Something different

I watched the PBS special this week on Charles Schultz, the creator of the comic strip "Peanuts". I was looking forward to having something to do while Rod was away overnight being evaluated for sleep apnea.

I became so fascinated with watching the artist sketch his strip that when it was over I got the urge to sketch someone.

Since Rod was gone, I attempted to sketch myself on some notebook paper while looking into the bathroom mirror.

You can see my results to the left here, I don't share this because it is so good, I really have never had any training in sketching but I was surprised at the incredible passion I felt doing this...it was like my mind and body had been chained to a desk and computer or kitchen for years and suddenly my creative side just came busting out! To re create something from my eyes to brain to hand to notebook, it was magical! What is simmering deep down inside you? Maybe the rest of us need what God has put there. Let it out!

Hi, My name is _____....and I blog

I have purposely not posted anything for a few days as I was becoming concerned at how much time this whole blogging thing is taking up! Let's just say there are things around the house that really need to be addressed and I find myself blogging instead of addressing them.

Which has made me analyze some as to why people blog or read blogs.
I know for me it has been a way to get my feelings and thots out and be heard. It has also been a way of "connecting" with a community...in a sort of "sterile" way but still a connection is it not?

So, I want to keep that connection but keep the balance of a clean house, physical exercise, Bible study and prayer, ministry, and time for face to face, or at least voice to voice interaction.
I have devised a little test to determine if blogging is enhancing or consuming our lives:

1. The first thing I do when I arrive home is check the puter for comments on my blog
or check in on my favorite blogs to see if they have any new posts.

2. I blog or read other blogs late at night when I should be sleeping

3. I blog or read other blogs instead of preparing meals or doing basic cleaning

4. The subject that I blog tends to come up in most casual or even some business conversations.

5. I substitute writing or reading blogs for real human interaction most of the time.

6. I spend more time writing or reading blogs than I do in devotions each week.

7. I become frustrated when other blogs I know have more comments than mine.

I would say if we can say yes to TWO or more of these statements that we might want to re evaluate time given to blogging.


Do you disagree; do you think there are other questions we could add to the list?
What do you neglect so you can blog? At what point would it be defined as an "addiction"?

A new "understanding"

They came and cleaned our carpets yesterday. It had been a long time since we had the upstairs done, and I can't believe how clean they got everything...even old stains I had given up on including some red fingernail polish one of the girls dropped right in front of the guest sink of course. It is nice to look down at clean, fresh pile under my "standing".

I like to get carpets cleaned in the fall because if I am going to be inside a lot I want the carpets and windows to be clean. Didn't get to the windows this year but they look pretty good for some reason and I have had more pressing matters.

I feel like I am in a warp of pressing matters and wonder if this is how life is going to be , but then I think of all the things that have happened this year, wedding, funeral, birth, church crisis....I have a different idea of what normal should be.

We taught our 3rd ESL class last night. Every class our attendance has doubled, we are up to 8 now and 4 helpers. Yesterday it was the last and best part of a day that began at 5:30 am and ended about 10:30pm I wish I could get paid to do that instead of what I do. Maybe it is just because it is different? What would you like to get paid to do?

Tackyween

If I had awakened from a coma I could swear it was mid November if I went only by the weather. I am wondering what kind of winter we are going to have...maybe lots of snow judging from all this early rain and such a cool summer? What do you think?

I saw the first "Tackyween" blow ups today in a yard.

Guess you know what I think by the name but perhaps some of you find them cute and fun? I have never heard what kids think....maybe they really like them.

I could bear Halloween if they would not make them for Christmas, that's when I start having visions of me and a pellet gun at 2 am.....sorry but how many more ways can we commercialize Christmas....I love the lights and "tasteful" decorations but we have hit a new low the last few years...Lord deliver us from plastic blowups!!! I was surprised to see that many of these cost between $75 and $100. Seems like the same money could buy something wonderful and more enduring....like a new lawn mower and some bark dust for some of these sleezy yards...but I digress.

Today the sun finally won and is shining on my potted plants outside the window...I really like the red streaked grass I potted, it will be nice to look at all winter when everything else is green on green and blossoms are something not seen til spring comes back.

How's your October going?

Birds of a feather...

We had a rare treat this week. Daughter Erin invited us to come to NW Portland to watch the Swifts swarm into a large chimney at Chapman grade school.

These little birds stay in flight all day eating insects and then at dusk congregate from miles up in the sky to dive bomb into this large unused chimney every dusk for several weeks until they continue their migration to Central and South America for the winter. They cannot perch like a normal bird during the day but they can cling to the inside walls of the chimney and evidently to each other. How tired and warm they must be after an average day in the air!

30 -40,000 birds cramming into one chimney brings a whole community of people out at dusk with their lawn chairs, blankets, dogs, supper and kids to watch this nightly event.

Cheers were heard as the last of the birds joined the main swirl into the chimney, boos and gasps as a hawk tried to swoop in for an easy supper 3 times.

We took friends back the next night...no movie theater could have offered such a show.

It was a natural air show of choreography, cooperation, and beauty. I can see God creating it to the orchestration of majestic music.

Pet Rules or Pets Rule?

My sister in St Louis sent this text in an email fwd.
I will share it for any other pet lovers.

PET RULES To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.

Dear Dogs and Cats,

*The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

* The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run. *I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm

*For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years --canine or feline attendance is not required.

*The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cat's butt. I cannot stress this enough!

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why they call it "fur"niture.)

3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

(I still know the difference between people and animals but still a cute article don't you think?)

Water, water, everywhere.....

Just got back from Orcus Island, one of the San Juan Islands. Thinking back on what draws me back to that island I think it must be the water. It is about as close to the water as I get and I love it. The ferry ride over, the view of the water, building a fire on the beach.

Speaking of water, we shut off the water here at the house just to be safe this time only to come home to a flooded laundry room and tiles buckled and warped. I was just dreading unpacking the food for 6 people after 5 hours on the freeway but instead we were ankle deep in wet towels and moving heavy appliances around trying to mop up and dry the subfloor.

Windows open, fans on, 24 hours later we are ready to glue the tile back down.

What happened? All we know is the new washer was full to the brim with cold clear water and I had not turned it on before leaving. Maybe some sort of reaction to the sudden loss of pressure?

If you know about these things please comment, we don't want to repeat this!