tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70891359974307885832024-03-13T03:57:55.661-05:00Poetry and a Cup of Tea Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.comBlogger548125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-5722114121880451132017-07-04T08:24:00.001-05:002017-07-04T08:24:47.177-05:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Happy 4th of July! We've had a lovely long weekend, celebrating with family and the extra days off have given me a chance to read, sew and relax a little. Today my husband will grill and I'll make a few side dishes, topped off with our yummy banana pudding-southern style. Today is extra special, as we have the opportunity to "regard the day" with my mother. Some of the photos I'm using today were taken during our wonderful trip to Newburyport, Boston, Lexington and Concord with her back in 2011. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>"America"</i></b></span>
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Far,<br />
We've been traveling far<br />
Without a home<br />
But not without a star<br /><br />
Free,<br />
Only want to be free<br />
We huddle close<br />
Hang on to a dream</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4WoFE1L5-nW-hkc48HzW8cDs6OrD26GO24b09s-rVekTuy9KZjd71D_8IcWWpfTjbyDzpoTG729LEjgIBijcPjlZYjdbr7eH-oCv3fqi91fzyxscUeHD2H7siCpklOKWIGontGHqfKuM/s1600/2011-09-09+14.08.42-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4WoFE1L5-nW-hkc48HzW8cDs6OrD26GO24b09s-rVekTuy9KZjd71D_8IcWWpfTjbyDzpoTG729LEjgIBijcPjlZYjdbr7eH-oCv3fqi91fzyxscUeHD2H7siCpklOKWIGontGHqfKuM/s640/2011-09-09+14.08.42-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In Newburyport we discovered this first settlers monument, which lists our ancestor, Giles Badger who traveled to the colonies in the early 1630s. He sailed on the Mary and John along with the other brave travelers listed here to begin a new life near Boston.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmQ-XxZt9T00nmz7_punOJ5Fa4K2wr59BSibkTUwVRJ3wYXweDJ_RDFSl-lojcdoB0lQUH_ofT8hWGrrw5X_ErH4nR09UrMHCyoJG9dsXmDsX0nm_CEFSvqSqYXr-N6haf3KWsWwtyiZS/s1600/2011-09-09+17.53.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmQ-XxZt9T00nmz7_punOJ5Fa4K2wr59BSibkTUwVRJ3wYXweDJ_RDFSl-lojcdoB0lQUH_ofT8hWGrrw5X_ErH4nR09UrMHCyoJG9dsXmDsX0nm_CEFSvqSqYXr-N6haf3KWsWwtyiZS/s640/2011-09-09+17.53.14.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Newburyport at evening - the church bell was cast by Paul Revere</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In Boston we were able to walk onboard the USS Constitution </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJbAhElvVOImFLk_sQ7veMGcLTy-pWSOS-Vzwl2GqjWXhUOwMEik2OyuJkeuyAje-3c99fOz-V2-5BiPXCVNnBuZY7RCEu-G6U6w6_tRbYN2kuFeNnnWLE_pycCbNejrVtiXxwCouZ0GG/s1600/2011-09-10+11.04.57-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJbAhElvVOImFLk_sQ7veMGcLTy-pWSOS-Vzwl2GqjWXhUOwMEik2OyuJkeuyAje-3c99fOz-V2-5BiPXCVNnBuZY7RCEu-G6U6w6_tRbYN2kuFeNnnWLE_pycCbNejrVtiXxwCouZ0GG/s640/2011-09-10+11.04.57-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and from a distance we could see the Bunker Hill Memorial. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObvdyRI26Cy8nh0TIwcz-Tx9Q0z9d9Bw1_i-96C9YQdyAhMqnhYaZ8fpOa3NhCA1woXqMGp_rJkpqBb602JmwO_JIgxwHxipbWPsBCJs1fWVcRdG19w0H1hgnZubChg6uegRuZoXsSWlb/s1600/2011-09-10+11.17.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObvdyRI26Cy8nh0TIwcz-Tx9Q0z9d9Bw1_i-96C9YQdyAhMqnhYaZ8fpOa3NhCA1woXqMGp_rJkpqBb602JmwO_JIgxwHxipbWPsBCJs1fWVcRdG19w0H1hgnZubChg6uegRuZoXsSWlb/s640/2011-09-10+11.17.07.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, but the majority of the combat took place on nearby Breed's Hill. Giles' great-grandson, Joseph Badger, fought in that battle. He had entered the Revolutionary Army about three weeks after the contest at Lexington, when he was eighteen years old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>Home<br />
To a new and a shiny place<br />
Make our bed and we'll say our grace<br />
Freedom's light burning warm<br />
Freedom's light burning warm</i></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd58eJV-SWZM4Wi0rwgawBBR1DAnqX1ydj5BcCA2LDWl_lYV5kMFiWBq9ASbv0WXtn3Zpl6xMHvVrj9281MFKmHRE1Cfp3lXlYjj4lYni7E6LoFzI7Kc4nV_a-_c5mz7WJ1ipK224K-XAd/s1600/2011-09-11+11.37.53-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd58eJV-SWZM4Wi0rwgawBBR1DAnqX1ydj5BcCA2LDWl_lYV5kMFiWBq9ASbv0WXtn3Zpl6xMHvVrj9281MFKmHRE1Cfp3lXlYjj4lYni7E6LoFzI7Kc4nV_a-_c5mz7WJ1ipK224K-XAd/s640/2011-09-11+11.37.53-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'll let his owns words tell the story...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I was enrolled in Captain Nathan Watkin's company, Colonel John Patterson's regiment, and stationed at Fort No. 3, near Litchmore's Point. At the time of the battle on Breed's Hill, Patterson's regiment was posted on Cobble Hill, in a line with the front of our battery, about a half a mile distant. We could see the fire from the whole line; the British broke their ranks and ran down the hill. But on the third return to the charge, they carried the works at the point of the bayonet."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Joseph endured smallpox, the ague, exhaustion, starvation, and bitter weather, but held fast to his belief in the right of the colonies to self-govern. He fought both the British and the Indians, and at one point served under Benedict Arnold, before Arnold became a traitor. "At this time I had been six weeks without a change of shirts, having lost all my clothes in the retreat, and most of the time very much incommoded with vermin. I had repeatedly to put off my shirt, wash it without soap, wring it, and put it on again. Was greatly distressed with a cutaneous disease, until some time in August; built a fire beside a large log, a little out of the camp and roasted with brimstone and grease, which cured the itch."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>On the boats and on the planes</i><br /><i>
They're coming to America</i><br /><i>
Never looking back again,</i><br /><i>
They're coming to America</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqKjNKM03i4DL1aYOCBgz_dre01AdJqcuRfzdqPq4C9bMAOjh3fHUZBTJe9JspTejk0VzF4PCJ4xH33CX0WeAHwswlFNJJK37QKcD9sUdG1R1yhvQeSEFpADU4fpTo0oO7p1by1CM8EDX/s1600/2011-09-10+11.11.44-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqKjNKM03i4DL1aYOCBgz_dre01AdJqcuRfzdqPq4C9bMAOjh3fHUZBTJe9JspTejk0VzF4PCJ4xH33CX0WeAHwswlFNJJK37QKcD9sUdG1R1yhvQeSEFpADU4fpTo0oO7p1by1CM8EDX/s640/2011-09-10+11.11.44-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">His memoirs tell the story of bravery - young men fighting battles for the idea of liberty and freedom, far from home and with little in the way of supplies to keep them going. While no one likes the idea of war, these men and women of the colonies believed in the rightness and purpose of their actions. Today I pay homage to these brave ancestors of mine and their pursuit of a better life here in America.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>Everywhere around the world</i><br /><i>
They're coming to America</i><br /><i>
Ev'ry time that flag's unfurled</i><br /><i>
They're coming to America</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio34_pTj_tVcuUF8T2cgxR5W_zwOaZ8vpKrnX25X0oH051huxfgMxU5yt1pPDP6XnpL5xAKP9oebcvk-FWRPI2rVJsSoupBWQvq76vtUwQtvxUTV81tsT5j26SsRSOu-UeZQlTZqXodRNw/s1600/2011-09-09+17.09.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio34_pTj_tVcuUF8T2cgxR5W_zwOaZ8vpKrnX25X0oH051huxfgMxU5yt1pPDP6XnpL5xAKP9oebcvk-FWRPI2rVJsSoupBWQvq76vtUwQtvxUTV81tsT5j26SsRSOu-UeZQlTZqXodRNw/s640/2011-09-09+17.09.40.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A liberty salute goes out to my father's ancestor, Christian Singrey, who came to the Colonies from Switzerland in 1753 and served as a surgeon in George Washington's camp. Captain John Raines, named "Golong" for his abilities as a long hunter in Tennessee during the war. William Pendleton Raines, who fought in Virginia. And of course, Joseph Badger, who had this to say about their actions almost two hundred and fifty years ago:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"When I entered the army it was from principle, in defense of the civil and religious rights of our country. The "tea" affair was well known; and the design of introducing taxation and or prohibiting domestic manufactures, were well understood; and the apprehension of being governed bylaws which we had no voice in making, with other grievances, determined the people generally to defend themselves against what appeared to be a tyrannical and oppressive government."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Towards the end of his life, Joseph, who attended Yale College after the War, and then served as a circuit rider in the wilds of Ohio, preaching to settlers there for almost fifty years, penned these final words to his grandchildren in his memoirs: "Make yourselves well versed in geography, and the history of your country, and of the world, so far as you can. Cultivate a benevolent spirit." I hope we have made you proud, Joseph. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><i>My country 'tis of thee (today)<br />
Sweet land of liberty (today)<br />
Of thee I sing (today)<br />
Of thee I sing<br />
Today, Today, Today<br />
Today, today, today......
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<br />Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-61495770247143343242017-06-28T10:53:00.000-05:002017-06-28T10:53:47.951-05:00...the revery alone will do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First camping trip of the year - and oh my, was it exciting in unexpected ways! I think it's worth more than one post, to build the suspense a little. We had never camped at this state park before, so after unpacking and settling in (which included an unscheduled trip to the nearest town to replace the forgotten air mattress!) a stroll down a few of the country lanes was in order. Wildflowers and prairie grasses took center stage this time instead of one of the Great Lakes, and my quiet strolls, camera in hand, truly gave me back the breathing space I'd been sorely missing. Here's a small sampling of the beauty I enjoyed...</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKcAqHF7yHrhaIOCRb9v6jwdBUxfAH6skTXwg5DAKlXKzuMuFw_5arpoVvu6ol8_AAKp88AoW4BcrvK_gQXCd_bVzm92N0MNeYQGONmiMUcGXagTOldhrcwRtAIE36X-dhpYRlXVAJCGO/s1600/2017-06-24+10.03.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKcAqHF7yHrhaIOCRb9v6jwdBUxfAH6skTXwg5DAKlXKzuMuFw_5arpoVvu6ol8_AAKp88AoW4BcrvK_gQXCd_bVzm92N0MNeYQGONmiMUcGXagTOldhrcwRtAIE36X-dhpYRlXVAJCGO/s640/2017-06-24+10.03.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cattails ringed a nearby slough</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgQYmGMUK0ZLAMxgcqt2RSkJd9a7xGyszZAg0ZHiupiGKq9O-Akg9H-bwHYvsmF9prx7bjPyZlSbbQF6hKMgWNfO-znSrltSvTeRa0_9c-w_yxVGPUVUBBcThsC_PW9AdaUBrdXfA2IDK/s1600/2017-06-24+10.05.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgQYmGMUK0ZLAMxgcqt2RSkJd9a7xGyszZAg0ZHiupiGKq9O-Akg9H-bwHYvsmF9prx7bjPyZlSbbQF6hKMgWNfO-znSrltSvTeRa0_9c-w_yxVGPUVUBBcThsC_PW9AdaUBrdXfA2IDK/s640/2017-06-24+10.05.39.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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And shy little wildflowers poked through the grasses</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETP_F8L_PvbNIXBqSaSB7rG23pDw5jbg0oLoTTadVtfkAzQiwI3ItDVRqArY8LP1ULUlZvO9DRPX-BU_NBEMvxahi-Jw511Lx8gx315kCKEG9eTbPKJXIb1lCcvIfhDogJqftp6C1NDOL/s1600/2017-06-24+10.15.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETP_F8L_PvbNIXBqSaSB7rG23pDw5jbg0oLoTTadVtfkAzQiwI3ItDVRqArY8LP1ULUlZvO9DRPX-BU_NBEMvxahi-Jw511Lx8gx315kCKEG9eTbPKJXIb1lCcvIfhDogJqftp6C1NDOL/s640/2017-06-24+10.15.51.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><pre class="lyric-body wselect-cnt" data-lang="en" dir="ltr" id="lyric-body-text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I know a <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/plain" style="color: #333333;">plain</a> old <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/fashioned" style="color: #333333;">fashioned</a> farmhouse down a <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/pretty" style="color: #333333;">pretty</a> little lane
<a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/Where" style="color: #333333;">Where</a> yellow <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/daisies" style="color: #333333;">daisies</a> make a <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/pathway" style="color: #333333;">pathway</a> to the <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/fields" style="color: #333333;">fields</a> of <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/golden" style="color: #333333;">golden</a> grain.</span></span></pre>
<pre class="lyric-body wselect-cnt" data-lang="en" dir="ltr" id="lyric-body-text"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~~Al Jolson (from the song <i>Black Eyed Susan)</i> </span></span></pre>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQtaSE3a46BZHxFTc8iUI9f4VPtgLCJwnylpLt2nwEPBIsNDT5BdzvQiUNAP4Vpo9gWngzttF4wlxhLG2OS8JC-sB1I3ZJ9cybtd3yumDA3ve5QVYVNcxBLCOG-9vYZYEYLJ3Ayv7g0yC/s1600/2017-06-24+10.04.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQtaSE3a46BZHxFTc8iUI9f4VPtgLCJwnylpLt2nwEPBIsNDT5BdzvQiUNAP4Vpo9gWngzttF4wlxhLG2OS8JC-sB1I3ZJ9cybtd3yumDA3ve5QVYVNcxBLCOG-9vYZYEYLJ3Ayv7g0yC/s640/2017-06-24+10.04.32.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPQFD6weXZi_HgHYwwjXa6Y1dgjgVZEIPRYeEM3CJ_xt8rANFEhDo0JaLw4P8TZrl8W4YmQuZYgxORN2WYxxTOap-CTv5m1fgzuSnmUTnvwGZri3W5xHik3Y7Gb0WYp6pTgIncf1FKroc/s1600/2017-06-24+10.21.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPQFD6weXZi_HgHYwwjXa6Y1dgjgVZEIPRYeEM3CJ_xt8rANFEhDo0JaLw4P8TZrl8W4YmQuZYgxORN2WYxxTOap-CTv5m1fgzuSnmUTnvwGZri3W5xHik3Y7Gb0WYp6pTgIncf1FKroc/s640/2017-06-24+10.21.54.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“With a bound, the sun of a molten fiery red came above the horizon, and
immediately thousands of little birds sang out for joy, and a soft
chorus of mysterious, glad murmurs came forth from the earth; the low
whispering wind left its hiding-place among the clefts and hollows of
the hills, and wandered among the rustling herbs and trees, waking the
flower-buds to the life of another day.” ~~Elizabeth Gaskell (from <i>Ruth</i>, published 1853)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYo5PXbjLimwXgc1v9FTYDL1f1K3v0cOm6lhAKfJ8uGGGwGoTt7zDLnq8EVhzMq2D_dbDzXZw3WCGvUVZJzUM3cnH06EsaKSRG4SwChbo8gwsIcN0rA4ANbairZdaFBOanBe-l6LJQRgC/s1600/2017-06-24+10.22.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYo5PXbjLimwXgc1v9FTYDL1f1K3v0cOm6lhAKfJ8uGGGwGoTt7zDLnq8EVhzMq2D_dbDzXZw3WCGvUVZJzUM3cnH06EsaKSRG4SwChbo8gwsIcN0rA4ANbairZdaFBOanBe-l6LJQRgC/s640/2017-06-24+10.22.18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><pre class="lyric-body wselect-cnt" data-lang="en" dir="ltr" id="lyric-body-text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/going" style="color: #333333;">going</a> back to a <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/shack" style="color: #333333;">shack</a> where the Black-eyed <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/Susans" style="color: #333333;">Susans</a> grow </span></span></pre>
<pre class="lyric-body wselect-cnt" data-lang="en" dir="ltr" id="lyric-body-text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love'em so, they're all <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/around" style="color: #333333;">around</a> on the <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/ground" style="color: #333333;">ground</a> </span></span></pre>
<pre class="lyric-body wselect-cnt" data-lang="en" dir="ltr" id="lyric-body-text"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">where I <a href="http://www.definitions.net/definition/found" style="color: #333333;">found</a> the one I know so long ago. ~~Al Jolson</span></span></pre>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAo7gGi32AP_1vAIOmTxmlfTu4K1KTFoHXCJ3l4JhKJQh7Hxzk7Z-phmntik2B4hsAULJChKknjm_B8NPorLW1W4BbsoMtW3ilkKmLi_v0rnesxaVd2TR8ngTNwh2o-ptFrCqz1GsqTLT/s1600/2017-06-24+10.04.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAo7gGi32AP_1vAIOmTxmlfTu4K1KTFoHXCJ3l4JhKJQh7Hxzk7Z-phmntik2B4hsAULJChKknjm_B8NPorLW1W4BbsoMtW3ilkKmLi_v0rnesxaVd2TR8ngTNwh2o-ptFrCqz1GsqTLT/s640/2017-06-24+10.04.52.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Aren't these little buds beautiful? They reminded me of lovely lace. Maybe they are worn by fairies in the moonlight?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And of course the wild clover, nestled in among the prairie grasses, brought this favorite Emily Dickinson poem to mind...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To make a prairie</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">it takes a clover and one bee,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One clover, and a gee,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And revery.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The revery alone will do,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If bees are few.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And goodness knows, surrounded by all the natural beauty at the park, I had revery to spare!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here's a question about tomorrow's post...I take pictures of wildflowers when I go on a hike. But what does my son do when he's out hiking with his girlfriend? Find out tomorrow! </span></span></div>
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<br />Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-9457247567611580582017-05-31T06:04:00.001-05:002017-05-31T06:04:48.617-05:00...be wild and perfect for a moment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91R5NmW7QXjt3m0XKlrEHlY5UjHDtWADlOs08dPdSYY36tK5mQ945hV_Y6EECaJqXpe2Ivlr9nxllpSpAbAN92mgqZPlXW1vZhC_2JZxBbHsbunUMweyFMQCNQZ6bCK4VI0aHdH4AK3pm/s1600/2017-05-30+08.01.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91R5NmW7QXjt3m0XKlrEHlY5UjHDtWADlOs08dPdSYY36tK5mQ945hV_Y6EECaJqXpe2Ivlr9nxllpSpAbAN92mgqZPlXW1vZhC_2JZxBbHsbunUMweyFMQCNQZ6bCK4VI0aHdH4AK3pm/s640/2017-05-30+08.01.12.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thank you, spring. You've finally unpacked your bags, hung your clothes in the closet, and tucked away your toiletries in the guest bathroom. We're delighted you've decided to stay awhile and we look forward to a long and lovely visit. My garden, described so beautifully by Emily Dickinson, is an <i>experiment in green</i>. As I write this morning the window in front of my writing desk is cracked open so early morning birdsong can encourage me as I carefully choose my words and photos. <i>Yoo-hoo</i>, cries the black-capped chickadee from the pine tree, while the scarlet cardinal trills merrily on the nearby telephone pole. My heart answers with its own song - praise for the sunrise, thanksgiving for another day, a <i>heady gladness/madness in the spring.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYu2FpXNzwvyIYgPMubbNQGfSVmgB1_ETELn04DyxGXNZ6w-UUol4aXuwLPx_76EdhoqSI7UVVC_P0n9NL429ruMdPl6quvAf3Lx6Cv9BxQsB90ZfFy-NadXvl7zlFWAKMCxWrz_2ei4VK/s1600/2017-05-30+08.03.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYu2FpXNzwvyIYgPMubbNQGfSVmgB1_ETELn04DyxGXNZ6w-UUol4aXuwLPx_76EdhoqSI7UVVC_P0n9NL429ruMdPl6quvAf3Lx6Cv9BxQsB90ZfFy-NadXvl7zlFWAKMCxWrz_2ei4VK/s640/2017-05-30+08.03.58.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A little Madness in the Spring</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Is wholesome even for the King,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But God be with the Clown—</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Who ponders this tremendous scene—</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This whole Experiment of Green—</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As if it were his own!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6IJBFe1bS610GZbdxbpXa72KRngM2AGdVmZoOMNzap6OhyqqfhjyRkasipnx1gZVRcXk1BV5k3T0ZNvo8Z2MNxN7_SCvgrAJGiTMQiH_6_4z5l4OSzqmfqrdDQW_uZu8GOif2GbABo8K/s1600/2017-05-30+08.03.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6IJBFe1bS610GZbdxbpXa72KRngM2AGdVmZoOMNzap6OhyqqfhjyRkasipnx1gZVRcXk1BV5k3T0ZNvo8Z2MNxN7_SCvgrAJGiTMQiH_6_4z5l4OSzqmfqrdDQW_uZu8GOif2GbABo8K/s640/2017-05-30+08.03.38.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We planted this creamy white rose bush several years ago in memory of our sweet Shih Tzu, Belle. Emily's poem about "another garden" seems the right verse to pair with this lovely memorial rose...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There is another sky,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ever serene and fair,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And there is another sunshine,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Though it be darkness there;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Never mind faded forests, Austin,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Never mind silent fields -</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here is a little forest,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whose leaf is ever green;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here is a brighter garden,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where not a frost has been;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In its unfading flowers</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I hear the bright bee hum:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Prithee, my brother,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Into my garden come!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Source: <a href="https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/there-is-another-sky-by-emily-dickinson">https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/there-is-another-sky-by-emily-dickinson</a></span></span></div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There is another sky,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ever serene and fair,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And there is another sunshine,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Though it be darkness there;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Never mind faded forests, Austin,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Never mind silent fields -</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here is a little forest,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whose leaf is ever green;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here is a brighter garden,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where not a frost has been;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In its unfading flowers</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I hear the bright bee hum:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Prithee, my brother,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Into my garden come!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Source: <a href="https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/there-is-another-sky-by-emily-dickinson">https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/there-is-another-sky-by-emily-dickinson</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> There is another sky,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ever serene and fair,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And there is another sunshine,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Though it be darkness there; </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Never mind faded forests, Austin,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Never mind silent fields -</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here is a little forest,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whose leaf is ever green;</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here is a brighter garden,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where not a frost has been;</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In its unfading flowers</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I hear the bright bee hum:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Prithee, my brother,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Into my garden come! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It rained last night, so I was able to capture the lovely raindrops glistening in the early morning sunlight early this morning... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPHvu0Gi_sA_O-7rmm39eQ8BXPWi3uVqy0tiAgUsMoLe8qfg93PsooGWs_i7LyPUpxJP-bxtCgB_yfVHiGlMw84yHmegOU6Z_YZBmojRqjHz9rp3cLvj2mc5iXvT7_-3RHQNGdhFcAJUm/s1600/2017-05-30+08.02.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPHvu0Gi_sA_O-7rmm39eQ8BXPWi3uVqy0tiAgUsMoLe8qfg93PsooGWs_i7LyPUpxJP-bxtCgB_yfVHiGlMw84yHmegOU6Z_YZBmojRqjHz9rp3cLvj2mc5iXvT7_-3RHQNGdhFcAJUm/s640/2017-05-30+08.02.23.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The pretty Rain from those sweet Eaves</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Her unintending Eyes --</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Took her own Heart, including ours,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">By innocent Surprise --</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The wrestle in her simple Throat</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To hold the feeling down</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That vanquished her -- defeated Feat --</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Was Fervor's sudden Crown -- </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Although Emily D. was passionate about her gardens and according to her niece, Martha Dickinson Bianchi, there were "ribbons of peony hedges" at the Dickinson homestead, the poet never wrote about one of my very favorite spring flowers, the peony. Fortunately Mary Oliver wasn't silent about these fragrant and lovely blooms...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">to break my heart</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">as the sun rises,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and they open —</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">pools of lace,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">white and pink —</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0P7OcRoKvvfoZPzGNY5-lbxxiKU1OSLNU0kzPYYLwwxrD8r39KjliNwBErktmXygyD95mOXksGKWaNRQUUcNG8BgyKl3TuWud0LxmhMImsk81UNyBxKp7Eyqv73bHmUJMdkGxC8l5q96J/s1600/2017-05-30+08.02.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0P7OcRoKvvfoZPzGNY5-lbxxiKU1OSLNU0kzPYYLwwxrD8r39KjliNwBErktmXygyD95mOXksGKWaNRQUUcNG8BgyKl3TuWud0LxmhMImsk81UNyBxKp7Eyqv73bHmUJMdkGxC8l5q96J/s640/2017-05-30+08.02.44.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and all day the black ants climb over them,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">boring their deep and mysterious holes</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">into the curls,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">craving the sweet sap,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">taking it away</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">to their dark, underground cities —</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and all day</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">under the shifty wind,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">as in a dance to the great wedding,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the flowers bend their bright bodies,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and tip their fragrance to the air,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and rise,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">their red stems holding</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">all that dampness and recklessness</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">gladly and lightly,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and there it is again —</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">beauty the brave, the exemplary,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">blazing open.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuFMyGsMcNIK8OwYKkCsXj__bfU2Dr48272Js8fyDvfVu_2bt2Skl2LsLald_6hl61nMbH38goVtMWTndllH-35WdyqotpZiNWGVRyzKdjgvKUUcsvskLy3A3u1NDM8FXfWdvQgFsnuud/s1600/2017-05-30+08.06.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuFMyGsMcNIK8OwYKkCsXj__bfU2Dr48272Js8fyDvfVu_2bt2Skl2LsLald_6hl61nMbH38goVtMWTndllH-35WdyqotpZiNWGVRyzKdjgvKUUcsvskLy3A3u1NDM8FXfWdvQgFsnuud/s640/2017-05-30+08.06.28.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do you love this world?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do you cherish your humble and silky life?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and softly,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and exclaiming of their dearness,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">their eagerness</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">nothing, forever?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">from <i>New And Selected Poems</i> by Mary Oliver</span></span><br />
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There is another sky,<br />
Ever serene and fair,<br />
And there is another sunshine,<br />
Though it be darkness there;<br />
Never mind faded forests, Austin,<br />
Never mind silent fields -<br />
Here is a little forest,<br />
Whose leaf is ever green;<br />
Here is a brighter garden,<br />
Where not a frost has been;<br />
In its unfading flowers<br />
I hear the bright bee hum:<br />
Prithee, my brother,<br />
Into my garden come!<br />
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Source: <a href="https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/there-is-another-sky-by-emily-dickinson">https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/there-is-another-sky-by-emily-dickinson</a></div>
Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-72475145953523371332017-05-25T07:22:00.001-05:002017-05-26T07:38:29.208-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Image result for sometimes the littlest things" class="irc_mi" height="400" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7d/b9/80/7db980e79edc18238ce7668e3b0d3f9a.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="266" /></div>
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Didn't we just celebrate a Very Important Person's third birthday? Yet here it is, just two days later and it's <i><b>whoo-hoo-let's-celebrate</b></i> ANOTHER VIP birthday girl - Miss Madison Marie! What a whirlwind year it has been - learning to creep, then to crawl, and now mastering those first few steps! And all the while charming our family with your adorable, Julia Roberts mega-watt smile...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZVZ6uQmlp8i4stUhfmejKBkAyNbuqWXrop2I7sAKJY_0P7nNjwnbN36d6DtuhttZ-0gJ-cKRo8Q9CSeWbBN_RG6o4lXGN0cTo3f_RPIXLy4C545QB3E6pCk5Vynzl788plUvLaLzcwGS/s1600/Madison+smile.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="615" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZVZ6uQmlp8i4stUhfmejKBkAyNbuqWXrop2I7sAKJY_0P7nNjwnbN36d6DtuhttZ-0gJ-cKRo8Q9CSeWbBN_RG6o4lXGN0cTo3f_RPIXLy4C545QB3E6pCk5Vynzl788plUvLaLzcwGS/s640/Madison+smile.png" width="552" /></a></div>
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From the moment you entered our world, we loved you heart and soul. And of course, your resemblance to your daddy didn't go unnoticed...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgol9ju5_qQAIG8ca3Mu8Q_0dHz7SeyG7lsJtk8XhjyjqYfUKZ12zRLswrrbLHemJPVUGnbyiDFVBJapFYLwmORBoD5IMArxSU3aijMEGhGeCRL0HlEI3MD6R4_SmNLU5gNv1TrgdBYwgV2/s1600/Madison+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="754" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgol9ju5_qQAIG8ca3Mu8Q_0dHz7SeyG7lsJtk8XhjyjqYfUKZ12zRLswrrbLHemJPVUGnbyiDFVBJapFYLwmORBoD5IMArxSU3aijMEGhGeCRL0HlEI3MD6R4_SmNLU5gNv1TrgdBYwgV2/s400/Madison+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Ryan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQHpQ_wfoCjIcaj3M6LwjRZa-mtbHMLjH7LM40ko-LrMUoIvWLJTlMUXM6VFAxeVm_jMyM0XB2wAcq7O1Ny448aakQqzA7e3VAH-RVwJMwdhqjJoRBBCwAiph3v1zCwmhDBBK1r7e6nUw/s1600/Madison+1a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="988" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQHpQ_wfoCjIcaj3M6LwjRZa-mtbHMLjH7LM40ko-LrMUoIvWLJTlMUXM6VFAxeVm_jMyM0XB2wAcq7O1Ny448aakQqzA7e3VAH-RVwJMwdhqjJoRBBCwAiph3v1zCwmhDBBK1r7e6nUw/s640/Madison+1a.png" width="582" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madison Marie</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFbDTzP6D105r05cpfodBQ8AR-_-dqeNc8m2z1ZQd0g1qh3LzjXlVa9pLASMYYykI35F9SeoW2Z2mP2r_eZy4TzkmcgeJdvi58ow4sIsRyJKOi9bP49iWFO4vajdqgDGDSavgMpxSTNg_/s1600/madison+and+gpa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1109" data-original-width="1296" height="545" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFbDTzP6D105r05cpfodBQ8AR-_-dqeNc8m2z1ZQd0g1qh3LzjXlVa9pLASMYYykI35F9SeoW2Z2mP2r_eZy4TzkmcgeJdvi58ow4sIsRyJKOi9bP49iWFO4vajdqgDGDSavgMpxSTNg_/s640/madison+and+gpa.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i> Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move mountains...</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPTUP2Wo8zfMxHLKegQ3PODZZPUI6QOMckNeKLgVmE0hdsNbB0kwoy2e55znK8Uxev40aVnxcQ5dzv6mIENma1PK-KWQqYsG6vx5sP0UbAKtQMWEmGCbNUqEM2JnjLEW9BkuGBxdBJ-jL/s1600/Madison+5a.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1600" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPTUP2Wo8zfMxHLKegQ3PODZZPUI6QOMckNeKLgVmE0hdsNbB0kwoy2e55znK8Uxev40aVnxcQ5dzv6mIENma1PK-KWQqYsG6vx5sP0UbAKtQMWEmGCbNUqEM2JnjLEW9BkuGBxdBJ-jL/s640/Madison+5a.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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And who could possibly resist a darling little ginger?!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis44vq2ZhlsETY0W6J1oDZWQcTUFMHlgti-uenMq8vXfGKX6rKQg6snC717e_ieW24j5_3mMawCHu0Tg7g15wxXn8ZGT5npT4F1lhm-MZXW5qxgJhVNIdFMQZN1sIZjJAN3fdaflHMjkyq/s1600/Madison+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis44vq2ZhlsETY0W6J1oDZWQcTUFMHlgti-uenMq8vXfGKX6rKQg6snC717e_ieW24j5_3mMawCHu0Tg7g15wxXn8ZGT5npT4F1lhm-MZXW5qxgJhVNIdFMQZN1sIZjJAN3fdaflHMjkyq/s400/Madison+9.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes...</span></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Fdo4YOXbUpNus7j4PJaCt5oyftrE4oDW0RGSc66aOvciMwBoY7oPpXvNQ4xGg6moAMgk1G-GDW_tfqjperyMY7rJkRFaHyQhBBwwUAa_PYPkk60GXRMaLOPFYrdEUHpXR9BQWbW95GhO/s1600/Madison+3a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="259" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Fdo4YOXbUpNus7j4PJaCt5oyftrE4oDW0RGSc66aOvciMwBoY7oPpXvNQ4xGg6moAMgk1G-GDW_tfqjperyMY7rJkRFaHyQhBBwwUAa_PYPkk60GXRMaLOPFYrdEUHpXR9BQWbW95GhO/s640/Madison+3a.png" width="348" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Your first breath took ours away...</span></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yCwln3q_cAxqtj-Hc6Y1ZuKmPzmrkLXd5On01fbjblzle4ZGmxGdNEcZUFNQrt1ABs10v-KYwR4zoYqTodZque37Aaa33HmLzADKszTc3QsH4IC54goS_3fArwddKnuUbu5tryGdTdCg/s1600/Madison+4a.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yCwln3q_cAxqtj-Hc6Y1ZuKmPzmrkLXd5On01fbjblzle4ZGmxGdNEcZUFNQrt1ABs10v-KYwR4zoYqTodZque37Aaa33HmLzADKszTc3QsH4IC54goS_3fArwddKnuUbu5tryGdTdCg/s640/Madison+4a.png" width="532" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Before you were born...</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">We dreamed of you, we imagined you,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">we prayed for you. Now that you are here,</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">we hope for you, we love you, and</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">we thank God for you. </span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Happy first birthday, darling girl!</span></i></b></div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-35898348836209336982017-05-24T07:04:00.000-05:002017-05-24T07:04:40.216-05:00Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today...<br />
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Oh, spring, how you have teased us this year! A golden day tantalizes us and we all rush outside without sweaters to bask in the sunshine. A blissful moment of birdsong and heady visions of blooming flowers, only to be replaced the next day with dreary gray skies and chilly weather. Thank heaven I have been able to enjoy indoor blooms from my geraniums and hibiscus, overwintered in my solarium.<br />
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Finally, spring danced back into our lives and my garden slowly began a slow teasing minuet...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT0m8hWwlZ7EkZAnuXJ75Q_BucpulyT5ZpVUHiMbFYqwL2RyVZlwsiElc8SoCkGPBCkeG7KV81VzwiXWBDjY0pX_vCHMztzIlKS6cx6-TbJU2lc_gCnKgwJzFJfIlh1j4zGG0Ol5iM-t_/s1600/2017-04-25+08.17.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUT0m8hWwlZ7EkZAnuXJ75Q_BucpulyT5ZpVUHiMbFYqwL2RyVZlwsiElc8SoCkGPBCkeG7KV81VzwiXWBDjY0pX_vCHMztzIlKS6cx6-TbJU2lc_gCnKgwJzFJfIlh1j4zGG0Ol5iM-t_/s640/2017-04-25+08.17.50.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dainty lilac buds undulating in the breeze...</div>
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Fragrant hyacinths peeking out from the grass...</div>
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and delicate bleeding hearts sending a little love to lift my winter-weary spirits...</div>
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Who wouldn't lift a prayer to welcome back this season of re-birth and promise and hope? I stand with Robert Frost, who suggests in his Prayer that we enjoy these beautiful moments of sunshine and flowers and not look to the uncertain future. Each day is a gift - let us unwrap it and enjoy it as a special present from the Universe!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 21px; padding-bottom: 50px;"><b>A Prayer in Spring</b></span>
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Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;</div>
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And give us not to think so far away</div>
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As the uncertain harvest; keep us here</div>
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All simply in the springing of the year.</div>
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Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,</div>
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Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;</div>
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And make us happy in the happy bees,</div>
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The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.</div>
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And make us happy in the darting bird</div>
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That suddenly above the bees is heard,</div>
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The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,</div>
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And off a blossom in mid air stands still.</div>
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"A Prayer in Spring" by Robert Frost<br />
from <i>Collected Poems, Prose & Plays</i>. </div>
Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-39441750475948493482017-05-23T07:29:00.000-05:002017-05-23T07:29:00.466-05:00<br />
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<img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kAAJKS4AZQRZIUNGIxZwWHb07R2gMgXXffgIakyWk1IltB9bTDPxXjwK0KZ6NvoMvqZsiWdlpab1siJWRGGhroGka1QcxQBDemxTzlSVhyRR9r97FKXo-3OHt4_Oa3DKHYul8xnxhEeB/s1600/001.JPG" width="640" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Happy birthday, sweet Lily! May your day be filled with love and hugs and high fives and sweet kisses from your adoring little sister.</span> </div>
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<img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjz7Y4jmJePZyCKLtYE09BJjmh_yXaBHa7zaz-R_SEU7jgEILxzAClKcJ06PJ_EcUHmq1cvwXQkJK_7f-yBpgYbszT3GoIAddxVutXR0eVjkeXPbmTao8TmYr9ERdPdAB4zStmw3Qse1D6/s1600/102.JPG" width="640" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> Grandchildren are sunshine to the soul...</i></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8bsbSW64qbkmhVRY_b3JAEh5WgKq4P5YFiJzF9RMLqovHUG_2OtLA1olt_NAXrJ5lFyv3vUximylOx5CEupmJanv_Ep6scejUIJgcEFyjuVV8PdysuZSKfph156Irx0SelCwPmcHO5O4/s400/Capture.PNG" width="285" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Something magical happens when parents turn into grandparents...</i></span></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZo4hRLNXOJ5XSq8yAcOQTgnKfVfU7O1VTQ-FxnOg0dlejztLDdiL_lvPkY_u41qBwxsEK19_mbyo89cPB20qrOgB-A9ngmSgsQFlUN054uMDnEraIKc4tMM7YDJVqkdcCJMEUaaWbbWt/s1600/104.JPG" width="640" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Grandmothers are the people who delight in hearing babies breathing into the telephone...</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First she was one...</span></div>
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<img alt="Image may contain: 1 person, smiling" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/11304333_10100940908863094_1478458273_n.jpg?oh=af7191ddb46b1605709ca687b6658475&oe=5926C5AD" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> And then she was two...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And now she is three, still the sweetest and most loving little girl I have ever known, and trust me, I'm not a bit biased on this subject! We can't wait to celebrate with her at her very special PURPLE PARTY this weekend. Grandma just might have a purple present for her!</span></div>
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<img alt="Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18446677_10101652060993524_2318267972861486213_n.jpg?oh=913d7ebb58a660e78d3a3f083fbcae83&oe=59B37D66" /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Your special flowers are blooming in my garden, Lily, in honor of your special day!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamSm4fV5GyIIIr6IcCjEiDbxOEpxcnkId1WixfWZXbglRH4zdukPNBk9mflSFn8D4nOuCGNTcoG0qm0jIJjcvNN_WI0Pk6iOX1Wi6g-5s9xx4oicMicS0RPAeadzGs4emC0GSCv_n9TxJ/s1600/2016-05-22+18.32.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgamSm4fV5GyIIIr6IcCjEiDbxOEpxcnkId1WixfWZXbglRH4zdukPNBk9mflSFn8D4nOuCGNTcoG0qm0jIJjcvNN_WI0Pk6iOX1Wi6g-5s9xx4oicMicS0RPAeadzGs4emC0GSCv_n9TxJ/s640/2016-05-22+18.32.05.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-54826866364413700822017-02-23T11:59:00.000-06:002017-02-23T11:59:00.169-06:00Just another day of sun...<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42YLDxq37rezPOfU_tYI3SZdWQ9MivA1aqTXfUxeS6tD7jlPFIQB__FLEQLQQOtdTxEB4pn1dC6QWfRGYhMyUEWt4RHvZWkaCWACw7RuPFKk9P_JkvUKP-bHSvdPeTKkgxcasN2Onycdq/s1600/2017-01-23+06.33.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42YLDxq37rezPOfU_tYI3SZdWQ9MivA1aqTXfUxeS6tD7jlPFIQB__FLEQLQQOtdTxEB4pn1dC6QWfRGYhMyUEWt4RHvZWkaCWACw7RuPFKk9P_JkvUKP-bHSvdPeTKkgxcasN2Onycdq/s640/2017-01-23+06.33.24.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hello! I was going to write about our grand adventures in the Caribbean as soon as we arrived home, but an annoying cough turned into bronchitis which then turned into walking pneumonia, and now here I am, weeks after vacation and nary a post or picture in sight!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yesterday's weather was so gosh-darn beautiful that I was content to live in the moment - windows down, moon roof open and music blaring as I drove through brilliant sunshine on my way to work. In February. In Wisconsin. Today, however, clouds, gray skies and the promise of rain and/or snow are all making me long for the Dominican Republic again! I hope all of my South Dakota, Minnesota and northern Wisconsin friends don't get the snowfall amounts that are being predicted, but just in case here are a few pictures that you can use to escape the coming storm. Close your eyes, add a little background music and daydream about white sand beaches, ocean waves and pina coladas served on the beach!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9kcl6aTORq7NMi1qFfjleGjQV7SKDeA8MZbWlm5HWzqMIHQ7dVdFSgH5QFD84x1Q2rjMKp6GDmvuz6rZpfNlsL0ximLOpfVnefJiHh1lxVu0EobnwlhBDiYsPuE5xbHdMt7jdXtXef_5/s1600/2017-01-19+09.24.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9kcl6aTORq7NMi1qFfjleGjQV7SKDeA8MZbWlm5HWzqMIHQ7dVdFSgH5QFD84x1Q2rjMKp6GDmvuz6rZpfNlsL0ximLOpfVnefJiHh1lxVu0EobnwlhBDiYsPuE5xbHdMt7jdXtXef_5/s640/2017-01-19+09.24.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here are "our" beach chairs. Phil walked down to the beach early every morning to claim the perfect chairs, which offered a restorative view of the white sand beach and the ocean! Mp3 players, headphones, books, towels, sunscreen, and my camera...perfect companions for relaxing days. <i> </i>I kept hitting the repeat button for<i> Another day of sun</i> from the LaLa Land soundtrack over and over and over again!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfl4RB-FAa0Bes8tOOTogXlxEZD-0VXjf77hISqzf40pnZn5uOPVo4DkpnoL5pkmrAitMHHXVrlt-qNnCXlyiFI-u5fbjECrtCFBJwc4gIuL2qpvvSV2hGhsd-txtfqlwYZi38NzszPtu/s1600/2017-01-19+09.31.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfl4RB-FAa0Bes8tOOTogXlxEZD-0VXjf77hISqzf40pnZn5uOPVo4DkpnoL5pkmrAitMHHXVrlt-qNnCXlyiFI-u5fbjECrtCFBJwc4gIuL2qpvvSV2hGhsd-txtfqlwYZi38NzszPtu/s640/2017-01-19+09.31.20.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And while we lounged all day by the beach, here was our view...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6Oe8um8MozQnP7yo9sD4afvacPjw8Hcz4xeRJI62_IheGlBFvd9uJlRPuLK824tmP0Qih-JK4xuXqZvRZkgv_xSmBxkdDmPn4F3l7o99ybHa2CmYKlFldRaebbuYA7RLT8aGZqiZdcoF/s1600/2017-01-21+09.43.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6Oe8um8MozQnP7yo9sD4afvacPjw8Hcz4xeRJI62_IheGlBFvd9uJlRPuLK824tmP0Qih-JK4xuXqZvRZkgv_xSmBxkdDmPn4F3l7o99ybHa2CmYKlFldRaebbuYA7RLT8aGZqiZdcoF/s640/2017-01-21+09.43.04.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ah yes, our <i>Born Free</i> kite! It goes where we go, this time tucked safely in Phil's golf bag. It makes my heart soar to see it flying high, bringing back such great memories of my Dad, who designed this one as a special gift to us. Can you spot my intrepid kite flyer on the beach?! He drew quite a crowd before the wind died down and he had to pack it up. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09Ghp4d_5k1Nc4PToN-dcn5QXq5i3GskrFPqPKdB7gvbEKZ4E7UdRwgUtVtiZ00hXGX0mlmTO1rlRY-hbCaQyByN81nLusIQ6xJPify9cXEs1ys-Td6yPKYDGTyXZYBQwunL_aY4lZQ5Y/s1600/2017-01-19+09.26.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09Ghp4d_5k1Nc4PToN-dcn5QXq5i3GskrFPqPKdB7gvbEKZ4E7UdRwgUtVtiZ00hXGX0mlmTO1rlRY-hbCaQyByN81nLusIQ6xJPify9cXEs1ys-Td6yPKYDGTyXZYBQwunL_aY4lZQ5Y/s640/2017-01-19+09.26.10.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Meanwhile, back on the lounge chair, important decisions awaited - which book to tackle first?! Did I want to hang out with CIA spies, an intrepid private investigator or Jesus? (Answer: always Jesus, of course, but this was actually Phil's book so he read Roman and Jewish history while I hung out with the spies)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArV0EseBbvw-vfcJM8kdJ-Ht0o9FNauWu-P2DRZ84Tde-iK6Shnu0vi8ru4ZVw0tgm6mnOMFVBujFsGRrBoSa4N8rlEPyFINUht53RH8B1qdsgt_BCgmmpSCmspuNNbmvpyfaFhsnix4P/s1600/2017-01-22+10.30.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArV0EseBbvw-vfcJM8kdJ-Ht0o9FNauWu-P2DRZ84Tde-iK6Shnu0vi8ru4ZVw0tgm6mnOMFVBujFsGRrBoSa4N8rlEPyFINUht53RH8B1qdsgt_BCgmmpSCmspuNNbmvpyfaFhsnix4P/s640/2017-01-22+10.30.47.jpg" width="360" /> </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> And even though Vince Flynn has sadly passed, his carefully chose successor writes a very believable Mitch Rapp story!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5nAChHlk6ERf81e7Y5tAq-QSwtAoQd_4-ohhYer54MD20K_0kS8xc5zdx49uJ1q_b46paDz-E0d8ghw23NyT4yHE-loKS_gKFjSYfK7iw4hmwVBPsb2D_VK8n48qbxz2CjNUz337k7Nr/s1600/2017-01-22+10.30.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5nAChHlk6ERf81e7Y5tAq-QSwtAoQd_4-ohhYer54MD20K_0kS8xc5zdx49uJ1q_b46paDz-E0d8ghw23NyT4yHE-loKS_gKFjSYfK7iw4hmwVBPsb2D_VK8n48qbxz2CjNUz337k7Nr/s640/2017-01-22+10.30.35.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Ok, truly, you'll have to believe me on this. The book title below is <i>only</i> a title - it had <b><i>nothing</i></b> to do with whether I <i>might </i>have become best friends with the friendly bartenders at the beach bar right behind us, and since this was an all-inclusive resort, <i>might</i> have enjoyed all the lovely free pina coladas a sun-starved Wisconsin girl could ask for...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKZlRlWYCnkvw9PrgdSyjb-a4IdcFr6LOoXkM6lEV7wECcgmZqdnss9Jy8JA_M6EeQ6_GCMXzfHTpZiq5-itFImf5A_XN7v4sth-IZufZ5KbR9Q1owSsK3zGTApE7XfbnyD9DIpQ_loei/s1600/2017-01-20+15.46.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKZlRlWYCnkvw9PrgdSyjb-a4IdcFr6LOoXkM6lEV7wECcgmZqdnss9Jy8JA_M6EeQ6_GCMXzfHTpZiq5-itFImf5A_XN7v4sth-IZufZ5KbR9Q1owSsK3zGTApE7XfbnyD9DIpQ_loei/s640/2017-01-20+15.46.55.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hmm...well, there is this photo that might tell a different story...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdRxqiaJqnEVv6jpZjXw6UFUrACgrQ2Cr8XwwbO7LMVwqLMo8oSTjwixpbncirlYUXsZnjRgIorINh0kyy6oubpa4tPdoX7x3HmIecl37i4cvGS5-vF5KLBwN1XBfD2HaTfHwwtKMZjmG/s1600/16300122_1234784366604319_7099297914387411713_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdRxqiaJqnEVv6jpZjXw6UFUrACgrQ2Cr8XwwbO7LMVwqLMo8oSTjwixpbncirlYUXsZnjRgIorINh0kyy6oubpa4tPdoX7x3HmIecl37i4cvGS5-vF5KLBwN1XBfD2HaTfHwwtKMZjmG/s640/16300122_1234784366604319_7099297914387411713_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">More to come in my next post, but in the meantime stay warm! Here is a great poem by Joyce Sutphen - being alive does indeed have its attractions. And oh yes, I most definitely want to sit in the sun and rub my toes in the sand at the beach again!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhS_jMgKHDCoVC4qLksZhpHgHA4ojnMIiA8_5Gj6YnkVmtMquPFS-tQRXqSKIyOo5J1deeBypm1jmXMwZThUrbteJDgBxh1Lu17SF3miijjxOXGwvr0MJDe9PTpOHgRp_ZmmLj7h9_4OV/s1600/2017-01-20+14.10.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhS_jMgKHDCoVC4qLksZhpHgHA4ojnMIiA8_5Gj6YnkVmtMquPFS-tQRXqSKIyOo5J1deeBypm1jmXMwZThUrbteJDgBxh1Lu17SF3miijjxOXGwvr0MJDe9PTpOHgRp_ZmmLj7h9_4OV/s400/2017-01-20+14.10.55.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="padding-bottom: 50px;"><b>The Idea of Living</b></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It has its attractions,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">chiefly visual: all those</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">shapes and lines, hunks</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">of color and light (the way</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the gold light falls across</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the lawn in early summer,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the iridescent blue floating</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">on the lake at sunset),</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and being alive seems</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">to be a necessity if you want</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">to sit in the sun or rub your</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">toes in the sand at the beach.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You need to be breathing</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">in order to eat paella and</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">drink sangria, and making love</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">is quite impossible without</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">a body, unless you are one</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">of those, given - like gold -</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">to spin in airy thinness forever.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"The Idea of Living" by Joyce Sutphen from <i>Modern Love & Other Myths</i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Red Dragonfly Press, 2015. </span></span></div>
Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-28803717790719034752017-01-16T08:31:00.004-06:002017-01-16T08:31:43.457-06:00<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My fireplace mantel is now sporting vintage Valentines and my china cabinet banner now reads LOVE, but I'm still just a wee bit in holiday mode, as I get ready to share the rest of my "Grandma projects" with you. I had so much fun creating these special gifts, and of course with every stitch went a prayer for my darling granddaughters. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First up were the girls' Christmas ornaments. I had made this little ornament when their daddy was born in 1984, and stitched it again for Miss Lily two years ago. This year it was Madison's turn...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3qUHi1WpOoCx7hERQdw5IC7FUkN6eNLlb29odAIEK5FimMQ-F91TqwzceTY92z3U45PNgX0t4TYrItcNBMlckG7sjycgDqZES0KbKl9btztUbeHLLTxAruPZ3lTcjZyEPZftBCOz9EnD/s1600/2016-12-13+21.28.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3qUHi1WpOoCx7hERQdw5IC7FUkN6eNLlb29odAIEK5FimMQ-F91TqwzceTY92z3U45PNgX0t4TYrItcNBMlckG7sjycgDqZES0KbKl9btztUbeHLLTxAruPZ3lTcjZyEPZftBCOz9EnD/s640/2016-12-13+21.28.18.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yW6Qt9LOveA9cPHb34kj5M0pUqVoMpySBv7yGlGp3uwO2tdoW9C1gl7-X1oSwLhEZKIPlqaAdHRUFWsfHQ2fjPC80gZTa5TeJagVBwyTIe0DCf3MlwI5SMgSwQQnl-QHv1DGd3zX7ePV/s1600/2016-12-15+22.13.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-yW6Qt9LOveA9cPHb34kj5M0pUqVoMpySBv7yGlGp3uwO2tdoW9C1gl7-X1oSwLhEZKIPlqaAdHRUFWsfHQ2fjPC80gZTa5TeJagVBwyTIe0DCf3MlwI5SMgSwQQnl-QHv1DGd3zX7ePV/s640/2016-12-15+22.13.57.jpg" width="360" /> </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last year I started a series of ornaments for Lily based on <i>The Twelve Days of Christmas.</i> That way I don't have to think about what each year's ornament will be...I just follow the song! Last year, of course, was the partridge...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkFqDniXAYNQ6stOXXY-b3wMo1xrjQ7SrcYuQlYJM-sTWRDkaRxVCWVVc1as5-05nqyqAiXICCyN34R4O_9vwICUco1Lfw6Q5kFW1MeWv6sk1qiQZfxVtRzywezX21fmyMZYhUZxJdwIw/s1600/2015-12-23+15.53.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkFqDniXAYNQ6stOXXY-b3wMo1xrjQ7SrcYuQlYJM-sTWRDkaRxVCWVVc1as5-05nqyqAiXICCyN34R4O_9vwICUco1Lfw6Q5kFW1MeWv6sk1qiQZfxVtRzywezX21fmyMZYhUZxJdwIw/s640/2015-12-23+15.53.12.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">which made this a turtle dove year...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnavFlHTK0uJRDTe8IegK3yDeodfKUJnRmgA23KjqE61yj4BTcTgGqdiZH8KNwg9ZTIcnY3tziOkyFo8GSwZmAw1CpCQs6x-PD8ZpVGkIbdxgdwPEWPjhooYwwHuJH4h3Y7K2a1xis-6a/s1600/2016-12-15+22.19.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnavFlHTK0uJRDTe8IegK3yDeodfKUJnRmgA23KjqE61yj4BTcTgGqdiZH8KNwg9ZTIcnY3tziOkyFo8GSwZmAw1CpCQs6x-PD8ZpVGkIbdxgdwPEWPjhooYwwHuJH4h3Y7K2a1xis-6a/s640/2016-12-15+22.19.17.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">During the fall I had started a little name sampler for Lily, which I think turned out so cute, with little bears spelling out her name. Thank heavens she has a short first name, and not something like Francesca or Seraphina!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyppAJEfJ8uIQMcvu5wUUcOVZpJlttQRD-uKJzA53ebjjE1MDUNeJsvU9wA8fvAUhCDYT9UVyxAVdLdrYiltRv5mAjd4t4Hm_wkLlv80fmK_l27AD9zMujrb3n_DsoW37NqVgOWv5njILe/s1600/2016-12-22+11.37.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyppAJEfJ8uIQMcvu5wUUcOVZpJlttQRD-uKJzA53ebjjE1MDUNeJsvU9wA8fvAUhCDYT9UVyxAVdLdrYiltRv5mAjd4t4Hm_wkLlv80fmK_l27AD9zMujrb3n_DsoW37NqVgOWv5njILe/s640/2016-12-22+11.37.40.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had wanted to make something similar for Madison, but by the time I finished Lily's project, I didn't think I had time for another seven letters, so I opted for her initial instead. In order to make it a little extra special I wrapped the mat in a fun baby print I had discovered - the fabric colors matched perfectly with the embroidery floss.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNV5Rt_ShAl69ELJdUscptey8zeuXd55aIAGigiAtC_6zCu4VvW8UzGmKZGv4OqYI_w_ElIGOfavjCPag-eB6C6yVYF8Sp_AlEkGS7JrVhpJk7iBJV39qvkEJLs6uPCVKf1pjDLBGq_7AS/s1600/2016-12-17+11.48.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNV5Rt_ShAl69ELJdUscptey8zeuXd55aIAGigiAtC_6zCu4VvW8UzGmKZGv4OqYI_w_ElIGOfavjCPag-eB6C6yVYF8Sp_AlEkGS7JrVhpJk7iBJV39qvkEJLs6uPCVKf1pjDLBGq_7AS/s640/2016-12-17+11.48.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I loved the fabric so much, with its sweet little forest animals, that I decided to make my first little vintage stuffed bear to match. When my son was born, my sister made a little bear that he literally loved to pieces - I only have one little eye left! I thought perhaps Miss Madison might enjoy having a bear to love as well.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I found this pattern online, and figured since it was so basic perhaps I could manage it...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjCsrx3K4u-oDqd7-XyupDKMIxPV2AHoXLE1h5rUOL6E7SmLVB4tmMUriTGbApcmzHURhyphenhyphenODVGbtuuXqVE-x0VhlVaPEAvFFCv3bz3-zQ5amzjp_KmWlvScAIpAUmr74SUR87o6Q5V3va/s1600/teddy-bear-picnic.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjCsrx3K4u-oDqd7-XyupDKMIxPV2AHoXLE1h5rUOL6E7SmLVB4tmMUriTGbApcmzHURhyphenhyphenODVGbtuuXqVE-x0VhlVaPEAvFFCv3bz3-zQ5amzjp_KmWlvScAIpAUmr74SUR87o6Q5V3va/s640/teddy-bear-picnic.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> You can find the instructions for your own bear <a href="http://whip-stitch.com/new-vintage-teddy-bear/" target="_blank">here.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Stitching her sweet little face was a little intimidating, but don't you love her smile? Her </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">eyes and nose called for a LOT of satin stitching, which I hadn't really done before. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5T-4pfcH_VbBiyKK1MoGE5QyLGDQR38x1TpI1ogLV-9MH9UkhYlQumbJHRB7JKXT1x4CVlU2S7R9UgF_17F69pH832azwpibCgOWaRNsgNQ3KxndFK2S9nuXGpWLnHEoOHbVXCeRTaz4/s1600/2016-12-20+13.27.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5T-4pfcH_VbBiyKK1MoGE5QyLGDQR38x1TpI1ogLV-9MH9UkhYlQumbJHRB7JKXT1x4CVlU2S7R9UgF_17F69pH832azwpibCgOWaRNsgNQ3KxndFK2S9nuXGpWLnHEoOHbVXCeRTaz4/s640/2016-12-20+13.27.24.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And here she is, all gussied up with a frothy white lace bow, ready for all sorts of hugs and Christopher-Robin type adventures!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0xLtkJtHVy6WDLTnA8_t1PM-J-7BuFN7ObB8YpaDBcik-4T9-lmB-RRMvuMhWhfRzMVlzTOMA5J4rsPuNeTp83vCfs6PCUvnlqzgkOthRWwJ0Ap6_g8nVFJmj9yg6ZXRBj8emfZEvVcx/s1600/2016-12-22+09.08.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0xLtkJtHVy6WDLTnA8_t1PM-J-7BuFN7ObB8YpaDBcik-4T9-lmB-RRMvuMhWhfRzMVlzTOMA5J4rsPuNeTp83vCfs6PCUvnlqzgkOthRWwJ0Ap6_g8nVFJmj9yg6ZXRBj8emfZEvVcx/s640/2016-12-22+09.08.29.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Since Lily loves books so much, I thought a "dress-up trunk" would give her a<i> scope for imagination</i>, as Anne (of Green Gables) was fond of saying. I chose Fancy Nancy, Ladybug Girl and Cinderella and had such fun choosing items for her dress-up box. Feather boas, tutus, jewelry, glass slippers and tiaras all made an appearance, plus, as you can see below, ladybug wings and antenna! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWGBx3RzQpTZ4118J0hW69xrCyKAjq1aFrk1AZMHoQ87ltWooOIeeC6BpL3cRYDrKC_LtBVCJetHWOZRkIqpGGmEJXJFxPxENSWn5NaapHHTetk5fMcFe7U27U0EEPKZPD9_VoGiNwSK2/s1600/2016-12-25+17.01.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWGBx3RzQpTZ4118J0hW69xrCyKAjq1aFrk1AZMHoQ87ltWooOIeeC6BpL3cRYDrKC_LtBVCJetHWOZRkIqpGGmEJXJFxPxENSWn5NaapHHTetk5fMcFe7U27U0EEPKZPD9_VoGiNwSK2/s640/2016-12-25+17.01.39.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtRx-tZlCCOMeNReEq0k7nml7KuWaqVcWUJupUT-LPYTzZQM37PGiQEkIxFYg2NS83vOJb8VehSLFUEABbBW6sxSpjnI_6IVm4X9cKiIuJJHPBfHmqjPzgyhFOK-0PLCdjvzjh03OMalB/s1600/2016-12-25+17.01.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtRx-tZlCCOMeNReEq0k7nml7KuWaqVcWUJupUT-LPYTzZQM37PGiQEkIxFYg2NS83vOJb8VehSLFUEABbBW6sxSpjnI_6IVm4X9cKiIuJJHPBfHmqjPzgyhFOK-0PLCdjvzjh03OMalB/s640/2016-12-25+17.01.54.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My most ambitious project was her Cinderella dress. Earlier this fall I was cleaning out my closet, and came across my blue bridesmaid's dress from my sister's wedding twenty-five years ago. I realized the color and fabric would be perfect for a Cinderella dress! It even had the lace appliques that matched the beautiful lace we all lovingly stitched and trimmed with pearls on my sister's wedding dress. I thought it would be a loving way to recycle the dress and include all the happy memories of that special day. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcu9eBO7fyhlj90V8AHmZR9HlObK8UXu4brAYDbXoz5g6PfRZJXkaWZ86WRt8eS7a2WbrPI4dgFAInghOz6XOfzqnctLGcalnhUfxO1TCvF-7rIOsS5FZNzVMEYHju4FDlgMm1jXMdQB2/s1600/2016-12-03+15.06.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcu9eBO7fyhlj90V8AHmZR9HlObK8UXu4brAYDbXoz5g6PfRZJXkaWZ86WRt8eS7a2WbrPI4dgFAInghOz6XOfzqnctLGcalnhUfxO1TCvF-7rIOsS5FZNzVMEYHju4FDlgMm1jXMdQB2/s640/2016-12-03+15.06.03.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I set out with <i><b>far</b></i> more optimism than expertise, and soon discovered that cutting an adult dress down to toddler size was way more difficult than starting from scratch, but many late nights (and I do mean <i><b>late</b></i>!) and a dogged determination to not give up finally yielded the perfect princess dress for Lily...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPpgKXLU0F6A5lAuqYSwnfdB-Y5DW3NaqzdzsP3uzlFdCAcjlviPDLknS3XvYk8FTCD-TSS8JDhRNoz-2J4mmDtvnAlQSptnIrrxAUNU8ucjxTldMaD-UMD9jQkWMddfFiRKDxiS-g-9O/s1600/2016-12-24+21.19.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPpgKXLU0F6A5lAuqYSwnfdB-Y5DW3NaqzdzsP3uzlFdCAcjlviPDLknS3XvYk8FTCD-TSS8JDhRNoz-2J4mmDtvnAlQSptnIrrxAUNU8ucjxTldMaD-UMD9jQkWMddfFiRKDxiS-g-9O/s640/2016-12-24+21.19.45.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And there, my friends, are the projects that kept me busy all fall and away from my blog. But I wouldn't trade a second at the sewing machine when I saw all their smiles on Christmas Day, and hopefully years from now the girls will have fond memories and keepsakes of all the love their Grandmother stitched into their gifts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But now, just when I've returned to blogging more steadily - it's time to announce I'll be taking a break the next couple of weeks! Santa said I was <i>very, very good</i> this last year and deserved a small respite from work and winter and snow and ice and gray, gloomy days. Therefore, Santa and I are off to the Dominican Republic for some much needed relaxation and sunshine, and I can't wait to share our adventures with you on my return! Until then, please remember that</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Today is a good day for a good day!</b></i></span></span></div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-60381755466986353712017-01-14T08:09:00.001-06:002017-01-14T08:09:25.522-06:00<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've finally given in and have started taking down all the holiday decor. Fortunately, several of my decorated areas are more seasonal that Christmas specific, so I can enjoy my snowmen and the Dickens Village a while longer. The Village itself doesn't usually get packed away until the snow has melted, since it is such a huge undertaking. I think I am reluctant to say goodbye to the holidays this year because I had so much fun making them extra special this year with homemade gifts. Many of you had commented on the scarcity of my posts this fall (thank you for missing them!) but between other writing that I was committed to and Christmas crafting my time was stretched pretty thin. Now that all the gifts have been opened, I thought you might enjoy seeing what all my Grandma crafting time was spent on, plus a few fall projects.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan01c48R2P_PsWvmrT6nNEjeui_qXX1dNkzjI5L7u37LKrq9_70DkOVxpkE7CZe-Y6a_QGwHZkFaFM3b59-BBqNL4B-wCmJN0JFj3TTGMk17mTr9iUNuY0RMZaHXClEQOhLqtvpkUjxlS/s1600/2016-10-08+12.29.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan01c48R2P_PsWvmrT6nNEjeui_qXX1dNkzjI5L7u37LKrq9_70DkOVxpkE7CZe-Y6a_QGwHZkFaFM3b59-BBqNL4B-wCmJN0JFj3TTGMk17mTr9iUNuY0RMZaHXClEQOhLqtvpkUjxlS/s640/2016-10-08+12.29.59.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">New fall pillow covers for my family room sofa and loveseat...I made four of them. Now I need to make spring ones!</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobryhHlFMxLGnhmwHS_C4AJuhlnN6oV35mMJL_BFv6tyU1HtbBdS29yMxPnLPOZfIvIsU7A70VZHUYiqlb745VJqwu98jTfRI2pPIRkOS_RJs9E9Vt4tZDGpu8ouQ2n5ks3VqsdljTrW3/s1600/2016-09-29+07.59.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobryhHlFMxLGnhmwHS_C4AJuhlnN6oV35mMJL_BFv6tyU1HtbBdS29yMxPnLPOZfIvIsU7A70VZHUYiqlb745VJqwu98jTfRI2pPIRkOS_RJs9E9Vt4tZDGpu8ouQ2n5ks3VqsdljTrW3/s640/2016-09-29+07.59.50.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had such fun finding just the right volleyball fabric for this sweet little mug rug! I sent this to my niece during her first semester of college. Sometimes a warm cup of tea or cocoa can help with those first pangs of homesickness!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5scFD6fBnTE7yySYrw0VzJHdaxDqB5w70iCYxVgG2c7ZniUZ1C0eI5X8ralyKEEMNg4mEM60Jp8HD8IWHk6VkbF6wzYCtraR_l8gbEMVty4Xm20aXZNy7D7ywJgZmofTPe5kfqASxE3c2/s1600/2016-09-29+07.59.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5scFD6fBnTE7yySYrw0VzJHdaxDqB5w70iCYxVgG2c7ZniUZ1C0eI5X8ralyKEEMNg4mEM60Jp8HD8IWHk6VkbF6wzYCtraR_l8gbEMVty4Xm20aXZNy7D7ywJgZmofTPe5kfqASxE3c2/s640/2016-09-29+07.59.41.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I couldn't wait to knit this sweet little giraffe cap for Madison! Paired with a giraffe book, it was such a fun gift to give!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bprNDhJeRtQ5siYdCrinD3UrL1Pbr5Mnx5XVhyphenhyphenFvD4aDb83-lLJQ43wQKBl3Bam0xEObq-w_sd1RHR5QWVmYShb2t847ethsWARmIwQc6UPSyMY27j8NWETkrEWauZRSCLvOyAtFXz0d/s1600/2016-10-16+08.39.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bprNDhJeRtQ5siYdCrinD3UrL1Pbr5Mnx5XVhyphenhyphenFvD4aDb83-lLJQ43wQKBl3Bam0xEObq-w_sd1RHR5QWVmYShb2t847ethsWARmIwQc6UPSyMY27j8NWETkrEWauZRSCLvOyAtFXz0d/s640/2016-10-16+08.39.47.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When my husband and I visited Iowa in August I found this cute Advent calendar panel at a fabric store. November found me frantically trying to finish it up before December 1st so that Lily could have fun hanging an ornament each day leading up to Christmas.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgsaBh3Oa-kEnUxEMTX6y7vYhJhKHrm3sH4TG-wc1HCexI7Cwa9g8uN466rPaWB_AelXZcoUa1mnj7WamHLzgRl_pcUuJLPJcACssm8vQLtonc8OlSWB21fAKHKHyjE11aTzyW0Vsce9m/s1600/2016-11-24+09.06.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgsaBh3Oa-kEnUxEMTX6y7vYhJhKHrm3sH4TG-wc1HCexI7Cwa9g8uN466rPaWB_AelXZcoUa1mnj7WamHLzgRl_pcUuJLPJcACssm8vQLtonc8OlSWB21fAKHKHyjE11aTzyW0Vsce9m/s640/2016-11-24+09.06.26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDYfuXAgdHi0OLt2zS1EM384a1ix-G5x9jxcwIPM3__OZGCNVWNayjkqvknlpBNC5uQ2cnJRbVBACUOhnnJjaexmT9b6cWHuvakWoIgFTELd-OjUO2H5hHdgNotjvKC57L1x_a5GSWhzi/s1600/2016-11-24+09.06.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDYfuXAgdHi0OLt2zS1EM384a1ix-G5x9jxcwIPM3__OZGCNVWNayjkqvknlpBNC5uQ2cnJRbVBACUOhnnJjaexmT9b6cWHuvakWoIgFTELd-OjUO2H5hHdgNotjvKC57L1x_a5GSWhzi/s640/2016-11-24+09.06.48.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_zWYM3e0NC-CafjP55f6U4ZkkjG6exLfDwGlJglrodkgEBn6-hSDuqXr64flQJghWVY-SaBeMMGgDVKZAbF5Xh8lFubl6DBcMbLGW3mZmnDgzv-2_X12p6V2j5pVF6BVJlGRrb_E9Nk7/s1600/2016-11-24+09.07.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_zWYM3e0NC-CafjP55f6U4ZkkjG6exLfDwGlJglrodkgEBn6-hSDuqXr64flQJghWVY-SaBeMMGgDVKZAbF5Xh8lFubl6DBcMbLGW3mZmnDgzv-2_X12p6V2j5pVF6BVJlGRrb_E9Nk7/s640/2016-11-24+09.07.41.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And once the fall projects and Advent calendar were finished, Thanksgiving dinner cooked, and the house and tree decorated for the holidays, it was time to start the Grandma gifts with a Dec. 25 deadline looming!! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First up...knowing that Miss Lily loves to dance along to <i>Step in Time</i> from Mary Poppins, a MP pillow seemed in order. I found the MP fabric online, and then centered it on a pillow cover I made from musical fabric. I kept humming the lines from <i>Feed the Birds</i>, picturing Mary Poppins singing it while putting the children to bed, and I hope that Lily can drift off to sleep just as sweetly with this pillow.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd00OhD9SDABt3lIvUanmJRealWabHwUMOmCugbq3ugM4fxrUDjGco1wfneb2mTEtfvqlUEwjb7tXWFJwAHmyxDH8chSX7ARw-2oVl50CGik14TLN0TuaM-9BwgfZyuR6UwXZytVZdB3SP/s1600/2016-12-15+18.28.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd00OhD9SDABt3lIvUanmJRealWabHwUMOmCugbq3ugM4fxrUDjGco1wfneb2mTEtfvqlUEwjb7tXWFJwAHmyxDH8chSX7ARw-2oVl50CGik14TLN0TuaM-9BwgfZyuR6UwXZytVZdB3SP/s640/2016-12-15+18.28.08.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
forgot to take a picture when the pillow was completely finished - I
used purple felt flower "buttons" at each corner of the ribbon square to
finish off the pillow. I loved how soft the felt buttons were and knew
they wouldn't create a choking hazard. Also, purple is Lily's favorite
color. At least it was, things change so fast when you are two!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's enough show and tell for today. I'll be back on Monday with, as Paul Harvey was fond of saying, the rest of the story! Or more correctly, the rest of the Grandma gifts. I'm sure the elves were busy at the North Pole, but honestly, some nights I think I matched them in my zeal to finish before Christmas Eve! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Have a lovely weekend!</b></i></span></span></div>
<br />Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-41022334136670796582017-01-11T07:52:00.000-06:002017-01-11T07:52:43.953-06:00Dickens ala Downton Abbey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShRJQJrOTATMCCz3k7K64jDYM6BOOEocUE10OMuypQgq2jB75ce1FGA3yCmw1q6jTFWr19gNBZsKnI4OAsUtIllxn2JGwODljh3oLETTXAHV_ri0JjTIqGUDyyX5ayjiD-yRdE1LW8eq7/s1600/12716105_10153190493001106_3653639888621863248_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShRJQJrOTATMCCz3k7K64jDYM6BOOEocUE10OMuypQgq2jB75ce1FGA3yCmw1q6jTFWr19gNBZsKnI4OAsUtIllxn2JGwODljh3oLETTXAHV_ri0JjTIqGUDyyX5ayjiD-yRdE1LW8eq7/s640/12716105_10153190493001106_3653639888621863248_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For the past few years, I always had Downton Abbey in January to help with my post-holiday blahs. But what to do now that it is finished and all of January stretches before me - no Earl of Grantham roaming around his estate, no pithy Lady Violet remarks to chuckle over, no downstairs shenanigans for Mr. Carson to control? Fortunately, my husband had the cure for my DA withdrawal pangs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3idkTS_RWxEJovbvLNldQG1lrQknGp1W-o1rj_GEKFdadm5TGWlbytTtQNCAXoHLvJuJB-bax3qZHr7XaduhJu6MQNPWIwbVZAkOLSLYHD6NhCpUVg9kk_iMhInoGciP6XXT6NPC-yBlX/s1600/12308209_10153060367216106_5955481945183046619_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3idkTS_RWxEJovbvLNldQG1lrQknGp1W-o1rj_GEKFdadm5TGWlbytTtQNCAXoHLvJuJB-bax3qZHr7XaduhJu6MQNPWIwbVZAkOLSLYHD6NhCpUVg9kk_iMhInoGciP6XXT6NPC-yBlX/s640/12308209_10153060367216106_5955481945183046619_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For the holidays, I decorated my dining room buffet using the lovely
stained glass window in my childhood church as inspiration... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I used my antique kerosene lamp, stained glass panels my sister made me years ago, and a beautiful Johnson Brothers winter plate that I found at Home Goods and couldn't resist. I also proudly displayed the small ceramic nativity set that a cousin made and gave me years ago and that I have displayed every year in every home that I've decorated for Christmas for over fifty years. And, of course, my family Bible was open to the nativity story in Luke, the same passages my mother would read to us every Christmas Eve.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvHMtCQAw-66xfDU3kmB4q-Qkw_s7pgwG6nMUSrXfAlewwskYM5f5-CoCLkQ3gmw8wLUWeGjJ1j8jxKSCP5zeuHRfhzlBe268xvLqY9gT1gaYcEF6nYJz6neRssDDz38s97knrP2VzWNn/s1600/2016-12-20+08.30.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvHMtCQAw-66xfDU3kmB4q-Qkw_s7pgwG6nMUSrXfAlewwskYM5f5-CoCLkQ3gmw8wLUWeGjJ1j8jxKSCP5zeuHRfhzlBe268xvLqY9gT1gaYcEF6nYJz6neRssDDz38s97knrP2VzWNn/s640/2016-12-20+08.30.10.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But I opened a special gift from my husband on Christmas morning, and honestly, I think he was as excited to watch me open the box as I was to receive such an amazing and thoughtful gift! Oh, he knows me so well...I fell head over heels in love with this new Dickens Village piece, and this is what is now gracing my dining room buffet...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKRd-3_nrQEX85bUmUE-FHAYjH3ViQRSR3Fmx-F9HsjcelcKjIwxdLqgydc9AdOumyh27LvfIyCkMcEtQMFg2bq_SJSZ4hmUFVp9HO6xOr_tA_xqs08Gf7tu-RyS2ywSAnqgGm3hHM1qc/s1600/2016-12-26+12.08.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKRd-3_nrQEX85bUmUE-FHAYjH3ViQRSR3Fmx-F9HsjcelcKjIwxdLqgydc9AdOumyh27LvfIyCkMcEtQMFg2bq_SJSZ4hmUFVp9HO6xOr_tA_xqs08Gf7tu-RyS2ywSAnqgGm3hHM1qc/s640/2016-12-26+12.08.01.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So even though I no longer can curl up on my couch with a cup of tea and watch Masterpiece Theater on Sunday evenings for further drama and nefarious plots and improbable love stories I can now sit at my dining table and gaze into the lit windows of the Abbey and wonder what the lords and ladies and downstairs servants are up to. Is Mrs. Patmore still turning out multi-course dinners while bossing Daisy around? Has Thomas reformed, or is he still a black-hearted nave? How are Anna and Mr. Bates adjusting to parenthood? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The lovely white tea pot is from the Downton Abbey collection at World Market last year and I like to think that my Johnson plate depicts the nearby village in winter. Perhaps Edith and Marigold have strolled down to the village to have tea with Lady Violet, enjoying the feel of soft snowflakes brushing against their cheeks as they stroll the country lanes?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh751gSIl_9QCiZzGiKVpAtLiUkV4lFTR6Aqhyphenhyphen9JhBo9upSoiuPvZZNSKDPffSTV3QvmnJxaS56Mu4g9RTlc1ee4j4x3iHiA0d8almxwsyN2qeoro9dfZFX10oz9WndG00pTMOj3Wiu_6Nr/s1600/10982106_10152537937336106_3154863728168873589_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh751gSIl_9QCiZzGiKVpAtLiUkV4lFTR6Aqhyphenhyphen9JhBo9upSoiuPvZZNSKDPffSTV3QvmnJxaS56Mu4g9RTlc1ee4j4x3iHiA0d8almxwsyN2qeoro9dfZFX10oz9WndG00pTMOj3Wiu_6Nr/s640/10982106_10152537937336106_3154863728168873589_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love this picture from a couple of seasons ago...I was rooting for Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes from the beginning. And while dreaming of snowy country lanes is all well and good, right now a beach and a water view sounds mighty appealing. Stay tuned, as I just might have more to say on that subject soon! In the meantime, English poet Alexander Pope captures how I feel when I gaze on my Downton Abbey tableau and day-dream of strolling along the gravel path that leads up to the Abbey. <i>The Quiet Life</i>- <i>in health of body, peace of mind - sound sleep by night - study and ease</i>...now that is truly my cup of tea!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>The Quiet Life</b></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Happy the man whose wish and care
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A few paternal acres bound,
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Content to breath his native air
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In his own ground.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whose flocks supply him with attire,
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In winter fire.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Blest who can unconcern'dly find
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hours, days and years slide soft away,
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In health of body, peace of mind,
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Quiet by day,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sound sleep by night; study and ease,
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Together mixt; sweet recreation;
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And innocence, which most does please
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With meditation.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thus let me live, unseen, unknown,
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Thus unlamented let me die,
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Steal from the world, and not a stone
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tell where I lie.</span></span></div>
<br />Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-41617032516217955672017-01-09T07:02:00.000-06:002017-01-09T07:02:15.920-06:00God Bless Us, Every One!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJFzdMmMHFgcULjUG3dPmctXC7p-NOg6i8Lc4OjUwtrF8vBHgLR5uDZ7QrzfoFoRStojNaQXWNLQ-QDFNQsM0MwgtAu8hDJEagGtI0z-0G6OtV1TdH7b5IZDqUP6zHisNMOQt5_aQ4-94/s1600/2017-01-04+09.15.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJFzdMmMHFgcULjUG3dPmctXC7p-NOg6i8Lc4OjUwtrF8vBHgLR5uDZ7QrzfoFoRStojNaQXWNLQ-QDFNQsM0MwgtAu8hDJEagGtI0z-0G6OtV1TdH7b5IZDqUP6zHisNMOQt5_aQ4-94/s640/2017-01-04+09.15.59.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div>
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Back by request, here is this year's Dickens Village! Each year I arrange the town differently, although I always try to maintain the proper geographical layout of landmarks - The Tower of London must be next to the Thames River, for example...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWlLrdmQ-Gaon3Ia7x6ZLt4RUBODrhbXYeGgaBobrz6dFtAynP-MhkOTJSfKEHm9w6LZVZyQG1p5bCc5_M5JeOj6p0KCL4uak5fFI3qhpmPS69QUs_7mvGAZAum5kFLuv3OGA9feZnBPF/s1600/2017-01-04+09.11.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWlLrdmQ-Gaon3Ia7x6ZLt4RUBODrhbXYeGgaBobrz6dFtAynP-MhkOTJSfKEHm9w6LZVZyQG1p5bCc5_M5JeOj6p0KCL4uak5fFI3qhpmPS69QUs_7mvGAZAum5kFLuv3OGA9feZnBPF/s640/2017-01-04+09.11.33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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while the Globe Theatre must be on the <i>other </i>side of the Thames.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKycq8T0x5P5WrQ_t1zQxx_AQgmHrEq6I7wC_5Q8v2AecBR-3btyYtq27_qEma373ZU1zvYnSIgQtxFyWL66a_VrBb7UjMNC-PBlRrllHg-wfWl-1Kc_YXB0TvSrhxhqVj6fkcccn5soML/s1600/2017-01-04+09.11.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKycq8T0x5P5WrQ_t1zQxx_AQgmHrEq6I7wC_5Q8v2AecBR-3btyYtq27_qEma373ZU1zvYnSIgQtxFyWL66a_VrBb7UjMNC-PBlRrllHg-wfWl-1Kc_YXB0TvSrhxhqVj6fkcccn5soML/s640/2017-01-04+09.11.46.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If I messed those up, I fear the Ghost of Christmas Past might pay me a visit, instead of Ebenezer Scrooge! Although, of course, Ebenezer at first had other ideas about the origination of his ghostly visitors...</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of
cheese, a fragment of underdone potato. There's more of gravy than of
grave about you, whatever you are!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~Ebenezer Scrooge <i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KXtf3aEBNBoNSVAUNP1Em1VDM6o3JLcbJFG5bMqm19_r0EboOB_Z9YVVJdmefMcMbSO0jx6BrcTOFgLOrsuqTTdtBMu2FiptD3ZVU0BJfQiw5nT57mWWStEGUTdo3zpHw6RD4NyIjngq/s1600/2017-01-04+09.14.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KXtf3aEBNBoNSVAUNP1Em1VDM6o3JLcbJFG5bMqm19_r0EboOB_Z9YVVJdmefMcMbSO0jx6BrcTOFgLOrsuqTTdtBMu2FiptD3ZVU0BJfQiw5nT57mWWStEGUTdo3zpHw6RD4NyIjngq/s640/2017-01-04+09.14.59.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>All three ghosts chase Ebenezer endlessly around his dismal bedroom all night long! </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2A_GNoy3U9v3D5fD61M_-mO49TW7aKC0xhrRtGOcRJL3zmV7Up8HeNhR5vyF481bACxS0FRSECuMuiqZwpSxTtAFrX1zHMff0cnXTrP_MPdM7BLfO9vdTLTvv4bRzi6JIJgwa3Iapzi9/s1600/2017-01-04+09.06.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2A_GNoy3U9v3D5fD61M_-mO49TW7aKC0xhrRtGOcRJL3zmV7Up8HeNhR5vyF481bACxS0FRSECuMuiqZwpSxTtAFrX1zHMff0cnXTrP_MPdM7BLfO9vdTLTvv4bRzi6JIJgwa3Iapzi9/s640/2017-01-04+09.06.22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come
round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if
anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind,
forgiving, charitable, pleasant time."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>~~</i>Fred Holywell (Ebenezer's nephew)<i> </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvRncuN4EN0ZApkR3ka6M9zqk0vV-LXKqa-6PW3Sv6bx-rSwDlk1xlpzmOJPC6AQNL_Qaf9eQlQ75cpQlK4PpRaf9-B4u2hwWucXqdd0aZGNxr_ftWgHBg7anRT3mvDDVzGHGuzRGU9ET/s1600/2017-01-04+09.06.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvRncuN4EN0ZApkR3ka6M9zqk0vV-LXKqa-6PW3Sv6bx-rSwDlk1xlpzmOJPC6AQNL_Qaf9eQlQ75cpQlK4PpRaf9-B4u2hwWucXqdd0aZGNxr_ftWgHBg7anRT3mvDDVzGHGuzRGU9ET/s640/2017-01-04+09.06.44.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"...the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and
women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>~~</i>Fred Holywell </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks0p8w60FkYwIKh7FFsQWIbE0SnWZU2EmwlOjiqecUKUQoVfubYsG2JsEOvycFM696HIR350fHW8syf27YqiEJEekPD65_Sih9BtOYwM-3Q0TgK_8XLZQtUQp_vaN8Y7qFH1zkAJFUuxQ/s1600/2017-01-04+09.08.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks0p8w60FkYwIKh7FFsQWIbE0SnWZU2EmwlOjiqecUKUQoVfubYsG2JsEOvycFM696HIR350fHW8syf27YqiEJEekPD65_Sih9BtOYwM-3Q0TgK_8XLZQtUQp_vaN8Y7qFH1zkAJFUuxQ/s640/2017-01-04+09.08.43.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As I arrange my Village, I think about what shops I would enjoy visiting if I could magically shrink myself and roam the snow drifted streets of Dickens' London. I am pretty sure I would love browsing through the Antiques shop, while Phil would be next door checking out the stringed instruments!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr3OieLDILu_c3pDSp-zJzqdmhU_gJ-tFsoE3sqHw6tFP9zTRqgyw26LymEKehccNpTr8-5oA9CkgEeQ2mdqUNyKp9VOnJWkrd1tpNqQx664eR6eIyC_2q5NL0aDibgA-M2IzZv8Eh6Dl/s1600/2017-01-04+09.08.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr3OieLDILu_c3pDSp-zJzqdmhU_gJ-tFsoE3sqHw6tFP9zTRqgyw26LymEKehccNpTr8-5oA9CkgEeQ2mdqUNyKp9VOnJWkrd1tpNqQx664eR6eIyC_2q5NL0aDibgA-M2IzZv8Eh6Dl/s640/2017-01-04+09.08.15.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Or perhaps we would stop by a friend's house for a warm cup of tea and a plate of scones and crumpets? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW_75_7rhNeDavHNR1Pn_Z05L8VRsXsbvKfY-KeiICZHa7U95aqo0IwcpqJTeGD14OiSbjZ8XtA1lD6u1KjkyFN4TC0XehLUWXoQjxiskvVGIXP7zGa2gfWXAETGz23ZRrJtlY2ZWBVNP/s1600/2017-01-04+09.15.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW_75_7rhNeDavHNR1Pn_Z05L8VRsXsbvKfY-KeiICZHa7U95aqo0IwcpqJTeGD14OiSbjZ8XtA1lD6u1KjkyFN4TC0XehLUWXoQjxiskvVGIXP7zGa2gfWXAETGz23ZRrJtlY2ZWBVNP/s640/2017-01-04+09.15.47.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lily and I curled up on the couch over the weekend and enjoyed watching the Paddington Bear movie. Of course we were delighted to see one of the palace guards treating Paddington to a hot cup of tea and a marmalade sandwich! We checked the guards at my Buckingham Palace after the movie, but alas, not a sticky drop of marmalade jam in sight.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2IW1FcC7AS66LRWN8VjbiCyf30tGSj8KN-bSVxt_erRexqYTP5MMmL17KbygdQL4jnfwx2IZHrD4eT6e5kIDnSAO6ifAIqy6UuLTWuaH4Fy4uGKGjpQRkWLNZzI5orDzD0s7GoUmi0o3/s1600/2017-01-04+09.11.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2IW1FcC7AS66LRWN8VjbiCyf30tGSj8KN-bSVxt_erRexqYTP5MMmL17KbygdQL4jnfwx2IZHrD4eT6e5kIDnSAO6ifAIqy6UuLTWuaH4Fy4uGKGjpQRkWLNZzI5orDzD0s7GoUmi0o3/s640/2017-01-04+09.11.01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I do know that Fezziwig's Warehouse would not have been next door to Scrooge and Marley's counting house, but I'm running out of room and sometimes have to bend the story line <i>just</i> a little. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>"Business!' cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my
business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my
business. The deals of my trade were but a drop of water in the
comprehensive ocean of my business!” </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrbLqxEZ9VPoFikkEu9NrbigpNzqeyq5EEchgOpeuitQiAWe_PgMfYZycHAIVKJkyzCslK5jmA50a_ifQSCtDsIr7iwZ8hjSD-ZxdDwxidpRhfV5jaDnTGcbje7LkKi-z5oHqTUXgvezp/s1600/2017-01-04+09.14.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrbLqxEZ9VPoFikkEu9NrbigpNzqeyq5EEchgOpeuitQiAWe_PgMfYZycHAIVKJkyzCslK5jmA50a_ifQSCtDsIr7iwZ8hjSD-ZxdDwxidpRhfV5jaDnTGcbje7LkKi-z5oHqTUXgvezp/s640/2017-01-04+09.14.40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoiiDkWU-MZd_I8dqzPSGu7DiV-AGbKHDQVJtX6cdo6HjV_EeTvrirdAsOZKjHcw__nMxvL_CCWqmIJgIyn7uk-w5RzW-J8JHRI-VNr2BGiBqdHLgIc_uM4jlWC7bo0nYLEDtAEXHvVvK/s1600/2017-01-04+09.15.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoiiDkWU-MZd_I8dqzPSGu7DiV-AGbKHDQVJtX6cdo6HjV_EeTvrirdAsOZKjHcw__nMxvL_CCWqmIJgIyn7uk-w5RzW-J8JHRI-VNr2BGiBqdHLgIc_uM4jlWC7bo0nYLEDtAEXHvVvK/s640/2017-01-04+09.15.35.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4dqx6v0u08UCMz1QrpJFdUVGbvj_BuvuIkM5aBYugS1E7hk_YXDT0KHMM5kI4WuJZ9H_rjp4CBOY-Qti13jRZa8lbRadUoXgELTSTmAQetFidQXBkL-9XgYCqjxHM6mW7UU1OSVx8Sks/s1600/2017-01-04+09.17.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4dqx6v0u08UCMz1QrpJFdUVGbvj_BuvuIkM5aBYugS1E7hk_YXDT0KHMM5kI4WuJZ9H_rjp4CBOY-Qti13jRZa8lbRadUoXgELTSTmAQetFidQXBkL-9XgYCqjxHM6mW7UU1OSVx8Sks/s640/2017-01-04+09.17.16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<i>“For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.”
</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucKLOivBYgryUAHZcQQreyX5ZGHA7RGs70gB65nndZlEDxWwsGYIHcYFOpaQB70WzZTZORfnYSCzDW8GOQm7gle6QRMPCMg2NQoxTV4ZiP-QHd1qVEz-sEk5RTW1bgCH-ao1Y_t9hA6H5/s1600/2017-01-04+09.12.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucKLOivBYgryUAHZcQQreyX5ZGHA7RGs70gB65nndZlEDxWwsGYIHcYFOpaQB70WzZTZORfnYSCzDW8GOQm7gle6QRMPCMg2NQoxTV4ZiP-QHd1qVEz-sEk5RTW1bgCH-ao1Y_t9hA6H5/s640/2017-01-04+09.12.16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoiJZjsBwy6Vsqe-FEj2FluREVw_XrILOO8qi8Y_rXKpmv8onKi7HOSfn9-fw8hV-N0g2nFyGQ0SYC4QbGfhhMCwdWTPHcO-g7EV29w54FuyQnJ4Ek-zONsVnXU-jacHmfLU8VDIQG3Ob/s1600/2017-01-04+09.10.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoiJZjsBwy6Vsqe-FEj2FluREVw_XrILOO8qi8Y_rXKpmv8onKi7HOSfn9-fw8hV-N0g2nFyGQ0SYC4QbGfhhMCwdWTPHcO-g7EV29w54FuyQnJ4Ek-zONsVnXU-jacHmfLU8VDIQG3Ob/s640/2017-01-04+09.10.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIWWFOCXS_f9fpmS9_4HROMDt7Nsa4LHhMUTtgyL1sALSd2N5hA0KiGhQe9Yq_m039gkF_MEEWP4b2Yt6T1p2oLYPJuUa1-DiOw0_y7BNd4vkN9qU3Pu-Zy5-eaAV2mrhOLJypJygNcaz/s1600/2017-01-04+09.08.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIWWFOCXS_f9fpmS9_4HROMDt7Nsa4LHhMUTtgyL1sALSd2N5hA0KiGhQe9Yq_m039gkF_MEEWP4b2Yt6T1p2oLYPJuUa1-DiOw0_y7BNd4vkN9qU3Pu-Zy5-eaAV2mrhOLJypJygNcaz/s640/2017-01-04+09.08.32.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The large house on the right is Gad's Hill, Dickens home. I imagine Mr. Dickens, resplendent in his top hat, is leaving his home arm in arm with his wife to do a reading of <i>A Christmas Carol</i>, while his children enjoy the ice on the nearby pond.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I
will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all
Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they
teach!”
</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZGJkQWVcjkWB8BfEdF1glaO7OSISir9kIg0rTlsvw5FDZmeADwA3K2Pu8tHesWrLn1Tj36jWMkksCbR-XnvwzsWfS74LJo-0VtS-b3Cu_s3WWIR_9wxvB6Lo0yi3RIW-LxK50Zmq-X5B/s1600/2017-01-04+09.16.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZGJkQWVcjkWB8BfEdF1glaO7OSISir9kIg0rTlsvw5FDZmeADwA3K2Pu8tHesWrLn1Tj36jWMkksCbR-XnvwzsWfS74LJo-0VtS-b3Cu_s3WWIR_9wxvB6Lo0yi3RIW-LxK50Zmq-X5B/s640/2017-01-04+09.16.41.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well,
if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us,
and all of us! </i><br />
<br />
<b><i>And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!” </i></b></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9dQNJwGbMYbuyKGJcPCO36DcozmRIGX1HZybyKQcnNwe7IRvSkqXZg7QaVYxFDh84lfukydKDcfsX32ZmBTWTe1a8xFVdZduKXZHWVSf0l0R1G3fjVcHozgHMu8ei4hDj9QPz7Y-E_5d/s1600/2017-01-04+09.17.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9dQNJwGbMYbuyKGJcPCO36DcozmRIGX1HZybyKQcnNwe7IRvSkqXZg7QaVYxFDh84lfukydKDcfsX32ZmBTWTe1a8xFVdZduKXZHWVSf0l0R1G3fjVcHozgHMu8ei4hDj9QPz7Y-E_5d/s640/2017-01-04+09.17.03.jpg" width="426" /></a></i></div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-38783899260139516832017-01-06T06:48:00.000-06:002017-01-06T06:48:48.253-06:00Reflecting back, looking forward<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVL3zpmYvd6oftq1wHb7sMebceKNIytylUkgNdeZNu9brGjXhs4DhxpdBrqrJpkUxvg50P1N63ZjH3QVhjHol_ejkXcLHk15jGXCIwiWoyJ-oGh5XZjJ9tuy5RxZ041RJFQQVMG3UgaPG/s1600/2017-01-04+09.22.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVL3zpmYvd6oftq1wHb7sMebceKNIytylUkgNdeZNu9brGjXhs4DhxpdBrqrJpkUxvg50P1N63ZjH3QVhjHol_ejkXcLHk15jGXCIwiWoyJ-oGh5XZjJ9tuy5RxZ041RJFQQVMG3UgaPG/s640/2017-01-04+09.22.14.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~~Charles Dickens</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I know everyone is busy packing away their Christmas trees, carefully tucking their special ornaments in protective wrapping, stowing the candles and wreaths and holiday figurines back in their holiday boxes. But I am feeling a certain reluctance to close out the season and thought before I take down our own tree and store all the decor back downstairs in their tubs that I would share a few holiday memories with you. And at our house, holiday memories start with our Dickens Village.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYRVZOS2hg_XzGbqWiO5C8s4gLT0kC9HRl0w-z-H3dT18OZOzy_tDjmEg4E7007zqpfkagTCaQL8sFhkMeLLhQgsOT2bbSrQ-I6e6yu7qLUQLjHHSPFr3XCg3xHUsY_-0LvoYp2X4rkbT/s1600/2017-01-04+09.21.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYRVZOS2hg_XzGbqWiO5C8s4gLT0kC9HRl0w-z-H3dT18OZOzy_tDjmEg4E7007zqpfkagTCaQL8sFhkMeLLhQgsOT2bbSrQ-I6e6yu7qLUQLjHHSPFr3XCg3xHUsY_-0LvoYp2X4rkbT/s640/2017-01-04+09.21.50.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our village has grown to the point where we now have strategically placed geographic locations for a few of the pieces! In order to accommodate the three extra long table in my family room with the majority of the buildings, we had to move my antique sailor's trunk to the dining room. I decided it would be a great place to feature a farm house, barn and lobster shack that reminded us of our wonderful trip to Maine a few years ago. Complete with a vintage sailor's lantern and my lovely annotated edition of Thoreau's <i>Maine Woods</i>, this small tableau reminded us daily of all the fun we had exploring Maine's beautiful ocean coastline. And, of course, the delicious lobster!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The top of the bookcase that houses our DVD collection provided just the right spot for highlighting our delightful day spent at Robert Frost's farm in Derry, New Hampshire. I loved wandering through his meadows and sitting on his rock fence, taking in the beauty of a New England fall day. This little white house reminded me of his farm house and of course you can't travel through New England without encountering more than a few rustic covered bridges!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk_h_d2UsfL6r1WVCGZs7xUnUfqhmevHLXAd1GLee3UYSIzkq_ZcdcDLZZPis2ARWawGjri5X5C24muNEu-Q7V4qaGFus0sCpIC1UqNbgdydJuFsU_u7I8peh9ZZhcaZKrfvmgp1kqxP9/s1600/2017-01-04+09.19.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk_h_d2UsfL6r1WVCGZs7xUnUfqhmevHLXAd1GLee3UYSIzkq_ZcdcDLZZPis2ARWawGjri5X5C24muNEu-Q7V4qaGFus0sCpIC1UqNbgdydJuFsU_u7I8peh9ZZhcaZKrfvmgp1kqxP9/s640/2017-01-04+09.19.01.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Wouldn't you love to be in that sleigh, skimming over fresh fallen snow with a warm blanket tucked around you? You can see the bewildered horse in the book behind the sleigh wondering why they have stopped deep in the woods when they still have "miles to go before they sleep." I absolutely love the Susan Jeffers' illustrations in this beautiful book of one of Frost's most beloved and enduring poems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgE9RAjd0SJ49qj9_nJOs7ee3qJa9fQv5Otu3vGLESw0WDSLqUqxlTA2-Od10ds1UitT707rBifKU1l9toiz7_AVc55Im48zcRenXO5A10-P9cV9SvQXecECUEKMCmwvDubvQd0BILs3P/s1600/2017-01-04+09.19.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimgE9RAjd0SJ49qj9_nJOs7ee3qJa9fQv5Otu3vGLESw0WDSLqUqxlTA2-Od10ds1UitT707rBifKU1l9toiz7_AVc55Im48zcRenXO5A10-P9cV9SvQXecECUEKMCmwvDubvQd0BILs3P/s640/2017-01-04+09.19.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And because I love covered bridges I really enjoyed displaying this embroidered picture this year, on loan from my mother. I made this for her for Christmas when I was 11, and I was so very proud of it! As an adult I can see the uneven stitches, but even though I made it (gulp) almost fifty years ago, I can still remember the love and care I put into each and every stitch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I remember my fourth grade class learning this poem by memory...my lines were "my little horse must think it queer, to stop without a farmhouse near." Just in case you can't remember the whole poem, here it is for you! I'm hoping to post more regularly in the new year, so I'll be back on Monday with a tour of Dicken's old London town and a few of my favorite pieces. Until then, have a safe and restful weekend!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv47Rdra4og7x9AFcygfmobkUI4PvmQPsQK7tJb6KNJR3iR0RhpbXP1W58M1TrmIlpW4Bk4ZZXsrkTD5dJY0OGdpCreO-MNkX6BaVljbxZUGCBYvsVy1vUvkRZmXLYGcXWaIk6eaxFwv0/s1600/2016-12-05+08.12.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkv47Rdra4og7x9AFcygfmobkUI4PvmQPsQK7tJb6KNJR3iR0RhpbXP1W58M1TrmIlpW4Bk4ZZXsrkTD5dJY0OGdpCreO-MNkX6BaVljbxZUGCBYvsVy1vUvkRZmXLYGcXWaIk6eaxFwv0/s640/2016-12-05+08.12.03.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~~Robert Frost</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whose woods these are I think I know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">His house is in the village though; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He will not see me stopping here </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To watch his woods fill up with snow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My little horse must think it queer </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To stop without a farmhouse near </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Between the woods and frozen lake </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The darkest evening of the year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He gives his harness bells a shake </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To ask if there is some mistake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The only other sound’s the sweep </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Of easy wind and downy flake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The woods are lovely, dark and deep, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But I have promises to keep, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And miles to go before I sleep, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And miles to go before I sleep.</span></div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-58744468872630972592016-11-02T07:00:00.000-05:002016-11-02T07:00:21.058-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF1iY0A5PhJ7XlG3OOsWia3N3uLL6q4HkQrxmXSgfCEoCKc3TavNGhXQMIhIGQEplrpisvZoTxXb5ym0AA7ddOB6LbQlgMVuZLfUDD2YM3fLyzWajp9E6-XvdBB9h3KIEdsIg20cjgAIB/s1600/2016-08-18+10.31.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF1iY0A5PhJ7XlG3OOsWia3N3uLL6q4HkQrxmXSgfCEoCKc3TavNGhXQMIhIGQEplrpisvZoTxXb5ym0AA7ddOB6LbQlgMVuZLfUDD2YM3fLyzWajp9E6-XvdBB9h3KIEdsIg20cjgAIB/s400/2016-08-18+10.31.06.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I ran across a poem yesterday that made me laugh out loud, as it brought back all sorts of good memories. My parents faithfully took our family each year to the South Dakota State Fair - and it goes without saying that a good time was had by all as we perused the 4-H exhibits, picked up all sorts of free souvenirs (Mother stocked up on wooden yardsticks) and finally made our way to the twinkling lights of the midway once we'd admired all the canned pickles and floral displays and quilts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhMOVbeLTIjkqpgXwBuw9N8DwFf7rlS_7Dq5tE9m__je_DRu1KtP4_HpMs_0N3w5uotd8wj0kPwO2gzLx45aTVc6_Y2XtUpLFUMhyphenhyphenbTaPcktvODVaXWk6bZC8L_e86niXNq-o7201JRcv/s1600/2016-08-18+10.43.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhMOVbeLTIjkqpgXwBuw9N8DwFf7rlS_7Dq5tE9m__je_DRu1KtP4_HpMs_0N3w5uotd8wj0kPwO2gzLx45aTVc6_Y2XtUpLFUMhyphenhyphenbTaPcktvODVaXWk6bZC8L_e86niXNq-o7201JRcv/s640/2016-08-18+10.43.01.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This summer my husband and I swapped out on of our Door County camping trips for a trip to the Iowa State Fair. It had been over forty years since I'd attended one, and I was so excited! I may live in a city, but I've always been a farm girl at heart. Well, a farm girl who still needs Starbucks and Barnes and Noble close by! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91-R_7bmJ6joYXIMN64-f2w-7bWxq0r5bBnSJRRZ9yEs9HqVDqUmJP1n8F42hfR2G7dtpl4oCHAZWQk7yoATlow6aZTheNMdtyEymVlq8PHtVN_m3-SguKd7vTDzelL5gyVS2erV4K-f4/s1600/2016-08-18+10.11.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91-R_7bmJ6joYXIMN64-f2w-7bWxq0r5bBnSJRRZ9yEs9HqVDqUmJP1n8F42hfR2G7dtpl4oCHAZWQk7yoATlow6aZTheNMdtyEymVlq8PHtVN_m3-SguKd7vTDzelL5gyVS2erV4K-f4/s640/2016-08-18+10.11.00.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We had such fun admiring the 4-H exhibits. I had always wanted desperately to be in 4-H, like my Indiana cousins, but there wasn't a club in my town when I was a girl. I think my sisters were in one later, but alas, I never got to learn how to make a braided coffee cake or sew a dress or arrange a floral bouquet and earn a blue ribbon at the fair.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSiu-uEmJvYB3ob4kkujTF3M6JEFHImYnAqnXhrFGCiPflcanO0wRrQjBIpN6719migdqr0asV0QhFVF1Eq2Dl2oyluaI9uQZm7uts1PYHuo6Mpiei8_etcycatln-fJRFlAHEJy2HpAv/s1600/2016-08-18+10.52.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSiu-uEmJvYB3ob4kkujTF3M6JEFHImYnAqnXhrFGCiPflcanO0wRrQjBIpN6719migdqr0asV0QhFVF1Eq2Dl2oyluaI9uQZm7uts1PYHuo6Mpiei8_etcycatln-fJRFlAHEJy2HpAv/s640/2016-08-18+10.52.49.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVIdZDo6Ss0PHb1RK0yygtLbzOEUK59bGZKje-FZ8gpQEuN4VyphCPaK6euUxZYbjOPr4R9oOdLxvdMDFd7POecdKZLsXfMavTJ0YAQ-9SsivVzpNS1Yxgi3zpNhWZwTbtZPncKCRf0P4/s1600/2016-08-18+11.18.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVIdZDo6Ss0PHb1RK0yygtLbzOEUK59bGZKje-FZ8gpQEuN4VyphCPaK6euUxZYbjOPr4R9oOdLxvdMDFd7POecdKZLsXfMavTJ0YAQ-9SsivVzpNS1Yxgi3zpNhWZwTbtZPncKCRf0P4/s640/2016-08-18+11.18.31.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4YSHlP-uZOuIWGVYr3AE53MwLwETix29Yw5RnoCqydEA4P4ZlMSUYK1xRfVnmfydfvMSdIqFEsD7pTGbSkMY72jHcoMZjszVn8RikiR5SspSPOt506rZyvhMg2NZqmtbtY_nAXsI3SEo/s1600/2016-08-18+15.56.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4YSHlP-uZOuIWGVYr3AE53MwLwETix29Yw5RnoCqydEA4P4ZlMSUYK1xRfVnmfydfvMSdIqFEsD7pTGbSkMY72jHcoMZjszVn8RikiR5SspSPOt506rZyvhMg2NZqmtbtY_nAXsI3SEo/s640/2016-08-18+15.56.17.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And as we strolled around the large agricultural exhibit building, what do you think we saw? A butter cow! Evidently it's famous at the Iowa State Fair, a fact I had not run across before. And not only a butter cow, but also a butter Captain James Kirk and the crew of the Star Ship Enterprise! Don't forget - James Kirk is going to be born in Riverside, Iowa in 2228! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazos14QLuRJTY5aIVIVca20-bnpuiOdNssIEEtz1jb6eDbQmgIuA9RfC1i4d8HIKhPXEfKIW5Sk4NXzMXTaeUaAMncX9JioYu50CouZor0H92MgaoZNYrQ5zNDn4vcbhVuyUp-bm-d-hE/s1600/2016-08-18+11.15.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazos14QLuRJTY5aIVIVca20-bnpuiOdNssIEEtz1jb6eDbQmgIuA9RfC1i4d8HIKhPXEfKIW5Sk4NXzMXTaeUaAMncX9JioYu50CouZor0H92MgaoZNYrQ5zNDn4vcbhVuyUp-bm-d-hE/s640/2016-08-18+11.15.36.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2C7mKPxrAQTelTc4RT1AZAHAyXFXmqCuyU2E5p9CYGC5qNlJesl7a7ZXurpNfjbnxpVrlO03Db3cHKlf2dlFGYfZ0nAbc-4gA52OGfXOGRy025_ug0SYnAKvpMi6tKMC63Z2o43RjvuT/s1600/2016-08-18+11.11.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2C7mKPxrAQTelTc4RT1AZAHAyXFXmqCuyU2E5p9CYGC5qNlJesl7a7ZXurpNfjbnxpVrlO03Db3cHKlf2dlFGYfZ0nAbc-4gA52OGfXOGRy025_ug0SYnAKvpMi6tKMC63Z2o43RjvuT/s640/2016-08-18+11.11.12.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had to laugh at this sign, remembering how my mother would always instruct me to make sure that I had buttered her toast all the way to the edges. I tended to be a bit of a skimpy toast butterer when I was younger. Don't worry, Mom, I've gotten much butter! (I mean better!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiAzYu3qNIv2BASUt49UUKjCgg5Rf11-9_17Y9mVh1sEpvfX4ndKAv2lEQy6Egd28ahG1EG_sEiMDAieieUpLiV36eyU59pXREVJNaHWX0LdcKKeO_k_7I9SbcKktoeGQYfLZAHdF49W5/s1600/2016-08-18+11.15.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiAzYu3qNIv2BASUt49UUKjCgg5Rf11-9_17Y9mVh1sEpvfX4ndKAv2lEQy6Egd28ahG1EG_sEiMDAieieUpLiV36eyU59pXREVJNaHWX0LdcKKeO_k_7I9SbcKktoeGQYfLZAHdF49W5/s400/2016-08-18+11.15.48.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So you can see why today's poem tickled my fancy, so to speak. And yes, we did line up and file past Mr. Butter Cow as in a wake, although the conversation around us was much more lively and irreverent!</span></span><br />
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<h1 class="m_-3283118911332452033h1" style="color: #202020; display: block; font-weight: bold; line-height: 100%; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span>Butter</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’ve never seen the land<br />
of milk and honey, but at<br />
<br />
the Iowa State Fair I glimpsed<br />
a cow fashioned of butter.<br />
<br />
It lived behind a window<br />
in an icy room, beneath klieg lights.<br />
<br />
I filed past as one files<br />
past a casket at a wake.<br />
<br />
It was that sad: a butter cow<br />
without a butter calf. Nearby I spied<br />
<br />
a butter motorcycle, motorcycle-<br />
sized, a mechanical afterthought<br />
<br />
I thought the cow might have liked to ride.<br />
You don’t drive a motorcycle; you ride it.<br />
<br />
But not if you’re a butter cow, not<br />
if you’re a butter cow who’s seen, if<br />
<br />
not the land of milk and honey, the land<br />
of milk, and dwelled within it.<br />
<br />
It had a short life span, the butter cow.<br />
Before it died, I looked<br />
<br />
deep into its butter eyes. It saw<br />
my butter soul. I could<br />
<br />
have wept, or spread myself,<br />
for nobody, across dry toast.</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: maroon;">—Andrea Cohen</span>, from <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://tweetspeakpoetry.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u%3D9e5e4dd4731a9649c1dd1cf58%26id%3D5420d0bf02%26e%3Ddfe8a6f2e5&source=gmail&ust=1478171410577000&usg=AFQjCNE-uEXO8kPNqbA3p7gQBKaEbW5jKQ" href="http://tweetspeakpoetry.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=9e5e4dd4731a9649c1dd1cf58&id=5420d0bf02&e=dfe8a6f2e5" style="color: #336699; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: maroon;"><u>Kentucky Derby</u></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidg3QMPt6xcu5dP70fQtTmv_EBpY7XyIAi0x1VmCgv2Zd2kaRb0pCzHQh0LnD1HREOMgxCC9WrbAHXg9mlIj_GYQWuBGw1b5PVi0L35dpf9nzocOIv0_JHTLmEHxbfZROqGCJqPx2iTAM_/s1600/2016-08-18+11.10.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidg3QMPt6xcu5dP70fQtTmv_EBpY7XyIAi0x1VmCgv2Zd2kaRb0pCzHQh0LnD1HREOMgxCC9WrbAHXg9mlIj_GYQWuBGw1b5PVi0L35dpf9nzocOIv0_JHTLmEHxbfZROqGCJqPx2iTAM_/s640/2016-08-18+11.10.20.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Have a wonderful, butter spread to the edge of your toast kind of day!</b></i></span></span></span></div>
Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-24819161935737528592016-10-21T07:27:00.004-05:002016-10-21T07:27:24.195-05:00i carry your heart...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxWk9whmlSIvh80NVMYDUUgmJleR33U4p6zGUjseLsoeaun3Mb7RZy9ZAtq5SsbL11EMDD0fKF2Mw5MD_OjVFriXvzlUer9K9mFOgR-yVMxz9JT6zAkgky_z_1AJ0KPCpujyej653Mo7R/s1600/2016-10-16+13.28.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxWk9whmlSIvh80NVMYDUUgmJleR33U4p6zGUjseLsoeaun3Mb7RZy9ZAtq5SsbL11EMDD0fKF2Mw5MD_OjVFriXvzlUer9K9mFOgR-yVMxz9JT6zAkgky_z_1AJ0KPCpujyej653Mo7R/s640/2016-10-16+13.28.50.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have never kept secret the fact that I am an autumn girl. Sweater weather is by far my favorite time of year - hot apple cider, cinnamon rolls, chili and cornbread, and pot roasts for Sunday dinner. Apple pies, apple kuchen, apple strudel, apple turnovers, apple dumplings (<i>especially</i> apple dumplings!) Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin pies (you can <b>never </b>have too many pumpkin pies on hand!) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnQEb6wBOJBltu8XW1CT1aamaHBmdxQQSbuPoTSNjak8TVmPZikLXlZ3h2TqI-5wdNtGyevkrFkjK7ZKI0Y72p1ZUhcYXdNHA8Y_rF6sqDmdRosA5UMD5NlcPWXXji_F6hRdXvkYE0aj2/s1600/2016-10-16+13.18.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwnQEb6wBOJBltu8XW1CT1aamaHBmdxQQSbuPoTSNjak8TVmPZikLXlZ3h2TqI-5wdNtGyevkrFkjK7ZKI0Y72p1ZUhcYXdNHA8Y_rF6sqDmdRosA5UMD5NlcPWXXji_F6hRdXvkYE0aj2/s640/2016-10-16+13.18.25.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Fall foliage, crisp air, twinkling stars at night, and a warming fire in the family room if the nip in the air gets a little <i>too </i>nippy. Books that have been shelved during the summer reappear, and the cultural scene gets underway...concerts, lectures, exhibitions, plays, and all sorts of wonderful art offerings return to delight all the senses. And in the middle of all this autumn giddiness comes the heart of the season - our annual family fall picnic.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLF21qlSnMtmV6IlqtJTmm26gEUsiFZrQH9tl7yVhXKeaUem8rZCcQ3mIwU6ipk9MS22Ul7_NGXUKAABTz-BJygDq7VCROWkVPUvadiYxofJ-fu9QlZipvO2rUWyvl-lspwHPfkvHTVtA/s1600/2016-10-16+14.04.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLF21qlSnMtmV6IlqtJTmm26gEUsiFZrQH9tl7yVhXKeaUem8rZCcQ3mIwU6ipk9MS22Ul7_NGXUKAABTz-BJygDq7VCROWkVPUvadiYxofJ-fu9QlZipvO2rUWyvl-lspwHPfkvHTVtA/s640/2016-10-16+14.04.31.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This tradition was started by my parents years ago in South Dakota, and all of us would pick a Sunday where we could caravan up north to a state park called Sica Hollow, which translates from the Lakota language to Trail of Spirits. My parents, as many of my siblings that were around, and car loads of cousins all came together to walk the trails, admire the natural beauty and eat fried chicken and potato salad and peach crisp. We all looked forward to it every year. We even captured one year's trip in a Christmas ornament that makes us smile when we unwrap it and hang it on the tree every December.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwno-K-nNXfOCKjqydSRzbm4nDMpORE1aJsb6BOmzMyQQ__tssKwDknUKD4pzW44hrDhwavxp4YQNpgUTDKA0ANlqNC-wWzXbNSASLpxSUI8n1g2fRMpq10kmzPJS_SRW_LFaCnflaLE_H/s1600/Sica+Hollow+Christmas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwno-K-nNXfOCKjqydSRzbm4nDMpORE1aJsb6BOmzMyQQ__tssKwDknUKD4pzW44hrDhwavxp4YQNpgUTDKA0ANlqNC-wWzXbNSASLpxSUI8n1g2fRMpq10kmzPJS_SRW_LFaCnflaLE_H/s640/Sica+Hollow+Christmas.png" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When my husband and I moved to Wisconsin about sixteen years ago, our kids were homesick that first autumn so we decided to carry on the tradition and found a similar state park in our new state. It's not quite the same - I wish my mother and siblings and nieces and nephews were all able to join us, but I'm proud that we have kept the tradition and memories alive, and you can imagine how happy I was this past Sunday when ALL of our children gathered together again to hike the trails and admire the fall colors. Over the years we've outgrown the windsuits...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9QOk49XOwAbz8amwIm09wTIIECX8BFt1lCIVil2FEszjVHxWdRLFbdEmKJBBPRZp63ujltQBz67LzIwPwx5AZpieAUlTies6RzHHby75jVt04_rF7WyMoLxsygmsClybMVawyul8UHIv/s1600/Sica+Hollow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9QOk49XOwAbz8amwIm09wTIIECX8BFt1lCIVil2FEszjVHxWdRLFbdEmKJBBPRZp63ujltQBz67LzIwPwx5AZpieAUlTies6RzHHby75jVt04_rF7WyMoLxsygmsClybMVawyul8UHIv/s640/Sica+Hollow.jpg" width="450" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and have also grown our family from this...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEL7ooCszeYfw9BxeVJLAHV0fWhsdLaUDwRv-yqlMx3u0bY8nxXorwsZTMFkqKL4l7Ra5E1hDBJeLL32M3SZ0ySp0iUmtaWBqFB7wHdmceepdNCCy3725WV7CpEJdb_aRJuNujMZLRbBkG/s1600/2016-10-16+13.01.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEL7ooCszeYfw9BxeVJLAHV0fWhsdLaUDwRv-yqlMx3u0bY8nxXorwsZTMFkqKL4l7Ra5E1hDBJeLL32M3SZ0ySp0iUmtaWBqFB7wHdmceepdNCCy3725WV7CpEJdb_aRJuNujMZLRbBkG/s640/2016-10-16+13.01.12.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> to this!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6Um_QePdm_olaJY2Y4ST4L5Q12g_PVUAXg9v43GyMl8HZ1jpe07UDi-1GIoIAgVIJDkZpdHjokEpKCkhhJ5FMl1zvwqQAzIldgamRn14ezXL386XtIf5JNDbB_t3jNu55NP3SJb5SCm0/s1600/2016-10-16+13.02.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6Um_QePdm_olaJY2Y4ST4L5Q12g_PVUAXg9v43GyMl8HZ1jpe07UDi-1GIoIAgVIJDkZpdHjokEpKCkhhJ5FMl1zvwqQAzIldgamRn14ezXL386XtIf5JNDbB_t3jNu55NP3SJb5SCm0/s640/2016-10-16+13.02.10.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My beautiful children have grown up surrounded by the family traditions that hold us together, and create a bond that will never break. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3Top8RIJFvHsjKxRoW0w3Y8IWlYF9pT4lTxKnP-eBXCDJfscuOaeO0obEtGekL1i1rKf7LTfzGMk66vPdQchneNlRG0KdHu73brNqyRDAYIIdCQegyyOaqeAB-4U5ydaP390spXCus4W/s1600/2016-09-16+09.40.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3Top8RIJFvHsjKxRoW0w3Y8IWlYF9pT4lTxKnP-eBXCDJfscuOaeO0obEtGekL1i1rKf7LTfzGMk66vPdQchneNlRG0KdHu73brNqyRDAYIIdCQegyyOaqeAB-4U5ydaP390spXCus4W/s640/2016-09-16+09.40.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sibling bonds... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnCDIrJ6HRRx8DJTY8oranZwRIQZvrg1IBgd_YlCehF-VOjV9fTFjucc6aoNH0g5yNT_IBOkbn4TXEKt-mOlYumcCeeADplW4wdUxyyKtJ1oKQRZxL1UHXnNuGPaYvrRdlMkbVeW6YtC6/s1600/2016-10-16+14.03.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnCDIrJ6HRRx8DJTY8oranZwRIQZvrg1IBgd_YlCehF-VOjV9fTFjucc6aoNH0g5yNT_IBOkbn4TXEKt-mOlYumcCeeADplW4wdUxyyKtJ1oKQRZxL1UHXnNuGPaYvrRdlMkbVeW6YtC6/s640/2016-10-16+14.03.00.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And brothers grow up...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66XKTX8v4RXYcMNH5sps7y_zivFhCwZieH_dMGMF0qGj5oNd0HtHnWPu7x4pWwbDDkDvMJOGAyaPC3qcvmxmds1fg5lnPGTrLyIK6bxXG-qz2HmbOTRyAjzuQSmDtNtYvvseLUeJvVNVA/s1600/3036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66XKTX8v4RXYcMNH5sps7y_zivFhCwZieH_dMGMF0qGj5oNd0HtHnWPu7x4pWwbDDkDvMJOGAyaPC3qcvmxmds1fg5lnPGTrLyIK6bxXG-qz2HmbOTRyAjzuQSmDtNtYvvseLUeJvVNVA/s640/3036.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> to become fathers...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdDGI_lsBA4LNsBPcmO0Ln4Roa48NXuPWBSHMN8o75kjmh6zTJCjVk9WNymDGAQRpWism7ze_WQanu-neW8c4qFHXgnFK-zalxmiLBY-N1O6qAodbQM1dLgJ_2W7qb4D3IJUh19VQisbK/s1600/2016-10-16+13.03.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdDGI_lsBA4LNsBPcmO0Ln4Roa48NXuPWBSHMN8o75kjmh6zTJCjVk9WNymDGAQRpWism7ze_WQanu-neW8c4qFHXgnFK-zalxmiLBY-N1O6qAodbQM1dLgJ_2W7qb4D3IJUh19VQisbK/s640/2016-10-16+13.03.56.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And because everyone wanted every dish that we had ever brought on this picnic over the course of the last thirty years, we dined on homemade fried chicken and potato salad, courtesy of my husband. I contributed baked beans, rolls, peach crisp and mint chocolate brownies, and my daughter brought birthday cake and fall cupcakes so we could celebrate one of my son's birthday while we were all gathered together. A perfect day in every respect. It had been at least ten years since all of our children were able to join us on our fall trek, so even though we had to battle hordes of nasty Japanese beetles during our picnic it was perfect in my eyes! We wore off all the food with a strenuous hike afterwards.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtWJ_jixq4LukIGSgvqnz6KLtj8bZNHvTxa-mRnnuv8mY0Vi-iuGEw-pBX9ybdEQkNhpodHmDXjBmoNRDI74TRHnXH8NNqkuD2TNezeAM7Cg9xELsrJaSMn9UgxruUJTYLPaxecDcDDgA/s1600/2016-10-16+13.58.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtWJ_jixq4LukIGSgvqnz6KLtj8bZNHvTxa-mRnnuv8mY0Vi-iuGEw-pBX9ybdEQkNhpodHmDXjBmoNRDI74TRHnXH8NNqkuD2TNezeAM7Cg9xELsrJaSMn9UgxruUJTYLPaxecDcDDgA/s640/2016-10-16+13.58.12.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I couldn't help but think of my Dad, and in my heart I knew how proud he must be to know we are carrying on family traditions and making new memories with our granddaughters. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJNEOihml2x5ZQR3ogSsVWKM3Q8-NFMewGpXctvjoomtVfihMvGtfOP6zfigXp8rnLHJ3ktelUn668ZOAbaie5g4glGf16yWHj6ixlmbl_T2QANPuJuv4adRcUXGtYDYw9EKYpBMuMUcD/s1600/2016-10-16+13.06.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJNEOihml2x5ZQR3ogSsVWKM3Q8-NFMewGpXctvjoomtVfihMvGtfOP6zfigXp8rnLHJ3ktelUn668ZOAbaie5g4glGf16yWHj6ixlmbl_T2QANPuJuv4adRcUXGtYDYw9EKYpBMuMUcD/s640/2016-10-16+13.06.24.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEqbmlINZ3qeyFNk2AMMVfIVQ2OAcvMdb-eJY2Sz5SyqX3xyCFP97VEBJMNBljLaF9c3XuVXDRqN5sjkKIyl2BHj5kXMpMZumnRiJNC248ZPSdh100PvnprLXsrcFME6zKF0NDc93edp7/s1600/2016-10-16+13.14.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEqbmlINZ3qeyFNk2AMMVfIVQ2OAcvMdb-eJY2Sz5SyqX3xyCFP97VEBJMNBljLaF9c3XuVXDRqN5sjkKIyl2BHj5kXMpMZumnRiJNC248ZPSdh100PvnprLXsrcFME6zKF0NDc93edp7/s640/2016-10-16+13.14.52.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I know I looked up at the beautiful fall sky several times, whispering his name, but I really didn't need to look up. I carry him with me, wherever I go.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7jxDsZe52altN_xmpj0YyhyphenhyphenxJyvC2CzjSUxwArrpP1Ba-pZCNkwm7X3mUxLIv2_gImW3gpi3pSbsyZijmzxPA9mgtV9yEAw6fkFcMNHxrE1ArWHNKAGUNM3gFZ4naL4LUHdTGH8Q9TJL/s1600/2016-09-16+09.37.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7jxDsZe52altN_xmpj0YyhyphenhyphenxJyvC2CzjSUxwArrpP1Ba-pZCNkwm7X3mUxLIv2_gImW3gpi3pSbsyZijmzxPA9mgtV9yEAw6fkFcMNHxrE1ArWHNKAGUNM3gFZ4naL4LUHdTGH8Q9TJL/s640/2016-09-16+09.37.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Dad and I at Sica Hollow, mid-1990s</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">i carry your heart with me(i carry it in</span></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">my heart)i am never without it(anywhere</span></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">by only me is your doing,my darling)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> i fear</span></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want</span></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and whatever a sun will always sing is you</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">here is the deepest secret nobody knows</span></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~~e.e. cummings</span></span><br />
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<br />Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-68323128831442556072016-10-14T07:35:00.001-05:002016-10-14T07:35:10.888-05:00Now you see it...<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">and now you don't! Sleight of hand isn't only for magic shows - there have been some interesting disappearances around here as well! The first story comes from our August trip to Iowa, where we spent a lovely day discovering all the covered bridges of Madison County. I took this picture of my husband at our first stop - Hogback Bridge. See the couple at the back of the bridge? By the time my husband and I strolled to the back of the bridge they were gone. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB2jLnhsForrFntEFI8FWo4DS6X-tfItQs79IkgYJB9_d_3SdKvp5DhyyT8KrHNZaqEpc9Cmz5hx0xmeXnBHkIEPbgCRgYJ9wpn_jAoCpQX8wWAkWlCv7Ja6tLLEJ9z7DXMgJI04IteHH/s1600/2016-08-19+10.03.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRB2jLnhsForrFntEFI8FWo4DS6X-tfItQs79IkgYJB9_d_3SdKvp5DhyyT8KrHNZaqEpc9Cmz5hx0xmeXnBHkIEPbgCRgYJ9wpn_jAoCpQX8wWAkWlCv7Ja6tLLEJ9z7DXMgJI04IteHH/s640/2016-08-19+10.03.14.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As in, vanished. We were completely mystified - there was no logical
explanation as to where they had gone...no dust stirred up on the gravel
road at the back of the bridge and no way for a tourist car to access
that road anyway. No bicycles pedaling away. It literally took us only seconds to walk from the front to the back of the bridge and in that time they had completely disappeared. We finally decided that they must have been the
ghosts of Robert and Francesca (even if they were fictional characters
and it was not "their" Roseman Bridge - small details in a ghost story don't
matter.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now you see them...now you don't! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJUPqRGZaRGqGag0YvDRe7Kz5tuxwkOyuCg7rSXDhRVrk_GNnnvN1GPxC2WsA2G_IDQZy8r6W4F8jkN5rQJfWPnOqWTrPElxTMbaHho5GPEVb1E4IW8kSOJ5gfugzcxQgR1fFTs7nN601/s1600/2016-08-19+10.04.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJUPqRGZaRGqGag0YvDRe7Kz5tuxwkOyuCg7rSXDhRVrk_GNnnvN1GPxC2WsA2G_IDQZy8r6W4F8jkN5rQJfWPnOqWTrPElxTMbaHho5GPEVb1E4IW8kSOJ5gfugzcxQgR1fFTs7nN601/s640/2016-08-19+10.04.05.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Coming back to the highway after visiting the Hogback Bridge, we came across a century old schoolhouse nestled in a cornfield. The doors were locked, but peeking in the windows it was easy to imagine a room full of little boys and girls, ready to recite and do their sums on their slate boards. Can't you hear their giggles while the teacher's back is turned? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhVrZcSjbZKkTynEEB8QxxKSRYd1uXVmUUu0nGsPbu6BUWaNjImTcXUXz_2JOhIi1bvjF6GLk4Q25kf7qx3su047x5TtWHx9MTZAuhr8pGG1cLUgwhdBc80KAVM1M3zk1iP-SONTH3mfP/s1600/2016-08-19+10.24.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhVrZcSjbZKkTynEEB8QxxKSRYd1uXVmUUu0nGsPbu6BUWaNjImTcXUXz_2JOhIi1bvjF6GLk4Q25kf7qx3su047x5TtWHx9MTZAuhr8pGG1cLUgwhdBc80KAVM1M3zk1iP-SONTH3mfP/s640/2016-08-19+10.24.51.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> We discovered a delightful English garden maze at the lovely city park in Winterset, Iowa. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgZDDXH_ekJCnXWI7WjyVbyGBj2Q5muCPHAR46ALHkxg8rs9k8bLVHqSP9k7yhhHHiRaMdiIhb2u2a6f3UzGnHxvu0jUyg9qcIZyKmeI3bdTyk_ykplRwIaKtYGbSM11Y8GcNTYld9EAL/s1600/2016-08-19+11.54.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgZDDXH_ekJCnXWI7WjyVbyGBj2Q5muCPHAR46ALHkxg8rs9k8bLVHqSP9k7yhhHHiRaMdiIhb2u2a6f3UzGnHxvu0jUyg9qcIZyKmeI3bdTyk_ykplRwIaKtYGbSM11Y8GcNTYld9EAL/s640/2016-08-19+11.54.44.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Phil was brave enough to give it a try. I still have flashbacks about being lost in the Hampton </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Court Palace maze outside London - not a fun memory!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDYSaR-oVDxeuZ59GE5_ccKVsRSwqTKz30sXGYS2Nv2eeWBsMofopSbf1gykBIfG06Jb7GJMqRoy9CN8yAuZp8lRg4Q5gcZVA3-CjbtXo2pIhtqKRDyUonLid_P96gu_gnOJ8aq_3zUEu/s1600/2016-08-19+11.51.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDYSaR-oVDxeuZ59GE5_ccKVsRSwqTKz30sXGYS2Nv2eeWBsMofopSbf1gykBIfG06Jb7GJMqRoy9CN8yAuZp8lRg4Q5gcZVA3-CjbtXo2pIhtqKRDyUonLid_P96gu_gnOJ8aq_3zUEu/s640/2016-08-19+11.51.46.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Poof...gone!</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoG-25R3HYoC6xjxsbTNTUndgeadL5A8lQHo3Rn95vcgZNWYBLRuoJ7IY2DC793rq-a6TIL20G-mQz9zFpQK181fCCQg-bdPtPeAQsZYHgdoo5CSts4u4UzRtGrammipKUwjllc_4U-mS/s1600/2016-08-19+11.52.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoG-25R3HYoC6xjxsbTNTUndgeadL5A8lQHo3Rn95vcgZNWYBLRuoJ7IY2DC793rq-a6TIL20G-mQz9zFpQK181fCCQg-bdPtPeAQsZYHgdoo5CSts4u4UzRtGrammipKUwjllc_4U-mS/s640/2016-08-19+11.52.17.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But fortunately, this was also a re-appearing act!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We've also had a few "magical" disappearances around the house, but ones that are definitely more prosaic in nature. The over-sized, out-dated, broken jacuzzi bathtub in our teeny tiny master bathroom? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuInjKCdtYZQG-EfA5f7b16VeKeafooX33ADBB7_e3Pm_5LskZO1O8-L5phWa_FEg1fxoFjJnYxa8PsS2qOTU4m9kcEoERT4u6smQq6ctPNr4nIkPvUinSsil4Ed1Xb7uc2UE7dCWmnKT3/s1600/2016-03-25+12.08.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuInjKCdtYZQG-EfA5f7b16VeKeafooX33ADBB7_e3Pm_5LskZO1O8-L5phWa_FEg1fxoFjJnYxa8PsS2qOTU4m9kcEoERT4u6smQq6ctPNr4nIkPvUinSsil4Ed1Xb7uc2UE7dCWmnKT3/s640/2016-03-25+12.08.18.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Poof! Gone! </b></i> And in its place a lovely new shower that makes the room seem so much larger and definitely makes getting ready for work early in the morning much more pleasant!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_fDtBwQpJ9rZEjSBm2Vq-sZQTMc3wCo4oKDwKcvedkK72XU0ZWEXX5Fynlopov2E6RSCbJGB84YD6737R8D4DqwbTeVq-9IIbckwlR2-5Fk4WxFuHKOQ2YibGD5S5H10KN4swcNzNbkm/s1600/2016-03-25+17.47.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_fDtBwQpJ9rZEjSBm2Vq-sZQTMc3wCo4oKDwKcvedkK72XU0ZWEXX5Fynlopov2E6RSCbJGB84YD6737R8D4DqwbTeVq-9IIbckwlR2-5Fk4WxFuHKOQ2YibGD5S5H10KN4swcNzNbkm/s640/2016-03-25+17.47.58.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There is simply no way to take good pictures in this room - it's way too tiny!</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The rusty basketball pole/backboard that I've hated since day one and declared must go <i>over twelve years ago</i>? Thanks to a handy neighbor, <i><b>poof - gone</b></i>!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbv9O_xp0ecFLcaBVAwbVGsb9A13m81ymdXMVEFa4Q3joz3hSEPZH-2BCLrxjOOpSkABIr16KofdmzUqcWgULAN4ObQljJ4-s3nHyQTlfTL-23kdO_bPVfBSA09po2F7wbyROV9EQOIe7/s1600/2016-09-28+07.34.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbv9O_xp0ecFLcaBVAwbVGsb9A13m81ymdXMVEFa4Q3joz3hSEPZH-2BCLrxjOOpSkABIr16KofdmzUqcWgULAN4ObQljJ4-s3nHyQTlfTL-23kdO_bPVfBSA09po2F7wbyROV9EQOIe7/s640/2016-09-28+07.34.52.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And here's the big question of the day. I made this lovely apple pie on Sunday, and <i><b>poof</b></i>! Where do you think it went?! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I hope your day is filled with a little bit of magic and a little bit of awe for this amazing journey we all share. Instead of a poem today, I'll leave you with this picture from my garden. October roses...they will soon disappear as well, but the magic of spring will bring them back to us<i><b>. </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fSazbEb22YesdSGvoP9ztt26-O7zLPZeyYnav53udBAdmUR3UgHnyd3Fk8dYDnAR2Uy2BqLL5QgkZ1tQZC8kgOvGUfvjc2AhhJ3sk2MRUPFtq24IqBC9jJppbxkyl6cRgVclEJfv35jY/s1600/2016-10-09+10.31.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fSazbEb22YesdSGvoP9ztt26-O7zLPZeyYnav53udBAdmUR3UgHnyd3Fk8dYDnAR2Uy2BqLL5QgkZ1tQZC8kgOvGUfvjc2AhhJ3sk2MRUPFtq24IqBC9jJppbxkyl6cRgVclEJfv35jY/s640/2016-10-09+10.31.40.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Have a beautiful day, my friends!</b></i></span></span> </b></i></div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-64730832289334482732016-10-11T07:26:00.000-05:002016-10-11T07:26:24.483-05:00Allons! the road is before us! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFTsK08o1HDccbdJhgXEf4CROPd9eJMPHXNeD6KmcG5_lIkwBVwANJJyd6yWn3yVaFJyKiaLZ2wLnDOvJ7LprKyyaEzYGzOPUtBuyFsRUm1qo4TghtV_YL6Mm_LxZ-CG3H6Ktfz1RH1Pu/s1600/2016-10-09+08.43.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFTsK08o1HDccbdJhgXEf4CROPd9eJMPHXNeD6KmcG5_lIkwBVwANJJyd6yWn3yVaFJyKiaLZ2wLnDOvJ7LprKyyaEzYGzOPUtBuyFsRUm1qo4TghtV_YL6Mm_LxZ-CG3H6Ktfz1RH1Pu/s640/2016-10-09+08.43.22.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I woke up Sunday morning with a yearning for a small adventure. Nothing major...nothing expensive...just something fun. I grabbed my camera, a thermos of coffee, and my fall jacket and was out the door before 7 am. The sun was just coming up over the trees, and I could see my breath as I walked to my car. What a great morning to visit two parks and capture a little of fall's generous offerings! I headed out of town and found two parks - one a county park and one a state park that I had never even heard of before. Would you like to come along on my field trip? Walt Whitman came along as well - his cry of <i>allons!</i> (let's go!) ringing in my ears.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Healthy, free, the world before me, </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVATTP84dodQlQ3BTKfd6B4nu8QhbCqECECWhbV64bwM1lvdkzumlVKhGiEXuFTBwVejlpL53gxrdekrDCzzH9pWfAYpOtvUBwgdkc-IW2TCLN8Ize4oloDrkTuG1iysnll0HejsKoTnKD/s1600/2016-10-09+07.54.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVATTP84dodQlQ3BTKfd6B4nu8QhbCqECECWhbV64bwM1lvdkzumlVKhGiEXuFTBwVejlpL53gxrdekrDCzzH9pWfAYpOtvUBwgdkc-IW2TCLN8Ize4oloDrkTuG1iysnll0HejsKoTnKD/s640/2016-10-09+07.54.31.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune, </span></span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, </span></span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Strong and content I travel the open road. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QqVlxwVpgTV75euZAXNdxnX5ZQ-AsJenUoSt0J4vqpqsECamH8CmGIHHVFft4OWStytnaf7AeFlks_Cx0QG2wIkpyfyZPBAbTh183pR3ITo0kGq2f7ylFEeFzNsE2jpuRC36mSvwVfDs/s1600/2016-10-09+07.42.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8QqVlxwVpgTV75euZAXNdxnX5ZQ-AsJenUoSt0J4vqpqsECamH8CmGIHHVFft4OWStytnaf7AeFlks_Cx0QG2wIkpyfyZPBAbTh183pR3ITo0kGq2f7ylFEeFzNsE2jpuRC36mSvwVfDs/s640/2016-10-09+07.42.53.jpg" width="640" /></a> </span></span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The earth, that is sufficient, </span></span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I do not want the constellations any nearer, </span></span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I know they are very well where they are, </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I know they suffice for those who belong to them. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RwOrhhtGVlYJUnz5lBJ4rXIrF2gLLC_FHPz3OT453VEGgFEhUWhyphenhyphenO5K0T34wsmvbtp2T-bq1M9gTB9d9a6OiVgKaiTGPoNcC6tETj_wcT9saBbmBCpl8XpYC7_G6uU90LUuA5vK5bIvY/s1600/2016-10-09+07.53.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RwOrhhtGVlYJUnz5lBJ4rXIrF2gLLC_FHPz3OT453VEGgFEhUWhyphenhyphenO5K0T34wsmvbtp2T-bq1M9gTB9d9a6OiVgKaiTGPoNcC6tETj_wcT9saBbmBCpl8XpYC7_G6uU90LUuA5vK5bIvY/s640/2016-10-09+07.53.41.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You road I enter upon and look around, I believe you are not all that is here, </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I believe that much unseen is also here. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGU8QC6qJEEha0zv4EDN5v6Irz7dAs1aGxu6Nn64emMQ3drp6vpg5c2vysu0Bm1D78VeNtbJJff7ZQiBcd9MgsKHCiamENXHvuaoemq67RUKuhJXWuw7ncfPsnUJYW1cfjxkfn7aD2Wd9/s1600/2016-10-09+08.35.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGU8QC6qJEEha0zv4EDN5v6Irz7dAs1aGxu6Nn64emMQ3drp6vpg5c2vysu0Bm1D78VeNtbJJff7ZQiBcd9MgsKHCiamENXHvuaoemq67RUKuhJXWuw7ncfPsnUJYW1cfjxkfn7aD2Wd9/s640/2016-10-09+08.35.53.jpg" width="426" /> </a></span></span></div>
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<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You air that serves me with breath to speak! </span></span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You objects that call from diffusion my meanings and give them shape! </span></span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You light that wraps me and all things in delicate equable showers! </span></span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You paths worn in the irregular hollows by the roadsides! </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I believe you are latent with unseen existences, you are so dear to me. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8HxinCIn1sMYRr-p5pyA9loWuP9XBm5bDvhjPGKVZPkSE69UxwpZcem3JqzApw7SB8zOOxqKXjYIW3LIGCIaOT8IOBeqaxkynlWydxGw2PrlTnldWE1lGBxXl5XvB7hh1rvN-ViuDpd3/s1600/2016-10-09+08.33.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8HxinCIn1sMYRr-p5pyA9loWuP9XBm5bDvhjPGKVZPkSE69UxwpZcem3JqzApw7SB8zOOxqKXjYIW3LIGCIaOT8IOBeqaxkynlWydxGw2PrlTnldWE1lGBxXl5XvB7hh1rvN-ViuDpd3/s640/2016-10-09+08.33.24.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The earth expanding right hand and left hand, </span></span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The picture alive, every part in its best light, </span></span></i></div>
<div style="padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The music falling in where it is wanted, and stopping where it is not wanted, </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The cheerful voice of the public road, the gay fresh sentiment of the road. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSioOpbEji4sc_ooQlB0R8uHEmYDQl26iaEaHS-mYQYkHt2UMbpEAkWm9nlSVQHxbJOZqnxMMPcy-zN8WJGuJRXBkpshxPMochTqX5Gliq6rfZOs-QG25E-KJYSY8ZOePo9-meUWWf4-xQ/s1600/2016-10-09+08.27.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSioOpbEji4sc_ooQlB0R8uHEmYDQl26iaEaHS-mYQYkHt2UMbpEAkWm9nlSVQHxbJOZqnxMMPcy-zN8WJGuJRXBkpshxPMochTqX5Gliq6rfZOs-QG25E-KJYSY8ZOePo9-meUWWf4-xQ/s640/2016-10-09+08.27.48.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">O public road, I say back I am not afraid to leave you, yet I love you, </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You express me better than I can express myself, </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>You shall be more to me than my poem.</i> </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEOozn4WvXitLv2RlhOHlnM6Kcyn4IC86Ofx0nQs1SFzQoe0o2xBbcjQaxHVsXPnu3Ysul_zYW72DauwpGjMQfLWeSqpIIIo6lglvV5FSDlh5jkTTW3CkrbgqClszOAiDjqCCczFdLNei/s1600/2016-10-09+09.20.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIEOozn4WvXitLv2RlhOHlnM6Kcyn4IC86Ofx0nQs1SFzQoe0o2xBbcjQaxHVsXPnu3Ysul_zYW72DauwpGjMQfLWeSqpIIIo6lglvV5FSDlh5jkTTW3CkrbgqClszOAiDjqCCczFdLNei/s640/2016-10-09+09.20.32.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Allons! whoever you are come travel with me! </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Traveling with me you find what never tires. </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The earth never tires, </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at first, Nature is rude and incomprehensible at first, </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Be not discouraged, keep on, there are divine things well envelop’d, </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk8WrpQ9vbXLglRsulskFzB2xGQk3qcK873nYLl92HgXW0LqKU5Xi5JNPiYgW4oYbCyQKaUn3MLCYfBXQ12onBuCKYU3_QBwGPMOkjgjSjvV_m4F8jGjXppp8j3lUXNXum2rvj0V81SF7/s1600/2016-10-09+07.55.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmk8WrpQ9vbXLglRsulskFzB2xGQk3qcK873nYLl92HgXW0LqKU5Xi5JNPiYgW4oYbCyQKaUn3MLCYfBXQ12onBuCKYU3_QBwGPMOkjgjSjvV_m4F8jGjXppp8j3lUXNXum2rvj0V81SF7/s640/2016-10-09+07.55.26.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Allons! the road is before us! </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is safe—I have tried it—my own feet have tried it well—be not detain’d! </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP22Z-jW94BTSvT5kxb2unyVvkNz9xHbufNIL82cbgpJok4IHricVc2VhwEFqBGlBhcI7w0kxDKYOcHLYTQDIgmSc3f35ckOBBIUi0M27DE1I8Cs5rswXGcnIHSJBUehgMUQGultYjZgiW/s1600/2016-10-09+09.12.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP22Z-jW94BTSvT5kxb2unyVvkNz9xHbufNIL82cbgpJok4IHricVc2VhwEFqBGlBhcI7w0kxDKYOcHLYTQDIgmSc3f35ckOBBIUi0M27DE1I8Cs5rswXGcnIHSJBUehgMUQGultYjZgiW/s640/2016-10-09+09.12.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Camerado, I give you my hand! </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I give you my love more precious than money, </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I give you myself before preaching or law; </span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Will you give me yourself? will you come travel with me? </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you enjoyed these excerpts from <i>Song of the Open Road</i> by Whitman, you can find his exuberant (but long!) poem <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/48859" target="_blank">here.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And until I have time for another road trip, I can still remember that </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>today is a good day for a good day! </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b> </b></i>I hope you all have a beautiful day as well.</span></span></div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-20350207343963973692016-10-05T07:06:00.002-05:002016-10-05T07:06:49.530-05:00<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I remember my tenth birthday quite well. My baby brother was just one month old and my parents had decided to build a new bedroom above the garage to help expand the living space of our small home. Up until then my two little sisters and I had all shared a very small bedroom at the back of the house, but when plans were announced for the addition my birthday gift was a set of bunk beds so that we could move into our parents' larger bedroom and have more space. I was so excited to receive those beds and happily slept on the top bunk until I left for college. I also received a charming little wind-up alarm clock, and from my Aunt Hallie, a book by Paul Gallico titled <u>The Man Who Was Magic. </u></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhd13HfYEuAQE4Fi8t-Ie9EyYedORSZXPPLqqbE2S_c9nFeSmQec7cjrxJQynddhU7sEAE351htxBZgnOf3O4Bbxxg268BHzg6vnTOCITeABwj_KPQkAlaZDp6A_KzKY8w99OwH3DcvdF0/s1600/2016-10-01+10.33.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhd13HfYEuAQE4Fi8t-Ie9EyYedORSZXPPLqqbE2S_c9nFeSmQec7cjrxJQynddhU7sEAE351htxBZgnOf3O4Bbxxg268BHzg6vnTOCITeABwj_KPQkAlaZDp6A_KzKY8w99OwH3DcvdF0/s640/2016-10-01+10.33.19.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As I sat in the small theater in Galena, watching a truly gifted entertainer work his own special "magic", I started thinking about the book I had loved as a young girl. Sub-titled A Fable of Innocence, it tells the story of a true magician, Adam and his dog Mopsy, who arrive at Mageia, the hidden city of the master magicians of the world. There the entertainers can safely practice their sleights of hand and even the young children have access to the secret books of tricks. Everyone in Mageia knows there is no such thing as real magic. Except, of course, Adam, who has come to learn from the best magicians in the world, only to discover that his gift of true magic is in a league of its own. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuD7H4nJt5MTNgizcEhFLzJFZ7ar8TCP7YY_MfOK35cjD8nzvGUPi5YN1OzF0hC_BF_Wei8og85PEwrRA3IB-fNucQluQtHGsbdJ0IAifA0iVex0tihvRdmRrCI2iYT0rSu9PtCBbNBum/s1600/2016-10-01+11.15.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuD7H4nJt5MTNgizcEhFLzJFZ7ar8TCP7YY_MfOK35cjD8nzvGUPi5YN1OzF0hC_BF_Wei8og85PEwrRA3IB-fNucQluQtHGsbdJ0IAifA0iVex0tihvRdmRrCI2iYT0rSu9PtCBbNBum/s640/2016-10-01+11.15.51.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sometimes it feels like the world is a little too heavy - filled with pain, and suffering, and hatred for our fellow partners on this short but magical journey of life. When I feel low, maybe I need to remember there is a world of real, and healing, magic right outside my own doorstep. Yes, it's fun to attend a show and be mystified and delighted by a magician's tricks, but it is also wonderful to open my front door, step outside and be caught up in the mystery and magic of my own daily life. Poet Mary Oliver poses the question "<i>tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?", </i>and I answer back that I will seek to find the mystery in the mundane, and the magic in unexpected moments of joy. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Emily Dickinson must have pondered the same question when she penned the following poem. I hope you enjoy it, and I also hope that today a little bit of magic finds it way to your soul.</span></span><br />
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<pre id="poem" itemprop="description"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I think I was enchanted
When first a sombre Girl --
I read that Foreign Lady --
The Dark -- felt beautiful --
And whether it was noon at night --
Or only Heaven -- at Noon --
For very Lunacy of Light
I had not power to tell --
The Bees -- became as Butterflies --
The Butterflies -- as Swans --
Approached -- and spurned the narrow Grass --
And just the meanest Tunes
That Nature murmured to herself
To keep herself in Cheer --
I took for Giants -- practising
Titanic Opera --
The Days -- to Mighty Metres stept --
The Homeliest -- adorned
As if unto a Jubilee
'Twere suddenly confirmed --
I could not have defined the change --
Conversion of the Mind
Like Sanctifying in the Soul --
Is witnessed -- not explained --
'Twas a Divine Insanity --
The Danger to be Sane
Should I again experience --
'Tis Antidote to turn --
To Tomes of solid Witchcraft --
Magicians be asleep --
But Magic -- hath an Element
Like Deity -- to keep --</span></span></pre>
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<pre id="poem" itemprop="description"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Today is a good day for a good day! </b></i></span></span></span></pre>
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<br />Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-51068815189984869922016-10-03T06:56:00.000-05:002016-10-03T06:56:03.988-05:00the wondrous journeys still to be ours...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYGky6Bq-Twobr_ulfymTV25tpwPSwwwDO5HAEcSdJS6GlVnxH9itFJyguHdEFRVrAnbh9wDedsrucmHZIAuwOhskfaluczU_xZMuo0EkdrnjJoO6eGiwjLZusXkiTDnD2qxX_PZZBHw7/s1600/2016-10-01+10.07.18+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYGky6Bq-Twobr_ulfymTV25tpwPSwwwDO5HAEcSdJS6GlVnxH9itFJyguHdEFRVrAnbh9wDedsrucmHZIAuwOhskfaluczU_xZMuo0EkdrnjJoO6eGiwjLZusXkiTDnD2qxX_PZZBHw7/s640/2016-10-01+10.07.18+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Good morning! Somehow Mondays are a little easier to face when you have had made all sorts of happy memories. We spent the weekend in one of our favorite little towns, with weather that was rather mist-ical... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5AwJJ2Cc5YeE0VlYTwlNFtZAW1UDqGDh9FIyQqpTfdNBzs8B_ahyphenhyphen47Mkm3R3UZiQ9WtpAaoNYUoB1elL4roL912p_vTVayRie_CxFFV5DfYdF9UX50TVfKIeL42nwX8DP6_0_3Nt4LM8/s1600/2016-10-01+12.07.24+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5AwJJ2Cc5YeE0VlYTwlNFtZAW1UDqGDh9FIyQqpTfdNBzs8B_ahyphenhyphen47Mkm3R3UZiQ9WtpAaoNYUoB1elL4roL912p_vTVayRie_CxFFV5DfYdF9UX50TVfKIeL42nwX8DP6_0_3Nt4LM8/s640/2016-10-01+12.07.24+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">while the decor was definitely moose-tical!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJZHwri72w8nqC-MneCioc0fZHQ-y-9ZK80bs5PKKLY4oHPt0IWqkyiEJTauJkVfovDvvBz8GOtkpVzDk9tNtaRDKXAZlcRw2fJytXxOb55wV7d1BV6vmVZAkariLXOeSvcm1YjVY_5ad/s1600/2016-10-01+14.42.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJZHwri72w8nqC-MneCioc0fZHQ-y-9ZK80bs5PKKLY4oHPt0IWqkyiEJTauJkVfovDvvBz8GOtkpVzDk9tNtaRDKXAZlcRw2fJytXxOb55wV7d1BV6vmVZAkariLXOeSvcm1YjVY_5ad/s640/2016-10-01+14.42.18.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This guy kept a close watch on our comings and goings. I couldn't quite decide if the moose head at our resort was quaint and charming in a "cabin-y" sort of way or just kind of creepy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrMWTqFs9oQpor8zZahIzRfIqVNdaCoEkqT4MQImqZ6w9cF_F_6hTJpAlVzopvKS1lO3ldRWzHrtpiLcw_LJcz-lAIE_DtqeAOLMIHfgYJA8P58VjGOq7GCpecerejDlauXK5gx_dIKHo/s1600/2016-10-01+14.43.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrMWTqFs9oQpor8zZahIzRfIqVNdaCoEkqT4MQImqZ6w9cF_F_6hTJpAlVzopvKS1lO3ldRWzHrtpiLcw_LJcz-lAIE_DtqeAOLMIHfgYJA8P58VjGOq7GCpecerejDlauXK5gx_dIKHo/s640/2016-10-01+14.43.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I could even venture to say part of our time was downright mystical...even magical!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs-t8NDetGzm3603dGSeTdTbYEel2s3oXHXfiHjIaS2lYPTjO32VT-WWzPsD8IGOHIaHmMxf8K-uQAVFdKXzUChJiGDer4NKPUOF30Dw2WzrwhtucBzRW_d8l1uhpp32eeS7FFqK753yu/s1600/2016-10-01+11.15.51+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs-t8NDetGzm3603dGSeTdTbYEel2s3oXHXfiHjIaS2lYPTjO32VT-WWzPsD8IGOHIaHmMxf8K-uQAVFdKXzUChJiGDer4NKPUOF30Dw2WzrwhtucBzRW_d8l1uhpp32eeS7FFqK753yu/s640/2016-10-01+11.15.51+-+Copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, it was our annual trip to Galena, Illinois, where you feel transported back in time to the Civil War as you stroll down Main Street.. You can almost hear the swishing of ladies' hoop skirts as they shop in the same stores that line the streets today, and almost glimpse the men decked out in their finest suits and top hats, puffing their cigars as they stand outside the DeSoto Hotel to watch Lincoln and Douglas debate from the second floor balcony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmcemGtxpGlqOJiYpm3lIgDmt8909BAI22P1neijsBmRJ1VhJPqCoiveSvlrsFax9xhI87M4Ed2WHjvs-utYsJSG70UnbEUr0QCZ4VUKFpwbqyOGZAVsOWBO914WGZnjyBXwkOwx69GYR/s1600/2016-10-01+10.43.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmcemGtxpGlqOJiYpm3lIgDmt8909BAI22P1neijsBmRJ1VhJPqCoiveSvlrsFax9xhI87M4Ed2WHjvs-utYsJSG70UnbEUr0QCZ4VUKFpwbqyOGZAVsOWBO914WGZnjyBXwkOwx69GYR/s640/2016-10-01+10.43.08.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We love walking down Main Street, admiring the architecture and shopping in the eclectic shop offerings. But I am always glancing upwards at the upper story windows that line the old brick shops...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLn2NlT_6jYomSNKceVugB0BbVWah_qiiIyNvuV9ffZMPZir9gQ2soWngqY0I15BBxQmWM8Vx8nxeeW0UkZWsE4Np3EXxXAD-a2Q5fCylFjNn7r3_j_Gm1zFO69A-ouEHpArqq0yrRBnFn/s1600/2016-10-01+11.44.32+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLn2NlT_6jYomSNKceVugB0BbVWah_qiiIyNvuV9ffZMPZir9gQ2soWngqY0I15BBxQmWM8Vx8nxeeW0UkZWsE4Np3EXxXAD-a2Q5fCylFjNn7r3_j_Gm1zFO69A-ouEHpArqq0yrRBnFn/s640/2016-10-01+11.44.32+-+Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">because it's easy to sense that behind one of those lace curtains someone from a different era may be watching me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bfsl4Fj8HG-2BU8c3J18S1hiPhxiYXT8Y5tcgidw9c4WOdSsm2dHwlZLYD6GezXPPCXk-Ey41EKWpo7ZTKqx3hVhD6ZSzFlQpGCKu-0L2-NOUSACUYEbfm7xiOHyOCwWrj11nkb_HtBZ/s1600/2016-10-01+11.47.02+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Bfsl4Fj8HG-2BU8c3J18S1hiPhxiYXT8Y5tcgidw9c4WOdSsm2dHwlZLYD6GezXPPCXk-Ey41EKWpo7ZTKqx3hVhD6ZSzFlQpGCKu-0L2-NOUSACUYEbfm7xiOHyOCwWrj11nkb_HtBZ/s640/2016-10-01+11.47.02+-+Copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">See what I mean?!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHCQIuBJKIPoT8yzw4Wun6QyMAAoQSTSDa4gCCpiLJKR-y-kKzjlXbVZDstRvrPdYLNbrmOULpmqMTO8VHLd-lNBhtzc4NT_ZLT88e3NWoSvpaZ4jtOiXolp25OsoRGWNNX2s2lcA_xdB/s1600/2016-10-01+11.31.37+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHCQIuBJKIPoT8yzw4Wun6QyMAAoQSTSDa4gCCpiLJKR-y-kKzjlXbVZDstRvrPdYLNbrmOULpmqMTO8VHLd-lNBhtzc4NT_ZLT88e3NWoSvpaZ4jtOiXolp25OsoRGWNNX2s2lcA_xdB/s640/2016-10-01+11.31.37+-+Copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And of course, President Grant has the perfect setting to watch over his beloved city. I wonder what he and Julia Dent Grant think of the automobiles that now line the streets instead of buggies, and the canoes and kayaks that drift down the Galena River instead of the mighty steamboats? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbDKYuDQc0FPpFs4BXMqRqZWxdnIjNicUcKkqp5zzM3WgQoq-G8h6s1YKJgWTAI-6gVeo7p8p1vT3ni0Nlxv9ZHfAWtLR-30MwdoUHwtdCxK-JdXDW8_jOAkEQi0wQaW5QheEPYiKMEKY/s1600/2016-10-01+10.05.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbDKYuDQc0FPpFs4BXMqRqZWxdnIjNicUcKkqp5zzM3WgQoq-G8h6s1YKJgWTAI-6gVeo7p8p1vT3ni0Nlxv9ZHfAWtLR-30MwdoUHwtdCxK-JdXDW8_jOAkEQi0wQaW5QheEPYiKMEKY/s640/2016-10-01+10.05.38.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We had such fun shopping, sightseeing, and enjoying the different
cultures...dinner one night at a Irish pub, complete with shepherd's pie
and Irish dancing, and dinner the following night at a wonderful
Italian restaurant. It was a family run business that has been there
forever, and as we sat at our table with the glow of candlelight bathing our red tablecloth and the vintage pictures of Italy on the walls in a soft light
you could easily lose track of what year it was. We also celebrated all things German at the Galena Oktoberfest, and I'll share a few pictures from the festival later this week. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But I think my favorite thing to do in Galena is simply wander the streets and try to imagine all the stories and history that are contained within the shops, the churches and and the stately brick mansions of another era. Even though the weather wasn't "perfect" for Galena's Oktoberfest weekend, it certainly didn't put a damper on our fun. Poet Mary Oliver can turn even the rain into a joyful occasion, as she reflects in her poem below: </span></span></div>
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LAST NIGHT THE RAIN SPOKE TO ME</span></span></div>
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Last
night<br />the rain<br />spoke to me<br />slowly, saying, <br />what joy<br />to come
falling<br />out of the brisk cloud, <br />to be happy again<br />in a new way<br />on
the earth! <br />That’s what it said<br />as it dropped, <br />smelling of iron,
<br />and vanished<br />like a dream of the ocean<br />into the branches<br />and the
grass below.<br />Then it was over.<br />The sky cleared.<br />I was standing<br />under
a tree.<br />The tree was a tree<br />with happy leaves, <br />and I was myself,
<br />and there were stars in the sky<br />that were also themselves<br />at the
moment<br />at which moment<br />my right hand<br />was holding my left hand<br />which
was holding the tree<br />which was filled with stars<br />and the soft rain
–<br />imagine! imagine! <br />the long and wondrous journeys<br />still to be ours. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I hope I have many more long and wondrous journeys with my husband in the years to come - we are looking ahead to new adventures, but today I'll carry Oliver's words in my heart, and be a tree with happy leaves, or like the rain drops, filled with joy to return to the earth from the clouds above. It's another way of saying that</span></span><i><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> today is a good day for a good day!</span></span></b></i></div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-59328826203541588772016-09-29T06:36:00.001-05:002016-09-29T06:36:58.248-05:00Every so often you have one of those extra special summer days, where every minute is filled with fun and beautiful memories are stored up, to be brought back out and savored during the long winter. We had one of those days in August, when we visited Madison County, Iowa, and its wonderful covered bridges. Here are a few pictures from our exploration day, with a poem by Arthur Franklin Mapes, one of Indiana's poet laureates. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IYEQtpw4R9E2YvK18Gz6-B_fuoJ7YJlXkU9Z8ei0KTDAEUbXAmk7ogmkehvVQpl5anG_p2xdR6wzqmkTG4J8Jgsgniblp3C2e79qX6CmEzqtmrGZ8ABHkhk-cCRBA8iodJFJueInhLz1/s1600/IMG_7818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IYEQtpw4R9E2YvK18Gz6-B_fuoJ7YJlXkU9Z8ei0KTDAEUbXAmk7ogmkehvVQpl5anG_p2xdR6wzqmkTG4J8Jgsgniblp3C2e79qX6CmEzqtmrGZ8ABHkhk-cCRBA8iodJFJueInhLz1/s640/IMG_7818.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“The Covered Bridge”</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I came upon a covered bridge</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Weather-beaten and old,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where deep blue stream and wooded ridge</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Were framed in twilight gold.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IjAIphGax_ZHp3UynUOEBREoyV_3PruViOqUPB9NddRwqRsuOouo_Yjnn9aXxJwTr6OnvOlMM4wlrug_INOKQuiYldYwGClFW3IGx1ApWC37_rW5XcpSCWHJJQLS1FMmpart0J1v7bar/s1600/IMG_7826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IjAIphGax_ZHp3UynUOEBREoyV_3PruViOqUPB9NddRwqRsuOouo_Yjnn9aXxJwTr6OnvOlMM4wlrug_INOKQuiYldYwGClFW3IGx1ApWC37_rW5XcpSCWHJJQLS1FMmpart0J1v7bar/s640/IMG_7826.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was wonderful to see</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A scene so old and quaint,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A rustic masterpiece</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That only God could paint.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfIZHEbEBI5YUvJcF9eMmH6cDB67u7Pc2Sb6vvca2oC3eoaECx3dtcKtymnny9ukfb2J7tjKuIIPn9erevREGQxDQF0uaB_rSbAx1wPRjXJ7bNczhdxwXge3qBJmpj4W1gSW4R1AFEp5X/s1600/IMG_7857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfIZHEbEBI5YUvJcF9eMmH6cDB67u7Pc2Sb6vvca2oC3eoaECx3dtcKtymnny9ukfb2J7tjKuIIPn9erevREGQxDQF0uaB_rSbAx1wPRjXJ7bNczhdxwXge3qBJmpj4W1gSW4R1AFEp5X/s640/IMG_7857.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Could I, a humble poet,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Pass through the bridge of time;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And learn its treasured secrets,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then put them into rhyme?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYnzJvJBDIvgAG_CHKDv8PqI0r8qcq2JlSN2f7AaG03L9d8F-8GNlGxDDUzZKOe41c1yrRQhKGW1JMz1JGIJFrgBYbaNvF61mMRQGvq9WUz-Ecrjxw1o6bebZCNyMUFCvhDB1zWb6nTE4/s1600/IMG_7817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYnzJvJBDIvgAG_CHKDv8PqI0r8qcq2JlSN2f7AaG03L9d8F-8GNlGxDDUzZKOe41c1yrRQhKGW1JMz1JGIJFrgBYbaNvF61mMRQGvq9WUz-Ecrjxw1o6bebZCNyMUFCvhDB1zWb6nTE4/s640/IMG_7817.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Could I, with words, portray</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The sky, the stream, the ridge?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Would I, with words, betray</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The secrets of the bridge?</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgdNAv1xrvaSJe0EgImo4Bl_P-OdEWmk1Y7uCbEmEY58QDiJaoeuWMwxrLOpJIiTpH7-qBh9Ne-9T6NUTX6DwnrsE0CYBb__yURscaIEIiU7kVEk19-FLCqpBBQTnzyDvRzCktv-mmEWf/s1600/IMG_7763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgdNAv1xrvaSJe0EgImo4Bl_P-OdEWmk1Y7uCbEmEY58QDiJaoeuWMwxrLOpJIiTpH7-qBh9Ne-9T6NUTX6DwnrsE0CYBb__yURscaIEIiU7kVEk19-FLCqpBBQTnzyDvRzCktv-mmEWf/s640/IMG_7763.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The colors slowly faded</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As the shadows crossed the stream;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then, at last, the velvet darkness</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Changed it all into a dream.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVpRWPpqYOxPm_X-er4vJVAz2eOEN67uMb8UxKHRgMvTwxZJLCiCJbTVe5RoiOPEUDEFl_AQwppP5E7y0Q63voOQghy517cGHWMHegQe5Sg8vEm8HoEwJ3So5CstzPYqux2yY_o1s6BIG/s1600/IMG_7828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVpRWPpqYOxPm_X-er4vJVAz2eOEN67uMb8UxKHRgMvTwxZJLCiCJbTVe5RoiOPEUDEFl_AQwppP5E7y0Q63voOQghy517cGHWMHegQe5Sg8vEm8HoEwJ3So5CstzPYqux2yY_o1s6BIG/s640/IMG_7828.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But God gave me a picture</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To keep within my heart,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With all its rustic splendor,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A priceless work of art.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, God gave me a picture</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That can’t be bought or sold,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A picture of a covered bridge</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Framed in twilight gold.</span></span></div>
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Don't you love how summer memories can be enjoyed all year round?<br />
Let's make today a special day of memories, too, by taking a few moments to take in all the beauty around us and store it in our hearts. And please remember...<br />
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<i>Today is a good day for a <b>good day</b>!</i></div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-4144680052138678592016-09-26T07:45:00.002-05:002016-09-26T07:45:48.570-05:00the lingering petals of fragrance<br />
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I spent some time in my garden over the weekend, battling with the rampant honeysuckle that is confidently defeating all my efforts to contain its growth and transplant it to containers. I love the lushness of this hardy vine and the fragrance of the small yellow blooms that waft through my bedroom window, but it has taken over the back of my garden with abandon. Perhaps it is a metaphor - embrace where you are planted and live with exuberance? <br />
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I worked in the garden, which sounds much more refined than saying I wrestled weeds, even though that is far closer to the reality, right after a heavy rainstorm and the few remaining blossoms sparkled in the sunshine that followed the storm. Another metaphor? My garden seemed to burst forth yesterday with poetical meanings and suggestions, and of course I delighted in thinking about poems that might pair nicely with the remaining floral survivors. <br />
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Not at all like me --</div>
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How with each passing day</div>
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while the autumn sun</div>
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wanes, the blossoms wax stronger</div>
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on the morning glories.</div>
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~~an uto, from the Japanese poet Shotetsu (1381-1459)</div>
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With the deck canopy extended, I was able to enjoy the rainstorm from the glider, glad to still be outside in nature. Another poem in the uto form, this one from Sinkei (1406-1475) came to mind as I sat watching the rain drops splatter onto the deck and drench the yard and garden. I guess the nature of man and the turmoil he creates never changes...<br />
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Rainclouds gather,</div>
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but with more calm than the storms </div>
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raging in the world.</div>
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A couple hours of peace and contentment in amidst the last lingering summer blooms, who have yet to succumb to autumn's rich decay. Thank you, flowers, for offering up one final farewell!</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I knew right away I would want to share Mary Oliver's The Cricket and the Rose with you today - how lucky we are to have both flowers and poetry in this lovely and complicated world of ours! <i>The lingering petals of fragrance and the timeless body of prayer...</i></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">In fall<br />the cricket<br />beneath the rose bush<br />watches</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">as the roses fall<br />to the very ground<br />that is his kingdom also.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />So they're neighbors,</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">one full of fragrance,<br />the other<br />the harper<br />of a single dry song.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">We call this time of the year<br />the beginning of the end<br />of another circle,<br />a convenience</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">and nothing more.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />For the cricket's song<br />is surely a prayer,<br />and a prayer, when it is given,</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">is given forever.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br />This is a truth<br />I'm sure of,<br />for I'm older than I used to be,</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">and therefore I understand things<br />nobody would think of<br />who's young and in a hurry.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;">The snow is very beautiful.</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Under it are the lingering</span><br /><span style="color: black;">petals of fragrance,</span><br /><span style="color: black;">and the timeless body</span><br /><span style="color: black;">of prayer.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div>
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My prayer for today is that we take time to discover the beauty in the simple moments of our day, the fragrance and the prayers that surround us all.</div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-29378690947987341182016-09-20T07:08:00.000-05:002016-09-20T07:08:15.848-05:00...all the wonderful thingsHow do I start a post after two solid months off? Perhaps something along the lines of "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"? I never intended to go so long without a blog post, but sometimes life just happens and all you can do is buckle up and go along for the ride. In early July I had been receiving strange auto-upgrade notifications on my computer about Windows 10. I wasn't interested in the free upgrade, so continued to hit the "no thanks" button at the bottom of the screen. And then one morning, out of the blue, I opened my computer and discovered that it had ON ITS OWN decided to make the upgrade anyway. That slightly freaked me out - not sure I want my computer exercising independent thought - but that was quickly followed by irritation when I discovered that nothing, and I do mean nothing, was now working correctly. In short, it fried my computer. I am now the proud owner of a new laptop, because in the end it made more sense to upgrade than repair an older computer. I'm now having to get used to the Windows 10 format, but so far everything is working splendidly and I am now ready to write some fall blogs.<br />
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But before I launch into fall reveries (I know I've mentioned once or twice that it is my favorite season) I should probably catch up on all the comings and goings of the summer. How did I spend my summer "vacation"? Doing all sorts of fun things on the weekends, sandwiched with a rather hectic time at work. My assistant moved to a different position within our organization, and replacing her as taken far longer than I had hoped. As a result I've been trying to handle two crazy-busy work loads for the last two months, so even if I had had a working computer I'm not sure how much creative energy I would have had in July and August anyway.<br />
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A few highlights: watching our new granddaughter, Madison, grow and start revealing her personality to us. Oh my, I know I say it often, but being a grandmother really is the best thing since sliced bread. </div>
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I've loved spending time with both the girls this summer, watching
Lily blossom into the sweetest two year old I've ever met. </div>
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There is nothing sweeter than a having a grandchild curled up on your lap while you read Goodnight Moon to her...once, then twice, and then a third time. And each time we count the bears...there's Grandpa Bear, there's Grandma Bear and there's Lily Bear. And, of course, we must eat from the bowl of mush that makes it way onto each and every page. Yum, yum, yum!<br />
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<img alt="Image result for three bears from goodnight moon" class="irc_mi ibKiRDUmDkZs-pQOPx8XEepE" height="425" src="https://i1.wp.com/theuglyvolvo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/1-a-goodnight-moon-theuglyvolvo-5-e1421302841314.jpg" style="margin-top: 22px;" width="640" /><br />
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I have so many stories and pictures and new poets and poems that I can't wait to share with you, but before my eagerness runs away with itself (like the dish and the spoon in Good Night Moon?) perhaps I should first listen to Mary Oliver and learn a little more about patience...</div>
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<b>Patience </b></div>
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What is the good life now? Why,</div>
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look here, consider</div>
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the moon's white crescent</div>
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rounding, slowly, over</div>
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the half month to still another</div>
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perfect circle ---</div>
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the shining eye</div>
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that lightens the hills,</div>
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that lays down the shadows</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglL_SzJyoQRp1LGsxWGBVs_uxD7QhyphenhyphenUSYNh44kvlmdIKjANKvdLhfBrwcBY7BrWqRVE0j7MK87Aphxud_GMxIRnVjVjscIpdyP8Eu9yby1eMKAuzyCb_tbIn4vrTp6LW19WeYgjcOSjmJI/s1600/2016-06-11+22.10.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglL_SzJyoQRp1LGsxWGBVs_uxD7QhyphenhyphenUSYNh44kvlmdIKjANKvdLhfBrwcBY7BrWqRVE0j7MK87Aphxud_GMxIRnVjVjscIpdyP8Eu9yby1eMKAuzyCb_tbIn4vrTp6LW19WeYgjcOSjmJI/s640/2016-06-11+22.10.12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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of the branches of the trees,</div>
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that summons the flowers</div>
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to open their sleepy faces and look up</div>
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into the heavens.</div>
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I used to hurry everywhere,</div>
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and leaped over the running creeks.</div>
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There wasn't </div>
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time enough for all the wonderful things</div>
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I could think of to do </div>
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in a single day. Patience</div>
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comes to the bones</div>
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before it takes root in the heart</div>
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as another good idea.</div>
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I say this</div>
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as I stand in the woods</div>
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and study the patterns of the moon shadows,</div>
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or stroll down into the waters</div>
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that now, late summer, have also </div>
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caught the fever, and hardly move</div>
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from one eternity to another.</div>
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Oliver asks us each of us - what is the good life? My answer today would be that it is having friends like you. A heartfelt thank you to each reader who reached out and let me know my posts were missed! I'm so happy to be "back in business" and I'm looking forward to sharing more adventures in this crazy ride we call life. </div>
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Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-1444212610180153462016-07-08T07:40:00.001-05:002016-07-08T07:40:27.061-05:00Dear friends,<br />
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My computer has developed a strong dislike to the internet after moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10. I have so much to share - so many photos and reflections from this summer, but I am temporarily without means to share my blog with all of you. I hope to find a solution early next week, so please check back soon and hopefully I will be back up with new poems for your enjoyment.<br />
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In the meantime, please join me in prayers of comfort and grace for all the families who are grieving this morning - the families of the men shot by police in LA and TX as well as all the families of the slain Dallas police officers. My heart is breaking over the senseless tragedy of so many wonderful lives snuffed out needlessly and heartlessly.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.25px;"><i>The greatest thing you'll ever learn </i></span></div>
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.25px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Is just to love and be loved in return</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.25px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
~ Nat King Cole, lyrics from Nature Boy</div>
</span></i>Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-84799659434473047022016-06-16T07:57:00.000-05:002016-06-16T07:57:12.971-05:00I'm continuing the alphabet theme today, but I seem to be stuck on the letter B for a little bit longer!<br />
In the past few weeks B has stood for Birthday girl (our sweet Miss Lily turned two), Blankie (finished in the nick of time for Miss Madison's arrival!) and of course Beautiful Baby (welcome to the world, Madison!!). This time B has a starring role in another Birthday, this time my lovely daughter's birthday which we celebrated amidst the Beauty of northern Wisconsin...<br />
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We finished our lovely day in Door County with a Bonfire and star gazing, while telling mildly scary stories around the campfire...<br />
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I am always so excited to walk through the quiet campground late at night for some serious star gazing! </div>
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But today B also stands for something a little off the camping topic...B represents BOLD. </div>
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As in hello, really short hair! My husband can attest to the fact that I never seem to have the same style for long, always changing things up with my hair. After my daughter's wedding two years ago I just kind of kept growing my hair, with wild fantasies of classy updo's...sleek french twists and the wildly popular messy buns dancing like visions of sugarplums in my head. But the sad reality is that my hair is way too thick (I know, I shouldn't complain!!) to stay on the top of my head for more than five minutes - no matter what I or my hairstylist did it simply came undone and I ended up the ponytail girl...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt2BeHiHubUyf6e9txkBQBOyLWgH30o8pKptAm4BH6K7wyAIZiZtnW-BnujLUay13Y-j78JvP01ZNroqhFFJGIYcHlxeljlN-V2lExFfzbXmhYwS_a8Uq-y3ELrO7SLfeWzbSWh0Ozkto/s1600/IMG_4324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt2BeHiHubUyf6e9txkBQBOyLWgH30o8pKptAm4BH6K7wyAIZiZtnW-BnujLUay13Y-j78JvP01ZNroqhFFJGIYcHlxeljlN-V2lExFfzbXmhYwS_a8Uq-y3ELrO7SLfeWzbSWh0Ozkto/s400/IMG_4324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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ponytail after ponytail...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-jcVoq77FuJvHw1iozERMWL4XJ304MOpDDXgdT6urDSRkxkThag0dWZ0FuGKBnGrvL2kECxbP3W-p1Zn_zzIFFztJIqmGDBrJIR-Ovjps2CeusWt4vyLJlR_FlV3eIoB5-g7atrzMVfl/s1600/IMG_5095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-jcVoq77FuJvHw1iozERMWL4XJ304MOpDDXgdT6urDSRkxkThag0dWZ0FuGKBnGrvL2kECxbP3W-p1Zn_zzIFFztJIqmGDBrJIR-Ovjps2CeusWt4vyLJlR_FlV3eIoB5-g7atrzMVfl/s400/IMG_5095.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div>
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after ponytail!!</div>
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The ponytail, while certainly an easy-peasy style to maintain, never conveyed the mildly sassy, pizzazzy way I feel inside. And the addition of reading glasses at work didn't help...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWE_gAzUd89X57-WZv20_iaL0vnQCBqFw5px_7-7uGFlgd7swFO6_9VDHTYKuKh_5Kxy53bR1dcZARtI_W4dMaCmbyuYI_EDDVNURbaHNKTPFKwqYrt6uSNpJ-p21HF-wZWbD6he7N_LI/s1600/2016-04-27+12.34.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWE_gAzUd89X57-WZv20_iaL0vnQCBqFw5px_7-7uGFlgd7swFO6_9VDHTYKuKh_5Kxy53bR1dcZARtI_W4dMaCmbyuYI_EDDVNURbaHNKTPFKwqYrt6uSNpJ-p21HF-wZWbD6he7N_LI/s400/2016-04-27+12.34.37.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
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It was time for a change, so operating on the Go <b>BOLD</b> or Go Home theory, I scheduled an appointment. Here I am in my car before the appointment...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0HwzudylZUi3hpWV5rqUxgk21xhWfprP-p4-nZmHUB3BqB843hWWLDoSRGu54l7sGbdR0BVWVY4sy7YVXdPzCVeeo_nzYMV4_OzZ6Ic7AzLR0QtOrO5xfBBjh-LAgCRYqvIpzzwOf0GJ/s1600/2016-06-02+17.54.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0HwzudylZUi3hpWV5rqUxgk21xhWfprP-p4-nZmHUB3BqB843hWWLDoSRGu54l7sGbdR0BVWVY4sy7YVXdPzCVeeo_nzYMV4_OzZ6Ic7AzLR0QtOrO5xfBBjh-LAgCRYqvIpzzwOf0GJ/s400/2016-06-02+17.54.02.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
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and here I am after the appointment!! What do you think?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KeRqo12xKF1sqmUyGnE3dwdG0gJhvTsADunWsUkWqREZy99RP4LGnzNHD6j5aqC-ISKomdjl5I0Yv96I4GhTFaJxiMfb9sq7nedHdi0DMPZW6nmIqqxKzQrDMaKORlb6FugZYe18R2I7/s1600/2016-06-02+19.29.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KeRqo12xKF1sqmUyGnE3dwdG0gJhvTsADunWsUkWqREZy99RP4LGnzNHD6j5aqC-ISKomdjl5I0Yv96I4GhTFaJxiMfb9sq7nedHdi0DMPZW6nmIqqxKzQrDMaKORlb6FugZYe18R2I7/s640/2016-06-02+19.29.42.jpg" width="366" /></a></div>
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And just so you know, this post today was <i><b>way</b></i> outside my comfort zone. I am notoriously camera shy and much prefer to be the one behind the camera, not in front! You will probably never again see so many photos of me at once, but if I'm talking about being BOLD I guess it has to start with me! Mary Oliver knew a thing or two about boldness as well, and I hope you enjoy her poem, Cobb Creek. <i><b>Let's all have fun making a beautiful splash today!</b></i><br />
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<br />Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-51960298756764808142016-06-15T06:57:00.000-05:002016-06-15T06:57:33.781-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Last weekend marked our tenth year of traveling north to Door County, Wisconsin. When life gets to be too much hurrying and scurrying and fretting, the solace of the north woods calms my soul and refreshes my spirit. Time spent with my husband, daughter and son-in-law laughing, telling stories around the campfire and relaxing in the moment reminded me how precious our lives are. Coming home Sunday afternoon we heard the horrific story unfolding in Orlando, and once again I found myself praying for families who have lost loved ones to gun violence. The tragedy reminds me to never take a day for granted - to never miss an opportunity to say I love you to those that mean so much to me. To not forget to live in the NOW, as there are never any guarantees for tomorrow. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnRgIlQCkP948j-M04HCBXT09PwyEF55XYIcAt4KQYG_7Vb6bxXRQk5Y2kI5f4mlcfVLjO_P6e5D2CyOW_Qa7Rpl3wDbmfNYAVmNifU-fC0lQVPdwz9MtTm8aDPGZzY6iqBw5xu0LvO_K/s1600/IMG_5508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnRgIlQCkP948j-M04HCBXT09PwyEF55XYIcAt4KQYG_7Vb6bxXRQk5Y2kI5f4mlcfVLjO_P6e5D2CyOW_Qa7Rpl3wDbmfNYAVmNifU-fC0lQVPdwz9MtTm8aDPGZzY6iqBw5xu0LvO_K/s640/IMG_5508.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I Wake Close to Morning</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~~Mary Oliver</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Why do people keep asking to see</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">God's identity papers</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">when the darkness opening into morning</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">is more than enough?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa1vD19Q5K7uCGEoJgA5yuSXWBUSJrMFNJOpofnqZneLZAdIjkTO_kWzqDWObhsfeUa-8dPUWlMXuWqSAUpgQDobSvIir_V9zd0RiP51J16pKz2sbpijWGNILt1pSKTK70axBWX1-_P0r/s1600/IMG_5544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa1vD19Q5K7uCGEoJgA5yuSXWBUSJrMFNJOpofnqZneLZAdIjkTO_kWzqDWObhsfeUa-8dPUWlMXuWqSAUpgQDobSvIir_V9zd0RiP51J16pKz2sbpijWGNILt1pSKTK70axBWX1-_P0r/s640/IMG_5544.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Certainly any god might turn away in disgust.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Think of Sheba approaching</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">the kingdom of Solomon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPotBrw11D0Qikvz0LqK4c27XudcKzdA7RIHySiuWM6rbB0x2TAvONKgVPnqLx7GojCcz0i_6Jzpi1ew3W-jxNLOOmVGEfVKz1dGGB_wiK8TW1DeSBJu-vA81rtp6y1_zNceOsipU6emSH/s1600/IMG_5518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPotBrw11D0Qikvz0LqK4c27XudcKzdA7RIHySiuWM6rbB0x2TAvONKgVPnqLx7GojCcz0i_6Jzpi1ew3W-jxNLOOmVGEfVKz1dGGB_wiK8TW1DeSBJu-vA81rtp6y1_zNceOsipU6emSH/s640/IMG_5518.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do you think she had to ask,</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Is this the place?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I pray for peace - for the families affected by the tragedy in Orlando, for those who are in pain, for those who face today knowing it is the last day on earth for a loved one. May we all remember to not grow indifferent to the beauty of life. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUivU_wnlRFm0Q5XWOqLwjmSrvxbcEzr_inbjvHshqOXrCoL8CCe_3w_Y2gnYIkqZa0c8gy7GoNkH4nmACQE-dKE1rlhwhi27Vvry3OoCwI8mpZGuqvHcbafaOHh4WlR9pGkuEdSW5oxMo/s1600/today+is+a+good+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUivU_wnlRFm0Q5XWOqLwjmSrvxbcEzr_inbjvHshqOXrCoL8CCe_3w_Y2gnYIkqZa0c8gy7GoNkH4nmACQE-dKE1rlhwhi27Vvry3OoCwI8mpZGuqvHcbafaOHh4WlR9pGkuEdSW5oxMo/s640/today+is+a+good+day.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7089135997430788583.post-46660275823576574362016-06-01T07:09:00.001-05:002016-06-01T07:09:23.444-05:00B is for...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Beautiful.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> My life is filled to the brim with beauty and loveliness. This last week has brought so much joy to our family, starting with...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Birthday Girl</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b> </b></i>Our effervescent, ever loving Lily celebrated her second birthday!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5kT7A-hWB8gMGpvfT0riwog4euwQlc4dsjbg4-FG1QbupGxTx6XRf2FSD9IE1nsjaMRjG5p1EzmhONO3HRGMbvGttDe-fQcPOw2V_z1ALVBr82FqVop7Zh-fwUPTLJA77TuBfj2Qyp5v/s1600/IMG_5067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5kT7A-hWB8gMGpvfT0riwog4euwQlc4dsjbg4-FG1QbupGxTx6XRf2FSD9IE1nsjaMRjG5p1EzmhONO3HRGMbvGttDe-fQcPOw2V_z1ALVBr82FqVop7Zh-fwUPTLJA77TuBfj2Qyp5v/s640/IMG_5067.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVl9om0UXLo6Z0Qt04QDlH5SxM9cJcUWwua7NB-L4GzHx_XjmT7-3hjMa_oWYRey6GmZh_TbHtraiMAzKCBr366nGy7liB_1pStVa67AaznzFGTn6eI_YKgF25KIwUwarzHIDFr7aDj7bi/s1600/IMG_5098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVl9om0UXLo6Z0Qt04QDlH5SxM9cJcUWwua7NB-L4GzHx_XjmT7-3hjMa_oWYRey6GmZh_TbHtraiMAzKCBr366nGy7liB_1pStVa67AaznzFGTn6eI_YKgF25KIwUwarzHIDFr7aDj7bi/s640/IMG_5098.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Baby Blanket</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lily "helped me" finish this blanket. I chose green for this blanket - a second child needs an extra dose of color, right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP1zj0Qjv6M4ivk39jEXjHD-uU9Szhcokza5eIYO8oob4pxqiW6mu1ubHCcJ1p_xIQihZGQWHlGcowe3lmRbnhfYLtXOvtfTHkW6guur0U_iqyntwQwBO79FeI1iIAvEhV-40HPk8SIbY/s1600/IMG_5202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP1zj0Qjv6M4ivk39jEXjHD-uU9Szhcokza5eIYO8oob4pxqiW6mu1ubHCcJ1p_xIQihZGQWHlGcowe3lmRbnhfYLtXOvtfTHkW6guur0U_iqyntwQwBO79FeI1iIAvEhV-40HPk8SIbY/s640/IMG_5202.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZDODoC9y1tN5-F3A8HbuigaXos3OJIEUehEtwk147_lN9iRrgVZAIu-rPIzQc2MoAR9KGhSXOPl9RhtRkBMGQCtRPlc1STJJlnpnGeGOP78W_7gMnrumy40n6YyHPkqsod6qt_iyIapa/s1600/Madison3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZDODoC9y1tN5-F3A8HbuigaXos3OJIEUehEtwk147_lN9iRrgVZAIu-rPIzQc2MoAR9KGhSXOPl9RhtRkBMGQCtRPlc1STJJlnpnGeGOP78W_7gMnrumy40n6YyHPkqsod6qt_iyIapa/s640/Madison3.jpg" width="352" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b> </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b>Beautiful Baby</b></i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And speaking of baby blankets and a second child, please let me introduce you to my lovely and sweet new grand-daughter, Madison Marie. Today she is one week old!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgY4UD_PH2ogO4Q0R8G0KCK95CbmGmwj8PFZ7UxIZtgln7jyqvSQf5jt8R0an1Hu53DMyYmm4oBU-nITAbRiz3M-mxdZ6b4czKxcI0-0fu4jqRwRUe0Nt_CSGQ0tIeyyKWU8vKyYINZyr/s1600/IMG_5223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgY4UD_PH2ogO4Q0R8G0KCK95CbmGmwj8PFZ7UxIZtgln7jyqvSQf5jt8R0an1Hu53DMyYmm4oBU-nITAbRiz3M-mxdZ6b4czKxcI0-0fu4jqRwRUe0Nt_CSGQ0tIeyyKWU8vKyYINZyr/s640/IMG_5223.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVIUCI1OARRx-wS42xKLxyhY4xaFxZJpX5A_QTYlYCPwuZBWGJUT26xv7imEeu-lbYSVZ4fZS0bBvEtO4IWpRnREy76AO7AFX6_0G4VK64vUFOfJsyTS1sJy4InHG9xXoCsGvwpl1V4ww/s1600/IMG_5217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="spotlight" height="358" src="https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13244182_1025091864240238_8063137327243568230_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <i><b>Big Sister</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And of course the letter B also stands for Lily's new role as Big Sister. <i><b></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QDDHWnQRn5DStc-wHBWqr54ZhOEoVUHT0QPAGUnEOeJhpVOEgXIh1qZIKWmYZh9LpRUK-GVKULlHp8MnmvISwRMCD84cfke2p91a_X9kMDf5aB1Q5PCulRVvHe6lC6ag9TIr8HHMjbSy/s1600/IMG_5203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QDDHWnQRn5DStc-wHBWqr54ZhOEoVUHT0QPAGUnEOeJhpVOEgXIh1qZIKWmYZh9LpRUK-GVKULlHp8MnmvISwRMCD84cfke2p91a_X9kMDf5aB1Q5PCulRVvHe6lC6ag9TIr8HHMjbSy/s640/IMG_5203.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Have fun introducing this beautiful world to Madison, Lily! <i><b> </b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <img alt="" class="spotlight" height="360" src="https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13263688_10101239726739674_4908439504561832023_n.jpg?oh=d1ac9728ffa05f9b0f6153deb3b183eb&oe=57E2ABFB" width="640" /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Phil said the lyrics of Stevie Wonder's song were running through his mind as he held Madison for the first time. I couldn't agree more!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img alt="" class="spotlight" height="640" src="https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13239179_1025091787573579_5029449214341552182_n.jpg?oh=37050ce531aadf55416a40b62c1782d9&oe=57CD0BD0" width="358" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Isn't she lovely<br />Isn't she wonderful<br />Isn't she precious<br />Less than one minute old<br />I never thought through love we'd be<br />Making one as lovely as she<br />But isn't she lovely made from love</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>Isn't she pretty<br />Truly the angel's best<br />Boy, I'm so happy<br />We have been heaven blessed<br />I can't believe what God has done<br />Through us he's given life to one<br />But isn't she lovely made from love</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R3UcYqqANuji6HbAzMfEOYIgyNENcxxL122Ru6IIkiIb2YWlbBAJvuKZpfdvzYGbVaPpP7Ldy0MZ3FTR3cixCPx_7l8RWS9REJyd6pCphjb1UssDL3qiwDGqi2XYBJu_S3zox-sqbIzO/s1600/today+is+a+good+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3R3UcYqqANuji6HbAzMfEOYIgyNENcxxL122Ru6IIkiIb2YWlbBAJvuKZpfdvzYGbVaPpP7Ldy0MZ3FTR3cixCPx_7l8RWS9REJyd6pCphjb1UssDL3qiwDGqi2XYBJu_S3zox-sqbIzO/s400/today+is+a+good+day.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">May your day also be filled with love and beauty.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Happy June first!</span></span></div>
Marthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04061786207252183912noreply@blogger.com0