A few years ago at a local Folk Music Festival a singer named Scott Katz sang a song that just made my brother and I laugh. The title is "Beer is Good." The first verse goes like this: I don't wanna know the sad event that led you to forsake beverages of barley for the pleasure of the grape. But I hear you sing the praises of your sulfite laden mead, and I'm thinking that a Heineken is all you really need. Beer is good. Beer is good. Beer is good. Beer is good. Beer is good." It continues on in a similar vein--a kindof rap and very fun song. (If you care, the CD is titled "WRONG" by Scott Katz, Brown Bag Studios. It's a great CD. :)
At any rate, this evening I've been enjoying a "High Five Hefe" brewed by the Iron Horse Brewery in Ellensburg, Washington. It's pretty good--described as a ginger honey wheat beverage. Gee--ginger is one of my favorites and in a flavorful beer it is down right delicious!
I bought this bottle at a nifty shop in Ellensburg on a road trip a few weeks ago and this evening was the perfect evening to enjoy it. Family drama has about done me in, so this large bottle of beer tasted wonderful with some sweet potato french fries. Burp. The dog enjoyed the fries as well. :)
So thank you God for providing the hops, wheat, ginger, and honey that went into this delectable beverage that has given me a soft/warmish feeling that offers me a bit of peace in the midst of a trying day. I love my relatives dearly--but their trials and tribulations are both mind-boggling and wearisome. I'm reminded of the phrase that goes something like this: Life would be a lot easier if there weren't so many people in it.
In the midst of all this I can still say that Life Is Good--and I am blessed in so many ways that I'm ashamed of being so snarky this evening.
Blessings to you this evening as well!
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
A Little Progress
There was actually some "down" time today to keep plugging away at a not-so-fun project that will be awesome when I finally complete it. I'm updating my contacts, important dates, business contact information, and password information. Whew! Not only will this help me keep track of some things, but it will provide an accurate source of information should anything happen to me. Not that I'm planning to depart the earth any time soon--but I've become increasingly aware that I'd better have information available for my husband if anything happens to me. And it's a good exercise in organization as well.
"Down time" (or time not specifically set aside for something) is a rare commodity. If nothing specific is scheduled, there are still the 'daily' intrusions of life: errands, laundry, menu planning, cooking, playing with the dog, being available for important people in my life, opening the mail, paying bills, keeping track of schedules, making phone calls, ad infinitum. You know what I'm speaking of!
Sure, there is always something that needs "doing" but some spare time to concentrate on a project is welcome. A bit of a blessing, actually.
Blessings to you!
"Down time" (or time not specifically set aside for something) is a rare commodity. If nothing specific is scheduled, there are still the 'daily' intrusions of life: errands, laundry, menu planning, cooking, playing with the dog, being available for important people in my life, opening the mail, paying bills, keeping track of schedules, making phone calls, ad infinitum. You know what I'm speaking of!
Sure, there is always something that needs "doing" but some spare time to concentrate on a project is welcome. A bit of a blessing, actually.
Blessings to you!
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Someone else doing the dirty work.
It's been over twenty years since my husband and I added the deck on the back of our house. At the time, we also invested in a hot tub to relieve the aches and pains that construction would bring on. So along with the redwood deck, we also got a redwood hot tub (yes, just a couple of years before they came out with the "no care" siding!).
At any rate, the first year and approximately every three years since we have repeated the treatment on the deck and hot tub. It's not fun work, especially around the railings, and I've never considered it much fun. As I've gotten older the chore has gotten more difficult.
So, when our currently living with us daughter offered to "do" the deck this summer I was overjoyed. Unlike myself, she enjoys the warmer weather and seems content to turn on her iPod, grab the brushes and rollers, and work merrily away while the music plays on.
Talk about a blessing. And the deck looks great too!
Blessings to you!
At any rate, the first year and approximately every three years since we have repeated the treatment on the deck and hot tub. It's not fun work, especially around the railings, and I've never considered it much fun. As I've gotten older the chore has gotten more difficult.
So, when our currently living with us daughter offered to "do" the deck this summer I was overjoyed. Unlike myself, she enjoys the warmer weather and seems content to turn on her iPod, grab the brushes and rollers, and work merrily away while the music plays on.
Talk about a blessing. And the deck looks great too!
Blessings to you!
Monday, July 1, 2013
Thank God for Praise Band
Some days it isn't easy to find a blessing. My daughter got news of a "2fer" surgery today. Two procedures instead of one. And then, poor thing, she will need a follow-up ultra-sound on a mammogram as well. All this and menopause as too!
It was blistering hot today--the kind of heat that tires one. And the family angst had both my husband and my daughter in tears. We ended up in a group hug--smiles in the midst of crying. We are on a long road of healing in this household!
So it's Monday. And that generally means praise band practice. And, between playing with a friend's dog who happens to show up for practice and playing the songs with the group, my spirit received a healthy dose of peace and thankfulness. Praise band is always uplifting--thankfully so. Music is a huge blessing in my life.
Thank you, God!
It was blistering hot today--the kind of heat that tires one. And the family angst had both my husband and my daughter in tears. We ended up in a group hug--smiles in the midst of crying. We are on a long road of healing in this household!
So it's Monday. And that generally means praise band practice. And, between playing with a friend's dog who happens to show up for practice and playing the songs with the group, my spirit received a healthy dose of peace and thankfulness. Praise band is always uplifting--thankfully so. Music is a huge blessing in my life.
Thank you, God!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Only Change Is Constant!
A friend mentioned to me yesterday that I hadn't posted anything lately. So I've pondered my lack of involvement with my blog and came to this conclusion: The title "Life Goes On" strikes me as a tad negative when I'm actually trying to be more positive in my life. So I've decided to go back to the original word that I based this blog on: Berakot= blessing. It seems like several "lives" ago that I originally dove into this. Agilebabble was a reference to dog agility. An activity that both my dogs and I have retired from. And my "champ" Toby has since passed away.
At any rate, I am a blessed person and want to focus on that part of my life. My apologies to anyone out there who preferred that "life goes on" phrase as the end of my blogs previously. It doesn't feel "right" to me anymore. So there you have it.
Blessing today? Being able to change my mind about this blog and feeling like it will be more authentic as an instrument for my musings.
Blessings to you as well!
At any rate, I am a blessed person and want to focus on that part of my life. My apologies to anyone out there who preferred that "life goes on" phrase as the end of my blogs previously. It doesn't feel "right" to me anymore. So there you have it.
Blessing today? Being able to change my mind about this blog and feeling like it will be more authentic as an instrument for my musings.
Blessings to you as well!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Balancing
A bouquet of flowers rests nearby on the table. Originally obtained to adorn the altar at church Sunday, the bouquet now captures my vision on a regular basis and reminds me of God's glory in creation. It is an informal presentation with joyous splashes of color: lavender, yellow, pink, a bit of blue, and an amazing variety of greens. Gazing at it makes me feel peaceful.
Which is not at all how I feel much of the time. To say that life is complicated is an understatement. Talking with my "best bud" today I remarked about feeling like I'm on a tightrope much of the time. And even though I was speaking about a specific part of my life at that moment, I'm feeling like most things in my life are on a tightrope much of the time.
I am somewhat selfishly immersing myself in things that are important to me--only to find that everything seems connected anyway. One of the books for the academy is a study of the Gospel of John. I've always loved the beginning: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Is that just cool or what? :) So even as I grapple with Pazdan's discussion on "A spirituality of the fourth gospel" I am being challenged by her consistent nudging to apply that spirituality to my own life. (I am also fervently hoping that we are not expected to complete all the exercises in all the books assigned for the academy prior to arriving there in August. I could use some help with interpretation!) At any rate, I have a lot to muse on regarding family "issues" and my part in dealing with them as
life goes on.
God help me. Literally.
Which is not at all how I feel much of the time. To say that life is complicated is an understatement. Talking with my "best bud" today I remarked about feeling like I'm on a tightrope much of the time. And even though I was speaking about a specific part of my life at that moment, I'm feeling like most things in my life are on a tightrope much of the time.
I am somewhat selfishly immersing myself in things that are important to me--only to find that everything seems connected anyway. One of the books for the academy is a study of the Gospel of John. I've always loved the beginning: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Is that just cool or what? :) So even as I grapple with Pazdan's discussion on "A spirituality of the fourth gospel" I am being challenged by her consistent nudging to apply that spirituality to my own life. (I am also fervently hoping that we are not expected to complete all the exercises in all the books assigned for the academy prior to arriving there in August. I could use some help with interpretation!) At any rate, I have a lot to muse on regarding family "issues" and my part in dealing with them as
life goes on.
God help me. Literally.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
June is here!
And it was warm today. With sunshine as well. So summer really is on its way!
A meeting this morning has me musing on how difficult it is for many folks to let go of the way things used to be and venture forth into a future of other possibilities. And to punctuate that concept, my husband and I went to a graduation celebration this evening with a group of people we see infrequently. Twice I was asked how my quilting was going--a hobby that I'd pretty much given up several years ago. But how were they to know I'd passed on to a different life?
So the days roll by for everyone and things change for everyone and its impossible to know what directions people's lives have taken. One thing is sure. Most people's lives have probably changed a fair amount in the last few years!
So the question on my mind this evening? How do you discern when it's time to bid adieu to a tradition that no longer "works."
Another question? A friend of mine was informed that she was someone's "soulmate." What does that mean? (And neither of us could quite grasp that this was a proper category for her.)
People are sure interesting as
life goes on.
A meeting this morning has me musing on how difficult it is for many folks to let go of the way things used to be and venture forth into a future of other possibilities. And to punctuate that concept, my husband and I went to a graduation celebration this evening with a group of people we see infrequently. Twice I was asked how my quilting was going--a hobby that I'd pretty much given up several years ago. But how were they to know I'd passed on to a different life?
So the days roll by for everyone and things change for everyone and its impossible to know what directions people's lives have taken. One thing is sure. Most people's lives have probably changed a fair amount in the last few years!
So the question on my mind this evening? How do you discern when it's time to bid adieu to a tradition that no longer "works."
Another question? A friend of mine was informed that she was someone's "soulmate." What does that mean? (And neither of us could quite grasp that this was a proper category for her.)
People are sure interesting as
life goes on.
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