Sunday Meditation

"The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness."  John Muir

It Sifts from Leaden Sieves by Emily Dickinson

It sifts from leaden sieves,

It powders all the wood

It fills with alabaster wool

The wrinkles of the road. 

It makes an even face

Of mountain and of plain,--

Unbroken forehead from the east

Unto the east again. 

It reaches to the fence,

And wraps, it rail by rail,

Till it is lost in fleeces;

It flings a crystal veil

On stump and stack and stem,--

The summer's empty room,

Acres of seams where harvests were,

Recordless, but for them.

It ruffles wrists of posts,

As ankles of a queen,--

Then stills its artisans like ghosts,

Denying they have been.

Goals for the Week of January 1 - 7, 2017

Spiritual 
     Church
     Daily Bible Reading
     Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales 

Physical
     Healthy Breakfast
     Exercise DVD
     Water - 32 oz.

Quilting -- Start working on monster quilt. 

Reading
     Zbinden's Progress by Christoph Simon 
     Gaining Ground by Forrest Pritchard
     Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are by Frans de Waal

Cooking
     New Years Dinner: Ham, sweet potatoes, GB, fruit salad, yeast rolls
     Baked Fish, carrots/thyme, Corn
     Chicken Rice Bake
     Cutlets, GMP, GB

Home
     Put up winter door wreath and dining room decorations 
     Quarterly finances

Personal
     Manicure/Pedicure
     Order clothes from LLBean

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly

Lilac Girls is the story of how three real women lived through World War II. The women are Caroline Ferriday of New York City, Kasia Kuzmerick of Lublin, Poland, and Dr. Herta Oberhauser of Germany. I want to reiterate that these were real women and the general story is factual.  I understand that this is a first novel for this writer. It is amazing in almost every way, character development, time line, plot, and ending. The research for this novel must have taken years and much effort.  I gave it 5 stars although it was very difficult for me to read. I find books about the brutality and inhumanity of the Nazi death camps unbearable. If I had realized that much of the book is set in Ravensbruck before starting to read it, most likely I wouldn't have started it. However, once started, it was impossible to put down. While the horrors of the camp is never far from the story, there is also kindness, humanity, and some redemptive resolution.  Truly an amazing first novel. 

Birds at South Padre Island Nature Center

We took a trip to the Lower Rio Grande Valley after Thanksgiving.  The Nature Center there is one of our favorite places to see birds.  

Green Heron

Green Jay

American Widgeon

Common Moorhen

Just kidding!!

Around OakMeadows

Christmas decorations 

Around OakMeadows

One evening last week when it was unseasonably warm, my husband was reading in his recliner and had the back door open.  Just as I came into the room, a little brown face with a black mask peeked inside. I was startled to see him and he was just as startled to see me. It was Mikey (named from the old Cereal commercial) who had been sent by his 3 siblings to let JMM know that the food tray needed refilling.  He waited while JMM filled up the can with dog chow and followed him down the path to the food tray. The others were waiting in the tree and came down as JMM left. I call JMM the Raccoon Pied Piper.  

This has been the year that I have done nothing for Christmas. JMM got the 5 plastic bins of decorations down as he always does the day after Thanksgiving. After a few days of just sitting there, I realized that if I left it all in the boxes, I wouldn't have to put it all away on New Years Day. So I did not take anything out. And the world did not end. I'm not depressed or anything, I just didn't want to be bothered. And I won't be cooking Christmas dinner either since we will be in Las Vegas. No Christmas cards, no decorations, and no cooking Christmas dinner. And I like it just fine. 

We are leaving for Las Vegas on Christmas Eve. Daughter and Son-in-law are meeting us there. None of us gamble so we are seeing shows and eating out for 4 days. Daughter has never seen "O" and I am delighted to see it again. Other shows include Rock of Ages, a Michael Jackson show, and Blue Man. I think we may see Seinfeld but I'm not sure. JMM wanted to see Celine Dionne but she is not there over Christmas.  It is certainly a different Christmas for us. 

That's all the news from OakMeadows where the cats all nap and so do the people. 

January Menu

1.  Ham, Black-eyed Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Fruit Salad 

2. Baked Fish, Carrots/Thyme, Corn

3. Chicken-Rice Bake

4. Cutlets, GMP, GB

5. Leftovers 

6. Out

7. Bacon Sandwiches, Oven Fries

8. Slow Cooker 

9. Shrimp Jambalaya

10. Chicken Tenders, Beans, Coleslaw 

11. Meatloaf, GMP, GB

12. Leftovers 

13. Out

14. Macaroni and Cheese, Corn

15. Pancakes and Sausage 

16. Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Veggie Tray

17. KFC

18. Pizza

19. Leftovers 

20. Out

21. Scrambled Eggs, Ham, Toast 

22. Slow Cooker Beef

23. Seafood Pasta

24. Leftovers 

25. Spaghetti and Meatballs 

26. Leftovers 

27. Out

28. CB Hash, Cream Style Corn

29. Potato Soup

30. Beans and Rice and Sausage, Cornbread 

31. Stuffed Wieners, Corn