Some Reminders

~I received a forward I actually appreciated and found encouraging the other day . It was from the mother of our daughter-in-law, Breezy. I thought I would share some of the wisdom contained within it for your blessing. It is a list of suggestions to help remind us we do not need to worry, and there are things we can to do to keep life and our responsibilities in perspective.

1. Pray ( that should go without saying)
2. Go to bed on time ( what is "on time"?)
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed
4. Here's the biggy for me, Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule , or will compromise your mental health ( or proper priorities)
5. Delegate tasks to capable others ( I need to find some of those 'others')
6. Simplify and unclutter your life. (I am trying, I am trying!)

1. 

7. Less is more ( Although one is often not enough, two are often too many ) 8.Allow extra time to get things done and get to places. 9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time;don't lump the hard things all together. 10. Take one day at a time. 11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about the situation, leave it in God's hands. 12. LIVE WITHIN YOUR BUDGET; DON'T USE CREDIT CARDS FOR ORDINARY PURCHASES 13. K.M.S. ( Keep Mouth Shut) This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble. 14. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line. 15. Get enough rest. 16. Get organized so everything has it's place. 17. Every day find time to be alone. and I think this goes with the next.... 18. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. 19. Make friends with Godly people. 20. Develop a forgiving attitude. 21. Be kind to unkind people ( they probably need it the most) 22. Sit on your pride. 23. Talk less, listen more. 24. Slow down. 25. REMIND YOURSELF YOU ARE NOT THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE UNIVERSE! 26. Every night , think of at least one thing you are grateful for and thank God for it!

These are all pretty good suggestions and general enough I can find applicable to every area of my life in accordance to what scripture teaches me ..."Moreover, man does not know his time..." and "The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than weapons of war..." Ecclesiastes 9: 12, 17

Wagging Their Tails behind Them?

~"Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep and can't tell where to find them. Leave them alone and they'll come home, wagging their tails behind them." . "Do I look like Little Bo Peep to you? Goodness, such a fuss and ruckus about tails ? Who needs a tail anyway? I don't! " says Delilah.

~"Then up she took her little crook, determined to find them; She found them indeed, but it made her heart bleed, for they'd left their tails behind them." Goth ( above ), ever proud of himself and knowing he is fully entitled to respect and admiration...says " I have a perfect tail! Short and covering a very important part of my anatomy. After all, who wants flies messing around in some very sensitive areas. They might lay eggs there and cause all sorts of distress that might distract me from pursuing my beloved ewes and ramming fences! I am perfectly pleased with my short tail!" ( he is looking a little pudgy here , I think) ~Here is a Jacob lamb with her tail still intact. There is a very tight rubber band on her tail, about 3 inches down from her spine, and it is cutting off circulation to the rest of her tail. It will wither and drop off. Sounds awful, but is necessary as far as I am concerned. " The tail in Jacobs is long, round and woolly reaching to the knees if un-docked.( you can see that this lamb's tail is even longer) Most people prefer to dock for the sake of cleanliness. Although Jacobs are fairly good at lifting their tails up, if they happen to get soiled--especially at lambing time or in the spring when the grass is lush and green-they can get heavy with dung tags. An owner would have to witness fly strike only once in their life to be convinced of the necessity of tail docking." Ingrid Painter JACOB SHEEP IN AMERICA

~" It happened one day, as Bo Peep did stray into a meadow hard by, there she espied their tails side by side, All hung on a tree to dry." Nursery Rhyme (above: lamb tails that have fallen off)

~Here is the posterior of Black Bart. He has a long tail. His tail has not been docked. The shearer needed to shear him to the end of his tail. Black Bart is an easy keeper and he says"My tail is quite beautiful, and I love the curls that grow out as my wool grows. Any cleanliness is your duty as a shepherdess to take care of. Just don't be expecting me to volunteer to stand still while you do that, or make it easy in any way for you to catch me!" You might have noticed I tend towards tail docking in my sheep. Like any other topic, this can be controversial and I have read up on this, and seen the sheep of people who feel strongly that a sheep should not have it's tail docked. I respect their right to do as they wish, but I will continue to dock the tails of my sheep because there are hot and awful summers when flies are pretty pesky and sheep have wool. Wool does not shed like hair on a dog's tail will. The woolly tails of sheep get woollier and manure clings like sticky tar to it. Flies LOVE this gunk. They spread the word and before you know it, you have a thriving fly community in a very unhappy sheep's tail! And that's my sheep tale about tails today. My sheep do have tails wagging behind them, but they are SMALL tails! Blessings: sheep, lambs, sunny spring days to watch lambs play

Welcome Spring!

~My new favorite work shoes! My favorite color too. They are dirty because they are WORK shoes. And easy to kick off when going indoors with armloads of stuff, like firewood, baskets of eggs, and groceries. I saw an episode of "What Not To Wear" where Clinton and Stacy were not too kind about a lady who wears these cheap clogs all the time, but I have got to tell you...they are comfortable, durable, and if your life involves a lot of animal and gardening type activities, these and rubber boots are the best foot wear ever!So, once in a while I actually wear these while shopping for groceries....but please do not tell Clinton and Stacy. I don't want these tossed out.I wore them all day today. ~Today was truly the kind of spring day poems and songs are written about! Our beloved Son (in-law) came over to fill his truck with goat manure for the family gardens and he brought 2 of our granddaughters along. Oh joy! They asked Grandpa for a boat ride around our island and he obliged...happily. Yes, the boat needs a scrubbing,and I will attend to it soon. But look at the two sisters smiling in the back seat of the boat. The boat ride around our little island was too short a trip for them and they would have loved Grandpa to spend a lot more time in the boat on the pond...maybe another day!Yes, for sure another day. ~After the granddaughters and their father left, Hubby and I gardened. I cleared more storm downfalls out of our woods for burning, and later, thoroughly exhausted- we sat together on the porch in our rockers and enjoyed watching the hummingbirds at their feeders and the sheep all peacefully sunning themselves in our surprisingly warm and sunny day! Thank-you Lord for your blessings abundant!

Fret Not~

~Three of the sisters gather eggs at Grandma's. They love this chore!~

~These pictures were taken here last fall, when the little girls and our son were finally given the O.K. by the courts in California to re-locate here to our son's legal residence, Washington. We had a quick visit and rejoiced , and then they were off...over the mountains , 6 hours away, to live with our youngest son and his wife on 10 acres in Eastern Washington, with horses, sheep, lambs, dogs, cats, kittens, and a school in which they are not only thriving, but flourishing. It is amazing what a stable home life with WHOLESOME activities and a calm routine can do for a child. The little girls were all showing physical signs of severe stress. Eczema, hair loss, emotional extremes, asthma and just plain fatigue. All of these problems have cleared up and are gone! ~I have always taken for granted that most parents will do what is best for their children and loved ones....and that personal desires of parents would take into account the well being of little children God has blessed them with. That a parent would venture forth into a life not only completely indifferent to what is best for their children, but embrace with abandon a life style that is , in the kindest words I can muster...dangerous to children physically and morally...and I mean that in every sense of the words, is beyond my comprehension....but frighteningly common. ~Through our son's battle, nay...war, to save his daughters I have come to hear many, many stories resembling ours. And I am concerned that no matter how much legislation and money thrown at the problems...there is an epidemic of derelict parents willing to allow little ones to suffer for their ( parents ) lack of real love and care. I suppose there always have been parents like this, hence foster care , orphanages, abuse and abortion. CPS seems to be unable to adequately deal with known and provable cases, let alone stop horrible cases of abuse until it is too late...but really, they must also be overwhelmed and demoralized by a court and legal system that will willingly return children to such parents.I don't have answers, only a million more questions I won't ponder here. Our only hope has been to take our petitions to God and rely on the comfort He and our family and friends have given.. thank-you all so very, very much for your well wishes and prayers! ~She lost a tooth! Tonight she ( above ) called us to tell us she lost another tooth! The little girls and Aunt Breezy built fairy houses out of sticks, leaves, rocks, etc.,, to see if they can tempt a fairy to move in and then maybe they will see one! I think they are planning on putting the tooth in the fairy house for the tooth fairy ! But the tooth will not be put out for the tooth fairy until their Daddy comes home tomorrow and sees the tooth! ~The little girls played outside today , and this one went with her Uncle on his horse shoeing rounds. She LOVES horses! When they called tonight they were setting up the Monopoly board to play a long, long game with Uncle Daniel and Aunt Breezy. I could hear them giggling in the background. ~The day in court ?Well, things went O.K. It took ALL day, the judge had to retire to his chambers to read a heap of stuff and so we did not find out until 5:00 how things went. For awhile my heart had sunk very low when our son called before noon to recount the hearing thus far.....however, this judge really, really read through the files. Guess what...many do NOT! Although the judge did not do as I in my wisdom would have wished, things went mostly in favor of our son, which means in favor of the girls.The sisters are safe for now. Our son needs to go back to court the end of next month. So, we'll see. You know, real life court room dramas are not fun . But throughout the day I reminded myself God is in control, and my trust is in Him..even if I cry and fret every so often about this trust thing.

~Thank-you all so very much for your prayers and well-wishes for the little girls!~

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes."Psalm 37:7 " I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be continually in my mouth." Psalm 34:1

May Justice and Truth Prevail

~Myself with our oldest son's daughters, sitting on our stone wall, holding the youngest. The oldest daughter, (far right), is happily wearing my jacket, wool scarf and hat , the 2nd oldest ( far left) cannot focus on the picture taking because there is a bug that might crawl on her and she is watching it just to make sure the bug does not get her.~

~Friday, April 3....a few short hours from now, our oldest son goes to court in the high desert to represent the well being of his 4 daughters . Again, any prayers on behalf of them are appreciated. "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." Psalm 145:18 "Because God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14 (To see previous background on this concern, read my post dated Tuesday, March 24.) ~None of us in our family presume to know how God will choose to work His will in our lives, but we know He is in control. He says in His Word.."It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." Psalm 118:8

~The two youngest sisters.~

Spring is in the Air, Snow is on the Ground!

~The hummingbirds are back, and boy howdy are they back! I have 3 hummingbird feeders and all three have male hummingbirds buzzing each other in threatening hummingbird manner, claiming feeders as their own personal pantry. One bright red little guy has taken to perching on the feeder when not eating or dive bombing other hummers. Aren't they beautiful little feathered jewels?

~Goth is peeking over the fence, just checking out this year's lamb crop...all are his sons and daughters.

~Aren't they cute? You should see them jumping and leaping and playing with one another.

~I think the mole family has expanded because they now have huge mole mountains and way too many tunnels and holes all over our property. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

~My doves all seem to have paired off and my dove pens are filled with egg filled dove nests in and on every possible surface and crevice they can manage to keep a nest from falling. They are even laying and hatching eggs in their feeders, like the dove above.

~Here is an almost grown dove ( above ), ready to start leaving the nest... and as soon as he is out of the nest it will be claimed by another pair of doves , if he isn't pushed out of the nest by them before he is ready. The doves are pretty aggressive about nesting!.

~But the bees are confused...we are still feeding them sugar water because this weekend we had 3 inches of snow.....and today woke up to snow again! Is nature playing an April Fool's day prank on us?

~Welcome Spring, whenever you come!~ "He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labor of man, So that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine which makes the heart glad, So that he may make his face glisten with oil, And food which sustains man's heart.....They all wait for Thee, to give them their food in due season. Thou dost give it to them, they gather it up; Thou dost open Thy hand, they are satisfied with good." Psalm 104 : 14, 15,27, 28

Stories for All Ages, Eloise Wilkin

~"Grandma rocks baby to sleep. What a good day it has been! Happy Birthday , baby!" BABY'S BIRTHDAY by Patricia Mowers..illustrated by Eloise Wilkin

The book above is illustrated by one of my favorite illustrators, Eloise Wilkin. That particular story is one I read to all my children on their birthdays for many years, and now I read to my grandchildren. I made up a tune to go with the last page ( above ) where I quietly sing " rock a baby by-o, rock a baby by", and the granddaughter spending her birthday with us, who is sleeping in our spare room right now, sang this tune often in her little baby voice. When I would hold and rock her she would request this song and snuggled in her favorite blanket, she would go to sleep.

~These are some of my favorite story books. I began collecting children's books before I was married. I love children's books and in college, where I was taking classes in education,( at the time my goal was to be a teacher) many of the books I collected were purchased from thrift stores. Our granddaughter brought out WIGGLES for me to read to her tonight. The books shown above are a few of the many books I own that are illustrated by Eloise Wilkin and they are the favorites . ~Look at the detail in the illustrations. They are not fussy or cluttered..but tender, and comforting. The stories are too. Not fussy, complicated, cluttered. "There is still among laymen a lack of comprehension of the discipline needed to pare a text to a basic line that looks simple. A picture book is as concise as poetry." Marcia Brown As I have been writing posts for my blog I have realized it is best to use as few words as possible to state my point or tell my story. When you combine wonderful photographs or illustrations and art with a good , succinct story...you have talent!

~This illustration is from PRAYERS for CHILDREN. ( 1952 )~

~Eloise Wilkin illustrated Little Golden Books from 1943 to 1961. Everyone has probably had at least one battered story book laying around the nursery that was illustrated by her. Eloise Wilkin heads the list as as the most popular artist with collectors of these books. I did not know this, I just knew I loved her illustrations and whenever I saw a book with her distinctive portrayals of family life and nature...I bought it. Usually not spending any more than a quarter. After researching her on-line I now know why I don't find good deals on such storybooks anymore! ( above picture is from BIRDS by Jane Werner Watson, illus. by Eloise Wilkin) ~My personal favorites are WE HELP DADDY, WE HELP MOMMY, and WHERE DID THE BABY GO ? I still read and re-read these books when I have no children around to read them to.They are in some way , so comforting. Apparently,they are calming to my grandchildren too. ~Here a little boy is saying his good night prayers in PRAYERS for CHILDREN. "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray Thee, Lord, thy child to keep; Thy love guard me through the night And wake me with the morning light. Amen."

~Do you have any books illustrated by Mrs. Wilkin in your home ? Are you still reading them to children, to yourself ? And hey, if you want to get rid of them...just send me an e-mail, I have room on my bookshelf for more! "Picture books , of course. present the greatest problems in finding the right artist.....the author's vision of the finished book is important, because it is part of the author's concept of what he has done." Jean Carl, children's book editor