New line of command

I'm not kidding. Those of you who know our cats know about "the Queen". Well, I say she has lost her throne. I heard a scuffle in the basement one day between her and Ashes. When they came up from the darkness, Ashes seemed to be the new queen. She has taken over this chair where she never dared to venture before. "The Queen" (former one) is now the one who seems to be checking her back all the time. Only trouble is I think that one of them has decided they're not using the communal litter box any more. So somebody is peeing in a new place?hmm

Another passion

Isn't this pattern fascinating? In the middle of January I left my knitting behind. Now at the end of January I think I'm leaving Photo Shop in a reasonable place. This morning I rose at 7 with a new passion and starting assembling everything Dad ever told me.Now at 4 pm I decided to print off sheets just in case. That is just in case I die today I want you to find my efforts. I'm feeling ok by the way but you never know.

Foosball

I know you can't share my delight but today I've discovered that I have a grandson that can beat me at Foosball. That means I can let out all the stops when I'm playing and really get into a competitive mode. And then I'll be ready for tournaments, playoffs ..hmmm

Passion

It must be a passion if you find yourself sitting in the living room at 5 am ...with a pen and scribbler and Photo Shop open, studying the tutorials. Today I think I learned how to color old black and white pics. hmmm

Snow

This is probably another case of "you had to be here". Who'd believe snow could stick to itself and then hang over the edge of the roof like this. Maybe it was in the physics I missed.

Thanks for the video Jill...great to see you two.

Favorites

I've never made a list of my favorite things...but last night I decided one of them was listening to the rain from underneath a heavy quilt. This morning I remembered another item on my list would be my morning coffee and then I had to give up one to get the other. Hmm

Next

The rest of Jill's story is still being written...engaged to a wonderful guy and having fun planning her wedding. Happy Birthday, Jill

My baby

Birthday is coming up on Monday. Can you imagine the thrill of a baby girl. Not that I was trying or expecting one. As a infant she was simply a little angel. As a little girl she was precious.As a teenager she definitely knew which end was up.

Counting

These are my mind games or whatever. When I was in labor I used to be thankful I wasn't in the dentist chair. And when I was in the dentist chair I was thankful I wasn't in labor. It seemed to work. Now I'm thankful I'm not in Haiti dragging around a crushed limb....hmmm

Addicted

I hear some girls are addicted to Farmville. Not me! I think maybe my problem is Photo Shop. My hand is cramped, my neck is sore and I'm not even sure how I did it. However I just have to share this creation of my youngest grand daughter.

Missed it.

This will only apply to those of you who went through school but didn't retain what you learned . I was one of those who crammed in facts...mainly for the exam. In fact during the pre exam itself ...like while you were on the bus ...or just standing around...you couldn't talk to anyone because it might upset the mound of facts you had stored in your brain.. (like a pile of lego blocks) You were just simply waiting to get to that exam so you could unload what you had memorized...never to be found again. Sad but true. I didn't get the panoramic view so don't ask me questions about the Civil War...or the The Battle of Abraham...I just didn't get it.

Figuring

Watched the movie Inherit the Wind last night. As I reflect on my short comings an old message comes to my mind.
Life is short
Death is sure
Sin is the problem
Christ is the cure.
It's easy to agree on the first three lines. I'm not taking a chance on my human mind trying to figure out anything to take the place of the last line. So I'm accepting the truth that we need to be rescued...and God is Christ. and all that goes with it. Not saying I have it all figured out..hmmm

Dream

Did you ever notice that when something wakes you up from a dream...like the ringing of a phone...in that very instant a whole scenerio is played out in the story line leading up to the interruption...
The funniest dream I've had lately is finding a mouse staring at me throught the red juice in my bottle of marachino cherries yuk.

Jelly beans

I think the biggest lie I tell myself is that the calorie count in 2 or 3 handfuls of jelly beans is miminal. Of course the second lie is that I deserve them for whatever reason..hmm

Maya

I know this is one of those situations where you had to be there. While babysetting yesterday, I couldn't work the VCR and sat down feeling confused...Maya stopped cuddling Eyore, stopped sucking her thumb , looked at me intently.and said .."You have to practise, practise, practise!"
And she'll turn 3 in March. Hmm

Cow

Is this not the worst disaster you've heard about or maybe I just wasn't listening before.? I think the Bible says to bear one another's burdens. I'm thinking if you did that you'd be bent right over. I have to work at making pictures in my brain in order to empathize . What would a disaster here be like.? I always thought as long as I had cattle in the back field I'd be ok. Now there's no cows. Jim found a blog .... mafkrul.blogspot.com that sounds like it could be us.

Words

Did you ever find yourself saying words that you thought you'd never hear yourself say? It happened today and when they came out of my mouth a light went on and I thought..."This is really funny/strange?" The grandchildren had stopped in for a quick visit...and when they left I said...See ya later...love ya...I'm gonna miss you when you go to Vegas."...
So the story behind this...their family really is going in February. I didn't go to Toronto until I was in Grade 11...When I was their age our big family trip was to Amherst for groceries.
Oh oh....I'm getting to that age when I can talk about how far I had to walk to school and how deep the snow was...Hmm

Nothing really

I have made some progress with Photo Studio.I decided the secret is to review the things I've learned. And I've started a new scribbler. ..that's a great motivator. In my own little world the amount of challenge this gives me is equal to someone else taking a college course.
Went visiting tonight..Betty set out crackers, cream cheese and red pepper jelly.Drove me crazy trying to use moderation. Thankfully we left for home at 9 pm.

This is for Jill....just so you'll remember what it's like.I guess I should have had a ruler there to make it relative..hmm..what else can I say about snow.

Plant setting

Jill, your plant from Elementary School is doing terrifically well since I transplanted it and moved it to the sun room. Now when I water it I give is a half sauce pan full of water. I think it's humidifing our house these days.
Great to hear about you sharing Grampie Stories. Will you be contributers...there'll be lots of space in the back for personal favorites. I'm just going to be the catalyst for the outpouring of memories.

Conference

Spent time on the phone in a conference call with the 3 of us sisters gabbing away about crazy things. It's just like sitting at the kitchen table together. Today we discussed the Grampie Book and prospective picture additions. That led to remembering times past and ruminating. Isn't that a fun word to say...ru min at ing. I remember where I was the day I learned what it meant. (I'd better be careful...maybe it doesn't fit in here exactly) By the way. congrats to Michelle.

Lap top

I learned something today...I'm not to work with my lap top plugged in..just use it on battery power until it gets down to maybe 22% Craig said.If the picture seems dim I just press Function on the bottom and 8 on the top....Hmm
Meanwhile I'm collecting info for a Grampie Gilroy book...to interest grandsons mostly but the girls might like it too.Any pictures of "you" with Grampie would be welcome and I'll include them.
Don't get too excited...it'll just be in a Presentation Folder like I did for the McCormick grandchildren.

My poor mother

That would be my poor mother in times past...not today. Especially when I see comments written in the margins of her Bible I "feel" for her in the earlier part of her life.
But today I'm thinking of poor Mom in another sense. I was wearing a shirt on which the button hole was stretched dangerously close to the front edge covering my chest.(I was about 9 so it wasn't my size)As she examined it she cautioned me that if I didn't stretch it any further there was a hope that she could fix it. So what did I do? Yanked it carelessly until it tore right through to the edge of the shirt. She didn't hollar at me...I just remember her looking very sad. There must be a lesson in this 'cause I remember it as if it were yesterday.

Patience

(That is George's orchid)

Today I'm stealing something I read on Emily Elizabeth's blog. I'd say it reflects the scriptural principle of being content in what ever state you are. I need it 'cause my insides seem to rush alot if you know what I mean.

"Patience is a hard discipline. It's not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control:the arrival of the bus, the end of the rain, the return of a friend, the resolution of a conflict. Patience is not a waiting passivity until someone else does something.Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient, we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow...later...and somewhere else. Let's be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand."

Her name is Lindsay and doesn't she write beautifully.

Books

So is loaning really a word? Seems like it should be lending.I picked up a library book when I was babysetting at Julie's. It was a personal account of hardship in the Sudan. Thought provoking it was. Makes me think I'll read this year.Somebody will probably have to drop a good book in my lap. Going to the library seems like such a chore. I could work on it, couldn't I?

5 am?

I guess if you hold your laptop the right way you can see this better. Mark is loaning me his power cord so I'm back in business. The little wire thing down inside my attachment seemed to be bent out of place.Craig's ordered a new one.I can feel normalcy returning with school starting again today. Two Weeks was the name of the movie I watched last night. Would you believe I got up and dressed at 5 am this morning. That didn't really seem sensible did it?

Winter

It's been a slow weekend. Watched movies and worked on this puzzle.Too bad I wasn't an outdoor person. I could be snow shoeing and cross country skiing.I did make a list of the things I'm aiming for in 2010. ..looks interesting. You'll see.

Woes

First my laptop lost its power source...then the "pvr" didn't tape the end of Cold Mountain..which left me staring at the t.v. in silence after I'd watched the movie for 2 hours. Then the satellite itself seemed to be off...then my pass word didn't seem to work on this big computer. Then I couldn't find my book with the list of passwords. But I think what is really bothering me are the scenes from the Civil War (is that what it was called?)..of violence.

This is for you Jill...sorry I downsized before I cropped.

I had left over whipped cream sitting in my fridge. Plus my oven was heated up for dinner. Thus my decision to make one more Heavenly Pie. When I arrived at the homestead we devoured it in the first half hour.
It takes 6 egg whites. Who can forget our visiting comedien one time who mashed up the left over egg shells ( in a "Julia" manner) and called her concoction Hellish Cake.

I think this could be an object lesson...family helping you unravel your troubles. Family members are great..what would we do if we were alone?

My plans for 2010...try and keep my identity, conquer Photo Shop, and probably finish my ball of yarn.