PROJECT 365...WEEK 5 (1/25-1/31)

**update**
we had a great superbowl get together at church ...about 250 teens joined us for the outreach, games and food!! Go God...I'll be posting some pics next weekend...**

Early in the week it was rainy...then it started drying out and has turned cold within the last few hours.

My first pic for this week's Project 365 is a quick shot of hubby's birthday dinner early in the week...we had fun poking at him and that now he can get discounts at Kohl's on Wednesday ;)



We enjoyed a pork roast, macncheese, broccoli and a CARVEL ice cream cake...loved it!

On the 29th I had a half ham that needed cooking b4 February 5, so it was the pick of the day. This is my "before"...had to score it/criss cross pattern, I poked a whole clove in between each diamond shape...then back on the aluminum-foil covered roast pan...the into my convection oven at 375* for 2 hours...boy, did our house SMELL GOOD! WOO to the HOO as Liddie would say...I seem to remember her having "events" with hams...hhhhmmmmmmmm

At the 2-hour mark, I cooked down 1/3c brown sugar, 1/3c raw honey, 1/3c bourbon, and 2 tsp ground cloves in a small pot on the stove top...it was spread over the ham, then went back into the oven for 10-15 mins. I never covered it, either before or after the glaze.
Here's my "after"...it was very yummy...I let it stand for at least 15 mins before cutting it. (It's a good idea to count the number of cloves you put on it so that when it is cooked and you have to remove those, you'll know how many to find...you sure don't want to BITE into one!)






Today I finished my stack of "preemie" bonnets to give to little cancer babies, or any new babies our church wants to send a little hat. We do blankets, shawls, hats and angel squares. They're wonderfully easy and fun to make...the more you make the faster you go! If you're interested in the pattern just leave me a note or an email and I'll share the website.















I'll be posting my entry here tomorrow...@ Sarah's Project 365, go visit here on Sunday...

http://thebowyers.blogspot.com/

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL...OR "-MERCIALS"?

Will you be watching the Super Bowl, or it’s half-time show, or it’s “-mercials”?
It’s gonna be in Tampa, Fla.

...between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals.

I had to look up who the coaches are: Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin (the youngest coach to the Super bowl, age 36) & Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt…I typically follow SEC college football more closely (Go Dawgs!...that was for Wally and LisaB)…the pro teams often bring some heavy-duty bad press to the eyes and ears, so they don’t intrigue me as much as the youth of college ball.

As usual, the teams’ state governors or city mayors get their names in the news by having “non-monetary” wagers released to the press around this time: If the Steelers win…Glendale must plant a native tree of Pennsylvania outside University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. If the Cardinals win… a cactus must be planted outside of Heinz Field, where the Steelers play. (I’m not sure either one will SURVIVE the environment of each city seeing how environmentally different these climates are…and how could that be good for said “trees”?)

Half-time is the “reason to watch” for some people…and this year they may get a pretty high-level of “watching and listening”....if you’re an “older rocker”…(don’t confuse this with the noun-form of the word, yet a lot of us probably feel the draw to sit in a rocker while watching)…we’ll be tapping our feet or moving to the beat of "BRUCE" and the E Street Band.

But halftimes are not the main reason I watch…I watch for the commercials … Yes, “waiting-to-see-the-best commercials”… Several “money-making ads” leave me wondering “what was that all about?”, some are emotional and capture my heart (who can forget the kid “winning” the jersey after he shared a soda)…then there are many involving animals in very unique ways (crows watching as humans run into glass doors, dogs retrieving alcoholic beverages from the fridge, and even polar bears sliding down hills with carbonated beverages). I find the animal-themed ones capture my attention.

My intrigue with the “mercials” isn’t a lonely place…I find a lot of our youth teens fall into said commercial wonderment…I watch “them watch”…Their spontaneity delivers better tag lines than the commercials themselves—you often hear them shushing those around to be sure not to miss a single line. Our Super Bowl get-togethers for our youth are well attended, well chaperoned…and don’t worry, we roll out the vacuums after half-time and send them home…so they’re able to make it home to bed early and no failing to make late-night driving curfews.

So, think of me Sunday evening as we eat, share time together and watch the “mercials”… Oh, yeah, I do have to put my 2cents in for the Cardinals to win, jus' cause I have some blogger friends from Arizona (shout out to a particular minister and his beautiful wife)…and they’ve never been in the Super Bowl.

To quote “Monday Night Football’s singer-of-the-past, Hank Williams, Jr., “Are You Ready for Some Football….or "mercials"…as the case may be?

Who are you pulling for?

NOT BORED, JUST HORMONAL...

NOT A MEME....JUST A REPLY...After Liddie went to so much trouble...freezing in the cold, getting knee-deep in her wonderland, enduring strange looks from the cars and trucks as they drove by wondering why a woman was talking at her house...I just had to put forth the effort to send her a reply and share our weather back at her!

Oh, you made me cold as you bounced around in your DEEP snow of Indiana, showing us your latest blanket of white, flaky wonder...looked like it was about 8 or 10 inches. I remember a blizzard we had in March on '93 when my girl was almost a year old.

I dressed her in a zip-up snuggly that covered her from head to toe just knowing she was going to like the world of snow...yet, when we got out in it...she screamed and screamed, so i ended up holding her as I tried to introduce her to it.

Now my dog was a completely different thing, imagine my little 12-pound yorky-poo, with legs that were no more than four inches long...bouncing up and down, looking more like a rabbit than a dog...he looooooooved sticking his face down into the snow like he would going after fish down in the lake...he would emerge, his longhaired ears, his velvety face and long eyelashes donning fluffy white snow flakes...he looked like Chubakkah from Star Wars covered in sprayed-on snow!

Below are my well wishes for the day...

What's on Your Wall Wednesday...

I love sharing ideas about decorating...
...I really enjoy seeing how creative and unique people can be with pulling various things together and making them look good on the wall.

My featured wall today is in my den...it speaks for itself ...not a lot of color, but their textures and shapes intrigue me ... my "cross corner" ... where I have my quiet time :)























Each one either reminds me of something or someone...








This one reminds me
of the Celts...
part of my family
heritage on my Dad's side...








I liked this one because of the black iron and the candle...so different than any of the others.












This one looks like a peacock's head and beak in each tip of the cross...that's probably not what the artist had in mind, but that's what I think of ...











This rusted one just "feels" old...i'm sure it's not...i particularly like the old english feel of it...another family legacy
Barb at Grits and Glamour is hosting this meme...so, go here to see more: http://gritsglamour.blogspot.com/2009/01/its-here-whats-on-your-wall-wednesday.html

Sometimes Hidden (ugly mug)

So, today's the big day at 2nd Cup of Coffee...yes, U2 can show off your ugly mug...

http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/2009/01/1000-posts-vote-today-for-ugliest-mug.html

...but, please come vote for me and my mug...

Once upon a time, long ago (let's say ten years)...
there was a cotton-headed, blue-eyed, six-year-old princess in the land of crepe myrtles.
Daily this budding princess was escorted by the King (he likes this title) to her court for audience (care for the day was in order, you see).


Here in her "Prim-Rosey" court were many other budding princes and princesses...all seeking to learn courtly manners, proper protocol in those times of greeting your audience at your throne (although Queen Mommy said this should be in private...)


Throughout her vigorous day of learning, there was time for napping when one's eyes grew weary and "oh, so overdone" (out came the mats and down went the shades) But once sweet dreams of dancing jesters and masterful puppeteers had subsided, each royal-to-be would rise out of their slumber (running to the throne, quite often)

One day, the jester of court told the "royals" a plan for celebrating the Queen (I just "love" that part)
You, see, the jester wanted to instill a soft, understanding heart in the "royals" she was guiding, for she knew one day they would be ruling, scepter in hand and deciding her fate possibly (this is kinda scary)

Other jesters joined in and gathered up each and every one of the little loyalists, counting every head, and securing each in their own seat of the the larger-than-life coach waiting outside the front gate (how do you make a daycare bus sound romantic??)

Off to the land of "many shops and artisans" to make a special remembrance for the Queen on her day (did I mention I just "love" that part??)


Each jester helped guide the little lads and lassies as they busily painted their favorite colors onto plates and goblets, imagining the surprised faces of each Queen as she opened her "treasure" ('cause no matter how it looks, the treasure IS hidden under the love with which it was MADE)


Time had to pass as the relics had to be "fired" and cleaned...each one was delivered back to the "Prim-rosey Court" in precious boxes each heir could decorate with family seals...bold, royal colors to celebrate the Queen's day (are you beginning to enjoy this as much as I do??!!)

Each little royal proudly prepared their bounty and readied it for placement on the royal pillow for delivery to said Queen ... the days went quickly by, as they had many other lordly and lady-like things to learn (one can't have a ruler that can't spell, can one??)


Finally, one beautifully bright day in early May arrived and the courts were aflutter with activity, dressing for the occasion, and entertaining discussions with the King about where the momentous presentation would take place...oh, the royal recliner has received the nod for the event. The princess danced with excitement once the decision was made...she could envision the Queen's face! (Here's the good part...)


The trumpets sounded and the court came to attention throughout the kingdom (isn't that good?!; one day, maybe it will happen!)

Her gold and diamond-encrusted gown "swooshed" and swayed as it flowed over her "freshly mopped" foyer floor en route to her awaiting cushioned throne (extra pillows needed after the day of washing that foyer, you see!)

As the little princess knelt at her feet, she often would bounce up from the floor, finally helping with the "unwrapping" of the gift...just what had those jesters taught these queens-to-be?

As the box opened, the sunlight danced on the surface of the most beautiful, most treasured, most delicate, cup to behold...painted with the little princess's favorite colors, over and around, forming a collage of color, the likes the queen had never seen...


Here in the momentous magic of love between little and big, tear began to drop on the cup, knowing little hands had held and caressed it while preparing it for this day.

Hugs all around, hooray for the princess, she is growing to be such a lady...just look what she's done for the Queen (I still love that part!)


Later, in the calm of her chamber, the Queen knew there was a message on the cup...a message so dear, so private, it was masked under the beautiful, bright colors...but how could she find it?

She summoned her memory to call forward, "what would my mother have done?"...you see, she was a Queen of great knowledge and understanding, and she worked with her hands creating many things during her reign.

Yes, a memory sprang up...etchings, rubbings, we used to take charcoal and rub over unknowns to find "the answers" hiding underneath the color...
Quickly the Queen retrieved a sheet of paper from her writing table (off the kitchen counter)...
positioning it oh so carefully over the most colorful spot of the cup, she rubbed over the cup with her royal red pencil...back and forth, soon it will be here!!


And there it was...
hiding...
yet always there...
just like their love between one another...
sometimes hidden under the tears...
sometimes hidden under the scoldings...
sometimes kissed on the forehead while falling off to sleep...
























Go NOW, whether you're a pauper, a prince, or a grand dame and cast your vote for the love shown in my "cherished" mug for:

UGLY is in the eye of the beholder!
Undeniably Given Love, Ya'll

WHERE IS IT

DO YOU HAVE A 'MOST' EMBARRASSING MOMENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE (OF COURSE, CLEAN AND CAN BE SHARED)?

picture this:

military uniformed drum majorette, white-heeled boots, tall furry hat, 4-foot mace, performed a straight-legged strut to the 50-yard line...
stretches into a back bend to call "attention"...
as she's bending back, realizes she didn't put the whistle in her mouth...
patting herself on the chest, she realizes the whistle has flown behind her neck as she was strutting and is now caught in her hair!...
now she's looking at her band, upside down, and can't remember the verbal call for attention.

What is it they say you do...you always revert to whatever you've practiced??!!
Well, when I was in practice and not always wanting to blow my whistle I would sometimes quickly replace the long-short-short whistle with the words, TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET, TWEET, TWEET....

Well you guessed it..that's all she could remember....
so as soon as she yelled it, the band realized she had screwed up and began rolling with laughter from her faux paux...

especially the drummers, who were always giving her a hard time anyway! ...really some of her best buds. At this point,Thomas Dreck at FSU, her drum major teacher, would have been counting to see how long it took her to correct her mistake and take control of the situation...and her band director, Mr. C., was in the press box wondering what in the world was going on...and why weren't they on the field yet?...

Finally, she remembered the proper verbal command, TEN HUT TEN HUT...
and they returned to their correct positions... she glowed a bright crimson while marching to the far sideline to her ladder to lead the rest of the songs!
There you have it...
Do you think her cheeks were getting red again even as she posted this??!! :)

Project 365..(1/18-1/24) and PINK SATURDAY...

Even though her site isn't updated yet...Below is my week's "fun"...

http://thebowyers.blogspot.com/2009/01/project-365-week-3.html

and for PINK SATURDAY..go here: http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/pink-saturday-january-24-2009.html

On the 21st I finally used my cool little gadget DH gave me for Christmas...now its easy to keep a "to do" list or a shopping list...you speak into the recorder, it categorizes and saves it...as you head out the door, hit the button and it prints your list!! It's called "SmartShopper" and it has numerous pre-listed categories...and you can build your own specific items as well!

On the 22nd, I probably solidified we won't have anymore cold weather here...I bought a new, wool "p-coat", "car coat", whatever you want to call it...my old coat actually has moth holes in it...which brought up another "to do"...so I had to add moth balls to my shopping list after I wash the closet with antiseptic.

Have you every wondered why they're called "p-coats"...well, per one of the Navy sites...Sailors who have to endure pea-soup weather often don their pea coats but the coat's name isn't derived from the weather. The heavy topcoat worn in cold, miserable weather by seafaring men was once tailored from "pilot" cloth — a heavy, course, stout kind of twilled blue cloth with the nap on one side. The cloth was sometimes called P-cloth for the initial letter of "pilot" and the garment made from it was called a p-jacket — later, a pea coat. The term has been used since 1723 to denote coats made from that cloth.

Anyway, back to my coat...the day after I bought my new coat that I WANTED to wear...and my being in my "hot flash" stage, it's a miracle I wanted to even try on coats...oh yeah, the day after I bought it, the temperature was 66 degrees. Needless to say, I haven't gotten to wear it.

The last time I bought a London Fog was in 1979 when I went to work downtown and had to have a really good trench coat to endure the "fumey, gooey" bus rides on the rapid system...just the name "London Fog" brings back memories of the 60's, the Beatles, Twiggy, watching my sister enjoying her dating years while I dreamed of what it would be like to date. Pea coats were in then, too!

On the 23rd, I made my first outing to WHOLE FOODS...WOW!! Remarkably, I did find some good deals and I was amazed at the variety of foods. I found these great dried edamame(soybeans) that are lightly salted...they're a great snack with high fiber, no bad fat and they will take care of my urge for "crunchy"...and they were on SALE! 4oz. for $1.79, YEAH!! So, I'll be make new lists specific to WholeFoods trips in the future!

And for PINK SATURDAY...I found my new pink purse at the thrift store...not a mark on it and the inside is brand new looking, no stains, crumbs, or anything!! This is going to be my Easter purse.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY GOOD FINDS RECENTLY?

SPARE US, LORD!...Hopeful Friday (hope for the remnant)

Hopeful Friday...(he gives hope to his remnant...)
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/2009/01/birds-view.html

Recently in my prayer group we discussed things we were seeing and hearing in the world, on the TV, changes in what people desire, concern for our nation and our children as time marches on and living grows harder.
It would be easy to become fearful talking of all these things...our hearts really hurt as we see and hear these various things. We agreed we want to be in the remnant of believers who rest on Jesus Christ and His grace for us.

Then, today I ran across this study on Malachi 3:13-18 in Everyday Light, Christianity.com
Malachi, a prophet of old, speaking to me TODAY...giving guidance FOR NOW, addressing many of the things we had discussed in our group.

Malachi confirms we must not blame God for our situations--losing faith in Him because we grow impatient with His timing. Studying His Word guides us to understand our gains from His perspective rather than from our humanly, worldy view.
We must go to Him and ask Him for His discernment in understanding His timing, being confident of His standing with us and wanting the best for us.
Every struggle must be met with the "joy of the Lord" knowing He wants the relationship with us first, and often in our deepest pit is when we're closest to Him.
Rather than mourning our perceived persecution in our daily walks, let's gather together and talk with one another, pray with one another, lifting our "mournful attitudes" to His blameless throne for His blessing and covering with His Holy Spirit. God, Himself, will handle those evil doers and those who speak untruthfully...in His time!

We are His, want to be His, so we will lift up His name, Jehovah Jireh, Jesus Christ, our high priest who intercedes on our behalf to the Father. When the world tells us "the Bible isn't literal" or "it's a bunch of stories" or "you are your own best authority as you work to know and love yourself"...may we continue to seek His wisdom, His understanding of right and wrong, His full compassion FOR us and THROUGH us.

Malachi reminded me again that we must continue to gather together, praise His name, let Him pour His love TO us and THROUGH his treasured possessions...this will give us discernment as we walk through this often-difficult world toward Holy eternity.

Malachi 3:13-18
"You have said harsh things against me," says the Lord. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?' You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?
But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."

Are you in a small group, do you gather to share concerns and study the Bible?

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 146:1-5

"Praise the Lord!

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

I will praise the Lord as long as I live.

I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;there is no help for you there.

When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,and all their plans die with them.

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,

whose hope is in the Lord their God."

Project 365 Week 3 (kinda)

I'm late again...

1. After having taken down all the Christmas decorations on 1/10, I left the "final-wrapping-and-hauling-of-the-Christmastree-to-the-basement" to DD and DH....well, it's the 18th...said tree is still standing in the living room...it hasn't made one move toward the basement! : ) ... they must really like it this year.
2. Found my newest "angels" at the thrift store for $2...love me some thrift store...I'm enjoying them on our mantle in the den. I also got a soft-serve ice cream machine that best bud, Robin, and I will be breaking in with some homemade sherbet or who knows what.
3. I had requested a puppy for Christmas...multiple times...but, to no avail. So, I decided to get two on my own...they will be extremely easy to housebreak, they'll require no food, and I'll never have to clean up after them. These two little twin scotties were waiting for me at the Hobby Lobby ... no one had bought them and they begged me to bring them to my house! So, in the car they went and they will be on mymantel next Christmas, enjoying their new home. Mr. Checks and Miss Dotty...
4. Today after church, I finished my latest prayer scarf...I made it a little too long, but maybe the person who is going to get it has longer arms...anyway, it has a pocket on each end of the scarf for goodies or to help keep your fingertips warm. For more Project 365 pictures, go to:
   http://thebowyers.blogspot.com/2009/01/project-365-week-3.html

Hopeful Friday...life with God

They... give me hope for the future
their... words are wise for their years
their... love for relationship is like no other
youthful expectancy... reborn with every prayer
mission of prayer... surrounding each school's flagpole
their prayers... for one another at the foot of His cross...

Matthew 18:20

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name,

there am I in the midst of them."

" Prayer is my escape from life on earth, and my entrance into life with God."

For more HOPEFUL FRIDAY blogs, go here: http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/2009/01/hopeful-friday.html

VINTAGE THINGIE THURSDAY...BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/2009/01/vintage-thingie-thursday-small-vintage.html

Baby, It's Cold Outside...so I need and want some comfort food for me and my family tonight.
However, my brain is not wanting to do a lot of planning and I don't want to go to the store.
When I get stumped on what to serve for dinner...I look through my freezer to see what I have... and today, I've got a frozen hen
...so, out she comes for defrosting in the microwave then into the convection oven.
This recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens(http://www.bhg.com/) and they rarely let me down...and my Mom used to bake chickens when it was cold...so the smells remind me of those days...so, tonight we'll be trying this dish with a side salad and a small bowl of french onion soup (since it's so cold outside).

http://www.clipart.co.uk/index.shtml

FRUIT-STUFFED ROASTED CHICKEN

• 1 5- to 6-pound whole roasting chicken
• Salt Pepper
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 4-1/2 teaspoons snipped fresh thyme or 1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme, crushed
• 2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
• 2 medium apples, cored and chopped (2 cups)
• 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 2 cups cubed French bread (3/4-inch cubes)
• 10 pitted prunes or dried apricot halves, cut up
• 1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
• 2 tablespoons orange juice

Directions
1. Rinse chicken; pat dry with paper towels. Season body cavity with salt and pepper. In a small bowl combine 2 tablespoons of the melted margarine, 2 tablespoons of the dry sherry, 1 tablespoon of the fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon of the dried thyme, and 1 teaspoon of the orange peel; mix well. Brush bird with sherry mixture.

2. For stuffing, in a medium skillet cook apples, onion, and celery in remaining melted margarine about 5 minutes or until tender. In a large mixing bowl combine apple mixture with cubed French bread, prunes or apricots, grapes, orange juice, remaining dry sherry, remaining fresh or dried thyme, and remaining orange peel. Mix well. (Stuffing will become more moist while cooking.) Spoon some of the stuffing loosely into the neck cavity. Pull neck skin to back; fasten with a small skewer. Lightly spoon the remaining stuffing into the body cavity. Tuck drumsticks under the band of skin that crosses the tail. If there is no band, tie drumsticks to the tail. Twist the wing tips under the chicken.

3. Place stuffed chicken, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer into the center of one of the thigh muscles. The bulb should not touch the bone. Roast, uncovered, in a 325 degree F oven for 1-3/4 to 2-1/2 hours or until meat thermometer registers 180 degrees F to 185 degrees F At this time, chicken is no longer pink and the drumsticks move easily in their sockets. When the bird is two-thirds done, cut the band of skin or string between the drumsticks so the thighs will cook evenly.

4. Remove bird from oven and cover it with foil. Let bird stand 10 to 20 minutes before carving. Makes 10 servings.

WHAT COMFORT FOODS DO YOU MAKE FOR YOUR FAMILY ON AN ESPECIALLY-COLD EVENING?

Isaiah 50:4 The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.

MOON OVER GEORGIA...

My OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY contribution.

Usually I try to capture moon pictures and am disappointed at their appearance. Hopefully, this one will show up online. I finally captured the "ring of clouds" around the moon and an extra gift of a "cross" reflection.

I'm always amazed looking up into the sky at night...on this night the clouds were moving quickly and changed each time I took a shot.

http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/2009/01/welcome-to-outdoor-wednesday.html

GO TO THE ABOVE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OUTDOOR SHOTS.

What outdoor shot do you want to post today?

Vancouver Dreamin'....

Our timeshare travel assistant called today...she's found a swap for our Palm Beach timeshare...she's booked us 5 days in VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA for this summer, yippee!  

We'll be talking about the possibilities and we have a 24-hour period before we have to say "yay or nay"...

Meanwhile, I'll be "Dreamin' about"...

...no housework for 5 days

...no menu planning, laying out frozen food, or cooking

...being out of the intense Southern heat in the summer

...taking pics and seeing new places...

such as Canada Place...With its 5 sails, you can

 walk all the way around on a pedestrian promenade...views across Burrard Inlet to the North Shore peaks and toward nearby 

Stanley Park as well as the older, low-rise buildings of Gastown, where 

Vancouver began.

...walking the seawall at English Bay

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THERE?  

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS?

 

Hopeful Friday...cleaning up and putting away

House in the Roses is hosting Hopeful Friday...so here's my contribution...if you'd like to participate, go here: http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/2009/01/hopeful-friday-dream.html

Today was the day...finally deciding to put away the majority of the Christmas ornaments and decorations throughout the house. Having been so late in getting my decorations out this year, I intentionally left them out to enjoy them a little longer. Pulling everything out and storing items that sit out most of the year ends up taking about a day or two.

Memories flood over me as I pull out each piece, and again as I wrap them carefully and put them back in their safe place...they each have a special place, or box, they fit in...then, they are stacked in the basement away from any harm of flying objects or gym equipment. (DH has a golf tee with plastic, holey plastic balls that sometimes go places they're not intended to go...)

Sadness sometimes takes me over when I'm tucking everything back into their containers...why can't we have Christmas all year? Then, I ponder on the ying and yang, the good and bad, the valleys and the mountaintops. Even scriptures speaks to there being a specific time for every purpose...(Ecclesiastes 3:1 "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.")

This section of Ecclesiastes is speaking of human labors...and today my labor was hard and tiring, hot flashes and all, intensified as I scurried up and down the steps, digging in and out of boxes, wrapping and tucking things in their proper places. Once I completed these chores, I vacuumed throughout the house and now am ENJOYING the fruits of my labor. It seems almost empty in the house without my nativities, angels and pictures with Santa.

The writer notes beginning at Eccles. 3:9 "What do people really get for all their hard work? ... He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end...there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.,,people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God."

Our fruits from our labor are our gifts from God...and the eternity that He planted in our hearts! What labor has been tough for you this past week?

Be hopeful and enjoy looking back on the fruits of that labor...

PROJECT 365...ME, 2!

Yes, we'll be capturing special, silly, spontaneous snippets of our days throughout the entire year.

Make Music From Your Heart (Sara) is hosting "Project 365", and it starts today, Sunday 1/4. For more info on this project, visit http://thebowyers.blogspot.com/2009/01/project-365.html or here for really specific info... this site.

Just had a few shots from our New Year's get-together with my small-group sistas!! ...we invited the hubbies and keebies, too, of course.

Our menu was awesome, as always:
cranberry/walnut brie loaf, breakfast casserole,strawberry/banana compote, lemon-poppyseed muffins, stuffed french toast, cheese-garlic shrimp grits, spiced cider, a myriad of juices and coffee...come on, stretch that tummy!


"Prayin' Mamas"...or PMs, for short! ha ha
We love sharing life and praying God's Word over any and all situations.
We wish everyone a Happy New Year!
3 John 1:15 Peace be with you.Your friends here send you their greetings. Please give my personal greetings to each of our friends there.