Hodgepodging The Riverfront

Daughter, picking wildflowers along the riverfront
If she had been selling seashells by the seashore, I could have had a better caption.

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1. Security or freedom? Can you have both? Explain.

When it comes to the USA, 'security or freedom' is like the song that never ends. But I would say that I'd rather live with more freedom than less, even if there's less security in doing so.

2. If you could visit any historical American site what would it be? Why?

The Mississippi River. Because it's huge and awesome. And not far away.

 A barge along the Mississippi River

 Ducks at Wabasha, MN
I took this a few years ago in October.
We were at that very spot yesterday, but no ducks.
We'll have to return in October. 

3. Free as a bird, free reign, be free of, free enterprise, free trip, walk away scot free, free for all...which 'free' phrase can best be applied to your life in recent days or weeks? Explain.

Not really applicable to this question, but I'll go with 'free trip,' because I spent last week with my daughter's family. Great to be with her, to be entertained by the antics of the grandkids, take walks along the Wisconsin River, and viewing the same 20 minutes of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone over and over...

 Think it would help to hold my phone the other direction?

River walk companions, always fun!

4. Something in your frig that's red? Gouda cheese (wrapper). Something in your house that's white?  My kitchen sink and my library shelves. Something in your view that's blue? Pencil box.

5. July 27th is National New Jersey Day. Have you ever visited The Garden State? If so where did you go? I went to the edge of the river to pick the wild blackberries that no one else seemed to want. Are there diners where you live?  I think there's one in Rice Lake, but I don't go there. Actually, I rarely go to even a restaurant.  Have you tried Taylor Pork Roll? I have no idea what it is. Do you like to play Monopoly? Yes, if I could find someone who likes to play it. Salt water taffy-yay or nay? Nay. How do you feel about shopping at the mall?  I hate shopping, period. Springsteen, Sinatra, or Bon Jovi-you have to pick one. I'll risk security for freedom here and say 'none of the above,' but if there's a gun to my head, I'll say Bing Crosby. :-) If there's no gun, you'll find me listening to John Rutter.

Raise your hand if you know why these add-on questions are appropriate on National NJ Day. These all originated in New Jersey - or on the Boardwalk??

 Aww. I came across this when looking for the library shelves photo.

This was a year and a half ago. Sleepy kitties!
They definitely didn't originate in New Jersey.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 I'm forcing myself to let go of some of my books.

This is my effort to downsize, at least for this rainy day.

(photo online) 
But now I'm distracted with blog writing, a good stalling tactic.

***

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Have a great Wednesday!

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Resurrection Sunday

I Corinthians 15:17-26:

'If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have died in Christ have perished.  If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being, for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.  But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.  Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.'

***

'There is...a quality of 'rawness' about these [resurrection] stories, and a quality of mysteriousness: there is the strange but very persistent theme that people do not at first recognize the risen Jesus - the story of the encounter with Mary Magdalene, the story of Emmaus. That is a significant factor once again which no one has ever fully made sense of, and again doesn't fit easily into literary stereotypes. There are cases in the Old Testament when people realize belatedly that they have been talking to an angel, when the angel suddenly reveals his glory; but that's not quite how it works in the encounter with Mary Magdalene or the Emmaus story. And so, in thinking about the historical basis of the resurrection stories, about the empty tomb and the 'apparitions,' it is important to be alert to the way the story is told and to begin to see how much of a shock it actually was - and of course, still is.

'The story is told in a new way because nothing like this has ever happened before; and we are still finding it difficult because nothing like that has ever happened again. But... that is what you might expect in retrospect; what you might expect if what you're dealing with is an event that inaugurates a new phase in human history, not just another episode in the continuing story, but something that reshapes the whole way in which we talk about God, and about God's world.'    - The Sign and the Sacrifice, Rowan Williams 

Have a blessed Easter, friends!

Because He Lives!

The Practically Perfect Hodgepodge Day

I realize that this is a bit late, but along with an attempt to answer the Hodgepodge questions for today, I'm going to post the remaining photos that I took in Lake City, MN on February 20th at Lake City Marina. There was so much blue! And although a chilly day on the shores of Lake Pepin, it was also snowless and therefore wonderful. I believe they got a foot of snow in the next day or two. I am so glad to have missed it.

Yes, I LOVE Joyce's new button!

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1. What is one area of your life where you're a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

I'm trying to think of something. Probably in making and packaging my soaps for sale and I guess maybe also in editing photos. But I think the real definition of a perfectionist is not someone who strives to make something as perfect as possible, but someone who's never quite satisfied with the projected outcome in their minds, so they give up trying altogether, or don't even start, for fear of failure. That's definitely not me. If I don't start or don't finish, it's because I'm lazy.

This is one of my smaller boats. LOL

2. What's something you find perfectly ridiculous?

I think it's ridiculous that cable TV can have a zillion channels and nothing at all worth watching at any given moment.

3. What's a skill you've developed by way of that old fashioned saying, 'practice makes perfect?

I'd say (here's a broken record) that it's probably the quality and appearance of my handcrafted soaps. They are quite different from when I started making soap some years ago, but I've got it down to exactly what I want at this point, so I'm happy with it. I guess that's a skill. And baking homemade bread, scones, and cookies. Does that count?

4. What's your idea of a perfect breakfast?

My idea of a perfect breakfast would be to take my favorite protein bar, a thermos of coffee, and a camp chair to the top of our hill on a warm summer morning. After Wisconsin's always-too-long winter, I'm looking forward to that morning.

I hope to be back at Lake City Marina when the water's liquid again.

5. What's a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you've taken that you'd rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

A favorite day trip would be either to Duluth, on Lake Superior, or traveling along the Mississippi River. Even though we stopped at Lake City for only a while, I would love to go back in the summertime and spend time there and at other little towns along the Mississippi.

Not surprisingly, a longer trip would be almost any trip I've taken whose first leg ended in London. If I could take only one trip over again, it would be the 2015 trip to England, meeting friends and visiting amazing, awesome cathedrals. Never too many cathedrals for me. If I could visit only one cathedral in England again, it would be Durham -  or York. Or maybe Canterbury. But then there's Salisbury and St. Paul's and... ... ... ...Did you ask that?

Icy cold Lake Pepin

a big bulge in the Mississippi River

6. What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can't do perfect, how about one that comes close?

'Hey Jude, don't make it bad, take a sad song and make it better.' What are the Beatles doing in my blog post?

And there's this:

'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.' Romans 12:12

And in case anyone's wondering, spring really is coming to Wisconsin, we are gaining daylight by leaps and bounds, the robins will soon be back, singing their little hearts out at 4:30 AM, and life is good.

7. How would you spend $300 today?

I wonder how far $300 would go toward getting the downstairs re-painted. OR I might purchase closet organizers.

Lake Pepin and RR Tracks

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

As I was thinking about Joy, I was looking for a quote by C.S. Lewis or Chesterton, and came across this by Billy Sunday. I'm pretty sure I've never before quoted Billy Sunday. But I had to share this, because I think it is so true. Joy and happiness are two different things. Happiness is brought about by circumstances, as in winning airfare to London. Joy is deep down and abiding, regardless of circumstances, regardless that I didn't win airfare to London.

Leaving Lake City, MN

Scroll down for kitty photo.

***

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Tommy & Smokey

Playing Vampire

The Red Barn Mystery and Lots of Ducks

I made sure to take my camera along when we went to Rochester on Wednesday, and couldn't resist taking a photo of this beautiful red barn. I'll let you in on a secret about it at the end of the post. I know, the suspense will just kill you!

In the meantime, I'm showing you some pics taken at a pond, and I think it was a National Wildlife Refuge on the Mississippi River at Wabasha, (Okay, Mr. C. just corrected me and said it was 'just' a pond. Fine. Well, very close to it is the wildlife refuge then.) Anyway, it lies just across the border of Wisconsin (which IS the Mississippi River) in Wabasha, MN. Wabasha is a pretty little town and heavily decorated for fall. The prettiest decorations, of course, come from the Creator who has given us abundant beauty in his creation. But Wabasha makes sure that ribboned corn shocks are hugging all the lamp posts and pumpkins are scattered thickly throughout the town.

What caught my eye, though, was the number of ducks on that bit of water, and how interested they were in us when we pulled off the road and stopped the car. Those  curious birds immediately started swimming toward the shore and the first brave fella walked right up to our car. I was afraid he was going to ask us for a permit or something! 

After a while they became disinterested and decided to leave. The takeoff was so fun to watch!

Birds of a feather, more or less.

On a quiet and pretty duck pond in Wabasha, MN

And now for the secret. The red barn at the beginning of this post is the very same barn as the one pictured above, (photo taken in early August). They had painted the barn since we were last there! I'm very glad that I got the 'before' photo as well as the 'after.' Although the photos were taken from different roads, this is the same barn, somewhere between Rochester and Wabasha, MN.

Linking to Eileen's Saturday's Critters

and Tom's Barn Collective

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InSPIREd Sunday - Thinking About Prayer

 

 First United Methodist Church
Red Wing, MN

Some Thoughts on Prayer, C.S. Lewis:

"Prayers are not always - in the crude, factual sense of the word - 'granted.' This is not because prayer is a weaker kind of causality, but because it is a stronger kind. When it 'works' at all, it works unlimited by space and time. That is why God has retained a discretionary power of granting or refusing it; except on that condition prayer would destroy us. It is not unreasonable for a headmaster to say, 'Such and such things you may do according to the fixed rules of this school. But such and such other things are too dangerous to be left to general rules. If you want to do them you must come and make a request and talk over the whole matter with me in my study. And then - we'll see." - C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock.

Looking back over my life, I am so grateful for the times that God said, 'No' in answer to particular prayers.

'We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.'  Romans 8:28

That would be ALL things, including God's answer, 'No.'

 In Him is LIFE.

Linked to InSPIREd Sunday

and Roses of Inspiration

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

A Prayer of Saint Augustine

 First Lutheran Church
Red Wing, MN

 A Wider View

'Almighty God, in whom we live and move and have our being, thou hast made us for thyself, so that our hearts are restless until they find rest in thee; grant us purity of heart and strength of purpose that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing thy will, no weakness from doing it; but that in thy light we may see light, and in thy service find perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'  

-  Saint Augustine, 354-430

Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Linked to InSPIREd Sunday

Vintage Buildings, Chester Town Hall, Wabasha County, MN

 Chester Town Hall in Wabasha County, MN

I labeled this post, 'Vintage Buildings...' because I can't label it 'Wisconsin Barns' since it's not a barn and isn't in Wisconsin. So maybe older buildings other than barns or other than being located in Wisconsin will find a home here in this category. We'll see.

This pretty and little town hall lies somewhere between Rochester and Lake City, MN  

(see location at the end of this post. Did you know that 'location' is sitting there on your Blogger sidebar so that you can use it in your posts? I had no idea, until Mike from A Bit About Britain pointed it out to me. I would make a terrible eyewitness, wouldn't I. Anyway, once you plug in a location, the link to a map will show up after the Linkwithin thumbnails. This is important to a map lover like me).

P.S. There seems to be some misunderstanding about that 'Location' link. I am not going to be plugging in my own location, heaven forbid, but will use that link to show the location of places I blog about.

Moving along...We got off the beaten path for a bit and took a few photos of the countryside. Chester Town Hall is where the people of Chester Township go to vote. I made sure to track it down and yes, it's true. Evidently, what's on today's ballot has to do with the state legislature, a recall, and school board business. Just thought you'd want to know.

And BTW, town halls in Wisconsin look very much like this. There's really not too much separating the two states except for that huge river.

On County Road 3.
Looks like they're gearing up for May.

I believe that's a realtor's sign out front, in case you're interested in purchasing this country store SW of Lake City, MN.  I have a few other Lake City, MN photos to show you also, but they're a whole different theme for another day.  Okay, just one peek for now, for I don't know when I'm going to get around to posting the other photos of Lake City.

Taken in Lake City, MN

What you're looking at is Lake Pepin,

which is really just a bulge in the Mississippi River.

I love that river. It's beautiful.

I love to watch barges and boats on the Mississippi.

It looks like I'll have the opportunity to visit Lake City the first part of June. It should be beautiful then.

Have a great day, everyone!

Linked to Tuesday's Treasures

and Skywatch Friday

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