Fall Gold

Freedom

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We don't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children what it was once like in the United States where men were free. Ronald Reagan

Are You Seeing The Light Yet?

Serving the people.....

Serving themselves.....

Church Bells

For as long as I can remember, I have heard church bells ringing on Sunday mornings. As a child the church was across the street from our home and now I live close to a Catholic church that not only rings the bell on Sundays, but other times during the week as well. I can hear the bells ringing tunes on special occasions and I look forward to hearing Christmas music each year. Did you know that a church bell is a bell which is rung (especially Christian) at the church either to signify the hour or the time worshippers go to church? They were the only way to gather a village together in the old days. I love hearing them ring, for they remind me of God's house, a place of refuge and peace. The bells ringing seem to be saying to the world, "Come into the house of the Lord and worship Him.....

The Children's Book of Virtues

One of the highlights of my recent road trip, was finding a wonderful used book store. You know the kind, like you died and went to heaven. I asked the gentleman at the desk if he had a children's section, and he led me to an area that was chocked full of wonderful like new, amazing books. The book shown is titled The Children's Book of Virtues, edited by William J. Bennett and illustrated by Michael Hague. The book was published in 1995. The stories in the book are ones that we have heard at some point in our lives. On reading the introduction, I found that the impetus for the book was a comment made "Our family loves these stories, but it's too bad there are no pictures!" Thus Simon & Shuster produced this illustrated edition of stories and poems from The Book of Virtues, especially for younger children. The book has four sections....Courage/Perseverance, Responsibility/Work/Self-Discipline, Compassion/Faith, Honesty/Loyalty/Friendship. Words taken from the introduction page....As we read these stories to and with our young children, we begin to acquaint them with the idea that it is the moral life, the life of virtue, that is worth living. This book will help parents and young children dwell on these things together.

Cleome

Cleome, sometimes called the spider flower. One of the old time favorites in the southern cottage garden, I found growing in my daughter's garden in Cooperstown, New York....

Baked Apple

When we visit New York this time of year, we quite naturally plan on bringing home lots of apples. This year was no exception and we brought home a variety...Ginger Gold, Empire and Crimson Gala, three of my favorites. I can say we were not disappointed with tonight's desert of baked apples. We're having to watch the sugar in our diets these days, and I'm very happy to have found that Splenda's brown sugar is quite worthy of praise. I'm thinking tomorrow a lovely apple crumb desert....hmmmmm

Discovery......A Walk In The Woods

When I was a child, there was nothing I liked more than walking in the woods near my home. I would spend hours alone, just me and nature. Recently, I had a chance to walk in the woods while visiting family in New York. All sorts of memories that were stored away from long ago, came flooding back to mind as I made one discovery after another. A creek, a fallen log, interesting rocks, a mushroom covered with moss, attached to a tree. I saw all sorts of magical places hidden away, just waiting to be found. The property belongs to my grandson, who,only yesterday, learned that the baby his wife is carrying is a son. Perhaps one day, my great grandson will walk with me in the woods and I can tell him stories of discovery, of nature and how God created it all for us to enjoy. Maybe we can set on the creek bank with our bare feet in the water and together we can make wonderful memories for him to share with his children...........

One Observatory Circle

Future home of Vice President Sarah Palin

We Drove Until We Found Fall....

We are back from our road trip, driving from Florida to Cooperstown, New York. I would recommend the drive to anyone this time of year, for nature is putting on quite a show....the leaves are changing all along the way. I still have unpacking to do, so my post will be just a few photos of our drive into the Catskill mountains.