The Simple Things

Many times we get so busy with the chores of the day, activities, or even anxiety to just look for the simple things. 

Because our daughter in law is observant and notices these 'little things' she was able to capture this beautiful  picture of the bee gathering nectar. The flower even has more detail than I would generally see going about my daily routines.

These simple things that God put here for us can bring us  a sense of peace and comfort in a world that is often hard to take. Stop and 'smell the roses' at least once in a while. Don't be too busy to do that. Observe the little wonders of our home here on earth. Just try to imagine what He has in store for us in heaven.

Mud, Plus More Mud

I realize the title sounds like Fake News... mud, mud, more mud. But I'm talking yet again about mud...REAL MUD!  I've never in my life seen anyone play in the mud...at least not more than some made with a bucket of water in a sandbox. So this has been very interesting to me to see these kids enjoy it  so much. especially since Julia is a girl.  But a picture is worth a thousand words, and all the pictures we had of them that day add up to about 22,000 words.  Guess anything  I could write will be superfluous, more information than you need.

Dr Joseph Hamilton Vanderbilt University

Aussie was blessed to meet up with Dr. Joseph Hamilton of Vanderbilt University a couple of weeks ago.  He got a lot out off their conversation. The doctor would make a wonderful roll model for any young man to emulate.

You should read the little bit I wrote about Dr. Hamilton on the layout. He is quite a fascinating  man who has co-discovered  the last three elements on the periodic table. 

Of interest to me is the one he named Tennessine, number 117. 

Muddy Farm Day

Being a boy, Oliver  really enjoyed his muddy day at the farm. After getting REALLY muddy, he decided to get into the pot of water that was there for washing hands.  I'm wondering if this was  just meant to be a muddy hands day and turned into a mud from head to toe day. Whatever the case, Oliver and  his brother and sister all enjoyed Muddy Day.

Julia did like her basket on Easter morning.  I think she liked her chocolate as well.  I like her little cuddly jacket.  It is like her grandmothers...and I'm wearing it right now. I run cold frequently now at my age.  I glanced at the thermometer and surprise, it reads 75. Guess I need to shed the pink jacket.

International Scrapbook Day

Every year  I look forward to National Scrapbook Day. It is a day to set aside other pursuits and live it up with your computer and hopefully with some scrapbook friends as well. However, it never seems to work out that way here. If I were an island, I would pour myself into it all day; but I am not.
There are always other things to do as well. At least I can say, I am not lonely.

I did manage to do a couple of pages today and start a few more.

The one above tells of my pleasure of getting a new desktop computer in April, with a picture of it on  your bottom right. I have already donned it with many post it notes of shortcuts, etc. Although the screen looks small, it is not.

One of the interesting parts of our day included  dinner with friends and a free show.  We witnessed a man being arrested across the street from the restaurant. Although we hadn't noticed him inside, we were told he had been there and for some reason left in a huff and sat on a bench across the street, staring at us through the window.  We were not in a bad part of town, so we were not afraid. But obviously we had missed something because the police were called.

The fellow was a large guy. He was wearing socks, but no shoes. He looked strong. The policeman was small in comparison. But it went well. Even though the man was struggling after being handcuffed, and the taser gun was drawn, it didn't have to be used. The policeman called for reinforcement and then an ambulance. We had ring side seats there at the window.

I wish I could quit thinking about the poor man. Obviously, from what we heard, he was not thinking straight, perhaps he was on drugs or mentally ill. It is sad to see people behave in such strange  ways.
Hopefully, he will get the care he needs, even if it means staying in jail a while.

I'll be praying for him and his family...if he has one.

Portage Lakes Dam

I could write a lot about this project that will affect our lives through the summer boating season and beyond; but the main purpose of my blog is in being a creative outlet...not a history. I prefer to spend my time at present creating layouts, not writing; although I do enjoy writing and would like to write at least one book as well.  There just isn't enough time in the day.  

If perchance you would like to know more about the fascinating subject of the Portage Lakes Dam Project, you can google it to get the history behind it, the purpose, the work being done and what could happen in its absence.  

There are also some good stories associated with it like, while digging under the lake, they accidentally cut a large copper cable that belonged to the phone company and phones were out for quite a while until they could take care of the problem.