Spreading the "Word"

We have many trees on our property. Remember the Chainsaw Party a few blogs ago? My honey and his "buds" were clearing the property of a few trees so that we could put in a pool. It was quite the event!

Today I discovered a tree I had never seen before. One that is really quite beautiful...with pretty yellow flowers. After surfing the web I found out it is called a yellow poplar...or tulip tree. I will try my best to make sure that this tree is never a victim of the chainsaw gang!

About 3 weeks ago there was a knock a the door. The local electric company had hired a tree service to trim all of the trees that touch the power lines. The man standing at my door worked for the tree service and was there to inform me that they would be cutting back some trees on our property. "Was I interested in keeping the wood that they cut, or should he haul it away?" Well, since there are countless things that I now know can be made out of logs I told him we would like to keep the wood.

The next day my honey was riding by where they had trimmed our trees. There lying on the ground next to one of the trees, was a piece of freshly cut wood...and carved into the wood was the Christian "fish symbol". It was really quite beautiful to see...a simple carving by some one's chainsaw...a refreshing reminder that we Christians are not alone out there.

We've kept the piece of wood and gave it a resting spot at the entrance to the bridge. Here we can see it everyday as we enter our property. It is a great way to remind us just how blessed we are. Thank you, Jesus!...and thank you our anonymous Christian friend.

The Sweater Maker

Some of us have been blessed with a creative relative who likes to share their talent with other members of the family. I have one of those relatives...my dear Aunt Jean.

My Aunt Jean...now an octogenarian...used to make her own clothes...sing in in the church choir...bowl every week and very well, I might add...and work outside the home as a corporate secretary. She loved to travel by car, and has visited all of the states in our country (of course she did not drive to a couple!)...but has lived in only two of those states, New Jersey and Nevada.

She also has been knitting for as long as I can remember. Over the years I have received countless items hand knit by her: sweaters...my Christmas stocking...sweaters...hat/scarfs...sweaters...Barbie clothes...sweaters...a shawl...sweaters...an afghan...and sweaters...just to name a few.

My all time favorite was knit in the 70s when I was in high school. She made me a burnt orange jumpsuit!! It had stripes of tan and brown around the collar and cuffs. It was made with HUGE bellbottom pant legs. WOW!!!...what a flashback I just had!! LOL!! I was quite stunning in it!! The thing is, though, it weighed more than me at the time!!!

She has knit my children their baptismal gown...sweaters...baby clothes...sweaters...their Christmas stockings...sweaters... hats/scarfs...sweaters...afghans...and sweaters.

She knits for EVERY family member...her sisters and spouses...nieces/nephews and spouses...great nieces/nephews and their spouses and children...and so on and so on. She knits for about 50 people that I know of, and probably a bunch that I don't!!

Every year...without fail...for as far back as the beginning of time...she has knit everyone a sweater for Christmas...a different style each year...in a multitude of colors. It was no surprise what was inside her package!

This past Christmas we did not receive sweaters. This year she retired her knitting needles and is giving her tired hands a rest. It was strange not to receive her sweaters. A family tradition has ended.

Someone will have to learn how to knit. "Knit one...pearl two"! That is all that I remember from the one time she tried to teach me. But the thing is...I remember the words...just not what they mean!

Someone will have to continue the tradition of the Christmas stockings. Every family member has one! The new grandbaby will need one!

Leigh???...Carrie???...Jessie???...Will???...which one of you will it be? I am certain Aunt Jean would love to teach one or all of you!!!

A one of kind "treasure"

My friend, Jean, and I spent her birthday browsing at a flea market near us. I love flea markets. You can find some real "treasures" at flea markets.

I have been to this particular Tuesday flea market many times...and it has always been packed full of vendors and shoppers. But because they were open on Memorial Day, only a handful of vendors set-up their tables today....apparently only the desperate to move their goods vendors.

Now...if you have ever been to a flea market you know that some of the vendors are just pedaling knock-offs of someone else's hard work...I have been known to purchase these items in the past. Some of the vendors are selling food items, or flowers, or perfumes. Some of the vendors deal only in antiques.

Well...apparently these vendors were home resting up after a long and busy holiday weekend where sales were good so therefore a much needed break was warranted. Very few of them were set-up today.

The majority of the vendors there today were selling the miracle creams and lotions...the velvet paintings...the CDs of artists who have been dead and gone a long time...and the 2008 calendars. And then there were the "creative" type vendors that were displaying the goods they "created" with their own hands. You know...license plates made into birdhouses and purses...jewelry made out of broken pieces of china or bottle caps...garden decorations made from old garden tools decorated with things like door knobs and keys and old silverware and coffeepots. These are the fun things to see...things that you may or may not say..."wow...I never would have thought of that!"

Occasionally at these vendor tables you will find a real "treasure"...a true conversation piece...an unbelievable one-of-a-kind gem!!

Today I found that treasure! I walked past it...almost missing it completely...then slowly realized what I was seeing. I quickly brought Jean's attention to it. She squinted...focused...giggled and then just turned and walked away. I, on the other hand, could not move.

I was frozen to the spot...my eyes filling with tears...the laughter rising from deep inside me! I could not believe what I was seeing. I think it must have been created by a husband/wife team. They discovered a way to bring their two worlds together...working side by side to create the perfect piece.

You must have just the right decor to display this work of art. I knew immediately I did not have it. But some where out there one of you may. I guess it would be a cross between a yurt and a ladies bathroom.

I can give you directions to the flea market if you are interested. Something tells me it will still be there next week!

Adjusting to Mother Nature

I love it here...the woods...the creek...but mostly the serenity. It's a good thing, because being surrounded by Mother Nature has brought me into close contact with things I really tried to steer clear of in the past.

I have never really been the "outdoorsy" type. Although I did a little camping (church camp) when I was in grade school...I was always happy to get back home to my own bed and bathroom. I am not a fan of bugs and critters.

Now the deer that I see from my window...and the geese I chase down the lane...and the ducks I see swimming in the creek...and the blue heron that circles our property...these are all beautiful sights...great examples of the sheer wonder of God's creation. And they are all far enough away from me that I do not worry whether or not they will come close enough to me to actually touch me. But...there are some of God's creatures that are too bold for me.

Let's take for instance bugs...yikees! From carpenter ants...to spiders...to Pennsylvania's version of a "stink bug"...to centipedes...to silverfish...I have experienced them all. I hate bugs...they really make me feel all crrrreeeeppppy...and crrrraaaawwwwlllly. And critters???...that's another whole level of creepy crawly yuckiness!

I think that all critters such as rodents and snakes should be banned from the earth! Mice...rats...snakes...are totally gross creatures that just give me the "heebiejeebies". All of these have reared their ugly heads here at the Money Pit...but thank goodness I have not crossed paths with any of them personally.

I know that they are all a part of Mother Nature...I just wish they were silent partners and/or nocturnal so that I would never have a chance to cross their paths. My honey does his best to shelter me from them...however...the fact remains they are here...and actually were here before us...so they do have some claim to the property.

I know I must learn to adapt to them...since this is hopefully our last stopping place before I reach the pearly gates. I will try hard to be brave. But, maybe they could all become extinct...like the dinosaurs. No one misses the dinosaurs, right?

But...here's a thought...do you think there are bugs and critters in Heaven? I sure hope not.