Life and Goals...

I've noticed that some of my friends are posting about goals.  Hey, I have goals too.  Though I don't usually write them down there are two main ones.  First, that I would grow closer to God, and Two, that I'd get stuff done in a timely manner.  I have many things to do, but mostly it's just everyday stuff and if it doesn't get done when it supposed to it throws the whole schedule off mightly. 

Some days I feel as though I am just sliding along on the surface... no real grip.  It's easy to get pushed around when life is like that.  I really want to dig deeper into my faith and family.  I've purchased a couple books that I hope to actually READ.  I think those along with my Bible time will help me to get a better hold on things. 

My schedule revolves around work, cleaning, cooking, and sleeping... anything else is an extra.   If I have a down time I've been knitting a sweater vest for the Grandboy coming in March.  I do try to reach out to others when the opportunities arrise.  For the most part, my world revolves around my home.  I like it there, but need to also be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I have found that just about the time I get comfortable someplace things begin to change.

It has been a lot of fun having my daughter living here.  She drops in after work and we chat about the day.  She's getting rounder and rounder and looking forward to when her little boy will be here. 
Feels like spring in the Nor'east.  The sugaring has actually started already in some places around the area.  Hard to believe, but I'm not sure we'll get any big snows this year.  After last year with snow storm after snow storm you'd think we'd be happy... I am :)

My mind is already turning to gardening.  I've gotta get the apple tree pruned before is starts setting buds.  It needs another spraying this spring too to keep all the bugs off.  As soon as the soil is thawed and dry enough I'll be able to go down and till it.  I want to plant some new herbs this year in the herb garden.  I have oregano established, also caraway and camomile and some wild flowers to attract the bees, but I want rosemary if I can find one that will take the hard winters up here and also lemon verbena.  I would like to get lavender started but none of my seeds germinated last year.  I'll try again this year.  If I can get it started, I'll pull up and get rid of the wildflowers and keep the lavendar.  The wildflowers want to take over the whole space.    Looking forward also to some parsnips this spring.

Pictures of our recent trip to Maine...

Mr. D and I with Mom and Dad (the birthday boy)

The birthday pie... my do we like to eat :)

The siblings... must have been tough to be the only boy :)

Taking a snooze with Spot... Spot's favorite lap

HODGE PODGE WEDNESDAY

I finally remembered to post this on Wednesday... usually I don't get to it till Thursday or Friday, but it's a little slower pace today so here I am :)

1. February 22nd is National Be Humble Day...what makes you proud? What keeps you humble?
I am humbled when I look about and see the accomplishments of many women who are working full-time and have children and families and then look at my own life and see the lack of accomplishment.  I'm having a hard time with the "proud" part... not that I don't feel pride in certain things from time-to-time.  When I see one of the beautiful paintings that Joanna has done, or see Heather standing tall and straight in her police uniform or I see the enthusiasm in the eyes of my grandson when he's talking about spiritual things... or when my husband stands firm on his beliefs even if there are many who would see it as foolishness.... those are times when I feel proud.


2. Where is the catch-all (aka dumping ground) in your house?
Any flat, vacant surface.  Nature abhors a void.

3. Do you make it a point to visit State/National Parks when you travel or even in your own hometown? What's your favorite?
We have many natural areas in our "neck-of-the-woods", my favorites all have rivers or waterfalls.  I like a small gorge in Reading, VT which is not a state or national park, but is beautiful and we've taken the kid hiking there several times.  Then there is Sculptured Rocks in Groton, NH which is a Geologic Site on the Cockermouth River.  As the name suggests it is an area where the water has eroded the rocks to form smooth rocky banks and bowls.  Local people like to swim up there in summer, but I just like to hike around in the area and admire the really beautiful creation of God.

4. How would you define honor?
Honor is what you give to someone who has done an heroic deed.  It could be a life of being consistently honorable which is even more heroic.  Honor belongs to the Lord first of all just for who He is, His life and His sacrifice to redeem us all from sin.   There are those who deserve honor these days as well for standing for what is right and doing the right thing in the face of adversity.   
5. Angel's food or Devil's food-which cake do you prefer?
My dad used to make a Strawberry Jello cake with Angel food Cake and it was delicious, but it's gotta be Devil's food...  dark chocolate cake with dark chocolate frosting... yum!

6. What's the most recent road trip you've taken? Where did you go and how many hours did you spend in the car? Do you like to zoom to your destination without stopping or leisurely wind your way there with stops along the way? What is your car snack of choice?
We just returned from a weekend trip to Maine which is a three hour trip for us.  We went to celebrate my Father-in-law's birthday.  It was a wonderful weekend filled with relatives and laughter and food and relaxation too.  We usually like to take our time traveling.  There is a wonderful quilt shop along the route.  We had planned to start early enough to take a few detours, but just as we were ready to drive out, a car was coming up the driveway... the tax assessor coming to measure stuff and look around.  Well, that took another hour out of our trip time.  It ended up the only place we stopped on our way was at the gas station.  I like to keep something to drink in the car... water or juice or soda, whatever.  When I'm traveling a very long distance something crunchy is good to have.  A cooler with celery sticks and carrot stick and maybe pretzels.  The crunchiness keeps me more alert when I'm driving. 

7. Recent headlines told how a preschool child in NC had their packed lunch from home taken away and a school lunch substituted by a school inspector who deemed the homemade lunch unhealthy. Reportedly the parent was then billed for the school lunch (chicken nugget meal) although an update to the story says the parent was not billed. The inspector was conducting a routine inspection of the classroom-he/she was not there solely to peek in the lunchboxes. The packed lunch contained a turkey and cheese sandwich, an apple juice box, a bag of chips, and a banana. You can read the story here. Your thoughts?
Just another example of  "BIG GOVERNMENT".  What a slap in the face to this mother who was trying to do the right thing and cared enough to pack a nutritious lunch for her daughter.  Yikes!  I think this story is just plain scary.  Next thing you know they'll be meal planning for us in our homes.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Random thoughts...hmmmm... my thoughts are just too scattered today to really buckle down to one subject.  I've tried several times to get a post together to put up on the blog... evidenced by the three posts still stuck in edit.

I've been thinking a lot about being a grandmother again soon.  I ordered some cloth diapers for Joanna today along with pins and pants.  I've also been thinking about what needs to be done next... picking up produce after work and stopping by the drugstore and getting home in time for prayer meeting.  This is generally the way my brain functions... just getting things done.  I have a post on goals which I'll put up today... maybe... or tomorrow.  I've wanted to add some pictures, but haven't really taken any recently.  Well, that's not really true, I did take some in Maine so I guess I could put those up here.  I'm thinking about what I might make for supper tonight.  I have hamburger meat and fish and lots of veggies.  I'm wondering if Joanna is going to get off early tonight.  She said she wasn't feeling well, with a sore throat, and had an important task to do too... so I'll find out when I get home.  If she's home I might make a big chicken soup.  

Well, is that random enough for ya?  Crazy isn't it how our minds float from one thing to the next. 

My lunch is about over, so I'll try to post here this afternoon if there's time.

Have a wonderful day!