tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6210207417267451992024-03-08T06:33:04.369-05:00Sweet AnnabelleSnapshots of Everyday Wonders by Susan Holt SimpsonSusan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.comBlogger830125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-75610976524621939712024-02-27T14:03:00.001-05:002024-02-27T14:36:56.622-05:00Glimmers of Hope<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By the time winter in Kentucky gasps its last breath, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the world has gone all gray, brown, and tan. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On a frosty February morning, no one is spared </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a full dose of gloom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>Our <a href="https://www.thespruce.com/twelve-species-dogwood-trees-shrubs-subshrubs-3269662" target="_blank">dogwood</a> tree seems to have abandoned every hope.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wAHxgfXrpql64yaRkEyDVTv1jjulH4TmbiUVJeUg6RXB1FGXnnaqzkUcfG-Or31hrhz4p0Ke_RnHh4DfQDEbMDWcI4d6rZCsZtyEsfxJ-nUPxSsA4IaMmxRAtDs4LsCebNRUqXMxf_cwfkK47BLhSiu7IktWeVre_1HdNg1a0NrZ0hzE8KU6lfNluIuK/s4032/20240125_150007150_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wAHxgfXrpql64yaRkEyDVTv1jjulH4TmbiUVJeUg6RXB1FGXnnaqzkUcfG-Or31hrhz4p0Ke_RnHh4DfQDEbMDWcI4d6rZCsZtyEsfxJ-nUPxSsA4IaMmxRAtDs4LsCebNRUqXMxf_cwfkK47BLhSiu7IktWeVre_1HdNg1a0NrZ0hzE8KU6lfNluIuK/w240-h320/20240125_150007150_iOS.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yet frost sparkles shine glimmers of hope</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> into the murky morning, and an</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Meadowlark/photo-gallery/415063" style="font-family: helvetica;" target="_blank">adventurous meadowlark</a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> reminds me</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> that, against all odds,<span style="color: #38761d;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-family: courier;">spring is on the way.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QYOU2gL48eC7oocCPugxxHNH2DDXBRa-bgvNTK-m97Ntvz6lFp0h3lK-Yk9o4A5vzCq2b9ImD3YL6jjFVet95XeWGqCzWx3Zdea1W3xL_I9lRmdy0cz1msz1bBN_PrHig6KUMWAFaIGN8QM_gJ77_38Bav8Z2jlia2GitDgxln5212tamm2PcAtm4TgL/s4032/20240125_150235174_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QYOU2gL48eC7oocCPugxxHNH2DDXBRa-bgvNTK-m97Ntvz6lFp0h3lK-Yk9o4A5vzCq2b9ImD3YL6jjFVet95XeWGqCzWx3Zdea1W3xL_I9lRmdy0cz1msz1bBN_PrHig6KUMWAFaIGN8QM_gJ77_38Bav8Z2jlia2GitDgxln5212tamm2PcAtm4TgL/w240-h320/20240125_150235174_iOS.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Warm breezes will soon tickle their way through wide-open windows.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Every shade of green will pierce and push away dried-leaf blankets.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The sun will reach into new corners of my kitchen and make me </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">consider spring cleaning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i>And what seemed to be dead will come to life again.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sal5nAf5dOWdjzfR9GA3rO4Qn2F93CPm5PHIoh_f06RgsbeSO8q2O9YlVfAJ1cWBcVsyd34fxfvEwu2ERl1PX4qk_bhMKvnFUJVh4l3Y6LCNtAm1vhvQOvrHHJW9C33cmoY6LefkzhYFy2fz0iasE-EkkD5Bn7FTTLF6RAYm8FMtMYeGTkWDWXmUsiqn/s4032/20220424_000428741_iOS%20(1).heic" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sal5nAf5dOWdjzfR9GA3rO4Qn2F93CPm5PHIoh_f06RgsbeSO8q2O9YlVfAJ1cWBcVsyd34fxfvEwu2ERl1PX4qk_bhMKvnFUJVh4l3Y6LCNtAm1vhvQOvrHHJW9C33cmoY6LefkzhYFy2fz0iasE-EkkD5Bn7FTTLF6RAYm8FMtMYeGTkWDWXmUsiqn/w640-h480/20220424_000428741_iOS%20(1).heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://essentialcslewis.com/2016/02/13/ccslq-21-far-better-things/#:~:text=They%20are%20found%20in%20a%20letter%20Lewis%20wrote,The%20Collected%20Letters%20of%20C.S.%20Lewis%2C%20Volume%203." target="_blank">Clive</a> wasn't talking about the doubtful state of dogwood trees in February </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">when he wrote to Mary Shelburne</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> in 1963: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Parisienne;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"There are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95X15chwr68" target="_blank">better things ahead</a> than any we leave behind." </span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX3Q_A-3sMDb7k9HEHWhVvZgApd6V2_glJFDTm21sKdD5wifK718uK_2-LJIop_bUVKr16kn9nec5j1CPJyzWPLSPi3dUGlosaRZbp2-h6l3mqukxrN0HpCB__nNFfbpQQB_tp3g1skvm6DihwSLxml_uwLkIoU3dpAhyphenhyphentB07StRiI4uaPINCA2RMZIDd/s4032/20220424_000739393_iOS%20(1).heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEX3Q_A-3sMDb7k9HEHWhVvZgApd6V2_glJFDTm21sKdD5wifK718uK_2-LJIop_bUVKr16kn9nec5j1CPJyzWPLSPi3dUGlosaRZbp2-h6l3mqukxrN0HpCB__nNFfbpQQB_tp3g1skvm6DihwSLxml_uwLkIoU3dpAhyphenhyphentB07StRiI4uaPINCA2RMZIDd/w480-h640/20220424_000739393_iOS%20(1).heic" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>But I think it still works.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><br />Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-50881868924411813412023-11-28T16:50:00.001-05:002023-11-28T16:50:20.851-05:00Turkey Talk<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It's high time to put the turkeys back in the buffet </span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">drawer for </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">another eleven months. </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After all, Christmas has already snuck out of the attic</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and laid claim to every room</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28_gMFlCwf4QvC4jFoirADu80rG9SoXmP0NVMCkitNYPh8acMTt-hnWd2UWZ_WUcgdhj9hLjudILWBZamoooYKydK4KMMs_RDVNITu-gbpj0d4m_6yV59lKyBNHGJz1U9rKyy3qVtLCPvslhZFe-urlyu9Vzha3henLMNT_x2CWUoeLkbeJEZIfYJPDLw/s4032/20231128_154222599_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28_gMFlCwf4QvC4jFoirADu80rG9SoXmP0NVMCkitNYPh8acMTt-hnWd2UWZ_WUcgdhj9hLjudILWBZamoooYKydK4KMMs_RDVNITu-gbpj0d4m_6yV59lKyBNHGJz1U9rKyy3qVtLCPvslhZFe-urlyu9Vzha3henLMNT_x2CWUoeLkbeJEZIfYJPDLw/w480-h640/20231128_154222599_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But these tattered </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">birds hold their ground on </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">our Hoosier cabinet, reminding me </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">that </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">gratitude</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">never goes out of season and isn't intended to be </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">tucked away in the buffet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Thanksgiving should be a daily holiday. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">(more <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205%3A18&version=AMP,NIV,MSG" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+100&version=AMP;NIV;MSG" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So in honor of the turkeys' clarion call, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">let's </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">continue to give thanks.</span> </div></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7tET0U4OzYxeiWb1fh6fpnexDUuM-wCpw0_MWl2dBkLUYHXwf3WEXhk9m51Bb1x3fFaq4LHHyqLELeMy3iXs0H_kY4jhuzFJ7VAWOWrO6c9j6lUjGkWmrCS3wCLVA84ZBwZpeNwqyg2QlFOkXH7U4GXvdNQpkHLccww7W5_X1WXojnFEuH0HZnnQGK4h/s4032/20231115_194344740_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7tET0U4OzYxeiWb1fh6fpnexDUuM-wCpw0_MWl2dBkLUYHXwf3WEXhk9m51Bb1x3fFaq4LHHyqLELeMy3iXs0H_kY4jhuzFJ7VAWOWrO6c9j6lUjGkWmrCS3wCLVA84ZBwZpeNwqyg2QlFOkXH7U4GXvdNQpkHLccww7W5_X1WXojnFEuH0HZnnQGK4h/w640-h480/20231115_194344740_iOS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I'm grateful for sunshine through </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">boldly painted sweetgum leaves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf6lDqlZZq0ldPkDCvcoSolcNocMCh6ZpFUSBg4uLPZCtJtrsvMhW8_QklJBHC51FNDGDEum-3BvSsXb80THdLp02amV65bZGpX7fQirjUGnqwLNtgOjlcxidzddxkktqFmvhK7Pb01fRO59EWoOKyt0Hkv9eKVhMKnWiSTVsDjoI1g9sE-CT-s1uqcaX/s4032/20231110_162838041_iOS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf6lDqlZZq0ldPkDCvcoSolcNocMCh6ZpFUSBg4uLPZCtJtrsvMhW8_QklJBHC51FNDGDEum-3BvSsXb80THdLp02amV65bZGpX7fQirjUGnqwLNtgOjlcxidzddxkktqFmvhK7Pb01fRO59EWoOKyt0Hkv9eKVhMKnWiSTVsDjoI1g9sE-CT-s1uqcaX/w480-h640/20231110_162838041_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The last nasturtium bloom </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">to withstand the ever-dipping temperatures </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">is <i>the very picture</i> of gratitude.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">May we each brave the cold as well...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;"><i>with thanks.</i> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-36403579126501104172023-08-03T11:11:00.001-04:002023-08-03T11:11:55.867-04:00Crazy Bouquet<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Can you imagine a flower bouquet </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">just on the brink of blooming? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Imagine cutting and arranging </span><span>a bountiful armful of </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>almost-but-not-yet beauty.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevEch3tAn7egppxBD4YMj2fKBM3Zto553u9_WTZclRNTXVjNEmGG-gFjuGra6U1m651k_faW7N87_haffxWo_O8RnjlQy_EXYX9lrKMbfrUq4rbrg8iW2ajDHGMjydAcOHTu_UmilSOIqCwYALLrlX-KZsC4HFKcdV_CUMbZYizwAv9miyFV2v8LKcSdS/s4032/20230702_153845989_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevEch3tAn7egppxBD4YMj2fKBM3Zto553u9_WTZclRNTXVjNEmGG-gFjuGra6U1m651k_faW7N87_haffxWo_O8RnjlQy_EXYX9lrKMbfrUq4rbrg8iW2ajDHGMjydAcOHTu_UmilSOIqCwYALLrlX-KZsC4HFKcdV_CUMbZYizwAv9miyFV2v8LKcSdS/w300-h400/20230702_153845989_iOS.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Nearly-open sunflowers would complement d</span><span>aylilies, still zipped shut.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJvZeP2aZ2k9XiTbh8yBBEimShGJcubQLOBt3nwh_YDnbMIk__hUaQVnDnYtzGXknI4957mYH2HgMn1SR9BaLttl05YscvWHiLua8NXK6mHkqjhBroGaeh91e6-fIV1V0Mocx_VvLCqk-t9EYk0_6A73x_qUgGvv-QEcBLD9bETUm_lDdqyJNMYpH2_3k/s4032/20230711_220545739_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJvZeP2aZ2k9XiTbh8yBBEimShGJcubQLOBt3nwh_YDnbMIk__hUaQVnDnYtzGXknI4957mYH2HgMn1SR9BaLttl05YscvWHiLua8NXK6mHkqjhBroGaeh91e6-fIV1V0Mocx_VvLCqk-t9EYk0_6A73x_qUgGvv-QEcBLD9bETUm_lDdqyJNMYpH2_3k/w300-h400/20230711_220545739_iOS.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvZs6pavXanWRnC4hDxgTpy7qLEmBWtxEecMRNlHVasVawPukAnKaja1ionqfvU9G4-SFVapd4mBohu7gdYVwhbU4B04wqp7FHIN2chHyNWq8PeYvQ_4eemiVcp2oBB5Sk1S9saJOcSPWOVKXUUuflooJ3RQxJIo6bWmKK8p-XszN_oWuU65imEmdFd90/s4032/fern.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvZs6pavXanWRnC4hDxgTpy7qLEmBWtxEecMRNlHVasVawPukAnKaja1ionqfvU9G4-SFVapd4mBohu7gdYVwhbU4B04wqp7FHIN2chHyNWq8PeYvQ_4eemiVcp2oBB5Sk1S9saJOcSPWOVKXUUuflooJ3RQxJIo6bWmKK8p-XszN_oWuU65imEmdFd90/w400-h300/fern.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Almost unfurled fern fronds and barely blue hydrangeas could keep each other company.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHkLN4ADRNfv4ct58ypre04O8C5h9RuhweTaHzPEhAcVBEDMeu1j__Un1TWW1gId7CH-Z-Sun-cRUsRHO3lql6nIkwjEn-K0O-IF1LoYEsfiNRIIjFg8GSSru5nhd15fvdmuGeJkSqwRDPwHkcbESfvgy9JO5W9E7FRTf3JdErfVx6IbvXd5YrCILPOxk/s4608/DSC_0072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHkLN4ADRNfv4ct58ypre04O8C5h9RuhweTaHzPEhAcVBEDMeu1j__Un1TWW1gId7CH-Z-Sun-cRUsRHO3lql6nIkwjEn-K0O-IF1LoYEsfiNRIIjFg8GSSru5nhd15fvdmuGeJkSqwRDPwHkcbESfvgy9JO5W9E7FRTf3JdErfVx6IbvXd5YrCILPOxk/w400-h266/DSC_0072.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Would it be crazy to give the gift of beauty </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">without enjoying its fullness <i>firs</i>t?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To pass the highest enjoyment over to the recipient?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Well, that would be an extravagant gift, and yes ... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">maybe a little crazy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><br /> </span><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-82349415847622246092023-05-23T19:35:00.001-04:002023-05-23T19:35:46.295-04:00Waiting Rooms<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>How do you feel about spending time in a </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>waiting room?</i></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In general, I don't do very well in a waiting room of </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">any kind. As one American among many, I know I'm not alone. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We tend to think waiting times should be minimized--</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">time is precious and must be well-spent, and if the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">waiting time is too long, well ... I'm going to leave. </span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfVIOVlenw1KapWm7vKHuDduKSF1Kjw6WZDBUb0MMsdBK1oSZI9Un8Bh4silFszqkQ7DyG6nVOGKidcrgBjA7Mp3JegGa02Vig6YMGLQ1dC-DJ3ATlB-Mkg0WbdPncdYbVCMWdVdny8OlDgsjJBej95xfRtI71Cy6bOH_WtX8ELoJ58HmoNzLGbE07A/s4032/waiting%20room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfVIOVlenw1KapWm7vKHuDduKSF1Kjw6WZDBUb0MMsdBK1oSZI9Un8Bh4silFszqkQ7DyG6nVOGKidcrgBjA7Mp3JegGa02Vig6YMGLQ1dC-DJ3ATlB-Mkg0WbdPncdYbVCMWdVdny8OlDgsjJBej95xfRtI71Cy6bOH_WtX8ELoJ58HmoNzLGbE07A/w480-h640/waiting%20room.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I barely had a minute to wait in this room, the lobby </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of my dentist's office, but I'm occupying</span><span style="font-family: courier;"> other waiting rooms.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Most of them don't have chairs, televisions, or snacks. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Life has all kinds of waiting rooms,</b> and the Lord often places me </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">in one sort or another to learn, <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">gulp</span>,</i> patience. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oh, and don't forget perseverance, trust, and faithfulness. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some days, I do well and am a peaceable waiting room dweller. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Other times, I complain loudly and check in </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">at the desk every five minutes. I've been known to kick a chair </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">or two in these </span><span style="font-family: courier;">figurative waiting rooms--</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it's not pretty. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Waiting is hard. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>What waiting rooms are you in right now? </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">More about waiting well <a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-is-working-in-your-waiting" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-19585854375724081322023-04-27T13:41:00.001-04:002023-04-27T13:41:43.241-04:00Story Pieces & Five Suggestions<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Anything might happen when the box of story pieces </i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b><i>comes out of the buffet drawer. </i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvLKW8ofOjXj4XzLVxVdxHfo3w77t_esQwp31G5CHCf59sMYY-xwyyKKcKnw4WQYNALZTxHXSr16zJftr4cocMYiAYLbElGfx-dzJ6lHX24tztq4G1cN44rpWXkKavfnFmKkAay2b9AuVhnto87KBeEaQIevIwttMuiJPZpzMQg5izQHC2yd-eO0Bew/s4032/story%20box2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGvLKW8ofOjXj4XzLVxVdxHfo3w77t_esQwp31G5CHCf59sMYY-xwyyKKcKnw4WQYNALZTxHXSr16zJftr4cocMYiAYLbElGfx-dzJ6lHX24tztq4G1cN44rpWXkKavfnFmKkAay2b9AuVhnto87KBeEaQIevIwttMuiJPZpzMQg5izQHC2yd-eO0Bew/w480-h640/story%20box2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Using these tiny plastic characters to act out </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">spontaneous stories always results in shared laughter. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Will the horse take the flamingo for a ride?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Will the alligator and the pig be friends or foes?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Will the bucket-carrying girl trip over the hedgehog?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i>Story-loving grandkids want to know.</i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidy1uyL-Fl-O6qbBoUlm4tqXWhn5tKcRmERSr5RRVYFkeifUnVUTPVwlQfoG4V5UyQAjH3fJUf3RiXQiUMMnjbE0AYKPaSNPft_uhNAOG_gB1z75uwAmgLBLvYG5jhmG46bdOiz5VDtKdBfTeQRYILAApTjAM5O6Poyc1O4xViUjvJRYKGxJcSeUPdw/s4032/story%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidy1uyL-Fl-O6qbBoUlm4tqXWhn5tKcRmERSr5RRVYFkeifUnVUTPVwlQfoG4V5UyQAjH3fJUf3RiXQiUMMnjbE0AYKPaSNPft_uhNAOG_gB1z75uwAmgLBLvYG5jhmG46bdOiz5VDtKdBfTeQRYILAApTjAM5O6Poyc1O4xViUjvJRYKGxJcSeUPdw/w480-h640/story%20box.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Abril Fatface;">FIVE SUGGESTIONS</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Abril Fatface;"> for using your own box of Story Pieces: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Abril Fatface;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span></b><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> </b>A timer can be handy when one of the storytellers is ... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">long-winded. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span></b><span style="font-family: arial;"> Storytellers who are waiting for their turn must listen </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">quietly to the current storyteller. Ask questions at the end, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">but do not interrupt the flow of the story.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span></b><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> </b>Keep interest high by rotating the story pieces. Look for </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">new ones in toy stores, craft shops, and at second-hand sales. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b style="color: #cc0000;">* </b>L</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">icking, biting, and/or eating the story pieces is frowned upon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">* </span></b>Use the concept of chapters for older storytellers. Each player </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">can continue the story using the same core characters.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">More on hopeful stories <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDMeJVtj85c&t=11s" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div><br /> <p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-60033429114819967992023-04-13T15:35:00.002-04:002023-04-13T15:35:26.841-04:00Mysterious Messages <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b>Messages stuffed in a coffee-shop wall...</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Would you sip your latte without peeking? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Or would you indulge in </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">anonymous note-reading?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTiMD7oqiPMaASov7odQoSvVogyPsqyfdfGwkqTgUcyiyN5z2mfvOSibRuIBznXYR036IqNx3A86ygXUWrZRm2BlutllwCs05-9FyzcFM_Pw1gwq96w5FOgYA2XQSFLBM0F06i5oOBKaglabO5RXFmAcHHG-upBoHlBxBI4D2tTugCZ7kfVF9eNU2HQ/s4032/wall%20photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTiMD7oqiPMaASov7odQoSvVogyPsqyfdfGwkqTgUcyiyN5z2mfvOSibRuIBznXYR036IqNx3A86ygXUWrZRm2BlutllwCs05-9FyzcFM_Pw1gwq96w5FOgYA2XQSFLBM0F06i5oOBKaglabO5RXFmAcHHG-upBoHlBxBI4D2tTugCZ7kfVF9eNU2HQ/w480-h640/wall%20photo.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">So many fold styles and paper types--</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"> what seem to be long messages next to </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">short, single-fold memos. </span></div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-Blwm6Qyym0Ww4Y5zf5z0kSMxvaAMw2nLsw2yjoTsTAnwo6OEP6SgvVDi1x3Ed628H4zpDFWXNmBs9Hk3z8cR7H3C3i5o6TG3-vj_ucpeF1IMUILabAu4qNrFlMkyJhtcd8z4nDLzq8wNhVokQMy1xQXRCQ7c2_N-AgSD35RGFFFj4fd-vWXhds3Rw/s4032/wall%20pic%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-Blwm6Qyym0Ww4Y5zf5z0kSMxvaAMw2nLsw2yjoTsTAnwo6OEP6SgvVDi1x3Ed628H4zpDFWXNmBs9Hk3z8cR7H3C3i5o6TG3-vj_ucpeF1IMUILabAu4qNrFlMkyJhtcd8z4nDLzq8wNhVokQMy1xQXRCQ7c2_N-AgSD35RGFFFj4fd-vWXhds3Rw/w480-h640/wall%20pic%20.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Why leave a note stuffed in the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">wall of a busy coffee shop? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Is it like a prayer or a plea for help?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">Which one is that final break-up note, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">a long-awaited proposal, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"> or the last clue in a treasure hunt?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">I didn't read a single one, though the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">urge was so strong. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i>Maybe next time, I'll sneak a peek ...</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">(Message wall at <a href="https://www.carabellocoffee.com/" target="_blank">Carabello Coffee</a>, Newport, Kentucky)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-25784844239448609122023-02-20T14:03:00.007-05:002023-04-11T16:23:03.094-04:00Flashbulb Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Flashbulb memories--do you have them? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">These snapshots of time remain crystal clear, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">sharpen through the years, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">and are often pondered. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'd love to sit around a table of friends <i>(or strangers)</i> and share a few. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">No explanations - "My cousin lived with us for a month, and so ..."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> No excuses - "I had a fever for a week, that's why ..."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">No analysis - "You probably remember that because of ..."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: large;">Just the flashes. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmmdTqfX3HQbWfRRBUeI8ws9XB6VkAdvtbOHPi9Jq3UURmGTriMDtKYe-vSdIvZsJG_XZOrB6uGlkGC-pEjiQmz7Bya7Y_Bq3hmD_0-JTafy7IRSfp4FYqcbuq2ngE9ewNbUlZyjIX0UK/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmmdTqfX3HQbWfRRBUeI8ws9XB6VkAdvtbOHPi9Jq3UURmGTriMDtKYe-vSdIvZsJG_XZOrB6uGlkGC-pEjiQmz7Bya7Y_Bq3hmD_0-JTafy7IRSfp4FYqcbuq2ngE9ewNbUlZyjIX0UK/w640-h426/DSC_0161.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here's one from my corner of the table. <br /><b>It's your turn next. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm at a church retreat. The speaker presents a flowered-glass jar containing bits of colorful paper. The container is handed around, and each person chooses one of the mysterious folded squares. Inside each is a hand-written Bible verse. The speaker says the verses have been chosen by the inspiration of the Spirit. She suggests that the verse we receive should be kept private and pondered. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">I open mine--it's Psalm 32:9.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm still pondering, but I've added the verse above it to </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">encourage my (fifty-something) self. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">You can read those </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2032%3A8-9&version=AMP,NLT" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<br />Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-20152124617660085302022-12-09T22:06:00.001-05:002023-02-20T14:05:20.764-05:00Pondering the Season<p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Christmas is hanging out in my living room, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">trying its best to be shiny and bright. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">About 50% of the bubble lights are actually bubbling--not bad. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">Are there bubble light consultants? </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">This might be the perfect seasonal side hustle.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">1) Flick the glass stems--oh, so delicately, of course. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">2) Mutter, "Hmmm."</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">3) Unplug lights, wait 30 seconds, and turn them on again. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">4) Adjust glass stems to </span></i><i><span style="font-family: times;">point directly at the ceiling</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"> and repeat steps 1- 3.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">5) Collect $75.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYhYavqgV8qdl3T3gj6WiAr-Mq162elviQMDaNUtMigXACotUQalZvKwpML4-kMIIj5woNiaPSYGdnlHh1JXBUvDavQSHpNwlzGW6oOStiU7QrlwbKVIHJ8hz874HD5EogKJNONsfV8QSeA61Cr6z4-nGXIqJZVV8gXhiWrc8OZUgeB4AtdR9kaaCqA/s4032/20221207_225509823_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYhYavqgV8qdl3T3gj6WiAr-Mq162elviQMDaNUtMigXACotUQalZvKwpML4-kMIIj5woNiaPSYGdnlHh1JXBUvDavQSHpNwlzGW6oOStiU7QrlwbKVIHJ8hz874HD5EogKJNONsfV8QSeA61Cr6z4-nGXIqJZVV8gXhiWrc8OZUgeB4AtdR9kaaCqA/w480-h640/20221207_225509823_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ginger cookies will be my main baked treat this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There's nothing better to dunk in coffee.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Find the recipe and backstory <a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/2008/12/marian-ginger-cookies.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACRy44H1mKXffKxnFsQCw4hYqgCYECnH7jBT3L7POIjARPp8uJLiGHmgncpXtdVRy6kPjFzcreQkZvvcG8qImiyMCe6y0UCmipuj-thqcQ0TeVmqpmWpbqiMYRMLGPNxFiMSRwiiSgIHNjSXueOKBpR89HTy-YoxYfaEmbMSyKQns9nLkJNBp1JcXUQ/s2049/0188d1fe914e93344c176f4a1411d95135f23f1052.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACRy44H1mKXffKxnFsQCw4hYqgCYECnH7jBT3L7POIjARPp8uJLiGHmgncpXtdVRy6kPjFzcreQkZvvcG8qImiyMCe6y0UCmipuj-thqcQ0TeVmqpmWpbqiMYRMLGPNxFiMSRwiiSgIHNjSXueOKBpR89HTy-YoxYfaEmbMSyKQns9nLkJNBp1JcXUQ/w640-h480/0188d1fe914e93344c176f4a1411d95135f23f1052.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">THIS happened in November. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've spent a little bit of time figuring out how to sign a book--</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXKNDe_U1dU" target="_blank">a skill</a> I didn't know existed. The one below is for </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">a dear friend to gift to her brother's dogs. How fun is that?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You can check it out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Dog-Read-Dog-Friendly/dp/164170733X" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzsobRr25ybSn6_9Rc4kKyuvLs08Bgkr-C5H12N86kADZRnvg_aQx-xGCzW-Xs1vClydJPXc26owFbWVE7x0lutj3LUK4qpLjEQSkHY2gwIEgop5AP26O56S2nRuKb7oNktKhVLzLyfDAHucitM9_eNp96EpQZEOnkzbeye3ZXmq8ZTGcodX5TTMMiQ/s4032/20221209_183738084_iOS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzsobRr25ybSn6_9Rc4kKyuvLs08Bgkr-C5H12N86kADZRnvg_aQx-xGCzW-Xs1vClydJPXc26owFbWVE7x0lutj3LUK4qpLjEQSkHY2gwIEgop5AP26O56S2nRuKb7oNktKhVLzLyfDAHucitM9_eNp96EpQZEOnkzbeye3ZXmq8ZTGcodX5TTMMiQ/w480-h640/20221209_183738084_iOS.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At the end of the day--any day of the year--it's really about this.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lTSPSiG8rMaDrpzHUh2LMZM_5WlI_RTHo4HiQzAQdD3TXvUXoN2t4W4_Xtqca23CMgKFKEKUSreOKu7YRFtVo9v1Qzch1BcoD6nz3J5zPMeVWwk-j5So4o2qOM3S5zb823uD67CvUANfpWtiILH6HIU0bk-P3q85t1m-M0BxMynMrsB8OhIshmHFag/s4032/IMG_1534.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lTSPSiG8rMaDrpzHUh2LMZM_5WlI_RTHo4HiQzAQdD3TXvUXoN2t4W4_Xtqca23CMgKFKEKUSreOKu7YRFtVo9v1Qzch1BcoD6nz3J5zPMeVWwk-j5So4o2qOM3S5zb823uD67CvUANfpWtiILH6HIU0bk-P3q85t1m-M0BxMynMrsB8OhIshmHFag/w640-h480/IMG_1534.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B58ZObZC9wQ" target="_blank">Pondering the Incarnation</a> and all its beauty is enough to </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">fill every moment of the season. </span></div></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> </span><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-61113900648025680212022-10-13T15:23:00.006-04:002022-10-13T15:25:34.158-04:00Ready to Freeze<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's spider time on my Kentucky acre,</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> just ahead of the frost next week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">They're frantically spinning elaborate orbs before they freeze to death.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>It's poetic and awfully artsy, don't you think?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">hurriedly inspect these for any </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__7NUrkFirA" style="font-family: georgia;" target="_blank">scribbled symbol or message</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">. <br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRuLdelDQPSBr-VEA6jxAAy_ln7N0a7P-vj59_fxCNFjXXjQpBpj5J7onB7eS0NkaCVpoau6q6OYC1ZFpOKYROk38N1Ev6NTc_LRKQZ3PK2Ham5-uy7dwi4VOpEe4VTdQK9DEsKcZK3TsQwTkVOkkaG7eAaW6hwxZVgzJLTVMQ0g6AzX4ubua5dTtHg/s4928/DSC_0100%20(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRuLdelDQPSBr-VEA6jxAAy_ln7N0a7P-vj59_fxCNFjXXjQpBpj5J7onB7eS0NkaCVpoau6q6OYC1ZFpOKYROk38N1Ev6NTc_LRKQZ3PK2Ham5-uy7dwi4VOpEe4VTdQK9DEsKcZK3TsQwTkVOkkaG7eAaW6hwxZVgzJLTVMQ0g6AzX4ubua5dTtHg/w640-h424/DSC_0100%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The smarter spiders choose to make their last stand in the </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">hydrangea bushes. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's an excellent place to freeze.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa3Wvxi8QLh1aQuhvZ6H7hu41yzOTjMvjmQA1z3kEnk_2eJeciDFZTAFUKs_txJPpJwUohuF0s4t8uqosFYhvoapHcwxckgdKtYgARg02T8fdOTKHrUQAuMvX1R05lCtA84nKUZWnxlWAlizF_PEE0GsKK3EwQWrhlk2XTT7pXbHJl8DxkJGy5o06Sw/s4928/DSC_0103%20(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa3Wvxi8QLh1aQuhvZ6H7hu41yzOTjMvjmQA1z3kEnk_2eJeciDFZTAFUKs_txJPpJwUohuF0s4t8uqosFYhvoapHcwxckgdKtYgARg02T8fdOTKHrUQAuMvX1R05lCtA84nKUZWnxlWAlizF_PEE0GsKK3EwQWrhlk2XTT7pXbHJl8DxkJGy5o06Sw/w640-h424/DSC_0103%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This year, I have only one blooming <a href="https://parkseed.com/heavenly-blue-morning-glory-seeds/p/01049-PK-P1/" target="_blank">Heavenly Blue Morning Glory</a> vine. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Last year's vine was extravagant, a year of blues I'm sure will never happen again.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Because last year, against my husband's better judgment, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I allowed the morning glory vines to take over a small dogwood. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The tree wasn't so happy, but I could blame all the damage </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">on the cicada invasion. <i>And I did. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ozJik5_FdFKMcIKhUPQ7w9ma3JIb3IEiz2S9XStpYcZ0lD_W1mJl62Y1fe1S7FQ6-oAWhYUZeR0vSExDVxk7GBZ19ypVn8K1fMzJgy0UArOrU9WE0P_92B5WogycYsq6bOwD9rnH4Z5DguvuVJz5bR6e3Lhtn9gYuAreg2NNbX9itVPzID2ZMxU1vQ/s4928/DSC_0068%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ozJik5_FdFKMcIKhUPQ7w9ma3JIb3IEiz2S9XStpYcZ0lD_W1mJl62Y1fe1S7FQ6-oAWhYUZeR0vSExDVxk7GBZ19ypVn8K1fMzJgy0UArOrU9WE0P_92B5WogycYsq6bOwD9rnH4Z5DguvuVJz5bR6e3Lhtn9gYuAreg2NNbX9itVPzID2ZMxU1vQ/w640-h424/DSC_0068%20(4).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first blue bloom opened today, somewhat late in the season. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But much better later- than never-blooming. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>There's something special about those heavenly blues. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Even their gracefully-twining vines and </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">miniature buds hold unique charm.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrIqMHG7NW_cgBv20C0P0uiOLiukc_XQr3AUIhh4R0DbqLt85T7RlRqJRtG_gZs8IUNeBiY_5NGJnxFyH_Xoh0jga-oFBZrwG2pgcX9FYftRBdsCo-Vqp8NwMW_EsBA463oNfYm5TFZLgNCS99PVUBZxpdOKJYpgqRQrDD8krVryoScZ5bEto9M77WA/s4928/DSC_0063%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrIqMHG7NW_cgBv20C0P0uiOLiukc_XQr3AUIhh4R0DbqLt85T7RlRqJRtG_gZs8IUNeBiY_5NGJnxFyH_Xoh0jga-oFBZrwG2pgcX9FYftRBdsCo-Vqp8NwMW_EsBA463oNfYm5TFZLgNCS99PVUBZxpdOKJYpgqRQrDD8krVryoScZ5bEto9M77WA/w640-h424/DSC_0063%20(4).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>You're charmed, right? </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><br /><p></p></div>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-68628171442172702952022-09-12T16:56:00.002-04:002022-12-09T22:07:38.397-05:00Almost Fall and a Thank You Gift Offer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's that time of year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">The zinnias shrug into crisp September air </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">and outdo themselves in height and color. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_gxGUFiMxHBruCHnmyWu4fjeVIEXmDKtzsu70bbsd2LblfIQlK2e97KJ0r9Omc_6IGYfwkVdYFC2Quic4mcDDImBJCR3hLcet01iX9L1WCug5gvjrblDw81r1RaJrHz9tFBrkZ2yWVFyPfP7fcVRUP2_Ma8xgdwqbAcrqcXf-IYzd5kpkIHLBAjZRFg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkiNa8AEe7YM7Lb9N3LyaPOu-0FLKRr79sU9rVaub2gAv0_crVwvZRCVzw0PaLWllzft68q66M7JMWP6dZzniqwoTofUvMmol7sGmdeWi0MgKQPGNlqACbxXnhOTbe3euBLdnT7G0lmJq_8yoABE7XYG4UvWMaO8b_amX8wfMjCos9bLfa8sAIg_Av3A=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">Fanciful fairy rings sprout overnight </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">in dew-drenched clover.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_gxGUFiMxHBruCHnmyWu4fjeVIEXmDKtzsu70bbsd2LblfIQlK2e97KJ0r9Omc_6IGYfwkVdYFC2Quic4mcDDImBJCR3hLcet01iX9L1WCug5gvjrblDw81r1RaJrHz9tFBrkZ2yWVFyPfP7fcVRUP2_Ma8xgdwqbAcrqcXf-IYzd5kpkIHLBAjZRFg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQyDni-pH1VXlDiam1RA2X1zPR1wJHQArLe4MDKcvZbpfcJEGEZh317AEd-U_dFo4G52F1ghJEtADQQnTCGOxug7KSA3VD9Q-pX1wpXGsYgYizJv_xigj2Wh5_VCGaNW6C20IiCScK2_zhXOJ9iw-YaLoYQljaYl_N-UTCNvaGR1nfpEjsahYdn5bOOg=w300-h400" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">And you teach your dog to wear glasses. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Why wear glasses? </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">The better to READ with, my dear!</span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_gxGUFiMxHBruCHnmyWu4fjeVIEXmDKtzsu70bbsd2LblfIQlK2e97KJ0r9Omc_6IGYfwkVdYFC2Quic4mcDDImBJCR3hLcet01iX9L1WCug5gvjrblDw81r1RaJrHz9tFBrkZ2yWVFyPfP7fcVRUP2_Ma8xgdwqbAcrqcXf-IYzd5kpkIHLBAjZRFg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: courier;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2569" data-original-width="2211" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_gxGUFiMxHBruCHnmyWu4fjeVIEXmDKtzsu70bbsd2LblfIQlK2e97KJ0r9Omc_6IGYfwkVdYFC2Quic4mcDDImBJCR3hLcet01iX9L1WCug5gvjrblDw81r1RaJrHz9tFBrkZ2yWVFyPfP7fcVRUP2_Ma8xgdwqbAcrqcXf-IYzd5kpkIHLBAjZRFg=w552-h640" width="552" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's only two months until my project with Familius Publishing, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Dog-Read-Dog-Friendly/dp/164170733X" target="_blank">Teach Your Dog to Read</a>, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">comes on the market. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">November 8th is the big day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>If you preorder, I'll send thanks</b> in the form of </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">seeds from my garden. You can choose one of these: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/search?q=cleome" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxUqu62g0U64W-WGFNHCH6MG59KQUA-CWgZ1BACebe-XoUTzM2QmZ6S6-7pMPGesdMD7m83bLH_DA_BjHiGE_bOmj5x5NwVeRSOF0RFptuTV1HjjaMBDnG-_BKMkDDWsPwtFAAn2x_sD80KeZgS9QHe9-bvtbFnDPEA3VKGoRN_ZTUXXRDXsxlBQpttA=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/2016/10/fall-flowers-family.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYVyJkMeClu58BBOiUhM9905XDgL-K_npk7v7r2l5zU2sstQXsIqcgYEcyUQFsvW2l-qLc4l3-XVuOLLMJJ0smPkeo36tTihU7t6IFbLMhE8K2eg9AEgYYvVVIWSJp4N05PhL7PztHCQAaisafXuzQNrVj5JHn6tDlelhr5HDswesKww4Wyjc8SucjgQ=w150-h200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/search?q=false+indigo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSWjjIlQjxmo8cuZUjN0KslZPZoRuVPZnEdWEnn5G2uru_pMHTKpbZLxW-8Nqy2eZWsZh9QTLz3UZh3AD9_4-AHL9Im5wSh3Dnbvvf5tthZsHH3-Og36QTEwpQuPQi2Ld1Gkuko2wdV9l1Jt8l9lwLTFInyVc8ikTXCwPv8s_6Nz6dCOFGQrf9884cTw=w133-h200" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Send your choice of seeds and your mailing address to simpsoncircle@gmail.com.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-21410589769316818352022-08-24T17:41:00.000-04:002022-08-24T17:41:14.647-04:00Emergency Room Revelation<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I happened to be in the emergency room a few weeks ago. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's the last place I <span style="font-size: x-small;">(EVER)</span> want to go, but for the sake of a dear one, I went.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLQY45Tp1pcjMsiANMB_m2F-4P3i9uyPOBGOe3-jRTUC0xACMVOXAHkHnSdmM3IMQAFL3eS77CtuKnlQTndKRwbFwCtgxbSC4mPIiE7UCV82X-CrB9m4AT-9ROYAwN36I4Zcy5saYfOPQZVHa4ZM500Vr_P1s2LBzn6hEN4INGJoNvOhSFB-fNQfokw/s4032/drawers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLQY45Tp1pcjMsiANMB_m2F-4P3i9uyPOBGOe3-jRTUC0xACMVOXAHkHnSdmM3IMQAFL3eS77CtuKnlQTndKRwbFwCtgxbSC4mPIiE7UCV82X-CrB9m4AT-9ROYAwN36I4Zcy5saYfOPQZVHa4ZM500Vr_P1s2LBzn6hEN4INGJoNvOhSFB-fNQfokw/w480-h640/drawers.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">A few hours into the visit, I ventured into the hallway on an errand and </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">was drenched in the chaos of a raging patient. His screams, punctuated </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">by frantic fist-pounding, reverberated over the nurses' station. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But not a single doctor, nurse, or tech seemed to notice. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">They went about their work with good humor while he shrieked, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Let me go! Let me out! I'm getting out of here!" </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jagged splinters of his terror penetrated my heart.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">After scurrying back to the room to wait alone, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I pushed the door mostly closed, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">just in case the madman managed to escape. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gL4w8YfEacYXp4zgq0NvhMAO04HV0EKy1BXXG0JfBQp4GZjw_ujP8QsZLhnveVC66-E1_qKMGRUM9PiV7EKqNoAA1CCycEu6OPELevg3mD-sOzUwkI9wpDHOq2HWSLc5Z57mtY6IuWcRxuJxIkCsqB7nxNIGmgRp2ReyExJkk0S2GW-mDDVCyK2KTg/s3070/gloves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2867" data-original-width="3070" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gL4w8YfEacYXp4zgq0NvhMAO04HV0EKy1BXXG0JfBQp4GZjw_ujP8QsZLhnveVC66-E1_qKMGRUM9PiV7EKqNoAA1CCycEu6OPELevg3mD-sOzUwkI9wpDHOq2HWSLc5Z57mtY6IuWcRxuJxIkCsqB7nxNIGmgRp2ReyExJkk0S2GW-mDDVCyK2KTg/w640-h598/gloves.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Almost immediately another terrifying sound slipped through </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the door's crack. </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">A weeping woman, just outside in the hallway. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">She sobbed as if her hospital visit had </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">erupted into tragedy, with full voice and no inhibition. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">"Oh, Father God,"</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I whispered... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLgmoE7eMEYF0s6vuEA08jhgp8MSKRW1Vct-i40qFjmDVptlxuCtqZ32u7qXfoYZUuqNO_9I6kN52rmt-fkY0Jn0mEeFzgUZ2q03Di1bz6-0nmFKFOBIgyXwYpLexwaW130b_G7BUql-ecJT9PAby-kNgrC_pg8hmR3C1xnGg7l-z3YHjDrtMuGQ4Pw/s3842/moniter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3842" data-original-width="2678" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLgmoE7eMEYF0s6vuEA08jhgp8MSKRW1Vct-i40qFjmDVptlxuCtqZ32u7qXfoYZUuqNO_9I6kN52rmt-fkY0Jn0mEeFzgUZ2q03Di1bz6-0nmFKFOBIgyXwYpLexwaW130b_G7BUql-ecJT9PAby-kNgrC_pg8hmR3C1xnGg7l-z3YHjDrtMuGQ4Pw/w445-h640/moniter.jpg" width="445" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wish I could tell you how I left the safety of that room and went to </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">the weeping woman with a bottle of water and a listening ear. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But that's not what happened. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Would that I had edged near the caged rager and whispered </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">prayers for holy intervention. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But ... no.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">"Please get me out of here,"</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is what came out of my heart. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">A fear-filled prayer. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><b>For myself. </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFqVD5w51b2kW8gOR7hOqBsnkZFq8wHywKXLfaXu8cUUykLN-TdRrVEsiyufX_y9E0LFCb2GgfC9VykPnJyYHo653YVu4E4snj04FpP8Z5RtK_IW6I23et0lUuMrIrcKin-yQBpGHD3BVICZrGGP0b00OhdDNlXN7M7MT9E2kU84QFjqrAkWSWxM7RA/s3991/cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3991" data-original-width="3008" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFqVD5w51b2kW8gOR7hOqBsnkZFq8wHywKXLfaXu8cUUykLN-TdRrVEsiyufX_y9E0LFCb2GgfC9VykPnJyYHo653YVu4E4snj04FpP8Z5RtK_IW6I23et0lUuMrIrcKin-yQBpGHD3BVICZrGGP0b00OhdDNlXN7M7MT9E2kU84QFjqrAkWSWxM7RA/w483-h640/cross.jpg" width="483" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: georgia;">You like everything to be calm, for life to be smooth sailing. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></div></i><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Yes. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">But I am at work here. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">People call out for Me in the chaos and </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">desperation of a hospital ER, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i>where there's sometimes screaming and weeping.</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/jehovah-shammah-meaning" target="_blank">Jehovah Shammah</a> walks the halls of the hospital. He is there. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How could I forget? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Knowing <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20139%3A%207-10&version=NIV,AMP,MSG" target="_blank">"He is there"</a> empowers Christ-like actions. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Forgeting myself and reaching out to those in need— </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">whether it be at the grocery, in a nursing home,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">on a playground, or <span style="font-size: x-small;">(gulp)</span> at the emergency room—</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is the real business of life. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Next time, I'll remember. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">For more about our amazing God, visit <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/omnipotence-omniscience-omnipresence-god/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-13273521577272775462022-06-06T13:50:00.001-04:002022-06-06T13:50:50.050-04:00A New Beauty <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">All dried up </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">and beautiful in a new way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKszhFjdg0TFhFRMBXl3p5FkuVKB33NzZTVUB4FOeyhGjhncRh_TMikoAQtPyZhSfiIMUIDmgkhNfNc5xLa3arqqSAr2nXeCcXn-8NdApLrVVktf9UQcNYbUV9rRNHic6pKtZ1kPl4Yl-T-N1PrqMcPfa3-rysZCEwRLprIJyp3BgZMyzuB1GrnSxt8w/s4032/20220510_133507243_iOS.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKszhFjdg0TFhFRMBXl3p5FkuVKB33NzZTVUB4FOeyhGjhncRh_TMikoAQtPyZhSfiIMUIDmgkhNfNc5xLa3arqqSAr2nXeCcXn-8NdApLrVVktf9UQcNYbUV9rRNHic6pKtZ1kPl4Yl-T-N1PrqMcPfa3-rysZCEwRLprIJyp3BgZMyzuB1GrnSxt8w/w480-h640/20220510_133507243_iOS.heic" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The hard work of nodding in spring breezes complete,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">sun-dried daffodils decorate a rusty toolbox. </span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGwXNvi-0CyOiuRYu6YJRyQRBj0_aQajT-TysSZl0ezmn_fWnyq8J5gwK4dkG4LqspscpULJefcCyUcyXibX-7eQI5Z2j7jle9BusTGuMxnu8EFZCacG5Z0vX1GadS0j8l3T0nTo5elINMQVnPO6LfqKoOVX6Yt_UHa5_u147kLcPfo3kS5VT18a-Eg/s4032/20220510_200915761_iOS.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGwXNvi-0CyOiuRYu6YJRyQRBj0_aQajT-TysSZl0ezmn_fWnyq8J5gwK4dkG4LqspscpULJefcCyUcyXibX-7eQI5Z2j7jle9BusTGuMxnu8EFZCacG5Z0vX1GadS0j8l3T0nTo5elINMQVnPO6LfqKoOVX6Yt_UHa5_u147kLcPfo3kS5VT18a-Eg/w480-h640/20220510_200915761_iOS.heic" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Parchment paper lily of the valley in blue glass </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">bottles recall wedding bells and ivory veils.</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqLv7daRg9zMcEedcA63w-6y_mw1O9F38zlZ8y5sKtb_tdDK6lsuFv0LXrQ6SNlO8DsREBEmuVUhr0A994Oyjcmz9VeqSLNzWAKOcUvI9Vn_jgxf6QLRgsdIPa4B1WG_iUSYv3X_d6L9VsLfBS5STs8O1XlSZfJ8C3ZImk7vqolAr3848i_43KvPPbg/s4032/20220517_174708632_iOS.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqLv7daRg9zMcEedcA63w-6y_mw1O9F38zlZ8y5sKtb_tdDK6lsuFv0LXrQ6SNlO8DsREBEmuVUhr0A994Oyjcmz9VeqSLNzWAKOcUvI9Vn_jgxf6QLRgsdIPa4B1WG_iUSYv3X_d6L9VsLfBS5STs8O1XlSZfJ8C3ZImk7vqolAr3848i_43KvPPbg/w480-h640/20220517_174708632_iOS.heic" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Last year's weathered hydrangeas reveal an </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">inner framework strong enough to make it through </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">a long winter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVEGRnut4DLIaaO1G5ktKGardhoT5r8U2CzpCynATWsK-K2C2ysMP7yfi5Pmvo8wP72eomL9laWiqWikEZJY7mM7nytfQYhsAFdgTJu0_1adzHuD7gNhYyUleItEji6ebmT47obSYYslaJVEplEy9Jgjw9JKLTYvxImtUBVReYjiHNXiIjUanXjiPPA/s1280/Journey%20Thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVEGRnut4DLIaaO1G5ktKGardhoT5r8U2CzpCynATWsK-K2C2ysMP7yfi5Pmvo8wP72eomL9laWiqWikEZJY7mM7nytfQYhsAFdgTJu0_1adzHuD7gNhYyUleItEji6ebmT47obSYYslaJVEplEy9Jgjw9JKLTYvxImtUBVReYjiHNXiIjUanXjiPPA/w200-h113/Journey%20Thumbnail.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I <a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/2019/06/settling-into-garnet.html" target="_blank">signed a contract back in 2019</a> with <a href="https://www.familius.com/" target="_blank">Familius Publishers</a> for a </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">project about dogs and reading. The product has made a few twists and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">turns over the course of three years. Recently, I was notified that </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the final copy went to print. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Dog-Read-Dog-Friendly/dp/164170733X/ref=sr_1_4?crid=ACZUX1QEV39N&keywords=teach+your+dog+to+read&qid=1654537644&s=books&sprefix=teach+your+dog+to+read%2Cstripbooks%2C60&sr=1-4" target="_blank">Teach Your Dog to Read</a> will release this November! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /> </span><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-76469654787884919042022-05-05T16:08:00.000-04:002022-05-05T16:08:11.230-04:00Spring Changes Everything<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"> <span style="font-size: medium;">Spring sunshine arrived just in time. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">I'm sure you can identify. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">It's turning ordinary things </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">into magical objects of beauty. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8JnOY8CzXypFdRg_D0lhWXdYNnfbPR5HVqPyhcahZrLwxqQLBEx7rYXVRejEhUi1JJZaDruoBhadch1nxUAw2KWWdpB9uuI_1Lw0DJflvru6lwGXEiNIfXtFHH0E2wRnbuZQ5o7XmYlENLsH9OYT85o4h0_nRh38719BnDi0A7K9X45N1VOf4Jq32Q/s4032/20220424_000739393_iOS.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8JnOY8CzXypFdRg_D0lhWXdYNnfbPR5HVqPyhcahZrLwxqQLBEx7rYXVRejEhUi1JJZaDruoBhadch1nxUAw2KWWdpB9uuI_1Lw0DJflvru6lwGXEiNIfXtFHH0E2wRnbuZQ5o7XmYlENLsH9OYT85o4h0_nRh38719BnDi0A7K9X45N1VOf4Jq32Q/w480-h640/20220424_000739393_iOS.heic" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"> Our midcentury Orlyt greenhouse is </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">getting a long-deserved renovation. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">More room for beauty, fewer piles of nonsense.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R30vGJFBFT9Hb3lXQGDd9R4J7Hq_KIw-YjrH1-EfyarNzdkDbDPsug3JKnOOG4IBmFXeUPdlbvcDjloETXzWh2uO02eCpWJxBD_COcVFC1y-0sX7JdsSwxH5XPIuAP2Kd132Kk-2hdbTTVxIAjEUQilXi-QqiCyS1-V3S_Nisx1GAn5GiG0gQ2x7hQ/s4032/20220417_172858823_iOS.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R30vGJFBFT9Hb3lXQGDd9R4J7Hq_KIw-YjrH1-EfyarNzdkDbDPsug3JKnOOG4IBmFXeUPdlbvcDjloETXzWh2uO02eCpWJxBD_COcVFC1y-0sX7JdsSwxH5XPIuAP2Kd132Kk-2hdbTTVxIAjEUQilXi-QqiCyS1-V3S_Nisx1GAn5GiG0gQ2x7hQ/w640-h480/20220417_172858823_iOS.heic" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">Repurposing old objects for a new life is </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;">exactly the sort of puzzle I savor to solve. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wWYnsxqNcRh5XIHHDr41RKGbQYiMG7cA7a0nchz-7QUkylrocJa9Df0TbIRSvo5qr-S3LxR04DAfAq2grKfEMgpktTqtwxoRIoIXlSqalMvi2xOQIxrSE9hoQuKdLrB2HfLUSe2Vp2U2LV768OQf4e8Zu9YVicgKSYSQm0UKBqm4pTD1lJzMmEjH5A/s4032/20220501_183525978_iOS%20(1).heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wWYnsxqNcRh5XIHHDr41RKGbQYiMG7cA7a0nchz-7QUkylrocJa9Df0TbIRSvo5qr-S3LxR04DAfAq2grKfEMgpktTqtwxoRIoIXlSqalMvi2xOQIxrSE9hoQuKdLrB2HfLUSe2Vp2U2LV768OQf4e8Zu9YVicgKSYSQm0UKBqm4pTD1lJzMmEjH5A/w480-h640/20220501_183525978_iOS%20(1).heic" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-89025884030747668582022-02-25T14:07:00.002-05:002022-02-25T14:07:25.052-05:00Lean In<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">More snow photos. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You might be thinking, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: courier;">UGH. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_1Dw5iktxNCrEDXJqNaUjG_0t0xiO3d5G9-F-6MTEaYKwhUstmrYaYOx5nXI3INVJ8y-rzpUyLE5o4CFzGCp8xcla3cog17gc1Jue3jwlaSesa84lr2ZSfNIw1ufK2X04IlzGR8Rp89W_ZNsoawRo_q6KgBZYntlluZhnf0JHmQUBso3U58SQbd7zzA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2599" data-original-width="3949" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh_1Dw5iktxNCrEDXJqNaUjG_0t0xiO3d5G9-F-6MTEaYKwhUstmrYaYOx5nXI3INVJ8y-rzpUyLE5o4CFzGCp8xcla3cog17gc1Jue3jwlaSesa84lr2ZSfNIw1ufK2X04IlzGR8Rp89W_ZNsoawRo_q6KgBZYntlluZhnf0JHmQUBso3U58SQbd7zzA=w640-h422" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yes, I know. I feel it too. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In Kentucky, we're in a season of possible snow </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">and overall gray gloom, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">with random dashes of spring. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgriRpDDsqQZY73GOFW_Y0lavJEI4AfqKfI2eGXfk7OtLTOrK79zX1fTZzedFINKt4qd6sjYICae0IH7_b14jmES50bJG390ppVsUNI4ruw2KUt8O_YZFN7Urj7unb6KBwOjoK-2xVyKjXga2xk9_PJBqbTjAcqVzohst1NUFTaJZXHjER-DEHOgVEzBg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4928" data-original-width="3264" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgriRpDDsqQZY73GOFW_Y0lavJEI4AfqKfI2eGXfk7OtLTOrK79zX1fTZzedFINKt4qd6sjYICae0IH7_b14jmES50bJG390ppVsUNI4ruw2KUt8O_YZFN7Urj7unb6KBwOjoK-2xVyKjXga2xk9_PJBqbTjAcqVzohst1NUFTaJZXHjER-DEHOgVEzBg=w424-h640" width="424" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So while we're still in winter, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">let's intentionally lean into its wonder— </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Heaps of delicate <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjDA4QCA8rI" target="_blank">snow-crystal</a> creations. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Feather-like frozen fluff. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Frost-gilded leaves of yester-season.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhO8nbHNtWij4tA83TJkaLoagpi5SQk71H68tWWq5iHEW_xTMTs5PJJGdzTOJUknUC-dKfm-7q1gAL8NQFWjXipbigDmniIoT0dE1S8ZNAa2ZACEai4Lzx_VzHZ-iIfQCC2W1L0mQs2yJ1P2zNhlAu_fkrWcZ_xhTVRUnFkbal3FqbH3HeKNavE4gSGmQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="4928" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhO8nbHNtWij4tA83TJkaLoagpi5SQk71H68tWWq5iHEW_xTMTs5PJJGdzTOJUknUC-dKfm-7q1gAL8NQFWjXipbigDmniIoT0dE1S8ZNAa2ZACEai4Lzx_VzHZ-iIfQCC2W1L0mQs2yJ1P2zNhlAu_fkrWcZ_xhTVRUnFkbal3FqbH3HeKNavE4gSGmQ=w640-h424" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Because <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kc3BfDjKFQ" target="_blank">soon and very soon</a>, spring will arrive</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> and winter will be over. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h1 class="quoteText" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Wrong will be right, <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/thinking-about-aslan-and-jesus-with-c-s-lewis/" target="_blank">when Aslan comes in sight</a>,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia;">- C. S. Lewis</span></i></div></h1><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /><br /><br /> </p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-63221628522559868562022-01-21T16:38:00.000-05:002022-01-21T16:38:27.315-05:00Wonder Sparks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It may not be smart to stand under an icicle to get a photo like this one. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But if you're prone to </span><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;">wonder</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> as you </span><span style="font-family: courier;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR7MXFupz6E" target="_blank">wander</a></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">,</span><span style="font-family: courier;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">you'll do the silliest things to capture a spark of it for your own. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDirCF0n_Juq07TcQwPoDlekED86XATWdLuCsCeoe06C-FugNb6rDUTRIUM6nfkFwbT_c4Ghkcido13jH8M1UjVzaSeeGSgWbFEnjtLrNg00aa2k2DGEkW11fjBB41VlWWupDyhy26x30_/s1600/IMG_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDirCF0n_Juq07TcQwPoDlekED86XATWdLuCsCeoe06C-FugNb6rDUTRIUM6nfkFwbT_c4Ghkcido13jH8M1UjVzaSeeGSgWbFEnjtLrNg00aa2k2DGEkW11fjBB41VlWWupDyhy26x30_/w640-h480/IMG_1920.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/search/label/winter" target="_blank">Winter in Kentucky</a> pares away every frill boasted by warmer seasons.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Without blooms, bugs, or buds for <b><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marvelment" target="_blank">marvelment</a></b>, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">you have to work harder to discover and enjoy natural wonders.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhuInMBOpgU2-IiZnv4l5MxODlbz2L66cjR60l688scVCl7jFIpCQEAOtrN8nLJzgJzeQpYuyUmXKy4yREL_zfHlKA7qwDRxW17O74JcKqT1xaDuT5gktEnb7Nj9xqEEJ9X3fK8K71rRn/s1600/IMG_1939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhuInMBOpgU2-IiZnv4l5MxODlbz2L66cjR60l688scVCl7jFIpCQEAOtrN8nLJzgJzeQpYuyUmXKy4yREL_zfHlKA7qwDRxW17O74JcKqT1xaDuT5gktEnb7Nj9xqEEJ9X3fK8K71rRn/w480-h640/IMG_1939.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Parisienne; font-size: large;">* I think it's worth <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2037%3A14%2C%20Romans%201%3A20%2C%20John%201%3A3&version=NKJV;MSG" target="_blank">the effort. *</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-13760801081561925922021-12-27T14:47:00.000-05:002021-12-27T14:47:25.457-05:00Buckeye Bliss<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Peanut butter balls—<i>buckeyes</i>—are a Christmas favorite. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>If you have access to <a href="https://www.columbusrecoverycenter.com/blog/things-you-might-not-know-about-buckeyes-and-opioids/" target="_blank">real buckeyes</a>, you </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>probably <b>should not</b> get a kick out of placing a few of those in the </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>candy tin with these delicious peanut-butter-and-chocolate ones.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhabPc1W-_dErHu6uSX99x7mNyN_a1wnL_ABwpIgkjAEisfIoZ4vcMljHyDY5Kxh04s9_5-etd18lYe6dK9TZ9xYxDcP-AFJexZ0AxyJbNKDfBVg71Yxlv-pPzHqkqOKB_LrZM_Cf5aLMZI5OD_qoTmRdBv2rMRRumLw0_7mZBfsdz8zLTFHCU97cP3cA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhabPc1W-_dErHu6uSX99x7mNyN_a1wnL_ABwpIgkjAEisfIoZ4vcMljHyDY5Kxh04s9_5-etd18lYe6dK9TZ9xYxDcP-AFJexZ0AxyJbNKDfBVg71Yxlv-pPzHqkqOKB_LrZM_Cf5aLMZI5OD_qoTmRdBv2rMRRumLw0_7mZBfsdz8zLTFHCU97cP3cA=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I wouldn't dream of showing up at a holiday gathering without </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a generous collection of these for the dessert table. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's easy to make these ahead and hide them in a </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">cool spot until it's time to share. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i>Good luck with that. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_9lVscYJPIn-2cTThnkTYJt0B4wyg05OwUJbKFXLtxJpGeRKluD47emKXU4h0tvqSWDbfvDxIXJnqQ36leQKpt-UjV9HvLfncYEN8XMOWEb70Z66ZPBBdfabE_CPPFpAbv4dCNRjZok79f4A7gWfpFU2h5LoA10kfaSvZU467ki6--Xe_jJfxbbBnKQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_9lVscYJPIn-2cTThnkTYJt0B4wyg05OwUJbKFXLtxJpGeRKluD47emKXU4h0tvqSWDbfvDxIXJnqQ36leQKpt-UjV9HvLfncYEN8XMOWEb70Z66ZPBBdfabE_CPPFpAbv4dCNRjZok79f4A7gWfpFU2h5LoA10kfaSvZU467ki6--Xe_jJfxbbBnKQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">After making these for decades, I'm happy to share more </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">detailed directions </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">for a double batch—my standard.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i>- Combine softened butter, peanut butter, and sugar to </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i>form a stiff dough.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i>- Roll into 1" balls and place on a waxpaper-covered cookie sheet.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: small;"><i>- Chill in the freezer for about 15 minutes.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: courier;">- While you wait, melt one square of candy wax in a double boiler until clear, then add two </span><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: small;">bags of dark chocolate morsels. Stir until smooth.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i>- With a toothpick, dip chilled balls in melted chocolate. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i>- Store in the refrigerator so you </i></span><i style="font-family: courier;">get a nice snap when you take a bite.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's all about <i>the snap</i>, folks. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Enjoy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">*****</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you make these, I'd love to see you with your finished product!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Share them and tag me on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susanholtsimpson/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-80477355588131722522021-12-21T15:48:00.001-05:002021-12-21T15:48:43.255-05:00Teetering toward Christmas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">It's commonly thought the main purpose of an Advent house </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">like this one </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">is to bring daily delight to tiny drawer-openers. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But I think it might be to </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">s l o w d o w n </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">the season.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Without one of these, my December has flown by, and </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I find myself teetering unsteadily on the doorstep of Christmas. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9h7MSXCMgAdX-job22eYfHdSq7XZWl1EVL8njk6Ssih1sGL9NGbHWjfPgvLPHUALEgFbyl814FFR_qqEjA3NddBo7vvTMmucBTiSBblAp4Pru4XUtO1m8cFVUfArjdmM9-WZhcbQsLBCNAQ5LkX8MvaopTJAXtBDicYooI6UUfX-Lwpbedkmi9vczzw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9h7MSXCMgAdX-job22eYfHdSq7XZWl1EVL8njk6Ssih1sGL9NGbHWjfPgvLPHUALEgFbyl814FFR_qqEjA3NddBo7vvTMmucBTiSBblAp4Pru4XUtO1m8cFVUfArjdmM9-WZhcbQsLBCNAQ5LkX8MvaopTJAXtBDicYooI6UUfX-Lwpbedkmi9vczzw=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The decorations are up and shiny bright.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirGXavrm7RMr_GInFhzAjpLv1QBGvecfX1P6sEmMoA4qyK1RYhChxrT6N9oSAEYKBb6yPdbOC6VE7mN7MOwZgaGn46MIEwIoNaygnLjxHYgifYEWux2B6klrKwMmaNQQMNZcxl8NTr9YlTJRtUDnlmyOU7T-Elz4T2DZPL_lPnBYDx0XgBO74lw0lF-Q=s4608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="4608" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirGXavrm7RMr_GInFhzAjpLv1QBGvecfX1P6sEmMoA4qyK1RYhChxrT6N9oSAEYKBb6yPdbOC6VE7mN7MOwZgaGn46MIEwIoNaygnLjxHYgifYEWux2B6klrKwMmaNQQMNZcxl8NTr9YlTJRtUDnlmyOU7T-Elz4T2DZPL_lPnBYDx0XgBO74lw0lF-Q=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I've grabbed a few chapters of this to </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">enlighten and encourage my spirit. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhALEIJXB2FLfFhMVTIto7grfkGxChdkFwDriPNQ1rj_5kXysARr8H4dJadzOiH1qqmPaszimSwUas7pzCV2q1exxDq1hidqF220T9JEO5jlwpydT7doFOvXMEIKLBu5Qr5CNp5bejNOfrTKchCOJzAQz5pKPZvQTtgTcaiCgzu_xlvEdHjlnTX3vx-Kw=s1540" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="1167" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhALEIJXB2FLfFhMVTIto7grfkGxChdkFwDriPNQ1rj_5kXysARr8H4dJadzOiH1qqmPaszimSwUas7pzCV2q1exxDq1hidqF220T9JEO5jlwpydT7doFOvXMEIKLBu5Qr5CNp5bejNOfrTKchCOJzAQz5pKPZvQTtgTcaiCgzu_xlvEdHjlnTX3vx-Kw=w484-h640" width="484" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">But I find myself needing more time to ponder the manger. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While I go do that, here are two Christmas posts from the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">person I used to be—a mom with little boys to entertain over </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">a long Christmas break. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-conversations.html" target="_blank">Christmas Conversations</a></b> - </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Ask your littles what they think about some holiday topics. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Questions included.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-risk-game.html" target="_blank"> </a><b><a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-risk-game.html" target="_blank">Christmas Risk</a> </b>-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Risk and win points by answering Christmas questions (included).</span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-27340054185479989482021-11-30T15:54:00.001-05:002021-11-30T15:54:13.185-05:00True Colors<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Suddenly, fall is almost finished on our one Kentucky acre. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This year's color change was slow to arrive, but just before they fell, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the leaves put on a dazzling show of color. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg248OGUWhwZoF2Q3as7Ou6k7IXS1R3YdLWi5UYybvFqop7aBg4IhqYTicCaPtpp3Do9WDGFEAtFPP6E-XTb0nHrBlYY-4-6Xy7vZPGKQbM3qlcoeT8dfvocwSv0bBwTaoAC6HE7L-vaZ9p/s2049/012377237782251eff32760b90482152af4c6f3158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg248OGUWhwZoF2Q3as7Ou6k7IXS1R3YdLWi5UYybvFqop7aBg4IhqYTicCaPtpp3Do9WDGFEAtFPP6E-XTb0nHrBlYY-4-6Xy7vZPGKQbM3qlcoeT8dfvocwSv0bBwTaoAC6HE7L-vaZ9p/w480-h640/012377237782251eff32760b90482152af4c6f3158.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Just like every year, sunlight and </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">temperature changes signaled chlorophyll to stop its work. </span></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcAW-1p9-iQd1sibhBKQEQZu2v5s2WlpxXO3jqk3VNatjJjWeTJAApZm5qZnwo2d03TA6LKrIComioGPTQ-FwNiCTS5jRhePuxPe0p1HMAzoNlwnYEbw2tEjU9DRyjXoSRwr5V5FFoo_A/s2049/013dfa1ebf794e0c308d3dedc0404c4e4f6a299fbc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2049" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcAW-1p9-iQd1sibhBKQEQZu2v5s2WlpxXO3jqk3VNatjJjWeTJAApZm5qZnwo2d03TA6LKrIComioGPTQ-FwNiCTS5jRhePuxPe0p1HMAzoNlwnYEbw2tEjU9DRyjXoSRwr5V5FFoo_A/w480-h640/013dfa1ebf794e0c308d3dedc0404c4e4f6a299fbc.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And the greens of summer faded away while I was busy carving </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">pumpkins and puzzling out costumes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy7jar0X0Mjw7k_5h-bDMv0BL_UOWlIRQ5Hi2Feq0n7tWjlsMK1a50GrJJsH_8KSnk75k1GHI2ndooW8NVb_ypIbtFzI0vxw7GR8vlsDlN-3ZWGjvbrgL5ZD0HKNcxR2E6YKED0Q_hrdi/s2048/01c259d799dd29122e6e3d03a5ac1a24bff7aea9f1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqy7jar0X0Mjw7k_5h-bDMv0BL_UOWlIRQ5Hi2Feq0n7tWjlsMK1a50GrJJsH_8KSnk75k1GHI2ndooW8NVb_ypIbtFzI0vxw7GR8vlsDlN-3ZWGjvbrgL5ZD0HKNcxR2E6YKED0Q_hrdi/w480-h640/01c259d799dd29122e6e3d03a5ac1a24bff7aea9f1.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm#:~:text=Chlorophyll%20Breaks%20Down,part%20of%20their%20fall%20splendor." target="_blank">Without the influence of chlorophyll</a>, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">what the leaves packed in during their spring-and-summer lives </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">finally surfaced to create ...</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQkhlo19eVjdBh3rusTowUOog4PF7hg1tyfgdgtNHyeXGpQxiA7-H6nD1ntnS5r9a2rmJIkjA8TPeB9vLfpousl3SKLihajyrGx43eqXvxcWpa5L3oaNiZA6_TMk3n5z452XFr2eVHUlQ/s1469/01a222a09132f49c4986d18f06dd55095f7189b7ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1102" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQkhlo19eVjdBh3rusTowUOog4PF7hg1tyfgdgtNHyeXGpQxiA7-H6nD1ntnS5r9a2rmJIkjA8TPeB9vLfpousl3SKLihajyrGx43eqXvxcWpa5L3oaNiZA6_TMk3n5z452XFr2eVHUlQ/w480-h640/01a222a09132f49c4986d18f06dd55095f7189b7ed.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">... a grand spectacle of fall color pointing to the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">glorious nature of a wise and extravagant Creator. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee; font-family: helvetica;"><u><br /></u></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcZMij1EuxkzR8nhiD6zkNM91UWShEwMm_eqTzQ_eYe8K3VnojL9F85rXdQHoYW7EzgbInxn_1pXUQrfjdX1mPIFXGVz6Wz9gymMdNGaKtM9eODuIYPHy2ptnXJhX4SKrQMHOSs6SZ0C7/s2049/01cd106d63c3f252b611fee2f1bd74b163b62ae077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2049" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcZMij1EuxkzR8nhiD6zkNM91UWShEwMm_eqTzQ_eYe8K3VnojL9F85rXdQHoYW7EzgbInxn_1pXUQrfjdX1mPIFXGVz6Wz9gymMdNGaKtM9eODuIYPHy2ptnXJhX4SKrQMHOSs6SZ0C7/w640-h480/01cd106d63c3f252b611fee2f1bd74b163b62ae077.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;">* photo taken on a Smoky Mountain getaway</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It might be a life lesson, whispered to anyone </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with an <a href="https://maxlucado.com/listen/ears-let-hear/" target="_blank">ear to hear</a>. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span></div><br /><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-77732460608201004912021-10-19T16:49:00.004-04:002021-10-19T16:49:39.377-04:00Seasonal Updates and a Sneak-Peek Scene<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I picked up this ornamental pepper plant</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">on the last business day at a local plant nursery. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i>"Wow--last day! You must be so excited to have some time off."</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But the nurseryman didn't seem thrilled. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At least not as thrilled as I was for him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzmLBgiqhFjZc40pOMyVyLvtaE_JJ7jHTqJ08BgirZbWxy_dQuFxjuV11zgLvCoTyZAtoAainZnkLfX6Ikzuy5gOvicjoSyIE0SgshoGA_6M0cotsBYQfrXkSiFWea2q0RUmlDW6TlccO/s2048/01ed68cf69356c3520d630633d2f749a1ecd297f3d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzmLBgiqhFjZc40pOMyVyLvtaE_JJ7jHTqJ08BgirZbWxy_dQuFxjuV11zgLvCoTyZAtoAainZnkLfX6Ikzuy5gOvicjoSyIE0SgshoGA_6M0cotsBYQfrXkSiFWea2q0RUmlDW6TlccO/w480-h640/01ed68cf69356c3520d630633d2f749a1ecd297f3d.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The tiny peppers were all purple, then turned </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">a lovely, seasonal orange.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I got outside with my "real" camera on a foggy </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">morning this week. Mist laced every spiderweb </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with delicate droplets. As the sun burned through </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the haze, it turned the drops to diamonds.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD94IYqKfEPOUUGM4B20hcCHhLzMcWAkpIrkQkQEM5SUyBnYywq0RRuNewtEBKOTdq8yEl7MGFHFx2fON081cnzr5XXAmfGnS9zldzhNVyLBv0MheH4rcS4PiVGwL08nQT06rt_uqo0mtf/s2048/DSC_0102+%25283%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD94IYqKfEPOUUGM4B20hcCHhLzMcWAkpIrkQkQEM5SUyBnYywq0RRuNewtEBKOTdq8yEl7MGFHFx2fON081cnzr5XXAmfGnS9zldzhNVyLBv0MheH4rcS4PiVGwL08nQT06rt_uqo0mtf/w640-h426/DSC_0102+%25283%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My heavenly blue morning glory vine is finally showing off. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The vines have tangled themselves into a crown studded </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with sun-pointing buds. The base of the vine is as </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">thick as a young tree--amazing.</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYIAgQYNAyZTGVaISx7ogWAVd384cpvADewsXbFnoSaMb3mUJG7IVt0VV2yqyTosSM5W0Xgz_O5kSc9ZdMJJ745EmAsIa_uPqNQv4sFiQ36HArgg-LfITNrgFXZNWB5yMlnpW4MUTXSxI/s2048/011de93e5d2b8759e7e18f13b4e6287d7dffbe58d6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYIAgQYNAyZTGVaISx7ogWAVd384cpvADewsXbFnoSaMb3mUJG7IVt0VV2yqyTosSM5W0Xgz_O5kSc9ZdMJJ745EmAsIa_uPqNQv4sFiQ36HArgg-LfITNrgFXZNWB5yMlnpW4MUTXSxI/w480-h640/011de93e5d2b8759e7e18f13b4e6287d7dffbe58d6.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Side Note:</span></b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;">I've been working on a novella set in midcentury bluegrass Kentucky. </span><span style="font-family: courier;">I'd love to hear what you think about this scene from chapter 8. Main character, Etta Everman, a curmudgeonly spinster, made it to church early and picked her favorite seat...</span></div><div><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span> </span>The Cedar Bridge United
Methodist Church opened its doors for Sunday services at 9 o’clock. It wasn’t
easy to dress properly, have a cup of tea, and walk around the corner in time
to be early, but always worth the effort. If she’d been five minutes later,
she’d have to watch in the narrow vestibule while the deacon pulled the bell
rope. Witnessing his delight at the slight hop he received from the pull of the
bell on the rope was embarrassing. Where was the dignity of the church elders?
Long gone, that’s what.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Not today, though. Etta rested in her half-pew, third
from the front, on the pulpit side. She relished the half-pew, knowing if she
sat in the middle, no one would be able to squeeze in on either side. She
placed her Bible to her left and her black handbag to her right on the red
twill. Only the pastor’s wife would sit in front of her, as was proper. The new
pastor’s young children would be downstairs singing or praying—or whatever
children did down there. </span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>In her childhood, Etta’s family filled the second row
from the back, choir side on the Sabbath Day. Mama’s favorite stained-glass
panel, to the near right, featured white Easter lilies. After Mama passed, her
father wanted to sit in the back pew so he could leave whenever he had a mind
to. When he’d stopped going, Etta enjoyed attending alone. But she hadn’t
always been alone, had she?</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Etta pulled her purse to her lap and
unsnapped it to retrieve a hanky. She smoothed the thin white fabric and
fingered the blue-stitched initials in the corner—T. F. It was one of</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 12pt;">his, a left-behind, unlikely keepsake. She
swiped her nose with the quartered square. No use thinking about all that mess now,
not when she had this afternoon’s dinner with Claiborne Lee and his family to
consider. </span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-49638243993799188872021-09-14T17:21:00.000-04:002021-09-14T17:21:33.153-04:00A Long Line of Storytellers <div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Telling
stories with words is what I do on a most-days basis. My writer's toolbox </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">contains an
overheating computer equipped with apps and programs, tattered and </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">scattered
notepads, and a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/BIC-Xtra-Life-Mechanical-Pencil-40-Count/dp/B01JHMVG5O/ref=asc_df_B01JHMVG5O/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=196249557053&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2565495384584488916&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014398&hvtargid=pla-314325891090&psc=1" target="_blank">certain kind of pencil</a>. Words come to me—or I </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">hop around on
one foot, trying to catch a few out of thin air—and </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I string them together like
pearls on a thin thread. It's a sweaty business. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jwD7XqwIPLpoIeYvmu2qz5bpYZY62ypTrCixGojy2QRbT3kvIKK9ZbL4dwpViJolNdP1PJOG3aLe5pjDyPVm1xumKwWgeT2a_BXbBvVs00GjfcmEVyapYcwKHaHbZKmy33nNML9eQz68/s2048/IMG_1681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jwD7XqwIPLpoIeYvmu2qz5bpYZY62ypTrCixGojy2QRbT3kvIKK9ZbL4dwpViJolNdP1PJOG3aLe5pjDyPVm1xumKwWgeT2a_BXbBvVs00GjfcmEVyapYcwKHaHbZKmy33nNML9eQz68/w370-h400/IMG_1681.jpg" width="370" /></a></div></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some of the women in my line told stories in field-furrowed paragraphs, </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with seed-sown punctuation. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;">Farm wives</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">spun tales </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">of glorious seasons</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">of
plenty,</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and grim ones of </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">bootstraps and tightened belts. Their story
endings depended </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on the crop, the weather, and the goodness of God. <br /><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A few spread their tables with another kind of saga, offering</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"> mashed-potato mountains rising over fried-chicken foothills, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;">neatly</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> lapped by a river of gravy. Basket-weave piecrusts and hand-churned </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">ice cream</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> spoke welcome, confidence, and a certain sort of love too delicious to
decline.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnE7ZHJf683VDyO6Ez1HyuUClEVhoNG1UBjpWxiTNdL-UmiTVIgyTgYep2I4yOS1jb6tUIkoNBnAp1pOcX9bWhJw0C__7Pe7CGf_23jRVuJAQgtvwgjkB2l8WNcIs1yuVHAfK7phnGY01/s2048/IMG_1682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnE7ZHJf683VDyO6Ez1HyuUClEVhoNG1UBjpWxiTNdL-UmiTVIgyTgYep2I4yOS1jb6tUIkoNBnAp1pOcX9bWhJw0C__7Pe7CGf_23jRVuJAQgtvwgjkB2l8WNcIs1yuVHAfK7phnGY01/w365-h400/IMG_1682.jpg" width="365" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Other matriarchs stitched their memoirs with needle and thread. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cotton-cloth leftovers and flour-sack scraps pieced together</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"> and spread over a bed. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;">Its maker read aloud </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;">her quilt</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"> creation</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">chapter by chapter, weaving tales
prompted </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">by bright-worn shapes:</span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"I wore this dress to your mother's wedding. </span></span></i></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What a rainy day
that was ..."<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"See here, your granddad's best church shirt. </span></span></i></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That was an
Easter we'd never forget ..."<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Your brother had pajamas in this same pattern. </span></span></i></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: times;">I never
knew a boy to work so hard at play…"</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12pt;">One of these needle-and-thread masterpieces blankets my
worktable. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Its stories cushion my elbows as I search for the next word, the
sturdiest sentence, </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">the perfect turn-of-phrase. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0nd6FJ_8hMCKWWWJhI9Ep6xY-pSalaFRVFLN7AVYm4BqFEiUW3C2ZhoFc-R0vb7udaRq2da0zQkO0LZDuB0EFtltVCImoEbYcf-QG2PvePZmw_tqOfdTrKXeP5y98ufxsDZcnbegypdS/s2048/IMG_1683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0nd6FJ_8hMCKWWWJhI9Ep6xY-pSalaFRVFLN7AVYm4BqFEiUW3C2ZhoFc-R0vb7udaRq2da0zQkO0LZDuB0EFtltVCImoEbYcf-QG2PvePZmw_tqOfdTrKXeP5y98ufxsDZcnbegypdS/w373-h400/IMG_1683.jpg" width="373" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So you see, I come from a long line of storytellers ... <i>and you do, too.</i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What sort of tales did your forebearers tell before you began to spin your own?</span></span></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></p></div><p style="text-align: center;">
</p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-3505431580360057122021-07-23T15:26:00.000-04:002021-07-23T15:26:35.111-04:00Consider the Lilies<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">It's been a summer of the richest blooms. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9Fg6kjzCPon3Q0P0QaOePO4UppyTS84h16Rz3Fp04hVkaJVFdpE8aH3M92mTTACYmEt_b0M-DZYm4CkBw_1XHSIIW-JCQJwhLyNVxnM9fbBtmT9w47GGHmhS_VJYudc1GNMximZyM39w/s2048/019bad0b8390080ba01499f93f27a98c262207833b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9Fg6kjzCPon3Q0P0QaOePO4UppyTS84h16Rz3Fp04hVkaJVFdpE8aH3M92mTTACYmEt_b0M-DZYm4CkBw_1XHSIIW-JCQJwhLyNVxnM9fbBtmT9w47GGHmhS_VJYudc1GNMximZyM39w/w640-h480/019bad0b8390080ba01499f93f27a98c262207833b.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">This year, I watched for the last daylily bloom </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">and made sure to admire and enjoy it. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">Of course, lots of years have passed in which </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">I didn't notice <i>or care</i> that the <a href="https://www.gardendesign.com/flowers/daylilies.html" target="_blank">daylilies</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">were almost gone, and I certainly </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">didn't take note of the last one. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs30oQx7r_keZbhFQlt9d0l6TXlkOtSUpfEZreZoPvGxVKL9edJQJDcqO7uyliECK2M4xdsywX-6GlxsLakNk7lv6vkbGnuCpOfKJpFVsYlMp051MHK9o8I-yH-RdPKiZ9jmrNZ9xq1Gq/s2048/IMG_1180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs30oQx7r_keZbhFQlt9d0l6TXlkOtSUpfEZreZoPvGxVKL9edJQJDcqO7uyliECK2M4xdsywX-6GlxsLakNk7lv6vkbGnuCpOfKJpFVsYlMp051MHK9o8I-yH-RdPKiZ9jmrNZ9xq1Gq/w640-h480/IMG_1180.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">Surely we rejoice that we have a<br /></span><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/29-11.htm" target="_blank">hope-filled</a> future, brimming with <br /></span><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/2-9.htm" target="_blank">unimagined amazements</a> and <br /></span><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">exceeding great <a href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/16-11.htm" target="_blank">joy</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">But looking forward to these doesn't cancel </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">the wisdom of savoring what's before us in the now. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMmGBSN08H0D4h6QiVpqFV4ObNFCmwiVD1cB4zqHkovbEAbuTcQ21_KYbf8_nakAid3oSvDtqHIxCP3xdrZerVsZvqxKB74bzT3m8JT8wovX9u6w7qfdBN4KUQmU7FD9xcq0_5pNgkEU3/s2048/DSC_0105+%25282%2529-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMmGBSN08H0D4h6QiVpqFV4ObNFCmwiVD1cB4zqHkovbEAbuTcQ21_KYbf8_nakAid3oSvDtqHIxCP3xdrZerVsZvqxKB74bzT3m8JT8wovX9u6w7qfdBN4KUQmU7FD9xcq0_5pNgkEU3/w640-h426/DSC_0105+%25282%2529-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">So <a href="https://www.bible.com/bible/116/MAT.6.25-30.NLT" target="_blank">consider the lilies</a> in your life—savor and enjoy. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">This may be wisdom born of years, friends . . .</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><i>since I'll be fifty-five this year, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><i>I can say things like this. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">For a picture book that will drive <br /></span><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">home the message and maybe </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">give you a good cry, check out </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Let-Me-Hold-You-Longer/dp/1414389876" target="_blank">Let Me Hold You Longer</a></i> by Karen Kingsbury. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;">Have tissues at the ready. </span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Special Elite; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-46013953057313851292021-06-19T14:36:00.003-04:002021-06-19T14:36:51.670-04:00When Inspiration Strikes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Clean out and throw away!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Okay, lots of times we <b>give away</b> instead of throw away. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">I'm not sure <a href="https://www.goodwill.org/" target="_blank">Goodwill </a>appreciates it, but that's not the point. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">It's a hard fact that we can't keep adding to our nest </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">without pushing some stuff over the edge <i>and into a Goodwill bin.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">And so, please consider the wagon in the photo. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">This rusty Radio Flyer's done its time here on our one acre. It's hauled plants, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">kids, weapons of Nerf warfare, and </span><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: courier;">more plants</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">During the spring greenhouse clean-up, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">I declared it finished ... <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mort" target="_blank">mort</a> ... trash-day fodder.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">"Take it to the garbage," I instructed my doubtful crew of two. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">The beat-up wagon spent quite a few weeks upended near the garbage cans </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">waiting for a final trip, this time for roadside collection.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">But then, <i>just in time</i>—inspiration struck. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcrGoeUsLTSETAp3mxguQqXb3sMUl3z4lvEJdvB0v1DtL6nK4x-2pGkA-iz9Ldqfz0WlxhF0hgI0N57egjGYY6CsqM9gHeZ-jgKh8IumHqvI9rFLEdm7iiv4jBR3qgdFHNuopcX-da87U/s2016/IMG_0914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcrGoeUsLTSETAp3mxguQqXb3sMUl3z4lvEJdvB0v1DtL6nK4x-2pGkA-iz9Ldqfz0WlxhF0hgI0N57egjGYY6CsqM9gHeZ-jgKh8IumHqvI9rFLEdm7iiv4jBR3qgdFHNuopcX-da87U/w640-h480/IMG_0914.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b> And n<span style="text-align: center;">ow it has a new life as garden hardscape.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="text-align: center;">* * *</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="text-align: center;">Other inspirational sights from our getaway to Madison, Indiana: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZK5BxBdiCqogLmbE5Rjnvfw_k9CTRO3fTtOsp99WMvp2ZNnHBg3ZiQqpSy73zXpXHorhX_2W3DNxSg2K32wsFnjH3eryz0sv9Xn_p-FD9WjV5YUE8RTEiCZOwiHHlVKgAJYBoqcfXgbF-/s2048/IMG_0791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZK5BxBdiCqogLmbE5Rjnvfw_k9CTRO3fTtOsp99WMvp2ZNnHBg3ZiQqpSy73zXpXHorhX_2W3DNxSg2K32wsFnjH3eryz0sv9Xn_p-FD9WjV5YUE8RTEiCZOwiHHlVKgAJYBoqcfXgbF-/w480-h640/IMG_0791.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;">I'd like to replicate this shutter's rubbed-off, old blue on our upcoming garden gate.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCOk9tbN390ms0jC3VzLgNsRBgcr59dWsRXWXPC7vZ_pv-v8W17Hj_80ehPtZsmW-N94kw-W14CMrjQMauBppoAUAK4AkRyUvzvM7AQOQPhqgjL7V4EhmPONh0s65QgLL8dAGqM4aOFWj/s2048/IMG_0769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCOk9tbN390ms0jC3VzLgNsRBgcr59dWsRXWXPC7vZ_pv-v8W17Hj_80ehPtZsmW-N94kw-W14CMrjQMauBppoAUAK4AkRyUvzvM7AQOQPhqgjL7V4EhmPONh0s65QgLL8dAGqM4aOFWj/w640-h480/IMG_0769.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;">We have a mostly-forgotten, single oar to add to the playground platform. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;">I just need a good slogan ... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;"><i>send suggestions!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhR1MATjmjwRxHJfx2baFyp-M3uX7y6nrDVO-40X9UKsdoS54rWM4QWdYq5RfStgoVba4MzDdjz4K6PGTCNNMNIiX1zCIMwW44JjrrFJrxcWacBlZkbXLLKzlnVG-HtKdUOl1aoVYFR0j/s2048/IMG_0787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhR1MATjmjwRxHJfx2baFyp-M3uX7y6nrDVO-40X9UKsdoS54rWM4QWdYq5RfStgoVba4MzDdjz4K6PGTCNNMNIiX1zCIMwW44JjrrFJrxcWacBlZkbXLLKzlnVG-HtKdUOl1aoVYFR0j/w640-h480/IMG_0787.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;">This canvas placed in the top three items we considered buying as </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;"> an anniversary gift to ourselves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKs0AJL5GOOvz_z3Qvxx1x2txDTToujLv6zRCLc5zC822qT9nJi_La_vEQlJaWv7ap5rlxvwZ9eAgCTz4wR7bu_M7vVoSUBiLhkSvWrT2i_RZLpi9VbpqyikmRGO1W3u-u4x6Ap43aSra/s2048/IMG_0789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKs0AJL5GOOvz_z3Qvxx1x2txDTToujLv6zRCLc5zC822qT9nJi_La_vEQlJaWv7ap5rlxvwZ9eAgCTz4wR7bu_M7vVoSUBiLhkSvWrT2i_RZLpi9VbpqyikmRGO1W3u-u4x6Ap43aSra/w640-h480/IMG_0789.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;">The arc created by these doortops is what I'd like in a garden gate. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i>Side note: Doors are unreasonably expensive right now.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Quicksand; text-align: center;">* * *</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: center;">And a final photo of us on our thirty-third anniversary -</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56w-QVcAl49VddohvxvQmNh_Ilaqj3TwP9nV2-lNLVq5KHYC4wwV5hVXA9mifZNG1fgBRSokLRkJ-F3TI-XnTR-0UcAMF_vUkvWPvqXttbiSQO-7LldvRE6FY_JLjFnXM4qKEGo6SBZdv/s2048/IMG_0795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56w-QVcAl49VddohvxvQmNh_Ilaqj3TwP9nV2-lNLVq5KHYC4wwV5hVXA9mifZNG1fgBRSokLRkJ-F3TI-XnTR-0UcAMF_vUkvWPvqXttbiSQO-7LldvRE6FY_JLjFnXM4qKEGo6SBZdv/w480-h640/IMG_0795.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We stayed at the <a href="https://www.irongateinn.com/" target="_blank">Iron Gate Inn</a> and are happy to highly recommend it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They provided comfy accommodations and an excellent breakfast. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This ponderable message was just inside the door—</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iuV8LnyvXAayEr-5tcuh9v4Pw0LHeDKxzedHt_FJgMAc4MXTxAy0MllFmDSbCPf5GojXKisSFYhjb2VLL6PskSKO_8tyZB00mpSyBwO61Zjk78LzaVNK6lS-vdwO0nBZcgia8pP49RpX/s2048/IMG_0768+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iuV8LnyvXAayEr-5tcuh9v4Pw0LHeDKxzedHt_FJgMAc4MXTxAy0MllFmDSbCPf5GojXKisSFYhjb2VLL6PskSKO_8tyZB00mpSyBwO61Zjk78LzaVNK6lS-vdwO0nBZcgia8pP49RpX/w400-h300/IMG_0768+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-27051752121433672352021-05-21T14:58:00.000-04:002021-05-21T14:58:16.414-04:00Hello and Goodbye <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Well, hello, Spring! </b><br />I thought I saw you skulking around the edges of our Kentucky </span><span style="font-size: large;">acre—</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;">awkward with un-belonging and unsure of your welcome. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyP228vIPjZkKBRlBN_pK7OL7QnlS4WkieSUZR52Pi0VXz8FPqxXynI9jcjsXGZc-TN0OHFvvmsMlYQJDwVVRIgf0P8WbADcrjmw6tdelS2AN8MxeHuncRW9ukVwrXGIcCiuk6qh5dFaq/s2048/017ef67c398f1fe63076dd2732e9e50efb74aabf7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyP228vIPjZkKBRlBN_pK7OL7QnlS4WkieSUZR52Pi0VXz8FPqxXynI9jcjsXGZc-TN0OHFvvmsMlYQJDwVVRIgf0P8WbADcrjmw6tdelS2AN8MxeHuncRW9ukVwrXGIcCiuk6qh5dFaq/w480-h640/017ef67c398f1fe63076dd2732e9e50efb74aabf7a.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;">You're not to blame. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;">Winter took too long in its departure, seeming to leave then rushing back </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;">for some forgotten object. Some seasons don't know when it's <i>just time to go.</i> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;">And Spring, I'm sorry you've already been bullied away by Summer </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;">who shoved its way in, smelling of firepits, cut grass, and sunscreen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light; font-size: medium;">Maybe next year you'll arrive earlier and stay a little longer. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Shadows Into Light;"> </span><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749938089225810268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-67596103757649784122021-04-22T10:37:00.004-04:002021-04-22T10:37:53.017-04:00Premium Property<p><br /></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yesterday, we woke up to a winter-wonder landscape. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://sweet-annabelle.blogspot.com/2018/10/toadstool-surprise.html" target="_blank">My sidekick </a>and I went out for a look around and some photos. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We found this cozy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1rePnaEMRo" target="_blank">bird bungalow</a> still vacant, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier;">but what a view!</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A tiny home among snow-capped dogwood blossoms is </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">premium property for sure. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhP1YRX9-MSvox3UYxLwVVGFXiyqZhRugz59fJGkjMKrYxQBoWw_qe-is6NvQPMtXckoVPx82lJ5nVxEUWZGX4N693vLVENLEpjjQYNb5svHg9GJpohZeR2euHl2e5Cbv67gwkgqqMGuwD/s2048/DSC_0164+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhP1YRX9-MSvox3UYxLwVVGFXiyqZhRugz59fJGkjMKrYxQBoWw_qe-is6NvQPMtXckoVPx82lJ5nVxEUWZGX4N693vLVENLEpjjQYNb5svHg9GJpohZeR2euHl2e5Cbv67gwkgqqMGuwD/w640-h424/DSC_0164+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe when spring sets in for good, bird tenants will come as well. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm hoping for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bWyhj7siEY" target="_blank">bluebirds</a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/SusanHoltSimpson/bird-books-for-kids/" target="_blank">Here's</a> a collection of favorite bird books to share with the littles in your life. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">****</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These days, I'm pondering this verse: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Parisienne; font-size: large;">"Your own ears will hear him. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Parisienne; font-size: large;">Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Parisienne; font-size: large;">whether to the right or to the left."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Parisienne; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Isaiah%2030%3A21" target="_blank">Isaiah 30:21</a> NLT</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-621020741726745199.post-34236914355836803092021-03-24T17:26:00.001-04:002021-03-24T17:26:24.405-04:00Suddenly, Spring<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">February blurred past mostly like this—</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pmWqeVMsx89r7cYStNtduwV7jAktghGST9F3F6ij2SyKDA8PuE5uDg07c-Tuw6LsG-7KxE8m-LWXsqSeW2IKFcNXSz2EAc6Z2P3mnsFGhEMjeVDu6ZRbdGecMnkXF8V-YR5jM1Pgb9Kt/" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pmWqeVMsx89r7cYStNtduwV7jAktghGST9F3F6ij2SyKDA8PuE5uDg07c-Tuw6LsG-7KxE8m-LWXsqSeW2IKFcNXSz2EAc6Z2P3mnsFGhEMjeVDu6ZRbdGecMnkXF8V-YR5jM1Pgb9Kt/w640-h490/DSC_0070+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Now we've arrived in March, and our one Kentucky acre </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">has bounded ahead to this—</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvvHVDcVeMxFF-aaSGWaOr79KsHPheNcmxYn6X52q3906WsRDghij2gK-N-bZqmxbOWLOkIjimdRoc9fQOXwWes7A9MjSy_3tffGoplrwhrl_7wC5skVtaMsixXu3OFLyzlHGwLaswIpU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvvHVDcVeMxFF-aaSGWaOr79KsHPheNcmxYn6X52q3906WsRDghij2gK-N-bZqmxbOWLOkIjimdRoc9fQOXwWes7A9MjSy_3tffGoplrwhrl_7wC5skVtaMsixXu3OFLyzlHGwLaswIpU/w640-h480/0162d9d4c9a885696df358eebe501d06d2507b551d.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><a href="https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/grape-hyacinth/planting-and-care-of-grape-hyacinths.htm" target="_blank">(grape hyacinth)</a></i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8MT79l2axL7UNF2ZtEa4Rwtl5IFTd0V6nLXILsHZq3Q2dOagNzQyAVZ7T5F9R2ulzKDcgGMOuSWJjr2YQFUG0VF09vTum0dDxsTQr66vnK8w1dNJCCsyYvVsSwtesN38mF0GU5HssW4I/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8MT79l2axL7UNF2ZtEa4Rwtl5IFTd0V6nLXILsHZq3Q2dOagNzQyAVZ7T5F9R2ulzKDcgGMOuSWJjr2YQFUG0VF09vTum0dDxsTQr66vnK8w1dNJCCsyYvVsSwtesN38mF0GU5HssW4I/w480-h640/01418ee34b8805c6ba80034432aea9df44c78f9514.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i><a href="https://www.thespruce.com/lenten-rose-plants-2132555" target="_blank">(lenten rose)</a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3oLJk_4WI89lQSD6cXWITI9ZPsmDvUwo6SfwVDbsa-XbNh17PYtDcuiAM4rqTqnX1DjAme0pe8kzaz7czDRN2Mc1c2b6-4nLG9tTMgVDIHK4qat0-6WNxH7I_HDLniF3MQF6pok4NpXr/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3oLJk_4WI89lQSD6cXWITI9ZPsmDvUwo6SfwVDbsa-XbNh17PYtDcuiAM4rqTqnX1DjAme0pe8kzaz7czDRN2Mc1c2b6-4nLG9tTMgVDIHK4qat0-6WNxH7I_HDLniF3MQF6pok4NpXr/w480-h640/017c15d7c68f8929a276d10fbeb979d401e828df48.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>(<a href="https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/bulbs/daffodil-types/?slide=slide_33c85be6-94e6-426f-879a-84c698532781#slide_33c85be6-94e6-426f-879a-84c698532781" target="_blank">daffodils</a>)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">When the weather turns again and temperatures dip ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><i>they just will ...</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Well, that's gonna leave a mark. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>But today</b>, we'll eat our meals outside, walk the gardens, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and make </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">plans for the months ahead. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">And we'll hope against hope they don't include any more of this—</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS_gUhnU_DFmWbhjH5LLoLr1thKcDt0eikP6O5y6tyJiAztFTedHUU1esGHsZEAERQwt9DScXRqnGplkdzYSMB3VvggQiMdHyKSH0e-PxRaDEtdk1lDir8Pd-JLz5q2JgFLFXBcBCBWaW/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS_gUhnU_DFmWbhjH5LLoLr1thKcDt0eikP6O5y6tyJiAztFTedHUU1esGHsZEAERQwt9DScXRqnGplkdzYSMB3VvggQiMdHyKSH0e-PxRaDEtdk1lDir8Pd-JLz5q2JgFLFXBcBCBWaW/w640-h426/DSC_0274.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /><p></p>Susan Holt Simpsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05712244181468412670noreply@blogger.com0