Christian Photographers Community

Greetings Everyone  Please will you keep in your thoughts the people who lost their lives in New Zealand yesterday. And most of them at prayer.


Also, the families and friends who lost their loved ones.

Good morning, Friends!  The day has arrived!  We will be leaving home to drive to Garden City airport in about three hours now!  Please pray for health and safety for us if you think about us these next 17 days.  Thank you!

I wasn't aware until a day or two ago about the terrible flooding in our neighboring state of Nebraska!  Almost half the state is under water, with such great losses of property and livestock--nothing on the news until last evening!  (My niece had posted a prayer request on FB earlier.)  So many desperate needs in the world, but God is aware of all and He is in control!  Blessed  be the Name of the Lord!

I had a very nice phone visit with our sweet Ruth Ann last evening.  She requests our prayers for physical healing and that her upcoming move to be near her daughter goes well.  She will be on the ground floor and have NO stairs!  She's so excited!  And so thankful that the nodules in her lung that were thought to be cancer have DISAPPEARED!!  Praise the Name of God!!  She is having problems with her computer and cannot get in here to post very often, so asked me to give you this news.

I still need to shower and get ready, then I can pack my makeup and other last minute items.  Looking forward to a wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating trip, and thank you all for your good wishes and your prayers!!  I love you all!

Safe trip prayers for you Janet.

Hi Everyone.  The day is starting out a bit cloudy but we are suppose to have partly cloudy a part of the day with a high of 65.  Yesterday turned out to be a day of great weariness for me and am beginning to wonder it if it worth the price to get out of the house as the last two times the following day I am exhausted.  I seem to be feeling better this morning although won't win any races and didn't want to get up this morning.  I will listen to our Church service from last week in a little bit.  I did watch a lot of basketball yesterday with some really good games.  There are two or three tournaments that will finish up this afternoon and then this evening they will announce the brackets for the bit NCAA tournament, which all of the vie for all year. 

Rebot, it sounds like the special software not only has to be trained but the user as well with the abbreviations.  My good friend, with Parkinson's Disease uses the less sophisticated version as his hands shake so much it makes typing difficult.   They have some wonderful software and hardware for for people with physical impairments.  I am fortunate to have very good dexterity with my hands and don't even have any arthritis in them as many people my age do. Does the software do a good job with the Manx language?  That was a terrible tragedy in New Zealand yesterday with the lives of many people changed forever. 

Janet, I doubt you will see this until you return from your trip but if you do just want to again say I hope you will have (or have had) a delightful and restful long trip.  I will miss your daily postings.  Glad you were able to talk with Ruth Ann and so happy for Ruth Ann being able to relocate near her daughter and certainly good news on her health situation. 

Hi Marilyn.  I hope you and all who look in here today will have a good day.

Heather was having a hard time this past week with remembering the loss of her daughter.  I texted her the words of this hymn and before she got it she went to clean a room and started humming it.  Then she got my message.... It is interesting when you have a message so quickly confirmed by God.

Greetings Larry   As we said it was people going about their prayers in New Zealand and losing their lives. It is a splendid country and this should not happen there or anywhere else for that matter.      

Richards ( my other half ) his sisters only grandaughter who is living in Christchurch was working in a garage near to one of those mosques, so his sister told him.

...Apologies if not everyone's country flag is on this but it means standing together worldwide against all these " crazies " that are let loose on our planet and determined to eradicate our human society, because they believe they dont fit into their ideal little world...

Richards ( my other half ) his sisters only grandaughter who is living in Christchurch was working in a garage near to one of those mosques, so his sister told him over the weekend...

Hi Everyone on a beautiful sunny day and we are to get up into the mid-60's this afternoon.  Yesterday was opposite of how I felt on Saturday and was able to enjoy the day by not being so tired.  Our afternoon was topped off by the visit of a couple from our Sunday School Class.  They are really pleasant people and we had a nice visit.  I did get a few things done yesterday.  My goal for today is to work on getting Pat's computer set up the way she had her other one and get some of the games she liked and played a lot on the computer as well.  There are no basketball games on TV today so will get to spend more time listening to my audiobook as am coming down to the end of it. 

Judy,  you and Heather must have tuned to the same wave length yesterday since you both thought of that hymn.  It takes time to get over the loss of a child or grandchild.

Rebot, one would think the safest place to be would be in a House of Worship.  All last year and again this year we have a North Augusta off-duty policeman at our Church services on Sunday Morning and he parks his police car prominently where it is seen when you drive into the main parking lot. 

Jackie, I would say Richard's family were too close for comfort to that shooting event in Christchurch. Nice banner that you shared.

Greetings Larry   Splendid,  you posted one of your longer messages.  Do you have more energy today?
The idea of parking a police car to be seen, is a  very sensible idea.

Hubby and I visited New Zealand about five years ago and it is a quiet and the people are  very welcoming of visitors.  Though it is on the other side of the world, we felt at home there on the short visit we have.

Judy:  Thank you for posting the perfect song - it is just the message I need.

Jackie:  Thanks for the artistic work you do and taking time to send us your "cards". 


How nice it is to hear from Janet - regarding the news that Ruth Ann is moving closer to her daughter. Have a safe and wonderful site-seeing trip!

Winter is over and all of a sudden, the temperatures are into the 80's F.  Almost shocking - this winter has been rain and cold in Tucson.  Two more of my cousins are scheduled to visit and that should be about the last visitors.  We want to take a drive to see a dear friend who is recuperating from an operation.

I made a crock pot of Butternut Squash soup yesterday and used cloves and pumpkin pie spices.  My soups are either a hit or miss and this one was OK plus.

A milestone - I just finished a year long bible study and  now will look for another one or something similar. 

Carol...
...the thing with when we make a good soup is it never turns out so good next time we make it, but then that's the joy of experimentation...

Hi Everyone. We have another beautiful day ahead.  It is to be partly cloudy this morning and then clear this afternoon getting into the high 50's.  I have a few things I want to accomplish this morning involving our computers and then will take it easy the rest of the day. Yesterday morning was pretty good for me for awhile and then nothing I tried seemed to work and I got pretty frustrated.  I was very exhausted the rest of the day and evening but had a good nights sleep and ready to try again, hopefully with better results.  I do have to refill my medicine boxes for two weeks this morning, a job I really don't like doing but must be done. 

Rebot, it sounds like you had a delightful trip to New Zealand and glad you had that opportunity.

Carol, Ruth Ann sent me a text and I responded to her and got a nice response back.  She hopes to move by the end of the month.  She is moving into a regular small apartment in an older building but this is not an assisted living facility just a regular apartment on the first floor level so she won't have to deal with steps or elevators.  I can tell you are looking forward to the additional visitors but also to have that all behind you for another year and then getting back to Denver for the summer.  Hopefully you will find nicer weather than they have been having recently when you get back.

Jackie, you sound like my wife in experimenting with recipes.

Larry Hanna...
...only with soups and stews...

Richard likes his blended smooth, I like my veg kept chunky..

Greetings Everyone  I like ny soups, home made or soup in a tin.  Hubbys favourite is Manx Broth.

I have to ask:  what is a Manx broth? 

Growing up - mom had a stove with a built-in deep well or crock pot if you may.  We always had oatmeal - almost every breakfast especially during the work/school week.  I used to think we were such a backward Scandinavian family since other had eggs and meat for breakfast.  Now I know it was a stable meal - my children had a lot of oatmeal too.  We also had cooked apples or pears plus berries for most meals.

I am purging the fabric stash and dividing what to bring home and what should stay here.  All of the baby/children fabric has been donated to a group here making layettes for babies or little quilts for those older.  There is much too much fabric for me to keep. 

Larry:  Glad you had a good night's sleep.  Working on the computer isn't as easy as it was years ago.  Hooray, you had a message back from Ruth Ann.  Great news that she doesn't have to use stairs.  We have stairs at home & my sewing is all downstairs but I hang on to the banister with one hand and never carry anything big downstairs.  I have been known to throw soft big things (quilt) down the stairs just to keep from tripping.  Does Ruth Ann check on us?  We miss her.


Larry:  All the children are meeting and having a meal at our home - one son will be in town for a medical appointment and they wanted to gather for a meal.

Janet:  How is your trip?   

Greetings Carol  After chatting with hubby, he tells me this is an old Manx recipe for Manx Broth.
 
Manx Broth Recipe
 
3 quarts water.
Scrag end of mutton.
A piece of beef
1 breakfastcupful pearl barley.
1 carrot, coarsely grated.
1 slice of turnip.
1 leek.
Thyme, celery, chopped parsley.
Pepper and salt.
 
You boil the water, add all the ingredients except the parsley, and simmer gently for 2 hours. Ten minutes before serving, take out the meat, cut it into small pieces, return it to the pan, add also the parsley, re-boil and serve very hot.
 
 
Hubby said that in the United Kingdom they call a Swede a Turnip.  But it is a turnip you need for this recipe.

Hi Everyone on this first day of Spring. It is starting out clear skies but will only get into the low 60's today.  I took my shower this morning and then laid down and read all of the postings since I posted yesterday.  I just don't have the energy left this morning to offer individual comments so will said say good morning as I check in. I have decided my new occupation is "professional rester" as that seems about all I do anymore.

Greetings Larry  Take it easy.  Now there is a phrase I like 'Professional rester'.  Can we join the professional resters club please! 

Love the title of "Professional Rester".  It makes me want to nod off. 

Ellie:  Hello and thank you for your special soup recipe.  I printed the recipe and will find some way to try it some day.  I will just guess at what a scag amount can be.  I do know that mutton was used very common in my gradparent's day - now they just see lamb chops at the shops.

Our granddaughter had a nice interview yesterday - they will let her know in a few days.  I do not like the location as it is downtown big city and that is a marijuana and other drugs jungle. She graduates from the university in days and has opted to not rent a cap and gown - instead will take a trip with a few friends. 

Don't forget to look for the full moon tonight. 

 -

Greetings Carol  The best way I can describe a scrag end of mutton, is it is one of the cheaper cuts of lamb from the neck.   Have a look on Google and it will show what a scrag end of mutton looks like.   

Keeping on our Christian theme, all this talk about foods and stews got me asking...How many of us still say a prayer at the table before we eat our food, has this gone out of fashion in today's society? and if so, is it done within our eating group, or singularly? Baring in mind not everyone sits at the table nowadays to even eat, some sit in an armchair with a tray, some eat on the go...

Here is one I was brought up to hear-say at the table as a child, we was taught this at school.

 " Thank you for the world so sweet, Thank you for the food we eat, Thank you for the birds that sing, Thank you God for everything, Amen.."

Another one I can add, which maybe more appropriate now to us, is..

 " We thank you, Lord, for all you give; The food we eat, The lives we live. And to our loved ones far away, Please send your blessings, Lord, we pray. And help us all to live our days, with thankful Hearts and loving ways. Amen.." 

I have to hold my hand that I have slacked on this, unless it has been with a church group meal..

A small correction, at school we called it " saying grace "

Hi Everyone. We are to have a partially or mostly cloudy day today with it getting up to 65 degrees.  I think we may have had a brief shower this morning that helped clear the air of some of the heaven pollens in this area. I didn't get to sleep until about 6 am this morning but was able to get about 3 hours sleep.  So I am draggy today and will practice my new profession watching of alot of the NCAA Basketball Tournament games that start at noon and will be on all day and evening.  It is starting today with 64 teams and they are televising the games on multiple channels.  Half of the teams will play today and Saturday if they win and the other half on Friday and Sunday.  Scott and the girls were out for dinner last night.  We had Scott pick up food from KFC plus Pat fixed a big dish of baked beans.  After dinner the four of them played a couple of games of Farkle.   Pat and Scott are planning a trip to Costco this afternoon as Pat is out of coffee and that is a big motivator for her.  I don't think she has too many items on her list so it should be a relatively quick shopping trip.  She doesn't have an order for Walmart this week.  Of of the ladies from Sunday School brought over an Italian dinner with salad and dessert that we will enjoy tonight and Pat won't have to cook, which she appreciates.  Different ladies have brought in several meals these last three months. 

Jackie, that was a very nice postings about saying Grace.  Pat and I eat a lot of our meals on trays and I must admit that we do not usually say Grace at these meals.

Thinking of Janet and her trip.

Rebot - Ellie:  Thank you for describing the meat and size.  Right now, I am planning a dinner for 7 and using Raclette special cheese and an electric item which melts the cheese to pour over vegetables.  It is a Swiss meal - no, I am not Swiss.  Fun to do and guests seem to like it - it is very relaxing.

Jackie:  Praying at meals yes we do give thanks.  I remember the "sweet" one - thanks for your input. 

Larry:  I like your new job.  Fantastic that your friends will gift you with a meal.  It is so helpful.  Pollen is so bad in Arizona right now.  I have short darts of pain even though taking an allergy pill. 

We did see the "new moon" last night finally after the dark clouds drifted away.  I just made myself sit here and sent a common letter to three friends in Colorado.  We have to wait an extra month here in Arizona because a cousin from Seattle wants to drive here for a visit.  It is alright, but I will miss seeing our children gather at home in April. 

 

Greetings Jackie  A splendid post about saying grace.  Many of the standards we practiced in years gone by have sadly disappeared from every day life.  I have come to the conclusion that saying grace is up to the each individual within the family group.   

Greetings Carol  I have not long looked at the Raclette dish.   I think I will try it sometime, but it will be only me who eats it, as hubby likes plain cooking.

Greetings Larry   I always try to eat at the dinner table, not into using a tray on my lap.

Yes sadly, family traditions can, and do get broken, as the years move along..
It could be through marriage, where the other person wasn't brought up to say grace...
As I mentioned we were made to say it through our school years..." For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly grateful - thankful.." all it took was a couple of seconds of our time, before we tucked into our food..