Downton Abbey Thoughts Pt 2

Yes. There will be a Downton Abbey discussion for Season 4 programs through last Sunday night/Episode 4.  If you don't wish to be tempted, hustle on outta here while you have the chance! Anything from now on is at your own risk. We are not discussing future programming, though I have indeed done as Kathleen says below.
Vee how could you! You watched the whole thing?! That's like eating the entire bag of candy. Like reading the last page of the book! ~Kathleen

~a gift from Lovella~
Call me incorrigible. I absolutely do eat all the candy and I always read the last page of the book (before I read the first). ☺ 

~too good to save~

~~~

So there is a lot to talk about. It seems more fun and interesting to chat as we go along, while we still remember the plot. ☺ (At first, I thought we'd talk in code, but I can't figure out how to do it well so I've nixed that idea.) 

How fabulous Mrs. Hughes is! I really love her. She is so wise, so intelligent, so good. On the other hand, I have read some commentary suggesting that she is nothing more than a hypocrite for being on the one hand very concerned for Anna and, on the other, willing to threaten similar bodily harm to Edna. (Say! That was pretty good code talking right there.)For me, I found it very satisfying when Edna had met her match in Mrs. Hughes.

~Edna~

Seems as if everyone is ready to throttle Julian Fellowes for taking the program into such a controversial area. It didn't settle well with me either because I am still thinking of Downton Abbey as tea and scones. It is hardly that. If I am honest, it never was. But to have a favorite character suffer this... Well, feel free to share your thoughts.

 So Mrs. Hughes is my favorite this year. I am unimpressed with the upstairs people thus far. I call them the "flat people" in their one-dimensional portrayals. Tom may have a few layers, but that's because he's half one thing and half another. Rose's story bores me. Party girls always do. Edith is not behaving well. Does that give her more layers? Cora and Robert are lost in their terrarium, though did you not love how Cora handled that mean, old, rotten Nanny West? Mary remains Mary of the ever so haughty tone, which happens to be quite flat. If anyone has anything redeeming to share about Mary, please do!

Still enjoying the banter between Isobel and Violet, especially now that it is ratcheting up.

Does it seem as if the scenes move even more frenetically this year? As if there's a lot of ground to be covered and not much time? 

Turning the floor over to you. Tell me, what has been your favorite episode this year? Is it always the last one? What is your favorite storyline? Who makes the best villain? Do you have a favorite character?  Edited to Add: One more question: does your husband join you in watching?(mine does not)Do share!

P.S. I'd like to thank Lorrie for encouraging me to stay with the show. She said that things would get better. One can hope! 
Photos allowed to stand...from g00gle images...though I added characters' names to the first

Downton Abbey Thoughts Pt. 1

♪music♪ ~~~ No spoilers here. Oops. Lied. I'm giving one spoiler. So tread lightly through this post. And, please, no spoilers in comments. Let's keep this reader friendly today. Tomorrow, we'll be a little freer. ~~~

Who knew that I was going to glean useful cleaning tips from Downton Abbey? Not I that's for sure!  My beautiful FlyLady feather duster, circa 2005 or something, is perfect for cleaning light fixtures and especially when the end is cinched with a cute little ribbon so that the ostrich feathers don't flail about so. Achoo! So pay attention to those opening scenes of DA, you never know what household tip might work for you.

~~~

After the second Sunday of Downton Abbey, I'd quite decided that I would not be tuning in for any more episodes. That's just how frustrated and angry I was. Then I decided to search for the full episodes and watch them all in a great day-long marathon, which is exactly what I did. I don't know if this is legal, moral or ethical, but multiple sources were easily found. I watched on my iPad without even hooking up to the tv. So I have watched every episode of Season 4, including the Christmas Special. Spoiler: This is a lame spoiler, though I feel that I must include a warning for the purists out there. Avert eyes now! Remember how this season began six months after Matthew's death? There is going to be an even more fantastic leap of time within this season. Interesting, eh?! ~~~ Susan Branch has written so wittily about Downton Abbey without giving any spoilers at all, though she warns of one. If you'd enjoy reading that post, you'll find it *here.* I agree with her entirely! ~~~ Now I have some questions for you, presuming you're still here:  1. Are you watching this season? 2. Have you found a way to watch the entire season or are you viewing on a weekly basis? 3. Would you enjoy a vague discussion of episodes shown thus far tomorrow? If not, I understand.
Comments on this post are now closed.

Understanding Anger

The Bible tells us that it is possible to be angry and sin not. (Ephesians 4:26) Seldom, however, do I experience anger without allowing sin to enter. Anger is an emotion that, as Mark Twain once said, can hurt the container more than the one upon whom the anger is poured (or something like that).  Last week, two little boys bent over the Bible story of Cain and Abel. Now there was an anger problem! The Children's Bible kept the story as simple and innocuous as possible.

 
Being brothers, sometimes even angry brothers, these little boys wanted more. They had lots of questions. So I picked up where the simpler story left off. When I had finished, they were both looking at me quite wide-eyed. The elder said, "But that's not fair! Cain took God a present." The younger immediately replied with this: "It is fair. God did not ask for fruits and vegetables. He asked for a lamb. You have to give God what He wants. He's God." Just ponder that for a moment. Yes, out of the mouths of babes.  This is the problem, I always run into trouble when I set up my own will above God's. At some point, I must trust Him once and for all or I shall forever be flailing about making a mess of things that, if I had only trusted God in the first place, would not now be in the state that they are. (I want to add Does that make sense? However, adding the question doesn't make sense if comments are closed, which they are.☺) Often I go looking for a quote to perfectly match my post. Here's a wonderful one:

Our tendency in the midst of suffering is to turn on God. To get angry and bitter and shake our fist at the sky and say, "God, you don't know what it's like! You don't understand! You have no idea what I'm going through. You don't have a clue how much this hurts." 

The cross is God's way of taking away all of our accusations, excuses, and arguments. 

The cross is God taking on flesh and blood and saying, "Me too.”  ~Rob Bell

Squirrely

1. Here I am on Vee's deck rail plotting. (Someone ought to tell her John that it needs a little paint.)

2. And perhaps no one has told those yahoos that squirrels can access any feeder from ten feet. This one's a piece of cake. With all this snow, I'm a mere three feet below my goal. 

 3. Ta Da! Told ya!

4. Let's see now, how do I get into this thing?

5. All this for a lousy piece of stale Rice Krispies bar?!

 6. Whoaaaaa...

 7. God didn't give me claws for nothing!

8. Nom...nom...nom...

John has expressed his concern about the hordes of squirrels that are circling the property. They are pretty brazen little duffers. I've had to give up feeding them. Are you feeding the squirrels birds this year?

Lost:Ten Pounds of Potatoes

Oh a drop in numbers last month. Folks may still be recuperating after the holidays. I'd worry about it, but I have enough to fret over. Thanks to all who did participate and to our newcomers, too. It's always fun to meet new bloggers.

I've lost ten pounds of potatoes. I purchased them for our December 27 family dinner. That day arrived and I couldn't find them so I used odds and ends I had about the house: five or so russets mixed with a couple of pounds of red-skins and an odd nondescript white or two tossed in. They turned out fine, whipped with creamed cheese, butter, salt and pepper and plopped into the crockpot to stay warm.   Yesterday, I went sniffing through the closets once again. I figure I'll find them eventually and I don't want it to be the hard way. It is worrisome. I'd stop looking if both John and I didn't very clearly remember them coming into the house on that last marketing day. We even remember the potatoes sitting quite cheekily on the kitchen chair for a few days. Then they wandered off. Perhaps they grew bored.   Obviously, the lady of the house tucked them somewhere and now she's forgotten. I could mash thrash her.
Lost anything lately?  

January Note Card Party

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire; it is the time for home. 

~Edith Sitwell

Knowing that I am in need of comforts this week, I thought perhaps you might enjoy some, too. Comforts too often equals food for me. Wish that, like so many of you, I could get away with a bit of tea, a book, and a blankie. At least, thus far, I'm getting away with virtual food.☺

 ~banana bread~

 ~Kim's Lemon Crisps~

 ~ Sock-it-to-me Cake~

~salad preps~ With the exception of the box top sample cover, all photos have been shown before. 
And here we go heading into 2014 with this first Note Card Party of the year. Let's enjoy it!

January Note Card Party Reminder

Just a quick reminder that it's almost time for January's Note Card Party. Mr. Linky will be up tomorrow afternoon between 2 and 2:30. The actual party is on Wednesday, January 15. 
Hope to see you then! Newcomers are always welcome!
Comments are closed today; however, most questions can be answered by clicking on the Note Card Button in my sidebar or on the date listed. 
A wonderful day to you...

Ice~Mosaic Monday

Way back in Art Appreciation 101, I learned how the eye is always drawn to red. Yesterday, I decided to take pictures of the ice storm we were having. While I thought that I was taking photos of ice, I now see that I was really drawn to the red.    Thanks for looking at my little collage. I'm linking to Mary's Mosaic Monday.

Meet the Hairdresser

Yet another simple picture story about my hair. (It's an ongoing theme.)

1. The Problem (Why, yes, I did run this photo through the diffuser. Too bad I couldn't find the plastic surgery option.)

2. The Solution

< Imagine a beautiful woman of about 40 with layered tresses and weighing 97 pounds. >

3. The Goal (What? Too much of a stretch you think?)

4. The Hairdresser

5. The End 

Have a lovely weekend!

P.S. Thanks for being so sweet. I tried to follow your advice! (I found the plastic surgery option.)

~in the green glow of the PC screen~

Photo Challenge~Shadows

*Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. 

~Swedish Proverb

Because I live at the edge of a wee forest and because my neighbor has so many ancient trees, the shadows are pretty striking in the late afternoon. Late afternoon is between three and four. Our dusk is now arriving at 4:20 or so. It is completely dark in another fifteen minutes. Because the shadows are so striking, even nauseating, I have softened them some by creating the collage above and adding gradient six in Photoscape below.

The shot above was taken in the morning a few days ago on a rare sunny day. Sometimes I prefer the shadow to the real thing.

I pay little attention to camera settings, but I can tell you that I used the "snow setting" on my camera, a Nikon Coolpix P7100.

Linking to the incomparable Donna at *Shadow Play*. Hope that you'll visit those who have participated in this month's Photo Challenge. There are some remarkable photographs!

*This morning's worry was that I'd never be able to blog again since I couldn't access my blog from my PC. A few hours later and it has healed itself. Amen.

Resolutions and Words

I have so much to say and am choosing not to. It would be negative and whiny and self-serving and downright annoying. *Aren't you glad that I am sparing you? ☺
If I were going to share, I'd say something about what a failure I am in not keeping last year's resolution. (That does it for me. Once and for all, I am done with words, resolutions, and anything else where I set myself up for failure.) Right. Dare turned out to be a big flop proven by the fact that Sankewi had been there in my sidebar unattended for months, and by the fact that I don't give a royal flip about it anymore. Well, maybe just a little, but not enough to give it any attention. So — moving right along — it has been removed. It's still there, but not linked.
Tell me, which side of the aisle do you fall on as far as words and resolutions? I'd love to know. For me, it's like building a house of cards.

~Sam's House of Cards~

*Some sparing, eh?!  

Bone Chilling Cold

This Polar Vortex thing has me thinking about other years when the temperatures dropped way below zero Fahrenheit for days on end. I am actually old enough to remember a few of those years, but two that stand out are 1982 and 1983 when the temps slipped to -20 or worse *for three weeks or more right over Christmas and New Year's. It was brutal. *
Back then, I was still in my twenties with two small children. (We were homeschooling so I have no idea what happened with school attendance. Since most of it was over the Christmas vacation anyway, it must have worked out.) We lived in the "big" house. It was a bugger to heat. We didn't use oil as we could not afford it. Each year we ordered 10 cords of dry wood and heated our home that way with two woodstoves just a cranking. * 
Christmas Day 1982 1983 (should have known because son was not yet in school in '82), we were scheduled to host a family breakfast to include my parents and grandparents. My mother informed me that if the house was not warm enough, my grandparents would suffer terribly. They kept their home so toasty that we joked that steak could be fried on their kitchen table. *   Passing on this information to the man of the house, I lit candles, closed doors, and stuffed blankets while he got the stoves roaring hot. It looked cozy enough as candlelight always does. In truth, the drafts could be felt around the floors and from every window and door. *
When the car drove up the drive breaking ice with every rotation of the wheels, we were ready. And still poor grandparents suffered. They managed to make it through breakfast and the children's opening of gifts, but were out of there as soon as politeness allowed. *   We sure served a lot of hot coffee that morning. *
Before long, the news reports included all who had died as a result of the bitter cold. I remember that there was a lot of intercessory prayer that the cold snap would end for the sake of the elderly and the children. *   It did. We carried on blissfully happy that the usual winter temps were once again the norm. I have never forgotten the relief that I felt. Course we did it all over again the following year. *
 

Manuela says that she reads The Long Winter every year. This might not be the best year to read this one. I'm thinking Hawaii might be good. (By the way, look how Manuela is keeping her wreath warm.) *

I think it is good for all of us to remember a hard winter to prepare ourselves against them by keeping the pantry full, having extra water in the house, extra fuel for both the furnace and the car. It's important to know how the neighbors are faring, to provide cozy places for our pets to hang out. I keep a blanket fluffed enough for Fioré to climb in and I find her under there quite often. I also have throws and cozy fleece everywhere. I find my grands under there, too. *
Those ten cords of wood were not enough to "spring out on." We wound up having to buy green wood...very inefficient for heating. I remember taking "my students" to sit in a warm car to eat our lunches because the house was so cool. Warmth. We need it! * 
I'm glad that those winters are gone. I'll be glad when this cold snap breaks, too. I hear that it'll be 40F this weekend with rain. (A mess of another sort.)
*the facts do not bear this out—9 days
*What's with the asterisks? Blogger is being a bugger again this morning and smooshing all my paragraphs together. So in my craftiness, I've figured a way to show the break.* 

Little Tidying Up Thoughts

Phew! I've got to take a break. I'm going to show you my orderly new world. Right. NOT. What organized world? Man! And to think that Christmas used to go up December 15, not a day earlier, and stay up until January 2. The end. I think I've figured out why my Christmases have been extending in recent years. It's a lot of work. To do all this for a mere three weeks would mean that I probably wouldn't bother at all. True.
Why? I am growing olden and shaky-en and bent and hurt-en. (My sister declared that I was walking like a drunken sailor on December 27. She kept thinking that I was going to drop the turkey. Foolish gal. I would not have dropped the turkey. Anything, but not that!)
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and your traditions in comments on yesterday's post. It sparked a lot of conversation between John and me and it even sparked some behind-the- scenes conversations. (If I have not yet responded to your email, have no fear, I've not forgotten.) 
No, no, dear, I would never tell you how to celebrate your holiday. You do what works well for you and your family. Do what is meaningful for you or, better yet, do what The Lord whispers to your heart. It is only that I have learned that a beginning, a middle, and an end feels good to me. It centers me somehow. 
Last night, I did not use the Nativity at the table. I did this instead.

~Epiphany 2014~

I have so loved that card this year. 
This morning, John helped me get the tree down and put away. I brought down the Easter cactus and it's in the shower dripping dry.

~taking a shower~
I'm cutting that thing back; it almost doesn't fit in the shower!

~new home waiting~

Its new home before the patio doors is waiting. I figure that after  more than a month in the dark, it needs some light. I'm beginning to feel that way myself.

~Nativity Lamb~

Jesus is not on the bread box. His little baby likeness is tucked into the box, but I did keep out this lamb. Easter's coming!
Stay warm out there. (The temps here have dropped steadily through the night and this morning. It's twenty degrees cooler than when we woke at 7.) Don't let that vortex get ya!

Epiphany 2014

This is a post cobbled from bits and pieces of former years' posts. 
John and I came to celebrate Epiphany late. It is not a part of our church teaching. It is a part we have happily borrowed from others and use as a way of closing Christmas with a bit more ceremony than pitching the tree to the curb as it were. ~~~ I hope that you may not yet have put away your Nativity Set. Epiphany is the perfect day to bring the Nativity set to the table using it as the focal point.

~~~ Dismantling Christmas means that I have stripped the tree of everything except the angel top and the lights. We will enjoy it this evening and tomorrow. I must think of a good Epiphany Supper. Last year, as I recall, I gathered the Nativity Set and plenty of candles and we ate by candlelight. I remember looking up at Nan as she ate her meal quietly and she smiled back at me. It was her first celebration of Epiphany and, quite frankly, she found it unusual and said so, but once she got into it, all was well. ~~~ This is it for this Christmas Season. I will happily be celebrating Advent and the First Day of Christmas before year's end. I love that the years begin and end with Christmas. What a wonderful Savior to love us so that He willingly left Heaven behind for us. How we need Him! How can we not keep Christmas all year through? ~~~ Enjoy this Day of Epiphany. Think what you might do. It's not too late! My table is set, the menu is planned, the food is waiting, my heart is full and ready. P.S. I am thinking of all those who are still in the grip of winter weather. It's wild out there!

Thanks Be to God

Source

It was so strange today. I woke with an elephant in each ear. Lovely. I had expected to be better. I got worse. 
Then I began to ponder how often that happens. Rather often! Disappointments are very common in  our lives. We want one thing and get something else entirely.
Just as I was settling into a defeatist mood, I read Joni Eareckson Tada's devotion for today where she quoted this: Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen. (Deuteronomy 4:9)
Well amen to that! I have seen God's hand at work as recently as this morning. That the elephants have not yet moved on should have nothing to do with the fact that I have seen with my two eyes and heard with my own two ears  (just barely ☺) that He is at work—always! I can trust Him.
A lovely Sunday to you!

Toward the End of Christmas

Christmas is mostly still in place here in my Haven. I have been taking small things down. Things that may not be noticed by a seven-year-old (soon to be eight) when he returns Monday afternoon. 

I caught him peeking in the little village last night when he was supposed to be dressing for the cold. His dad was waiting patiently to leave. 
I asked him what he was doing and he said that he was having one more look. He was visibly relieved when I assured him that there would be another day for that as Christmas wasn't leaving my house until January 7. In fact, Christmas is never gone here. Something always remains out throughout the winter and through the year. I may resort to my Jesus on the breadbox decor to remind me all over again that He is the Bread of Life.

This does not mean that I am not thinking about changes. There was a wonderful article at Houzz called *Downsizing Help—What Furniture to Leave Behind* that I hope to use when making some imminent decisions. The house is not terribly efficient just now. There's cleaning of closets, drawers, and a lot of releasing to be done from papers to clothes to decorating items.
In the meantime, I have been cleaning a little. Seems that a little bug or two is floating about. I have no fever today so I think I am on the mend. Still my right ear feels as if an elephant moved in. A small one.
This is how I clean everything lately. These small spray bottles of hydrogen peroxide, available on your pharmacy shelves, work great! (The spray bottle itself. I think the peroxide does kill germs, too. You'll have to trust me on that. Shhhh...don't tell my doctor nurse practioner that I pour the stuff drop tiny amounts into my ears.)

Coaching

The boys were all mine yesterday. I think that they were quite disappointed not to be going to school. I decided to use some time to coach them in all that they can NOT say when they return, whenever that may be. 
They've been watching a lot of Christmas movies over vacation. Many have become such favorites that they've been watched multiple times. Entire scenes are acted out many times a day. 
My coaching went something like this:
Me: And we can't call anyone... Jake: A filthy animal?  Me: Right. No one wants to be called that. Sam: And no one wants to get shot. Me: Definitely not. Jake: Can I say, "You were smooching my brother"? Me: No, that's probably not going to go over well. Sam: Giggles

Sigh. I just hope that I don't have to go pick one of them up from the principal's office come Monday.

Anyone ever play Tenzi? Fun, fast-paced, easy game!

I'm Clueless

It's been busy around here since December 23 when the grands arrived for their vacation days. They would arrive in the morning at 7:30 and leave at 5 pm.  Their mom had the Tuesday before Christmas off so that worked out well. Then I had them for the Thursday and Friday following Christmas. On Monday, their maternal grandmother took the eldest to have one on one time and wound up keeping him for Tuesday as well since a doctor's visit was needed — ear and sinus infection. Ugh. Winter has arrived.
 The youngest has complained off and on of an ear that doesn't feel quite right either. So I am eager to see how today and tomorrow will go. They are supposed to return to school, but there's a bad storm barreling down upon us and with the sickness and all...I just don't know; it could go either way. If you don't see me around, you'll figure it out.  By 7:30, even I'll have it figured out.☺

Monday, Jake and I made cupcakes. Oh yum. They were supposed to look like Kitty's melted snowman ones. They didn't, but they tasted good! 

Jake did the decorating. I really liked the way he turned the Hershey's kiss from a hat to a nose. 

Would you believe that Jake had homework over vacation? Yup. This was my trick to get him to read to me. "Wear my cheaters," I suggested, "you'll be able to see better." 
He couldn't, but he sure can read!
A fun day to you...

Happy New Year!

~Source~

Yes, there I am 100 years and 100 pounds ago raising my glass to a New Year. John and I did the same last night with a vintage (I forgot to open it last week) bottle of Sparkling Champagne (non-alcoholic); then we tottered off to bed before ten.
I have paid John close attention as he has wished family and friends a Happy New Year. He has made it a point to include prosperity and good health and I do as well.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. ~3 John 1:2
Enjoy this first day of a New Year!