Sunshine--At long last

It has rained for most of the last month.  Our yard has areas that are laying with water and are unable to be mowed.  The sun has arrived today with great delight to everyone in Western PA.  People are cutting grass, working in flower gardens and generally enjoying a long awaited beautiful spring day.

My clothesline is also happy.

As Mr. Rodgers would say, "Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood!"  And it is.

"Show me your ways, O LORD,
   teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
   for you are God my Savior,
   and my hope is in you all day long."
Psalm 25:5

Inversion Update

It is going to be a busy day today.  Sheets are in the washing machine as we "speak" and there is more to wash.  I've also been invited to a Quilt Show this afternoon.  It has been quite some time since I've been to a show, so this will be a treat.  Along with spending time with a new friend.

The Inversion Table that we bought has been very helpful.  I'm trying to use it twice a day for about 3-5 minutes.  The last few days it has only been once a day for about 5 minutes.  The days have been slipping by quickly.  It seems I wake up behind schedule!  Anyway, it seems to give my hip some relief and I am seeing improvement in my ability to walk longer distances.  I hope this helps.  It was beginning to look like I needed an handicap sign for the car!

O LORD GOD,
There is no blessing we implore but thou art able to give,
   hast promised to give,
   hast given already to countless multitudes,
   all unworthy and guilty like ourselves;...
Let us be at thy disposal for the duties and events of life,
   submit our preferences to thy wisdom and will,
   resign our enjoyments if thou shouldest require it
      as our absolute proprietor and best friend....
Help us to be in the Spirit on the Lord's Day,
   to enter upon the sabbath mindful of its solemnities, duties,
   privileges,
    setting all things worldly aside while we worship thee.
--an excerpt from FUTURE BLESSINGS, Seventh Day Evening, from The Valley of Vision

Poking Plants

March has arrived in style to Western PA this year. We have enjoyed some beautiful weather. Many times March gives a snow storms that really dump a ton of snow on us. The snow doesn't last long, but it is a dumping none the less. This year, at least so far, we have been snow-free. Of course, it's not over and it has been known to snow in April. March could go out like a lion.

Our beautiful weather has started things happening in the garden. A trip out the other day to dump compost revealed some "pink" showing from the ground in the rhubarb patch and a neat row of green tips poking through the soil where I planted my garlic last fall. The lilacs are getting buds, too. I am getting anxious to plant peas.

Taking advantage of the warm weather this morning, I hung out clothes and enjoyed my devotions in the sun. I wasn't out all that long, but I managed to acquire a pink nose and cheeks. My skin, along with the rest of me, has to get used to all this sunshine!

The retirement papers were signed today...again. Lord willing, for the last time. The final letter needs to be signed and then there is no going back. We will then see what God has planned for the next phase of our lives.

Teach me to be resigned to thy will, to delight in thy law, to have no will but thine, to believe that everything thou doest is for my good.
Help me to leave my concerns in thy hands, for thou hast power over evil, and bringest from it an infinite progression of good, until thy purposes are fulfilled.
--an excerpt from The Valley of Vision entitled Divine Promises

With all that is going on in our country these days, I need to remember those lines. God is in control. He has a plan, I may not understand it and I am only able to see my small part in the big picture, but I have to trust and hang on to His promises. He wins! He has already defeated evil.

Sunny Days and Game Nights

It was a beautiful, sunny day today...and actually above freezing! It is amazing how warm 32 degrees feels after below zero temps at night and frigid, wind chills during the day. We have over 12 inches of lovely snow on the ground! My hope that is that a good snow pack will kill off some pesky bugs and we won't be so "bugged" this summer. We told our kids that this is the kind of weather we had when we were kids; lots of deep snow that lasted until spring.

It was such a lovely day that I was able to trudge up to the clothesline to get some towels and a tablecloth hung out. The nice breeze dried even the towels.

The family is coming here tomorrow night for "Game Night"!! Since there are extended family from out-of-town, we thought we would indulge in a non-holiday funfest. Pizza is being served and, no doubt, enough finger food for a small army. I've been busy making cookies and gathering extra chairs and the card table. Speed Scrabble and Sequence are in the line-up on the game side of things. Who knows what else will be brought to enjoy. Thank goodness for my brother-in-law who could have fun with a paper bag. He has a quick laugh and is always able to create a good time for everyone. Our family's game nights have brought many of the kids' friends to join in.

If you are in the neighborhood, drop on in. We won't notice a few dozen extras--the more the merrier!

Of Mother Earth News and Broken Clotheslines

While in the local market, I noticed Mother Earth News on the news stand. I've never bought or read the magazine before, but what caught my eye was the banner: "Grow a Bigger, Better Garden". I'm all for that! Also, there are articles on How to Grow Potatoes, and Anyone Can Raise Chickens This looked like a good purchase for $4.99.

Someday I still want to pursue chickens and the article looks like a good one for those of us who are clueless. There is also an article online about purchasing chicks from a hatchery.

I still need to read the garden article. The potato article has some good, common sense information.

These folks are far more "green" than I am, but the information they provided in this issue at least, will be helpful in printed form for me to keep as a source.

My clothesline broke today while it was full of the last of the bed linens from the Christmas full house. Thankfully, there was still snow on the ground to keep them clean. They were still frozen, so that helped, too. I am so tired of my clotheslines breaking! Mine only last a couple of years. I have bought cotton ones, but maybe it's time to find something more sturdy. My neighbor has plastic covered wire ones, but (maybe it's just me) there is something about them that I just can't get used to. Do I need an attitude adjustment?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

It is nice to see the sun here today!

Blessings!

Money-saving Ideas in the Laundry Department

What a delightful, sunny day. Cool, crisp air and not a cloud in the sky! My clothesline is full and the neighbor's fireplace is not in use this morning.

Even in the cold winter I hang my clothes out as much as possible. The winter air gives the clothes a different scent, which is a wonderful benefit. It may take an earlier start to your laundry day to get things dry, but, to me, it is worth the effort. I try and wash clothes in order of their time required to dry. Towels - first, then on to the lighter things. Some girls have a clothes line on their porch (I have a short one) that you can keep things out of the wet weather and still get dry, eventually. I use it to keep the sun off certain clothes that may fade.

In the winter your clothes will "freeze dry". My towels will look like boards swinging in the breeze, which is rather comical to see. Sometimes things don't get dry in time before you need to bring them in. You can pop them in the dryer and it won't take long to finish. However, it seems to take the scent away. One girl I know strings a line in her dining room and, not only do her clothes get dry, but it helps to add moisture to the house. I'm not there yet. My basement has several lines that I use in the winter if it is to snowy or raining. When there is snow piled up high from plowing the driveway, I can't get to the clothesline and resort to the dryer and basement clothesline.

I've found that I can also get several uses out of one dryer sheet. If I feel that there is still some stiffness in the sheet, I'll use it over again. I've been able to use them twice at least.

As you can tell, I love hanging clothes out. It is a simple way for me to help on the energy cost in the home. Some girls make an art of it...hanging clothes in order of size...shortest to longest or graduating colors. So have fun with it. However, a word of caution. Make sure that your neighbor's fireplace smoke is blowing the other way or your clothes will smell like smoke. I hung my bed clothes out one day. Left for some errands and came home to put them back on the bed. We crawled into a bed that wreaked of smoke. We could hardly sleep it was so strong...and the neighbors are not that close! I had to rewash them in the morning.

So, find a pair of gloves that allow you to operate clothes pins, bundle up and enjoy!

I hope this fall day is enjoyable for you.

"The Holy Spirit does not come on methods but men...especially men of prayer." E. M. Bounds

"Almighty God, I am loved with everlasting love, clothed in eteranl righteousness, my peace flowing like a river, my comforts many and large, my joy and triumph unutterable, my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation, my sense of justification unclouded....All the treasures of a million worlds could not make me richer, happier, more contented, for his unsearchable riches are mine." Valley of Vision, excerpts from "Assurance"