I didn't take many pictures, except for a few on the beach. I had to get one with the lighthouse in it, however small.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Exploring
The hubby and I drove down to Oak Island-Caswell Beach area today.
I didn't take many pictures, except for a few on the beach. I had to get one with the lighthouse in it, however small.
I didn't take many pictures, except for a few on the beach. I had to get one with the lighthouse in it, however small.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Church Today
I awaken early each Easter with the intent of attending an Easter Sunrise Service, and then I fall back to sleep. Oh well. Maybe next year, I think. Mornings and I have never been buddies. But today the hubby and I actually got up, and out, and went! I hoped it would be lovely and inspiring.
This marked the fortieth year that FBC has done an early Easter service at beautiful Airlie Gardens under the 470 year old moss draped live oak tree. I imagine some of those mornings were spectacular, seeing the dark of night break forth into a new day, singing hymns of resurrection. While I kept a grateful heart, the expectation exceeded the reality of it all. After we unfolded our chairs to sit, the drizzle turned to a light downpour. The air got colder, and the sun did not dare to shine. Nevertheless, the Baptists kept calm and carried out the full extent of their much appreciated short program.
Then at eleven, I (having become part of the choir) was at the traditional service. It was a rollicking good time, as I heard someone say. For the offertory, our fabulous organist played something with the theme of Christ the Lord is Risen Today that went on for much longer than usual, and was loud and awesome! At the close of the service, the choir, the organ, the brass, and anyone else who wanted to join us in front, or from anywhere, sang the Hallelujah Chorus. I thought it was a great idea to invite the others to join "the throng" for that beloved piece of music that so many have sung somewhere, sometime before.
Isn't it wonderful that we live in country where we can still go to church and worship as we choose.
This marked the fortieth year that FBC has done an early Easter service at beautiful Airlie Gardens under the 470 year old moss draped live oak tree. I imagine some of those mornings were spectacular, seeing the dark of night break forth into a new day, singing hymns of resurrection. While I kept a grateful heart, the expectation exceeded the reality of it all. After we unfolded our chairs to sit, the drizzle turned to a light downpour. The air got colder, and the sun did not dare to shine. Nevertheless, the Baptists kept calm and carried out the full extent of their much appreciated short program.
Then at eleven, I (having become part of the choir) was at the traditional service. It was a rollicking good time, as I heard someone say. For the offertory, our fabulous organist played something with the theme of Christ the Lord is Risen Today that went on for much longer than usual, and was loud and awesome! At the close of the service, the choir, the organ, the brass, and anyone else who wanted to join us in front, or from anywhere, sang the Hallelujah Chorus. I thought it was a great idea to invite the others to join "the throng" for that beloved piece of music that so many have sung somewhere, sometime before.
Isn't it wonderful that we live in country where we can still go to church and worship as we choose.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Driving
It seems that golfers are always crossing the road when I enter or leave my neighborhood. I enjoy stopping for them, because they always seem happy to be outside doing something fun.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Real food
A friend had told me about some fresh organic chicken that she was getting delivered and asked if I would like to try it. Yes, of course! Last week I got my first batch of two whole birds, twelve breasts and twelve bone-in thighs. I cooked one of the whole chickens, one breast and one thigh in a crockpot doing nothing special. It was delicious! The same as chicken of my earlier years before Monsanto changed what we eat, and hormones, antibiotics and whatever else were added to make chickens big, boring, and bad for humans.
The amount I cooked lasted for three dinners. The first was a Mexican thing I had been wanting to try. Then a Southern style chicken pie. Last night I fixed a salad with green grapes, walnuts, celery, and a nice dressing. The best yet.
The rest is in my freezer. Wonder what I will do with them.
The amount I cooked lasted for three dinners. The first was a Mexican thing I had been wanting to try. Then a Southern style chicken pie. Last night I fixed a salad with green grapes, walnuts, celery, and a nice dressing. The best yet.
The rest is in my freezer. Wonder what I will do with them.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Lineage
Last weekend my Aunt Margaret turned ninety years old. For
our family that is pretty amazing, one for the record books.
Her four children, my first cousins, planned the celebration. On Saturday night many of us, twenty-eight strong, gathered together for a dinner party at Wrightsville Beach. Except for the spouses, everyone at the long tables was a direct descendent of my grandparents. The three youngest who were present would have been their great-great-grandchildren. I didn't know my great-great-grandparents since they died before I was born. These children will not know theirs because they have passed on, but I am old enough to have known them well during the late middle and older years of their lives.
This photo of them was taken in 1906, long before they married.
The older I get, the more see myself as a link in a chain, an apple on the family tree, as my grandparents are now.
Her four children, my first cousins, planned the celebration. On Saturday night many of us, twenty-eight strong, gathered together for a dinner party at Wrightsville Beach. Except for the spouses, everyone at the long tables was a direct descendent of my grandparents. The three youngest who were present would have been their great-great-grandchildren. I didn't know my great-great-grandparents since they died before I was born. These children will not know theirs because they have passed on, but I am old enough to have known them well during the late middle and older years of their lives.
This photo of them was taken in 1906, long before they married.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
tulips
On this warm and sunny day I was glad to have nothing scheduled. No obligations or duties.
So I drove down to the beach to see what was happening and then to Airlie to see what was blooming.
Maybe a thousand azaleas were already showing off their pinks. Elegant camellias were still flowering. And the tulips that spend so much energy producing short-lived beautiful flowers for these few weeks were in several large beds. Here they are.
Could Holland be any prettier?
So I drove down to the beach to see what was happening and then to Airlie to see what was blooming.
Maybe a thousand azaleas were already showing off their pinks. Elegant camellias were still flowering. And the tulips that spend so much energy producing short-lived beautiful flowers for these few weeks were in several large beds. Here they are.
Could Holland be any prettier?
Thursday, March 10, 2016
the cats
A couple of weeks ago, I took pretty Maggie to the vet for treatment of a UTI. Yesterday was her follow up appointment - here she is not wanting to come out of her crate - and the urinalysis showed she still had some crystals in her urine. The vet said since it could turn into stones, we should treat it. The cheapest thing was to put her on prescription cat food for thirty days and see if that would cure her. So I drove across town to the only pet store with a vet, and bought fifteen cans for her new diet. While in there, I visited the adoption area and saw some beautiful kittens, about the age of my two, who were sitting in their crates and looking lost, confused and sad. I so hope they get to go live in nice homes. Then I felt pleased that I have the ones I have and that they are well cared for. I have sometimes regretted getting two cats and think I would be happier with just pretty Maggie. Henry is more rambunctious and destructive than his gentle sister, but he is also sweet and affectionate. It would be sad to see his cute little quizzical face peering out of a cage, wondering if someone would ever love him. I am not going to complain about him anymore!
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Seder Meal
An Episcopal friend invited me to something cool at their church this evening.
Several Jews including a rabbi and a cantor came to show and teach the crowd how the Passover Seder ceremony and meal are traditionally done.
About three years ago, before I moved to Wilmington, a Christian Jew came one Sunday evening to my church at the time to explain how Jesus is in all the Passover symbolism. Tonight it was strictly Old Testament, and it ended by the rabbi proclaiming how Elijah will usher in the Messiah at some point in the future.
The contrast between the two was pretty interesting.
Tonight was also different in that we actually got to try the symbolic foods like the parsley dipped in salt water and some kind of red horseradish. And quite a bit of wine. Plus we had a nice meal prepared by the women in the church.
One of the oft repeated phrases the Jewish leaders said during the presentation was, "God's presence fills the universe." I think everyone can agree on that.
Several Jews including a rabbi and a cantor came to show and teach the crowd how the Passover Seder ceremony and meal are traditionally done.
About three years ago, before I moved to Wilmington, a Christian Jew came one Sunday evening to my church at the time to explain how Jesus is in all the Passover symbolism. Tonight it was strictly Old Testament, and it ended by the rabbi proclaiming how Elijah will usher in the Messiah at some point in the future.
The contrast between the two was pretty interesting.
Tonight was also different in that we actually got to try the symbolic foods like the parsley dipped in salt water and some kind of red horseradish. And quite a bit of wine. Plus we had a nice meal prepared by the women in the church.
One of the oft repeated phrases the Jewish leaders said during the presentation was, "God's presence fills the universe." I think everyone can agree on that.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
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