tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197338362024-03-07T22:07:38.197-05:00KnitnTeachA collection of random posts on my life, knitting, food, books, travel, church, spirituality -- just about anything that occurs to me.Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.comBlogger859125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-70977745990021971402018-02-18T12:10:00.002-05:002018-02-18T12:10:56.235-05:00Yes, I'm really posting. It's been so long since I was inspired to report in, to say anything. I'm not sure that I even have anything worth sharing today. But I want to start with this:<br />
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This hymn is speaking to me. I belong to a lovely little church in New England. It's a UCC (United Church of Christ) church and our denomination is on the progressive, liberal side of mainstream Christian denominations. My church is small, and we are aging, but I do believe that we attempt to do more than just talk and pray. Prayer is important, no question, but action is equally important. And my little church acts its beliefs, thoughts, and prayers. I'm not sure how we will act in response to gun violence yet, after all, this is a small town in New England, and many in our little community are hunters and gun owners. But we already act through our food pantry, community suppers, our Open and Affirming, and Just Peace missions, our commitments to environmental and opioid addiction causes. So we will find a way to do more than send thoughts and prayers to the victims of gun violence. <br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fsm fwn fcg" style="font-family: inherit;"><a ajaxify="/CarolynWinfreyGillette/photos/a.479409148749041.107822.442004972489459/1744083775614899/?type=3&size=1754%2C2048&fbid=1744083775614899&source=12&player_origin=unknown" class="_5pcq" href="https://www.facebook.com/CarolynWinfreyGillette/photos/a.479409148749041.107822.442004972489459/1744083775614899/?type=3" rel="theater" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="">February 15 at 2:42pm</a></span></span><span aria-hidden="true" role="presentation" style="font-family: inherit;"> · </span><a aria-label="Public" class="uiStreamPrivacy inlineBlock fbStreamPrivacy fbPrivacyAudienceIndicator _5pcq" data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-content="Public" href="https://www.facebook.com/unitedchurchofjaffrey/#" role="button" style="color: #90949c; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: middle; zoom: 1;"><i class="lock img sp_m7lN5cdLBIi sx_507b6b" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yi/r/b1rgWyjYfmY.png"); background-position: -13px -190px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: -1px; display: inline-block; height: 12px; margin-bottom: -5px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 12px;"></i></a></div>
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Permission for free use of this hymn is given for local church and ecumenical worship services. Email bcgillette@comcast.net for a copy of it in MS Word formatt<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">ed for a worship bulletin insert and a PDF of the hymn with music. More hymns about gun violence, including one in response to a school shooting can be found at <a data-ft="{"tn":"-U"}" data-lynx-mode="async" data-lynx-uri="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carolynshymns.com%2F&h=ATOyG6dXWQG983MyLv84m0pwvZ86nARZFMOxhtDI9pp4cVExEjCbmYkOmmzkPy12Av57wX6MeJonow-X96sF3ImnGFyX6nrKGUJ1SwUl72uLDsBHA1ySRfylupJD10cu4qot7ipQ04zaQC5r3jo7PRfkzdKDXRYdtc8kuC5AWYqol2DVE6kk-ffd9YrBzDOGdZbCgsFYgr5OaUAztRV83r8zOVsqd3stg6x0Jtk-JrN7v-yLg6vpS1CWxCJajNfOQQz_0ymWKGJ_tXxuWYwBXA" href="http://www.carolynshymns.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.carolynshymns.com</a></span></div>
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Please share this hymn with church musicians, pastors and others who are concerned about gun violence.</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-20315784340618820162017-07-12T10:09:00.000-04:002017-07-12T10:09:17.767-04:00Empowering!I challenged myself this past Monday. I climbed a 1.2 mile long hiking trail to the top of a tiny mountain, more like a hill in terms of mountains, but it sure felt like a mountain to me! I went by myself, having taken most hiking precautions. (I had water, a cell phone, a map, insect repellant, I had checked the weather, was dressed fairly appropriately, and I'd told someone where I was going and when I'd left). I knew it was classed as an easy trail, and it was hiked frequently. Somewhere I read that an "fit" hiker would manage it in half an hour and a couch potato would need at least an hour. So I figured I'd need somewhere in the middle. I started an aggressive walking program last summer, and I felt I was ready for something more, so up I went.<br />
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It took me about 45 minutes to reach the top of the trail, so I'd guessed correctly on the amount of time I'd need. I was really impressed by my stamina too. I stopped to take pictures along the way up, which was really all I needed to keep my breathing even. The trail was forested, with many roots, pine needles, and flat rocky surfaces for most of the way.<br />
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In a few spots there were some tricky rocks to climb.<br />
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I did get tired; the last 50 feet of the trail was steep, and a bit tricky and my thighs were complaining, but I did it! The top of the trail was granite covered, and clear with a lovely view of "our" mountain, Mt. Monadnock, to the north. Since I had cell reception, I let people know where I was.<br />
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I basked in the sun and rested for about 20 minutes before tackling the descent. That was actually trickier than the ascent. It's much harder to control your forward momentum! <br />
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However, I did it,<br />
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and reached my car safe and sound. <br />
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Things I learned: <br />
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<ul>
<li>Bring my day pack so that I don't have to carry my water bottle</li>
<li>Bring a hiking stick -- snowshoe poles --- with me, especially for the descent</li>
<li>I can do a lot more than I thought I could</li>
<li>I need to buy some hiking shoes with ankle support. My NB walking shoes had great traction, but I realized how easily I could have twisted my ankle in a few spots. I also need shoes/boots where my feet don't slide forward in the shoe.</li>
<li>Other hikers are helpful and friendly - great conversations too.</li>
<li>I love taking pictures of fungi</li>
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<ul>
<li>I loved it, even with the pesky deer flies and mosquitoes</li>
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My big take-away? </div>
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I CAN DO THIS. I CAN DO WHATEVER I SET MY MIND TO DO. I AM CAPABLE OF MORE THAN I THINK.</div>
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This is different from the past, in that for the first time that I can remember, I am realizing I can do PHYSICAL things. I've always been successful in other areas, but never have I been successful in activities involving my body. I hated PE because I was terrible at everything that involved running, catching, throwing, having stamina. Because I couldn't keep up with other kids, I stopped doing those things, and therefore stopped doing other physical things. NO MORE!</div>
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That's why this little hike was so empowering for me. I'm not planning to hike the Appalachian Trail or back country. But I am going to buy some supportive hiking shoes, and hit some other easy trails, and this fall, by golly, I'm going to climb Mt. Monadnock!</div>
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-87476069333557867952017-06-29T11:25:00.002-04:002017-06-29T11:25:59.585-04:00Good News!I had a checkup with my endocrinologist yesterday. I've been seeing her for about 7 years, for 2 different conditions, and I've been taking 2 different medications. One of those conditions is diabetes, and I've been taking 2250mg of metformin daily for over 5 years. As a result of my hard work with my diet and exercise program, the last 2 A1C checks have brought my numbers down to 5.6%. So yesterday we cut my metformin down by half, and eliminated the other med entirely! If my A1C stays where it is when I have it checked again, I will be off the metformin entirely. And as much as I have liked her, she said there would be no need to see her anymore - I could save money on my specialist co-pay, and have my PCP monitor my A1C! So I'm doing a happy dance on my way out to yoga class!Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-27322929554768142182017-06-22T07:50:00.003-04:002017-06-22T07:50:47.493-04:00Early Morning JoyFor the past week or so, I've gotten back into the habit of heading out to the deck with my coffee BEFORE heading to my computer. I sit out there, weather permitting, with my iPad and read my Bible as the sun peeks up over the trees that line my yard. The birds are busy, and sometimes their songs distract me from my meditation. Usually though, the morning music reminds of the beauty of God's creation. <br />
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This morning was cool and dry, especially compared with the heat and humidity of the past few days. A house wren was singing its heart out at the top of a pine tree, and a cardinal was calling from the other side of the yard. A robin sang its cheerful morning song as it searched for breakfast. Such delight! Even the vehement argument that suddenly broke out between two blue jays and a crow just added to the morning.<br />
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I need to figure out a way to bottle the joy and delight and share it with others. Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-44383748632627540572017-06-15T11:47:00.002-04:002017-06-15T11:47:29.298-04:00Turning Yourself into a PretzelI've taken up yoga, or what my husband calls "Turn Yourself Into a Pretzel". It's something I've always wanted to do, but never felt confident or competent enough to try it. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm finally giving myself the go-ahead to try a lot of new things. When a "beginners' yoga" class was offered early in April, I decided to check it out. I persuaded a friend to join me, and the two of us found ourselves on a mat in an art gallery with a peppy instructor about our age. She made us feel very comfortable and over the course of a few weeks, I found out that yoga was fun, and that I could do it -- not well, not competently, and certainly not prettily, but I was doing it. That class has now ended, so I signed up for a class at a local fitness center. <br />
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What I've learned:<br />
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1. Anyone can "do" yoga.<br />
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2. Yoga is a practice, and it takes practice.<br />
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3. Yoga is individual. You do what you can, modify where you need to.<br />
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4. You can use props to help you with some of the poses - a chair, blocks, a belt.<br />
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5. I am more flexible than I thought. Not as flexible as I'd like to be. I'm improving.<br />
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6. I still have a weak core which means I lack stability for some of the poses, like warrior II. <br />
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7. Balance can be an issue, but as my core strength improves, my tree pose improves as do other standing poses.<br />
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8. I'm not burning a ton of calories, but I am gaining strength. <br />
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9. Yoga class day is my favorite day!<br />
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10. I'm pretty sure I won't ever be able to do this:<br />
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-30866785573899215172017-06-13T09:51:00.002-04:002017-06-13T09:51:21.321-04:00So Kings, Wise UP!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdMVFFCG8B_eDc_MQG_rgWae3thbXX7tuHF1Ib1LiEOQC68xKBwtAFGl3-HbW7bmSUtow-YD0_nOgb5aTky58aZJDZOxjdeKWrm8ijRkbR1EihmkUetNrcL88eacR3_YvITIQig/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdMVFFCG8B_eDc_MQG_rgWae3thbXX7tuHF1Ib1LiEOQC68xKBwtAFGl3-HbW7bmSUtow-YD0_nOgb5aTky58aZJDZOxjdeKWrm8ijRkbR1EihmkUetNrcL88eacR3_YvITIQig/s320/IMG_1167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.55em; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
<span class="text Ps-2-1" id="en-CEB-13947" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Psalm 2 - Common English Bible</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="chapter-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-2-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Why do the nations rant?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Why do the peoples rave uselessly?</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-2-2" id="en-CEB-13948" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The earth’s rulers take their stand;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the leaders scheme together</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">against the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> and</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">against his anointed one.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-2-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">“We will tear off their ropes</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-2-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and throw off their chains!”</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-2-4" id="en-CEB-13950" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>The one who rules in heaven laughs;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">my Lord makes fun of them.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-2-5" id="en-CEB-13951" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span>But then God speaks to them angrily;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">then he terrifies them with his fury:</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> I hereby appoint my king on Zion</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-2-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">my holy mountain!”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Ps-2-7" id="en-CEB-13953" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">I will announce the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>’s decision:</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">He said to me, “You are my son,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-2-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-7" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">today I have become your father.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-2-8" id="en-CEB-13954" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Just ask me,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and I will make the nations your possession;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the far corners of the earth will be your property.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-2-9" id="en-CEB-13955" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>You will smash them with an iron rod;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">you will shatter them like a pottery jar.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="text Ps-2-10" id="en-CEB-13956" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>So kings, wise up!</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Be warned, you rulers of the earth!</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-2-11" id="en-CEB-13957" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>Serve the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> reverently—</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">trembling,</span> <span class="text Ps-2-12" id="en-CEB-13958" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum mid-line" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>kiss his feet</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-2-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">or else he will become angry,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-2-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and your way will be destroyed</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-2-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">because his anger ignites in an instant.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-2-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;">But all who take refuge in the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> are truly happy</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-2-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-2-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-2-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-weight: 500;">This psalm just seems so appropriate for today's times. I love the line: </span><i> So kings, wise up!</i></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-2-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-weight: 500;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-2-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-weight: 500;">If today's rulers could just understand that a world where the needs of people are put first, a world where LOVE reigns, nothing else would matter. </span></span></div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-58656160945768498942017-06-12T09:11:00.005-04:002017-06-12T09:11:56.884-04:00Psalm 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSusiWtJGt4lecoMzAd8voLW-qfAVYtDxXYpj3UJF38F_IbrfnogXHMnL_s_FeBJFgU-q0olU6M7OLzRIwUYzCCJ9fckfj5OC2NDMdLVF8lwDPdVie2WD3cybvwJkwD66xNJA4-Q/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSusiWtJGt4lecoMzAd8voLW-qfAVYtDxXYpj3UJF38F_IbrfnogXHMnL_s_FeBJFgU-q0olU6M7OLzRIwUYzCCJ9fckfj5OC2NDMdLVF8lwDPdVie2WD3cybvwJkwD66xNJA4-Q/s320/IMG_1204.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I was up a bit earlier than usual today, and I took my coffee out to the deck. Watching the sun come up over the trees and listening to a pine warbler singing, I was surrounded by a deep peace and feeling of oneness with nature. After a few minutes I opened my newest Bible and felt pushed to read Psalm 1. I've just purchased the Common English Bible and am exploring it. I read this several times to myself, and I also read it aloud. I find reading scripture aloud helps me hear it and understand it. I sat with it for a bit, and then read it in my usual NRSV version. I like both versions. I think both are true to the meaning intended. I do like the way the NRSV titles the psalm "The Two Ways." <br />
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I have no great insight to share today. Just the feeling of calmness and peace at the beginning of what promises to be a hot, busy day. <br />
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<span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Psalm 1 - CEB</span></div>
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<span class="chapter-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="chapternum" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; bottom: 0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; left: -3em; line-height: 0.8em; position: absolute;">1 </span>The truly happy person</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">doesn’t follow wicked advice,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">doesn’t stand on the road of sinners,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-2" id="en-CEB-13942" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>Instead of doing those things,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">these persons love the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>’s Instruction,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and they recite God’s Instruction day and night!</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-3" id="en-CEB-13943" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>They are like a tree replanted by streams of water,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">which bears fruit at just the right time</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and whose leaves don’t fade.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-2-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Whatever they do succeeds.</span></span></div>
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<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<span class="text Ps-1-4" id="en-CEB-13944" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>That’s not true for the wicked!</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">They are like dust that the wind blows away.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-5" id="en-CEB-13945" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>And that’s why the wicked will have no standing in the court of justice—</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">neither will sinners</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">in the assembly of the righteous.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-6" id="en-CEB-13946" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>The <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> is intimately acquainted</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">with the way of the righteous,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">but the way of the wicked is destroyed.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-1-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Psalm 1 - NRSV</span></h3>
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<span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">The Two Ways</span></h3>
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<span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">1 </span>Happy are those</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">who do not follow the advice of the wicked,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">or take the path that sinners tread,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">or sit in the seat of scoffers;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-2" id="en-NRSV-13942" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>but their delight is in the law of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and on his law they meditate day and night.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-3" id="en-NRSV-13943" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>They are like trees</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">planted by streams of water,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">which yield their fruit in its season,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and their leaves do not wither.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">In all that they do, they prosper.</span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-1-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"></span></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<span class="text Ps-1-4" id="en-NRSV-13944" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>The wicked are not so,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">but are like chaff that the wind drives away.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-5" id="en-NRSV-13945" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Ps-1-6" id="en-NRSV-13946" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>for the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> watches over the way of the righteous,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-1-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">but the way of the wicked will perish.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: small;">I have no great insight to share today. Just the feeling of calmness and peace at the beginning of what promises to be a hot, busy day. </span></div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-61878341310333075282017-06-11T13:00:00.001-04:002017-06-11T16:53:38.465-04:00A Typical Day's MealsAs June gets underway, I realized that it's been a year since I started my journey to better health. I'm feeling better than I have felt in years, much more fit, and there's definitely a lot less of me - 78 lbs less as of this writing. I've posted a lot about the journey on my Facebook page, but not so much here. Several people have suggested that I share what my meals look like so here goes.<br />
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This is what I ate last last Wednesday:<br />
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For breakfast I had a Joseph's Flax and Oat Bran pita spread with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and then rolled up. It had 142 calories, 9 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbs, 5 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 9 grams of fat. Sometimes I spread the peanut butter on a slice of whole grain bread which adds another 50 calories and lowers the amount of fiber and protein by a gram, adds 7 carbs and 3 gr of sugar.<br />
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I also drank a cup of black, unsweetened coffee.<br />
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I went out to lunch with a friend at <a href="http://www.sunflowerscatering.com/">Sunflowers</a>, one of my favorite restaurants and enjoyed a Greek salad with a grilled chicken breast. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpQKx3L7wa7VD8Kxm6fDRPeKiWWqBLsFEKglwaecz4z0GWD5AUPpleigaFQc_p5iY9Mmjt6v0wnPX0dOGgmk6erHVKSF5SvmtC2d8Ijzvt0eIYA0vp3tvAMYaHKo4TLK3HhXzAA/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpQKx3L7wa7VD8Kxm6fDRPeKiWWqBLsFEKglwaecz4z0GWD5AUPpleigaFQc_p5iY9Mmjt6v0wnPX0dOGgmk6erHVKSF5SvmtC2d8Ijzvt0eIYA0vp3tvAMYaHKo4TLK3HhXzAA/s320/IMG_1185.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The salad had lots of baby spinach, about an ounce of goat cheese, a couple of sliced olives, red onion, and tomato.</div>
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I had to estimate the nutrition part of this, since I hadn't made it myself, but it was just under 350 calories with about 4 carbs. I had a vinaigrette dressing which was on the side. I left more than half of the dressing in the cup. I had unsweetened ice tea with lemon, and water to drink.</div>
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For dinner, we had grilled lamb, a quinoa and pineapple salad, and steamed green beans. My serving was 4 oz of lamb and 1 serving of the quinoa salad. (Recipe follows) Total nutrition was 457 calories, 44 carbs, 16 gr fat, 33 protein, 9 fiber, and 18 sugar. I had ice water with lemon to drink, and an apple a bit later for dessert.</div>
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Most days I eat 1250-1300 calories, and while I'm ready to eat at meal time, I rarely am "starving." When I do need a snack, I munch on cucumbers, celery, pickles, or fruit. Or I have a second coffee, or an iced coffee, or tea. I also allow myself a tablespoon of half and half in my iced coffee or in a second cup of coffee, but no sugar. I think I've been successful because in addition to recording everything that I put into my mouth, even the "naughty" food, I am getting lots of exercise. I try to get a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio-type exercise most days of the week. Lots of time it's a pretty intense water aerobics class or a really brisk walk, but sometimes it's just 10 minutes here and there over the course of the day vacuuming with gusto, or shoveling walks, or sweeping the deck. I try not to deprive myself of treats, but I do PLAN for them, so that is another tool that's helped. </div>
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So if that helps anyone, I'm glad.</div>
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Here's the Pineapple Quinoa Salad which my anti-quinoa husband liked.</div>
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This serves 4 at 220 calories per serving.</div>
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Combine the following:</div>
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1 cup cooked quinoa</div>
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1/2 cup chopped pecans</div>
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1 cup baby spinach, lightly chopped</div>
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1 medium cucumber, diced</div>
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2 cups fresh pineapple chunks</div>
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1/2 cup green onions (scallions), chopped</div>
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1/2 cup cilantro, chopped</div>
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Dressing:</div>
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1 oz (about 2 tbs) lowfat Greek pineapple yogurt (I used Chobani)</div>
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juice from a small lime, about 2 tbs lime juice</div>
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1 garlic clove, minced</div>
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honey to taste (I used about 1 tbs)</div>
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Mix dressing ingredients, either with a whisk or by shaking in a jar. Pour over quinoa mixture and mix gently. Chill salad for a couple of hours.</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-88472907137754407572017-04-25T08:27:00.001-04:002017-04-25T08:27:48.669-04:00Five Things On My MindFirst of all, I can't believe how long it's been since I posted. I've been SO BUSY! <br />
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Some things have been on my mind:<br />
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1. Retirement is wonderful. I am busy, but I'm busy with things I CHOOSE to do, not what I HAVE to do. I do my housework when it needs doing, or when I'm motivated to tackle a major chore. I keep up with the business bookkeeping on my schedule. I exercise regularly. We've done a bit of traveling on the spur of the moment. I read, relax, watch TV or Netflix. I deliver Meals on Wheels. I've gotten involved again (after a longish hiatus) with church committee work and church events. I lunch with friends. It's a lovely life.<br />
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2. I am doing NEW things. I don't know what is so freeing about being in my 60's but I am doing new things - tubing down a river, joining a yoga class, snowshoeing, going to a paint night.<br />
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3. I'm healthier. Since June 1, 2016 I've lost over 70 pounds through diet and exercise -- ON MY OWN, not through a program. I've seen success with a fitness tracker and a fitness app (MyFitnessPal). I have striven to get at least 30 minutes of cardio exercise at least 5 days a week, through fitness classes like water aerobics, water tabata, Zumba Gold, and through rowing, snowshoeing, and WALKING. I've gone from a size 30 jean to a size 18 jean, and from 3x tops to XL. <br />
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4. Because of my weight loss, I'm learning a new sense of body space! I still think of myself as enormous and am always pleasantly surprised when I fit in a booth, or put the tray table down on an airplane. I give myself more space than I need to get by people or past obstacles. I need to re-learn personal space.<br />
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5. Partly because I have time, partly because I'm feeling healthy, partly because we can afford it, and partly because I realize how fleeting life is, I am not putting things off that I want to do. I'm learning how to identify bird songs, I'm planning trips (off to California to visit our son and daughter-in-law soon, and to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone (tour) in the fall. Despite the perilous times we are living in nationally and world wide, I am more optimistic about the part of life I can control. It feels good!Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-73040491732349586502016-11-07T19:46:00.001-05:002016-11-07T19:46:17.179-05:00Review: I Love You Like a Tomato
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181729" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388760235m/181729.jpg" border="0" alt="I Love You Like a Tomato" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/181729">I Love You Like a Tomato</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/105973">Marie Giordano</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1800318468">3 of 5 stars</a>
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An interesting book. The narrator, Chi Chi, tells us about her childhood and adolescence, starting with her earliest memories of life in Italy and then immigrating to St. Paul Minnesota with her brother, mother, and grandmother. Her memories are both clear and hazy, at the same time. As is true of all children many of the things she hears and sees are misconstrued or misunderstood. In addition she has a vivid imagination. Born at the end of WWII, Chi Chi is raised by women. Her father, an American soldier, is absent, and when Chi Chi is told he has died, she cherishes his wooden leg. Her family is poor and it takes them a very long time to acclimate both to Minnesotan winters and the new American culture. I liked this book although it was also at times, quite depressing. The writer is also a poet, and her prose leaves a lot of space for the reader to fill in. I did find myself wishing for a little less "work" sometimes; I'm not sure that I always made the intended inference!<br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1800318468">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-80288368178122307212016-10-29T07:30:00.001-04:002016-10-29T07:30:06.364-04:00Review: Boar Island
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26114418" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442242124m/26114418.jpg" border="0" alt="Boar Island" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26114418">Boar Island</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43613">Nevada Barr</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1792990789">3 of 5 stars</a>
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While Anna Pigeon, obviously, is part of the story, she is not the focus of this installment. A friend of hers, Heath, has decided to spend some time on Boar's Head Island in Acadia National Park where Anna is temporarily assigned. Heath's high school daughter has recently been the victim of an attempted sexual assault and is currently being cyber-bullied and cyber-stalked. At the same time, one of the park rangers discovers she has an identical twin sister whose husband has physically abused her. The two sisters decide to get revenge. The two situations eventually get tangled up together, and Anna's presence puts her in danger. I didn't like this book as much as others in the series. The plot felt a bit too contrived, and the motivations of most the characters seemed a bit farfetched.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1792990789">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-37526000503862815652016-10-24T13:03:00.001-04:002016-10-24T13:03:43.000-04:00Review: Pennies On a Dead Woman's Eyes
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/669605" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1427175323m/669605.jpg" border="0" alt="Pennies On a Dead Woman's Eyes" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/669605">Pennies On a Dead Woman's Eyes</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/644">Marcia Muller</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1785496847">3 of 5 stars</a>
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It's been quite a while since I'd read anything from this series, but it didn't take me long to re-orient myself. It did take me longer to read than I expected; I couldn't concentrate very long. That was due a lot more to personal circumstances than any fault of the book. I did find the plot a bit slow-moving, but the ending was a surprise to me.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1785496847">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-39262887866541447532016-10-20T07:29:00.001-04:002016-10-20T07:29:29.136-04:00Review: The Calling
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10189363" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328306114m/10189363.jpg" border="0" alt="The Calling" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10189363">The Calling</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1293329">Inger Ash Wolfe</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1775060877">3 of 5 stars</a>
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I almost abandoned this book. I had a hard time liking the lead character Hazel Micaleff, and the plot was pretty dark. However, I eventually got to the point where I wanted to know how Hazel made out, personally and professionally. The plot was almost too dark for me, too. I would say that the author did an excellent job setting the atmosphere for the plot, and a good job helping the reader understand the motivations of Simon, the "villain" of the book. I got interested enough in Hazel as a character by the end that I will probably look for book #2 - just not right away.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1775060877">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-68121404814782972442016-10-14T16:27:00.001-04:002016-10-14T16:27:10.059-04:00Review: Presumption of Guilt
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28220874" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469412886m/28220874.jpg" border="0" alt="Presumption of Guilt" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28220874">Presumption of Guilt</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52067">Archer Mayor</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1779698355">3 of 5 stars</a>
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This is a solid entry into the series. I like the characters, and I especially like the way Willy Kunkle has finally found a way to let some softness into his life through Sammie and his daughter. I also like the way the characters have been able to face some devastating challenges and lived through them, scars and all. I also enjoy the series because it's set not far from where I live, and although I don't live in Brattleboro, I recognize it. This book revolves around the discovery of a skeleton buried in the concrete floor of a warehouse that's being torn down at the now-shut Yankee nuclear plant. This discovery sets off a chain of events dating back 30 years to when the plant was built. One of Willy's informants is central to uncovering information that leads to the murderer. This book has less graphic violence in it than some of the others, which was also pleasant. Good story!
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1779698355">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-29728426795760949112016-10-12T11:34:00.000-04:002016-10-12T11:34:56.059-04:00Knitting Mojo is BackI have finished several projects in the past month, after a slow summer. Here they are:<br />
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1. This is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mindy">Mindy</a>. <br />
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I originally knit a year or so ago, in a lovely purple varigated alpaca. I washed it, and accidentally felted it. It had been by go-to sweater all last winter so I decided to make another one. It took me 6 months, and unfortunately, during that 6 months I decided to lose 40 pounds. Unfortunate because it's WAY too big now. I'm not sure whether I'll frog the sweater or find someone to give it to.</div>
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2. These are <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garter-rib">Garter Rib</a> Socks - a go-to pattern for me.</div>
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3. Next up is a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/medio-cowl">Medio Cow</a>l by my favorite designer Laura Nelkin.</div>
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4. And finally is another cowl by Laura Nelkin, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/all-ways-cowl">All-Ways Cowl.</a></div>
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I've started another sweater, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dswgr6/breezeway-pullover">Breezeway by Karen Hipksy.</a> And I will probably do another All-Ways cowl or two for gifts. We'll see.</div>
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-56346455943486833992016-10-09T08:22:00.001-04:002016-10-09T08:22:06.211-04:00Review: Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26194013" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1472540479m/26194013.jpg" border="0" alt="Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26194013">Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1074866">Alan Bradley</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1777304927">3 of 5 stars</a>
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While not my favorite in the series, I still enjoyed this outing with Flavia de Luce. She's returned from Canada to what is a very disappointing welcome: her father is in the hospital with pneumonia, and with the exception of Dogger, no one seems very thrilled to see her. She discovers a dead body while undertaking an errand for the vicar's wife, and of course, sets immediately to trying to figure out who the victim is and why the death has occurred. I enjoyed Flavia's excursions with Gladys, but there wasn't enough interaction with other characters. Flavia was a bit too introspective for me in this novel. She needs to play off characters more directly for the reader to experience her true "Flavia-ness".
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1777304927">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-2103944289588228872016-10-03T17:49:00.001-04:002016-10-03T17:49:27.684-04:00Review: The Body on the Beach
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8256622" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387777290m/8256622.jpg" border="0" alt="The Body on the Beach" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8256622">The Body on the Beach</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51504">Simon Brett</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1769518853">3 of 5 stars</a>
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This started off slow, and I found it hard to like Carole, at least at first. However, by the end of the book, I liked her better. Carole is a retired Home Office administrator with very definite ideas on how a retired older woman should act, dress, and live. She has a new neighbor, Jude, who defies all of Carole's ideas of proper behavior, and in spite of her prejudices, she gradually comes to think of Jude as a friend. The two get acquainted and Carole's "properness" wears off as the two of them decide to investigate a possible murder. Carole has seen a dead body on the beach, but when the police can't find it, they write her off as a hysterical woman. The two women successfully figure out who the body is, where it is, and why it was on the beach. I will probably look for book #2 in the series at some point.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1769518853">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-1116525726333348992016-09-27T15:52:00.001-04:002016-09-27T15:52:30.098-04:00Review: All Summer Long
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27064378" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1456689515m/27064378.jpg" border="0" alt="All Summer Long" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27064378">All Summer Long</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36935">Dorothea Benton Frank</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1767013917">4 of 5 stars</a>
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A new-to-me author. I really enjoyed this story. Olivia Ritchie is a very successful New York City interior decorator married to a retired history professor. She's fallen on some tough financial times she hasn't shared with her husband. They've just "downsized" to a beach house in Charleston, SC Low Country, and Olivia is desperately trying to figure out how she will adjust to a new way of life and manage to find clients to rebuild her failing business. Over the course of the summer, Olivia and her husband experience the life of the 1% as guests of client/friends Bob and Maritza on a private Caribbean island, and later in Mallorca on Bob's yacht. And over this summer, both couples discover new aspects of their respective relationships and come to value each other in different ways. I liked Frank's characters, and appreciated the general mood of the plot, despite a bit of overwrought drama.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1767013917">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-9408999055292090012016-09-24T17:53:00.001-04:002016-09-24T17:53:47.762-04:00Review: Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9299474" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1328356212m/9299474.jpg" border="0" alt="Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9299474">Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1657638">M.C. Beaton</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1766329811">4 of 5 stars</a>
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A very funny addition to the series. Agatha discovers that her idol has clay feet, and decides to stop seeing him as a potential romantic partner -- just as he decides that perhaps he's attracted to her. And of course, they manage to solve a murder.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1766329811">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-29828951545024940302016-09-23T09:31:00.001-04:002016-09-23T09:31:56.496-04:00Review: A Great Reckoning
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28220985" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1457914582m/28220985.jpg" border="0" alt="A Great Reckoning" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28220985">A Great Reckoning</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/194243">Louise Penny</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1765806185">5 of 5 stars</a>
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One of her best! And definitely at the top of my list of books read this year. Not only is the plot well developed and perfectly resolved, but Penny has done a masterful job of completing the long story arcs that have infused the eleven previous novels. In addition we discover why Three Pines has disappeared from maps and what the three pines in the center of town represent. I hope that there are more books to come, but if not, this one would serve as an immensely satisfying conclusion.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1765806185">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-88817397574264208882016-09-21T09:38:00.001-04:002016-09-21T09:38:11.394-04:00Review: Murder with Macaroni and Cheese
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27511158" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1446845931m/27511158.jpg" border="0" alt="Murder with Macaroni and Cheese" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27511158">Murder with Macaroni and Cheese</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8554647">A.L. Herbert</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1758209569">3 of 5 stars</a>
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This is the second in a series of books featuring restaurant owner and unofficial sleuth Mahalia Watkins and her "out there" cousin Wavonne. It's high school reunion time and Halia is catering her own reunion where she reconnects with classmates who were at the top of the social pyramid in high school. One of the women ends up dead, and although the police are inclined to think it was an accident, Halia thinks differently. Wavonne provides a great deal of humor (think Stephanie Plum's sidekick Lula, on steroids), and the food descriptions (and recipes) are hunger-inducing. A fun read!
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1758209569">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-84856599957559011872016-09-18T07:16:00.001-04:002016-09-18T07:16:13.202-04:00Review: The Cavendon Luck: A Novel
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26114441" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1444605143m/26114441.jpg" border="0" alt="The Cavendon Luck: A Novel" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26114441">The Cavendon Luck: A Novel</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5353">Barbara Taylor Bradford</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1760380633">2 of 5 stars</a>
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I'm not sure why I brought this one home from the library other than I'd read the first two books in the series. The story of the interwined Ingham and Swann families continues, this time focused on World War II. Just as with book 2, this read more like a summary, and moved very quickly over a 6 year period. At one point I had to stop and remind myself who was who -- so many characters. I think my answer to why I read it was that I had really liked the first book, and I had connected with the main characters. Now, not so much.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1760380633">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-45841940316590742612016-09-16T13:38:00.001-04:002016-09-16T13:38:08.531-04:00Review: Breaking Silence
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9954597" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1438359418m/9954597.jpg" border="0" alt="Breaking Silence" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9954597">Breaking Silence</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/54958">Linda Castillo</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1759074994">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Linda Castillo's series features Kate Burkholder as chief of police of a small Ohio town where there is a large Amish presence. Burkholder herself grew up Amish, but left the sect in her late teens as the result of a devastating trauma. However, she still has Amish family nearby and she continues to struggle with her past decisions. In this outing, a family is traumatized when the parents and an uncle die in a farm's manure pit. At the same time, hate crimes against the Amish are escalating from serious mischief to injury and death. Is the farm accident really an accident, and if not, is it related to the hate crimes? This is a gritty and compelling read, and I couldn't put it down!
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1759074994">View all my reviews</a>
Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-49048749539365149662016-09-15T13:07:00.002-04:002016-09-15T13:07:42.428-04:00Progress ReportI've been on a mission this summer to get into better shape. So far, so good. I'm down 32 pounds since June 1st! People have definitely noticed, but it wasn't until this week that I realized just how much progress I've made. I had noticed that I was constantly hitching up my formerly snug fitting size 3x capris, and that I was swimming in several 3x tops I'd purchased this past spring. But when the weather started to feel fall-like, I tried on my size 30 jeans. So large on me that my belly and hips couldn't hang on to them. So I tried on an old pair of size 26 jeans that I'd tucked away in a corner of my closet. They too were too roomy. I could wear them in a pinch, but let's just say that I slipped them off easily without unbuttoning and unzipping. When I got the most recent Lands End catalog, I fell in love with a winter coat, and started to think about buying a new one for this winter. I pulled out my winter coat (purchased at least 5 year ago --no one can say I don't get my money's worth!) and tried it on. Way too big! So I ordered myself the coat in 24WP. It arrived, and it was too big for me. So Tuesday, a friend and I headed to the mall so I could return/exchange the coat at Sears instead of mailing it back. They didn't have the coat available, but I tried on several other coats there to check the sizes out. I ended up ordering the coat from the catalog in a 20! (It's a swing coat, so it's roomy). I also tried on jeans and came home with 2 pair in a 24. They fit about as perfectly as regular length jeans can fit on a 5 ft 1" woman --- in other words I need to cut off about 4inches and then hem,so that they are the right length - 26.5 inches. If all goes well, they will be too big by late winter, but that's perfectly fine with me. <br />
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So how am I doing it? Exercise and counting calories. I go to water aerobics 3x each week. It's a 40 minute class, and I make sure I work hard while I'm there. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, weather permitting, I take a brisk walk - at least 2 miles in length. I also walk on either Saturday or Sunday, depending on our doings. Occasionally I walk both days. If the weather's uncooperative, I walk in front of my computer accompanied by a 2 mile walking video. Today I walked 2.8 miles and according to MapMyWalk, I set a very fast for me pace - 18.22 minutes per mile. I was pushing hard today, my usual pace is about 21 min per mile. When I started walking I was averaging 28 min per mile. Another little sign that I am in better shape include walking up 2.5 flights of stairs after my pool classes without being winded, or even breathing hard. Last weekend I did a 2.2 mile walk that took me up a very steep and longish hill. At the start of the summer, I had to stop numerous times to make it to the top. This time, I was breathing a bit hard when I made it to the top of the hill, but that's it. I am limiting my calories to 1500 per day and my carbs to about 120, and most days I actually eat a little less. I don't feel too deprived, most of the time, and I have really learned to recognize hunger vs appetite. We eat out about once a week, and I've even gone out to lunch quite frequently this summer with friends. I just really try to choose wisely from the menu, and/or plan ahead. If I know I'm eating out, I will save my bread carbs for that meal instead of having a piece of wholegrain bread at breakfast. But I do occasionally have a beer or cocktail, or even dessert (but never both!!) <br />
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My attitude has changed too. I am actually spending time thinking about new places to walk and, gasp! I've even started toying with the idea that maybe, just maybe, a hike up Mt. Monadnock might eventually be doable. This weekend I'm hoping to take a short walk uphill to watch hawk migrations --- it's about a mile, up an 8% incline. I said to a friend the other day, that I think I became a walker this summer despite myself. <br />
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So, that's an up-to-date progress report. Stay tuned!<br />
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<br />Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733836.post-83827708793753161582016-09-13T06:59:00.001-04:002016-09-13T06:59:42.682-04:00Review: Peshwari Nans: Beyond the bucket list
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30521444" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1465658434m/30521444.jpg" border="0" alt="Peshwari Nans: Beyond the bucket list" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30521444">Peshwari Nans: Beyond the bucket list</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7515687">Stephen Haughan</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1755714264">5 of 5 stars</a>
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I absolutely loved this book! Two 80-something sister embark on an epic road trip from London to India in a vintage car, driving almost 8000 miles. Along the way they find themselves making friends with Hell's Angels, an aging Polish Lothario, the Russian army, the Chinese authorities, and a host of others. The sisters become internet sensations and cultural icons without even trying. It's really funny too, and the author does a terrific job of creating sympathetic characters, placing them in improbable situations, and making it all seem plausible. I can just picture Esther and Minnie enjoying their tea alongside the Autobahn and along a mountain road in Tibet. And the episode with the Tibetan monks is priceless! I can even see this as a terrific movie starring the likes of Maggie Smith and Judi Densch!
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Debhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06420035725875000489noreply@blogger.com0