strolling through life

LIFE IS TOO SHORT

2009-02-18T04:35:00.005-05:00

Quit clowning around.......Seriously !

COFFEE and MIRACLES

2008-07-16T02:42:00.004-04:00

FRIENDS , ROMNEY , AND OUR MYA

2008-01-15T23:54:00.000-05:00

ALL THINGS PINKISH

2008-01-14T04:40:00.000-05:00

IN A FEW YEARS THIS TREE WILL GROW TALL , AS WILL SHE .
THE FALLEN LATTICE CAN'T HIDE .
OUR NEIGHBOR DOESN'T APPRECIATE HUNTERS , BUT DOES HAVE BEAUTIFUL TASTE IN THESE PINK SIGNS .
OUR SUN CONTINUES TO LEAVE US AWE-STRUCK AS IT SETS .

SAVE OUR PLANET ....EAT PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICHES

2008-01-13T04:23:00.000-05:00

How peanut butter helps the planetSubmitted by frostfire on Sat, 2007-09-22 09:04. environment health peanut butter

One of the daily decisions we all face is what to eat. How do we eat well and in a way that’s good for the environment — and at the same time have meals that are easy to fix and taste good?
One food that fits all this is the simple Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. According to the PB&J Campaign website:
Eating a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich instead of a grilled cheese or chicken sandwich saves 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. That’s almost half of what you’d save if you switched to a Hybrid car.
The same sandwich will save 280 gallons of water since growing peanuts takes less water than livestock.
Growing peanuts also takes less land than animals — so your sandwich could help preserve 12-50 square feet of land from being used for cultivation.
I bet you didn’t realize that eating three Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches could have the same environmental impact as switching your showers to a low-flow shower head.
This is the type of information we want to share. How can we change our daily habits to have less environmental impact in ways that fit our busy lives? This one is simple. Eat more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Plus, they taste good and cost less.
In addition to being better for the environment, they’re also very healthy as long as you don’t eat too much. According to WebMD, peanut butter is high in fat, but those fats are relatively healthy ones. Everyone needs some fat in their diets — just not too much — and over 80% of the fats in peanut butter are the healthy kind.
According to the WebMD article, “It is hard to believe that something so wonderful could also be good for you.” Peanut butter “is chock full of good nutrition without those unhealthy trans fatty acids. The only limitation to enjoying peanut butter is the two-tablespoon portion size”
But what about all the fat and the less-healthy oils that sometimes get processed into commercial peanut butter? Does that make it bad? According to Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, that isn’t always the case. “Fresh ground is not necessarily better,” Bonci says. “The fat and calorie content are pretty much the same whether you grind your own or buy commercial peanut butter.”
Again, according to Bonci, the serving size is 2 tablespoons.
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TOO COLD TO USE

2008-01-12T01:00:00.000-05:00

WON'T BE SWIMMING THIS WEEK .
THE BIRD BATH OVERFLOWS .
THE DECK , NOT A GOOD PLACE TO CATCH THE SUN'S RAYS .

THE CLOTHESLINES ARE THERE BUT NO CLOTHES TO DRY.
NOT EVEN THE CATS WILL SIT ON THIS SWING . AND WE'LL HAVE NO PICNIC ANY TIME SOON .

SUNSET AND SNOW

2008-01-08T04:33:00.000-05:00

LIKE AN IMAGE OF GOD'S WARMTH THE SUN BIDES US ADIEU TILL TOMORROW .
PEEKING THROUGH AND TOUCHING JUST A FEW .
THE WARMTH MELTS THE SNOW , SLOWLY DISPLAYING A MENAGERY OF ICE CYCLES .

CHRISTMAS TREES AROUND THE WORLD

2007-12-27T02:51:00.000-05:00

The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000 ornaments that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren. Encircling evergreens in the 'Pathway of Peace' represent the 50 U.S. states.

A Christmas tree befitting Tokyo's nighttime neon display is projected onto the exterior of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka

The world's largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes of Monte Ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy's Umbria region. Composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire, the 'tree' is a modern marvel for an ancient city

Illuminating the Gothic facades of Prague's Old Town Square, and casting its glow over the manger display of the famous Christmas market, is a grand tree cut in the Sumava mountains in the southern Czech Republic.

Venice's Murano Islandrenowned throughout the world for its quality glassworkis home to the tallest glass tree in the world. Sculpted by master glass blower Simone Cenedese, the artistic Christmas tree is a modern reflection of the holiday season.

Moscow celebrates Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox calendar on Jan. 7. For weeks beforehand, the city is alive with festivities in anticipation of Father Frost's arrival on his magical troika with the Snow Maiden. He and his helper deliver gifts under the New Year tree, or yolka, which is traditionally a fir.

The largest Christmas tree in Europe (more than 230 feet tall) can be found in the Praca do Comercio in Lisbon, Portugal. Thousands of lights adorn the tree, adding to the special enchantment of the city during the holiday season.

'Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree': Even in its humblest attire, aglow beside a tiny chapel in Germany's Karwendel mountains, a Christmas tree is a wondrous sight.

Ooh la la Galeries Lafayette! In Paris, even the Christmas trees are chic. With its monumental, baroque dome, plus 10 stories of lights and high fashion, it's no surprise this show-stopping department store draws more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower

In addition to the Vatican's heavenly evergreen, St. Peter's Square in Rome hosts a larger-than-life nativity scene in front of the obelisk.

The Christmas tree that greets revelers at the Puerta del Sol is dressed for a party. Madrid's two-week celebration makes millionaires along with merrymakers. On Dec. 22, a lucky citizen will win El Gordo (the fat one), the world's biggest lottery.

A token of gratitude for Britain's aid during World War II, the Christmas tree in London's Trafalgar Square has been the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.

Against a backdrop of tall, shadowy firs, a rainbow trio of Christmas trees lights up the night (location unknown).

Drink a glass of gluhwein from the holiday market at the RomerFrankfurt's city hall since 1405and enjoy a taste of Christmas past.

Whether you call him Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, Father Frost, or what. Whether you follow the teachings of Buddha, Judaism, Islam or Christianity. these are beautiful. I didn't know Christmas trees were so universally (well almost) used.

CHRISTMAS BEARS

2007-12-23T02:00:00.000-05:00

FOR MANY YEARS WE'VE GOTTEN CHRISTMAS TEDDY BEARS (FOR THE KIDS) . OKAY, SOME WERE'NT TEDDY .
SOME WHERE COUPLES,
SOME WERE JUST PRETTY
WHAT A LARGE FAMILY.

It is nice to have many expensive ornaments and decorations , but around our home the pretty and delicate ones have not survived . Even some of our durable teddys have disappeared or have been loved too much by our little ones . It continues .... We have grandkids ,..................and I smile once more .

A GRANDPA' S JOY

2007-12-22T02:06:00.000-05:00

IF I SEE THROUGH A CHILD'S EYES , CERTAINLY I SHOULD ACT UPON IT.

NORMAND ROCKWELL'S SANTA'S

2007-12-20T21:06:00.000-05:00

SUCH WARM SENTIMENT , NOTICE THE HALO ?

PLANNING THE INTRIGUING JOURNEY

NORMAN ROCKWELL WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE THE SPIRIT , THE MAGNIFICENT PRESENCE OF GOOD THAT PREVAILS WITHIN OUR CHRISTMAS SEASON .

ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS

2007-12-19T03:47:00.000-05:00

THE SPECIAL BABY BORN SOME 2000 YEARS AGO ,

THE REINDEER , THE WREATH , THE FESTIVE SEASON ,
TEDDY BEARS , AND TOYS BRINGING A REMEMBERED WARMTH OF CHILDHOOD ,
AND TOY SOLDIERS THAT GIVE THIS TIME A REGAL QUALITY .

MANY GLORIOUS CHRISTMASES . ALL INCLUDED , I DON'T HAVE TO ASK MYSELF WHETHER I BELIEVE ....... I JUST DO !! I STRUGGLE WITH THIS ONE SADNESS ..... I FIND IT HARD TO CONVEY THAT WARMTH I FEEL DEEP IN MY BEING .

SANTA AROUND OUR HOME

2007-12-18T00:37:00.000-05:00

HE REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS ,
THE GLADNESS WE FEEL INSIDE ,
THE JOY OF GIVING ,
THE MEMORIES WE HAVE AND WILL HAVE ,

AND OUR SHARING THIS WITH THE WORLD , THE CHILD WITHIN ME MUST STAY ALIVE , LEST I MIGHT LOSE HOPE AND REALLY STOP LIVING OR BELIEVING !

TIS THE SEASON

2007-12-17T00:11:00.000-05:00

VIBRANT COLORS
NATURES DECORATIONS
ANGELS FROM HEAVEN
CHRISTMAS IS COMING !!!

CLUSTERED MUSHROOMS

2007-12-16T02:51:00.000-05:00

AN ANGEL ENJOYS AND GUARDS OUR WOODLAND PATHS
TREE MUSHROOMS CLIMB HIGH TREE MUSHROOMS LAY LOW
NO MATTER WHERE WE GO THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ENOUGH ROOM !

JOINING THE GROUP

2007-12-15T01:10:00.000-05:00

PICTURED ROCKS
WATER FALLS
PLACES TO PRAY MUSIC TO SOOTH

WE THRIVE TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE WHAT OTHERS HAVE , OUR JOY SOMETIMES COMES WITH JUST JOINING THE GROUP . I'VE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT TOO !

MOM + POPS

2007-12-14T00:38:00.000-05:00

POPS ( ME ) TAKING IT EASY AS USUAL . MOM FROM THE LEFT
MOM....FROM THE RIGHT
MOM AND DAD ( US )

WE HAVE MANY TITLES WITHIN OUR FAMILY ; LITTLE OR BIG BROTHER , SISTER..... SON , DAUGHTER ..... AUNT , UNCLE ....MOTHER , FATHER .....GRAM MA , GRAM PA.... ETC . ALL HAVE NAMES , ALL ARE DIFFERENT , ALL NEED LOVE .

5 GIRLS + 4 BOYS = NINE ( OUR BABIES )

2007-12-12T17:43:00.000-05:00

ALTOGETHER AT KIM'S WEDDING

OUR MARK

OUR PAUL

OUR CHRISTINE
OUR STEPHEN
OUR DAVID

SOME OF OUR GIRLS

2007-12-11T23:45:00.000-05:00

OUR CATHY

OUR CYNDI

OUR KIMBERLY

OUR JEANETTE

WE HAVE NINE CHILDREN , NOW ALL ADULTS , ALL OF OUR GIRLS TAKE AFTER THERE MOTHER.......BEAUTIFUL. THEN AGAIN THEY'RE SMART...........LIKE ME !!!! MORE TOMORROW.

UNNOTICED THINGS

2007-12-10T22:58:00.000-05:00

THE TIRE SWING......DOESN'T GET MUCH USE WITH THE KIDS NOW GROWN , OCCASIONALLY THE WIND PLAYS WITH IT , LIKE A GHOST .

THE BAT HOUSE ..... IN THE WINTER THEY SLEEP .

THE BATS ARE HARD TO SEE YET I KNOW THEY'RE THERE , ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THEY'VE LEFT DROPPINGS .

GNOMES

2007-12-09T22:34:00.000-05:00

AS A CHILD I ENJOYED STORIES WITH MYSTIC CHARACTERS

THESE ARE GNOMES , GUARDIANS OF HIDDEN TREASURES
MYTHICAL CREATURES ,EXTREMELY SMALL IN SIZE , ABOUT TWO SPAN HIGH = NINE INCHES TALL
THESE HERE , DWELL IN MY SISTER-IN-LAWS GARDEN .

BIG BEAKS

2007-12-08T23:42:00.000-05:00

THEY GATHER TOGETHER
THEY SWIM ALONE
THEY WALK THE BANKS OF MARSHES
THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND THEY DON'T KNOW IT , NEITHER DO WE !

NIGHT EATS LIGHT

2007-12-07T23:22:00.000-05:00

ALWAYS READY TO EAT
ALOFT BUT AWARE
WITH THE OCEAN AT OUR BACK
IRONIC , HOW THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT IS SO OFTEN BEGINS WITH SUCH BRIGHT BEAUTIFUL COLORS.

THINGS BIGGER THAN US

2007-12-06T21:45:00.000-05:00

THINGS MADE FOR OUR EXCITEMENT
THINGS SEEN FROM A BEACH THAT DON'T SEEM TO BELONG
THINGS SO TALL WE HARDLY EVER NOTICE
THINGS MAKING NIGHT INTO DAY , TAKEN FOR GRANTED THINGS I COULD NOT POSSIBLY MAKE , BUILD , NOR CREATE , YET ARE SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF LIVING.

NOT LAWN ORNAMENTS

2007-12-03T23:27:00.000-05:00

FLAMINGO'S SUCH BEAUTIFUL BIRDS
NEVER SAW ONE EXCEPT FOR THOSE PLASTIC LAWN ORNAMENTS
THERE IS NO COMPARISON
SUCH GRACE AND SO MUCH BEAUTY IN THEIR BRIGHT COLORS
I SEE IN AWE , AND AM GLAD TO HAVE VISITED FLORIDA

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

2007-12-02T23:06:00.000-05:00

CHRISTMAS , MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY , I MIGHT EVEN MAKE A SEPARATE BLOG JUST FOR IT. MAYBE TOMORROW . TILL THEN I'LL JUST SIT HERE ENJOYING PAST MEMORIES , THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY.

DISNEY WORLD

2007-12-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

IN THE NIGHT
DIFFERENT COLORS
EVEN IN THE DAYLIGHT A CHILDHOOD DREAM COMES TRUE

BIRD OF PREY

2007-11-30T22:38:00.000-05:00

SO STILL , SO MENACING . MAYBE THIS IS WHERE MY PET GERBIL WENT. IS IT A HAWK ? LOOKS SOFT AND CUDDLY BUT DON'T BE FOOLED.

CAUTION ? WHAT THE......?

2007-11-29T22:33:00.000-05:00

I'VE SEEN THIS OR SIMILAR IN PLACES WHERE CHILDREN AND I VENTURE TO WALK AND OR PLAY. SCARY !!!

CHOP, CHOP,SPLIT,SPLIT !

2007-11-28T21:56:00.000-05:00

BEEN WORKING HARD
ABOUT 7 CORD HERE , 2 CORD IN THE GARAGE .CLOSING IN ON ENOUGH FOR THE WINTER . NOTICE THE PLASTIC CONTAINERS FILLED WITH WATER , GREAT FOR HOLDING DOWN THE TARP.

PROTECTORS OF AUTUMN

2007-11-27T20:08:00.000-05:00

AT THE ENTRY OF OUR ESTATE
MALE AND FEMALE THEY STAND .
GREETING ALL WHO ENTER LIKE SENTRIES .

WITH WINTER SO NEAR THEY MUST BE PUT AWAY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOLD OF THOSE PUMPKIN SEEDS . YUMM ! ! !

FIREWOOD TOOLS

2007-11-26T02:28:00.000-05:00

20 INCH BAR ON MY STIHL
18 INCH BAR ON MY NEIGHBORS POULAN
16 INCH BAR ON THIS OLD HOMELITE
THE OLD STANDBY 12 POUND MAUL
MY BACK SAVING LOG SPLITTER

These are the tools I've learned to use over fifteen of heating with wood.Every year it's gotten easier, practice makes perfect but the right tools are the secret.

I've Got Wood !

2007-11-25T01:03:00.000-05:00

ABOUT 50 TO 60 FACE CORD
HAVE TO CUT 8 FOOT LOGS INTO 16 INCHES
SPLIT 16 INCH PIECES
STACK AND COVER BEFORE THE FIRST SNOW.
I HAVE ALOT OF WORK TO DO , YET I ONLY NEED 10 TO 15 CORD FOR THIS WINTER. THE REST HOPE FULLY WILL BE FOR MANY FUTURE SEASONS . SO MY GOAL IS TO WORK HARD , GET ENOUGH BEFORE THE FIRST BIG SNOW AND BITTER COLD.

Pot Head !

2007-04-15T00:17:00.000-04:00

Laughing

2007-04-08T21:40:00.000-04:00

Remember These

2007-02-08T03:03:00.000-05:00

I was given two left handed gloves. I wasn't disappointed. I chuckled and said , "Thanks son, I really can use these!" I thought " It's the thought that counts ." That gift had character , that moment etched in our memories and became a slight bond---father and son. We could have fretted, got angry and all,but that's a waste and a fun spoiler . I don't wait for these moments , I expect them because for years when we get together we will pat each other on the back , laugh, and fondly remember such little things. So each day like an excited child my eyes are wide open.

Solace,who needs it?

2007-01-27T15:38:00.000-05:00

Solace -comfort in a time of trouble, grief , or misfortune.

Well , the sun does set, time heals and life goes on. I will not pat you on the back , first you must ; clean your glasses , use cue tips in your ears and wipe the steam off your mirror because until then you would not recognize my empathy. I cannot see the brightness of the sunset if I'm focused on the darkness of the night to come. So whiners I try to avoid you . I've been in that rut and everyday I fight to distance myself from a me-centered way of life.

Ice Storm - A glass menagerie

2007-01-18T23:21:00.000-05:00

IT IS COLD

THE SUN IS OUT

ICE STARTS TO MELT

TREES REACH FOR THE SKY

A COLD DESERT

A LONELY TRAIL

AND A SPARKLING PEACE

Immortality

2007-01-15T03:04:00.000-05:00

This was a great gift, couldn't wait to attach him to this pine and give him a name "Mister Tree". I imagine a few millennium from now some archaeologist will find him and deduce that we worshiped trees or that this was the image of one of our great leaders. So when I'm dead , long forgotten, dust , Mister Tree might have gained an odd sort of immortality. Yet Till then , I'll enjoy the children as they stare , point and giggle at Mister Tree. That is a part of my mortality , not remembered but enjoyed.

Nate

2007-01-13T23:10:00.000-05:00

This is our friend Nate.

Nate comes to most of our get-togethers.
Nate likes to drink ....alot! Hmmm?

Nate likes to go barefoot. Even though, he's alright with me.

Peek-a-Boo

2007-01-12T02:56:00.000-05:00

Is this cow shy or

is this cow stalking me?

Sweet Dreams

2007-01-06T21:59:00.000-05:00

"Sweet Dreams"

As I slumber, I dream with a full head of hair. Neat! I wonder what she dreams?