Top Ten Reasons I Love the Library...

10) It's quiet.

9) There are lots of books and I think we all know that I have a sick obsession healthy love of books.

8) It is climate controlled so while there is rain and cold in the harsh elements outdoors, I am warm and dry inside.

7) Internet access that doesn't involve stopping every ten minutes to answer the phone, change a diaper, break up a dispute over the last strawberry yogurt, listen to an explanation of who did what chore and how fast it was done, chase two mangy white mutts out of the neighbors' azaleas, and/or carpool some child to some activity somewhere.

6) It's quiet.

5) I can read any book I want to on any subject I want to and I don't have to read any book that I don't want to.

4) There is a coffee shop.

3) People in libraries do not run, scream or say "Mama!" (nor do they have dirty diapers)

2) My librarians know me and they know what I like and they tell me ahead of time when a new book is coming that they know I will want and they hold it for me. I 'heart' librarians!

1) Did I mention that it's quiet? More quiet than I ever experience in a day? Or a week? Or a month? Or a lifetime?

I 'heart' the library. Now back to my regularly scheduled basking in quietness and bookishness.

He NEEEEEEDS me!

(Photo by Poppy)

Satan exists.

Some people don't believe that satan exists. He does. He is real. Very real. This week I happened to watch Nightline where two "camps" were debating the existence of satan. It was interesting. Of course, there was only a small snippet of the whole debate on Nightline but they told me I could go to the Nightline website and watch the entire debate which I did.

Interesting.

It's about forty-five minutes of your time all total and I'm not sure it was valuable enough for me to encourage you to spend that much time on it, but if you decided to watch it, let's talk.

First of all, did you notice that Deepak Chopra was rather hostile throughout the debate? Doesn't that go against his "enlightened" philosophy? And, he contradicted himself several times.

Can't we get someone better to be on the side of Truth than a former prostitute who seems to be a rather new Christian? I'm not denying that her testimony is real and valuable but when you're going up against two fellows that know the Hebrew translation of the Old Testament by heart, you need a sparring partner on equal footing.

Mark Driscoll. Thoughts? I have had the opportunity to see him speak a few times. As much as I predetermined I wouldn't like him, I like him. There. I said it. I like him. Tattoos and all. He's not exactly my cup of tea with all his "dude" talk, but I have found only a small handful of disputable matters where we disagree. I like the guy. I didn't expect I would but I do. Weird, huh?

The bishop. I'm still on the fence about that guy. He was raised on the gospel but now he's questioning all he's ever known about the Lord. The most telling thing he said was that he believes in the resurrection because he doesn't know how not to believe it and how not to love the Lord. I almost cried. I wanted to reach out and grab him by the shoulders and say, "It's true! Every bit of it is really true!" I liked him too... even though everything he said was completely wrong. I feel sorry for him.

Loved the guy in the audience that asked Deepak the question about belief! Hil. ar. i. ous.

I don't think they changed anyone's mind one way or the other but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. Only the Lord can change the heart. I think it's always a profitable exercise to practice giving a reason for your hope. It's important to know what you believe and why you believe it. It's important to be able to give an answer. So, while I don't think it was a waste of time, it was... well, I don't really know what it was.

To answer the question of the night, satan is real. Very real. I attended a funeral this week of a father, husband and minister that took his own life. I know his wife very well. He taught my oldest daughter in Sunday School when she was in the fourth grade. He left a wife, two children, a congregation, and a ministry reeling.

Satan is real. He exists.

And this is just the beginning

In which I make lots of excuses

Yes. I am alive and well. Yes. The children are alive and (sort of) well. My oldest boy's bout with the consumption is nearing its end, praise the Lord! Many of you have emailed your concern that I have fallen off the face of the earth. I'm not blogging at the break-neck speed customary for me, and you've been worried. Thank you, you sweet readers, you! Y'all are the bees knees!

There is one primary reason why this old computer has not been my friend lately. It's called SPRING!!!! SUNSHINE!!!! BEAUTIFUL WEATHER!!!! The nectar to my winter weary soul!

My friends, spring has sprung, my tulips are gorgeous, the dogwoods are blooming and the azaleas are in spectacular form! How can a girl stay inside with all that going on? She can't. She must get outside and supplement her Vitamin D with copious amounts of much needed, much missed, and much craved sunshine! It's the way God intended!

So, to give you an idea where I spend 20 out of 24 hours these days, here are a few snapshots from the past few weeks...

My boy and his love affair with the apple.

One view of the current 27 raised beds in my 'new and improved' garden space. Plus, (cover your ears eyes, Mr. P) I plan to double that by next year!

Already in the ground are my Chandler strawberries, seven different lettuces, two kinds of radish, turnips, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and onions. I also have my summer crop started inside.

I'm really excited about my strawberries this year, though they don't produce well until the second year. Don't they look spectacular?!

We cut down another bazillion trees (that's almost as many of my tax dollars as Obama plans to spend on his socialist agenda) to make room for our 'orchard'! The orchard has one lone peach tree so far. I didn't want to kill off a bunch of expensive fruit trees so we're starting with this one and we'll see how well it grows in this spot. Next year I want to add two apple, one plum, and two varieties of cherry trees. Yum!

Down at the bottom of our backyard Mr. P, armed with a bobcat, cut out our chicken run. Since this picture was taken, we've planted nutritive grass seed for the chickens and covered the area with hay. The rolling chicken coop has been built and the finishing touches are going on the chicken house. Technically, the chickens will be old enough to go outside on Monday. BUT, my favorite weather man tells me that it is going to turn chilly (60's) this weekend. Boo. Hiss. While 60's is not the end of the world cold, I'm afraid it's too cold for our little hens that have been safely and snuggly living in their indoor brooder with a heat lamp. They, like me, will fall over and die in such extreme conditions!

That's where we are so far! I'm attending weekly gardening classes and my brain is on information overload. I can't wait to see if everything I've learned actually works. For me. The woman that can't sew a straight line with her sewing machine despite lots of great teachers and lots of great classes. There are some tricks you just can't teach this old dog. I'm hoping gardening isn't one of them!

Until next time... when that will be, I can't tell you. It's sunny and warm outside!

Embracing my inner "domestic terrorist"

Imagine my surprise when I happened on the MIAC document outlining for Missouri Law Enforcement the signs to watch for when seeking out "domestic terrorists". Yes, yes, yes. There are many valid activities listed that various criminals will engage in which should be a red flag to law abiding, peace loving Americans. But, as has become commonplace in our government, other language is ever so cleverly woven throughout the document that would put other law abiding, peace loving Americans like me in direct opposition with my government.

According to Missouri, you might be a domestic terrorist if...

You are a third party supporter. As you know, I am a BIG Ron Paul supporter. When my man, Dr. Paul, dropped out of the race, I became a Chuck Baldwin supporter. I am a proud card carrying member of Constitution Party. Apparently that's a bad thing?

You believe in the Bill of Rights. I have a copy of the Constitution. I have read it. I understand the Bill of Rights. I am, gasp, educated on my constitutional rights!

You own guns. I believe Barrack Obama is going to limit guns and I would not be shocked if he eventually confiscates guns. Thankfully, we have a small cache of heat which we acquired before Obama was able to take away my constitutional right to keep and bear arms. That dangerous knowledge of the Constitution is getting in the way again.

You believe in an impending economic collapse. I believe Washington D.C. has been taken hostage by scoundrels and gluttons of greed. I believe we are headed for a major economic crisis. I also believe we are headed for a global version of the New Deal which will devastate our dollar, destroy our liberty and enslave the next generations to Japan and China.

You believe the executive branch has gone renegade. I think the rule of law only applies when it's convenient for the Obama administration. The AIG bonuses are a good example. The 90% tax Congress is attempting to levy against those bonuses BREAKS THE LAW! They can't do that! But, a little thing like the law doesn't stop them. They are above the law, so they think. I also believe they are attempting (subtly for now) to silence their critics. Freedom of the press is on its way out. Also, bills like HR 875 are set up as protections for the people when in reality, they are the government's attempt to grab all the power they can, leaving the American people's only choice dependence on the government.

You believe in the threat of One World Order... i.e. dislike the U.N. I not only dislike the U.N., but I also dislike WTO, the World Bank, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Education, the Patriot Act, the Department of Homeland Security, and the USDA.

You are a Christian. This is where it gets scary, folks.

You believe in state sovereignty. Um, yes. I do. That makes me a terrorist? I also believe we should all reaffirm the 10th amendment. There's that pesky constitutional knowledge again.

Now, if only I could find one of these flags at Hobby Lobby!

Ode to Spring

It is spring today.
Winter has finally left us.
Good riddance to you.

It is warm and bright!
The flowers have brightly bloomed.
It's as it should be!

The sweet scented air,
Wafts in my window at night.
It makes my heart sing.

My garden is HUGE!
What have I gotten into?
My novice heart quakes!

And, one more that I have to throw in...

Obama/Leno
He doesn't have better things?
What a joke he is!

Thus concludes my 'Ode to Spring' in haiku. (With a brief political commentary thrown in)

When Wise Men Ruled

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give it to those who would not.

~Thomas Jefferson

Obama needs a history lesson.

Happy Birthday to my dear Flibby!

Today my dear girl Flibby is nineteen years old! Nineteen... the age I was when I met the infamous Mr. Potato Head! That's one away from twenty! And, two away from twenty-one... the age I was when I married the infamous Mr. Potato Head!

My baby girl is all grown up. That's what I'm saying. And, that's what I'm trying to make myself believe. Because I have a knack for living in a constant state of denial when it comes to my age, my weight, and the grownup-ness of my children. It's a skill I've honed over many years. I could teach a class.

I prefer to think that just yesterday, I was sitting in this chair next to the infamous Mr. Potato Head holding his dear three week old Flibby.
I prefer to remember my dewy skinned young self and believe that I, not only still look like this, but that my Flibby also still fits in the crook of my arm just so. (I still have that blanket and those teeny tiny overalls, in case you were wondering)

I prefer not to believe that I blinked and there stands my Flibby all grown up on a beach somewhere in Florida.

Or that she now decorates the Christmas tree in red high heels. (She actually does this, in case you were wondering)

Or that she has a beauty that stops traffic.

Or that she will be a mother herself one day sooner rather than later. When she was three, her impending grown up mothering self was relegated to plastic dolls with their hair all chopped off and lips clumsily drawn on with red crayon. Now look at the way she holds a baby. Oh my.

As perfected as my denial skills are, there's no denying that my baby isn't a baby anymore. She's all grown up, beautiful inside and out, and stepping out into a world that doesn't need her mommy to tell her how to tie her shoes.

It's a hard pill for a mommy to swallow. But, looking at this face makes it just a touch easier.

Happy 19th Birthday, my sweet Flibby Girl!! It only gets better from here!

Meet the girls

I thought it was about time I properly introduce you to my chicks. =)

So, here we go!

The Twins: Sally and Susy

I call these two "The Twins" mostly because it's very hard to tell them apart.

This one is Sally...she doesn't really appreciate having her picture taken. =P

Susy (short for Susanna) on the other hand, likes to ham it up to the camera.

Here's one more of Susy. =)

Olive

Olive is my calm chick. Unlike a lot of her sisters, she'll sit still while having her picture made. =)


Olive, one more time.

Molly

Molly is my sweet baby chick. She's the littlest of the flock, but very lively. Poor baby, isn't very photogenic though. These are the best pictures I could get of her. She's much cuter in person. ;)

Mabel

Here's Mabel. She likes to stretch her neck out like that. =)

Mabel again. =)

Lucy

It's not easy to photograph this one. This is Lucy and she NEVER sits still. Whenever I open the brooder, she's the first one to fly out and across the room. xD

Clara

Here's Clara. =) She's a little one too. Notice the little fuzzies on her feet in the above picture. I love that. =)


I love Clara's name too....it's one of my favorites.

Jane

This is Jane. She's my second biggest.


I love how her back is speckled, even though I know that'll probably go away when those fuzzies fall out. =(

Nellie

Nellie is my crazy huge chick. Some sources tell me that Nellie may have to be changed to Nell, or Nels, or something like that. I choose to ignore those sources.



Well, that's it! I hope you enjoyed meeting my girls!

~Poppy

Why 80 is my favorite number!

1) 80 is the number of Cadbury Mini-Eggs I can consume in one sitting.

2) 80 is the number of acres I hope to have one day... Lord willing and the creek don't rise. (Or Obama don't put the country all the way in the ditch)

3) 80 is the atomic number of mercury... and chemistry is my FAVORITE subject. Unfortunately the love of chemistry skipped a generation, right Poppy?

4) 80 is the number of daffodil and tulip bulbs I planted way back in the fall giving me this fantastic explosion of color across my front yard this morning!

5) 80 is the number of heirloom seed packets I ordered this year.

6) There are 80 varieties of pink toenail polish on the store shelves.

7) And, 80 varities of new spring sandals!

8) Around the World in Eighty Days is one of my favorite books.

9) The 80th Psalm is a prayer for the restoration of Israel which is timely for our day.

10) TODAY THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR MY LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD IS 80 FABULOUS DEGREES! WITH SUNSHINE!

I love you, 80!! You have ALWAYS been my favorite number!