Suicidal Snowmen

Even the snowmen in our neck of the woods are so sick of winter, they have become suicidal. We are in blizzard conditions right now in Ohio. The weatherman is telling us that we should see a break in the snow about 5 PM today. The snow is accompanied by the occasional 40 MPH gusts of wind causing snow drifts and undoing everything that the snow plows have done.

Not long after we moved in to the little house on the mountain, JD did some work on the house to build a utility room for me. He had his work station set up in the yard and was just finishing up on the walls when I noticed black clouds floating our way. I sat there in the yard and did my part to help JD out...... I prayed and I prayed that those clouds would just pass us by without dropping any of their load of rain drops on the mountain. Well, that is exactly what happened. They just floated right on by us and didn't let the first rain drop fall. Not only did it not rain and JD was able to finish up the work on the utility room, but it didn't rain for weeks and weeks and weeks after that. We could leave the mountain and drive not even a mile down the road and there would be evidence of rain, but none fell on the mountain. It didn't take long for me to figure out that when I ask God for favors while living here on the mountain I need to be very careful what I ask for and how I word it.

I didn't ask for this blizzard though. I am thinking that someone on a mountain top higher than ours has asked for this mess. We had this weekend was all planned out ahead of time with things that needed our attention today and Melody's birthday dinner tomorrow. It looks as if everything is going to have to be pushed back to sometime in the evening during the coming week. There is no way anyone is going to be coming up the mountain today unless they hook on to the back of the plow truck. Somehow I don't see that happening.

We are on a level 2 snow emergency warning now (don't be on the roads unless you have to be). I look for that to be moved up to level 3 (If you are on the road you will get a ticket) before the day is over. I don't look for the mail to be delivered today either, which is completely understandable. I think when they came up with their creed, it was when the mail carriers rode horse back.

To all that are caught up in this blizzard, stay warm and be careful not to overdo if you do any snow shoveling. I need to get some bird seed out for our little feathered friends.

The Quest For Perfection

Today started out on the wet side and it is still foggy and drab looking out. On the bright side of that though..... It isn't snowing!

We climbed into the car this morning and drove to the Fire House to cast our vote for the candidate of our choice in the primary election. We took the back road off of the mountain and of all days when I could kick myself for leaving the camera at home... This was the day! There was a lot of photo ops along the way. The water was pouring off of the mountain with such force. There were waterfalls everywhere, in places where there usually isn't. When we reached the lower land there were many homes that had overnight become waterfront property. Still, even with the rain and the high water people were getting out to vote.

I had another Blog on Word Press that I quit posting to some time ago because of certain self appointed Thought Police in charge of censorship twisted just about everything I wrote and made people I love miserable. Some of the posts from that blog I want to share with my readers on Bits and Pieces. Today's posting is one of those.

The Quest For Perfection
March 12, 2007 by Jo

Who is it exactly that determines for us what is perfection and what isn’t? I have known many people that were very happy with themselves the way they were until enlightened to the fact that they just don’t fit in the ‘Perfection Pigeonhole’. Then comes the unending task of trying to reinvent themselves in an attempt to find the perfection that surely was meant to be theirs. If you watch many commercials on TV you will agree that this quest could very well be never ending.

Being overweight is a common problem for many Americans. In medical terms it is referred to as morbid obesity. What a terrible way to refer to someone that is overweight. I find the term to be insulting. Just as insulting are some of the commercials they put on TV aimed at the overweight audience. One of my favorites happens to be the ‘Size 2′ commercial. This poor little thin thing lost 30 pounds and is so excited because thanks to this wonderful diet now she can wear a size 2. Before losing the 30 pounds she must have worn a huge size 6. I wonder if she would have been termed as being a member of the morbid obesity club.

Next in line comes the facial cream for all of those old age wrinkles creeping up on you. Why is it the models they use on those commercials all seem to be at most in their late 20's or early 30’s? For the first time I saw a commercial the other day advertising a product for aging skin with models that were actually in their golden years. I was so shocked, I forgot the name of the product they were selling.

Let’s not forget that there is a fix for hearing loss, poor eyesight, teeth that are not perfectly straight or sparkling white. Let’s not forget those pesky pimples. Did I mention those grey hairs that keep turning up? The list goes on and on. The bottom line is even if you are OK with yourself, if you spend too much time in front of the TV or reading many magazines you soon will discover that you have miles and miles to go before you find perfection.

When I think of my mother's youngest brother I recall his response to the question, "What have you been up to?" was always, "I've been searching for perfection!"

It is my opinion (and I usually have one) that if you have good health, if you are happy with being the way you are no matter how much you weigh, how many wrinkles you have, or how straight your teeth are………. Then your Quest for Perfection has been won.

Two For One

Since I didn't post yesterday, I decided to give you two posts this morning. My 'Meaningful Monday' post is just below this one. So don't forget to continue down one post when you finish with this one. We had some very pretty weather yesterday and thanks to that sunshine almost all of the snow has melted away. Today is promising more of the same. JD said that the weather man stated the other day that this is the most extreme winter weather that we have had in this area since 1967. The robins were all over the yard yesterday feasting on worms and bugs that dared to venture out of the dirt. As I look out the window I see that they have returned already this morning to finish up the leftovers.

This weekend also brought a package from Connie at 'My Thoughts And Creations'. I won her drawing and received these beautiful wedding cards. Thank you Connie. You are such a gifted person. We have a wedding coming up this month and will be able to use one of the cards. It isn't going to be easy deciding which one to send.

Since my children were small, I have always tried to do a birthday dinner for them serving their favorite foods on their special day. Melody has a birthday coming up, so we will be celebrating with her birthday dinner this coming Sunday. The menu for Melody's dinner stays the same from year to year (She is an easy one to please), my secret recipe fried chicken and potato salad. I offered to show both Melody and Tersie how I make them, but they think I am going to be around forever and they won't need to learn how to cook these two crowd pleasers.

I did show my grand daughters how to make the potato salad when we took them camping a couple of years ago. I am sure they have forgotten a lot of what they learned by now though. Perhaps I need to at least write the recipes down some place for future references. I am looking forward to Sunday. JD and I always enjoy having all of the children here at one time. I guess I would be asking too much to ask for pretty and warm weather. Yep probably so! I'll just ask for no snow so they can make it up the mountain.

Wishing all a Blessed Day.........

~Jo

Meaningful Monday

Storms

A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school.


As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky.


Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child’s school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would look at the streak of lightning and smile.


When the mother’s car drew up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her, “What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?” The child answered, “I am trying to look pretty. God keeps taking my picture.”

May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way. And remember…you can’t hurt your eyes by looking on the bright side.

Message In A Bottle

Aisha tagged me for the 'Message In A Bottle' meme. Unlike some, this one was fairly easy and fun to do.

Here are the rules:


You are about to send a virtual 'Message In a Bottle' across the Blog Ocean. Leave a message in the sand or on the bottle. Write anything you wish. Be a pirate or a poet. Serious or silly. Anonymous or not.
What message would you like to send out to the universe?


1. Compose a message to place in your virtual bottle
2. You can find a Blank Graphic here... Right click and Save it to your computer
3. Use a graphics program of your choice to place the message on the picture
4. Post the meme and these rules on your blog
5. Return a copy of your "Message In a Bottle" via email to ~ mimiwrites2005@yahoo.com , sign the Mr. Linky and leave a comment HERE telling Mimi you've finished. IF YOU WANT YOUR MESSAGE TO BE ANONYMOUS PLEASE SAY SO.
6. Tag a minimum of five people - or your entire blogroll - to do the same. Notify them of the tag.

~This is my message in the bottle~

Instead of tagging 5 people, I am challenging all that read this to create their own message to send out adrift on the virtual ocean. Who knows, the message you send may be the words some one is needing to read. Let me know if you take part so I can read your message too. Have fun with this and have a Great weekend.