tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16852388258508974482024-03-13T03:35:57.054+01:00Wherever I AmUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1481125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-59563968160724370902020-12-31T15:55:00.002+01:002020-12-31T15:55:50.062+01:00December's Days<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's the last day of the year, and the last day of December. Around our house it feels extra celebratory because it's K.J.'s birthday eve. This month we lit a numbered candle every night and read a Christmasy story as we counted down the days until Christmas. The first two weeks of December were spent in semi-lockdown, but we were able to abandon filling out forms to leave the house on the 15th. That gave us a sense of relief that we still feel when we go out now. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Even though we couldn't do Christmas gatherings in the usual ways, we still had a really festive month. We've learned how to connect with others safely, we sang Christmas carols and enjoyed the Parisian Christmas lights, drank <i>chocolat chaud</i>, and FaceTimed with family. We watched Christmas movies all December long, and it was all in all very merry.</span> </p><p><b style="font-family: georgia;">December 1 - The countdown to Christmas begins.</b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjPv3722rNQ/X-kHKG27mSI/AAAAAAAAtEw/f81KvECDaLoiWSHeMj1qy4_TgE75F79NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-01_21-19-01_636_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjPv3722rNQ/X-kHKG27mSI/AAAAAAAAtEw/f81KvECDaLoiWSHeMj1qy4_TgE75F79NgCLcBGAsYHQ/w512-h640/2020-12-01_21-19-01_636_FB.jpg" width="512" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>December 2 - Golden Leaves in Paris</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-042kf3npzuk/X-kKgvr-86I/AAAAAAAAtE4/8tqWlRXOlJ4Y02z1dtMgshsvFl-duY_FQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/lamppost_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-042kf3npzuk/X-kKgvr-86I/AAAAAAAAtE4/8tqWlRXOlJ4Y02z1dtMgshsvFl-duY_FQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/lamppost_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>December 3 - Cozy Vibes</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0pepqrhiPM/X-kMMWn0EPI/AAAAAAAAtFA/dZ8bqjGg5RoI9zelC1Jc6JFESeB75CT5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-03_15-20-25_068etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0pepqrhiPM/X-kMMWn0EPI/AAAAAAAAtFA/dZ8bqjGg5RoI9zelC1Jc6JFESeB75CT5ACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-03_15-20-25_068etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>December 4 - Power Outage, Peanut Butter Sandwich by Candlelight</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zYCfVFI0JmE/X-kNH2tn8OI/AAAAAAAAtFI/rtuyF4fVvucHfRWG1eVyptqZ6I25u9osQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-04_09-48-56_703etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zYCfVFI0JmE/X-kNH2tn8OI/AAAAAAAAtFI/rtuyF4fVvucHfRWG1eVyptqZ6I25u9osQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-12-04_09-48-56_703etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>December 5 - Christmas on the Champs-Élysées</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8cZoG8qg3fU/X-kPHneqNNI/AAAAAAAAtFQ/jnHvDrORTsY17k7N5nKSTXNg26f-5DWYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-05_18-42-08_485_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8cZoG8qg3fU/X-kPHneqNNI/AAAAAAAAtFQ/jnHvDrORTsY17k7N5nKSTXNg26f-5DWYgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-12-05_18-42-08_485_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>December 6 - Discovering New Christmas Stories</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pr_xMx6-31E/X-kQGP3jJyI/AAAAAAAAtFY/gwDx4lQbtxs9xCorESJbfrHh4JagxxbfACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-06_20-44-09_078etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pr_xMx6-31E/X-kQGP3jJyI/AAAAAAAAtFY/gwDx4lQbtxs9xCorESJbfrHh4JagxxbfACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-06_20-44-09_078etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>December 7 - Helping Post Christmas Cards</b></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IivGhvoCwOI/X-zrkXTQRwI/AAAAAAAAtF8/af4Wd6ZRqfIJ2dlRwy5uKFqMY5w7AhLwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-08_10-00-44_110_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IivGhvoCwOI/X-zrkXTQRwI/AAAAAAAAtF8/af4Wd6ZRqfIJ2dlRwy5uKFqMY5w7AhLwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-12-08_10-00-44_110_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>December 8 - Afternoon Walk</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VTWImdv1b8/X-zylY1kosI/AAAAAAAAtGE/H06BiuBR8OwaYSHvgFjkzJN4TPSrrUISgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-08_14-50-38_612etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VTWImdv1b8/X-zylY1kosI/AAAAAAAAtGE/H06BiuBR8OwaYSHvgFjkzJN4TPSrrUISgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-12-08_14-50-38_612etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><b>December 9 - Steeple at Sunrise</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R46xHLrkY-M/X-zzCJvg5II/AAAAAAAAtGM/zO7Tbnlv-zIlXp93Gr83CQokF3AjVKGfQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0981etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R46xHLrkY-M/X-zzCJvg5II/AAAAAAAAtGM/zO7Tbnlv-zIlXp93Gr83CQokF3AjVKGfQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0981etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>December 10 - December Roses</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2umrXQwjhjk/X-z0ojOwcqI/AAAAAAAAtGY/WFadoPOIyRs7KwuWFsATDWkYbpApTrYRACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0985etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2umrXQwjhjk/X-z0ojOwcqI/AAAAAAAAtGY/WFadoPOIyRs7KwuWFsATDWkYbpApTrYRACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0985etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><b>December 11 - Selfies with my Boy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyE3x8LP238/X-z14yysKZI/AAAAAAAAtGg/NyiSsGPmJ60dfebjMGqfJ05ZoD6NWURBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-11_11-42-19_355_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyE3x8LP238/X-z14yysKZI/AAAAAAAAtGg/NyiSsGPmJ60dfebjMGqfJ05ZoD6NWURBwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-11_11-42-19_355_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>December 12 - Pop of Color</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k0Om1F6nnbQ/X-z3-gCjB4I/AAAAAAAAtGo/1ctCRug3GZgbwe11R-3N9lCbsorDRIw9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-12_12-41-56_048etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k0Om1F6nnbQ/X-z3-gCjB4I/AAAAAAAAtGo/1ctCRug3GZgbwe11R-3N9lCbsorDRIw9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-12_12-41-56_048etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>December 13 - Gingerbread Cookies</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucmhmDSNK2o/X-z5J8Dy8YI/AAAAAAAAtGw/y99yJD6TLiQxXBSzf35LD4TfVZCFdKflwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-13_11-00-31_157etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucmhmDSNK2o/X-z5J8Dy8YI/AAAAAAAAtGw/y99yJD6TLiQxXBSzf35LD4TfVZCFdKflwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-13_11-00-31_157etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>December 14 - Rainy Day Walk</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fq6gnTqPbPQ/X-z8VeAezlI/AAAAAAAAtG8/TTIYze7sKtMc8vKwWheGxOG3zMN3aTV8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-14_14-24-30_336etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fq6gnTqPbPQ/X-z8VeAezlI/AAAAAAAAtG8/TTIYze7sKtMc8vKwWheGxOG3zMN3aTV8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-14_14-24-30_336etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>December 15 - Another Moody Walk</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgUsdFRShjI/X-z9yhXFhRI/AAAAAAAAtHI/FAj9k1lH3OsPOkzwot2WTzdmRfspvQ3lQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1064etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IgUsdFRShjI/X-z9yhXFhRI/AAAAAAAAtHI/FAj9k1lH3OsPOkzwot2WTzdmRfspvQ3lQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_1064etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><b>December 16 - Bible Study Meet-Up</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UqfpoLGIL0c/X-z-d8tpkkI/AAAAAAAAtHQ/3jVtn1gmOSQU45ZgD7Gq3SgDqFM_JCIcACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-16_18-37-12_243_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UqfpoLGIL0c/X-z-d8tpkkI/AAAAAAAAtHQ/3jVtn1gmOSQU45ZgD7Gq3SgDqFM_JCIcACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-12-16_18-37-12_243_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>December 17 - Sunset Skies</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJrtuJ6eD0g/X-2Om3Lf1qI/AAAAAAAAtHY/rJpWEtM3GCcauDcsXQOyUllGIA-Hma-KgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1132etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sJrtuJ6eD0g/X-2Om3Lf1qI/AAAAAAAAtHY/rJpWEtM3GCcauDcsXQOyUllGIA-Hma-KgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_1132etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>December 18 - Our Christmasy <i>Grande Rue</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_dgYNfQxaXI/X-2PkSkrO7I/AAAAAAAAtHg/rQEAFz8hr3oln-248jPqi5TSmW-bSMpAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1204etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_dgYNfQxaXI/X-2PkSkrO7I/AAAAAAAAtHg/rQEAFz8hr3oln-248jPqi5TSmW-bSMpAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_1204etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />December 19 - Fancy French chocolates have the flavors printed on them.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2obIZURr2Q/X-2Q0J7ZVeI/AAAAAAAAtHo/9GF14itIfaUTf03ipcTZoaGO5Gd7qEgPACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-19_13-50-06_052etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2obIZURr2Q/X-2Q0J7ZVeI/AAAAAAAAtHo/9GF14itIfaUTf03ipcTZoaGO5Gd7qEgPACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-19_13-50-06_052etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>December 20 - The Beautiful Faces of EIC Rueil's Zoom Church</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXHDxxNWwWQ/X-2Sv-DuWoI/AAAAAAAAtHw/0npRDKBRrH4HcpuHeqSsWsdF-7R4uN3TgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-20_12-35-39_760etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXHDxxNWwWQ/X-2Sv-DuWoI/AAAAAAAAtHw/0npRDKBRrH4HcpuHeqSsWsdF-7R4uN3TgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-20_12-35-39_760etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><b>December 21 - Another Dr. Who Ornament for the Tree</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MuAepJTKXMk/X-2TpcuOWBI/AAAAAAAAtH4/M8It7rjdOqM4paxrirmQ5BlVkuVsIqaEACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-21_11-43-03_762etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MuAepJTKXMk/X-2TpcuOWBI/AAAAAAAAtH4/M8It7rjdOqM4paxrirmQ5BlVkuVsIqaEACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-21_11-43-03_762etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>December 22 - Our First <i>B</i></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><i>ûche de No</i></b></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><b><i>ël</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWWg1v-v7Hg/X-2UripXGhI/AAAAAAAAtIE/BZ9tSLjCVfApnvsk7y_y4PtGL8nYMSjHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-22_12-32-31_224_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HWWg1v-v7Hg/X-2UripXGhI/AAAAAAAAtIE/BZ9tSLjCVfApnvsk7y_y4PtGL8nYMSjHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-12-22_12-32-31_224_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />December 23 - <i>When will it just be Christmas already?</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9U_G7pXRmc/X-2VJTZY3RI/AAAAAAAAtIM/LngIOBmjiWoGfD6pnXgkAyHYEsn6_MQiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1208_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B9U_G7pXRmc/X-2VJTZY3RI/AAAAAAAAtIM/LngIOBmjiWoGfD6pnXgkAyHYEsn6_MQiQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_1208_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />December 24 - Christmas Eve Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EPA9V2VNgVM/X-2WLyZ-jQI/AAAAAAAAtIY/IXXqzf73CEECnKE2H_rNzqcgFvk14saFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-24_17-45-55_805etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EPA9V2VNgVM/X-2WLyZ-jQI/AAAAAAAAtIY/IXXqzf73CEECnKE2H_rNzqcgFvk14saFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-24_17-45-55_805etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>December 25 - E received a journal from each of her parents.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0z_rUvTJ-EU/X-2XvAG5ZQI/AAAAAAAAtIg/dY51UydVf0IKCDNNtYXwHOh6AF9bJtIfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-25_11-58-15_201etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0z_rUvTJ-EU/X-2XvAG5ZQI/AAAAAAAAtIg/dY51UydVf0IKCDNNtYXwHOh6AF9bJtIfgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-12-25_11-58-15_201etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>December 26 - A Boxing Day Farewell to Friends who are Moving</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mAu8m52jb18/X-2YYRnP04I/AAAAAAAAtIo/XZ4qghNDYiA1ZO-wkIOTD7tsKwWcK2PjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-27_09-24-25_720_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mAu8m52jb18/X-2YYRnP04I/AAAAAAAAtIo/XZ4qghNDYiA1ZO-wkIOTD7tsKwWcK2PjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-12-27_09-24-25_720_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>December 27 - Christmas Tea with Noreen</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PReRNh23TGU/X-2avFkSwUI/AAAAAAAAtI0/VdIGF3q4jwo6-HYdbY_hvD88d4elez1tQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-27_17-09-02_895etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PReRNh23TGU/X-2avFkSwUI/AAAAAAAAtI0/VdIGF3q4jwo6-HYdbY_hvD88d4elez1tQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-12-27_17-09-02_895etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>December 28 - The First Time I've Found Ranch Dressing in France</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lc-dUIoop9A/X-2bO4x4dzI/AAAAAAAAtI8/PYTxWK-bpVEUTQ4jkguKI-CD8dSLjSnpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-28_19-00-41_439_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lc-dUIoop9A/X-2bO4x4dzI/AAAAAAAAtI8/PYTxWK-bpVEUTQ4jkguKI-CD8dSLjSnpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-12-28_19-00-41_439_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>December 29 - I spy two boys who stirred up the pigeons.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBCcum0iLPA/X-2bnJTyPKI/AAAAAAAAtJE/LT5fjaIt2pIv29yYNztk1xouco-RlsdtACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-29_15-43-00_785_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rBCcum0iLPA/X-2bnJTyPKI/AAAAAAAAtJE/LT5fjaIt2pIv29yYNztk1xouco-RlsdtACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/2020-12-29_15-43-00_785_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>December 30 - Chimney Pots</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75wC0Um8R-Q/X-2cwYIgR3I/AAAAAAAAtJQ/YJULqlmAm_42cW-LW6cmvlEWptxlpvKowCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-30_11-56-40_961etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-75wC0Um8R-Q/X-2cwYIgR3I/AAAAAAAAtJQ/YJULqlmAm_42cW-LW6cmvlEWptxlpvKowCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-12-30_11-56-40_961etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>December 31 - Presents for K.J.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjInh6z1YZs/X-3lUDgLwiI/AAAAAAAAtJg/ZHgMtBJ7p_wRQmJ23_0P3YmzxL-0SF4PQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-12-31_15-38-21_580etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjInh6z1YZs/X-3lUDgLwiI/AAAAAAAAtJg/ZHgMtBJ7p_wRQmJ23_0P3YmzxL-0SF4PQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-12-31_15-38-21_580etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />May your new year be filled with hope.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-2457189799680021452020-12-26T17:12:00.004+01:002020-12-26T17:17:55.662+01:0020 Gifts in 2020<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's Christmastide, that wonderful season of celebrating the great gift of a good God in the birth of Jesus and sharing gifts amongst ourselves. It's also the end of the year, which has me reflecting on 2020 and the things that have been gifts to me. At first, I thought of two specific gifts but since it's hard to resist a good theme I thought I would challenge myself to think of 20. Maybe you'd like to do the same in this last week of a year we will never forget. Even in a year of losses, there are so many gifts. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>1. Our family has stayed healthy.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">This obviously stands out in a year where we've been more aware of germs and their spread than ever before.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>2. Ladies' Bible Study on Zoom</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In March I talked with another woman in our church about having a Bible study time for ladies, but I couldn't figure out how to fit that easily into the week. I need to be home most days to oversee school for the kids, and meeting in Paris takes a lot of travel time. Scarcely two weeks later, and France was in a strict lockdown, and we all downloaded this little app called Zoom. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E20rDzVRdAU/X-cFAyoPr5I/AAAAAAAAtCs/ep3ZCeunw6U3UdlkoEDyYTQPDwilK8QjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/AKEX2133.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E20rDzVRdAU/X-cFAyoPr5I/AAAAAAAAtCs/ep3ZCeunw6U3UdlkoEDyYTQPDwilK8QjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/AKEX2133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The pandemic made us try something that we would never have thought to try, and it is my favorite gift of 2020. Reading the Bible together and discussing it on Zoom enabled women to join us when they went away on holiday for the summer, while their babies were napping or crawling all over them needing to be muted. It eliminated hours of travel time in the middle of a work day. It kept us safe, encouraged our hearts, and kept us connected. What a gift.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>3. Church in the Park</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Similarly, we would never have moved church meetings outside in Paris parks without the pandemic necessitating new creativity in gathering, and this time was such a blessing to me, too. On a typical Sunday in the building, I had quick conversations with lots of people, mostly just quick catch-ups. These are of course good, but the times in the park gave time to actually have conversations around the sermon, beyond the quick chats. I was able to hear how people were processing God's Word that week. We could ask questions and hear each other's thoughts. It was another good gift of connection. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMx5cV9QEPE/X-cIRNoGIII/AAAAAAAAtC0/kP5EnpOihUYYxiGlUVyucUIadS5DG2GowCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9763etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMx5cV9QEPE/X-cIRNoGIII/AAAAAAAAtC0/kP5EnpOihUYYxiGlUVyucUIadS5DG2GowCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_9763etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>4. Taking Advantage of Paris before things Shut Down</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I am SO thankful I made so many plans in February. We visited <a href="http://lynnpugh.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-sunday-walk-in-luxembourg-gardens.html" target="_blank">Luxembourg Gardens</a> and the Pantheon with friends. I saw inside the stunning Sainte Chapelle with a friend. E and I saw <i>Little Women </i>at the theater. We went to the zoo and met up with friends. The kids had friends over to hang out, and we went to restaurants. I am so grateful we did all of these things before normal life disappeared! And did you notice a theme there? Friends, friends, friends! We've missed our friends this year, haven't we?</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LYj3TQgPxc/X-cLBnP8MrI/AAAAAAAAtC8/STnhUEzOxiMlELb3u3nEDCaqwIUAqUwHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_6949etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9LYj3TQgPxc/X-cLBnP8MrI/AAAAAAAAtC8/STnhUEzOxiMlELb3u3nEDCaqwIUAqUwHwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_6949etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>5. The Garden</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">We utilized Noreen's garden more than ever before this spring during lockdown. K.J. and I paced back and forth discussing the day's events. We tracked each new blossom and watched birds build their nests.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7kWsSBnydQ/X-cMuGX6jCI/AAAAAAAAtDE/g8U4rBASlFoU0aj_kuiEaUcxnkZz8FCYwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-03-30_10-16-31_078etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c7kWsSBnydQ/X-cMuGX6jCI/AAAAAAAAtDE/g8U4rBASlFoU0aj_kuiEaUcxnkZz8FCYwCLcBGAsYHQ/w512-h640/2020-03-30_10-16-31_078etd_FB.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>6. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/michaeljtinker" target="_blank">Michael Tinker's</a> daily lockdown shows</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">We met Michael in North Yorkshire, and his <i><a href="https://michaeljtinker.com/missiontodendros/" target="_blank">Mission to Dendros</a> </i>album was already a family favorite on road trips, but his daily Facebook Live with songs and puppets, costumes, and jokes was a daily joy and part of our lockdown rhythm. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_w_jgJo1Es/X-dZyt1BkaI/AAAAAAAAtD8/rgCJ-Dedp5w0jiqazMBSxZvD35a6nQgMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-03-27_12-29-18_507etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_w_jgJo1Es/X-dZyt1BkaI/AAAAAAAAtD8/rgCJ-Dedp5w0jiqazMBSxZvD35a6nQgMQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-03-27_12-29-18_507etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><p><b>7. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug" target="_blank">Some Good News</a> with John Krasinski regularly made me cry. </b></p></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>8. Robins</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've had a special love for robins for 5 years now, and watching one build his nest during lockdown was happy for me.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCW7cG1bNWY/X-cPSwdVC8I/AAAAAAAAtDM/YjRDL94yn7wTl2nh4FpAYLVE1Ky6RKxLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7484etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCW7cG1bNWY/X-cPSwdVC8I/AAAAAAAAtDM/YjRDL94yn7wTl2nh4FpAYLVE1Ky6RKxLQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7484etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>9. Online Book Club</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It wasn't our normal, but it was still so good to have an avenue to talk about books.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZAFC3DfO2o/X-dadOqluzI/AAAAAAAAtEE/nvrUvD98ENoL9W3p_LMByrKIxHaany6aACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-04-25_16-53-54_318etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uZAFC3DfO2o/X-dadOqluzI/AAAAAAAAtEE/nvrUvD98ENoL9W3p_LMByrKIxHaany6aACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-04-25_16-53-54_318etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>10. Family Bike Rides</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O0iQx9LcJGk/X-cUNP9FNwI/AAAAAAAAtDk/U2eUnXXY3ekBr9Jx6wn1fvabOimKxK3HwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9048etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O0iQx9LcJGk/X-cUNP9FNwI/AAAAAAAAtDk/U2eUnXXY3ekBr9Jx6wn1fvabOimKxK3HwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_9048etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><p><b>11. Outdoor Communion</b></p></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Anytime you do something in a new context it arrests more of your attention, wakes up your brain and your heart from the fog of the familiar, and taking the Lord's Supper outdoors with our church--bring your own baguette!--was special.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WdlsRHvtKTo/X-cS5g3Vo-I/AAAAAAAAtDc/jrGF0cqz1cQnWurbf3-sJBkxYXkOBExpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_8180etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WdlsRHvtKTo/X-cS5g3Vo-I/AAAAAAAAtDc/jrGF0cqz1cQnWurbf3-sJBkxYXkOBExpQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_8180etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><p><b>12. A Hammock</b></p></b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Friends who moved away this summer gifted us their hammock, and we all fought over time in it. Why is swinging through the summer air with a book the best thing ever?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmw3SbvtXzQ/X-cSOx06BeI/AAAAAAAAtDU/U6RbtiSTOX81OeBsV94gsNKlWFgWr0ctQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_8738_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmw3SbvtXzQ/X-cSOx06BeI/AAAAAAAAtDU/U6RbtiSTOX81OeBsV94gsNKlWFgWr0ctQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_8738_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p style="font-weight: bold;"><b>13. Our Supporters</b></p><p>While we were enjoying our first outing in the world since the end of lockdown, marveling at being in the wheat fields made famous by Vincent Van Gogh, someone broke our car window and stole my computer. This was obviously a complete bummer of a way to end our mini vacation, but by the next day several of our supporters and friends had offered to cover the cost of replacing our window and my laptop. This lavishness was an unexpected outpouring of love.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dZbDeo7w_4/X-daqgrGVbI/AAAAAAAAtEI/2AUCGErjX4cin_JwUyCQl1g_OGAJR3DuACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_8974etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dZbDeo7w_4/X-daqgrGVbI/AAAAAAAAtEI/2AUCGErjX4cin_JwUyCQl1g_OGAJR3DuACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_8974etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>14. Online Gaming</b></p><p>I wouldn't have expected online gaming to ever be a gift to me, but with time with friends much harder to come by, J being able to FaceTime and play Minecraft online with friends or Switch games online with friends was a gift for him and to me.</p><p><b>15. An Impromptu England Trip</b></p><p>Going back to England now feels like returning home, and like most trips this year, our September trip was canceled. But we crossed the channel for a quick 6-day trip just before crossing the border grew complicated. We spend most of our time doing outdoor things on these trips so we felt pretty confident we could do the trip safely, and we're so glad we did.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJzrGQdcwQo/X-cYGE39RNI/AAAAAAAAtDs/phfTnA73cWkfQEsxDwFrv3X4Rlow1HblQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9377etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJzrGQdcwQo/X-cYGE39RNI/AAAAAAAAtDs/phfTnA73cWkfQEsxDwFrv3X4Rlow1HblQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_9377etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>16. Seeing More of France</b></p><p>K.J. was able to change his cycling fundraiser this year to adapt to borders being closed, and while he rode hundreds of miles I practiced my French driving skills and navigated traveling in France with the kids, and it was all a gift of discovery.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DA_xHLXabRY/X-cZfpLLdhI/AAAAAAAAtD0/4H0QFACuD5Q6ryPVgIhn-UaUTPbR5LmrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9707etd_FB.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DA_xHLXabRY/X-cZfpLLdhI/AAAAAAAAtD0/4H0QFACuD5Q6ryPVgIhn-UaUTPbR5LmrgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_9707etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>17. Reading Aloud During Lockdown</b></p><p>At the beginning of our first lockdown we decided to read through <i>The Chronicles of Narnia</i>, and it was nice having that goal. I hadn't been reading aloud to the kids as regularly before that, and it was an anchor to the end of each day that we all enjoyed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEy5cOABoV0/X-dbl7c_DKI/AAAAAAAAtEU/cPVGeOgZ5mY3YuFxC6OvI6NsV3PXGve2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-04-19_19-45-03_576_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iEy5cOABoV0/X-dbl7c_DKI/AAAAAAAAtEU/cPVGeOgZ5mY3YuFxC6OvI6NsV3PXGve2ACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-04-19_19-45-03_576_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><b>18. Noreen has been kept from COVID.</b></p><p>A big part of all our decisions this year has been shielding our dear friend and neighbor in her 90s, and we are grateful she has stayed well this year.</p><p><b>19. Our EIC Family</b></p><p>Even though we spent a majority of the year meeting in non-traditional ways, God still added to our number, and we'll never forget our very cold outdoor baptism service in September! I'm grateful for how God has grown and stretched each person in our midst. I'm also really grateful for the men and women who work behind the scenes talking thoughtfully through every change in the rules in this changing landscape. Since all staff meetings have been online, I've often overheard all the discussions taking place, and they have worked so hard this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suJDcHCUE1g/X-deBYReWII/AAAAAAAAtEc/vul0cxrXej4LvVZ5Hjkx4J9CjLV6gE4CgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/EFML7063.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-suJDcHCUE1g/X-deBYReWII/AAAAAAAAtEc/vul0cxrXej4LvVZ5Hjkx4J9CjLV6gE4CgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/EFML7063.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>20. Walks with K.J.</b></p><p>We've really embraced that walking together lifestyle this year. I always feel better after a good walk and talk with him.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjjB8JvzOj0/X-deopPKa5I/AAAAAAAAtEk/CsJgP6ps0gkyig-h7VQDuhuKBQMG_QR9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/FPRB7977.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjjB8JvzOj0/X-deopPKa5I/AAAAAAAAtEk/CsJgP6ps0gkyig-h7VQDuhuKBQMG_QR9gCLcBGAsYHQ/w512-h640/FPRB7977.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><p>And that's my list! What's been a gift to you this year? </p></span><p></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-50446407348014361252020-12-19T12:26:00.004+01:002020-12-19T12:29:14.796+01:00Five Quotes, vol. xxix<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRg_iocG5ak/X93i0G2kfFI/AAAAAAAAtB8/qG1KiqFx8cEfJ01L476PMeFR8zHIu7XvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/FWCS1837.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRg_iocG5ak/X93i0G2kfFI/AAAAAAAAtB8/qG1KiqFx8cEfJ01L476PMeFR8zHIu7XvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/FWCS1837.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've been re-reading <i>A Gentleman in Moscow </i>by Amor Towles, and this week K.J. and I attended a virtual interview with him hosted by our beloved American Library in Paris. It was such a delight, and if you also loved that book, you can watch the entire event replayed on <a href="https://youtu.be/Y8cVJ5n92Yk" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. The last two questions Towles answers are K.J.'s! Towles' writing is beautiful. Here are five passages I copied out this week.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>"You sound as if you dreamed of living in America."</b><br />"Everyone dreams of living in America."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>"That's ridiculous."</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>"Ridiculous? Half of the inhabitants of Europe would move there tomorrow just for the conveniences."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: courier;">"But in the end, it has been the inconveniences that have mattered to me most."</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: courier;">- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"It is one of the intrinsic limitations of being young, my dear, that you can never tell when a grand adventure has just begun."</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: times;">"And do you know, do you know that mankind can live without the Englishman, it can live without Germany, it can live only too well without the Russian man, it can live without science, without bread, and it only cannot live without beauty..."</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: times;">- from Demons, Fyodor Dostoevsky (quoted in A Gentleman in Moscow)</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Alexander Rostov was neither scientist nor sage; but at the age of sixty-four he was wise enough to know that life does not proceed by leaps and bounds. It unfolds. At any given moment, it is the manifestation of a thousand transitions. Our faculties wax and wane, our experiences accumulate, and our opinions evolve--if not glacially, then at least gradually. Such that the events of an average day are as likely to transform who we are as a pinch of pepper is to transform a stew."</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: verdana;">- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</span></b></i></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-85050793241793755022020-12-11T10:07:00.001+01:002020-12-11T10:07:49.504+01:00Five Quotes, vol. xviii<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6DrNw-u8B0/X9M0UhNjecI/AAAAAAAAtAo/kl1F3ssJG_gTBCBx_7Ij06x37lTwU8InACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_6921etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6DrNw-u8B0/X9M0UhNjecI/AAAAAAAAtAo/kl1F3ssJG_gTBCBx_7Ij06x37lTwU8InACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_6921etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>A Book Booth, somewhere in North Yorkshire, England</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This week's reading brings us a somewhat random assortment of quotes. Just two weeks until Christmas! Happy reading.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>"Fortune is merry,</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>And in this mood will give us anything."</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>- Marc Antony, Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">"Red Pollard sipped his scotch and reminisced about Seabiscuit and quietly slipped out of history."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">- Seabiscuit, Laura Hillenbrand</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"The voice of books is but a single voice, yet it does not teach all men alike, because I within them am the Teacher and the Truth, the Examiner of hearts, the Understander of thoughts, the Promoter of acts, distributing to each as I see fit."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- The Imitation of Christ, Thomas </span></i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>à Kempis</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">"And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">Millions of mischiefs."</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">- Octavius, Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Country life. It teems with intrigue."</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Winter Solstice, Rosamunde Pilcher</span></i></b></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-76492655349613191852020-12-10T17:10:00.001+01:002020-12-10T17:12:28.979+01:00If you like walks and bird-watching...<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the first of December K.J. wanted to go on a morning walk. I wanted to go with him but wasn't quite ready so he said, "I'll go now and walk clock-wise around the park; you come when you're ready and walk counter-clock-wise, and we'll be sure to meet." And so that is what we did.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TJEGwVx18s/X9HaC03K6PI/AAAAAAAAs-Y/aIZUMs5ksLAopNDnB1w3AA6efvMKXU-3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0837etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0TJEGwVx18s/X9HaC03K6PI/AAAAAAAAs-Y/aIZUMs5ksLAopNDnB1w3AA6efvMKXU-3ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_0837etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">It worked out well for us because it gave us each some moments walking alone and also some time to spend talking. In these pandemic days, these are our dates.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-an7J6T4y9tE/X9HaW1lLtRI/AAAAAAAAs-g/S2AhgOCrIHY98pFKHgOj8BgXi7TK6l0HwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0839etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-an7J6T4y9tE/X9HaW1lLtRI/AAAAAAAAs-g/S2AhgOCrIHY98pFKHgOj8BgXi7TK6l0HwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0839etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Since I was meeting K.J., I didn't bring my earbuds along to listen to music or a podcast, and my walk through the town and the misty morning park was quiet. The silence is good for my soul. I've been reading <i>The Imitation of Christ </i>by Thomas </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">à Kempis with E for school, and you can see how much emphasis monks in that time period put on quiet and withdrawal. I can't help but think we need times of silence in this world of constant access to information even more than in those 15th century days </span></span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #444444;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My quiet mind gives space for me to n</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">otice the gold-domed tops of the trees hanging on to their leaves amidst all the bare branches of the crowd.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aE2PvCVK5m0/X9HaqBz6e0I/AAAAAAAAs-o/V5mwmhpA18I5sdkyXcUlIChG26WQymutQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0842etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aE2PvCVK5m0/X9HaqBz6e0I/AAAAAAAAs-o/V5mwmhpA18I5sdkyXcUlIChG26WQymutQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0842etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SkdnTpy0N1c/X9HbwkQYPTI/AAAAAAAAs-0/zQWznCt_P2QAMpNc_FaChS6t1Xsm1L-BgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0847etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SkdnTpy0N1c/X9HbwkQYPTI/AAAAAAAAs-0/zQWznCt_P2QAMpNc_FaChS6t1Xsm1L-BgCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_0847etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_BM-24FTJc/X9HbwkrR0ZI/AAAAAAAAs-w/0TaxHkwZGiAxXqgV9WPI3yN07obOoR6WwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0854etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_BM-24FTJc/X9HbwkrR0ZI/AAAAAAAAs-w/0TaxHkwZGiAxXqgV9WPI3yN07obOoR6WwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_0854etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I spent some time watching this black bird fly low over the water the week before, and a quick Google this morning told me it was a cormorant. I asked K.J. to walk toward him so I could take a picture of him in flight. Ever the good photography assistant, he obliged, and it was satisfying to watch him spread his wings and dive into the water for a morning swim. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-ENCcJMtIE/X9I_fMOqT-I/AAAAAAAAs_M/HQwKqwUeqiMSFqg_oSy2oVbb1AFBo0KawCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0868etd_b%2526w_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-ENCcJMtIE/X9I_fMOqT-I/AAAAAAAAs_M/HQwKqwUeqiMSFqg_oSy2oVbb1AFBo0KawCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0868etd_b%2526w_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpRDtJMrc_0/X9I_fLXy7aI/AAAAAAAAs_Q/4cNklwfixaE64kaLkDlPkvQukj9N-TM6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0870etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpRDtJMrc_0/X9I_fLXy7aI/AAAAAAAAs_Q/4cNklwfixaE64kaLkDlPkvQukj9N-TM6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0870etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tigmlzWX3IY/X9I_fK-bmfI/AAAAAAAAs_I/6kyn93TYh3g87LxrAwbX8RodCbKGkd-6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0871etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tigmlzWX3IY/X9I_fK-bmfI/AAAAAAAAs_I/6kyn93TYh3g87LxrAwbX8RodCbKGkd-6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_0871etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYXAEmHmsxg/X9I_fn83ktI/AAAAAAAAs_U/Q5tLw--flPEcmzF9oCDCFaPOs5Jz0j7qgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0872etd_b%2526w_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GYXAEmHmsxg/X9I_fn83ktI/AAAAAAAAs_U/Q5tLw--flPEcmzF9oCDCFaPOs5Jz0j7qgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0872etd_b%2526w_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">There's a gaggle of geese (how fun is that to say?) that live in our park, and we got a big kick out of watching them wander to the pool in a line, jumping in one after another in an orderly manner.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1DBYqtC-jk8/X9JBU92lKsI/AAAAAAAAs_o/dHdlNC6R8ggn2YiUg_GQq8fZTeM_GShUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0889etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1DBYqtC-jk8/X9JBU92lKsI/AAAAAAAAs_o/dHdlNC6R8ggn2YiUg_GQq8fZTeM_GShUwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0889etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzv9Vu7FKbQ/X9JBVMkWHoI/AAAAAAAAs_s/gTJyykd_gL44-qamycdJlcFcXHIhY4H_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0893etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yzv9Vu7FKbQ/X9JBVMkWHoI/AAAAAAAAs_s/gTJyykd_gL44-qamycdJlcFcXHIhY4H_gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0893etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol6xZvj5m4A/X9JBU4I7jII/AAAAAAAAs_k/YhH4kuahKD4Rdg-RMAyWugGdxkOoOyLPACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0895etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol6xZvj5m4A/X9JBU4I7jII/AAAAAAAAs_k/YhH4kuahKD4Rdg-RMAyWugGdxkOoOyLPACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0895etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here's our cormorant friend back for his swim.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1gtuUElTIXM/X9JC57uacWI/AAAAAAAAtAA/-w5DMDpyYlYA6fsZyLzoH0XzwmDdNr1SACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0907etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1gtuUElTIXM/X9JC57uacWI/AAAAAAAAtAA/-w5DMDpyYlYA6fsZyLzoH0XzwmDdNr1SACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0907etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFINH6I2UoQ/X9JC54X3F0I/AAAAAAAAs_8/46jgfiiIYNghMvaOPDqCkS_mOMCRyRbLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0914etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFINH6I2UoQ/X9JC54X3F0I/AAAAAAAAs_8/46jgfiiIYNghMvaOPDqCkS_mOMCRyRbLwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0914etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">And the award for farthest traveled goes to this seagull who flew in on some salty breeze. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B35J8wB5YGg/X9JDY1nT7mI/AAAAAAAAtAM/gh-GprSKXd89yP6UJElu9oQdXYwzvUokgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0923etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B35J8wB5YGg/X9JDY1nT7mI/AAAAAAAAtAM/gh-GprSKXd89yP6UJElu9oQdXYwzvUokgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_0923etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I was happy I brought my big camera with me because there were some spots I'd been wanting to take pictures of that my phone can't quite capture, like the steeple of the church framed between these two trees and the rooftops of our little town. We've had a string of cold days since just before Thanksgiving, and you can often see smoke billowing up out of a chimney or two. This was a perfect walk to welcome December.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uAym_HACXJk/X9JD8arOfzI/AAAAAAAAtAY/I7iz86KlHKMo5uBNULCMbE7ZyMWCacxBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0954etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uAym_HACXJk/X9JD8arOfzI/AAAAAAAAtAY/I7iz86KlHKMo5uBNULCMbE7ZyMWCacxBQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_0954etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peYcYKeKuhA/X9JD8NxdinI/AAAAAAAAtAU/d4Q0sG9u4nE794BRTifgOQc8PF-P7d5yQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0956etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peYcYKeKuhA/X9JD8NxdinI/AAAAAAAAtAU/d4Q0sG9u4nE794BRTifgOQc8PF-P7d5yQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0956etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-9861981417762836092020-11-30T19:41:00.003+01:002020-11-30T19:41:58.144+01:00November Remembered<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">France was in lockdown this month, so there are <b>a lot </b>of pictures from my daily walks, <b>a lot</b> of pictures of our local parks. We are so thankful the big park has stayed open during this lockdown! It was closed in March and April during the first confinement. Restrictions loosened up here beginning on Saturday. Shops selling non-essential items were allowed to re-open, and we're now allowed to go up to 20 km away from home to exercise and be outside for up to three hours. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">To celebrate we drove to a favorite store that is part Hobby Lobby, part Home Depot, part pet store, part florist, and bought our Christmas tree. It was so fun to be out of the house even for just a little bit and to see all the beautiful Christmas decorations. This particular store is in a mall, and as we walked quickly down the slick and shiny flooring to pop into another store, E looked at all the masked people passing and said, "It's like Christmas shopping in a hospital." It was an apt observation...but at least we were Christmas shopping. Be careful out there, folks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>November 1 - Back to Church Online!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qyg4BWLYz8o/X8QMDs7xisI/AAAAAAAAs5Q/-1KvV4AfaTsVrFhYUPPyBdYl7VnMeCFzACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_2613etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qyg4BWLYz8o/X8QMDs7xisI/AAAAAAAAs5Q/-1KvV4AfaTsVrFhYUPPyBdYl7VnMeCFzACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_2613etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>November 2 - Beautiful Words to Keep Me Company</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MgXc4X6d8_k/X8QNfMuwGVI/AAAAAAAAs5Y/ONhTD9gN1sgcrO1xmYpUuGNpdRQYvc5tQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/MEPR2080_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MgXc4X6d8_k/X8QNfMuwGVI/AAAAAAAAs5Y/ONhTD9gN1sgcrO1xmYpUuGNpdRQYvc5tQCLcBGAsYHQ/w512-h640/MEPR2080_FB.jpg" width="512" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>November 3 - Rainbow Over the Park</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WrEbR5V9154/X8QO2FesgAI/AAAAAAAAs5g/_JRk6k3w2uUN8WCtgOpQuINVHEq1HjfbACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_2729etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WrEbR5V9154/X8QO2FesgAI/AAAAAAAAs5g/_JRk6k3w2uUN8WCtgOpQuINVHEq1HjfbACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_2729etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>November 4 - Mornings</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tICWT7qMJe4/X8QP2K12VCI/AAAAAAAAs5o/DICBzCDZ3as2g6jOutJJBS7JOzlu_syzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_2759etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tICWT7qMJe4/X8QP2K12VCI/AAAAAAAAs5o/DICBzCDZ3as2g6jOutJJBS7JOzlu_syzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_2759etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>November 5 - Cold Morning Walk in Woods Near Our House</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mw2YYQjgTAs/X8QRQRNatFI/AAAAAAAAs5w/jLn3nfxC1lsDhltxtIoI-plgG96VqcCSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_2830etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mw2YYQjgTAs/X8QRQRNatFI/AAAAAAAAs5w/jLn3nfxC1lsDhltxtIoI-plgG96VqcCSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_2830etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>November 6 - I started walking around a smaller park for variety on some days.</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ifUFLQF_6U/X8QSNhn92GI/AAAAAAAAs54/ZbbvRYVCN5IXNxj47vDO2jJT2g8NcOOvACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_2874etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ifUFLQF_6U/X8QSNhn92GI/AAAAAAAAs54/ZbbvRYVCN5IXNxj47vDO2jJT2g8NcOOvACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_2874etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>November 7 - Made <a href="http://wonderlandrecipes.com/2018/05/03/tom-bombadils-white-bread-basil-butter-honey-berries/" target="_blank">Tom Bombadil's White Bread</a></b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2RrZ-X74jI/X8QTpbck7PI/AAAAAAAAs6A/hgZTFjLmvVAqNFcNz4U6NN78xSd8s_vgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_2908etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2RrZ-X74jI/X8QTpbck7PI/AAAAAAAAs6A/hgZTFjLmvVAqNFcNz4U6NN78xSd8s_vgwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_2908etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>November 8 - Church on Zoom and Our New Heater/Fireplace</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZUqkFSgpvw/X8QVSrilBtI/AAAAAAAAs6I/oRKC2LdRVcUYiKNdPnYL05e4N0S5nCNqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_2935etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KZUqkFSgpvw/X8QVSrilBtI/AAAAAAAAs6I/oRKC2LdRVcUYiKNdPnYL05e4N0S5nCNqQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_2935etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>November 9 - Sunset Geese</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiN0u-U772A/X8QW9PwBMlI/AAAAAAAAs6Q/AqogxGVi8IYrQrdLdRHbssavKkq7VNnBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_2993etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JiN0u-U772A/X8QW9PwBMlI/AAAAAAAAs6Q/AqogxGVi8IYrQrdLdRHbssavKkq7VNnBQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_2993etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>November 10 - I love the steeple on the hill.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9t5KOKjj_Q/X8SfoJISaUI/AAAAAAAAs6Y/qfFVRHO91Bc-kdbud2zM68se5np6MwEBQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3027etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n9t5KOKjj_Q/X8SfoJISaUI/AAAAAAAAs6Y/qfFVRHO91Bc-kdbud2zM68se5np6MwEBQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_3027etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>November 11 - Everybody loves the new fire.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyGA5E1TyjQ/X8SgnnpNQUI/AAAAAAAAs6g/YZylbEo-3cQjNyb_vFE-HnilYMJ2KPwSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3058etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyGA5E1TyjQ/X8SgnnpNQUI/AAAAAAAAs6g/YZylbEo-3cQjNyb_vFE-HnilYMJ2KPwSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3058etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>November 12 - Still Some Fiery Leaves Remaining</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YByNCCRS2xM/X8ShbV7dtcI/AAAAAAAAs6o/lzEQZdTU27wXxL_VPvkwvSdS5RIzSsQnQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3087etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YByNCCRS2xM/X8ShbV7dtcI/AAAAAAAAs6o/lzEQZdTU27wXxL_VPvkwvSdS5RIzSsQnQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3087etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 13 - The benefit of the age of big houses is the age of having beautiful places to walk (in yet <i>another </i>local park).</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSiGHUeJ2Z0/X8SjdrjKB8I/AAAAAAAAs6w/v0deaDsZ3_Qzk4BLFD-AwdBE8RGv32P1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3112etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSiGHUeJ2Z0/X8SjdrjKB8I/AAAAAAAAs6w/v0deaDsZ3_Qzk4BLFD-AwdBE8RGv32P1QCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3112etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 14 - Still Some Golden Leaves Left, Too</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0XMFE9PNmk/X8SkRoZOzlI/AAAAAAAAs64/AwD9oJNJEdsrXzAZaGLsf4Sb4Bwk_pEhQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3162etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0XMFE9PNmk/X8SkRoZOzlI/AAAAAAAAs64/AwD9oJNJEdsrXzAZaGLsf4Sb4Bwk_pEhQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3162etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 15 - Out the Kids' Window</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hm-0mFTIAiw/X8SlSgBaSEI/AAAAAAAAs7A/9CR20QOLVdI7WnZoJmS68lfHYhtzw0JnACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3169etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hm-0mFTIAiw/X8SlSgBaSEI/AAAAAAAAs7A/9CR20QOLVdI7WnZoJmS68lfHYhtzw0JnACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3169etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 16 - Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal with Pumpkin Seeds</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L57f4VnPs8s/X8SmP0N3JiI/AAAAAAAAs7I/WOw6X0BnsPA-etSGB_c137CbmWE6aCSmwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3193etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L57f4VnPs8s/X8SmP0N3JiI/AAAAAAAAs7I/WOw6X0BnsPA-etSGB_c137CbmWE6aCSmwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_3193etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>November 17 - Baking Bread, Take 2</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_wl-v0ymJk/X8T75vMTOaI/AAAAAAAAs7Q/MRTX0O5Wex84zFwSeh7BDFwZ8b3U3djDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3213etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_wl-v0ymJk/X8T75vMTOaI/AAAAAAAAs7Q/MRTX0O5Wex84zFwSeh7BDFwZ8b3U3djDwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3213etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>November 18 - Walking to the Grocery Store</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLULACF29hs/X8T8uXNcU9I/AAAAAAAAs7Y/U5N_vUlXqDsPcpSYgXGkssz72sdL9ARFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3221etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLULACF29hs/X8T8uXNcU9I/AAAAAAAAs7Y/U5N_vUlXqDsPcpSYgXGkssz72sdL9ARFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3221etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 19 - Another Day Dawns</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iHnYCZgJ3Zk/X8T94vaJlZI/AAAAAAAAs7g/nln7itOBeVIlXdvkkT-TfjuNl2nc9ezhACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3236etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iHnYCZgJ3Zk/X8T94vaJlZI/AAAAAAAAs7g/nln7itOBeVIlXdvkkT-TfjuNl2nc9ezhACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3236etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 20 - I've started getting my walk in most days of the week in the four o'clock hour, just before sunset.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uzxWQBWwYvs/X8T_MYOHfPI/AAAAAAAAs7o/8je6wHAbjDg4asc0UZRG7-0XUDsVkjBwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3270etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uzxWQBWwYvs/X8T_MYOHfPI/AAAAAAAAs7o/8je6wHAbjDg4asc0UZRG7-0XUDsVkjBwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3270etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>November 21 - The Local Tabac, where in pre-lockdown days men sat outside at tables drinking coffee and reading their newspapers, dogs at their sides.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7bh0yN3dTg/X8UBSbgV-iI/AAAAAAAAs70/LLGgQO17elkWNMoiT6tSFfGCIAxJeZgvACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3285etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v7bh0yN3dTg/X8UBSbgV-iI/AAAAAAAAs70/LLGgQO17elkWNMoiT6tSFfGCIAxJeZgvACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_3285etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>November 22 - The Year of Home</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THKGanZufnU/X8UCFmLYjHI/AAAAAAAAs78/1mmxQznVCiECRuFd4NoKDcGaOzInEou3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3291etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THKGanZufnU/X8UCFmLYjHI/AAAAAAAAs78/1mmxQznVCiECRuFd4NoKDcGaOzInEou3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3291etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 23 - Sometimes I only have time for pacing back and forth around the garden.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-35o3EveUZZM/X8UDA7v9sCI/AAAAAAAAs8E/0-h1hvvmi5snAKIR0I4eozx-hW5QZhe-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3345etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-35o3EveUZZM/X8UDA7v9sCI/AAAAAAAAs8E/0-h1hvvmi5snAKIR0I4eozx-hW5QZhe-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3345etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>November 24 - "Good-humoured, unpretentious and a bit eccentric, it's more like a well-read friend than a literary review." Who wouldn't want that magazine?</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lIYB95Ii4U/X8UD_pwecdI/AAAAAAAAs8M/yC28vVa10p46ETaQFrJ-fHa2qqgJU3XgACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3364etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lIYB95Ii4U/X8UD_pwecdI/AAAAAAAAs8M/yC28vVa10p46ETaQFrJ-fHa2qqgJU3XgACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_3364etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>November 25 - Cornbread made my kitchen smell so good.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BC86NBZ_3-k/X8UEwRcp1FI/AAAAAAAAs8U/6a5dXyPMstYgT4QnM13c1erYZVSr_xI8gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3401etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BC86NBZ_3-k/X8UEwRcp1FI/AAAAAAAAs8U/6a5dXyPMstYgT4QnM13c1erYZVSr_xI8gCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3401etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 26 - A Cold Thanksgiving Morning</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oTwwD-zs83w/X8UFaFXFuHI/AAAAAAAAs8c/FRyspNQfks0atKxS0Pvfw2eRd4lIrFfmACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3442etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oTwwD-zs83w/X8UFaFXFuHI/AAAAAAAAs8c/FRyspNQfks0atKxS0Pvfw2eRd4lIrFfmACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_3442etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>November 27 - Cousin Jeopardy Competition over FaceTime</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c1s0Mxa4kko/X8UGRudaI8I/AAAAAAAAs8k/rNCWfRGFqIYPao5rdEsSIjzfw7QzjKAxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3524etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c1s0Mxa4kko/X8UGRudaI8I/AAAAAAAAs8k/rNCWfRGFqIYPao5rdEsSIjzfw7QzjKAxwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_3524etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>November 28 - And all of a sudden it's Christmas.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vRh1WK0zz4/X8UG-6X5xZI/AAAAAAAAs8s/ZEOQlY-ti4EPrYk07toT0uv5xWOEqYScQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3567etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vRh1WK0zz4/X8UG-6X5xZI/AAAAAAAAs8s/ZEOQlY-ti4EPrYk07toT0uv5xWOEqYScQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3567etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 29 - Baked Camembert with Honey and Rosemary on a Sunday Night</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQbXPbwvMUc/X8UHvvuSMxI/AAAAAAAAs80/8FxP08K_S7MJ0EPeu_ouQ33_SbQ7M_xDgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3589etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQbXPbwvMUc/X8UHvvuSMxI/AAAAAAAAs80/8FxP08K_S7MJ0EPeu_ouQ33_SbQ7M_xDgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3589etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>November 30 - It's reached the point where my fingertips feel cold on walks, even when I'm wearing gloves.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2yrZ-eP2pA/X8U4t_TvPNI/AAAAAAAAs88/IESTp5oCn94rJ8iPgEwA2abpzpfz89H0QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-11-30_16-34-21_164etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2yrZ-eP2pA/X8U4t_TvPNI/AAAAAAAAs88/IESTp5oCn94rJ8iPgEwA2abpzpfz89H0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-11-30_16-34-21_164etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-55213204997032500372020-11-28T10:04:00.000+01:002020-11-28T10:04:56.106+01:00Deck the Halls, Trim the Tree<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's here! It's here! The day has finally arrived! We are not officially out of lockdown yet, but restrictions have been lifted on stores that sell non-essential items, and if a store is allowed to be open, we are allowed to shop there. It's a Saturday morning, and I can already tell the road sounds a tad busier today than it has during the past four weeks of strict lockdown. I wonder if everyone will rush out to do some Christmas shopping just because they can. Hopefully people will keep their distance from one another and places won't be too crowded and France's COVID-19 cases won't skyrocket again. As for us, we are hoping to go out and find a Christmas tree today. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lea--jr5H3k/X8IO0sSRgvI/AAAAAAAAs40/JKPAl1VOJTAdg9XZMXvM2PHnfkAUkeH6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_8080etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lea--jr5H3k/X8IO0sSRgvI/AAAAAAAAs40/JKPAl1VOJTAdg9XZMXvM2PHnfkAUkeH6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_8080etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">We haven't bought a Christmas tree as a family since 2015. The past four years we were fortunate enough to be able to spend Christmas at home with family, and <a href="http://lynnpugh.blogspot.com/2015/12/decking-halls-or-at-least-living-room.html" target="_blank">the last time we picked out a tree</a>, it was in the company of K.J.'s parents who spent a few days with us on their way to South Africa for the birth of a grandchild. We all used to do so much traveling, right?</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTCO4lhWGz0/X8IRLKXtjYI/AAAAAAAAs48/hCnN0_VfzJU6iH7u4Paf4FtUrnM7NsyjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-11-27_20-37-50_991etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTCO4lhWGz0/X8IRLKXtjYI/AAAAAAAAs48/hCnN0_VfzJU6iH7u4Paf4FtUrnM7NsyjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-11-27_20-37-50_991etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">At any rate, I hung the stockings yesterday and told J to write something Christmasy on the letterboard. He surprised us all with something funnier than I would have come up with, and if you know, you know. </span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-3218860313041078822020-11-27T09:35:00.000+01:002020-11-27T09:35:11.473+01:00Five Quotes, vol. xxvii<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mj7Pp-5mBs/X8C2Qd5waHI/AAAAAAAAs4g/6w6hBNN2U5s-S_ivydGEHHedlDpTI1bYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1568etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mj7Pp-5mBs/X8C2Qd5waHI/AAAAAAAAs4g/6w6hBNN2U5s-S_ivydGEHHedlDpTI1bYgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_1568etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Shakespeare and Company, Paris, France</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>I definitely can't resist taking a picture every time I walk by it.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hate to wish days away, but I have been waiting for Thanksgiving before bringing in any Christmas to our home. This is usually not that hard for me, because I love Thanksgiving, but without gatherings and being in a strict lockdown for the past month, it's been harder to resist the siren call of twinkle lights and Christmas movies. But the time for resistance has passed, and the pumpkins will be going out today in a glad surrender to a new season. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>"Some might wonder that the two men should consider themselves to be old friends having only known each other for four years; but the tenure of friendships has never been governed by the passage of time. These two would have felt like old friends had they met just hours before. To some degree, this was because they were kindred spirits--finding ample evidence of common ground and cause for laughter in the midst of effortless conversation; but it was almost certainly a matter of upbringing."</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span style="font-family: courier;">"For when life makes it impossible for a man to pursue his dreams, he will connive to pursue them anyway."</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i>- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- Marcel Proust, quoted in A Writer's Paris by Eric Maisel</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">"There is one essential truth in the stories of Nicholas and Santa Claus: the goodness of the gift offered with no expectation of anything in return. The value of three bags tossed through a window in Patara long ago does not lie in the gold they contained. The act of giving and the effects of the act make those bags priceless. That same spirit lives in our time in a parent or other adult who with secret joy watches a wonder-struck child discover on Christmas morning that Santa has paid a nighttime visit."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">- The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas, William J. Bennett</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Santa Claus is, in a very real sense, the result of a Christ-inspired goodness that has rippled across seventeen centuries, from Nicholas's time to our own. Despite secularization and commercialization, Santa Claus is a manifestation of Nicholas's decision to give to others. The history of Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus is a kind of miracle in itself. It is a legacy that resonates with God's love."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>- The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas, William J. Bennett</i></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-86196427313322176212020-11-20T16:14:00.001+01:002020-11-20T16:14:17.097+01:00Five Quotes, vol. xxvi<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIy97ClQtxg/X7fa18ymWgI/AAAAAAAAs34/85rjCJf_ZoEkS1FgZmkLf9ImIUquSuMngCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_6670etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIy97ClQtxg/X7fa18ymWgI/AAAAAAAAs34/85rjCJf_ZoEkS1FgZmkLf9ImIUquSuMngCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_6670etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>The Cut-Price Bookstore</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Helmsley, North Yorkshire</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The above photo is one of the first times I decided I should take a picture of every book I bought outside the bookshop where I purchased it. I don't always remember to do this, but I wish I did! It's a special reminder of all the little shops I've happily browsed. I must confess that sometimes the reason I don't take a picture is because my purchases are too many for me to hold up by myself and take a picture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>"Christians, especially ministers, so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking."</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">"Dwell I but in the suburbs</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i>Of your good pleasure?"</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i>- Julius Caesar, Portia to Brutus, William Shakespeare</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes, </span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Began to water."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, William Shakespeare</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">"Cowards die many times before their deaths;</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">The valiant never taste of death but once."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">- Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Never lose an opportunity of seeing something beautiful. Beauty is God's handwriting."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Charles Kingsley</span></i></b></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-50010201398370838672020-11-18T15:36:00.002+01:002020-11-18T15:38:22.259+01:00Three Stories from La Place de la Concorde<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JcmReT5wfqA/X7D7nG830fI/AAAAAAAAsq8/wocTc15LV0ktkeWSKFt44aEWynAOQI6TwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0563etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JcmReT5wfqA/X7D7nG830fI/AAAAAAAAsq8/wocTc15LV0ktkeWSKFt44aEWynAOQI6TwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_0563etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The first story takes place at a time when the traffic driving around this square is much more plentiful, before <i>t</i></span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>élétravail--</i>working from home--becomes the new normal. My family and I wait for the little green man to light up, signaling it's <i>probably </i>safe to cross. You have to keep your eyes and ears open in Paris, no matter what the crossing light says. While we wait, our attention is caught by a white van stopped in the middle of the road. A workman gets out in distress because his van has hit a besuited man on a bike. The man in the suit stands up on the cobbled street, presumably angry at the offender who even at a distance we can tell is making profuse apologies. The suited man will have none of it. The owner of the white van holds out a conciliatory bottle of water, perhaps the only thing he has to offer as amends. The man in the suit refuses, straddles his now slightly wobbly bicycle and pedals off. Maybe this is the wrong reaction, but I find myself feeling really sorry for the man in the white van. But also, be careful riding your bike in Paris!</span></span><p></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H4xF1sOYFB0/X7D99R9QN0I/AAAAAAAAsrE/8qy7xL9LE4YJ_YjLW2rLFFhdV770jSabQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0576etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H4xF1sOYFB0/X7D99R9QN0I/AAAAAAAAsrE/8qy7xL9LE4YJ_YjLW2rLFFhdV770jSabQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0576etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The year is 1940. The French government has abandoned Paris, and the Nazis are coming. The United States is not yet involved in this latest European storm, and Paris is full of at least 30,000 Americans. Many of them flee, too. But the American ambassador remains. William Bullitt is made provisional mayor of Paris by France's Prime Minister and Interior Minister, entrusted with the safety of Paris as she awaits the arrival of the German army. When the Nazis arrive to claim and occupy the French capital, it is an American who meets them and oversees the transfer of power. Many Nazi officials take up residence in the </span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Hôtel de Crillon </i>pictured above. Just across a small street, peeking out behind the hotel sits the American Embassy, and when the German occupiers attempted to run a telephone cable across the street to be hooked up to the embassy's line, the Americans said a bold, "No." </span></span><p></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87)" style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwAXMgUqL20/X7D_uBz7h3I/AAAAAAAAsrQ/wqEGdcTY0P4iONsUnPMehwX9LYf0AR51gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0578etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwAXMgUqL20/X7D_uBz7h3I/AAAAAAAAsrQ/wqEGdcTY0P4iONsUnPMehwX9LYf0AR51gCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_0578etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Two days after I snapped my latest picture of the Luxor Obelisk (I can't help but take a picture of this shiny-topped beauty every time I pass.) it marked its 137th anniversary of presiding with pride of place over the <i>Place de la Concorde</i>. Someone once told me </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Napoléon brought this massive stone back from Egypt, but this turns out to be misinformation. This obelisk, erected by Rameses II in front of the temple in Luxor, was in fact, a gift to Louis-Philippe, the last French king, from the viceroy of Egypt in 1833. I'm happy to know it wasn't stolen, because covered in hieroglyphics,<span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588235294118)"> </span>it's a treasure indeed.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXLknLz3UEc/X7EEaY2dtTI/AAAAAAAAsrY/bp07lbvRkxM3i_B6GLD9Zbm42Hzu6mh_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0572etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXLknLz3UEc/X7EEaY2dtTI/AAAAAAAAsrY/bp07lbvRkxM3i_B6GLD9Zbm42Hzu6mh_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0572etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-19529147229464981822020-11-14T21:46:00.003+01:002020-11-14T21:46:37.198+01:00Five Quotes, vol. xxv<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y_Nh2MZh8I/X7A36hkjfzI/AAAAAAAAsqg/aefcPYtkx68YyxTfawH510IEYzSB_bBigCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_6042etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Y_Nh2MZh8I/X7A36hkjfzI/AAAAAAAAsqg/aefcPYtkx68YyxTfawH510IEYzSB_bBigCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_6042etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Sitting Room at James Herriot's House</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Thirsk, North Yorkshire</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm adding to my commonplace book this week two more quotes from my slow re-read of <i>A Gentleman in Moscow </i>and some quotes that came out of E's reading assignments. This Roman jurisprudence law made me laugh out loud, and reading Shakespeare made me marvel at how one man introduced so many phrases to the English-speaking world. It's enough to make me want to investigate those conspiracy theories about him not <i>really</i> being the author of all we attribute to him...but methinks there are too many conspiracy theories afloat these days.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>"After all, isn't that why the pages of books are numbered? To facilitate the finding of one's place after a reasonable interruption?"</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">"For there is nothing more essential to the enjoyment of a civilized lunch than to have a lively topic of conversation."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>"He whose witness has failed to appear may summon him by loud calls before his house every third day."</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>- from the Roman Twelve Tables of Law</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, </span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">But in ourselves..."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">- Cassius, Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"...it was Greek to me."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Casca in Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare</span></i></b></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-31979768988430542322020-11-11T20:08:00.001+01:002020-11-11T20:08:39.765+01:00Confinement 2.0, Day 13<p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>finished reading <i>The Fabulous Showman</i></b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>scrambled eggs</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>led a ladies' Bible study over Zoom - </b>If there's one thing the pandemic has taught us all it's how to use Zoom, and that's not totally a bad thing! Truthfully, getting together in Paris takes a lot of travel time, and I wish we'd been doing these weekly Bible studies before this summer. Discussing God's word with women every week has been such a delight for the past 3 months.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>took a family walk to the boulangerie - </b>I watched a video about the way we process time and how we need novel experiences to wake our brains up and make time slow down and feel rich and meaningful. Lockdowns seem to pass relatively quickly because we have the same routines day after day. So today we all walked to a boulangerie we've never visited before within our perimeter just before lunch and bought goodies that prompted me to put together a snack lunch, or when we're feeling fancy, we call it a charcuterie board.</span></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ceY3HAL-Lzo/X6w0aUVACUI/AAAAAAAAsqA/BZEKgjfcPyITsqIRjBS3CVmgu2d3bur8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-11-11_12-49-02_447etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ceY3HAL-Lzo/X6w0aUVACUI/AAAAAAAAsqA/BZEKgjfcPyITsqIRjBS3CVmgu2d3bur8QCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-11-11_12-49-02_447etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>read about the ancient city of Ephesus - </b>I had no idea it was the third largest city in the Roman Empire at one time!</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>graded history work and writing</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>filmed the kids doing science experiments</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>did a French grammar lesson with J</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>invited Noreen over for a visit and a cappuccino </b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>washed dishes, swept, tidied</b></span> </li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>read a news article that made me feel distressed about the state of humanity</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>read a Remembrance Day/Veteran's Day poem</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>cooked cabbage, leek, and bacon in good salted butter - </b>I bought the most beautiful cabbage at the supermarket Monday, and I needed to cook it. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>laughed at <i>The Andy Griffith Show </i>with the kids</b></span></li></ul><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-19954679043173853642020-11-10T20:37:00.001+01:002020-11-10T20:38:48.008+01:00Confinement 2.0, Day 12<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">During the last confinement I kept a short list of things I did each day that I shared in my Instagram stories. It was a manageable way to record snippets of life during what will surely be a historical time, something my grandchildren will interview me about for school the way we had to interview people who lived through WWII or the Great Depression. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOg0LNtYmPg/X6rdj-4vO4I/AAAAAAAAspU/0t4BfchMwms8UGmecdxhQOcNR5BMHaEfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-11-10_19-30-02_945_FB.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOg0LNtYmPg/X6rdj-4vO4I/AAAAAAAAspU/0t4BfchMwms8UGmecdxhQOcNR5BMHaEfgCLcBGAsYHQ/w225-h400/2020-11-10_19-30-02_945_FB.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KM7wcmpYGxE/X6rdj2IkMgI/AAAAAAAAspY/HSaLFD2wD6AP63sLT0umF6J2OxaNPK6RQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-11-10_19-30-32_190_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KM7wcmpYGxE/X6rdj2IkMgI/AAAAAAAAspY/HSaLFD2wD6AP63sLT0umF6J2OxaNPK6RQCLcBGAsYHQ/w225-h400/2020-11-10_19-30-32_190_FB.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I picked up this daily habit again when the second French national confinement was reinstated at the end of October, but while out for my allotted hour of fresh air this afternoon I thought I might try moving my lists to my blog where I could still keep a simple list, but I could elaborate when I wanted. So, here we go. For my posterity, who won't have any trouble finding out about this time in history unless the internet goes bust. Some days that doesn't seem like it would be a bad thing, right? Moving on...</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="font-family: georgia;">Read </b><i style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;">The Fabulous Showman - </i><span style="font-family: georgia;">I serendipitously found this 1950s biography of P.T. Barnum at the Tuscaloosa Friends of the Library store while having a quick browse with K.J. after a date night where we'd just come from seeing <i>The Greatest Showman </i>at the theater...or cinema as it's called here. (My brain often thinks about what things are called now in Alabama, North Yorkshire, and France, and it's fun to see which word surfaces first.) The movie is obviously a very glossy and shiny version of events, though I'm sure it accurately captures Barnum's <i>joie de vivre</i>. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>checked on the delivery time for a package - </b>We have to be on high alert when packages are coming because we live behind a stone wall, and sometimes people can't find us, and sometimes we don't hear the bell. Today's delivery was from an American online shop with a few items for the holidays including canned cranberry sauce (because I really like those lines in my cranberry sauce), pumpkin puree, and graham cracker crusts. </span></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thz7K8-qU4g/X6rmo9lH5GI/AAAAAAAAspk/nLT5mDTMjXMlR4Pa-DekodxuWEmv5OiuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-11-10_16-28-21_261etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thz7K8-qU4g/X6rmo9lH5GI/AAAAAAAAspk/nLT5mDTMjXMlR4Pa-DekodxuWEmv5OiuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-11-10_16-28-21_261etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Our cottage behind the wall is on the left, and Noreen's house is on the right. It's amazing how quickly October's glory is replaced by November's slow decay.</i></b></div></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>read about the Apostle Peter with J</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>tried to remember which was the divisor and which was the dividend - </b>My children's math books always insist on learning these terms, and I can <i>never </i>remember. Maybe this time...</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>read <i>The Bronze Bow </i>aloud to J</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>read about Caesar Augustus in E's history textbook - </b>E mostly reads things to herself now (unless she's tired or finding the language difficult, at which point I eagerly read aloud to her), so my role is merging into that of guide instead of teacher. I try to stay up to date on her reading so I can start riveting dinnertime conversations. 😀</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>did some lessons on Duolingo</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>did a Pimsleur French lesson - </b>I doubled down on the French today, which rarely happens. Just when I think I've learned some things I go into the world and draw a blank when someone rattles something off at me. My standard reply used to be: <i>Je suis desole. Je suis americaine. </i>(I'm sorry. I'm an American.) This is easy to say and is pretty self-explanatory: I don't speak French. I'm a little more advanced now and will either say: <i>Je ne comprends pas tres bien le francais. </i>or <i>Je ne parle pas tres bien le francais. </i>I don't understand French very well. I don't speak French very well. People have always been kind to me, except for that security guard at the grocery store once...</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>graded math</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Marco-Polo-ed a lot</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>read about how amazing our bodies are with J</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>went for a late afternoon walk</b></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cl-IwMy4REA/X6rnH--rQXI/AAAAAAAAsps/YUlC3PdanKcAsM2zOkyyccTPbslsER47gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-11-10_16-55-09_989etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cl-IwMy4REA/X6rnH--rQXI/AAAAAAAAsps/YUlC3PdanKcAsM2zOkyyccTPbslsER47gCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-11-10_16-55-09_989etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I take a picture of this cottage every autumn.</i></b></div></span></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>tried a new recipe for <a href="http://www.thespicekitrecipes.com/easy-indian-chicken-korma/" target="_blank">Chicken Korma</a></b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>read a little </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Julius Caesar - </i>E is reading her first Shakespeare play this week, and reading the opening pages was so thrilling. I can't say enough how much I loved our trip to Rome last October. It was so exciting to be in that place where so much human drama was played out, and reading <i>Julius Caesar </i>brought it all back. I also read <i>I, Claudius </i>while we were on that trip, and it made me feel very familiar with all those Romans.</span></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lu2mrO_p7J4/X6rpZkG5n_I/AAAAAAAAsp4/B6-oZOujf-8Ku3q1Tmhd8xJJFpN8YAy5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1937_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lu2mrO_p7J4/X6rpZkG5n_I/AAAAAAAAsp4/B6-oZOujf-8Ku3q1Tmhd8xJJFpN8YAy5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_1937_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Standing at the spot in the Roman Forum where</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Julius Caesar was cremated.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's an average day in lockdown for us: work, read, walk, repeat. What did you do today?</div></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-91842696169570635332020-11-07T15:08:00.001+01:002020-11-07T15:08:26.702+01:00Five Quotes, vol. xxiv<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fw2Leo5-Y1k/X6amqSaiJ8I/AAAAAAAAsos/Ji2ZrO4o0Bg-7hb6Gxn2ERZWOBmibfRMACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7857etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fw2Leo5-Y1k/X6amqSaiJ8I/AAAAAAAAsos/Ji2ZrO4o0Bg-7hb6Gxn2ERZWOBmibfRMACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7857etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Blenheim Palace Library, Oxfordshire, England</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Home of the Dukes of Marlborough and </i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Birthplace of Winston Churchill</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">"The unexamined life is not worth living."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">- Socrates, as described in Plato's Apology</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">"With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">- original Hippocratic Oath</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"So, against all odds, he fought to make entertainment and amusement respectable. That he succeeded is evident with every circus, concert, legitimate play, motion picture, and television program that we, his heirs, freely and guiltlessly attend."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- The Fabulous Showman, Irving Wallace</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">"Taking a sip, the count reviewed the menu in reverse order as was his habit, having learned from experience that giving consideration to appetizers before entr</span></i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>ées can only lead to regrets."</i></b></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b><i>- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"It is commonly said that the English know how to celebrate Advent best. But with all due respect, to witness the essence of winter cheer one must venture farther north than London. One must venture above the fiftieth parallel to where the course of the sun is its most elliptical and the force of the wind its most unforgiving. Dark, cold, and snowbound, Russia has the sort of climate in which the spirit of Christmas burns brightest."</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</span></i></b></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-89187493174406178902020-11-02T16:03:00.002+01:002020-11-02T16:03:57.070+01:00Ode to October <p><span style="font-family: georgia;">October began as expected, with J's birthday, and ended in an unexpected way, with the second national lockdown in France announced. In between there were a lot of beautiful leaves and time spent enjoying some beautiful places near us with people in the safest ways we could. I am so grateful we seized so many of the October days. Some were sunshiny and glorious; some were drizzly and grey, but now we have sweet memories of connection to carry us into November. </span> <span style="font-family: georgia;">And the month we spend in intentional gratitude couldn't come at a better time this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>October 1 - Eleven Years</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrCYsaCdipM/X58DHljspII/AAAAAAAAskk/UjjMsctETv8P8CyGDzslEodUnipMrxkLACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1247etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrCYsaCdipM/X58DHljspII/AAAAAAAAskk/UjjMsctETv8P8CyGDzslEodUnipMrxkLACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1247etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>October 2- The Beginnings of Change</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBgpI544pX8/X58EDPSOMYI/AAAAAAAAsks/Y8oK9m0gVmo7GJ5cynL055qpISt9pdw6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1258etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBgpI544pX8/X58EDPSOMYI/AAAAAAAAsks/Y8oK9m0gVmo7GJ5cynL055qpISt9pdw6wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1258etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>October 3 - Around Town</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-LoLYCSbcs/X58LVkOL4UI/AAAAAAAAsk8/Epy7wXI4iDw_bQfzBSkiYgFu_Ry6aGuJQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1326etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-LoLYCSbcs/X58LVkOL4UI/AAAAAAAAsk8/Epy7wXI4iDw_bQfzBSkiYgFu_Ry6aGuJQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_1326etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>October 4 - Friends who Read Together</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcLaas2eydg/X58M41JFP8I/AAAAAAAAslE/ISQRX8yga-cKmF3A0BLQUsVy4B4UPaP4ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1373etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zcLaas2eydg/X58M41JFP8I/AAAAAAAAslE/ISQRX8yga-cKmF3A0BLQUsVy4B4UPaP4ACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1373etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>October 6 - Apples Hanging over a Garden Wall</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9kWz1xAwVk/X58N8HSb_NI/AAAAAAAAslM/gq9u0NcpzTIsBfEqcYq2dLNA7EFrSFf3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1430etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9kWz1xAwVk/X58N8HSb_NI/AAAAAAAAslM/gq9u0NcpzTIsBfEqcYq2dLNA7EFrSFf3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1430etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>October 7 - I want to know everything about this house at the top of the hill.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfgSoMEQkmI/X58O0qXKE7I/AAAAAAAAslU/cXW9yvN9F7w3QWjNecnW6z_xCEJFRSPEACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0131etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WfgSoMEQkmI/X58O0qXKE7I/AAAAAAAAslU/cXW9yvN9F7w3QWjNecnW6z_xCEJFRSPEACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0131etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 8 - An Early Evening Walk (I got captivated by the streetlights coming on in our little town.)</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_iYzmudyJg/X58QWd0WEGI/AAAAAAAAslc/HEXx-8m3oLcM9sKrh52CUNZMpXj2t1c_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1509etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_iYzmudyJg/X58QWd0WEGI/AAAAAAAAslc/HEXx-8m3oLcM9sKrh52CUNZMpXj2t1c_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_1509etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 9 - A Very Parisian Scene</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l3wuqy-98cU/X58UuFQyQkI/AAAAAAAAslk/B8PVwDp_tK8OMeNK2eWFA-AHM29jN3OpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1550etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l3wuqy-98cU/X58UuFQyQkI/AAAAAAAAslk/B8PVwDp_tK8OMeNK2eWFA-AHM29jN3OpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1550etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>October 10 - Picked Zucchini at a Local Farm</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m6bSU5zUVZw/X58VeNtAoFI/AAAAAAAAsls/300sXBosBT4znyjep2lKaLW8coGsOd6wACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0196etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m6bSU5zUVZw/X58VeNtAoFI/AAAAAAAAsls/300sXBosBT4znyjep2lKaLW8coGsOd6wACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0196etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 11 - When My Spring and Autumn Windowsill Collide</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nEuyQBdgp_8/X58WX9RyQhI/AAAAAAAAsl0/rLrOjGpleCozCCIUJvv6xpwBWqrEuCMEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1643etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nEuyQBdgp_8/X58WX9RyQhI/AAAAAAAAsl0/rLrOjGpleCozCCIUJvv6xpwBWqrEuCMEgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_1643etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 12 - I wonder which way the wind blows...</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n7V3dMJS5U/X58XQY4vDKI/AAAAAAAAsl8/AKlfPqM2vno7jyqgL870LAeelm9yg6PpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1663etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6n7V3dMJS5U/X58XQY4vDKI/AAAAAAAAsl8/AKlfPqM2vno7jyqgL870LAeelm9yg6PpwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1663etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><b>October 13 - Walks with the Most Patient Listener</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JHu-BAl6JA/X58YSQjYY8I/AAAAAAAAsmE/55nnTXvbrIsvmsQ-Ik4niVRALUCS3I3iACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0308etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JHu-BAl6JA/X58YSQjYY8I/AAAAAAAAsmE/55nnTXvbrIsvmsQ-Ik4niVRALUCS3I3iACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_0308etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p><b>October 14 - Bow your heads and pray...and snap a picture of your Zoom Bible study group.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWvcld-SlAE/X58Y6PS45kI/AAAAAAAAsmM/qIQH3e06hCk4WFKcUNFmx4g5VgDTsPlMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1693_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWvcld-SlAE/X58Y6PS45kI/AAAAAAAAsmM/qIQH3e06hCk4WFKcUNFmx4g5VgDTsPlMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_1693_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 15 - Sometimes the fishing line won't cooperate, and your Nitrogen 14 atom goes all wonky.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KO9jECiY1AQ/X58ZpvJqYPI/AAAAAAAAsmU/BDOJN_Qfa7UWauujP15N2UUMdLifevq3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1720etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KO9jECiY1AQ/X58ZpvJqYPI/AAAAAAAAsmU/BDOJN_Qfa7UWauujP15N2UUMdLifevq3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1720etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>October 16 - Autumn Perfection</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtDa88vxqKw/X58avZSg6MI/AAAAAAAAsmc/kHesteU46lYuhjZnge1F2jv4O7z8G0vbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0323etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtDa88vxqKw/X58avZSg6MI/AAAAAAAAsmc/kHesteU46lYuhjZnge1F2jv4O7z8G0vbgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0323etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b>October 17 - Maybe our House's Peak Autumn Beauty?</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFtmOlJ9n9Q/X58cN8jxrXI/AAAAAAAAsmk/aoscso626xYAO66u-XbRv520pOoq9pSyACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1809etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFtmOlJ9n9Q/X58cN8jxrXI/AAAAAAAAsmk/aoscso626xYAO66u-XbRv520pOoq9pSyACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1809etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>October 18 - Has this restaurant seen an uptick or a downturn in business this year, I wonder.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDVdmN4vNZ0/X58i9br2xwI/AAAAAAAAsms/xblMT4jEay4sYheYhnzxmTfz9IxJsbKOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1836etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDVdmN4vNZ0/X58i9br2xwI/AAAAAAAAsms/xblMT4jEay4sYheYhnzxmTfz9IxJsbKOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1836etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>October 19 - A Bright Spot on a Walk</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AZ2Z3F8bY2E/X58j73Jt5oI/AAAAAAAAsm0/z1wOfAsUMEM8zZ3QEIyjhZtBj0yEolCLwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1872etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AZ2Z3F8bY2E/X58j73Jt5oI/AAAAAAAAsm0/z1wOfAsUMEM8zZ3QEIyjhZtBj0yEolCLwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1872etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><b>October 20 - Listening to Him Tell Stories</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-Z5mGf-N7o/X58kuD5suDI/AAAAAAAAsm8/jySpLWRqxC03xNgnzjEQ6ka_f6WK19G9wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_1893etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4-Z5mGf-N7o/X58kuD5suDI/AAAAAAAAsm8/jySpLWRqxC03xNgnzjEQ6ka_f6WK19G9wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_1893etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>October 21 - Are you tired of leaves yet? I love this one.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WN6s_8Lw-W0/X58l-xWMn7I/AAAAAAAAsnE/KAkhZEw7o9gsQQuxPBuF5WKCYtAENFp9gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0513etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WN6s_8Lw-W0/X58l-xWMn7I/AAAAAAAAsnE/KAkhZEw7o9gsQQuxPBuF5WKCYtAENFp9gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0513etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 22 - I walked in the park a lot this month.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmO4ufew71k/X58rq3SL8gI/AAAAAAAAsnY/GM4gpQS_4KESeUoHTaLxZM2QroeNpfnjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Marly%2BParc_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmO4ufew71k/X58rq3SL8gI/AAAAAAAAsnY/GM4gpQS_4KESeUoHTaLxZM2QroeNpfnjQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Marly%2BParc_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>October 23 - Paris in the Fall</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1_Yh_jvrH8/X58p62UvFlI/AAAAAAAAsnM/2BftDTdZ9WUFC-sHQsnNcQ1NHBi5Ig99ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0608etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1_Yh_jvrH8/X58p62UvFlI/AAAAAAAAsnM/2BftDTdZ9WUFC-sHQsnNcQ1NHBi5Ig99ACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_0608etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><b>October 24 - Outdoor Book Club Location</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFbxxRocX1U/X58srTS4YhI/AAAAAAAAsnk/4K8USy_72nUGyUCOMFe-74HkmP99kARKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/Eiffel%2BTower_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFbxxRocX1U/X58srTS4YhI/AAAAAAAAsnk/4K8USy_72nUGyUCOMFe-74HkmP99kARKQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/Eiffel%2BTower_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 25 - It doesn't photograph well, but this sausage and lentil casserole was the perfect autumn meal.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrpVoMIP4P4/X58ts0DnqiI/AAAAAAAAsns/jmJvt1QldhYWhvU7V6TwHGLEwHMLTByvACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/sausage%2Bcasserole_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JrpVoMIP4P4/X58ts0DnqiI/AAAAAAAAsns/jmJvt1QldhYWhvU7V6TwHGLEwHMLTByvACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/sausage%2Bcasserole_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 26 - There was a nice moon for Halloween week.</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhuvC2qk-ec/X58wAAMYSZI/AAAAAAAAsn0/d0tnXwUe2LoOy99RPTQ_LUt9wuAP0u4OACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0717etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nhuvC2qk-ec/X58wAAMYSZI/AAAAAAAAsn0/d0tnXwUe2LoOy99RPTQ_LUt9wuAP0u4OACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_0717etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 27 - I love E's drawings.</b></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82jZEfydFgc/X6Aat9EvcBI/AAAAAAAAsn8/dfoytLDtuNAnwd2-aw435JDgfDufJrlBACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-10-27_14-13-37_236_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82jZEfydFgc/X6Aat9EvcBI/AAAAAAAAsn8/dfoytLDtuNAnwd2-aw435JDgfDufJrlBACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-10-27_14-13-37_236_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>October 28 - Taking selfies in Portrait Mode after President Macron's speech and trying to take it all in</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqllzaitJrY/X6AbPKCRxII/AAAAAAAAsoE/3StIV3MWChkFNNRTeBch2Ns-pa6C8RDpACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-10-28_17-08-26_616_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NqllzaitJrY/X6AbPKCRxII/AAAAAAAAsoE/3StIV3MWChkFNNRTeBch2Ns-pa6C8RDpACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-10-28_17-08-26_616_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>October 29 - Aubergine Tart and Paris Cafe Lights</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W61n-MCu5rU/X6AbzVetU4I/AAAAAAAAsoM/XnGtkAdYEv0v4nkuDQdTSLWFHnhqVmebACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-10-29_14-44-32_371etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W61n-MCu5rU/X6AbzVetU4I/AAAAAAAAsoM/XnGtkAdYEv0v4nkuDQdTSLWFHnhqVmebACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-10-29_14-44-32_371etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>October 30 - Bedtime Reading</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pjcA7Zy3Wlc/X6AcTiEMa5I/AAAAAAAAsoU/mzZqewYpVHU4JOoj9MyWc3bOn4Eu5TpxQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-10-30_20-06-50_554etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pjcA7Zy3Wlc/X6AcTiEMa5I/AAAAAAAAsoU/mzZqewYpVHU4JOoj9MyWc3bOn4Eu5TpxQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-10-30_20-06-50_554etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>October 31 - 1 Hour of Outdoors Time</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EKgp7I-U1Wo/X6Ac1AulykI/AAAAAAAAsoc/3r4-EnXTAYIF5FnRzhYZYjO2Sw67_0SQgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-10-31_11-44-13_283etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EKgp7I-U1Wo/X6Ac1AulykI/AAAAAAAAsoc/3r4-EnXTAYIF5FnRzhYZYjO2Sw67_0SQgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-10-31_11-44-13_283etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p></p><b><br /></b></span><p></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-56204098623459473822020-10-30T12:34:00.002+01:002020-10-30T12:34:57.904+01:00Five Quotes, vol. xxiii (and a France update)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qQvF7ki3o2M/X5vzRrXLXVI/AAAAAAAAsj0/ab7_GTTorTEA_wB7xOOccsV4r_f6Xe7nwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_3823etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qQvF7ki3o2M/X5vzRrXLXVI/AAAAAAAAsj0/ab7_GTTorTEA_wB7xOOccsV4r_f6Xe7nwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_3823etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's been quite the week in France with terrorism and rising coronavirus cases causing the filling up of ICU beds. And this Friday finds us once more under the second nation-wide lockdown of the year until at least December 1, but many expect it to be extended. President Macron wants to get the number of new daily cases down to 5,000. This past week they've hovered between 40,000-50,000, so the December 1 date seems unlikely; however, the government also really wants to keep the economy moving, so we shall see.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lockdown in France means not leaving your house except for doctor visits, essential groceries, and an hour of daily exercise within one kilometer of your house, and when you do leave you have to have a form filled out with one of those stated reasons selected or risk a 135 euro fine. People will be working from home if at all possible, with the main difference from the spring being that children will still be going to school. Houses of worship will be open for people stopping by to pray or sit quietly, but no services will be allowed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It all feels very sudden. President Macron addressed the nation Wednesday night. I don't think my mind has quite had time to wrap around it all yet and what it means for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course we already knew these holidays would look different, but now we have the official verification that for the first time in many years we won't be hosting a crowd for Thanksgiving. We do still have Noreen, though, so that is good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">But on to this week's reading! They are overwhelmingly about walking in Paris, which feels appropriate as I did a lot of that yesterday during the last day of freedom, taking pictures of the sites I never get tired of seeing, watching people crowd into cafes for one last meeting with friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>"You feel at home in Paris because the things that you care about--strolling, thinking, loving, creating--are built into the fabric of the city."</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>- A Writer's Paris, Eric Maisel</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"The </i>fl</span><span style="font-family: courier;">âneur <b><i>is an observer who wanders the streets of a great city on a mission to notice with childlike enjoyment the smallest events and the obscurest sights he encounters."</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i>- A Writer's Paris, Eric Maisel</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"You can stroll in New York but the Tao of New York demands double time. You can stroll in Los Angeles but the Zen of Los Angeles requires four wheels. You can stroll in your small town, but you will run out of sights and strolling room in three minutes flat. Most places are not designed or equipped to support two or three hours of ambling. It is in Paris that the delicious dreamy strolling of the </i>fl</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">âneur <b><i>can be perfected."</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>- A Writer's Paris, Eric Maisel</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">"...a chilly Octoberish smell of cured leaves rose from the ground, the indescribable smell of fall and football weather and the new term that is the same almost everywhere in America."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">- Crossing to Safety, Wallace Stegner</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"There is nothing like a doorbell to precipitate the potential into the kinetic. When you stand outside a door and push the button, something has to happen. Someone must respond; whatever is inside must be revealed. Questions will be answered, uncertainties or mysteries dispelled. A situation will be started on its way through unknown complications to an unpredictable conclusion. The answer to your summons may be a rush of tearful welcome, a suspicious eye at the crack of the door, a shot through the hardwood, anything."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Crossing to Safety, Wallace Stegner</span></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-50708966894784764982020-10-23T10:32:00.001+02:002020-10-23T10:32:17.038+02:00Five Quotes, vol. xxii<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-feDSr77GbJk/X5KRS-tJ6RI/AAAAAAAAsjQ/1eM6-nsZtoUR8FhjYZaoQmysWgMi1FyUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_2588etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-feDSr77GbJk/X5KRS-tJ6RI/AAAAAAAAsjQ/1eM6-nsZtoUR8FhjYZaoQmysWgMi1FyUwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_2588etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>The Little Apple Bookshop, York, England</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Three out of five quotations this week are from Amor Towles' masterpiece, <i>A Gentleman in Moscow</i>. This was my favorite book of 2019, and I recently picked it up to re-read it. But after hearing me sing its praises my husband picked it up and understood its genius and delight, and that made me so happy...except then I had to find another book to read. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">"Why do bookstores always make you do uncomfortable things with your neck?"</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">- Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, Robin Sloane</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">"He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">- The Art of War, Sun Tzu</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"By broadening your horizons," he ventured, "what I meant is that education will give you a sense of the world's scope, of its wonders, of its many and varied ways of life."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Wouldn't travel achieve that more effectively?"</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Travel?"</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"We are talking about horizons, aren't we? That horizontal line at the limit of sight? Rather than sitting in orderly rows in a schoolhouse, wouldn't one be better served by working her way toward an </i>actual <i>horizon, so that she could see what lay beyond it?"</i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><br /></i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">"For after all, if attentiveness should be measured in minutes and discipline measured in hours, then indomitability must be measured in years. Or, if philosophical investigations are not to your taste, then let us simply agree that the wise man celebrates what he can."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;">- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>"After all, what can a first impression tell us about someone we've just met for a minute in the lobby of a hotel? For that matter, what can a first impression tell us about anyone? Why, no more than a chord can tell us about Beethoven, or a brushstroke about Botticelli. By their very nature, human beings are so capricious, so complex, so delightfully contradictory, that they deserve not only our consideration, but our </i>reconsideration<i>--and our unwavering determination to withhold our opinion until we have engaged with them in every possible setting at every possible hour."</i></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>- A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles</i></span></b></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-76600612053094967082020-10-20T17:16:00.001+02:002020-10-20T17:19:20.416+02:00Walking on Water<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">For the past two Sundays K.J. and I have gathered with Noreen in her upstairs TV room to join a Zoom call, live at <a href="http://www.eicparis.org/" target="_blank">EIC Rueil</a>, which has just resumed meeting with limited seating. We sing and listen to the sermon and get to take part in a breakout group with other people watching online to discuss the message. The first Sunday we did this Parker preached about trusting God
in these uncertain times from Matthew 6.
In talking about faith at one point he made a reference to Peter getting
out of the boat and walking on the water toward Jesus, who was Himself walking
on the water toward the boat carrying his disciples. This
reference immediately reminded me of a song I used to love that was on one of
those WOW compilation CDs from the Christian music world of my teenage
years. I immediately opened the Spotify
app on my phone and searched “Strolling on the Water.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">A song by Bryan Duncan came up, but since I didn’t want to
disturb Noreen and K.J. as we listened to the sermon I couldn’t press play yet
to confirm that was the song I was thinking of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I forgot all about it until two days later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_pdYDZAILmg/X474WFdtE9I/AAAAAAAAsio/jvNDPb2Ge7YrKhOFY6LU7rLkd96KsPWngCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/2020-10-18_12-08-04_669.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_pdYDZAILmg/X474WFdtE9I/AAAAAAAAsio/jvNDPb2Ge7YrKhOFY6LU7rLkd96KsPWngCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-10-18_12-08-04_669.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p class="MsoNormal">My song title search was still pulled up when I opened the app. I pressed play, and I was immediately 19-years-old again, cruising down I-65
South, thrilled by the images the words of this song evoked in
my soul. Music has that effect on you.</p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/1GYfY7ZVkyMUv2K1SA5SxC?si=Aj-SI-OzSNKjfWsBdSEFEw" target="_blank">Open up my eyes, I pray<br />
Lord, for just a little glimpse of you<br />
That's all I need, it's all I've ever needed<br />
To see beyond myself, beyond this tiny, little world<br />
All your hands have made<br />
With beauty and strength alone<br />
I can see you comin' to me now<br />
Oh, like a shimmerin' light<br />
Shimmerin' light on an open sea<br />
Barefoot on the water<br />
Laughin' at the ocean<br />
Like you were old friends<br />
Callin' out my name<br />
Saying join me now</a></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">For some reason the combination of these words and the music paint such a clear mental picture of Jesus, Creator God clothed in flesh,
walking on that stormy sea of Galilee with joy, confidence, and strength,
because He <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">made </b>this water, created
out of His own abundance this entire spinning globe, and He stepped out of
eternity, took on our frail skin and bones, and this was <b>it</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was His time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lived and grew in obscurity, and now He was putting into motion His plan to save the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And it all started with revealing the power obscured by his humanity to this motley group of men, rowing against the wind on the Sea of
Galilee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I imagine He loved the moments He could reveal who He really
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had great suffering to walk
through at the end of His earthly journey, but in this moment, He walked in power atop
water, defying the rules of buoyancy He’d created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love this picture of Jesus, and I love what
He’s calling Peter to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He honors the
desire that wells up in Peter to join Him, and says, “Come on!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HljBoWJh3K0/X477UBXgTgI/AAAAAAAAsiw/HhhZxMYtzLETAE0zkk6FDy0jIwTHRImNwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1264/OXUY3238.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1264" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HljBoWJh3K0/X477UBXgTgI/AAAAAAAAsiw/HhhZxMYtzLETAE0zkk6FDy0jIwTHRImNwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/OXUY3238.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p class="MsoNormal">Some may find it hard to believe in a happy God, but my
mental picture of Jesus in this moment exudes happiness and joy. He was happy despite the unimaginable suffering that awaited Him at the end of His life, because He <b>owned</b> all this. This was all His Father’s plan. History has been written, but He’s invited us
to follow His example in stepping into it, in taking our part in the story.</p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Wouldn’t you be happy if you knew the end from the beginning, had
planned it all out in intricate detail, from every sparrow to every king, to
every good ruler and corrupt government, to planning where each person would
live and when? I would be happy if I was in charge, if I were big enough and good enough to manage this world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But since I'm decidedly not either one of those things, it makes me happy to belong to the one who knows the whole story, planned it all out in
intricate detail, knows every small, ordinary person, and put in place every
leader we like and don’t like to accomplish His plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows where you are, all the places you’re
afraid, and He invites you to trust Him, to believe what He says in His word
about who He is and what He’s done. He walks on the water and says, "<b style="font-style: italic;">Have courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.</b>"</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-37328086331683884292020-10-16T21:17:00.001+02:002020-10-16T21:17:55.338+02:00Five Quotes, vol. xxi<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgTOXQBdEpE/X4nshW-7vmI/AAAAAAAAsiA/JN3W-JeaNiELoCk2wp6eU26gxRi96dswACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0996etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgTOXQBdEpE/X4nshW-7vmI/AAAAAAAAsiA/JN3W-JeaNiELoCk2wp6eU26gxRi96dswACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0996etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>No place like your own bookshelves...</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy weekend! 😊</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">"Paris makes you feel different. The ordinary you, the you that has to go to work every morning, the you that has to run a household, pay bills, do all of those things--that you is somehow changed into an exciting, artistic, FULLY ALIVE you. That's what Paris does."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">- Trains and Lovers, Alexander McCall Smith</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">"Of all the glorious enchantments of this world--spring, snow, laughter, red roses, dogs, books--love is by far the best."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">- Harry's Trees, Jon Cohen</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Monty gasped. No Israelite caught in a sudden manna-shower in mid-desert could have felt a greater mixture of surprise and gratification."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- Heavy Weather, P.G. Wodehouse</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">"For a moment she'd feared that Herminia Treaumont was one of those uncouth souls who didn't appreciate that a well-used copy of Little Women was essential to an education."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The Awakening of Miss Prim, Natalia Sanmartin Fenollera</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Whatever the benefits of the internet for information gathering it will rarely provide the serendipity of a library shelf."</span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">- Reading Allowed, Chris Paling</span></i></b></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-57116956860289681112020-10-13T15:27:00.001+02:002020-10-13T15:27:11.630+02:00October Travel: Hardwick Hall<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">October can be a stunning time of year to go exploring. If you manage the right day, you get brilliant autumn sunshine reflecting off the changing leaves. Everything feels golden. My online photo storage reminded me last week of one October weekend that was decidedly <b>not</b> golden. It included nonstop rain dripping down your back and leaving your jeans a trifle on the sopping side. We remember you fondly, Northumberland. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">But that was not so on this little stop we took on a Fall Break road trip <b>five </b>years ago now. We were driving south from North Yorkshire to Gloucestershire, and K.J. is the king of finding good places to stretch your legs. No stop is ever wasted, especially when you're a member of The National Trust. A year's membership gains you entrance to any property all year long, guaranteeing you beauty, history, and inspiration, as well as a clean restroom on road trips. Win, win, win.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KC63Fhm0WEI/X4MW4b6SlMI/AAAAAAAAsfw/DEFDKWriqIQV2pGffDuaP6HHfwyY2PocgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/Hardwick%2BHall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KC63Fhm0WEI/X4MW4b6SlMI/AAAAAAAAsfw/DEFDKWriqIQV2pGffDuaP6HHfwyY2PocgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/Hardwick%2BHall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">We didn't take time to walk around inside the house but walked around the gardens where we saw something we've never forgotten, one of the most ingenious ideas we've ever seen:</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdfXenZFMrM/X4MZ12EHjpI/AAAAAAAAsf8/e121ELHpX-cdWeHU0M-B5sO46fJnnyvCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7262etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdfXenZFMrM/X4MZ12EHjpI/AAAAAAAAsf8/e121ELHpX-cdWeHU0M-B5sO46fJnnyvCgCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_7262etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_12AlOoYbVY/X4MaDxITZkI/AAAAAAAAsgA/iM80ODX7FxI7NQEz5JtLYMI-mdkp1OglACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7266etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_12AlOoYbVY/X4MaDxITZkI/AAAAAAAAsgA/iM80ODX7FxI7NQEz5JtLYMI-mdkp1OglACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7266etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The park was full of gorgeous, mature trees changing color and dropping leaves. Both large and small rakes placed all around next to big leaf bags insured every kid spent several minutes doing some work. Pure genius, I tell you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hcRHV_Wbpj0/X4MbACT091I/AAAAAAAAsgQ/yyWnQXr2up0gafcKaS7OCcXBBDsQCXRGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_4944etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hcRHV_Wbpj0/X4MbACT091I/AAAAAAAAsgQ/yyWnQXr2up0gafcKaS7OCcXBBDsQCXRGQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_4944etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qkp0vzEdLxM/X4MbAPcDnXI/AAAAAAAAsgU/JymDYcnu25UcuOXI6SOAG_r1CXNYr-VuwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_4945etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qkp0vzEdLxM/X4MbAPcDnXI/AAAAAAAAsgU/JymDYcnu25UcuOXI6SOAG_r1CXNYr-VuwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_4945etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Hardwick Hall is in Derbyshire and was built between 1590-1597. In addition to its splendid trees there are many delightful nooks and crannies to discover in the garden. If I were Mr. Collins I could perhaps tell you how much the window casings cost. I have no idea; however, I <i>can </i>tell you the windows are abundant and beautiful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4V6_LdwGuE/X4McCeFwisI/AAAAAAAAsgk/DoOTAEfTKgI8qq29ef4FtAxmIJmg5Ha_gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7284etd2_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r4V6_LdwGuE/X4McCeFwisI/AAAAAAAAsgk/DoOTAEfTKgI8qq29ef4FtAxmIJmg5Ha_gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7284etd2_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IJifJnMNxxE/X4McCVLhQGI/AAAAAAAAsgo/_yL0LyNjxU4N7CQAos8tQe54Zt1L1jwAACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7285etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IJifJnMNxxE/X4McCVLhQGI/AAAAAAAAsgo/_yL0LyNjxU4N7CQAos8tQe54Zt1L1jwAACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7285etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bsX2iBFZGOA/X4McCW4ZgLI/AAAAAAAAsgg/6Qg7frTl_poILL2oPzjPfmX8bdWN7FnfACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7286etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bsX2iBFZGOA/X4McCW4ZgLI/AAAAAAAAsgg/6Qg7frTl_poILL2oPzjPfmX8bdWN7FnfACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_7286etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cY65flS16M/X4McC6hfCsI/AAAAAAAAsgs/4qKk2gyrmEQXUcj0qhz9xSEGoumsFJDyACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7288etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cY65flS16M/X4McC6hfCsI/AAAAAAAAsgs/4qKk2gyrmEQXUcj0qhz9xSEGoumsFJDyACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7288etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pAlG1USD1vI/X4McDUdSRTI/AAAAAAAAsgw/es0wZlDWG8QJCyV9rmopZoFd137AUNMDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7290etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pAlG1USD1vI/X4McDUdSRTI/AAAAAAAAsgw/es0wZlDWG8QJCyV9rmopZoFd137AUNMDQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_7290etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H9XLtzIBiSw/X4McD9yLm_I/AAAAAAAAsg0/m8LnW_HwR4Q9Qxo6VTdm0Kym6ba-mIPOwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7298etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H9XLtzIBiSw/X4McD9yLm_I/AAAAAAAAsg0/m8LnW_HwR4Q9Qxo6VTdm0Kym6ba-mIPOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7298etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I don't think I knew this when we visited, but the hall is used as the location of Malfoy Manor in the <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows </i>film. It was made to look a little more sinister by adding spiky tops to the towers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4UXVcKbzbZ8/X4Me3IW7w8I/AAAAAAAAshI/JMSk3xFQdqEfwyfYP2FkQYyyGRQztJ6KgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7291etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4UXVcKbzbZ8/X4Me3IW7w8I/AAAAAAAAshI/JMSk3xFQdqEfwyfYP2FkQYyyGRQztJ6KgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_7291etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjnfPOWceKo/X4Me3XAgsTI/AAAAAAAAshM/vNdJX4UjYh4Dk0sHFEE32bpKMbBGbiJ6QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7297etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjnfPOWceKo/X4Me3XAgsTI/AAAAAAAAshM/vNdJX4UjYh4Dk0sHFEE32bpKMbBGbiJ6QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/IMG_7297etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The old hall is next door, its windows just as impressive, though they are now missing glass...and the rooms are open to the sky. There are magnificent views of surrounding countryside to take in before you leave.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3tZdQhwfpo/X4MfeFDgINI/AAAAAAAAshk/SMYFUrSHklwHz0d3euW0AtYjWs4aYO_4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7323etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3tZdQhwfpo/X4MfeFDgINI/AAAAAAAAshk/SMYFUrSHklwHz0d3euW0AtYjWs4aYO_4QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7323etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4QIJe5c650/X4MfePrrfEI/AAAAAAAAshg/SFRHWzaUZWINRRTCm9GIDqefyShw1njPgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7327etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4QIJe5c650/X4MfePrrfEI/AAAAAAAAshg/SFRHWzaUZWINRRTCm9GIDqefyShw1njPgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7327etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwfytnBfuwM/X4MfeOo2A5I/AAAAAAAAshc/ripKJGHYelIUvpAXGEZsXaeb6A65tdEqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_7328etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwfytnBfuwM/X4MfeOo2A5I/AAAAAAAAshc/ripKJGHYelIUvpAXGEZsXaeb6A65tdEqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_7328etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I hope you enjoyed a little armchair October traveling. It made me happy to re-visit Derbyshire through pictures once more.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-86106724857448843572020-10-09T22:25:00.000+02:002020-10-09T22:25:26.955+02:00Five Quotes, vol. xx<p> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JvxcGIMHvRA/X4DBkwYHuiI/AAAAAAAAsfk/mrAdietYkjU7669xQtduG2J4jOKlb0c9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0353etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JvxcGIMHvRA/X4DBkwYHuiI/AAAAAAAAsfk/mrAdietYkjU7669xQtduG2J4jOKlb0c9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0353etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Vintage Christie's in Hay-on-Wye, Wales</i></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've been missing sharing each week's compiled quotes lately. The past two Fridays have been busy and full. Today was pretty full, too, but my husband is still working downstairs (recording this week's sermon), so I figured I could write a blog post at 10 p.m.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">This week I begin with a sentence that made me laugh, and I end with the thesis statement of a book I started today, which may be strange, but...I liked his thesis statement.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy reading.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>"W.T. was seated in the far corner of the room looking offensively English, with a litter of tea-things on the table before him."<br /></i></b><b style="font-family: arial;"><i>- The White Cottage Mystery, Margery Allingham</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">"The clang of the closing door came to Sue's ears as she dabbed at her eyes with the tiny fragment of lace which she called a handkerchief. She was relieved that he had gone. There are moments when a girl must be alone to wrestle single-handed with her own particular devils."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">- Heavy Weather, P.G. Wodehouse</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"...God often does not work with the most qualified, but with the most available."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- Own Your Life, Sally Clarkson</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">"Middle-earth," by the way, is not a name of a never-never land without relation to the world we live in."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- J.R.R. Tolkien, quoted in A Hobbit Journey by Matthew Dickerson</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"The central question this book addresses is, What can we learn from hobbits and from their vision of the Good Life, and how does that apply to our own present situation? In particular, we will look at the hobbitish pursuit and practice of peace, even in the midst of a world at war."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">- A Hobbit Journey, Matthew Dickerson</span></i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-13961363091970139582020-10-02T13:59:00.000+02:002020-10-02T13:59:41.033+02:00September Days (and Sunsets)<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">What was September? September was full of busy days, so it feels fitting that this post is a couple of days late. That sounds about right. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It began with E's birthday in the middle of full-on homeschooling with crisp days that felt just like what early September should be. These days bled into a September heatwave and us following K.J. on a 250-mile bike ride through the middle of France to raise money for a special cause, followed by a few days of rest free-of-charge on a small island. It was as lovely as it sounds. It ended with a week of rain showers and preparation for J's birthday, and here we are, on another rainy day eating leftover birthday cake. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">There were many good gifts to enjoy in September, as well as a continued need for wisdom and endurance in a world complicated by a pandemic. This combination of the delightful and the concerning brings to mind the faith-strengthening words of the hymn <i>Day by Day </i>by Swedish writer, Lina Sandell.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Day by day, and with each passing moment,</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Strength I find to meet my trials here;</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>I've no cause for worry or for fear.</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Gives unto each day what He deems best,</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Lovingly it's part of pain and pleasure,</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Mingling toil with peace and rest. </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Let us walk into October with the expectation of pain and pleasure, toil and rest, and a good Father who dispenses them both in just the right amount for our good.</span></div><p><b style="font-family: georgia;">September 1 - Tea in the Garden</b></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CZsF2e2yj1w/X3TxwnO-myI/AAAAAAAAsbk/Mv8FYe2IBAUEbZIx_wLfpQiH8UNQ1WjvQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9927etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CZsF2e2yj1w/X3TxwnO-myI/AAAAAAAAsbk/Mv8FYe2IBAUEbZIx_wLfpQiH8UNQ1WjvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_9927etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><b>September 2 - Birthday Burgers in Paris!</b></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c85h6Qh9KjU/X3TzeiCQKLI/AAAAAAAAsbs/JlailoRWPqQMOwq5Fg-WpHkNnPSh72WrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9945etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c85h6Qh9KjU/X3TzeiCQKLI/AAAAAAAAsbs/JlailoRWPqQMOwq5Fg-WpHkNnPSh72WrQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_9945etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>September 4 - J starting a watercolor class</b></span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7oky7wXyhVk/X3T02LninAI/AAAAAAAAsb0/XFRAX3Td9ywWl2Soz-2TeFmBO0NTyQbZACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0022etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7oky7wXyhVk/X3T02LninAI/AAAAAAAAsb0/XFRAX3Td9ywWl2Soz-2TeFmBO0NTyQbZACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0022etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 5 - Perfect Fall Scent</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NeRmUraMY0s/X3T2NabS1iI/AAAAAAAAsb8/dLAQScAqQUECC3X0FFpY-h8qt-7NeERsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0039etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NeRmUraMY0s/X3T2NabS1iI/AAAAAAAAsb8/dLAQScAqQUECC3X0FFpY-h8qt-7NeERsQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_0039etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>September 6 - True Love taking something off my plate</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gaqklhfGIg/X3T240JZzFI/AAAAAAAAscE/NcanKg0GdIg5CT_yN2CcE5nLuJ47DWTuACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0066_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gaqklhfGIg/X3T240JZzFI/AAAAAAAAscE/NcanKg0GdIg5CT_yN2CcE5nLuJ47DWTuACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_0066_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>September 7 - Sunset over the Tracks</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mf5JjYL__2Y/X3T4DnEbnbI/AAAAAAAAscM/FJ80GGti1yMT19aniP79pUOUOEVzkqd7wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0095etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mf5JjYL__2Y/X3T4DnEbnbI/AAAAAAAAscM/FJ80GGti1yMT19aniP79pUOUOEVzkqd7wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0095etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><b>September 8 - Last Flowers of the Summer</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G2RORTplCBM/X3T5CXl4vvI/AAAAAAAAscU/gUCgpuIZpvgjYubkcSjOy-vr7V_zclXcACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0131etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G2RORTplCBM/X3T5CXl4vvI/AAAAAAAAscU/gUCgpuIZpvgjYubkcSjOy-vr7V_zclXcACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0131etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><b>September 9 - I saw more sunsets this month than I have all year in taking some after-dinner walks.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CX1Dsrw5ydA/X3T6TEn5gGI/AAAAAAAAscc/AfHDbI83W_E7XSrZIUPQdmS7nZqTE3JZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0161etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CX1Dsrw5ydA/X3T6TEn5gGI/AAAAAAAAscc/AfHDbI83W_E7XSrZIUPQdmS7nZqTE3JZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0161etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 10 - Local Allotment Garden</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZnHRkoRneI/X3T71cjPMZI/AAAAAAAAsck/_SqPOwpUqIg84SYMv9RBaEYbbkRbvIjSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0178etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZnHRkoRneI/X3T71cjPMZI/AAAAAAAAsck/_SqPOwpUqIg84SYMv9RBaEYbbkRbvIjSQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_0178etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>September 11 - Another Sunset</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7yoAS4DBSc/X3T9_VSxdsI/AAAAAAAAscs/xirTII0l7I8p9yTJzmPzmqkNkCXHcT39gCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0193etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7yoAS4DBSc/X3T9_VSxdsI/AAAAAAAAscs/xirTII0l7I8p9yTJzmPzmqkNkCXHcT39gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0193etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 12 - E found this letter from the 1950s in the attic.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ot6FjA8t2gc/X3T-4bm-R8I/AAAAAAAAsc0/SLWUS55P7MMFHFx0hyOKxM_7g9u0ZMyEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0208etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ot6FjA8t2gc/X3T-4bm-R8I/AAAAAAAAsc0/SLWUS55P7MMFHFx0hyOKxM_7g9u0ZMyEgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_0208etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><b>September 13 - Church in the Park</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JimBZslRr8/X3ZC_IZIWNI/AAAAAAAAsdA/ZUUMu-bQRhgsQuIBHTPLWRKHtSMvTUeFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0235etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JimBZslRr8/X3ZC_IZIWNI/AAAAAAAAsdA/ZUUMu-bQRhgsQuIBHTPLWRKHtSMvTUeFgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0235etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 14 - </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87);"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Château </b></span></span><b style="font-family: georgia;">de Chambord</b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-In72NITzFP4/X3ZE6yQvinI/AAAAAAAAsdI/h75rIC8JcHorGCmwdJPbiEubgx-DlEjPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9515etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-In72NITzFP4/X3ZE6yQvinI/AAAAAAAAsdI/h75rIC8JcHorGCmwdJPbiEubgx-DlEjPQCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_9515etd_FB.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><b>September 15 - </b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: georgia;">Château </b><b style="font-family: georgia;">de Chenonceau</b></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5G60SN8bkk/X3ZGMEn3gqI/AAAAAAAAsdQ/TPyXMD2D5Co-akQbtpbSMfbe9OEapMegwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9648etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p5G60SN8bkk/X3ZGMEn3gqI/AAAAAAAAsdQ/TPyXMD2D5Co-akQbtpbSMfbe9OEapMegwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_9648etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 16 - He's a warrior.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0pNx2lbwmIQ/X3ZHXRYUraI/AAAAAAAAsdY/tRhBiJt5UDQPSvPdGOQ-T4YFQN1x3wZugCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0495etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0pNx2lbwmIQ/X3ZHXRYUraI/AAAAAAAAsdY/tRhBiJt5UDQPSvPdGOQ-T4YFQN1x3wZugCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_0495etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><b>September 17 - 250-Mile Victory Cookie</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aeNNqUNjb68/X3ZIa8-xx0I/AAAAAAAAsdg/KklsqQtNJT02p-rQheViGfMpXy13Kh70wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0645etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aeNNqUNjb68/X3ZIa8-xx0I/AAAAAAAAsdg/KklsqQtNJT02p-rQheViGfMpXy13Kh70wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_0645etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>September 18 - This pink sunset over the water thrilled my soul.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gG2YAm_V3BM/X3ZJlBK7Z8I/AAAAAAAAsdo/g_gVLrE9HkU7EIr75GMVlGtWIunyX6eVgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9780etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gG2YAm_V3BM/X3ZJlBK7Z8I/AAAAAAAAsdo/g_gVLrE9HkU7EIr75GMVlGtWIunyX6eVgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_9780etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 19 - A Sunset with my Man</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HxbgeXMrltg/X3ZK636_KeI/AAAAAAAAsdw/jsqcIkr7BeUUIDMUKTgYQvfIW7oI6hkCQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9904etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HxbgeXMrltg/X3ZK636_KeI/AAAAAAAAsdw/jsqcIkr7BeUUIDMUKTgYQvfIW7oI6hkCQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_9904etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 20 - Sunday Afternoon Walk</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrarB2Afu6A/X3ZMOHi0E1I/AAAAAAAAsd4/6U3c9D5hOS4bHXtt_uged0zAYdoG_8OQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0821etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrarB2Afu6A/X3ZMOHi0E1I/AAAAAAAAsd4/6U3c9D5hOS4bHXtt_uged0zAYdoG_8OQwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0821etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 21 - Trying to Fly a Kite</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwIkEQ8sRv8/X3ZNDXoZa9I/AAAAAAAAseA/QjkemVcWudUpP4peo3zpDUJnohFgj08VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0883etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwIkEQ8sRv8/X3ZNDXoZa9I/AAAAAAAAseA/QjkemVcWudUpP4peo3zpDUJnohFgj08VgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_0883etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 22 - Hobbit Day Celebration</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R59zV1sjgas/X3ZO74mHP9I/AAAAAAAAseI/7e50RvB9YQkeIUxtsdF1lQECWBMtqJWsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0920etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R59zV1sjgas/X3ZO74mHP9I/AAAAAAAAseI/7e50RvB9YQkeIUxtsdF1lQECWBMtqJWsgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_0920etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>September 23 - A Rainy-Day Leave-Taking</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpsdVJB_G8U/X3ZPL5Pa7AI/AAAAAAAAseQ/_i8wmcHtoSM42xlr7NSgys15JnA0wBXqACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0944etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpsdVJB_G8U/X3ZPL5Pa7AI/AAAAAAAAseQ/_i8wmcHtoSM42xlr7NSgys15JnA0wBXqACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/IMG_0944etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 24 - Home Again</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGqq1mP-HjU/X3ZQBAsLQrI/AAAAAAAAseY/WIpmpOSDl9k2kwMIo3ltbPSEvNyn1mUdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_0995etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGqq1mP-HjU/X3ZQBAsLQrI/AAAAAAAAseY/WIpmpOSDl9k2kwMIo3ltbPSEvNyn1mUdgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_0995etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>September 25 - It's been constant alternating rain and sun.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CqN2-85pVVI/X3ZQz6KRTtI/AAAAAAAAseg/rQUFgXY72Kc6bO-uj4THF-AG2gz8ifZnACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-09-26_08-22-41_761etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CqN2-85pVVI/X3ZQz6KRTtI/AAAAAAAAseg/rQUFgXY72Kc6bO-uj4THF-AG2gz8ifZnACLcBGAsYHQ/w512-h640/2020-09-26_08-22-41_761etd_FB.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><b>September 26 - A Walk in the Park when the Sun Returned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iS4RQlUu2JE/X3ZRnLokiDI/AAAAAAAAseo/ckm0p1ttlDI-TnTCfZCUbrVWCpFubSEFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-09-26_16-43-01_524etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iS4RQlUu2JE/X3ZRnLokiDI/AAAAAAAAseo/ckm0p1ttlDI-TnTCfZCUbrVWCpFubSEFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-09-26_16-43-01_524etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><b>September 27 - Two Little Boys in Rain Jackets with Umbrellas (having the time of their lives throwing umbrellas in the air to catch the wind)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7EZyWeh2hM/X3ZSddIFGBI/AAAAAAAAsew/_wIfS4XV6LcEH6Mdb7QKuUJG8jnVoyKQACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-09-27_12-27-30_779etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a7EZyWeh2hM/X3ZSddIFGBI/AAAAAAAAsew/_wIfS4XV6LcEH6Mdb7QKuUJG8jnVoyKQACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-09-27_12-27-30_779etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>September 29 - Family Walk in Between Rain Showers</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DD9TTJ-0P_k/X3cO_IO-WuI/AAAAAAAAsfA/4QJKfIh8mRgoyYK41sLP11_NmvcsrffywCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-10-01_12-26-20_236etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DD9TTJ-0P_k/X3cO_IO-WuI/AAAAAAAAsfA/4QJKfIh8mRgoyYK41sLP11_NmvcsrffywCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/2020-10-01_12-26-20_236etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-57508605971227915562020-09-21T09:17:00.000+02:002020-09-21T09:17:31.184+02:00Family Bike Rides<p> <span style="font-family: georgia;">Last night we went on a family bike ride. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hoQXzPQImnc/X2hORwcOpdI/AAAAAAAAsak/9d4ArGhPwP88gT_-OjgEZF45XoDTKkXVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-09-20_18-51-27_223etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hoQXzPQImnc/X2hORwcOpdI/AAAAAAAAsak/9d4ArGhPwP88gT_-OjgEZF45XoDTKkXVQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-09-20_18-51-27_223etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As we gathered cameras and helmets and K.J. pumped air into sagging tires I had a flashback to when I was a teenager and our family opted to do a self-guided river-rafting adventure down the Nantahala River. At least, I'm pretty sure that was this trip, and we were on the Nantahala? Maybe I'm wrong. But I'm definitely right about it being the self-guided option, and without the official instructor giving instructions, I remember those first moments on the river. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">None of us were really working together, we were frustrated, but then finally, somehow, we got into a groove and figured out what we were doing and had a really good time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Last night we all had various problems starting out: the wrong shoes, unfamiliar bike gears, bikes that were uncomfortable sizes, someone (maybe me) who went on a 5-mile ride with her husband the night before already had a sore rear end and groaned when she sat back down on that seat. K.J. said, "This might be a really short ride." Who could blame him for thinking so?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">But somehow, we found our groove.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeOP3bg9zDI/X2hRNX_jriI/AAAAAAAAsaw/bu1z_SvmQlEX3u3TDjesc-qxqnZk3y33wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-09-20_18-19-24_835etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeOP3bg9zDI/X2hRNX_jriI/AAAAAAAAsaw/bu1z_SvmQlEX3u3TDjesc-qxqnZk3y33wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-09-20_18-19-24_835etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Psk2a11rmic/X2hRNW8oeQI/AAAAAAAAsas/m3Ml28lku-UHUfgzLiYzhjuFXWWjcFk1wCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-09-20_18-34-14_883etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Psk2a11rmic/X2hRNW8oeQI/AAAAAAAAsas/m3Ml28lku-UHUfgzLiYzhjuFXWWjcFk1wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/2020-09-20_18-34-14_883etd_FB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">And that's just the way it is with family endeavors or maybe with any other kind of group. The less-than-stellar start won't define the whole journey. The grumpy attitudes will get worked out, and the best part of the memory will be like mine rafting down the Nantahala with my family: the taste of the cold, sweet water splashing in my mouth and the thrill of the ride.</span><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-15428132091543002542020-09-18T12:12:00.001+02:002020-09-18T12:13:17.127+02:00Five Quotes, vol. xix<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ2B2vpOIAU/X2SCVbgLKWI/AAAAAAAAsaY/RJpIMHaOya8xpv8cDmivNnJ4pZzS9zKTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/2020-09-15_11-14-54_115etd_FB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ2B2vpOIAU/X2SCVbgLKWI/AAAAAAAAsaY/RJpIMHaOya8xpv8cDmivNnJ4pZzS9zKTgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/2020-09-15_11-14-54_115etd_FB.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>book box spotted in Amboise, France</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's been a whirlwind of a week for our household beginning with a full day Sunday and then leaving Monday morning for K.J. to begin his <a href="https://fundrazr.com/61iBGa?ref=ab_3xYlnVTs95b3xYlnVTs95b" target="_blank">cycling challenge</a> of 400 km in 4 days. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I read an article a few months ago about why time during the lock-down for COVID-19 seemed to pass so quickly for so many. It explained how when we have the same experiences each day, the days run together because our brains aren't processing any new information, but when we have new experiences time seems to stretch out. I have definitely experienced that sense of time stretching out this week as we slept in a new place every night and I drove unfamiliar roads and navigated new cities each day. Last Friday feels like a year ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There hasn't been loads of time for reading this week, but there have been a few minutes each morning with a novel and a few chapters of the thoughtful companionship of <i><a href="https://emilypfreeman.com/the-books/" target="_blank">The Next Right Thing</a> </i>book. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>"I come into the peace of wild things</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>who do not tax their lives with forethought</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>of grief."</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>- from The Peace of Wild Things, Wendell Berry</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">"That's an appropriate way to handle yourself in a storm: take cover and wait for it to pass over. But it's possible to live with the dread of a storm even when the sky is clear without a threat of rain. It's possible to take cover even when there's nothing to take cover from, except for a heavy idea or a recurring thought in the night."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">- The Next Right Thing, Emily P. Freeman</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"The disciples traveling with Jesus most likely thought the goal that day was to get from one place to another. In that moment, in the way God always does, he made the side of the road center stage. He took what they thought was a footnote and made it a headline, a side-of-the-road detour in the upside-down kingdom of God."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- The Next Right Thing, Emily P. Freeman</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">"Bartimaeus didn't say, 'I have to regain my sight or else.' He simply said that was what he wanted, and he left the next step to Jesus. Desire is only toxic when we demand our desires be satisfied on our terms and in our timing. Knowing what we want and getting what we want are not necessarily the same thing."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- The Next Right Thing, Emily P. Freeman</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Every yes you say affects every person who lives in your house. Knowing what you want is an automatic filter to help you say yes to the things you've already predecided matter, and to let the rest fall gently away."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">- The Next Right Thing, Emily P. Freeman</span></i></b></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1685238825850897448.post-11555531277936766012020-09-11T11:58:00.001+02:002020-09-11T11:58:49.218+02:00Five Quotes, vol.xviii<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77v1tQ4G17o/X1tCJGJ3d1I/AAAAAAAAsZM/6AqzrUF57UMebvlAokONZpUevG4ScW-kACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/IMG_9652etd_FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="625" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-77v1tQ4G17o/X1tCJGJ3d1I/AAAAAAAAsZM/6AqzrUF57UMebvlAokONZpUevG4ScW-kACLcBGAsYHQ/w469-h625/IMG_9652etd_FB.jpg" width="469" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i>inside The Chaucer Bookshop, Canterbury, England</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've been choosing a theme for my reading each month this year, and this month I decided to focus on reading Noreen's books. I've listened to her tell so many stories that even events that happen in her fiction sound familiar to me because in every story there are bits of herself and her own varied life experiences. I found some humor in reading a romance novel written by my 94-year-old friend this week, but I was most moved by reading Noreen's memoir of how she came to have faith in Jesus as a busy, married mother of five in the early 1970s. I love reading people's stories, and I included a small excerpt of her describing the garden because the garden she looked out on after a significant learning experience in her life, is the same garden I look out on as I ponder all God is teaching me in this season. My children are now the ones playing beneath the willow and the cherry tree. I'm now the one learning to rest in the God who knows my limitations as I look out at the gray stone walls.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">"Few could admit to being the victim of a fatal, historical error, she told herself proudly. Few people lived, as she did, with the constant feeling of having been born at the wrong time and in the wrong place. And fewer still realized, as she did, that all that was worth admiring, all that was beautiful and sublime, seemed to be vanishing with hardly a trace. The world, lamented Prudencia Prim, had lost its taste for beauty, harmony, and balance. And few could see this truth; just as few could feel within themselves the resolve to make a stand."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;">- The Awakening of Miss Prim, Natalia Sanmartin Fenollara</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">"...she was a mistress of the art of delicacy. Miss Prim firmly believed that delicacy was the force that drove the universe. Where it was lacking, she knew, the world became gloomy and dark."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;">- The Awakening of Miss Prim, Natalia Sanmartin Fenollara</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"And it was as if a voice said: 'I know your limitations. I don't expect you to do something you cannot do. I only ask you to come to me and take me as your Saviour, then I can carry your burden and use you for the work I've planned for you to do. The work that only you can do for me.'"</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">- Eye of the Storm, Noreen Riols</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: courier;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">"I put down the receiver and looked through the window at the children playing in the garden below. The sky was the colour of a tea rose and the pink and white blossom sprayed upon the cherry tree was stretching up to meet it; and I saw the beauty of the old gray stone walls encircling my home, the graceful sweep of the weeping willow whose leaves were dusting the lawn."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">- Eye of the Storm, Noreen Riols</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>"Bookish people, I'm sorry to say, have an unfortunate tendency toward elitism. I know this because I am a bookish person, and also because I hang out with other bookish sorts...We want to cultivate good taste in literature, yes, but there is a marked difference between good taste and elitism."</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>- The Read-Aloud Family, Sarah Mackenzie</i></b></span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0