

Saturday, January 26th - My Tenth Wedding Anniversary

 

Today was my 10th wedding anniversary and I was in South Carolina....and Frank was in Birmingham at school.  We went to a couple of Flea Markets and Lyndi found some headphones she had been wanting.  I bought some Harley Boots, a new turquoise Otter Box for my phone, and a Zippo lighter for Frank.  We ate lunch at the Lizard's Thicket.  I kept calling it the Lizard Licket.  The food was good.  We grilled for supper.  There is some gorgeous scenery in South Carolina.

Celebrating Ten Wonderful Years With Frank

Frank the huge FSU fan

Frank the Preacherman

 

Frank the uncle and dad

Frank, the shy man......NOT!

Frank the husband

Today is my tenth wedding anniversary.  I really find it hard to believe that we have been married ten years and on the other hand I can't honestly remember a time without Frank in my life.  I wish you all knew him personally.  He is so much fun to be with.  I love spending time with him.  He is witty and loving....and well....he is the harmony to my life song.  Sadly, on our tenth anniversary Frank has school this weekend and is in Birmingham.  We were invited to go to South Carolina with some friends.....I am in South Carolina.  We are planning on spending Sunday evening in LaGrange at Pizzavilla (it was voted the most romantic restaurant in the area) and we love eating there.  We will do our usual....sit and....(you thought I was going to say hold hands and gaze longingly in each others eyes didn't you?...)....SURPRISE!....We will sit and play each other on our phones with Trivie and Words With Friends.  We both love games!  Sometime towards the end of February we are going to take a wee little honeymoon vacation to the Smokeys since it is one of our favorite places and easily accessible.   I don't know if I have ever told you about our wedding....but it was amazing.  I sang at the Arbor Service at FUMC in our home town.  Frank ran the sound.  At the end of the service...Frank came down and met me coming off the stage and we stood in front of 500 of our dearest family and friends and said our vows.  Kat was my Matron of Honor and Robert Gaskins was the Best Man.  Our amazing friends surprised us with a breathtaking reception.  Bill cooked tenderloin that melted in your mouth...Deborah made me the most gorgeous wedding cake....I cried....after eating and socializing we got in our car and headed to Little River Canyon/Mentone to spend a couple of days in a friend's cabin there.  We ate dinner in Chattanooga at The Loft, went to Lookout Mtn, and Chickamaugua Battlefield.  We got National Park Passports there.  One of Franks greatest feats....is that one night a week....we have date night.  It is a night when we do something special.....just the two of us.  I look forward to date night as much now as I did when we were actually dating.  I hope he reads this today.....Happy Anniversary Baby!  I love you more today than yesterday.....and to the moon and back.  Yep!  I love this man.

Five Minute Friday - Again

 

What is Five Minute Friday?  It is a piece of heaven on earth.  A time when you just write what is there and don't think about it, or double check it, or correct yourself.  It is just pure writing.  I love this day.  It gives me a chance to just do what comes naturally....write.  Thank you Lisa-Jo Baker for being such a fabulous host and giving us a place to explore and be free.  Want to join in"  The rules are simple: 

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:::

 

Again

Go:

Here I am again....writing on a Friday.  The words are stuck again and I know I only have five minutes to come up with something profound and worthy.  I feel so inadequate again as I have every Friday since I began participating.  I sit....again....I think....again....and finally it is there...the words I have inside me flow through my fingertips again and I find myself writing. so what do I have to say about the word again.  Today I am thinking that I wish I could be a child again.  I wish I could return to my childhood and take back any mean and hateful thing I said or did while I was a child.  I wish I could hug my parents again.  Oh....we hugged a lot when I was a child but since they have been gone there are times when I would love to feel my dad's strong arms wrapped around me again.  I miss him every day.  I wish I could stroke my mom's silver hair again and tell her I love her....it is hard to believe it has almost been two years since she joined my father in heaven.  I wish I could see my brother again.  It has been fifty years since I rode out of our backyard to play with my best friend down the street....who would have known I would never see him alive again.  I wish my best friend Mary and I could drive to Michigan again and become yuppers for a summer.  Yet, even with all the agains I wish for in my life....there are so many more nows that I have.  Now, I can hug my darling husband and daughter.  Now I can serve a mighty God.  Now I can spend time with the special people and friends in my life....now...at this moment....and that is my goal....to love them all...again....and again....and again!

STOP:

National Peanut Butter Day

I LOVE peanut butter.    I always have.  If I don't want supper but need to eat something I will eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, peanut butter and banana sandwich,....or just plain peanut butter on bread.  When I was a child I would eat it by the spoonfuls.  Today I was looking at eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch...(before Don brought in homemade salsa and chips)...and I thought I would look up some fun facts about peanut butter.....here we go......Did you know that.....

• It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
• There are enough peanuts in one acre to make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
• By law, any product labeled "peanut butter" in the United States must be at least 90 percent peanuts.
• Peanut butter was first introduced to the USA in 1904 at the Universal Exposition in St. Louis by C.H. Sumner, who sold $705.11 of the "new treat" at his concession stand.
• In 1884, Marcellus Gilmore Edson of Montreal, Quebec was the first person to patent peanut butter.
• Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a physician wanting to help patients eat more plant-based protein, patented his procedure for making peanut butter in 1895.
• Two peanut farmers have been elected president of the USA - Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.
• Grand Saline, TX holds the title for the world's largest peanut butter and jelly sandwich weighing in at 1,342 pounds. Grand Saline outweighed Oklahoma City’s 900 pounds peanut butter and jelly sandwich in November 2010. Oklahoma City, OK had been the reigning champ since September 7, 2002.
• Astronaut Allen B. Sheppard brought a peanut with him to the moon.
• Tom Miller pushed a peanut to the top of Pike's Peak (14,100 feet) using his nose in 4 days, 23 hours, 47 minutes and 3 seconds.
• Adrian Finch of Australia holds the Guinness World Record for peanut throwing, launching the lovable legume 111 feet and 10 inches in 1999 to claim the record.
• As early as 1500 B.C., the Incans of Peru used peanuts as sacrificial offerings and entombed them with their mummies to aid in the spirit life.
• Americans were first introduced to the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in 1928.
• Peanut butter was the secret behind "Mr. Ed," TV's talking horse.
• Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth.
• The oldest operating manufacturer and seller of peanut butter has been selling peanut butter since 1908.
• The world's largest peanut butter factory churns out 250,000 jars of the tasty treat every day.
• Ever wonder where the term "Peanut Gallery" comes from? The term became popular in the late 19th century and referred to the rear or uppermost seats in a theater, which were also the cheapest seats. People seated in such a gallery were able to throw peanuts, a common food at theaters, at those seated below them. It also applied to the first row of seats in a movie theater, for the occupants of those seats could throw peanuts at the stage, stating their displeasure with the performance. Now, that was fun wasn't it????  But wait!  there is more....there are consumption facts.

Consumption Facts

• The average American consumes more than six pounds of peanuts and peanut butter products each year.
• The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before he/she graduates high school.
• Americans consume on average over 1.5 billion pounds of peanut butter and peanut products each year.
• Peanut butter is consumed in 90 percent of USA households.
• Americans eat enough peanut butter in a year to make more than 10 billion peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
• The amount of peanut butter eaten in a year could wrap the earth in a ribbon of 18-ounce peanut butter jars one and one-third times.
• Women and children prefer creamy, while most men opt for chunky.
• People living on the East Coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while those on the West Coast prefer the crunchy style.
• Sixty percent of consumers prefer creamy peanut butter over crunchy.
• Four of the top 10 candy bars manufactured in the USA contain peanuts or peanut butter.
• Peanuts account for two-thirds of all snack nuts consumed in the USA.
• Peanut butter is the leading use of peanuts in the USA.
• Peanuts contribute more than $4 billion to the USA economy each year.
• Americans spend almost $800 million a year on peanut butter.   Don't give up on me yet....there is more....you should know the farming facts of peanuts.

Farming Facts

• There are four types of peanuts grown in the USA — Runner, Virginia, Spanish and Valencia.
• Peanuts are planted after the last frost in April or early May and heaviest harvesting months are September and October.
• The peanut growth cycle from planting to harvest is 120 to 160 days or about five months.
• The peanut plant originated in South America.
• The peanut plant produces a small yellow flower.
• Peanuts flower above ground and then migrate underground to reach maturity.
• A mature peanut plant produces about 40 pods that then grow into peanuts.
• Most USA peanut farms are family-owned and -operated.
• The average peanut farm is 100 acres. And last but not least....did you know that peanut butter is good for you? 

Nutrition Facts

• The peanut is not a nut, but a legume related to beans and lentils.
• Peanuts have more protein, niacin, folate and phytosterols than any nut.
• Peanuts have a higher antioxidant capacity over grapes, Concord grape juice, green tea, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots and many more.
• Peanuts and peanut butter contain over 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients.
• Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free. The moral of this post is EAT MORE PEANUTS!

Hodge Podge for January 23rd

Welcome to the world of Wednesday Hodgepodge! Joyce is our hostess and she has been sick....no voice.  She has come up with some thought provoking questions and I would love for you to join in.  If you would like to participate...just click here, grab the questions, post, and link up.  It is eazy peazy.  Here are my answers to this week's questions...be sure to add your link on Joyce's blog before you hightail it out of here.

 

1. The popular saying, 'All is fair in love and war' is originally credited to English writer John Lyly. Is he right?   If everyone is actually fair....then yes.  Sad commentary is that everyone does not usually play fair....so that negates the statement.

2. Are you a cereal eater? What's your favorite kind? I love cereal and would eat it three times a day if I could stand the carbs.   Hot - Steel cut Irish oatmeal.  Cold I love anything wheat....Wheaties, Raisin Bran, Wheat Chex.  I do not like sugary cereals at all.
3. A five year old in Pennsylvania was recently given a ten day school suspension for talking with a friend about shooting one another with a Hello Kitty Bubble gun (the gun blows bubbles). She did not have the gun with her at school.

A psychological evaluation was also ordered and the incident was recorded on her permanent record. The suspension was later reduced to two days and her parents are suing to have the incident removed from her file. Your thoughts? (If you missed the story click here for details).   I am a school teacher.  I have to admit there are days I fear guns, knives, etc in the possession of my students.  This was a little much.  We have actually had elementary students bring REAL guns for show and tell....who did get suspended.  Come on....Hello Kitty Bubble Gun and not in her possession.  This had to have occured after the incident in New England....all schools went on alert and a bit crazy.
4. Whatever happened to__Saturday Morning REAL cartoons?   The cartoons kids watch today are terrible and most of them teach bad behavior.
5. January 23rd is National Handwriting Day, billed as a day to reacquaint yourself with a pen and pencil. Do you like your handwriting? Do you prefer to print or write in cursive? This date was chosen because its the birth date of John Hancock. What's the last thing you signed your name to?  I like my handwriting and have people compliment me on it many times.  I prefer to write in cursive and you can decipher my writing in either.  I signed my name on a check yesterday to pay a bill.

6. Speaking of John Hancock...ever been to Philadelphia? Do you have any desire to visit the city of Brotherly Love?   I have been to Philadelphia and loved it.  I would love to go back.  I ate my first ever  Philly Cheese Steak at Geno's and loved it. I had it "wit onions and whiz" as I was instructed to order it.  I got to hear James Earl Jones read the Magna Carta and it was amazing.  So much history there and I loved every minute of my time there.

7. Share something funny you've heard a child say. My last name was once Harrell.  My son's favorite Christmas song was, "Hark, the Harrell angels sing."  He would shout it out when the choirmaster asked for requests during Christmas....everyone would laugh, and I would be so embarrassed.  No matter how hard I tried I could not get him to understand that this song was not our family song!  He still says it....and he is 42. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. Did you know that today is National Pie Day.  I love pie....lemon, key lime, chocolate, peanut butter, apple, cherry....and my list goes on.  Do you like pie????  What is your favorite kind?

It's A Cah, It's A Cah!

Mrs Shirley sends me some riotous emails each day.  Some make me sad, some make me cry, some make me smile and some make me laugh out loud and embarrass myself with my guffaw.  This one was one of those and too good not to share it with you all.  I am an Ornithophobic.  I have a huge terror of multiple birds.  I don't know when it began....could have been walking through the throngs of pigeons at the Palm Beach County library when I was small and having them fly....or it could have been after seeing Alfred Hitchcocks movie, The Birds.  When ever it was.... birds in mass do not make me smile.  Trivia on the other hand rocks my world....which makes this email.....priceless....

Crow Mortality Rate Study, useful trivia for today.....

They just recently found over 200 dead crows near Halifax N.S. , and there was concern that they may have died from the Avian Flu virus.

A Bird Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and he confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu, . However, he was also able to determine, to everyone's relief, that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with large trucks, and only 2% were killed by car impact.

The Province of Nova Scotia hired an Ornithological Behaviorist to determine the disproportionate percentages for the large truck versus car kills. The Ornithological Behaviorist determined the cause in short order.

When crows eat road kill, they always set-up a look-out Crow in a nearbytree to warn of impending danger. His conclusion was that the lookout crow could say "Cah", but he could not say "Truck."

Now you know!

Thank you Mrs. Shirley for the smile on my face today!!!!!!

He Had A Dream

Today is the day set aside to honor Rev Martin Luther King, Jr.  It is also the day our president is sworn in.  But did you know that on August 28, 1963 in Washington, D.C.Martin Luther King presented in his address at the March on Washington some words that would become famous....and become known as his "I Have A Dream Speech.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."  – Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream Quote

 

"The "I Have a Dream" speech was a 17-minute public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963, in which he called for racial equalityand an end to discrimination. The speech, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was a defining moment of the American Civil Rights Movement. The speech was delivered to over 200,000 civil rights supporters and was ranked as the top American speech of the 20th century by a 1999 poll of scholars of public address. According to U.S. Representative John Lewis, who also spoke that day as the President of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, "Dr. King had the power, the ability, and the capacity to transform those steps on the Lincoln Memorial into a monumental area that will forever be recognized. By speaking the way he did, he educated, he inspired, he informed not just the people there, but people throughout America and unborn generations."  Did you know that the "I Have a Dream" speech was originally titled "Normalcy, Never Again." and the first drafts never included the phrase "I have a dream". He had first delivered a speech incorporating some of the same sections in Detroit in June 1963, when he marched on Woodward Avenue with Walter Reuther and the Reverend C. L. Franklin, and had rehearsed other parts.  The popular title "I have a dream," came from the speech's greatly improvised content and delivery. Near the end of the speech, famous African American gospel singer Mahalia Jackson shouted to Dr. King from the crowd, "Tell them about the dream, Martin." Dr. King stopped delivering his prepared speech and started "preaching", punctuating his points with "I have a dream."   I grew up during this era of separation and remember all the turmoil that took place when desegregation began occurring.  I grew up in a house where we loved all of our neighbors....not just the ones who were just like us.  I grew up in a family that did not ever own slaves....and were in fact themselves indentured servants and share-croppers.    I ask you today....why must we look at another person and not see past the color of their skin?  Fifty years later....we still do not judge a man by the content of his character alone....maybe this year....it will be different.

Project 365 - Week 3

It is time for Project 365 - Week 3 and I am running a bit behind.  I have too many projects and not enough time.  Sorry I am a wee bit late getting this up and running.  Want to see everyone else's pictures?  If you do then hop over to The Frans Clan by clicking here and check them out.

 

Sunday, January 13th

Football is on at my house. Whooo hooo....So I am busy crafting.  I also took a nice long nap.

 

Monday, January 14th

Finished up wreath number one for my front door.

 

 Tuesday, January 15th

 

 

Frank has been steadily uploading his Israel pictures and I had to share these.  This is Jerusalem in miniature.  If youi have ever been to Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman you have seen Jerusalem in miniature, but it is nothing like this.  This is amazing.  Frank and I have decided we are going in 2015 when he graduates from Course of Study School and I retire.

 

Wednesday, January 16th

Rain, rain, go away.  I am tired of wet and gray!  It started raining when Frank left for Israel and has rained every day since then.  He left on December 31st!  I want to get outside and take pictures....but alas....it does nothing but rain.

 

Thursday, January 17th

We bowled tonight.  Yes, it is still raining.  Mae Lynn (cancer survivor) wore this little headband thing tonight.  It is designed to keep her head and ears warm and I love it.  I must have one.  I took pictures of it so Mrs. Shirley can see it and either teach me how to do this...or let me pay her to do it for me.

 

Friday, January 18th

 

Mail ran on Thursday and I found a ton of new yarn when I came home on Thursday night.  I got it all displayed because I have some ladies coming to buy scarves.  I also worked like the devil tonight trying to get several done that I thought they might be interested in.  I am selling them for 10.00 if anyone out there is interested.  Let me know what colors you might want and I will try and make it happen for you.

Saturday, January 19th

Breakfast at the Farmhouse Restaurant with the Kramers and precious Collin.  I love this child.  His nickname is Schnitzel.

 Lunch in Newnan at the Dwarf House Chick-Fil-A.  I made Frank get tin the pictrue so you could see how small the door is.  We went to Newnan to see about finding more yarn at Michaels and Hobby Lobby.  I came up empty at both stores.  Everyone has begun to make the little scarves.  I sold 8 this morning.  Have a great week!

One Hump Or Two?

Frank rode a camel when he was in Israel.  The owner was so excited to see the group of 29.  Two minutes for five dollars would be a good fair for the day.  The owner was from a Bedoin tribe.  Did you know that for years scientists believed that camels - like unicorns, mermaids, and the American Indian - were just a mythical creature used to market cigarettes. That was until scientists discovered the existence of real-life camels in the Egyptian desert in 1967. I personally thought that all camels were alike until Saturday morning when Beth's grandson informed us that there was a difference in a one hump and two hump camel.  Out of the mouth of babes.  Dromedary is the name for one-hump camels. This type of camel is common to Africa and the Middle East. It was exported all over the world and is now relatively common in Australia and North America, where is has been used sporadically over the years as a pack animal. Dromedary camels are much more common than two hump camels and much less common than camel cigarettes.   Bactrian Camels are much less common than dromedary (one-hump). Bactrian camels are native to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Aside from the obvious difference of the number of humps, Bactrian Camels differ in a few other key ways. For example, the Bactrian camel grows a thick coat of hair each winter. That coat of hair falls off every spring. This is to deal with the extreme variation of temperature in the Gobi desert where summer highs often top 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter months can see significant amounts of snow. In general, Bactrian camels are much more mild-mannered than their hot-tempered dromedary kin. (The Dromedary camel has a uniform length of hair year round.) Estimates for the number of Bactrian Camels in North America range from about 400-800 head.  I found it fascinating that you can cross breed the two types of camels. Some people would expect that by breeding a one-hump camel with a two-hump camel that the result might be a three hump camel. The actual math equation is closer to this: one-hump camel + two-hump camel=a camel with one really large hump.

Ride em cowboys....or would you call them...camelboys????  Would you ride a camel? 

Five Minute Friday - Cherished

Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays.  We write because we love words and the relief it is to just write them without worrying if they’re just right or not. So we take five minutes on Friday and write like we used to finger paint. For joy in the process. No matter how messy the result.

Got five minutes? Come and write with us!

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. That is like the one rule we all really care about. For reals.OK, are you ready? Lisa-Jo givs us a word and she says she has had this word on her heart for you all week. So take some time to write about our word for the day and link up.  It is amazingly fun.

Cherished

 

GO: 

When I saw this word today I immediately took a stroll down memory lane and pulled up the words to my favorite Association song, "Cherished."  I remember hearing this song and claiming  the chorus just for me...."Cherished is the word I use to describe.  All the feeling that I have hiding here for you inside.  You don't know how many times I've wished that I had told you.  You don't know how many times I've wished that I could hold you.  You don't know how many times I've wished that I could mold you into someone who could Cherish me as much as I cherish you.  And I do cherish you.  Cherish is the word."  When I was in high school that song rocked my world.  Every now and then I hear it on XM and Frank and I will sing it together.  I do cherish him.   When I hear the word cherished I think of a special possession.  I have a mandolin that belonged to my grandfather.  It is a cherished possession of mine.  When I touch it I can see him playing it.  When I pick it up I can smell his after shave and see his long fingers stroking the strings.  Cherished...how I felt about my daughter from the moment they laid her tiny little being in my arms.  Cherished...how I felt the day Frank and I stood before our family and friends at the Arbor and exchanged vows.  I felt just like the words to Mark Wills song, "I do, cherish you...For the rest of my life...You don't have to think twice...I will, love you still, from the depths of my soul...t's beyond my control
I've waited so long to say this to you...If you're asking do I love you this much, I do."Cherished....is how I feel when I read Isaiah 40:11 - "Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
In His arm He will gather the lambs.  And carry them in His bosom;  That is cherished to the inth degree.  I am cherished by God because I am one of those sheep that Isaiah talks about.  Since most of you know I am very into music...it seems fit that I end with some words by Kool and the Gang about cherishing, "cherish the love we had, we should cherish the life we live..cherish the love, cherish the life, cherish the love.."

STOP:



The Tutor's Daughter

 

About The Book:  Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father when his boarding school fails, accompanies him to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But soon after they arrive and begin teaching the two younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte at night, only to find the music room empty? And who begins sneaking into her bedchamber, leaving behind strange mementoes?  The baronet's older sons, Phillip and Henry Weston, wrestle with problems-and secrets-of their own. They both remember the studious Miss Smallwood from their days at her father's academy. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her...When suspicious acts escalate, can Emma figure out which brother to blame and which to trust with her heart?

 

Link to buy the book: http://ow.ly/gI7qC   

 

About The Author:  Julie Klassen loves all things Jane--Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She has won the Christy Award: Historical Romance for The Silent Governess (2010) and The Girl in the Gatehouse (2011) which also won the 2010 Midwest Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.  Find out more about Julie at http://www.julieklassen.com/.

 

My Thoughts On The Book:  I am a big fan of Julie Klassen and I loved how she swept me away to Cornwall.  I loved the mystery in this story and really thought at first that I knew exactly who  the trickster was, but later I began to wonder if I was right with my judgement call.  I was shocked at the end when I realized how wrong I was.  Klassen's characters are well-developed and easy to relate to. This is a marvelous story! Julie Klassen is a superb writer that knows how to catch you from the beginning and hold on to you until the very last page. Once I began reading I could not put the book down.  There was just enough mystery and suspense coupled with  twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout the entire story. A great read!
 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Group review program for bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. All they asked for was an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

If It Is Wednesday Then This Must Be Hodgepodge!

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge! We've got quite a crowd playing along every week which is really fun. Be sure to hop pver to Joyce's blog and link up and then jump around and visit the neighbors once you've added your link. Here are my answers to this weeks questions:
1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen's English...here's the list for 2013- fiscal cliff, kick the can down the road, double down, job creators/creation, passion/passionate, yolo (acronym for you only live once), spoiler alert, bucket list, trending, superfood, boneless wings, and guru.  Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why?  I would like to see most of them banished.  Kicking a can in my day was something you did for fun.  The only two groupings I use are passion/passionate and creators/creation.  The rest...can go down the tubes.
2. When was the last time you rode a train? Where did you go?  I have ridden many times, I have even been on a derailed train just outside of Okechobee, Florida when I was fifteen,  and I think my last venture was to Chattanooga. 

3. Bagels-yay or nay? Favorite 'flavor'? Favorite topping?  Yeah for bagels and my favorite topping is cream cheese.  New Yorks bagels are amazing.  Ess-a Bagel is my favorite place....Manhatten, New York.  It is on First Avenue. They are huge and to die for.

4. 'Tis the season of awards shows....if you could star in a movie already made, which one would you choose?  I'm going to go with Joyce and her choice of Under the Tuscan Sun. I too would love to spend a few months in a charming villa set in the Tuscan countryside.

5. The move towards single gender classrooms has been making the news in recent months...what say you? Do you think kids perform better if separated by gender and are taught differently or is that discrimination? If you're a parent is this something you'd support in regard to your own children? 
Education is never one size fits all. I'm sure there are some children who learn better under this model, and others who perform better in a mixed setting.  The thing is that California, Texas, and New York try these strange models and by the time everyone else is on board they have moved on to something else.  As a teacher I say...pay us what we are worth and let us do our jobs!

6. What's your favorite thing about staying in a hotel?  Being pampered and the pool.  That is why I prefer hotels/motels over camping....someone else does all the work for you.

7. Do you have a 'word' for 2013? What's the story behind your choice?  My word for the year is grace.  I want to have more of it and show it more often.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I love chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies.  I especially love them right out of the oven....hot and soft.  What is your favorite cookie and why?