Approaching Spring

It's been a while since my last blog post, but really not too much has changed - a few minor health issues (i.e. catching a cold from every little kid that walks past me and the progressively worse back pain that comes from aging).  I actually like Indiana Jones' line: "It's not the years Sweetheart, it's the miles". But life still goes on, whether I drag myself out of bed early or late, or even at all.


I did see some posts on Facebook from an old friend I had not heard from in about a year, but since she has made it rather plain she does not want any contact with me I left it alone. It hurts to have lost this person as a friend, and especially so since I do not even know what it was I did to hurt her or make her so angry that she completely closed me out of her life, but I wish her well and I will continue to include her in my prayers.

Most of my projects have been on hold for one reason or another, and a couple only need a few things done to finish them; I just need the energy to get moving and get them done. The lawn side of the driveway is ready for the red lava rock, and I am about ready to form and pour the footings for the retaining wall on the other side of the driveway. I have the flytying desk ready for the final coat of lacquer and hope to finish it this week. Then maybe I can get a couple of flies tied before heading to the Keys next Thursday.

Memorial for a friend who has gone on

This has been another time for reflection as I prepared my talk for Carol Whiteaker’s memorial service this afternoon.  Carol was one of the Sisters that I was responsible for Home Teaching, from the time that she was re-baptized, about a year-and-a-half ago, until she passed away from cancer on January 7th.  In preparing for my talk earlier this week I found myself guided to speak on the Priesthood; and with Carol’s recent return to the church, how she had understood the power and blessings of the Priesthood and the need for the Priesthood to come into her home.  Her husband is a non-member, who has, in the last several months progressed a long way in his understanding of the church and its part in Carol’s life.  I don’t think he still fully understands the power of the Priesthood to act in the name of God, but as her cancer progressed there were several times that he stayed in the room while my companion and I would lay our hands on Carol's head and pronounce a blessing on her.  Early on there was a healing blessing, according to the will of Heavenly Father.  Later there were some for comfort and to ease the pain that she was going through.  it was hard to see Carol suffer though this, but as a friend it was always easy to visit her.  She always had time for her Home Teachers and friends.  As various Ward members, friends and a few of her family spoke, the picture began to fill out for him and her other family members from other faiths on how everything in the Church relies upon Christ and the Priesthood power, from an opening prayer, blessings that had been given, the blessings of the Sacrament, the spirit of revelation in preparing our talks, and even the closing prayer.  She was an inspiration for many, a good mother and wife, and a friend that I will miss.  I know that she now no longer suffers and I am sure that she is at peace with our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Salsa Prima Vera

Since we moved to southern Florida I find that I really miss the friends and acquaintances I knew in Alexandria, and some of the people I’ve met since then who, for one reason or another are no longer a part of my life.
I recently prepared a batch of Salsa from a recipe I’ve developed over the years and my thoughts turned to a friend and his family who have moved to Boston. I sent him a message that I’d fixed a batch of the salsa he had liked while they were here in Fort Pierce Ward and that we missed him and his family. He replied that they missed us too, and that I never did send him my recipe for the salsa (which I did right away).
He also wrote that they were enjoying living only fifteen minutes from the Temple, but that they did miss the closeness of our smaller Ward. Here in South Florida we are a bit over an hour-and-a-half from the Orlando Temple, and, when it finally gets built, we will be just about the same distance from the new Fort Lauderdale Temple.
My thoughts then turned to some of the special people for whom I have a particular fondness. Some of them I haven’t heard from since we moved, and others I’ve been able to follow on Facebook, Twitter or through their blogs. I hope their thoughts of me are as fond as my thoughts of them.

To Catch a

During the Christmas – New Years holiday I watched the old movie “To Catch a Thief” with Cary Grant, a pretty good show; amazing how much more entertaining most of the old movies are without a lot of blood and gore or explicit sex, violence or foul language. Now days most movies and even the animated cartoons are rather vulgar, even compared to the entertainment offered just a decade ago.

Missing old friends

I would really have liked to visit some of our other friends while we are in Utah, but with the winter storm we did not get the chance. It would have been especially nice to see Bonnie Taylor, the Austins, the Wards, and the Smiths. My love to all of you, you are dear friends and I miss you.

Sleepless Nights

It s another sleepless night- for some reason it is after midnight and I am up at the computer- I went to bed early enough- about ten-thirty, but gave up and got back up when it became apparent I was not going to be able to sleep, again. I haven’t had this problem for some time, months at least, but tonight, despite waking up before six this morning, I am awake, not necessarily alert, but definitely awake.
I bought an air compressor today and a pneumatic nailgun to use on the storage shed/exercise room I am building in the back yard, and I spent a few minutes getting it ready. Putting on the quick-connects for the hose, nailgun and tire inflator. Tomorrow afternoon, if the weather cooperates I should be able to start using it to nail down the siding on the wall that will be adjacent to the screen room. Right now that framing is lying flat on the slab, waiting for decent weather so I can complete it. I had put off getting the compressor and nailgun, trying to decide if it would speed things up enough to justify the expense, but, with Jeannine's urging I bought one. I hope it turns out to be as much a time-saver as we think it should be.
My thoughts these past few days have been a bit melancholy, remembering special people in Alexandria, and in Utah, that I miss. I keep thinking of the trip to China . . . and of the many Church performances that we had in Alexandria – I miss the choirs singing – the Ward I am in now is struggling to come up with enough people to act as a choir for Christmas – it would be nice to get a dozen or more, but last Sunday it looked like they only had six or seven.
I have been following a Blog every couple days, and seem to notice when there are no new posts for several days. I wonder if anyone will every find and follow this one? And, I wonder how my friend in Utah is- haven't heard anything there for several months now . . .