Eagle, solar observatory, Heron, Mountains

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More on Eagles

Info on the Solar Observatory

Info on the lake - for paddlers

today's menu

Quiet time
Yogi fasting tea with Agave nectar in it
reading
blog
nap
walk in the woods
repair the kayak rudder.
Pray to God

time out to play and relax

hey
I am so glad for the gift that massage has become.
about a week ago I had a neighbor work out most of the soreness that I accumulated by cutting, splitting and stacking a ton of firewood (2200 lbs at least).
I had traded firewood for the massage, so I could afford it, yay!

Next month playtime will be in Burbank, Ca where I am going to watch a taping of my favorite show, with host Drew Carey: The Price is Right! For a long time I have wanted to be on the show, to bid on prizes and to win the SHOWCASE! I guess it could really happen, or more realistically, I will get a day off the mountain, go to dinner with my brother, and yell and scream like all those other silly folks. Wish me luck, or a blessing.

My life is so good, I think I will not care if I have a trip to Europe (eeeww) or a NEW CAR!
but I would like to hug Drew or one of Bob Barkers Beauties......

one amazing month

After four really eye popping weeks in therapy
and a solution to a fairly complicated dream puzzle
God has freed much more than my mind.

There have been wonderful moments of standing before God in worship and prayer where I sensed I was accepted and loved and cherished by Him just as I am.

Lots and lots of driving time
combined with good music, good conversation, plenty of laughter
and a small dose of sadness have created in me the awareness that ( hold on to your hats) I am alright.

You would be right if you thought that I am looking forward to February!

sunday - sourdough - sedition

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and then SOURDOUGH pancakes Oh My Dear Lord.
so good, the recipe i used is here

mm mmmm good

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or Berry berry good

as
as mentioned in the previous post I got FREE pair of Levi's 501's
well, actually they were not free, it is just that I did not buy them
someone else did.
A careless person who must have put them on top of their car
and then driven toward the ski area,or back toward their hotel.
Funny thing about tourists, they drive too fast
strange thing about pants, they fly off when you drive to fast
( not off your body, off your car)
so I saw something in the center lane, getting run over by tourist tires
(Locals try to be nice, driving around, not over your jeans!)
I turned around, stopped in the middle lane, set the flashers
and retrieved a fine pair of TOO small Jeans
some cool warm up pants ( name brand) were out there too
I am a 36 - the jeans are a 34
but I am fitting in by eating less and working out more
Thanks to the tourist, I feel great and look sharp too!

Quick contest: tell me your best free clothes story and I will send the best entry a jar of
Black berry - Raspberry preserves

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Update Saturday noon
found - cast iron griddle/ grill for the stove top.
Destination today: Lake baby! windy but I will find some coves to explore!

what a difference a day makes

I am UP
on top of the rainy world. Starting Wednesday
I had such a good kayak trip 5 or 6 miles, sore arms and shoulders!
then, today another breakthrough counseling session
- chipping away at false guilt and self destruction.

and then today with Mom, so sweet, I just know I am in this place
at this time for God's purposes. her home care aid was sick so i filled in.
lots of eye drops through out the day. She is doing well though forgetful.
Then a delicious dinner tonight
and dessert was my apple crisp. I am so stuffed I will never fit
into my skinny 34 inch Levi's 501. but it was worth it
I got those for free, forgot to blog about it

and then -
today at the thrift store I found
THIS
it is an Ebelskiver pan
of cast iron

now I need an Ebelskiver recipe.... Google, what do you have ?

Much love to all - God is good.

time to dig

digging down today
to the place where I am more real
the only way I know how to do this is
to be quiet
to pray and read the Psalms
and to run the chainsaw

good to do in the face of the coming storms
pray for me, please


------------------ 8 am ------------
adding to the list, MUST go kayaking on the lake
under the snowless clouds.
shoulders are already sore, so let's push them
a little more

---------3:19
really sore now and glad to be able to nap some
made a massage appt and one for therapy.
All quiet at home, not much rain yet.
The chainsaw is calling

I will be in the bar..

Last night bought Thai food in abundance - to go and while it was being lovingly prepared
I had the bartender open a Michelob ultra ( tasteless, blech!)
as I sat there he asked to conduct an experiment on my taste buds
it involved distinguishing the difference between two types of tequila.
Not wanting to disappoint the young man, I obliged, and of course failed miserably.

seems the really good stuff has less bite, less flavor than the cheaper.
I sipped away for five minutes to the amazement of the bartender and his friends,
never getting to agreeing with them that tequila 'a' was better than tequila 'b'
Both were warming my throat nicely and were exquisitely free, so was I!
by now steaming "to go' boxes of pad thai and seafood was ready for me to grab and run.

Oh the heaven of that smell, it about killed me in the car..
and the tequila was more than I would have needed to off set the busy day that mom and I had at outpatient surgery ( see the fight notes below)

This morning's USA TODAY has THE O looking like the archbishop of Washington
and says something like "Hussein to rule and reign forever, we are saved"
something like that....
I chuckle, because I am still happy, and free ( for now)

No complaints*

Not a bad day in the desert.

I rose too early, before the sun, went for egg sandwich breakfast at local chain, yum!
Used the fitness center here at the Hilton garden Inn.
The fitness center is apparently a place you go if you don't have firewood to cut, split or stack.
Checked my email at the business center, alas, I had no business to do (hysterical laugh).
I went on to the business of writing a paper letter, something I love to do.
Woke my mom up about 7:30 and had her out the door about 8:30 for the appointment at the outpatient surgery center at 9am. they took out a cataract, That took three hours. it would have been less but she fought them tooth and nail, mistakenly thinking they were going to harm her. Whew! i would not have wanted to be the nurses and helpers. it took FOUR of then to hold her still for the operation, can you imagine?
holy smokes. her first words to me, "where were you when I needed you?"
Ok, got mom back to the hotel, settled in alright.
For me it was more fitness center, jacuzzi and swam a bunch of laps in the outdoor pool.
For folks in the northeast or Midwest, an outdoor pool in January is what you call a skating rink, just not frozen....
Now some blogging, email, and then dinner. Maybe Thai food.

Later I will work some more on my jigsaw puzzle and read a bit more of THIS AMAZING BOOK! ( link to amazon) by greg Cynaumon, Ph.d

Ok the asterisk *
no complaints*
Perhaps there are a few nurses or orderlies who have bruises, THEY might have something to say about the feisty old lady (89) who was not going to take being poked and prodded any longer!

such is life - for mom and myself.
I am taking care, and staying clear when she gets angry...

Phone a friend

talking to peter (Not 'the' saint, but A saint!)
confessing my carelessness of late
and recalling how sweet it was way back
before the "confusion"

mostly being happy
and hearing his joy at my renewed trust in God.
we spent time talking about what really matters
people getting healed
saved
delivered

it was good to drive and visit
with my last friend from the San Francisco years.
ahhh we were young and so optimistic then
now I am just optimistic.

Return to the right way

WELCOME BACK
Chuck Girard

Welcome back to the things that you once believed in
Welcome back to what you knew was right from the start
All you had to do was to be what you always wanted to be
Welcome back to the love that is in your heart

I know that you thought you could turn your back
And no one could see in your mind
But I can see that you know better now
You never were the untruthful kind
Yeah, and I’m so happy now to welcome you back

Welcome back
Welcome back, (Welcome back to Jesus)
Welcome back
^{©1971 Dunamis Music}

and then the simplest of messages ( in song )


Thanks to Lindenville Cafe for the links to the Jesus movement archives
and some OLD video of Chuck Smith and calvary chapel

A single, solitary, simple seed

one
one thought, one idea, one person

it has to come down to this
ONE is important

One man, my dad was such a powerful influence in my life that giving up my relationship with him would wound me for a long long time - and I just found that out this week.

One mistake leads to another and pretty soon the ONE person you should have protected is not, is damaged and in neglecting that sacred trust, you kill off a part of yourself. One person not born can change history, one young man's dream crushed can lead to a life of waste and want.

ONE CHANGE; recovery, repentance, surrender, whatever I call it it comes to this, for me, I gave up so much of myself trying to find myself. Now in yielding to my heavenly father, God, I am discovering more than who I am and what I am here to do, I am finding that I DO FIT in the big plan and I AM CAPABLE of taking my place in my family and in my community as a strong man. Once the blinders came off and the chains forged by years of willfulness and rebellion were cut away, the freedom that came to my limbs, my heart and my new mind is beyond putting into a few words. I am wanting to dance, my voice which grumbled for too long, now sings. My path, once a serpentine swirl strewn with wrecked dreams, now stretches far ahead toward a bright horizon.

blessings stacking UP!

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400 more photos of Oolong the rabbit are HERE

Now I WANT a guinea pig that poops pearls......

a day at a time

time is more precious to me now
so I won't throw away big blocks of it.
I want to know what is happening in my own heart
and in my world ( i say that to delineate it from THE world)

I used to mark the calendar with future events
( and that still has its merits) but now I find I am
wanting a calendar marked with
"Amazing things that happened today"
like a diary, but simpler.

This blog is a possible starting place for a non paper reminder
of what is going on around here.

I wish to never take for granted the grace and amazing love of God toward myself and my family. I am going to be very active in first living the best life I can, by His enabling, and then capsulize a few of the days highlights for myself ( mostly) so that I am reminded of His great love and power. When it got dark last evening, i did not turn on the lights right away, letting the fire in the wood stove be the only man made light in the room.
The day had progressed perfectly, and I wanted it to last. Lunch was amazingly beautiful to see and delightful to taste. I wish I had a picture of the lime green Jello mold full of fresh fruit, it was "electric" and so refreshing with the spinach salad, grilled tuna and butternut squash. A cup of fresh hot coffee gave mom just enough Go-power to make the walk to the end of the street. When we made it back home - she sat by the fire, warmed a bit and then took a long nap.
She is becoming sweeter, and more appreciative each day, and only struggles a bit ( don't we all) with bouts of grumpiness or self criticism. I do my best to remind her that she is doing just what she should be, as we approach her 90th birthday. When we get out her 3 prescriptions I voice my wonder that she is so drug free, when others have ten or more pills a day to keep them going. We have a happy healthy mountain lifestyle, which means we slow considerably during the cold and snow season, but spring is on its way! Thank you, creator of all, for Saturday, I could not wait any longer to lock some of it in to this part of my written memory bank.

What is new?

This word comes to mind in the cold month of January:

re⋅viv⋅al

–noun

1.	restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.

2.	restoration to use, acceptance, or currency: the revival of old customs.

3.	a new production of an old play.

4.	a showing of an old motion picture.

5.	an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.

6.	an evangelistic service or a series of services for the purpose of effecting a religious awakening: to hold a revival.

7.	the act of reviving.

8.	the state of being revived.

9.	Law. the reestablishment of legal force and effect. seems #'s 1, 5 and 8 say it best for me

Head Chef reports:

Last night mom had 4 cheese ravioli and a Italian sausage with a dinner salad.
I had the same while listening to some OLDIES, and concocting a very light chili in the crock pot.
it smells yummy after simmering all night, and I have high hopes that it will be tasty enough without too much spiciness.

( Have you read the email joke about the inexperienced chili taster at a Texas chili contest?
email me for it, very hilarious, rated PG-16)

Today my sister Laurel ( see amazon) is coming so I am making a special 5 star lunch.
Her visits to mom are so helpful and her encouragement to me is like water to a thirsty hiker.
We have always shared so much, but the bond is closest now. For that I am ever so grateful.

in reviewing some of my old posts, I am finding and marking some of the better poetry, which I will be re-writing and refining as time allows, for now the all have the label poetry if you want to search that way. Thanks for reading.

I better start on the fruit salad, yum!

road trip

thanks to KBHR933.com for this cool ariel shot of our valley

I am off the hill today
(thursday is one of mom's "home care" days) but never far from my next prayer for you, saints of God, and for the harvest that is coming.

in my kitchen today

I am making beef jerky ( oven style, 4 to five hours) from a beautiful London broil that I got for less than $2 /lb.
I am finishing a pot of Turkey soup ( lots of vegetables needed and some egg noodles I think)
Later - just because it looks like fun, I will be making some caramel apples, with help from a package, of course.
i precooked some pork chops and Italian sausages for the freezer.

I hope the smells of all this don't make me crazy
I am drinking water and juice and praying for Barbara, and her son Keven
and believing God for a miracle for a friend's sister.
Thanking God for my new blog friend Amrita whose testimony is sound and whose blog is found HERE

winter sky

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this was so stunning I had to detour from my way to get the shot

Camera critters ( meme)

White pelicans visit Big Bear lake.
this shot was taken from my wonderful double kayak
on a day of warmth, bliss and healthy exercise.
we made sure the pelicans got a work out too as we chased them here and there

Thanks to Nikki- Ann for pointing me to this meme
and for her pics of Wales. fantastic
Hello Tanya fans!

One new love, one (really) old love

I love GTY.org where I can listen by podcast to the 'Grace to you' radio program in podcast form on my windows media player. This connects me to the voice and passion of John MacArthur Jr., under whose preaching I first came to faith in Jesus Christ. Just recently, God's grace was renewed to me as I came under the conviction of my repeated sins and continued foolishness.
I am once again realizing that a testimony of faith in my mouth is useless unless it was matched by the testimony of my feet and hands, the demonstration of that faith in my walk and in my work.

To you who know me, I ask forgiveness for my failings and the neglect of the gift of salvation these past years and I commit to living on the higher plane of obedience to God's will and acceptance of His design for my life. Thank you for your prayers. Only God knows how much they have meant in this season of my life.
The blinders have come off, the lure of the easy solution and instant "happiness" are now clear to me as just that: LURES. Any fisherman will tell you that at the end of a lure is a hook. Once hooked the direction of ones life is altered, changed and no longer characterized by freedom, as the pull of the line and the pain in the mouth take over and like an energetic and purely reactive rainbow trout, I was running, jumping and zig-zagging through my days, without much hope of really getting anywhere.

Through prayer, and His word, God has removed the hooks from my soul and set me on a path of freedom. Not freedom to do as I wish, but freedom to live as He intended from the beginning.
"Grace to you" and the podcasts are my new love, God is my first love that I am returning to in this January season of my life. I am new again, and you know what? It just feels great!

Why.. the reasons I live

Jared and AmiRose


the Incarnate Son of God


The adorable daughter of david

Oren, also known as #1 son with his fried turkey.