Some time ago, I noticed a renovated, attractive business that was put in on a corner we passed every day on the way to town. I commented that I was glad they replaced the tire shop that had been there. An artistic sign was put up, with a collection of images of varied sizes and shapes of bottles. It even said, "The Bottle Shop."
Being something of a collector of bottles, I remarked, "I would like to go look at their bottles," Then it dawned on me that it was a liquor store!
I recalled a dim memory of a story in an elementary reader about a bottle shop where a man created bottles by heat and a blowing device. My eight-year-old imagination was captivated by the colorful pictures and graceful shapes of the bottles. I think that is where my fascination for bottles began.
A friend likes a chicken recipe for coq au vin, and she surreptitiously visits a liquor store for this ingredient, hoping no one will see her and get the wrong idea. But now grocery stores sell liquor anyway.
My husband has been wanting a waffle iron, and he bought one yesterday since my old one needed to be replaced. We couldn't wait to use it this morning and looked forward to breakfast. We figured out the instructions and soon had some lovely waffles on our plates. Then I remembered we had no syrup! I searched the cupboards and found a couple of empty bottles with barely a smidgen in the bottom. We made do, and enjoyed the crispy treats. Now I will have to go to the store for a new bottle. Not that kind!
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Friday, March 29, 2019
Tex-Sons!
Hooray! Getting to go to Texas next week to see family. Our son, Benjamin, teaches school and will be on Spring Break, so he has made arrangements for us to come for a visit! We will also see our oldest son, Mark, and possibly Trevor, who also lives in Texas.
I was a little concerned last night that it might not happen, when I got worried about persistent discomfort in my upper back between shoulders. Even went to the E.R., but found it was just muscle spasms! Praise God! I guess I'm pretty healthy for my age!
I admit a cloud of doom hung over me when I thought I might not be able to take the trip. Thankfully, our heart felt prayers were answered!
Philippians 4: 6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
We were supposed to go to a Bible study at the home of friends last evening, but I sent a text that I wasn't feeling well and was getting checked out at the E.R. Imagine my surprise when three of them showed up at the hospital room after their meeting! Not only were they glad to hear my good report, (one eyed the display screen on the wall and pointed out my perfect blood pressure and pulse) one kneeling, they prayed for me beside my bed!
I think I will get to see those blue-bonnets yet!
I was a little concerned last night that it might not happen, when I got worried about persistent discomfort in my upper back between shoulders. Even went to the E.R., but found it was just muscle spasms! Praise God! I guess I'm pretty healthy for my age!
I admit a cloud of doom hung over me when I thought I might not be able to take the trip. Thankfully, our heart felt prayers were answered!
Philippians 4: 6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
We were supposed to go to a Bible study at the home of friends last evening, but I sent a text that I wasn't feeling well and was getting checked out at the E.R. Imagine my surprise when three of them showed up at the hospital room after their meeting! Not only were they glad to hear my good report, (one eyed the display screen on the wall and pointed out my perfect blood pressure and pulse) one kneeling, they prayed for me beside my bed!
I think I will get to see those blue-bonnets yet!
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Pantry Panic!
I bought a bag of lemons the other day, thinking of making my favorite pie--lemon meringue. (I do believe lemon is my favorite of all flavors!) The beautiful yellow orbs lingered in their bowl, and I almost forgot about the pie. At long last, I remembered to buy refrigerated pie crusts. Then it hit me! I didn't have a recipe, and I didn't trust my memory for exact directions. All my cookbooks have been in storage since our move months ago.
I mentioned my plans to my daughter in Tennessee, and she recalled, "Oh, I remember how you taught Bethany (my grand) to make lemon meringue pies one summer!" True, I did, and we made lots of them, because a Mississippi neighbor had gifted me with a bushel basket full of lemons! Not just run-of-the-mill lemons, but lemons the size of grapefruit!
That didn't mean I didn't need directions now! Searching the internet, I was only successful in finding glowing promotions of sites one could join, great pics of pies, but no recipes! Complaining to my husband about it, I showed him the phone view of my dilemma. Surprise! A recipe came up for "Grandma's Lemon Pie." That would work, and so would I!
I wrote down all the ingredients, and was studying the process, when everything disappeared. I did the best I could, but the screen would not cooperate! Plunging in, I got out the four eggs it called for, separated the whites for the meringue, and reviewed my list of ingredients. I mixed them up, probably not in the right order and cooked the filling to the right consistency.
The meringue was perfect, and I was ready to pile it on, when I realized the crust needed to be baked! Turning up the oven, I trusted it was done, although a little pale. Nevertheless, the topping browned nicely when all was assembled, and I must say, it was the BEST lemon meringue pie I have ever tasted! Thank you from one grandmother (Mimi) to another! It was no lemon!
I mentioned my plans to my daughter in Tennessee, and she recalled, "Oh, I remember how you taught Bethany (my grand) to make lemon meringue pies one summer!" True, I did, and we made lots of them, because a Mississippi neighbor had gifted me with a bushel basket full of lemons! Not just run-of-the-mill lemons, but lemons the size of grapefruit!
That didn't mean I didn't need directions now! Searching the internet, I was only successful in finding glowing promotions of sites one could join, great pics of pies, but no recipes! Complaining to my husband about it, I showed him the phone view of my dilemma. Surprise! A recipe came up for "Grandma's Lemon Pie." That would work, and so would I!
I wrote down all the ingredients, and was studying the process, when everything disappeared. I did the best I could, but the screen would not cooperate! Plunging in, I got out the four eggs it called for, separated the whites for the meringue, and reviewed my list of ingredients. I mixed them up, probably not in the right order and cooked the filling to the right consistency.
The meringue was perfect, and I was ready to pile it on, when I realized the crust needed to be baked! Turning up the oven, I trusted it was done, although a little pale. Nevertheless, the topping browned nicely when all was assembled, and I must say, it was the BEST lemon meringue pie I have ever tasted! Thank you from one grandmother (Mimi) to another! It was no lemon!
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Burning the Candle at Both Ends!
Well, not really, only at one end! We had bought ear candles at the recommendation of our daughter. "Shannon can hear again!" she had said of her husband, on whom she used the candles to remove built-up wax in his ears. We found the "candles" in the ear section of Walmart's health care area, and after watching a tutorial of the process, we finally undertook the experiment.
The tutorial showed the "patient" lying on a table with his head turned to one side, while his assistant gathered the supplies: a bowl of water, a lighter, and a foil pan in which she made a hole for the candle. Then carefully placing the candle in his ear, she lit the "candle," which was made of a special paper.
The candle was trimmed at inch intervals, when the burnt portion would fall into the water. The pan protected the subject's face. Soon she deemed it time to remove the rest of the candle, peel back the paper at the inserted end, and voila! A yucky deposit of ear wax was on display.
Well, our experience wasn't an exact replica. Howard lay on the sofa, so the pan on his head was unlevel, the burnt inch couldn't fall into the bowl of water due to the give and take of the sofa cushion, and the burning candle fell into the foil pan, narrowly averting my husband's hair.
After figuring out how to peel back the paper of the candle, we did manage to see a little wax. Then it was my turn. I rested my head on the table, and although it was a little scary with my spouse holding a lit candle in my ear, I survived. I even heard the crackling noise of melting wax! He removed the candle and everything got louder! I could hear better! No wonder, with the amount of residue that fell out!
Tomorrow we're going to get two more candles for our other ears! It should be a cinch now that we are professionals!
Friday, March 22, 2019
Kaden
He is walking! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a video of our youngest great-grandson taking his first steps! He recently became a one-year-old and has become quite proficient in crawling up and down stairs, running in his walker, and whirling on the Roomba floor vacuum.
Suddenly it seemed I was seeing a little boy, instead of a baby! Confidently, he manfully took five steps, to my gleeful amazement. I'm sure he will even be running by the time I get to see him again, living far away as I do.
He likes books, and I was able to get him a couple of sturdy baby books at Christmas time when we visited there. Then for his birthday, we sent him a cute little book with the title and story line of "Kiss Me!" He may be too interested in walking for anything else for a while.
The Bible is full of verses on walking. Ephesians 5:1 says, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." I think of how sweet-smelling he is fresh from a bath, and walking in love from his family.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight," 2 Corinthians 5:7. A baby may not realize it, but when he starts to walk, it has to be by faith. He plunges on, determined, though he may fall, but as the Bible says, He will not be utterly cast down!
My daughter says her first grandchild likes to go to the grocery store. He is entertained by getting out of the house and riding in the shopping cart, especially when he gets a free cookie from the bakery department to munch on. He may not be walking, but to him, this is quite a ride!
Suddenly it seemed I was seeing a little boy, instead of a baby! Confidently, he manfully took five steps, to my gleeful amazement. I'm sure he will even be running by the time I get to see him again, living far away as I do.
He likes books, and I was able to get him a couple of sturdy baby books at Christmas time when we visited there. Then for his birthday, we sent him a cute little book with the title and story line of "Kiss Me!" He may be too interested in walking for anything else for a while.
The Bible is full of verses on walking. Ephesians 5:1 says, "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." I think of how sweet-smelling he is fresh from a bath, and walking in love from his family.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight," 2 Corinthians 5:7. A baby may not realize it, but when he starts to walk, it has to be by faith. He plunges on, determined, though he may fall, but as the Bible says, He will not be utterly cast down!
My daughter says her first grandchild likes to go to the grocery store. He is entertained by getting out of the house and riding in the shopping cart, especially when he gets a free cookie from the bakery department to munch on. He may not be walking, but to him, this is quite a ride!
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Good Neighbor
"Look, Howard," I gasped in awe at the sight of a huge, yellow, brilliantly bright moon hovering over the horizon. On the way home from church, we had just entered the highway to the country when this spectacular surprise came into view. How gorgeous to see it hanging there in the blackness of the night sky!
Staring at it, I thought of how I viewed the moon as a little girl. I never called the shadowy design of the surface the " Man in the Moon." I could only see a lady brushing her hair, hair that floated aloft in its wavy beauty. I remember lying on the grass on our rocky hilltop and marveling at it even then.
Genesis 1:14 tells us, And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons, and days, and years. (15) Let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth." And it was so.
(16) God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also."
As a child, I was told not to look at the sun, or you would go blind. (If you tell a child not to do something, it may be the first thing they will do.) I looked at the sun, and felt blind for a few seconds, but thankfully, no longer than that!
Another foolish memory from childhood was how we would whirl around to get dizzy, then lie on the ground to feel the world rock! Dizziness is the worst thing I can think of now!
Many romantic songs have been written about the moon. Sweethearts love to dream and fantasize looking at this great marvel of God. It seems to inspire hopes, desires and even memories. Men have even gone to the moon, sending back to earth the realization of God as our Creator!
Staring at it, I thought of how I viewed the moon as a little girl. I never called the shadowy design of the surface the " Man in the Moon." I could only see a lady brushing her hair, hair that floated aloft in its wavy beauty. I remember lying on the grass on our rocky hilltop and marveling at it even then.
Genesis 1:14 tells us, And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons, and days, and years. (15) Let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth." And it was so.
(16) God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also."
As a child, I was told not to look at the sun, or you would go blind. (If you tell a child not to do something, it may be the first thing they will do.) I looked at the sun, and felt blind for a few seconds, but thankfully, no longer than that!
Another foolish memory from childhood was how we would whirl around to get dizzy, then lie on the ground to feel the world rock! Dizziness is the worst thing I can think of now!
Many romantic songs have been written about the moon. Sweethearts love to dream and fantasize looking at this great marvel of God. It seems to inspire hopes, desires and even memories. Men have even gone to the moon, sending back to earth the realization of God as our Creator!
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
The Color Purple
Texas may have its blue bonnets, but here in Oklahoma we are having a colorful display of purple blanketing roadsides, fields and lawns. The spreading masses are really a nettle, and are called henbit nettle. When mowing season comes, they will disappear, but for now we can appreciate the splash of color complementing the newly-green grass emerging from the dead thatch of winter.
Soon we may see purple in a drape that appears on crosses at churches, which brings to mind the purple robe put on Jesus when he was being scourged and mocked before his crucifixion.
John 19:1, Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged Him. The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put a purple robe on Him. They said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they hit Him with their hands.
Purple is the color of royalty. Some say that His tormentors put a scarlet robe on Jesus. The color purple is the combination of blue and red mixed together.
Another harbinger of Spring is the bed of pansies that often border houses, even in cold weather. They come in colors of yellow, red, purple and white, to name a few. In the song, "April Showers," there is a line that says, "It isn't raining rain you know, it's raining vio-lets." Violet is a color similar to purple. I once had a basket of violas, miniature versions of pansies, and often purple in color.
I have seen so many accounts lately of people who have died, gone to Heaven, and come back to earth. Invariably, they tell of the beauty and depth of color in grass and flowers, unlike any color on earth! That will be an eternal Spring for all who have put their trust in the King!
Soon we may see purple in a drape that appears on crosses at churches, which brings to mind the purple robe put on Jesus when he was being scourged and mocked before his crucifixion.
John 19:1, Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged Him. The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put a purple robe on Him. They said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they hit Him with their hands.
Purple is the color of royalty. Some say that His tormentors put a scarlet robe on Jesus. The color purple is the combination of blue and red mixed together.
Another harbinger of Spring is the bed of pansies that often border houses, even in cold weather. They come in colors of yellow, red, purple and white, to name a few. In the song, "April Showers," there is a line that says, "It isn't raining rain you know, it's raining vio-lets." Violet is a color similar to purple. I once had a basket of violas, miniature versions of pansies, and often purple in color.
I have seen so many accounts lately of people who have died, gone to Heaven, and come back to earth. Invariably, they tell of the beauty and depth of color in grass and flowers, unlike any color on earth! That will be an eternal Spring for all who have put their trust in the King!
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