A weekly pattern

My posts for this month have been every eighth day.

Yesterday, Christmas, 2013. The last two years Kathy and I have driven about four hours to and the same hours returning from Connecticut.  Christmas Day with our son and family and young Cathy's parents.

The nine and seven year old picked up Apples to Apples (Jr) in minutes. Even Ashley (age 5 and 1/2) was reading some of the words with understanding. 

At the end of 2013, Kathy and I appear healthy. 

I bored many yesterday.  Would not shut up about, My Beloved World. A memoir written by a Supreme Court Justice.

Two years ago and five years ago we flew Christmas Day to arrive early for the Rose Parade a week later.  With Direct TV watch the Rose Parade on the RFD channel.  Professional parade coverage with fewer ads.

Quality does exist on TV.  Al Jazeera America (Direct TV since August, 2013) is now what CNN started out as.  In depth, prepared, professional, complete.  None of this Good Morning America babble.

Snow #3 and #4,

Sunday before dawn, 12 inches of snow.

Tuesday evening, six inches of snow.

Both storms fluffy snow. Easy to shovel before the snow is disturbed.

Snow season 2013-2014

Snow #1,  Saturday.  Upward vertical motion from a cold front.
Snow #2,  Monday, energy that gave ice to Texas and Arkansas.

A messy day in Maine even though total snow amount was under three inches.

Home - after xxxx miles

Under 4000 miles but still days moving across and back -Eastern half of the United States.

Purpose - help celebrate a 90th birthday.

A decade birthday today.

40/50/60 - easy.

70/80 -frequent.

90 no sure thing.

Left eye follow up

One uncomfortable night with a scratchy eye, a second night with cleansing tears and then steady healing.

Now November - snow ingredients

1.   Upperward vertical motion or a lift in the atmosphere.

2. Cold air through a deep layer

3.  Moisture.  A special term is moisture advection meaning  additional moisture continues to replace that which falls as snow or rain.

The above three give snow.  Heat the air or start with air too warm for snow and we get rain or a wintry mix.  In spring and even in the fall much of the rain we get starts as snow near and above 10,000 feet.

Today I trimmed thorns

Working too close to the ground I struck and something made it under my lens to touch my left eye.  Please heal.

Tue. - Four weeks plus

In thirty days we gather to give Thanks.

Post each eight days - Sat,Sun and now Monday

Boring or ennui pronounced ( an we).  My word for the week.

As an almost retired teacher I always am amazed when a student states, " I'm bored."

You clueless baby (my thoughts) you are alive, you live in the United States, God gave you these last few minutes.  In Brazil kids three and four years old care for the two year old parentless children.

Renew-build up-refresh

Intentionally making our way to worship often

renews
refreshes
builds up.

The gift of Jesus
the grace

does not need
does not require

intentionally making our way to worship.

It is always something.

On the other side of the wall ahead of me is the Inn breakfast area.

I am (was) sitting alone at a four person table. The carton of milk was square and stable.  I still managed to bump it at the top and tip it spilling milk on the newspaper.

The good news was an extra night opened up. That's it.

dlj/Maine / MN

Follow up - yesterday

He said don't move huge rocks.  Other people know how to do that.  Otherwise; healed.

One week ago was surgery

Today I knelt in three areas in our yard grading/leveling and grooming those three spots.  When I am on my knees with hands in the dirt I feel good.

There is a song (soul song from 196X) with the first line - " I FEEL GOOD" . And so I do. I feel good.

Thunderstorms in early September

Rain, hail lightning displays last night.  Rumble of thunder mid afternoon today.

Home for the next week. 

September - Maine meaning

Are we ready for winter?  That is the purpose of summer - to prepare.

Also to harvest.  With wet June and early July the bugs were washed off the apple blossoms.  Result was and is each tree loaded with apples.  One has finished yielding. Two others are well beyond peak.  Bag and container (x 11) of sliced apples or apple sauce are frozen. 

Prepare for winter through harvest.
Tomatoes are also tasty and plentiful.

Season 2014 - MSMT

Our fourth and final musical of the 2013 season was last night. (see MSMT.org). The transaction is complete and we need two plus two plus two etc for June 19, 2014, July 10, July 31, and August 21.

We are continuing to invite MN, WI and VA. Other notices will go out (letter, face to face, and email). If you have an interest in Buddy Holly, Chamberlain, 7 brides for 7 Brothers, or Footloose contact K or D.

No work week

or a week with no work means my fun projects had priority.

Think and write or write

a- article; b- bulletin; c- comment; d - diary; e - essay.

When writing an essay best practice is to write, rest and rewrite (revise).

In adding a post to this weekly blog I wing it.  Results yo-yo.

Fair; putrid; pleasing to the author.

As your eyes scan right you notice pray daily.  This is another time for prayer.8/8/2013 - djmaine

Summer purpose( prepare for winter)

Today I cleaned the wood stove stove pipes.  A significant layer of soot.  Also a crew (strong of arm and body) arrived to remove the 1993 Woodford Erin wood stove.  The replacement should also last nineteen years.  A larger stove we know it will take longer logs.  Side and front load.  The end. 

How hot?

Too hot for us, however we need the contrast to prepare for winter.

The garden has cool season and summer season varieties. Zinnias are now enjoing the conditions.

Wet garden soil

Our dry April is so history.  June rains keep the soil too wet.  Peas are sickly and nibbled at the top.  A critter or an insect I suppose.

Zinnias in one row all germinated.  The other row has only one.  Again a mystery.

I like my flowers.

Who do you say I am?

Jesus said,  before Abraham, I AM.

JOHN 8:58 Jesus said to them, Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Dreamgirls last night - MSMT

Our first of four musicals this and each summer was last night. Maine State Music Theater (MSMT.ORG)

Kathy and I are season ticket holders since 2005. We increased from two to  four season tickets so take friends since 2009. This note is to those who live in a distant state, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Virginia.   Travel to Maine next summer, 2014, to see a musical with us.

I will continue to bring this up. You may as well make a plan and travel.  My opinion, summers in Maine in August are beyond beautiful.

Back to work (x2)

Kathy went back to work first.  I paused before returning, but did four hours on Wednesday and six today.

Home (to long grass)

DO NOT travel in the initial days of spring summer when the grass grows.

Hay fields are the result.

correction (Psalms)

A recent post should have said Psalms 41 and 89,  Amen and Amen.

Therefore there is a Biblical basis for  AMEN  and AMEN.
(double check my sources, please.)

Wed - - MN

This is the day that the Lord has made. Room is reserved for Nov, 2013.  A birthday celebration few reach.  See you there.  MN.

Fun recital (x2)

We surprised them.  Fun and skilled granddaughters.

as in Psalms 42 and 89, (AMEN and AMEN).

each Wed -Blog

One week and one more procedure.

Woodshed - I am filling it. I'm  inside but should be outside right now.
Kathy has a new bicycle. Photos? Next week.

Healing and recovery on time.

God's healing hand.

Helped by many angels.

Wednesday ends what a week

Most know the scenario.
We will see what seven days brings.
Check in 5-1-2013.

A struggle - less cold

Slowly, slowly temperatures are climbing.
We are climbing Jacob's ladder
We are climbing Jacob's ladder
( recall the tune from vacation Bible School?)

The usual warm spots have hints of green and most tulips have pushed above ground.  Wednesday note for you. - - djmaine. 4/17/2013

Wed; time to write again

I am looking for work.  My current and enjoyable teacher employment is in transition.  Here in Maine the University of Maine hockey coach was just fired.  Best I go to my garden(s) part time this summer and full time next summer.   

I will never see myself as retired.  Just doing something different outside of the house. 

I am looking for a toolbox of small and large brooms to clean up micro areas around town.  Do I have recommendations from my readers (all two- :) ;

Where am I able to buy a   Made-in-the-USA small natural fiber whisk broom?

Many teachers of prayer recommend praying for a very specific result.

Dear Lord,  your fields and forests are beautiful,  please help me find a whisk broom to clean some local man made messes. 

As usual my writing style is the shot gun approach.  Thoughts all over the place.  Dear reader, pick one and ignore the remainder. 

Dale, or MJ, or Bartholomew (the tanner). 4/10/2013
Visit Westbrook, Maine with us.  Last night we found a local Shipyard (beer) night spot.  Home by 8PM fun for us with a birthday discount.

Weekly Post 4/3/13

We traveled to Connecticut with an over night pause half way en route south.

Easter morning the Inn served breakfast. Remainder of the morning drive was quiet. Excellent Easter lunch, visiting with all, and home late Sunday evening.

The next day Kathy and friend drove to and returned from a Coast Guard Exchange (a retail store) on Cape Cod.  Miles on her van.  In one month we should drive into NE.

Near Easter note

An Easter in March will be chilly but not frigid.

We will worship in the Portland Merrill, a class meeting location here.  Kathy and I have found a joint church and I worship at a Biblical Baptist church.  Worship is however about private prayer and Bible reading to discern as an individual. 

When it is time to go (permanently) a church won't get you there.

A church is a teaching location but the knee time must be alone.

sources: John Calvin, John Wesley, Robin Roberts ( and her Mom)

A land cruise

Last Thursday to Sunday we did a cruise into Baltimore, south to VA then back. We reconnected with neighbors from late 1970s, ate and slept in late.

The old Bolling base , now a joint base has out-of-character visiting quarters and limited food options. We wondered through Maryland to return the rental car.  GPS serves as a safety net.

Warmer than Maine but no tropic get-a-way.  Fun.

Date weekly; celebrate monthly; escape quarterly.

Somewhere the end

The final snow of the season exists. When?

We all become lazy moving smaller snowfalls. It too shall end. It too shall melt.

Work -end and begin

I just completed an instructor and a typical young student class. Monday starts again with ten new drivers. They will hear SAFE, POLITE, LEGAL.

Follow at 2-3 seconds - safe.

Tailgate at 1/2 second because no one ahead of you ever drives fast enough; not safe, not polite.

And God made us lower than the angels. But red light runners and tailgaters are more important than the rest of us.

Thank you Dear Lord for my gardens. Four hundred feet from traffic.

now March 2013

Higher speed connection now at home.

Prayers to many as Lent continues to the end of the month.

Connecticut homecoming from afar

They arrive late afternoon.

cam32acj3.blogspot.com

An update - Six words

I have received and printed eleven six-word shout outs to Mom.

Kathy and I marvel at each one as we say, "oh that is good".

The next one or two arrive and again we say the same.

I will print each in three ways. The first is a sheet of ten business cards all ten with a single submission.  Those are done within a day of arrival.

The second will be all on a single page.

The third printing method is still with marketing.  If you have a suggestion, "I'm listening".

I am not including the name of the author.  Each writer knows what they wrote, and many will read one six-word gift and know who wrote it.

Travel plans

May in Nebraska and MN.

November for a birthday.

Wed - Storm coming

Will the Friday storm arrive early? Warmer again Monday.

Adult class is in progress.  Teaching also always includes learning. mj

new month

A birthday yesterday and one in a week. Smile.

I start teaching an instructors class shortly. Each class young or older has its own personality. Focused, polite, motivated.

weeklyabcxyz- winter

Five days of special cold.  Happens each January.

Brief spring day in January

Mild 54F behind our house in the shade yesterday.

Six words.  Looking for six words from many.

Warm January days to arrive

Our colds are finally conquered.  Final healing is on schedule.

I am curious whether our Friday weather event will be all warm or a mix.

And now 2013

Yesterday the pastor said the lady was starting the New Year on a high note.

It was her funeral. She was 92 and a gentle but strong soul

Yesterday January 2, 2013.