Saturday, July 30, 2011

Words of a Leader


Thanks for joining me in the library this morning.

Yesterday, I read the words of a king which brought to mind other great leaders frequently quoted. We who are older know who said, “Never, never, never give up!” Did you know this same prime minister also said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.”? He said something funny about being drunk. Maybe I'll use it during a humorous speech for Toastmasters.  You can find it on Google-like everything else.

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” The last part of John F. Kennedy's quote is not as well-known as the first line.

The following famous words of King David have encouraged people for generations. Children in Sunday School memorize it. Can you still quote Psalm 23?

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of 
the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23 NKJV

Do you remember what your Dad told you? Mine said, “Don't do as I do; do as I say.” He realized he wasn't perfect.

I wish you a pleasant day filled with good memories.

Juanita
folks7777@gmail.com

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Saturday, July 23, 2011

Doves and Doors


Good morning, friends.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118.24 NLT

Do you see doves in your yard? Four of them visit us quiet often. I usually see them in pairs. Barbara, today one visited my 'purple' garden. It appeared alone, looking lost. I stood still and watched it for several minutes. Most birds busily look for worms in the lawn, but doves prefer seeds. This mourning dove just tiptoed back and forth by the lavender bushes. When I moved, it flapped its noisy wings and flew away. I hope it located its mate.

When you see a dove, what do you think of? I always think about Old Testament sacrifices. Poor people offered a pair of turtledoves. Mary and Joseph offered this sacrifice at the temple when Jesus was eight days old. I'm not sure if we have mourning doves or turtledoves in our yard, but they fascinate me with their sad, mournful bird call.


I take advantage of our neighbor's barn wall whenever I can. I decorate it with antiques; I paint pictures on their windows. They originally painted their window glass black so we couldn't see their stuff which I appreciated. Last year, I painted their door a green color. I really don't know what's behind this green door because there is no handle on the door. Until this week. I painted black hinges and a door handle. I knew you wanted to see it, so I took a picture for you.

I know summer will be here for sure next week because I've scheduled a luncheon at the pond.

Juanita
folks7777@gmail.com

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Frogs and Teddy Bears


Good morning!

He wasn't here when we cleaned the fish pond this spring, but I see (and hear) he decided to return after a couple years of visiting other locations. I hope no one answers his mating call, because one bull frog is enough. I don't want him to multiply like the gold fish. As I sat in the library this morning, I heard his deep croaking. I think it is a pleasant, country sound. Though he's over one hundred feet away, I heard him very plainly, even with the windows closed.

Last Monday, I walked to the pond area to water the red and orange geraniums. I thought Dear Daisy had moved my ceramic frog, that is, until it hopped into the pond. The pond water is very clear at this time, so I got to enjoy watching the frog swim underwater. He did the breast stroke with all four legs. Speaking of legs, has anyone ever tasted frog legs? 

What do you do with a teddy bear that nobody wants? I didn't have the heart to throw it away, so I thought maybe someone would like to steal it. I placed old teddy on our name-sign post up front by the main road. The next day, someone had laid him out flat on his back about twenty feet away, but they didn't take it. Now, he is tied to the post, looking so high and proud. Today, someone laid a stock of flowers in its lap. Ohhh!

Isn't life fun?  The neighbors probably think I'm silly.

I can't believe July is half over. Enjoy your weekend.
Juanita
folks7777@gmail.com

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Let Freedom Ring

Good morning! 

Will you join me in a cup of tea? My best girlfriend from first grade, Lois Ann, visited us from Montana last week and brought me a new brand of tea as a gift. Ahmad Tea from London. Shall we try a cup? The tea possesses a bold, but not bitter taste, flavored with bergamot. I love it.
       Our flag's reflection in our fish pond.

The Fourth of July arrived and passed, and with it, all the neighborhood noise – finally. It sounded like a war zone for several days. I'm sure Daisy, our yellow lab, feels more content now that the boom and pops stopped. Whoops! I spoke too soon. There goes another one. Today, I thought about the veterans from the Vietnam War. I'm sure the noise of the fireworks brings back memories they hoped to forget. I had a cousin who you wouldn't dare wake from a sound sleep because of his experiences. I'm sure it is the same for every soldier in every war.

We visited a Baptist church last Sunday and proudly sang several great patriotic songs. I wanted to quote two verses of “My Country, 'Tis of Thee” by Samuel F. Smith because the words mean just as much today as they did in 1831. Did you know that other authors wrote more verses making a total of thirteen?
My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountainside
Let freedom ring!
* * *
Our fathers' God to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King.
May God continue to bless America!
Sincerely, Juanita
folks7777@gmail.com

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Spiders and More Spiders!

Good morning!  I'm glad you came to visit. Six months ago I started sharing.  I'm amazed I possessed this much to say.

Monday, I felt like Little Miss Muffet. I wasn't sitting on a tuffet, just my over-stuffed chair. I wasn't snacking on curds, just resting after a long day in the garden. But I did hear a spider drop down beside me on his spider rope. He didn't scare me away, I just carefully smashed him between two slippers. You didn't know I hear spiders, did you?


Then, yesterday, I walked up to my car to retrieve something out of the back seat. As I looked inside and before I opened the door, I saw a BIG black, furry spider on the seat. I was ready for this. I carefully, quietly opened the back door to smash it. But, of course, you know what happened. It disappeared forever down the seat belt hole. Well, it better be forever! You know what women usually do when they see a spider.


Now is the appropriate time to share with you the one and only poem I ever wrote. Now, remember, I do not like poems and I do not write poems that rhyme, but when you are inspired by your own true experience, what do you do?

Fear on the Freeway

A spider is in your car, the dread of every woman,
especially when she is driving – driving alone.

Keep your wits about you, your eyes on the road.
Watch the traffic, watch the spider.
.
It’s crawling on your windshield, on the driver’s side.
You ask out loud, “Inside or out?” You pray it’s on the outside.

You turn on the wipers. Spider is still there.
It is black and fuzzy, and won’t stand still.

You pray, “Lord, make it stand still!”
But it crawls back and forth in your line of vision.

You must watch for curves in the road,
But the spider is more important.

You must make a decision, and make it fast!
There’s a wide shoulder. Signal and pull over.

The spider is still moving. Stop the car.
You need a soft napkin. No such luck, only stiff paper.

It will have to do. It doesn’t. It only knocks it down.
The big, black spider falls on your lap. You scream, as only girls can scream.

You grab at it one more time. You get it. Squash it! Smash it!
Squeeze it in the paper. It will never crawl again.

Copyright © May 15, 2010