Big Project

Yesterday when I left to attend a funeral, I looked around and decided to stay away a while. It was a mess, as you can see. I went to lunch with friends, did a little shopping and came back.
It was a little worse when I returned, but Ron had been having a good time. Well it seems like he is enjoying it. All the high tech stuff draws him like a fly to a picnic. I would plan a trip, if it wasn't for my nephew's wedding this weekend and the fact that I'm being drafted to do some wire fishing for the PROJECT. Whoppee, guess you can tell I'm excited.

Hydroponics

For years I have worried that Ron didn't have a hobby. Now he does. It is hydroponics. He had been researching a while and decided he would like to do this. He grows vegetables in some weird stuff. He constructed this contraption to hold the 2 liter bottles cut down and fitted to a water system and he replenishes the water from the fish pond. Then the water runs off the plants and back into the fish pond. Supposedly this is good for both fish and plants. It's a green thing.

We are starting to see some buds and even tiny tomatoes and peppers. Don't know how much it will help our food budget. It certainly is not cost effective, at least not yet. But Ron is having a lot of fun and feeling pretty accomplished. Good return for the buck.

Concerts on the Square

Once in a while, our life group gathers across the street from the square in Hudson to enjoy a concert. Tonight it is Swing Time Big Band ...Ron Goodwin said we should thank him because he is the only one of us who lives in Hudson and he pays his taxes. Don't tell him, but these are provided by private donations. But we are happy he lives here and that we don't have to pay Hudson taxes. Not that we have anything left after our own these days and the present admin-istration is planning more and more of them. It is a good plan. if you want to destroy this nation.

Amish Country

Remember my motto (Guess I have more than one). If you take enough pictures, a few will be really good. That is the way I feel about this picture I took last week in Amish Country. I was down there twice in two days and rarely go more than once a year. It isn't because it is so far, but it isn't just down the street either. It is always relaxing to get away from the big city ways.

The Amish speak Pennsylvania Dutch ( a German dialect) and we are known as the English, foreigners to their way of living, which is very simple. They came to this country from Switzerland in order to be free to worship as they wished. They adapted several ways that set them apart from 'the world'. They dress in a peculiar manner mostly in black and dark blue. The idea is to be plain and not stand out. They use only simple buttons, hook and eyes or straight pins to fasten clothing. They do not drive automobiles, or use electricity. Although they do produce their own energy with batteries or gas.

One thing that is interesting is their lack of care about their sons owning cars from age 16 to the age of 18 when they are expected to be baptized and soon marry. Never buy a car from an Amishman because they typically drive them 'hard' during that short time...REAL HARD.

My mother's mother who died when Mom was born was Pennsylvania Dutch and I wonder if she may have been of Amish heritage. I'll never know.

Actually, their life often appeals to me when I think about the troubles in this world today. I guess that is a good thing, because it might not be long until we will all live simply like that.
I really could learn to enjoy the lifestyle...but I'd miss my computer. However there is one drawback. The group that is trying to force all of us into a third world type existence want to drive God out of our lives as well. That is the part I can not do!

There is a very good article on the Amish in Wikepedia. All that I read of it was accurate.

Back to the picture: On Thursday when I went to Sugar Creek and beyond with my girlfriends, I quickly snapped this picture as we were entering an Amish grocery to buy Sali's husband his favorite cheese. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out so well.

You can tell where my mind is today...on sugar cookies, the best on Earth. they are much too pretty and expensive to eat, but we force ourselves on special occasions like the celebration of birthdays.

Scrapgirl's Convention

If you stopped by the blog yesterday, you might notice that this layout is indeed different from the page there. Oh, the things one can do with Photoshop. (PSE) Seldem do I do a page using only one scrapbooking collection, but I did this one. It is called Euphoia and can be found at www.scrapgirls.com.

I'm a daily follower of Scrapgirls and am excited that I'll be going to the convention in Salt Lake City, Utah again this October. It was a total blast last year and this one promises the same.

Looking forward to one again next year, for a friend has now used Scrapgirl's tutorials and wants to go then. She is afraid she is not quite ready now. I think she would be fine. She has already published a book on her visit to China using My Publisher.