Such A Long Time!

It's been such a long time since I've written in this blog, almost a month! I'm feeling guilty! We've had quite a holiday season this year. Scary (the cat) has calmed down, but just this week! I didn't resort to the rum, but I did try a tranquilizer (for her). It didn't work. I added it to tuna oil, but she must have smelled something different, because she wouldn't go near it! I guess God was working on my patience, because all it really took, was time and TLC!

One of the things that bothered her was my new running shoes. I wear runners (when the snow is not too high!) to go to work, and carry 'inside shoes' for inside my client's homes. Well, I guess Scary didn't like the smell of the new shoes, and they were one of the causes of her screaming fits. She would follow me around the house, and scream and hiss at my shoes! After much thought, I decided to spray them with an Avon product, well it masked part of the original smell, but then she just looked confused! The poor cat just stared at my shoes, with a bewildered look on her face, and followed me with her eyes!

I was bragging in early December about living in the Sun Parlor of Canada, winter has finally arrived! A record number of heavy (for us) snowfalls in just a month! Now we are entering a second 'deep freeze' in January! WOW! Still three months of winter left! Paul and I have been shovelling and spreading salt like crazy! I remember one year I don't think we used one bag of salt, this year we are on our fourth!

I'm so thankful the Lord laid it on my heart to do a serious Bible study each morning before I do anything else in the day. I know I need the grounding of His Word to give me courage and encouragement for each day. As it is with everyone, some days take more courage than others, but my family and I are healthy and relatively happy. I'm looking forward to working on my crafts and paintings again. I will start them tomorrow!

From today's study:
"The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24 - 26

God Bless,

Phoebe

The Mighty Power Of God

"We sing the mighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
and built the lofty skies,
We sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day.
The moon shines full at His command,
And all the stars obey."

I was singing that beautiful hymn in my mind this morning, while I listened to the wind barrel and scream through my neighbourhood. I woke peacefully before my alarm this morning, and just relaxed in bed, listening to the "Mighty Power" and thought of the strength of Our Lord, of His mercy and quiet Peace. Then there was a sudden BUMP! I ignored it. How He can make the great winds, and the slight rustling breeze in the summer, and the huge snow storms that the Northern hemisphere has received this last week. We in Southern Ontario are now experiencing a fast melt, and this morning, high winds. Who knows what Our Mighty Lord has planned for next week!



My oldest son and his family came in from out of town on Christmas Eve, and had to leave after a too short time!! Still, I got to play a duet on the piano with my granddaughter, Izzie! Who knew "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" had such an intricate bass? Still, we had a wonderful time opening presents, and just playing and visiting. My joys and blessings abound this year, and I am grateful for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me.

My mind goes to a friend and his wife on the other side of the world, who are suffering the sudden loss of their only daughter. Better times will come, and I know they cannot see it now. I have some other friends who have lost their children, to disease and accident, and it doesn't matter how it happens, we all know children should outlive their parents! One of my girlfriends, who lost her son to a car accident eight years ago, came to my house last evening, after visiting the cemetery; her son's grave had sunk, and the marker was now under water due to the fast melt, she was heartsick. She said she felt like it just happened, and her son had just died. Feelings come and go, but I know, she knows, God will continue to comfort her.

I pray I never know that pain, but I know that whatever happens in my life; God will be there to hold and comfort me. He has been the only constant in my life, and will continue to be there for me. Even when He is silent, He is there!

I hope and pray that you all had a Blessed Christmas, and will have a wonderful, God Filled New Year!

P. S. :The BUMP was my garbage can which blew over in the wind! No big deal, in comparison
to what it might have been!


Phoebe

Off And Running For Christmas!!

These are called Topsy Turvy Dolls. They were made by slave mothers for their daughters who wanted to play with black dolls. As you can see, the skirts are reversible, so the skirt can hide the doll the slave owner didn't want to see. I add the notes to each doll to tell their story. I wanted to finish these dolls before my friend came to Canada this winter, for her to take home with her.

Now that all my "prerequisites" are done, I am charging full steam ahead into Christmas! Unfortunately, Scary is not ready for the holiday! Too many changes have been made in the last three weeks! First, one Friday in late November, the kitchen table had to be replaced, not fun for a cat who likes to be in charge of the house. Second, the following week, when I opened the back door, a local feral cat tried to run in the house! It didn't succeed. Scary screamed, that horror movie ear-piercing cat scream. Within a week there was trouble with the locks on my front and back doors. It was solved with some lubricant, but there was a delivery man, Paul and his worker who tried the door, and when I got home, I was at the front and back door before I finally got in. Scary screamed again just like the first time. Since then, she has been very touchy about everything in the house.

Last weekend, we set up for Christmas, which means changing furniture around, as well as the tree, and other decorations, and she was still miserable. Now, even though things are relatively calm, she is still very touchy. I am open for suggestions! She eats and used the litter box as usual, and doesn't seem to be in pain, just miserable! My girlfriend has suggested a cat psychiatrist, and tranquilizers! Another friend has suggested rum! (I don't drink, but she says it's worth a try, does she mean for me or the cat??)

Bye for now, and pray for me!

Phoebe

Finished the Painting!!!

I did it! Finally, I finished the painting, now I just have to finish some dolls I am making for a friend, and then we can set up for Christmas!



The cove in the painting is on the Detroit River in West Windsor off Russell Street near Brock, if your around and want to find it. As you can see the Canada Geese like to stay there. Under the tree you can see the goslings, (the scene takes place in the spring).

This will be a short note today, I have lots to do!

Have a GREAT DAY!!!

Phoebe

My 'Secret' Folly

This is a public answer to 'Uneek Musings' it is just too long to put in her response lines! A few years ago, after a long day at work, I picked Paul up at Maggie's house, I forget why the usual staff was off that day. On the way home I decided we should have MacDonald's for supper because I was tired. After discussion of our order, I pulled into the drive-thru and ordered two Big Mac meals with Coke.

After a long silence the young man said: "We don't have Big Mac's" Astonished at this response, I said, "We'll have Mc Chickens", after another long silence he said: "Please drive up." I drove up.

When I got to the window, he pointed to the sign and said: "This is Tim Horton's!" Sure enough, I looked up and that's where I was! I had driven past MacDonald's and slid into the Timmies drive-thru! Now, for the Americans reading this, I don't know if you are familiar with this Canadian chain, but Tim Horton's are like belly buttons here, they are everywhere! They have great coffee, donuts, baked goods; wonderful sub sandwiches and soup. NO hamburgers, and NO french fries! I quickly ordered two chicken salad sandwiches.

I looked over at Paul, he was staring straight ahead with a stone face. I said: "I drove past MacDonald's." he said "Yep." I said "You didn't tell me." he said : "Nope." Autism is wonderful. I could be assured that he would not volunteer this information to any living soul. Our chicken salad sandwiches came quickly, and I thanked the young man, and immediately left the lot.

When I got home, the phone was ringing, and I assumed it would be Maggie checking up on us. Not so!!!! It was my friend Judy, who immediately said: "What were you doing asking Matthew for Big Mac's at Timmies???"

The very polite young man who I had been too embarrassed to look in the face was Judy's grandson, who immediately before I was even out of the parking lot called to report to his grandmother!!! Judy has a large family, and they were already having entirely too much fun with this explosive information! No secret here!

I won't get into all the times Judy and I were on the road, and my sick lack of direction got us into trouble. She has too much information on my major follies!

Hope all had a good laugh!

Bye for now,

Phoebe

Closer!

What a funny time of year this is! I received an e-mail from my daughter-in-law the other day, it was pictures of that branch of my family; minus J. R., my daughter-in-law, (guess who took all the pictures) decorating for Christmas! The two of them are suited very well, I usually don't decorate until December, but when Bob was young, he was always trying to talk me into decorating early! Paul, on the other hand, has never welcomed change (one of the joys of Autism). He loves our Lord Jesus Christ, and freely celebrates His birth, but does not care for the changes in decor; wait! He loves to 'be in charge' of the nativity scene, and place the baby Jesus, on Christmas Eve. That's about the extent of the change he welcomes.

I am also in full swing with my present making/buying/preparing. The most exciting, change at this time: my painting is finally starting to come together! After looking at the blogs of other artists, I feel very inadequate slaving over my single painting, when others seem to do much more than me! When it is finally done, I will have to take a picture and post it!

Meanwhile, back at the homestead; when I returned home from work on Friday, I found my kitchen table had mysteriously broken! When asked, Paul told me: "It broke." The worker who was in charge seemed to miss what happened. It is easy enough to miss things, he will have bruises, cuts, and I'll never know what actually happened. He only reports blood, not pain or mishaps. Sometimes you just have to realize you can't protect them from everything, and as much as you try, you will never really know everything either.

Well, needless to say, that planned my Saturday! The new-to-me kitchen table and chairs was delivered on Monday afternoon. Do you ever think when you finally make two steps forward, life slips you back three?

On to happier things, as I've mentioned before, I correspond with friends from Kenya. One of my friends got a new job and has invited me to go there to visit with him and his family. All I need now is the money! One of my longest-standing dreams is to go to Kenya and participate in a painting/camera safari! He said his new job has him living on the Indian ocean. Well, if I get that far, I should be able to take in the safari too!

His cousin, whom I also correspond with, is thinking of coming here for a visit also! I've been praying I would get to meet this, my newest Sister-In-Christ! Praise God from whom ALL Blessings Flow!

Have a GREAT DAY!!!

Phoebe

Remembering.....

Remembrance Day is always a thoughtful day for me. My maternal grandfather was a veteran from the First World War; and also, both my mother and my father were vets from the Second World War. My father was one of eight brothers, all of whom joined the armed forces, and my mother and her brother, the only ones in her family who were old enough, volunteered; her in the Air Force, and him in the Navy. All came home safe! What a blessing.

I was brought up in a neighbourhood where new houses were built for vets from the Second World War. As a result, most of we kids were similar ages, and all the parents had at least one thing in common! We were taught respect for the sacrifices made by our parents, and especially those who did not return. Unspoken, but present, we were also taught respect for authority, our parents, teachers, police, lawmakers, and the government. Our parents showed us that it was our responsibility to be involved, that our involvement would make a difference in this world.

That leaves to think about some sad news I heard yesterday. One of the many current events discussed when I was young was apartheid in South Africa. All the parents and young people had opinions. Back in the early sixties, when I started becoming aware of the bigger world out there, many of those opinions were coloured by personal prejudices, but there were also more open-minded thinkers. In South Africa at that time many of those who opposed the the laws of the day were banned, or if they left the country and spoke up against apartheid they were refused re-entry to South Africa.

Two of those people are musicians, and they are the ones I am most familiar with: Hugh Masekela, a jazz trumpeter, and Miriam Makeba, a singer, who was lovingly referred to as "Mama Africa". Both left South Africa in the late fifties, and after speaking out during their tours, were refused re-admittance into their own country. They spent over 27 years in exile. During that time they were both active in speaking out against the regime, and participated in the global concerts which cried out against apartheid. They also participated in Paul Simon's African Concert in Zimbabwe. When Nelson Mandella was released from prison in 1990, and it was safe, they both went home to live.

Yesterday, I heard the sad news that Miriam Makeba died after collapsing during a concert in Italy. At 76 years old, she died of a heart attack. It is my opinion that the world lost a bright star, she was not just a singer, but as one of those very special people who non violently resist against oppressive regimes, she is just as much a veteran as the brave soldiers we are honouring today.

God bless all those bright and shining stars who fight and in many cases give their lives so others may live in peace.

Good night,

Phoebe