Happy New Year

From my house to yours,
The best of everything in 2011!

Peace and Love,
JE

Spirit of the Season #31

Should old acquaintance be forgotten,
And never brought to mind?
Not if their old or new friends,
Cause they are hard to find!

Happy New Year's Eve!

Peace
JE

What I Read #113

One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus: In the mid 1800 a treaty of sorts was made between the Federal Government and the Cheyenne Nation. The government would send 1000 white women who volunteered to be wives to Cheyenne warriors. In exchange, the Cheyenne would give the government 1000 horses. This would be "horse trading" at it's ultimate! The exchange never took place. But what if it had?

One Thousand White Women tells the story of May Dodd, a Chicago socialite who takes up with a man beneath her station, is incarcerated in an asylum by her father for "promiscuous behavior." She volunteers to be a wife of a Cheyenne. Along with several other women who have no ties and want adventure, May makes the trek to the West.
Told in May's voice, this story, though fiction, could have really happened. It tells of the fear, the hardships and the joys, and ultimately, the sorrows that this brave group of women endured just to be free.
In this well-researched novel, Jim Fergus has created a "come-alive" work of historical fiction.

Happy Reading,
JE

Spirit of the Season #30

The excitement of travel, whether it be to Grandma's house,
or a European vacation, is never lost.
If you are traveling this Christmas season,
be safe.

Peace,
JE

Spirit of the Season #29

This could be another type of Christmas tree.

Peace,
JE

Birds-of-a-Feather

If you look real close, there is a family resemblance among the three of us. Of course, my two offspring are much better looking than ol' Dad. Must have taken after their mother.

Peace and Joy,
JE

Spirit of the Season #28

This reminds me of being back on my grandparents
farm during the Christmas season. It was fun being
with them and cousins, aunts and uncles.

Peace,
JE

What I Read #112

Stripped by Brian Freeman: Since his introduction in Freeman's debut novel, Immoral, Jonathan Stride has moved to Las Vegas to be near the new love of his life, Detective Serena Dial.
People start being brutally murdered. Stride and Dial are on the case. It leads to another murder; a cold case that occurred over 40 years ago.
Though the theory of keeping everything new reigns in Las Vegas, some of the old rears its ugly head in this fast paced, suspense filled novel.
Once again, Freeman captivates readers with his literary finesse.
Read this one. You won't be disappointed.

Happy Reading,
JE

Could this be a Resolution for 2011?

Note: I have always admired Andy Rooney on "Sixty Minutes." He often says what others feel and he just has the nerve to say it. He's outspoken and sometimes rather crude (and he needs some serious work on those eyebrows) but I like what he has to say here:

Andy Rooney says:
"I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his Theory of Evolution.
Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire Book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.
But it's a Christian prayer, some will argue.
Yes, and this is the United States of America and Canada , countries founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect -- somebody chanting Hare Krishna?
If I went to a football game in Jerusalem , I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.
If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad , I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.
If I went to a ping pong match in China , I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome .....
But what about the atheists? Is another argument.
What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humour us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!
Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.
Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating, to pray before we go to sleep. Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.
God, help us. And if that last sentence offends you, well, just sue me.
The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we tell that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard that the vast majority doesn't care what they want. It is time that the majority rules! It's time we tell them, "You don't have to pray; you don't have to say the Pledge of Allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right; but by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back, and we WILL WIN!"
God bless us one and all. God bless America and Canada , despite all our faults, We are still the greatest nations of all. God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

Let's make 2011 the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions. And our military forces come home from all the wars.
Keep looking up.

Celebrate the Season!

Kids are what the season is all about. Well, Jesus was a child in all the nativity scenes and we are celebrating his birth, right? So I think children make the season bright!
Here are my three grandchildren. My two grandsons, and my beautiful granddaughter. The were the life of the party on Christmas Day. Miss K loved unwrapping, Kiddo did too, but little Sir RJ could have cared less. I would have like to feature a picture of the entire family, but after several, and I mean several, attempts, we just gave up. And yes, I made the hat!)
Peace,
JE

Holiday Spirit Day #27

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Somewhere else, please.

Peace,
JE

Be of Good Cheer #26

Winter Wonderland!

Peace,
JE

What I Read #111

The Help by Kathryn Stockett: Three women in Mississippi, during the 60's, cause quite a stir when they collaborate on a book. The writer, Skeeter, is white. The other two, Aibileen and Minny are African American domestics. This novel tells of the relationships between the white families and their help. Even though it is fiction, it is not hard to believe the vile treatment these domestics received from their wealthy employers. This book really introduced a life in the South that we people from the North knew nothing about. It showed the shame, cruelty, embarrassment and the naivety of both the employers and their employees.
Read this powerful novel. It will open your eyes. It will have you laughing one moment and break your heart the next. Kathryn Stockett was raised in Jackson, Mississippi and knows the true story, and she tells it with perfection.

Happy Reading,
JE

Merry Christmas Spirit #25

"O Holy Night,
The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night,
Of our Dear Savior's birth."

From my family to yours,
Peace On Earth,
JE

Christmas Spirit day 24

Christmas Yard Art. All it needs is
some twinkle lights!

Peace,
JE

Christmas Spirit Day 20 thru 23

This photo of my grandson Sir RJ takes
up three days worth of seasonal greetings.
My granddaughter, the Divine Ms. K, was too
shy to go to Santa! She's two...what else
can I say.

Peace to all,
JE

What I Read #110

Zapped by Carol Higgins Clark: A sappy suspense novel filled with lots of characters. Too many characters for me to keep track of. Regan Reilly, a P I, and her cop husband are in the middle of it all. A manic-depressive broad bent on revenge, a break-in at the Reilly's apartment, and a robbery of a tony gallery, all taking place during a power blackout in NYC. High speed action, and even a little romance thrown in for good measure.
Thank goodness this was an easy, quick read. With so many people to keep track of, I couldn't have lasted much longer. If you're a fan of Clark, you will like it!

Keep on Reading,
JE

Christmas Spirit Day 19

This says it all!

Peace,
JE

Warm Hearts and Cold Heads!

Since Prof Mags returned to Alcatraz (not a good word for the place in my opinion, but it's a matter of semantics.) she had noticed that the kids there weren't dressed warm enough for as much walking outside they had to do. Especially, they were lacking hats. So, she and Curley, who is the maven of all things knit or crocheted, knit a couple of hats for a couple of the girls.
Suddenly, it was like an avalanche happening or something akin to that. All the girls wanted a hat. So Mags started recruiting "mad hatters". Curley was coerced into making even more hats. ITSam, Mag's friend, who was learning to use the knitting loom was recruited and so was I. I already knew how to use a "Knifty Knitter" loom, so I was in automatically. We all began to collect yarn, and create "girly" looking sock hats. I think every girl at the "reform school" who wanted a hat, got one.
One day one of the boys stopped Maggie and wanted to know why the guys didn't get hats. She said that none of the guys had asked. He said, "yo, Ms Maggie, us dudes want hats, too. Can we maybe get some?"
So, out went the call...again. Back to yarn central (Walmart) and the busy hands of all of us. I think Curley "outhatted" the rest of the knitting crew, but altogether we probably made 40+ hats in all styles, colors and textures.
All of this because of one loving teacher's concern for the health and comfort of some kids that just don't get the all the breaks that some teenagers take for granted.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Mac came home and said that several of the girls at his public high school admired the hat that Mags had made him, and wanted to know if she would make them one, too. So, Curley, Mags and I made a few more. (Mac even loomed one, but don't tell anyone.) I finished the last one a little while ago. So I think everyone in our neck-of-the-woods will have a warm head this winter. Just goes to show you what a few can do for so many. This was a good "Merry Christmas" project. Thank you Mags, Curley and IT Sam!
(The above picture is a sampling of Curley's hats. Ours were similar; sorry we didn't take a pic of all of them.)

Peace to all,
JE

Christmas Spirit Day 18

"Please have snow, and mistletoe,
And presents under the tree..."

Peace,
JE