tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33865933570644085312024-02-19T11:19:01.851-06:00Remembrances of An Arkansas StamperWhatever Interests Me Today - Photos - Poetry - Ponderings - Recollections <br><br>"I’m not going to tell you the story the way it happened. I’m going to tell it the way I remember it." ~ <i>Great Expectations</i> (the movie, 1998)Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.comBlogger480125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-71371745688744154992024-01-26T16:26:00.001-06:002024-01-26T16:26:41.806-06:00Testing, testing<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Arkansas, as many other parts of our country, is currently inundated with moisture. We're more fortunate than some, as there is not significant flooding. We have, however, been affected by dense fog, both early and late in the day as the temperature has risen following a bitterly cold week.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The current conditions brought to mind the following:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The rain is raining all around,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It falls on field and tree,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It rains on the umbrellas here,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And on the ships at sea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> -- Robert Louis Stevenson</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Footnote: I've been away from blogging for years, and much water has passed under the bridge. I have been unable to access my blog site on my PC for quite a long time (unresolvable issue, I fear), but just this week I (very accidentally) found that the Apple computer I use for my volunteer work at church allows access and input. Hooray! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope to be back, on a sporadic basis, using our office computer, while I investigate the possibility of acquiring an Apple of my own! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span></div>
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</div>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-38548520428586975172015-03-10T16:22:00.000-05:002015-03-10T16:23:19.215-05:00Snow Tire and Frozen Daffodil Festival<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It appears that Arkansas' periodic "Snow Tire and Frozen Daffodil Festival" has, again, come to a close. Thank You, Lord.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I was house-bound for two days last week, waiting for the temperature to rise enough to begin to melt the approximately 5" of snow and the underlying inch or more of solidly frozen sleet, the latter having begun to fall upon us with a vengeance about 4 p.m. on Wednesday last.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When I consider other parts of the U.S. and what they have been through in the way of repeated, and seemingly unending, winter storms, I'm happy that Winter Storm Thor was all we had to contend with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm quite content to deal with sleet and snow -- it usually doesn't stick on the tree limbs and power lines. I was extremely thankful to awake the morning after the storm to find my furnace still running and the lights on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We're currently experiencing rain, Spring Rain (YAY), and temps are in the high 50's. While there are still patches of sleet/snow lingering around my yard in areas where the winter sun doesn't reach, it should all be gone, gone, gone in a day or two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I hope all of you weathered the latest round of unpleasant weather without destruction or major inconvenience</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-64916262124863819352015-02-05T18:56:00.000-06:002015-02-05T18:56:22.948-06:00Recommendation<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes I just can't wait for a particular book to hit my local library shelves. Tight-wad that I am --but betting on the come -- I paid the grandiose sum of $0.99 for a certain Kindle download from Amazon. (I have learned that was a <i>one-time/one-day</i> special; the cost is currently just under $11 for the download.) I got my money's worth, and then some!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I had read the author's first novel (this is the second but I hope not the last) upon the recommendation of Arkansas Patti (<a href="http://thenewsixty.blogspot.com/">The New Sixty</a>) and enjoyed it immensely. I was happy to write to her a few weeks ago about discovering that there was a second novel, even though I had not yet started reading it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The story is described by one reviewer as "picaresque," and that it is; every one of its 433 pages contains some quirk that will leave you smiling, laughing out loud, or in sheer wonderment at the twists and turns of the plot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For sensible reviews, may I refer you to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Saved-King-Sweden-ebook/dp/B00FJ3CK2Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423182550&sr=1-1&keywords=the+girl+who+saved+the+king+of+sweden">Amazon</a>, and <i>The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden</i> by Jonas Jonasson, author of the very successful <i>The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared </i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">(also recommended by yours truly)</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I do hope Mr. Jonasson is working on a third novel that will be completed and translated before I can no longer read (may that be a long time coming.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-9843392971920227082015-01-30T20:48:00.000-06:002015-01-30T21:12:47.103-06:00Observation<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I had errands to do today which required being out and about in my vehicle. Our city fathers have seen fit to place traffic signals at most of the intersections on the streets I traveled. As my luck would have it, I spent quite a bit of time waiting for lights to turn green so that I could proceed. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">During one of those waits, I idly observed the vehicles passing on a particularly busy cross street. After watching dozens, if not hundreds, of cars, trucks, and buses pass by, it suddenly occurred to me that white-walled tires seem to have disappeared. I paid more careful attention at subsequent stops and can report that (at least today), on the possible thousand vehicles to which I paid attention, I did not spot a single one (white wall tires, that is. I did spot the vehicles.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sic transit gloria tires.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
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<br />Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-6827184441504155982015-01-08T13:02:00.000-06:002015-01-30T21:13:52.217-06:00The Oxford English Dictionary <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As is my wont, when there are not pressing matters that must be attended outside my home at an early hour, I start each day playing games on the computer. <b><i>Free Cell</i></b> and <b><i>Bookworm</i></b> are my go-tos, both of which are my homemade tests for judging my present mental acuity. I am convinced that if I can make it through <b><i>Freecell</i></b> and make a decent score on <b><i>Bookworm</i></b>, my mind is working reasonably well and I can proceed with the day. If I have difficulties, I convince myself that another cup of coffee will sharpen my mind to the point that I can make it through the day without doing myself any major damage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This morning, as I was playing <b><i>Bookworm</i></b>, I marveled again, as I have literally hundreds of time in the past, at the richness of the English language. So many words; simple, complex, beautiful words! As I posted early in my blog, I have been in love with words since I was a teenager, inoculated with the love of words virus by my high school English teacher.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I discovered the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Oxford English Dictionary</i> when I was a freshman in college. Having been exposed to dictionaries only the the form of the latest <b><i>Webster's, </i></b> I was amazed at the wealth of information on word roots and origins and the first use of words in the English language contained in the <b><i>OED. </i></b>As I was not very socially inclined at that time in my life, I spent many, many hours in the college library, where the 20 volumes of the <i style="font-weight: bold;">OED </i>sat on top of one of the long tables. I spent hours perusing those books. I'd like to be able to say that I had read the entire <b><i>OED,</i></b> but I fear that, even at my advanced age, I might have made it through, perhaps, a dozen volumes by now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">[Wikipedia information on the <b><i>OED</i></b>, may be found here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_English_Dictionary">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_English_Dictionary</a>]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A book that has managed to stay for over 30 years in my sadly diminishing personal library is the story of the creation of the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Oxford English Dictionary</i>. It is a biography of James Murray, editor of the original <i style="font-weight: bold;">OED</i>, written by his granddaughter, K. M. Elizabeth Murray, and first published by Yale University Press (1977). My well-worn paperback copy was published by Oxford University Press in 1979. Oh... it's title? <b><i>CAUGHT IN THE WEB OF WORDS. </i></b>If you love words, or simply have a curiosity about the <i style="font-weight: bold;">OED</i>, I highly recommend it to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">OTHER STUFF:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's bitterly cold here today.I left my taps dripping last night, and was pleased to have both cold and hot water this morning. Although the weather is not as brutal as it is in some parts of the U.S., it's more than cold enough for us southerners. If there is a good side to it, it's cold enough to kill the remaining mosquitoes and, hopefully, most of the ticks and chiggers. Fortunately, it is just cold; no precipitation. That's due to move into our area on Saturday evening. I expect icy roads at church time on Sunday. We shall see what we shall see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
<br />Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-40646840508212663462014-12-19T16:16:00.000-06:002014-12-19T16:16:20.036-06:00Remembering .....<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AkZpofpc-xo/SLRFY78xTxI/AAAAAAAAATU/rNCwS7w2Iag/s1600-h/100_0222.JPG" style="color: #771100; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238888561250488082" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AkZpofpc-xo/SLRFY78xTxI/AAAAAAAAATU/rNCwS7w2Iag/s320/100_0222.JPG" style="border: none; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative;" /></a><strong>Laura Christine (Christie) Hollingsworth Poe</strong></div>
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<strong>August 26, 1978 - December 19, 2007</strong></div>
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I will love you always.</div>
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Grandma</div>
Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-84139402753743662172014-11-26T21:38:00.000-06:002014-11-26T21:41:14.693-06:00Thanksgiving, Again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9E4z-1I9qLGbFbQTW9LA5iVEaMW4JESBPYyVKOrEGBb_zpKzjdhn1C_WD0a3GhWKWDKSMou_sWcJIQH0lOdmXbDkMRhpA2eq0hjZmpLlv8yqAGUoUYLodj8DDtqnifG3be2dDf-BKo0Y/s1600/DSC_0024-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9E4z-1I9qLGbFbQTW9LA5iVEaMW4JESBPYyVKOrEGBb_zpKzjdhn1C_WD0a3GhWKWDKSMou_sWcJIQH0lOdmXbDkMRhpA2eq0hjZmpLlv8yqAGUoUYLodj8DDtqnifG3be2dDf-BKo0Y/s1600/DSC_0024-002.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a><br />
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"Give us thankful hearts...</div>
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in this the season of Thy Thanksgiving.</div>
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May we be thankful for health and strength,</div>
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for sun and rain and peace.</div>
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Let us seize the day and the opportunity</div>
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and strive for that greatness of spirit</div>
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that measures life not by its disappointments</div>
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but by its possibilities,</div>
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and let us ever remember that true gratitude</div>
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and appreciation shows itself neither</div>
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in independence nor satisfaction</div>
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but passes the gift joyfully on</div>
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in larger and better form."'</div>
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W.E.B. DuBois</div>
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Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-69550216963528574252014-06-04T11:33:00.001-05:002014-06-04T11:33:23.725-05:00Crocosmia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKtz5hQnslNNMMdFSajAKuxlrskBQJjg5tYbm-OPWwBHPjXHVI2lhzJTx1Fs8D5GOKe1TIr88FrTd6W1gmzao4-K_1K-wYwZmuYMkMwX0PgdwPTJTedHLB56y13pmjdEp6-JzXaWWLbM/s1600/Crocosmia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKtz5hQnslNNMMdFSajAKuxlrskBQJjg5tYbm-OPWwBHPjXHVI2lhzJTx1Fs8D5GOKe1TIr88FrTd6W1gmzao4-K_1K-wYwZmuYMkMwX0PgdwPTJTedHLB56y13pmjdEp6-JzXaWWLbM/s1600/Crocosmia.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Gardening Daughter has gifted me with a new-to-me plant -- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocosmia">Crocosmia</a>. She planted a couple of stems (</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">sans any flowers) </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">about a week ago in my front garden. It wasn't but a couple of days later that the plants had produced flower stems, and yesterday the first blossoms appeared. I don't know exactly what variety of Crocosmia this is... could be <i>Lucifer,</i> or perhaps <i>Emberglow</i> or <i>Masonorum</i>... names of several of the red varieties. Whatever the variety, it's unusual and very pretty. I can visualize large clumps of them gracing this area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She also brought me baskets of bright red Million Bells (calibrachoa), pink/purple/yellow Lantana, and a mixed dish garden of Lamb's Ears (Stachys byzantina); Angelonia and another variety of Million Bells. Very colorful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All this plant-gifting was in (unnecessary) payment for babysitting my granddaughter several days during the preceding week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today is sunny... and dry, for a change. It has rained almost every day for the last week, varying between downpours and drizzle. The ground beneath the grass is almost boggy; goodness only knows when it will be mowed again. Where's a goat when you need one?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day -- and heavy thunderstorms are in the forecast. Ah, well!</span><br />
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<br />Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-52169191274431505332014-05-16T15:26:00.000-05:002014-05-16T15:26:29.984-05:00Tragedy in the Bird's NestWhen I checked the bird's nest this afternoon, all I found was one dead chick; the other two were gone completely. I suspect a raccoon. Sad, sad, sad.<br />
<br />Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-76068664170466058502014-05-06T17:23:00.000-05:002014-05-06T17:25:26.039-05:00Birdies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Two days old</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There are three babies in the nest. The first two were stirring around in the nest when I checked on Sunday afternoon; the third one hatched sometime before I checked on Monday mid-morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A few minutes ago, I managed to catch two of them awake and yawning for food before Daddy Cardinal shooed me away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">There's no noise coming from those gaping mouths. I think baby birds don't "cheep" for a few days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Mama Cardinal is hardly ever on the nest during the day; too busy hunting food for the babies, I guess.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Bye the bye, the pot that contains the nest is only 6" across.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day. </span></div>
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Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-935115037209721252014-05-05T10:25:00.000-05:002014-05-05T10:25:40.736-05:00Yay!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Two of the eggs have hatched, and Mama Cardinal is busy bringing them whatever it is that new baby birds eat!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Will keep you posted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-43275631646648171172014-04-29T17:00:00.002-05:002014-04-29T17:02:09.213-05:00Bits and Pieces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kQ7OxY_Bv04/U2AdBSUCLcI/AAAAAAAADT8/HLkeXd3x1sM/s1600/IMG_20140428_180102_217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kQ7OxY_Bv04/U2AdBSUCLcI/AAAAAAAADT8/HLkeXd3x1sM/s1600/IMG_20140428_180102_217.jpg" height="400" width="310" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This fuzzy photo is the best I could get in the circumstances under which I was working. A young female Cardinal (if you look closely you can see her head/beak on the right and tail on the left) has taken up housekeeping in a small hanging basket left out in the freezing cold over the winter. In the carefully constructed nest just below the top of the container are three small eggs, the first cardinal eggs I have ever seen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The circumstances I mentioned above are (1) that the basket is hanging within four feet of my back door, and (2) opening the door widely spooks her off the nest. I just opened the door a crack, stuck out my cell phone/camera and snapped without really looking or trying to focus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It makes my heart glad to see her there, and my heart needed a gladdening. I discovered her nest this past Saturday morning, when my grandson and I went to the back yard to dig a grave for my sweet Missy cat, who went to play with her baby Sweetie Pie last Friday afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I now have four cats buried in my back yard: Bubble (the sweetest kitty I have ever had) died in July 2000; her brother Squeak died in May, 2012; Sweetie Pie went to be with the kitty angels just over a year ago, and now, Sweetie Pie's mama, Missy. They are all buried in their favorite sunning places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I think that's the end of my having cats; it's just too hard to let them go, even when it's inevitable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-53699818198936649762014-04-24T09:11:00.000-05:002014-04-24T09:35:27.511-05:00Lady Banks Rose<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ8IGTSNEEbsKOzk802nzjalHUGs043c7pJ7X9S05I0kY2D4R8ekvIacWKvixhD5K7U_IP6c9ktLlwUZ6N-igQDXMPaL2Vw8wA-L41FCB-nifagFasUvh-jJe-WF_dXBp2IjJwRbHXKk/s1600/Lady+Banksia+2+April+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ8IGTSNEEbsKOzk802nzjalHUGs043c7pJ7X9S05I0kY2D4R8ekvIacWKvixhD5K7U_IP6c9ktLlwUZ6N-igQDXMPaL2Vw8wA-L41FCB-nifagFasUvh-jJe-WF_dXBp2IjJwRbHXKk/s1600/Lady+Banksia+2+April+2014.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lady Banks Rose</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Family: Rosaceae</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Genus: Rosa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cultivar: R. Banksiae</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A pretty little thing, isn't it? This relatively new addition to my back garden was a gift of Gardening Daughter. It's been in the ground next to a side fence for a couple of years, but bore only one small cluster of blooms last year. It's not completely covered with blooms, as I hope it will be when mature (see Internet photo below -- Glorious! -- I should live so long!) However, I didn't have to search among the leaves for color this year. It's a right cheerful sight.</span><br />
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<img src="http://redriverrosesociety.com/images/first_blooms/mary_rylant/rylant_lady_banks.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://redriverrosesociety.com/images/first_blooms/mary_rylant/rylant_lady_banks.jpg">Photo from Internet</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">R. banksiae</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> has likely been grown in the gardens of China for hundreds of years. The species was introduced to Europe by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kerr_(gardener)" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="William Kerr (gardener)">William Kerr</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">, who had been sent on a plant-hunting expedition by Sir Joseph Banks. He bought the first Lady Banks' Rose, subsequently named the white Lady Banks (</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">R. banksiae</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> var. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">banksiae</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">) from the famous </span><a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fa_Tee&action=edit&redlink=1" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #a55858; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Fa Tee (page does not exist)">Fa Tee</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> nursery in 1807. A number of other forms were subsequently discovered growing in China, including </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">R. banksiae</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> var. </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">normalis,</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> and </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">R. banksiae</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> 'Lutea', the yellow Lady Banks' rose (brought to Europe in 1824 by J. D. Park). This </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultivar" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Cultivar">cultivar</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> has gained the </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Horticultural_Society" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Royal Horticultural Society">Royal Horticultural Society</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">'s </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Award_of_Garden_Merit" style="background-color: white; background-image: none; color: #0b0080; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Award of Garden Merit">Award of Garden Merit</a></span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_banksiae#cite_note-4" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">[</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif;">4]</span></a><span style="font-family: sans-serif;"> - </span></sup></div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_banksiae">Wikipedia article</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
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Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-27968061798344532492014-04-23T12:47:00.001-05:002014-04-23T12:48:36.321-05:00Dainty Bess Comes Through, Again.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhcBR1Rb5SlYs5fOZyeVIC2M_QNzbLGZfr0X_of11wc7qZ9QOEsiAakQSbXQ296FIfqdVGZdLalvjnFAe3Dz3MAfnC8W_hbgSRZmx1Tif5BfvQdpVSdyTt_BAvF4G_zhYRcbleYgCR2s/s1600/Dainty+Bess+April+22+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhcBR1Rb5SlYs5fOZyeVIC2M_QNzbLGZfr0X_of11wc7qZ9QOEsiAakQSbXQ296FIfqdVGZdLalvjnFAe3Dz3MAfnC8W_hbgSRZmx1Tif5BfvQdpVSdyTt_BAvF4G_zhYRcbleYgCR2s/s1600/Dainty+Bess+April+22+2014.jpg" height="640" width="609" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Verdana;">Family:<a href="http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/b/Rosaceae" style="color: #67009a; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">Rosaceae</a></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Verdana;">(ro-ZAY-see-ee)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Verdana;">Genus:<a href="http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/b/Rosaceae/Rosa" style="color: #67009a; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;"><i>Rosa</i></a><span style="background-color: white;">(RO-zuh)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Verdana;">Cultivar: Dainty Bess</span></div>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Verdana;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Hybridized by Archer; Year of Registration or Introduction: 1925</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I took the above photo yesterday afternoon with my cell phone camera. Not too bad, considering. This rose, <i><b>Dainty Bess</b></i>, has been a faithful bloomer in my yard for 24 years. Its leaves look a bit worse for wear and black spot; I haven't given it the attention it deserves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Dainty Bess</i> is always the first of my few roses to bloom, and it will soldier on through the heat of the summer, putting out a bloom or two from time to time until hard frost. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I do have a new yellow rose, courtesy of Gardening Daughter, about which (the rose) I shall post later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-74143548362128417242014-04-20T00:30:00.000-05:002014-04-20T00:30:00.414-05:00Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4gAO8ByEV1s/U1L0MX-8lTI/AAAAAAAADTM/eSupiomYSTw/s1600/jesus-christ-is-risen-225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4gAO8ByEV1s/U1L0MX-8lTI/AAAAAAAADTM/eSupiomYSTw/s1600/jesus-christ-is-risen-225.jpg" height="369" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Image: Internet</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's <u>not</u> about the bunny.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Wishing you a Blessed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter">Resurrection Sunday</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastertide">Eastertide</a>.</span></div>
Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-23099505747457298552014-04-12T17:18:00.002-05:002014-04-12T17:30:42.002-05:00Done!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Once again, I berate myself for not starting the tax form preparation process as soon as I get all the necessary information from various entities. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Thanks to TurboTax</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">R</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">software, i</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">t took me just over an hour to complete, and print, both federal and state income tax returns this afternoon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As anticipated, I'm getting small refunds from both Uncle Sam and Uncle Arky. These monies will be used to pay my real estate and personal property taxes which, although not due until mid-October, will be paid as soon as these refunds are in the bank -- a financial revolving door. <sigh></sigh></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Now I can start reading, again. This time, the book is Julia Spencer-Fleming's <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=julia%20spencer-fleming">Through the Evil Days,</a> </i>the most recently published book in a series which I've been following for some years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-28757769968916115282014-04-11T11:53:00.000-05:002014-04-11T11:53:39.042-05:00Eaglets and Other Stuff<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have granddaughter duty today while her parents are at work. She's always a pleasure to have around and, while she's here, I tend to get involved in activities that are not usually on my schedule. I'd like to think that keeps me young but, alas, it just tends to wear me out. I've heard it said that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I wish!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She and I have spent an enjoyable few minutes this morning watching the <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles">Decorah, Iowa eagle-nesting site </a>on streaming live video. I was first made aware of this wonderful site three years ago, and followed the hatching of that year's batch of eaglets. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I missed that wonderful event this year. The three eaglets were hatched on April 2, 3 and 7, and are already peeking their down-covered heads out from under Mom (or Dad -- both parents tend the eggs and young).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Technology is wonderful. Pay a visit to that site, if you have time. Just wait out (30 seconds or so) the inevitable commercial that precedes the live feed. It's worth the wait.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">*</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Microsoft XP -- My desktop computer, which I've had for more than a few years, operates on XP, a system which as of April 8, Microsoft is no longer supporting. Reading all the hoopla and security warnings about continuing to use XP made me uncomfortable about continuing an Internet connection to my desktop. To upgrade to Windows 7 is not a, simple task and is more than I care to do. Although I'm backed up through Carbonite, I'd still hate to have any of my files hacked, or to import some horrible virus that would corrupt my hard drive (that's happened -- not a pretty thing!) So, I disconnected it from the Internet on April 7.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Laptop to the rescue! Two years ago, I purchased a laptop computer which operates on Windows 7, a system which will continue to be supported by Microsoft for several years -- probably until after I'm dead and gone, if the truth be told. I will continue to work on my desktop sans Internet connection, transferring information to my laptop via Flash Drive as needed, and use the laptop for my Internet activities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That's all, for the nonce. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
<br />Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-61589767822269006792014-04-10T11:07:00.002-05:002014-04-10T11:09:29.350-05:00Remembering<div style="text-align: center;">
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<img height="400" src="https://bp0.blogger.com/_AkZpofpc-xo/SDsqTdp6qUI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Qg_xhoKl28c/s320/100_1542.JPG" width="300" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Edward Wilson Griffith</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">April 10, 1941 - May 11, 1969</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwhrfYZXbkoVMRqRhnTRx-RarXcZl5sxX-Edz7uVuEKINarzUdHrHFVk2T7hAnZHlgZh4D5WkhJPQTOsRjLLY2XCiz5auzBljfniWdw6utdvOFdtb3nfKO6hudhoGtasIipsxY3rYnZg/s1600/220px-Rubythroathummer65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKwhrfYZXbkoVMRqRhnTRx-RarXcZl5sxX-Edz7uVuEKINarzUdHrHFVk2T7hAnZHlgZh4D5WkhJPQTOsRjLLY2XCiz5auzBljfniWdw6utdvOFdtb3nfKO6hudhoGtasIipsxY3rYnZg/s1600/220px-Rubythroathummer65.jpg" height="367" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Ruby Throated Hummingbird</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Image: Wikipedia</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Yes, I know I shouldn't fool around with things about which I know only a little bit and not near enough to do what I need to do. However, I recently completely ignored that understanding of myself and jumped feet first into a technological problem I should have left alone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My cell phone had been "acting up," as I mentioned in my last post. I occurred to me to access the phone's online user guide and find out how to fix the problem. I read through pages of (mostly) non-understandable language until I found the section which referred to the problem I was having, and proceeded to follow the slightly-fuzzy directions for correcting the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I clicked here and there; deleted this and that, presuming that I was making progress. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I made progress, all right. I progressed myself into a completely non-working phone with which I could do nada, zilch, bumpkis -- a piece of junk fit only for the trash-bin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I took said junk to the dealer from which it came. "Uh, Lady. What in the world did you do to it?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After a prolonged visit, I came away with a new phone, which is working beautifully, thank you, and which has many more "bells and whistles" than my old one. Thanks to Christmas gift cards from generous relatives, I didn't even have to shell out any of my hard-earned Social Security income.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've made myself a promise that if this one should go wonky on me, I won't try to fix it, but head straight to the dealer for, I would hope, a more educated approach to problem solving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">OTHER STUFF</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><u>One</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've read four books this past week, all actual hold-in-your- hands, turn-the-pages books. The first one, a referral from Arkansas Patti at her <a href="http://thenewsixty.blogspot.com/">The New Sixty</a> blog, was <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0786891459">The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared</a> </i>by Jonas Jonasson, a Swedish author. <i> </i>The title is a mouthful, but the story is absolutely delightful, and highly recommended! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Thank you, Patti! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Due to budgetary constraints, I'm really tight-fisted -- about almost everything, including e-books for my Kindle. Although Jonasson's book was available in the Kindle edition, it came at a price, so I requested the paperback edition from my library. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">After a wait of a couple of weeks --the book seems to be very popular at present -- it arrived and was picked up. It took me several days to read it. I didn't rush; I savored it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">On April 4, while I was at the library to return it, I browsed the Mystery section (my favorite) and selected an armful of books -- four "cozy" mysteries and one not quite so cozy, and have read three of them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />Why the reading binge? I'm sorry to say it's my one of my favorite avoidance tactics. I need to be working on my taxes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I did make myself pull together some of the more detailed information I need for my tax filing; I'm not completely ignoring the task, just dragging my feet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><u>Two</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">What has the image of a hummingbird to do with this post, you ask? Gardening Daughter called me last evening to report that hummingbirds are at her feeders. Too soon! Too soon! It's not even warm, yet!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
<br />Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-12071393433073431942014-03-17T13:20:00.000-05:002014-03-17T13:20:00.196-05:00What's Going On?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOyxKnUtPu7GarDKx9Y0A5UvnLujCIjMXYoeajC11Rm-BBMcKgNtbPton1jTzB6y6J7oO5l9VqSc_kt-lcnxfKSp4-j0-jzv8FPu0B-zH7QJCgRsiXMORlnZ2RqLtTyylGbJO4URwOlY/s1600/DSC_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOyxKnUtPu7GarDKx9Y0A5UvnLujCIjMXYoeajC11Rm-BBMcKgNtbPton1jTzB6y6J7oO5l9VqSc_kt-lcnxfKSp4-j0-jzv8FPu0B-zH7QJCgRsiXMORlnZ2RqLtTyylGbJO4URwOlY/s1600/DSC_0231.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">SPRING? WINTER! SPRING?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The latter part of this past week brought balmy, shirt-sleeve weather to our part of the U.S. My daffodils and forsythia bloomed, the day lilies began to send up new leaves, and all was looking well for the world. "About time!", I thought, and began to make plans for working in the flower beds. Silly me! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By mid-afternoon yesterday, a light rain was being pushed by a <b>cold</b> north wind at about 50 miles an hour (the gusts turned my umbrella completely inside out, took my breath away [so much that it scared me], and nearly blew me off my feet... really!) and then....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">...it snowed last night! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Not very much; the ground was not even completely covered, just clumps of snow here and there, when I got up this morning. The temperature is rising, even as I type, and a quick look out the window just now shows that it's nearly all gone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We Arkies are wont to say "If you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes; it will change."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">BITS AND PIECES</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">* This past Saturday, which was a balmy day, my stamping partner and I hosted another successful Stamp Camp, our first of this year. I'm happy to report that a good time was had by all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">* I continue to enjoy my Kindle, and the free books I download from Amazon. As I've previously commented on this blog, I am a (big) fan of mystery stories. My taste runs to the "cozy" mystery, although a well-constructed thriller also holds my attention. One evening last week, I began to read <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Louisiana-Longshot-Miss-Fortune-Mystery-ebook/dp/B008E9VENQ">Louisiana Longshot</a> </i>by Jana DeLeon. Once I read the first page, I couldn't stop. This has to be one of the funniest stories I have ever read. If laughter is good medicine, I shouldn't be sick for quite some time! Highly recommended by yours truly, if you enjoy such things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">* My smart phone, a gift from my son-in-law in 2012, is behaving erratically. I've checked everything I know to check, and have had others more experienced than I try to resolve the problems I'm having -- to no avail. Perhaps it has a built-in self-destruct chip. :) I fear a new phone is in my future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I am slightly amazed at how much I have come to depend on this pocket-sized piece of technology -- being able to send and receive email when not at home on my computer; texting (never while driving, thank you); taking photos; checking the weather, etc., etc. I've become so comfortable with it that I have been giving thought to doing away with my "land line." Today, I'm not so sure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">* Today is St. Patrick's Day. Are you wearing green? Interesting information on the wearing of the green <a href="http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day/videos/green">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That's it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-76154589404051417132014-03-03T14:34:00.001-06:002014-03-03T14:34:23.025-06:00Brrr, Humbug!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Last night, we got a small taste of what other parts of the country have been going through for weeks -- frozen precipitation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When I went to bed, it was raining steadily with frequent thunder and temps hovering at the 32 degree mark. When I opened the curtains this morning, the ground was white with a couple of inches of sleet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Although there are a few icicles hanging here and there, and trees and bushes have an icy sheen to them, sleet is much preferable to freezing rain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As I write this, the temperature is 23 degrees F, and is not forecast to rise above the freezing mark until after noon tomorrow. That doesn't bode well for our church's annual <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday">Shrove Tuesday</a> pancake supper, but we shall see what we shall see.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span></div>
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Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-20748298783713509432014-02-16T22:21:00.002-06:002014-02-16T22:22:23.685-06:00Bits and Pieces - Is it Spring, Yet?<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zckScR1CeYs/UwGMWpB4fGI/AAAAAAAACfc/dG-D5q1MKjE/s1600/Jalea+Luker+BD+2012+age+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zckScR1CeYs/UwGMWpB4fGI/AAAAAAAACfc/dG-D5q1MKjE/s1600/Jalea+Luker+BD+2012+age+8.jpg" height="507" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME THAT SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">t was a beautiful, sunshiny and warm day today. YAY! Unfortunately, it's not Spring, yet, but it felt like it. It was great to be able to go outside without fear of getting frostbite. My car's thermometer read 65 when I left church. Wonderful, wonderful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I spoke with my Virginia brother-in-law earlier this evening. They received 14" of snow at their place in the suburbs of Washington D.C., but didn't lose power, so all was well. He was able to clear their rather long driveway with a snow blower and get out to the grocery and pharmacy in his 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Sister kept the birds fed, so she was happy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Missy kitty is much improved. She was a wonderful patient for the first week of her ear drops; entirely compliant, totally unlike Sweetie Pie, her daughter, who used to fight me tooth and claw when she required ear drops. What a difference! I gave Missy extra "crunchy munchies" as a reward for her good behavior, and now she expects them every day just about the time I would have treating her ears. Didn't take long for her to catch on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I will have granddaughter-sitting duty several days this week while her mother prepares for the State Garden Show, which will be held this coming weekend. She is much involved in the several days long preparation for this event, working behind the scenes and also designing and creating her own floral arrangements to be entered in various judged categories. Although she'll be exhausted by the time it's over, next Sunday afternoon, she loves it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That's about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is a also a day.</span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-24925352802728779072014-02-06T12:01:00.002-06:002014-02-06T12:01:44.949-06:00Cat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpzcS3Luq2-hJnL7zWe5A8iLz4AFRzjpjH-4zD6SXho9Bh_4aRa3teczlTTFL_LTxvf2c1h9YNvlHOkW1rS3g1zn-eN95Xvugq1xaxeHVXH3XVCCrqNaIvpAupBVwAdiuv2qdCdK_Qeo/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpzcS3Luq2-hJnL7zWe5A8iLz4AFRzjpjH-4zD6SXho9Bh_4aRa3teczlTTFL_LTxvf2c1h9YNvlHOkW1rS3g1zn-eN95Xvugq1xaxeHVXH3XVCCrqNaIvpAupBVwAdiuv2qdCdK_Qeo/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" height="400" width="316" /></a></div>
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Missy</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Missy and I have just returned from the vet's office. She has an ear infection that I have treated at home for a week or so, but the problem has not improved to my satisfaction so it was time for professional attention. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Missy, my one remaining cat, is (as you might imagine) my cosseted baby. What is it, I wonder, about old ladies and their cats? She definitely rules the roost around here. It might be better to say that "I am owned by a cat" rather than "I own a cat."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Although the streets are clear, there is still ice on vegetation and utility wires. The temps are still below freezing at this writing but I won't complain: My Nebraska daughter called me yesterday to report that it was <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>-17</b></span> at her home place -- and that wasn't the wind chill! Double "brrrr!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span><br />
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<br />Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-64237046148379290752014-02-04T09:43:00.002-06:002014-02-04T09:43:49.769-06:00ICE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVLkE2Hcze9ytNDFDU8_aRCYzUESRlxSACa9dad34jAx6OKPz4NwRQnrh7wq7aZfilB-SVLm2Qp3BuQ-0TeKG-zvrkMfynd8Enz3MFhDW6uPjqlehfYAIbEhLGkrasDYhGMo47UoD_4s/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVLkE2Hcze9ytNDFDU8_aRCYzUESRlxSACa9dad34jAx6OKPz4NwRQnrh7wq7aZfilB-SVLm2Qp3BuQ-0TeKG-zvrkMfynd8Enz3MFhDW6uPjqlehfYAIbEhLGkrasDYhGMo47UoD_4s/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Warning: Run on sentence!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Although Tuesdays are my days to volunteer in the church office, this morning, after opening the curtains, looking outside and observing the ice glaze on plants, trees, driveway and street, and icicles hanging on utility wires and roof edges, and remembering that my Mama didn't raise a fool, I made an executive decision to stay home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Perhaps I shall bake bread and make a pot of soup, instead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3386593357064408531.post-30544728569727801452014-02-02T09:27:00.001-06:002014-02-02T09:27:33.522-06:00Candlemas Day<div align="center">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqxQ7V0zoyCFJ4ni3qFqOwYkX5MSIvFGHyuLV-LjSoZ2APFQhOcDf_M-uzxe4cGrtZaP22gIaS9eKEho4IYUxWn3ClKSdaLLWe1yG5jgo2Qa8N-Ubz4ZEKmHlEA1vVZHCGjiG4FjCXJE/s1600/Candlemas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqxQ7V0zoyCFJ4ni3qFqOwYkX5MSIvFGHyuLV-LjSoZ2APFQhOcDf_M-uzxe4cGrtZaP22gIaS9eKEho4IYUxWn3ClKSdaLLWe1yG5jgo2Qa8N-Ubz4ZEKmHlEA1vVZHCGjiG4FjCXJE/s1600/Candlemas.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Disclaimer: Yes, you've seen this post (or much of it) before -- if you've been following my blog for 5 years! The following first ran on 2/2/09; I thought I'd blow the dust off and give it another go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Today, February 2, is Candlemas Day, the day upon which the season of Winter in the northern hemisphere is half over. The end can't come soon enough for a lot of folks.<br /><br />An old English folk song declares:<br /><br />If Candlemas be fair and bright<br />Come, Winter, have another flight.<br />If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,<br />Go Winter, and come not again.<br /><br />This day is also known as <a href="http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm">Groundhog Day</a> (lots of information), and here in the U.S. we direct our attention to Punxsutawney Phil. He popped his head up to bright sunshine this morning, and left us with a dread of six weeks more of Winter to come. For more information on Phil, go <a href="http://www.groundhog.org/">here</a>. (Current note: The information about Punxsutawney Phil is still true. I just checked. Brrr!)<br /><br />In addition, February 2nd is celebrated as the Pagan Festival of Lights, St. Brigit's Day (Ireland) and in the Roman Catholic church, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin and The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">New Stuff: The photo above is a new addition, courtesy of <a href="http://eastdailyoffice.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/evening-prayer-2-2-14-presentation-of-christ-in-the-temple/">The Daily Office East</a>, a devotional service to which I subscribe. From this post I learned that Candlemas Day used to be the day upon which all the beeswax candles in the church were blessed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As the weatherman projected, the balmy temperatures of yesterday have fled. The thermometer currently reads just above the freezing point. Skies are heavy, leaden and primed to dump some winter mix upon us before the day is out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Stay warm and dry!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tomorrow is also a day.</span>Pat - Arkansashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11623638376731374600noreply@blogger.com5