GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

SANTA FE DAM AND RECREATIONAL PARK Saturday morning my daughter and sil came over to help us get a new tire as my right back tire had a slow leak.  After the job was done, he suggested we take the car for a little drive to see how the tire felt.  How was I to know he knew a place 4 miles away that would change our day into a "mini-vacation".     Every time we are driving on 605 freeway near out house we have seen the sign "Santa Fe Dam and Recreational Park.  All you can see from the freeway is a pile of ugly rocks.  Who would have thought!!  This place was absolutely beautiful.  Lakes, ponds, geese and ducks.   People fishing, camping, picnicking, or just resting and hanging out.   Our beautiful snow capped mountains in the background made the perfect setting for the lake.   This one seem to like getting his picture taken!   A very large and interesting succulent.   Ma and Pa Kettle..HaHa ...

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross The emblem of suffering and shame. And I love that old cross Where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain. So I'll cherish the old rugged cross Till my trophies at last I lay down And I'll cling to the old rugged cross And exchange it someday for a crown. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true. It's shame and reproach gladly bear. Then he'll call me someday To my home far away Where his glory forever I'll share. Precious Savior, what a powerful love You have shown us.  Thank You for the glory of the cross and for the eternal purpose you accomplished there.  Thank You for the way that You have opened heaven and for the privilege it is now to be called a child of God.  Thank You that Your love endures forever and will never fade.  Thank You for the cross of love that brings life through Your death.  Thank You for enduring the cros...

Usually, my dearest and I go "thrift store" junking on Wednesday mornings as it's Senior Day and 50% off certain items.  He was not quite up to it, so I went alone, and took my sweet time and found a lot of good things.  At the first stop "The Rescue Mission Thrift Store" I found a cute little black purse (braned new label still on) for 99 cents.  A pair of boot socks in dark blue 99 cents, a lovely compact of blush, just my color for $1.99 a tourquois bowl that matches my Fiesta Ware, $1.00 and a really cute scalloped edge mug for $1.00.  At the Community Thift store I found this really nice soft cotton wrap around skirt, completely lined. I liked the touch of the cute wooden buttons.  Since I've lost the weight I could fit into a small. I found a large Spring wreath that fits over my porch light for a splash of color by the front door. Since I knit kitchen dishcloths during commercials while watching TV, and now the Dodgers, I was down...

"When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Price of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e're such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?"* Holy God, what a price You paid to redeem my heart.  Loving Christ, what a sacrifice You made to forgive my sins!  Precious Spirit, what a gift You have to inhabit my life!  Teach me the joy of a heart that worships You with this passion ~~"Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small: Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."  Dear God, help me to know it and to live it ~~by the grace of Your wonderful cross.  In the name of the One who loved me enough to take my cross.  I love You.  Amen. The Path of His Passion - Bill Crowder *When I survey the Cross ~ Isaac Watts ...

Friday my friend Linda, invited me to join her at the Tea House in Montrose for "Queen's Tea".  It was fabulous!  Please click on the picture and drool over the three layer tray of goodies.  Top tray, all kinds of delicate pastries.  Second tray, scones with cream and raspberry jam, and the bottom tray, and assortment of finger sandwiches, from egg salad, salmon and cucumber, turkey and cranberry sauce.  With teapots of English Breakfast tea with cream and sugar!  Oh dear....it was a day to forget my regiment, and just ENJOY ~ WHICH I DID! Saturday morning we invited our oldest daughter, Michel over for Brunch, since it was her Birthday.  Besides Quiche we enjoyed the leftovers from yesterday's Queen Tea and my banana/pumpkin coffee cake with crumb topping. It was delightful.  Since this daughter is not one to be posted on my blog, she took this picture of me and dad and the goodie tray we had for Brunch.

Many of you know I love birds, and when we lived in Sunland for 6 years I had a large back yard and many bird feeders and baths.  I could sit for hours just watching them scamper from feeder to feeder and drink and bathe.  It was my delight. We love our Tree House, and our balcony, but we are not allowed to hang bird feeders and I can understand that on a balcony they could make a mess.  We watch from a distance as they flutter around the tree in front of the balcony. But God must have looked down and seen my love for birds and he guided two little birds to make a nest in the tall pine tree next to our window in our "media" room right next to my dearest's desk.  This morning with the sunshine and the window open he got a shot of the bird.  Not sure what kind because of the orange colored breast.  But I am so grateful to be able to enjoy this little family outside our window.

I have always loved the ocean.  Once in my life I was privileged to live close to it in the 70's when we served in a little Missionary Church in Santa Barbara.  Our children were small and we spent many wonderful hours on the beach.  Since then, we have always lived inland and I sometimes long for the beach.   The cafe where we had lunch I woke up Saturday morning with beautiful sunshine and a longing to see the blue water of the ocean.  One of my daughters was already busy, the daughter of my heart was at work, Jill is in Oregon, so I called our oldest daughter, Michel hoping she was not already out and about.  I ask her what she was up too, and she said laundry and house cleaning....I said that can wait....lets go to Long Beach and have lunch on the waterfront.  She said I can be ready in ten minutes....Don't you love it when a plan comes together!!! Shrimp and crab cob salad ~ Oh my goodness, it was so delicious!  Sometimes the ...

WHAT A FRIEND! What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O, what peace we often forfeit, O, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer. Loving Christ, I long to see Your look of grace and mercy but fear the failures of my soul that might produce it.  Forgive me for all my bluster and self-sufficiency.  Teach my heart the value of communion with You in secret that prepares me for the challenges and temptations that produce all-to-public failures.  Teach me to listen to You, to lean upon You, to love You, and to learn from You ~~that I might stand for You in Your strength.  Teach me to repent when I fail and to rejoice when I learn to stand in You.  Loving Christ, I long to see Your look of grace and mercy and hear You say, "Well done."  I love You.  Amen

We had our Saint Patrick's Day party at the Clubhouse and Louisa entertained us with a few Irish Jigs.  She is also the Zumba instructor I have on Friday's at the Clubhouse. We didn't have Irish food ~~ but Chinese was the menu for the day.   Guess no one wanted Corn Beef and Cabbage HaHa. Don enjoyed his plate!  I had some of the chicken and rice, the rest was just too spicy for my tummy. On the left is Eric our Maintenance Man who keeps everything running smoothly.  On the right is Adriana, our Manager, a very sweet lady who has become a very good friend.  And Louisa our Zumba instructor and entertainment for the day! My dearest, looking quite well.  He is feeling better, and more heart tests are just days away.  I looked and looked for something "green" in my closet, and all I could find is a blouse with yellow lemons and "green" leaves.  Unfortunately, my sweater is covering them up.  I'm wearing gr...

It was time!  My dearest went to lunch with a friend, and I got busy getting down my Spring and Easter Bins from the Storage unit on the balcony.  Love my mirror and the spring look it gives me with the new greenery. I didn't do much in the living room.  Added my Spring pillows to the couch and love seat, and brought out my gold throw.  A little  cloth napkin with spring colors served for a little touch by the rocking chair. (which was Don's mother's and has been with us for years.) I'm a year around candle lover, so my coffee table is used for the books I'm reading and my candles.  Need to get a couple more spring colors, and retire the old ones. I love my coffee station on my antique tea cart.  I added the chicken wire decoration this year and a new container to hold the coffee from the thrift store. The splashes of red are replace with yellow and the darling bunny towels are from my daughter.  (click ...

Sunday we had a out of town guest.  Our plan was to go to early service as she was not to arrive until 11 AM.  The original plan was to take her for lunch, come back to the Tree House and visit the rest of the day until she had to head for home several hours away. The beautiful sunny Saturday, turn into a cold and rainy Sunday, and the more I thought about it, the more I said going out to lunch was not a good idea.  Fist the weather, and then who can visit in a noisy Sunday restaurant?  Let me back up!!! On Friday, I had my annual mammogram in a new facility, since we have change all our doctors.  It is a lovely Women's Breast Center and while I was waiting for my examination, they gave me a magazine and hot cup of tea. (nice touch).  I saw a recipe for a "Herb crusted" pork roast with butternut squash and onions and seedless grapes all done in the oven.  I was already striped down for the exam, so didn't have my cell phone to take a picture of ...

CHILD LIKE FAITH Forgive us, Lord, that as we grow to maturity, our faith is blighted with doubts, withered with worry, tainted ith sophistication.  We pray that thou wilt make us like children again in faith ~~not childish, but childlike in the simplicity of a faith that is willing to trust thee even though we cannot see what tomorrow will bring. We ask thee to give to each of us that childlike faith, that simplicity of mind which is willing to lay aside all egotism and conceit, which recognizes vanity for what it is ~~ an empty show, which knows that we are incapable of thinking the thoughts of God, which is willing to be humbled again.   Amen.                            ~Peter Marshall (1902-1949)