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

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.

Father's Day

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

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

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

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

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

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.