Lent...day 1

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season.  My church does not observe Lent...I have come to think that in trying to be so different from mainline churches, we sometimes "throw the baby out with the bathwater".  The observance of Lent seems to me to be a wonderful way to truly focus on the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. 

 So, I plan to observe the season and fast from a presence in my house that truly demands my attention...and one that I so easily give into.  This presence is with me from the moment that my feet hit the kitchen floor and stays until I put my head on my pillow.  It calls to me at different times of the day to stop whatever I'm doing and visit for awhile....I give it attention before I give my time to the Lord....I loathe that I do this....I am drawn to it...it has become a habit.  What is this presence that controls me so?  It is my television...the box that sits in almost every room of my home.  The box that shows the best of God's creation and the sin that permeates every corner.  This will be a difficult thing for me to do...I do not sit before it for hours on end...it usually whispers to me in the background, the news in the morning, a show at lunch, evening spent watching favorite shows.  I do try to be careful at what I put into my mind (heart), but I spend more time with this box than I do with my Lord.  So, I start today....(I miss it already)....but prayerfully I will miss it less and less each day as I spend time with my Creator, drawing near to Him as He draws near to me in preparation of experiencing the greatest sacrifice....

Kitchen TV

Living in His grace,
Jody

President's Day Quote

"If freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter"   George Washington



favorite picture that hangs in our dining room



Living in His grace,

Jody

Wandering Wednesday

Today has been a day for errands.  Headed to town to pick up horse feed in one part of the county, cat food, cat litter and dog food in another part.  Went to Kohls because they were having an early bird sale and I was in need of a new iron.  When my darling daughter got married she received a lovely pink iron for a gift, she wasn't using it due to the fact our new son came with one, so, since my iron wasn't doing so well she graciously gave it to me.  I received a call yesterday...their iron had just that morning started sparking and smoking...."Mom, we need the iron back", rats, I liked that iron.  So, thankfully, there was a Rowenta iron on sale at Kohls....a good sale too, and we had an extra 30% coupon...yippee, I didn't feel so bad about returning the cute pink iron.  

Met up with our Darling Daughter for lunch at one of our favorite sub places

she surprised me with a cute little gift

Chalk doodle coasters...very fond of the the gift bag too....

Temperatures have been around 50 today....very spring like, so much so that when we arrived home late this afternoon, the honey bee's that live in the old catalpa tree outside our back door had awoke and were stretching their wings.....

(turn off the music at the right to hear the bees,oh, and a chicken laying an egg too :)  )

Tomorrow's forcast is calling for it to be near 60 so the bees again will be out stretching, however, one of the ladies at the knitting group last night stated she heard that the week after next temps could get down to -10 again for our area....hope the bees don't use up too much energy, they'll need it to keep warm in the coming days.  Let's hope that that type of temp is over for this year.

trying out one of my new coasters

Living in His grace,
Jody

My Valentine

"The very first moment I beheld him, my heart was irrevocably gone."

Jane Austen (Love and Friendship)



Happy Valentine's Day



Got Yarn?

Last night was the beginning of a new ministry at church..."Got Yarn?"  A group of knitters/crocheters, experienced and newbies, young and young at heart, came together to share their knowledge and the want to learn. 

extra yarn and needles were brought in and shared

techniques were taught and reviewed

those who hadn't picked up a needle in sometime found that it's like riding a bicycle

and a new convert was born....  :)

it was a great time of sharing and making friends. It was a success as we decided to continue to meet weekly.  Plans are being made to support our local Care Net Pregnancy Center with knitted/crocheted baby items.

"She shops around  for the best yarns and cottons and enjoys knitting and sewing crochet." 

Psalm 31:13 (The Message)

Living in His grace,

Jody

Contented Farmer

  The temps are still cold (17 with a windchill) but it is beautiful out.  The snow is again falling as I sit here in the kitchen typing.  I never get tired of the snow, extreme cold, yes, but not the snow. It does help that work for me is here at home so I do not have to travel unless I want or need to. The only outside thing I must do is tend to the animals and once I am suited up in coveralls, good boots and warm gloves, I am able to work outside for as long as needed.  I am a "contented farmer"  :)

"But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.  For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.  If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content."  1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NASB)

icy lace on the chicken fence

contented horses





icy fringe on the cistern pump



winter sunrise from the front porch

Living in His grace,

Jody



Calm after the storm....

     The last couple of days have seen various weather conditions, snow, rain, freezing rain, snow again, winds up to 45 mph and now wonderful sun.  I am thankful that our power stayed on through it all, the only thing we lost was the cable which includes our phone and internet. 
     Going to the barn is a slow journey as the ground has a layer of ice with snow on top all the way there.  ( I have taken great delight in seeing Mr. Knightly slip and fall on his way out the barn door.) The horses spent all day yesterday in their stalls as I was afraid they would break their legs on the ice skating rink that the pasture has become.  Today though, with the sun shining (though it's still icy) the barn is open and all animals are out and enjoying the day.
     The days little by little are getting longer and even though it doesn't seem like it, we now have proof.   After a couple months of barely laying any eggs, this week, the hens have stepped up production

Puxatawny Phil did not see his shadow and the hens are laying....spring cannot be far away :)

Last week DF picked up a book that I had reserved at the library

  I have not had a chance to really sit down and read it yet, but I did run across this as I was thumbing through the pages ...

"Rise early.  Eat simple food.  Take plenty of exercise.  Never fear a little fatique."  "Avoid the necessity of a physician, if you can, by careful attention to your diet." 

Wise words from 1832!

Living in His grace,
Jody