PROJECT 365, week fourteen

JOINING SARA FOR ANOTHER WEEK...

3.28 DD'S BIRTHDAY...

HIBACHI WAS THE MEAL OF THE DAY

 

THOSE HIBACHI CHEFS ALWAYS MANAGE TO DO SOMETHING SILLY DURING THE 'SHOW'...THIS LITTLE BALL PLAYER WAS FULL OF WATER...HE WAS USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE (IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN...)

I THINK DD AND FRIENDS HAD A GOOD TIME EATING AND HANGING OUT TOGETHER

 

HUBS AND I CUT A PIECE OUT OF THE CAKE BEFORE DD TOOK IT WITH HER TO HER BIBLE STUDY CLASS LATER THAT AFTERNOON...IT WAS GOOD THAT IT WAS GOING AWAY FROM MY HOUSE!

3.30...BLESSED TO PARTICIPATE IN A 'SEDER'...

A LAST SUPPER AT OUR CHURCH. 

I LOVE CHRISTIAN-HEBRAIC LEGACY AND ENJOY LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE TRADITIONS, THEIR MEANINGS THEN AND THEIR MEANINGS AFTER CHRIST FULFILLED THE LAW.  THIS IS A SHOT OF OUR 'TRAY' THAT WAS PASSED AT OUR TABLE DURING EACH SECTION OF THE MEAL...BITTER HERBS, LAMB SHANK, BOILED EGGS, CHAROSETH, MATZOH...EACH WITH ITS OWN MEANING AND REMEMBRANCE FOR THE JEWS.  OUR 'WINE' WAS GRAPE JUICE AND WE DRANK IT AFTER EACH OF THE FOUR BLESSINGS THROUGHOUT THE SEDER.

OUR DRAMA TEAM HAD MEMORIZED A LOT OF SPECIFIC PRAYERS, SONGS AND SCRIPTURE TO FULFILL THIS MEAL AS THEY ACTED IT OUT ON THE STAGE...WE FOLLOWED IN SUIT AFTER EACH PART OF THE MEAL THEY PORTRAYED.

 

I WAS BLESSED TO GET TO SIT NEXT TO AN EMMAUS SISTER DURING THE SEDER...SHE'S BEEN IN MY LIFE FOR YEARS AND WAS ONE OF DD'S TEACHERS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

4.3 ANNUAL EASTER FESTIVAL

HELD AT ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES ON EARTH...OUR CAMPGROUND. SO MANY PEOPLE THIS YEAR...LITTLE AND BIG.  THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT, IN THE 70'S, BRIGHT SUNSHINE RAINED DOWN ON US.  THE NEWLY-LAID 'SOD' IS GROWING BRISKLY AND WILL BE MUCH THICKER BY 'CAMP MEETING' TIME IN JULY.

SEVERAL OF OUR YOUTH VOLUNTEERED AT THE VARIOUS BOOTHS, SHAVING ICE, POURING DRINKS, MANNING 'BOUNCEY' CASTLES/SLIDES...THEY WERE HAVING SO MUCH FUN WHILE BEING 'CHRIST'S HANDS AND FEET' IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY...THIS WAS A FREE EVENT FOR ANY ONE TO ENJOY.

DD GOT A PIC OF ME WITH 'THE BUNNY'...

I'M SURPRISED HE HAD SO MUCH ENERGY AND TIME...I FIGURED HE'D BE RESTING UP FOR ALL THAT WORK HE HAS TO DO TOMORROW!  BUT, HE DID HAVE TIME TO LET ME HUG HIM!!!  HE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOOOOOOO GOOD TO ME :)

HIS LITTLE SISTER WAS ENJOYING HER SPOT IN ONE OF THE EMPTY EASTER BASKETS...SEE SHE'S RESTING...HE MAY GET HER BUSY TOMORROW, TOO!

THE BUNNIES HAD SEVERAL OF THEIR FRIENDS VISITING WITH THEM...AND THE KIDS LOVED EVERY MINUTE WITH EACH OF THEM...HERE'S SS WITH THE FAT, 5-YEAR OL ROOSTER...HE WEIGHS 15 LBS. AND HE LOVED 'CROWING' EVERY FEW MINUTES.  THE KIDS WOULD 'SCATTER' WHEN HE RARED BACK AND CROWED.

DD GOT HER HANDS ON THE SMALLEST BUNNY...SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED ONE BUT WE NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THAT WORKED INTO OUR LIVES.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE SHOT OF THE DAY...

ISN'T THIS THE SWEETEST LITTLE LAMB SHE'S PETTING...IT WAS SO FLUFFY AND SWEET...SUCH AN INNOCENT REPRESENTATION OF OUR LORD'S LIFE...OUR PRECIOUS, COMPLETELY-GIVEN LAMB COVERING ALL OUR UGLINESS.

A BURRO CALMLY WALKED AROUND, TAKING CORN FROM ANYONE WHO WOULD OFFER...
HE WAS NEVER PUSHY THOUGH.

BELOW IS THE FIRST 'SCOTTISH' COW I'VE EVER SEE UP CLOSE
SO FURRY AND WILL GROW TO BE VERY LARGE ONE DAY.

SS COULDN'T STAY AWAY FROM THE LITTLE BLACK PIG

AT FIRST HE WOULDN'T RAISE HIS HEAD FOR A PICTURE, SO I ROOTED AROUND UNDER THE HAY AND FOUND SOME CORN FOR HER TO HOLD IN HER PALM...WA LAH!!! THEN, I GOT THE SHOT :)

IN ADDITION TO THE MANY ANIMALS THE BUNNY BROUGHT...
 HE SHARED SOME CLOWNS, WHO WERE BLOWING BUBBLES,

 

AND CHARACTERS, LIKE WINNIE THE POOH, HAD PICS MADE WITH THE KIDS...

EVEN SOME OF OUR COLLEGE KIDS CAME HOME FROM OUT OF STATE

AND WORKED AT THE EVENT...

HERE, CM IS MANNING THE 'BLOWUP SLIDE'...SHE WAS SOOOOOO PATIENT WITH THESE LITTLE ONES.

SHE'S ONE OF MY 'HUGGERS' ...

SHE FINDS ME WHENEVER HOME AND GRABS ME WITH HER 'SOCCER STRONG' ARMS AND GIVES THE 'HUGE-EST' HUGS...LOVE IT!  I'VE WATCHED HER GROW UP SINCE SHE WAS 5YO.  THE TIME HAS FLOWN BY...SHE'LL BE STARTING HER 2ND YEAR IN COLLEGE SOON.

OUR WEEK WAS SUCH A JOY...

HOLY WEEK IS SUCH AN EMOTIONAL TIME, REMEMBERING HOW OUR LORD GAVE EVERYTHING FOR US.  WE'RE EAGER FOR EASTER MORNING TO AGAIN PRAISE HIM FOR DEFEATING DEATH AND BEING OUR HOPE AND SALVATION FOR ETERNITY.

BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THIS EASTER.

"LICHEN" 'EM, MORE AND MORE

Within the last week the word 'mushroom' has come out of my mouth much more than EVER expected...with all this deluge of rain, the little LICHENS are popping up with a vengeance.

My first uttering of this word was while we were playing golf last week...on almost every hole, along the fairways and even up on the greens,there were many of these botanical sprouts...coming up.

My second uttering came while walking down the sidewalk to the neighborhood gym at BS&K's...tall, short, skinny, fat, HUGE, tiny...greeting us each day ...shriveling toward the pine straw-laden ground for their eternal rest. Their existence is so limited...gone as quickly as they come. I'm rather scared of these little/big delectables due to this happening:

My first-ever, personally-purchased yorkie-poo was Nicholas (I called him Nikki)...he was an adorable little black-curly puff of a puppy...2 pounds wet.

I had bought him with my first paycheck after graduating college...and he spent days with "grandma" Mom while I worked. (She was always going outside to enter our basement to work on her 'sewing projects' and it was common for him to run and jump through the grass while walking with her.) Unfortunately, about two weeks after I got him, he took a curious side trip en route and chewed on a mushroom...

He was so tiny and the obviously poisonous one went straight to his nervous system and he didn't make it. (The vet said it was just too much for his little system.)

Sorry I got sidetracked...but you can now understand why I veer away from mushrooms in the wild but love to eat them in my food. Continuing on:

With all the sightings during our season of sogginess in Atlanta, I wondered how to tell the difference in these little unknown fungi...

There's a MUSHROOM CLUB OF GEORGIA...they have a written purpose and everything...

...an educational organization...to promote enjoyment*, study, and exchange of information about wild mushrooms. (I personally have never thought about 'enjoying a wild mushroom' especially after my incident.

This is SERIOUS STUFF, ya'll...their calendar has field trips with speakers even.

One presentation on their site noted one titled "Medicinal, Poisonous, and Hallucinogenic Properties of Fungi". (hhhhmmmmmm)

Then, there was ... interpretive mushroom farms and myco-gardening demonstration areas (and there's a national "MYCO" group even, who knew? ...I bet they're "myco-gardening experts...

As I read along I felt like someone from BIG BANG was going to pop up on my screen and ask me for a password or something.

This is BIG BRAIN stuff, ya'll...even GA TECH had a USDA grant --to study effects of mushroom mycelium (high-oil content algae for production of bio-fuels)? (GREEN TO THE CORE...that's a mouthful, isn't it?!)

While stumbling around on the site, I found out:

Shiitake mushrooms are the third most popular mushroom species in the U.S."

health benefits: Low in calories, glucose and sodium

high in potassium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc

help lower blood cholesterol

improve the immune system

I can't end this post on such a HIGH-BROW note, so I'll share a mushroom joke...get ready, this will REALLY get you rolling (and I claim no liability to those who may 'split a side' from this one):

Did you hear what the mushroom told the dead tree?

A lichen had developed between us. :p

What 'shroom stories' can share with us today?

BLESSINGS, Skoots1Mom

Psalm 3:1-4 "Enemies sprouting like mushrooms...But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; With all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain."

IT WAS JUST 18 LITTLE HOLES...

Good causes sometimes cause me to step outside my comfort zones. WHAT ABOUT YOU?

My "comfortable zones", especially the zones involving 'sporting activities', have been rather limited for quite some time now. (For a short while I was a gymnast in high school...it was a love of my life until the fateful day I endured a neck slam and ended my acrobatic endeavors.)

I was also a drum major my junior and senior years of high school, which required a lot of physical agility...I even got to use some of my gymnastics moves in my "salutes" at the beginning of each half time show and in parades; however, I always felt a 'hole' where sports were concerned.

After 'Chuckles' and I married I wanted to 'enjoy sporting' with him, so I bought some used golf clubs even though I had never taken a lesson in my life. I had followed golf with my Daddy and understand the lingo and how to keep score. Once I had my clubs and could practice at the ranges, I found myself hacking away on some par 3 courses. (Even dd got in on it as she got older...her softball swing quickly adjusted to the golf ball and her drives often flew past my ball out around the 125-yard marker...and down the straight aways. Usually my ball was rather lonely on the periphery of the rough grass on either side of the fairway or in the woods, or in a pond...rarely dropping in the middle of the fairway.)

My shots were the most-lacking of our threesome each time we played, but I thoroughly enjoyed the sounds of the clubs slicing through the air and pinging that small, little ball. I also enjoyed all the sights on the course itself...the trees, birds, beautifully-trimmed greens and large ponds with the pine trees and tall oaks along the paths gave me more than the round of golf. All the courses around here are so pretty, I just loved being on them.

Well.....tomorrow...I have signed up for a tournament...ha ha! (That sounds so official...doesn't it?!)

I'll be joining a wonderful three-some of ladies for a round of golf, some putting competitions, and some raffles...the proceeds all going to help support someone here in our community who greatly needs our help.

Pray for this tournament to be a success and that we get our round in...it is raining now, we are expecting a 60-75% chance of rain throughout the night, and about a 40% chance at tee time. (it has been raining here for the last week...so, we'll be 'sinking' as we dig our golf cleats in to hit our drives. Soggy footies don't sound so enticing to me, so "Pray hard, you guys, I don't want wet feet!"

It will be worth it for this cause. It will be worth it for the cause...It will be worth it for the cause.

I'll try to get some pictures of whatever we end up doing, where ever we end up hitting our little balls...yes, I'll be aiming at those 18 little holes and hopefully I can at least get a few 'closest to the pin' shots.

It should be fun no matter where my ball lands, I'll have great team members to share this day with in the rain

:)

HAPPY FRIDAY, EVERYBODY!

**9/18 UPDATE**

Your prayers were heard...IT DID NOT RAIN ON US...AT ALL!  IT had rained before we got there, but I never felt a single drop even though the clouds were looming in the low 70's temperatures.  We successfully shot 11 holes and were exhausted as we sat eating lunch (BLIMPIE graciously had provided sub sandwiches for us!). 

There is hope after about four years without having played golf.  I'm ecstatic to say, I got my FIRST-EVER BIRDIE...(which means, on a hole that should take four shots to get the ball into the hole, I successfully got it in on three shots, WOO HOO!!!)...I got a high five and DID THE HAPPY DANCE :) (I have to write this down so I won't forget it:  a long drive, about 130 yards; then a short drive with a #5 iron, and then about a 40-foot putt!)

We played a best-shot scramble and it was lots of fun...I was really excited to hit three or four really long drives that went at least 140 yards and the sounds of the ball coming off the club were awesomely pleasing to my ears.  This certainly makes me want to keep my clubs out and enjoy a few rounds as the wonderful FALL weather is heading our way...(after my blisters heal, that is, not having worn my golf shoes in so long caused my tootsies three heel blisters...I ended the last two holes wearing my daughter's Georgia Bulldog flip flops....(...please don't leave me a correction...I know the X-generations calls them thongs but I can't bring myself to address them as something reminding me of other 'unsightly undergarments'...so, I whole heartedly claim my old-fogey status and will continue to say 'flip flops').

Anybody want to play?

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

OUTDOOR WED #24..."out visitin'...."

Participating in OUTDOOR WED. WITH SUSAN

A once sleepy, little Southern town...Winder is growing leaps and bounds.

DD and I had an appointment to view 'senior pic' proofs...DD brought along a girlfriend and I couldn't pass up the opp to get some shots around 'town'.

Their architecture still has some of its roots showing still...the corner shot of windows is one of their banks. And the Barrow County Court House is pretty with it's white dome tower...and I had to get a shot of the old railroad station which is now home to the Chamber of Commerce.

These are some quick shots I captured while sitting at various stop lights...

MONDAY MOSAIC...

JOINING MARY FOR MOSAIC MONDAY...WON'T YOU JOIN US?!!!

burgundy "volunteer" day lily...my surprise this Spring
angel trumpet bush sprouting new leaves daily
two small flags expand colors and attract each eye
hosta blooms soon to beckon bees
a "breeze-shared" shasta daisy feeling the full sun's shining
weeding awaiting beneath the foot of my bench
humble home peeking through the hues of green
bright yellow daylillies delightfully show off
butterfly bushes welcoming future fluttery feeding frenzies

(double click picuture for bigger view)

Luscious greens of spring...
Summer's sweltering heat soon
...but, today we bloom!

PHOTO STORY FRIDAY (Foliage in the Making) & FRIDAY FILL-IN

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Joining Cecily @ MY CHAOS MY BLISS for PHOTO STORY FRIDAY

It's been a long time since there was color in my yard...and my backyard azalea has reached new hights this year...it's hard to believe this was once in a 6-inch pot (it was a gift friends gave us the day after our daughter came home from the hospital after her birth!...17 years ago)

Look who came to visit while I was shooting...there are other pictures; however, I loved this one because of the puffs of pollen being shaken from his legs as he takes off from the flower!

Our butterfly bush is beginning to sprout after it's "buzz" cut from the winter...it had been a couple of years since we pruned it.

There was no doubt it had been pruned this time around, and I was a little concerned it might have been too harsh a cut. It usually doesn't bloom until we get above 80*, so we'll keep our eyes peeled for buds in another month or so.

These are my "Jill" amaryllis...

the name has nothing to do with their "scientific" identification; they're named after my best friend Jill Gottfriedson who succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 33 (when I was 8 mos. pregnant with my baby...but Jilly knew she was going to be a girl, and I didn't!).

Jill, I miss you so much but think of you every time my "Jills" come for their yearly visit :)

These are some of the drought-resistent ground cover we bought about 5 years ago to help keep our front island from washing away down the hill...it's working! Does anyone know the name of these beauties??

Finally, here are my ROSES! I know, I've never had this many roses from this bush. She's producing gangbusters since the pruning she got back in February...I'm so glad I got it right this time and pray she'll continue throughout the summer.

Go, God! Thanks for the beautiful colors in our yard this Spring...you're such a wonderful Master Designer!

CLICK ON THE BUTTON IF YOU WANT TO SEE OTHER FILL INS!

1. The first rule of working in an office and getting along is to "WORK FOR THE LORD IN ALL YOU DO AND SAY".

2. I really don't like LIVER but I do like clams.

3. When I think of carnivals I think of COTTON CANDY, LITTLE ORANGE TICKETS AND POOR MEN WITH NO FRONT TEETH.

4. The PARROT TULIP is my favorite spring flower.

5. Things on my desk include PAPERS AND PHOTOS NEEDING TO BE FILED, AN ORGANIZER WITH PAPERLIPS/NOTE CARDS AND A "PICTURE OF JESUS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR" THAT USED TO HANG OVER MY GRANDMOTHER'S GUEST BED.

6. Knowing my WEIGHT IS GRADUALLY COMING OFF makes me wanna jump for JOY AND STATE THAT WE CAN DO IT!

7. And as for the weekend, TONIGHT I'M COOKING CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLES, tomorrow DD TAKES THE 'REAL' SAT, my plans include SERVING LUNCH at GAINESVILLE HOMELESS SHELTER and LATER CELEBRATING A CANCER-FREE YEAR WITH ONE OF MY YOUTH COUNSELOR BUDDIES then on Sunday I'LL BE JOINING IN ON OUR SENIOR BANQUET CELEBRATION AT UMYF!

HAPPY WEEKEND...SAY A PRAYER FOR MY GREAT NIECE WHO IS 2 1/2, A CONGENITAL HEART PATIENT AWAITING SURGERY THIS SUMMER. HER PARENTS HAD TO ADMIT HER TO THE CHILDRENS' HOSPITAL DUE TO HER CURRENTLY DEALING WITH A BAD GASTRO VIRUS. SHE'S OUR "MIRACLE KATIE"

:)

Snowy Night N Jawja...

Usually our snows come in from the northwest...and they usually hit our mountains in the north-end of the state first. NOT THIS TIME...I had been in the mountains earlier in the day, and all we had was rain...

DISCLAIMERS:

• The woman in the red thermal shirt was fresh out of the car from a 2-hour trip in her SUV.
• Same woman had been at a mountain retreat for two days where makeup and hair couture were not THE priorities of the day.
• Aforementioned woman was so excited about the Winter Weather Warning and the QUICK accumulation of the white, fluffy stuff her region so rarely sees, her personal semblance was the last thing on her mind as she quickly grabbed her camera and shot the video...obviously, duh!.
• Even though narcoleptic from the previous nights' sleep, this recently travelled woman was invigorated by the falling hydration in its entirety!
• She asks you to do two things...1. forgive her unprepared demeanor and 2. enjoy her capture of this brief brush with Winter
• IT ALL MELTED THIS AFTERNOON...

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?

BABY BLOSSOM BLOOMS!... 1. Treasure the wonder

Looks like there's going to be a NEW blossom soon...I'm a little "eager" to see what God has planned.

It's been several weeks since I planted the "seeds" and I have watched over them along the way as they have developed in the rich soil...(seeds were planted on 6/18/08 ... see the difference?http://skirkman.blogspot.com/2008/07/simple-womans-daybook.html

Just having participated in the Beth Moore simulcast, the "seeds" were so much of the focus--and they are to be nurtured so they will "take root"...the WORD takes root and will grow in our lives like the seeds grow in the soil.

Treasure the wonder...see the new "coming" blossom...He's busy equipping my seeds into blooms...to be the best blooms they can be.


Gal 3:29 Galatians 3:29
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Update: 8/6/08 FIRST FRUITS!

Here she is...

I'm not sure if there will be more, but His glory shines EVEN IN JUST ONE!

BEASTS, BEES, BUTTERFLIES & BLOOMS

Beastie Kitty stalking, seeing what's lurking in and out of the blades
...scooting to and fro, gathering whatever for wherever...
.....resting, enjoying the southern sun on the hard, heated bricks leading to the door
..........looking again, a brown, spotted lizard; pouncing and playing catch!

Bees buzzing in, on, up, down, around, finally landing on a bloom

......wings closed while gathering God's pollen goodness

.............wings open, readying for flight, gathering is done

Butterfly billowing, wisping through warm breezes, meandering through leaves and trees

......flittering quickly, to and fro, never staying still on one perch very long

...........contrasting yellow-black against the lavenders and greens, what beauty!

Blooms greeting visitors in the morning, opening to sunshine after nightly naps

......spider-like, lizard-green fingers reaching from each stem, welcoming daylight

..........dusk enticing each petal to protect itself; closing gently to embrace another rest

Colossians 1:16

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him