Sunday Evening Ramblings

We had supper with this sweet 5 year old (grandson) and his baby brother and parents on Saturday evening. You can't really tell from this photo, but this little guy has the bluest eyes!

It's been so long since I've posted anything on Blogger, finding Instagram easier to use when I'm without my computer. But I decided to put up a few photos and let you in on the fun project we're working on at the Wausau house.  Also, Terri from Your Friend From Florida blog, who hosts the Wednesday Medley, has just had knee replacement surgery and although her recovery seems to be going well, has decided to take a much-deserved break from the Medley. So until she returns, possibly in October, the Wednesday Medley is on hold.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Marathon County, Wisconsin
We were out driving around the Wausau area, and this country church had a great view from the front door - and from its cemetery!

On Instagram this morning, I posted a photo of that church along with the following lyrics from one of my favorite John Rutter songs:

As the bridegroom to his chosen,
As the king unto his realm,
As the keeper to the castle,
As the pilot to the helm,
As the captain to his soldiers,
As the shepherd to his lambs,
So, Lord, art Thou to me.


I'm sure I've posted this YouTube clip before, but I love it, so here it is again.

 It's time to pick apples from our McIntosh tree again.
This is the sole surviving tree, thanks to the deer. But then again, the deer are so cute, especially when a doe brings a couple of her fawns to entertain us by playing under the apple tree, early morning or evening.

 Too much of a good thing, maybe.
(Neighbor's horse and tree)

One of my favorite spots along my favorite walk. I don't know why I'm so fond of hay bales, but they seem to be featured in many of my photos.

Just a few shots of our current life as DIYers:

 Future kitchen west wall

 Dining In

Spray foam in the joist pockets.

This weekend I've been working with an online kitchen project design program to figure out cabinets and placement thereof. What a pain that is. But it's also pretty exciting when I get to print it out and see the photos. I think this week will be laying floor tile.

And when I get sick of this whole project, I just think of

two of our best motivators (who give us frequent encouraging hugs)

So, between bouts of home construction and during trips back and forth from Wausau to Dallas, I read a lot. An article I've recently enjoyed can be found here: Finding God in All Things

I hope you've had a blessed Lord's Day. I certainly have had. Worship service this morning with Holy Communion, beautiful scenic views with cows this afternoon, and a 'fry' made by Mr. C. for my Sunday dinner.

To the uninitiated, I'm not sure how wonderful this looks, but let me tell you, NeverAny ham with scrambled eggs, crispy hashbrowns, and a variety of sauteed peppers and onions is one of my favorite meals - and I don't have to make it. It's one of those really nice things that Mr. C does for me. Dessert was smooth Lindt Chili Dark Chocolate.

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I'm hoping to reopen my soap shops when we get settled in
and have sold our farmhouse.

So much to do.

Thanks for stopping in today.

 

Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning

for daily photos

A Tree Planted by Water

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit." - From Jeremiah 17.

For an excellent homily on this passage in Jeremiah, listen to this podcast.

Have a blessed Lord's Day, friends.

Frozen Wisconsin on a Wednesday Medley

Join Terri and the Gang
for

She writes the questions;

we write the answers.

Plug them into your own blog

and join in at TERRI'S BLOG

Here is a medley of questions you may choose to answer on your Wednesday blog.  There aren't any rules and there is no obligation. Link up if you want to.  I'm doing this to fill my Wednesday and if you are interested, then I invite you to join in!!  It might be fun!!

NATIONAL PIE DAY

National Pie Day is celebrated annually on January 23rd. (Not to be confused with March 14 which is PI π Day.) 

National Pie Day was created simply to celebrate the pie.  It is a day for all to bake or cook their favorite pies.  Even more importantly, it is a day set aside for all to enjoy eating pies!

The first pies appeared around 9500 BC in the Egyptian Neolithic period or New Stone Age.

1.  Okay, fess up.  Tell us your top three favorite pies, please.  Will you have some pie today?

 I probably won't have pie today, but I sure do like it! My favorites are lemon meringue, blueberry, and fresh strawberry or mincemeat. Okay, now I'm thinking too much about pie!

 

This one is a lemon (my favorite!) cake pie. Delicious!

2.  While we are talking about food... are you a picky eater or are you ready to try almost any new food?  What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?

I'm not a picky eater, but I am definitely not ready to try almost any new food. I used to think that if they invented a people dog food, I would be a regular customer just because I do like to eat the same things, rather than always introducing something new. The worst thing I ever ate was monkey brains  soft boiled eggs or warmed up chicken. I ate chicken reheated. I'd rather just eat it cold or not at all. And runny egg yolk? Ewwww! Toast soldiers are for putting peanut butter on, NOT for dipping in nearly raw egg. Shudder! I'm sure there are other things also, but I can't think of them at the moment.

 Rainbows on the walls and a little editing on the photo. Daughter's home. I think it can be considered art.

3.  Baking could be considered an art as could cooking.  How do you define art?

That's an interesting statement. I think that's true, as long as there's personal creativity involved. So I guess making a pie according to the recipe is a technical skill, whereas adjusting here and there and making a crust that is attractive is more an art.

 

 A grandpa buried in balloons

 

4.  Tell us a really stupid joke that made you laugh, please.

The funniest joke ever, which I've told before, is that a newly-married couple were sitting down to dinner, the wife's first attempt at cooking a meal. The husband made a valiant attempt, but couldn't finish his dinner. It was really horrid. So he gave it to the dog. A bit later, the wife noticed the dog in the corner and asked, 'Why is she chewing her butt??'  He responded, 'She's trying to get the taste out of her mouth.' 

 Misty, R.I.P.

Her favorite thing was playing in the alfalfa field.

Her second favorite thing was mentioned in the paragraph above.

Well, not really, but often enough. :-(

5.  January 23rd is also National Handwriting Day. Do you have nice handwriting? Did cursive writing come naturally or did you practice in those double-lined practice books until your fingers hurt?

 

We actually did practice handwriting in grade school. After I learned to type, handwriting was so laborious that I tried to avoid it. Now I'm trying to regain that handwriting skill. It's not good, by any means, but since starting to keep a journal, I'm at least getting daily practice.

6.  Tell us something random about your week.

 Rivers, Rails, and Roads

A new game we played with the grandkids. Games, puzzles, and books are such great ways to interact with the younger generation. They love it!

 Putting the last piece in a Ravensburger puzzle (our favorite). He likes to hide a piece of the puzzle and bring it out at the very end, ensuring that he gets to put in that last piece. :-)

We'll probably be spending most of the time indoors in the next few days, for the temps are going to be well below zero F. I'm so thankful for the wood stove, Mr. C. who supplies the wood and hauls it into the house, and a nearly snowless January to this point. I'm sorry, snow lovers.

Tommy & Smokey, occupying the best chair next to the fire.

"Tommy, could you let me breathe?!"

 

 Yep, the Christmas tree is still up on the front porch, and will remain there until the needles start falling off. It's not going to happen any time soon, according to the forecast.

 

ONE MORE RANDOM:

In light of the headlines and vitriol spewed all over the internet  the past couple days, I thought this was a particularly good article, and words of wisdom. Please take a few minutes to click on the link and read the article.

 
1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

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Have a great Wednesday, everyone!

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