Peace

Today is the International Day of Peace. Ironic, isn't it? However, we can pray for peace and for understanding. We can pray for our leaders who seem to be untouched by the mess our world is in. We can pray for our soldiers (and I for mine especially). And for those who work with the displaced because of the world's violence (such as a co-worker's daughter who runs a shelter in the Sudan).

In short, we need to pray without ceasing, as the Good Book states. Not just with words, but with actions. We can make our life's work a prayer -- an offering of praise and worship. The Amish do this so well. So did the Shakers. I think, though, it goes deeper than just what we do. It is the attitude in which we do it. Is it gratitude? Appreciation? Understanding?

I am thinking a lot these days about peace in many ways -- not just in the world, but within myself. As I have grown older, I have come to realize that the most important thing in life is to be peaceful. It is still a struggle, but I am learning that there are things I Just Can't Change. And, I am learning to not be angry about them. Maybe this will contribute to world peace -- just not being angry? What do you think??

In the meantime, here is one of my favorite songs from my misspent youth. Enjoy!

Kindness

 

Monday I went into work to find these on every door in my office suite.

A conspiracy had taken place while I was gone visiting the Airman and Ms. Airman.

It involved a very sneaky, dear friend and a roll of yellow ribbon.

I cried like a girl...

...which I am.

And a very proud friend, Mum, and American.

Kindness.

Support.

Understanding.

Who could be luckier?

It's Time

Pick up your pen. It is time.

Our country has gotten crazy. Now, I am not going to rant. Goodness knows, I am plenty good enough at that. What I am going to do, instead, is pick up my pen. And a pack of US Postal Service pre-paid postcards -- a bargain at 42-cents each, postage included.

And I am going to write. Every day. The President. My state senators. My state representatives. Every. Single. Day.

"Good morning!

Today is ... day that my only child has been put in harm's way. This is no less than others have done and I am proud of him. HOWEVER, you promised to end this ridiculous military action. You have not. You can be fired.

Bring our service people home. Today.

I am praying for you and our country. "

Now, granted, I have my own agenda. But, what if, just what if, we took the time to start sending these clowns a daily or even weekly postcard in which we remind them who they work for and what their job is? It is not to vote party line. It is not to act police person in another country. It is not to tax us to death. It is not to create crisis after crisis nor to provoke fear or intolerance. It is to represent us. The American people.

Will you help start a movement? Will you link to this post, put it on Facebook, email it to a friend? You can find your elected representatives through this link. Folks, it isn't about politics. It is about loving our country enough to speak up for her. Let's bury those offices in postcards! It is the best 42-cents you will ever spend.

Rain, rain, go away

It is raining today at Lazy Bee Farm and everyone is drowsy, including me. Wookie has snored out loud as he napped in my chair. (Doncha love how everyone wakes up and looks around as if to say, "What? Me sleep? Nah....")

Moose and Anabel have barely moved on the porch ... even when a car has been past (only twice today have I seen a car). Don't let that innocent look fool you. He let the deer eat all my impatiens this week while he slept soundly Right By The Pots.

And Bunnie has collapsed from side-to-side waiting for his playtime to come. He sat up when I came into the kitchen. Seems I have been eating too many cookies. I know because I share them with him every time I go into the kitchen (bunny hutch for right now). And, he sits up Every Single Time I come in. Yeah. Nothing like a fuzzy eating buddy/ bunnie....

The Mister has gone to his parent's house and I am trying to get school work caught up, but you see how that is working. We were gone most of the week --- visiting the Airman and Ms. Airman in Norfolk. He has been stateside for two months for training and she came in to visit as he will be gone from home for Six Long Months. It Will Drag. Seriously.

Anyhow, I lived in Norfolk in the 1970s; my husband and I lived on the flight path to Oceania Air Base. There was an arrow painted on the top of our townhouse that said "Air Field This Way". I know it was there because it was impossible to keep anything on the walls when carriers came into port. After putting pictures back on the wall 32 times in one day, I took everything down and just leaned them against the walls.

They say you can't go home again and, well, there may be some truth to that. However, I did find my little townhouse (yes, it looked little!) and it looked better than when we lived there and it was new! Some things do improve with age. However, I don't miss the gated community or the pool. Too many people! The yard was truly no larger than my foyer! And to think I used to think that was a chore to keep!

On the way down US58 yesterday, we stopped at the charming "Country Store Antiques" in Edgartown, VA. Two wonderful buildings well filled with a nice selection of glass, furniture, postcards, books, and stuff. Three post cards and a little Beswick sheep came home with us.

The card on the left is Bok Tower in Lake Wales, FL, --- one of my (and the Mister's) favorite places in the world. The center one is for Lakeland, FL (where I lived once long ago). And the third one is a charming Christmas post card that I will display during the holidays. Doesn't the little sheep look adorable between me and the Mister?

I do want to say thanks to those who have emailed me; I know I have dropped off the earth a little bit, but it has been a challenging year and I am just a bum for not replying sooner. Forgive me, please. Let's hope it isn't so long before we visit again!

Have a marvelous week!

There Was A Girl ....

who took a motorcycle, plane, and bus to a place called

Cape Cod...

.. and then rode a ferry to Nantucket...

to a house and garden tour!

                                    

credit

.....took a boat to a beach....

....and a car to a concert ...

(Which I will try to upload later today.... Internet is being a PUTZ)

....and her feet to a beach ...

.....and saw many wonderful things ...

including whales...

but of all the things she loved the most...

it was seeing this face again!

Ms. P and I have been to Cape Cod to see her sister and take a little vacation. It was marvelous! I ate too much seafood (really, is there such a thing as too much??), walked until my feet were sore, and burned myself to a crispy bit! And, now, it is just two days from returning to work. Sigh. How delightful to end my summer with a nice trip and friends! While I mourn the end of summer, it has been a fine one... just not long enough!

No Lazy Bee Here!

Baking lots of blueberry - lemon scones for the Farmer's Market ...

Freezing dozens of ears of fresh corn. Grilling some, too! Yummers!

These come from a friend's garden. He had over 100 dozen ears this summer!

Canning peaches from a friend's orchard over in Cana, Virginia. If you can

get peaches from Cana, you will have something wonderful indeed!

It is an area well known for peaches and apples!

Making lots of salsa and pickle relish;

canning beets and tomatoes. I always note the weather

on the lids so when I open them in the winter, I know what

the day was like when I canned 'em. It makes the memory

That Much Sweeter!

Pulling honey supers and getting ready to extract honey.

We will have more than 200 pounds of Lazy Bee Farm Honey

this year! We are so excited!  

Making tons of castile soap to use for the goat's milk soap.

Last week I worked a festival and sold nearly 100 bars in a little under 6 hours!

I can't keep up!

My supervisor, "Sweet Pea." This is the little guy who

was set out and abandoned with his brothers. We

couldn't catch the brothers, but Sweet Pea was so

sweet and ready to come live with us. He loves when we let him

out of his home and play in the kitchen. He is even paper trained!

Gotta love that!

Enjoying the frequent storms we are having. The Mister and I love

to watch the rain and storms. He does it from the porch; I am not that brave.

Moose, Annabelle and I watch from the living room!

This is just a bit of what has been going on around here the past few weeks. I am still picking blueberries for the market and for special orders. Last week I picked more than ten gallons! I am updating (read: painting) my porch furniture. Pictures of that soon along with other Lazy Bee Farm doings! School starts soon.... I will miss being home every day!

What have you been into lately??

You Never Know....

Usually I stop at the Mennonite store on Thursdays to pick up a sandwich, milk, and some cheese or chicken salad. Two weeks ago, the Mister and I had lunch together there and found ourselves sitting next to a charming 'plain' couple. The young man was excited because he had seen an Osprey at the local airport taking off and had caught it on his cell phone. He was showing his companion (whom I learned was his sister) and jumped up to show it to the Mister.

He was such a charming young man --- curious, excited, and joyful. We had a delightful conversation and wished each other a wonderful week.

Today I was in that area and decided to stop. There, on the porch, sat the cute young woman, dressed 'plainly', rocking and looking into space. She seemed surrounded by sadness, so I thought perhaps her young man hadn't arrived yet and she was worried. After all, the weather today is dreadful and the traffic even worse.

As I got out of the car, I called up to her, "Hello! How are you today? We met two weeks ago; you and your companion were next to us in the dining room!"

She looked at me and her green eyes filled with tears. "That was my brother. I remember now."

"Are you okay? Is he meeting you here today?"

"No. He was shot. Gunshot."

Immediately my hand went to my mouth and I gasped.

"Is he okay?"

Slowly she shook her head "no." "He died." And she began to sob.

Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around her and tried to comfort her. Slowly, the story came out. He was killed when his gun accidently went off in his holster while he was fencing for a friend. He died almost immediately from a massive wound to the abdomen.

"I was just asking God to help me," she confided. "I just don't know how I will get through this."

We chatted for a while, sharing our faith, her grief, and my shock.

Her friends came out and sat to listen. Finally, I took my leave and went on to do my shopping. When I came out, she was brighter even though her eyes were still liquid with tears. She thanked me for stopping and talking.  I told her that I would be remembering her and her family in my prayers and that I knew God would use this tragedy to show His love and faithfulness.

As I drove off, she started rocking again and I could see she was praying. I was grateful that I was able to be there to listen. Here we were, two strangers, but connected through just a few moments of conversation and our mutual sadness over a life ended too soon.

You just never know where God will put you and when. But, when He does, listen.