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May 2015
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July 2015

Fear Moments

 

I live with fear moments. A trait of my Aspergers  is fear. Sometimes the fear is related to valleys I have experienced. Other times I just have a sense of fear for no apparent reason. I know it is a sin to live in fear and God has always protected me from allowing my fear to take over my thoughts. I find peace in turning my fear moments over to God. I'm not sure how those who don't have a personal relationship with Christ manage.

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

When I look up and see things like the Star of Bethlehem this evening, I am reminded of the love God has for me.

 

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Fresh Find: Love this tape!!!

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Jay

 

TheBluejays have been a constant this week in our yard. In reading about the "Jay", I found this interesting tidbit...

The Jay teaches lessons of adaption to any situation and learns quickly with a high intelligence. He demonstrates risk taking, seizing opportunities and discovering new avenues for exploration. He will show the power of intelligence and fortitude balanced with discreet silence and utmost patience in timing. Bold and inquisitive Jay has a penchant for investigating, adapting and learning new ideas and concepts. He is a talker, a mimic.

This one was very interested in the pecans in the squirrel trap. Not so interested though to go inside!

 

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They play nice with other birds. Actually, the Dove are the bullies.

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They have figured out that if they sit just right their heads will fit between the metal bars on this feeder.

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This one sure was talking and knocking the other one off of the chair.

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A fun little video of a little beak sharpening...

 

Fresh Find: A fun pin your visits map.

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Be Still

 

Yesterday, I watched a Sparrow do back flips and dive to the ground from the bird feeder. It was so funny to watch it practice this dive. It flew up to the feeder and hung on. Then, it leaned all the way over until it was nearly upside down and it then released its legs and soared to the ground with its tummy up until right before landing.

Today, I watched the Blue Jay pair lay on one of the benches and stretched their wings all of the way out to sun them. They sat there with their beaks open and just relaxed. It was priceless.

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Then, another squirrel came into the yard. A trap is set and ready. Not so funny to watch because it is digging huge holes in the yard. I am having to fill them with dirt. Oh well, I can use the exercise!!!

The big black Grackle was not happy with me for watering close to a particular bush. There must be babies in there. They got wet if so. The big Grackle got a shower, too!!! I think it liked it though. He was talking and talking, but only when I got close to that bush!

Every day God says, "Be still and let me thrill you." It is in these times that he blesses me with the things that bring me peace.

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In the turmoil of life, I find comfort in knowing that God alone calms my storms. 

In Mark 4:39, we read ...And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

 

Fresh Find: Precious art print!

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Too Much

 

This vintage picture is just a bit too much! Too much hair, too much floral fabric; too much!

I seriously remember this one piece culottes that my Mother sewed to perfection! The waist was tied with a black velvet rope belt, that I still have and wear. 

The hose had a design on them, maybe a dot pattern. I know if my Mother dressed me, then I was trending. 

She always said, "whatever your flaws, from head to toe, dress to remove attention from them." This outfit sure did!

The hair was a perfectly matched wiglet that came in a special box. You can't see it in this picture, but I'm pretty sure I had a 1" black velvet ribbon pinned from side to side to cover the bobby pins.

The white marble cat-eye glasses were the rage, too!

I was probably in 6th or 7th grade and weighed maybe 60 pounds! ;)

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Fresh Fine: Love these Cardinals shoes! So fun :)

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The Issue

 

 

Several have asked me my opinion on the current Main Street task force survey and discussions regarding alcohol sales in the downtown area. I want to answer this with the following statement.

This is not an issue of alcohol consumption. It is an issue of removing the current distance protection in respect to the church, of which there are several in the 'Central Business District' area. Any business may currently get a license to serve alcohol depending on where the business owner determines to purchase or lease property.

It is legal to sell alcohol anywhere in Plainview within the distance law of protecting the church and children.

My suggestion...stop and take time today to appreciate what God created. These things bring peace.

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This has not brought me peace in one way, but I must stand up to protect our home from the destruction of these critters! 

I am now licensed to trap. I only trap because I can't remove. Three squirrels have been trapped and have entered the 'Squirrelly Gates'. I saw another one in the backyard this morning, so my work is not done. Will it ever be done?

This scripture brings me joy!

1 Thessalonians 1:3  We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Fresh Find: Oh, love these!

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Black Witch Moth

 

When I was reading about the Black Witch Moth, I became a little concerned.  Hmmm, why do they visit our home? Does anyone else have them in this migration through Plainview?

We had them three years ago and now this year.

Let me explain my concern.

The Ascalapha odorata is considered a harbinger of death in Mexican and Caribbean folklore. The Black Witch Moth is the largest noctuid found in the continental United States. The moth undertakes a northward migration during the late spring and summer, moving up through Central America and entering the northern reaches of its range. During this season, individual adults and masses of larvae can be found from Texas to Florida.

This is the female...notice the white bar.

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In many cultures, one of these moths flying into the house is considered bad luck: e.g., in Mexico, when there is sickness in a house and this moth enters, it is believed the sick person will die, though a variation on this theme (in the lower Rio Grande Valley) is that death only occurs if the moth flies in and visits all four corners of one's house (in Mesoamerica, from the prehispanic era until the present time, moths have been associated with death and the number four). In some parts of Mexico, people joke that if one flies over someone's head, the person will lose their hair.

In Jamaica, under the name duppy bat, the moth is seen as the embodiment of a lost soul or a soul not at rest. In Jamaican English, the word duppy is associated with malevolent spirits returning to inflict harm upon the living and bat refers to anything other than a bird that flies. The word "duppy" is also used in other West Indian countries, generally meaning "ghost".

In Hawaii, Black Witch mythology, though associated with death, has a happier note in that if a loved one has just died, the moth is an embodiment of the person's soul returning to say goodbye. In the Bahamas, where they are locally known as Money Moths or Moneybats, the legend is that if they land on you, you will come into money, and similarly, in South Texas, if a Black Witch lands above your door and stays there for a while you will supposedly win the lottery.

After the male and female visited last time, my mother and then my brother passed away. I'm just going to go with winning the lottery this time if it is okay with everyone!!!

 

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and this sweet little ballet dance... 

 

 

 

Fresh Find: If I could, every day, on a beach, I would walk in these. Cute! Probably not on me cute, but they are cute!!!

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Eclectic

 

Call me eclectic and I will agree. You never know what my heart nudge will lead me to. 

For our anniversary, my husband gave me some money. Typically when I get money I will not purchase myself something, but this year I did. One of my dearest classmate and friend's daughter posted on Facebook that she was doing a series of 4 pieces of art. I saw one in the works and knew they were something that I wanted to add to our little art collection. I wanted them because they spoke to me and because of my friendship with the artist's mother.

What a joy it has been to watch this all unfold and they are hung and happy.

 

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Fresh Find: A cute star!

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Traps

 

As much as the horror is building up inside me as I think of being trapped or trapping something, I understand that there are times when we must face the fear of our consequences.

When we are in harmony with the one who disciplines us in love, there is a song in our step. This is magnified within our spiritual walk as our Heavenly Father disciplines us in love.

Because we are sinners we often work our way into earthly traps. We, 'know it all' and sadly, in our arrogance, we fall, sometimes to injury but always to our knees for forgiveness and a new direction. The pain is in the amount of time it takes for us to turn our eyes upon Jesus.

 

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid." Proverbs 12:1

 

I bought two traps today. The squirrels are going away. They ate the cushion and that was bad. Now, they are eating the wood trim on our house and I'm a bit mad. It breaks my heart because they are fun to watch. If it were one squirrel, or is it eight? It doesn't matter because we are serving the plate. Goodbye, squirrels.

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Fresh Find: Cool Yoga print!

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Red Flower

 

 

For Mother's Day, our Miss A did a piece of art and they framed it and brought it when they came this weekend. It is a priceless treasure we add to our Wall gallery.

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This picture holds such precious memories. The brass bed belonged to my parents. The pillow, Life Is a Song So sing Along, my mother made. The Grinch belonged to our son when he was a little boy. The bedding was purchased in the early Gabriel's Department Store days. The red bird pillow I won on a blog sites 'ugliest pillow' contest. I entered a very early embroidered and tasseled pillow my mother made. The Cat in the Hat sheets I bought for the grand-girls. The little brass bed lamp was the office desk lamp for Etter Electric, my grandparent's business.

Now we add a special red flower & it just completes it.

 

Fresh Find: Cute basket!

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Whirlwind

 

What a whirlwind weekend. It was the Texas state Twirling competition at the Lubbock Civic Center and the grandgirls were coming in from the Dallas area for it. I got sick. The sickest I've been in a long time. They came and we conquered!

 

Practice at the Plainview YMCA...with a cold water bottle plastered to my face and neck because it sure helps you not feel so nauseous!!!

 

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At the Y, their mommy's coach, Jeanie Pennell, gets to work with the grand-sisters. A rare occasion. Fun!!! (the girl's coach is Jeanie's good friend Vicki Ray)

 

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I am feeling better, they did well, got all three grandgirls together for a pillow fight at the hotel ...after I fell and scraped my shin on the brick fenced area! LOL Aren't they ADORABLE!!!

 

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and the grand-sisters got to play with twirling friends, too...

 

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Miss D did her first solo at a contest and Miss A caught all three one turns in her solo. Personal challenges are the best!!!

Pray that no one gets sick, please!!!

 

 

Fresh Find: I'm ready for Fall temps so this bucket bag is a keeper!

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