First Day Musings: Promises

"Weeping endureth for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5

Engraced on a cross, this verse hangs next to my bed. It is the first thing I can see nearly every morning. This was given to me by God during a really tough time in my life. I was out shopping and it just showed up in the displays. I had to own it.

When I look at this, I remind myself that things aren't always as bad as they seem. Most things, well, all things in life are transitory. Even me. I am reminded of Aunt Jane in Aunt Jane of Kentucky when she says to her neice, "Here is the caliker from her dress, but where is she?" Yeppers. I am dust. Worm food.

But, I am more. I am soul, heart, and love. It is the love I leave that matters, not the work I do even though that seems so very important and fills my days. That is nothing. Rather, it is the compassion I show. It is the reflection of the love our Father had for me that I shine on others.

As this week begins, I'm will try to remember that while it might seem like a dark day, the brightness of the Son will return.

Mr. Plumber

Along with all the other lovely things this week, our kitchen faucet failed. After all, it is 15 years old and has held up through more dirty dishes, canning, bee food making, and such than most faucets see in 30 years. So, I wasn't feeling too badly about having to buy a new one.

The Mister and I went down to the local hardware, after determining the old one was beyond hope, and finally, after quite a bit of conversation, decided on one. It is remarkably like the one it was to replace.

We got home and the Mister decided he was going to install it. However, five minutes into the installation, I heard, "I'll kill you!" Followed by words that I haven't heard, well, since I lived in a Navy town. Gingerly, I walked back to the kitchen and inquired, "Are you okay?"

"YES! I just *&^*^%&^%$& this *^**&*&(&^*^%^%(&^^$^%#^$# sink!"

"Do you want me to do it?" I softly asked.

"NO! I can do it, if it will just %#^%$#^$ behave!"

Quietly, I left the room, called my buddy E and settled down in the kitchen rocker to be on hand, just in case... In just a few minutes, the Mister was done and got out from under the sink to admire his handwork. He reached up, turned on the water and it ran perfectly fine! No Leaks! This was looking good! I breathed a little easier.

Then, he reached for the sprayer so he could clear the line. It sprayed Right In His Face! I gasped and tried to keep talking to E, but I couldn't say a word. I wanted to laugh outloud, but I was afraid he'd throw something at me.

I sat there. Stone silent. He reached over, picked up the dish drying cloth, wiped his face, turned and looked at me, with a twinkle in his eye, "Don't you dare laugh."

I burst out in giggles. Then I gaffawed. I snorted. I churtled. I wheezed. I shook. Tears ran down my face.

"It was just like in the cartoons," I gasped. "I thought I was going to bust!"

The Mister looked at me, picked up the towel, pretended to throw it at me and then he joined me.

Boy, am I glad he is an Instructional Technologist. I don't think I could make the bail if he were a plumber...

What God Sent Monday

Following a really stellar storm and rainfall, God sent us this. We could see the entire rainbow, from end to end, across our hollar. The rainbow lasted nearly an hour before fading, slowly, from sight. It was quite a treat to see a full one of this size! And, it was a tender reminder of how He Who Sends The Rain keeps His promises.

Have a great day, ya'll!

Dear Mean Girl

When I started blogging faithfully nearly a year ago, I was an innocent. It was scary to put myself out there and write about myself, people, ideas and a myriad of other things in a forum in which the Whole Wide World could see it. But, after being slow to take to it, I took the plunge and went for the whole enchaladia. Anything was fair game!

It has been a joy to write and share with so many of you: the two Brendas, the two Tonias, Suzanne, Jane (I miss your blog!), Karyn, Sandy, and a whole host of others who comment on my blog. I read yours and feel a kindred spirit with those I will most likely never meet. Here are people who are trying to do and be good, kind, loving, and, most of all, civil in a world, quite frankly, that is usually far from it!


Yet, from time to time, there is a toad in the garden, someone who delights in attacking you in an email or sending your readers emails with unkind comments or even will, sigh, post something unkind about you. They will even go so far as, rather tragically that this is the substance of their life, go through the blog comments and carefully delete theirs to make a rather pitiful example of just how much they don't agree with you. Have you no life? Nothing that is more meaningful?


In high school we called them the "Mean Girls." These were the "girls" who were spiteful, mean spirited, and relished in causing others hurt. They rode on the coat tails of others more successful or popular. They were the "girls" you hated to see, but knew you had to be nice to or you would be seeing your name in the bathroom stalls. These were the girls who appeared to have it all, but in reality had little substance. They had little except their petty meanness.


Why, you ask, am I commenting on this today? Well, I just discovered another lovely blog that is going private after a very mean attack by a cyber bully, a "mean girl." And this seems to be paramount on the web. The Yarn Harlot has mentioned more than once the snarky things posted on her blog and the stalking that has occurred. Nie Nie's dialogues has had more than one post about the same thing. And, I have had emails, off blog, about similar incidents. My goodness, have people gotten so insecure that they have to attack complete strangers? You know, no one forces you to read a blog, so why be so angry, so mean, so vindicative?


And so, Mean Girl, I pity you. If the sum and substance of your life is jumping from blog to blog and attacking, hurting, demeaning, and rumormonger, you need a lot of grace. You need a lot of prayer. And, you need a lot of kindness. You are in my prayers.

First Day Musings: Blessings

This morning I am pondering how many ways I am blessed:

1) Going to the church one wishes.
2) Having food in the refrigerator.
3) Getting a hug from someone you love.
4) Turning On and Off the lights at night.
5) Watching Fireflies.
6) Receiving a child's smile.
7) Being able to read.
8) Knowing that even when it is hotter than blazes, that you can get a respite in the creek.
9) Snuggling a cat.
10) Having the phone ring and it be someone you really want to talk to!

What are your blessings? Count 'em and be grateful!

Have a glorious day, ya'll!

Tastes Like Another

One of the best sellers at the Farmer's Market, is goat milk fudge. While the food laws in my state are very specific, I can't use my own milk because I am not licensed as a dairy, using the goat milk fudge along with the goat milk soap is a good match.

The fudge is very simple to make and, if you have your own goat milk, is a wonderful way to enjoy it even more than you do by drinking, making cheese or yogurt with it.



The fudge takes just a few minutes to whip up and garners a hefty three pounds of bounty. For me, it is a win-win-win, but not so much for my waist, sadly!

Usually I whip up two batches and slice it into 1/2 oz. pieces -- about 1/2" square. I package it with about four ounces per container and still can't keep it on the table! It just flies off!

Confidentially, the first time I took it to Market, no one wanted to taste it. "Goat milk fudge?" they would respond doubtfully. So, the Mister egged one fella on. "Just try it. You can spit it out if you don't like it," he replied. (Great selling technique, not!) The first man tried it, went wild, and then his sons tried it. One son begged for a container. His dad declined. In a few minutes, the boy returned, declaring, "I'll buy it with my own money!"

Here is the receipt:

2 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. goat's milk
2 c. mini-marshmallows (or 16 lg.)
1/4 c. butter
1/4 t. salt
1 c. chocolate chips
1 t. vanilla
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Pre-measure all ingredients.
Grease a 9 x9 pan. I use a spray on or butter.
In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, goat's milk, marshmallows, butter, and salt.
Cook over a low heat, stirring constantly until it begins to bubble.
Reduce heat.
Cook another five minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and add chocolate chips and vanilla.
Stir quickly until chips are melted and the fudge is smooth (this takes just a minute or two usually).
Pour into the greased pan.
Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Cut, wetting the knife with warm water to keep the cuts smooth.

This would be a great Christmas or birthday gift, don't you think?

Enjoy!

A Roving Tale

As the roving tale begins, it appears thus. Coming from a black-faced leister, this is a wonderful wool that spins so lovely!

After a good spinning, it is left in singles for a shawl and hot wet set. This is done by putting the yarn into a pot of very hot water (no more than 200-degrees or it will felt) and allowed to soak up all the water and Eucalin it wishes.

Remove from the but do not wring or twist in any way. If anything, squeeze gently.

Then, back into the hot water for the rinse.

Allow drip, drip, drip, with a slight weight on the bottom, until it is dry.

Once it is dry, wind on the ball winder and decide what it will grow up to become. I think this will be a lovely lacey shawlette.