Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Ecclesiates 1 - Post 90

Hi! I'm still around, but have been having some "Ecclesiastes 1" moments for the past week or so (I've been reading Eugene H. Peterson's contemporary language Bible, The Message, although I grew up on the King James Version.)

Politics (bah and double bah!), the financial markets mess (bah!), unrest in my chosen religious denomination (not at my own small church, thank you, Lord) and a variety of other disquieting goings on are bothering my brain and robbing me of my rest. I have to keep reminding myself that I need to 'let go and let God.' Also, I had let myself get involved in too many things at one time, and sort of wore myself out. While I might like to think that I'm not "old," and the Good Lord has seen fit to let me live past my three-score years and ten, I'm paying the toll for the physical mileage I've racked up.

Weekly Wamblings
(I don't want to steal rhymeswithplague's Tuesday Ramblings)
I've enrolled in a Basic Photography course hosted by a local retail camera & video establishment. The instructor is quite knowledgeable and the presentations are excellent. The students range in age from late 20's (I'm guessing -- mothers of young children who want better photos for their scrapbooks) to two of us who are over 70, and all seem as interested in learning as I am. I'm enjoying it immensely. I'm hopeful that at some point I'll be able to do more with my digital camera than just take snapshots in full "automatic" mode. The photo below is the one I submitted for my first homework -- an easy task since the only requirement was that it be the sort of photo I like to take. I photographed this group of colorful leaves outside the library where we have stamp club meetings.




This week's homework, which has to be turned in tomorrow, Wednesday, the day before class, was more complicated; not because I didn't know what to do, but finding a suitable subject to photograph was a challenge. I don't care to go off very far when I'm alone, and what I had in mind was a bit hard to find locally. I took 52 shots this afternoon, and am not completely happy with any of them, and have to turn in only one. Ah, well.... if the critique session Thursday evening doesn't beat me up too badly, I'll share it, but I can tell you ahead of time it's not nearly so colorful as the one above.

Last weekend I attended the 50th Wedding Anniversary party of a dear friend and her husband. It was a joyous occasion in a beautiful venue. Both my friend and her husband are in general good health, have a wide variety of interests and are delightful to be around. I was happy to be invited to share this occasion with them.

I've also been on a reading marathon, and while not stamping, blogging nor reading (many) blogs, I've managed to go through 10 books in the last 10 days, and I have a stack of nine more sitting on my desk ready to pick up. Most of them (all, actually) are literary bon-bons; all sugar and no substance, not mentally nourishing but mind-occupying, which is what I've needed lately.

I've picked up my crocheting, again. I finished one prayer shawl and started on another, but have only ten rows or so done, so far. Our church maintains a cabinet of prayer shawls which are available for members to give to others, such as new mothers, new brides, persons who are ill or distressed. Each shawl has been blessed at our altar with a special prayer asking God's blessings upon the recipients in whatever circumstance they may find themselves. Since this ministry started last fall, I have completed 15 shawls. I think cooler weather may be more conducive to having a lap full of yarn.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading.

15 comments:

rhymeswithplague said...

Wow! A photography course and 52 shots in one afternoon and 10 books in 10 days andattending a 50th anniversary bash and crocheting a few shawls here and there and reading/writing blogposts in your spare time. How do you do it? Where do you find the energy? I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

P.S. -- Glad you're back!

Pat - Arkansas said...

RWP.. *You're* exhausted??? LOL.. I *am* exhausted! I have NO energy, and make myself do things rather than lie in the bed with the covers over my head.

Idle hands are the devil's workshop.

Thanks, I'm glad to *be* back.

Richard Lawry said...

With much wisdom comes much disappointment; the person who gains more knowledge also gains more sorrow.

Even though you are having an Ecclesiastes 1 time, you are still looking for more wisdom and knowledge. May God bless you.

Anonymous said...

Hello Pat,

You visited my new Whiz Bang Graphics blog and are now a follower. It is so new I am not sure what to do with it. If you go to my Brookville Daily Photo blog you can read some of the stuff going on here and that might help to explain why I don't get around like i should.

I liked the leaf photo. The leaf colors are brilliant and the leaves form a design that looks really nice.

For someone my age, taking classes is something hard to do unless you have lots of time. I seem to be doing something most of the time. So I admire you and your taking the photo class.

Will be back.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

Good to hear from you again. I love the photo you posted. I hope to see more from your class.

Sandi McBride said...

I grew up on the Douay version of the Bible and really can't tell much difference...and what I want to know is have you taken a nap yet? I feel the need for one just reading what you've been up to..
Sandi

Celebration of Life said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and your kind comments. You are a delightful woman and look forward to vistiting with you again!
Jo

EG CameraGirl said...

I don't know where you find the time to do everything you've done. Amazing!

A photography class sounds like great fun...except for the homework part. ;-)

abb said...

Good to have you around again, Pat.

Your photo is lovely.

Anonymous said...

LOL Pat, you say your hand is in too many pies and then you sign up for a photography class! By the looks of the pic, I'd say you are going to ace it. That picture looks more like a painting than a pic. So very nice. I am envious of your energy. I don't get half that done in a day.!

Louise said...

You've lived past your "three-score and ten" because you keep yourself and your mind busy! I'm a bit envious of all the books!

Countrygirl said...

Good luck with the class, keep us informed. What is a prayer shawl? Post some pictures of it as well.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Hi, Countrygirl. There's nothing very unusual about a Prayer Shawl except for its blessing and intent. A group of our church women started doing this last fall. We got our information from this web site:

http://www.shawlministry.com/

I invite you to go visit there to see what it's all about and to see some photos of beautiful shawls. My shawls are not so beautiful; I've only learned to crochet (at all) in the last year, so they are quite plain, no fancy patterns. I made a special shawl for my grandson-in-law when my granddaughter was killed in an auto accident last December. It's particularly special because of all the love that went into it. He seems to treasure it, which makes me feel really good about having made it for him.

Ranch wife said...

Hi Pat, my it seems you are busy busy, and that is an inspiration to me. I want to be active as long as the good Lord will let me. My grandmother lived to see 97, and she was very active until she was 90.

So you go girl...but I bet a nap wouldn't hurt a thing.

I am going to check out the prayer shawl ministry....that sounds like a very nice ministry to be in.

Have a great evening!

~M~

Amila Salgado said...

'10 books in days'
Wow! - You are an avid reader!

Good idea to follow a photography course. Learning your camera beyond 'auto' mode will open up new doors.