tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306987512024-03-07T12:58:01.023-05:00... Farm Muse ... Finding joy and inspiration in everyday life.Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-45550128701479926302019-08-25T17:01:00.001-04:002019-08-25T17:01:38.679-04:00Mango Cake Our Sunday School class gets together once a month for a meal or some sort of outing. This month it was a "pot luck" evening meal in the church fellowship hall. I was on the mend from a migraine headache but I was feeling well enough to go. I figured I could get to town and buy something, but where's the fun in that? Before the headache knocked me flat, I had bought some mangoes and had planned to make mango bread. The mangoes were still in the fridge, but "bread" didn't seem quite right.<br />
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A Google search for mango cake recipes gave pathetic results: too fussy, too many ingredients I didn't have, too "meh." Aha! This one looked promising: <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chunky-fresh-mango-cake/" target="_blank">Chunky Fresh Mango Cake</a>. Hold the phone. This makes a 6" round cake? Who makes a SIX-INCH cake?? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the cutey-patootey pic from Taste of Home.</td></tr>
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Never fear. I'm pretty good at math. I simply quadrupled the recipe and had enough for two 9" round pans. If you only need a 6" cake, hit the link above. However, if you want enough so someone else can also have a piece or two, use "my" recipe below.<br />
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<u>Chunky Fresh Mango Cake</u> (makes two 9" rounds)</div>
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2 c. sugar</div>
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1-1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce</div>
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4 eggs</div>
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2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour</div>
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3 tsp. baking powder</div>
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1 tsp. salt</div>
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1 tsp. cinnamon</div>
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1/2 tsp. nutmeg</div>
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3 c. peeled, chopped mango</div>
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1 c. chopped pecans</div>
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[Preheat oven to 375°] </div>
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<span>In a large bowl, beat the sugar, applesauce and eggs until well-blended.
In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and
nutmeg. Gradually beat the dry ingredients into the sugar mixture and mix well. Fold in the mango
and pecans.</span></div>
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<span>Pour into</span><span><span> two 9" round pans</span> [greased or sprayed with "baking" spray!] and bake for 45 minutes. Use the fabulous toothpick trick to make sure it's done. Cool on wire racks for 10+ minutes; then remove from pans to finish cooling on wire racks.</span></div>
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<span>Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving. Some whipped cream on top adds just the right finishing touch.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl_X6HCptRkpmRzKUoiXqzRViKDionr36zfc9awIGyVmB6zTQV7kdxWSRRJrVNThaRBCUNOUTkYdaZqDDfDI-G4P9RG7qf2TTJIDfnYDmb0zIwKqusaho8AeP9YSasQnkdT1j/s1600/68749357_10214914941364080_3001463858163351552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtl_X6HCptRkpmRzKUoiXqzRViKDionr36zfc9awIGyVmB6zTQV7kdxWSRRJrVNThaRBCUNOUTkYdaZqDDfDI-G4P9RG7qf2TTJIDfnYDmb0zIwKqusaho8AeP9YSasQnkdT1j/s400/68749357_10214914941364080_3001463858163351552_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YUM! Enjoy!</td></tr>
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A final word to Taste of Home.com - Thank You!</div>
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Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-85784387805264187322019-07-19T19:53:00.000-04:002019-07-19T19:53:29.186-04:00One Thing Led to Another<span style="font-size: large;">A dear neighbor stopped by on Wednesday evening and asked if we'd like some corn. Since corn didn't get planted in the garden this year, of course we would! I was expecting enough for a couple meals, but he gave us plenty to freeze. Weldon thought I'd work it up on Thursday, but I said, "No way! I work tomorrow and I <b>won't</b> be doing corn before or after work."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So then came the task of making enough room in the fridge for all that corn. In the process, I was reminded how desperately the fridge needed cleaning. Oh, well. This wasn't the time to worry about that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After Weldon came in from chores this morning (Friday) and we'd had breakfast, I asked him if he'd cut the woody stalk off the cobs o<span style="font-size: x-small;">f</span> corn. Of course he would! I got all the corn out of the fridge and onto the porch where he started working. When I got out there to husk the corn, he asked if I just meant that he should cut off the woody stalk or if he should husk the whole thing. "All I asked is that you cut that hard end off, but if you want to husk them, have at it!" And he did! And I did! And we finished the job in record time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbALBKktNSUrM6BJKt4imsUGRDK9K2DA4hOIj_FT5fFQAQTFAyOn1ETzEkeoE4ivb8kmvR-cqMLKDu9R11eBKNH6CBJcqIR2ugmCqz0S1WVOiP87wI08yXqJbt60T97-N5kaEw/s1600/IMG_20190719_110502564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbALBKktNSUrM6BJKt4imsUGRDK9K2DA4hOIj_FT5fFQAQTFAyOn1ETzEkeoE4ivb8kmvR-cqMLKDu9R11eBKNH6CBJcqIR2ugmCqz0S1WVOiP87wI08yXqJbt60T97-N5kaEw/s400/IMG_20190719_110502564.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Too late I realized working up corn would make a good blog post. I didn't get a picture of Weldon doing his thing, but here are the husks. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next step was to boil the corn on the cobs for about 2 minutes. Getting the water to the boiling point in this canner took a while, of course. And then I had to do it again for the second batch.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDv6lrpGdSXM9sEw3nmbxi9JM2wsRY_sSAmIrCWvsCJm3PTFWYvrhCNKbHzogjSPwK6tkX3NneGQcfNcF1lHTVQR41epx-rx8-PSuFwmahkMgzzCjQ59rMugVh6FLopKeHIHSg/s1600/IMG_20190719_154457990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDv6lrpGdSXM9sEw3nmbxi9JM2wsRY_sSAmIrCWvsCJm3PTFWYvrhCNKbHzogjSPwK6tkX3NneGQcfNcF1lHTVQR41epx-rx8-PSuFwmahkMgzzCjQ59rMugVh6FLopKeHIHSg/s320/IMG_20190719_154457990.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While cooling down the corn cobs in plastic dish pans, I thought I'd add a little ice to make the job go faster. What adding ice really did was make me see how the underside and bottom inside of the ice maker was totally covered with ice ... where it didn't belong! So, another job to do.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOrcc_M38Vurj6UhmO3-D7Y2pcpMMRvculf3xRbKOi9epCnCmVSTrWlQnaPpPTcDfGlOlH4riPxhSLJaxarRriTyqQTyaDXQ5l7UtQB7_baLsy19pWCu1JHmC-A1vPsMP7_mD/s1600/IMG_20190719_114550461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOrcc_M38Vurj6UhmO3-D7Y2pcpMMRvculf3xRbKOi9epCnCmVSTrWlQnaPpPTcDfGlOlH4riPxhSLJaxarRriTyqQTyaDXQ5l7UtQB7_baLsy19pWCu1JHmC-A1vPsMP7_mD/s400/IMG_20190719_114550461.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Weldon washed the frosty icy crystals away before I could take a picture. It's nice and clean now, back in the freezer, and making lots of new ice.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was already 11:00 and near 90° but I knew I didn't want to mess with corn in the kitchen. I got my tools together and went outside to a shady spot. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHO5wsoAjCk_eVcPjaeCTnx3RVwwI6JHEiPkpZVnDeupB0XnpGSzE88gRDfuMbjKgl-cU3g2_ruY8mw36k9XJwS5Am2HPZ4ffotDXWtg0wSeQ65bq1mvmMqnbIwuy3duzu__EQ/s1600/IMG_20190719_110827706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHO5wsoAjCk_eVcPjaeCTnx3RVwwI6JHEiPkpZVnDeupB0XnpGSzE88gRDfuMbjKgl-cU3g2_ruY8mw36k9XJwS5Am2HPZ4ffotDXWtg0wSeQ65bq1mvmMqnbIwuy3duzu__EQ/s400/IMG_20190719_110827706.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Weldon hadn't headed out to his farmer-ly duties yet, so I asked him to take a couple pictures.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP0YsQQJPKEFXKZ3viQdJPJmLMxF9EvJGGGTrCykF5lF3R2h_jdHWSedNxHwvfAFH5tm7lMpbl5IfBtMLHmTsIzRTbruNI7EmapwKO3DvjNkK6e6SIqot7N11WfQq50dIsr_3/s1600/IMG_20190719_110844143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEP0YsQQJPKEFXKZ3viQdJPJmLMxF9EvJGGGTrCykF5lF3R2h_jdHWSedNxHwvfAFH5tm7lMpbl5IfBtMLHmTsIzRTbruNI7EmapwKO3DvjNkK6e6SIqot7N11WfQq50dIsr_3/s400/IMG_20190719_110844143.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nibbling the nubbins on the ends of the cob. Lunch!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidimZdguX4m9Ukx48Z9VzMkl51FGQFGgEde0jBVgcI_OO0ooWxpOwYQrxWp2YVsPunCqrmz_uE0WWGUw1J-zi0YFEKTYH3yC6qOFzzDtnkH_p_Q2tms-zbox51wE8Jezsd9e6W/s1600/IMG_20190719_110858507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidimZdguX4m9Ukx48Z9VzMkl51FGQFGgEde0jBVgcI_OO0ooWxpOwYQrxWp2YVsPunCqrmz_uE0WWGUw1J-zi0YFEKTYH3yC6qOFzzDtnkH_p_Q2tms-zbox51wE8Jezsd9e6W/s400/IMG_20190719_110858507.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">How did I ever "do" corn without the <a href="https://www.pamperedchef.com/shop/Cooking+Tools/Fruit+%26+Vegetable+Tools/Kernel+Cutter/1114" target="_blank">Pampered Chef Kernel Cutter</a>?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOnH2GUcHiqovpeqNyUEUoDvPevemiiUCpIu_FiFbYSoIKKrujdxZ-0PZM_knooXIjjCXbEb6nAQcZk_5wtnXu4-Rt76Gg0GNeWvPFMDgK4KNzsK1ydfbKq54XgMzZJUZxoZg/s1600/IMG_20190719_121040270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOnH2GUcHiqovpeqNyUEUoDvPevemiiUCpIu_FiFbYSoIKKrujdxZ-0PZM_knooXIjjCXbEb6nAQcZk_5wtnXu4-Rt76Gg0GNeWvPFMDgK4KNzsK1ydfbKq54XgMzZJUZxoZg/s400/IMG_20190719_121040270.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bagging it up and ready for the freezer.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I mentioned how gross the lower drawers of the refrigerator were. I had a pretty good excuse for letting it get to such a deplorable state: The fridge door has to be opened ALL the way in order to get the shelves and drawers out. But where the refrigerator sits, the door doesn't have room to open ALL the way out. I couldn't move the fridge by myself, so ... no move, no clean. Since all the drawers had been emptied on Wednesday night to hold the corn, and now all the corn had been moved out, I took the next brave step. "Weldon, would you please move the fridge out far enough so I can fully open the door?" He did.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeTyT0V-U955hQRXkbaIyX0bLTrNCL_NiQkige2vo54scHHR8mhPpN3_BB8tQkeoVU5sdTw4veSdXrN4SKgdi7ko2JadYeHVtYJRcpWCCvZXWEX6qitpdnVBDn1JxyY25rxYN/s1600/IMG_20190719_141213276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeTyT0V-U955hQRXkbaIyX0bLTrNCL_NiQkige2vo54scHHR8mhPpN3_BB8tQkeoVU5sdTw4veSdXrN4SKgdi7ko2JadYeHVtYJRcpWCCvZXWEX6qitpdnVBDn1JxyY25rxYN/s400/IMG_20190719_141213276.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yup. Dead gnats, bugs, and icky stuff under the bottom shelf. I knew they were there, but I couldn't get at them ... until I asked Weldon to move the fridge. It only took a year or two for me to ask.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGqUpLDi_apUD5t_ZqKDyq7pMQ08hDLycxtA6uPTCglidmMQ3oUQkYhLF_-6lyqYNIr5oBifC2PQqr14Lvykl_hm2Vyg1eqEtkl0mWnTb2Ou4QfJNT8nLDWrrEO1KtjvPlvqM/s1600/IMG_20190719_134211886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGqUpLDi_apUD5t_ZqKDyq7pMQ08hDLycxtA6uPTCglidmMQ3oUQkYhLF_-6lyqYNIr5oBifC2PQqr14Lvykl_hm2Vyg1eqEtkl0mWnTb2Ou4QfJNT8nLDWrrEO1KtjvPlvqM/s400/IMG_20190719_134211886.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are the cleaned-up shelves and drawers. Yay!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjV8awB-VZy4PICJPmo6THefBAVbxs4XqoPO482bDoMBn3iUnC3nwmnOnKHPZFeFt19XCHJsFcH6s35G5rFc0THUSKaKngM9k6CUikxA5sZMtpwVQTpiPcJhJUcQ-75MgSyVO/s1600/IMG_20190719_161235242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjV8awB-VZy4PICJPmo6THefBAVbxs4XqoPO482bDoMBn3iUnC3nwmnOnKHPZFeFt19XCHJsFcH6s35G5rFc0THUSKaKngM9k6CUikxA5sZMtpwVQTpiPcJhJUcQ-75MgSyVO/s400/IMG_20190719_161235242.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">All clean and pretty and in their rightful place.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I just have to ask Weldon to move the refrigerator back into its corner, snug against the kitchen cabinet. I'll give him the evening off and ask him to do it tomorrow morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, how to wrap up this busy day? I went to Zaxby's to pick up some chicken strips and French fries for supper. I still had to boil a couple ears of corn and make a salad for Weldon, but I kept it as simple as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And now I'm going to do my Friday Night Nothing! Yay, Me!</span></div>
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Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-77432306906758368592019-06-16T14:24:00.003-04:002019-06-16T14:24:35.192-04:00Opposites Attract[I was all set to write a blog post today, but then I saw this one in a saved folder! I wrote it a couple months ago, but I couldn't publish it because of some new Blogger rules. I tried everything I knew to do (which wasn't much), but got so frustrated, I just gave up. In reading it today, I decided it was worth another try, so here it is ... if it actually posts when I hit "Publish."]<br />
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If you've read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Happens-Wallowing-Optional-Cindy-Keiger-ebook/dp/B018L5DJEY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AZC6PVTJ8CXK&keywords=crap+happens+by+cindy+keiger&qid=1552676768&s=gateway&sprefix=crap+ha%2Caps%2C298&sr=8-1-spell" target="_blank">my book</a>, you know that adapting to life on a farm took me many years. Actually, I'm not sure I've adapted, but at least I've given up on trying to keep the house neat and tidy. Dust (and worse) has simply become part of the home decor.<br />
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As if learning about farm ways wasn't enough, I've also had to adjust to the farmer! Something that still amazes me is how different Weldon and I are ... in just about everything. I guess it goes to prove that opposites attract.<br />
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Here's just one silly example from today.<br />
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Weldon had to go to Winston-Salem for a few farm-related things. He asked if I'd like to go along. I thought, "Sure! Might as well. We haven't done anything together in a while." So, off we went.<br />
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We hadn't yet made it to his first stop when I told him I had coupons for Krispy Kreme if he was interested. No. He said there was cake at home and he'd put on a few pounds since the rains had kept him indoors a little more than usual. (Weldon could put on 10 pounds and still be thinner than anyone else I know!) He continued to drive. I saw Dunkin' Donuts just ahead. "Hey! You want to try Dunkin' Donuts for a change?" No. And he kept on driving.<br />
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On to the task at hand: getting some much-needed part at Ferguson Plumbing. Weldon was standing at the register and there on the counter were two boxes of Krispy Kreme Donuts and one box of Dunkin' Donuts! The cashier said, "Have one." He said it a couple of times, so I peeked inside and saw the box wasn't full. I asked him, "You mean we can have one? Now? Free?" He said, "Yes. Have as many as you like!" Well, I chose a Dunkin' Donuts donut with sprinkles. Weldon declined.<br />
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I nibbled on my donut while Weldon continued talking with the guy at the register. Then another employee saw me and asked if I'd like a cup of coffee with my donut. "Well, sure!" He pointed me in the right direction and I'm having ♫ the time of my life ♫. "Have some more! Do you want some popcorn?" I declined, but I surely was smiling!<br />
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I suppose the key here might be willpower. I mean, who (besides Weldon) can resist free donuts and free coffee? But from my point of view, it's Live a little! Enjoy! All work and no play makes Weldon a dull boy. But there's no sense in trying to change Weldon or myself. We'll just keep doing what we do and meet in the middle every once in a while. Ain't life grand!<br />
<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-20867654033117021882019-04-06T15:43:00.000-04:002019-04-06T15:43:01.182-04:00Eyes That SeeHave you missed me? I last posted in January (!) but I spent more than two hours in March writing a fabulous post. Google messed it up big time, so I pretty much lost my work and gave up. All I can figure out is maybe I can't "steal" any more photos from the internet. However, if I have a problem with this post, I'll see it as a sign from the Lord (NOT Google) and call it quits. Here goes.<br />
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I had just put a cake in the oven when Weldon opened the door and called in, "Come on. I want to show you something! Get your camera! Bring mine, too." I grabbed his camera and my phone, slipped on my shoes, and headed out, saying "I just put a cake in the oven, so I need to be back within 20 minutes." He had the four-wheeler (the dirty, mud-splattered four-wheeler) and told me to climb on. I obeyed, very gingerly. "Should I have changed my jeans?" "Nah, you'll be fine."<br />
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We roared down the road and he turned onto one of the far fields. I didn't notice anything too special when he stopped, but he hopped off and started walking, his camera at the ready. I looked around and asked, "This is it?" He was already taking photos.<br />
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And then my eyes were opened and I saw the beauty ... of dandelions! They were everywhere, carpeting the field. My pictures don't begin to show how lovely it was.<br />
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I was captivated! Then my eyes were drawn to a tree adorned in beautiful purple blooms. I forgot to ask Weldon what kind of tree it was. Maybe a red bud? Or a purple bud. 😊 Again, the pictures don't do justice to the work of the Master Artist.<br />
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<span class="ILfuVd">Robert Louis Stevenson said it </span><span class="ILfuVd"><span class="ure">succinctly</span>: </span>"The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings." We get so busy (frustrated, tired, judgmental, <span class="ure">lackadaisical</span>) in our own little world that we often miss the "number of [amazing] things" all around us.<br />
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When Weldon delivered me to the house, the timer had already gone off, but the cake looked to be just fine. We'll test it out after supper tonight. (It's just a cake mix with a few adjustments and goodies thrown in, so don't be too jealous.)<br />
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We're all busy. But in the midst of busy, let's take a moment to see (and delight in) the beauty at hand. Dandelions. Birds. The neighbor who drives you crazy. Fluffy cloud "animals". Kids trying to catch butterflies. Cake. Don't forget cake!<br />
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<b>Lord, give us eyes that see!</b> </div>
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<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-47102982698729515962019-01-19T12:17:00.001-05:002019-01-19T12:17:27.818-05:00Let Me 'SplainDear Reader, <br />
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I kinda sorta regret calling myself an author. I wish I had just proclaimed, "Hey! I wrote a book! You can get a copy from me or on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Happens-Wallowing-Optional-Cindy-Keiger/dp/0692556273/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1547915999&sr=8-1-spell" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or at various local bookstores. Yay, Me!"<br />
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Instead, I created a Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CindyKeigerAuthor/" target="_blank">author page</a>. I started "Like"ing and "Follow"ing various authors and way too many writing pages. If an author "Like"d my page, I felt obligated to "Like" his/her page in return. Now I have more than a hundred "author friends" whom I don't even vaguely know and whose books I'll probably never read. What's the point?<br />
<br />
Almost every day I search for some article or tidbit to post on my author
page, because that's just how I am. When I do something, I want to do it well. (There is probably a series of
letters that explains this phenomenon [like AC/DC?], but ... whatever.) After each post, it's usually only my "real" friends and family who
comment. That doesn't make me feel bad, but it makes me wonder where all the 500 friends are who "Like" my author page. <br />
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Yes, I'm still writing. It's part of who I am. But I don't know if my "scribblings" will result in another book. I'm not worried about it. What I'm "worried" about is wasting too much time on Facebook — especially with people I don't even know.<br />
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SO, I'll keep my author page, but I won't try to get more "followers." I don't even know what that means or what the benefit might be. You can "Like" my page, but I won't feel obligated to "Like" you back. I plan to go through my friend list and "get rid of" the people I don't know or haven't personally interacted with on a regular basis.<br />
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I'm guessing that, when I share this on Facebook, only my family and friends will read it, and it won't affect them (you!) anyway. But it just felt right to 'splain myself.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
Author Cindy Keiger 😌<br />
<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-27019883959061592072018-12-07T10:21:00.000-05:002018-12-07T10:21:00.543-05:00Weather or NotIt's the seventh day of December, but we haven't seen much frost in our corner of North Carolina yet ... until yesterday, that is. The frost-covered twigs and leaves on the ground made me think of the famous poem by James Whitcomb Riley, which I have copied below (from <a href="http://poemhunter.com/">poemhunter.com</a>) for your reading enjoyment. Reading it out loud is a little difficult, but it's worth the effort.<br />
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<h1 class="title w-660" itemprop="name">
When The Frost Is On The Punkin</h1>
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock<br />And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey cock<br />And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens<br />And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence<br />O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best<br />With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest<br />As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock<br />When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock <br /><br />They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere <br />When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here <br />Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees<br />And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees<br />But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze <br />Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days <br />Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock <br />When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock. <br /><br />The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn, <br />And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn; <br />The stubble in the furries kindo' lonesome-like, but still <br />A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill; <br />The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed; <br />The hosses in theyr stalls below the clover over-head! <br />O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock, <br />When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock! <br /><br />Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps <br />Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps; <br />And your cider-makin' 's over, and your wimmern-folks is through <br />With their mince and apple butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too!<br />I don't know how to tell it but ef sich a thing could be <br />As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me <br />I'd want to 'commodate 'em all the whole-indurin' flock<br />When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>~ ~ ~ </b></span></div>
Now, back to the weather ... or not. Five to eight inches of snow are predicted for our area this Sunday/Monday. I have to get a few groceries today, but I dread going to the store because it will probably be bedlam and lots of empty shelves. Fortunately, I don't need any bread, milk, or toilet paper.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know whom to credit for this photo. I saw it on Facebook.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWYkBBHIrSQo2iQq2eubuueY3wBGSnrcSsb3YX29uzuxCsX-PUoRocXPBpHHBNMi11QXYb_rEerX2Gg1rkIgDC8FK39OT8RCsxu-JoXj-6GdIVwFycsgXDzr_JZJbGYSExJDq/s1600/DSC04994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWYkBBHIrSQo2iQq2eubuueY3wBGSnrcSsb3YX29uzuxCsX-PUoRocXPBpHHBNMi11QXYb_rEerX2Gg1rkIgDC8FK39OT8RCsxu-JoXj-6GdIVwFycsgXDzr_JZJbGYSExJDq/s320/DSC04994.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my photo of the bread situation in January 2011.</td></tr>
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Weather or not, I'd better get my buns in gear (harhar) and head to town. Stay safe and warm. Be blessed.<br />
Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-43568900773232402812018-11-16T21:11:00.000-05:002018-11-16T21:11:08.269-05:00Dread & DelightIt was a beautiful fall day for a trip to Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro with my older daughter and my older sister-in-law. (I'm feeling quite young after writing that sentence.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvCqm4m7aqop8HA1HtFB1QKQ7WM-wqTTEjfij87Vyvo8yxxStigBAEHu3xAbDlhezf2xSXtG8dRGRrrHjbYLmSWa2PFy0hHbutb34WU2I-Bv6PkA2GCOSfTi1lsmD8eMfyfdz/s1600/IMG_20181116_130131700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvCqm4m7aqop8HA1HtFB1QKQ7WM-wqTTEjfij87Vyvo8yxxStigBAEHu3xAbDlhezf2xSXtG8dRGRrrHjbYLmSWa2PFy0hHbutb34WU2I-Bv6PkA2GCOSfTi1lsmD8eMfyfdz/s320/IMG_20181116_130131700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The whole title of the exhibit we went to see is "Dread & Delight: Fairy Tales in an Anxious World." Although fairy tales were originally "riddled with sexual innuendo, child abuse and all manner of violent scenarios" (Tom Patterson in The Winston-Salem Journal, November 11, 2018), I much prefer the simple fairy tales of my childhood. I confess I had a sense of anxiety and couldn't even finish reading the descriptions of some of the artistic depictions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjTU6qtxtL-0E_g0NqyBANhq1Wz_kmVPheZJ0e3sBsUET0hFIUlcrzUZRu9CuXM0TyBZOPPAR06FxttKPjC0RCFCg5gIqswreJrJh4N-CAeJYBEPvNwSXwbBGSop4ur3ekFSL/s1600/IMG_20181116_114417530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjTU6qtxtL-0E_g0NqyBANhq1Wz_kmVPheZJ0e3sBsUET0hFIUlcrzUZRu9CuXM0TyBZOPPAR06FxttKPjC0RCFCg5gIqswreJrJh4N-CAeJYBEPvNwSXwbBGSop4ur3ekFSL/s320/IMG_20181116_114417530.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Without further ado, here are some pics ... none of which are R-rated or too dreadful. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFd4yxb5__nG1XEOtl82WaT5kLL91ViCB6M1QZs35ojjZ0c050Htl8XqKGjn5hWD2Ynbk82JWBsRlFeJueEifPILz-O5hLlpSogM-Ec5wFdtJTKL7dfQi-G6iYV6CDI3w2Dv8E/s1600/IMG_20181116_120313405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFd4yxb5__nG1XEOtl82WaT5kLL91ViCB6M1QZs35ojjZ0c050Htl8XqKGjn5hWD2Ynbk82JWBsRlFeJueEifPILz-O5hLlpSogM-Ec5wFdtJTKL7dfQi-G6iYV6CDI3w2Dv8E/s320/IMG_20181116_120313405.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Rapunzel) Ties of Protection and Safekeeping. MK Guth</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPHVrEtqIGItJXyZw29m2OxeOFbqzUHaOdX83B-fQSKj06w9HLho41aowc1OdpD1VgfFqYmFGEcXvnP7A9YNlYa3yAn3dhFSCfqzQRaduBt7yhlb6bjm-fosmhVjaVWLTvmTE/s1600/46368197_10212671657883131_232892917998419968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPHVrEtqIGItJXyZw29m2OxeOFbqzUHaOdX83B-fQSKj06w9HLho41aowc1OdpD1VgfFqYmFGEcXvnP7A9YNlYa3yAn3dhFSCfqzQRaduBt7yhlb6bjm-fosmhVjaVWLTvmTE/s320/46368197_10212671657883131_232892917998419968_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What is worth protecting?" Participants wrote their responses on red flannel ribbons which tied the synthetic hair braids.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqYr4ncfuFfwwdlrWkC5SMGWkRjoa0zh4uvUz0gnKHSkXrQYBYO5TSLgtF0BCuRQFhMF1j3VLdM8FuiXxxEm4BGen_1Jfjq24yn8L0liSG_CV4uOaP82rsreal0f1Ued9wOKF/s1600/IMG_20181116_120847298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqYr4ncfuFfwwdlrWkC5SMGWkRjoa0zh4uvUz0gnKHSkXrQYBYO5TSLgtF0BCuRQFhMF1j3VLdM8FuiXxxEm4BGen_1Jfjq24yn8L0liSG_CV4uOaP82rsreal0f1Ued9wOKF/s320/IMG_20181116_120847298.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Little Red Riding Hood) If We Believe in Theory, by Xaviera Simmons.</td></tr>
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Individual boys and girls were given the hooded cape and wicker basket and just one prompt: to tell the photographer where the wolf was.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugJZ0IpS_cf3UnaBaPxeYnyVw_iu4RJUML5CuvrOh0cN3ayLYgubhyphenhyphenp5WGSekPdJwkVdHLeAbmHldlmosL0xlRJx61IWQIliUQVpHjf1E6LbJf1lwepzqN7S4GkGTqDbLVTyK/s1600/IMG_20181116_121225855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugJZ0IpS_cf3UnaBaPxeYnyVw_iu4RJUML5CuvrOh0cN3ayLYgubhyphenhyphenp5WGSekPdJwkVdHLeAbmHldlmosL0xlRJx61IWQIliUQVpHjf1E6LbJf1lwepzqN7S4GkGTqDbLVTyK/s320/IMG_20181116_121225855.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hansel and Gretel, by Tom Otterness</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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"Otterness creates a scene that is engagingly playful but reminds us that, for many children, the joy of play is not a given."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsFRkV6aqVB0RYBmgWlMBESTQdf3mGPcqev3KP73Jb9pV7jhoXIgCaMTAD8GMeTdDzbB2XzsuMkXkTxI6u-5qrg0rr5LMKHrMgHpxRshjSgx7NQYNR9MtCk4-hhPYc6Gaswom/s1600/IMG_20181116_122034611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsFRkV6aqVB0RYBmgWlMBESTQdf3mGPcqev3KP73Jb9pV7jhoXIgCaMTAD8GMeTdDzbB2XzsuMkXkTxI6u-5qrg0rr5LMKHrMgHpxRshjSgx7NQYNR9MtCk4-hhPYc6Gaswom/s320/IMG_20181116_122034611.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Cinderella) The Ice Queen, by Ana Teresa Fernandez</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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High heels made from ice, worn while standing over a street grate until they melted away! (This was actually a video of the shoes slowly melting.) "Her Cinderella exhibits the physical and mental strength to withstand and ultimately walk away from the pain of her own accord."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rQkOq50WEv2TpzkMENlQB8nlOoNgFYIoebwvdU2dU4fz8MWWKF_ll3RpEt-7QmPYlJJQe9h2HHCgaMdI231lRrxi_pdFeiv4dEB0jTnoxFKAN22iMYbAUbIoLoXqcITjMEys/s1600/IMG_20181116_122239839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rQkOq50WEv2TpzkMENlQB8nlOoNgFYIoebwvdU2dU4fz8MWWKF_ll3RpEt-7QmPYlJJQe9h2HHCgaMdI231lRrxi_pdFeiv4dEB0jTnoxFKAN22iMYbAUbIoLoXqcITjMEys/s320/IMG_20181116_122239839.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Cinderella) Motherload, by Timothy Horn</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This was created "in response to the life story of a woman named Alma Spreckles.... Alma was a lowly laundress when she met and married the heir to a sugar fortune. Her 'rags to riches' story, however, did not bring her a life filled with joy. This real-life Cinderella found that happiness is really quite fragile." (The carriage is covered in crystallized rock candy!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB6EX0EL_SKPeV8uum_6NYy92EcMwCAK7OUHLAiQjhfrIO_I9CdP1VMd1f6uo2qvN0eEGGzN02SSO4po4I5rGA1OLRuROlRz9y0r7aRMhFH_gc69OQItQJnC09S35Hlx1aL5d/s1600/IMG_20181116_123102048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB6EX0EL_SKPeV8uum_6NYy92EcMwCAK7OUHLAiQjhfrIO_I9CdP1VMd1f6uo2qvN0eEGGzN02SSO4po4I5rGA1OLRuROlRz9y0r7aRMhFH_gc69OQItQJnC09S35Hlx1aL5d/s320/IMG_20181116_123102048.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's yours truly on the left with my daughter Anna.</td></tr>
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Now onto a few other pieces of art that caught my eye in the museum.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRhRemOJEckluxnAukiibDSFzmADB_25uFgvQ0QkF1r-xvetUvUcmGodQb6TxSemofGDSeAPoFlsi0rvuXCDn8X8zqapXI3OWHg_8wTVJ5ul6utC1QdfOPZojp_rsGiwn3F4i/s1600/IMG_20181116_124617868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRhRemOJEckluxnAukiibDSFzmADB_25uFgvQ0QkF1r-xvetUvUcmGodQb6TxSemofGDSeAPoFlsi0rvuXCDn8X8zqapXI3OWHg_8wTVJ5ul6utC1QdfOPZojp_rsGiwn3F4i/s320/IMG_20181116_124617868.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kill for Peace, by Carol Summers. A protest against the war in Viet Nam.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFZzCs_AK6rsGzoJDft-P44Qblvr_cLBzVBuxN09FNytRpLSlNpPhlpG3QP1gPq9vtcmnDWVI1FxuEtdwtQ6nYxa_qvpEvbcoKX_7-0SzGGKQdNduM_0PMS5N05Vhza1Bos-r/s1600/IMG_20181116_124700175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFZzCs_AK6rsGzoJDft-P44Qblvr_cLBzVBuxN09FNytRpLSlNpPhlpG3QP1gPq9vtcmnDWVI1FxuEtdwtQ6nYxa_qvpEvbcoKX_7-0SzGGKQdNduM_0PMS5N05Vhza1Bos-r/s320/IMG_20181116_124700175.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirror/Vortex by Robert Smithson. I took the photo looking down into the mirrors.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6-zU2K05utBvCwyf808ghjsf81HiWvHP0YcEJzgiUK6eauTByGA28NKOGyTrTXZL-vQxHBtconcSJu0KFdQRdUJ5NPT0tYbVUBAQ04jXRCwDa7LBei8S2-b4YbvDDIGenmkR/s1600/IMG_20181116_125043880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6-zU2K05utBvCwyf808ghjsf81HiWvHP0YcEJzgiUK6eauTByGA28NKOGyTrTXZL-vQxHBtconcSJu0KFdQRdUJ5NPT0tYbVUBAQ04jXRCwDa7LBei8S2-b4YbvDDIGenmkR/s320/IMG_20181116_125043880.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Animals, by Andy Warhol. I took this for my husband the farmer. :)</td></tr>
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Next, some "people" photos. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9VMRTwIrQ3cRei9c_jBXi3ZSjbyQfHfKV-z4dZgQGvt6fKuSNRpBX70iaf6HVh3nQ04NjDz6S1mvOb1nvz9Oi4BsPvKncFFvbJ47vrnGqZvEdVzHQcPLN6P_yQA8gal-3oeu/s1600/46323237_10212671662803254_2189073396875132928_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9VMRTwIrQ3cRei9c_jBXi3ZSjbyQfHfKV-z4dZgQGvt6fKuSNRpBX70iaf6HVh3nQ04NjDz6S1mvOb1nvz9Oi4BsPvKncFFvbJ47vrnGqZvEdVzHQcPLN6P_yQA8gal-3oeu/s320/46323237_10212671662803254_2189073396875132928_o.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
And then it was outside for a short stroll to some deliciousness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b-Fx3Vu_XuLdWA9wkuG99RjU67AvQ3z2GQYUWp3XvnK643z0M4BZk6aNbCkq2hR5VOXEIuVmQRVgq1dS-tmTGUkY85xb2HUpBYwMs5mSrJluJ-QlBH1Wyt7N7wzAqG0gCldW/s1600/IMG_20181116_185259.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b-Fx3Vu_XuLdWA9wkuG99RjU67AvQ3z2GQYUWp3XvnK643z0M4BZk6aNbCkq2hR5VOXEIuVmQRVgq1dS-tmTGUkY85xb2HUpBYwMs5mSrJluJ-QlBH1Wyt7N7wzAqG0gCldW/s320/IMG_20181116_185259.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A gorgeous blue sky overhead and two dear family members at my side. Life is good!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMCpx5aGkU1KpgQMAaEnOJ1Qc89Wod98xZe8L_mA3cHKfyUnG5xorYQbzmOh8mEoYOx3jlKz3Xjp1xeucZP06eZtjLeesbTvGLrI3McuM-EfU1qONQiTqQQKMSk5pGuysVCqS/s1600/IMG_20181116_190400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMCpx5aGkU1KpgQMAaEnOJ1Qc89Wod98xZe8L_mA3cHKfyUnG5xorYQbzmOh8mEoYOx3jlKz3Xjp1xeucZP06eZtjLeesbTvGLrI3McuM-EfU1qONQiTqQQKMSk5pGuysVCqS/s320/IMG_20181116_190400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-68424046269571561122018-10-12T19:34:00.000-04:002018-10-12T19:34:07.925-04:00What a World!On my own, I'm not much of a traveler. I've lived in this area for 14 years now, but if I go to Winston-Salem by myself (other than to Sam's, Target, or the mall), I usually pull up a map to help me get to my destination. However, if someone makes the plans and invites me to go somewhere, I'm all in!<br />
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I didn't have any secret dreams of seeing France, but after my younger daughter moved there I had a compelling reason to go. Even so, it wouldn't have happened if she hadn't taken charge and "forced me" to make some decisions. The end result: 17 wonderful days on the other side of the world, not counting a full day of travel on each end. Throughout the adventure, “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/disney-composer-penned-its-a-small-world/2012/03/06/gIQAik3txR_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.d7f2011309cd" target="_blank">It’s a Small World (After All)</a>,” was my theme song — except I was singing,"It's a BIG WORLD after all." Without further ado, here are just a few of the hundreds of pics I took. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-6BOrS0NFs8L39GAH-OD-CBJcbnJOUfBZhbbYP5sGTv5xBy-Jw52o0uxGPao0sVUlM6s00X-TTvwO5ke5f6lkTteGFi0CaILewBCbrZkzrCfZ40lmK1SXR25gCj_rjOXW6nX/s1600/IMG_20180907_142313222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-6BOrS0NFs8L39GAH-OD-CBJcbnJOUfBZhbbYP5sGTv5xBy-Jw52o0uxGPao0sVUlM6s00X-TTvwO5ke5f6lkTteGFi0CaILewBCbrZkzrCfZ40lmK1SXR25gCj_rjOXW6nX/s400/IMG_20180907_142313222.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdz2uvGjxbHgx-hRvQQkfo7R8_QQ6EOgvYGFng3XgFOmLkto7GoRuGZZoM6BMBu0cQuxi0HmqzY0HXFk2axhayV1zeDI5OUdV7eIW27990lxELsq3uAM4rE2_haDcd8_fAVGY/s1600/IMG_20180909_163522713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdz2uvGjxbHgx-hRvQQkfo7R8_QQ6EOgvYGFng3XgFOmLkto7GoRuGZZoM6BMBu0cQuxi0HmqzY0HXFk2axhayV1zeDI5OUdV7eIW27990lxELsq3uAM4rE2_haDcd8_fAVGY/s400/IMG_20180909_163522713.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ykqWQAS_pfp_gCAkmWsF7mzPFLbr4oUvepD8JX890tkn1UxqIhJVw2rSBcg7iPLITNLH8n4JW6p7LiUi-UHlKRmGzNY9ZGS5nOiu-lyDYI3STlxLoTJScOkfkE9T_94jW69c/s1600/IMG_20180908_121339679_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ykqWQAS_pfp_gCAkmWsF7mzPFLbr4oUvepD8JX890tkn1UxqIhJVw2rSBcg7iPLITNLH8n4JW6p7LiUi-UHlKRmGzNY9ZGS5nOiu-lyDYI3STlxLoTJScOkfkE9T_94jW69c/s400/IMG_20180908_121339679_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdS1lALuNENI6JPYIkk8K2pXyFPfplTr80XYEg-jKxgOUOJuJCmiOydp2OZDuSOYGpVjmLIvnQcVbV3sZZFLv2mI-cAOO80mLEtYW9NsSzkezuEJ-tjcIxJg4t3hS5N3Prllvc/s1600/IMG_20180909_145659665_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdS1lALuNENI6JPYIkk8K2pXyFPfplTr80XYEg-jKxgOUOJuJCmiOydp2OZDuSOYGpVjmLIvnQcVbV3sZZFLv2mI-cAOO80mLEtYW9NsSzkezuEJ-tjcIxJg4t3hS5N3Prllvc/s400/IMG_20180909_145659665_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzwTZ9_aCJ7BgDvhJZJeO4iNcy32tnJhbVKUuHi9dpVkBaE5n_Rca4RwbBs4XBd91fffpAoDM2Z7NZh50rq7JvLdWakWnsWLb3IG2lpXM7n2-QT3Kkqwscy1t7i35mMrUh4ZS/s1600/IMG_20180914_115440623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzwTZ9_aCJ7BgDvhJZJeO4iNcy32tnJhbVKUuHi9dpVkBaE5n_Rca4RwbBs4XBd91fffpAoDM2Z7NZh50rq7JvLdWakWnsWLb3IG2lpXM7n2-QT3Kkqwscy1t7i35mMrUh4ZS/s400/IMG_20180914_115440623.jpg" width="300" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHlmmRGzY5sAJwE_m2Xpt2RDr-NmrwU2b0Z_2Vii5JkrE6ZNv0tR38lDVeaoroNsE5a8Xpyh9joFaFwGvv55ntm86DIUmR7hyphenhypheniy9hqWKLCnsU6Z_yN1L_HrvhSnIymiS_uPiN/s1600/IMG_20180915_154603153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHlmmRGzY5sAJwE_m2Xpt2RDr-NmrwU2b0Z_2Vii5JkrE6ZNv0tR38lDVeaoroNsE5a8Xpyh9joFaFwGvv55ntm86DIUmR7hyphenhypheniy9hqWKLCnsU6Z_yN1L_HrvhSnIymiS_uPiN/s400/IMG_20180915_154603153.jpg" width="400" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DmzvAaVm_yYIvrh3rte-OAP7EWtlogsm8FPzakiedbG1bwMMmpLvqEpC3JJL0fBmnH58bldxANUp8FRWLdc-IHa-8yAv5TyS1pUuJWl3kc2Pnnks59bMv7q3wRkYWKLdv4Z0/s1600/IMG_20180910_124923504_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DmzvAaVm_yYIvrh3rte-OAP7EWtlogsm8FPzakiedbG1bwMMmpLvqEpC3JJL0fBmnH58bldxANUp8FRWLdc-IHa-8yAv5TyS1pUuJWl3kc2Pnnks59bMv7q3wRkYWKLdv4Z0/s400/IMG_20180910_124923504_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfSflhc6QP7NrBkTDFpd3YHoe7V68P_LUVRpiwBfQjfBjlyI9nfAsqT7RaDoSiwzcQll3OqOCYuGeaxznfrGaPGX9WT7o7tUZTLdvKJObShL3Qnp4wd5BAQk4llUfwHNR0zww/s1600/IMG_20180915_142208097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfSflhc6QP7NrBkTDFpd3YHoe7V68P_LUVRpiwBfQjfBjlyI9nfAsqT7RaDoSiwzcQll3OqOCYuGeaxznfrGaPGX9WT7o7tUZTLdvKJObShL3Qnp4wd5BAQk4llUfwHNR0zww/s400/IMG_20180915_142208097.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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GRRR. I see the photos from my phone didn't all "translate" to my computer, so below are just three pictures from Arles, my favorite city in France. It has many <a href="http://www.arles-guide.com/arles_guide/arles_world_heritage_sites" target="_blank">World Heritage sites</a> and was both interesting and quaint. </div>
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<a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" 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I made a choice: Let's go to MOROCCO! We did it and loved it! A day and a half in Tangier and a day-trip to <span class="st">Chefchaouen</span> (the Blue City). <br />
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Grrrr. This technological world continues to get the better of me. I'll find my pictures and perhaps make a separate post about Morocco (and Paris!) at a later date.<br />
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Even if I don't, the message is still the same: <b>What a world!</b> I'm thrilled with all the places I've called home and all the places I've visited, whether for a day or for a length time. Let's open our eyes to the people and scenes around us. Take it in. Dream. Give thanks. Do a happy jig!<br />
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The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.
Robert Louis Stevenson<br />
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/robert_louis_stevenson_205005</div>
<div style="left: -99999px; position: absolute;">
The world is so full of a number of things, I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.
Robert Louis Stevenson<br />
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/robert_louis_stevenson_205005</div>
Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-35181791908132704862018-08-27T21:47:00.001-04:002018-08-27T21:47:10.447-04:00Morning Hasn't BrokenDo you ever sing a song, change just a few words, and then get the crazy thing stuck in your head? That's what I did with the song Morning Has Broken. My words: "Morning has broken. I hope it can be fixed. Blackbirds aren't singing. They're down in the dumps." I get mad at myself when I start singing these words and can't get them out of my head. Why? Because I LOVE mornings. I would never want morning to be broken.<br />
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The last time I posted here (two months ago!), our temps were in the 90s. Here it is, the end of August, and we're heading that way again! But our mornings for the last two weeks have been wonderfully cool. Feeding the kitties every morning ensures that I get outside, so I've been taking my time, strolling around a bit, and just enjoying!<br />
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The Bible encourages us with the morning as a picture of new beginnings. The rising of the sun is also a picture of Jesus.<br />
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<li><span class="v25_3_22">The <span class="nd">Lord</span>'s unfailing love and mercy still continue,</span><span class="v25_3_23"><span class="reftext" id="Lam.3.23"> f</span>resh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. (Lamentations 3:22 & 23)</span></li>
<li><span class="v25_3_23">LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning. (Isaiah 33:2)</span></li>
<li>Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us. (Luke 1:78)</li>
<li>The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.... (Malachi 4:2)</li>
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And this is what's to come: There will be no more night, and they will not need any light from lamps or the sun because the Lord God will shine on them. (Revelation 22:5)<br />
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In the morning, whether inside doing my devotions or outside taking in the fresh air, I sometimes throw my hands up in pure jubilation. As the day goes on, my elation often deflates. Sometimes it's discouragement, sometimes it's just the wear and tear of the day. I guess it's almost like the morning <b>does</b> get broken! Hmmm.<br />
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Here are the few pics I took the other morning. Everything felt more alive and vibrant than these little photos convey. When the Morning Star appears, everything <b>will be</b> alive and vibrant. What a day that will be!<br />
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I was enthralled by the dew and the sunlight touching everything in such a delightful way, but the photos hardly convey it. Oh well. Go take a walk tomorrow morning and see some of God's beauty for yourself. :) Let the Morning Star rise in your heart.<br />
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<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-7443740203700405952018-06-30T21:13:00.003-04:002018-06-30T21:13:48.849-04:00~ Fresh Air ~Ninety degrees outside and I felt the need for a breath of fresh air. Go figure. I stepped outside, looked around, took a few deep breaths, and went back inside ... to get my phone and a book! Seriously, it was gorgeous out there.<br />
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For a while, all I could do was look around me. I watched the hummingbirds sipping their nectar. I saw butterflies flitting across the yard, minding their own business. It was hard to believe, but not a single cat came to harass me. Now for some reading - in the middle of the day! Unheard of!<br />
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Then it was time to stretch my legs. I walked over to the uprooted stump of a tree, left over from last year's tornado. I had asked Weldon if it was going to stay there forever and he said, "No. Sooner or later it will rot away." Ha! Very funny! So, I'm attempting to turn it into a focal point - a piece of yard art, more or less. Kinda sorta.<br />
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A gardener I'm not, but everyone wants to help me take a few baby steps in that direction. In early June, my friend Tena brought some (more) flowering plants and bushes for me. I chose this spot and she thought it would be perfect. She dug the holes and planted the plants! I moved my little "bird bath" over there. See, I can do some things.<br />
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Tena, I don't suppose you can see it, but there's a white butterfly to the left of the stump, just above the purple flower closest to the stump. The purple flowers that you said would attract butterflies. It's true!<br />
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Ahhh. What a glorious, refreshing time I had in the 90-degree great-out-of-doors. Thank you, Lord, for books and birds and butterflies and friends and uprooted tree stumps.<br />
<br /><br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-91775951412565041602018-04-18T20:01:00.000-04:002018-04-18T20:01:42.330-04:00Slaving in the KitchenLast month's blog post was about slaving in the kitchen, too. Ooops. I really don't do as much baking as I used to, but I can't resist telling you about my amazing discovery today.<br />
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I don't know when I last made Rice Krispies Treats, but it's been a l-o-n-g time. Things have changed! I remember melting the butter and marshmallows in a pan on the stove and stirring the sticky mess with a big spoon till it was all melted ... but not scorched. Then I added the Rice Krispies, trying to stir gently so the crispy bits of rice didn't turn into rice flour.<br />
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Then came the fun part: trying to get it all out of the hot pan and into the buttered 9" x 13" pan. There was always enough left in the pan and on the spoon to nibble on for a day or two. (Yes, I'm exaggerating a bit.) Next, I buttered my hands and quickly patted the concoction to the edges and into the corners of the pan. "Ouch! That's hot!" Later I learned that using waxed paper instead of my buttered hands was somewhat less painful.<br />
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Fast forward to 2018. Pat brought me a big bag of marshmallows that she found on clearance. Weldon used to eat marshmallows like candy, but he gave that up. So, what was I going to do with these marshmallows? The obvious solution: buy some Rice Krispies and make the sticky treats. And today was the day.<br />
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Let me tell you, things have changed. I followed the recipe on the marshmallow bag. Melt the butter and the marshmallows in the microwave! Using the "new" silicone spatulas, stirring in the crispy rice and dumping the whole works into the 9" x 13" pan was easy-peasy. I used the spatula to pat the mixture into the pan. Nothing stuck to the bowl, nothing stuck to the spatula, nothing stuck to my hands.<br />
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I didn't realize I had blog post material here, or I would have taken pictures while I was actually doing the work. As it is, the photos were taken after sweating and slaving in the kitchen for five to ten minutes.<br />
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I'm not the first woman who, because of her deep love for her family, has slaved all day long in the kitchen. Perhaps you'll remember this commercial of just such an amazing woman.<br />
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Today's lesson: An old dog can learn new tricks.<br />
<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-82027967573652585892018-03-16T15:52:00.000-04:002018-03-16T15:52:48.180-04:00Happy St. Urho's Day!Being half Finnish, about a fourth Irish, and 1/4 chicken noodle soup, I celebrate any and all holidays! Since it's St. Urho's Day (read about it <a href="http://www.sainturho.com/" target="_blank">here</a>) I wondered if I had ever made a Finnish cake. I did the usual Google search and found a <a href="http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/kermakakku-finnish-sour-cream-cake-427571" target="_blank">recipe</a> that sounded good and had some favorable reviews. Another plus: I had all the necessary ingredients.<br />
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As I headed to the kitchen, I remembered that I have a couple of Finnish cookbooks. I decided to check them out before I got started.<br />
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Lo and behold, the older cookbook had the exact recipe I had just found online. And, surprise surprise, I had made Kermakakku before. Mmm :) The wonderful thing about having a really deficient memory is that everything is always new and exciting! Yay!<br />
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Fortunately I still had some cardamom seeds. I don't worry about grinding them in my coffee grinder because cardamom is pretty good in coffee, too.<br />
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Cake is pretty: <br />
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Tastes good, too: <br />
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It just needs a big, green plastic grasshopper on top. Maybe next year.<br />
<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-48367334888731657432018-02-21T15:09:00.001-05:002018-02-21T15:10:03.326-05:00Welcome Home“Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you
believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just
have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.” -Billy Graham <br />
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That day has come.<br />
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<br />
In the postscript of my book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Happens-Wallowing-Optional-Cindy-Keiger/dp/0692556273/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519240219&sr=8-1&keywords=crap+happens+by+cindy+keiger" target="_blank">Crap Happens...Wallowing Is Optional</a>, I noted that Billy Graham had an influence on my life, beginning when I was quite young. I thought you might enjoy reading it.<br />
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~*~</div>
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I have one final story to tell, as nourishing and satisfying as a good meal.<br />
*** <br />
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One of my earliest childhood memories is of sitting on the living room floor in front of the boxy black and white television set. My brothers are around me, and Ma and Pa sit behind us on the sagging couch. All eyes are fixed on the screen and our ears are listening to Billy Graham as he speaks to a huge crowd … and to us.<br />
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If you’ve ever seen one of his crusades, you know they always ended the same way. George Beverly Shea would sing, “<a href="https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/1048" target="_blank">Just As I Am</a>” and Mr. Graham would make his closing remarks, inviting those who wanted to “ask Jesus into your heart” to come forward for prayer. “You who are watching this telecast from the comfort of your home can ask Jesus to come into your heart right where you are, just as you are.”<br />
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I did that. Every time. The words always moved me in an inexplicable way.<br />
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There’s nothing wrong with the picture of inviting Jesus into your heart, but many years later it became clear to me that Jesus didn’t “just” want to live in my heart - he wanted my whole life. As the old hymn says, “<a href="https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/441" target="_blank">All to Jesus I surrender</a>, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.” In 1972, to the best of my ability, I gave my life (all of it) to Jesus. He made me, so I belonged to him; he wasn’t just tucked away in my heart, but I was tucked away in his.<br />
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Regardless of the stories and advice I’ve shared in this book describing how I overcame (and continue to overcome) problems on the farm and in my life in general, all my self-help, best intentions, and strength come from my Father God and his son, Jesus.<br />
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Your life can be made new with a simple prayer: “Lord, I need you. I come to you. I give my life into your keeping. Live your life through me. Thank you.”<br />
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Start reading the Bible. Find a contemporary version that is easy to understand. Talk to God on a daily basis, right in the middle of whatever you’re doing. You’ll see changes in the way you think, respond, and act. The best change is God’s amazing peace that wraps you up and keeps you safe. When crap happens (and it will), look for God and accept his help.<br />
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I look forward to seeing you in the “life romantic” on the other side.<br />
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~*~ </div>
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Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-8342496291771237642018-02-02T13:40:00.000-05:002018-02-02T13:40:17.627-05:00Deep and Wide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I got this sweatshirt at a women's retreat I attended when I lived in Charlotte. Over the course of those few days, we must have sung Steven Curtis Chapman's song, Dive (written in 1999), at least a hundred times. We were exploring the turbulent waters that can swirl around our lives and discussing how we can "dive" into God to get the help we need.<br />
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After moving to the farm, being in over my head took on a "deeper" significance, and the sweatshirt became part of the "milk duds" that I donned every morning. Being downright chilly today, out of habit, I grabbed it and then wondered if I'd ever taken a picture of it. Tah dah!<br />
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You don't have to live on a farm to know that life doesn't always feel like a delightful dip in a cool, refreshing lake. It can get deep and stinky. I'll bet you have a few yucky stories of your own. You could probably write a book!<br />
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We each have our own way of finding encouragement and strength when we're slogging through difficult days. Writing my book helped me, but the underlying basis for my book was always The Good Book ... the Bible. The Bible has been my go-to source for peace and wisdom since I became a Christian, lots and lots and lots of years ago.<br />
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The frustrations, disappointments, and heartbreak of life can be deep and wide, but God's love and provision are always deeper and wider. I'll leave you with these words from Ephesians 3:16-20. I pray you will be encouraged.<br />
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"I'm asking God to give you a gift from the wealth of his
glory. I pray that he would give you inner strength and power through
his Spirit. <span class="reftext"></span>Then
Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the
ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your
foundation. <span class="reftext"></span>This way, with all of God's people you will be able to understand how wide, long, high, and deep his love is. <span class="reftext"></span>You
will know Christ's love, which goes far beyond any knowledge. I am
praying this so that you may be completely filled with God.<span class="reftext"><b> </b></span>Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine."</div>
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P.S. Weldon is hauling manure today. He doesn't wallow in it; he sees it as a resource. By spreading it on the fields, the ground will be more fertile and grow better corn. And on a dairy farm, corn is a good thing!<br />
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Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-46224928658902478912018-01-17T12:13:00.000-05:002018-01-17T12:13:41.170-05:00Whiter than Snow!It's snowing in North Carolina. In Minnesota I enjoyed playing in the snow, but on the farm I enjoy watching the snow cover all the broken, discarded, rusting stuff. It's not <i>all</i> junk or broken, but almost all of it is dirty and old.<br />
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This morning I thought of how all the yuck on the farm can be compared to the yuck in our lives. We can feel broken, discarded, or rusting. There might be things we're ashamed of and we wish we could just cover up. There is a cure!<br />
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God says, "I, the Lord, invite you to come and talk it over.</div>
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Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool."</div>
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(Isaiah 1:18)</div>
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God invites you to sit with him and "talk it over." Think about that! If you've never tried it, go for it! Sit down. Talk to this God you can't see. This God you don't even believe in. You just might get up from that conversation a changed person.</div>
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The covering of snow transforms crud into works of art. The Lord does even "better" with our lives: he doesn't just cover our sins — he washes them away. Gone. Whiter than snow. As Christians, we sometimes mull over past sins, but God has forgotten them. Let's get on with living.<br />
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And now, for your viewing pleasure:<b> God's Artistry with Broken Stuff</b>.</div>
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<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-31239744190786486872017-10-30T12:35:00.001-04:002017-10-30T12:35:31.940-04:00It's a Matter of PerspectiveLast night I lay in bed for a l.o.n.g time, thinking about how I should celebrate the 2nd Bookiversary of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Happens-Wallowing-Optional-Cindy-Keiger/dp/0692556273/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509372020&sr=8-1&keywords=crap+happens+by+cindy+keiger" target="_blank">Crap Happens...Wallowing Is Optional</a>. I know! I'll give two books away! I finally fell asleep.<br />
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I was eager to get started this morning, but I felt like doing a little research first. How many books have I sold in two years? The results were quite disheartening: I've sold approximately 375 books, and, just for the heck of it, I gave away (FREE) 305 ebooks on Amazon on October 2 of last year. Crazy, huh? All of this and only 38 reviews. Lovely reviews, but still ... only 38.<br />
<br />
On the plus side, that's selling or giving away a book every day — a book I wrote and published for about $50. Counting all the joy it has brought to me and others, I say WooHoo! AND, I am SO thankful for the local bookstores and businesses that sell my book, some of them not taking even a tiny percentage. Yup, I might do it again. <br />
<br />
But, back to my book's 2nd birthday. To celebrate, I've decided to give away two copies of <u>Crap Happens...Wallowing Is Optional</u>. Here's how you can be in the running.<br />
<ol>
<li>"Like" my author page on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CindyKeigerAuthor/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/CindyKeigerAuthor/</a> </li>
<li>Leave a comment that tells me what puts a smile on your face.</li>
</ol>
If you've already "Like"d my author page, you only have to do the second item. Duh. <br />
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If you're not on Facebook, what are you waiting for?
Actually, if you're not on Facebook, you can leave a comment on this
post and I'll throw your name in the proverbial hat. Fair enough?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcaVOkJh2HQP48VrzJZjBfb5bhwPEgfJVl1xm62OI4JLo_x_tdDCOcImw6lkQhDqWNVRnJzx3HrqBeFxqUW9JsXv0LrW_bDePEBEQKzQeIbxM7tWF4U8hsF2Gn1zmC9XsuUPE/s1600/97557.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcaVOkJh2HQP48VrzJZjBfb5bhwPEgfJVl1xm62OI4JLo_x_tdDCOcImw6lkQhDqWNVRnJzx3HrqBeFxqUW9JsXv0LrW_bDePEBEQKzQeIbxM7tWF4U8hsF2Gn1zmC9XsuUPE/s320/97557.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'll choose two winners at random tomorrow (10/31/17) at approximately 6pm, Eastern time. I'll "private message" the winners so you can give me your address. If you already have a copy of my book, it will make a wonderful Christmas gift for someone on your list.<br />
<br />Tomorrow, in honor of Crap's second birthday, I'll drink more coffee and eat lots of cookies and name TWO WINNERS. Don't forget to enter! <br />
Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-7800410914072397602017-10-06T16:36:00.000-04:002017-10-06T16:36:55.573-04:00His Eye Is On the SpiderSparrow! I mean sparrow! But as long as we're on the subject ....<br />
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Wednesday evening, after having mowed the front yard earlier that afternoon, I switched out my little yard flag to better showcase the season.<br />
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Thursday morning I was hurrying out the door to get to work and, as I walked passed the flag, I had to double back to see why it seemed to be hanging at such an odd angle.<br />
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It took me a moment but, do you see it? A spider! What the ?? I shook the flag a couple of times, but the spider hung on. I got a little stick and knocked it down. The flag was still "bent," so I straightened it out and saw this fluffy white thing. Time to call for Weldon.<br />
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"Is this thing full of baby spiders?"</div>
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"Yup."</div>
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"Well, do something with it!"</div>
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He took out his pocket knife and began to scrape the lovely bundle off the flag. Eeeuuuuww. With shivers running down my spine, I hurried to the car and headed to work.</div>
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I'm not a fan of spiders, but God's eye <b><i>is</i></b> on the spider as much as on the sparrow, right? I mean, if he knows the number of hairs on my head, he must know about all the spiders that are hiding in my house and everywhere else. Eeeuuuuww. When I find bugs in the house, I try to capture them and set them free outside, but I don't trust spiders enough to do that. Instead, before mooshing one or sucking it up into the vacuum cleaner, I apologize and say, "I'm sorry." Okay, sometimes it's after the fact, when it's now just an icky spot on the floor. Sorry.</div>
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This is getting gross, so let's do a Bob Ross. Ever have spiders in life? Let's make them sparrows. Yeah, they're sparrows now.</div>
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<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-81478466999361518262017-08-30T13:30:00.001-04:002017-08-30T13:30:09.117-04:00Pie In the SkyI like happy songs, happy stories, happy life. When I wake up in a funk or if the day seems to go from bad to worse, I try to think good, cheerful thoughts. Happy thoughts! Sometimes I imagine a fun surprise. Yes, I might even dream about someone bringing me a piece of pie.<br />
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There's nothing wrong with dreaming, right? </div>
<br />Some people think that believing in God is just a dream - a nice, but made-up, story. Heaven is just "pie in the sky" - <span>something that is pleasant to contemplate but is very unlikely to be realized. </span>Even if God and his heaven should all turn out to be a hoax, life is better when it's lived according to the Golden Rule(s) we find in the Bible.<br /><br />Love your neighbor as yourself. Loving yourself (taking care of YOU) is a good thing! Do you ever treat yourself to a trip to the spa or that new book you've been wanting to read? Maybe, if you're like me, you love yourself with a bag of M&Ms or a pizza pie. You're worth it! <br />
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What if you were as lenient with others as you are with yourself? You’d think and say nice things about the people you meet. You’d help them when they need help and encourage them when they’re sad. You’d want them to have the best seat in the house. If they ever disappointed you, you’d know it wasn’t on purpose and you’d forgive them immediately.<br /><br />Go the extra mile. Your neighbor comes to borrow a cup of sugar and you give her the whole bag. A friend asks if you could pick up his son from school. You not only pick up his son, you stop and buy him a milkshake on the way home. When you go out to eat, you treat the staff with kindness and leave a good tip. Your mother asks if you could come help her get the Christmas tree from the basement, and you stay to help her decorate the whole house.<br /><br />Don’t kill, cheat, steal, or tell lies. Life would be a whole lot rosier if everyone followed these simple instructions.<br /><br />Sing songs and make melody in your heart. Don’t commit adultery. Honor and respect your mother and father.<br /><br />After a lifetime of trying to follow the good advice found in the Bible, you die. There’s no heaven, no hell. But what a life you lived! A good life! No doubt about it: I’ll take the pie in the sky.<br />
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If you actually know me, you know that I don't think God is a myth or a dream. He's the "real deal," and I won't be surprised if he serves pie when I get there.<br />
<br />Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-41146362083320760632017-08-19T18:53:00.001-04:002017-08-19T18:53:16.082-04:00[Another] True StoryI posted this story on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CindyKeigerAuthor/" target="_blank">Facebook Author page</a> yesterday. For those of you not on Facebook, I'm posting it here for your reading pleasure.<br />
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***</div>
<br />
I got out later than
usual to feed “my” kitties in the big shed last night (nearing 8:00) and
saw that Pat hadn’t been out yet. I moseyed on up to the house to see
if everything was okay. Pat and Edith were sitting at the table—Pat,
looking a little ragged, sipping on a cup of something, and Edith
snapping beans. Pat had overworked herself in the sun all day, mowing
and picking beans and who-knows-what all, but said she thought she could get out
"pretty soon." I got a knife and helped Edith with the beans and then
told Pat I would feed “her” kitties and tell Weldon that he’d have
to care for the calves by himself. She needed to stay inside and rest.
She acquiesced.<br />
<br />
Pat asked me to let Annabelle (mama of the
“ring-around-the-Rosie” kitties) out of the cage for a while and then
put her back in with the babies before bedtime. On my way to the house, I
stopped to tell Weldon he was on his own for the evening, and I set
Annabelle free as I passed by the barn. At home, I got a bottle of
Gatorade and some yogurt and took it to Pat. Then I went to feed cats and
kitties at the milk barn and in the big hay barn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbEpBPoCK8uFV_EWcK8W4j1DWarxWchfqZV6AGG3HsD7WQuv4-Jcx4umHMP86400TxUsCK9jb6n8ErgfDllrabB2wYoAwYtMzlDzya9b4UbhnRnGKAmFkGIop0pxNMRzTvn2F/s1600/20170813_192857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbEpBPoCK8uFV_EWcK8W4j1DWarxWchfqZV6AGG3HsD7WQuv4-Jcx4umHMP86400TxUsCK9jb6n8ErgfDllrabB2wYoAwYtMzlDzya9b4UbhnRnGKAmFkGIop0pxNMRzTvn2F/s400/20170813_192857.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ring-around-the-Rosie kitties. I just had to name the white one Rosie!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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An hour later,
I got a flashlight, turned on some yard lights, and went to find
Annabelle. Ahhh, there’s a gray cat. I felt her belly. She didn’t feel
much like a mother nursing five babies. What if this isn’t the right
cat? I know there’s another gray cat about the same size, but this was
the only one in sight. I picked her up and put her near the cage. She
sniffed a bit and then looked at me, so I pushed her in. She carefully
circled around the babies and settled in. She wouldn’t lie down with
them if she wasn’t the mother, right? Right? Weldon was still in the
milk parlor, so I asked him. He said he knows what the mother looks
like, so he’d check in on them before he came home.<br />
<br />
An hour later
(yes, it was about 10:00 now), Weldon came in. “Did you check on the
mama cat and babies?” No, he forgot. Oh well. It’ll be alright, right?
Right?<br />
<br />
And now it’s Friday morning. I fed “my” cats and had to go
to the milk barn to get some milk. As long as I was passing by the big
barn, I thought I'd let Annabelle out. She hopped out, but the five babies were spread across the floor of the cage and little Rosie was lying on
her back. (It’s not a very big cage, so they weren’t separated by much,
but they weren’t cuddled in a nice little kitty cat pile, either.) There
was no movement. Oh, my gosh! They’re dead. I looked again, my heart
pounding. Not the slightest bit of movement.<br />
<br />
I hurried to the milk parlor. "Weldon, I think the five
kittens are dead!" "Dead? All of them?" "Yes. They didn’t move. They’re not
snuggled up. I don’t think they’re breathing. I must have got the wrong
mama!" He immediately went with me to the barn. None of them were moving. Weldon put his hand in, and gently touched
and petted them all. "They’re fine." "Fine? Really?" "Yes, they're fine."<br />
<br />
Heart attack averted.
Barely.<br />
<br />
A few minutes later I confessed the whole story to Pat. She said
she has had the same kind of experience, but she learned that the babies
just spread out if it gets too stuffy and warm for them. I’m pretty
sure she was just trying to make me feel better … and it worked. Kind
of.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBXYXML2bKdq6TJyXScFckKZB00LB1y2ptzRIl0YCGUvN0SLCKGrsI7OyUuEDrzijCHA2SSst-jms-09x2GbmDRDTm7CpxYuxfSF9eSHL4skIn2MioTJBrCQix3prNAQVHcmY/s1600/20170818_194421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBXYXML2bKdq6TJyXScFckKZB00LB1y2ptzRIl0YCGUvN0SLCKGrsI7OyUuEDrzijCHA2SSst-jms-09x2GbmDRDTm7CpxYuxfSF9eSHL4skIn2MioTJBrCQix3prNAQVHcmY/s400/20170818_194421.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is, indeed, Annabelle.</td></tr>
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The End. Of one more farm story.Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-70742299268073366582017-08-07T19:38:00.002-04:002017-08-07T19:38:19.297-04:00Farm-Assist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Weldon has been farming his whole life. He's a farmer like his father and grandfather before him. I've been here for almost 13 years, but I'm not a farmer. When I helped with the milking chores, I liked to call myself a farm-assist. Sounds pretty important, doesn't it? I still assist when Weldon comes to the house and asks if I can help him for a few minutes. That happened a couple days ago, when he had to go up into the silo to make some adjustments.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFfvcHq7RVK0KMqoMrHai7zLNAFjaeRK950LxZBHLWB66YhBk_wmAzO_ZXngpFOj_13r075hpccTx_y9pDEqGJMASJbQkuzx4gytLxQKYG5sXZlcrG7rl4orubM6sO1gcg9Ay/s1600/20170802_202452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtFfvcHq7RVK0KMqoMrHai7zLNAFjaeRK950LxZBHLWB66YhBk_wmAzO_ZXngpFOj_13r075hpccTx_y9pDEqGJMASJbQkuzx4gytLxQKYG5sXZlcrG7rl4orubM6sO1gcg9Ay/s320/20170802_202452.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
This
silo is 50 feet tall, not counting the rounded top. Weldon and a friend
had cut and chopped the early corn and blown it up there. Well, <i>they</i> didn't blow it up there ... a machine did it. You can see a video of silage being blown into the silo here (scroll down almost to the end): <a href="http://farmmuse.blogspot.com/2012/10/chop-that-corn.html">http://farmmuse.blogspot.com/2012/10/chop-that-corn.html</a>. <br />
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The cows were super excited to see what was going on.<br />
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Now, were was I? Ah, yes. Helping Weldon at the silo. This "crank thing" (below) raises and lowers the auger that's inside the silo. I don't have the strength to turn the crank, so the handle is replaced by a drill that can get the job done. Weldon is in the silo and I run the drill to raise or lower the auger per his directions. That's not a very good description, but if you want to understand it better, come for a visit and I'm sure Weldon will tell and show you all about it.<br />
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When I was done and Weldon was safely back on the ground, I decided to stroll toward the back of the barn and the pasture area. A calf had gotten out of the fence and was feeling footloose and fancy free - until he saw me. He scampered as fast as his little legs would carry him right back to his mama's side.<br />
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The early corn is in the silo, so I asked Weldon when the "later" corn would be ready. In September, of course. I should have remembered that, because on the morning of our wedding (September 25), Weldon was chopping corn! The late corn won't be late ... it will be right on time. And we're finally getting some rain to make it happy and healthy. <br />
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Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-90218066079136984472017-07-28T20:28:00.004-04:002017-07-28T20:28:49.053-04:00PicklesEleven years ago I wrote my <a href="http://farmmuse.blogspot.com/2006/07/mothers-love-this-morning-as-we-headed.html" target="_blank">first blog post</a> on Farm Muse. It was about pickles. My second post was just a day later (on July 7, 2006) and it was also about pickles. So guess what I was doing today. Yup, making pickles!<br />
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It wasn't a great year for cucumbers on the farm, so I hoped maybe I wouldn't have to make any pickles. Silly me. With only two quarts of pickles left in the cupboard from last year, I knew I'd have to do something. Weldon can't live without his sweet pickles. Maybe Mom Edith still has some in her basement from previous years.<br />
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My younger daughter had been with us on the farm since late January, making a huge move from New York to France. We were busy. We had stuff to do. Pickles weren't on the to-do list. But, Mom and Pat to the rescue. (And I didn't even know I needed rescuing!) They started two gallon jars for me and passed them into my care on July 17. Truly, I was thankful. They're so thoughtful. And kind. And helpful.<br />
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These pickles don't happen overnight. First the cucumbers are picked and washed, then packed into gallon jars and covered with boiling water. Days 2 through 5 you drain off the water and then cover the cucumbers with fresh boiling water again. On Day 6 you pour off the water and this time add alum to the fresh boiled water. On Day 7 you drain the water from the jars and this time cover the cucumbers with vinegar and add a little bag of pickling spices. Now the jars sit for nine days and you don't have to do anything with them. Yay!<br />
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Today was Day 16. Pickle-making day. I took pictures. Because a blog is no fun without pictures. Some of you may have quit reading already. Such boring stuff. But, hang on. Pictures are here!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJMmmYw2A7U708ty_nP1R6vzhHjfMexbYIfz7bOFCZtuM8WBLqX16PEMpr9ioIZk0GK0QVq27EjWEdJ9gStl8fHEhM1LNSHG9GoznW5JwQZer5mWwnR3BoTUPKxt3G3IwbEdy/s1600/20170728_160655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJMmmYw2A7U708ty_nP1R6vzhHjfMexbYIfz7bOFCZtuM8WBLqX16PEMpr9ioIZk0GK0QVq27EjWEdJ9gStl8fHEhM1LNSHG9GoznW5JwQZer5mWwnR3BoTUPKxt3G3IwbEdy/s400/20170728_160655.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first year (2006) I did SIX gallons. Impressive.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5vFJD9lqp2vqjxAG0U9532Jcy6NVjJ_nRNK1qzXAREE6Urbnn6ztiX-h56xRetzIqxUOpb3UdMnxyqghYPLiZpdng_8BLagu14-_Jait_BO_XD5JowxaG65SPFIz6ZmAP8FP/s1600/20170728_105604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5vFJD9lqp2vqjxAG0U9532Jcy6NVjJ_nRNK1qzXAREE6Urbnn6ztiX-h56xRetzIqxUOpb3UdMnxyqghYPLiZpdng_8BLagu14-_Jait_BO_XD5JowxaG65SPFIz6ZmAP8FP/s400/20170728_105604.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today, Day 16. All cucumbers sliced thinly and covered in sugar. Lots of sugar.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWgqqTDnRWAH9dnW27qoj6j1_ujbjCBQ3wIiIinua3DuSJSvQr-jYQGvBm6diWs1rO6B502bjG6AP6y3TalJsBHReGcS1SGwgYm2zqM81EiOTEvD6-cHaLkyvjW8XisMOKtPi/s1600/20170728_123800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWgqqTDnRWAH9dnW27qoj6j1_ujbjCBQ3wIiIinua3DuSJSvQr-jYQGvBm6diWs1rO6B502bjG6AP6y3TalJsBHReGcS1SGwgYm2zqM81EiOTEvD6-cHaLkyvjW8XisMOKtPi/s400/20170728_123800.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bowls of sugared "pickles" are covered and left to sit until the sugar dissolves. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVx9XF0e8UDm-5YrskTWETYu2wV7_JIDHQdMUgWk8e1YqOdgfYKQ9shL4Bmls4t7TvptJqQJZpKu9X3ErlI5bdPacw6Vl7Y-nVeWZJYPpmk9NqT8RAUzwGaxhhfqc9bPd1BI6z/s1600/20170728_145126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVx9XF0e8UDm-5YrskTWETYu2wV7_JIDHQdMUgWk8e1YqOdgfYKQ9shL4Bmls4t7TvptJqQJZpKu9X3ErlI5bdPacw6Vl7Y-nVeWZJYPpmk9NqT8RAUzwGaxhhfqc9bPd1BI6z/s400/20170728_145126.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the sugar has dissolved (sometimes with the help of a little stirring) the pickles are packed into jars.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NDESHYpAbp5_9ecosyszVeVZFPE6mEMbx8LV5_12NIL40PQnFj0qcopMfSbEXGw6CQGp6x58ubr2-RX1oJ2vqJeswubRVTBEiA66J0r2YX-EFrwSOZ-MzhbuHdehHogxrnpS/s1600/20170728_152913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NDESHYpAbp5_9ecosyszVeVZFPE6mEMbx8LV5_12NIL40PQnFj0qcopMfSbEXGw6CQGp6x58ubr2-RX1oJ2vqJeswubRVTBEiA66J0r2YX-EFrwSOZ-MzhbuHdehHogxrnpS/s400/20170728_152913.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The jars are lowered into the hot water bath canner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYqmFOORcxmpb6-XUzDGpY7qiKDxtP9AUhkssIrch8K-N08XjIqBpVJ8ALU6M6Ltk7BJn_xqZgLmi481gRn1FZpYvroQP3pgD8616QgnuVAGjeCz-e6KbeTI5P6uM8rIqSikq/s1600/20170728_162356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYqmFOORcxmpb6-XUzDGpY7qiKDxtP9AUhkssIrch8K-N08XjIqBpVJ8ALU6M6Ltk7BJn_xqZgLmi481gRn1FZpYvroQP3pgD8616QgnuVAGjeCz-e6KbeTI5P6uM8rIqSikq/s400/20170728_162356.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 20 minutes, the jars are removed from the canner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4JpzCssXyvv5mL3uyJ2jR8rsCk1BdVeSBKKiiOJXG4POktmO_yx8zM-xMZeofzzPKv6rPmQVOQ3firxKoIrs0Djz9pk44xj8mFqOHo4-VxRIa_M2jYFUqK6p6_-5Y6y_vxYl/s1600/20170728_162720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4JpzCssXyvv5mL3uyJ2jR8rsCk1BdVeSBKKiiOJXG4POktmO_yx8zM-xMZeofzzPKv6rPmQVOQ3firxKoIrs0Djz9pk44xj8mFqOHo4-VxRIa_M2jYFUqK6p6_-5Y6y_vxYl/s400/20170728_162720.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tah Dah! 6 quarts of sweet pickles for the sweet farmer.</td></tr>
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The way Weldon goes through these pickles, I'm thinking I'll still have to go check out Mom Edith's basement to see if she has some left from previous years. But this is definitely better than nothing.Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-86495967276484172202017-07-01T17:04:00.001-04:002017-07-01T17:04:52.687-04:00TORNADO 5/24/17I smile and laugh a lot and probably use too many emojis but, other than that, I'm not a very emotional person. Yet I'm sitting here boohooing, scrolling through photo after photo of the aftermath of the tornado that swept across the farm on May 24.<br />
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As we walked around, while the tornado was twisting its way to other locations, I kept saying, "Unbelievable!" "Amazing!" "I can't believe it!" In those first moments, there was simply no way to process all we were seeing.<br />
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Without further ado, here are a few pics.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbomgvHcb44lvbzAwFie8tXrcmKBgbqW-ikX8lljAz1N_V-PICF7qsEdOQaezg4UZu8NlLg-fXYNal0NDAvd0HbmZzLFKFUGAJoTZzodejgd9g7HfX6fJMHCfpFS7qeI_Ujav/s1600/20170524_171000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbomgvHcb44lvbzAwFie8tXrcmKBgbqW-ikX8lljAz1N_V-PICF7qsEdOQaezg4UZu8NlLg-fXYNal0NDAvd0HbmZzLFKFUGAJoTZzodejgd9g7HfX6fJMHCfpFS7qeI_Ujav/s400/20170524_171000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left side of front yard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqyLaq1XE_rrxNPwFonKG_1qSn4U41pjbB80KhlF5a35jOkYeDvbnJ9FzlbSWPFecmK4uaTbsUOqBcRSP32lJIz46jkN72JRBIs4cR8ZezXin9XvqeeDYfRraPBOW0EgzKPqy/s1600/20170524_171014.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqyLaq1XE_rrxNPwFonKG_1qSn4U41pjbB80KhlF5a35jOkYeDvbnJ9FzlbSWPFecmK4uaTbsUOqBcRSP32lJIz46jkN72JRBIs4cR8ZezXin9XvqeeDYfRraPBOW0EgzKPqy/s400/20170524_171014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbInCT_9rZcPWAg7NVDwOP1vRCNjVwjgwQqdIgmxS8lEH0Fb5HkOZHdY7WUt3tZCmh-6mnRI30lEMc4abLRiZG26zuXASaTqN_tv59nzmm2cND8iARpH0adssY44ejsoJ6tzT/s1600/20170524_171151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbInCT_9rZcPWAg7NVDwOP1vRCNjVwjgwQqdIgmxS8lEH0Fb5HkOZHdY7WUt3tZCmh-6mnRI30lEMc4abLRiZG26zuXASaTqN_tv59nzmm2cND8iARpH0adssY44ejsoJ6tzT/s400/20170524_171151.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the road to the neighbor's house. Yes, that's Weldon standing in the road!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTY0lr82aTTmdOBEAH0p-rwUCsFSDkElWHVp-rhXd1oTuF3Bfe9nd7hkJQP7CbSXWmX2mktkUE_l-Y5NPRW7fVFJkHikaAhbSawgmjNGbnHhygNj1kaKIy6CnB9S0EZizAirgf/s1600/20170524_172554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTY0lr82aTTmdOBEAH0p-rwUCsFSDkElWHVp-rhXd1oTuF3Bfe9nd7hkJQP7CbSXWmX2mktkUE_l-Y5NPRW7fVFJkHikaAhbSawgmjNGbnHhygNj1kaKIy6CnB9S0EZizAirgf/s400/20170524_172554.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The farm road heading to the main road.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh9MXNrs1d6Eg7k2ag4hj_s41CdvEuS1UZVKEosp9bubqQRNpbtOjr0vmuyRGh0AMw7HM7kH2MEcRm5V8JdkmAKT-1uiZukSA70yoLGf7qY5nRxO0w3I-FdHalWczuH41Rxoy/s1600/20170524_172618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh9MXNrs1d6Eg7k2ag4hj_s41CdvEuS1UZVKEosp9bubqQRNpbtOjr0vmuyRGh0AMw7HM7kH2MEcRm5V8JdkmAKT-1uiZukSA70yoLGf7qY5nRxO0w3I-FdHalWczuH41Rxoy/s400/20170524_172618.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The line of trees below the pond had their tops twisted off, but this photo doesn't show it very well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After surveying the damage, it was time for supper. By lamplight, of course. No power.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPtN70v4ga7WpvWAEG8YGUES_1_X2ZvOWPDwihR2o7U-z80aARDilBOVpObF-B0CTL8-atr2zFgcdyag4SbYhZ2PfQzQQOaT7uoYLJUK2VOGukPEbYC3iblBee9-XFt37-k1-/s1600/20170524_180410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPtN70v4ga7WpvWAEG8YGUES_1_X2ZvOWPDwihR2o7U-z80aARDilBOVpObF-B0CTL8-atr2zFgcdyag4SbYhZ2PfQzQQOaT7uoYLJUK2VOGukPEbYC3iblBee9-XFt37-k1-/s400/20170524_180410.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then, out for further investigation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijK2yr9bBLUEzV5PqTQ8xylulGFbOsiQUW4i4exxM-g7vXaDeFmobAm3q0DJP76HuV_o9psw2DyqvqYb5SkzAWCKmgSAUqsdNcbSkKdcRI5PAMQrsIrrKa2to-_uGKR8CtkEpa/s1600/20170524_185539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijK2yr9bBLUEzV5PqTQ8xylulGFbOsiQUW4i4exxM-g7vXaDeFmobAm3q0DJP76HuV_o9psw2DyqvqYb5SkzAWCKmgSAUqsdNcbSkKdcRI5PAMQrsIrrKa2to-_uGKR8CtkEpa/s400/20170524_185539.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_j4CeUdQq4wbWHbuH0NmYseEjM0DBzk5oslsKPByZZiQS-UWcrng75k7Xj9BwUrqh_o50FKURfEZZB1vQxK69CEg7F02ifoimLaDxHBodZtZGHqqKcDvA7tHG4v28hah-3Qj/s1600/20170524_190447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_j4CeUdQq4wbWHbuH0NmYseEjM0DBzk5oslsKPByZZiQS-UWcrng75k7Xj9BwUrqh_o50FKURfEZZB1vQxK69CEg7F02ifoimLaDxHBodZtZGHqqKcDvA7tHG4v28hah-3Qj/s400/20170524_190447.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of the house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouHfkhcn9TKxZ6R1YxwePk6ogQOEqsAQ8U_NnSHF_FtgACkOpaLDXzKs0NvzNkroH1vrofsEaQJ4g2ddAGVvyPxlo6K6I1nfGe4AnnM9RJKEjRuSDivlXxIgYkVZOUWSyECHb/s1600/20170524_201147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouHfkhcn9TKxZ6R1YxwePk6ogQOEqsAQ8U_NnSHF_FtgACkOpaLDXzKs0NvzNkroH1vrofsEaQJ4g2ddAGVvyPxlo6K6I1nfGe4AnnM9RJKEjRuSDivlXxIgYkVZOUWSyECHb/s400/20170524_201147.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front yard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That night (Wednesday), Weldon hooked up the generator so he could milk the cows and his mom and sister could have electricity. Electricity or no, work crews started showing up on Thursday morning.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP5ASFWJ_mXrYcOPXctu2J-hMVjWOlAz6OyQ47cRVSFlFzOpUSL6GJVlcGAxt7uM2IfxVIdYN25EJYLAyYw1Is60VVPzbCqXw-NnFAA4GawKuuC8qB43rDcVwibJrIgBJDeUj/s1600/20170525_103611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbP5ASFWJ_mXrYcOPXctu2J-hMVjWOlAz6OyQ47cRVSFlFzOpUSL6GJVlcGAxt7uM2IfxVIdYN25EJYLAyYw1Is60VVPzbCqXw-NnFAA4GawKuuC8qB43rDcVwibJrIgBJDeUj/s400/20170525_103611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9hH4xXtuZEYITDIJF8JmKxjy-3BwkAFtAaVdkktInBXgJOOGj1Cdn62FVekh5tRBUGkJhfj8caHTAvX6Sx3b9vTTkoNhNBU7qwdZ2HT80xfVuS5CTcp3PHp20fsRw_p-UtoJ/s1600/20170525_103654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9hH4xXtuZEYITDIJF8JmKxjy-3BwkAFtAaVdkktInBXgJOOGj1Cdn62FVekh5tRBUGkJhfj8caHTAvX6Sx3b9vTTkoNhNBU7qwdZ2HT80xfVuS5CTcp3PHp20fsRw_p-UtoJ/s400/20170525_103654.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhab7TAPEBbA8fkQHXc1Q_OsC7hK8vD4RT9XwTgHSiUkMW-cgigeur6SMuiVjjggn0z_SKxc4x0nY7vyxfR9OQHbUvgDOcOe4EPCKS2UdO35p_4OTd876iVV1FHfO3RLFYAORxI/s1600/20170525_103804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhab7TAPEBbA8fkQHXc1Q_OsC7hK8vD4RT9XwTgHSiUkMW-cgigeur6SMuiVjjggn0z_SKxc4x0nY7vyxfR9OQHbUvgDOcOe4EPCKS2UdO35p_4OTd876iVV1FHfO3RLFYAORxI/s400/20170525_103804.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power lines along our road had to be replaced.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvLalZrn4jWnMr07A7wXCKSR1qeFncHjfG3R6DUDFTNw__TL36qcOfgMKxGbVFZKPI50Pdx5fJAk55Cyp9zWDGu59pULqGewf0GN-D66m6CxM-3cl99hLeFAMEv_Liqih8xYT/s1600/20170525_104133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvLalZrn4jWnMr07A7wXCKSR1qeFncHjfG3R6DUDFTNw__TL36qcOfgMKxGbVFZKPI50Pdx5fJAk55Cyp9zWDGu59pULqGewf0GN-D66m6CxM-3cl99hLeFAMEv_Liqih8xYT/s400/20170525_104133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx1z2IRMjsUtNnHeufhwor0asx8_dGE9XQ-ulumZNrhaVTjedNzgTKzgHH2fHt-3_aJ5Ox04uBlErEnBp-UfeffUUJ6DlZxcWUlgmZC3lFd1HLHlPBdwbjzIqCWWdfa0MYmMD/s1600/20170525_105826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx1z2IRMjsUtNnHeufhwor0asx8_dGE9XQ-ulumZNrhaVTjedNzgTKzgHH2fHt-3_aJ5Ox04uBlErEnBp-UfeffUUJ6DlZxcWUlgmZC3lFd1HLHlPBdwbjzIqCWWdfa0MYmMD/s400/20170525_105826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX9XF2xpLL3eKIu-EXEVLXM_KNJuxdFrk-lon-0H1JhocXSBahd5_U8K4Icorde00y7uf5kJ47g_9nDOxK5M_YqkooD0r11KfpL6avXx_6kaO-4lalCoYq5nxGI_BPlAI2KMO/s1600/20170525_121541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVX9XF2xpLL3eKIu-EXEVLXM_KNJuxdFrk-lon-0H1JhocXSBahd5_U8K4Icorde00y7uf5kJ47g_9nDOxK5M_YqkooD0r11KfpL6avXx_6kaO-4lalCoYq5nxGI_BPlAI2KMO/s400/20170525_121541.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This old Rambler has sat amongst the trees for years, but now the trees are resting on it!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbGjRxulVDh8HBW19zXtWA9Y_R_nJMw8zPmKCDFNm0TZXyCVlhFXczEemCTfsXiSqWNc-79xmcaw9JhGKFndThRJoCEaGlnCaX8zcqdNpLYKitmMZmgkDEPC8qGDCSBdjxg_j/s1600/20170525_122404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbGjRxulVDh8HBW19zXtWA9Y_R_nJMw8zPmKCDFNm0TZXyCVlhFXczEemCTfsXiSqWNc-79xmcaw9JhGKFndThRJoCEaGlnCaX8zcqdNpLYKitmMZmgkDEPC8qGDCSBdjxg_j/s400/20170525_122404.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The root balls on these old trees were huge! I guess that makes sense, but still ....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhC4tflDfZdtZZKWTRnfDGEGlud7XcKlpSS256gM6C2yfe56tvNI-EAWXb-oxBomkJTqWEKKr5LbNkqOX4X8H865ReQD4j1OX-HhqSqzsc9hKTjfKGiBKRMJBe1yyBsDaVWFt7/s1600/20170525_143329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhC4tflDfZdtZZKWTRnfDGEGlud7XcKlpSS256gM6C2yfe56tvNI-EAWXb-oxBomkJTqWEKKr5LbNkqOX4X8H865ReQD4j1OX-HhqSqzsc9hKTjfKGiBKRMJBe1yyBsDaVWFt7/s400/20170525_143329.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting up a new electric pole at the house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd9KIv0p9mETb_rbe4hezKE_63ARXWizkBXidaRmS0c7_lAStHvZmsAxDsQj3W4pHliWYvcpxfsj5rjTzki9cXOxRgSUQIM-Wt5vFIJy-proUX0dx_7-1XRfMDG5FXe58S_FV/s1600/20170525_150730-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfd9KIv0p9mETb_rbe4hezKE_63ARXWizkBXidaRmS0c7_lAStHvZmsAxDsQj3W4pHliWYvcpxfsj5rjTzki9cXOxRgSUQIM-Wt5vFIJy-proUX0dx_7-1XRfMDG5FXe58S_FV/s400/20170525_150730-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patching the 4 holes in the roof. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Other than trees, no lives were lost. No farm buildings were seriously damaged. The house will need to be re-roofed, but that will wait for another day. Electricity was back on about 5pm Thursday.<br />
<br />
Weldon needed a mental and physical break on Friday, so we drove around to see some other local damage. Again, Amazing! Unbelievable! Ice cream from the Dairi-O was good medicine.<br />
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On Saturday, May 27, with the help of 14 friends, neighbors, and family members, we worked our butts off and made some good progress on cleaning up the yard and fields. We cannot say "Thank you" enough for all the help. I was working too hard to get any pictures, but I had to take a selfie:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dAbp5W2ksy8HKJ9pVc47dq9Pv6852gwEYzQcwiZl2Zd6NzmhcerlbzM2SmIj5jmD-TJdt36HhjO__ph0f4dnGD7q8WR1D8PmBvEPZM8TLr3CoVMH6HK4yy7hf7-Mo9kn6eqo/s1600/20170527_151155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dAbp5W2ksy8HKJ9pVc47dq9Pv6852gwEYzQcwiZl2Zd6NzmhcerlbzM2SmIj5jmD-TJdt36HhjO__ph0f4dnGD7q8WR1D8PmBvEPZM8TLr3CoVMH6HK4yy7hf7-Mo9kn6eqo/s400/20170527_151155.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying some cold Cheerwine.</td></tr>
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At 10:00 that very night there was a huge lightning strike. HUGE! BAM!! We kept electricity at our house, but no phone or wi-fi. Weldon's mom and sis and the milk parlor were without electricity and the generator wouldn't work on the pole like it used to. Weldon figured a way to connect the generator right into the milk parlor and, voila! he could milk cows on Sunday morning ... much later than usual, but they got milked. After lots of phone calls and offers, Mom Edith's house was set up with a big generator to keep the refrigerators and freezers running.<br />
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On Monday, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and some guys from church were here to clean up the downed trees along the fence lines and around the ponds. Electricians worked on the pole in Edith's yard. Men worked to get the milk parlor and milk tank up and running. Whew!<br />
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On Wednesday, May 31, the whole farm had electricity, phone, and internet. To celebrate the return to normal, I picked black raspberries and made the first pie of the season. Yay!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCNVi8Q5dH2eEPGVfI_1ZethTbujChyphenhyphenZPYLYonuTIqpkpN3xvC60TBN3snWxOKIwJaERdn56daW83IePBPGgUzddlcqipJB7nPKKenP119csistic32JLcyCo0GLhNHNa_mn-/s1600/20170531_192405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCNVi8Q5dH2eEPGVfI_1ZethTbujChyphenhyphenZPYLYonuTIqpkpN3xvC60TBN3snWxOKIwJaERdn56daW83IePBPGgUzddlcqipJB7nPKKenP119csistic32JLcyCo0GLhNHNa_mn-/s400/20170531_192405.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm hoping that experiencing a tornado (particularly its aftermath) has changed me. It touched some part of me that's hidden way inside. Feelings. Emotions. We lost nothing, but I realized all that <i>could have been lost</i>. I hope that now, when someone asks me to pray, I'll pray with more sympathy, more compassion, more heart. Stuff that people go through is <i>real</i>. May my prayers be just as real.</div>
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So, that's that. It's be a very farm muse kind of post, hasn't it? Thanks for reading. Thanks for caring.</div>
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Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-64134033269032128672017-04-07T18:43:00.000-04:002017-04-07T18:43:04.813-04:00I've Looked at CloudsClouds have captivated me in the last few years. I've always enjoyed them, of course, but it seems like I'm noticing and commenting on them all the time. "Look at those flufferty-bufferty clouds!" (Yes, I've actually said that.) "Did you see the spectacular clouds over the mountain earlier today?" "The sun is setting the clouds on fire. God is showing off tonight."<br />
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In 1967, Joni Mitchell wrote the song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCnf46boC3I" target="_blank">"Both Sides, Now"</a>. The lyrics speak of the illusions of clouds, of love, and of life. The world is full of illusions, but that doesn't make clouds or love or life any less amazing. It's all about our focus.<br />
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The last chapter in my book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Happens-Wallowing-Optional-Cindy-Keiger/dp/0692556273/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491596681&sr=8-1&keywords=crap+happens+by+cindy+keiger" target="_blank">Crap Happens...Wallowing Is Optional</a> begins with this quote from C.S. Lewis: "The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'own,' or 'real' life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life—the life God is sending one day by day." Life wouldn't be life without interruptions and illusions. We might as well put a smile on it.<br />
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And now, without further interruption, enjoy a few photos of clouds. You're welcome. 😉<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbKE7KMTPOuo08scSOifsqc2giNssHPVNLG-8hQHxI451LEwYAKTJga_5V80hQ_xaZIodOAhZiP2BAFUbYsrhUJfkiH-lPhNnazVFeld2bpzkEaZYnSlTl7p4CO0BDJxfA9Sp/s1600/17523316_10208742872306211_3979514373182775570_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbKE7KMTPOuo08scSOifsqc2giNssHPVNLG-8hQHxI451LEwYAKTJga_5V80hQ_xaZIodOAhZiP2BAFUbYsrhUJfkiH-lPhNnazVFeld2bpzkEaZYnSlTl7p4CO0BDJxfA9Sp/s320/17523316_10208742872306211_3979514373182775570_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIldu1Nz4RThJjh_S0KRnaU2ppCzFF861RUUQM7BiXt_RP0xUCUpPOgGhiE4QvgdxRiGn8E6Vs7oAc0gYwaYQGV_wvtlRw22qrmeTNTadEWmpZ9b7i67lJo7Zsi7B-j_pBsKN5/s1600/17626622_10208774711302166_755283193068235071_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIldu1Nz4RThJjh_S0KRnaU2ppCzFF861RUUQM7BiXt_RP0xUCUpPOgGhiE4QvgdxRiGn8E6Vs7oAc0gYwaYQGV_wvtlRw22qrmeTNTadEWmpZ9b7i67lJo7Zsi7B-j_pBsKN5/s320/17626622_10208774711302166_755283193068235071_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW13yOHWjN2-KtnSGCz38INwit7w1XntHcgBoN4KMFAfhVwurLZQq5y6CAl-STYoC7mVtTImkerd_soF4jO2RHJiZ7xYZCkQ6oI6jUDtePhrfcX00hw6i_ZVf0tW1dHMxMTfsY/s1600/17021561_10211646874758272_1670915709989849689_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW13yOHWjN2-KtnSGCz38INwit7w1XntHcgBoN4KMFAfhVwurLZQq5y6CAl-STYoC7mVtTImkerd_soF4jO2RHJiZ7xYZCkQ6oI6jUDtePhrfcX00hw6i_ZVf0tW1dHMxMTfsY/s320/17021561_10211646874758272_1670915709989849689_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6YyfFruS_5KwTo_3gaxg4ZCSDRvqvmzoiMR6ZmimdPk9ev5Iu-hP5RS5jpP4IxIIbK4IJwFQJnWG4MFLWbyK60G4Mr8X4QJna227QchuS39ECJPHAy3Ab1R_tRzxFY5WCCyZ/s1600/1470964057003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6YyfFruS_5KwTo_3gaxg4ZCSDRvqvmzoiMR6ZmimdPk9ev5Iu-hP5RS5jpP4IxIIbK4IJwFQJnWG4MFLWbyK60G4Mr8X4QJna227QchuS39ECJPHAy3Ab1R_tRzxFY5WCCyZ/s320/1470964057003.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BblMwhgRVunc4oVHVWRazAAd86frfJRDhvCn0blCv8uKv2IIDuWGtWPW24bE-m2MBlGjhhw2vso4xb-ggUWnsJRDCFDLfxRt42I-b8-VD4KoEjPxrMF3hIrGVaHqV_sxxKtG/s1600/1470872411339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BblMwhgRVunc4oVHVWRazAAd86frfJRDhvCn0blCv8uKv2IIDuWGtWPW24bE-m2MBlGjhhw2vso4xb-ggUWnsJRDCFDLfxRt42I-b8-VD4KoEjPxrMF3hIrGVaHqV_sxxKtG/s320/1470872411339.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j9KWshwDMUtHgltm5IPOGTy2yJwvUt4uVLlREvxIxcLJHvdWErlrh0g-ivXasQakU4awnBM-FGIBIwihyphenhyphenB0ZGKmSfnhaGTFiPDcXX_sCPOOf3DW_VQoCMqObI9mZyLsUeXg3/s1600/17308916_10208644739092942_2744245024077636585_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j9KWshwDMUtHgltm5IPOGTy2yJwvUt4uVLlREvxIxcLJHvdWErlrh0g-ivXasQakU4awnBM-FGIBIwihyphenhyphenB0ZGKmSfnhaGTFiPDcXX_sCPOOf3DW_VQoCMqObI9mZyLsUeXg3/s320/17308916_10208644739092942_2744245024077636585_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-35710295384240421252017-01-09T19:04:00.000-05:002017-01-09T19:04:22.940-05:00Run Your RaceI've never been good at running physically, but I know how to race when the clock is ticking and I'm behind schedule. For example, I spend the day goofing off with Pat and get home just before suppertime. You've never seen me throw a meal together so fast. Or, a friend calls to say she's coming for the weekend and, in short order, the catastrophe known as the guest room is fluffed and ready.<br />
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Have you ever run in a three-legged race? The upside is that if you lose, you can always blame it on your partner. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW2lcvZGVUBT01jeqSMBIc9fpheGGfmt5mrqD5zWJRXr30uUctOK0AcGwuv_t60Lt45t7iHhRtBBWFnlv7u1qxmuz2gievIZmpIqLZ0U-oYuEAlsDNORY6N0lV8oN1XqHMF01/s1600/three-legged-race-clipart-1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW2lcvZGVUBT01jeqSMBIc9fpheGGfmt5mrqD5zWJRXr30uUctOK0AcGwuv_t60Lt45t7iHhRtBBWFnlv7u1qxmuz2gievIZmpIqLZ0U-oYuEAlsDNORY6N0lV8oN1XqHMF01/s320/three-legged-race-clipart-1.jpg" width="233" /></a><br />
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How about sack races? Now you're on your own, but the sack doesn't let you use your physical prowess to full advantage.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv03OkFXh2mqJdc2ZnZ4ZEG6gpyp5p9yTJE-dpmj-TOD3DLfmGGIPW0d5FlSX9eS6ocGFEhMpqNSGnH6FISS1FMeNEnSUn10dZbJuXQztaEIxuemyQ7e34TD0ndl1LXDprHy7/s1600/clip-art-sack-racing-clip-art-BXDhNm-clipart.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv03OkFXh2mqJdc2ZnZ4ZEG6gpyp5p9yTJE-dpmj-TOD3DLfmGGIPW0d5FlSX9eS6ocGFEhMpqNSGnH6FISS1FMeNEnSUn10dZbJuXQztaEIxuemyQ7e34TD0ndl1LXDprHy7/s320/clip-art-sack-racing-clip-art-BXDhNm-clipart.jpg" width="302" /></a><br />
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It's not that life is a race exactly, but there is a goal: finish well. How did the end of 2016 look compared to the lofty resolutions made at the beginning of that year? Were there things you wanted to do but were unable to accomplish? Did "life" get in the way of your dreams?<br />
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Regardless of how many times I set a goal and miss it by an inch or a mile, I always fall back on this beautiful promise of God: "I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans
for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)<span class="p"></span><br />
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<span class="p">God has plans and goals for us—good plans, full of hope and peace. You might feel like someone is holding you back </span><span class="p"><span class="p"> from your dreams. (R</span>emember the 3-legged race?) Maybe it seems like your life is stuck in an old flour sack and you can't break free from its constraints. Maybe you've already broken your New Year's resolutions, or you didn't make any in the first place. "Why bother? I never keep them."</span><br />
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<span class="p">Let's be patient with ourselves. Let's be kind to ourselves. Let's remember that God has plans for us. We should probably take a little time to talk to him about those plans. "Is this the way, Lord? Am I on the right path? Show me where I'm messing up. Help me see what I should be doing." There's a song that says, "... have a little talk with Jesus." Yup, that's what we should do.</span>Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30698751.post-66453624066587063652017-01-02T11:49:00.000-05:002017-01-02T18:07:21.929-05:00The First Second of the Rest of My LifeIn last week's blog I wrote, "I'm determined to be the best farm muse ever. Wherever I am, whatever is
going on around me, I'm going to look for the artistic, inspirational
angle—and write about it! Or take a picture of it! Or sing about it! Or
make some cookies to celebrate."<br />
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Last night, my daughter Katie reminded me that I wanted to start the<b> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.touchlab.android.onesecondeveryday&hl=en" target="_blank">1 Second Everyday</a></b> "project" on January 1. Drat! I had totally forgotten about it. The object is to take a short video, choose a one-second clip from that video, and repeat (every day for a year or for the rest of your life or whatever). All the one-second clips will be mashed together to make a movie. The day was almost over, no one was around, and absolutely nothing was going on. I downloaded the app, didn't know what I was doing—but, I did it! Here's the exciting video, before being trimmed to one itsy-bitsy second.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dynSrBQMaCZ5u85J64YopdyeeGDEE747hyfSLLfXXgkSJsfeSHYqca26_sNTUkhzjf4mig7fZhtNsM' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
Things can only get better from here, right? But I loved the graphics on the Parade magazine cover for January 1. Plus, the idea of throwing around kindness went right along with my desire to look for the artistic and inspirational in the New Year, so it's a good, one-second start for 2017. <br />
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With the creativity of God all around, surely we can find a smile or a hint of beauty every day. Or at least a "Hunh? Whaaa?" moment. We don't have to make a video of it, but let's recognize it and give thanks for it.Cindy Keigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08142083666466471077noreply@blogger.com0