Sunday Rambles

This past Sunday the weather was gorgeous so Mike, me and Jules went for a ramble in the afternoon. It was sunny outside, the air was crisp, and the trees were starting to change colors. We walked down the trail in the Glens to the "Clear Stream", saw a few deer, Juliet picked up various "treasures"- make that twigs, leaves and the like- and had a fun time. It made me think about the fact that I want Sunday to be a special day for Jules. Not a day of "Can't do's" but a day of worshipping God together as a family - whether that be in church, going for a walk, playing a game together, reading stories, etc. I remember as a kid my dad used to always read to us ever Sunday afternoon from the "Big Blue Book" - a real treat. And we had chocolate with tea in the afternoon - even food aught to be good on Sunday, don't you think? (Okay, that's just a personal preference there, so all of you chomping at the bit to jump down my throat, CALM DOWN!) Right now Jules doesn't really like the church part - I wish she still was in the babysit, but she has a fit everytime we try that lately, so she's in church with us. I try to encourage her to sing along with the congregation so she's "involved" in the service. I have been teaching her the doxology "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow." She has the last words down pat: "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." Of course, what with the Halloween decorations all over town, the whole ghost thing has gotten Juliet a little confused. She now differentiates between the two by proclaiming that the white "ghosts" she sees outside are "Naughty ghosts!" Sigh. I've been trying to explain what the Holy Ghost is to her, but I haven't had too much success....

Cleaning Tip #2

Well, here comes cleaning tip #2. I just read a dear friend's blog from Holland and I wrote to her that I almost didn't dare publish my cleaning tip because you will see what type of cleaner I can be. (I most certainly have picked up some American habits with regards to cleaning). For last second cleaning (say before the company steps in the door), I use a baby wipe to do a few quick swipes in the bathroom. When done, FLUSH the whole thing down the toilet and it only took you, say, twenty seconds! I do regularly clean my bathroom the REAL way (whatever way that is), but by the next day, who can tell? Honestly, I like a clean home, but I am always amazed at how quickly it becomes a mess. And I don't want to spend my entire life cleaning. Don't look at my windows too closely, please.

Nic Talking Politics - Watch Out!

I'm breaking one of my blogging rules. I'm being reactionary. Perphaps I will simply file this post away somewhere and not publish it for awhile. Or maybe not. I'm against President Obama's agenda, and I don't support his policies (for the most part), but it seems ignorant to me to swing the other way and suggest that he should be impeached. Sorry, I don't buy it. I was driving through town today and saw a sign right in front of the post office declaring, "Stop Obama Now!" and "Impeach Obama!" I couldn't believe my eyes. If impeaching a President simply because you don't agree with his policies becomes normal, I think we are going down a road that will only bring trouble. Not that I actually think it's going to happen. But when Christians start to endorse this kind of thing, it worries me because there seems to be a lack of common sense in use here. I would think impeachment should be a last resort. However, today I heard in the news that the health care bill could be deemed unconstitutional (after all, you are forcing Americans to buy into it - in America, that ain't too popular). It all makes politics slightly interesting.

October - Robert Frost

A little Robert Frost, anyone? How about a poem about October? I'd say that's in order. I have to admit when I was in highschool I never understood Frost's poetry. I'd read the poem and then wonder if I'd missed something. There was always the question, "And then what happened????" Now, some poetry still does that to me, I admit, but I am a fan of Frost. I read the oft recited "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" this morning and felt a chill go down my spine when I read the closing lines, "And miles to go before I sleep/ And miles to go before I sleep." But back to "October". Let's hear it, shall we?

October
O hushed October morning mild
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes' sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost-
For the grapes' sake along the wall.

Jules's Famous Sayings

Juliet has been saying the funniest things lately! I just have to post some of them. (Some of them were also posted on facebook).
1. We wen't for a walk today and as we passed a house, I said "Hello," to a man who was standing in his garage. Juliet - "Who is that?" Me - "A neighbor." Juliet - "A man?" Me - "A neighbor!" Juliet, feeling the need to clarify, "A BIG neighbor!" Thankfully, we were out of earshot!
2. Today Juliet told me to, "Leave me alone." I didn't know whether to be hurt or to seize the opportunity to get something done.
3. The other night there was a violent thunderstorm outside. As I left the room after tucking Juliet in at night, she asked me, "Mom, can you turn the thunderstorm off?"
4. Yesterday Juliet tried to control the birds outside. "Tweet now, birds!" she declared. Then after a few moments, "Stop tweeting, birds!" I can't say she had much success...
5. "Mom, be quiet! I'm reading the Bible!" Think she's heard that one before?
6. Juliet's version of the song "Deep and Wide."
"Deep and wide,
Deep and wide,
There's a mountain floating deep and wide, etc."
Now, of course Mike and I have repeatedly corrected her, but to no avail. Now she sings just as loudly, except she looks pointedly at Mike and me while she sings, "Mountain floating deep and wide!!!!" (Original words being: "There's a fountain flowing deep and wide..."
Don't you just love kids?

Bad Habit

Mike and I have slipped into a bad habit. It started out as something fun to do and now it has become second nature. I feel a little silly writing what our bad habit is, but apparently not TOO silly since I'm telling the world. Mike and I often pronounce words incorrectly. For example,
ineresting = interesting
fabalous = fabulous
tomater = tomato
taters = potatoes
We pretty much drop "r"s into everything, and anything that makes a word sound more "rednecky" is game. So, that's it. It still makes me laugh when we do it, but I caught myself saying "ain't" in my 8th grade class, and "fabalous" in my 6th! Its gotta stop!

Food Nut

Well, folks, Mike and I took the plunge. Yep, you are now looking at one of those organic, grow your own food, anti-preservatives, anti-processed types. Last Saturday, after spending a glorious morning at Turtle-back Zoo (well worth your money), Mike and I went to Trader Joes - a grocery store that specializes in organic and natural foods. Of course, I had the expected heart-attack when it came time to pay the bill at the counter, but after I recovered I looked with pleasure at my loaded cart full of natural...stuff. Brownie mix, banannas, sunflower seeds, peanuts, sea salt, organic kiwis, you name it, it was in our cart. What has happened to me? Well, Mike has been on a health kick for the past month (with good results, I might add), so I thought I better join the whole thing. Last night, Mike and I had our traditional Sunday night BLT - except the bacon was turkey bacon. It didn't taste a whit like regular bacon, but nonetheless, it still tasted good. This morning I ate watermelon and kiwi for breakfast. I'm going to have a highly nutritious salad for lunch, and, well, I better stop before I bore you all to tears. So that is what is new and exciting in my life. You better not sit beside me at any function, because I just might start talking your ear off about natural foods and the like.