Seeking

About once a week, a bird kills himself trying to fly in my house.  I suppose he thinks I live in a wonderful place and he might like to "lit" in my kitchen.    He should just be happy to live in the big ash tree in my back yard where I put out sunflower so he can eat when he pleases.  

It is really warm today.  I enjoyed a 2 mile walk and really wished to walk longer, but Laura and Astrid would have had to wait on me longer than usual.  My pace is slow and slower.  If I try to walk speedily, I feel my knee give way.  So I just try to trudge on at my own soft rate!

Balm of Gilead

There is balm in Gilead,

To make the wounded whole ;

There's power enough in heaven,

To cure a sin-sick soul.

Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

The picture of Clayton is from his teaching days in Scotland, Ar.  Patsy once told me that her balm of Gilead was sleep.  When worries came or problems overwhelmed her, she would just go to sleep.  Finally the problems were so great that an earthly sleep did not improve her and her Father sent the balm of Gilead to her.

A balm is an aromatic, medicinal substance derived from plants. Gilead was an area east of the Jordan River, well known for its spices and ointments. The "balm of Gilead" was, therefore, a high-quality ointment with healing properties. The balm was made from resin taken from a flowering plant in the Middle East, although the exact species is unknown. It was also called the “balsam of Mecca.” Myrrh is taken from a similar plant—Commiphora myrrha.The Bible uses the term “balm of Gilead” metaphorically as an example of something with healing or soothing powers.

"Balm of Gilead" has three references in the Bible. In Genesis 37:25, as Joseph's brothers contemplated how to kill him, a caravan of Ishmaelites passed by on their way to Egypt from Gilead. In their cargo were “spices, balm, and myrrh.” Jeremiah 8 records God's warning to Judah of what Babylon would do to them. Upon hearing the news, Jeremiah laments, "Is there no balm in Gilead?" (verse 22). His question is a poetic search for hope—a plea for healing. Then, in Jeremiah 46:11, as God describes an impending judgment on Egypt, He taunts them: "Go up to Gilead and obtain balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain have you multiplied remedies; there is no healing for you!"

Patsy Has Crossed The Bar

On the Death of a Sister

We shared a bond of time and place,

Our lives entwined like threads in lace.

Her mother, my mother, her father mine.

We shared a room, a space in time.

Same time and place in the Universe,

All things were shared with sister first.

Who will I share with from now on?

Sister’s gone, Sister’s gone.

author: Fleta Aday

May 3, 1938   --    November 28, 2014

Patsy Ann Powell Poor--76 years, 6 months, and 25 days--suffers no more. 

Sunset and evening star,

      And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

      When I put out to sea,

   But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

      Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

      Turns again home.

   Twilight and evening bell,

      And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

      When I embark;

   For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

      The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

      When I have crost the bar.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Thanksgiving At The Christensen's

 Dessert table--Laura made pumpkin and pecan pies, I made lemon ice box and Erin made hand held cookies like kids love.  I brought coffee in our thermos.

 I like Laura's snowman Christmas banner.   Her friend gave it too her.

 Laura made before meal snacks.  Sigrid labeled the tea sweet and unsweet.

 Astrid likes nearly all vegetables and meats.  She will try most anything we make.  Sigrid likes meat, bread and desserts!

Laura and Eric's tree is full of decorations and so pretty.

Ingrid is great with smaller children.  She sat and read books to Clayton and Greta.  Also, Laura had how the Grinch stole Christmas playing to help them be able to sit as she finished cooking.   She had ham.  Erin brought smoked turkey.  I made a big salad.  We had corn from our garden, homemade rolls, mashed and sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, homemade cranberry sauce, homemade gravy, and I am sure there was more.  It was all so very delicious.   At Ingrid's suggestion, we all recited the Lord's Prayer before we ate.  Pop invited his two brothers who are alone.  He always thinks of others.

I thank the Lord for a beautiful day and wonderful family with plenty of food to eat.  

Patsy

New Header

Here are 3 sisters--Helen is in the middle.  I am on the left listening intently.  Fleta is on the right ignoring everything said.  

Nothing Closer

No one is closer to ourselves than a full sibling of the same sex.  I was blessed with four sisters from the same Mom and Dad. 
Circle of Life
901 Jones Road
Springdale, AR 72762
My memory lapses so I am adding this address lest I forget it.

My Baby Is 35!!

 Early this morning my baby turned 35!   She was easy to raise.  When she was in grade school, she just wanted jeans to wear and did not care what kind.  In High School and College, she loved to shop at Salvation Army.  I have always thought she had an "old soul".    Happy Birthday, little one.

Feathered Friends

 I had to zoom to get this but the Hawk has caught a snack and is eating on the high wire!

 The House Finches are shy little birds.  

 This Woodpecker comes to my tree everyday.

 I have lots of Cardinals and they are not so shy.  Maybe a little vain?

Yum Yum

Fleta, if you go to Harrison tomorrow to buy groceries...go by Erin's office for red velvet cake.

Good Night For Basketball

Good basketball night as both our girls won!  Go Gales and  go Whirlwinds!!

Gobble Gobble

Clayton is a turkey on back row to the right!  Gobble, Gobble!

Betty Crocker

William Barksdale

 Grandma Powell told me that her Grandmother was a Bartles.  Fleta and I looked and could not locate her.  Finally one of us figured out her name was Barksdale not Bartles.  Grandma was close she just got the name mixed up.  This man is Martha Lou Barksdales' brother William.  He was born after his father, Nathan, died.  So this is Sarah Lou Coxsey's uncle!  Our Uncle too.

I think I know...

what Clayton needs for Christmas!!

Feeding The Hungry

Poor little Greta--Erin can't find ya!
Looked everywhere but under the bed
There is Greta eatin' candy
Part of her body at least is hid!

Number 15

Both Astrid's and Ingrid's basketball teams lost last evening's games.  Astrid is number 15 in this photo in today's paper.  She plays on the wing.

Frames

Larry is making the framing for our windows.  I really like them.  The paper behind is so when he paints it will not get on the wall.  He will remove the paper afterwards.

Winter

 I do not like snow.  Last night we got just a little.   No, I do not think it is pretty and I don't want to go out in it.  

My bunch down here had school as there was not much on the roads.  If it snowed when we were kids and they had school, Daddy would not let us go.  I loved school and wanted to go, but he did not want us out if their was any winter weather.  Fleta and I had to get in wood. Yuck!  We had to gather kindling. Yuck.  

The sun is coming out and this snow will be history soon, but up north the snow usually stayed for days or even weeks.  

Helen, hope you are warm.  I am very warm this morning with my central heat and nice robe and good socks.  Being warm in the winter is important to me. Being cool in the summer is too.  

Our snow above and Erin's snow below!

 Jones' tower with builders!

Keeping Warm

Ingrid went to the Razorback game yesterday.  It was really cold but she looks like she was wrapped up warmly.  I like that hog on her cheek.

Brrr

It is really cold.  The temperature here got to almost 40 but the damp makes it feel so cold.  Soon, I will have to empty the bird bath to keep it from freezing and bursting.

Sigrid came for a while today.  I have to fix her chocolate burgers.  The only white bread I keep is hamburger buns.  She wants almond chocolate butter on two of them.  I told her she could take the jar of chocolate home, but she said no.  Guess she figured there her sisters would eat it up.

Sigrid got a new coat.  It is called pea coat.  Pop asked if you only wear it to the bathroom.

Life In the Slower Lane

Ingrid made the volleyball team with the AR Tech group.  

 Astrid's team played their first game.  She is playing on the wing this year.  This is her friend, Mary Bird, who plays post.

 I am working on the soft scarf.  Got two really soft yarns.  The hood was in two pieces and I did not like it.  I thought you would be able to see the connections.  Doing my own wide scarf....slow because I am not tying off the colors but weaving in.  I am pleased with how soft it is.  The really soft yarns tend to slip out and come apart if you tie off...so I am keeping in in one piece. 

 Helen, got a perm and hair cut.  Hair not packing.  Erin is coming here for Thanksgiving.  Laura is the hostess!  

Hooded Scarf

Fleta would you like a hooded scarf?

I think I know

I think I know why I like baggy clothes.  Growing up these three sisters shared one bedroom.  We also shared all our clothes.  Fleta is 2 and a half years older than me, but by the time I was 6 and she 8 I was bigger than she was.  Helen is 4 years younger than I am.  When we shared clothes Helen was really the size of Fleta as she was 6 years younger than Fleta.  Their clothes were entirely too small for me.  If I wore them they were tight!  I think that is why I love baggy clothes today.   We really had quite a wardrobe when we shared clothes from about 1963 until I left for College and Fleta moved to Roger, AR to work; however all their stuff was just a little snug on me.  So I surmise that is why today I want everything loose fitting.