I was walking down a road and passed a man dragging a full grown medium size tree with the roots wrapped in burlap. I knew he was going to plant it. He was crippled in one leg (his right one) and limping. I turned and looked and watched him go, admiring his tenacity.There were many, many people on this dirt road and he was going the opposite direction. People were going in both directions. I continued walking down the road and passed another man dragging a tree in the same manner. This tree too was medium size with the roots wrapped in burlap. He too, was hurt in one leg (his right one) and limping. I knew he was going to plant it also. He sat down to rest and I went over and looked at his wounds. His leg and foot were very sore and bleeding. I asked him what had happened. That is all but I woke up knowing this would come to pass someday or had significant meaning for my future.
I dreamed this dream two nights in a row and the dreams were so vivid and exactly the same. I felt led by God to write them down and record them. I didn't realize the date until today that this happened three years ago but the dreams still haunt me for their meaning. Someday, I will see this come to pass and understand the meaning.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
The New Year and Journaling
Ever since I became a Christian, I have kept a journal. It has been my way to grow in my walk with the Lord by writing down verses that the Lord has used in my life as well as documenting the trials, successes, answered prayers. Journal writing is second nature to me and easy, however all other writing takes thought and time and does not come easy to me. Through the past few years, I have let my journal writing go and although I have written in a journal as a response to the homework during the Beth Moore Bible studies (which takes a person deep into her own attitudes, thoughts and devotion) I have not written my story for a very long time. I am ready to begin again for I sense the need to be very in touch with the changes that the Lord will be making in our lives in the next few years. I share this with you to let you know that I would like to share with you my thoughts when led to do so.
Tomorrow I will share a dream I had that I wrote down because I believe it was inspired and given to me for a reason. I have not been given the interpretation of the dream, but one day I will see it first hand and I will understand.
The New Year brings an urgency to understand what is happening in the world in light of scripture so I look forward to the New Year and sharing it with you. All three of you so far!
Tomorrow I will share a dream I had that I wrote down because I believe it was inspired and given to me for a reason. I have not been given the interpretation of the dream, but one day I will see it first hand and I will understand.
The New Year brings an urgency to understand what is happening in the world in light of scripture so I look forward to the New Year and sharing it with you. All three of you so far!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Irish Stew
It has been awhile since I have blogged and those of you who have checked this sight may have well given up on anything new. It is back to school time, with the whirlwind of 200+ things that need done before the children walk through the doors.
I did promise an authentic Irish Stew to a reader who is part of the family and lives in an area of the country that a good stew would be such a warm treat on a cold winter day.
Everywhere we traveled in Ireland offered this basic stew, sometimes with lamb and sometimes with beef. It has little liquid compared to our stews and is quite thick and hearty.
Irish Stew
3 lb potatoes, peeled
2 1/2 lb of stewing lamb (or beef)
1 lb onions, chopped
5 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (soft kind)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1-2 cups of water
salt and freshly ground pepper
Peel the potatoes. Leave them whole unless very large. The bones in the meat and certain amount of fat are essential to the flavour of Irish Stew; the potatoes absorb a good deal of the fat and flavour of the meat. The meat is not cubed but left in fairly large pieces. When the meat is cooked enough it falls away from the bone, which then poses no hazard on the plate. Place a layer of onion on the bottom of a heavy pot or casserole. Lay the meat on this. Season with the salt and pepper and sprinkle generously with fresh parsley and much less generously with chopped fresh thyme. Layer the rest of the onions with the potatoes and finish with the rest of the herbs. The amount of water you add depends on how hood the seal is between the pot and lid. Bring to the boil and cover tightly. You may either simmer it gently on the hob or cook in the oven at 300 degrees F/Gas 2 for 2 1/2-3 hours.
The finished stew should be moist but not too liquid. Add a little hot water during cooking only if it appears to be getting too dry for your taste. Floury potatoes will partly dissolve into the liquid, thickening it a little, waxy potatoes will not. It's a matter of taste which you use, some people use a mixture of both. Serve with lots of chopped fresh parsley. Carrots, which should be cooked separately, are the perfect accompaniment.
This is a classic white stew. In some regions of Ireland carrots are added to the stew but purists maintain that these spoil the simple, pure flavor of the dish.
The Irish are excellent cooks and we always were amazed by the great meals in every town we visited.
Enjoy!!
I did promise an authentic Irish Stew to a reader who is part of the family and lives in an area of the country that a good stew would be such a warm treat on a cold winter day.
Everywhere we traveled in Ireland offered this basic stew, sometimes with lamb and sometimes with beef. It has little liquid compared to our stews and is quite thick and hearty.
Irish Stew
3 lb potatoes, peeled
2 1/2 lb of stewing lamb (or beef)
1 lb onions, chopped
5 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (soft kind)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1-2 cups of water
salt and freshly ground pepper
Peel the potatoes. Leave them whole unless very large. The bones in the meat and certain amount of fat are essential to the flavour of Irish Stew; the potatoes absorb a good deal of the fat and flavour of the meat. The meat is not cubed but left in fairly large pieces. When the meat is cooked enough it falls away from the bone, which then poses no hazard on the plate. Place a layer of onion on the bottom of a heavy pot or casserole. Lay the meat on this. Season with the salt and pepper and sprinkle generously with fresh parsley and much less generously with chopped fresh thyme. Layer the rest of the onions with the potatoes and finish with the rest of the herbs. The amount of water you add depends on how hood the seal is between the pot and lid. Bring to the boil and cover tightly. You may either simmer it gently on the hob or cook in the oven at 300 degrees F/Gas 2 for 2 1/2-3 hours.
The finished stew should be moist but not too liquid. Add a little hot water during cooking only if it appears to be getting too dry for your taste. Floury potatoes will partly dissolve into the liquid, thickening it a little, waxy potatoes will not. It's a matter of taste which you use, some people use a mixture of both. Serve with lots of chopped fresh parsley. Carrots, which should be cooked separately, are the perfect accompaniment.
This is a classic white stew. In some regions of Ireland carrots are added to the stew but purists maintain that these spoil the simple, pure flavor of the dish.
The Irish are excellent cooks and we always were amazed by the great meals in every town we visited.
Enjoy!!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Jack, a sad realization too late
After many years of being a daughter in law, I have come to realize something that I should have known all along. I sometimes learn things and so wish I had learned it sooner. Here is my story and I dedicate it to you Jack, my father in law that went to be with the Lord two years ago, and to my husband Dick who are both great story tellers. I am so sorry I didn't figure this out back when I was that new daughter in law in your life.
Moving from California to Ohio is different enough, but being newly married and having never met my inlaws until after the fact made it an adjustment that took me awhile. My husband's family took me in and loved me. I thought they were very different culturally and I didn't figure out for awhile that I was just as different to them as they were to me. I told you it can take me awhile to learn things.
My father in law, Jack was a hard working, kind man that loved his family and made sure that he took good care of their needs. Ready and wating for us when we arrived was a nice used blue Ford truck that he said he knew we would need. No mention of price or paying him back, a gift because he knew we needed one. He was an example of giving that I had never encountered before. Of the many sayings that come from my husband, I know most came from his Dad and Mom. Most I can probably write in a future blog, but some are definitly better left as family sayings although you would appreciate the sentiment I know if I just worded it a bit differently.
Jack was a story teller. He talked for hours about people I had never known from his life and family. He told stories about places he had worked, cars he had worked on, houses he had torn down and wherever his mind took him that day. He spoke on families and who was related to whom, and how they were related to this person or that. I hated sitting through all the stories. I didn't know any of these people and couldn't understand why in the world we couldn't talk about today or why he never seemed interested in what I thought or was doing. I missed my loud family get togethers where everything in the world was open for discussion and everyone's opinion mattered. Stories were rarely told and current business ventures, politics, movies and children were the topics. My family for all it's faults seemed to care about what I was doing presently and asked me a lot of questions about what I was currently working on.
When Jack started to tell a story I retreated (at least verbally) and just politley listened to the many stories but certainly not intersted. Jack never acted like he noticed. His sons, wife, and others would listen and ask him questions, caught up in the stories, figuring out who that guy was that helped him tear down that house over in Boliver back in 1962 or bailed hay with him up on Legett's farm over in Dellroy, oh, about 10 years ago, you remember that Dick? It was a hot humid day and we were wondering if we'd get er done before that rain storm hit. Now there was that neighbor, oh you know the one that lived down on Tripp's place, well he came by and just stopped to help right then and there when he saw that rain storm brewing and looking like rain any minute. Now what was his name? He was John's son, you know the family that moved there from Columbus back in ......... Just goes to show what good people they were, whole family just like that, willing to help out anyone when they needed it. Well I remember the time his Dad helped the Millers when they didn't have enough to go around, and on and on and on.
Story after story was told and now it is now 35 years later and believe it or not I figured something out.
Sometimes we learn our lessons in the strangest places! I am sitting looking at this incredible view of mountains, a river is in the valley below with cottonwoods and green plants everywhere. A dry breeze is blowing making the hot weather bearable and the shade from the vine outdoor shelter where Dick and I sat reading was just what we needed for a break after a very long year. This bed and breadfast in Gila, New Mexico is our spot to retreat from the world. Mike O'Conner, the host of the place came by and sat to visit for awhile. When he learned that we were heading to Ireland, he began to tell us stories of this land that he lived in for many years. We sat and listened and I was facinated at the tales, lore, and funny accounts. He switched to an Irish brogue to tell us of encounters with the neighbors or a real estate lad that gave him a bit of advice.
Now you might be wondering how this fits with a lesson learned too late but I'm learning and I'm getting to the lesson of the story. Ah, me telling a story, amazing!
"I finally get it!" "I can't believe it took me so long," I told my husband one day who is very used to me starting a conversation where my mind is and not giving him any idea what it is I am talking about. "O.K. that's great, what do you get?" he says, knowing full well he may or may not get the whole picture at once. "Well, your relatives came from Ireland and oral stories and traditions were the way they kept the their culture and family values strong through the years. Your Dad was trying to give to me and all of his family traditions, culture, values and faith steeped in stories, people and a way of living life. Geneologies were verbal and kept strong through the 'you know he was related to Tip's family when George married Mabel.' I finally get it but I never did until now." I say with the passion of a long lost realization. Relieved, Dick agreed that this is very true of his family. "Why do you think I tell so many stories?"
Did I finally grow up enough to learn this very important lesson? I am terribly sad that I understand too late to go back and visit and listen to his stories. I am sad I didn't appreciate all he did for me materially and verbally. Maybe though I can pass this on to my children and my children's children or perhaps just listen patiently and with real interest to my husband when I hear the story about "coon hunting with Grandpa" for the 30th time. I get it and I hope you do too if you come from a family like mine. I love you Jack, and hope to share this with you some day.
Moving from California to Ohio is different enough, but being newly married and having never met my inlaws until after the fact made it an adjustment that took me awhile. My husband's family took me in and loved me. I thought they were very different culturally and I didn't figure out for awhile that I was just as different to them as they were to me. I told you it can take me awhile to learn things.
My father in law, Jack was a hard working, kind man that loved his family and made sure that he took good care of their needs. Ready and wating for us when we arrived was a nice used blue Ford truck that he said he knew we would need. No mention of price or paying him back, a gift because he knew we needed one. He was an example of giving that I had never encountered before. Of the many sayings that come from my husband, I know most came from his Dad and Mom. Most I can probably write in a future blog, but some are definitly better left as family sayings although you would appreciate the sentiment I know if I just worded it a bit differently.
Jack was a story teller. He talked for hours about people I had never known from his life and family. He told stories about places he had worked, cars he had worked on, houses he had torn down and wherever his mind took him that day. He spoke on families and who was related to whom, and how they were related to this person or that. I hated sitting through all the stories. I didn't know any of these people and couldn't understand why in the world we couldn't talk about today or why he never seemed interested in what I thought or was doing. I missed my loud family get togethers where everything in the world was open for discussion and everyone's opinion mattered. Stories were rarely told and current business ventures, politics, movies and children were the topics. My family for all it's faults seemed to care about what I was doing presently and asked me a lot of questions about what I was currently working on.
When Jack started to tell a story I retreated (at least verbally) and just politley listened to the many stories but certainly not intersted. Jack never acted like he noticed. His sons, wife, and others would listen and ask him questions, caught up in the stories, figuring out who that guy was that helped him tear down that house over in Boliver back in 1962 or bailed hay with him up on Legett's farm over in Dellroy, oh, about 10 years ago, you remember that Dick? It was a hot humid day and we were wondering if we'd get er done before that rain storm hit. Now there was that neighbor, oh you know the one that lived down on Tripp's place, well he came by and just stopped to help right then and there when he saw that rain storm brewing and looking like rain any minute. Now what was his name? He was John's son, you know the family that moved there from Columbus back in ......... Just goes to show what good people they were, whole family just like that, willing to help out anyone when they needed it. Well I remember the time his Dad helped the Millers when they didn't have enough to go around, and on and on and on.
Story after story was told and now it is now 35 years later and believe it or not I figured something out.
Sometimes we learn our lessons in the strangest places! I am sitting looking at this incredible view of mountains, a river is in the valley below with cottonwoods and green plants everywhere. A dry breeze is blowing making the hot weather bearable and the shade from the vine outdoor shelter where Dick and I sat reading was just what we needed for a break after a very long year. This bed and breadfast in Gila, New Mexico is our spot to retreat from the world. Mike O'Conner, the host of the place came by and sat to visit for awhile. When he learned that we were heading to Ireland, he began to tell us stories of this land that he lived in for many years. We sat and listened and I was facinated at the tales, lore, and funny accounts. He switched to an Irish brogue to tell us of encounters with the neighbors or a real estate lad that gave him a bit of advice.
Now you might be wondering how this fits with a lesson learned too late but I'm learning and I'm getting to the lesson of the story. Ah, me telling a story, amazing!
"I finally get it!" "I can't believe it took me so long," I told my husband one day who is very used to me starting a conversation where my mind is and not giving him any idea what it is I am talking about. "O.K. that's great, what do you get?" he says, knowing full well he may or may not get the whole picture at once. "Well, your relatives came from Ireland and oral stories and traditions were the way they kept the their culture and family values strong through the years. Your Dad was trying to give to me and all of his family traditions, culture, values and faith steeped in stories, people and a way of living life. Geneologies were verbal and kept strong through the 'you know he was related to Tip's family when George married Mabel.' I finally get it but I never did until now." I say with the passion of a long lost realization. Relieved, Dick agreed that this is very true of his family. "Why do you think I tell so many stories?"
Did I finally grow up enough to learn this very important lesson? I am terribly sad that I understand too late to go back and visit and listen to his stories. I am sad I didn't appreciate all he did for me materially and verbally. Maybe though I can pass this on to my children and my children's children or perhaps just listen patiently and with real interest to my husband when I hear the story about "coon hunting with Grandpa" for the 30th time. I get it and I hope you do too if you come from a family like mine. I love you Jack, and hope to share this with you some day.
Friday, May 22, 2009
School is Out!
Did you hear the hoop and holler of all the teachers as they did their final check out before heading off to a well deserved summer break? I did. The hallways are now very quiet, rooms are bare, and the cleaning and preparation work begins.
Do you know what my number one thought is every morning as I head to work during the school year, I pray for the safety of each and every student in my care and the safety of each and every staff member. Safety instead of learning, that is the world we live in. When I think of summer, the safety of each one is not on my shoulders for a few short months. I love my job but today I was relieved, another year has gone by and no one was seriously hurt on my watch. A grateful day, one in which I thank the Lord, like so many others.
Listen carefully and you will hear me whoop and holler in a few weeks too, I think I hear Ireland calling my name. Do ye hear it lads and lassies?
Do you know what my number one thought is every morning as I head to work during the school year, I pray for the safety of each and every student in my care and the safety of each and every staff member. Safety instead of learning, that is the world we live in. When I think of summer, the safety of each one is not on my shoulders for a few short months. I love my job but today I was relieved, another year has gone by and no one was seriously hurt on my watch. A grateful day, one in which I thank the Lord, like so many others.
Listen carefully and you will hear me whoop and holler in a few weeks too, I think I hear Ireland calling my name. Do ye hear it lads and lassies?
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Comfort Food
What is your comfort food? Can you guess what the number one answer was when I asked my teachers and educational assistants at my last In-service training? Yep, you got it-CHOCOLATE! They also put mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, New York style cheesecake, bread, and chips. Chocolate pudding (the cooked variety, not the whimpy instant stuff) is mine. What is yours?
Now for a Starbucks good cup of Chai Tea try this:
Get a Bodum French press and a quality loose leaf chai tea ( I like the spiced black kind from Tazo)
You will also need cream or milk and honey
For one or two cups:
Place 1-2 teaspoons of chai tea in bottom of Bodum
Fill with boiling water
Place cover and press over the top (do not press down)
Let steep for 5 minutes
Push press to the bottom
Pour into a cup with desired amount of milk or cream (it takes about 1/4 cup) and heaping tablespoon of honey.
If you want a perfect cup heat the milk before adding ( I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it is worth it because if you work with the amounts, it is better than Starbucks!
Ah a comfort drink perfect for that relaxing time when you just need a break! Enjoy!
Now for a Starbucks good cup of Chai Tea try this:
Get a Bodum French press and a quality loose leaf chai tea ( I like the spiced black kind from Tazo)
You will also need cream or milk and honey
For one or two cups:
Place 1-2 teaspoons of chai tea in bottom of Bodum
Fill with boiling water
Place cover and press over the top (do not press down)
Let steep for 5 minutes
Push press to the bottom
Pour into a cup with desired amount of milk or cream (it takes about 1/4 cup) and heaping tablespoon of honey.
If you want a perfect cup heat the milk before adding ( I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it is worth it because if you work with the amounts, it is better than Starbucks!
Ah a comfort drink perfect for that relaxing time when you just need a break! Enjoy!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
A Siesta Sister
I have been challenged by a friend to learn twenty four scripture verses this year as part of Beth Moore's blog group. She calls all her sisters siestas (yes, we all know it means nap in Spanish but the story is so funny it just stuck.) My daughter has now joined the 1000+ to learn them and this led to creating this blog. I wanted to have a blog name with picture on her blog site rather than be an anonymous and low and behold I have launched into the world of blogs. Chatting over a cup of tea with you, English Breakfast is one of my favorites, will be fun and I look forward to reading yours as well.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Tea Time with Ivy and grandkids
Just spent a week with Ivy, Tyler and Gracious and although I was sitting most the time from an illness we all decided it was very fun and relaxing. We just enjoyed being together, eating, watching movies and chatting over green tea and my favorite black teas. Tyer has quite the imagination and would play many games while swimming in a little backyard pool. He can hum the whole Star Wars theme song and does so many times a day with excellent pitch. Gracious is very much getting her very own personality and loves to stay busy, running to Mima, Papa or Mommies lap many times for a minute and then off again to her make-believe world. She says Yea (not yeah), Mima, Papa, Mommie and Daddy and yler very well which of course are the most important words there are at my moment. I do believe that girl walks at least 50 miles a day with her half run, half walk that goes at light speed. They both kept me laughing. My little feather of a daughter took such good care of me, I felt very spoiled. She is so much fun to have around and always brightens my day!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
New Blogger
Hi everybody, I am new to blogland! I started a blog because I am participating in Beth Moore's scripture memory verse challenge which is on her blog, "The LPM Blog". I have to post twice a month which verses I have memorized and I simply didn't want to keep posting as "Anonymous" so I created a blogspot all my own. If you are interested in joining me click on the link above and join the challenge!
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