Monday, March 31, 2008

SPRING GLORIOUS SPRING!!!!!

Oh, if I could only run through the yard and dance as I go.. How I dearly LOVE spring. I know you'd never guess it from this blog, but it's absolutely TRUE! {{{{smile}}}}
I would even try to run and dance, but then I'd probably trigger one of those miserable asthma events.. So, I'll just let my heart dance on the blog and let my mind run in all directions..
AACCKKK!

So I've gone out looking for signs of spring once again.. not that I have to have proof.. but every spring it's the same thing- I go looking for verification.. You know, it's not really spring till the crocus come up, the asparagus comes through the ground, the blossoms bud.. .and so on...

I'm armed with a camera again, and when I sat at the picnic table this afternoon, I spotted the gray squirrel again filling his face.. I think it's a HE.. I really haven't gotten close enough to tell..


His/her antics are so amusing. I sat down and watched as the lid popped up on the feeder, and then heard it clack down when he was done for that round.. over and over and over..








Occasionally he backed up the tree sensing I was watching him.. he ate, but never took his eye off me.




























Last week Wendell and I watched an Alfred Hitchcock movie called "the Birds".. I walked outside and watched 7 crows land in the trees above me, and when I turned around .. there was this robin..wayyyyy up in the tree.. I thought about the movie of course.. hehehe.. and took a shot at the robin- with my camera, of course.




















Nothing says spring like the first crocus you spot in the yard. - And here it is!!!


















Oh.. and one more sign of spring.. look at the picture below.. what is the sign of spring in this photo?















Give up?! It's one of Charlie's promiscuous pregnant cats! AAACCKKK!!!


You've surely heard of Where's Waldo?
This picture should be labeled Where's Squirrelly?

Sunday, March 30, 2008


Home baked bread..mmm mmm gooooood!


Pizza Primavera.. I never saw a pizza so colorful in my life.. and It tasted good too!

Daffodils in the yard waiting to burst forth..


I looked up into the sky to see if there were hawks or some big birds up there. That's the normal reason the hens go for cover under the forsythia. Unfortunately, their cover isn't very good at the moment with no leaves on the bush.


Here's a big red handsome chap!


And a big black rooster too.. they sure are a bunch of noisy neighbors

SPRING HAS SPRUNG


I took a little walk around the perimeter today.. I found this ? cocoon? It's white and silky and hanging from a thorny branch. I have NO idea what is inside. Any guesses?


The forsythia bush holds a lot of these egg cases. I believe them to be praying mantis, and are super good for the garden adjacent to the bush.


Forsythia buds.. a sure sign spring is here.. along with a few other notable signs..

The maple tree in the front yard is in bud.. oh, boy!!!!!

SQUIRRELS..















Since the squirrels tend to invade the bird feeders and are such hogs.. the Z's put up a squirrel feeder down on one of the larger trees. Noting it was empty, they refilled it and then sat back and watched...



The squirrels have to work for the seeds.. The lid on the feeder flops down when they back up or when they pull out of the little box. To get the seed, they have to be smart enough to lift the lid first.

Saturday, March 29, 2008




It's a beautiful and bright morning. I'm up early and though my sleep wasn't particularly great, I feel somewhat refreshed. So far, so good.
I spent most of yesterday 'walking on eggs' around this asthma, hoping to NOT trigger any more events. Every time I'd start a coughing jag, I'd also rehearse "the number" in my head, and wonder if this was going to be the event that would force me into using it.



Not so good news for Wendell after his pulmonary function testing yesterday. The need for home oxygen has just been tested and is established. The good news is that there is such a thing as home o2, and our insurance hasn't given us any problem about covering such things in the past.



It is Saturday. I'm going to be doing a lot of resting today (so what else is new?) and hope to be controlled enough to be able to attend worship tomorrow.
Not much else happening here.. it's quiet, should be a sunny mid 40 degree day with little chance of precipitation.

Friday, March 28, 2008

I don't know what triggered it, but I had a full blown "asthma attack" or 'episode' yesterday evening. Just minding my own business, I'd accomplished most of the things I set out to do for the day. Earlier in the afternoon I'd had a bit of an episode while driving.. but that calmed down after arriving at home .. and resting for an hour or so.

I must say, last evening's event was quite the frightful experience and I don't really want to repeat it if that is a possibility. I thought about calling 911 for an ambulance to take me to the local ER, but wanted to give myself a chance to settle on my own before letting sheer panic set in. I tried all my little tricks to settle down.. changing positions, concentrating on slow breathing, and when none of these worked, I went for my Proventil inhaler .. and then the hot steam in the shower and some Robitussin to ease the coughing.. Everything helped a little.. I finally took my 2nd dose of advair, put my CPAP on and fell asleep. I did sleep pretty well even with a bit of coughing through the night.

Today I seem to be on the edge.. Not full blown , but doing an excessive amount of coughing that makes my ribs and back ache. It's so tiring.. I try to rest a lot, but sometimes it's just not possible. I'm wheezing.. I can feel it quite a bit today. My body is working harder to oxygenate my system.. I feel like I've been running a marathon and will very likely have to lay down a while to relieve it all.

asthma attack

from the webMD:

What Is an Asthma Attack?

An asthma attack is a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms caused by the tightening of muscles around your airways (bronchospasm). During the asthma attack, the lining of the airways also becomes swollen or inflamed and thicker mucus -- more than normal -- is produced. All of these factors -- bronchospasm, inflammation, and mucus production -- cause symptoms of an asthma attack such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty performing normal daily activities. Other symptoms of an asthma attack include:

  • Severe wheezing when breathing both in and out
  • Coughing with asthma that won't stop
  • Very rapid breathing
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Tightened neck and chest muscles, called retractions
  • Difficulty talking
  • Feelings of anxiety or panic
  • Pale, sweaty face
  • Blue lips or fingernails
  • Or worsening symptoms despite use of your medications

Some people with asthma may go for extended periods without having an asthma attack or other symptoms, interrupted by periodic worsening of their symptoms, due to exposure to asthma triggers or perhaps from overdoing it during exercise-induced asthma.

Mild asthma attacks are generally more common. Usually, the airways open up within a few minutes to a few hours after treatment. Severe asthma attacks are less common but last longer and require immediate medical help. It is important to recognize and treat even mild symptoms of an asthma attack to help you prevent severe episodes and keep asthma under control.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Wow.. I feel like I'm on a roller coaster.. and I don't like roller coasters.. not at all.
After a really rough night as far as sleep went, and then just feeling so sick at my stomach from overeating chicken, I woke up feeling not that bad. I've been in a pretty good state of mind all day.
I've made 2 pots of coffee, washed a bazillion dishes, hand laundry, made a big pot of chicken soup, took 2 bags of trash out to the can, and I'm ready to burn 2 more of paper. The trouble is that though it's not windy, it hasn't started to rain, and I don't burn papers unless my feet get wet on the way to the burn barrel.. not after 2 yrs ago in April when I set the woods afire. I haven't lived that one down yet..
I went out to mail the letter I forgot to send yesterday, and today's mail is already here.. only 3 hours early! Well, I had to get this paperwork in the mail, so I took off for the Renfrew Post Office and mailed it there. From the moment I stepped out the door till long after I got home, I coughed, sputtered, wheezed, and about cried from the pain in my chest and back. Oh.. it's gonna be a long spring/summer.
Wendell peeled some potatoes for me, and I made German pancakes..latkes. We all really love them and don't make them nearly often enough to suit any of us. So I'm hoping I can freeze a few for breakfast or whenever. I doubt there will be enough.
I need to locate somewhere where I can get a couple of 25# potatoes. This carrying 2-3 5# bags just isn't making it.. and we use them so fast!
Wendell got his movies today (a retirement gift of Netflix).. and I think we'll sit down tonite and watch some movies. I believe 2 Alfred Hitchcock films.. The Birds, and Rear Window. Then there was this program on PBS years ago that was soooooo good. It was called Connections. Anyone else remember that one? We have ordered at least 6 episodes (disks), and I know they will be worthwhile.

The latkes came out really good.. I am glad Charlie thinks to bring eggs.. I dropped one this afternoon.. yechhh.. what a mess.

I think I may take a little nap before JJ gets here tonite. It's a gorgeous day bloggers.. get out and enjoy it..and try not to wheeze..cough.. sputter.. Nuts!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Putting things in perspective


I've probably never done anything in moderation in my life and yesterday I have a feeling I really over-reacted to the doctor's diagnosis of allergy induced asthma. The excellent diagnosis gave me the sensation of being 'blind sided'. I never saw it coming. You'd think a nurse would be able to tell the difference, but there were a lot of other things that entered the picture that made me think bronchitis. I'd decided the diagnosis before I got there and was rather bewildered when he said 'no bronchitis'.. As Wendell said "that's what you pay him the big bucks for"...
So what happened last night after taking the first puff of the steroid , the first tablet of allergy med, and the nasal spray? It was about 4 hours after taking the first doses, when Wendell made the comment that I'd really settled down as far as coughing was concerned. I thought about it and realized he was correct. The sinus swelling was going down, I wasn't coughing as much, and when I did, the sputum had changed dramatically. It was now clearer and much less in quantity. I was actually feeling a good bit better.
This morning I'm about the same for the moment, but I slept comfortably all night long and though there is some cough to clear the passages this morning, wheezing, and stuffy nose, I'm okay. I will survive this.
I'm not pleased with my problem, but I can live with it if I must, and try to make the best of it. I know I'll have bad days and good ones too. One day at a time.
I have given this much thought.. and I do thank the Lord for the correct diagnosis, the kind doctor who explained it all to me, and the medications to ease the discomfort. I know I live in a most awesome age, and where my ancestors likely had to suffer severely, my symptoms can be mild to moderate with the care and treatment of today. Where it was life threatening to them, it's but an inconvenience to me.
I realize how self centered my complaints were/are, but don't think for a moment that I have forgotten how much more others are in trouble, in pain, or suffering so much more than me. I'm very aware of this fact, and my problems don't seem so great when I look away from myself.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

Today we have good news and bad news. I choose to deliver the good news first.. It takes my mind off the bad news. I got results of Wendell's echocardiogram today and it's not bad. I was concerned about his ejection fraction, but though he's low, he's within the normal range. Amen. His heart is enlarged, but not excessively that would cause failure at this point.

Well, now.. that brings us to the bad news.. I THOUGHT I had bronchitis and eye strain. Right.
Well it seems I have some major wheezes all over my lungs, and that eyestrain..? well it seems the asthma is back full force and I have some rather nasty allergies going on which makes my eyes run and burn like eye strain. No bronchitis requiring an antibiotic for a few days.. Asthma is back with a vengeance and I'm back on the steroids to combat it. This makes me very unhappy, but I will say that at least there is treatment for it and I can live a semi normal life while on the inhalers. I don't require an oxygen tank either.. There are some things I need to settle in my mind and get over the unhappiness of the diagnosis already.
Sorry to be so gloomy.. there are so many worse things that could be afflicting me.. I'll be fine later tonite.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Looks like we aren't the only ones ailing around here.. Charlie was over tonite delivering some eggs.. like at least 2+dozen.. he says he got 30 eggs just today! Anyway, he sounds awful.. he sounds like we have the same bug. I have a doctor appointment tomorrow and will have him listen to my chest. My guess is bronchitis.. we'll see.
We didn't make it to church yesterday.. I was coughing so hard, sneezing, and drippy .. I figured no one would want me around them with this bug.. and then when Wendell got up he said he didn't feel well, but couldn't put his finger on why.. I noted his color wasn't real good.. so we stayed home.

Today, despite hacking, coughing, sneezing and making a nuisance of myself, we kept our eye appointments. I had made and changed these appointments 3 times and wasn't about to do it again. My eyes are fine. He says very little change, and not enough for new lenses.. All is well.
Wendell also has little change, but he wanted the new lenses because his eyes do bother him a lot. He also ordered a pair of reading glasses.
I like our eye doctor and he does a comprehensive exam that lasts 1 1/2 hrs.
I sure hope they have a good disinfectant that they wipe things down with after patients like me.
****
Be sure to check out JJ's blog for her contest...
***
I have added to my latest blog today. If you looked at it and saw the Imm family Coat of Arms in color, you have seen the latest... Imm History 101
It is about 3 pages long with the final page being the genealogy to my grandfather's generation.
Lots of pictures and documents you might find interesting..pictures of the Imm family Bible brought over on the ship from England, and the Imm family music box too.. still in excellent condition.
**

IMM HISTORY 101

For my family, I have put together a new blog called IMM HISTORY 101.. It's lots of old pictures from as far back as I can find and includes genealogy for the first 5 generations.
Take a look if you would like to see where your roots began...
You can also click on the IMM HISTORY 101 on the column at the right..

Sunday, March 23, 2008

CONTEST !!!!

Hop on over to JJ's blog to enter her giveaway.. nice prizes for some fortunate person.. it's free and fun too! So what's holding you back??

COMMON COLD

From the NIAID:

Sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose—everyone knows the first signs of a cold, probably the most common illness known. Although the common cold is usually mild, with symptoms lasting 1 to 2 weeks, it is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school and work.

Children have about 6 to 10 colds a year. One important reason why colds are so common in children is because they are often in close contact with each other in daycare centers and schools. In families with children in school, the number of colds per child can be as high as 12 a year. Adults average about two to four colds a year, although the range varies widely.

Seasonal changes in relative humidity may affect the prevalence of colds. The most common cold-causing viruses survive better when humidity is low—the colder months of the year.
Cold weather also may make the inside lining of your nose drier and more vulnerable to viral infection.

More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold.
There is no evidence that you can get a cold from exposure to cold weather or from getting chilled or overheated.
There is also no evidence that your chances of getting a cold are related to factors such as exercise, diet, or enlarged tonsils or adenoids. On the other hand, research suggests that psychological stress and allergic diseases affecting your nose or throat may have an impact on your chances of getting infected by cold viruses.

You can get infected by cold viruses by either of these methods.

  • Touching your skin or environmental surfaces, such as telephones and stair rails, that have cold germs on them and then touching your eyes or nose
  • Inhaling drops of mucus full of cold germs from the air

Symptoms of the common cold usually begin 2 to 3 days after infection and often include

  • Mucus buildup in your nose
  • Difficulty breathing through your nose
  • Swelling of your sinuses
  • Sneezing
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Headache

Fever is usually slight but can climb to 102 degrees Fahrenheit in infants and young children. Cold symptoms can last from 2 to 14 days, but like most people, you’ll probably recover in a week.

If symptoms recur often or last much longer than 2 weeks, you might have an allergy rather than a cold.

Colds occasionally can lead to bacterial infections of your middle ear or sinuses, requiring treatment with antibiotics. High fever, significantly swollen glands, severe sinus pain, and a cough that produces mucus may indicate a complication or more serious illness requiring a visit to your healthcare provider.

There is no cure for the common cold, but you can get relief from your cold symptoms by

  • Resting in bed
  • Drinking plenty of fluids
  • Gargling with warm salt water or using throat sprays or lozenges for a scratchy or sore throat
  • Using petroleum jelly for a raw nose
  • Taking aspirin or acetaminophen—Tylenol, for example—for headache or fever
Nonprescription cold remedies, including decongestants and cough suppressants, may relieve some of your cold symptoms but will not prevent or even shorten the length of your cold.

Moreover, because most of these medicines have some side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, insomnia, or upset stomach, you should take them with care.

Nonprescription antihistamines may give you some relief from symptoms such as runny nose and watery eyes, which are symptoms commonly associated with colds.

Never take antibiotics to treat a cold because antibiotics do not kill viruses. You should use these prescription medicines only if you have a rare bacterial complication, such as sinusitis or ear infection. In addition, you should not use antibiotics “just in case,” because they will not prevent bacterial infections.

Although inhaling steam may temporarily relieve symptoms of congestion, health experts have found that this approach is not an effective treatment.

There are several ways you can keep yourself from getting a cold or passing one on to others.

  • Because cold germs on your hands can easily enter through your eyes and nose, keep your hands away from those areas of your body
  • If possible, avoid being close to people who have colds
  • If you have a cold, avoid being close to people
  • If you sneeze or cough, cover your nose or mouth, and sneeze or cough into your elbow rather than your hand.
  • Handwashing with soap and water is the simplest and one of the most effective ways to keep from getting colds or giving them to others. During cold season, you should wash your hands often and teach your children to do the same. When water isn’t available, CDC recommends using alcohol-based products made for disinfecting your hands.
  • Rhinoviruses can live up to 3 hours on your skin. They also can survive up to 3 hours on objects such as telephones and stair railings. Cleaning environmental surfaces with a virus-killing disinfectant might help prevent spread of infection.

Saturday, March 22, 2008


I suppose what we got in snow overnight wasn't much to write home about.. there's approximately 2 inches on the picnic table and porch, but it doesn't look like that much in the yard.. It seems to have slowed wayyyyyyyy down now, so I don't expect much more accumulation.
It is chilly this morning and one of those gray days.. the sun is so hidden by clouds, it just doesn't have that springy look like yesterday.
So far, our brilliant meteorologist politicians who have pronounced the sky is falling with their global warming, seem to have missed the mark entirely. I think they need to learn from our real weather prognosticators and get a new dart board for some other catastrophe, as this one is a dud. Did you see where there were a huge number of robots lowered into the depths of the ocean to register the amount of oceanic warming? Hmmm.. seems it's not warmed at all, but actually has gotten a fraction cooler. It wasn't that long ago that we were told we were entering a new ice age. I believe what scripture says about everything in it's season with the changes. It's all good and God controls it all. He provides the cyclic changes that man seems to want to incite riots over, but this too will pass. I would think any 3rd grader could understand that.

It's Saturday and a good day to stay home and off the icy snow covered roads.. not to mention the icy snow covered porch and sidewalk. Coffee is on and smells heavenly.. I'll be enjoying a cup in a few minutes. It's 27 degrees outside, but inside we are warm and cozy and stocked for a weekend in if we have to. Our desire is to be able to go out to church tomorrow, but we will just play that by ear.. or eye...whatever. Oh..I just noticed that tomorrow is Easter.. we don't feel the necessity to 'celebrate' that particular day here, as we celebrate Christ's resurrection every day of our lives. I fail to see what chocolate bunnies and colored eggs have to do with it anyway.

Speaking of colored eggs.. hemmm I'm guilty of doing that very thing and wish I could get the egg dyes all year round. I love to color them and one can tell which eggs are the hard boiled ones when they are colorful. One year I bought enough egg dyes, after the Easter season was over, to last me a year.. but I misplaced or lost them all.. sigh........ I never did that again. I know I can use other things for dyes, but I like the ones you buy around Easter.. one tablet and little mess.

I do have fond memories as a child with Easter traditions.. we all had our Easter baskets.. colored eggs, chocolate bunnies..simple and fun. And we got a new dress for Sunday, new shoes, and went to church as usual. There always seems to be an unusual amount of visitors in church on Easter.. so I suppose that in itself is a good thing. It gets people into the church to hear the gospel message..
I remember a few years back when I worked in the hospital that one of the nurse aides told me that she HAD to be in church on Easter with her children. I thought that commendable until I heard her reasoning.. The children were not to eat anything in their baskets until the pastor 'blessed the chocolate bunnies, eggs, toys, and sometimes live animals'. YIKE! Once that was accomplished, they would leave and go home.. no worship, no gospel.. oh, my....

Like Christmas, Easter is overly commercialized and there is no connection to Christianity that I can see in stores.. unless you count chocolate crosses which I find distressing. It seems to have become what it started out as.. a pagan holiday.
I know Easter LOOKS like a Christian holiday, as Christ's resurrection seems to be the central theme for Christians, it's origin certainly has a dark side. It's not mentioned in scripture except in the King James version which was a flagrant mistranslation from the Hebrew or Greek. The word should read "Passover", and had NOTHING to do with present tradition.

Ask yourself where the customs and traditions of Easter come from. How do bunny rabbits, colored eggs, hot-cross buns, baskets, hats, new clothes, sunrise worship services, lilies, and all the other Easter traditions glorify Jesus . Who told you to do these things?

Easter has it's roots in ancient polytheistic religions and is well documented in history books and reference materials.
The word ‘Easter’ is derived from the name of a goddess, the dawn-goddess, the spring-deity, the goddess of fertility. This dawn-goddess was also well known as the Assyrian Ishtar, goddess of the morning.
Many cultures celebrated the coming of spring as an integral part of the worship of their gods or goddesses, particularly those associated with fertility. Bunnies and eggs were common symbols of fertility, and fertility was key to surviving in the agricultural community.
By the way, according to one source, the ancient Assyrians pronounced Ishtar the same way we pronounce Easter today.
In scripture, back at the time of the Tower of Babel, Nimrod was said, in Genesis 10, to have founded a 'mystery religion'. When he died, his wife was determined to keep his religion alive, and pronounced Nimrod as a 'sun god'. Later on, his wife gave birth to an illegitimate son she named Tammuz whom, she claimed, was Nimrod reborn. She named herself 'Queen of Heaven'.
Tammuz died at age 40 and was claimed to be resurrected each spring.
"It seems that anciently Ishtar and Tammuz were both involved in a mythological death and resurrection cycle—one as the moon-goddess of spring and fertility, the other as the sun-god messiah figure—making them perfect forerunners of the modern Easter tradition. According to Coulter, sunrise services originated with the Babylonian priesthood to symbolically hasten the resurrection of both. "

"Historically, laments were held for the departed Tammuz for forty days—a day for each year of his life. The period ended, of course, in the early spring at his “resurrection.” Hislop writes: “The forty days [of] abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess [Ishtar].” Is it a mere coincidence that Orthodox Christendom today practices a peculiarly similar custom—Lent’s forty days of mourning and abstinence leading up to Easter?"

The church at Rome tried to get as many pagans into the church as they could, and in doing so, merged their pagan beliefs into Christianity, and the result is what we have today,
a convergence of various heathen traditions applied to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

"Virtually all scholars agree that Asherah is none other than Astarte—also known as the “queen of heaven.” Notice Jeremiah 7:18: “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.”

Verse 10 calls the practice an “abomination.” The Jamieson Fausset & Brown Bible Commentary has this to say about Jeremiah 7:18: “Cakes were made of honey, fine flour, etc., in a round flat shape to resemble the disc of the moon, to which they were offered…. The Phoenicians called the moon Ashtoreth or Astarte: the wife of Baal or Moloch, the king of heaven. The male and female pair of deities symbolized the generative powers of nature….”

These are our "hot cross buns", or boun as it was called, with the round shape and cross on top, and was the symbol of the Babylonian sun diety.

And He said to me, ‘Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.’ So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the LORD’S house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz”—the false messianic figure who dies and is resurrected every spring!—“Then He said to me, ‘Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.’ So He brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house; and there, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the [rising] sun toward the east. And He said to me, ‘Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here?’ ” (Ezek. 8:13-17).

Do not learn the way of the Gentiles….” (Jer. 10:2)—do not even mention the name of their gods! (see Ex. 23:13). The apostle Paul wrote: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? And what fellowship does light have with darkness? And what union does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? And what agreement is there between a temple of God and idols? For you are a temple of the living God, exactly as God said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore, ‘Come out from the midst of them and be separate,’ says the Lord, ‘and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you’ ” (II Cor. 6:14-17)."

Are we being deceived? Think about it.

Friday, March 21, 2008


Old man winter just doesn't want to give up.. here we go one more time.. (hopefully that will be the end).. 3-5" by tomorrow morning.. For joy... for joy...
I've been trying to get all the business I have to deal with taken care of this morning and then I'm going to take the rest of the day and spend on myself here at home. There is so much clutter to pick up and put away.. and a movie here that I want to watch later today... and some crochet too..
I have a cold I guess. It's so miserable.. whine whine whine... etc etc etc....
I'll spare you all the details.. you all have had a cold and know all about it anyway.

Thursday, March 20, 2008


There is a full moon tonite.. the temperature is 32 and the sky is clear as a bell.
One can look outside and observe the spacious heavens that declare the glory
of the Lord..


Despite the chill in the air, spring arrived today.. and I couldn't be happier.
Soon the crocus will arise from their winter slumber, and then the daffodils..
Tulips, and the other flowers that make spring so beautiful..


Today was special in the office. I got a special spring treat.. a gift from my friends Rick and Sandi.. a beautiful basket of spring flowers that I can plant in a few weeks.. Oh, such a delight, and such wonderful friends.


Red tulip buds are hiding in the greenery in the back..with daffodil buds ready to burst forth, hyacinths, and then the bright african violet in front that has lots of pink blooms!
The girls in the office were so excited, and so was I !
Thank you ! Thank you ! Thank you!

It's nearly here!!! SPRING that is... Oh, I do love spring! It's 33 degrees right now and the weather report says we might get to 37 today..snow flurries and rain.. the circle completes with mud.. YEP... it's almost here.


Today is office day.. pray for us.. for my patients and for me.. I seem to have something going on respiratory-wise. So far it's not acting viral..perhaps bacterial or allergy? I'll try my Alavert today and see if I can get some relief.
Pray for the kids locally here.. they have a virus..
Pray for Sandi today too.. she sees her doctor today.
Have a super day..

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Interesting bit of present day history..

Do you know the Preamble for your state?

Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution.
Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution.. .
Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom...
Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe...
Connecticut 1818, Preamble The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959, Preamble We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance ... Establish this Constitution.
Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891, Preamble We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties...
Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity. And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We...the people of Massachusetts , acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness o f the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction.
Michigan 1908, Preamble We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish this Constitution.
Minnesota 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness. Establish this Constitution...
Montana 1889, Preamble We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the...
Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom. Establish this Constitution.blessings of liberty establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution...
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship Go d according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty.
New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those...
North Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common...
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance...
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...
South Carolina , 1778 Preamble We, the people of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man.
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other
Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ...
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility...
Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution.