Bologna on White Bread - Spending Treasure

I saw her stand up as soon as I walked through the door of the restaurant. She wanted me to know that she was there and where she was sitting.

I rushed over to greet her, happy that this day had finally come. We had been planning it all winter, it seems, waiting until the time when the roads and elements would be better as we each drove from our respective homes to this central meeting place.

I have known this friend for almost 45 years. We went to high school together, then college. We have each worked at keeping in contact with one another these past 40 years as our lives definitely took us here and there through the passing decades and we each took our separate paths.  From teen-age girls, to becoming moms; middle age women, moms, (I know, I said that once, already.) and now seniors, (??- Ugh! We both turn 60 this year – is there another name for it?) we have always found time for one another  at specific points and time. Amazing!

We have always been able to pick up immediately from where we were the last time. Yesterday, we talked and talked and talked. The topics unending, it seems: our kids; our husbands; our memories; our faith!  Dissecting frogs, old friends and forgotten teachers – there wasn’t enough time to cover it all! We spoke of love and dreams; hopes and full circles. Local history; age-old history; Jesus and Bible; Truth and politics; missions and gifts; secrets and embarrassing moments; questions and answers; prayers and more prayers - was there anything we didn’t cover? Maybe recipes and gardening tips were left unmentioned. ;-)

So much good in this one meeting; such a connection – how can one be a teen and then all of a sudden be 60? How can one know you so well? How can one laugh, and encourage and correct all in the same breath? Understanding, accepting, knowing, listening, same Father…that’s how!

If I needed therapy – and that’s debatable – this day would have been slotted as very therapeutic; just seeing my old friend.

We left only when we figured the restaurant had had enough of us, gracious though they were.

“Come to my car a minute,” my friend said. “I have something for you.” She grabbed a green gift bag from the front seat of her car and handed it to me.

I peered in side and burst out laughing. I knew immediately why. “I still like bologna on white bread.” And tomato soup - my comfort food!

“What kind of plants are those in there?” I asked, not yet taking them out of the bag.

“I’m not sure,” she responded. “Something that starts with an ‘h’.”

“Hyacinth?!” I exclaimed. “That’s one of my favorite flowers!”

She laughed, too. “I didn’t know.”

But our Father did…and my friend listens.

 

                             Vroom, Vroom! Old friend!

Guess what I had for dinner??  

 Almost 3 of them! ;-)

                                        And we aren't talking halves!

God's Happy Thoughts

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap...I opened my eyes and smiled.  There he is again - my little buddy. I love him, he always makes me smile. Ok, so I probably shouldn't like that he wakes me up in the morning pecking the side of my house, and I probably shouldn't like that he is most likely making a hole in my house somewhere...probably shouldn't, but I do.

I got out of bed and went to the window to pull open the shade. I wanted to see what I could see. Even the sound of raising the blind was enough to scare him from the side of the house, to the highest branches of the Mountain Ash. He sat there facing me. It was like he was a child saying, "Morning, Mama! Am I in trouble?"

"No, son; you are not in trouble...this time. I'm just glad you are here." 

Yeah, yeah, I know. That might be a little extreme. Ok, a whole lot extreme. I really don't think of Mr. Flicker as my son, but I do kinda love him. :-)

A bit later, I walked out the door to run some errands. I was greeted with the Meadowlark's morning call. Ahhhhh...."Mornin', to you too, my friend."

Let's see...so far this spring, I have seen* Mr. Flicker, my yearly killdeers, robins, Black-capped Chickadees, finches, and the bad boys of the neighborhood - the starlings. I've heard the meadowlarks, though I have yet to see one, and I have heard the geese fly overhead. A week or so ago, I took a drive across the prairie, just after the rains. There was flooding in several places - little lakes, really. And there were hundreds and hundreds of Canada Geese swimming on the temporary ponds of the pastures. It was so beautiful! But of course, I didn't have my camera.

I haven't seen my favorite birds yet, the Mountain Blue Birds** and second to that the Western Blue Birds. I checked my notes, and last year they arrived on March 11th. It is possible they are here and I just haven't seen them yet.  There are birds beginning to nest in one of the blue bird boxes, but I haven't been able to identify them just yet. Whenever I have seen them the sun has been in the wrong place making it difficult to see their color. I can tell, however, by the way they fly that they are not swallows. Swallows typically get that box, but maybe the blue birds beat them to it this year.

So begins my bird watching for the season. I'm thankful the spring days are here. As I sat here typing a little sparrow sat on the rail of my deck. He was soon joined by another. This one had a rose hip in her mouth. She sat it carefully on the rail. They both just sat there a moment before they flew away together.  I hope I didn't scare them. The rose hip is still sitting there where the little bird left it. Curious; I wonder if she will be back for it.

As I look out the various windows at this moment, the yard is completely devoid of any bird activity.

I will watch like this every morning. I will keep records and I will probably report on this blog. I have said it before, and I really believe it, the birds are God's happy thoughts.

As I finish up my post for today, I found that some time in between my checking the windows, and then finding a photo and posting this blog, the rose hips disappeared.

When thou seest an eagle, thou seest a portion of genius; lift up thy head!

William Blake (1757 - 1827)

 


*   Add to my list the Dark-eyed Junco - March 13, 2014
** The Mountains are Home - March 13, 2014

!! Sunshine Award !!

First off...a big "thank you" to Rachel over on "Idaho Inspirations” for nominating me for the Sunshine Award!

I now get to answer 10 questions of her choice.

Here we go!

 

1) One state you'd like to visit, but never have?

• Vermont
• Washington D.C. (Yes, I know that isn’t a state)
• And I would like to go back to several states I have already been. (Ok, I couldn't choose just one.)

2) Your earliest memory?

I think I remember kitties at the airport my dad worked, or they were at the house where we lived when he worked at that airport. Some kind of connection with the airport though...lots of memories at the "Black" house and the little house by the creek…(when I was 4 and 5) Lots of memories at my grandparents ranch, but I don’t think those were my first memories.

3) Your favorite memory

Well, I suppose I should say my favorite memory is my wedding day or the birth of my child. But in actuality, I think it was the day my son was old enough to tell me not to worry. 

“Don’t worry about it, mama!” he exclaimed.

He was two.
It always makes me laugh, and all things were good; that's why it is my favorite. :-)

4) What are you doing this weekend?

I am going to the Civil Air Patrol Banquet on Friday night with my family. I have no further plans after that, at this point. We let the way life falls dictate to us the things that we do next.

5) Something you could eat your weight in?

Spaghetti

 

6) Is that glass really half empty or half full?

Those that think they know me would say that I would say it is half empty. Those that really know me know that I know it is half full.   ;-)

7) Favorite Bible verse?
A few among many:

• John 14:1-6
• Isaiah 53
• II Cor.12:9
• Psalm 37
• Psalm 91
• John 4:14
• Isaiah 1:18-19
• Daniel 10:12
• Acts 4:10

8) Snow or Rain?

Hmmmmm, I love snow when it is time for snow, and I love rain when it is time for rain.
Everything in moderation.  ;-)

9) Worst injury?

I have been very blessed in the way of physical injuries…not many at all. No broken bones. No terrible accidents. My worst injuries have been heart injuries, but I’m sure that isn’t what you mean. Soooooo, I will have to say one time when I was 14, I was babysitting and trying to get the dishes done before the kids’ parents came home. I sliced my finger with a knife as I ran the dishrag over the blade. It happened just as she came in the door, and she had to run me to emergency to get 5 or 6 stitches. Other than that, one time my husband was popping my back and I wasn’t ready, a bit tense, and he cracked one of my ribs. That hurt. Oh, and I was once kicked by a horse…that hurt, too.

10) Next thing you're most excited for?

• The CAP Banquet!
• Spring!
• Our tax return!
• Resurrection Sunday!
• K and A baby!
• Land K’s wedding!
• The 2014 Elections!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 

Questions for my blogger "picks".

1.  What is one of your most embarrassing moments?
2. What figure in history do you most look up to?
3. What actor or actress do you most resemble (not physical characteristics) in regard to character or part played? 
4. What is your favorite animal?
5. What is your biggest pet peeve?
6. What is your favorite comfort food?
7. What is the most important lesson God has taught you?
8. Who is your favorite Biblical character?
9. What was the scariest thing you have ever experienced?
10. What is one thing you hope to accomplish in 2014?

***********************************************************

Now it's my turn to do some nominating and I chose:

• Karla at Ramblin' Roads
• Barbara at God Family and Other Stuff I Love
• Amie at Caer Rivendell
• Anna at Annas 5 Bananas

And though it makes Number 5, I will try to get a response from:

• Thunder Eagle at Thunder Eagle's Cherokee Rose

This is what you do: 

1. Start a new blog post.
2. Upload an image of your choice.
3. Answer my 10 questions above.
4. Then make up 10 new questions
5. Nominate some bloggers.

Enjoy!

 

Present

I woke to the sound of falling rain this morning. I love that sound. It makes me want to pull the blankets up a little closer and stay in bed just a tad longer. It falls tapping on the window and I hear the steady drip from the rain gutters…it all spells c-o-z-y.

I was especially happy to hear the rain this morning, because I have been waiting for it to come and wash away all the February snow.

I went out to feed the horses in heavy slush in the midst of the morning down pour. I welcome the slush; it means spring is just around the corner. After all, it has to come before the brown grass appears once again. And then the brown will soon turn green.

I have been hearing several reports of bird sightings, primarily robins - not in my neighborhood, but from friends and family further south.  I have been watching closely, but until today I had yet to see any flying feathers. Today, though, I saw my first robin of the season. He was a welcome sight. I watched him for a while and he seemed to find a worm on top of the snow. Whatever it was he picked it up and swallowed it at once.

Daylight savings time will begin at the end of the week! Yes, that will maybe make for a bit darker mornings, but it will mean longer days! My bluebird thermometer told me it was in the 40's today.

It's coming! Honest!

Ahhhh spring! I count you as present beginning today.