Protection from the Storms- A Little Something Extra

I used to say you know you're a St. Louisian if you run outside and try to spot the tornado as soon as the sirens sound. Now, I find myself watching the sky as I drive home with dark clouds approaching, now I think I'll head for the basement instead. I don't know what is happening, but it's not normal, even in an El Nina/Nino (whichever). It couldn't hurt to have a little extra protection on your side.

Print this and keep it handy when storms are approaching.

Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in Peace. +
God became man, + and the Word was made flesh. +
Christ was born of a Virgin.+
Christ suffered.+
Christ was crucified.+
Christ died.+
Christ rose from the dead.+
Christ ascended into Heaven. +
Christ conquers. +
Christ reigns. +
Christ orders. +

May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning.+
Christ went through their midst in Peace, +
and the Word was made flesh. +
Christ is with us with Mary. +
Flee you enemy spirits because the Lion of the
Generation of Juda, the Root of David, has won. +

Holy God! + Holy Powerful God! + Holy Immortal God! +
Have mercy on us.

For additional protection:

"4 Corners Home Protection Kit - Protect your home and family Today!. In these troubled times in the U.S. and all over the world. Our priests ask us to pray, pray and then pray some more. Through a mystic several years ago, we were told we could protect ourselves and homes/property by doing what is prescribe in the home protection kit. With the blessing of a good and holy priest we were told that this kit is much needed now and in the very near times ahead and recommended it for all Catholic Homes. We put this packet together with instructions on how to apply this kit to your home.

Kit Contains:
1 Rosary, 1 Scapular, 1 Benedictine Medal, 1 Miraculous Medal, Deliverance Prayer and Instructions."

Your Catholic Store Home Kit If you don't have these items and don't know where to purchase them, I can vouch for the people that own this store.

The mystic was Sondra Abrahams who has visited our church a couple of times and I've had the opportunity to chat with her. Her near death story is amazing and gives you something to think about - Google her.

Gifts from Israel

My mother decided to vacation in Israel this year. It isn't the location I would have chosen, in fact I mentioned that Montana is quite nice this time of year; however, she was determined to visit Israel. She had also intended to extend the trip to Egypt until the travel company canceled that leg of the trip for her. Of course the first day she was there a bus blew up on a public street. Not too comforting but the probability of Mom being in that exact spot at that particular time were slim so I wasn't too worried. There is no option for international calling on the type of phone service she subscribes to so I logged onto CNN at work until they had more information.

As it turned out she had a lovely time, arriving home safe and sound. Soon a package arrived, a little somthing for Taylor's Easter, plus a few gifts from her trip for both our household and my daughter, Becky's. Our son, Sean, lives in Seattle and received his gift separately; however, it was his name in Hebrew, crafted from silver, on a necklace.

For our home: A Home Blessing kit which contains a Jerusalem Stone, candles, holy water from the Jordan River, holy soil from Jerusalem, olive oil from Bethlehem, holy incense from Jerusalem, a copy of an ancient icon and a cross of olive wood.

For me: a silver cross and an aromatic rosary, For Tom: a rosary and keychain, For Taylor: a olive wood cross necklace, For Becky: a home blessing kit, saints necklace with earrings and a cross.

She also sent a cd with 165 photos which show a beautiful landscape, breathtaking churches, floating in the dead sea, and lovely seascapes. It is a beautiful area.

I'll have to make an appointment to get our gifts blessed. Hopefully someone will be able to tell me what scent my rosary is. The wooden beads are very red and the scent is strong. If you have any ideas, let me know.

Click once or twice on the photo to enlarge.

Christ Arose

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!



Sending Easter wishes to all.

lyric credit

postcard credit

vintage postcard link

757 vs 193

It was a night of tornados that cut a path of destruction from central Missouri to Illinois, leveling homes from New Melle to Maryland Heights, Bridgeton to Granite City, IL and damaging hotels, businesses and Lambert International Airport to the point of suspending operations. It was an F4, the same type and almost the same path as traveled though the area back in 1967 that took out our old subdivision. These weren't mobile homes. These were brick and mortar buildings or fairly new frame constructions. Homes with atrium windows and pools in the backyards. The worst hit subdivision was only 10 years old as the tornado, reportedly 1,000 - 1,200 ft wide, roared up the street.

The amazing thing is that there were no life threatening injuries which can be attributed to the the fact that we have basements in this area and the wall to wall television coverage of the storm path. People had time to prepare. I get irritated when I hear people complain that the weather reports interrupt their shows. How selfish can you be to think your show is more important than the safety of a community?

Many had been attending Good Friday services as the church came down around them, some dying Easter Eggs and jumping into the basement with only minutes to spare. Some knew their neighborhoods had been destroyed but were unable to reach their homes due to downed power lines and giant trees across roadways.

This isn't over for us, we're expecting more severe weather possibilities Monday and waves of thunderstorms between now and Wednesday. All this is leaving us with the possibility of 4 inches or better of rain added to everything we have already had. The flash flood warnings have already been given, important to us since we may be high and dry but surrounded by creeks and rivers.

The newscaster noted that we have had 757 tornados so far this year, compared to 193 during the same time last year. Add to this the fires in Texas, the earthquakes and the floods. One of my Facebook friends said " I didn't know it was Armageddon season . . ."

**************
ST. LOUIS • The National Weather Service reports that the storm that ripped through the region Friday was the worst its seen in more than 40 years.

The last time the area saw such severe and widespread damage was on Jan. 24., 1967, when a tornado traveled 21 miles across St. Louis County following an eerily similar path as Friday's twister.

"People are going to remember this for a long time," said Jim Sieveking, the lead forecaster at the National Weather Service in St. Louis.

St Louis Post Dispatch Link

airport photo credit

damage credit

Bye Bye, Goat

Goat's gone!

I called our neighbor, the Fire Marshal, who lives across the valley from us to ask if he knew anyone that was missing a pigmy goat wearing a dog collar. He wasn't in and the voicemail didn't seem to be working well so I pressed O for the phone attendant. He, also a fireman, asked me to leave the message with him. I'm not certain but I think I left him rolling on the floor in fits of belly laughter.

Pretty soon I got the return call and no luck, he didn't know anyone missing a collared goat but did say he would like to have a goat one day. Well, I said, this is your lucky day. Sure enough, later on this evening along comes his truck (not the fire truck) and three guys get out to pick up the goat. They didn't realize this goat is leash trained, likes to be held and will probably have enjoyed taking the couple mile ride.

It sounds like little "Billy" will have a nice home. There are children to play with him, chickens to keep him company and he'll get to do his absolutely favorite thing - eat. He will be responsible for keeping down the brush and from what I've seen, that won't be a problem.

If Billy's rightful owners ever show up we'll direct them to the fire marshal's place but I sure hope he stays at his new home where he'll be warm, safe and locked up tight.

By the way, the photo link below is to a coloring page if anyone wants to print it off for the kids (children, I mean). It looks like there are lots of pages to choose from.

goat coloring picture link

A Goat Followed Me Home

A goat followed me home today and it won't leave. It's a little pigmy goat, white with little horns that he likes to butt you with. He is also wearing a collar, but no tags. We don't know where he came from and nobody claims him. The police and sheriff's department did not receive any missing goat reports and animal control doesn't handle goats.

I tried to make him go home, wherever home is, but he cried and cried, very, very loudly. He ran to the garage and tried to get in the house but I can't let a goat in. I picked him up and carried him out to the yard where he met THE CATS! Oooooh, scary!!!

The best I can do is put him in the chicken pen with a dog igloo until morning. Then if no one claims him we will have to take him to the shelter. If they won't take him, well, I just don't know what I can do, but he can't come home with me and eat hundreds of dollars of landscaping, our siding, the camper, etc. I don't want to abandon him either. He has a collar, someone must be missing him!

I want a barn. I'd keep him.

Seders Long Ago

As a child I would join my friend's family for the Passover seder. We would sit at a long table full of family and friends, each holding the Hebrew/English translations of the Passover story, eating our bitter herbs and drinking Mogan Daivd wine at the appropriate time. My friend's grandfather presided over the table, the Godfather as I referred to him, as we each had our turn to read. The house would be "cleaned" keeping a kosher kitchen with special dishes, pots and pans as the regular kitchenware was pack away. There would be special treats and Matzah and chicken pipiks to eat. A pipik is a belly button/navel, which chickens don't have, so I am not exactly sure what we were eating, but it was required.

I grew up Protestant in a neighborhood primarily Jewish or Catholic. I could say the Baruch over candles on Friday night and Hail Mary on Sunday but knew little about being Methodist other than I didn't really fit there. I loved both Catholic and Jewish faiths with their rich traditions. I was honored to be asked to join the seders.

Exodus 12
The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. . . .The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. . . “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance. passage lookup link

Baruch attah Adonai, eloheynu melech ha-olam, boray p'ri ha-gafen.

Blessed are You, our God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.

Buy These Chips ( Uncle Ray's)

If your local store sells Uncle Ray's potato chips take a few minutes to read the back of the bag. I hope this company is all it says it is because it's refreshing.

Each bag has a portion of Uncle Ray's history from Tennessee to the Detroit housing projects. This bag in particular tells the story of his lack of self control when he was a child, his realization that some things are just wrong,a pledge to be a better person and what you can do to be one too.

Ray has over 30 chapters of "The Life and Times of Uncle Ray". He felt compelled to send a message to those eating his product. "If someone was ever contemplating suicide, drugs, stealing, or what ever life's troubles bring you, I want you to know that you are not alone". "Everyone has bad days and I want to be there with a message"

Chapter 30 ends with Self-Control, "rejecting wrong desires and doing what is right" The website looks to be undergoing some changes so I can't read all the chapters on line but here is his check list on chapter 30:

I will:
Not act impulsively
Not equate desires with rights
Set my own limits
See my anger as a sign that something is wrong with me
Walk away from things that aren't right

Maybe the lessons will sink in, you have to read something while munching on all those chips, may as well be good stuff!

photo credit of chips


Uncle Ray's Potato Chips

History Repeats Itself- Sending Prayers for Storm Victims

Palm Sunday 1920 - Palm Sunday 2011- Praying for Victims
(now up to 43)

By daybreak they could see the complete devastation that ravaged the South.

From Fox News: A devastating storm that spawned tornadoes, flash floods and hail as big as softballs has claimed at least 35 lives across the U.S. while roaring through the South and gaining steam in North Carolina and Virginia. Emergency crews searched for victims in hard-hit swaths of North Carolina, where 62 tornadoes were reported from the worst spring storm in two decades to hit the state . . .Authorities said at least 10 people were killed in North Carolina and at least three more in neighboring Virginia during the storm's passage Saturday before the sprawling, potent storm bands moved eastward over the Atlantic.

The storms claimed its first lives Thursday night in Oklahoma, then roared through Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Seven people each were killed in Arkansas and Alabama, two people in Oklahoma and one person in Mississippi, authorities have said. Fox News

This is not the first time-
The Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1920 was an outbreak of at least 38 significant tornadoes across the Midwest and Deep South states on March 28, 1920. The tornadoes left over 380+ dead, and at least 1,215 injured. Many communities and farmers alike, were caught off-guard, as the storms moved to the northeast at speeds that reached over 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). Most of the fatalities occurred in Georgia (201+), Indiana (56), and Ohio (55), while the other states had lesser amounts.
1920 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak

Pray for the victims, family, friends and pets.

+

Shhh . . .It's a Secret Gift (Mug Rug)

Reposting September 2011 - These can be great gifts, quick and easy to make. Not only is it a mug rug but it can be substituted for a mouse pad in a pinch!

I just completed my first mug rug, as a secret gift for a blogger who was kind enough to send me some homemade shortbread cookies, both plain and peanut butter flavored, star shaped and decorated all cute with little faces. It is similar to a quilted place mat but perfect dimensions for a coffee mug and muffin, or for this demo, a toaster pastry. I don't know if she enjoys coffee or perhaps some tea but even a glass of milk with cookies would do just fine. She has a bake shop blog so there will be plenty of opportunity to use it. Again, it is my first attempt so I hope she doesn't look too closely at the workmanship!

I took a Charm pack, which is a pack of coordinated 5x5 precuts, and halved several of them. I started out with 4 across and three down but it didn't seem large enough so I added some accent colors to the edges.

Then you just sew rows together and join all the rows making certain the joints all match.

I selected the backing and binding so she can use both sides. Sandwiching batting between them I then quilted the piece by sewing about 1/4 inch on both sides of each seam. The piece is pinned here as I attached the binding so it looks puckered. Once completed it flattened out quite nicely.

I measured and cut the binding pressing it in half and machine sewing the initial side to the front of the mug rug. I turned it and attached the other side by hand.

I guess it won't be much of a secret now! She doesn't live here so I have to get a little box and package it up next week. I hope she likes it!

No Pie for You

They are making fun of me again. Yes, I did plant a non-bearing cherry tree- a cherry tree that does not produce cherries. No, I did not also plant a tomato plant that does not produce tomatoes or buy a cow that does not give milk. Very, very funny guys!

This tree is next to the courtyard and I wanted some nice, actually pink, flowers next to our white house but it seems the flowers are more white than the tree tag led me to believe; nevertheless, it is pretty and won't stain my house or concrete red with disgarded fruit. The proposed (small) orchard is planned for a bit further away.

So, if you are waiting for pie, it may be awhile!

It's Thyme

Just a little "glitch" this weekend. It's not really going to be cold, stormy and possibly spit out some flurries. Nope, not in my place. In my place, it's THYME! Oh yeah, thyme and basil, watermelon and cucumber seeds have sprouted.

My sister-in-law, she's married to Tom's brother, gave me this nice lilly which bloomed today. I'm waiting a few days before putting it outside since our weather is being somewhat undecisive. It's a lovely lilly so I'll have to send something over to their place. Maybe some hostas?

I've added a few purchased plants: mums, salvia and snapdragons. Some herbs tagged along when I left Wal-Mart: dill, marjoram and sage for the deck planters which are conveniently located off the kitchen. I have saved old spice bottles for reuse after I dry my cuttings.

Taylor was eyeing up the strawberry plants with their teeny tiny strawberries already forming. I'm sure she'll sneak down in the middle of the night with a waterproof sharpie and tag each one with her name!!!

See, she'll fool you, sitting there all nice and sweetly playing with her paper dolls. Once those berries turn red, better not take your eyes off of her!

Preparedness Items You Might Need

What would we need if we were involved in a disaster? Obviously the situation would vary but assuming you had the opportunity to take along several items these might come in handy.

The Boy Scout Fieldbook (get the old one 1973)
A preparedness guide. Using a compass, building fires, making shelters, cleaning fish, animal track identification, first aid, tying knots, etc.

US Army Survival Manual FM21-76
Reprint of the Dept of the Army Field Manual

The American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook

The Forager's Harvest- A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer
Large color plates

Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and James A Duke
A field guide with color plates

Bible

Gun(s)

Sawyer Water Filter
Cleans up to 500 gallons of bacteria free water (Wal-Mart)

emergency water tablets (not needed to use the above)

First Aid Kit

Medications- see if you can get an extra prescription- like when you are going on an extended vacation and they prescribe a bit more

Can opener

Bag of rice

Whistle

Compass

Crank radio

Crank flashlight

socks

sewing kit

Magnesium fire starter (like flint)

camping shovel

pocket saw (it's a sharp band)

Knife Sharpening Kit
Knives:
pocket knife , Leatherman (multi tool), K-bar (fighting and survival)
lock blade that flips open (for one hand use)

Cards and Card games

Game rule book

Musical instrument if available and you play.

Remember, these are all great to have, and I think you should be prepared, but you also need to have faith. Some bloggers will say faith alone is enough but it reminds me of that joke:

There was a flood and the water rose clear up to rootop level. A man climbed onto his roof to save himself from drowning. A rescue worker in a boat made his way to the house and offered to take the man to safety. No, the man said, he was waiting for God to save him. So he waited. Again, another boat pulls up and offers to take the man to safety. Once again, the man declines.

Soon the man is overcome and dies from exposure. When he approaches the Pearly Gates he asks St Peter why God would have forgotten him. "Forgot you?" St Peter replied, "he sent two boats!"

Teach Me Some Art, Fiona

I am a complete failure at art, really, without a doubt. I can manage the quilting because it is more, well, structured, engineered. I can be creative in a literary sense such as writing stories, poems, lyrics or jingles. I can market and I can sell. I'm pretty good at the rummage sale, grouping various and sundry objects to make a theme or pulling together outfits to display in the clothing area. I can't; however, be artsy. This is why I purchased . . . . . The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas . . . . . at the book fair today at work.

It's Perfect! Check it out here

It shows me how to, step by step, make a thumbprint horse, or poppies from a bunch of splotches, or snails by rolling up a small, thin sponge sideways and dipping it in paint. Press it to the paper and you have a snail shell design. Paint or draw your snail on this. Perfect!

There's making stained glass windows with something like tissue paper behind building cutouts, little hat designs embellished with pen and ink to create fancy lady hats, paper weaving, etc. It's GREAT.

It will be in the Easter basket for Taylor, but will remain at our place since we have her every other weekend. That way T and I will learn art together, one page at a time.

My high school painting teacher publically ridiculed me because my painting was fuzzy. The lines of my still life weren't crisp and perfect. Little did he know I painted it just as I saw it- I needed glasses- it was actually pretty perfect! (LOL) And wouldn't you know it, another art teacher, Mr. Vivrette, loved Tom. He was Oh Sooooo creative and full of designy ideas. I hated being in art class with him especially as his was the example of brilliant work and mine was the "what not to create" example.

Tomorrow I am supposed to return to The House of Fear and Trepidation. I spent two weeks painting the darned wooden blocks and screwed them up again. The ladies said they would think of something that I might be able to do. They are really very nice, talented and obviously exceptionally patient.

Garden Nursery

Our growing area is set up and starting to fill up with wonderful plants and seed trays. The table is set up between two sets of windows, L-shaped, that get a SSE exposure. The fan is a whole house fan that we dedicated one of the windows to. We couldn't put in an attic fan since our attic really is useful space with furniture and storage. This fan blows out, pulling in the air from the other windows so the plants will have nice circulation around them.

We have selected heirloom variety tomatoes: Cherokee Purple, Hot, Roma and Old German. Peppers are Garden Salsa, Super Chili, Hot and Sweet Green. We have Ozark Beauty strawberries , Tansey, Valerian and cilantro. I also started seeds of watermelon, giant pumpkin, small pumpkin, basil, cherry tomotoes, thyme and cucumbers. They are accompanied by a lilly that my sister-in-law gave me and the St Pat's plant from my daughter.

Tomorrow I'll plant the tobacco, a beautiful plant that grows as tall as I am with orchid like flowers spraying from the top. We will also be planting some seeds that have to be planted directly into the ground such as zucchini, beans and some flowers that will be in the retaining wall area such as zinnas, marigolds and bachelor buttons. These fill in the perinnial areas as they begin to fade.

There is a little patch of garden at our place but we share a larger one with the neighbors on our side yard (??). Actually, it's carved out of the woods and we just ran the water lines to it this last weekend. It will be so nice to have water on demand rather than cart water over on the fourwheeler. It's a good size, about a quarter acre and very primitive with raised beds made from cut or fallen trees. The neighbors are also starting some seeds, some will be planted in their own patch and some in the shared garden.

Our last frost date is supposed to be April 15, but they lie. Never plant before May 1 or you will be scrambling to cover everything at least one more time. The forecast is calling for a potential frost warning this weekend- April 16-18!

Hopefully we will have a bountiful harvest for lots of canning and drying!

I Have Been Tagged

I have been tagged so I will post my response. I may not be very good at this, I am Catholic but not a Catholic blogger, and I doubt that I have 5 followers that are not already in the loop on this. In fact, I have only 11 followers and three are my family. I may not post 5, I may post the most important which the five would always link back to anyway.

I am about moving onto the past- what we need to know in the event that situations throw us back a hundred years or so to a time where we don't have cell phones, air conditioning, grocery stores that import products from across the world or even electricity.

So this really does pertain to my blog, just in a different way. If we move onto the past we better be able to put our trust somewhere and I don't think our government is the best bet. How could a country a great as we once were allow something like Katrina to continue on and on and on. No reason at all so I don't trust them to come to my aid. It wouldn't suit their purposes. I think I'll put my trust elsewhere:

I've been tagged

Mary, over at The Beautiful Gate has been tagging people for a meme called Why I love Jesus. The rules for this meme are:

- Those tagged will share 5 things they "love" about Jesus
- Those tagged will tag 5 other bloggers
- Those tagged will provide a link in the comment section
here with their names so that others can read them

#1 First and foremost: Hope.
Before Jesus, there was no hope. If you were bad you might make amends but you may not get into Heaven, maybe not Hell either, but not Heaven. No matter what I do, I have hope through Jesus. Without hope, why bother, nothing would matter.

#2 He was willing to die for me. I doubt many others would, maybe one.

#3 I like his mother a lot.
I have someone who understands our life. Granted, she is and always was perfect, without original sin, so it makes being good a whole lot easier, but she is still someone I can ask to intercede for me, when through my human nature, things seem hopless.

Is three OK? There's not anything not to like that is His fault. More like my fault and then I have to fess up to being not so perfect. I have to make some time to do that, it's been awhile.

As I mentioned, I don't know who of my followers would do this that are not already in the Catholic blogosphere and probably will be tagged anyway. If anyone at all wants to add something, please comment.

Here is Shadowlands Top 5:
Shadowlands

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Closing Ranks

When the coyotes arrive for the hunt the cows surrounds their calves, facing down their enemy. The goats and sheep protect their young as well- perhaps assisted by the donkey. They all depend on each other, their own community, to survive. They didn't ask the conservation department to come in and sit guard, or the critter control companies to eridcate the coyotes and even the farmer can't be there all night long. The same is true for you and I.

I hear the coyotes at night. I attached a sample below, not my coyotes, but representative of the frenzied yelps and calls. It's a scary sound that we've become quite used to and tend to ignore. Just like we ignore the signs around us now, the coyote at the door, be it human or nature.

How will you close ranks? Have you spoken to your neighbors and discussed what skills each of you have in the event of an emergency? Who has medical skills, who has carpentry skills to make temporary shelter? I have been told that we can survive a long while without food, but could die of exposure in a matter of hours. First things first. Find shelter.

Who will make the critical decisions? How will you handle law enforcement during a disaster when no one can answer your 911 calls?

If you are separated from your family how will you know where to meet? My husband is going to place a waterproof pack containing a pencil and paper somewhere on the property but not in the house. We can leave word where we intend to go. How will your family find you? Cell towers may not function, phone lines may be down or disabled. CB, Ham Radio?

As evidenced by all the worldly disasters and civil unrest it isn't too hard to imagine it could happen here. Don't be caught off guard.

A person can survive for: Rule of Threes

•Three hours without shelter
•Three days without water
•Three weeks without food


Mother Earth News Bryan Welch

Coyote Sound Link Here
Coyote Sounds Link Here Too

Wildlife Rescue Center photo link

Saved by the Light

This is the best flashlight in the world- or so says my husband. Let me tell you that I work for Energizer, just to be up front, but this is not the reason for this post. He truly thinks it is the best flashlight in the world.

He asked me to pick up a flashlight at work that had multiple LEDs. We had two models, one smaller and less expensive, and this one that is a bit more. I purchased both of them with the agreement that I could return one of them. He actually wanted the smaller one; however, after checking out what this can do, he was hooked.

Tonight it helped us move a copperhead back to the woods. Thank goodness I didn't reach down to the retaining wall, all warmed by our 83 degree day. One of the cats was staring at it and I could see something was unusual. I grabbed the light and saw immediately the hourglass pattern on the snake, the snake that decided it wanted to follow me- oh oh.

Tom got the grain shovel (it's really wide and long), picked him up and took him over to the woods, all with me shining the 100 lumens of high intensity LED light on the path.

But back to the light:
100 lumens high intensity LED
Multiple LEDS: white, red for night vision, green for map reading, blue for illuminating blood trails and ultraviolet for seeing fishing line and lures. These can be used independently or in a combination. The head swivels and can be locked at a few different positions. There is a clip to attach it for hands free use, it can withstand a 10 ft drop, and is waterproof.

The battery requirement is unusual. It takes 2 AAs, or not. You can put in two AAs for the brightest light. You can use a single AA in either of the two chambers. You can put in two AAs, one forward and one reversed. It will use only the one. When it runs out, turn the other one around and you still have light.

Night Strike link

We do have some new awsome products if you haven't seen them in awhile. Tom even wore the headlight, again with multiple settings, as he tended the chickens after dark. The red setting allows you to see clearly yet not be blinded by the light.

Here is an Energizer Bunny game the kids may like- try it out. Bunny Beats game link

Have a good evening!

DESIGNED BY KIDS, BUILT BY VOLUNTEERS

"ST. LOUIS – By the time the sun sets on April 6, children served by The Salvation Army’s Temple Corps Community Center will have a great place to play."

This is what my company is doing tomorrow. I have meetings so I will be helping in the Credit department covering order release while everyone is downtown building a playground.

"The new playground will be fully assembled from scratch in less than eight hours with the help of more than 200 volunteers from Energizer, The Salvation Army, organizers from KaBOOM! and local community residents. . .This playground build is the kickoff of the Energizer Now That’s Positivenergy™ campaign and will be followed by other events and partnerships aimed at generating positivity in communities across the country.

Planning for the playground began at a Design Day event held in February when local children and community leaders met with organizers from Energizer and KaBOOM! to design their dream playground. The children's drawings were then used to create the final playground design."

Salvation Army

"Why do you waste your time in prayer? There is no proof that God exists."

My husband was recently asked to review a new book out on the market and I would like to share that review with you. He is a book snob which means if he likes it, it has merit; therefore, he has passed the book onto me so perhaps you'll join me for a good read.

Link to Catawissa Gazetteer Review of The Third Testament

Amazon Link

An excerpt from The Third Testament review:

In this book we come to see, along with Mr. Sankt, that the Church stands as a beacon, a reason for hope. We see that it’s very endurance, the fact that it still survives today, after 2,000 years of attacks and brutal betrayals, just as Jesus promised it would, is as sure a reason for faith in Christ as anything else. Only a miracle, or more rightly, one whole never ending series of miracles and heavenly protections could have kept our Holy Mother Church on this earth. The Roman Catholic Church is the oldest form of government on the earth today, outlasting everything before or since. That is a miracle, maybe the greatest of all since the beginning of the Church itself.

The following can be found on page 248 of "The Third Testament":


"One day a humble servant of the Lord lost a very dear friend to the scourge cancer. The humble servant felt great sorrow and prayed that he would someday see his friend again. After much time in prayer, the humble servant was confronted by a demon. The demon said to him, "Why do you waste your time in prayer? There is no proof that God exists."

The humble servant answered him, "I have faith and that is why I pray."

The demon then said to him with disdain, "Faith is no more than superstition. On what do you base this 'faith?'"

The humble servant answered, "I base this faith on trust."

"Trust in whom?" the demon retorted. "In whom do you have such trust that you would ignore the laws of probability and the laws of science?"

"I trust in Christ," the humble servant replied.

"In Christ!" the demon exclaimed. "In Christ! Name one thing Christ has done to earn your trust. Tell me please, what has He ever done to earn your prayers? I dare you to name one miracle He has ever performed that has been proven by science to be true. Name it! Name it!" he taunted with glee.

The humble servant stood with patience, and then answered with three simple words: "The Church exists."

"What?" the demon declared in confusion. "What!" he said again with vexation. "What do you mean 'the Church exists?' Please tell me how this relates to trust. Please tell me how this justifies your wasted time in prayer?"

The humble servant calmly explained his answer. "Jesus Christ made a promise--the simple promise 'Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.' And now after 2000 years the Church still endures. It endures despite a history of heresies and persecutions. It endures despite the tyranny of despots. It endures despite the laws of probability and the laws of science. What greater miracle is there than this—that the son of a simple carpenter, who lived a life of poverty, and dwelled with the lowly, who never ventured more than a hundred miles from the town of his birth, and who died a criminal's death on a cross, would establish a great and holy Church, and that the teachings of this Church would be spread throughout the world by twelve simple men--men who hid in fear after the crucifixion? Yet in a mere three days after this lowly criminal's death, these twelve sprang forth and proclaimed His word and gave up their lives so that His promise would ring true. And over the centuries thousands of others gave their lives also, so that the Church would go on. The most powerful kings and most menacing armies stood against her, but the Church did not falter. For 2000 years this Church has withstood the test of time, overcoming the greatest of odds again and again. It surmounted the insurmountable. It beat the unbeatable foe. It prevailed through the harshest of storms. I say to you, this Church has shattered the very laws that you exalt. It defied that laws of probability, and it humbled the laws of science."

The humble servant continued on, "The existence of this Church is not a myth. The existence of this Church is not a legend. That this Church exists is an undeniable fact. That Christ's promise was kept is an undeniable fact. And if He kept this promise, then how can there be any doubt that He will keep His greatest promise—the promise that was central to His ministry, the promise that said 'If you believe in me, and eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, you shall live forever.' So when you ask 'why do I have faith,' I tell you, it is because I have trust, and nothing that your fair science can offer can break that trust. This is why I pray, so that someday I will enjoy that most sacred covenant of all"--the humble servant paused briefly and then added with solemnity and conviction--"together with my friend!" He then looked the demon right in the eye. "What good can your science and probability offer that is greater than this?"

With those words, the demon turned away, never to bother the humble servant again."

Spot the Cat

This is Spot, or Spotty as I call him. He's top stray cat around here and I'm his favorite person. He adopted me when his brother, Magellan, dissappeared years ago. Until that time they were inseparatable.

He claims my lap. No, he demands my lap. Then he stretches out so I can scratch his head and neck plus pull burrs out of his coat. Then he rolls over to get the other side groomed. When the other male stray sneaks up Spotty's ears perk up and off he runs to protect his human. Poor Sugar Bear, the male stray. The only truce is when they are eating, in separate areas of course.

They are also the keepers of the mouse/mole/squirrel population, always a balance to things, unless parts and pieces are deposited on my porch as a offering. I was amazed to find only a squirrel tail one day. No bones, nothing. Just the tail. Just wondering-where's the rest?

Urban Manna

"I would often see hungry people lined up for free food at food banks. What they didn't know was that the yards, parks and vacant lots all around them were full of free fresh veggies"

This quote by Len McDougall continues to explain how plantain is as nutritionally sound as spinach, providing iron and both vitamins A and C. You don't have to cook it but it is typically consumed by boiling the leaves and treating it similar to spinach, with a little vinegar or butter for topping. This is especially true for full mature leaves which tend to be more stringy than the tender shoots. The seed pods may be eaten as you would green beans, according to McDougall.

Colorado Noxious Weeds link

The same issue contains a discussion on Nutsedge, often referred to as nut grass, an invasive garden weed which is also quite edible with roots of the yellow nutsedge tasting similar to coconut and can be eaten raw, boiled or roasted-according to Mother Earth editors. One on-line discussion forum claims they are sold as tiger nuts in sweet shops.

I don't claim to eat these; however, I am glad to know the possibility exists. I can imagine that somewhere in the world an exclusive restaurant is serving this under some fancy name and charging a pretty penny for it. Otherwise, how can you explain the existance of escargot?

** I have had escargot and it's not bad.


(Mother Earth News April/May 2011- Len McDougall)