Cami Toes

There's an obvious lack of blog fodder over this way.  We've been hosting another flu bug the past week-plus, but no one's been snorting or squealing or chirping or cackling, so don't get all nervous about pig flu or bird flu or chicken flu or....  I love the word hippopotamus, so I'm glad there's no hippopotamus flu, tainting one of my favorite words.  I'll keep my swine flu and pandemic thoughts to myself.  Aren't you so glad?  And relieved?

Cami Toes.  Joycie knows we've been doing some exhausting dragon slaying over our way, so she sent me a cheery photo.  It's too good to keep to myself.  Cami is Joycie's 3-year-old Little Britches, just a few months younger than our SugarPlum, and seen here in the tale of her visit with SugarPlum at our place.  Now these are some special little toes:

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.  ~Mark 9:42

Through the Living Room Window

Now I can't go lyin' all over the place, so you need to know while this was the scene from the living room windows, the photo was taken outdoors.  We couldn't appreciate a photo taken through a window wearing a whole year's grunge and a screen.  Neither will Zoomer appreciate the photo of a prairie fire, since she lives in the forest in the drought-stricken West, where fires of any sort are most unwelcome.  This planned burn was for us, though, a pretty evening site, and we're happy for a now clearer view on intersecting, country roads:

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.  ~I Peter 1:7

It's Plum Miraculous

When I, ever the whiner, wrote Cousin Annie, ever the encourager, about temperatures dipping to 22º two nights in a row, most certainly polishing off our previously ice-encased plum blossoms while we still held hope for the peaches, she wrote back, "Peaches are better than plums any ol' day in my opinion...not that you asked." 

Normally, I'd be quick to agree, but I had to tell Cousin Annie, "Okay, but you've never tasted our plums, which are different from any fruit any of us have ever eaten in our lives.  Like fragrant, juicy candy, and I'm not exaggerating. :)"  My whine over the lost crop stood, as naturally it would, since I'm Queen Whiner.

Another inspection yesterday of the plum tree revealed teensy plums galore.  We don't know how that happened, but we sure are thankful it did.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  ~John 15:5

Tea

Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of the day; but a series of oppressions begun at a distinguished period, and pursued unalterably through every change of ministers, too plainly proves a deliberate, systematic plan of reducing us to slavery.  ~Thomas Jefferson

Guard with jealous attention the public liberty.  Suspect every one who approaches that jewel.  ~Patrick Henry








Out Zoomer's Way:

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  ~Matthew 24:9, 10

Kids' Headgear

Recycling?
I cannot tell you why this child saw a helmet in a TV dinner box, but he did, and he extricated it.


Neither can I splain this:




Killjoy.

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  ~I Peter 5:4

Interesting Quote

Amidst the contrasting, published rancor over a recently passed local law, I found the following in the comments section of the local newspaper online: 

"It's a privelige [sic].  Most of everything you have and do is not a right... Did anyone in Emporia actually finish school?" [dots in the original]

Do I even need to comment on the comment?  May I simply ask what is being taught in the government schools?  We haven't rights?  Only government-approved and -granted privileges?  Interesting.

Please pardon my indelicacy, but I feel like throwing up.

"I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground: That 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people' (10th Amendment).  To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specifically drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible to any definition."  ~Thomas Jefferson

United States Constitution
Bill of Rights

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  ~II Chronicles 7:14

Plum on the Premises

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.  ~Psalm 56:3

Clown Egg

We don't know which lady delivered this gift, the little jokester.

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.  ~Proverbs 22:4

Memory Game

Still certain I rarely have an original thought, I may be the last person on earth to think of making a memory game for a SugarPlum, but think of it I did.  I'm not too humble — falsely or otherwise — to admit being pretty stinking pleased with myself.  [insert *eye-roll* here] 

I sized photos identically, printed them on card stock, laminated (front and back) with Contact brand laminating paper, and cut apart.  I chose a dozen photos, themed "Poppie's & Nana's House," printing pairs of each, making 24 cards total: two CowNots, one chicken, Pierre, Purrle, Ruger, Uncle Son3, Uncle Son4, Poppie, Nana, and two shots of SugarPlum visiting.

If our Wal*Mart carried a pleasing array of Contact papers, the backs would have been decorated.  Our Wal*Mart doesn't carry a pleasing array, and only the chicken print pleased me.  The pattern repeat would have made it possible to identify cards by the types and placements of the chickens on the backs, so I left the aisle disgruntled, and the deck wasn't so very intriguing from the backside, being all nekked cardstock.  I may have to mail-order some Contact paper, because I enjoyed this little exercise in creativity and would like to create more games.  Theme possibilities are endless.

If you have some sugarplums, you might consider cranking out some memory games.




Why, I think that little plum still has some
garden dirt beneath her snout.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.  ~Proverbs 9:8