view from a backyard garden

Nostalgia

2012-01-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

I'm cleaning out the old china cabinet that has lived on the second floor, in the hallway for 27 years.

It's filled with books, photo albums, baby books and the children's old school memorabilia. Not china.

We must have done a poetry unit in homeschool. I had a cassette tape of 6th grade poetry I showed Carol last night. She actually knew what a "tape" was and mentioned that she might like it for when she home schools Warren, but she wouldn't be able to play it.

At least she didn't say we were ancient! But, neither did she didn't jump at the offer that Rob made that she could take one of our many tape decks residing downstairs!

After looking through Ethan's poetry journal I was was really moved by some of his entries. I thought I would share a few selections from a 10 year old.

The ice covers the window
Like the current of a river
Held still in time

Through the woods they trudged,
the two boys walked together;
Close, as though not to get lost
whereas, seperation could be worse.
Together in a world
unknown to them.
Yet tried everyday by the common person.

I think this one is really profound.

"We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends"

2012-01-28T15:54:00.000-08:00

Or a lot of help!

My family and friends have been just wonderful this week! Calls, notes, visits, cards, dinners, trips to the orthopedic surgeon and a much needed visit to the Carina's, a wonderful young lady serving as Innkeeper this week, and a big package filled with yoga pants and valentine pj's from my girl in Atlanta!!

And it culminated in a call from two dear friends wanting to come over and play games with us, and keep us company on Friday night! So much fun!

We decided to play Scrabble. Rob and I needing to get our brain waves going, after not being able to bring up a word that we knew from 6th grade! The finger covering some of the board is hiding a word that I put on. I had certain letters and asked if that particular selection was a word. Colin looked it up and assured us it was a word. Unbeknowns to the rest of us, it was a very offensive word, and he suggested that we cover it before we took the picture. I still don't know the definition!

And Colin, who had never played SCRABBLE before, trounced us all!

And then it was on to speed Scrabble. Ann suggested we all play with one hand, so has not to have an unfair advantage over me. But I've been practicing all week doing things one handed, so I think the advantage was mine.

Then the three of them trooped over to 44 to set up for today's breakfast.

I think it's more than getting by......

WE'RE BORED

2012-01-24T11:01:00.000-08:00

NOT ME!!
I'm never bored. I have enough projects, ideas, books to read, notes to write, people to visit and places to go to keep me busy for years to come1

But the other 11 beings that share the space are completely bored.

You see we have had inches of ice recently, and layers of snow the last few weeks and it is seriously impeding activity around here.

We have forbidden Otis to play ball fearing that he might fall on the ice and break his hip. The only speed he knows is all out, full speed ahead and I want to return him to Jon in the spring in one piece. So he definitely has cabin fever!

Meanwhile, the "ladies" of the barn are refusing to go outside in their yard. At first the 8 inches of snow probably would have buried them, and when I opened the door they all just backed away. None of that cold, white stuff was going to touch their skinny, bare feet and legs! Then the -20 degrees demanded that we close all doors and windows and turn the heat lamp on. Now they look at the sheer ice outside their door and have decided that they probably could not get enough traction needed to hop up the 18 inches to their door.

They're bored. Chickens are naturally inquisitive, but very skittish. The only interesting thing these days is to watch Otis' shadow as he walks back and forth across the outside barn door waiting for me to come out. I had grown large sunflowers this summer hopping to hang them from the ceiling of the coop to keep them occupied this winter, but silly me, I left them laying in the barn and in 2 days time the mice, squirrels and chipmunks devoured them. Live and learn!

These are the 4 new "girls". The white ones are just standard leghorns. While the brown ones are Ameracunas. One is laying the most beautiful blue eggs.
They haven't been named yet so I thought we might have some fun and name them now. For those who still follow this blog you know that the original 6 all are named after my Norwegian relatives. I've researched the family tree for more names which include:
Turid
Bente
Else
Solveig
Gun
Grete
Marit
Trude
Frida
Any suggestions welcome.

Although I an not bored, I have been sidelined. After navigating the ice successfully for over a week, I slipped and fell on Friday, fracturing my left wrist. I asked for a small cast in the ER but thet gave me a LARGE cast in the OR. My request was definately not granted. My friends have brought me flowers and dinners, and Rob has constructed this contraption to hold my arm up 90 degrees, night and day. I have taken my two arms and hands for granted for too long. One needs two hands for almost everything, including washing ones hands.

But I'm blessed. I get to have my hand and arm back in six weeks.

And as one of my friends reminded me....... it could have been my HIP!!!

Diamonds in the Trees

2012-01-15T18:09:00.000-08:00

This was our street as I was leaving home to go to church.

Winter finally has arrived, initiating us into the season by dumping 6 inches of snow after coating the trees with ice. It's like a winter wonderland here.

But driving home from church, on a back road lined with twenty huge hundred year old maple trees, I was treated to a spectaular show of glittering diamonds in the trees. The sun was out, the skies were clear, only a few wispy clouds on the horizon and the vista was sparkling. As the light fell on the thousands of branches the effect was breathtaking. I was entering a tunnel encrusted with sparkling jewels; diamonds. And around the edges were willows whose long thin branches were ribbons of silver, just waiting to be woven into some fine tapestry.

This past year as been the most difficult of my life. But driving home yesterday was a wonderful reminder of God's beauty and love. His creativity and joy in His creation. And His constant abiding love and faithfulness to me.

Fireworks...New Years Eve 2011

2012-01-06T06:05:00.001-08:00

I've seen fireworks before.

But nothing like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI4TTcbOK3g

We were in Dubai for Christmas and New Years. Jon is working there this year at the Meydan stables and race track. The royal family's stable of thoroughbreds for racing.

His apartment is right across the street from the Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world, and also the sight of the worlds 2nd best fireworks for New Years Eve. I understand Sydney, Australia has #1.

We decided to walk over to the park and find a spot to enjoy the evening. So glad we got the car in it's parking spot early, the highways became one big parking lot and people were pouring in from every street. New Years Eve seems like more of a family event in Dubai. As we got situated in our spot we were surrounded by groups of families, multigenerational, including infants and older grandparents.

Our information said the fireworks would start at 11:00pm but that obviously was wrong. We were kept entertained though by the fountain shows every 15 minutes. Dancing streams of water in perfect harmony with the wonderful variety of music that was broadcast.

But at midnight everything stopped, darkened and then exploded.

And as I watched, I felt like crying. It was strange. As the fireworks exploded from the top downward, and off from the sides and around the ground, and the music rang in my ears and the water fountain danced with joy; scriptures started exploding in my spirit.

And I sensed God's very real presence in that country so far from anything that was familiar, at a very secular event.

Zephaniah 3:17, a scripture that I had been meditating on, became living and real. "The Lord thy God in the midst of you is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing". The music combined with the flashes of light and booming sounds overwhelmed me with a consciousness of how much God loves us and rejoices over us.

Scriptures from Revelation flooded into my mind......"out of his throne prodeeded lightnings and thunderings and voices", "worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Blessing and honor and glory and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever".

The fireworks in Dubai were just man's awesome show of power, engineering, inspiration and creativity. I don't think you can hear the music that was being played on utube, but it was beautiful. And this is just what man can do. We get a little glimpse of God in His power. He gave us just a little, after all we are made in His image, but it shows us how majestic He is. How powerful, mighty, awesome, holy and strong He is. He is over all!

And He gave that all up so He could save us. So He could redeem us.

It's incomprehensible.

To God be the glory.

Traditons/New Adventures

2011-12-22T07:39:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

I love to decorate the house with all my wonderful decorations collected over the years. Snowmen, angels, trees of all shapes, sizes, and material.

And lights. My favorite. Candles in all the windows, twinkle lights on all the plate rails in the dining room and among the fresh greens which fill all the rooms. Light to remind us of The Light which shone in the darkness.

We will have a different Christmas Eve this year.

Our tradition is to eat an early dinner and get dressed in our Sunday best and head off to our Candlelight service at church. We've been doing this for 25 years (except one) and I'm going to miss our "family" with whom we celebrate this wonderful night. The church is dimly lite and candles are passed out to all. We sing lovely Christmas carols and hymns, selected children read from the Old and New Testament, telling us of the old familar story. The beginning of our redemption. We have special music performed by a select choir (Ethan, Rob and myself have been a part of for years), a reflective message about the reason we are celebrating, and the lighting of the candles in a dark church singing Silent Night. Then quiet hugs and love to all and a return home.

At home we gather in the living room, pass out hot chocolate and Christmas cookies, enjoy the Christmas Tree, and open one gift. Then off to bed, so Mom can put stockings on the couch, filled with love and a letter to each, refecting on the pervious year and casting vision for the next.

This year it will be different.

We will be in the desert. Jesus spent a lot of time in the desert; praying, fighting spiritual battles, walking through from city to city to heal, help and love.

I'm looking forward to our trip to the desert. The message will still be true and relevant and personal.

Jesus came to this earth as a baby......for me.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given" Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas to all who still read my blog. And I pray that Jesus is the Light in your life.

In Defence Of Winter

2011-12-10T10:04:00.000-08:00

Absolutely breathtaking this morning.

Winter.....and snow. And a clear bright sky with the glow of the morning sun.

It's beautiful. Even the chicken pen is draped beautifully with a soft white blanket, gently cascading over the netting and wire fence.

The snow fell softly, quietly last night. No mighty winds, so it lays serenely, nestled into the branches and as a dress among the spruces.

This morning I see remnants of Rob's footprints as he went back and forth from the Inn, feeding the chickens, creating a path for our guests. The snow is not so thick that I can't see the remaining Brussels sprouts in the garden, or the forgotten cabbages, destined for the chicken coop. And the garlic is still visible, sprouting way too early. Go back to sleep my precious fall planted commodity. You are supposed to be gaining strength quietly under ground. Many more months will pass before you should show yourselves.

This year we seemed to ease into winter. And sometimes it's best in small doses initially. We never know how long this year's winter will last. And I think it is wise that we just don't jump into -30 degrees. We have to do that gradually, with some experience. Winter in the North Country takes up over 1/4 of our lives. We do have four seasons but winter feels like it takes up the biggest part of the year.

But the first snow is lovely this year. Actually, beautiful. It turns the landscape monochromatic. A concept we embrace at Lintengard. And seems to turn the landscape into a memory of itself....just painted white, with touches of brown and green as accents.

But growth takes place in the winter. Just as growth takes place in our personal lives when we allow tough situations, personal failures, and tragedies to stretch us and mold us into what God has for us. The seemingly cold and barrenness of winter makes it feel like nothing is happening. But life goes on, under the ground. The foundation is being built and strengthened and fed. Winter is a quiet time. A time to reflect and anticipate. (I'm already thinking about all the brightly colored catalogs I will be receiving after the new year...prompting me to experiment with different seeds and veggies).

Winter is a time to drown out the chaos of summer and fall, and to hang onto what is true. If we allow it to, it reminds us of who we are and if we are really reflective, it compels us to realize what could be our full potential and embrace our divinely ordained gifts and graces. It's a time for excitement about possibilities and adventures. And a time to receive. God is good.

Winter

Thanksgiving

2011-12-02T17:54:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone! How could that be?

And we hardly had time to really give thanks and express our gratitude to God for our manifold blessings. We're already onto Christmas.

I wish we would change the date for Thanksgiving and move it to October, like the Canadians. It would give us more time to reflect and celebrate this wonderful holiday.

I am so blessed to live in this country. Really, I could have been born anywhere. I own a business, raise a flock of chickens, have plenty of food,(some of which I raised in my backyard garden), shelter and warm clothes for the winter. I was raised by wonderful parents who loved me and my sisters unconditionally. They taught me respect for authority and a love of family and God. We belong to a wonderful church community where we share our joys and sorrows. I have four wonderful children who are the light of my life (although they live too far away). Our neighborhood gives us wonderful friendships where we have parties out on our front lawns. And the North Country is a gorgeous place to live, all four seasons.

God has been good to us.

This is one of our Thanksgiving traditions. The Turkey Bowl. Every year Ethan organizes a tackle football game in the morning. This year one of the players is missing from the picture. Christian was stabbed in the face with a cleat while tackling Greg and had to go to the office for 9 stitches. Nose to lip! And turkey is his favorite meal.

Aunt June, 84, made it up from New Hampshire and Grandma and Uncle Don came over for our Thanksgiving feast: turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, homegrown mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole and butternut squash and apple casserole. Later it was pecan and apple pie. And of course whipped cream.

And now it is December 2. Our anniversary.

Wow!! We've been married 39 years! I've been married way longer than I was single.

And I am so thankful to be married to this wonderful man. He loves the Lord and me more than anything in the world. He is kind and considerate and thoughtful. He is honest and honorable, traits that are somehow missing in many these days. So many people around the community come up to me and tell me how great Rob is and they are so thankful for the care he has given them. I received a card from our neighbor the other day thanking Rob for the care for her husband. "John aways felt secure with your care. You took such an interest in his well being, and we are so grateful for that." And he has a folder in the office full of like cards. I'm proud of him and his skill. He is so generous, especially with our children, but whenever there is a need he is there with support. He can do anything.....carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, painting, wallpapering, antiquing furniture, car repairs, etc. He's quirky in a very endearing way and we have lots of stories that make us laugh when we remember some of his antics!
He's the smartest person I know, but I beat him in Scrabble the other day!

Yup! Married 39 years. But today is more than just our anniversary. It is more than just the present. It's a time for stuff.... a time to fit our soul for heaven, to love each other, to hear what God wants us to do today, to enjoy his creation, (even the impending winter with it's sounds of silently falling snow), it's a time for not just polishing the outside, but developing the inside.

Seeing beauty in everyday life.

It's Gone

2011-11-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

Yes, Fall is gone!

It hung on tenaciously this year in the North Country. It was warm, sunny and lovely way past our traditional fall. But, now it's gone.

Otis and I took a walk around Partridge yesterday and by the time we finished, it was snowing slightly and sporadically.

The grass is still green, but the fields are golden. The red, orange and yellow leaves have fallen, exposing bright purple and red berries. Winter food for birds and squirrels.

The milkweed pods have completely opened releasing their seed children on wings of white feathers. And the woods glisten white as the wind scatters them at will. New life next year.

And the cattails, sheding their sable mink coats, reveal tall plush brown sentinels that will stand guard over the marshes around the trail.

The white birches show their lovely trunks and branches, no longer hidden behind green bushes. And the remaining Canadian Geese are gleaning in the corn fields. Fortifying their bodies with the remaining kernels before flying south.

Fall is really lovely. A transition to a slower quieter time of year.

And this year it was magnificient.

November 8, 2011

2011-11-08T07:11:00.000-08:00

Remembering......

Christian

Rigmar Got Her Groove Back

2011-11-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

Yes, Rigmar is getting back her groove.

She is looking better, tail feathers growing back, She's gaining weight, she's off her perch in the coop and walking around the pen. She's out and about now and slowly integrating herself back into the group.

She's gaining weight because I've been hand feeding her the best scraps and shoo the other hens away when they challenge her right to have food.

And I've been taking her over to my fenced kitchen garden everyday so she can have hours of scratching, pecking, scavaging and eating the last of the brussel sprout leaves that are still bright green on their big stout stalks. All in peace!

But we had a scare yesterday. Just after I felt so good about getting her back into shape, I lost her.

Rob and I were supposed to go to our Supper Club event across the street. Before changing I had decided to take Rigmar back over to the barn with the other chickens. And there in the garden was a large grey cat. I let Otis out and he chased it fiercely, and it fled rapidly to the backyard and up a tree. I had one item to bring over to Litengard and when I returned, no Rigmar. ANYWHERE!

Rob came out and we searched and searched, for about 45 minutes, making us late for our engagement. All around the house, the bushes, the neighbors, under the house, in the garage back over at the coop. Calling her name, as if chickens respond to their names being called! No Rigmar. Sadly we decided that she must have been taken by a big hawk (too early for an owl). Loosing her after I had congratulated myself on nursing her back to health! A low blow and not much for my ego!

And then after I had changed and was over by the kitchen sink, down by the basement stairs.....there staggered out skinny little Rigmar. Looking dazed and confused but in one piece. I think she was glad to see me. She was willing to be caught and brought back to her safe environment. The cat in close proximity and the ferocious barking from Otis must have scared her away to a great hiding place.

And when all was quiet she came out.

But, no more kitchen garden for Rigmar.

Bullying at 44

2011-10-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it, but it's happening in my own backyard.

Bullying!!!

Poor Rigmar. First she sat in the nesting box for two months, just trying to have a family. She simply wanted some babies to mother, her instincts were kicking in.

But they looked askance at her then, and just tried to pretend she wasn't one of them. One of their flock! One of their group......engaged in that ridiculous behavior!

She gave up the notion of having babies and has tried to integrate herself back into the flock but, oh no!!!!!!

She began to molt.....first it was the feathers around her neck that were suddenly shed. But then all the beautiful long buff tail feathers began to appear on the floor of the coop. And gradually a lot of feathers around her body were gone and she looked like a shadow of her former self. A miniature of the rest of the flock.

She looks pitiful. And no pictures please, she would be mortified!

And they dislike her even more. They won't let her eat, they attack her if she tries to eat when they all eat. They chase her around the yard and peck at her. She has found a refuge in the top of the wall of the nesting boxes and stands there all day to avoid their fury.

But I'm for the underdog.....or chicken. I've taken to hand feeding her. She runs up to me when I speak with her. And since it has stopped raining I've taken her to the back fenced in kitchen garden and let her free range. She's gobbling up the Brussel sprout leaves and the beet tops. She scratching and picking up bugs in the dirt and finding a host of worms. And she is enjoying the sun and no BULLYING! Left alone and enjoying it.

I hope that when her feathers all grow back and she looks like the rest of the flock again, they will accept her back into the group.

Who knew that looks were that important to more species than ours!

I Have a Friend.....

2011-10-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

And her name is Fran.

I was here last week. In her part of the world. It was a beautiful part of the world last week. No humidity, temps in the high 70's, white soft sand, gentle waves caressing the shore, little sandpipers scurrying around on their spindlely legs, pelicans flying low over the surf and wonderful family and friends to share it with.

For some reason, Fran has chosen me.

That's what it feels like. She has hundred's of friends but somehow I feel like I'm a special friend. She was there when I was a self confident college student trying desperately to reject the gospel. She would invite my family over for dinners after church and they would talk about the Lord. When I received Christ, she took me under her wing and gave me a short course on the Old and New Testament. We sat for hours around her dining room table as she carefully explained the theme and purpose of each book of the Bible.

She wrote me notes. And continues to write me notes, and sends me packages. She visited me in Boston, in Pennsylvania and here in Upstate New York. She says I'm a blessing and inspiration to her but I think I'm just reflecting what she has poured into me.

When she turned 84, she wrote and told me how frustrated she was with herself. She thought she was getting lazy! This was after she just had a luncheon for 30, had a send off party for some people in their church who were moving away and then gave a talk at their CBS Bible Study group of over 200 ladies. Lazy? I don't think so.

This time my visit was to help my aunt celebrate her 89th birthday. She has received a difficult medical diagnosis and I wanted to be there for this birthday.

Fran and Dick came to dinner with Aunt June and Aunt Millie and Elizabeth. It was fun to be together. I brought eggplant and homemade sauce and we had some pasta. The next day when Liz and I picked her up to go to the thrift stores, she had made 4 bags of chocolate chips cookies, all packaged up with ribbon and smiley faces. One bag for each of us. And they were sitting on a platter which I shall next use at Litengard, cute white platter with small red flowers around the edge. She made me dinner one night, filet mignon! The day before I left she calld early in the morning. "How about a pedicure?" She wanted to treat me to a pedicure because my "little" (size 8 1/2) feet were working so hard at the Inn and for the family. So off we went to get pedicures.

Dick sent me this poem that Fran wrote. Their Bible Study group was asked to write a poem discribing their faith walk. She said her first thoughts were, "Am I rusting or am I trusting?
But here's what she came up with

Keeping On!

I wobble-I squabble
I act like a child
I react, I resist- that's putting it mild
I love my Lord. He's the love of my life
Oh, how I'd adore to be mature in his sight

I'm excited, ignited
Then inflated in turn
I know I'm his girl
Will I never learn?

But I love Him I do
So I'll just keep on
Heard Him whisper just now
"My child- Right on!"

I love her, I do!

Remembering

2011-09-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

There are certain days that are etched on our souls.

We can barely remember what happened yesterday but we can remember every moment of that day, and sometimes it is replayed in living color.

I can see myself, a high school student, passing through our outdoor halls, hearing about the assassination of JFK. We all just stood still for a moment, this could not be happening in our country and our life time. The shock and horror reverberated though the halls and classrooms of Horace Greeley High School. We were all so insulated from hardship, trials let alone a murder of our President.

Without any effort, I can see the day of November 8th unfold before my conscienceness. Every detail engraved on my being from the first phone call from Italy, to the Pastor arriving at our house, to the house spontaneously filling up with friends and neighbors, to the trip to the airport, to the airline attendant running out to buy a leather journal for me to write in, to Paris, to Italy, to running up the sidewalk to my wounded first born.

And September 11, 2001 is indelibly marked on my being.

None of my children were home. I had just finished my devotions, taken a shower and had turned the TV on while I got dressed. A couple of weeks before we had delivered Ethan, as a freshman, to Messiah College in Pennsylvania. Liz was working as a nurse in Boston, Jon was in Chicago and Christian was returning by bus from a trip south.

I remember saying, "Oh, God, this can't be happening. Please, please Father reveal yourself to these people and save them. Help them listen to your voice and acknowledge your son." I could not believe the newsman was still broadcasting in a relatively composed voice. I was crying for those people.

My next thought was my children. Where were my loved ones in relation to this act of horror. And what was coming next?

No one knew what the next target was. But shortly we found out that Boston was the next possible target and something was happening in Pennsylvania.

Surprisingly, I was able to get through to Ethan and instructed him to listen and follow any directions given by the college administration.

After many attempts to reach Elizabeth, I finally got through. She told me all medical personale in Boston were mandated to their hospitals and were not allowed to leave. They were expecting scores of burn victims to be flown into Boston for medical treatment. "And Mom, there are F 16's circling Boston" "Yes, honey but God is with you and you can do this. You are strong and capable, pray for direction and listen for the Holy Spirit's voice. And do all that you are asked to do." Sadly, there were no victims.

Chicago did not seem to be on anyone's radar, so I guess I felt that Jon was relatively safe. And Christian arrived home in the early afternoon. Relief.

Sometines we get bored with regular, ho hum days. Days when nothing spectaculor happens. We take for granted that our family will all be together on special days, will celebrate milestones and successes and provide comfort for disappointments and challenges. And yet each one is special. A gift.

I called Rob to the kitchen sink the other day. "Look, the male and female cardinal are at the feeder at the same time!" I never see that. Usually, the males goes in first and if it is safe, he flys away so his mate can come in and eat. I like to pretend that this couple is the same couple of cardinals that I see each year. They come back to me each spring and suprise me with their presence over our summer days. But I never see the together at the feeder. And yet, a wonderful present this fall. The two together before they disappear for the winter. Ordinary wonders. Special beauties provided each day by a loving and caring creator.

Even admidst tragedy, horror, sadness and grief......God is

Green Eggs and Ham

2011-08-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Actually, no.

No green eggs.

They are blue. I thought they would be teal......that's what the blurb said above the chicks at the farm store.

But since we are into soft grey/blues at Litengard that's what the eggs turned out to be.....grey/blue. They are just beautiful. One of the Ameracuna's is laying brown eggs (false advertising!!!), but the other is laying these beautiful light blue eggs. And they go so nicely, visually, with the brown eggs.

Jon wants to know how they taste. I tell him I'm still just looking at them. They are so pretty I don't want to crack them open and use them. But I guess I will have to get over their outside beauty and experience their Omega 3 nutrition shortly.

The gardens at Litengard and behind 42 are producing prolifically. I have about 12 heirloom tomato plants and everyday I make pasta sauce for the freezer. Danica put me onto this method last year. I roast up the tomatoes, garlic, onion, green peppers, all sorts of herbs and at different times anything else that I might have too much of such as zucchini, and eggplant. Put it through the food processor and it makes the most delicious pasta sauce.

I've been digging up loads of potatoes and I have a ton of winter squash, acorn, butternut, blue hubbard and then there were the volunteer pumpkins that just sprouted up in the most inconvenient places.

One of the guests at Litengard put me onto Lactofermentation as an alternative way of processing all the produce. It was the way ancient cultures processed veggies and the result is supposed to be very good for one's digestive system. I "did" up some green beans and cucumbers the other day. It's quick and easy, and I have heard it tastes great. They are fermenting right now on my counter. I'll let you know the results. Everything gets pickled. Nancy tried some shredded carrots last year and loved them. I've got lots of carrots and beets coming too.

These beans were sort of hidden behind the chicken wire so they grew to these ridiculous lengths (and are totally unusable). Thirteen inches! I wonder if that is a Guiness World record?

Growing things. It's a God thing. Babies, gardens, poultry, friendships, homes. It's put there by God and it's so much fun to work together with Him and see the results!

Rigmar Wants Children

2011-08-20T18:20:00.001-07:00

For almost three weeks now, Rigmar has sat in the nesting box.

At first I was concerned that she might be ill. But a quick call to the in house vet and a frantic email to her previous owner assured me that she was not in any physical danger or distress.

I was instructed that what she is doing is "brooding". She wants children. It's only natural. We all, (or most of us) want to have some children of our own. And I guess chickens are no different.

But she's pathetic now. When one of her friends lays an egg, she immediately goes and sits on it. "Maybe someone's eggs are fertile!"

I try to shoo her off the nest and get her to go outside, which she does but only grudgingly. Then, in a big huff and lots of clucking and noise, she races back to the coop, jumps inside and back in the nesting boxes.

The rest of the hens think she is crazy and are ignoring her. When she does get down briefly she puffs herself up to twice her original size and struts around making loud noises. The others think she's ostentatious and try to peck her so she's not so puffed up. They don't have the mother instincts yet.

But, what to do, what to do. I think she is really suffering. We take all the eggs each day and she is desperate. Maybe Mr. T., who reads this blog, can recommend something or can tell me where I might get a couple of fertilized eggs. Perhaps if she could hatch a baby or two she could revert back to her tender, quiet self.

But, maybe not. Children are sometimes more than we expect. They're cute and adorable as infants. Sometimes they're messy and sometimes demanding. They need to be taught manners and rules of home life. But they're certainly fun...and loving...and inquisitive...and imaginative....and complicated....and....
absolutely lovely.

I think that is so in the chicken world too. There is a certain order to their living out there in the barn. A pecking order, so to speak. So if Rigmar ever gets to hatch a chick or two, we'll see how she handles motherhood.

And In A Flash........

2011-07-23T11:52:00.001-07:00

Litengard was once again a Bed and Breakfast. After two wonderful nights of lovely music.

We hosted an "Evening of Favorites" this past Thursday and Friday. The Inn's parlor was transformed into a theater of sorts, with rows of white chairs, stage lights, a platform stage, the sound system, the audience and four fantastically talented musicians. These four musicians could perform anywhere in the US, but Canton was the venue for this performance.

We all were treated to so many fun favorites! Show tunes favorites, movie favorites, pop favorites and great Patsy Cline favorites. The audience, I don't think, wanted the show to come to an end. It was so much fun!

And during the intermission, gourmet desserts were served with coffee and a variety of iced teas, the favorite being pomegranate wild berry tea.

We had about 30 white chairs in the parlor and seating for several more on the couch, and of course there was standing room for those that had other responsibilities that night.

The guests were encouraged to go out onto the front porch to enjoy their desserts. A favorite past time, sitting on one's front porch, watching the neighborhood go by.

Or others could go to the back patio, to enjoy the backyard with the gardens full of tomato plants laden with tons of fruit and the lovely ladies (hens) who were very inquisitive about who all these people were. And many people wanted a tour of the barn with it's livestock. It's not often anymore one encounters chickens in the village

Darlene and Carina singing a duet. Their voices compliment each other so well. We all could have listened for many more hours!

And Ana Hull made the most amazing desserts! Each night there was a completely new menu of desserts all served by lovely ladies and fun aprons which were well coordinated with Litengard's colors.

Albany

2011-06-24T16:34:00.001-07:00

We arose at 4:00am.
And left at a little after 5:00am.
There were 12 of us. Our foray to Albany. To protest the Same Sex Marriage Act being voted on that day by the Senate. And we came to pray.

And we arrived in Albany around 9:30am, just in time to join with others to pray for our state senators and their decision, for or against this bill.

We brought home made signs. The gay community had commercially made signs.

We met David Tyree, an avid proponent of tradition marriage.

There were lots of media there, the AP, local new stations, regional and national stations; filming the protesters, taking interviews on both sides.
We were instructed to gather on both sides of the senate chambers as the senators went in and out.
This was the first time for most of us to stand up for a cause and make our view known as a group of Christians and concerned citizens. We've protested abortion in our local communities, this was the next step forward.
The government should not be the agency to change the definition of marriage. It's consequences would be felt in every area of our lives, socially, morally, economically, religiously.
I was proud of our little group. We stood proudly, acted responsibly, showed love and stood our ground. And most importantly, we prayed. For most of the seven hours that we were in the capital.
And I'm glad that I went. Our voice was heard. They tabled the vote for that day. Hopefully, prayerfully, New York will not be the sixth state to embrace the Same Sex Act.

Father's Day

2011-06-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

It's Father's Day today.

And we don't have fathers anymore. But Rob is a father to our four wonderful children, so we carry on the tradition.

It's actually a wonderful day to take the time to remember and honor our dad's. To think about all they have been to us, and appreciate their dedication to the family.

My children are so blessed to have grown up surrounded by men of honor and integrity. Something missing frequently in our present day world of compromise. They have seen in action what it means to be a dad, a good dad. Someone who is loyal and kind, honest and firm, godly and compassionate. They have seen three men who have had to make hard decisions, difficult choices, and keep their commitments to their families, their work and to their Lord. My boys have good role models.

My sisters and I grew up with a Dad that was the head of the family, and loved his "girls", which included my mom, unconditionally. He was so talented, a B-17 pilot, and captian in WWII, flying 35 missions in Europe and bringing his crew and formation back safely every time.....although many of the plane limped back to England. He had a jazz band from high school, where he met my mom at a high school dance where he was performing. He married when he returned from the war, became a flight instructor, then back to New York to get a position in the bank. He went to night school on the GI bill at Columbia. And when I was in high school he was still going to school, getting his Masters from Brown. He was a hard worker, working three jobs to provide for his family. He eventually became the president of the bank and on the board of directors. A plaque of honor sits on Ethan's desk now, commending my dad for his service to the bank, and the community. He was known for his honesty and integrity in the business world. He had many positions in the church and audited the CMA's books each year for quite a while. And he always planted a big vegetable garden. If anyone needed any help, he was there and could be counted on.

But one of my favorite rememberances of him was his dedication to my mom. She had Alzheimers for about 10 years before she died. It was difficult. At first he tried to commensate for her. But eventually, my sister, the non medical person said, "we've got to take mom to the doctor, there's really something wrong with her". It was difficult and not easy to care for her. She was not herself anymore, she was angry and beligerant at times, frightened at other times. She would run away and get lost. He took over the cooking, something he never did before. He did the washing, the house cleaning and the shopping. And the getting her dressed, which was actually funny sometimes. One Sunday she came out all dressed and I looked at her and said....Dad, I think you put her dress on backwards! So off they went to the bedroom to turn it around.

But every day he would tell her how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. He would not leave her, because, at the end, he was the only one she sort of recognized. That's honor and integrity. It's not the way they hoped they would end up but he was loving and kind to the very end.

I appreciate my Dad for the way he lived his life. I can be proud of him, not only for his achievements but for his loyalty to his family and his love for his wife. I think I can hear the Lord say to him...."Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Thanks, Dad. You showed us the way.

Three Celebrations

2011-06-14T18:31:00.001-07:00

Our Birthday group celebrated three different occassions today...

I usually have a birthday party for my friend, Ann, sometimes at camp, sometimes at 42, but today we celebrated at Litengard. She loved my chickens and went home with 9 hard boiled eggs. I tried to make deviled eggs, hard boiled them but when I tried to peel them, they were impossible. I've never made deviled eggs before and I used ultra fresh eggs (just layed right before boiling). I didn't realize that I should have plunged them in ice water after they boiled. The shells were sticking like glue to the whites so they were not coming out so pretty. I did learn a lot of tricks for when I hard boil eggs in the future though, and Ann went home with eggs to make egg salad. She was happy.

My other friend, Anne, is from Canada and has recently become a citizen here. We celebrated with flags, red, white and blue candles, ribbons and we all sang the Star Spangled Banner with Lee Greenwood. She gets to vote now!!

Our other friend, Mayme, is moving to Maine at the end of the month. We're sad to see her go but have enjoyed her friendship for the last couple of years.
It was fun to all get together today. There were 11 out of the 14 who usually get together for our birthdays. We caught up on weddings, new jobs, children's activities, future wedding plans, gardens, books read, and vacations.
We've been doing this for 10 years now. Friendship. Love. Concern. Enjoyment. Fun!

Memorial Day........On the Farm

2011-05-30T17:59:00.001-07:00

We had a short video at church yesterday about Memorial Day. A day to remember those soldiers who have died in active duty. It's been four years but I could not look at the pictures of Arlington. It was like opening up a wound. Too many memories that are still too vivid.
But......

It was a beautiful Memorial Day here in upstate New York.
It actually felt like summer here. And for most of the holiday weekend, we worked on the "farm". Ethan came up from New York City, where it was beautiful and Aunt June came to visit for the weekend from New Hampshire.

Went to Lowes today and got supplies for fencing in part of the side yard at 42. Christian mowed the Litengard lawn, finally the rain stopped long enough to mow. And boy was it a job...had to go slowly and empty the bag frequently. And then he and Rob began putting in posts for the new yard for the babies. Only four will go over, two are roosters and will continue in the barn until it is time for Christian to take them to the Noble Farm for their ultimate future......which will be on our dinner table.

Ethan was home for the weekend and participated in making a deck floor for the prefab chicken "barn". Unfortunately the completed chicken barn picture did not get inserted so I will have to show you the "barn" on another post.

I planted my some of my tomatoes, after attending an auction briefly with adopted neice Carol. Rob is stabilizing the wire tomato cages made by his dad years ago. Hope my tomatoes are as magnificent as they were last year. I did get a couple of new heirloom varieties and I'm anxious to see how they do.

Ethan modified a new raised bed for me that is located behind the barn at Litengard. Hope to have my cauliflower over there.

Aunt June met the chickens and collected the eggs each morning, just like she did when she was a girl. She's always busy and looking for projects. She helped construct the new chicken "barn", weeded, and dug some plants to bring home to New Hampshire. She strung my netting for the peas, and helped plant the tomatoes. At 83 years old I think she is doing great!

Finishing Strong

2011-05-26T18:52:00.000-07:00

As my eyes scanned the titles of the books on the shelf, they stopped at this one.

I"m looking for a book to read in the morning as part of my devotions.

Finishing Strong.

Yes, that was what I always wanted to do.
Finish strong.

And now, if I go by national average I'm inching up to the finish line. But, if I live to be 100 years I'm only ten plus years beyond half way.

I take the book out. It is a book from Christian's library. A book I spotted when Liz was sorting through and packing up. "Can I take this one?" "Sure".

He had such a varied interest in books. But the thing that I loved was that he was interested in being better, learning more, and applying knowledge. I know that I have told you this before but when I went downstairs to "his" room in Italy and saw the book about developing a good marriage opened by his lounge chair, as if he just got up from reading, I knew that he was and would have been a wonderful husband and father.

Finishing Strong.....it's a book for men. It's about going the distance for your family. But why can't I read it? Us girls want to finish strong too.

So I open the cover and begin to read.

The Priority of finishing strong. So few do, finish strong. We need to make it a priority. Oh sure, we all finish. But what will we look like? So many road blocks, wrong turns, and just plan lack of endurance. Finishing strong requires some things...., grit, determination, a vision and finishing power. And most of all the time devoted to developing a moral and spiritual character so that no matter what comes up or at you, you can continue on with the Lord.

Steve Farrar talks about the perils to finishing strong. Lots of perils. Sin can shipwreck ones life. Spending more time on externals rather than the eternal. A person's character not keeping pace with their accomplishments. Being unteachable and unaccountable.

And the prototypes of a stong finisher. I have many older women in my life that have been a prototypes of a stong finisher. One of my good friends, Fran, is 83. I called her on Mother's Day and she was lamenting to me that she is sometimes so frustrated with herself because she feels herself getting lazy. "WHAT?" Now this woman taught 1st grade Sunday school every week until last year. For twenty five years she did a monthly meeting on Women of the Bible. She was the area director of CBS for the whole south east until a couple of years ago. When I visited her in South Carolina this past spring she gave a reception for another lady in ministy for 40 people in her home. And then two weeks later had 30 ladies from church over for lunch. She sends out about 25 birthday cards to different friends each month and calls me every birthday and sings to me. She was the lady who sent me a "care" package every week when I was in Hope Lodge. She loves the Lord and people. She's modeled finishing strong for so many girls. I want to be like that.

I want to live out this verse from I Corinthians 16

"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong"

And from I Timothy"

"And I thank Christ Jesus my Lord, who has enaabled me, for he counted me faithful"

Be Still and Know........Work, Work, Work

2011-05-18T08:39:00.001-07:00

There is a tension to Spring.

As we emerge out of our winter slumber, filled with images of whiteness and brown barrenness, we want to stand still and see the restorative creation taking place around us.

But.......

There are chores, that have to get done.

Porches to sweep and wash.
Furniture to set out for the summer.
Storm windows to remove and store and screens to wash and set in.
Gardens and borders to rake.
Grass to mow.
Patios to sweep and set up.
Manure to secure for gardens.
Seeds to start in greenhouse.
Gardens to till and plant.
Driveways- sweep the winter sand away.
Pots to drag out, fill and set in respective places around house and garden.
Air conditioners to install.
And on and on the chores go....

But what my soul, and sometimes my body, wants is to be still....
And see, observe the emerging life from deadness...
and the resurrection of new spring life.

How could it be that the snow covered that ground only days ago and now I see that one green shoot emerging from the ground. Everything looked dead, but there was life growing underneath.

I wish I could sit one day and watch my peonies....because they seem to grow about 6 inches a day. Would I actually see that slow but steady ascent and that almost miraculous development of that beautiful bud? That magic seems to happen at night, and in the morning we are treated to new hope, new life and new expectation.

The crocus, daffodils and now the tulips are almost finished here. It actually has been a long season for them this year. The hostas are unfurled, the peonies are over 2 feet tall and loaded with buds. The lilacs have emerged and are scenting the air.

And while standing on the porch last weekend enjoying the blossoming life, I saw a hummingbird. I thought it was early, they are already back from South America. Now there's determination for you. And as I think of them romantically, my cardinal couple, are back in the neighborhood. He's always first, his bright red feathers glowing, assessing the situation before allowing his mate to proceed. They always travel together. Whenever I see one, I patiently look for the other.....they are never far away from each other. Sort of like my mom and dad. And the bird feeder is full of goldfinches, so sweet and little. How did you survive the winter? And if I'm really quiet I not only hear the Piliated Woodpecker but I can see his large red head extracting unsuspecting bugs from the tree trunk. Now to see the Bard Owl in the large spruce behind Litengard.

Spring is for standing still. For observing with wonder God's grace, and beauty, and love. God resurrecting things that seemed to be dead and gone. No not really gone, just for a season. Out of sight.

But now that magnificent explosion of all shades of green, of life, of color and hope. Of new plants and once seemingly dead, seeds, lying dormant in a package...now they burst forth from the ground and shortly we will be munching on peas and beans, and those tiny sprigs of lime green will be nourishing carrots and beets.

Spring is a wonder. It's a hope and a joy.

Our spiritual life is a bit like spring. We do have to work, oh not for our salvation, totally bought and paid for by Jesus. But we do have to work to put God's word in our hearts, to reach out to our neighbors and friends and be Jesus's hands and heart to them. We need to work to be still and meditate and pray for our family, our villages and our country, God's work here and abroad.

But isn't it wonderful to sit back and enjoy God's creation, to see Him work in our lives and in the lives of our family and friends, to experience God's gifts he's given to those around us and to bask in the beauty of Spring!

"Be still and know that I am God,"

To Raise Us From The Grave

2011-04-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

Easter has come and we have celebrated.......the greatest day in history, empty cross and empty grave. Death were is your string, grave where is your victory?

Hope is here, now. Present with us day by day, hour by hour.

I love this scripture in I Peter 1:3-5

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you. Who are guarded by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

We have been begotten to a living hope, something that is real and lasting by Jesus's resurrection from the grave. And our reward for that is that we, those of us who call on the name of Jesus, have an inheritance waiting for us. An inheritance which is better than money, houses, property, jewelry, cars or anything else that will eventually fade away.

And besides that it is reserved in heaven for us, and we are guarded by the power of God. And we extend our faith towards that hope and God keeps, guards and encourages our faith at all times.

Really, really wonderful.

Elizabeth and Jon did not get to come home for Easter, they both work at jobs where their responsibilities don't understand that Easter is a holiday. I think Jon spent the day in the operating room, and Elizabeth helped take care of the 40 premies that need love, attention and sometimes a miracle. But she did get to come home a couple of days later and get to see her lovely spread of daffodils and many of her good friends around the area.

We did get to celebrate with Ethan and Christian and Grandma and Uncle Don. We ate Easter dinner at Litengard, on Grandma's dining room table. I love that front room at the inn with the ceiling to floor windows. The ham, from Oscars, was perfect and we did have left over birthday cake from celebrating Ethan's birthday the evening before with friends from Madrid.

So all in all, it has been a wonderful week. I was blessed to see youngest and oldest of my human peeps. And we celebrated a birthday and a resurrection.

Memories.

The Upgrade

2011-04-18T13:48:00.001-07:00

The "girls" got a bit of an upgrade recently.

So they will no longer be the "girls". We have to refer to them as the "ladies".

And the word coop will no longer be appropriate. It is now the "residence".

We had to raise the top of the nesting boxes. Our layers must be quite a bit larger then the previous hens who utilized the current nesting boxes. Our ladies were a bit large to fit into the previous model of boxes so we raised the roof to enable them to get in easier. I don't think they are offended at my evaluation of their size. They seem to strut around proudly displaying their plumage.

They needed more light. Chickens need 14-16 hours of light to produce eggs at a regular rate. The current coop did not have any electricity so my resident electrician rectified that situation and wired up the coop. And since we already had an old chandelier stashed in the barn we thought we would use it.

But now you can see that they no longer respond to the "girls".....but have taken on an aire about themselves and demand greater recognition.

We're having way too much fun with these chickens.

A Sacredness.......

2011-04-07T15:40:00.000-07:00

"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness but power. They speak more eloquently that ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love."
Washington Irving

Reflecting on life this morning, I say this is true.

Overwhelming grief at the loss of a life so young and the possibility of a wonderful new family filled with adventure, love, stories, vacations and children. The loss of a sister not old enough to go and parents who were so special.

Deep contrition over actions and inactions. Over words said and words not said. Over sin and self focus.

And unspeakable love.....That my God has for me and I for Him. A love so bold and deep that my Savior gave His life for me. A husband's love experienced and a fountain of love; so strong, so powerful, flowing continuously to four beautiful, wonderful blessings.

Our First Dozen

2011-04-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

The first dozen have already been secured.

Actually I have around 16 eggs now, all since Monday. The girls are good producers. I think they like their new home

Rob actually got home before 10:00pm last night, so he wanted to see how I "put the girls to bed for the night". I showed him my little routine and when he went into the coop he found an egg. He was so excited to get his first egg!

My first dozen.

My neighbor, Anne, thought we should name the girls. When I told Aunt June about naming the chickens she said they should have Norwegian names. We thought about that, looked on line for Scandinavian names, and then decided on some names that we were familiar with from our family.

This is a Rhode Island Red and we named her Gurli.

This is a Golden Laced Wyondotte, we named her after my great grandmother, Gurine.

Astrid is our Golden Comet. She is the smallest of our flock, just like my grandmother who was the most petite in our family.

Brigitta is the name for our Delaware.

Then we have the twin Buff Orphingtons who now are called Rigmar and Borghild.

For those of you not familiar with Norwegian names these may seem like tongue twisters. But we are following the theme of our new enterprise, even to our chickens. Actually, I have recently become aware of some heritage chickens from Sweden, Swedish Flower Hens. They are a bred that have been found in some remote villages of Sweden and have been brought over here to the USA to keep the bred going by conscientiously breeding and raising flocks. They are very pretty, and maybe if my experiment goes well I get a few someday. Well see.

Meanwhile, I'm having fun with my little group of cluckers.

The First 24 Hours...A Saga

2011-03-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

The girls are here......and we survived the first 24 hours.

They came at dusk, around 8:00pm, on Sunday.

Rob and I had worked the weekend on getting the coop ready, the nesting boxes modified and attached to the wall, the bedding spread, the roosting bars made and secured, the waterer and feeder in place and filled, and we built an outside pen so they could roam and scratch a bit.

After we got them settled in their new home, Rob had to go to the office to do some work. When he came home aroung 10:30pm, he said the girls were all roosting and everything seemed calm. How cute! He had gone in with a flashlight to check and see if they were doing okay before he came home.

And on Monday morning they had their first visitors. They seemed very happy with their new diggs and were very friendly and inquisitive with all the new faces. We have 1 Delaware, she is white with a bit of black and she seems the most standoffish, 2 buff orphingtons, they are both the largest and friendiest of the group, 1 rhode island red who is dark brownish red, 1 golden comet who is the smallest and 1 golden laced wyondotte who is brown with black markings and green tips on her wings...she's the prettiest and my favorite.

And on Monday afternoon we had our first egg.

And on Tuesday we had four.

We had a bit of a scare and calamity of errors on Monday afternoon, but all turned out okay. I had spent the morning entertaining visitors. Christian came with Roger and I immediately put him in the house so Christian could see the hens. I had to spend much of the afternoon with the tech guys on some issues with my bed and breakfast software. Rob had some banking he wanted me to do and I noticied it was getting near to closing time so I rushed back home and got my things together to go out, got Roger and put him in the car and off we went. After some additional errands in the next village we headed home and I realized that Roger had not been out for a walk for most of the day so I knew he was anxious to go out. We got home and I just opened the door for Roger to leave without thinking and off he raced to the chicken coop. I jumped out of the car to chase after him not realizing that I had not put the truck in park, and I could not get back fast enough to stop the slow steady movement right into the support columns of the open porch next to the garage. By that time, my friend Dave, who had been working on the house next to Litengard ran over to tell me that the chickens were out, having jumped the 5 foot fence and were in the neighbors bushes. Then he saw the truck and the semi collapsed roof of the porch.

"Are you okay"? Yes, I was fine but, oh no, my first day on the chicken job after getting special permission from the village and they are already out and about the neighborhood!

It turned out that it was just one, my favorite, the golden laced wyondotte. We secured Roger in the house and went hunting for the loose chicken. We went around the neighbors house several times until he came out and asked what we were doing. "Looking for a chicken" we said. "A chicken?" "Yes" was our only reply as we continued to look everywhere. And then I spotted her, crouched under a bush, almost invisible.

Dave who had chickens when he was growing up said he would get her and he lunged for her and she squirted right out of his hands.

And there we were, the two of us adults, chasing this poor little chicken all around main street, desperately trying to keep her out of the traffic. We finally got her headed back onto our property and towards the barn. Once she got in the barn, Dave ran around to the back and opened the coop door and in she went.

Whew! Safe and sound and no fatalities. The books make it sound so easy.

Dave came back to the house and went to work on getting boards secured under the roof to brace it up until we could get the jacks out and the posts back up. Two came down in tact but one, not so much. I was so glad that Dave was there and knew what to do. He's worked so much around our house that he just got the equipment and went to work, however we could not find the big silver jack that could have solved the problem then and there.

However, now that the posts are down....perhaps I'll do something else with that space. Is that called making lemonade out of lemons?

But today was uneventful!

Ends of the Spectrum

2011-03-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I worked for hours, side by side a seven year old boy.

Friends of ours who have a farm and greenhouse, had received 1100 flower plugs and they all needed to be transplanted into six packs. It was fun to get back into the dirt this early in the season. The heaters and fans were on and it was nice and toasty in the greenhouse.

My seven year old friend had been working before I arrived. This was his family's business. He did one job and I did another. And sometimes we switched jobs.

He was cheerful and worked steadily. He never complained or wanted to take a break. He occasionally ate a cracker and offered some to me. His dad came and offered some suggestions and corrections to him and he accepted them cheerfully. As I asked him various things about the farm he regaled me with funny stories. He told me things about some plants that I was surprised a seven year old knew about. And he was plenty knowledgeable about the different animals on the farm. His mom needed him at the house for a couple of hours and so he disappeared only to re emerge back at the greenhouse to continue his job.

I had to leave shortly after he returned but I asked him if he could show me the new piglets in the barn. He took me all around the barn and introduced me to the various animals, pigs of all ages, three young cows, hens and a rooster which he bravely shooed away. Then he picked up a pail and said he had to water the chickens, his main responsibility. So he lugged a pail one third filled with water up a hill to the chicken house. Upon seeing all the chickens in a large fenced in area I asked him how many laying chickens were at the farm. "Oh, about a hundred." Like that was nothing at all. Seemed like a lot to me.

He then hopped up into the chicken house, replenished the water and started to collect the eggs. That was his job, part of his chores on this family farm.

Needless to say I was impressed with this seven year old. He had poise, a great personality, a cheerful disposition, a great work ethic and a love for the rest of his family, younger and older. I was smitten. I don't think I know another seven year old like him.

That evening, Rob and I went to a concert at Hosmer Hall. The legendary jazz guitarist was performing and Rob had been given tickets as a Christmas present. Bucky Pizzarelli is 85 years old and he was amazing. He has played in bands with Benny Goodman and Frank Sinatra. He as done concerts at the White House and Carnegie Hall. He has toured the world with Benny Goodman, Zoot Sims, Benny Carter, Barney Kessel and Charlie Byrd. In 2005 he was elected to the Jazz Hall of Fame. We both said my dad, who was a jazz pianist himself, would have loved the concert.

So my day went from the very young to the very old. And they were both amazing. I guess it goes to show you that age doesn't matter. We can be productive when we are young and we still can be creative, inspiring and entertaining when we are old. Two ends of the spectrum.......with a great many years in between.

It's a Miracle!

2011-03-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

It's a miracle!!!

Except it happens every year, just when you least expect it!

Just when you think that you can't stand one more freezing cold, dreary day. Just when you think that you can not stand more drop of snow, scrapping the car windows, shoveling one more shovel full of snow, one more day of layering, bundling up and putting on ugly winter boots and hats which scrunch the hairdo, scarfs and gloves . Just when you decide that bears have it right and it is smart to hibernate the whole winter.

Just then, out of nowhere, there is a sunny bright day; almost 60 degrees. And they appear.

After months of rock solid frozen ground, their vast energy has pushed up themselves up to over three inches and they won't be stopped. Everything wasn't dead, just storing up energy to surprise us when we need it the most.

Nothing yesterday. But today I'm seeing signs everywhere. The crocus are up, the snowdrops are ready to flower, the daffodils are sprouting fine strong leaves, the hyacinths are peeking up through cold hard brown dirt. And everything is changing.

It was always still there. Just hiding for a while.

We've turned the corner I think. And the best is yet to come. We see the promise

Precious in His Sight......

2011-02-28T09:05:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine died on Friday night, around 10:30pm.

We had actually thought we might go to visit her at her daughter's house in Bennington, Vermont on Saturday. Rob called Joan's daughter to see if that would work for them but was told that Joan would probably not last the night. So she put us on speaker phone and we both spoke with Joan. Her daughter told us that her eyes lite up when she heard our voices and we could hear her trying to make some sounds but she had not been able to communicate for a few days. She died an hour later.

Joan and her husband, Dave, were actually first friends of my folks. They were of similar age and had come to know the Lord around the time that my folks were saved. Joan became a great prayer partner of my mom's for years. They would meet together at Peck Road once a week to pray for the church and their families.

But I have found, in the Lord, people are not just friends with their peers but become friends with people of all ages. Joan was in the choir when Rob and I sang in the choir so we were at many events together. My Dad always had an annual choir party at the end of the summer, food, croquet and badmitton and wonderful fellowship were all part of the event. Joan was a faithful devotee (as I was) of my other friend, Fran, and her ministry "Women of the Bible", a monthly look at different women in scripture. When my folks moved to Hilton Head, several other people from the church began making that island their new home too. Joan and Dave set up their homestead in a wonderful condominium in the same community that Aunt Millie lived. So we saw them often and maintained a warm relationship.

Our former "youth" pastor wrote this about Joan:

"Some people just always seem to have half their attention in the heavenlies even while on earth........Heaven is richer and rejoicing having received a wonderful worshipper".

It will seem strange when I visit Hilton Head not to see Joan. Dave will be back to reestablish the ministry that they had on the island. Even in their eighty's they were still "serving" the Lord faithfully. All her firends will miss her but we know...........that someday we will all be changed.

And reunited.

February

2011-02-14T16:41:00.000-08:00

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul- and sings the tunes without words and never stops at all." Emily Dickinson

February inspires one to poetry, with Valentines Day right in the middle of the month.

And in February we need hope.

Hope that February will release it's grip on us and propel us forward into a more hospitable environ. One with sunshine, softness, and gentleness of spirit. One without layers and boots, scarfs and frozen fingers and noses. One with pointy shovels and not straight edged shovels. And one with green tender shoots, brown dirt and colors other than white and grey.

February is half over. And we are determined to make it through.

Thank goodness. We have had enough snow and extremely cold weather.

But I've been thinking about my last couple of February's. They have been eventful.

Two years ago, (almost hard to believe it's been that long ago) Elizabeth and I were treking down to Manhattan at the beginning of February for the making of my mask and my simulation. Yes, I was a bit like Hannibal Leckter for a couple of months there. A mask conformed to my face was made and on a daily basis I would be bolted down to the table, so as not to move a muscle, and receive the 5 shots of radiation to the affected areas. I spent February and March living in Hope Lodge and making daily subway runs to Memorial Sloan Kettering. We developed a family on the ninth floor at the Lodge and sadly I'm the only one left from my months there. After my last treatment they asked me if I wanted the mask to take home. I thought that would be a bit goulish but Ethan was disappointed in not being able to see it.

Last February we were visiting 44 East Main almost everyday, thinking, planning, praying, investigating possibilities of making it into a bed and breakfast. February saw us put a purchase offer in and buy the property with an ambitious goal of opening in July. For the next few months, while our wonderful contractor demolished, gutted, and then reinventing, Elizabeth and I were frequenting bathroom showrooms, ordering fixtures, tile, vanities etc, picking out paint colors, looking at fabric swatches for reupholstering common room furniture, going to auctions, antique barns and flea markets, painting furniture, developing websites and business cards and business plans. Last February passed by without us noticing.

Rob's dad was born in February and he would have been 98 this year. We miss him here. He was strong and tenacious and full of the Word of God.

This past weekend we celebrated Valentines Day at the Inn a few days before the 14th. We had red roses, red cloth napkins with hearts, poetry books about in case someone wanted to recite some verse, heart cookies in the afternoon and plenty of chocolates in each room. While it was freezing outside it was warm, loving and tender in.

This February has been a month of music. Rob and I went to an Emanuel Ax concert were he performed an all Schubert concert. He was amazing. And another afternoon we heard baroque music, Handel's Water Music performed by the Orchestra of Northen New York, harpsichord and all. It was beautiful.

This week I am trying out two new french toast recipes. Since my "boys" are not here to be the official guinea pigs, I have asked two of my friends to come for brunch and be food critics. I'll let you know how the adventure turns out.

On the 22 of this month I will find out if the village will approve my request to have a small flock of hens in the barn at the Inn. It has the original chicken coop with the original nesting boxes. We'll see, but I think it would be fun to have eggs fresh from the barn each morning.

And we shall see what next February has in store for us.

The possibilities are endless........

The Auction

2011-01-29T19:07:00.000-08:00

I went to an auction today.

Actually, the first one since Elizabeth and I were constant auction goers last year. It's fun to have an auction buddy.

This was a big auction. And they only auctioned off half of the contents of his houses.

He was a local big wig. A restaurateur and avid collector.

And it seemed like he collected a variety of things, from upholstered furniture, to gorgeous wood dressers and sideboards, pictures and portraits, glassware and china, large room size rugs, old book collections, museum sized mirrors, children's rocking chairs, tables of all sizes (especially nice drop leaf tables) etc., etc., etc.

I was interested in the old barn door with gorgeous hardware. The back door to our barn at 44 is composed of wooden planks nailed in place. Actually there is no door and I want a working door back there, especially if I get my chickens this spring. The Amish were not at this auction so I thought I would be the only one interested in that big old door (who else would want a barn door, right?) but I was wrong and it went for much more than I was willing to pay. I hope it is going to be used on an old barn like I was going to use it.

But I did acquire a 9 foot waiting bench that used to grace the front of one of his restaurants. It will be an addition to Litengard's front wrap around porch this spring.

The auction made me a bit sad though. Here this man collected this vast variety of things all through his life and in one fell swoop they were being dispersed to people all around St Lawrence County, Canada and beyond.

Our possessing of our world, or our trying to, is surely a temporary thing. We stamp our ownership upon our surroundings, call them our own and give them new meaning and familiar names and places in our lives. We erect rooms and comforts and possessions and it is all swept away so quickly, so easily and so irreverantly. Many of us knew this man, but many had never met him and only had heard that his "stuff" (which was of good quality) was being auctioned off. Sad. All his collections gone, dispersed.

This world is not ours forever. We are just pilgrams here. Just temporary. Just care takers. Just journeying through to a far better place.

I don't want to hold my things too tight.

People, yes.

Things, no.

Arriving Daily

2011-01-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

As much as I love the Christmas season with all the decorations outside and inside, the mail keeps me occupied with other longings.

These lights and the wreath will remain for the winter and into the spring. They greet me cheerfully when I drive into the driveway and make me long for the day when I will put that little house to good use........starting seeds and nurturing plants.

Arriving daily are large glossy colorful catalogs. Filled with hopes and visions for the months to come. I already know what tomato plants I'm going to order for this next growing season: 'Mortgage Lifter", 'Nebraska Wedding' (great large orange beefsteaks with wonderful flavor),'Paul Robeson' (gorgeous purplish red),'Siberian' (fun for stuffing and baking), 'Camp Joy' (small red, cherry fruits) and a few new varieties that have yet to be selected.

I grew some potatoes last year and they were really fun. I didn't even know how to grow them but they produced. This year I'm hoping for great results now that actually know what to do. And Rob and built me a LARGE raised bed for that project. I have my eye on some red, white and blue options.

The eggplant, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower will again appear as well as the standard beans, peas, squash (winter and summer),beets and cabbage. I already have a big patch of asparagus going but I think I will have to wait one more year before I can actually cut some. And I planted lots of garlic in one of the raised beds at Litengard, now covered with straw and blanketed with snow. Just waiting....

They sure know when to send the catalogs......the days are shorter and cold. Darkness falls early and one has to spend a great amount of time indoors longing for light. So they send us catalogs to occupy our time, remember our past gardening successes and offer visual temptations to try planting things that just will definitely not grow in our zone, no matter how much we coax them along.

But I am enjoying the snow. It has been so beautiful this year. Soft and feathery, light and airy, dusting everything and then blowing away. Seasons are good!

Christmas Cleanup

2011-01-04T12:51:00.001-08:00

It didn't seem quite right but it was on the schedule of "to do's".

It is snowing quite beautifully today, but today was the day to remove the Christmas decorations at 42.

And once you start, you have to do the whole thing. So I tackled the Christmas decor removal today. Then the huge cleaning project....but that will happened tomorrow. I have had enough just bringing the bins outside and up into the barn attic.

I love the house when it's decorated for Christmas. The snowmen I've collected for years, the glass ornaments that I put on our family tree when I was a little girl, the lights and the candles, the swags, the creche from Italy, the ornaments from our travels. It's fun to get those things out every year.

We had one deviation from tradition....the "turkey bowl" which is usually played on Thanksgiving was played on Christmas, the snow didn't seem to bother either team. Also, we didn't open a gift Christmas Eve after the service because Ethan didn't get back until 10:30pm but we sat and talked for a bit and did have our traditional hot chocolate and cookies.

The window candles will remain for a bit and I'm leaving Litengard's decorations up too.

But there's something that's coming in the mail everyday now to press us to think forward. BIG, GLOSSY, COLORFUL SEED CATALOGS!!

And we begin to plan.

While the Time is Still Now

2010-12-30T09:04:00.000-08:00

Our birthday group had a Christmas lunch at Litengard. Soup. Kale soup and cauliflower soup with crusty bread.

Our purpose was for a Christmas cookie exchange. We made our family's favorite Christmas cookies. And distributed them on 12 trays.

Could we bring some Christmas cheer to the people at Maplewood?

There are 12 cottages at Maplewood. This is the new living concept for nursing homes now. It seems more like home. The dining room is just for 12 people and the food is not served on trays. People are able to have their own furniture in their semiprivate rooms, suites, bedrooms seperated by the bathroom. Some rooms had wonderful Christmas decorations. You could tell, things brought from home to remind them of Christmas's past.

It's nice. It's clean and new and a thoughtful concept.

We went for hours. We greeted and touched everyone. Some were in different stages of dementia. Others were perfectly sound mentally but physically debilitated, their families unable to care for them at home.

I spoke at length to one gentleman, 92, who had been a local farmer. He actually had 3 farms in the area, had moved out west but was visiting relatives here when he fell and fractured 3 vertebrae. This is his home now. I asked him about chickens. (Surprise, surprise) and he gave me some much information about caring for them. I enjoyed talking with him. He liked the cookies.

As we left I wondered what I had seen. And then I knew.

I had seen bravery.

I don't think any of these folks thought when they were young that they would end up in a nursing home. No. We don't plan for that. We plan for full, content lives, filled with family and pleasure, surrounded by comfort and love.

And I didn't see one angry person. I saw bravery, thankfullness, courage and dignity.

I saw this in my mom and dad. And I thought perhaps it was just because they were special. But I think it is the generation.

And I wondered......Is my generation brave?

Do we have integrity, honesty, compassion, dignity? How will we act when we get to be 90 and can not care for ourselves.

Is my children's generation brave? They been given everything.

And then I thought.....Am I brave?

I have to think about that.

Thanksgiving

2010-12-08T13:18:00.001-08:00

What I'm very THANKFUL for......

A new RUBBER roof! Yes, even though we had a "new" roof about six years ago, it never did the job......keeping out the rain and snow. We were supposed to get it done last fall but the coumpany was unable to do it. But it was accomplished this year thank goodness. There's nothing better than a secure roof, other than a fantastic foundation. Both are imperative!

We all went out to Lexington for Thanksgiving this year. It was so great to be together. Rob and I were there for a day before everyone else arrived. In the morning we got to go over to the clinic and see a colic surgery. Rob and Jon were in the OR and I watched from the observation window. It was fascinating! Just like a people OR but 10 times the size......especially the patient.

Then Jon's attending asked if we would like to go out to some of the farms with them. They had appointments to "scope" some horses that they were watching. It was so neat to watch Jon "do" his profession. The farms are magnificient in Kentucky. The barns slone would cause some of us to have house envy. These horses are pampered and treated royally.

We had Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant. It was different. We all agreed that turkey cooked at home is the best. My gravy is better and of course everyone thinks my stuffing is better. Lots of butter. But we all had a wonderful meal, lots of seafood, which I don't normally serve at Thanksgiving. And after dinner, Dad shared from the Word verses about being thankful, the purpose and the results of being thankful. We all shared what we were particularly thankful for this past year.

It wasn't all vacation, especially for Dad. He had to study. Some one asked me the other day.....Doesn't he know everything already? Well, almost everything but brushing up on a few things is always helpful.

We had lunch one day at the most fantastic place....Wallace Station. If you are ever in the Lexington area you must scout this place out and have lunch. The sandwiches were scrumptious. The boys and I had the "Racheal", grilled homemade thick crusty rye bread with turkey, swiss cheese, cranberry sauce, chopped red onion, thousand island dressing....I think there was more but it was so good. We had to travel about 20 minutes outside of town in the middle of nowhere, just horse farms, to find this place. And it was crowded, the whole time we were there people were waiting in line. Yum, yum! Could go there again that's for sure.

Our tour of the area took us to Keeneland which is a famous race track and where they auction horses. Jon explained the process to us. Would love to see that someday. Jen put a 2 dollar bet on some horse that was racing at that time in Yonkers. No, she bet on the wrong horse.

We also got to visit the famous "Horse Park" where they had just recently hosted the World Equestrian Games. The first time they were held in the United States. It's hundreds of acres of cross country, arena's indoor and outdoor, driving courses, and museums. Really wonderful to see.

And now we are home and preparing for Christmas. Only a little over a week and a half and we will all be together again. Thankful.

Fun

2010-11-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

This was a fun weekend at Litengard.

We have the most interesting people stay here.

On Thursday we had our first film maker. A British man who was doing a documentary for PBS on the Amish Also, there was a mom who was bringing her daughter to look at SLU as a potential college choice.

On Friday we had our second wedding couple. And two "older" gentlemen who had graduated from SLU in 1957. They had a small reunion with a couple of other fraternity friends. One of them arrived with a red beanie on his head. The same beanie they were required to wear the entire freshman year. They met the potential bride earlier in the day and went out and got her a card and gift which they placed in her room while she was at the ceremony and reception. So sweet! They were here for two days so we got to know them a bit during the breakfasts. The breakfasts went on for two hours! And it was fun to hear the conversations between all the diverse guests.

And on Saturday we had SLU parents and grandma who were attending the NCAA's soccer semi finals. They've been here twice before and we look forward to them coming back, especially when they bring grandma. She reminded me of my special grandma, nana to my children.

There are so many interesting people in this world. Glad they are making Litengard one of their destinations.

Older Woman

2010-11-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday someone called me an older woman.

I was shocked!

I thought I was 30 but that couldn't be, my daughter is 33. But older woman?

She said I reminded her of her grandmother (i thought she was about my age), with my big purse. All older women carry a big purse, according to her.

Her grandmother used to carry a large purse with all sorts of things in it such as bandaids, candy etc. I guess my purse triggered a memory.

Then I remembered Thomas Edison.

He filed his last patent when he was 83 years old. He never considered himself old. He was interested in so many things. And had so many wonderful quotes such as:

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

"If we all did the things we were really capable of doing, we would lterally astound ourselves."

"The thing I lose patience with the most is the clock. Its hands move too fast."

Those are some of my favorites.

Oh well, age is relative and I'm going to act the way I feel. Young!

Memories

2010-11-08T14:46:00.000-08:00

It has been three years today.

Like when Kennedy was shot and 9/11, I have memories indelibly etched on my being.

I still feel everything. Every single moment of that day.

A phone call from Italy. Instructions and prayer. A call to our pastor and wife and their immediate presence at 42.

The house filling with family from church; praying, getting airline tickets, securing international phones, calling the military, praying. "Oh, God please"

Calls from Italy every fifteen minutes.

Calls to Wisconsin.

Calls to St Kitts.

Instructions and tears.

A heart pounding with the assurance...."God is good" "God is good"

Rob home, terminating his surgery day. Everyone else cancelled.

Chris home from work.

Ethan in Manhattan in a private office, monitoring phone calls.

But no.

And then we were off. And we are still going down this road to restoration, hope and recovery.

A trip to Syracuse in the back seat unable to stop crying, Bible on my lap.

A flight attendant in NYC asking if I was okay.

Explanation.

She rushed out to a store in the airport to buy a leather journal and boarded the flight with it telling me to write everything down.

My mom's heart grieves for her child and for his mom and for a son whose best friend is gone.

Someone sent me this today.

"I remind myself that suffering is not unique to us. It is the destiny of humanity. If this world were the only one there is, then suffering has the final say and all of us are a sorry lot. But generations of faithful Chrsitians have gone before and will come after, and they have believed or will believe what I believe in the depths of my soul. Jesus is the center of it all. He defeated sin and death through his crucifixion and resurrection. The light gradually dawns once again, in my heart, and hope returns. I find reason and courage to keep going and believing. Once again my soul increases it's capacity for hope as well as for sadness. I end up believing with greater depth and joy than I had before, even in my sorrow"
(Sittser, A Grace Disguised)

There will be restoration. A promise.

And as we continually put one foot forward we see and feel His presence, His love and His faithfulness.

I am far away from everyone today. Not by choice but by necessity.

But He is near.

To us all.

Fall Clean Up Surprise

2010-11-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

We are quickly finalizing our fall cleanup. It's getting pretty cold up here and it's not fun to rake leaves when it's 29 degrees out.

The garden has been cut down, but not tilled. I guess we're going to have to wait until spring for that. I did get my garlic planted though.

The one chore that I had to do today was to remove all the cushions from the furniture at Litengard and 44 and get it stowed in the garden room. After pulling the cover off the couch in the backyard this is what I found.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REST OF YOU, BUDDY?

The Guest

2010-10-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

He was sitting in the den.

As I stopped by to ask how his dinner was he said....

"You have a lot of serious books, religious books!"

He is a lawyer in Boston.

I should have thought he would be interested in the books that line the den shelves.

And as I reviewed them this morning I thought, "no wonder he was interested in why we had ten different translations of the Bible along with Matthew Henry's Commentary- Genesis to Revelation, The Complete Works of John G. Lakes, Revivals of Religion by Charles Finney, Parallel New Testament in Greek and English, a first edition volume of A History of the Holy Bible, from the biginning of the World to the Establishment of Christianity by the Rev. Thomas Stackhouse, M.A., loads of commentaries on Romans, Philippians, James, Psalms and Proverbs, Ephesians etc, Vines Expository Dictionary, and a phlerea of books written by some of our favorite authors, Andrew Murray, Francis Schaeffer, Mary Whelchel, Tim Keller, A.W. Tozer, Watchman Nee, E.W. Kenyon, Derek Prince, C.S. Lewis, F.F. Bosworth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We've taught a lot of Sunday School classes over the years,

So, we had a conversation about my best friend, my caring Father, my Comforter and my faith that has been developing over the last 45 years.

We've learned alot, we've experienced alot, we've survived alot and we've grown more and more confident that He is faithful, true and wonderful!

We've had some wonderful guests, both at 42 and at Litengard.

This weekend we had two sets of guests that had been here before. They have become friends. They brought me special jam from beach plums, delicious! And special coffee from Jamaica and cinnamon sticks. And today I got a package with a new apron for the fall. Wow! I'm blessed.

And I look forward to new friendships, new guests and new opportunities to share.

Fried Green Tomatoes and Other Such Things

2010-10-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

We had an abundance of red.

Now we have bushel baskets full of green. Green tomatoes that is.

This is only one basket full. I have a huge colander, a large roaster full, and several other containers full of green and slightly pink tomatoes.

And I can't throw them away. I was raised by a frugal mom.

Last night I made Chicken a la green tomatoes. It was quite good. I had actually made sauce (roasted red tomatoes, my peppers, onions, garlic, carrots and an eggplant) and blenderized it into sauce. It's delicious. My friend, Danica, put me onto that method. Anyway, put chicken parts in a 13X9 pan, add 2 cups of sauce (i added more), 2 sliced onions, 4 sliced green tomatoes, 1 sliced zucchini and season with salt, pepper, paprika, oregano and bake for 1 hour. i sort of mixed the sauce and the veggies up half way through. Saturday I'm going to try another recipe: Curry Shrimp with green tomatoes.

I have already made two roaster pans full of roasted green tomatoes, and a huge amount of green salsa. They're like the widows oil though, they just seem to be multiplying. I've even given loads away to my neighbors.

Yesterday I had to take a break from the cooking and the Bed and Breakfast and go to Burlington for my every six months check up. It's quite a trek to go for something that you know is going to be fine but I have to obey orders!

It was a beautiful October day. The sky in the morning was a brilliant blue and it contrasted so with the yellow, gold and lime color on the leaves. I've noticed that this year the reds are more mellow and the oranges are more burnt amber. But it was just gorgeous. The Canadian Geese dotted the freshly mowed corn fields, gleaning the last of the kernels for their trip south. I would like to try to cook a goose sometime. It seems that they would be pretty easy to shoot, there are thousands around in the fields and skies. A hundred years ago immigrants used to keep flocks of geese in the backyards of their tenements in NYC. Goose fat was used extensively in their cooking. One also remembers reading about the Christmas goose. Yes, I would like to try cooking one.

I love the windmill farms doting the landscape in Chateaugay. Those tall metal monoliths with their graceful arms stretching heavenward and then towards the horizon. They are so architectural, tall sentinels guarding the adjacent farms and cattle. I don't know if I would like to live near them but they are magnificent to see in the distance and then drive by.

October is an interesting month. It's fickle; sometimes hot, sometimes cold and usually a lot of rain. My dad died on October 5th, five years ago. I miss him. It's Rob's birthday at the end of the month and two years ago it snowed on his birthday. We were all in Washington, DC two years ago in October, to watch Liz, Maja, Meka and Rachael run the Army 10 miler. Ethan and Laura ran the last two miles with the girls. We visited Arlington again and remembered again the fragility and preciousness of life. Two years ago Rob and I were hanging pictures at Elizabeth's new house on Judson Street. This October he has to hang pictures and mirrors in an apartment in Pittsburgh. Last year I only had three postings in my journal. Rob's cousin who was a missionary in Ecuador came to visit with his new wife, Liz was taking Rob to the gym to help him "get in shape", I planted garlic for the first time and wrote "I've lost the word mother and father forever. They have gone and are not part of my vocabulary anymore. Not my mother or my father. And I can hardly bear it." And this October I have a new venture and a house full of new fiends and guests at Litengard.

And so we go forward. Making green salsa, making new friends, establishing new routines and experiencing God's love and protection. And as I go through my old journal I read these words...God doesn't comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.

Dinner and Lecture

2010-10-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

I was prepared to dislike her.

I had done my research.

While Rob was installing blinds in the back room, I read all the articles aloud, describing her education, her experiences and her viewpoints on a variety of subjects. And I was prepared not to like her.

But we spoke with her on the back patio and I liked her. My heart went out to her as she reached for words, as older people sometimes do, when words are not at the tip of ones tongue anymore, but in the deep recesses of the brain.

She was 75, still a professor of a major university, still giving lectures across the country, and she is a former US Surgeon General.

And despite being total polar opposites, if she had lived here, I'm sure we would have been friends.

She was warm and kind. She smiled and was gracious. And she was a mother. I can imagine a grandchild cuddling up in her arms, and I can see her reading Good Night Moon as eyelids droop and sleep falls quietly.

But we would have disagreed on almost everything.

The lecture was organized with lots of sides and statistics. And it was a complete political statement with all the liberal talking points.

She believes that every problem of mankind would be solved by education. Hunger, poverty, prejudice, crime, unwanted pregnancies, obesity, sexual diseases.......

And she believes that universal healthcare is a moral obligation in this country and is out advocating that position as she did when she held her high postition. And if we could just educate our young people we would drastically reduce unwanted pregnancies, sexual transmitted infections, obesity, smoking, etc......

They advocate a moral obligation for healthcare but where are morals when they teach our children about sex. Then there can be no morals imposed. "Whose morals?" No one can teach our children from a moral and ethical viewpoint.

Is this logical?

Seems like someone with a basic knowledge of logical could refute all their positions easily.

But, I still liked her.

Funny Phone Call

2010-09-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

While walking home from the post office and bank this morning I received an funny phone call on Litengard's number.

ring, ring...

"Hello, Litengard"

"Hi, this is Andy from San Diago"

Our neighbor has a son who lives in San Diago and his name is Andrew. I was a bit confused at first because he has never been called anything but Andrew. Never Andy.

"Andrew, is this you?"

"It's Andy from San Diago"

He was definately not my neighbor!

"What's your last name?"

"Castleberg, I'm the answer to all your prayers"

"I have the answer to all my prayers, his name is Jesus"

"Well, I'm just what you want for your business. I specialize in business cards, brochures, etc....."

"Oh, I already have someone doing that for me that I'm very happy with. Thank you for calling"

"I'm a college football star."

"That's nice. I'm very proud of you!"

"Oh, I thought you might be a cougar"

"WHAT?!? No, I have a husband that I'm happy with and four great children. Not interested!"

"Oh, well could I just tell you about my products?"

"Andy, I don't want to waste my time or yours. I'm sure you have a great presentation and product but I have to go and clean three bathrooms"

You can't make this stuff up. On to my cleaning!

Gifts and Recipies

2010-09-24T18:46:00.001-07:00

One of Rob's patients made this for Litengard. It is beautiful! It is modeled after an 18 century French physican's cabinet. And he wrote us and told us he made it exactly the way they would have made it, using the same techniques. Rob has very talented patients!
It is really gorgeous and sits proudly in the hall on the second floor.

We had really great guests last weekend. A family. They were in Canton to visit their son who is a football player at SLU. And all the inlaws came too. They all live in the same town and travel around together, all friends. It's what I dream about. They were so much fun.
They were so interested in the house and all the historic details. They loved the Swedish design and all the family history. In fact, they saw my grandmother's samplier, with her name (Astrid) on it and told me about a book that they had all read....Astrid and Veronika. It is a book by a Swedish author about a friendship between two very different people. I'm just getting into it now. Anyway, they had gone to the bookstore and purchased a copy, gone online and figured out how to write "thank you for a wonderful stay" in Norwegian. It was so very sweet and thoughtful of them.
They tell me they are coming back. Good!

A couple of recipies:

I made this for our brunch the other day. Everyone loved it.

Easy Breakfast Pizza
1 pound sausage, browned
1 package crescent rolls
5 eggs... I used 6
1/4 cup milk....I used 1/4 cup of milk and about 1/4 cup cream
15 ounces frosen hash browns, thawed
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded.... I probably used 1 1/2 cups of cheese

Unroll crescent rolls and press in 9X13 inch pan. I buttered it first although the recipe did not call for it. Spoon sausage over crust, sprinkle hash browns, sprinkle cheese over hash browns. Beat together eggs and milk, pour over top. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes until bottom crust is browned and center is set. Serve with salsa. Serves 8-10.

Baked Eggs (Rob's favorite so far)
3 tablespoons butter
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoons fresh chopped basil (I didn't use this)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 cup milk I used a bit of cream
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Melt butter in small saucepan. Stir in flour, pepper, salt and basil. Add milk and stir over medium heat until bubbly. Stir for 1 minute more. Butter two 8 ounce baking dishes. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of sauce into baking dishes. Break each egg over the suce into the two dishes and spoon remaining sauce over the eggs. Bake at 350 for 18 minutes. Sprinkle cheese over hot sauce and let stand until it melts, Garnish with chopped basil and serve immediately with Canadian bacon or ham slices, fresh tomato slices. I acutally cooked it a couple minutes less and put it back into the over after I put the cheese on it. It got a bit crusty with I liked instead of just melted. And of course I did serve it with my heirloom tomatoes, three different kinds...pink, purple and yellow. It looks very pretty with ham slices, the tomatoes and a big sprig of parsley. I always make an extra one for Rob.

Birthday Brunch at Litengard

2010-09-22T16:29:00.001-07:00

We had a birthday brunch at Litengard today.

Janice was one of my first friends when we moved to Canton 23 years ago. We're the same age.

I was wanting to try out a couple of new breakfast recipes, and our "birthday friends" all like to eat and try new things, so I thought they would be game. Since it was a brunch I also included some Scandinavian specialties.... and some of the friends actually tried them.

Much to Georgia's surprise she actually liked pickled herring in sour cream sauce. What respectable smorgasbord would not include herring. Many also tried my favorite gjost cheese. It's a dark goats cheese, quite sweet with a creamy texture. I grew up on herring and gjost. Everyone liked the Bergonnost cheese. It's mild white cheese, not so different. I made Limpa, which is a tradional Swedish rye bread. It's a moist dark crusty bread made with molasass and anise seed. Wonderful with butter.

I should have taken a picture of the food but didn't. I prepared spinach stuffed tomatoes which were really yummy. I have sooooo many tomatoes, everyone had to take a couple home. But these Camp of Joy tomatoes were just perfect. They are relatively small and have a lot less water. The spinach, garlic, onion, whole wheat bread crumbs and cheese were the perfect topping. Every thing tastes good with enough garlic and onions!

Everyone loved the Breakfast Pizza which was so easy to make. The potato, cheese and egg skillet casserole was wonderful too but a lot of preparation. Would be wonderful breakfast before going out hiking or skiing.

Rob wants me to write a book now and include vignettes about opening an inn, recipes, decorating tips, and fun stories about the experiences with the guests. We've already met some wonderful, interesting people. I tell him, let me get some more recipes under my belt and a few more guests in the inn. I tell him he should write a book on the many funny stories and experiences he has had during his practice. Like when a prison guard escorted a prisoner in his orange jumpsuit and chains into the extremely crowded waiting room and a octogenarian exclaimed in a very loud voice, which Rob heard all the way down the hall in an examining room, " There's a prisoner in the room, there's a prisoner in the room!!! Everyone guard your purse!"
Another funny one was when someone told Rob that they should be legally dead. I think they they were thinking of a different word.

Anyway, we had a lot of fun today. And yes, I am going to post recipes shortly.

A Night at the Opera

2010-09-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

After preparing and serving a hearty North Country breakfast, complete with heirloom tomatoes, to our wonderful and fun guests, giving the "tour" of Litengard and it's gardens to over a 100 people who came as part of the EJ Noble House Tour, Rob and I went out to "A Night at the Opera".

I'm not a big opera fan but it was so enjoyable. The music inspiring and beautiful. I loved Kenneth Andrews little note in the program: "For generations, in Europe, the main form of entertainment in even the smallest and most rural towns was Opera! Whole families would consider their outing for the week to be a chance to go to the theater to see an opera production that would take their imagination to a famous city, another country, or even magical and distant land. It might take them on an emotional journey that expressed love, sorrow, tragedy, remorse, elation and perhaps even great heroic deeds - all through the melding of the stage, the score and the orchestra."

The tenor, Lonel Woods, was so entertaining. He was my favorite. He seemed to be having so fun singing and performing. And he had a fantastic voice!

My folks, for years, had season tickets to the Metropolitian Opera at Lincoln Center. They would enjoy a nice dinner down in the city and then a memorable performance at the Met. They were blessed to have seen many great operas.

Rob and I both commented after the performance that a vocal gift is a wonderful gift from God. He is always amazed at these men who compose symphonies, concertos, operas and musicals. But I always remind him that Mozart probably could not have removed some one's gallbladder or appendix.

We each have our own gift!

Growing

2010-09-16T13:05:00.001-07:00

I had to include this picture. I told Rob that I had gone around and cut down weeds for a fall decoration in front of Litengard.

"Weeds?"

Yes, and I think they look magnificient!

This is my harvest from yesterday! And there are hundreds of more tomatoes to ripen and be picked! My friend, Danica, put me onto roasting the tomatoes and I've done that a couple of times. Cut whatever type of tomatoes into sections, good olive oil, salt and pepper (I always use kosher) and lots of cut up garlic. Then roast them for an hour or so at a low temp until they are shriveled. I even like them a bit blackened. Just a bit. They are so yummy! Sweet but somewhat tangy. I love them cold, right from the frig. Kay told me her mom would just freeze the tomatoes whole. After frozen, put in a bag and save for stews or soup in the winter. That I am definately going to try.

I really had fun with my garden this year. It must have been a perfect year for everything. The beans never stopped producing, the brocolli was abundant, even the carrots, which I usually don't have much success with prospered. I even have jalepenos and red, green and black peppers!

Every night we have loads of veggies for dinner, straight from the garden. We're spoiled and going to miss the fresh produce in about another month. I do have loads of brussel sprouts, red cabbage (have an interesting soup with red cabbage and sausage I'm going to try), and eggplant that I think will last at least another month. We really could be self sufficient as far as food this summer, except we like meat and fish. Oh well, maybe they'll be chickens next year at 44.

This is another layer to my sustainability kick. I had planted two apples trees in the backyard garden before the wedding. And this year I had loads of apples. The only trick was to get to the apples before the squirrels! They made me mad. They would take an apple and eat just about 1/3 of it and then leave it lying on the ground. I wouldn't mind sharing if they would just finish the apple and not be wasteful. My mother taught me better than that! But I did end up with a couple dozen very nice apples.

Psalm 89

2010-09-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

Psalm 89 is Ethan's psalm. Actually, it is the psalm of Ethan the Exrahite and it is to give instruction. The Biblical Ethan, was a musician.

I'm possessive. This is a psalm I became acutely aware of when my Ethan was first born and I read it this morning on my reading through the book of Psalms. It brought back memories and assurances of God's faithfulness.

Our family had moved to a very rural town in western Pennslvania in 1977. Rob was the only surgeon at the hospital where they had limited facilities. I had sort of a "Christy" outlook moving to the coal mining town. I envisioned myself going to the library reading to swarms of dirty, black footed children who didn't have running water in their homes and had only recently had electricity installed. I had read Christy recently and had seen myself doing the same things in my new home town.

It wasn't exactly as I had pictured. The Lord had a different plan. We immediately became involved in local church and as it was approaching summer, when we moved, the church was getting involved with their annual plans for Vacation Bible School. I immediately volunteered to head the program up. Why I don't know. My expertise is nursing but I guess I had some time and wanted to get involved with local church.

We prayed. And we prayed. And God showed up. After all the years of doing VBS they normally had about 20 kids that would come. Well, that year we had over 200 kids come. I didn't even know that there were that many children in the whole community. Anyway, Rob and I unexpectedly got involved in children's ministry which would expand and last the whole ten years we were in the area. Ninety children came to know the Lord that first summer. The next summer I started a program for the mom's while their kids were in VBS. It was fun.

My pregnancy for Ethan was without any issues and the labor and delivery was relatively easy and quick. However, he was born with a collapsed right lung which was rapidly expanding and compressing his heart. He didn't cry or move and when it was discovered what the problem was the obstetrician told Rob, "you have to do something or this child will die."

No pediatrician, no other surgeon, no equipment necessary to install a pediatric chest tube, he had to act. Thank goodness he is creative and can think outside the box and God is his Lord.

He called for a few things and after being plagued with thoughts that he would kill the child before he could save him, he inserted something that passed for a chest tube and got the lung inflated. The NICU, at a hospital an hour away, was called and sent a team over to get him. There he was, tubes coming from everywhere, IV's, chest tube, oxygen. And he was quiet. Saving his strength for breathing. Even Elizabeth took pity on him when she saw him. She desperately wanted a sister.

The nurses at the NICU kept asking us what we were going to name him. They wanted a name. They said it was important. We didn't know. We wanted a name that, when he was called, would reflect a characteristic that would be a Godly characteristic and some quality that he needed right then. That's when we came across the name Ethan. It means strong. And he was anything but that then. He couldn't even cry.

After we chose the name Ethan, Rob's dad, the Bible scholar that he was, told us about this Psalm. The Psalm of Ethan. It speaks about mercies and faithfulness and covenant. It speaks about that God rules the raging of the sea....which I have taken to mean the issues of our lives which sometimes seem to be out of control. "When they arise, you still them" It speaks about justice and judgment being the habitation of his throne and mercy and truth going before his face. Don't you just love the imagery that is evoked with these words. It's beautiful. The psalm speaks about his people walking in the light of his countenance. I always thought I like light, mirrors, candles because of my nordic heritage. Perhaps that is part of i,t but light is such a powerful influence in the Bible. "Your word is a light..... a lamp". And the Psalm reveals Jesus and God's plan for him and us.

It's a magnificient psalm and I'm glad it was part of my devotions today. A reminder of God's goodness and His faithfulness and His commitment to me.

And Ethan is strong and big and not quiet anymore. When he was little, I think around 3 or 4, my parents took care of him for a week or so and when they were driving him back to us he sat in his car seat and talked constantly for about 4 hours straight. My father, not a loquacious man but very tolerant, finally turned to him and asked very potitely if he would stop talking for a bit. He is the most people person that I know. And that's a good thing.

Labor Day

2010-09-06T16:18:00.001-07:00

And labor we did.

We had guests for the weekend who were just wonderful. Two breakfasts which included new recipes, they were adventuresome. But both were really scrumptious!

Elegant Eggs which turned out to be really high fluffy eggs served piping hot with a dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of lingonberry sauce. We first experienced lingonberries in Norway and they were delicious. That was served with fresh local bacon, english muffins, orange juice, and locally grown peaches and pears. Today I served Baked Eggs and I believe that the company liked this recipe even better. These are made in individual 8 ounce baking dishes and so yummy. We had slices of my heirloom tomatoes and herbs from the garden, pumpkin apple muffins (apples picked yesterday from one of the apple trees I planted for the wedding 6 years ago), ham slices, fruit, cranberry apple juice and coffee.

Ethan came in at the tail end of breakfast and had his breakfast with the guests. He was made to be an innkeeper. He's a natural.

Dad and Ethan tore down old rotted boards from out back porch and temporarily "fixed" the part where the wall attaches to the roof and then Rob used some old flashing that he had from his grandfather and cemented and tarred parts of the porch roof that had disappeard. We're still wondering what to do with the back porch. I'd like a more permanent structure, one with heat that I could have my washer and dryer in but that probably will be sometime in the distant future.

Ethan then took over Jon's job of trimming the bushes and did a fantastic job! I had trimmed some of the front about 2 months ago but with the heat and the rain everything was very overgrown. He kept saying he knew nothing about trimming bushes but did an excellent job. That's good because I don't think Jon will be home anymore when it's appropriate to trim.

And we made up a big basket of 42 and 44's local produce for Ethan to take back to the city. Heirloom tomatoes all the way from northern New York. And I had to include several potatoes that he had harvested the day before. And then after a long nap, it was back in the car for the journey back to the Big Apple.

Blessings of a Simple Life

2010-09-04T13:48:00.001-07:00

Sitting in the den listening to the slow steady clip clop of an Amish horse pulling it's buggy as it made it's way to the intersection of our small village, made me acutely aware of the blessings of a simple life.

I really like it here. It's a wonderful blessing to be able to call this place home.

No, there is no shopping. But that's why we have the internet isn't it?

We certainly have beauty here. Farms and mountains, streams and the raging St. Lawrence, historic homes but no skyscrappers. Wonderful music; music theater, opera, symphony, bands. We have four universities and we have churches. We still have neighborhoods and friends who look out for each other. People who we see almost everyday and new people we're meeting each week now at our B&B.

The Amish, who are quite industrious to say the least, bringing their quilts, aprons, homemade baskets into town almost everyday in the summer. If you want to purchase their picnic tables, chairs, adirondack chairs, gazebos or cabins, you must go out to one of their homes where all of the carpentry is done. Plus you can also purchase baked goods, produce and eggs while out and about.

In the summer here, between May and October, we have a wonderful farmers market down on the village square. This is the time of year when we have corn on the cob almost every night. There is now electricity in the square so that local meat producers can bring their home grown, non steroid injected cuts of meat. I've come upon a farm that has the most wonderful bacon. It's the only thing I serve at Litengard. And free range chicken and their eggs are so different from mass produced food we're so accustomed to getting in the grocery store.

I've been on this sustaining local farmers kick now for a couple of years. It's so beneficial in so many ways.

After a very busy four days of guests, I made my way, with the dogs, to see Elizabeth. They were happily reunited. This is a picture of her living room in the apartment. Very cute and very big. The bedroom is huge. The kitchen is small. Doesn't anyone cook anymore? We did a lot of organization, throwing away of boxes, bringing stuff back to the Suburban to cart back home. hanging of pictures and moving of furniture. We have to wait till Dad comes to hang some of the larger pictures and mirrors. No one can hang pictures better my hubby. Armed with all the right tools, including a level, pencil for mathematical figurings (no eyeballing for him mind you) and the correct weighted picture hangers, nothing comes off the wall when he's done hanging it.

Anyway, the apartment and the area are so cute. There is definately a revitalization of that area now. The Cheesecake Factory is just one block away from the apartment building and i think tapas are all the rage now. There is a really cute restaurant called the Double Wide which is an old Texaco gas station. Looks so cute and I understand they have great food there. When we go back, that's where we're headed. The other way, within walking distance, like a block, are blocks of fantastic stores. Hope that's not a problem. And there are plenty of dogs! The natives told us they are opening a dog park, right in that area, in November.

Look at these beauties!! Someone told me we couldn't grow eggplant up here. Hey, there are plenty more just like these two out in the garden at 44. These babies are going for eggplant parmasean tonight! Ethan's home and he loves it. Plus the pounds of beans that I keep harvesting everyday. I think this must have been the perfect year for green beans.

Ethan has never been one for the garden but when he got home today and saw all the tomatoes a collinder came out and he was out there gathering all sorts of tomatoes. I'm sending him back to the city with a big basket full for all his co workers. Rob had brought a big basket full to the hospital last week plus a steady stream going over to his mom and brother. The heirlooms have been a lot of fun. My personal favoites are the purplish Paul Robeson and the pink Mortgage Lifter. Camp of Joy are wonderfully sweet cherry tomatoes. Anyway, after his interest in the tomatoes, I thought perhaps he would like to harvest the potatoes. And he did! I may make a farmer out of him yet!!

Prolific Gardens

2010-08-21T16:46:00.001-07:00

The garden has really been prolific this year. I've planted some vegetables that I had never planted before, eggplant for one and I have at least 4 or 5 eggplants are are looking really good. Actually, I think they will be ready to pick in about a week. I've had a huge amount of broccoli, so much that even Elizabeth got tired of having it. I've let it go to seed. Perhaps next year I will freeze some. Of course we are constantly eating green beans which continue to produce at a frenzied rate. I had wonderful green cabbages, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce and as you can see, red cabbage, each one is spectacular. I'm preparing the one in the picture tomorrow- sweet and sour red cabbage with apples. We are having the neighbors over for an all vegetable dinner. Rob and I could never eat that many vegetables and I'm not into freezing this year. The beets are a golden variety and are super sweet. Too bad Jon isn't here, he loves beets. I planted garlic last fall and have about 40 cloves- I've given many away already. And if you can see, I grew black peppers. They are interesting, not as sweet as red though. The green peppers are small but tasty. I even tried my hand at growing potatoes. And they even grew despite my ignorance as to their need to be mounded. New raised beds in the back yard for potatoes next year. They were fun.

My tomatoes, which I did not photograph, are my pride and joy. I received as a birthday present, a gift certificate to Whites Flower catalog. I ordered 6 heirloom tomatoe plants. They are now over 6 feet tall in the raised beds at Litengard. My favorite so far are the Mortage Lifter variety. They are huge, pink and so sweet. Wonderful on a sandwich. I'm trying Paul Robeson tomorrow. They are large scarlet and green and look quite good. I think in about another 10 days I will have bushel baskets full. If anyone would like some and try to save some seeds let me know. The heirlooms are the only kind that will reproduce from their seeds. I have to read up on how to save the seeds till the spring.

My girl has left. Off to school again. This time in Pittsburgh. We had a small going away party with barbeque chicken, salt potatoes and corn on the cob. And then a farewell game of Mexican Train. Liz won, how appropriate. Then she and Dorie were off in the Volvo to meet the moving van. I think Dorie came back exhausted from unpacking, sorting, setting up, rearranging, shopping and walking up and down three flights of stairs. No elevators!

New Friends and Farmers Market

2010-08-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

We had a house full at Litengard last night.

It was fun. One room went to parents of a Clarkson student. They had never stayed in a Bed and Breakfast before. One room went to a mom and her daughter who was interviewing at St Lawrence. They understood old houses, they have one they go to in the summer in Vermont. The last room went to a couple from Persia, who grew up in Holland and will be working in another city and the wife will be a graduate student at Clarkson. He had a sort of Scandinavian accent which was interesting because he totally did not look like us, not that all nordic people have blond hair and blue eyes!

We had a wonderful sausage, egg, and cheese casserole, almond kringle, fresh local peaches and blueberries, orange juice, and locally roasted coffee. I will try to post the recipes that I have used sometime in the near future. I know that many of you have asked for them so I'll try to spend some time jotting them down.

After everyone left and the wash was started I walked down to our Farmers Market. The Canton Farmers Market is every Tuesday and Friday starting in the spring and running through October. It's the best. Especially if one lives in the village and can walk down on a gorgeous day like today. Not only can one get the best local corn from the Nobles, but the Cook's sell the BEST bacon I've ever had. I ordered 4 pounds over the phone the other day and she had it all packaged up for me. She was showing another customer the bacon when I got there (which was a bit later in the morning) but assured me that she had been saving it for me and was just letting the person look at the quality of the meat. The village has installed electricity so farmers can bring their freezers and sell their meats. The beef looked great too. Maybe next Tuesday! I have grown absolutely huge and wonderful heirloom tomatoes this year but I spied another variety at one of the vendors. I think she called it Scarlett something, I have to look it up. She said it made great sandwiches, which is just what Rob said he wanted for dinner tonight. So I came home with two scarlett beauties.

The other wonderful thing about Canton and the Farmers Market is that one meets all one's friends and acquaintances while wandering from booth to booth. I caught up on a lot of news from the neighborhood, the village and Colton (since I have not been to camp once this year to see everyone out there). Then off to the post office and a visit to my local teller and a lovely walk home again laden with wonderful fruit, veggies, meat and local updates.

And sitting in the back room, my office at Litengard, looking out onto the great backyard, a male cardinal just landed on the porch railing. He was beautiful, his mate must be around somewhere, I always see them together. So sweet!

Does summer have to end?

It's Fun Having......

2010-08-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

It's fun having a daughter!!!!

After all the work we have done together at 44, 42 and 34 we finally got a day to relax and do fun girl stuff.

We both had gift certificates to The Spa at the Whiteface Lodge, so we booked some special pampering.

After a massage and facial we went up to the dining room and had a lovely lunch. It was a beautiful day. We thought to eat outside on the balcony but it was a bit breezy.

The decor is totally adirondack, with vaulted ceilings, huge chandeliers, stufffed moose, racoons etc, large comfy chairs and lovely rugs. The lunch was absolutely delicious.

We drove home completely satisfied through gorgeous mountains, tall pines and pristine lakes. It was a wonderful day.

A Long Obedience......In The Same Direction

2010-07-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

I went to a funeral today.

He was the grandfather of a good friend of mine. He was 90 years old. And he lived the New Testament.

He had a long obedience, in the same direction. A direction similar to those of the "greatest generation". An obedience like my father and Rob's father had, and live by.

The funeral was two hours and I could have listened and stayed longer. There was the usual family, including a brother who was 13 years younger, tributes and memories. A devoted husband of over 60 years, a great father who welcomed all his daughters friends, a wonderful grandfather who read books endlesssly to his grandchildren, played games with them and took them fishing, a brother who bought his siblings Christmas gifts during the war when the farming parents could not afford toys, a hard working teacher at Canton College who developed the HVAC program and instructed students who would come to the house for help, a loyal and active church member for decades, a committed and productive community member and finally a friendly nursing home patient. A long obedience, started early.

The pastor gave a wonderful homily on Luke 6, about building on a solid foundation. Both houses could look the same and be built out of the same material but if one was built with no foundation, the river could and would sweep it away when it raged against the houses. Rivers, (some of lifes issues that we all face) are not selective or respective.

And then he said...."they don't grow them like... anymore". Yes, the people in my father's generation were generally moral, honest, full of integrity, law abiding and God fearing. But I believe that this generation, our sons and brothers can and will be great "in the Lord". We're raising men out of a generation like Jeremiah. God was constantly asking Jeremiah to tell the people to amend their ways and turn back from their sins, because He loved them and wanted them to prosper and He wanted it to be well with them. Unfortunately, they only hardened their necks and went backwards, never a good thing wth the Lord.

I'm counting on my son's generation to hearken to the voice of the Lord, raise His standard, follow after those who have faithfully gone before, and become the continuation of "the greatest generation".

And We Are Up and........Running!!!!

2010-07-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

My head has almost stopped spinning. Almost.

I haven't posted since May so I thought perhaps I should let everyone know I'm alive and well.

We did it! We managed to "finish" the project, have the Open House and today I will have my first guests. Wow!

Looking back, I can't believe that we finished this major renovation in a little over four months. We had a great contractor, who worked, himself, on Saturdays and some Sundays and on several occasions came in to 44 well before 6:00am. In fact, one morning when I could not sleep past 4:30pm I wandered over to 44 in my pajamas and was standing on the back porch when in comes Dominic. "Oh, you couldn't sleep either", I said. He had promised me three months, which Rob and I knew was a fantasy but he was determined to get done quickly.

But I really couldn't have done it without my family and some dear friends. Elizabeth worked tirelessly on 44. She shopped with me, she and Jon dug an entire new front garden (he was only home for 5 days before leaving for Kentucky), she mowed the lawn, she moved furniture, she cleaned the upstairs when the contractors were done and the floors had been sanded and refinished, she set up the bathrooms, ironed bedskirts and sheers and she made us dinners when it looked like we would not have any food for that particular evening. She is my hero and soon she will be headed off to Pittsburgh. Hope I didn't drive her away with all her involvement at Litengard.

Ethan came home from the city several weekends to give us muscle moving furniture into Litengard, help with the back deck, powerwash everything outside, set up the croquet court, set up the beds, the daybed with trundle (it came in a box with a thousand pieces, I couldn't have figured it out), and a host of projects too numerous to name.

Christian has been my contact person. I get calls all the time now telling me that a nice man at the Best Western recommended Litengard Bed and Breakfast. He had lots of ideas about hospitality and what people are looking for. He doesn't say much but I think he is really proud of our "product".

Jon is the inspiration for the whole project. Rob and I had thought about doing a Bed and Breakfast for years and had actually looked at other houses with that in mind. 44 had been for sale for almost a year and yet it never occured to us to take on the project next door. Off and on the house had been sold but the deal feel through so it lingered on the market. One day, Jon suggested "why don't you buy 44? You've been talking about doing a B&B for years, I don't what to hear you still talking about it when you are 80." I don't know why we never thought about it. And with some vision, it did become a possibility and then a reality. He was disappointed that he could not be here for the whole process but he is up to his eyeballs in equine surgery and medicine now in a really spectacular internship. Just hope that we will be able to visit him sometime in the near future.

Rob, of course, was my second contractor. He built and built and built. He would love to do carpentry. The finishing work on the back deck is all his workmanship. He hung absolutely every picture and mirror in the place and developed the headboard concepts to all the beds. The general contractor left on Thursday, and we worked continuously until Sunday when we had our Open House. He did have to take a couple of days off and change hats from surgeon to handyman!

And Aunt June....my 83 year old aunt from New Hampshire. She had come a previous weekend and worked on projects, but she came the Tuesday before the open house and began to work. She rewired lamps, she polished silver, and she was my constant gardner, endlessly dead heading and weeding. I really don't know how she did it. She did rest on Monday, per my demand, before going back to New Hampshire and securing a new job. I hope I'm like her when I'm 83.

Greg and Jeremy took the deck to the swimming pool down and reassembled it on the back of the house. And whenever Greg came over he was pressed into service doing "whatever" But he's really good with power tools now and can probably build a deck, hang pictures and mirrors and generally do whatever is needed around a house. And he and Elizabeth helped me log people in who had called wanting reservations before I had a website. The little notebook I was carrying around wasn't at all profession and Ethan was horrified!

My adopted neice, Carol, designed my business cards, and Open House invitations. We went on a fun shopping trip to Penns. but now she's bought a house and is going to have a baby so I hardly see her for now. But she is one of the most creative people I know and I will be selling her wares at Litengard.

And not the least or the last are my really good friends Ryan and Jamie. Ryan is helping me navigate my way through this internet business. And Jamie set up the Resovation software for me and I speak to him almost everyday now as I encounter the next situation that I don't know how to handle. He's one of the most patient people I know. I had to bring Ethan with me the last time he was home to learn how to "do it" and then help me out. Ryan has been invaluable in encouraging me with the website, connecting me to a designer (from CA no less), having loads of ideas which iI could not possibly implement now...he's a visionary. And I'm surprised he even associated with someone like me who is so not hi tech!!

Anyway, here are a few pictures of Litengard. The website is up and running and I am taking reservations on line but the pictures have not been uploaded yet and there is a fantastic virtual tour thanks to Ben. And the music on the tour, I believe, is from suggestions his Mom, the concert pianist, had.

The first couple of pictures are of the outside and the diningroom/living room.

The next three are of the suite in the back of the house. It has a small room with a daybed and trundle and the larger room with a fun chandelier which shines through the stain glass window to the bathroom. Really neat at night.

These two are of the Trondheim, we named the rooms after cities in Norway. The particular city is where my family is from and many still live there. This was the first room we "put together" and Elizabeth says it is her favorite. It does have a room size bath with a pedestal tub and crystal chandelier so I can understand her point of view.

These are pictures of the Bergen, Rob's favorite city in Norway. He wants to live there when he grows up. We had a great time there....the fish market, the ancient city on the harbor, the funicular and spectacular meal on top of a hilltop followed by a concert.

I actually prepared a new recipe for tomorrow morning but... I have one kringle that I had in the freezer and always the standard cereal, local fruit purchased today at the Canton Farmers Market, coffee from our local roaster and lots of good North Country friendship. I'll let you know how it goes.......

It Takes a Family....

2010-06-21T09:56:00.001-07:00

It takes a family,

plus a WONDERFUL, GREAT contractor,

plus loads of encouraging friends to establish a new business.

At least it does in my case.

Litengard is almost ready to have her doors open and start doing what she was created to do. Host guests.

Ready or not, July 11th, will be here shortly, the date of our open house. And after that.... let the guests come. I'm already booked for SLU graduation and parents weekend.

But it certainly has been a fun, hectic, messy, tiring, creative, thought provoking, and exhausting project.

This is Liz and our adoptive niece Carol when we went on a shopping trip to the Philadelphia area antique malls. Carol not only introduced us to many wonderful stores and restaurants but she also is one of the most creative people I know and designed my business cards and our open house invitation. I will carry a line of her products at Litengard.

Unfortunately, not a good picture, but the Tomford boys have handled the lawn work at 42 and 44. They have mowed, weed whacked, shoveled and spread mulch, been to the Colton dump, weeded, shoveled manure, moved furniture and bricks and been an all around great help here. I have just an inkling that they may think I'm a bit off my rocker with all the gardens and lawn work. I often quiz David on my next project, chickens. He will be my off site expert on chickens, since he has been caring for his for years now.

My Cornerstone Guys!!! Yea for a new furnace and tank less hot water heater. Now I have confidence that my guests will continue to have heat no matter how far below 0 degrees it gets this winter. And, a long shower? No problem, we have a commercial grade water heater for all three showers, however long they take. You can't imagine the amount of duct work that went into upstairs. There were many rooms that didn't have any source of heat. Problem fixed!

And painters! Where would I be without Dave and Nate. Big tall ceilings, loads of heavy wood trim. A natural wood banister and wainscoting that I wanted white. They questioned the decision at first but came around to my way of thinking and now they are glorying in their handiwork. The banister with it's fret work was a real labor of love and I thank Nate for his patience and precision. Everything looks great. Love all the colors! Every single one. Dave cheerfully painted each day, told me how much he liked the colors and then took many items home with him each night that he could use in his rentals, and we could not. I think it's called recycling.

There is no one else like sis! Where would I be without Elizabeth. Always willing to help with any project. Like the one she is doing in the picture. For those of you who can not tell, that is a manure pile she is standing in. Yes, we loaded many truck loads of manure for the gardens this year. The vegetables are growing great. Already had a zucchini. And the flowers and plants are prospering. We went on many shopping trips for bedding, furniture, lighting, rugs,etc. She created files, lists, garden plans. She cooked when I couldn't. She shopped when I couldn't and she told me when to stop shopping. "We need to see what we have in the house first before we get any thing else!" She's washed and pulled nails and mowed and encouraged. We established a new flower garden on the side of the driveway at 44. We weeded and divided plants and replanted. I can't believe that she's leaving me in less than 2 months. She will also manage Litengard the week after we are opened. Rob and I have to go to a 50th wedding anniversary party down in Westchester. She's the best!!!

The most important person in this project is Dad. He can do anything. Not only is he financing this undertaking but is also involved in hands on projects. Here he is developing the deck project. He's a perfectionist and I really need that at times. Between Rob and Dominic the house is like Mary Poppins...practically perfect in every way!

Jon was home for 5 days this summer. And Ethan for a weekend and 2 days after Jon's graduation. They managed to trim trees, move huge rocks, rip out existing landscape in front of 44 and make an entirely new garden, trim bushes, edge gardens, power washed porches and screens, make suggestions, all in the few days they were home. They are my muscle, my encouragement, my vision and business advisers for this project.

Jeremy and Greg disassembled the old deck that surrounded the former above ground swimming pool, (which has gone to a new home in Norwood). They carefully unscrewed and unbolted what seemed like thousands of screws and bolts and stacked hundreds of pieces of wood. And then developed a deck with the reclaimed wood outside the back door. They did a great job figuring out supports, braces, edging and what ever else goes into making a deck. I power washed the finished project and it looks great. There was some technical advice from deck expert, Dad, but between the three of them I have a gorgeous deck for guests in the summer and fall months. Greg has graciously volunteered for a variety of projects these last few weeks, power washing included. Our latest adventure was trying to keep rust off metal door hinges. His suggestion to me to call the man who stripped them was key. "They must have lacquer applied immediately" was the answer. He could have told me that when I picked up the box of hinges.

We even imported my 83 year old aunt from New Hampshire to work on the project. I know from this picture many will wonder if she really is 83 but take my word for it, she is. She volunteered for the tedious project of cleaning the chandeliers. Soaking and cleaning the metal and then polishing the crystals! What patience and focus. Thanks Aunt June. She also brought the German mine that washed up on the Norwegian shore in 1918 which members of her family found. They actually made it into a work of art and it will be featured somewhere in Litengard. Look for it at the open house. Aunt June will be back and you can get the full store in person.

So many people, family, neighbors and friends, have had such an interest in this project. I'm thankful for so many suggestions, encouragements, insights, and people with expertise in fields that I know so little about. Ryan, whose picture was not downloaded at this writing was and is so instrumental in the development of our website and all the Internet stuff that I know so little about. When we get our website up and running I'll post a pic of Ryan in his "office". Thanks Danica for sharing Ryan with us! Rob and I were there last week and Rob's comment was that he looked a bit like Mike and the Mad Dog. Did I get that right, all you sports fans?

Only two more weeks to work. I'd better stop writing and get back to paying my bills now. Hopefully, I'll have more current pictures to post shortly. The 1885 wide plank pine floors were sanded and refinished last on Friday so we may begin moving stuff upstairs and already are in the process of cleaning downstairs- washing floors, walls and windows. Dad's piano was transported from a friend's in Potsdam to it's new home at 44 yesterday. It looks regal sitting in the corner of the large parlor. Elizabeth wanted to move furniture today but alas, it was raining, so I painted ADK chairs in the garage.

And tomorrow is a new day.......

Spring and Lilacs

2010-05-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

I love spring in the north country. We're so happy we survived another winter. And the color green seems to revitalize us up here and make us happy and full of energy.

Liz and I went to a friends farm last week. Their sheep had just three sets of twins. You can see one sheep nursing both twins at once.

The youngest caught one of the older twins in the barn so we could pet it.

Are these in my future at 44?

The flowering crabapples are gorgeous in the spring. All the trees are bursting with the most lovely shades of pinks, reds and whites.

We moved here from Pennsylvania 23 years ago. We had bought 42 and with it came a whole row of mature lilac bushes. Lilacs have always been one of my favorite bushes. Their scent is intoxicating. Rob moved to 42 in May and the children and I joined him at the end of June. He flew home to Pa one weekend with one whole suitcase full of lilacs. So sweet and it gave me something to really look forward to, especially in the spring. I think the north country is the perfect place to grow lilacs.

Kitchens

2010-05-06T05:15:00.000-07:00

The kitchen in 44 is almost done. The dropped ceiling, raised, sheet rocked and painted with additional lights installed; the walls repaired and painted and the appliances returned to their proper place.

And it's waiting to have life brought to it. People, aprons, tables, coffee makers, dishes, crystal, pots and pans and love.

Kitchens are the greatest!

They're not just a room, or just a room to prepare food in.

They're life, they're memories, they're teaching, they're comfort.

We were in two kitchens in Wisconsin this past weekend. We all, that means five of us in one kitchen, prepared the Saturday night dinner. I was given the great responsibility of "coddling the rissoto into existence", as Maja describes the process. And did I ever "coddle"! Add liquid and stir for 10 minutes, no guessing, a timer was set, times three! Matt had expertly pounded the chicken and Liz applied the pesto, all under the expert guidance of chef Kay. And we enjoyed another delicious dinner around the "kitchen" table.

Sunday, after a lunch with twelve including our adoptive brother from Colton, we again stood around a warm, inviting, "Bon Apetit" kitchen in Kenosha. I learned about browned butter and chives, a new grilled chicken marinade, theater productions, church involments and thrift store purchases and the fact that I had made the recipe book from this precious family. My classic beef stew will grace the pages of the Brown family recipe book, now being formulated. I wonder if they have Ruth's sour cream pound cake or her Vanilla Christmas cookie recipe?

Kitchens are not just prep stations. They're family, they're instruction, they're life, they're love.

They're where we learn to eat with our mouths closed and how to sit up straight. They are where we learn manners. They're where we learn to be polite. They are orange carpet on the kitchen floor in the 70's and my mom making the best apple pies. I can see my grandmother of 90 peeling potatoes while looking at the movie camera. I guess she was a "ham". It's a vision of my dad carving the meat, ham, turkey, roast beef or tongue. Yuk!. It's the room that we polish silver in and the room we organize parties and menus.

The kitchen is where a young blond pigtailed girl of eight learned to bake and every Saturday after that was baking treats for her family, much to her brothers delight. Then she learned to prepare the whole meal. Kitchens are places where we can be adventurous and try new culinary experiments, or where we conduct chemistry experiments.

It's where Math books are brought to, waiting for Dad to come home and explain complicated equations that Mom couldn't get. It's where friends gather to study the Bible or neighbors come to have a cup of tea. It's where a library of cookbooks find their home and weekly menus are developed and family reunions are planned.

Kitchen's are where we learn new tastes, new foods, new friendships. We learn to set a table. We learn to listen to what has happened in someone else's day. We learn tolerance and patience. Families discuss politics in the kitchen and all about the latest episode of Lost.

We experience the smells associated with home. Onion and garlic sauteing in glistening olive oil. A dinner. The smell of vanilla, the anticipation of a wonderful dessert. The distinctive smell of homemade bread rising and baking.

Kitchen tables are places that friends sit around and develop ideas and plans for Desert Night. Kitchen tables are places for the "kids", when the dining room table has more than 14. They serve as buffet stations, as prep stations for large outdoor fund raising luncheons, as game tables for canasta or Mexican train game. Kitchen tables have chairs, benches, high chairs, leafs, table clothes, placemats, vases and so many varieties of china.

Kitchens are fun and happy, disappointing when the recipe fails, smokey when the meat burns, inviting when the hungry family returns at the end of the day. It's the place where six big college guys gather to decorate Christmas cookies and the place where a pastor and his wife sit receiving calls from Italy.

Kitchens are memories, love, family, food and life.

I wonder what the kitchen in 44 has in store for us?

Ruler of All Things

2010-05-05T03:53:00.000-07:00

"You are ruler of all things,
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all"
I Chronicles 29:12

That is true, God is ruler of all things. And we believe that by His hands He gives strength to us.

Especially as we go through things. Hard things, trying things, ultimate things.

Our greatest trials are what make us and shape us. They give us character and courage. They teach us kindness and compassion, humility and gentleness. We hopefully emerge with wisdom and discernment. And we gain relationships that are strong, and lasting.

And yet we long for God's immediate show of power. His intervention in our lives, now.

God's power always gains immediate praise and glory, but His wisdom is seen over time.

That's hard.

Abiding

2010-04-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

Abiding, that's my part.

That's our part.

Attaching ourselves to the vine, and having faith that the strong Vine will hold, through anything, the feeble branch.

Real things are not simple. And we need to cling to the vine. There are difficult and terrible things in life and faith is hard.

Reality is not simple, it's not neat and obvious. It's not what we expect or what we want and it's not easy.

It's hard and confusing and I pray for the family and a friend as I sit next to her in the hospital.

Listening. Believing. Hoping. Trusting His Word. And His love for her.

Big Men Do Cry

2010-04-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

I saw it myself.

Big men. Men who work with their hands, who hunt and fish, who fell trees and split wood. Men who have physical jobs, who are strong. Men who have strenuous lives.

These men do cry.

They cry for a joyful 14 year old lad who died tragically in a fire on Monday. They cry for themselves but mostly for his mom, his dad and his family he left behind.

And I saw pastors whose voices crack, who have to clear their throats to go on, who struggle to maintain composure because they are the ones with the message. They have been here before, too many times now. But they still ache. Different families but the same agony.

And I'm so glad that I know that "mortality is swallowed up in life",

We believe, but we still hurt.

Joshua

2010-04-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

No, not again.

Unending tears. Embraces without words, embraces with tears.

A family torn apart with grief, anguish, questions, fears, and tears. Always tears. They can not be staid.

He was 14 and this was not his destiny. But this is their reality, now and until they meet again in a much better life.

But for now, we do the next thing. We go to their house, we hold them close, we tell them we love them and we confirm that God has not lost them and they have not lost Him or him.

"For He himself is our peace..."

By Life or By Death

2010-04-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

I cried.

I received a message that another faithful giant of the faith won't be needing his body for much longer.

I was a freshman in college. While I was away that first year, my folks came to a saving knowledge of Christ. They found a small church in a nearby community where a wonderful man, his wife and three young boys were preaching the gospel. It is where I met my Savior, my husband, and lifelong friends.

Rob's family had been instrumental in the establishment of Hillside Church in the village of Armonk. They had been meeting in the basement of the pastor who had come to start the work. And one Sunday evening, as the few people who gathered each week worshiped, four young Norwegian men came to the house, asking if this was where they were worshiping the Lord. Boy, did every one's eyes light up.

They came, these Norwegians, by themselves but they represented families. Strong families, who were committed to the Lord, to church, to each other, to hard work, to honesty and integrity. They showed me what men can be and how they can serve the Lord without compromise. They were all builders and as their businesses grew, because of the quality of work and their dependability, they were all soon building multi million dollars houses in Westchester. But more importantly I saw them devote themselves to the church. They built Hillside Church. Saturdays were work days. They were the general contractors and the construction workers. Rob and his dad were the electricians, along with others who worked in the electrical industry. And their wives, all young mothers, taught Sunday School. There were individual grades, just like school, a vibrant high school Sunday School, and Rob's dad taught the adults, while my dad and the pastors wife taught the college and career group.

And now, along with my dad and Rob's dad, John will be leaving his battle scarred body for a better place. His daughter asked us to pray that John would die as well as he lived. And she hoped that his victory over death because of his trust in Christ would be a powerful testimony of what God can do when we give our lives to Him.

But I don't want to let him go. Those big strong Norwegian men, my heroes; not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. They imparted a strength to me. I remember our families standing together, worshiping, singing, praying, living, eating and playing, and working together. And they are all powerful memories of wonderful times together.

Death is an enemy, but a defeated one, and our tears will be wiped away someday. because, "what is mortal is about to be swallowed up not by death, but by life" 2 Corinthians 5:4

So I pray for him and for myself someday that:
"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death". Philipians 1:20

Easter Memories

2010-04-04T18:16:00.001-07:00

I don't know why, but I seem to have more early memories about Easter then Christmas.

It started on Palm Sunday for our family. We went to a traditional church and there was always a choir in blue or red robes singing hosannas from a platform above the congregation. The anthems and sermons depicted Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem and then as we left the church we were given palms to bring home with us to remind us during the week, that this week was special. It was the week leading up to something that was terrible and yet glorious. I remember putting those palm branches, (we always tried to get at least a couple as we left the church) on the wall above my tufted headboard or sometimes my sister and I would make bookmarks with them.

It was the one time of the year that my mom took my sister and I clothes shopping. I used to think that was the only time I got clothes but that couldn't have been true because I have seen myself in a winter coat. But at Easter time, she took us with her to the department store. We each got a new dress, white leather shoes, white socks, white gloves, a purse, and a hat. Yes, every year we would have a hat to wear to church on Easter. They were very cute but eventually the hats were forsaken.

My dad's parents were the organist and choir director in a Methodist church in Mount Vernon. They usually had a special service on Good Friday which we would often attend. Many times my dad would be coerced into "helping' the tenor section for that service. Sometimes he would sing next to a Jewish cantor who was "hired" to complement the choir or do a special solo. Funny! Sometimes they did a whole cantata for that service and the vocal depiction of the events leading up to Easter was always stirring.

We did dye eggs. Paas was operational back in the 40's too, and the same little wire holder hasn't change a bit, although there were only five basic colors. The eggs were boiled and then colored and put in baskets with green "grass". Easter morning we would get our baskets and race around the house looking in all the traditional places that my dad hid the eggs and he was always thinking up new spots to trick us.

We would have a breakfast of hot crossed buns and then off to church in our Easter finery. Easter was beautiful. Every year, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, was gloriously sung at the top of our lungs as the choir, which my dad was a part, marched down the center isle. "He Is Risen" was proclaimed from the pulpit, and we sat down to more inspiring music and the glorious gospel.

Then off to my maternal grandmothers house in Larchmont to a large contingent of family and roast lamb and trimmings and always a big bowl of licorice jelly beans. And sitting around the table we listened to the adults discuss everything from politics, to their jobs, to family happenings in Norway, to my grandmothers raspberry patch. After we were dismissed from the table my sister and I would wander up to the attic to look through old trunks and investigate all the interesting artifacts casually tossed up into the dark recesses of that space.

And finally my mom would call and we would head home. Easter had come and gone. It was spring and a new feeling of freshness and life and hope filled our lives. And somehow as we continued on in search of our Savior we found him. In a little church attended mostly by young Norwegian families, in the middle of a very liberal and wealthy community. He found my parents first and then each one of their daughters was lead softly and gently to their Savior.

And many Easters have come and gone, each with it's own special memories. This year we celebrated all together, our whole family (the best) plus grandma and uncle Don and two very special friends. And someday we will all be together, restored, renewed and worshiping in His very presence. And that will be glorious!

April 1

2010-04-01T06:07:00.000-07:00

Today would have been my parents 65th wedding anniversary. They made it to their 60th.

Yes, they got married on April 1, 1945. Right after my father got back from active duty, flying over 35 missions in Europe.

After a few days "honeymoon" at Barton's Motel, in New Jersey, they headed out to Hobbs, New Mexico where he was a flying instructor at the base. They lived in a motel room and she cooked spaghetti in an electric frying pan and a coffee maker. Those were the stories we grew up with but knowing my mom's determination and her clever use of utensils, I'm sure that one was true. She wasn't much of a cook then, she grew up in a home where they had a live in cook, but she learned rapidly and became a wonderful baker, cook and homemaker.

She was also very frugal. I remember how she used to stretch her grocery allowance and the interesting menu she would always serve. I think there were some cuts of meat that we never see in the grocery store now, and that is probably a good thing.

The one thing that I never asked her, and I don't know why, is how she managed, emotionally and spiritaully, while my dad was in England flying missions over Germany and Norway. Dangerous. All the pilots were in their early twenties. Many of the planes, pilots and crew did not make it back. But they always seemed "matter of fact" about those days and never said that either one was filled with anxiety during that time. I do know that on their wedding day, all my relatives donated their food ration cards to my grandparents for the reception, (I think for sugar so they could make a cake),my grandfather killed their chickens and they had a wonderful party at my grandparents home, with the aunts cooking and serving.

Liz and I were just speaking about them the other day and how it will be so nice to see them again someday. Someday when Jesus comes back for his own.

The Week

2010-03-30T05:50:00.000-07:00

This is our week.

A serious week. A week we celebrate. A week we remember. A week we reflect.

Our freedom, our deliverance, our redemption.

I'm reading the last chapters of John this week.

In preparation.

I am challenged in so many ways. Jesus's love for us, for me. What He did, from love, because He is love, for me and my family.

Jesus, Love Incarnate. The Father's love gave Him, His coming was a mission of love. His whole life was love and giving. His death was love's divine seal.

His one commandment to us, a new commandment, was that we love one another, as He has loved us.

The chief trait would be His likeness.

The irresistible proof to the world of His mission would be the love of His followers for each other.

And the Spirit that comes from Him to us is the very Spirit that raised Him from the dead and teaches us of his self-sacrificing love, teaching us to live and die for others as He did.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I love you; continue in my love" John 15:9

Litengard

2010-03-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

It's official.

We have bought the house next door!

"Litengard" is being created at 44.

Litengard is Norwegian for "small farm", which was the name of my 1700's family farm in Orkdal, Norway. The barn with attached "home" is still standing. In 1996 we had a family reunion in Norway and visited that farm, stood on the land, touched the wood of the barn that my ancestors had lived and raised a family in, tended flocks in and worked the land hundreds of years ago. It was amazing.

Now Litengard Bed and Breakfast will be our new business, right here on Main Street, USA.

For years I have want to decorate a home with Swedish design. At first I thought if we ever built up at camp I would create something Scandinavian up by the water. But when we decided to buy next door, after thinking and looking at houses for years, I thought this was a perfect opportunity use our Scandinavian heritage, both Norwegian and Swedish, to bring a bit of Scandinavian flare to the North Country. The house will be filled with soft grays and whites, accented with blues and touches of red. All traditional colors for "Swedish" design. There will be lots of painted furniture, crystal chandeliers and mirrors (the Scandinavians were big on light and anything that light could reflect off of) and hopefully a mora clock, a traditional wedding trunk and perhaps a corner cupboard.

After weeks of thinking and planning bedrooms and baths, I think we have the perfect arrangement for guests upstairs. And in one week, the second floor is now almost totally gutted; carpets ripped out, the old bathroom gone and plaster dust everywhere. Elizabeth, Rob and I spent five hours on Saturday ripping out moldings, prying out hundreds of nails and staples from the floors, and removing the remnants of an old chimney. The framing will be done this week and the plumbing will be started along with the electric.

Rob and I took a trip down through Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut two weekends ago, stopping into several Swedish antique stores we had researched, along the way. We met the owners and received lots of ideas, drooled over beautiful antique sideboards, armoires, clocks and art work; and developed a wish list. We ended up in New York City and took Ethan out to dinner at Aquavit, the only Scandinavian restaurant in Manhattan now. Absolutely delicious food but with European portions. They took pity on Ethan and brought him an extra bowl of something that had to be described with flowery words by the waiter that was assigned to our table but never carried a plate of food to us. It seemed to us that his only job was to describe what we were eating! Funny! Years ago my mother, grandmother and I would go to Manhattan to a musical matinee once a year. Before every performance we would eat lunch at a Scandinavian smorgasboard in the theater district. Boy, that was yummy and it brings back wonderful memories of delicious food and great performances. Sadly, that restaurant has disappeared.

I hope to post some pictures of our progress from time to time. And now that we have this particular name, perhaps it might mean that chickens are in our future, right behind our 1885 barn!

The Great Depression of 1920 - Why No One Ever Talks About It - As A Mom...

2010-02-27T16:04:00.000-08:00

The Great Depression of 1920 - Why No One Ever Talks About It - As A Mom...

This was a really interesting speech on the economic depression of 1920 and President Warren Harding's approach to that depression. The speech is about 49 minutes long but don't let that put you off. It is very good.

One Year

2010-02-24T06:44:00.001-08:00

It was one year ago today that I had my first radiation treatment.

Laura had driven me down to the city on Thursday and stayed at Hope Lodge with me as my "caretaker" for the weekend. On Friday we went to have lunch with Ethan on Wall Street but he could not break free, so we decided to visit the Statue of Liberty and go to Ellis Island. Another day we did a practice subway run to the hospital, and only got mixed up once. We met my future friends on the ninth floor and settled into my new home for the next two months.

And now it is twelve months later and Laura is off on a new adventure of her own, Ethan has moved offices from Wall Street to Midtown, Jon is full fledged doctor and is working in Albany delivering foals, Eliizabeth has her home and garden projects finished and is working on a new unit, Christian started a second job and became an expert at chicken butchering and organic farming, we had a wonderful Nordberg/Skoglund/Fox girls week in Hilton Head with the "aunts", we moved my mother-in-law and brother-in-law up to Canton, I have a new garden shed, an expanded garden, a new venture underway and renewed energy and total hair restoration.

It's been quite a year!

And what I wrote in my journal before I left the North Country for that NYC adventure is still true:

"The whole earth is full of His glory. We, need to look out and see His everyday glory. Appreciate everyday epiphanies, our here and now beauties. Right now, today, there is a fat grey squirrel in the middle of winter, sitting on a slim crabapple branch outside my kitchen window, eating the last of the berries. Fluffly tail flashing- He's not worried- God is taking care of his needs."

Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting

2010-02-23T07:03:00.000-08:00

Jesus, I am resting, resting In the joy of what Thou art,
I am finding out the greatness Of thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, And thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.

Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art,
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings, Meet, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings; Thine is love indeed!

Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art,
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.

Ever lift Thy face upon me, As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting "neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, Earth's dark shadows flee,
Brightness of my Father's glory, Sunshine of my Father's face;
Keep me ever trusting, resting, Fill me with thy grace.

Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art,
I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.

Each morning now and sometimes in the afternoon, I'm at the piano. My old hymnals out and my rusty fingers tentatively moving over the keys, great joy and peace in these wonderful old hymns. The melodies; beautiful, inspiring, and the words, encouraging and strengthenng.

Yes, Jesus, I am resting, resting. It's the only thing to do, but so hard at times. Seems like a simple concept but difficult to put into practice.

Thank you for the greatness of your loving heart!

The Newborn

2010-02-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

Jon, Liz and I went over to friends the other day to see their newborn. All 150 pounds of him!

No spindly little legs like the throughbreds, on this young man! These are substantial limbs, made for pulling and driving. Quite a handsome little guy this one was but his mom kept him right behind her. She didn't want us to get too close to her pride and joy. But eventually, we stood there quietly, and then a strong stable hand came in to pull on his halter and get him close to us so we could have a proper, up close introduction.

Our friends told us that he nurses every 15 minutes. Wow! And some of us thought we had to nurse often! His mom has lost quite a bit of weight since the delivery,(not that anyone could tell), which she accomplished nicely without any help

They also have a beautiful chicken/duck coop. So they offer to take me to see it and gather some eggs. My first attempt was easy, the hen had left her nest and three were just sitting there. I did have to put my hand under this hen and get the two that she was sitting on. So much fun! And it wasn't smelly at all.

I think I can do it! But not right now. I have a few other things on my plate for the near future.

The Strength of a Pansy

2010-01-28T06:06:00.001-08:00

The tenacity of this little volunteer pansy is amazing.

After the recent rains cleared away all the snow, my little purple and yellow friend was still managing to produce green leaves and purple flowers. We have had below zero temperatures for weeks and feet of snow but underneath all that the pansy kept on flowering. Despite and under all that adversity, growth. A lesson for strength of character. What does the Proverb say? "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small".

That little glimpse of pansy brought me joy the last couple of days. But it went back to sleep last night under a new blanket of falling snow and temperatures.

Old Books

2010-01-05T07:04:00.001-08:00

I unearthed another box of old books as I picked my way through our basement. It's not a New Years resolution, but we really must organize the basement.

Why?

Because in the last four years, three homes have become one here at 42. And we have no more room.

The latest newcomers to the basement were thrown hastily downstairs at the beginning of the summer and now have to be reviewed for their right to live here.

I had to smile when I saw these song books, Modern Quartets for Men, published in 1938. Wonderful old songs like Jesus Lover of My Soul, A New Name in Glory and Rise Up, O Men of God. Perhaps Rob, Ford, Rick and Bill would enjoy these melodies but I bet we could not induce the younger generation to sing along.

These books belonged to my father-in-law and we now know that in 1940 he lived at 140 East 50th Street in New York City. Only one block up from Ethan's current apartment.

This book caught my eye. Published in 1939, it belonged to my mother-in-law when she attended Philadelphia School of the Bible. It is written by a medical doctor who was a missionary in China for eighteen years, director of Missionary course at Moody Bible Institute and the home director for the China Inland Mission. I turn to the chapter on "Unoccupied Fields" and see the names of Mongolia,(Jon did a missions trip to Mongolia this year), Afghanistan, Russian Central Asia, Chinese Turkistan, Tibet and Nepal, Siberia and vast parts of Africa and South America. We have pressed forward in some of these fronts.

This is the sweetest little Swedish Bible. All fancied up with black velvet and a brass clasp with the notation of 1877 belonging to my mother-in-laws aunt.

This is a Sionsharpan which must mean hymnal in Swedish. It belonged to Robs grandfather who was a Swedish Covenant minister. And strange as it may seem, this past Sunday, we sat having lunch with people who had gone to his church in Conneticut and who knew two 90 year old sisters who had gone to church there their whole lives and must have sat under T.E. Nordberg's ministry.

Where this book came from I do not know. But it is an ancient copy of Andrew Murray's The Spirit of Christ. I have looked everywhere and there is no date, but at the end of the book in pencil is written, August 31, 1884. All I know is that the pages are yellow and brittle and when I opened the book the binding fell apart and I taped it together so I could read it. For those familiar with Andrew Murray, he often wrote in devotional style and this book is divided into 31 chapters and is perfect for devotional reading. I have read many books on the Holy Spirit, but non as deep and informational and inspiring as this one. If The Spirit of Christ is still in print I would encourage all to get a copy.

Old books have a history. People have touched them and loved them, kept them, valued and treasured them. Cherished their songs and melodies, received inspiration and direction, made notations in them, and put some of these small little treasures in their pockets or purses while traveling or on a journey. Love of the word.

Silence

2009-12-30T06:45:00.001-08:00

My last peep has flown away back to the city. The others had left earlier, back to life at 34, a small cabin in New Hampshire and the last two weeks of an adventure in the midwest.

And there is silence here.

As I sit here gazing at the fire with the two remaining dogs snuggled in beside me on the couch, there is quiet in the house. Quiet here echoing the quiet of the snowy outside where blankets of snow muffle the sound of traffic and noises of the neighborhood.

Life seems to have stopped after the whirlwind activity of the last month. The month before Christmas is packed with a frenzy of baking. Getting out recipes penned in my mom's handwriting, and baking those traditional things that bring back memories of times and people. Plans for parties, decorating the tree and the dining room, setting lights in the windows to welcome back those who have been away, arranging my cheerful snowmen all around the kitchen to keep me company while cooking, shopping for stockings and presents, and rearranging bedrooms for homecoming family.

I do not mind the silence now. Christmas is over and now is the time for serenity and reflection and anticipation about the year ahead.

There are still reminders of a wonderful month lingering here. I will leave the tree up a bit longer and the table will remain set with the Wedgwood and holiday goblets. And I will continue to light the myriad of candles around the house each night, to enjoy their flickering light and comforting presence.

January is a stretch of peace. I do not go out much forced by the weather and choice to stay put in this warm abode. Organizational and cleaning projects will command some time and energy though.

And as I sit here enjoying the fire and looking at over 200 pictures appearing on my new digital photo frame, I once again learn the lesson of old photographs.

Cherish the day.

They are passing on quickly.

The Spirit of Christ

2009-12-29T13:12:00.000-08:00

This is an excerpt from Andrew Murray's, The Spirit of Christ.

"There were two things that John the Baptist preached concerning the person of Christ. The one was, that He was the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. The other, that He would baptize His disciples with the Holy Ghost and with fire. The Blood of the Lamb, and the Baptism of the Spirit, were the two central truths of his creed and his preaching. They are, indeed, inseparable; the Church cannot do her work in power, nor can her exalted Lord be glorified in her, except as the Blood as the foundation-stone, and the Spirit as the cornor-stone, are fully preached.

This has not at all times been done even among those who heartily accept Scripture as their guide. The preaching of the Lamb of God, of His suffering and atonement, of pardon and peace through Him, is more easily apprehended by the understanding of man, and can more speedily influence his feelings, than the more inward spiritual truth of the baptism, and indwelling, and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The pouring out of the blood took place upon earth, it was something visible and outward, and, in virtue of the types, not altogether unintelligible. The pouring out of the Spirit was in heaven, a Divine and hidden mystery. The shedding of the blood was for the ungodly and rebellious; the gift of the Spirit, for the loving and obedient disciple. It is no wonder, when the life of the Church is not in very intense devotion to her Lord, that the preaching and the faith of the Baptism of the Spirit should find less entrance than that of redemption and forgiveness."

Jesus gives us what he received himself. We receive the Spirit, joy and power, wisdom, courage and holiness is rooted in us. "It is the Personal Spirit of Christ making Him present within us, always abiding in the heart in the power of His glorified nature, as He is exalted above every enemy."

It gives us courage to face this new year, with all it's hidden challenges and potential victories.

Memories and Traditions/ Music and Songs/ Friendship and Food/ Glory and Praise

2009-12-19T06:02:00.000-08:00

"For unto us a child is born, a son is given.."

Unto to us a child is born. That's what the Word says. Usually when a baby is born one says, "Sue and Matt had a baby girl" The child was born to them.. But this special baby was born to us, not just Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men or the house of Israel. He was born to us, and we needed him. No rule book could give us what we needed and no behavioral modification course could control our issues.

We needed this child whose birth we now celebrate this Friday.

We needed a savior. And God sent his son.

So we glory in His glory in our lives this season.

Friendship and food, so closely connected. Lots of parties and lots of wonderful delicious food. A new game introduced, Mexican Train Game. I highly recommend this group, family game. So much fun!

Eight lovely guys, almost nine but one had to work, and three girls for breakfast Sunday morning. Strata and homemade applesauce and the introduction, to those not in the immediate family, of fresh Swedish limpa toasted with mounds of butter. Yum! They all loved it and Ben is going back to his Swedish Grandmother to ask about this new breakfast treat.

We've seen wonderful friends and family this month and, and long for the time when we will not be so far apart for extended periods of time.

Decorating a gym for a wedding. A transformation of trees, lights and candles. Two young people in love and so anxious to start their lives together. So much fun to see their excitment and anticipation of a new life together, forever.

Celebrations all through the month. A house decorated in anticipation of happy events, friendships celebrated and traditions continued. A home reaching out to embrace family and friends in memories and love, commitment and joy.

Shopping in new cities this year. At first disappointment that New York City was not an option this year since the whole city is appointed in it's finery for Christmas and I love every bit of it. But we got to visit a new city this Christmas and we were quite impressed with their version of a city decked out for the holidays. Lovely lights everywhere and at the end of the square a regal church showing us the real reason for the season.

And a tree. Not our usual huge tree, right to our 12 foot ceilings, but a nice tree. Elizabeth called it our see-through tree. But it's ours. This tree decked out in lights and glass bulbs, smelling of the forest. Clean and fragrant. Beautiful. And packages gathering at its base. Gifts, not quite gold and myrrh but tangible expressions of love for family and friends. A tree is appropriate. It foretells of another tree, not lovely and gracious but vicious, hard and bloody yet necessary to bring what we need. Freedom and belonging. A reconnection to our royal heritage, bought by a Father and Son who loved us so. Sonship, victory, hope, and a new life.

Thank you, Father, for this child born unto us and continuing to reach down through the ages to transform lives and bring grace and peace to all men.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

2009-12-07T14:14:00.001-08:00

My favorite time of the year. Christmas!

And it seems like we are getting ready for it earlier and earlier.

My grandparents put the Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve and everyone was surprised the next morning.

Now we are putting our Christmas tree up at the beginning of December.

Times change.

Thanksgiving was quickly swept away on Friday and bins were brought down and Christmas decorations were put up. Some in their old familiar spots while others received new places. The window candles were in place before Thanksgiving to welcome the family back from their present locations. But now loads of candles and miniature white lights peaked out of every room. We Scandinavians love light in all forms. I guess from our nearly three months of almost total darkness. And for me, it reminds me, Jesus is the Light of the World!

My Study Club came on Tuesday and I wanted them to enjoy all the Victorian decorations that the old Italianate has come to wear beautifully.

The wonderful smell of pine greets those who enter in the back way. The swag on the banister will have to wait a couple of more days. I do want it to last until December 25th. But candles and oil lamps give the evenings a wonderful glow. A welcoming to come in out of the cold. And yes, we have snow and it looks so pretty. The first collection. However, winter lasts a long time here in the North Country so I try to remember this feeling of wonder as the flakes fall. Spring has to fight to get her season here.

A wreath on the new garden shed. I think next year lights will adorn the beautiful edifice. The herbs are still growing nicely inside. We had fresh oregano, parsley and rosemary tonight.

Looking forward to a wonderful season of family, friends and neighbors in the house this season. Luncheons to host and concerts to attend. Gifts to be purchased and if possible a trip to New York City to see the city all decked out in its finery.

The church is decorated. The holiday orchestra has started and Christmas carols are being sung. A wedding is anticipated and two sons will be home for the holidays.

And on Thursday, a concert- The Vienna Boys Choir. Yes, all the way up here in remote Northern New York.

I Had A Dream

2009-11-18T16:57:00.000-08:00

I had a dream a couple of weeks ago.

I was walking along somewhere by myself.

As I was walking down this path, I came across Christian Skoglund and began to speak with him. It seemed to me that we were in some sort of forest and he was sitting on a stump. We were having a wonderful conversation when I finally realized that he was not dead. It dawned on me....

I started jumping up and down, laughing and crying and shouting, "You are not dead! You are not dead! You're here."

He looked at me and laughed and said, "Oh course, I'm not dead!".

And then I woke up.

I was startled. It was so real.

I've been thinking about this dream for some time now.

Wondering.

Death is never natural, even for those like my folks who died in their eighties and lived wonderful, love filled lives. I sometimes feel that I have lost the words, mom and dad, forever, and at those times I can hardly bear it. But it was never meant to be like that. Those left behind, experiencing such excruciating pain and loss. And for those who die young, no, we can not explain that at all. Taken in the prime of their lives.... but we just know it is not right. And we are left wondering why, and what now to do with a life void of that person.

Perhaps we are too focused on this present life. Could that be? This the reality that we know. Here. Now. Flesh and blood. Twenty-four hours.

For me especially, I know the joy of planning and organizing. Having a list and getting through it and feeling so good about goals achieved. A calender filled with events, good ones, that include friends and neighbors, family and community.

We, or should I say I, am not cognizant enough of the fact that life lies endlessly before us in the kingdom of God. We are so attached to this life, what we see and feel, what we try to accomplish, our goals and aspirations for ourselves and our children. Our lives are here and now and we are not anticipating the banquet that is being prepared for us. This is our life, in the here and now, and we are busy arranging it.

For all of us, young and old, this is just the beginning of our lives. We will keep on living and learning, working on things we love, and experiencing real beauty and joy. We have a lot to look forward to. A vast world to explore, people to meet and loved ones to reconnect with. Glory is going to be revealed in us. That's a promise. We are going to a place that perfectly fits us. Fits our gifts, fits our talents, our loves, our personality traits and quirks, our pleasures and our hopes.

And it will be wonderful.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not appear what we shall be, but we know, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, and we shall see him as he is." I John 2.

Different

2009-11-09T19:52:00.000-08:00

Another year has past.

Last year we were all together on an island. Just our family. Together. With thoughts and tears, comfort and hope, rememberances and sighs.

This year everyone, a different place; Kentucky, South Carolina, New York City, Hawaii, Canton.

We talk on the phone, remember times. This is a day, an anniversary. It is really just a day like all the rest have been since. But it is the anniversary of the beginning of days.

And again we wonder why.

Again

2009-11-06T07:09:00.000-08:00

I stood in front of the television. And I knew.

Another base. Another tragedy.

Feelings of tension, fear, hopeful faith, tears, agony, hearts broken, trips taken to Texas, calls to family and friends, plans and preparations that you don't want to make.

And lives changed forever.

Wives and parents. Siblings, cousins and friends. Their lives changed forever because you can never go back to the past moments and memories that you want to become permanent in this new reality.

There will always be a hole, a gap which can not be filled.

And it was certainly senseless.

I cried for the families of Fort Hood.

We experienced that two years ago almost to the day that this tragedy occurred. We know what is happening on the base to the families that were involved. If there is one thing that the Army does right it is honoring their dead. But they can't bring them back which is what we want them to do.

So I pray.

God send them people who know you. Let this be their revelation; "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all."

A Step Forward

2009-11-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

No, the conservative did not win in the special election. We came close, less than four thousand votes between the two candidates. But for this next year, the 23rd district will be represented by a Democrat.

We are still instructed to pray for Mr. Owen. And I hope that we take that responsibility seriously. Just because Mr. Hoffman did not win does not negate our responsibility to pray for those in authority over us.

I grew up in a family who was always interested in politics. They were knowledgeable about the issues and passionate about their concerns involving government. They read newspapers and listened to the then limited newscast on the 6:00pm news program. And they had common sense back in the days when they remembered what it was like to go through the great depression. We had lively conversations around the dinner table and I vividly remember sitting at my grandmother's long dinning room table, many times, listening intently to my grandparents, aunts and uncles discuss politics. Sometimes heatedly. Even when our Norwegian relatives came for visits they participated in various discussions on elections and the direction of a particular administration.

I think we have awakened to the fact that we have to be involved in the life of our country. That the responsibility for the direction that our country is up to us, both to pray and to be actively involved. I'm sure there are many people that the Lord is calling into the political sphere. And I don't think we should be afraid to enter in. "Politics is dirty, it's nasty, they play hardball, you can't get anywhere by being nice and doing right." Says who? I love proverb 24:10, If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

I was really intrigued that this man, Mr. Hoffman, who is nothing to look at and is certainly not charismatic engaged the entire nation. We were engaged with him before Sarah Palin and Dick Armey endorsed him. We didn't need the RNC to validate our thoughts about this candidate. His candidacy was already rolling along in the North Country before the big wigs came here to lend their support.

I knew that the opposition was really nervous about Mr. Hoffman's unbelievable success when they started running ruthless smear commercials during the last week of the campaign. The term "radical right" was thrown around in every commercial. What is so radical about fiscal responsibility, not killing unborn babies and believing in traditional marriage between a man and a woman? I'm encouraged that he did not retaliate.

I thought his speech last night was encouraging so I'm including it here for those that continue to read my blog.

" America has changed, and you have helped. Although we did not succeed in winning this election, we have succeeded in making sure political parties and special interests no longer take the people for granted. I believe we have sent a powerful message and laid the groundwork for future conservative campaigns.

I congratulate Bill Owens on a hard won victory. In our tradition of free elections our country continues. And although Bill Owens has won, I believe America is turning the page to a new dawn.

The idea of freedom, sound fiscal management and citizen government have sprung back into our consciousness. Our foundling fathers would have been proud of New York 23. It was here that our principles, those that have been the foundation of our nation, came back to life with a vengeance. And it was here that the people rose up against the political bosses who tried to impose their will. It was here that people reached out to control their own destinies again.

Despite the election results, I am optimistic for our future, because now I know that I am not alone in wanting to repair our great nation. Throughout this campaign I have been inspired by the outpouring of support and the intensity of that support.

I've met many different people in this campaign, from many walks of life and many professions; each with a different personal story to share. Yet we are all united in the belief that by participating in democracy, we could inspire change.

I urge that no one feel defeated, for this was only one of many elections. We came close, we put our agenda in front of the nation and the nation took notice. The worse thing we could do now, is not continue forward. Next year there are other elections and other candidates who have drawn inspiration from our efforts.

I would like to thank all of you who placed your faith in me, who worked tirelessly and shared your enthusiasm with those around you. You are patriots, you have stood up for your country and I'm honored to stand among you."

Doug Hoffman

The 23rd District

2009-11-02T18:38:00.000-08:00

This little known area of the Empire State will have the eyes of the nation fixed on it tomorrow.

John McHugh, our former congressman, was tapped for the Secretary of the Army by President Obama. And that caused a vacancy in the Congress and the reason for this special election in the 23rd district.

It seems that perhaps our notion of the way we do government maybe changing and it may be starting in the most obscure area of the country, here in upstate New York. We seem to be saying we do not want so much government involvement in our lives. And we are certainly not happy with the spending our government is currently involved in and the deficits that it has run up.

Doug Hoffman is not much to look at and he doesn't speak with ease. He is not a natural politician; not polished, not smooth, not charismatic. He's a businessman, a CPA, who owns his own company. He knows fiscal responsibility. He came from humble beginnings. He was raised by a single parent in Saranac Lake. He has been in the military. He believes that marriage is between a man and a woman and is against abortion. He is simple and straightforward. And he has engaged the people of the north country. In just three short weeks this obscure man has become known all over the nation and by all the poll analyasis he is in the lead.

I'm glad to see that more and more people are getting interested in politics. It's important. We are instructed to pray for our leaders so that they would have wisdom and we could lead quiet and peacable lives.

I'm praying that God would have his way in these elections, and that people would come out and vote which is our civic responsibility.

We'll see. We'll see. This time tomorrow night we should know.

Worship

2009-10-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I went to a beautiful worship service in Kansas City, with my neice.

And I saw a dear friend dance with her team as she worshiped the Lord with her gift, beauty and grace.

It's Fall

2009-10-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

It's fall. And we are scurrying around here putting everything in it's place. Preparation for our severe winters here is important.

The screens are out and the storms are mostly in. The huge ladder needs to be deployed in order to reach the last six windows.

The wood has been ordered and a place for stacking near the side door is prepared.

The summer clothes are removed to distant dressers and closets; sweaters, vests, boots and jackets have taken their places.

The gardens are slowly being put to bed for the long winter. But we are still waiting for special garlic bulbs to arrive so they can get a start in the garden over the winter. The herbs are still going strong for another month or so in the potting shed.

And the summer outdoor furniture, both at home and at camp, is being stored in barns and under tarps. The boats have been winterized and washed. The kayaks and canoe decommissioned for another season. The tubes have been deflated and the water skiis and wakeboard safely stowed inside. The camp is having it's water drained tomorrow. But the raking of the leaves will have to wait for another week or two. It seems late this year, but the trees are holding onto their fall foliage and I think we may be raking in the snow.

The colors are magnificent and startling.

And the Fall and Thanksgiving decorations have come out to remind us; God is good and His mercy endures forever.

The Unveiling.....

2009-09-29T15:53:00.001-07:00

It's finished and in service.

I now have one very cute house color coordinated potting shed.

Behind the pear tree, and on the right side of the shed, will be white day lilies, white iris and white daffodils this spring and summer. The bulbs are already safely in the ground.

We have a couple of long shelves that need to go up on this side of the building; For my future seedling..... in about five months.

I already started to propagate some boxwood. If all goes as planned, I'll nurture my stock for a few years and then pass them around to interested boxwood fans.

Too bad winter is already setting in up here in the north country. I've had to have a tiny bit of heat on and off the last week.

Under Siege

2009-09-25T13:35:00.001-07:00

I have never seen so many policemen in my life.

I didn't think there were that many policemen in the world!

For that matter, I have never seen so many secret service people, foreign and domestic. And outside, on the streets, the white and blue police cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, and tow trucks in the city, too numerous to count,; black suburbans and black town cars were the car of choice this week.

I had been in New York City a couple of years ago when then President Bush addressed the General Assembly. I had unfortunately not tuned into the fact that the UN was in session and foolishly driven into the city. It took me over two hours just to drive across town!

The security was tight then but nothing compared to the security this year.

I had to be in the city for some scans, blood work and doctors appointments at the beginning of the week. This time I chose to stay in Westchester and take the train down each day. Smart choice!

Our apartment is one block down from the Waldorf Astoria and Intercontinental Hotels, where the President and other foreign dignitares stay. And we were under siege.

Sunday began the unannounced removal of all cars, legally parked on 49th. And the concrete barriers and steel barriers were installed all around 49th and 50th on Lexington and Park. No one was allowed through. Five policemen on every corner. And men in ill fitting dark suits, all with ear pieces and shirt sleeve two way radios. All lurking, watching, walking, observing, assessing potential danger. All on high alert.

Surveillance for this event, is set up just outside our apartment. One white van which can not be looked into. But something very special on the inside. The K9 unit did its patrolling of the blocks around the area. And one day a U Haul van showed up for the whole day which surprised me. The doorman said that really wasn't a functional U Haul, but a decoy. Our street was lined with police cars and black suburbans carrying stern looking men with bulges on their sides. Police motorcycles were stationed around the corner.

The Waldorf and Intercontinental were completely cordoned off. And one could not walk down 49th street. Armies of black police tow trucks were lined up in case something had to be dragged off the street quickly. Police were even guarding newspapers stands and restaurants.

A couple hundred Tibetans were loudly protesting for their right to be free. They set up under great police scrutiny down the block on Park, where all dignitaries would be driven on their way to the UN.

I left on Tuesday via Grand Central Station. That historic and beautiful structure was guarded by yet another security force. The Army. Yes, it was the Army's job to secure and protect this grand old lady and her guests. Guarding every entrance to every street and every avenue. They had their pistols strapped to their legs and flack jackets protecting their chests. No automatic weapons though. I guess they didn't want to really scare all the commuters and visitors that were passing through that magnificent building each day.

Those three days were filled with sights and sounds. I heard so many different languages, nothing new in New York City but there seemed to be so many more different dialects. Yes, the Chinese, Spanish, French and German were present but I heard some language that seemed to have no vowels at all. And others that seemed to be so sweet and mellow with beautiful intonations. At the grocery store, Monday night, I heard some Scandinavian language has I perused the aisles.

But the real event, for me, was the drive down and back through the Adirondacks. They are beginning to dress themselves for their most spectacular event of the year, Fall. Their jewels are being attached now; the reds, golds, yellows, burnt umber, crimsons and oranges sparkled against the lovely shades of greens they were all wearing. At their feet, the crystal clear blue waters of their lakes. I don't think there is a more glorious sight in the world then the Adirondacks in the fall.

And at home, the last of my pink zinnias!

Eyelashes and Potting Shed

2009-09-13T17:53:00.000-07:00

I know it's not that most critical issue in the world but I'm loosing my eyelashes again and some of my hair.

Sigh!

On the other hand, the greenhouse/potting shed came out so cute. I would post a picture but have lost my cord to the computer. When I either find it or get a new one I will post some pictures of the shed the the huge amount of butternut squash that grew in the garden this year. No tomatoes, victims of the blight, but plenty of cucumbers and butternut squash.

Psalm 144

2009-09-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

We had a discussion about Psalm 144 a few years ago.

He and I.

He had used this Psalm in a devotional that he gave his men.

I had just had a revelation about verse 12.

And I read it again today during my quiet time with the Lord and in my systematic reading through the Psalms. I'm wondering if he had some insight into the verse, "Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passes away." He lived life to the fullest and enjoyed his work and free time. And they maximized their brief time together. But his shadow passed away more quickly than ours.

Verse 12 says, "That our sons may be a plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace."

Our sons. Those big strong guys who will do anything, go anywhere and are not afraid of anyone or anything. They are courageous. And yet, the Lord says that they may be as plants grown up in their youth. Like a plant they still need to be nurtured by the Son and watered by the Spirit. They have to learn to be tender to their wives and sisters, honest and full of integrity in their jobs, filled with wisdom and compassion in their communities and churches.

Our daughters. The Word says that they may be as corner stones. The only other reference to corner stone is Jesus in the scriptures. Ephesians 2:20 tells us that Jesus himself is the chief corner stone of our faith. What is a corner stone? The dictionary tells us that it is the basic part of something on which everything depends. I understand that Jesus as the corner stone- we are totally dependent on His faith, sacrifice, resurrection and intercession for us. He is the corner stone, our foundation, our rock on which we depend on.

How are our daugthers like corner stones? By daughters, families are united and connected. Strengths are brought to the union. Children of the two families unite and strengthen the two families. They need strength to manage the home and children while their husband is away at work. They instill integrity, honestly, love for one another and the church, discipline, respect, and love of work into their children. They are outreaches to the neighborhood and community, providing a bridge to people, to reach those around us.

The last part of the verse tells us that daughters will be polished, or the more correct translation is cut. I don't particularly like that. They will be polished after the similitude of a nice structure. A beautiful structure. The polishing of marble produces a beautiful product. But the original piece has to be strong to withstand the polishing. It has to have foundational qualities which allow it to be polished.

Was this an insight for me of things to come?

I don't know.

But I know that God is good and my daughter is as a cornerstone.

Concombres aux Champignons et a la Creme

2009-08-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

I must admit I was surprised. The baked cucumbers with mushrooms were very good. Actually, I think they were excellent.

I just could not imagine baking cucumbers. I guess I'd never thought one could bake cucumbers. One eats cucumbers raw in salads or one pickles cucumbers. But baked?

There is one basic recipe for baked cucumbers with four variations on the theme in Julia Child's French Cookbook. And we tried it tonight. Husband and number two son found them quite tasty, having seconds. Number one daughter could not be coerced into even a teeny taste.

Kay had sent me a similar recipe that she had once tried with success so I was hopeful. And the experiment was a success.

The carrots and spinach were also from the garden

I love to see this at the various parking lots around our area. I had lots of errands to do today and horse and buggy were patiently waiting in the Lowe's parking lot when I arrived. I had passed two Amish buggy's on my way to the store and there was another buggy tied up over at the Walmart lot. They seemed to be buying batteries when I encountered the owners inside.

I had lots of engagements this week. My friend just turned 50 and some of us went out to lunch and then back to 42 for cake and ice cream.

I have awfully young friends. And it's fun!

Julie and Julia

2009-08-27T10:25:00.001-07:00

We met at the theater and sat in the back two rows.

And we laughed, and snickered and drooled over the food the whole film. We really enjoyed ourselves and the movie.

If you haven't gone to see it yet, you must. Julie and Julia is a wonderfully entertaining movie about two determined and delightful people. And for people who love to cook, and eat, it is a must see. The visions of the most wonderfully prepared food made our mouths water.

Julia, played by Meryl Streep who was outstanding, seemed to be such an optimistic, funny, quirky person married to a wonderfully sensitive and caring man. Her rise to fame was long and arduous but she was persistent in reaching her goals. And Julie seems to be pretty amazing to, cooking through Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year, while blogging about her successes and failures and having a full time job. That may have been creative license.

After the movie we headed to 42 and had coffee and lemonade ice cream pie and discussed the movie. We loved the cinematography, the angles that were creatively shot, the way they caught the two sisters reaching out for each other, the scenes of Paris, the harshness of Queens, and a view of Julia's kitchen. Then, I just had a recollection that I might have that particular cookbook and we found it on my cookbook shelf. It came from my mother-in-laws and just happens to be a first edition of that cookbook. I'm inspired now to keep it out and try some of the recipes. Maybe she has something I can do with the large amount of cucumbers that have come out of the garden!

Change

2009-08-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

There is change on our side of East Main Street. Actually on both sides of us.

My wonderful neighbors for many years are moving. And the house on the other side of ours will be filled with students this coming year.

People are asking if we are worried about living next to students. And confessing anxiety and concern for us that we will be so close to students. Actually, I am looking forward to the opportunity that the Lord seems to be bringing our way. Thirty students in the two houses beside ours. Thirty opportunities to reach out and minister to these new friends. A workman over at the property on Friday predicted that they would be partying in our backyard in our "new" potting shed, and that the place would be lite up like a Christmas tree. They were at the time installing security lights on the house and barn in many locations. But I'm viewing it as an opportunity to make new friends. We did have an awful lot of fun last year with a lot of college kids that Laura brought over. Hopefully, I can have them over for a cookout before the fall sets in.

My other new neighbor seems to be at the other end of the life spectrum. He is older and has a family somewhere but has "discovered" that he really has an alternative lifestyle. I'm praying that we can become friends with him as we have with the last two families that have lived in that house.

The other change is that Laura is graduated and gone back to Kansas. We'll miss her and all the friends she would bring to the house. I wonder if Monday Night Madness will continue on Judson street and if I will have any company to watch House this year. Ethan has returned to the city after two weeks of North Country living. How quickly I get used to having him around.

But some things do stay constant.

I still have two dogs.

Pink Zinnias

2009-08-22T17:56:00.001-07:00

I love pink zinnias and white phlox.

Although they herald the end of the summer.

Sigh

I did finally get my front borders weeded and mulched with the two truck loads of manure, secured by Ethan for me, from our local riding stable manure pile. It's pure gold to a gardener and I was thankful for a strong guy who could go and get it for me. We did get stuck again but the trusty Suburban pulled us right out!

Tuesday Morning in the North Country

2009-08-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

Awake to a gorgeous summer day.

Breakfast of delicious fresh fruit.

Quiet early morning on the couch with the Lord.

Seeing #2 and #3 sons first thing in the morning.

Hearing the buzz of saws and the pounding of nails.

Call from daughter to see if I needed anything in Massena.

Walk downtown to Farmers Market, pass a friendly Amish buggy on Main Street.

We wave to each other.

The downtown square is filled with local vendors and many friends. dad's walking with their children, kids playing in the fountain, neighbors buying produce.

Local farmers and craftsmen selling their wares; vegetables, fruit, wine, jewelry, plants, maple syrup, donuts and baked goods.

Back home to pick green beans, squash, lettuce, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers.

Blanching beans and freezing 5 quarts for winter.

Preparing wonderfully sweet corn for dinner tonight with Grandma and Uncle Don.

Sharing lettuce and cucumbers with resident workmen.

The simple, north country life. It is wonderful!

Improving Your Serve

2009-08-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

I'm rereading a great book by Charles Swindoll, Improving Your Serve, The Art of Unselfish Living.
Mr. Swindoll says:
"Three characteristics of becoming a servant.

1. Transparent humanity

2. Genuine humility

tests of humility

1. A nondefensive spirit when confronted. This reveals a willingness to be accountable. Genuine humility operates on a rather simple philosophy: nothing to prove, nothing to lose.

2. An authentic desire to help others. I'm referring to a sensitive, spontaneous awareness of needs. A true servant stays in touch with the struggles others experience. There is that humility of mind that continually looks for ways to serve and to give

3. Absolute honestly. Honesty has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it.. as do servants of God. No ulterior motives. No hidden meanings. An absence of hypocrisy, duplicity, political games, and verbal superficiality. As honesty and real integrity characterize our lives, there will be no need to manipulate others. We'll come to the place where all the substitutes will turn us off once we cultivate a taste for the genuine, the real."

It's a challenging read, but one necessary for a church immersed in a "looking out for number one, me" society.

Good Bye Laura

2009-08-05T17:41:00.000-07:00

Laura left on Tuesday.

She's on her way to a new adventure.

Saturday, Liz had a beautiful brunch for Laura and girlfriends.

We ate outside on the patio. It was a beautiful day, full of sunshine and no rain.
The German pancake, spinach quiche and fresh fruit were delicious.
And the company even better!

Then a trip to camp. The little seen, this summer, bathing suit was worn by all. A boat ride, waterskiing, wakeboarding, rescuing dogs, cookout, bonfire, s'mores, fishing, pound cake, berries, whip cream (made the Paul Brown way) and we all headed home for the night.

Serious packing began early Monday morning. Suitcases, stowed in the attic of the barn emerged and were quickly filled. Drawers emptied, books boxed and clothes from closets removed. And believe it or not, the Honda was packed to overflowing Monday night and everything fit in. Uncle Rob checked the oil and put more air in the tires to carry the heavy load.

And just when I didn't think another thing could possibly fit in, a large suitcase, small case and oh yes, "I'd better not leave my purse in my room".

A hug and a kiss and a prayer for protection and direction. And she was off.

Two years went by very quickly.

Laura came unexpectedly. We talked about it during our reunion and then a quick trip home and back in a couple of weeks to start nursing school in August.

Carol and Laura quickly became wonderful friends. And whoever was friends with Carol became Laura's friend too. She jumped right into the college and career group at CFC and was soon participating in serving and washing dishes every Sunday at the Daniels, for 100 college kids. She celebrated two birthdays here with friends quickly made.

She found out how a church family mourns and grieves for one who has gone too soon. How a body meets together and holds each other during the church service that was devoted only to her cousin's husband . She found support and love as she managed the home by herself on several occasions. She became the sister that Liz never had. And a capable dog sitter, trainer and exercise partner for three and later four large dogs.

She learned about North Country winters quickly. Four new snow tires and a lot more time in the morning for ice removal. Winter coats, sweaters, mittens and woolen hats and scarfs. The knitting began.

She participated in many medical teaching sessions, conducted around the supper table where disease entities, treatments, surgical procedures, pharmaceutical options were the conversation of the hour. And she became part of the medical community of CPH and thus knowledgeable about all the intrigues of local hospital life.

She became a life group leader, a waitress, a high peaks hiker, a tourist guide to out of town friends, a student, a teacher, a soccer player, a motor boat captain, and a part of a new family.

The next year found her navigating the streets and subways of New York City. Several trips, including Broadway musicals, and a trip to the car compound, hospital visits, Wii instruction, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. And always the family trips to Hilton Head Island. Shopping (like it or not this year!)

Soccer continued, Monday Night Madness began, and a relationship developed.

And now her time with us is done, for the moment. The future is open and bright for her. The Lord will reveal a wonderful plan to her, His plan. And we are all waiting to see what exciting things that will bring.

So we cherish the time we had with her and trust her to His hands.

"See you later" dear neice.

The Mini Big Dig

2009-07-23T10:59:00.001-07:00

Boston had the real "Big Dig". 42 East is having the mini big dig.

When we moved here 23 years ago the barn had the original carriage house. And in that part of the barn the back wall was totally comprised of large mullioned windows. Baseball, hockey, soccer put those windows in jeopardy and eventually they were removed and a solid wall was installed. However, we kept the windows and as the years passed by I gradually got this notion that I could build a greenhouse/potting shed with those windows and various other windows that we had collected over the years.

Last year we actually started to plan the building out and we realized that with the brick (that had been given to us) and the windows (that we had collected) we would need a foundation so the frost would not heave the building and destoy the structure in the spring. Hence, the backhoe and the big dig. The framing goes up tomorrow and the brick work starts next week. What started out as a little building that we were going to build ourselves has turned into a bigger project than we first conceived. But I think the the end result is going to be really cute!

Provoking to Love

2009-07-14T05:34:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from My Utmost For His Highest:

"Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." Hebrews 10:24-25

We are all capable of being spiritual sluggards; we do not want to mix with the rough and tumble of life as it is, our one object is to secure retirement. The note struck in Hebrews 10 is that of provoking one another and of keeping together- both of which require initiative, the initiative of Christ-realization. To live a remote, retired, secluded life is the antipodes of spirituality as Jesus Chrsit taught it.

The test of our spirituality comes when we come up against injustice and meanness and ingratitude and turmoil, all of which have the tendency to make us spiritual sluggards. We want to use prayer and Bible reading for the purpose of retirement. We utilize God for the sake of getting peace and joy, that is, we do not want to realize Jesus Christ, but only our enjoyment of Him. This is the first step in the wrong direction. All these things are effects and we try to make them causes.

"I think it meet," said Peter, "...to stir you up by putting you in remembrance." It is a most disturbing thing to be smitten in the ribs by some provoker of God, by someone who is full of spiritual activity. Active work and spiritual activity are not the same thing. Active work may be the counterfeit of spiritual activity. The danger of spiritual sluggishness is that we do not wish to be stirred up, all we want to hear about is spiritual retirement. Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of retirement- "Go tell My brethren..."

Oswald Chambers is hard to read sometimes.

I was given this little volume in January 1972 by the teacher of my college and career class, Joan Coffey, at my home church. My career was taking me to Boston to work at Mass General in the ICU. I worked nights and would come home and read My Utmost for His Highest and the Bible, then off to sleep. I resurrected this gem and have begun reading the daily devotions again. I thought this was really good.

Thad

2009-06-13T18:41:00.000-07:00

My friend Thad, from Hope Lodge, died this past Tuesday.

Thad and his wife, Martha, were the first people I met when I went down to NYC this winter. They were friendly and encouraging. They had been there for quite a while. They were a wealth of information to each of us new comers on the ninth floor. We learned about where the Fresh Market was and the best way to get there, the bus route and the best subway route to Memorial, different local sights that were free and the good restaurants around the area. And they were always at the social gatherings that Hope Lodge organized every week. If it was nice weather we would sometimes meet on 67th street as we walked back and forth from the subway to the hospital.

They had a wonderful faith and optomistic trust in their Lord and Savior, Jesus. The last time I saw him, he was in the hospital himself, struggling with an opportunistic infection, but his concern was for his roommate who was in his twenty's and gravely ill. The last thing we did together was pray with each other.

He had a cancer that only young men in their twentys get. He was in his sixties. They were puzzled, they had not seen this type of cancer in men his age. The same protocol, which is very successful in young men, was prescribed, and it seemed to be working. They had to send him home after six months though when his tumors started to reappear.

A. B. Simpson said that, "the greatest need of our souls and bodies is to know Jesus personally, to touch Him constantly, to abide in Him continually." Thad continues on that journey he had started and I know someday I will see you again, my friend. The hope of the resurection, it is precious to us. But it is still sad to be without him for family and friends. And I pray now that Martha would feel His presence and continue to grow in His love and mercy.