What a Lovely Day to Wash Windows, and Other Thoughts About Today.

This is Tiger when he was just a kitten.

I have already washed the den windows. It is hard to keep them clean because of the pets rubbing against them. We have a few cats, and when we want to separate one from the other, then we put two in the den, and three in the rest of the house. They are inside cats only, but sometimes Bubba and Charlie get outside to taste some fresh grass.

The other cats don’t know what it is to want to be outside cats. They have been inside since they were found as strays. They know only the inside of my house. I am thankful for them. They find crickets, and bounce them into the air. They find a roach, and chase it down. They finally get my attention, and I get rid of it. I don’t have many, because the cats keep the population down, or scared.

In order to wash windows around here I have to hop up on a chair, or get a ladder. I am short. Sometimes I can get Isaac to wash a window at the very top for me.

Rocky is home now. He came home today. He has been in the animal hospital for a while because of stones. He yelled all the way to the hospital one day, and he has resided there for two weeks while they tried to get rid of the stones. They put him to sleep and found most of them.

Rocky is 13 and in cat years that is ancient. Isaac has raised him from an active baby kitten. He is good, and Isaac has named all the cats we have taken in since. There is Bubba, who loves to follow me from room to room, and Tiger who is about three years old. He came as a kitten. There is Charlie who we rescued, and he is long, stripped, and heavy to pick up. He loves to escape into the sunshine, and finally he comes back begging at the door to come inside.

There is Sally, our solid white female,cat,who loves to sleep on my bed with Bubba. All the cats have been fixed, so we don’t have any litter of kittens coming. The youngest rescue is another female, named Mosie. We thought she was a he, but the vet told us we have a girl. I don’t know how we thought she was a he! When they are young, it is hard to tell. Any way, Moses, became Mosie!

Share this: Rubies Corner--writing from my heart about everyday life. First of eight blogs.

I worked at the shed today to get rid of some tall weeds by the logs that we had stacked up by the side of the shed. I was unaware of any danger, although as I snipped the weeds, I did hear noise from something. It was like a rattle, but not really. 

Later a friend who was at the house warned me about the wood pile. Snakes love to settle in there, because it is comfortable, and people won’t disturb them in the Summer, and Spring. I had no fear today, and apparently I could have been bitten by a snake, or bothered. I wasn’t. 

What a Gorgeous Morning! I am Thinking of All Kinds of Things that Need Doing Around the House. Isaac Is In The Middle Of Most Of It. He Can’t Put Pictures On The Website, And Mow The Lawn At The Same Time.

My title says it all. I love today. It is still cool, but sunny, and the temperature will climb today, but it won’t be real hot, and muggy. It will be a nice Spring Day. I love weather like this. I also love a fresh cut lawn, and trimmed bushes. The fence needs trimming. Isaac wants a gasoline run edger and trimmer. Then he could quickly trim.

We have to call the city before we trim our bushes and other yard areas. I guess they want to be prepared to pick up the brush. So we have much to trim and do in the yard. It is a matter of whether we will hold out without going down to the church. This is a week day, and Ed goes daily to the church. 

What are we going to do with all the papers, advertisements, and booklets that come through the mail. Most of it is considered junk mail to us. I wish we would not be bombarded with it. We throw most of it away without reading it. I guess that is another topic. On a pretty day, one should be able to walk through their yard, sit out on the deck, and listen to the birds sing. It should be a moment when we don’t have to worry about a sales person coming up to let us see the new wares. It should be a safe moment, when people leave each other alone to read, and enjoy their moments outside in the sun. 

I finished my Hydrangea painting, and I have the Dancing Sunflowers painting framed. I plan to return to the church and help someone organize the paintings on the wall. It makes a nice entrance to see the paintings hanging there. I have sold some, but not many. So there they will reside on the white wall as one enters from the parking lot. It sets a mood when you walk in and see the floor rug, and the couches, with the paintings hanging on the wall. At one time I had 52 paintings, but there are not that many right now. Some have sold, and others have been given to people the Holy Spirit prompts me to give. 

I remember the paintings that have not been there because I gave them away. They were simple, but true. When I paint, I am always praying, because painting does not come easy. I have the ideas, but putting the painting down in a way that is appealing is the hard part. I know that practice will help.

 

 

I Finished My Hydrangea Painting, And Had the “Dancing Sunflowers” Painting Framed.

I had a productive day. I finished one painting, and went to get one that I had framed. It is called, “Dancing Sun Flowers.” I have shown the painting, but never had it framed. It looks nice in its new frame. My paintings hang at the church on the wall as you enter the building. I have had them there for years. Recently I sold some, and I am waiting for the buyer to come pay and pick them up. Otherwise, I am trying to have them rearranged, and the wall will look nicer when it is finished.

 

I had quite a few paintings, but through the years I have given them away, one by one. Others have been sold. One lady brought her paintings back that her husband bought when he was alive. I took them back. They are very detailed.

 

I am learning more about flowers than I have known. I chose a Hydrangea flower this last painting, and I spent several hours on it. It is finished as far as I know, and it is wild. I hope that Isaac will take a picture of it and show you the finished product. You might be surprised. I got a little wild with the paint brush!

It is so nice to have two paintings finished. It took a week to get the one framed. I don’t know if I can have a better person to frame them. This location specializes in art supplies and framing for artists. I don’t carry them to them very often. The sunflower painting was done in 2011, and I have waited this long to totally finish it, by getting it framed. Smile….. I am smiling for sure!

 

What Did We Have For Supper??

We had baked Salmon, asparagus, and one other vegetable. My brain is tired, so I can’t recall what we had. Why write when I am tired? Well there were 189 people reading the Rubies Corner when I checked last. I have to put out the material, to keep this group coming. I am thankful, pleased, and really loving the moments right now. 

I have been tired all day today. I did paint in the sun, from 9:00 A, M. until 12:00 P.M. That might be what has zapped me today. I have a tired feeling inside from my waist to the top of my head. It hasn’t gone away. 

We have had a guest for supper. Isaac persued the menu that came to us last night. So we had more of the same vegetable, and Salmon. It was good tonight. Somehow I feel like I have eaten too lightly today. I have been weak on the inside, and complaining outloud. I shouldn’t. I have everything to be thankful for. I can’t seem to solve the tiredness. I may have this checked out, especially if it continues. I can’t stand this!

Supper was nice, and refreshing. Everyone talked freely, and four of us sat at the supper table tonight. I love it. The person is a friend of ours, and he is polite, and humble. I am glad to have an extra person to feed. There is something about inviting people to eat. It takes courage, but it also works on all of us. The person went right along with what we had, and said it was a good meal. He ate everything on his plate, like he was hungry. 

We are a Christian home. We pray before the meals, and we include Christ in the conversation. Maybe we will provide a type of spiritual rest for this young man who has been through much on his own, for being so young. God is good. When we yield to His plans, He starts answering prayers, and makes things happen for us. 

I am still working on the Hydrangea. I went outside tonight and I had to add more water to it. It was wilting, and acting like it needed more water. I put plenty on it, but as of yet, it hasn’t revived. 

Sometimes we as Christians need extra love, care, and words from people who know we need them. I feel like I could use some hugs, and some words of encouragement. I have worked until I am ready to drop into the bed. That is good. I am finally worn straight out. Smile. 

I Found this Photo……….It reminds me of a celebration !

Someone had a 10th birthday celebration. Think of the joy this person had when they saw the candy they could get into. Isaac just happened to take a picture of it.

Isaac is long past 10 years old, so maybe this was in celebration of one of his kids that he teaches on Wednesdays, and Sundays. He sure has an assortment of candy!I thought I had the sweet tooth in the family.

You know, you can’t control circumstances, or people. They either love ya, or they duck when you are coming close. Today it was like the later. When I called there was no answer. When I looked, the person was there, outside, working around the house. No answer to the phone, just meant they were doing what they wanted to do at the time.

I have spent many a moment on the phone, in the car, or teaching people. I give my time for them to learn God’s ways. Tonight, I feel like I have turned a page.

We came home, and Isaac was heating up supper for himself. I asked about our supper. He had made no plans. Of course we were gone all day, but we received no phone calls about what we were doing.

I haven’t been feeling good today. I must have overdone in the sun, when I was painting this morning. I paint from 8-11 now, and that keeps me out of the hottest time of the day.

The battle that is going on within me is real, but almost nonchalant. I am being attacked by my “self” this time to think these thoughts. They are not true, but it is a battle, to not let them gain momentum. The solution is to find time to sit quietly before the Lord, with Bible open.

Have you felt this way? I am surely not the only one. Remember that God loves You, and that He died for You. Remember that the devil goes about seeking someone to devour. Don’t let it happen. Stay steadfast, and stand in your faith, even if you think it is small. It won’t be small long, if you use it.

I thought a “ten” was the highest mark some people can make in certain things. I feel like I am marked a 4 right now. I am already not feeling good, and this day makes me feel bad on the inside. I guess it is time to get the Bible out and do some more study for me. I will encourage myself in the Lord.

I give from myself 100%, but right now I smell a snake in the grass. I don’t know what its name is, but it doesn’t care about anyone but itself. Selfishness is ugly. It slithers around, and makes all the focus on ego, and me, me, me. Time will tell what we are dealing with. I choose to love people anyway, and you know? People, places, and things don’t matter. My relationship with my family, and with God do matter.

Now is the time to be a friend, to be loyal, and to be genuine. Have I bumped into something that is not real, and that really is selfish?

Things don’t matter, although the Lord has blessed us. We have green, grass, a home that is standing, and even though I need to mop again, it is decent inside, and out. We are winding down with our lives. Soon I will be a year older, and I see where this is going. The bridge of age difference is there.

I hold out my hand with pies, candies, cakes, cookies, and meals that I have baked for the younger generation. They don’t see the stress, and hard work. They only see the moment of desire to be with their own age, to fellowship with those around them who understand them.

I guess, I should have stopped on the first line. Don’t feel that you have to understand this writing. Being ignored is not of God, but He allows it so I will grow up in Him. God is love all the time. I struggle with people, places and things, but He is steadfast, unmovable, and he wants me to be that way also.

Father, I will try to persist, and not to budge from the walk you have for me. I lean on You harder, and I ask you to surround our home with your peace, and that you would generate friends, and phone calls that are from you. Forbid the rest of them, Father.

We are aging, but our wisdom is sometimes not wanted. Tonight, I feel that way, somehow. If I see things wrong, then open my eyes to see the thing that is playing havoc with my mind, and emotions. I will lift up my head to the hills, from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord. Help me to be steadfast, full of love, and to speak when spoken to, with dignity, and humility of spirit.” In Jesus’ name.

Water lilies, a print I have not seen.

I think this is a nice picture. I did not make it. I believe it is paintable.

Chocolate Meringue pie

Isaac made a chocolate pie Saturday afternoon for a lunch at the church Sunday afternoon. Early Sunday morning he made a meringue and baked it at 375 F in a convection oven.

I know I’ve already posted a blurb about the pie Isaac made, but it’s my hope that the views will go up way faster if I included a photo of the freshly baked meringue! We had this made for after Sunday lunch at the church; people liked it better than my red hot apple pie!

Hydrangia painting so far

My flower painting so far: I had Isaac shoot it with his camera side by side with the real thing.

Howdy, howdy! I hope you like this painting, that it cheers your heart, and perhaps even encourages you to get out there to paint something on canvas.

Ode to Rocky Cat–Revised Version. Still in Animal Hospital.