Accomplishments!

 Accomplishments!

 

Barry Thomas came today and replaced the flood lights on the deck and replaced the plug box behind my desk. Not sure what was wrong with the deck light, but the plug in behind the desk had a burnt spot on it where it had become too hot at some point. Now it works correctly no matter if two things are plugged in at the same time. Yay!

 

Had to go to Sutherland’s to get the halogen bulbs for the deck light, and picked up an el-cheapo leaf rake while there. It is totally plastic, but it will probably outlast me. Anyway, going out the door, a man looked like the neighbor down on Texas Street. Asked him if he was Mr. Acuna, and his wife explained that this man was his brother (who is not quite as tall as the neighbor). While we were talking, she agreed that she knew a housekeeper—her! So will call her tomorrow (she was kind enough to put her name and number in my phone while we stood there) and let her give me an estimate on this mess of a house. Would like for Jennifer not to have to worry about keeping house while she is here. Besides, a good housekeeper who knows what she is doing is well worth the time and money!

 

Just finished eating din-upper. Have some broccoli salad, but am saving that for lunch or something tomorrow. Have to use up three eggs that were in the nests today. One of the hens broke an egg, so all three were messy. An omelet maybe or just plain scrambled eggs would be ok. Will have to go get some oyster shell tomorrow so the hens will eat what they need in that department. Sterling was telling me how the old folks would save up their egg shells, bake them in the oven, and then crush them to feed back to the hens. Oyster shell is much simpler. Besides, that many eggs are not actually consumed around here.

 

Sterling and Jacqui are really enjoying the new church they are attending. Sterling gets to play the old gospel songs—plus a lot of that new stuff—and once in a while he will get the kids started on some of the stuff like we enjoyed as kids. Jacqui gets to ride along on the children’s bus to keep things calm and cool. Seems there is some kind of regulation that demands a rider to go along with them. She likes kids and the responsibility.

 

Stilton Jarlsberg said that he and his wife were celebrating their wedding anniversary today. Seems they have been together nearly 50 years, but only married 28 years ago because they wanted to have a honeymoon in Hawaii. Go figure. He did not mention anything about health issues, but you can bet that those have not gone away. Anyway, we can continue to keep them in our prayers.

 

Granddaughter has a soccer game tonight. She sprained her ankle in one of the last games she was in, so she has to wear some kind of brace with it all taped up. Can’t imagine playing on a sprained ankle, but today is totally different from what things used to be. Lance said the worst thing about tonight is that the stupid stadium was built so that folks have to face north and south instead of east and west, so the cold wind will freeze their bodies. We decided the architect should be made to sit in the bleachers for several games in both winter and summer. Sounds about right, don’t you think?

 

Expected this water bill to be a bit higher, but don’t really think anyone read the meter. Next month should be interesting. Then there is the gas (natural) bill. Last month it was nearly $80. This month it is $118.49. And no, extra clothing probably would not help. My feet turn to blocks of ice in the winter!

 

Read an article today about a young Jewish woman who had to get away from the strictures of the community by going to a gym to run or otherwise exercising there. She finally divorced her husband and started working. The community she lived in did not even allow their children to learn the English language—and this was in New York City!! We are talking about a group that was the most restrictive Jewish sect around! It is really hard to imagine girls not being allowed near boys or not allowed to go beyond 8^th grade. And the schooling was not anything like what our children learn today. But all of the parents, grands, etc., were survivors of the Holocaust. Their idea of keeping the children so restricted was to prevent the same thing from happening again. Kind of self- destructive to my way of thinking, but whatever.

 

Really know less than the usual stuff. Have been watching the sparrows that have stuffed the bird house on the front porch. It is funny to watch them go in and out and sit on the perch. They cleaned up all the nibbles put out for them, so maybe some bread crumbs would satisfy them now. Can’t imagine how they can keep warm enough in this cold air. But the nandinas bushes seem to just explode with sparrows when disturbed. God made some wonderfully adaptive creatures.

 

Let us remember to pray for peace. It is worrying to think that some nations today don’t care what happens to those who live upon the land as long as the nations get whatever it is that they seem to want. Resources, ease of transit, redistribution of beliefs, or just plain ego—men are pretty ruthless. Sad.

 

Rest this evening/day and find joy in whatever your hand finds to do. You are loved.