two granddaughters

Middle Verses

I love the hymns of my childhood.
In some churches I have attended, we sang only the first and last verses of  hymns. That always irked me, because often it was the middle verses that were filled with the most meaning. Imagine...leaving out the most important part of a poem or story! I am glad to say we sing all the verses at FBCW.
These are the middle verses of an old hymn we sang today, Oh Jesus I have Promised. 
It was written in the mid 1800s by a Church of England priest and vicar who knew the human heart.

Oh, let me feel Thee near me, the world is ever near. 
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me, around me and within. 
But Jesus draw Thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin. 

Oh, let me hear Thee speaking, in accents clear and still.
Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will.
Oh, speak to reassure me, to hasten, or control. 
Oh, speak, and make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

from the other side of the river

The beloved Coast Guard ship and a view of Water Street.

The Railroad

Back when I was a little girl, Wilmington was all about the Atlantic Coast Line. It was probably the biggest employer in town, and both my father and grandfather worked in the office on Nutt Street. When it merged with another railroad company and moved to Florida, everyone was grief stricken.

Gone but not forgotten!

group participation

Have you heard about Pickleball? I had not until I moved here. It is a new ball-padde-net inside court game that started on the west coast in the 1960s. It is supposed to be competitive, not overly strenuous, and even an old lady could play! I wondered if I was up to it. Today I was at the Y and got to try. I see the possibilities, but I soon realized I would have to get used to having a ball coming at me.  I felt like such a girl! An old girl with stiff knees. Maybe I will give it another try.

Blueberry muffins

Today I used this recipe for blueberry muffins, and it is as it claims, easy and delicious. Like most of us cooks, I did alter it to my own liking by using less sugar and substituting cream for milk. Yum!

out of the city limits

The hubster and I drove north about thirty miles to the quaint town of Burgaw. I had never been and wanted to check it out, especially since the Blueberry Festival is this weekend. We got there early, before any of the entertainment started, and it was perfect. We walked a bit and went in one store that has been in business close to one hundred years. The original cash register is still used and took me back to my childhood, way back. Amazing. The fourth generation owner let me take a picture of it - and him too!
Also I bought a lot of blueberries. So far I have made preserves and a cobbler and have given a pint to my neighbor.