The Wednesday Wrap Up on Thursday

 It has been a little bit since we have had dense patchy fog and this morning the fog is slowly lifting. After a mostly rainy day, fog comes along and covers the land. The sky was so beautiful last night with the rain gone and the bright white clouds rolling along. The setting sun cast a brightness atop the mountains in the distance. It was as if we were experiencing three spheres of weather and treated too verdant greens and crystal blues. This afternoon, I will get some sunflower seeds planted as well as some seeds for wildflowers. The roses this year are budding out something spectacular. Vivid pinks, sunny yellows and bright red roses. Sometimes it is too much to take in, but I take it in. So thankful for our Creator who has given us these colors painting the landscape. 

At the beginning of the year as I started blogging, I tried to capture some memories of the long ago. I felt rather strongly about this and blogged a bit more than I have in the recent past. Now that we are in spring, I give the growth and weather updates. There is a mention or two of lessons involving research and study, usually. When I first began blogging I took up topics that I felt strongly about and I sometimes still do that. But now, it is a more settled time and more of time for me doing something that I love. There are topics I would cover now but wisdom dictates that wouldn't be prudent. Ah SNL...back in the day reference. 

Roy is finally in Genesis on Sundays. My class is slowing down a bit as we round the turn into studying Joseph. We are at Bethel with Jacob right now as he is in the last lap of becoming the next patriarch after his father. Jacob has been dragging his feet as of late, taking his time to arrive where he has been called to live. This morning Roy and I were talking about Lot, cause that is where he is at and then chapter 35 where we are. The difference we noticed was in the road trip. Lot couldn't wait to divide off and live his own life with all this stuff and the nostalgia for his time in Egypt. Jacob's road trip is full of moving on and then sputtering. Being a devote of Michael Card's teaching using our imaginations to see the scene we are reading in its entirety. Moving those tents back then did not include pop up tents or campers. We were remembering some of the trips that we took here before living here. The journey was never too much. Roy and I would make that first day of driving, the hardest one and we got in the habit of going to Chattanooga because our niece was in college there. The next morning we took the back way to Asheville with a slower pace, then vacation really began. Now, that we live here and even with several trips back throughout the years, that journey doesn't hold the same alure it once did. The world has changed and we have changed. 

I behaved at Publix and didn't see or run into the rude couple. We actually shopped like we were adults and our cart didn't look like we eat the same as college students. On the way home we did our Wednesday lunch stop picking up 6 Pigs BBQ across from the post office on the river road. Delicious! They will also be at the Madison Market next weekend. After eating lunch we headed to Ducketts. They just got a new shipment in of plants and we wanted to check out what they had. Year before last I bought plants from them and was thrilled with the price and the outcome. Best $20 spent yesterday was a tray of zinnias and the flat includes 36 plants. That that was a great deal. Also picked up another hanging plant for the front. On the way to and back from Clyde, we saw a large panel truck that had ran off the road as you are going up the mountain from Clyde. Looked like a back broken axel. Must have been the theme of the week cause several rigs have slid off the road and into a culvert. 

While we planted zinnias, the Feral Fam had a wonderful time chasing one another in the tall grass. It looked as if we had planted kitty cats. It was hard not to tear up because Cha Nay-Nay would have been out there with the others chasing each other and then the hose as Roy moved over the yard to water the new flowers just planted. 

Woke up at 3:00 am and couldn't go back to sleep. Got up and worked on the outline for Sunday. It is one of those lessons where you could go point to point to point or mainly focus on two highpoints. Think I am going highpoints. 

Interruptions, Compost, Dreams and Plants

 It was quite the exciting day, but not in the usual sense of the word. HVAC maintenance time. We tried to get The Boys into the bonus room but only GMoey would go. Willie ran away like he usually runs for treats. Mr Mo went into the queen bed room, so I shut the door. The only cat out and about in the house was Free Willie. He is excellent in his choice of hiding spots. None of The Boys seems interested in going outdoors since they are well acquainted with the outdoors in their early life. It took less than an hour to check and replace filters and the tech was gone before 10:00 am. Roy found GMoey under the dresser in the bonus room, Mr Mo came out of the bedroom but getting Willie to show was a no go. He stayed hidden for hours and even missed the lure of cat food cans opening up for their lunch. In the middle of the afternoon I decided to try one more time to locate that hidden kitty. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I got out the red laser light and a tube of squeeze cheese. Well, it isn't really squeeze cheese, it is Churros and all three love that goodness in a tube. Mr Mo chased the laser light and I rattle the treat tube. Willie sauntered out from underneath the daybed in the front bedroom, ready for play and a treat. We would have bet money Willie was under our bed. Such is the life of a stealth kitty. Willie's fear when the routine has a new snag introduced is more so than the other two. I am not a professional cat phycologist but his behavior stems from his mother's protection. She probably had other kittens but Willie is the only survivor. She watched over him and rushed him off to safety anytime something alarmed her. Since he lost his mom at a young age, maybe he reverts to that behavior. He is the hardest to get to the vet and we are already planning and scheduling the weeks before his appointment to make the transition easier. Well, it won't ever be easy but without tipping him off. Also Roy doesn't have a poker face nor actions that would distract Willie Boy. 

With warmer temps we set out to get marigolds planted so that the tomatoes will benefit from their presence, well when the tomatoes are put into the ground that is. The experiment of planting in a small bag of potting or garden soil has been successful so far. We were able to move the plants in those two nights that were a bit colder than usual. Then bring them back out for the sun and the rainy Friday. 

This week I began studying to introduce Joseph on Sunday morning but it just seemed we could not make that huge jump from the good parting of Jacob and Esau to Joseph. Chapters 34 and 35 need to be covered. I tell ya, anything that has to do with Old Testament circumcision gets a pass over...oops that is kind of a pun, but not really. But, there is so much to the story and the family gift of deception, lying and scheming. Chapter 34 has it all. Passive Jacob, a daughter assaulted and held captive, sons with rage and tempers, and not stopping his sons from outright war over the actions of two. Despicable actions of the two sons. You do not see God's name nor His presence or influence in chapter 34. Chapter 35 brings remedy and repentance but getting through 34 has to be done. 

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Today has been a lovely day to haul dirt and compost across the yard. A good day to cut back old growth and prepare for new plants. Had a funny moment. I tried to use one of the footstools from the wooden chairs in the yard. It slopes as well as the yard. Too much slope for me and we got quite the laughs of me trying to figure out what was going on. In these situations I can laugh so hard that well, let's just say the result is not what is needed. Roy did a lot of work out there today and this evening he finished watering. We are supposed to get some rain tomorrow, so who knows but it really felt good being outside today. Last year I really missed doing all of this and the work and the lovely fragrances that arrive in spring. 

I don't know if it is because I am studying a lot on Joseph but the past two weeks I have had such vivid dreams. No one bowing down to me like he dreamed but I will say a few of those dreams might be a way to prepare a bit for days ahead. Nothing earth shattering just reminding me that there is a beginning, middle and end to stories. It's kind of like using prayer to segue from thing to thing cause that is just what has been done for eons of generations. Maybe these dreams will help me adjust, I have no idea other than the Lord has used dreams before in my life and I have learned to know the difference between eating popcorn dreams before bed and these of the last few days. 

Sunday after church was our fellowship lunch. Always delicious food as well as visiting with friends. It is one of the most fun things we do at church and it is so needed anytime and all the time. With school soon coming to an end, our attention turns toward preparation for VBS. The format has changed a bit so I won't be volunteering as before but Roy is taking the pictures for that week. 

This is such a colorful and verdant spring. The leaves of the trees are especially vibrant this year. It might have to do with a little more rain than usual. I am also ready to plant some zinnias. They have become one of my favorites. 

RIP Cha Nay-Nay

 These days with The Feral Fam have been especially poignant. Coco is trusting us more, even letting Roy pet her. She likes hanging out with Fido and he is showing her the ropes of in and out of the garage living. She hasn't stayed over yet but many a morning, after their private breakfast, she adjourns to her king size bed in the corner of The Garage on the Catmore Estate. Fido's brother, Spot or Spotty as I call him, is trusting us more as well. He has a huge wound on his neck and we would like to get him into a vet. There is also a couple who board horses with our neighbor that is very interested in him. He too enjoys the private dining privilege here at Catmore. Won't eat in the garage but he has one of us on guard duty to keep the others away so he can eat and gain strength. We hadn't seen him for a couple of days and we kept an eye out for him but we were slowly resigning ourselves to maybe his passing. Thrilled to see him! One of Camo's last batch got too close to the road about a month or so ago. Since The Feral Family harem has diminished the males from around the area are a bit disappointed to only find a table for one, meals. Hector Protector's twin Bobbsey has made a few appearances of late. He lives with another colony over the mountain. Radley is still around but not as much. Shows up about every week and a half for supper. 

Sadly, I believe that Cha Nay-Nay might be gone. It has been about a week and that girl never missed a meal as well as some pets and then time in my lap. As a young one, something got to her like something has gotten to Spot. Not as bad but she slowly healed. She stayed around here most of the time, with just a couple of ventures down the gravel road with Coco. Not out of sight from our backyard. This little spicy kitten who hissed her way into adulthood, all of the sudden wanted some interaction with the hoomans. Once again, Fido showed the way. As we worked getting the flowerbeds ready, Fido and Cha Nay-Nay helped us. Of course with too little stamina, I would sit down and the helpers joined me. She always touched noses with me, so I knew I was accepted by her. On those cool to warm evenings, she would cuddle up on my lap with her head tucked into my arm. I have always been partial to calicos. Remember Cali? We have looked everywhere for Cha Nay-Nay and I can tear up a bit when I think of her. The last time she sat on my lap and then had her supper, she came back to me and put her paws on my shoulder...like a hug. Then she went onto whatever plans she had for early evening. 

That first little Calico, Cali, never let me pet her but this little one opened wide her heart. Like all good ferals, she kept just enough of that wild spirit to remind me she wasn't totally domesticated. She didn't like to be carried. The one time she got into the house, she went nuts trying to get out of the house. 

She started out as Chanel but I realized soon enough she was more a Cha Nay-Nay. She was barely a year old. 

Last night Roy heard coyotes howling and he got Beanie into the garage with Fido for the night. We haven't heard coyotes for a while but their presence might just explain our lost Cha Nay-Nay. 

The loss has hit me hard. I still go out and whistle cause she always came a running cause the whistle means mealtime or snack time. The joy of getting involved and winning ferals over is challenging but oh so wonderful if it evolves but the loss is tremendous. 

Weekly Reader, Maybe Two Week Reader

 The morning rain has moved east and supposedly this afternoon we will have a few more showers come in. We took the opportunity to work some outside. Roy put together a fire pit/raised garden ring and I cleaned out some big planters and started our tomato experiment. Is there anything we can't learn from social media. At TJs, they had veggie plants and although it is too early for our area, the call of tomatoes is in the air especially with the warmer than normal temps. This experiment is totally mobile and the plants can be moved easily to warmth and away from frost fear. It didn't take long for me to cry uncle and to surrender to the heat. We placed the fire ring, cut some lilac and came inside. After lunch Roy went back outside to finish the second ring. 

While spring is evident all over the countryside there is a period of time that if you didn't know the season, several tree sprout leaves that are in a fallish hue. Red, gold and light orange. Sitting on the daybed in the front room with the double windows. just seeing those colors brought this to mind. If I had been sick and lost track of seasons and time, it would be quite perplexing to say the least if this was my only view. Since it isn't, I have seen the daffodils and tulips make the early spring entrance, red buds and dogwoods bloom out, peach and plum trees filled with blossoms and now apple trees going from bloom to little apple buds. 

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We nearly had another "alarm" incident this morning. Woke up at 3:00 am, couldn't sleep. Got up and read. Roy woke up a little after 4:00 am and we had a regular, not morning before coffee conversation, and that is what threw me off on the morning routine. Cause I am the alarm disarmer but Roy has promised me again and again he always checks the monitor to make sure the alarm is disengaged. Emersed in a good book I hear Roy, maybe yelling my name or is he talking to the cats? It was me whose attention he is calling out for...turn off the alarm! Hurry! Whew! We made it without having to verify with the alarm company that it was a mistake. 

After reading Mildred Budge books, I am going the complete opposite now. Started The Swamp Kings, history of the Murdaugh family in SC. The stories of the family coming into prominence, along with their many faults and flaws goes hand in hand with Jacob and his family. Throughout the narrative we see all the deception and scheming that takes place. Jacob has a divine encounter and change for him begins but it is still in his family, with his sons. 

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Ah, the temps of winter return for today and tomorrow. We brought in the tomato plants and covered them against the lows and the possibility of frost. With the rain on and off all weekend everything is looking so green outdoors. Every color of green on the prism is being represented by various trees. Once it gets a little warmer we are going to cut back some plants that have grown behind the hydrangeas and the deck. Have to pick a day like today where it will not be as warm so that we don't have to battle the plant as well as bugs. 

We sang Heaven Came Down yesterday morning in church. Oh my, it has been many, many years since I have heard the song much less singing it. What I remember is back in the day, at an age before I could participate in youth activities at Westbury Baptist, the youth choir came home from a mission trip. They sang all the songs and Heaven was one of them. Ron Lowry was our music minister and he set the joy of singing into many. One that comes to mind is Mindy Scott although many would know her as Mindy Klassen. That Sunday night that was devoted to the report of the trip was probably the only Sunday night I paid attention. I remember how soft the voices were on, "sins were washed away" became bolder with "and my night was turned to day, heaven came down and glory filled my soul." While most memories at WBC are not good, this particular one is. That Sunday night is the first time I heard the song, Amen. 

Yesterday, I posted a blog post from 2009 titled Thank An Admin. I think I do this every year because the truth in it is still relevant as well as truth. I looked at some of the original comments by the admins to look at what life for them now looks like. Interesting, for sure. 

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HVAC checkup time. Roy and the tech are outside looking at the downstairs unit. We have two of the three boys put up and it looks like rain. Cooler as well. If we get a chance this afternoon we might put out some of the plants we purchased this week most probably in a raised bed but we might do the bag of dirt thing. 

I think I will close this less than stellar post. It has been a couple of weeks in the making. I like the slow days now. We finally tackled a couple of projects this week. We are also doing a massive clean out. Found tons of stuff that needs to move on. Lots of pandemic interests to keep me busy at home and the truth is, now they don't hold the same interest. So, off they go. 

Life, Lilacs and Learning

 A week of firsts. First official visits to produce stands in Haywood Country, first purchase of SC strawberries, first day of many to come of wearing capris and first few days of above average temps. The apple trees have blossoms this year. Think the peach trees survived the one time frost and the plum trees are finished blooming out. Hopefully, we will have a fruitful season. 

Yesterday we drove over to Canton and Clyde. It is one of my most favorite drives and the scenery did not disappoint. Dogwoods blooming out is such a beautiful sight. We went to Christopher Farms to try the frozen, made locally, pot pies. Then over to Ducketts for strawberries and to check the inventory of Lou Lou's canned products. We were looking for her salsa. It is fabulous. 

On Monday we grabbed up some of the buy three get three bags of garden soil, then a brief visit at Hobby Lobby. I needed raffia for a cat toy. Oh, we got two more fire rings for raised garden beds at Lowe's. So Roy will be putting those together in the coming days as we ready for the middle of May and tomato planting season. We will probably do red and green bell peppers and maybe carrots. 

Today, we did the Publix thing and stopped for BBQ at 6 Pigs. No banana pudding today but that's okay. We ate our lunch after unloading the car. Back to Mars Hill and TJs. Got a beautiful hanging basket of a vine like flower as well as some plants. I read about a way to temporally get plants ready for the season and able to get them out of the cold if it dips which looks like that will be Sunday. We shall see. While doing the Publix thing, wisdom discount day...what a mess. We encountered a couple that were rude, rude, rude! I surely fail the Lord when I am in a grocery store, sometimes but Wednesday was not one of those days. The man nearly took me out with the cart so that he could get to the bran cereal. Uh, no thanks but my ankle and calf were clipped by the cart. No, I am sorry for hitting you...nothing. I then determined they might be from up north but she had on a t-shirt designating her as a Big Bend National Park volunteer. So most likely they were from Texas. So I turned the other cheek and blocked them on two aisles and unknownst to Roy about the whole situation, he cut off the escape route after they found themselves behind a slow, very slow cart pusher and shopper. These aggravations are getting fewer and fewer but it is a reminder to keep a renewed mind. Kind of like out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks holds true for out of the abundance of actions...

The kind of crazy, druggy guy is out of rehab or wherever he was. Saw him walking along the road Sunday and last night the crazy guy saw Roy at our gate to the driveway. He both hurried into the garage as the crazy guy came up our road and headed toward the neighbors. We called them but all were out in the barn and didn't call back till later. Guess they saw him the other night coming up to their farm, but they have two German shepherds going crazy to get to him.   

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Our Friday rain is a gentle one. Just enough to water plants and make the roads slick. This spring I have been proactive with the gardening unlike the past two years. No diagnosis of what the heck was going on with me health wise, but this spring I have more energy to do the things I have come to love, which is gardening. The lilac bushes are in full bloom and I hope after today's rain I am able to cut a few of the flowers of to bring inside. Ah, the fragrance. The hybrid hydrangeas are experiencing a banner year and that means the snowball bushes are not too far behind. Haven't seen the plant man who the past few years been a pioneer in the area on the river road that I call the truck flea market. Got flame azaleas from him as well as a few other plants the past few years. So many of the shrubs and flowering plants we put in several years ago are now mature and showing off this spring. Fall has always been my favorite season but living here, spring is giving fall a run for the money. 

These Feral Fam members are entertaining yet frustrating so many times. Fido comes into the garage at night, helps serve the dry food in the mornings and then comes back with Roy into the garage for his own breakfast. Coco is coming around and letting us pet her gently but it has to be her idea. Cha Nay Nay demands lots and lots of pets yet will ignore us at other times. Last night she sat on my lap for the longest time. Don't know if that was more to keep Beanie off my lap or what, but she of all the cats in the Feral Fam, the spiciest cat taken to the spay/neuter clinic cause she got written up, is a great purer and so affectionate. Squeaky is a nuisance to Fido and Cha Nay Nay, but he is a cutie and practically lives in the cat tree that is slowly falling apart. We are looking to replace it for the Fam. 

In the spirit of women's basketball Roy and I have added the Caitlyn Clark shrug and questioning pose after calls and no calls to our lives when we have small disagreements or if I am just feeling funny and want to make Roy laugh. The shrug and questioning could also look like an arm low level praising of the Lord. I watched part of the draft on Monday evening but those kinds of shows are usually not a first or fifth choice. CC has a lot riding on her shoulders for the hope of women's basketball. I hope she doesn't get hurt the first week of the season. Like I have written before I probably won't watch games cause my interest in bb peaks at March Madness time. 

This week as we get ready to cross the river tributary of the Jordan River, Jabbok, with Jacob I have looked at a couple of instances where his experience can help us learn so much in our relationship with God. His twenty years with Laban are bookmarked with encounters of the spiritual kind. The first preparing him for his season of life on the horizon and the second, life changing as his name changes as well as the way he deals with life. He is giving up depending on his wit, persuasiveness and charm. No longer the deceiver, no longer a mad schemer of getting what he wants, on his terms and his understanding. Chapter 31 is so powerful as Laban accuses and Jacob confronts, vents, treaty and leaves. This Sunday we will jump a little into Romans 12 to see how the experiences in walking with the Lord intersect with Jacob and with us. Roy is finishing up the portion on Noah and the Ark, and the beginning look at Nimrod and the tower of Babel. He was asking me what I emphasized with the lesson, for Noah's time in the Ark, me, asking what about the animal poop? For Nimrod and Babel...how much nothing has changed. The gameplan is the same today as it was in the former years. I also had this great revelation to make Roy laugh, Noah walked with God, but were the requirements different to float with God? Just an observation. Yep, it wasn't the tower that is the main theme, it is living in cities and not dispersing throughout the land. The theme is the cities and what the significance meant.  

Also, in my last post I quoted Dr Jordan Peterson. I didn't have any idea of who he is and only quoted him for his views on false adventures. Which the topic still fascinates me. 

Last night I finished the trilogy of Miss Budge novels. There is so much insight to living in a way that brings glory to God with a few laughs and wisdom thrown in. 

 

The Right to Write or Something Like That

 Something I didn't appreciate at the time but in retrospect appreciate more is the amount of time, reading and classes we had on leadership when our pastor came on staff at Houston's First lo those many years ago. Many of the principles we learned are good for church work, business and life. Not that I am in a leadership position now except I do teach Sunday School. Reluctantly, guess that is leadership but I don't think of it that way.

Roy is going to workout earlier than usual today and get a couple of errands ran. While we will have an 86% coverage during the eclipse. The afternoon will certainly warm up. We did a looksee at the apple trees and such last night. Doesn't seem that any frost affected them with our two nights of dipping temps. The tulips out front are the most radiant and brilliant color than any before. Even the ones in the back look healthy. 

Surprise, surprise, we didn't make it all the way through the lesson yesterday. We got at a good stopping point and we will pick up with chapter 31 on Sunday. This look at Laban and Jacob is so interesting, so much to learn. Jacob probably his mom was the schemer extraordinaire but when he met his uncle, he truly had met the master supplanter and schemer of the family.  

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Thursday morning with rain but the apple trees are blooming. That is always a welcomed sight. Last night we had the worst wind. It woke me up enough to get up and check the view outside. Then I was wide awake so I retreated to the front bedroom to read. I was asking the Lord to calm the wind and when Roy got up and checked on me on his way to the bathroom, I asked him to pray as well. Roy was just like Jesus in the boat, sound asleep. I got tickled thinking about waking him up and saying, "don't you even care?" He probably woke up cause he was getting restful sleep with me away cause I toss and turn something awful, especially here lately. The wind died down with puffy gusts once in a while, but I would sing softly, peace be still. Maybe it was too much of a joyful noise to the Lord or maybe He heard my prayer. Think He heard my prayer. 

I saw the most interesting 11 second reel on false adventure. I watched it several times and tried to do some research but with an attention span of a gnat and needing full concentration for lesson study I left it for another time. Some of this I had been thinking about but didn't have a description for what I wondered about. The quote, "People choose false adventures if they don't choose real adventures. Martyrs, enemies and angry when unnecessary, those are forms of false adventures." Dr Jordan Peterson  I think you can really find lots of people on false adventures all around social media. They may have fought a real situation, like twenty years ago, long time over but they'll share quotes or their own thoughts on a situation that really no longer affects them. Most of them are issues that plague modern life but most of these people have been sitting on the sidelines for years. Like all the sudden in the midst of family pics and reports, the bold statement appears on their timeline..." I support those who love their cabbage patch doll!" I'm thinking, cabbage patch kids are back? Are there people who are being ridiculed for playing dolls? Usually there are other odd statements about things or problems that have long ago gone away or has been solved. There is almost a militant voice in these posts. Come on, cross me. Question me on this. I am prepared to defend cabbage patch kids but it doesn't seem like anyone addresses the strange and new stance presented. But this concept of false adventure rings true. Yesterday in class, yes it is Monday and I didn't use *****. I support the right to write into new days without using *****. I defend those who do this, so I guess I am defending myself. Anyway, in class yesterday as we studied Laban and Jacob, we got to the verses where Laban goes through everything looking for his idol gods that have been stolen. Rachel, uses I started my period for the excuse of not moving off her camel saddle. Those period stories can be helpful in times of need or in this case deception. He touches everything that Jacob owns and this is what sets Jacob off as he starts his soliloquy  of  wrongs done to him by Laban during the past twenty years. I was talking to Roy about the lesson last week and the whole touch the belongings really became important to me. Roy was like, this isn't a big deal. But to me and my voice tone gave me away yesterday when I told the class about growing up in a house where my father went through things in my room, touching it all and dumping the contents of the dresser into the middle of my bedroom. He found my diary on one of these tirades. I had written about what was going on in our family and how scared and mad I was over this. Man, once confronted by my words by him, I changed course and only wrote the opposite of what was happening. Like, " we are the happiest family. We are loved and wanted..." Well, by my mom yes but not my father. Side note, I wrote about what was going on and how we were being treated by my father. I wrapped the note up in aluminum foil and buried it by the gas meter in the backyard. Just in case something happened to us but more likely to me. Does this touching and dumping stuff fill my mind everyday. Nope. Have I gone to therapy to be given life tools to heal this trauma. Oh yes I have. But, I am not hitting FB or X today with some rage against the insanity type topic because it is no longer relevant to me. Best advice given was, you're reacting like you did as a child but now you're an adult and can deal, heal and solve the hurts.  Sometimes when I share stories of childhood, I've been contacted by others letting me know how much help they received from the blog post.  The telling thing about the whole Jacob vent against Laban concerns Laban's reaction to what Jacob has said...well be that as it may, everything is mine but your God has handicapped me from taking action against you. Makes me think, wow how powerful was that dream of Laban's? 

We are making a trip to Lowe's for more potting soil and a few other things. Roy will work out later this afternoon. Weed pulling is calling my name, but I may let that call go to voicemail. The week temps look to be warmer so all those things we have been putting off outside should get taken care of...again, might be a voicemail thing. 

Winter to Spring to Winter to Books

 We are in the midst of Dogwood Winter here in the Appalachian mountains. It comes every spring reminding us that winter isn't that far in the background. Our temps have been rather warm until yesterday when the cold wind blew in. In the higher elevations they got snow. Next on the spring look back to winter calendar is Blackberry Winter. Then we hit Mother's Day and Roy will be planting tomatoes. The warmup starts tomorrow. I don't think it got cold enough last night to harm any of the plants or blooms but tonight might be a whole nother story. 

I spent a lot of time reading and researching yesterday for the lesson on Sunday. We are with Jacob and Laban. Wow, Jacob gets schooled in schemes, deceit and lies, something he is quite good at himself. Jacob has the Lord on his side and the promises made to him as well as to his grandfather and father. Reading Laban's deflections and his proclaimed victimhood, reminded me greatly of my father and his tactics. I was telling Roy about the direction of the lesson or how it is shaping up, the Lord reminded me at every trick and turn of my father's plans, the Lord had been there for me/us bringing solutions or people to the crisis my father was creating. I never saw something in Gen 31:41b until yesterday, God saw your abuse and my hard work. If God hadn't been on Jacob's side, Laban would have sent him away empty handed. I never realized what a narcissist Laban was. He blamed, accused falsely, turned others against Jacob and then he became the victim, at least in his thinking. Then after none of Laban's gods/idols were found due to the clever thinking of Rachel...she had sat at the feet of the master...she used her period excuse. Ah, nothing like periods to set things a little askew. Jacob vents...really vents, finally. He and Laban make a pact and celebrate it with a meal. We don't hear about Laban again. 

 I have written before here recently that I am enjoying a series of stories and books by Daphne Simpkins. She is retired from Auburn, I won't hold that against her, as an English professor. The book, Kingdom Come, is the third book in the Miss Budge series. I bought it from Thrift Books and the copy I have is from a previous reader. Very fine pencil marks are made through the first two chapters. At first I thought, oh has the grammar police found something? No, it seems the marks are for some memorable quotes. I just mark through books, never thinking of making notations in the margin with pencil. 

Just read a great article on the silent treatment we have experienced or practiced. The original concept came from sailors. The silent treatment was used for those people on the ship that were obnoxious or just hard to deal with. This could go on for months and months. Those who experienced it sometimes would go mad with the exclusion. There was a time that the silent treatment could be used on me and the outcome would be the desired result. Now, I don't know, not so much. Well except Roy, who isn't exactly wordy at all. So, it isn't the same thing. My father went one year without speaking to us over some furniture, that had been given to us. One day at their house, while he had made a great production of ignoring me, I said to no one particular in the room, cause it was only him. I said, while you have spent this year fuming and angry over a triple dresser, we have been out and about, having fun, never giving a thought to that dresser. It has been freeing. He started talking to us after that. At the time I thought he saw the reasonableness of that statement, but he came to his senses only because his "possession" wasn't responding to his treatment and he might lose me... He didn't count Roy cause he never liked Roy for taking his possession away. 

Maybe I have stumbled upon a biblical thing that isn't talked about too much. While studying Genesis I have come to believe that the Sarahs and Rachels of the world are a pain in the butt. They might be beautiful but there are some personality flaws in them that could get on one's nerves. Who knows? But there is a lot more to learn from Hagar and Leah or at least that is the conclusion I have come to.