Tuesday May 17 2016   WHAT TO WRITE?

 

“Faced with the prospect of voting for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, Mary Anne Noland of Richmond chose, instead to pass into the eternal love of God, “ the obit published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. 

Noland died Sunday after a battle with lung cancer.  Her husband said her son wrote the obituary’s opening line, the Hill reported.  (“The Hill” is a website read by the White House and more lawmakers than any other site—vital for policy, …”).

 

Well, as I was thinking what to write Dave came in and read me the above news item.  I guess that is one way of getting out of voting for the lesser of the two evils.  (That’s my comment).

As I have said before, I do not intend this blog to become a battle ground politically but I just couldn’t resist my “tongue-in-cheek” comment.  (Dictionary definition of tongue-in-cheek is:  “without really meaning what one is saying or writing”.)

 

WHOEVER WINS

By Kathleen Martens

May 17, 2016

 

One way to vote might be to die,

But not the way I’d surely try.

But oh for the answer to this quiz,

Who is the best Presidential whiz?

 

Pickings are slim to say the least,

We know not the kind of beast

That calls out in plaintive cry,

Or who is speaking truth or lie.

 

It is scary whoever wins

Because the world so full of sin.

There’s not much from which to choose,

WHOEVER WINS WE STILL ALL LOSE.

 

I just really do not know

If I have stepped on any toes.

I’m in a quandary and that’s a fact.

Our system is floundering, if we don’t act.

 

In reflection I sincerely say

This election is not fun or play.

Our country’s outcome is at stake.

Both candidates are a big mistake.

 

God, thank You for being in control, even when it seems everything is out of control.

Thank You Lord for Your protection this day.

Thank You Lord for all the prayers You answer.

Thank You for raspberry jalapeno jam!

Thank You for Your love, grace, and mercy.

And thank You for my washing machine.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU

 

 

 

 

 

Monday May 16 2016  UNWANTED GUESTS 

Fortunately the “unwanted guests” I speak about do not know I have a blog.  That’s a good thing.  We are currently sharing our premises with a couple of picky, uninvited (and as I am finding out daily), destructive guests.  They are up very early in the morning, sometimes even before daybreak.  Though I give them credit, they are extremely quiet to be making such a big mess of things.   They only like to eat what they want to eat, which are things I don’t necessarily want to give them.  They make messes where I least expect it and are undermining more than just my hospitality.

We even resorted to consulting with someone today (behind their back) to figure out a way we could best be rid of them before they do more damage than they already have.  So what to do?  In order to be politically correct I will refrain from mentioning what I would like to do to them.

We don’t confront them often and I think they know they have a good thing going here and don’t want to upset the apple cart.  Well, what they don’t know is that my patience and tolerance is about up.  They have done enough damage, eaten more than I can even imagine, and do absolutely nothing to clean up after themselves.

So, who are these guests?  They are generations of groundhogs.  GREAT BIG GROUNDHOGS!  And did you know that one groundhog can undermine and cause an entire barn to collapse?  These buggers are living under our playhouse in the back yard and have an underground highway system that leads directly to our terrace.  We have a terrace out back that was once an in ground pool.  From our back door we walk down a shallow flight of steps to get to it.  Then the fenced in area is surrounded by huge slabs of cement.  Years ago after our children outgrew using the pool we had it filled in.  It had to be filled in with the same dynamics as a septic system, with drains so that the water would drain out of the grassy area.  On the left end as you look at the terrace from the house, is an embankment with a sloping rock wall from the grass below to the cement height. 

Mr. and Mrs. Groundhog has a direct access to our rock wall and have dug under the rocks to set up their condominium under the cement slabs above.  They are undermining one end of our yard.  The cement slab is beginning to sink.  We discovered in our consultation this afternoon with a landscaper that he would not even begin to work on the damage done until we have confirmation that our guests have been expunged once and for all.  We will even have our old play house razed and hauled away to make it happen.  This play house is constructed just like a solidly built house on cement foundation and is very heavy and large for a playhouse.  It was already built here when we bought our place.

So…how do we go about eviction!  That is our dilemma today.  It seems that there is always a new twist in life when we least expect it.  I will say that I will be happy to see them go and hopefully will enjoy viewing all the flowers and shrubbery they will no longer eat.   And so…the saga continues.

 

GOODBYE LITTLE HOUSE

By Kathleen Martens

May 16, 2016

 

Our little red house

Knows not its demise.

I hope when it goes

I will not cry.

 

Under its roof

Memories abound.

Where spray painted walls

May be found.

 

And real glass windows

Created much fun

As target practice

For our boy’s BB-gun.

 

Now unbreakable glass resides,

And never again broken!

Because stern measures

Were severely spoken!

 

And for senior portraits

The red enhanced,

A part of the background,

And not by chance.

 

And little wreaths

Graced the door,

And I always thought

There would be more.

 

But the groundhog family,

As fancy squatters abound,

Created an environment

That is now unsound.

 

So out they go

Quicker than a flash!

And I hope it is swiftly

So my hopes aren’t dashed!

 

Goodbye little house

I will miss you I’m sure.

You’ve been a great friend

Who has long endured.

 

 

Lord, thank You for all the animals you have created. 

And thank You that we had the opportunity to enjoy our little squatters.

Thank You God for the beauty of your creation and all I see when I look out my windows.

Thank You too that I have been privileged to live among your beautiful designs.

Thank You for the knowledge of others who know so much more than I could even think of knowing.

Thank You for keys.

Thank You for mangoes.

Good night and God bless all of you. 

P.S.  I  suppose Mr. and Mrs. Groundhog thought our” flowers were the smiles of God’s goodness too!”  Those little buggers sure did like them (still do as they are not yet gone).

 

 

 

Sunday Sabbath  May 15 2016   THE PRESENT IS OUR TREASURE

As a follow-up to yesterday’s blog I must at least tell you what happened last night when I was closing my laptop computer down after writing my blog.  If you didn’t have a chance to read May 14^th blog you may want to do so as it will give you better more sympathy toward my dilemma of last night.  Friday and Saturday were taken up with a vicious online takeover of my desk top computer.  It is back home safe and sound.  As I shut off this computer that I am working on now my shutdown button would not allow my computer to turn off regardless of how many times I tried.

TO THE RESCUE, I pop out my Geek Squad number and get hooked up online to see if they could fix my problem.  When I went to bed sometime a bit before 1:00 a.m. it was intact as well.  That is enough of computer woes.  All is well that ends well.

And now today is my wonderful Sunday Sabbath.  A day of refreshment and rest.  For me, the “REST” I accomplish is working on whatever I love to work on.  And today that is a quick blog and then off to see the grand-kids.  We will have a movie and popcorn night.  We are going for an early light dinner and to play a bit before the movie time.  Movie time is very exciting for the boys because they are not allowed access to television and are limited in computer screen time.  And grandma and grandpa are always excited for movie time because that means relaxing in large over-sized leather recliners with all the popcorn we could possibly eat and the boys are actually quiet and still.  That doesn’t happen very often (the quiet and still part that is).  And the movie is usually excellent and something we would not even think of picking out for ourselves to watch.   So, we are exploring the world of movies in a new century with new little kiddos.

The older boy is now a book bug and the younger boy takes after his grandma with a penchant for talking.  It may be unfortunate for some to realize he may even take after me in more ways than one.  After writing a blog the other day entitled “Breathtaking Beauty” I received an email from my sister who is 9 years older than me.  After reading my words she wrote me an email telling me that I have been the very same since I was 6 years old.  I think she meant full of life and dreams, with my head in the clouds, and that I talk a lot.  And perhaps she meant that I might have always had the characteristics of being on the artistic side of life (which means a bit messy).  If I am wrong sister dear, just clue me in.  I am saying all that to say, if Xander stays the same from a little boy to manhood, he may end up with some of my same characteristics.  Especially the one that includes being an excessive talker.  He can really keep a person entertained.  I especially enjoy hearing him talk because some of his stories remind me of the same way I viewed the world at his age and beyond.  And being expressive is a must.  He lives life with passion.  I hope I do the same until I go to heaven!  And just so you know, if you don’t live that way now, I imagine you will once you step into heaven!  Perhaps I just won’t be so messy anymore.

Zachariah enjoys talking too but often he is hard to find when hiding out with a book.  I am so happy to see him enjoying the written word.  That has always been one of my favorite things to do.  If I have a good book I need no other entertainment.

 

THE PRESENT IS OUR TREASURE

By Kathleen Martens

May 15, 2016

 

Just a little Sunday hello

To greet you this fine day.

And tell you what we have in store

When I’ve nothing much to say.

 

But there are topics up my sleeve

That will take a bit longer to tell.

But I will need to wait on that

When I have a bit longer spell.

 

Life is busy for the old folks

Enjoying all the pleasure

That God doles out moment by moment,

For the present is our treasure.

 

I truly believe that God delights

In each moment that we live.

Enjoying what we do in the moment

Are the gifts God delightfully gives.

 

I truly do believe that God delights when we learn to live in the moment as we trust Him for whatever may come.

 

Thank You God for the awareness of actually living in the present.

Thank You for this lovely day of rest with two little boys in the mix.

Thank You that our children love us.

Thank You Lord for spinach and turnips.

Thank You for quiet.

 

God bless you and enjoy your Sunday Sabbath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday May 14 2016  A REAL LIFE STORY

ALERT TO ALL MY READERS:

Last evening when I was going through emails I clicked on a website and up popped a red screen with a voice speaking loudly above the din of siren like noise.  It warned me I had been invaded by a malware virus and that I was not to shut my computer down or I would lose all my files.  The voice and screen gave me a phone number in big print to call IMMEDIATELY.  It said that I would reach Microsoft and they would walk me through the steps to get rid of the malware virus. 

Immediately I thought this was a SCAM with capital letters.  I called Dave in and told him what happened.  I said regardless of what the screen is yelling at me I will not call that number.  I quickly called the GEEK SQUAD which is the I.T. section at Best Buy.  The Geek Squad is a service I subscribe to that comes to my rescue when I hit the wall with computer problems.  They have been a lifesaver to me in the past just as they were last night. 

I was informed that it was a BIG TIME SCAM and if I had called the number on I would have been locked into their scheme for future PHISHING SCAMS.  The phone messenger would inform me that I would need to pay by credit card online to have them repair it and then I would never hear from them again, nor would it be repaired.  But, they would now have my credit card number and I would be on their list forever.  Unfortunately for me it meant taking my big tower into Best Buy so it could be worked on to clear the malware.  The website that took control of my computer has some way of locking up computers which renders them unusable.  In reality it was not a malware virus but rather a website.  That is how it gets around all the anti-virus programs like Norten or Webroot.   It does not register as a virus but registers as a website.  I was able to get an appointment as the last customer of the day and took my tower into Best Buy.  I was able to pick up my tower today.

I tell you this story so if this ever happens to you that you will not call the number given on the screen.  Assuming you do no know how to fix it yourself, the most important thing to do is to unhook your computer, and get it to a reputable place that knows how to deal with this type of problem.  It was my desktop PC that was infiltrated and not the laptop computer I use for my blog writing.

I left the house at 8:30 a.m. today and arrived home about 6:30 p.m.  While I was out I did a bit of research on a new computer as I need to update my Apple computer so it can handle my updated camera which I used on my trip last year.  I still haven’t seen any photos from my trip other than those on my IPhone.  My older Apple computers will not accept the new technology of my newest camera.  One thing led to the other and it took all day to do what I had to do.

 

A REAL LIFE STORY

By Kathleen Martens

May 14, 2016

 

Consternation

With a great big “C”

Are what computers

Are to me.

 

Can’t live with them

Can’t live without.

But Geek Squad membership

Gives me great clout!

 

All said and done,

My computer is now well.

Such a good ending

For me to tell.

 

The Best Buy Geek Squad

Came to my aid.

On many occasions

My days they’ve made!

 

And one day later

Back at home.

And now I have

No need to moan.

 

So a real life story

Comes in bits and pieces,

And because it is late

My writing ceases.

 

This was just a day in my life.  Sorry I didn’t have anything more interesting to write about.  My computer problems took up my day, my energy, and any work I may have accomplished.  But, it was all worth it!  

 

God, thank You for allowing me the energy that I needed today.

Thank You Lord for the beautiful glimpse of the sky as I was taking clothes off the clothesline this evening.

Thank You Lord for placing a smile in my heart through this long arduous day.

Thank You that my computer is home safe and I actually (with Dave’s help) got it all back together and working.

Thank You for the “before pictures” I took of everything plugged into the back of my computer.  It helped a lot in getting it all plugged in correctly.

Thank You for cherry tomatoes.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday May 13 2015  A LOOK BACK AT MY DREAMS

As I look back over the last few years it is apparent to me that a lot of things in my life have changed.  I’ve experienced health issues, surgeries, retirement, traveling around the country solo, toured many gardens, done a lot of cooking, scheduled in a few free days, read many books, written several songs, cleaned out my drawers, purged some of my house-clutter, done a lot of writing, done a lot of praying, and walked many miles on the treadmill.  But one thing hasn’t changed.  I have never yet been bored!

Today was another decluttering day.  While going through piles of old papers I came across a few things I wanted to save and file in certain places.  One place I wanted to stick something was in a journal written in October 2010.  As the journal opened up to one of the last pages I noticed a poem I had written.   I read it through and it made me smile.  Like I’ve said before, after I write a poem and then type it up to stick in my journal I very rarely ever read them again.  I think I was meant to see this one today.  It spoke to my heart and as I thought about it I realized that many of the different things I wrote about have actually come true.  I will include the poem here.  After I read it once more I hopefully will be inspired to write a poem about today.  I hope you enjoy it.

 

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I’D RATHER DO

By Kathleen Martens

October 16, 2010

 

There are so many things I’d rather do

Than that which must be done.

So many tasks, some old some new,

But I’d rather have some fun.

 

Fun for me might not be

What others might delight.

Just to have a day that’s free

To go and fly a kite.

 

To wander in the woods below

And pick a wild flower.

To stop and sit when I feel slow

And dawdle by the hour.

 

Read a book, write a song,

Think hard and reach the sky.

Pray on my knees where I belong

And let my soul soar high.

 

Or go and visit a dear friend

And help her with her task.

Reach out to others and help them mend

And do what they may ask.

 

I’d write a poem and type it up,

Finish the book I daily write.

Drink some tea from my special cup

And only do what’s right.

 

I’d cook a meal to give away

And then take it to someone,

And give no thought to the time of day,

And lift my face to the sun.

 

All my drawers I’d like to clean

And walk down memory lane.

Polish my windows to a sheen

And hang my portraits in lovely frames.

 

Maybe even watch Glenn Beck,

Get caught up on all his shows.

Were days no longer a scattered wreck,

I’d have time to take a doze.

 

I would sit and sing a song of praise

And dance before my God.

Then quietly in his presence laze

And he would not even think it odd.

 

I’d take a drive on a country road

And revel in the beauty I see.

And soon I’d be free of my heavy load,

If all my days were free.

 

I don’t think I could ever be bored,

There are so many things undone.

All day long it would be me and my Lord

And together we’ve have some fun.

 

Just to have time to play with trains

On the floor with my little Zach.

My little grandson with such brains

Who loves to lay the tracks.

 

To lie next to the man of my life

Who is the extension of my very being.

And just talk and talk throughout the night

Feeling His love so freeing.

 

I’d go visit my children, for I’d have the time,

And make a nuisance of myself.

And find a word for this line to rhyme

And perhaps even clean a shelf.

 

I’d take my camera and see the world

From the view of my lens.

Beautiful images I’d unfurl

And capture my every whim.

 

I’d do my scrapbook late into the night

And have fun until time for bed.

Creating pages of beautiful sights

For my kids to enjoy when I’d dead.

 

I’d never ever run out of things

That I would like to do.

Not enough hours a day brings,

My hours are always too few.

 

Today my fun is but a dream

That someday will come true.

So I’ll settle for a bowl of ice cream

Then on the treadmill I’ll pay my due.

 

When I wrote the above poem I was in the throes of photography and had absolutely no life.  The only time I had to myself was when I shut myself in my quiet place to be with the Lord and wrote in my journal and created a poem.  My time with the Lord was how I kept my sanity.  At that time in my life I could not do one thing except work.  But now it is different.

 

AND I LOVE IT!

 

AND I LOVE IT

By Kathleen Martens

May 13, 2016

 

Six years later life is different

From what it was back then.

And oh am I ever so glad.

I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

 

No babies to raise, no diapers to do,

And no school bells to ring.

All the graduation parties are over

And now my heart can sing.

 

I loved my life all the way through,

Each phase was as it should be.

But when the last kid moved away,

It was the first time I ever felt free.

 

That is, until my passion rose

And the camera lens became my eye.

It seemed to open new horizons

As if I had grown wings to fly.

 

But it too was finally long enough

And once again I wanted to land.

It seemed to take my life away,

My time not mine to command.

 

Now I am just where I should be,

Older, and hopefully wiser too.

And my goal is to enjoy each year,

Whether many years or few.

 

I still have many tasks ahead

In order to get things done.

I plan to do them all

As well as have some fun.

 

My desires are no longer a dream

Because many have already come true.

And I’m still never, ever bored

Because hours are still too few.

 

Just not enough time in one day

When I can squeeze everything in.

And I know tomorrow never comes

For it has no hours to lend.

 

Thank You God for all the dreams You have helped me fulfill.

Thank You for bringing that poem to my attention today. 

Thank You for opening my eyes to all the possibilities that lie before me.

Thank You too Lord for the energy and stamina to get so much done today.

Thank You Lord for all the wonderful memories I am uncovering as I declutter.

Thank You for the joy you put in my heart.

Thank You for shredders.

Thank You for entire days at home.

Thank You Lord for my journals.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

 

P.S.  Thank You God that I am never bored!