tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58855487736132479972024-03-18T14:55:23.583-07:00The Locust BlossomA place where time does not exist and beauty is everywhere.Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.comBlogger439125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-49191847117866980682024-03-11T15:33:00.000-07:002024-03-11T15:33:53.164-07:00Somewhere In The Middle<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's such an odd time of year, isn't it?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We might have snow one day and sunny skies the next.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>With that,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>one day we want stew and the next something lighter and fresher.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have actually enjoyed this winter for the most part.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I still am on those blustery days.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am also planting seeds and enjoying watching them sprout.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Like those little seeds bursting to life,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I feel like the house is going to burst.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I think those winter projects come out into the living space</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and take up room.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>They can make the house feel cluttered.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Please tell me it's not just me (cringe).</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBqLlDTD1ijxJeVDklTgwYzkAjxjTW9bQIPq0KiKl5jfFyLlvvn2i0ksM8o-mgr5TkLri70ebf35iumWMqp0SKAFPhRb9_gomqXBX46Fr4FSMdnYsCgD2uCRnhUs82PxTp9CS4B9gKlTNb-dUe0P3XuMiyDX5AowDzzXMPlvEnWh-bOzS7ysC25F1hjk/s2016/IMG_6866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBqLlDTD1ijxJeVDklTgwYzkAjxjTW9bQIPq0KiKl5jfFyLlvvn2i0ksM8o-mgr5TkLri70ebf35iumWMqp0SKAFPhRb9_gomqXBX46Fr4FSMdnYsCgD2uCRnhUs82PxTp9CS4B9gKlTNb-dUe0P3XuMiyDX5AowDzzXMPlvEnWh-bOzS7ysC25F1hjk/w480-h640/IMG_6866.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i>(Still working on my Forever Quilt)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've begun the spring cleaning.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Before you shoot, remember this is me.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>By the time I get one spot clean, two more are in need.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It does feel good to know that it was done though.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Even if it doesn't last.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I'm not sure if it's the knowing it has been cleaned</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>or the sense of accomplishment at having done it,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but either way it's good.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>On the rare days we have had warm skies,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I try to get out and do some small thing.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's surprising what a difference they make.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Last weekend, I trimmed up the thyme plant.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I also got one small bed leveled out where the spuds will go.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Then pelt, pelt, pelt. . .</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>icy rain pellets were being lodged from the clouds</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and the wind came along to rile things up.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>All said, I was forced back inside.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I tried again yesterday.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I went out to prepare some more trays for planting seeds.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>As I was out there,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Mother Nature began snarling and growling and huffing and puffing.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I did get the trays readied, but then went in once more.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The good news in that is that my kitchen is cleaned.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The dining table however, is strewn with seed packets,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>calendars, almanac and the like.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The Mini-greenhouse is now in the house - oy!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It used to kinda bother me to have it in the house.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Now, for whatever reason, it doesn't bother me.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I remember that it is temporary and once I am knee deep </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>in </i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">preserving the harvest, I will miss the days of new green sprouts.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa7sRibnVIfOdTKhs8oDEx3hgv5tCgt7S4ktILN4-P0cteKhscTyUHfNJNYpopKw9Vnct-tGi7iZIafbIY1L4vSt7A3177t89BtXU1H_D_fpQNWta5LjN4UFABPBjX3n1yw14IiXFazLmCGlLWUyrOUduVwny5e4J7BJq9DgGrIvJcOFbEwf2NXTdsJo/s2016/IMG_6844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa7sRibnVIfOdTKhs8oDEx3hgv5tCgt7S4ktILN4-P0cteKhscTyUHfNJNYpopKw9Vnct-tGi7iZIafbIY1L4vSt7A3177t89BtXU1H_D_fpQNWta5LjN4UFABPBjX3n1yw14IiXFazLmCGlLWUyrOUduVwny5e4J7BJq9DgGrIvJcOFbEwf2NXTdsJo/w640-h480/IMG_6844.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(Cherry Tomato sprouted after 2-3 days!)</i></span><br /><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">I am trying to reign it in this year.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">Yeah, I probably say that every year.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">I think I only planted 18 tomatoes rather than 82.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">So you see, I'm getting better.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">(It's okay to laugh.)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">There are some specialty herbs I want to try again.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">Last year, I struggled getting things going.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">The herbs seemed to be the least hardy.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">Well, that just means I should try again right?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>But it's early yet.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>And as tempting as it is to want to rush the season,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>it will be gone all too soon.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's easy to appreciate that springtime sunshine,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but we can also appreciate those growls and grumbles</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>that come from the sky.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>They give us the opportunity to wrap up those indoor projects</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and get ready for the upcoming outdoor season. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Whatever your day holds,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I hope it is a good day and that you are enjoying it</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>to its fullest.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-13938274715713322702024-02-22T14:59:00.001-08:002024-02-22T14:59:38.853-08:00Saunters Creek Christmas<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2Qwp5XvyRt8KVof78AY-SxwQHOGKNBl8n-cQruvWF4MRCmg69f0bYfgMh10XDzPUMjuNlxRK0CpfiS59LtiU34iym_Oo-BiDM6nS1DAllfz4VPcPfJK_guGR7RTaGD2y3xHdDfrruwPbsD2SmyLhW3w2qDf9sRGTTbEhyphenhyphenzWEuDBF0xC-nOZKT7J4EJ0/s225/winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2Qwp5XvyRt8KVof78AY-SxwQHOGKNBl8n-cQruvWF4MRCmg69f0bYfgMh10XDzPUMjuNlxRK0CpfiS59LtiU34iym_Oo-BiDM6nS1DAllfz4VPcPfJK_guGR7RTaGD2y3xHdDfrruwPbsD2SmyLhW3w2qDf9sRGTTbEhyphenhyphenzWEuDBF0xC-nOZKT7J4EJ0/w400-h400/winter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.craiyon.com%2Fimage%2FDGZ4oNGwQ8m5yTSg539AKw&psig=AOvVaw3F4F-G7Mm9p3K67bUf1UPO&ust=1708728873684000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=2ahUKEwiI2sSdhcCEAxVyiO4BHYXkDTYQr4kDegUIARCEAg">(Source)</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> The wind was biting as he trudged through the knee high snow. It was a light snow so shouldn't have been difficult but with the wind the way was difficult and keeping to the road was a challenge. But he persisted. This type of storm comes around every couple years so it wasn't a rarity, but this year it moved in on Christmas Eve. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span> Cyrus Rolston was what we today would call a peddler. He was a tinsmith and usually had a small cart pulled by his mule Kip. Why you could hear him comin' a mile away. The tinker's cart some called it. It sounded like a tumbling of thin metal tripping all over its own feet. This trip was different. Cyrus was without his cart or Kip. Knowing the road back into Saunter Creek was treacherous even when dry, he decided to leave them in spare shed building at the Wilkins place until he made it back. Instead, he slung a pack bag crossed over his shoulder and headed out shortly after daybreak. He figured he'd have just enough time by foot before cold and dark took their command. </span><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span> He'd not have gone at all if it weren't for the kindly letter he'd received from Cora. The Bartons had never been one of his better stops in the way of business, but they were always so grateful and genuine, he enjoyed the visit even if it didn't bring the profits of other stops. This year Cora had written ahead explaining that Myron had been ill. She was hoping for a special tobacco tin for him for Christmas in hopes to raise his spirit some. She'd not asked for anything for herself or the children though each year, she would contemplate a certain size cooking pot with particular interest, and those youngins would all be wide eyed and full of questions about the various toys. He had thought twice about making the trip even with the letter. He'd had a good year and had been held up by a rock slide near Ruckle Junction. It took the men a solid week to have it passable by foot, but it was three days more before he could get through with his cart. But there was something about Cora's letter that nagged at him until he'd resolved to go. He'd put some wares in a hessian sack and set out. He wondered at his own sanity as he pushed against the wind and tucked his chin down into his coat and muffler. He knew he wasn't making very good time and tried not to think about his lack of options. There were no other homes this far out. And if he stopped moving, he would freeze. As long as he kept moving, he'd be alright and so he did through the entirety of the day. </span><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span> He was able to stick to the road well enough for the most part as the embankment rose up to the right and the creek though frozen was to his left and was edged primarily of large rocks. </span></span></i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">He held out lighting his lantern as long as possible until the last of the daylight was seemingly blown out, and t</i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span><i>he </i><span><i style="background-color: white;">time</i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> finally came that it was too dark and shadows couldn't even be seen. If there was any light from the moon, the snow and wind used everything in their power to block it. If he didn't push on faster than he was, he wouldn't make it. Turning his back to the wind, he kneeled right where he was and pulled the tail of his coat down in back and his sack up to the front of his side creating as much of a barrier from the wind as possible. His fingers were numb, but he reached his hand into his coat holding it there for a moment to warm against his chest. Then he pulled out a small pouch of three matchsticks and a scratching stone. With the lantern sitting on his leg close to his body, he tried to strike the match. His fingers fumbled and he nearly lost it. Then he remembered something. His father had an odd way of holding a match when he struck it with the firing end near the palm of his hand. Using both hands, he positioned the match in his frozen fingers so not to drop it. He struck it again. This time it did fire, but the wind took charge and blew it out as fast as it was lit. Cyrus again reached for the small pouch. This time he got the match in his fingers to strike it but held everything closer to his body and the stone near the wick of his lamp. He struck the match. It flamed and caught the wick and he quickly shut the glass almost dropping the lamp and scratching stone. He rolled the little pouch with the last match and his stone and placed it back in his coat. He gathered himself with an internal sigh of relief. He stood again pushing his sack back and turned once more into the wind. As he did, the biting wind burned his face where his muffler had fallen. Fixing its position at once, he leaned forward and continued on his way. It's a funny thing what goes through a man's mind when he's alone in a storm like this, he thought. For he feared not to perish but began trying to calculate how many steps per mile he might be making, knowing he was not in regular stride. And he began counting his steps in attempt to determine how much farther he had yet to travel, but with no measure of distance, all his figuring was in vain. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><span style="background-color: white;"><span> At times he stumbled loosing count then starting over so to distract himself from the coldness he felt in his numbing limbs. Still holding the lamp close though it did little good there was comfort in its flame. He imagined he felt the heat from the inferior torch for his eyes were closed for most of his strides. As he pushed his right leg forward, both his foot and his arm hit something. He instinctively turned to the left thinking it was the embankment he'd run into. But wait, he stopped. He'd encountered no ditch nor stones at the edge as he had earlier. He turned back and reached out. It was the barn. He thanked Heaven as he began slowly moving along to the left, brushing his left hand up and down following it by his right hand holding the lantern, looking and feeling for the door latch. The barn seemed like it was made of solid walls as he'd come off the road and approached it at the side wall, but at last he felt it. He lifted the latch and as he entered, he could have sworn he heard voices come to a halt. It was his ears ringing from the wind, he marveled. Then as the light of the lantern made its way into the barn, he saw just as his grandpap had described when he was but a child, the animals were kneeling and rose as he entered. Feeling both blessed and ashamed to have interrupted. He stood both frozen and in awe. He uttered lowly something about forgiveness, but it didn't really matter. He wasn't certain how long he stood there his mind reveling with what he'd seen, wondering if it was real or if he was even really there. Had he indeed stopped to rest and was perhaps dreaming? He wasn't sure. It was the noise of the tin that woke him from his stupor. The animals looked when it shifted and clanked. Cyrus blinked then blinked several more times trying to rid his lashes of the ice that had built on them as he'd walked, rubbing them with the back of this mitted hand. It wasn't a dream. The absence of the wind in the shelter of the barn created a sense of warmth. He wouldn't try making it to the house tonight for according to what he'd just seen, it was midnight. The family would be asleep and the storm had only increased in strength. There was no guarantee he would make it without the creek and the cliff to keep him in the right direction. He made his way up the ladder to the hay loft, removed his sack and arranged himself in the warmth and softness of the hay. He put out the light and was quickly </span></span></span></span></i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>satisfying his exhaustion with sleep. He slept deep and fast for it seemed scarcely more than a minute had lapsed when he was roused by the movement of the animals below. It was barely light, but he could see well enough without his lamp and wouldn't risk lighting it in a hay loft on any account. Gathering his things, "Those beasts," he thought then descending the ladder, "act as if nothing had happened." He knew better and knew why he'd decided to make the trip. He wasted no time making his way to the door. Looking in the direction of the house, he could see the smoke rising. Good, at least Cora is awake. That will be perfect. The storm had calmed. It was still snowing but the wind had blown itself out but for a sharp breeze.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span> It wasn't easy, but he could determine his target and seemed to have an energy that warmed his heart. Once he made it to the door, he threw out all the formalities of knocking. He opened the door with a boisterous "Happy Christmas."</span> Cora jumped as she was setting the coffee on the stove. He heard shuffling from behind the wall and above the ceiling. Cora was in tears and Myron wore a pleased expression on his thin face as he entered the room. And in a blink there were little bodies shimmying down from the loft all busy with excitement. Well Cyrus indeed took advantage of the situation stating Santa was having some trouble getting around in the storm. So he'd offered to help him out. Let's see here, not waiting for an invitation, he began pulling things from his satchel: a toy wagon, a miniature teapot with two miniature tin cups, a pinwheel for the baby, a spinning top, then out came a perfect sized pot. Cora had regained the ability to speak since he entered but now only made a high pitched cry resembling the word, "Oh." Myron had found a spot on the corner of the bench and watched with admiration as Cora ran her hand around the inside of the pot as she finally found voice enough to say, "Thank you." </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span> The children were buzzing and talking over one another with glee still garbed in their night shirts. The lot of them were in a kind of merry frenzy. Cyrus stopped his jovial manner and held up the bag and stepped towards Cora. She looked at him wide eyed.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span> "There's one more gift, but I think Mrs. Barton should share it."</span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span> She wasn't sure what to think. In the excitement, she'd forgotten her request made long ago. She took the bag and pulled out a beautifully embossed tobacco box. All were watching her now. Cyrus moved back while Cora stepped towards Myron. </span></span><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> "<span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Happy Christmas," she held it out towards him. Myron looked surprised. </i></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span> </span>"Me?" and he took it and opened it to see the cedarwood interior. "It's perfect." He looked at Cora and the kids then to Cyrus. "How on earth did you get here this morning?" </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span>His heart was filled with gratitude and curiosity. With that Cyrus burst out with a jolly laugh and inquired after the coffee. Cora quickly obliged and began pouring the hot nourishment that was by this time ready then set to work on the biscuits. </span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><span> It was nearly a week before the weather broke to the point that Cyrus dared the journey back to town. But before he left, he made sure to tell the children the story of the animals talking and kneeling at midnight on Christmas Eve just as he'd heard it so many years prior.</span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span><span><br /></span></span></i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-46059351846307339292024-02-22T14:59:00.000-08:002024-02-22T14:59:14.468-08:00The One I Owe You<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Hi All!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Hope this finds you all warm and well.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've been amiss lately.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Honestly, I've been enjoying winter.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's been quiet for the most part.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I like quiet.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifr1J_3hrtYW97v4Us0w6DYHlaSm6dSGu76zxdYoF4wNsRLAcssNKMHisw10MmbrJpO7m0JQPDhp1wCyILzaDhpsY6Rj8b2F-oNF5hkVYjRiBoflXDHlvOs3WTYMB1sBzXfbdiNyyOW9Enllb-7MuAY7z2HZtZ2kRERPCF3oqFWLXcVdYfhrFU8ub9fqs/s561/IMG_6785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifr1J_3hrtYW97v4Us0w6DYHlaSm6dSGu76zxdYoF4wNsRLAcssNKMHisw10MmbrJpO7m0JQPDhp1wCyILzaDhpsY6Rj8b2F-oNF5hkVYjRiBoflXDHlvOs3WTYMB1sBzXfbdiNyyOW9Enllb-7MuAY7z2HZtZ2kRERPCF3oqFWLXcVdYfhrFU8ub9fqs/w548-h640/IMG_6785.jpg" width="548" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>(Heading Over the Mountain)</i></div><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>For the past several years, I've posted either a Christmas poem or story.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Well, this year I didn't quite get it finished in time.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Then, in January I finished it and didn't get it typed into the computer.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>When I write, I write with a pen and paper then type it</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>from what I have written.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I realize that's old-fashioned.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Does that surprise you?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My brain works better with a pen and paper than with a screen.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnFy3yfLuovAhZcqSohdOD6MOJtSLbTf9xuXh4JZhtLDu6PW1CxzQDaf2OwQKiqn1Irlkdx38tUW9ySSAFUtP8S3y-RiCeiwlDCb72rwIW85D33MCHU1eBBA5qwPBSK0UAzk64CjuELy3T-sj3tHdkfdYj4rkCDoFjsHUfJPcpxZZwaxcDouUur8xjnY/s640/IMG_6806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnFy3yfLuovAhZcqSohdOD6MOJtSLbTf9xuXh4JZhtLDu6PW1CxzQDaf2OwQKiqn1Irlkdx38tUW9ySSAFUtP8S3y-RiCeiwlDCb72rwIW85D33MCHU1eBBA5qwPBSK0UAzk64CjuELy3T-sj3tHdkfdYj4rkCDoFjsHUfJPcpxZZwaxcDouUur8xjnY/w480-h640/IMG_6806.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>(Blueberry Scones)</i></div><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>That said, I did finally get it all typed up, but then</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>it being so late debated whether I should post it at all.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I know we are beyond the Christmas season,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I'm still going to post it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We need the goodness of Christmas as much now as we did 2 months ago.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>So that story will follow this post directly.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4oHT0D8EFU-Tylf-Tll0q98FfHwXDLXduDras3FWF1uvhWpPHD1M6vCyftT1nKGO8auontKtQsh3zIqotE6S5QDjOH_xYchpt4O4egyuDyIGlVO4kdGQq4C5SbX93ZNDRZmcTxD44gZTLGh1NlgvrnIySDOq_vPTBKZVBL3Q-enpjE3ZSCFNDjnTAyw/s622/IMG_6642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="622" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4oHT0D8EFU-Tylf-Tll0q98FfHwXDLXduDras3FWF1uvhWpPHD1M6vCyftT1nKGO8auontKtQsh3zIqotE6S5QDjOH_xYchpt4O4egyuDyIGlVO4kdGQq4C5SbX93ZNDRZmcTxD44gZTLGh1NlgvrnIySDOq_vPTBKZVBL3Q-enpjE3ZSCFNDjnTAyw/w640-h330/IMG_6642.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>(Our latest addition.)</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>As far as what other things have entertained us,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>we've had a couple special visits from out of area friends and family.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Those visits are what memories are made of and are treasures</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>in our hearts.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Also, I am still posting videos and will attach a couple below if you are interested</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>in money saving tips and ideas.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>So in the spirit of Christmas yet still!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Glad Tidings to you and yours.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldchIhKbPF8">Buying in Bulk Can Save You Money: Frugal Living the Easy Way</a><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP7pNhfks7w">Save Time & Money on Laundry</a><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgSlsh3Xyls"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Poverty vs. Wealth: The Best Next Step</i></span></a><br /></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-49412925370958925772024-01-23T06:56:00.000-08:002024-01-23T06:56:17.841-08:00Spare Moments<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> <span>Wow!</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>That could be the whole post summed up in one word.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The holidays came and went and another New Year is upon us.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I must be getting old, because the years seem to be getting shorter.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>To share all the gory details of what my days have been comprised</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>would likely have you nodding off in no time.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>But as the temperatures have dropped, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>so too have the activities.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6Z7NBwxZUgIXoKjG1FrGx5vTsbY-TDxTFW-Nd48rA1126Fan5T1obD3YsC0zwI7wfnpKJw3EfCosrjHXROBsZoUD1wG80u3BsvAgbrsm1-4Fu5QfvP1vhhkfAGRYtGY6AHs4ZAYN76QasD02vaimuvUy-GuyYHGVG2hrYgMJ8EzBfAP-HBdMwcDg2mk/s640/IMG_6710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6Z7NBwxZUgIXoKjG1FrGx5vTsbY-TDxTFW-Nd48rA1126Fan5T1obD3YsC0zwI7wfnpKJw3EfCosrjHXROBsZoUD1wG80u3BsvAgbrsm1-4Fu5QfvP1vhhkfAGRYtGY6AHs4ZAYN76QasD02vaimuvUy-GuyYHGVG2hrYgMJ8EzBfAP-HBdMwcDg2mk/w480-h640/IMG_6710.jpg" width="480" /></i></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(My "Quilt in a Day" aka Forever Quilt)<br /><span><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I find it's a perfect time to focus on those little needling tasks</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>that lurk in the corners and jump out and remind us of their presence</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>when we least desire it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>And with that I will share~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have about 30 years worth of photos that were </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strike><i>proudly</i></strike></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strike><i>innocently</i></strike></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>annoyingly</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>yes, that is the right word</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>adorning the spare room bed.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>They have haunted me for some time.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Long - oh, mini-series style long story short,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have been working on them.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am through my second album.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Next, I will get our wedding pictures in an album.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Have I mentioned, I am not a scrapbooker?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's so not my thing.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Something else I like to do this time of year</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>is what I refer to as cleaning to the corners.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Well, "like" might not be exactly the right word.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>But it really is a good time to get some of those tasks</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>taken care of that get neglected the rest of the year.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Oooor is that just me?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-tkPWJr7G0SsQWfzVrwWcrPsbDDJ3X3Ny16kuwIYOn3qP62jdUvwBRkPraEith8wOZi5dcR-_qpGMUP1NUtteXAkpDuVE3V0jaabvnENThuXdEwebsnLhle4PheoCwhGcoZnLtwTYGNhQZjyX-M0TookJofwMcdFICrDFbWsdTajHc8RKP1Nbis71D0/s640/IMG_6549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1-tkPWJr7G0SsQWfzVrwWcrPsbDDJ3X3Ny16kuwIYOn3qP62jdUvwBRkPraEith8wOZi5dcR-_qpGMUP1NUtteXAkpDuVE3V0jaabvnENThuXdEwebsnLhle4PheoCwhGcoZnLtwTYGNhQZjyX-M0TookJofwMcdFICrDFbWsdTajHc8RKP1Nbis71D0/w480-h640/IMG_6549.jpg" width="480" /></i></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(Getting Our Tree)<br /><span><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The decorations are down.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Most of the pine needles are vacuumed up.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>There are always some strays aren't there?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Now we can settle in with our new books we received for Christmas</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and enjoy the long evenings.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My phone has some annoying settings somewhere I am not privy to</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>which means what I do is anonymous or entirely blocked.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>So I have found that lately I've not been "online" as much.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I like it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I try to remember what it was like before we were all so</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>supposedly connected.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>While there are many folks and sites that I really like,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I seem to be calmer when I disconnect a little more.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wOoY8Q5ppNGuxJqFBE5knuA_KWkYdYtLQEMa_oNSwVsUb09eNdApf7D0A9OCcg163kW_Miy6uG4IfTgw3FdaX2oQE2ySF5XAGGcFi3QXaGaMaQFUNV-6TekB7spjbf5scAyc6_N1CzBYAgsVhdTKJJpHfg7sVLl3hl1zcIHImnEFsgbk_fIW1uOjGJQ/s640/IMG_6570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wOoY8Q5ppNGuxJqFBE5knuA_KWkYdYtLQEMa_oNSwVsUb09eNdApf7D0A9OCcg163kW_Miy6uG4IfTgw3FdaX2oQE2ySF5XAGGcFi3QXaGaMaQFUNV-6TekB7spjbf5scAyc6_N1CzBYAgsVhdTKJJpHfg7sVLl3hl1zcIHImnEFsgbk_fIW1uOjGJQ/w640-h480/IMG_6570.jpg" width="640" /></i></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdAvHBFw2awmjD3ul8l00d2aG05kMfQeAqmvhkszv2qlY-gsz_rNigNQE2R5JA6CI7kcfSmy61o5qIJWezjHGvIcqjT6defDEGxhYv7r_APNwKsaSr01cEDfx7v7kqDNkoCHyy4c0GyVtSonybAg1IiNVG3xZraCHwOjBxcQTQhf0v9R-uqbSVBW1GBI/s640/IMG_6572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdAvHBFw2awmjD3ul8l00d2aG05kMfQeAqmvhkszv2qlY-gsz_rNigNQE2R5JA6CI7kcfSmy61o5qIJWezjHGvIcqjT6defDEGxhYv7r_APNwKsaSr01cEDfx7v7kqDNkoCHyy4c0GyVtSonybAg1IiNVG3xZraCHwOjBxcQTQhf0v9R-uqbSVBW1GBI/w640-h480/IMG_6572.jpg" width="640" /></i></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(Thrift store box that just needed conditioning.)<br /><span><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have found a few spare and much needed moments to pick up my needle and continue on those projects that were set down in the spring when the garden demanded attention.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhvxmifEz_ZKRaGGvGEwZLvnb8SXpNEG443-u0t2uHd8Nfm3TQghTH7_UWDbKebPzEnSOz18FpIYp_zQZuVjLMIXDvSRbzEZAm-GdmpwOePRKTnn88W5fFIVTgSFGYcJo6mTWry5dDT2QvTxbj65Kz3iqMqW8sKBpBjD9t1O0H_tA7bAxbY7D9pQ3Kwc/s640/IMG_6702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhvxmifEz_ZKRaGGvGEwZLvnb8SXpNEG443-u0t2uHd8Nfm3TQghTH7_UWDbKebPzEnSOz18FpIYp_zQZuVjLMIXDvSRbzEZAm-GdmpwOePRKTnn88W5fFIVTgSFGYcJo6mTWry5dDT2QvTxbj65Kz3iqMqW8sKBpBjD9t1O0H_tA7bAxbY7D9pQ3Kwc/w480-h640/IMG_6702.jpg" width="480" /></i></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrutkO-0p9QcY7Zb0Kw9Y83hYp4UHrouz6EsTGjN5CtUun5JImXOBMI5LRWmdendcAUb_6xhy8c6jxpzRuSw2sZBhP2lA95A8TVBIzEDD0DKza4_KbH87yoTs3WfGhcZ9Wr44HsrFP2Vbh_Tzhx4-kvwGVSv_GcgeueGpYneMLjtfX0Q31Wn8gKKR1clE/s640/IMG_6708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrutkO-0p9QcY7Zb0Kw9Y83hYp4UHrouz6EsTGjN5CtUun5JImXOBMI5LRWmdendcAUb_6xhy8c6jxpzRuSw2sZBhP2lA95A8TVBIzEDD0DKza4_KbH87yoTs3WfGhcZ9Wr44HsrFP2Vbh_Tzhx4-kvwGVSv_GcgeueGpYneMLjtfX0Q31Wn8gKKR1clE/w640-h480/IMG_6708.jpg" width="640" /></i></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(Needle-turned applique)<br /><span><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Some folks like to grumble about having to stay home</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>or not being able to do this or that,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I find it the perfect season for replenishing the soul</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>or hibernation as I like to call it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've never minded being alone and actually need it at times.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I do love my husband and family and friends,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but there is a filtering within that can only be done in solitude.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It is a season like all the others.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Just because it doesn't parade around with bells and whistles</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>like some of the other seasons</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>doesn't render it less important.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>So take up a cup of your favorite warm beverage,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>find a piece of reading or your needle or widdlin' knife</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and find a quiet place.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>You might be surprised at what your soul has to share.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Keep well and keep warm dear friends.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-6012105794361734442023-11-28T15:18:00.000-08:002023-11-28T15:18:48.000-08:00Do You Have the Giddies Yet?<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Now there's a title for you.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>As of writing this, there are 27 days until Christmas.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I always enjoy Christmas,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I am a bit more ready for it this year for some reason.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhXsbpHARLLp0xzAk4kB1YX2MEMBfhdjT3aV4qDIQIRc2kT3-K1-acMsYre3w6WVFKUAIoWtmukJDtaLPT6hntL8WOoCcL43sHWKmkylPHfba7vZmiNCoE5GgSiEk9OPCWOod9LCqcOpGbyQyC9R03oWwe4XqiAzWmGvzFDIno0CO0Wird-LAKuF37tE/s640/IMG_5226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhXsbpHARLLp0xzAk4kB1YX2MEMBfhdjT3aV4qDIQIRc2kT3-K1-acMsYre3w6WVFKUAIoWtmukJDtaLPT6hntL8WOoCcL43sHWKmkylPHfba7vZmiNCoE5GgSiEk9OPCWOod9LCqcOpGbyQyC9R03oWwe4XqiAzWmGvzFDIno0CO0Wird-LAKuF37tE/w480-h640/IMG_5226.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I know that sounds silly.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Well, maybe it is.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am not one to deck the place out in lights</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>in Graceland fashion.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am more a "let's add some greens over here" sorta decorator.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's really about the feeling of the season.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Folks are generally kinder.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Although I've seen far fewer shoppers this year so far,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>there is still a sweetness to the season.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We have had temperatures in the 20s and low 30s,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but Thursday, the possibility bureau is predicting a chance of snow.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I wanted to build a snow lantern last year, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I had to work the one time when we had the right kind of snow.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Yes for you southerners,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>there are different kinds of snow.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Also, if you don't know what a snow lantern is,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>here let me show you.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaUXhpWwJcCM2DIByYxUlxsDtVV1VhleKSXjIAhYA-qvlDKTeYUvdXt2m5g52EjqplLAlRuBceZhmln2KgiAq2pgb2OMHyQJo8TYPiQgME4ZeJ0dVn06JsUPQgqJiChDD-KSPOJGkq_V1OoGvH9CX45ec1Fl2HV8hsekJUI02z9dC2_55ZQ8sniLY0AQ/s640/69327736404__2341BF83-96FA-4C26-800B-B81DCE312079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisaUXhpWwJcCM2DIByYxUlxsDtVV1VhleKSXjIAhYA-qvlDKTeYUvdXt2m5g52EjqplLAlRuBceZhmln2KgiAq2pgb2OMHyQJo8TYPiQgME4ZeJ0dVn06JsUPQgqJiChDD-KSPOJGkq_V1OoGvH9CX45ec1Fl2HV8hsekJUI02z9dC2_55ZQ8sniLY0AQ/w480-h640/69327736404__2341BF83-96FA-4C26-800B-B81DCE312079.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Doesn't it look simply magical?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>There is still an autumn wreath hanging on our front door.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This weekend, the transformation will take place</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and the Christmas sign will be hung.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've already had my hand in the jar of candy-canes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Oops!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I wasn't supposed to admit that (heehee).</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I realize all this seems silly,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but the reason we celebrate is for All Knowing Love.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>If we can share some joy and glad tidings,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>shouldn't we do so?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Now, I ask you . . . </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Are you giddy yet?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My latest videos if you'd like to watch</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHqoAYEUItY">Preparing and Preserving Food Can Help Heat Your Home</a><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQKStAToE-o">When You Can't Afford Christmas</a><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2yjwTBsmVc">Before You Buy Anything, Ask This One Question</a><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-66092291099353500402023-11-07T08:04:00.006-08:002023-11-07T08:04:35.988-08:00Debt Advice I Didn't Understand<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="367" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nf8Hib5n8NI" width="519" youtube-src-id="Nf8Hib5n8NI"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-6338521768315020372023-10-24T15:27:00.000-07:002023-10-24T15:27:21.360-07:00A Special Gift and A Special Find<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am just going to say it right out the gate:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I dun got spoiled 😊</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>As some of you know, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>we have a metal fabrication shop.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am the only one without a Y chromosome</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>that I work with.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>One of our contractors we work with</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>is a craftsman with wood as we are with metal.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I was out of the office last Friday.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Hubby was off on a job site so only one of our guys was there.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>When Hubby got back to the shop,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>he called me to tell me I had a surprise.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I had no clue what he meant.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>He said someone really likes me.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I told him I'm mean that nobody likes me 😉 </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Well, the fella who does amazing cabinetry</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>had stopped in with this.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66urQUgI2giHn3WiNAE9kh4Jf2hyHqb_rDOoJYdGvtoi66kqT7WxNLxOz-AvLDUVvMfC-4Jx_yXPAqkkjL1SS4HL5eXx6k2-BSj1I05lIyib0n54OcFQVGHA-pCCjOwISQ1maAHdSc0IsX3GNM_C2fTlwdgHzkMLahcPxDbaO9WIwyikr3EnelkG-YzA/s640/IMG_6346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66urQUgI2giHn3WiNAE9kh4Jf2hyHqb_rDOoJYdGvtoi66kqT7WxNLxOz-AvLDUVvMfC-4Jx_yXPAqkkjL1SS4HL5eXx6k2-BSj1I05lIyib0n54OcFQVGHA-pCCjOwISQ1maAHdSc0IsX3GNM_C2fTlwdgHzkMLahcPxDbaO9WIwyikr3EnelkG-YzA/w480-h640/IMG_6346.JPG" width="480" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Before your imagination gets going,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>he is married and has a family and is a good family guy.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We had invited them to our annual cidering gathering.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>You can see our process <a href="https://www.thelocustblossom.com/2014/08/homemade-spiced-apple-cider.html" style="background-color: white;">here</a>.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's grown to a little event for several families to gather</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>at our place for some wholesome autumnal fun.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have yet to use the board, but I will.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've had to simply admire it for a while before using it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I love when quality meets up with beauty.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauNUJwq-EmWpnUEAJlK4ciZTe7QicCg62o7QGiBcft1bL2DCBxF_iCRRgHwTmjgIo4fBxSzaGaBn9zXmDqoz9jxNXJVsJtqi7h_rweQX26MCqGTTVZkjq3bssz8jfI1EM7yHKrwWPNBas74IhysUihO_FAgRLwD_k5xj0JFzZlD6jdtnxvTGyOvE158E/s640/IMG_6347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauNUJwq-EmWpnUEAJlK4ciZTe7QicCg62o7QGiBcft1bL2DCBxF_iCRRgHwTmjgIo4fBxSzaGaBn9zXmDqoz9jxNXJVsJtqi7h_rweQX26MCqGTTVZkjq3bssz8jfI1EM7yHKrwWPNBas74IhysUihO_FAgRLwD_k5xj0JFzZlD6jdtnxvTGyOvE158E/w480-h640/IMG_6347.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>And as if that weren't enough to feel special.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This weekend, Hubby saw that there was an estate sale</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and asked if I'd like to go check it out.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Sure! I need nothing, but sure (heehee).</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>So we went.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We didn't get much, because like I said,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>we don't really need anything, but. . . </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We came home with this little darling.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHrHhFf2OygkoTuo_npkPZux_0S3Q184yZTAT-Ek6c12n1ksMK-oBxozALvCxK6k_6k0N4q64-voQHl-pZGUFiLQp2iTXdA6kFfmhdbwmVs4U9pl604InyAjHibpcyUhPewZLNGWW-ruBMJOdsvDpLt1aeCC7MrzBzi_rIN4wAyw0PR-FrQlyc05yOMQ/s640/IMG_6371%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHrHhFf2OygkoTuo_npkPZux_0S3Q184yZTAT-Ek6c12n1ksMK-oBxozALvCxK6k_6k0N4q64-voQHl-pZGUFiLQp2iTXdA6kFfmhdbwmVs4U9pl604InyAjHibpcyUhPewZLNGWW-ruBMJOdsvDpLt1aeCC7MrzBzi_rIN4wAyw0PR-FrQlyc05yOMQ/w640-h480/IMG_6371%20(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>(Please excuse the mess - garage is a disaster right now)<br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Isn't she a gem?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Made in 1923 so it's currently a centennial.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's a 3 burner kerosene cook stove.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am so excited to use it, I can hardly contain myself.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We are working on getting it cleaned up first.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I will primarily use it for canning out in the summer kitchen</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>or if the power goes out.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We no longer have a wood stove so I've missed having a back up to electric other than the BBQ.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I'm also excited to use it for canning, because</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>often electric isn't a consistent heat.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I will have to "play" with it of course,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but once I get it worked out, it should be great.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I'm not usually a materialistic sorta gal,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I'm feeling pretty spoiled at the moment.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Maybe a new handbag or diamonds do that </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>for some ladies, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I'll take a cutting board and old cook stove any day!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Just got to thinking.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Do you think maybe food is a priority for me?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Go ahead and roll your eyes or laugh.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's all good.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I know I'm not normal 😜</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>On the docket for this weekend is dipping candles.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I showed that <a href="https://www.thelocustblossom.com/2015/10/dipping-beeswax-candles.html">here</a>.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am either using my last one or have one more pair.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Either way, I'm due.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>October is the perfect month for dipping candles</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>as the wax hardens quickly (without freezing)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>after being dipped.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's a slow methodic process that brings me peace.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>And with all that,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I welcome autumn, the dance of golden leaves,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and the crisp nights that remind us</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>a new calendar will soon be called for.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I hope you enjoy today for the blessings it bestows.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Have a beautiful week dear friends. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>If you would like to check out my latest video,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>here's that link</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMemX381Nsg">Groceries: How You Shop Could Cost You</a><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-57170347297132073512023-10-11T11:05:00.004-07:002023-10-11T11:05:40.883-07:00Credit Card Debt vs. Pet Alligator 🐊<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="379" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9GVSz6hhESo" width="482" youtube-src-id="9GVSz6hhESo"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-20122336143037148692023-09-26T11:01:00.003-07:002023-09-26T11:01:28.450-07:0030 Year Old Advice, Relevant Today<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A Simple 5 min. Video</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="364" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IpQ8hWG6p5I" width="532" youtube-src-id="IpQ8hWG6p5I"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-74136130886196581172023-09-21T11:46:00.000-07:002023-09-21T11:46:45.554-07:00~Remnants of a Bygone Era~<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Hello dear friends~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I recognize there has been a pause here.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It has been wild and crazy as of late.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It is harvest season if you weren't aware :-)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Here that means kitchen work after work,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>piles of produce staring at me from every direction,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>hissing canners, humming dehydrators, and endless dishes.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I evidently went a little overboard this year planting</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>so now we have a bounty </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and beans.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Actually, I only planted 1 (that's singular) cucumber plant</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and have received over 100 cucumbers, and it's still producing!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Needless to say by the time I sit in the evening,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am whooped.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Last weekend, I had to go pick up something from my folks</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>who live about 1/2 hour away.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I decided to take a back road </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and ended up stopping at an estate sale.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I found treasures.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iTpkER7PcckIa0QpcbSPTURG8EErYf46-b5H7bv8oozfdtveK5wPyuP04OCK59Wy-qq_Nryiben5N7Y-trKFIiig5NmKaDhDcpTPQzmudw26ADjXa7L2Sk5tusBIakEWFEZXnM9b-W82DcZLkZLqUuzKV49X_cWiEGKivsHi5OxciTgjKojD28GsFho/s581/Cassie%20II.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="458" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iTpkER7PcckIa0QpcbSPTURG8EErYf46-b5H7bv8oozfdtveK5wPyuP04OCK59Wy-qq_Nryiben5N7Y-trKFIiig5NmKaDhDcpTPQzmudw26ADjXa7L2Sk5tusBIakEWFEZXnM9b-W82DcZLkZLqUuzKV49X_cWiEGKivsHi5OxciTgjKojD28GsFho/w504-h640/Cassie%20II.png" width="504" /></a></div>William & Cassie </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There were a few shelves of books </i></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>which always draw me to flip through the pages.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Well, I found a few gems from the later part of the 1800's.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>They have seen better days, but were family books.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It makes me sad that such things are sold out of the family </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>to which they belonged for the past 100-150 years.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Cassie shown above was the grandmother</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>of the woman who's estate was being sold.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Here, let me share~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD2A2thNXwPscOi_kl3Z8zcDLw2uGgc2FZ7krI0YsNwCCmOvuhpPkmgOPrtjwvtdc_SMoJCjAVRfUkcH-t_NvwJHhsaN7WQOzMYcF-Jap3BwHzgjNmw_DGfL4TWmYHnn8YKpuc7LZxqwCXiNoB0Mt4wGWfDSQ80tCrpUoppia0YyvB3vckZwcRPyG-hk/s640/IMG_6261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYD2A2thNXwPscOi_kl3Z8zcDLw2uGgc2FZ7krI0YsNwCCmOvuhpPkmgOPrtjwvtdc_SMoJCjAVRfUkcH-t_NvwJHhsaN7WQOzMYcF-Jap3BwHzgjNmw_DGfL4TWmYHnn8YKpuc7LZxqwCXiNoB0Mt4wGWfDSQ80tCrpUoppia0YyvB3vckZwcRPyG-hk/w640-h480/IMG_6261.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SXECtTRLZ1ZGFoYPKGt_MYbtQylJdCP8O_TIxSEAREOf3fkXsAfEWJx3SrBymlsC76y-m8a1IjbZybjvjloEjLg-visxrHglzmkoYgw4SsPhiD-l0SdXLx13wMZbW1tGzjo9SJZ2ya76oM_E5Ut6Z0Os4VZY8Fma4h-VfRkjyqm3PsXBCQwR658KcWE/s640/IMG_6176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SXECtTRLZ1ZGFoYPKGt_MYbtQylJdCP8O_TIxSEAREOf3fkXsAfEWJx3SrBymlsC76y-m8a1IjbZybjvjloEjLg-visxrHglzmkoYgw4SsPhiD-l0SdXLx13wMZbW1tGzjo9SJZ2ya76oM_E5Ut6Z0Os4VZY8Fma4h-VfRkjyqm3PsXBCQwR658KcWE/w640-h480/IMG_6176.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>Some of the books belonged to this baby's younger brother</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>who was the father of the woman who passed.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZtLdxQYoNmQrtUl-r0qK_FkYY_2eNOmnypmYf23NYZqi4M_B_pawEYIrKuOer4hE5sVFoY-fehw2JHOC_UggiUuK2UGlheufS8v1Pz6pwrp3XrDzPgGTAWex6NlDuCp60D-b99qygWL7VZs6ZYB2NH_3S4Z7d-6pxqaIe-47bX-xzNyQw_VQZAaga1k/s640/IMG_6266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZtLdxQYoNmQrtUl-r0qK_FkYY_2eNOmnypmYf23NYZqi4M_B_pawEYIrKuOer4hE5sVFoY-fehw2JHOC_UggiUuK2UGlheufS8v1Pz6pwrp3XrDzPgGTAWex6NlDuCp60D-b99qygWL7VZs6ZYB2NH_3S4Z7d-6pxqaIe-47bX-xzNyQw_VQZAaga1k/w300-h400/IMG_6266.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Cassie's book from when she was 10 years old.</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOZhRF-s2a2FxfkDBFpiNsPePz0-kdR_HlKRDGBlFgrOaBSD8GN_-yhCldHQ4qZvzGPxBmDf4iGQdvyxVX5QTcoQgnFv8gXOQ3I4QzvWszRNMGlFGy9jWS6hX5IIQeghQtqcRMyPXDocHwRteAGCdwBgeSUC3BhOsVHtrCR5qcRxkWxKle_L97REF-_c/s640/IMG_6263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOZhRF-s2a2FxfkDBFpiNsPePz0-kdR_HlKRDGBlFgrOaBSD8GN_-yhCldHQ4qZvzGPxBmDf4iGQdvyxVX5QTcoQgnFv8gXOQ3I4QzvWszRNMGlFGy9jWS6hX5IIQeghQtqcRMyPXDocHwRteAGCdwBgeSUC3BhOsVHtrCR5qcRxkWxKle_L97REF-_c/w400-h300/IMG_6263.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This book was from Cassie's father, the great grandfather of the woman who passed. I can't believe her children didn't want it!</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL2M86HMYbcnqCDiTYVM12ohxjbLPOTRTUgQJmmLeeOfLTyT1ZX9pJeCwXmDfkcLA-GkKlHmzo99oJVR2UJiG4V6kN2duVGWlfIwX6m7T5c_ydTKhy9SujCZQvKp-iTZWYufeEkOyn3nsbQY1TAUiBafsjZZzofp_-S3YMuVJk9R2e70XseNUOh0ICCw/s640/IMG_6265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPL2M86HMYbcnqCDiTYVM12ohxjbLPOTRTUgQJmmLeeOfLTyT1ZX9pJeCwXmDfkcLA-GkKlHmzo99oJVR2UJiG4V6kN2duVGWlfIwX6m7T5c_ydTKhy9SujCZQvKp-iTZWYufeEkOyn3nsbQY1TAUiBafsjZZzofp_-S3YMuVJk9R2e70XseNUOh0ICCw/w400-h300/IMG_6265.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><i>I love that this one has a coarsely handmade fabric cover.</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Through the address and the correlating obituary,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I was able to find a short lineage of the family</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>which I have printed off and will keep with the books.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>At least if they are sold off at my estate,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>there will be some account of where they came from.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Also among the wares for sale</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>were these beautiful whites.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(I have not washed or pressed them yet </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>as I want to take my time and be careful with them.)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP7vA2xhkhqVWtWYcZoXrdwJ5RJVlD43FDB9SdBM4bFyrN08_9AT_bYilq5EZcMw6HjOruZlpWi0_oJyTpW9fi94HQsrNTb_AJAL4OPDjUUk-9ri3LfvdPq6Eo0hweOaGJYPUHocn-D4ZDhwLk1ZGC7wIjBC2cLlFgghS5ibnZILX2CrWhmATzyRWO1U/s640/IMG_6166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP7vA2xhkhqVWtWYcZoXrdwJ5RJVlD43FDB9SdBM4bFyrN08_9AT_bYilq5EZcMw6HjOruZlpWi0_oJyTpW9fi94HQsrNTb_AJAL4OPDjUUk-9ri3LfvdPq6Eo0hweOaGJYPUHocn-D4ZDhwLk1ZGC7wIjBC2cLlFgghS5ibnZILX2CrWhmATzyRWO1U/w480-h640/IMG_6166.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwol_mF1gSLQvJnstZCzW1jHt1awcLLkDjR_moYafcOkv1ViJD_XF4nTOsy1pN2Xb6U6y2LB98jXE43MVd_60iOpKixN2obFjCvbU6_m6iqKYV1POaQwQRO1eaAvj0-olh-prkEncrEho_ZehgpmxVb6S7SplWGh0TZGFnsHtD4hb1zwvfDVo1VEGc5Xw/s640/IMG_6167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwol_mF1gSLQvJnstZCzW1jHt1awcLLkDjR_moYafcOkv1ViJD_XF4nTOsy1pN2Xb6U6y2LB98jXE43MVd_60iOpKixN2obFjCvbU6_m6iqKYV1POaQwQRO1eaAvj0-olh-prkEncrEho_ZehgpmxVb6S7SplWGh0TZGFnsHtD4hb1zwvfDVo1VEGc5Xw/w300-h400/IMG_6167.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QhozT3VIre7XcBjMETbBkwKF-tpoTt7xFXr6nQtRPDgVfQ40V6xhI3m3mXiYA_NORGt22UZI39nGN0mTe-N4uGrLPp4GWHEEQs4NZONldXgaMKBxeHtPoqfgAl902Joc42n7NDMGVbDkqf2J7xbau4yQpQ_X8LLkV8e9o27dogVavCNx3tUOeCW2xCI/s640/IMG_6174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QhozT3VIre7XcBjMETbBkwKF-tpoTt7xFXr6nQtRPDgVfQ40V6xhI3m3mXiYA_NORGt22UZI39nGN0mTe-N4uGrLPp4GWHEEQs4NZONldXgaMKBxeHtPoqfgAl902Joc42n7NDMGVbDkqf2J7xbau4yQpQ_X8LLkV8e9o27dogVavCNx3tUOeCW2xCI/w300-h400/IMG_6174.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It probably sounds silly to some of you,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I love the tattered apron.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I imagine it began as the "good" apron</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>then got demoted with age but perhaps</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>had sentimental value since it was kept and handed down.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qZS2g7-nGWjxh3v-pO0a8C7izU8LF_SAqT-rYCg2GgMrC9h79gQW-qRRQclfuQIF_j8dynaYr6-qRLr10xnEtnadnVwX-MAUBa1mO4V-G6iY2l32zGlMPolWhVYOx6MvXTWYZXquwi-xNo3Rr6hko1pcZmNH03RpXzH3d52JBRRn4LyWND8sODyYibE/s640/IMG_6168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qZS2g7-nGWjxh3v-pO0a8C7izU8LF_SAqT-rYCg2GgMrC9h79gQW-qRRQclfuQIF_j8dynaYr6-qRLr10xnEtnadnVwX-MAUBa1mO4V-G6iY2l32zGlMPolWhVYOx6MvXTWYZXquwi-xNo3Rr6hko1pcZmNH03RpXzH3d52JBRRn4LyWND8sODyYibE/w480-h640/IMG_6168.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I don't mean for this to be a sorrowful post,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but if you have family mementos,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I would like to suggest that perhaps you go through them now</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>while you have options.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Talk with family members and find out who might be interested</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>in protecting the family heirlooms.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Also valuable would be to add a little hand written note</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>as to the memory of it and its origin.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I sure do appreciate the quality of olden items</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and the stories of the hands that held them,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I can't be a museum for them all.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhaUXkUawQiHbDZ0tKV2k0QoYwCqQpa76Ep5tVCYY0EYbXBG9w2a_SSiBnNeAEMRC_RiL2nDEHAEag_tHUVLDrYiIxf4XEty7IavkWA9M3k23BU9DBuBIrPwdtt-CxQ3T7d3pL2ksOJq8VTYSHs0Srmz8I-osi3EYiifoI-02T6dm0Rbyp8uhD4yOmrc/s640/IMG_6175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhaUXkUawQiHbDZ0tKV2k0QoYwCqQpa76Ep5tVCYY0EYbXBG9w2a_SSiBnNeAEMRC_RiL2nDEHAEag_tHUVLDrYiIxf4XEty7IavkWA9M3k23BU9DBuBIrPwdtt-CxQ3T7d3pL2ksOJq8VTYSHs0Srmz8I-osi3EYiifoI-02T6dm0Rbyp8uhD4yOmrc/w300-h400/IMG_6175.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This might seem a little odd for a blog,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I would love to hear (read) if you have a special</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>family item and the memory that accompanies it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I think those who ponder through this post</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>might also enjoy reading it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>~Blessings~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>And if you are interested in my latest YouTube posts:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This is the Utilities: Easy to Extreme series.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL72eRX8qvM">Cut Electric Costs</a><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzDKIGM2NCM">Save on Water, Sewer, and Garbage</a><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_5-WwsUXIM">Save on Electronics & Services</a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-72685259736808647362023-08-29T14:17:00.000-07:002023-08-29T14:17:06.979-07:00💰Do You Hate Getting Money? 💰<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="358" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fVyBdxcjmWY" width="546" youtube-src-id="fVyBdxcjmWY"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-14874870790340173692023-08-22T10:14:00.002-07:002023-08-22T10:14:21.059-07:00💲The Most Influential Thing You Can Do To Save Money💲<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="406" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EjXCZz3JFh8" width="489" youtube-src-id="EjXCZz3JFh8"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-82072113737881224432023-08-15T08:17:00.002-07:002023-08-15T08:17:26.846-07:00💰Stop the Paycheck Disappearing Act 🪄<div style="text-align: center;"> <i>If you are living paycheck to paycheck,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>take a look at your cashflow.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's how~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="402" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HLFj_c2L7-o" width="484" youtube-src-id="HLFj_c2L7-o"></iframe></div><br /><i><br /></i></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-67525418043177419012023-08-09T10:15:00.000-07:002023-08-09T10:15:04.807-07:00🍅 Bounty 🍆<div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Oh Friends~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You have to see this!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I know we, each of us, live in different areas,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but if you look, look closely, it's there.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There is bounty all around us.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Summer can sure be long and hot.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The longer days can become wearisome</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and our bodies can certainly tire.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Or is that just me?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4GDacfMNOOVZwTnwXceWynmCo2PyJDGd1HrF63SKHAmd5ur57N1iThl3m4Lqhi-hoj8qicX6UX8MUttUtWbEir-fj2EnhzzgVKiMY9-gHqdFeQ3eP4vsNiZMShqFEbaTJnCoFtr-jpksZac58Sf4s1b3-Fhso3zROGoMy_yeYnBrFisIo5RMugOj6M0/s640/IMG_6087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4GDacfMNOOVZwTnwXceWynmCo2PyJDGd1HrF63SKHAmd5ur57N1iThl3m4Lqhi-hoj8qicX6UX8MUttUtWbEir-fj2EnhzzgVKiMY9-gHqdFeQ3eP4vsNiZMShqFEbaTJnCoFtr-jpksZac58Sf4s1b3-Fhso3zROGoMy_yeYnBrFisIo5RMugOj6M0/w480-h640/IMG_6087.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(Cayenne)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>As many of you know, I grow a garden each year.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It seems by February,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am raring to get it going and wanting to plant seeds</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>despite the icy temperatures out of doors.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This year was different.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We had the summer kitchen flood in January,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>then the mess to clean up when the roof was repaired in March.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I didn't get much of a break</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>so by spring I wasn't as ambitious as usual.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My seed starts struggled.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I was lack luster in getting things in the ground,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and I questioned if we would have much at all</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>by the time harvest rolled around.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The lesson~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There is always a lesson, isn't there?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We are taught, errr well, back in my day anyways - haha!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>not to be pompous or proud.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pride comes before a fall as the saying goes.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It does seem when we are struggling,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>we find ourselves most humble.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx7QvhO5Udpducsl56fnV0oVhMRnEBH5dbtoCkFWaRW3Fdpn0BHudeRLvfZ0EmfDVzFU7V7HJok-WAOUxJygvgUII6NTho9FOvpzCMZE76D6jPHOu0kU7-p6mmCvj7dOPgUr_iakenfxtnUnAnkhiBm2MWmbcle9if0GxQV2QMudmSDsXMA5yluc9gGY/s640/IMG_6070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx7QvhO5Udpducsl56fnV0oVhMRnEBH5dbtoCkFWaRW3Fdpn0BHudeRLvfZ0EmfDVzFU7V7HJok-WAOUxJygvgUII6NTho9FOvpzCMZE76D6jPHOu0kU7-p6mmCvj7dOPgUr_iakenfxtnUnAnkhiBm2MWmbcle9if0GxQV2QMudmSDsXMA5yluc9gGY/w480-h640/IMG_6070.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Saskatoon berry juice.)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And here is where I must digress for a moment</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>so you can see the whole picture.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am aware of the circumstances of our food supply as a nation.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the eye of world events,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I realize our nation has become dependent upon other</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>countries for much of our sustenance. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The area around us is a heavy agriculture area,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and there are a lot of wheat fields in addition to</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>hay, peas, potatoes and fruits.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Knowing many of the plains states were experiencing</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>challenging weather and failing crops,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>as I was pushing through trying to get my homely little starts</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in the ground and wondering if they would even survive,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I looked over the fields and said a prayer not really for myself</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but for our collective efforts.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I realize not everyone here is the praying sort.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Stick with me for a minute if you will please.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>That was what seems like ages ago,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but in reality was only a few short months ago.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDUxdzj-xdqkZgyzxmVJTYyUHeiNrZAeeUL8UJ8QKUjQ98i8u4bGUpHrMCNUWdCkRLnrCLJhUqK3OcQSkN6SLhn1-sc-9aNjq2FDXbBKQwhqlFVrGwyEpgh6mor8GOADSF4OJxHef9ZeVy04iJNffcv0NsCAxJpSAr3iyF8GBFWZW4uHjHwtoTEIMpfw/s640/IMG_6084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDUxdzj-xdqkZgyzxmVJTYyUHeiNrZAeeUL8UJ8QKUjQ98i8u4bGUpHrMCNUWdCkRLnrCLJhUqK3OcQSkN6SLhn1-sc-9aNjq2FDXbBKQwhqlFVrGwyEpgh6mor8GOADSF4OJxHef9ZeVy04iJNffcv0NsCAxJpSAr3iyF8GBFWZW4uHjHwtoTEIMpfw/w480-h640/IMG_6084.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(We lost our canopy, but the bean wall is outrageous this year.)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And here's where the ends meet</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>with the lesson and the harvest.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They've been pulling great loads of wheat from the surrounding fields.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They harvested peas from the field in front of our house.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The farmer told me to help myself if I wanted any.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I did but didn't abuse the privilege. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They've began harvesting onions behind our house.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We are able to glean what's left in the field which is substantial.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am ever grateful.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And those tender little starts that looked like they were</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>lost of hope,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>well they are producing like crazy.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We picked 23 cucumbers from my one plant in 4 days.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our tomatoes are packed and just coming on.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have never seen so many tomatoes grow on </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>individual plants.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nearly every plant is loaded.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The "regular" tomatoes are the size of baseballs to softballs.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Romas are the size of tennis balls.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hubby said they will probably all turn ripe</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>about the time he leaves for hunting.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He's probably right!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The grass hay in the field to the side of us looks amazing.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Critters need food too.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11mICnmCcP98HmAWXM1kXntZgsmxeywxv9-K-jLaQ63t7sml_w2lZ4-qtvvFSOtms_d8202nigrxEjmRIbwwR_12xPx8Vzt0nzIiZT3PsW2cQm5J2Vj0BzbXHHBh2EIi1V-a02yw3Z7dvrJmPdHoZ9Vj2bUIQ-Jl6NvLhuapsOyEWOnMdzsXTY9gsInw/s640/IMG_6085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11mICnmCcP98HmAWXM1kXntZgsmxeywxv9-K-jLaQ63t7sml_w2lZ4-qtvvFSOtms_d8202nigrxEjmRIbwwR_12xPx8Vzt0nzIiZT3PsW2cQm5J2Vj0BzbXHHBh2EIi1V-a02yw3Z7dvrJmPdHoZ9Vj2bUIQ-Jl6NvLhuapsOyEWOnMdzsXTY9gsInw/w640-h480/IMG_6085.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The point of all of this is to put a little nudge of inspiration</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in your heart.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>When you are feeling like you are wilting and might not make it,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>remember also, you might just pull through and have </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>an abundance, a great bounty.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eRmd7rHkAjKWMEOzd4ifsKASgwfC9AOPSTxs8bxWswFfExKjwZdZ_fJZRmVm46ThVGdy-T_2Y1v-P6xBVBuaLsqXx6y6MCUjwuk842cBQ21Edn0f_fv5pyCj3UGrJXlUHLHxnEsrwTA6o_luvzXc5_dPfutIsRsii9iXtNmW53QZCaJY-NoCeMQOOJE/s640/71236375934__6AA53C08-2B61-48A1-8714-9E8F725CC4AC.fullsizerender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eRmd7rHkAjKWMEOzd4ifsKASgwfC9AOPSTxs8bxWswFfExKjwZdZ_fJZRmVm46ThVGdy-T_2Y1v-P6xBVBuaLsqXx6y6MCUjwuk842cBQ21Edn0f_fv5pyCj3UGrJXlUHLHxnEsrwTA6o_luvzXc5_dPfutIsRsii9iXtNmW53QZCaJY-NoCeMQOOJE/w480-h640/71236375934__6AA53C08-2B61-48A1-8714-9E8F725CC4AC.fullsizerender.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And just one more little testimony to how bad it was,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in case you don't believe me,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and/or if you just need a laugh~</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We had to leave for a couple days shortly after I got things planted.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My folks came to take care of things while we were gone.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My mom, who I joke can plant a pencil and watch it grow,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>said, "Your tomatoes are dead. I watered them because you said to,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but I don't think they'll make it."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Thanks Mom (heehee).</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>For some reason, I couldn't give up on them.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>That little bit of faith is now paying off.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Keep you well,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and until next time,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Many Blessings.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-56571486164892890612023-08-08T10:52:00.005-07:002023-08-08T10:52:45.902-07:00Do You Know Your Net Worth? (and Blog Update)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> Good Morning All ~</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I just wanted to share the next video</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>which details how to calculate your net worth.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yYZxp808RCs" width="320" youtube-src-id="yYZxp808RCs"></iframe></span></div><i style="font-family: verdana;"><p style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></p>Also, a regular blog post is in the works,</i><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>so never fear.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This won't just be a site for video links.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I will probably discontinue after a few videos,</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but the blog will remain a blog.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Hope you are all enjoying the later part of summer.</i></span></p>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-51456323374445144782023-08-01T13:11:00.000-07:002023-08-01T13:11:00.837-07:00A Leap of Faith<div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Hello Friends.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I know I've not been present very often around here,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but there is a reason.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've been struggling.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We are both fine as far as appearances go.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's been the internal "stuff."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You know "stuff!"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GKDvoAG2Ft9K7K6TQ6dMlqAOb0hzsAFfdjtslYOsGVEdT6cJn-ru_XcT4bE4XeJSE0W4x5wSpaYbeX1HtbZ6M6dHGdGtg6EsJxz0kHOINaejqsAGxMtc8FRcaLKd69Q3pIMclBUz7Vm3nZVh8YjcZoUAusGe1khNmYYP2H-WWDFcG6QxvQRI1Z3iTLI/s638/thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="638" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GKDvoAG2Ft9K7K6TQ6dMlqAOb0hzsAFfdjtslYOsGVEdT6cJn-ru_XcT4bE4XeJSE0W4x5wSpaYbeX1HtbZ6M6dHGdGtg6EsJxz0kHOINaejqsAGxMtc8FRcaLKd69Q3pIMclBUz7Vm3nZVh8YjcZoUAusGe1khNmYYP2H-WWDFcG6QxvQRI1Z3iTLI/w400-h221/thumb.png" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>With everything going on in the world around us,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>some thinking the world is coming to an end</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and others choosing to live in ignorant bliss.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I am neither of those options so have struggled.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>After 10+ years of chatting about canning green beans,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>chickens in the house, and the annual cycles of the home,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I guess I've not felt the urge to repeat myself.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You can see the canning of corn if you'd like</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>or what we've done for certain holidays.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've not discontinued doing any of that.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Well, I don't currently have chickens :-(</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I still do my regular life activities,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and continue to recognize the many blessings</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>all around.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We're currently in blackberry season</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>so Hubby has been enjoying them on his ice cream,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in cobblers, and next up is hand pies.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But I digress. . . </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>So the struggle, yes I that's where I was.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've been searching internally.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Over the past several months,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've really tried to figure out</i><i> what it is I feel led to do.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've always enjoyed helping people.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I realize at times some folks don't want help,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but the Mama Bear in me just instinctively takes care of people.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>As many of you who have been around here know,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>things haven't always been easy.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Over the past couple months,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>we've encountered a few different folks</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>who we know and care about </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>who are stuck in their situations due to debt</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and financial hardships.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>These are good people who work for a living</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and are still struggling.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Some of you also know, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have a degree in teaching.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Even when I was in the schools,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>there were things I thought those young people needed,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but the information wasn't offered.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There were so many things offered:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>cake decorating, yoga, even basketball class!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but there weren't any classes on how to manage finances</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>after high school.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Now please don't think I'm blaming young people.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's my generation that's failed to teach them.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And sadly, even many among my generation are struggling.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've lived through a few trials to say the least:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>single parenthood (with no support for about a year)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>while going to school full time and living in a garage</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>was the toughest.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I managed.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I didn't take any government assistance.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I worked.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Even after Hubby and I were married,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>we got it worked out so that we were living on my </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>meager income which allowed us to save enough </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to open our business which is where I now work.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm not saying any of this in order to "brag."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm saying it as encouragement.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm just me.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If I can do it so can others.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And here's where I'm going with all this.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In order to help others,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>which is what I feel led to do,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I started a YouTube channel.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's a pretty big deal for me to be on screen</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>since I really prefer to remain unseen.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(How's that for a paradox?)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If anyone here is interested in tracking </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>household finances and taking control of your money,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I would appreciate it beyond belief</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>if you would watch, like, leave a comment, and even subscribe.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm so new at it, I know there are rough patches,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but I'm hoping to improve and smooth things out as I go.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And with that,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>here it is</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="356" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5sKykPVkKI8" width="484" youtube-src-id="5sKykPVkKI8"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>PS: It is not letting me test to verify the video is working as a direct link here so there might be a quick hiccup as I post this.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you all for your kindness.<br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-60972743138330812722023-06-06T09:15:00.001-07:002023-06-06T09:15:09.199-07:00A Porch Swing<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Perhaps old age is creeping up on me.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Though I typically have enough energy</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and am plenty healthy,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've found that I'm okay with not rushing.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've never been the Tigger of the group,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and as some of you know</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>have a preference of Eeyore~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>so much more my speed even as a youngster.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoydXPVEqrKgoYdCrhyEB_hcHN_MoT6OsvroefAfbJEtnSpS-ySjLVYhp0KnVbvoSJREF5gLtsKEz95ysomuyUQtiEN-izNQOWri_ltr-34Cb_qETnqgZ7DkZZ2Fd1hqwVx-UDm60S4LDQ0mmy2nDOnPk6EIuSOPQ2VY5nfdyPKYyltDzlMMxrODd/s640/IMG_5825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoydXPVEqrKgoYdCrhyEB_hcHN_MoT6OsvroefAfbJEtnSpS-ySjLVYhp0KnVbvoSJREF5gLtsKEz95ysomuyUQtiEN-izNQOWri_ltr-34Cb_qETnqgZ7DkZZ2Fd1hqwVx-UDm60S4LDQ0mmy2nDOnPk6EIuSOPQ2VY5nfdyPKYyltDzlMMxrODd/w480-h640/IMG_5825.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i>We have been on the go a lot lately.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We've had multiple family events,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>both joyous and grievous.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>All serve as a reminder that life is circular,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and we should revel in each day we are given.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Time at home therefore, has been precious.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Last night as I was looking at the few things left</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>to be put in the ground,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Hubby asked where the broccoli was.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>When I replied that I hadn't planted any,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I was met with that sorrowful expression,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"But I like broccoli."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This morning as I was running errands,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I picked up a six-pack of broccoli plants.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I'm not sure where I will put them,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I will find a place.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My garden outlook is a little different this year.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I am usually rearing to go by garden season,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but not having a real winter break,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've been a little slow starting.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>As I dig and weed and plant, I also think.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We aren't meant to rush through just to finish,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>for a garden is never really finished.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My little apple tree that is maybe 4' tall</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>has 9 apples on it so I've been watering it well.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The weeds I pulled last week seem to replace themselves</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>before I make it back through.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Just as we think we are to maintenance mode,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>harvest will begin and canning season will ensue.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-FTD0yVMD33QKuqU-kNnzrGtiQzUt8f8PWzaqKyL-oIDADLZusncAPJf8xCCeMbL9iRELJVCpIHrrQYArwRPgRfwP_3wkHaZPcjjGuKWMLlgpNOVUle2OerNQ4c5RIKbTDW1vc4tN47-IfxLlv_BTQ5j6BS_FVRFDlQJoFj1qjOfdhbnxqLGZcVD/s640/IMG_5824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-FTD0yVMD33QKuqU-kNnzrGtiQzUt8f8PWzaqKyL-oIDADLZusncAPJf8xCCeMbL9iRELJVCpIHrrQYArwRPgRfwP_3wkHaZPcjjGuKWMLlgpNOVUle2OerNQ4c5RIKbTDW1vc4tN47-IfxLlv_BTQ5j6BS_FVRFDlQJoFj1qjOfdhbnxqLGZcVD/w300-h400/IMG_5824.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>And this is where that porch swing comes in.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We can produce a masterpiece of a garden~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I said "We" like mine is part of that.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I'm a funny one, am I not?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Regardless of what we've created,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>we need to take a moment here and there</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>to sit and absorb all that we've done.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>There is health both in the creation of a garden</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and in being emersed in it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My mock oranges are blooming and smell so sweetly.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The honeysuckle is waning but the hummingbirds</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>have been enjoying it's blossoms.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I fed the first ripe strawberries to Hubby last night.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>They too share their sweet aroma with us,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but we must make that brief pause to appreciate it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf12SRIkkJkPI9cDK1ZgXytcvxfa8TDLc8KENG5v4Hvo-tdOw_fo9X-vVofLakRY-43pM6jMUZTtjGaRD7UUcaJSTbmaHPqkb8B8T2xZW5jBSaqSD6NmyVR7HVWChnYAWB17-Oi5sqftj46JKxrQCQkujmNpxxLKDpW1PP5GqGGJ0Ru53xeLv2sa4/s640/IMG_5827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf12SRIkkJkPI9cDK1ZgXytcvxfa8TDLc8KENG5v4Hvo-tdOw_fo9X-vVofLakRY-43pM6jMUZTtjGaRD7UUcaJSTbmaHPqkb8B8T2xZW5jBSaqSD6NmyVR7HVWChnYAWB17-Oi5sqftj46JKxrQCQkujmNpxxLKDpW1PP5GqGGJ0Ru53xeLv2sa4/w400-h300/IMG_5827.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It doesn't take long~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but the benefit gained is remarkable.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I headed into this Monday much more at peace</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>having spent 2 days mostly barefoot digging in the dirt.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>If you are unaware, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>being barefoot in the dirt has its own health benefits.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I will leave you to research that and</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>won't mention making mud in the bathtub in the evenings.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Whatever you have for a garden,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>pour a cup of tea,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>take your seat on that porch swing,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and enjoy the beauty of the day.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>PS~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I don't have a porch or a swing,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but we have a couple chairs we drag around to the shade.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>They serve quite well.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-59427194518627724072023-05-16T14:55:00.002-07:002023-05-16T14:55:32.985-07:00The Way the Wind Blows<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"> April</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">They say write about what you know about</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">thus the title of this post.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">There have been some things on my heart and mind lately.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, it is spring,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">and I see so many pictures of little sproutlings</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">wearing that tender green colour.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is definitely something to the knowing the earth is alive</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">under the renegade leaves that are still scampering about </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">that have been hiding who knows where.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spring is the time of resurrection or rebirth if you will.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's almost a relief to begin seeing colours</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">that the eyes have been hungry for.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I get that, and I feel it too.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxLHOg5IG9LXahmir6-ld1nhc4sMkLSVXiiN-I0AdLJC75wOhveXPWoeC5UrftmR5ZxwaoyieCvgUBNCZGP_LNwBk9chlFe6dPZOSVx__eaFEyvgUgAwAX0HEIWFUVV_kzhbqo0tC5aNBC_Z4JbkYsfR7yOmxHVyssRBkXQ3m4uPlTpfyLPxKgb-Fm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxLHOg5IG9LXahmir6-ld1nhc4sMkLSVXiiN-I0AdLJC75wOhveXPWoeC5UrftmR5ZxwaoyieCvgUBNCZGP_LNwBk9chlFe6dPZOSVx__eaFEyvgUgAwAX0HEIWFUVV_kzhbqo0tC5aNBC_Z4JbkYsfR7yOmxHVyssRBkXQ3m4uPlTpfyLPxKgb-Fm=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gardeningknowhow.com%2Fgarden-how-to%2Fpropagation%2Fseeds%2Fhow-to-tell-seedlings-from-weeds.htm&psig=AOvVaw00AGy-zwl8ZP22MxqHGFaZ&ust=1684360131552000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwi-h-XL6Pr-AhWUN0QIHeBXDa4Qr4kDegUIARCfAg">Source</a><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I always wonder at what many would call "coincidence."</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have heard or seen in print</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"You reap what you sew"</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">at least a half dozen times just this week.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Maybe it's simply due to being springtime,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">but . . . </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can't help but wonder.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've also heard the word discernment a lot lately.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">It really does make one wonder.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't think I've shared, but we've had several things happen</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">since the new year.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">A storm blew threw somewhere in the Christmas to New Year</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">time frame.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">It blew the summer kitchen roof up so everything inside got soaked.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I cleaned everything up and set the furniture pieces</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">such as shelving and bakers cabinet and harvest table </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">up on canning jar rims so they aren't much taller</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">but up off the wet concrete floor.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">That took some doing but was finally done -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">all during the cold of January to boot.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">This room is like an extension to our house so</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">that was an event.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was tarped until the roofers could get to it </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">which didn't happen until March.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our house got a new roof at the same time.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">We didn't know that was going to happen until we returned</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">home from work and there was half a new roof on it.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">The summer kitchen was next. We thought is was just a metal roof</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">that would be replaced.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Evidently both the house and the summer kitchen </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">had three layers of old roofing (so wrong!).</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">One of the layers of roofing on the summer kitchen turned out</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">to be probably almost 100 year old asphalt shingles that fell through</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">the roof boards.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">When it's that old, it turns into that crumbled glass-like yuk.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here, let me show you.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqunOo3cUP25HPI_8pgXsDEdrLxMtyaxd5GWLhXnbD3z4DwXcNZ5tNIRB25iwPRiuhQlas2B1exbjZUjdxkDSbUnRYswnqknMdf0AjaaJoWfxQ2S6eoEk1wwO0iMJrYdm3NfbjKSew68gqeYPSsBVE5ARm4CfpO_v4uzqSz87-zvDOEUZkJ6RH4X7F/s640/IMG_5615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqunOo3cUP25HPI_8pgXsDEdrLxMtyaxd5GWLhXnbD3z4DwXcNZ5tNIRB25iwPRiuhQlas2B1exbjZUjdxkDSbUnRYswnqknMdf0AjaaJoWfxQ2S6eoEk1wwO0iMJrYdm3NfbjKSew68gqeYPSsBVE5ARm4CfpO_v4uzqSz87-zvDOEUZkJ6RH4X7F/w300-h400/IMG_5615.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I held it together though I could have cried.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nobody mentioned that it was there and maybe we'd want to cover things.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">So this awful material covered everything.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I took nearly everything out of there and began cleaning.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can't express how bad it was. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had white towels and sheets I use out there and to cover tomatoes</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">when a frost is predicted etc.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I did 9 loads of laundry (I think) and countless sinkfulls of dishes.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hubby came home early to help me.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">We were both trying to be cautious not to breath it</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">and mindful of which direction our dust went.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Needless to say it was a bit of an ordeal.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have a few more things on the harvest table I am hoping</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">to clean up this weekend.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">The good news is that the roof no longer leaks.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh, the other thing the wind did was pull up our canopy over</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">the back sitting area, mangled it and threw it in the front yard.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">We no sooner got things cleaned up, and I brought the little green house</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">into the house to start the early seeds.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">We've mowed the lawn twice and have been starting</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">to prepare the beds for the upcoming plantings.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was telling a friend,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm not quite as antsy for garden season this year,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">but I think it's because we didn't really get a relaxing winter</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">by the fire sipping a hot drink while leisurely reading something pleasant. (Haha)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">And now we head into the busy season.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Through all of this, I've cleaned and continued to organize and declutter.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've tried to remember what's important and that this has all been</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">a bit of a hiccup.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">In truth, I didn't handle it all with grace and ease.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">There were other things that tipped the scales a time or two.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think it's called life.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are all a work in progress and I'm no different.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like I said above, that word discernment keeps finding its way to my ears.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Focusing on what really matters has been (yet another) </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">good lesson for me.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">A mess to clean up is not fun by any means,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">but set that next to what many others might be facing</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">and I'm sure they'd trade me in a heartbeat.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I get it.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I do have to say, I'm glad to say it's behind us.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">We still haven't decided what we will do for a canopy,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">but that too will get figured out.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm thankful nothing was "really" damaged,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">we are well, have plenty to eat, a new roof over our heads,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">and we have folks who care about us.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">That's what's really important.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJt1z-fMzm_F2cINgTNxpokGYe6ZYaXAJGVAh9RzuQS1_bz9CDHracO1-e5htM4rh7dm8neYQ4dytLt7Yc2pbYEYBrPpP4R1Z_VSfjpI_WH8gbRI1ZJpg-E_qs95tYWx8qfgPkhlFGZxoXwjoeLAU_Psh0lDKUSk-04Gq7chMSpwOHl6_XcqFHTVCk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJt1z-fMzm_F2cINgTNxpokGYe6ZYaXAJGVAh9RzuQS1_bz9CDHracO1-e5htM4rh7dm8neYQ4dytLt7Yc2pbYEYBrPpP4R1Z_VSfjpI_WH8gbRI1ZJpg-E_qs95tYWx8qfgPkhlFGZxoXwjoeLAU_Psh0lDKUSk-04Gq7chMSpwOHl6_XcqFHTVCk=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sensorytrust.org.uk%2Fblog%2Fhorizon-gazing-and-its-health-benefits&psig=AOvVaw3nKhoGidOIHEb-ObQkmGU-&ust=1684360231084000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwil_Z_76Pr-AhXUBkQIHcLyBnYQr4kDegUIARChAQ">Source</a><br /><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">May</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">And so. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">About the time I finished writing the above, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">we dealt with an unexpected death in the family.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We've had plenty of seat time over the past few weeks.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We attended the service which was good</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but extremely sad, only 41 years old.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Then the following weekend a grand-niece's second birthday.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>That was joyous - again plenty of seat time,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but at least it was a happy event.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The circle of life is such a wild ride at times.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I do apologize for the lapse in posts.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My heart's just not been in it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We now have the garden started so are plenty busy.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I'm sorry also that this post is so scattered,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but that's about how my brain is working.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I hope you are all feeling blessed.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>If you have folks who are or have been a positive influence</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>in your life, I'd like to encourage you to tell them so.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Tomorrow is not guarantied.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDwuNi0AdjMEDjE1EWbg-_HVYkray_aprKWS5_ivv97bwETGzlJoK_5L7spAucX5Oz9IH-bGm4GXZEQusUOknxexj92S538KuVr4vcbLCg7AfEBTc-xwhmW3mfHscVZfzGv_AIOUHKsbBM-vbSepk3shTgXoF1J_hBRxu8138lNSm2T0_fxmYTb7_/s2121/candle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="2121" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDwuNi0AdjMEDjE1EWbg-_HVYkray_aprKWS5_ivv97bwETGzlJoK_5L7spAucX5Oz9IH-bGm4GXZEQusUOknxexj92S538KuVr4vcbLCg7AfEBTc-xwhmW3mfHscVZfzGv_AIOUHKsbBM-vbSepk3shTgXoF1J_hBRxu8138lNSm2T0_fxmYTb7_/s320/candle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Enjoy this spring day we've been granted.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-67860579937880873452023-02-27T08:36:00.002-08:002023-02-27T08:36:12.632-08:00Being Dormant<div style="text-align: center;"> <i>If you look out in the garden right now,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>unless you live somewhere very warm,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>you probably see very little in the way of growth.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWWEkAvUAzSBP0I5x5y5yne9Fne63PSPbLXKCMA09NIyW-I7a-7U26OuEU2-ifadWAwWhhSztnpVdelz58V19M_MlVtUxLsSaYIrxaw0BYR4lBIaud932za-JCfKCdW1JKygYYZ_YVaoEwqQmrKPplTMWdEJhRnsybdVoEnvH3ZCEw1txXHFbm61o/s640/IMG_5422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWWEkAvUAzSBP0I5x5y5yne9Fne63PSPbLXKCMA09NIyW-I7a-7U26OuEU2-ifadWAwWhhSztnpVdelz58V19M_MlVtUxLsSaYIrxaw0BYR4lBIaud932za-JCfKCdW1JKygYYZ_YVaoEwqQmrKPplTMWdEJhRnsybdVoEnvH3ZCEw1txXHFbm61o/w400-h300/IMG_5422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><i>Now not to get too deep, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but if you look inward,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>it's probably quite similar.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We tend to go and go and go.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Busy, busy, busy.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Many don't give this much thought, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but we need down time.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>February is that time.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's a time for us to be inside:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>both in our homes because it's so cold out,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and in our souls.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm not a certified anything,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but I would venture to say,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"We need periods of dormancy if we are to grow."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's part of the natural cycle of things.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've seen quite a few folks showing pictures of their</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>little sproutlings getting ready for the garden.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>While I do love seeing them and</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I too have been looking at my seeds and planning,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>there is a part of me that thinks,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>"Wait, I'm not ready yet."</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I need this time of dormancy.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The quiet before I get going with the daily chores</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>associated with taking care of baby plants</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>as they grow from infancy in their trays and pots</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>to graduating into the ground to later be harvested.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This isn't a very long post, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and I think I'm writing it mostly for my own well-being,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>but if you're not quite ready for the activities</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and bustle of spring,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>there is at least one other person out here.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I know by March, I will be ready.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But for now,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'll stay within.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-72804436350019006322023-01-30T14:41:00.003-08:002023-01-30T14:41:44.215-08:00~*It Usually Works Out*~<div style="text-align: center;">Well, the New Year is already a month in.</div><div style="text-align: center;">How does that happen so quickly?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would like to share a quirky little story</div><div style="text-align: center;">about something that happened to me recently.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fcNmKOPEB4AqjNGXaemXsktuzOfOy6R8VQOHq-mB7-QG3ixC5FSlk6Z6OjDP2_HMIIMXA9KCOC5AyTAwuyNHa9VAROdCoWoTw_rKD_ou36eDaFe2MAOGxkCOcyOSrEf5hN-u00F0SBmnLTQGb9sPNuP-mV0c_j20Cu4N9oP8ZS9Dw9Z438f-5aOh/s640/IMG_5305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6fcNmKOPEB4AqjNGXaemXsktuzOfOy6R8VQOHq-mB7-QG3ixC5FSlk6Z6OjDP2_HMIIMXA9KCOC5AyTAwuyNHa9VAROdCoWoTw_rKD_ou36eDaFe2MAOGxkCOcyOSrEf5hN-u00F0SBmnLTQGb9sPNuP-mV0c_j20Cu4N9oP8ZS9Dw9Z438f-5aOh/w400-h300/IMG_5305.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">~For any of those who are feeling stressed</div><div style="text-align: center;">or in doubt about a pressing matter</div><div style="text-align: center;">or uncertain about a decision to be made.~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I know that's a lot, but I do feel that many folks are struggling</div><div style="text-align: center;">with abnormal levels of pressure lately.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I will even name the incident.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Spud Basket Incident</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Shortly before Christmas, I was in a local thrift shop</div><div style="text-align: center;">looking for something particular.</div><div style="text-align: center;">While there, I saw this wonderfully made, nice quality</div><div style="text-align: center;">and very large basket.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was probably three feet tall and almost as big around.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was in great condition and the kicker was,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it was marked at $17.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wowza!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I wasn't there for a basket.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first thing that comes to mind with a basket of that size,</div><div style="text-align: center;">of course is a laundry basket.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I already have very nice laundry baskets</div><div style="text-align: center;">that I very much appreciate.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I walked away from that basket.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It wasn't something I needed at the time, and I couldn't think of </div><div style="text-align: center;">an immediate use for it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(first strike)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now that basket sorta haunted my mind for a day or two.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It really was remarkable and a great bargain.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I decided to give it to God as the saying goes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought finally what a nice potato basket it would be.</div><div style="text-align: center;">How many spuds could a basket that size hold?</div><div style="text-align: center;">How many spuds do we eat each year?</div><div style="text-align: center;">That seems like a lot of spuds.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where could I put a basket of spuds that size?</div><div style="text-align: center;">With spuds in mind, I thought if I went back and it was there,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would get it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If it wasn't there, then I wasn't meant to have it at this time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So Monday morning, I went back.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That's when I discovered they were closed on Mondays.</div><div style="text-align: center;">At that point, I counted it as a second strike.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I went back again on Tuesday.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can probably guess by now, the basket was gone.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Strike three)</div><div style="text-align: center;">I knew it was fine and accepted that I wasn't meant to have it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But to be quite honest,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was pretty deflated.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, I know.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It sounds absolutely ridiculous - it's just a basket after all.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Go ahead and roll your eyes - I understand.</div><div style="text-align: center;">However, the idea of a basket for our spuds still lingered.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I went about preparing for Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As I was walking in the spare room for some wrapping paper one day,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I saw it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You might as well roll your eyes again because here it is.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a basket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicl1Fo_JlUT4pDevQ8oT1nCCD8mE_nupLm1sJH_vdeoxUlDFnQ3nmFwpViTfkg4rHGl76ZPc9JN_q3q99RTgZxtE4055iVnuPBTg-uO5n2PmPgFbDuOvPBSBONo6u9vtNT0dJTUAI7Eck_9ZUU3NWjZy5NLs0F5-YIPuwjW95VQf_MULlF_-BSuFhE/s640/IMG_5252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicl1Fo_JlUT4pDevQ8oT1nCCD8mE_nupLm1sJH_vdeoxUlDFnQ3nmFwpViTfkg4rHGl76ZPc9JN_q3q99RTgZxtE4055iVnuPBTg-uO5n2PmPgFbDuOvPBSBONo6u9vtNT0dJTUAI7Eck_9ZUU3NWjZy5NLs0F5-YIPuwjW95VQf_MULlF_-BSuFhE/w300-h400/IMG_5252.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wait. . . what?</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's sturdy with a wire frame and well made.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It has handles for moving and is a much more realistic size.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My mom had given me my baby blankets and clothes</div><div style="text-align: center;">and not knowing what to do with them,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I stuffed them in the basket.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had purchased the basket because it was so sturdy and a good price.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Yes, I evidently have a weakness for good baskets.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">I dumped those blankets on the spare bed to deal with later</div><div style="text-align: center;">and examined the basket.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was perfect!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z8xcwugSuwVVp-Vnx9ndiMdnPgoJPkLhav2ld07OSmA8DdAhFa0ZnqpasadaCBQCMusuoQI6EOxBfEN5oNI5umSmcbPytvb3oQ0g4nDTNnR9nJSugNkaMU4AqMXxTvvyPP3ZX9hpTKrpGSAijNZB39lgXhoAUyKWGprsHPYR19RrYxtIuVT5r20j/s640/IMG_5259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z8xcwugSuwVVp-Vnx9ndiMdnPgoJPkLhav2ld07OSmA8DdAhFa0ZnqpasadaCBQCMusuoQI6EOxBfEN5oNI5umSmcbPytvb3oQ0g4nDTNnR9nJSugNkaMU4AqMXxTvvyPP3ZX9hpTKrpGSAijNZB39lgXhoAUyKWGprsHPYR19RrYxtIuVT5r20j/w300-h400/IMG_5259.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DsClBJu8E6idXXVMw5bXUxjK82RPVfnbSjaTgNWl8bUzgrTQImfhhlGVqS5pIrQSCpMNpA9_k2KVt_1WQcl38gQyegBp5woyZV41SVE9pN2lXn8R5xt8mrWSLKFHfAC2kOxhARanrogkdJNCVNsKl_tN5xsXHDNCjlA05nKDVNe1j8eUA_lqkaKa/s640/IMG_5260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DsClBJu8E6idXXVMw5bXUxjK82RPVfnbSjaTgNWl8bUzgrTQImfhhlGVqS5pIrQSCpMNpA9_k2KVt_1WQcl38gQyegBp5woyZV41SVE9pN2lXn8R5xt8mrWSLKFHfAC2kOxhARanrogkdJNCVNsKl_tN5xsXHDNCjlA05nKDVNe1j8eUA_lqkaKa/w300-h400/IMG_5260.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>I didn't have time to make a proper liner for it right then </div><div style="text-align: center;">as we were heading right into Christmas with plenty to do on that front.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I did get to it shortly thereafter.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made a liner of a good quality muslin.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've not yet made a "lid" or cover for the top,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I have our spuds in their basket and use them as needed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's working wonderfully.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCII6r9rDpE7Ai3jn511nWj5BshzCygHtEpz3rYxHzlrRa6vnJ3FSI5Sy1adp4wZC-bum0iqQNVhNqp3lKhGD9hokLG5uAcOx1UFpJ1ShSiKTepBovcpsJn604dHbx1N42LCG5aRECb2nCrBIUh9vhLnMQSrF_ZUsZg3dns5j45o8Nx3SxdV3a4lfp/s640/IMG_5300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCII6r9rDpE7Ai3jn511nWj5BshzCygHtEpz3rYxHzlrRa6vnJ3FSI5Sy1adp4wZC-bum0iqQNVhNqp3lKhGD9hokLG5uAcOx1UFpJ1ShSiKTepBovcpsJn604dHbx1N42LCG5aRECb2nCrBIUh9vhLnMQSrF_ZUsZg3dns5j45o8Nx3SxdV3a4lfp/w400-h300/IMG_5300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Had I caved and bought that giant basket on impulse,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would have a great big basket with a small amount of spuds in the bottom</div><div style="text-align: center;">or be tripping on it in our little house, or who knows what else.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a really good reminder of how </div><div style="text-align: center;">even if I want something and don't get it - </div><div style="text-align: center;">something else better is apt to show itself.</div><div style="text-align: center;">See, it's really not about a basket.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I needed the reminder,</div><div style="text-align: center;">because like many others,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've had stresses weighing on me too.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That silly spud basket lifted a little weight from my shoulders</div><div style="text-align: center;">by knowing I don't have to have everything figured out all the time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Trusting that it will all work out is often easier said than done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VayTsBEupl9JKFHLG5_UdU2wQUE8xoNZSRyw2kkuWoJs2tH0BItuIFXqG_QQ05_h4-Ln4ufu5aid6PIo3I2bbJ8TGJOCDnfGfMuoKujnBAfhyRC7El6zmzkirCtJ8teXvrtjwvSz3Tts8GduQhmhBhbNBpcGhkp-pff0LtxMH2m5tTQsOfuX42-f/s640/69439666023__FA8170AE-FD8C-47F2-B2F1-F88155C7CF16.fullsizerender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VayTsBEupl9JKFHLG5_UdU2wQUE8xoNZSRyw2kkuWoJs2tH0BItuIFXqG_QQ05_h4-Ln4ufu5aid6PIo3I2bbJ8TGJOCDnfGfMuoKujnBAfhyRC7El6zmzkirCtJ8teXvrtjwvSz3Tts8GduQhmhBhbNBpcGhkp-pff0LtxMH2m5tTQsOfuX42-f/w300-h400/69439666023__FA8170AE-FD8C-47F2-B2F1-F88155C7CF16.fullsizerender.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whatever giant basket is haunting your mind,</div><div style="text-align: center;">just know something better will present itself</div><div style="text-align: center;">and that it usually works out.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And with that,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope, dear friends, you have a splendid day~ </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-15786728532700077012022-12-19T10:34:00.001-08:002022-12-21T05:40:29.617-08:00Simple Traditions<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Good Morning Dear Friends</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We have been busy as ever </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>as I am sure many are this time of year.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>For many in the trades,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> work seems to slow down about now through spring.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>That's not happened for us since opening the business.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Though a bit of a break would be nice at times,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>it truly is a blessing to have the work.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EnFO5IDaSoSATIGnnAF7HLgnB4mJmeLHS6KCm35PnSPxm8hdNN77bLgYVhPenaVcQhLtoZsIwIGyiqsq0ELGDJAQ8gh1iFwZit6Rzy58Z8SrbF5W9EQzuuGm892yzQt1D6Dl3J8WPwrkrst8f9KKzojesnPvn5XfpghpoXiRtTsypMW8lmEeqo06/s640/69299720562__2BDCD75F-F88E-429F-AC05-261538372F2C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EnFO5IDaSoSATIGnnAF7HLgnB4mJmeLHS6KCm35PnSPxm8hdNN77bLgYVhPenaVcQhLtoZsIwIGyiqsq0ELGDJAQ8gh1iFwZit6Rzy58Z8SrbF5W9EQzuuGm892yzQt1D6Dl3J8WPwrkrst8f9KKzojesnPvn5XfpghpoXiRtTsypMW8lmEeqo06/w300-h400/69299720562__2BDCD75F-F88E-429F-AC05-261538372F2C.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(This is the one for our friends.)</i></span><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Every year, we go get our Christmas tree</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>about a week to week and a half before Christmas.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We put real candles on the tree</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>so there is no way we could have a month old tree</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and not have a fire hazard.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Also, I'm not sure I could handle a tree in the house</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>for that length of time.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It always feels nice and clean when it all comes down</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and is put away for another year.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmLNP1bMLRLJl3pPe5IHu-LuWVlTSFSyz7Kymq82e8VMAJunV3hd3JvdRaRPSJwI71nPGEyjXZO8W9n3kLKdU0Ac_yMe8d1Q96H9u0Sp99v5NhqGHJ7uBMbr8ejm8yTH2lhJcz3jJ7XqYP3SRC9LKwOszmz75d7BaNpCUQm_XsWMxpy1su_VIKp3X/s640/69299784043__2A721A8D-F8F3-477E-8811-96ED8048CEC4.fullsizerender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmLNP1bMLRLJl3pPe5IHu-LuWVlTSFSyz7Kymq82e8VMAJunV3hd3JvdRaRPSJwI71nPGEyjXZO8W9n3kLKdU0Ac_yMe8d1Q96H9u0Sp99v5NhqGHJ7uBMbr8ejm8yTH2lhJcz3jJ7XqYP3SRC9LKwOszmz75d7BaNpCUQm_XsWMxpy1su_VIKp3X/w300-h400/69299784043__2A721A8D-F8F3-477E-8811-96ED8048CEC4.fullsizerender.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(A clear beautiful day.)</i></span><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It has been cloudy and foggy here for the past couple weeks.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>When we headed up the mountain to our usual place,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>we broke through the clouds and were greeted with</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>wonderful bright sunshine.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Up on top where we stop and begin hiking,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>it was 16*.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The chill felt good along with the prospect of an </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>evergreen to liven up our living room.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We found one for us and one for some friends</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>who have 2 little ones and weren't able to go get one.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Once we find the tree(s) and make it back to the rig,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>we have "real" hot chocky waiting for us.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's a welcome treat after trekking through the snow.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It doesn't take very long walking in the snow</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>to get the heart rate up.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(Especially if you have short legs like me 😊</i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">) </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">This year someone had left about a 3' base section of their tree</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">which I dragged back to use as bows around the house.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">It smells so good!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">We now have the tree in the house and as decorated</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">as it's going to get.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XsO453G3CaM4haBAmISR2BkqNtQd4B3dBAhRAYd2bB4EONnjy_lXkwOg2Y89JgDqU8egRGSxjBKC1CwwZ_l3AvNA23lTpzT7ARr-gn6p0TgYwausXdiBflDrEuQsEr8q_qcanXvSIiDgHszZfEMUWwZlMDrLxelj4qwWIrvreGUbnrSMXcvvSBOV/s640/IMG_5240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XsO453G3CaM4haBAmISR2BkqNtQd4B3dBAhRAYd2bB4EONnjy_lXkwOg2Y89JgDqU8egRGSxjBKC1CwwZ_l3AvNA23lTpzT7ARr-gn6p0TgYwausXdiBflDrEuQsEr8q_qcanXvSIiDgHszZfEMUWwZlMDrLxelj4qwWIrvreGUbnrSMXcvvSBOV/w300-h400/IMG_5240.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u>(</u><i>Done)</i></span><br /><i style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">We don't worry about perfect décor or the perfect shape.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>That's not what it's all about.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We have made this journey every year for ages</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and don't see an end to it any time soon.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's these little acts or traditions if you will.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>That's part of what makes us reliable.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Our children can depend upon certain things,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and that helps create stability.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>For young and old alike,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>we like the things we can depend on.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It doesn't have to be anything big or extravagant.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's often the simple things that mean the most.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOzVPSWbzuMgNGt7eKAzXV1ZtWSa4l2as94UnYYwCkeYmt7n7mqJVipJ67Ti7WDuEuVO75SD1js6OJpfEmWQBRNHq43ypESASImMtjrkuWzXp8SzqErokBc57Ev7hD8nYAzugPVFbUcHXevjekx1iBkADaV0N8IdXnpZIvy5siXI6z6gArwvcL-2u/s640/69292885214__E158838E-8A5F-43BB-9D75-3DE4CAEE5F43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOzVPSWbzuMgNGt7eKAzXV1ZtWSa4l2as94UnYYwCkeYmt7n7mqJVipJ67Ti7WDuEuVO75SD1js6OJpfEmWQBRNHq43ypESASImMtjrkuWzXp8SzqErokBc57Ev7hD8nYAzugPVFbUcHXevjekx1iBkADaV0N8IdXnpZIvy5siXI6z6gArwvcL-2u/w300-h400/69292885214__E158838E-8A5F-43BB-9D75-3DE4CAEE5F43.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(So much help.)</i></span><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Wishing each of you</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>a Merry Christmas</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and a blessed New Year.</i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-33295129357382930702022-11-28T15:12:00.001-08:002022-11-28T15:12:06.646-08:00A Little Stitchin' Time<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've been working in the fun room.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It been a game of sorting and nixing and did I mention sorting?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I began a pinwheel quilt-top last spring.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I had the pinwheels arranged on the floor.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>And there they sat. . . </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>all summer!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The garden happened, and that was all there was to it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Then the garden ran late~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Finally, during the past couple weeks,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've been able to get back to it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I finished the quilt-top.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8m8Qfn_oCxS91nE5R26L5B6w8lgC5-VGc3x7MsviCFnI2lnNRNZcsU5FxmQ-74Cm5In5Hw0fkHbdF8kKJucSg7AtxP5VZ3bIacE_cAz1C6aSkc319XpL2A_9Tfn4wki1LhrztHZ0wMuNRB_NOsLOZSPts63L2KpkAZe-Lkj63_uFpQvzJQ054mXP/s640/IMG_5145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8m8Qfn_oCxS91nE5R26L5B6w8lgC5-VGc3x7MsviCFnI2lnNRNZcsU5FxmQ-74Cm5In5Hw0fkHbdF8kKJucSg7AtxP5VZ3bIacE_cAz1C6aSkc319XpL2A_9Tfn4wki1LhrztHZ0wMuNRB_NOsLOZSPts63L2KpkAZe-Lkj63_uFpQvzJQ054mXP/w480-h640/IMG_5145.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have to finish the quilt I'm quilting now</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>which is taking forever.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Then I have another one in front of it,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>then I can get to this one.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe4yYrB-p5S59TwpILMxLFoc-ye-7XdTrzCqhuk5lftSwAzsBBP3Mjdi0_V8E6vfi-a_QJZt5wgM7wSWJ13I_cpoFYSJQBokAcYLsbi2Kycl7G2thn-9mkAGDUN6mcRz0yN4DagV4-KWnvERiLmCMJNYvPm4wprN2_xCHvB6q-TZ8aCQWz3kxi2oE/s640/IMG_5140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe4yYrB-p5S59TwpILMxLFoc-ye-7XdTrzCqhuk5lftSwAzsBBP3Mjdi0_V8E6vfi-a_QJZt5wgM7wSWJ13I_cpoFYSJQBokAcYLsbi2Kycl7G2thn-9mkAGDUN6mcRz0yN4DagV4-KWnvERiLmCMJNYvPm4wprN2_xCHvB6q-TZ8aCQWz3kxi2oE/w480-h640/IMG_5140.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i>(before the borders)</i><br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>As I have been stitching,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have also been trying to go through things </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and do what I like to call "editing."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have done plenty of good ol' organizing,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and I have a stack of things to go to donation.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>In addition to that, I've been trying to think</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>of projects to "use up" some fabric.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>One of the things I've wanted to do for a long time</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>is make new ironing board covers.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have two ironing boards - both vintage/antique.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The covers on both were in dire condition.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The larger board, I use for shirts and household ironing.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The smaller board, I like by my quilting </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>for pressing blocks </i></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">and quilt pieces.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">I figured I would make a new cover for the smaller one.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">So I gathered some fabric and set out to work.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YBQBR_w2dBNTGEb37KPUD-GH8UQpImT40jTCcLepqNv7NJtJkgC-Q3ahJARDOYFRToYMvovXfYD3YFXXFWlOhYCuuS5-GsOmvK5J8X6spfxE-SX02qjAGFf1iq2REAl4Mt_CLhXgFlmvrriRCXGYbbQPkWMgVKRValZs5FFiYEmW6xIQk_8OCQZB/s640/IMG_5160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YBQBR_w2dBNTGEb37KPUD-GH8UQpImT40jTCcLepqNv7NJtJkgC-Q3ahJARDOYFRToYMvovXfYD3YFXXFWlOhYCuuS5-GsOmvK5J8X6spfxE-SX02qjAGFf1iq2REAl4Mt_CLhXgFlmvrriRCXGYbbQPkWMgVKRValZs5FFiYEmW6xIQk_8OCQZB/w480-h640/IMG_5160.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana;">Well, I didn't feel like measuring and thought I could just wing it.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I thought wrong.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Cheater cheater Punkin eater - never pays.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>In this case, it was too big so I went ahead </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and put it on the larger board.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRw82BTdZfLXRDaOrYH-Tafe36GhLDKWre9TreTueNcbUvmhQFjj5pURUtDrTLSV0-1Jx1s8AV0tBdXPZLUwnDDDV3Ci_MVtwAeXZmWLC-fsU7etpNsATSDMJmrvPzTomHb_xYWIfvhZWtFcnhWquqUa3gXYeVGODXi4ja67YWH2NQ8qTpzkOw2T6/s640/IMG_5168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRw82BTdZfLXRDaOrYH-Tafe36GhLDKWre9TreTueNcbUvmhQFjj5pURUtDrTLSV0-1Jx1s8AV0tBdXPZLUwnDDDV3Ci_MVtwAeXZmWLC-fsU7etpNsATSDMJmrvPzTomHb_xYWIfvhZWtFcnhWquqUa3gXYeVGODXi4ja67YWH2NQ8qTpzkOw2T6/w480-h640/IMG_5168.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It worked fine but then I still had the smaller board to cover.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Fn_KxzW-szQgV2zl_dNCy1nwD6o3q6rsi7i3NNgnG2K6Tu9iM7UTmKzD4ka6npwGt0-PnMTpV9hgp1tco2EXq6iZp98em18ykQ_-4PY6sRNyyGDOK_ChmtVgDr6anfYa0uZY5j5fSA9eNqLyjDZM0qOnv5MPJpmLW_3mcNxHAUsxhmjAIeVJQCLv/s640/IMG_5165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Fn_KxzW-szQgV2zl_dNCy1nwD6o3q6rsi7i3NNgnG2K6Tu9iM7UTmKzD4ka6npwGt0-PnMTpV9hgp1tco2EXq6iZp98em18ykQ_-4PY6sRNyyGDOK_ChmtVgDr6anfYa0uZY5j5fSA9eNqLyjDZM0qOnv5MPJpmLW_3mcNxHAUsxhmjAIeVJQCLv/w480-h640/IMG_5165.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Back at it but this time I measured like a good girl.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprH4X-RNuAF2v2QNosZ_yRvGXN5DAMp_uWidDpTuhrYLobhR9Ris-c4z-SRq_b25A8tWouvBgG9rYPmu4gjLvCisWgONXRdJemZgCvDLD1_ryOIopLIJiqDZ3UZD32Vdb4_4_ZAMVWBTVywcdcsPTnBp_n8Rv4rKx2tMmaGaKjcRuQGA8NbGAMAGt/s640/IMG_5169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprH4X-RNuAF2v2QNosZ_yRvGXN5DAMp_uWidDpTuhrYLobhR9Ris-c4z-SRq_b25A8tWouvBgG9rYPmu4gjLvCisWgONXRdJemZgCvDLD1_ryOIopLIJiqDZ3UZD32Vdb4_4_ZAMVWBTVywcdcsPTnBp_n8Rv4rKx2tMmaGaKjcRuQGA8NbGAMAGt/w480-h640/IMG_5169.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span><i style="font-family: verdana;">It looks more "wine" colored than it really is.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Both work great and it cleans up the room that much more</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>having a couple more pieces of fabric out of the stash</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and not having ratty looking ironing boards around.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's funny how something so simple can render a sense of accomplishment and pleasure in using it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's nice to move back indoors for the winter.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Our first flakes fell this morning.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Nothing sticking and I still had to go to work,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but enjoyable to see nonetheless.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>By February we will be singing a different tune.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>But for now~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>the first snowfall is cause for celebration.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Keep well and warm dear friends. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-19785231166610349482022-11-03T10:32:00.004-07:002022-11-03T12:36:30.532-07:00It's About Today<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Have any of you noticed how the days are growing shorter?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Well, let me share.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>As I type this, it is Halloween.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I suppose it is officially the Holiday Season.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>While I very much enjoy the holidays,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>each in their turn,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I enjoy each day for what it is.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The made up hoopla prior to each of these </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>promoting early and excessive spending</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>isn't the part I appreciate.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I mentioned in my last post that we keep it</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>pretty simple as far as gifts go.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil7Gn-2zM05YQKkKoK5gnQQpAcLN40VbTnsxWuz2TOPbbtgDh8HrAD_3JdFQkAXod1S1WTDUvpEuoX8Am45DM0V9G15cLqp5nTZL1j4_YHQbcZXNrtwX8DQJj7q_t0FEdyUkJhggHOXvzgel5PJIWh6Zv8aFraphyF5l_HUz_ByLQdahn5ah452B17" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil7Gn-2zM05YQKkKoK5gnQQpAcLN40VbTnsxWuz2TOPbbtgDh8HrAD_3JdFQkAXod1S1WTDUvpEuoX8Am45DM0V9G15cLqp5nTZL1j4_YHQbcZXNrtwX8DQJj7q_t0FEdyUkJhggHOXvzgel5PJIWh6Zv8aFraphyF5l_HUz_ByLQdahn5ah452B17=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.elitetreecare.com%2F2019%2F10%2Falternative-uses-for-autumn-leaves%2F&psig=AOvVaw0HTelKT_nJKkyZfaeTX4uS&ust=1667583010806000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCMi3k_rEkvsCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE">Source</a><br /><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>There were some wonderful comments.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(Thank you for each of those)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My thinker got stuck on that bit.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I wasn't sure why but seeing the Halloween costumes,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>the Thanksgiving paper plates, and the Christmas </i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>décor</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>all being presented for sale at the same time</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>might have had something to do with it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Please don't get me wrong.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I like seeing little ones dressed up as puppies</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> or super</i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>heroes or goblins.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I love the idea of giving thanks for our blessings</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>as we sit down to a feast with our loved ones.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>And I very much appreciate celebrating</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>the birth of our Savior.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Each of these is really a celebration of the heart.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We can enjoy each day just as much</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>as the day set on the calendar telling us to do so.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I think everyday last week was</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"Look at the jewel-coloured leaves day."</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Today is "Blessings falling in drops from Heaven day."</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Tomorrow is looking like another of those.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We've not had real rain for quite a while so it's much needed.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's cool and blustery</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>so tomorrow might be a "Yummy bowl of hot soup day" also.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I'm not saying all this simply to be a PollyAnna.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's to be a rebel of sorts.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>You already knew I was a rebel though right?</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We don't need to be told when or how to celebrate.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We can do our own thing.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I had a friend in college who's family </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>went skiing for Easter </i></span></span><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">each year instead of looking for eggs.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">They were actually very involved in their church,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">so this surprised me, but it's what their family did.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">It's the perfect example.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">They didn't do what others did or expected.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">They were/are a wonderful family and did their own thing.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">We can each do that.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: verdana; text-align: left;">Go ahead and celebrate the day you are given</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">since we aren't guaranteed a tomorrow.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">How you celebrate is entirely up to you.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Have a cup of the good coffee or tea.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Allow yourself an extra 10 minutes to read in a favorite book.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Go for a walk around the block.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Or just look out the window and appreciate the beauty.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The celebration can be internal, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">in your heart.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Perspective is a wonderful thing.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, being a rebel is sorta fun too.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Happy, Merry, Jolly Today</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(and tomorrow too).</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-1859679731689015532022-10-18T10:55:00.003-07:002022-10-18T10:55:51.826-07:00It All Went Away<div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Not sure how things are going in your area,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but we have had the strangest year in the garden.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Everything is a full three weeks later than normal.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pjxrUdqSiH8nFIPIQoOL-UyoRPRbcCI1NecmpV6DhBgRmbKIbmJT5qWgsSDUkBrEB1-53kJHhRIQL1cknIQcw0_YAxMFZWm4v6NiqXgtYPH6beg8iDEB_swI4SMZ-1Jv5eyLIYrBMRDJfgWeFl3zkjU9XeBM-8Eg8xq4yEx3TDEqGLtPNriAKmz_/s640/IMG_4982.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pjxrUdqSiH8nFIPIQoOL-UyoRPRbcCI1NecmpV6DhBgRmbKIbmJT5qWgsSDUkBrEB1-53kJHhRIQL1cknIQcw0_YAxMFZWm4v6NiqXgtYPH6beg8iDEB_swI4SMZ-1Jv5eyLIYrBMRDJfgWeFl3zkjU9XeBM-8Eg8xq4yEx3TDEqGLtPNriAKmz_/w300-h400/IMG_4982.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>This basket is a good 20"-22" diameter.<br /><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>As of writing this,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>it is mid October.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Our beans and tomatoes are finally "coming on."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>My eggplant has produced 2 fruit since spring.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>At the moment it has 5 fruit on it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We are expected to have mild temperatures for the next</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>week so I should be able to harvest them.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Typically, by the beginning of October,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I have already or am in the process of putting the garden</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>to bed for winter.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I currently have a couple tomato plants I will be pulling this weekend but the others are loaded both with ripe and green fruit.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We ran pretty low this year since we weren't getting much</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>in the way of fresh produce from our garden.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's been a good lesson for me</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>to get as much as I can while I can.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The current prices at the grocery store are also </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>pretty good incentive.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We also got a ton of delicious mild onions.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Well, not a full ton (heehee) but a lot!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I've been sorting them into boxes with brown paper</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>between layers to preserve some for fresh,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but I've had the dehydrator earning its keep, for sure.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>In addition, we've been going full throttle at work</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>so extra time off hasn't been possible.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I could work full time at work and full time at home lately.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Thus the reason for so few posts.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLN4jQodSiL1yzPBkMGUzsHgbA5A2PUPXDsVjMDfUnDWpyQbEBJKSFAV4zdfO75vPqbHqL2h4LzABliKFW3fmkicf5qocZRb_1m5aLlu9OM5eSPZ1DdVBGWtuPC__uYHaMej8p9T2L5uvNJBQfV7KbmSCC4HV4cXgaaCO1qFhdxIxAFt3qcm-OmHk/s640/IMG_4977.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLN4jQodSiL1yzPBkMGUzsHgbA5A2PUPXDsVjMDfUnDWpyQbEBJKSFAV4zdfO75vPqbHqL2h4LzABliKFW3fmkicf5qocZRb_1m5aLlu9OM5eSPZ1DdVBGWtuPC__uYHaMej8p9T2L5uvNJBQfV7KbmSCC4HV4cXgaaCO1qFhdxIxAFt3qcm-OmHk/w400-h300/IMG_4977.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Now to get to what the title is all about.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>This year, Hubby put in for an elk hunting tag in Montana</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>with a long time friend of his who also enjoys bow hunting.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Bow season is earlier than rifle seasons so it's usually quieter.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>FYI: MT hunting licenses and tags are expensive!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Well, two weeks before they were scheduled to leave,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>his friend had a massive heart attack and flat-lined twice.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>He has miraculously lived to tell it himself,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but needless to say, he wasn't able to go hunting.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Hubby went for two long weekends by himself</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>which neither of us were really wild about.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>There is no phone service out there, and it's not an area</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>either of us is familiar with.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(His friend has hunted there for years.)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The third week of the season, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>he asked if I'd want to go if we took the trailer</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and left on Tuesday and came back on Sunday.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>For both of us to leave the business,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and for me to leave the garden and kitchen</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>right when everything was going nuts,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>was a difficult decision to make.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I finally thought, you know what?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It's all going to be here when I get back.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>I could work myself to the grave, or I could go</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>and take a break that was very much needed.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>So we went~</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>The first day there, I took three, <b>3</b>, III naps!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It was beautiful!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We camped right next to a creek off a very remote dirt road.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>And for a few days,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>it all went away.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No work.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No politics.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No banking or balancing books.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No urgency.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No food preservation.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No worries.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No people.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>No noise.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It was so wonderful.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>It was the longest vacation we've taken since we've been married, going on 12 years.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We somewhat reluctantly returned home Sunday night about 8PM, and the alarm went off at 4:30 Monday morning.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>We've both been going non-stop since we returned,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>but for just a couple days,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>it all went away.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> </i></span></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885548773613247997.post-52314000270823164382022-10-12T09:33:00.002-07:002022-10-12T09:33:44.264-07:00Look Both Ways<div style="text-align: center;">You might not believe this,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but yesterday I heard a little news</div><div style="text-align: center;">discussing Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you believe it?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am still in the garden and the kitchen.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Everything is a full three weeks late this year</div><div style="text-align: center;">so I am finally getting tomatoes and green beans.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq7kocgQ73oZ3BfK0y3fJGKU_m26q7Wp7ECxCO8s8Jle9Gee2MGEwlpNovlOQc2xBqVwlQ0Of9dgjPtQkQV_4S6l1IjKWEU9MnsKQIuXcFJQH_RPx4lgT2YFNnONTU1qHtpGzUwGVdsscCQPzu80DkDniMpew-0vRwxbalp2UnWu1P5O5jE1kzqNK4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1336" data-original-width="1800" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhq7kocgQ73oZ3BfK0y3fJGKU_m26q7Wp7ECxCO8s8Jle9Gee2MGEwlpNovlOQc2xBqVwlQ0Of9dgjPtQkQV_4S6l1IjKWEU9MnsKQIuXcFJQH_RPx4lgT2YFNnONTU1qHtpGzUwGVdsscCQPzu80DkDniMpew-0vRwxbalp2UnWu1P5O5jE1kzqNK4=w400-h297" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wabashamn.org%2Fevent%2Fold-fashioned-christmas-2%2F&psig=AOvVaw2MZ190hX7qSFFy7llbGFOx&ust=1665678731874000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjhxqFwoTCMC_jfuO2_oCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK">(Source)</a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For some reason, it really struck me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">More of a "Wait, what's today? When is Christmas?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">sorta striking.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It did get me to thinking though.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I realize I'm odd in my thinking,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but when I hear things like this, </div><div style="text-align: center;">it's often later that I really offer much consideration to the topic.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So as I was pondering Christmas,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a feeling of Christmas past, if you will,</div><div style="text-align: center;">came over me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I reflected on some merry times, both from my youth and that of my children's, then up through the years.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My heart kinda smiled.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I thought of Christmases even further back in time,</div><div style="text-align: center;">those I've read about but wasn't alive to encounter.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I thought of the contrast.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The joy of some Christmas candy or small token</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the exhaustion of the mountains of presents to open</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then filter through and deal with.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course those of you who know me</div><div style="text-align: center;">know I appreciate the simple things and history.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I reflected upon the report I heard</div><div style="text-align: center;">discussing the upcoming Christmas</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the forecast for the next few Christmases.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was a little saddened.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I fear many older children and younger adults</div><div style="text-align: center;">might not like what's ahead. </div><div style="text-align: center;">They've been spoiled with volume.</div><div style="text-align: center;">One woman actually said if she gave her son a gift of socks,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and needful items that he would probably throw it away.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was appalled, but my first thought was that it was the mom's fault</div><div style="text-align: center;">for setting expectations and not teaching him </div><div style="text-align: center;">the real meaning of Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What I am about to say is not to open a political conversation,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but to encourage you and hopefully help prepare you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are in a recession and headed full force towards a depression.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am saying this based on observation</div><div style="text-align: center;">instead of what any news source is/isn't broadcasting.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Businesses are closing and reducing hours.</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are pan-handlers begging right out in front of businesses</div><div style="text-align: center;">with "help wanted" signs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The prices at the grocery store keep going up </div><div style="text-align: center;">and the size of the packages becomes smaller. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In order to prepare our own hearts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I would ask what we expect - each of us,</div><div style="text-align: center;">not just for Christmas, but every day.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have we set our selves up like that mom has her son?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do we expect so much that we would be disappointed</div><div style="text-align: center;">if we didn't get some glorious gift or lifestyle?</div><div style="text-align: center;">What happens when we don't get what we want?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's actually a pretty deep question, I know.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't expect anybody to answer out loud,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but if you think later like I do</div><div style="text-align: center;">and think your loved ones are headed towards disappointment,</div><div style="text-align: center;">there might be time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As I type this, the calendar tells me there are 74 days until</div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our family came to grips quite a few years ago.</div><div style="text-align: center;">None of us had tons of money.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nor did we need or actually want more "stuff."</div><div style="text-align: center;">We all came to an agreement of one small gift each.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We changed our focus from "I still have to buy. . ."</div><div style="text-align: center;">to "What can I bring or do?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">We enjoy our time as a family and a "feast."</div><div style="text-align: center;">We count our blessings instead of presents.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And you know what?</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's usually a joyous day.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As you look forward,</div><div style="text-align: center;">if you do think your loved ones are revving up for a let down,</div><div style="text-align: center;">now might be a great time to "bring it on home" as I like to say.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have the conversation.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Set the expectations appropriately.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Share love rather than things.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perhaps some still want to go all out but as belts tighten,</div><div style="text-align: center;">knowing one has love and acceptance and</div><div style="text-align: center;">understanding someone else knows the struggle</div><div style="text-align: center;">can be a comfort and make things not only more barrable,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but even merry.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love Christmas and the Reason we celebrate,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but for the time being</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm still in the garden.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lady Locusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12661298925602199106noreply@blogger.com9