Hodgepodging a Birthday Thank You

From a 1912 Men's Suit Manufacturer's Catalog

One of Mr. C's many finds, discarded as trash.

He wasn't dumpster diving; this old catalog had been used as

insulation in the attic of an old house he was working in.

I've photographed all my favorite pages.

 It will be another month before we see these again.

Winter is very slow leaving Wisconsin.

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we write the answers.

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Thank you to Joyce!

1. What's something you resolved to do this year? Have you done it?

I guess I resolved to downsize. I know, you've heard this before - many times. But downsizing for us, who have lived in the same place for 33 years, is different than for someone who moves frequently. We have been downsizing at the same time as we've been creating an apartment in the Wausau house and doing renovations to the Dallas farmhouse. As Mr. C. says when I get discouraged and want to escape to someplace beautiful in the English countryside, 'We're getting there.'  Sometimes I just look at him like, 'yeah right,' but I do love the fact that he is steady and solid and always willing to keep going until it's done. God gave me that man for a reason. And I'm so grateful!

He makes a good grandpa too.

2. Where do you go to find quietude?

There is plenty of quietude at the farm. And social distancing is not even an issue out there, because we have no near neighbors. I've been living that way for a very long time, so when the social distancing thing is lifted in Wisconsin, it will be a new thing for me to have neighbors on either side. And quietude in Wausau is achieved simply by being home. It is a quiet neighborhood. To be really alone, however, to pray, for example, I go to the bedroom.

 Sorry if you've seen these before

3. A friend asked this question on her Facebook page and said I could borrow it for the Hodgepodge...you're only allowed to buy 5 things at the grocery store, and all must start with the first letter of your first name. Whatcha' buying?

Oh boy.  There's hardly a thing in my refrigerator or cupboards that begins with J.

Juice

Jicama

Jcelery

Jonions

Jstaxpotatochips

 If I didn't make my own gluten-free pizza, I would definitely buy it.

But it doesn't begin with the letter J either.

With Kalamata olives and Feta and pepperjack cheese, I could eat this every single night of the week

(if Mr. C. didn't have an issue with that - or even if he did)

4. The television show Survivor, the Gloria Gaynor song 'I Will Survive', survival mode, survival of the fittest...pick one and discuss.

I guess my choice would be, 'I Will Survive,' because actually, almost everywhere you turn, there's talk of this Corona virus outbreak. I hope people will proceed cautiously in opening up businesses, however, and keep the social distancing and masks in place until we've got it figured out. To open the bars and restaurants at this point seems foolish to me. I did listen to a very thought-provoking discussion this morning with a Dr.Reed Wilson, a cardiologist from LA. He is one of the few voices I've heard lately that seemed reasonable, non-political, non attacking, etc. So refreshing. Quiet, reasoned discussion. A rare thing these days.

5. Share a favorite quote or saying about strength.

I hope all of you are able to attend church services online. If not, here's a great resource for you: www.zionlutheranwausau.com.  Besides the Sunday morning worship, they also have morning and evening prayer every weekday and Bible studies Tuesday and Friday. What a blessing they have been to us! 

(photo from Sunday, actually)

I also have to share with you a really great article by Bishop Robert Barron from Word on Fire. It begins like this:

"Last week, Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, made a rather interesting theological observation. Commenting on the progress that his state has made in fighting the coronavirus, and praising the concrete efforts of medical personnel and ordinary citizens, he said, “The number is down because we brought the number down. God did not do that. Faith did not do that.” I won’t waste a lot of time exploring the hubris of that remark, which should be obvious to anyone. I might recommend, out of pastoral concern, that the governor read the first part of Genesis chapter eleven."  Read the remainder of this excellent article HERE.

Sorry about all the stuff you're being bombarded with, but I didn't make it to the Hodgepodge last week...


6. Insert your own random thought here.

The best birthday gift thank you came in the form of a video from our grandson in Minnesota (whom we cannot see because of the safer-at-home order, wah wah wah.)  BUT, this was so fun to receive, especially because he has the greatest facial expressions when trying to convey his response to the birthday gifts I sent him. BTW, he shares a birthday with Her Majesty Queen Eliabeth II  - just in case you wanted to know.

Oops! Gotta go.
I'm getting a phone call.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone.

Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning

Lord's Day, March 29, 2020

 Thanks  be to God!

Read Psalm 136

Hi friends,

Aren't we living in a surreal time! We are very blessed to have a large backyard for the kids to play in and are also able to get out for walks when the weather permits.

 A little like a ghost town!

 Somehow I was not eager to buy the 'hand breaded' chicken tenders.

When we do fuel up, we wear nitrile gloves, pump the gas, pay at the pump, throw the gloves away in their bin, and leave. We are very cautious. I can't believe how many people are still mingling with their friends.

 Now We Are Six!

Someone has a birthday today! It was a party of 5: her mom, brother, and Grandpa and I were the party. She was the one who got all the candles.

 Since I didn't have any wrapping paper with me, I hid all the little gifts in the card catalog.

Reading 'The Cat in the Hat' to Gramma's bears, tiger, and German Shepherds.

I don't know how much you're watching the news, but our only news channel is Sky News out of London. The whole coronavirus issue looks pretty grim. I suspect that we'll all be social distancing for a few months yet at least.

The photo I took (above) of Sky News weather:  I'm always trying to figure out the temperature in Farenheit, but Mr. C. found this easy formula for roughly converting Celsius to Farenheit. But roughly is better than struggling and not coming close. Now I can actually have an idea of what's happening around the world temperature wise.  

That reminds me. Remember that the circumference of a circle is Diameter x Pi? and that the diameter of a circle is Circumference /Pi?  Why didn't our teachers tell us it was 3, rather than 3.14.??? I mean, really. How easy is it to figure it with the number 3, and how difficult to try to come up with an exact answer (in your head) with the 3.14!  Good grief. Life is less complicated than we thought!

Our church is holding online live Matins and Compline devotions on M, T, Th, F, and Lenten Vespers services on Wednesday evenings. And they broadcast the Sunday morning worship service on WSAU.com radio at 9 AM. Especially in this time of not being able to attend church, it is wonderful to feel connected for worship.

Home Church
Watching videos from Zion from our living room sofa
minus the sparkles

I hope you are all doing well. I'm hoping to join in the Wednesday Hodgepodge this week. I've always loved being part of that. We'll see if I get there this week.

I'd be very interested in knowing what's happening in your neck of the woods. So far, there's one case of the corona virus in Marathon County, and I think that most people here are practicing social distancing. Our daughter in Madison loves social distancing. She says it suits her just fine. LOL

But not everyone feels that way:

God bless you all.

Stay home.

Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning

Wednesday Wanderings

 This time I didn't ask permission to post her photo.
I mean really, it could be any little girl, right?
Or any little boy with long hair, right?
And she's checking out the backyard, watching
Mr. Chippy, who is probably confused by the new snow.
He loves to scamper along the stream-bed rocks.

 My coffee tables, besides the tool chest,
are antique boxes that I've collected over the years.
They're sturdy and work well.
When it gets a bit warmer out,
we'll have lunches in the gazebo!

 The city snow had become dirty,
so it was actually nice to see a fresh layer and
frost on the front yard trees.
I can hardly believe that I'm having welcoming thoughts about snow.

 Her last words to me before she left for school this morning:
'Don't mess with my ant city, Gramma.'
Like I had plans to do so??
Yesterday, before there was the new snow,
there was no snow in this area of the yard and she
built an 'ant city.'
When the weather gets warmer, I hope they appreciate the little bridges.

 We don't get very far with putting all the books away.
We need them to be accessible!

Left: books about Italy
Middle: children's books
Right: The Liturgical Year, my mom's Bible, and
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
(and view toward the foyer of the Wausau house)

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone.

Join me on Instagram:

@cranberrymorning

Judy

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.

***

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 Paper Clip for Wednesday Medley

 Herefords in the Neighborhood
Don't you love their heart uniforms?

The wild plum blossoms smell wonderful!



Join Terri and the Gang
for

She writes the questions;

we write the answers.

Plug them into your own blog post

and link up at Terri's blog,

Your Friend From Florida

Terri writes:  (and my responses are in blue)

I must admit that the National Day Calendar, at times, leaves me wondering whatever am I going to do with the choices given to us.  When I saw that it is National Paperclip Day tomorrow.... well, here we go!!  Please, please read all about this day before you skip to the questions. It really is quite inspiring!!  Seriously!

Everything below this line is from the National Day Calendar website.

______________________________________________________________

NATIONAL PAPERCLIP DAY

National Paperclip Day is observed each year on May 29.  Yes, even the paperclip has its own day of honor. It is about that well-known piece of curved wire that keeps our papers together and helps keep us organized.

National Lloyd Nelson Day

I can't believe that my father has been replaced by a paper clip. Born on May 29, 1917, he was the best dad ever. The photo above shows him with our first grandson, who is now 15. Looking at this photo of my dad, I am reminded of why I have to fight with that front lock of my hair every single day. Dad went to be with the Lord in December of 2010. R.I.P. Dad. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful dad and for the influence he was and is on my life.

The Paper Clip Project
During World War II this small, universal office supply provided a visual method of protest at a time when any outward signs of objection could be dangerous, even in familiar company.

Early in the war, Norwegians were particularly persistent in their development of symbols. The paper clip represented “sticking together” for a time until the Nazis caught on and banned the wearing of paper clips.

According to a March 5, 1941, Provo, Utah newspaper article (The Daily Herald), the Norwegians switched to new symbols as quickly as the bans could be issued.
In 1998, a group of middle school students led by language arts teacher Sandra Roberts and associate principal David Smith began a project through a Holocaust education class. The voluntary after-school class, Whitwell Middle School principal Linda Hooper’s idea, would be the foundation for developing tolerance and diversity.

Inspired by the story of the protesting Norwegians and their paper clips, the students began to collect six million paper clips – one paper clip representing one Jew who perished during the Holocaust. Adults today still wrestle with how the Holocaust could occur. Imagine middle school students trying to understand the magnitude of such an event on humanity.

The Paper Clip Project gained international attention and by 2001 the students collected more than 30 million paper clips. The school dedicated a Children’s Holocaust Memorial which displays an authentic German railcar filled with a portion of the paper clips.

For more information on this inspiring story, the book and film that followed visit www.oneclipatatime.org

_____________________________________________________________

Everything above this line is from the National Day Calendar website.

1.  Wow!  Had you ever heard of the Holocaust project involving paperclips?  It is a great teaching project, for sure! 

No, and that is definitely an interesting story. My personal greatest connection to the Norwegians, is that I married one. Ya, ya betcha. It was actually his great grandpa who settled in the Westby area of Wisconsin.

2.  Have you ever created a paperclip chain?  How long did it get?

I am sure that I did, at some point in my life. The interesting thing about paper clips is that they're always in the desk drawer until you need one, and then they all seem to have vanished.

I think my cushion storage became a boat for Memorial Day.

 A porch is a wonderful place to play, even in the rain!

3.  I use paperclips as hooks at Christmas time to put ornaments on the tree.  Works like a charm!! What is something you used a paperclip for, other than holding papers together?

I've also used a paper clip to hang Christmas ornaments, and once to keep a skirt together when the top button and a safety pin could not be found.

 Watching the cattle across the road

on our one sunny day, last Saturday.

4.  I am amazed at the shapes and colors of paperclips available.  I found my favorite... share your favorite with us here!

My favorite paper clip is the one that's there when I need it. I don't care about the color, but accessibility and sturdiness.

 Most of May was THIS COLD

5.  Say goodbye to May on this last Wednesday of May.  Be poetic if you will, or simply bid it adieu.

It seems to me that last year I also said something like the fact that May had always been my favorite month until then, and this year I'm thinking the same thing. We've had about two nice days in the entire month. So although the green of May in Wisconsin is gorgeous, I'm looking forward to July. I know that June is in between, but May has been so cold that I'm not going to count on June to bring us warm weather. We'll see.

The good things about May are that one grandson was here for two weeks, we spent a day with family in the Twin Cities because of our great grandbaby's Christian dedication, family was here over a rainy and cold Memorial Day, we made a few trips to the Wausau house, and finally, May should bring us to slightly warmer weather. We hope.

6.  Tell us something about your week so far, please!


I'll tell it by adding a few more photos:

 Making stone pizza on the porch

 The littlest star and mama

3-2-1
Practicing her little heart out
all weekend long! 

 So on that one beautiful day, they were finally able to get the corn planted in the field north of the house. Usually they're planting corn the beginning of the month. This year, because it has been so cold and so wet, they're really struggling to get all the fields planted.

 The Amish neighbors are also planting their fields now.
Their tractors are so much prettier. :-)



HomemadeSoapnSuch.com

and

HomemadeSoapnSuch.Etsy.com

will be closed from June 1 through the summer.

Tommy & Smokey, of course
The Big Visit from their potential new care giver is only ten days away. 
I will be sure to let you know how it goes.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone.

Thank you Terri, for the Medley!

Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning