tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137240252024-03-07T16:36:16.245-07:00BarefootsoulREFLECTIONS and MUSINGS about life, relationships, writing, and gardening.Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-85197673881578562402013-07-18T11:22:00.000-07:002013-07-18T11:22:56.579-07:00Summer Sanctuary
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summer is passing much too quickly</i>, I
muse. Desiring to enjoy summer before it slips sway, I grab my Bible,
devotional book, tea, and a sweet cream, blueberry biscuit and step outside. I
settle on my porch swing. I read from Sarah Young’s, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jesus Calling:</i> “Stop worrying long enough to hear my voice.” Then
she writes about “weaving webs of anxious confusion.” I needed these words today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I look up the suggested verses in my
Bible as I sip tea, nibble on my biscuit. I ask God to help me set aside the worries
and concerns of the day, while allowing him to renew and transform my mind. I
remember the scripture that says, “we take captive every thought to make it
obedient to Christ (2Corinthians 10:5 NIV).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then I sing,
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning my songs shall rise
to thee….” The little chirping finches seem to join me in praise under the
cloudless blue sky as they dart in and out of the bird bath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tree branches gently sway. A butterfly dances
by. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I cast my
cares aside for the moment and thank God for this sacred space. I promise
myself to return to my swing, this summer sanctuary of sorts, many times before
cold days arrive and force me inside to another sanctuary. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(c) Marlene Depler</span></span></div>
Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-36407098040203009942012-10-16T10:18:00.001-07:002012-10-16T10:18:13.631-07:00Recently, I read the book <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong>One Thousand Gifts</strong></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><strong> by Ann Voskamp. </strong>Below are my thoughts on one specific section. Enjoy!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Sanctuary
of Time”---Excerpts from pages 64-77<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In this section, Ann talks about
busyness and hurry verses living in the present moment. All of life doesn’t
have to be lived rushing, hurrying. “Hurry hurts the soul.” Everything is not
an emergency. Ann says that when we live <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">eucharisteo</i>,
we “redeem time from neglect and apathy and inattentiveness” as we “swell with
thanks.” In giving thanks to God for the moment, we actually “multiply the
moments” and time is made enough. According to Ann, “It’s ridiculous how much
joy a moment can hold.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My natural propensity is to make lists, to feel good when I
am checking things off, and to feel overwhelmed and frustrated when I’m not
making satisfactory progress. When I lunge and plunge head-long into preparing
for what’s ahead, hurrying toward something and someday, I fail to notice the
gifts of the moment, the joy of the here and now. How can I say, “Thank you”
for all the blessings, the gifts, if I am rushing past them without even
noticing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imaging driving up Hwy. 1 along the Oregon coast and failing
to notice the breathtaking splendor of the rocky coast as it touches the
crashing waves. What if all one did was read the map, look for road signs that
give the distance to the next town, check the time, and glance over at the
speedometer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a shame it would be to
miss the beauty of the moment, while of staring at the pavement ahead, fretting
about getting to some destination ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is sad but true---I have at times been like that. What
have I missed along the way? Slowly, I am changing. As I look for and
anticipate the “gifts” and then give thanks, I am more and more living in the
present. I don’t want to miss the goodness of God in a single moment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While a case can certainly be made for making
preparations for the future or having goals, the future can’t always take
precedence over the glory and grace of the present.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like Ann, “I want enough time. Time to breath deep and time
to see real and time to laugh long, time to give You glory and rest deep and
sing joy, and just enough time in a day not to feel hounded, press, driven, or
wild to get it all done.” <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“I want to
slow down and taste life, give thanks, and see God.”</b> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I want to notice more, enjoy more, and
worship more. When my joy level increases, my focus on the negative decreases.
The problems and struggles in this broken world are tamed by gratitude. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My attitude and perspective are improved, my
spirit is renewed, and gradually I am changed. I don’t want to miss any of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my “one thousand gifts.” Thus, I will go on naming and numbering God’s goodness. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Eucharisteo. </i>Living more fully by thanking the Giver of all good gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>(c) Marlene Depler. Permission needed to reproduce or publish in any form.</o:p></span></span></div>
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Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-43952037857043783492012-10-09T11:21:00.002-07:002012-10-09T11:38:09.836-07:00<br />
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<span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong>Autumn Musings</strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Autumn morning:</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
house is quiet. I start my coffee in the espresso machine and look out the
window to the East. Vapor rises from the pond and pink sunrise streams through
the mist, looking ethereal. Seven robins squabble like siblings at the outdoor
fountain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another robin stands guard in
the middle of the bird bath, chasing away the finches that approach. A blue and
white Stellar Jay hops around the rose bushes. The garden is spent except for a
short row of beets that I should harvest. A few roses have survived the cold
snap. I sip my latte and say, “Good morning!” to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Autumn afternoon:</strong> The late afternoon sun hangs low in the
southwestern sky, streaming through the neighbor’s two red maples. Clear blue
sky stretches over the mountains. Two foxes dart through the
neighborhood—probably the same ones that I saw in our back yard a couple of
days ago. A few leaves float to the ground from our Purple Autumn Ash, aptly
named for its beautiful purple this time of year. Pruners in hand, I head to
the rose bushes. I snip the last seven fragrant blossoms to enjoy indoors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sun brings the day, and moon and
stars grace the night. I marvel at the predictability and rhythm of the turning
of earth and the coming and going of days and seasons. Birds and foxes
reproduce after their “kind,” as do all manner of flowers and vegetables. I
acknowledge and thank Creator God for creation—for life, for my life and the
beauty of this fall day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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(c) Marlene Depler Permission must be granted to reprint in any form.Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-335174239436088792010-09-07T05:07:00.002-07:002010-09-07T05:18:36.561-07:00Book Review: The Same Kind of Different As Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04fwpwWS0VwpPDaL1v5KCKo22kkL_J3sH4ZYP6yiH4-1CAvLsP8Eq8kDv9KedGDexVvO8n-Mj9y1d57Kh5wsoZou4Y11fQLNCsiKo-zwFb0PdQw4Dk3XhAsEut2rs8_1KQnN_3w/s1600/IMG_1899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04fwpwWS0VwpPDaL1v5KCKo22kkL_J3sH4ZYP6yiH4-1CAvLsP8Eq8kDv9KedGDexVvO8n-Mj9y1d57Kh5wsoZou4Y11fQLNCsiKo-zwFb0PdQw4Dk3XhAsEut2rs8_1KQnN_3w/s320/IMG_1899.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Ron Hall and Devner Moore with Lynn Vincent</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s often said that truth is stranger than fiction. So it could be said of the unlikely, true story of Denver Moore and Ron Hall. One black. The other white. One the son of a dirt-poor sharecropper, an ex-convict, homeless man. The other a college-educated man, an international art dealer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What could possibly bring these two complete opposites together? Read this heart-warming, New York Times Bestseller and be amazed at how God works in ordinary lives. Fix a cup of tea, find a comfy chair, and start reading. Don’t let a bit of a slow start stand in the way of finishing the book. You will be glad you did.</span>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-83232645796183295312010-08-31T09:00:00.000-07:002010-08-31T09:00:48.297-07:00Rustic Marinara or Meat Sauce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the summer when there are lots of fresh veggies </span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">our </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">gardens </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or at the farmers market, this is a </span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wonderful </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">recipe to try! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also check out the </span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">variation </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">at the bottom of the post for a side dish.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYCGURupAOWHPGXnCEjLo19oVH-KkNh_IHszJfJpplGn75nT_kbuzoJteWYUxXNA-BPWlzrKAR5xKf5UPSWE0vmtVSUJxOMIML9kM74ItplLqBnqWfWLO8calpZsW4g-eDh2lGw/s1600/IMG_1889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYCGURupAOWHPGXnCEjLo19oVH-KkNh_IHszJfJpplGn75nT_kbuzoJteWYUxXNA-BPWlzrKAR5xKf5UPSWE0vmtVSUJxOMIML9kM74ItplLqBnqWfWLO8calpZsW4g-eDh2lGw/s320/IMG_1889.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In small mixing bowl, combine: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 cup olive oil</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1/2 cup red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1/2 teaspoon dry oregano flakes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1/2 teaspoon Italian seasonin</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 Tablespoon dried parsley (or fresh if available)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">pepper, to taste.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is enough for <strong>two</strong> 8x10 baking pans.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R4rTddAXRF4wkNulDA1xpbxQrPa3Nm4tZCbffogQl__3gItItOsXouBY8DDmf9utRN4mqxyqXRuID0oESkOlt_bsWbEfHv0U52ms-z7a8Z7pJYmizep9LWCEGlqhyphenhyphen-fdt9s0ow/s1600/IMG_1891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5R4rTddAXRF4wkNulDA1xpbxQrPa3Nm4tZCbffogQl__3gItItOsXouBY8DDmf9utRN4mqxyqXRuID0oESkOlt_bsWbEfHv0U52ms-z7a8Z7pJYmizep9LWCEGlqhyphenhyphen-fdt9s0ow/s320/IMG_1891.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the bottom of <strong>2</strong> 8x10 glass baking pans, place:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 large onion, rough chopped</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">8-10 cloves of garlic whole or smashed</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Divide this between both pans.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSh9gLkTfCUVrsLDx_ab3GswQApAWOY0HBQwoZ6kHFy0ntnnN33lhPfa5DlLmTIPv1fItEvTbsU_2r_FEHXoIDSUgFh9uHmOGASugwULXVitazdUcoVJD6wfK0S44Ye8YolhvODQ/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSh9gLkTfCUVrsLDx_ab3GswQApAWOY0HBQwoZ6kHFy0ntnnN33lhPfa5DlLmTIPv1fItEvTbsU_2r_FEHXoIDSUgFh9uHmOGASugwULXVitazdUcoVJD6wfK0S44Ye8YolhvODQ/s320/IMG_1893.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cut tomatoes in half, quarters, or chunks, depending on size</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">of tomotoes used. The ones here are small Fourth of July </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">tomatoes. Italian tomatoes are also good. Any type of tomatoes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">should work fine. As much as possible, place skin side down.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cover the bottom completely, overlapping. Don't be skimpy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Drizzle half of the olive oil mixture over each pan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for one hour.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Half way though cooking time, switch pans if they are on</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">two different oven shelves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBHwsf_q8XhTkrwOnv-9eVv8u644ASFyqgnTzrZj-C55n7679w614NRCLjb0NSj65uyWvX5KIjfAwajJPR4vSScRX62Vxe73oU54q1GEyub6f6WYBSzIF5Ceztr_E5lqtMSFpEw/s1600/IMG_1882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBHwsf_q8XhTkrwOnv-9eVv8u644ASFyqgnTzrZj-C55n7679w614NRCLjb0NSj65uyWvX5KIjfAwajJPR4vSScRX62Vxe73oU54q1GEyub6f6WYBSzIF5Ceztr_E5lqtMSFpEw/s320/IMG_1882.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, this smells good!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Take the roasted tomaotes out of oven and let cool.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When cool, put 1/2 the mixture in the blender or</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">food processor and pulse to the consisteny that you</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">prefer. Repeat. If you want a meat sauce, add browned</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">ground beef. This is really yummy served over steamed</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">zuchinni and yellow summer squash or the traditional pasta.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS4v9BWWddtYxG9ARoKO1gc-3hQzvDpyfPgcbBeQKpuacoa-_RBg36ZTZTFiGAQN51hS9iizFzC8kXvsNUhrjCKTbfUhNoAGqXBXOoWOjw7NaYEbWOY_lPwjsT_UImHM3EqdqiA/s1600/IMG_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaS4v9BWWddtYxG9ARoKO1gc-3hQzvDpyfPgcbBeQKpuacoa-_RBg36ZTZTFiGAQN51hS9iizFzC8kXvsNUhrjCKTbfUhNoAGqXBXOoWOjw7NaYEbWOY_lPwjsT_UImHM3EqdqiA/s320/IMG_1883.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The finished product!!!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This can also be frozen to use at a later date.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I use freezer zip bags.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>A variation for a side dish</u>:</strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Add zuchinni chunks and/or yellow summer squash chunks in the bottoms of the pans before adding tomatoes. After removing the roasted tomatoes and veggies from the oven, sprinkle with grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, and serve warm! </strong></span></div>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-73147594132319111052010-08-23T14:00:00.000-07:002010-08-23T14:00:24.839-07:00Sorting things out...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When my children were young and spring came, I started pulling everything out of my children’s closets and dressers. Piles everywhere. Would anything still fit for summer? I sure hoped so. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thus my seasonal sorting began. Which things were acceptable and which things were too small? What should I keep for another younger sibling and what clothing should I either pass down to another child or box to sell at a garage sell. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took some serious time to get through all the clothes of three children. Mostly what I discovered was that either they had grown more than I thought, or I had seriously shrunk all their clothing. Pants were too short. Shoes were too small. Dresses were too short. The piles of things we pulled out of the closet were much larger than what we put back. Then I was faced with the reality of what we needed to buy to replace so many outgrown items. I wondered how we could afford it all.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When autumn came, the process began all over again. And so this sorting continued year after year until my children left the nest.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though that particular variety of sorting ceased, I’m still forever sorting something: cupboards, closets, files, stacks of papers, books, recipes, and photos. What to keep? What to give away? What to discard? What still has usefulness to me—or maybe someone else? What is just clutter? Oh, and my office! I try, but every time I start working on writing submissions and other projects, things seem to explode. Then I have to sort, organize, and discard all over again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wonder if my now grown children will one day feel overwhelmed when they have to sort through all the stuff that I leave behind upon my passing. Then I determine to sift and sort some more things. This is often followed with at least one more box going out the door to a local charity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the truth be told, it’s not only tangible possessions that I sort. My mind and heart does an unending sorting as I attempt to un-clutter my thoughts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wade through a barrage of information and opinions on hundreds of topics coming at me from every direction. What do I accept and what do I discard?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I weigh priorities and perspective. I decide what is important over and over again.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I consider options and try to make wise decisions. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I examine problems and look for solutions.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sort out relationships. What’s going on with so and so? Is she under stress or has she pulled away for some reason. Do I let it slide for now or should I address it. What can I do to make the relationship better between me and whomever? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I sift through both old memories and hopes and dreams for the future. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I ponder over my questions. My doubts and confusion.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I look at my worries and fears, releasing them once again to God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I need solitude for periodic internal sorting. That is what I like about walking time—prayer time—gardening time. Uninterrupted moments where I listen to my heart. I listen for God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Save and discard. Save and discard. Save and discard. It’s time-consuming, but it is part of life. The tangible, the intangible. The external, the internal. Deciding what to keep and what to toss aside. I pray for wisdom as I sort my way through life.</span><br />
<br />
(c) 2010 Marlene DeplerMarlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-8834594926446185512010-07-17T10:47:00.000-07:002010-07-17T10:47:48.549-07:00Summer Blooms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">“Gardening satisfies our cravings for fresh air and sunshine. Gardening soothes our souls and replenishes our spirits. When we garden, we learn to appreciate the rhythms of the seasons and the patience to wait for spring flowers to bloom, for summer vegetables to ripen on their vines.” “...gardening is. . .a way of life that returns us to the serenity of nurturing life from the soil.” Linda Hallam, Editor, Garden Style, (Des Moines, IA: Better Homes and Gardens Books, 1999), p. 7. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div></font><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where has the time gone! I can't believe that it has taken me so long to post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am finding that I can only focus on just so many things at once. So what have I been distracted with:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></font><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spring clean-up and gardening. I love to work outside!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mother's Day and Father's Day celebrations</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oldest granddaughter graduated from 8th grade</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Several spring concerts and middle grandson's soccer games</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trip to the Oregon coast</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Youngest granddaughter's 2nd birthday</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teaching my second oldest granddaughter to sew</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Garden tour with two blog friends</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Letting grandchildren each come by themselves for some one on one time</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Health program with a naturopath</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Facebook. I started doing facebook so I could stay connected with nieces and nephew, but found it has consumed more time than I had anticipated.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Organizing my office---AGAIN!</span></li>
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<div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div></font><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will try to be more consistent with posts! And I will add a few photos that might interest you.</span><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ATnE20rvWoBd860xpLozAqP2m7VeiPcGkMI6tqMJadp7uKuJCxkWvp1ixIEpM_BncAxmsAJ1p4CCKSZGpFMAVp4tV_2CkfZ6itdF5OSpgjQgrKqQ9Ds3h-twU-uOhHrPcWrTmA/s1600/IMG_1796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ATnE20rvWoBd860xpLozAqP2m7VeiPcGkMI6tqMJadp7uKuJCxkWvp1ixIEpM_BncAxmsAJ1p4CCKSZGpFMAVp4tV_2CkfZ6itdF5OSpgjQgrKqQ9Ds3h-twU-uOhHrPcWrTmA/s320/IMG_1796.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunset on the Oregon coast from our room</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCkNVv5KoGvjIIXtwv-7Xpgw1Op_tBtAVkuQhYmfRwyWJnmspGlAaLE3YtJGkMnZ3R_y4lyk8zo9VPLNnOWmRi29m7ZwMtcdPKYPwqwuLD4rjtpcXzfgBcusekueuvIzh-xWTCQ/s1600/IMG_1805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCkNVv5KoGvjIIXtwv-7Xpgw1Op_tBtAVkuQhYmfRwyWJnmspGlAaLE3YtJGkMnZ3R_y4lyk8zo9VPLNnOWmRi29m7ZwMtcdPKYPwqwuLD4rjtpcXzfgBcusekueuvIzh-xWTCQ/s320/IMG_1805.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rainbow over the ocean</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLFQTRyK8EDBmEo603p0aNQq0Ix7fADlp0MZspfDXU-o2gbQJ9sNfGay0YCbGFzi2So0n4uCywC6UnrkkwoKpRnWRplGT9s_D57FBcF1ZI2zhhlbwQ1LcGkSQb_y3jo1EcoR7Dg/s1600/IMG_1790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLFQTRyK8EDBmEo603p0aNQq0Ix7fADlp0MZspfDXU-o2gbQJ9sNfGay0YCbGFzi2So0n4uCywC6UnrkkwoKpRnWRplGT9s_D57FBcF1ZI2zhhlbwQ1LcGkSQb_y3jo1EcoR7Dg/s320/IMG_1790.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Double Delight rose in my garden</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx_l_DQjVvH2FCL_Y_wp9rg4t5muveb45OGI18fpYUW4Da9RKQrevGaV9ku12zlr5EoWc0sMqw9sX3o_dga7H4C80Ne3pJlp4ENRoOuOrnLtbpYEAg7L_2FHFNOVG8v4bS2B1zg/s1600/IMG_1793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx_l_DQjVvH2FCL_Y_wp9rg4t5muveb45OGI18fpYUW4Da9RKQrevGaV9ku12zlr5EoWc0sMqw9sX3o_dga7H4C80Ne3pJlp4ENRoOuOrnLtbpYEAg7L_2FHFNOVG8v4bS2B1zg/s320/IMG_1793.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fresh product from my garden</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6GQECCBcBG9atoDLJXMndvFj4sQMenSz_7DJBsrP-MiF9VR6omlG_sAGnHcioagpMCid9NxfEZXY7MdGlcrS_TQFwYSwxOSjzmVXTOs0YyAC2DeLhzwR2Ugr5FcLrYTlmg4FMA/s1600/IMG_1757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6GQECCBcBG9atoDLJXMndvFj4sQMenSz_7DJBsrP-MiF9VR6omlG_sAGnHcioagpMCid9NxfEZXY7MdGlcrS_TQFwYSwxOSjzmVXTOs0YyAC2DeLhzwR2Ugr5FcLrYTlmg4FMA/s320/IMG_1757.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mommy duck escorts her ducklings up the driveway though our back yard to the pond behind our house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-13052725045191837442010-03-25T11:10:00.002-07:002010-03-25T11:11:57.188-07:00A Walk in My Shoes<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Marlene Depler</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Lola gets what Lola wants!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It would be impossible for me to count the times that I was teased with that line as a young child. What no one knew is that in my mind this was not true at all. Who would have believed that this little blonde-haired girl with natural curls framing such an innocent face desperately wanted something that she could not have? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wanted shoes—girl's shoes. Yes, there were other things that I desired, such as a hula-hoop and a "bride doll," but shoes were the foremost cause of my discontent. It was the mid-1950s, and black and white saddle oxfords with bobby socks were the prescribed fashion of the day for girls. I wore brown, clumsy oxfords—boys' shoes handed down from my boy cousins. In those days, shoes for boys and shoes for girls were quite obviously different. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was convinced that everyone noticed that I wore boy's shoes. My embarrassment made no difference in my circumstances. My father was a young minister for a tiny church in the southwest corner of Kansas, and his pay was meager. There was no money for what I coveted most.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went to school each day filled with shame, certain that everyone was staring at my shoes. I made a conscious attempt to keep my feet hidden under my chair. If the teacher asked for the class to sit on the floor, I hid those ugly brown shoes under my skirt. Fortunately for me, the skirts of dresses were very full in those days! My feet were the only ugly ducklings in a world of swans. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember being invited to Susie's birthday party. One of her gifts was a pair of plastic, dress-up, high-heeled shoes. Even her gift of play shoes was reason enough to strike a chord of envy. Sadness descended over me. It was such a hopeless plight. Lola did not get what Lola wanted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the second grade, our family moved to the coast of Oregon where my father became the minister for another church, slightly bigger than the previous one in Kansas. We left Kansas in our blue and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">white, 1955 Chevy station wagon, pulling everything we owned in a U-Haul trailer. We were off to see the world, and temporarily, I forgot about the shoes on my feet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While we were in Oregon, my father started selling shoes out of a catalog to supplement his small income. One day he showed me a picture of black velveteen shoes in his catalog. On the glossy page, they looked simply beautiful—more beautiful than anything I had ever seen before. He then proceeded to measure my feet. The order was placed. I spent days in eager anticipation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At last the shoes came! As I slipped my feet into their velvety, black softness, my world changed. I was a princess with the most exquisite shoes in the kingdom. My feet danced, and my heart sang. Black velveteen shoes—more wonderful than anything I could have ever imagined! From that day forward, I never wore boy's shoes again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been many decades since then. I no longer go by my first name, Lola. (I am sure that you can guess why!) Instead, I use my middle name, Marlene. Just yesterday I saw some shoes in a Wissota Trader catalog that caught my eye. The advertisement said, "Velvety nubuck leather casuals...." I just may order them. Sometimes Marlene gets what Marlene wants! </span><br />
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</span>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-70469948090423619672010-02-03T10:13:00.002-07:002010-02-03T10:17:15.958-07:00Let There Be Light<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By Marlene Depler</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunlight</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Moonlight</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Starlight</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lamplight</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Nightlights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Flashlights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Light from campfires</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Light from our hearths</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Light from candles burning</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Porch lights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Street lights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Floodlights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Headlights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Traffic lights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> City lights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christ-light</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Light of the world</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Light of truth</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Light in our hearts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Light on life’s long pathway home</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Let there be LIGHT!</span><br />
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(c) Marlene Depler 2009 Permission needed from author to reprint in any form.Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-5368139495450484162010-01-21T17:16:00.001-07:002010-01-21T17:27:56.439-07:00Hold on to Hope<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Readers:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I thought I would share a devotional that I wrote. I hope these thoughts and Scriptures bless you. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Hold on to Hope</strong></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">By Marlene Depler</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><em>Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up</em> (Galations 6:9).</span></strong><br />
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<div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gardeners all have moments of weariness. They prepare the soil and plant seeds. They fertilize and water. Weeds are pulled until the back aches and perspiration drips. Gardeners may rest along the way, but they soon return to their toil. Why? Hope of harvest spurs them on even when they are tired. They anticipate slicing the first juicy tomato and cutting open a sweet watermelon. In time, their diligence and perseverance are rewarded.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is much like gardening. Doing the right thing and living well aren’t always easy. It takes effort to obey God. In the process, everyone experiences the malady of weariness from time to time. The cacophony of daily challenges and difficulties has a way of depleting energy. Physical or emotional exhaustion sets in. Efforts to serve may seem pointless. Weeds of discouragement take root. </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Does this describe you? Are you worn out? Are you in the midst of something that has left you weary? Demands at work? Financial pressure? Health issues? Concerns over your children? Relational difficulties? Lack of appreciation for your ministry sacrifices? Have your best efforts failed to obtain the desired outcome? You are not alone.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God recognizes the human propensity towards giving up during seasons of weariness. He knows how easily hope is diminished and perspective is skewed. Thus, through the words of the apostle Paul, God encourages each believer not to give up. Because he knows that the heart craves hope, God reminds his children to refocus on the promise of an eventual harvest. </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the weariness sets in, know that it’s normal. Use it as a warning sign. You may be in need of rest. Jesus knew what his disciples needed when he said; “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). As we allow God to strengthen and refresh us, we can regain renewed vigor to continue loving, serving and giving. Once eternal perspective is regained, you can again eagerly await God’s promised harvest at the appointed time. Endurance eventually pays off. Hold on to hope!</span><br />
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</div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Questions for reflection:</strong></span><br />
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<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In what ways are you experiencing weariness or discouragement?</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </li>
<li>W<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hat needs to be done to help to re-energize you? Rest? The encouragement of a friend? Renewed perspective on the promised reward?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think of a past example of when perserverance paid off.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Within your circle of family and friends, who needs your words of encouragement right now?</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Today:</strong> I will not lose hope. I will share this hope with a friend who is weary and in need of encouragement.</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Additional References:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Isaiah 40:29-31</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Matthew 11:28</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Psalm 62:5</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Romans 5:5</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hebrews 11:1</span><br />
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<div>(c) Marlene Depler Permisssion required to reprint in any form.<br />
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</div></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-6562473970049439462010-01-13T10:04:00.002-07:002010-01-13T10:30:23.227-07:00A Winter's Walk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghQT8ZSNjuKIcDfR9nJJQl-0yXZKhTLPMv_EUCS4gOkQIfniGl1gfo-2TmnMAZhMtT5DNqxXYCxF9RbbRZIUCmUnNT6ZqcKyRQIJzyxwU_FdP1q3h5phyemhhOiqAimc-6fphEA/s1600-h/IMG_1486.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426272302301409138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghQT8ZSNjuKIcDfR9nJJQl-0yXZKhTLPMv_EUCS4gOkQIfniGl1gfo-2TmnMAZhMtT5DNqxXYCxF9RbbRZIUCmUnNT6ZqcKyRQIJzyxwU_FdP1q3h5phyemhhOiqAimc-6fphEA/s400/IMG_1486.JPG" /></a><br /><div><blockquote><p align="center">by Marlene Depler</p><p align="center"><br /> </p><p>Winter days, long and cold: I hunker down within my walls.</p><p>I have little enthusiasm for going out and about.</p><p>Today the sunshine coaxes me to overcome my hesitation</p><p>to brave the cold. I pull on a second pair of socks,</p><p>my coat, and purple gloves, stepping outside under a canvas of clear blue.</p><p>Fresh, cold air fills my lungs. I watch my breath---</p><p>then fall into a pleasant rhythm: right, left, right left.</p><p>I find room for uninterrupted contemplation in this open space.</p><p>I think about dormancy in nature as I view leaftless trees and barren rose bushes---</p><p>then wonder if I am in my own season of dormancy.</p><p>I notice the contrasts around me: the soft, virgin snow and the hard, crusty ice,</p><p>turned brown from passing cars. And the never-fading evergreens with the bare-</p><p>branched variety. <em>Life is filled with contrasts, </em>I conclude. <em>Joy and sorrow, pleasure</em></p><p><em>and pain, success and failure. </em>On I walk alone with my thoughts, one thought </p><p>cascading into another, until I finally turn to follow my lengthening shadow home.</p><p><em>I haven't seen a singe critter, </em>I muse. <em>Where are the birds and squirrels and fox?</em></p><p>Just then I am startled by a bird huddles in a nearby barberry bush,</p><p>soon followed by a honking "V" of geese flying directly overhead.</p><p>I smile. I walk on in pleasant reverie. I arrive home invigorated.</p><p>I promise to rendezvous with myself for a winter's walk once again---and soon.</p><p> </p><p>(c) Marlene Depler 20010</p><p> </p><blockquote></blockquote><p> </p></blockquote></div>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-44483250130475955562009-12-22T07:47:00.009-07:002009-12-22T08:14:38.218-07:00O Christmas TreePutting up the Christmas tree is on of my favorite things about Christmas tree. The twinkling lights, the shimmering ornaments, endless possibilities for creativity, the overall beauty brings---all this brings me much satisfaction. Some years I use blue, some gold, and others the traditional red. This year it's PINK! It is fun to mix it up.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPIGB3AHQeZbydc6sxXBtmFtKFgH0OC2qFTe_CtbSS_Iz0l5X-Bs1QbZzj40NpCielaYB5kxVcaZl3Ft-pZnFuxHNaNTLUwDTq5yDYBiALDF1YuSuPobmy6bd-oDd26HW0vBrmA/s1600-h/IMG_1546.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418074288351779346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSPIGB3AHQeZbydc6sxXBtmFtKFgH0OC2qFTe_CtbSS_Iz0l5X-Bs1QbZzj40NpCielaYB5kxVcaZl3Ft-pZnFuxHNaNTLUwDTq5yDYBiALDF1YuSuPobmy6bd-oDd26HW0vBrmA/s400/IMG_1546.JPG" /></a><br /> A full view! I almost have the presents wrapped.<br /><br /> <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijLj1Q9m2MsyE59qX39_D1HQmcX_19pJb8DXO4JJcQFHnXAYjaY2zEYUVn1Kqky1FXF0hGQy_J76VC_1HTA86Tm3oebuLFVDNy8CnBD6AfD1Nx-05Oo6krvvMbvTq_ClLgSKYgg/s1600-h/IMG_1522.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073913779096642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijLj1Q9m2MsyE59qX39_D1HQmcX_19pJb8DXO4JJcQFHnXAYjaY2zEYUVn1Kqky1FXF0hGQy_J76VC_1HTA86Tm3oebuLFVDNy8CnBD6AfD1Nx-05Oo6krvvMbvTq_ClLgSKYgg/s400/IMG_1522.JPG" /></a> A little closer shot. I really like the white birds!</div><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFLo7w9KyZepo4NFu4o7-F5zCW3w90oZhxTpCENQ6-_p0ZT9YX6MFaJuJ8kdogBbfpUwhJpoI5Uxlwz2eevayQuOjiPwNP8n-JpMEVRa9okRsYHpIkIonNxKONRMkaxBESbQIQw/s1600-h/IMG_1523.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073732977492594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFLo7w9KyZepo4NFu4o7-F5zCW3w90oZhxTpCENQ6-_p0ZT9YX6MFaJuJ8kdogBbfpUwhJpoI5Uxlwz2eevayQuOjiPwNP8n-JpMEVRa9okRsYHpIkIonNxKONRMkaxBESbQIQw/s400/IMG_1523.JPG" /></a> Butterflies and watering cans bring in my love for nature and gardening.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC_dfnojmKth4t3nTxTyUVHW4KtEujVkp3GP3Q5CDHrttL7S1Q-XeFRxw-chHGeyY4VOizMvxnwFOl6vmcTz2Si00RaOqJ_e5psP4OPQIwWipzt6OCjU-guLPQdvmDH_jIRnlBw/s1600-h/IMG_1544.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073374941122050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBC_dfnojmKth4t3nTxTyUVHW4KtEujVkp3GP3Q5CDHrttL7S1Q-XeFRxw-chHGeyY4VOizMvxnwFOl6vmcTz2Si00RaOqJ_e5psP4OPQIwWipzt6OCjU-guLPQdvmDH_jIRnlBw/s400/IMG_1544.JPG" /></a><br /> On the fancy side! A little Victorian shoe!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugpMAteqvzTFK8YvsdZ_bC3SOpd_FE-1fqqzicSRIa7e17yQMhMqVRcTF_i40FELBO-l8d9fFdFEQXvIL6luM4ok5KX3mNQ3MaOFj1GJJrifwd02thEJlkoK8jraeW-zajZnIUw/s1600-h/IMG_1545.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073149942033954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugpMAteqvzTFK8YvsdZ_bC3SOpd_FE-1fqqzicSRIa7e17yQMhMqVRcTF_i40FELBO-l8d9fFdFEQXvIL6luM4ok5KX3mNQ3MaOFj1GJJrifwd02thEJlkoK8jraeW-zajZnIUw/s400/IMG_1545.JPG" /></a> My little gardener makes me think of spring!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOkvqqzqzPf-4R-f8bvSyZICAR8mA2hr2vsOkBN5m0S_Q_BNnP7vmoRppsHTGN1AvtSO3Fd03as3xrHyCb_Axmvr1ZQ6phT67CCVzp2EMwo2xsWNBYszD0f-xVy_LnfBslbb2kg/s1600-h/IMG_1543.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418072976210801138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOkvqqzqzPf-4R-f8bvSyZICAR8mA2hr2vsOkBN5m0S_Q_BNnP7vmoRppsHTGN1AvtSO3Fd03as3xrHyCb_Axmvr1ZQ6phT67CCVzp2EMwo2xsWNBYszD0f-xVy_LnfBslbb2kg/s400/IMG_1543.JPG" /></a> A gift from a friend! She approves of my pink tree.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5KH7fV4PWOiS9KGy8dFLLyYdD7d-PSHhCCMbo_uZfkqDfgUn3hIO7ZZzU4PmfGc6Rn8bCwoMdd-eJtiVZMZH2teNUVEoc2Df1ciUv2uKxWJlsOtm-dmGU_dCGYdVOTG0ZfRDwg/s1600-h/IMG_1548.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418072831826524610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5KH7fV4PWOiS9KGy8dFLLyYdD7d-PSHhCCMbo_uZfkqDfgUn3hIO7ZZzU4PmfGc6Rn8bCwoMdd-eJtiVZMZH2teNUVEoc2Df1ciUv2uKxWJlsOtm-dmGU_dCGYdVOTG0ZfRDwg/s400/IMG_1548.JPG" /></a> Right down to the wrapping paper! It looks so pretty when the packages match!</div><div> Gotta' love pink velvet ribbon!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAD_8-ZDo6xGswosLtuANmiMso77HSJ7sR25ND3EbgSOXBPZQBDAgxRuzjX-HSceP0i8ShM2QTljDnsYkyXhv7emjblsxVwE-glctK7DaffNtRErndO1WakyBo6h4TGaIhNJMWlA/s1600-h/IMG_1547.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418072701954027602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAD_8-ZDo6xGswosLtuANmiMso77HSJ7sR25ND3EbgSOXBPZQBDAgxRuzjX-HSceP0i8ShM2QTljDnsYkyXhv7emjblsxVwE-glctK7DaffNtRErndO1WakyBo6h4TGaIhNJMWlA/s400/IMG_1547.JPG" /></a> And something fun for the grandkids! I was so surprised to find this one at K-Mart!<br /><br />Thanking God for the gift of his son---and for family and friends. A Merry Christmas to all!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-74006083089548572312009-12-07T11:32:00.003-07:002009-12-07T12:17:10.316-07:00Book Review: The Gift of Years<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyDajuXDiZrLn7V-71dwvtybw_2-EvbWL6BpMJibdOQLRGiWtOGd8_XEzATZoNl1ajJNDPHvqLg5DVnfz5jOWKFWHHbNuf8PMT2eaxtgodlY_wUmEYQ5v7rInO88RcSnV_P9Psw/s1600-h/IMG_1511.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412564769647758210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyDajuXDiZrLn7V-71dwvtybw_2-EvbWL6BpMJibdOQLRGiWtOGd8_XEzATZoNl1ajJNDPHvqLg5DVnfz5jOWKFWHHbNuf8PMT2eaxtgodlY_wUmEYQ5v7rInO88RcSnV_P9Psw/s400/IMG_1511.JPG" /></a> Book Review by Marlene Depler<br /><br /><strong><em>The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully </em>by Joan Chittister</strong><br /><br />I look in the mirror and see the signs, the wrinkles and the gray hairs tucked between my highlights. Some signs sneak up almost unnoticeably while others are not so subtle. One thing is for sure: I AM aging! With this marching on of time, I am experiencing a wide range of thoughts and emotions. Some I bemoan to my husband or close friends, but many thoughts I never verbalize. And in spite of my best efforts, I see myself becoming more irrelevant in the world in which I live.<br /><br />Recently, I started reading Joan Chittister's book, <em>The Gift of Years: Growing Old Gracefully.</em> What a breath of fresh air! Her perspective is both honest and insightful. In the introduction Joan writes, <strong>"It is time for us to let go of both our fantisies of eternal youth and our fears of getting older, and to find the beauty of what it means to age well."</strong> I couldn't agree more.<br /><br />Joan has written forty short chapters filled with wisdom. Some of the chapters included are <em>Fear, Forgiveness, Fulfillment, Faith, </em>and <em>Freedom. </em>Others chapters are <em>Legacy, Limitations, Loneliness, </em>and <em>Letting Go. </em>Each chapter bears pondering. Don't expect to fly through this book like a novel. I'm reading mine with a highlighter in hand to mark the passages that I want to reread again.<br /><br />In the chapter titled <em>Regret</em>, Joan writes how that often what "pretends to be reflection" and "claims to be insight" slips into brooding, dragging us down. She says, "Regret is a temptation. It entices us to lust for what never was..." Then we may "doubt the God who made us."<br /><br />Joan's overall message is to see aging is a gift. (It means we didn't die young!) We should not abandon our lives prematurely---before life in this world is truly over. This season is different that the previous seasons of our lives. Nevertheless, we can embrace it and live it fully.<br /><br />Joan's words are making me often say to myself, <em>Don't quit the game in the fourth quarter! Play on to the finish! </em>This is a book I will read multiple times in the coming years. (I'm even considering leading a discussion group using this book as the focus.)<br /><br />I hope you will pick up this book---maybe buy it for yourself for Christmas. Then if you enjoy it, recommend it to a friend. Whatever you do, appreciate your days and years, live fully until the time comes for <strong>"melting into God."<br /></strong><br />(c) 2009 Marlene DeplerMarlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-76168325235413009092009-10-29T06:53:00.009-07:002009-10-29T07:27:22.860-07:00Pacific Rim Sunset<div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Read then see photos below!!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Psalm 92:4-5a <em>The Message: </em>"You made me so happy, God. I saw your work and I shouted for joy. How magnificent your work, God!"</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Pacific Rim Sunset</strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">by Marlene Depler</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Silently, I sit in my front row seat</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">on the edge of the earth</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">where land converges with sky and sea</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Sinking sun shimmers over crashing waves</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">as the Master Painter takes the stage</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">He lifts his brush to the canvas</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">pink and then lavender--</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">wide pastel strokes across the heavens</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Next he adds bold highlights </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of orange and plum</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">then smudges the rocks and trees</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">into black silhouettes</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Hushed I admire the beauty</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of the evening masterpiece</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">until the sea swallows the sun</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Just when I think He is finished</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">He dips his brush in gold</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">signing his work with a simple cresent moon</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">My heart cries out as I jump to my feet,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">"Bravo!" "Encore!"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">He bows and waves, "Perhaps tomorrow."</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(c) 2009 Marlene Depler</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Reprints in any form only allowed with author's permission</span></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyrs6zOHlI81neqNo6ZwD6FgkoEzzogi7dr_RGAH-NBdFHst4xE9IRmtiRt64i-kIim5w1byLeMqK2KEzS-K7QKZUwfwA3eGmkvlW7AL-Pj6C2-JtKvtZP20wD-NDYKapuARVvA/s1600-h/IMG_1401.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398022639384214626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyrs6zOHlI81neqNo6ZwD6FgkoEzzogi7dr_RGAH-NBdFHst4xE9IRmtiRt64i-kIim5w1byLeMqK2KEzS-K7QKZUwfwA3eGmkvlW7AL-Pj6C2-JtKvtZP20wD-NDYKapuARVvA/s400/IMG_1401.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF-nDOS8VDRMXMD5VfH7uTXt2B4-aviqW6w4gOW7oJ1LwM3eRlRP0CuXwKbZTqffUaAxi4n2V0AWYPprtSAng_9zNnqbi1S8vFR1CEvkSiALCs8X8-ZYwYYmcbDb1jD-evsEucXA/s1600-h/IMG_1357.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiW3sZrCCym752xi4UDXd1g-DQ-SNEP2pK0OmJmJ9DNJrD7Z1U4cNtRFs5kKBAWWMxtPXfsyVMgf_gApcrl2_ijs8sGI9Vpauq9VstxOMiUXC32Y6pW7o0RxYQ_Egck3XpEgsdg/s1600-h/IMG_1357.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398022042054373442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiW3sZrCCym752xi4UDXd1g-DQ-SNEP2pK0OmJmJ9DNJrD7Z1U4cNtRFs5kKBAWWMxtPXfsyVMgf_gApcrl2_ijs8sGI9Vpauq9VstxOMiUXC32Y6pW7o0RxYQ_Egck3XpEgsdg/s400/IMG_1357.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeMDgnp8uFOzyKZApG12lWtTpsEuCzlq6CTRSGueL3zCAgp3qWq9gvzDPP1ghvyKdfdpiCW5C5BD7YUs1OGIEkA5Fv-cs-twtyrx-pEBQcDPSNuLJ7Bh3EskfbmGMDLgkJAwsfg/s1600-h/IMG_1358.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398021859127939394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeMDgnp8uFOzyKZApG12lWtTpsEuCzlq6CTRSGueL3zCAgp3qWq9gvzDPP1ghvyKdfdpiCW5C5BD7YUs1OGIEkA5Fv-cs-twtyrx-pEBQcDPSNuLJ7Bh3EskfbmGMDLgkJAwsfg/s400/IMG_1358.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbCi4U-GX6JSf-XMo-y6haFVnFuD2RTVoEKfZe-uulfDd1k1VQJdBk5SWUR7ourleX2AMO5P3saX42o3oqXIULpYFb2xMFHfY6JWbHTsi-qtOClWSEcZ_pLhCKjS1yQ-8yxAItQ/s1600-h/IMG_1412.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398021080807332082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbCi4U-GX6JSf-XMo-y6haFVnFuD2RTVoEKfZe-uulfDd1k1VQJdBk5SWUR7ourleX2AMO5P3saX42o3oqXIULpYFb2xMFHfY6JWbHTsi-qtOClWSEcZ_pLhCKjS1yQ-8yxAItQ/s400/IMG_1412.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok9wzMq08uUziQLrSO6jFMTG4hbJWs4NCMDGMvgLhEfK9rQu5K-CZ_P2Sm7EbJk4CmfIO14kV9ThET51VN-rHl-xTbECmHlsTvBej04Drned94y6huOa__dOBaQQeM2nQD4mrmw/s1600-h/IMG_1413.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398020486968359714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok9wzMq08uUziQLrSO6jFMTG4hbJWs4NCMDGMvgLhEfK9rQu5K-CZ_P2Sm7EbJk4CmfIO14kV9ThET51VN-rHl-xTbECmHlsTvBej04Drned94y6huOa__dOBaQQeM2nQD4mrmw/s400/IMG_1413.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa3pEg1OPd1G1e8GspsyKvP3dqrB0WNsJZ0B9x24d5yOYMsHE6mya2nqoMcqudeDrDCqdhDjoKmIX8mg6GoN0hjOIiSYy0KZCQQLhfOsqG0hIPMUijd8npEFRB05J2HBF6r-fnA/s1600-h/IMG_1412.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-51203461276734879682009-10-04T06:46:00.023-07:002009-10-04T07:57:30.585-07:00Beauty Abounds<span style="font-family:verdana;">These are from our recent travels: Pike Market in Seattle, Tofino and Ucluelet (Vancouver Island, B.C.), and Victoria (also Vancouver Island, B.C.) Enjoy!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMm-zFL2zW9R-ZUyZXXOGv6czmhyGXEbLEovaE6FPluo_7t7y9Dj9dDnAYRgKmcSTW4BzP7d16iVsCGSmPdkaOc7V6xNAD4y0lM1_xHyhiFLQ-O08XQUggoeUFi1S6tAVgVXHcg/s1600-h/IMG_1268.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388750443049792610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMm-zFL2zW9R-ZUyZXXOGv6czmhyGXEbLEovaE6FPluo_7t7y9Dj9dDnAYRgKmcSTW4BzP7d16iVsCGSmPdkaOc7V6xNAD4y0lM1_xHyhiFLQ-O08XQUggoeUFi1S6tAVgVXHcg/s400/IMG_1268.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Flower boxes across the street from Pike Market, Seattle.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The beginning of a visual feast!</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMtK7em1oJoRswaOPexT3HUN0Q1fX58zpFf4dP5R_KATryVbYl-D-RKZj0nC5nw1DjRrEoDkZAiQGd1hzndqQ_G2arfuOirnM1DhDFKR-cDZZsa7P4JUBVjTATzgaJIGDW0fuZg/s1600-h/IMG_1270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388750273114331826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMtK7em1oJoRswaOPexT3HUN0Q1fX58zpFf4dP5R_KATryVbYl-D-RKZj0nC5nw1DjRrEoDkZAiQGd1hzndqQ_G2arfuOirnM1DhDFKR-cDZZsa7P4JUBVjTATzgaJIGDW0fuZg/s400/IMG_1270.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Flowers galore (Pike Market). </span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qMZnm72McIZwguDoDCxH3xSjBmcPt_FRsOB02o8eEfKTZDC5tAkcYOyYQDb-xbDb287QHqXo27p9woJIPWKq3xbPx6_fizYz3iim8ZueqZn2Uv4Q6GTSYmWrFN41I4PnSua9Ag/s1600-h/IMG_1275.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388749419269084738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qMZnm72McIZwguDoDCxH3xSjBmcPt_FRsOB02o8eEfKTZDC5tAkcYOyYQDb-xbDb287QHqXo27p9woJIPWKq3xbPx6_fizYz3iim8ZueqZn2Uv4Q6GTSYmWrFN41I4PnSua9Ag/s400/IMG_1275.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Fresh veggies! (Pike Market)<br /><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3Ee6xdy1HnMTiMglPZ0B73Yr-F7lGsmsR9NoMBxoENl6ErJtUnyWsXVyz3auE-ssFFRj7_L19kxtXdT8cAEG-sr0tDst44pmRCX1_fFbrkDLdm0D4uH9OlMPmp86qDhwX_LMJQ/s1600-h/IMG_1276.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388749241819040306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3Ee6xdy1HnMTiMglPZ0B73Yr-F7lGsmsR9NoMBxoENl6ErJtUnyWsXVyz3auE-ssFFRj7_L19kxtXdT8cAEG-sr0tDst44pmRCX1_fFbrkDLdm0D4uH9OlMPmp86qDhwX_LMJQ/s400/IMG_1276.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Succulent fruits (Pike Market). </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFWwJy7c2WbpkG6BUEYQ0HjLMoDJi29kOopmMr3EHvBzEDwhrcFcS0Bau1DQpjxo8hyphenhyphenefUznajFaFsFm-omyXUEXj75tCUvPS6zQj-bq2srr4TF-71iER2ObllkRjgUAthMheZw/s1600-h/IMG_1277.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388749040031302626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFWwJy7c2WbpkG6BUEYQ0HjLMoDJi29kOopmMr3EHvBzEDwhrcFcS0Bau1DQpjxo8hyphenhyphenefUznajFaFsFm-omyXUEXj75tCUvPS6zQj-bq2srr4TF-71iER2ObllkRjgUAthMheZw/s400/IMG_1277.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Crabs in rows! (Pike Market)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWeJnTurGndWjeeH3jQB-xVgW2i0uGv0F46R4parGJ-2XGzqbi2UESbdfWPPi6PQd2YBpf23jFaDZvbKciKECAtAYqVdvfiU5ZPQFVKdU9hzJdM7BsbJHm6bwi3CAsIxDAMZnvw/s1600-h/IMG_1279.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388748879819614578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWeJnTurGndWjeeH3jQB-xVgW2i0uGv0F46R4parGJ-2XGzqbi2UESbdfWPPi6PQd2YBpf23jFaDZvbKciKECAtAYqVdvfiU5ZPQFVKdU9hzJdM7BsbJHm6bwi3CAsIxDAMZnvw/s400/IMG_1279.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Huge lobster tails! (Pike Market)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-pYAAtKCRLC10BPhc-ZFP8ZH7e-jLYW0TmqNis8iFC_oZSDgeEKnAU6mmiXfX-Y0b_vOAURYH9juTCPkq_enD-Ln4pBCfl79BF9a2bxaDUGBp8bvXln8k7YHl0k0QWz4QCD_2g/s1600-h/IMG_1283.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388748682936480834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-pYAAtKCRLC10BPhc-ZFP8ZH7e-jLYW0TmqNis8iFC_oZSDgeEKnAU6mmiXfX-Y0b_vOAURYH9juTCPkq_enD-Ln4pBCfl79BF9a2bxaDUGBp8bvXln8k7YHl0k0QWz4QCD_2g/s400/IMG_1283.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Rainbow of chilli peppers! (Pike Market)</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1mhw-nnLfGY2dXTfEYNJBb5NN295yoXLmx0FPz5n2mec9BxBOLav_lUvfULcPohAbTzPsvs5b4Ym6qoxtETQR8czyz2wgaRT8qSroc9wezaxfZk3z9TC8QQS1YkJE8LqTCtY5w/s1600-h/IMG_1374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388748468187989794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1mhw-nnLfGY2dXTfEYNJBb5NN295yoXLmx0FPz5n2mec9BxBOLav_lUvfULcPohAbTzPsvs5b4Ym6qoxtETQR8czyz2wgaRT8qSroc9wezaxfZk3z9TC8QQS1YkJE8LqTCtY5w/s400/IMG_1374.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From the bay side of Tofino.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rfrpzBdZiGh5rOzITbsyiRZUryEmOrsZ7VS-g_73zZyqsi0bfpZ3GS70FBWC3BAdn9hgCEswFXB9eUTx_O2OjuwXJ8auNCtLAf3vGoZimRrxK-_EkZAFGsSAv5QviTvRTlIzDg/s1600-h/IMG_1347.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388748091901794994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rfrpzBdZiGh5rOzITbsyiRZUryEmOrsZ7VS-g_73zZyqsi0bfpZ3GS70FBWC3BAdn9hgCEswFXB9eUTx_O2OjuwXJ8auNCtLAf3vGoZimRrxK-_EkZAFGsSAv5QviTvRTlIzDg/s400/IMG_1347.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Chesterman Beach looking toward Frank Isand</span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GvMq4Gz9VLPhwe_2wKFVyPvIExclvV3am6RzbNonheqqyQ_UJlo8sD80k1c-DyxuHDhmhGx4hTffDBguAbm4uWpRrbTSARLJG3UUSQgh1dzzYFsM-JfRDpbsJojHxdGMr1Sdtg/s1600-h/IMG_1349.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388747227897759378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4GvMq4Gz9VLPhwe_2wKFVyPvIExclvV3am6RzbNonheqqyQ_UJlo8sD80k1c-DyxuHDhmhGx4hTffDBguAbm4uWpRrbTSARLJG3UUSQgh1dzzYFsM-JfRDpbsJojHxdGMr1Sdtg/s400/IMG_1349.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The Inn from Chesterman Beach<br /><br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdR7EzwKPrWXfybovvJRBEr1SLYJ8Cmeabb11ea5jEgEQ02IOBWzZ3BVB9ymDkcrLeyPdzGN7ZPI9b53_GSYMQ7JgsnOI3K7IdQT32Ks1MRFiCxWPxmpsg9zq5EYLlz_PYtY7hA/s1600-h/IMG_1362.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388747042316290194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdR7EzwKPrWXfybovvJRBEr1SLYJ8Cmeabb11ea5jEgEQ02IOBWzZ3BVB9ymDkcrLeyPdzGN7ZPI9b53_GSYMQ7JgsnOI3K7IdQT32Ks1MRFiCxWPxmpsg9zq5EYLlz_PYtY7hA/s400/IMG_1362.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">A room with a view.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92aSVHuHYkLhHAZMUyz7bYujk246lQuYXrwuqyPtS-tDHN0yOmVSudqLyD7uXVTdYu9nYvWkAU9faigPFD43xqfLWBStG9ypQhd5i14Fev4B5OxiVlVI3Nujk9tgNFBlIiaPurw/s1600-h/IMG_1366.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388746490640176258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92aSVHuHYkLhHAZMUyz7bYujk246lQuYXrwuqyPtS-tDHN0yOmVSudqLyD7uXVTdYu9nYvWkAU9faigPFD43xqfLWBStG9ypQhd5i14Fev4B5OxiVlVI3Nujk9tgNFBlIiaPurw/s400/IMG_1366.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">And more views!<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61-1-PRqq8i5Do_enHf0vFl66THWOPMSMIDFECeNgKKq5P0FWa-zX6qDY2GRx7-sTLfqN-iMp2gif7g1pUVbHU7kUtsW-RUyS8FcdTn7KNOWBsdkPxm-XJuqqFO_B0mUUmCbGHA/s1600-h/IMG_1357.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388746170401366146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61-1-PRqq8i5Do_enHf0vFl66THWOPMSMIDFECeNgKKq5P0FWa-zX6qDY2GRx7-sTLfqN-iMp2gif7g1pUVbHU7kUtsW-RUyS8FcdTn7KNOWBsdkPxm-XJuqqFO_B0mUUmCbGHA/s400/IMG_1357.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pacific sunset on first night.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhLvyOnFa02Q8_My8kbBYfxnmYBtRfJ8lZ6deidt6u0JUHHS2q5p2Sv-yfD3qnPAILIzu_o_WziNhUbyJQlCHSJozHiBaMkbPn0522IHW0pW35PfyowDu2dzQFw86kthBm7g2AQ/s1600-h/IMG_1402.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388746036939760034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhLvyOnFa02Q8_My8kbBYfxnmYBtRfJ8lZ6deidt6u0JUHHS2q5p2Sv-yfD3qnPAILIzu_o_WziNhUbyJQlCHSJozHiBaMkbPn0522IHW0pW35PfyowDu2dzQFw86kthBm7g2AQ/s400/IMG_1402.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sunset on second night.</span></div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrucx_ceaczJe-rwKChzRtrzhtccPqKFSADq-w1DpkV4LvhmINpiEKYmc9L4oTlXuTEU-J3glepZQ3I-q-d95p3GgMWCLvk7sJ_XLdmuZAUBUcu0_DsuUgrVd4fnMpSETkTxCOA/s1600-h/IMG_1388.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388743681978340034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrucx_ceaczJe-rwKChzRtrzhtccPqKFSADq-w1DpkV4LvhmINpiEKYmc9L4oTlXuTEU-J3glepZQ3I-q-d95p3GgMWCLvk7sJ_XLdmuZAUBUcu0_DsuUgrVd4fnMpSETkTxCOA/s400/IMG_1388.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Amphitrite Point Lighthouse in Ucluelet.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SyS3OFbRHdVozx4ShMAPxBiTfljg-hWoCAa5F29AdWk5cz8zEwTUfHEZzk2v2mjxGUx8sKTFw56R8mKAHGM7-nqVMmCTet3gvy6a8q8DcVXg3PNioJj0LR_lqJuMZALlwO9GJg/s1600-h/IMG_1390.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388743490279853554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SyS3OFbRHdVozx4ShMAPxBiTfljg-hWoCAa5F29AdWk5cz8zEwTUfHEZzk2v2mjxGUx8sKTFw56R8mKAHGM7-nqVMmCTet3gvy6a8q8DcVXg3PNioJj0LR_lqJuMZALlwO9GJg/s400/IMG_1390.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">View from the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet.</span></div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtbO3eC8d7r3P8drJ9xdmEflBAa9lmGCZbVReNhsmDAG_zN5NK_J8QsTboPnJFlmcZywsj0JykbRvlHWlKcNvWqWGt9GDtq3hR9P-r2adjH6gILlU2VkQOfw_L7p736wj4vd7dg/s1600-h/IMG_1392.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388743157748826210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtbO3eC8d7r3P8drJ9xdmEflBAa9lmGCZbVReNhsmDAG_zN5NK_J8QsTboPnJFlmcZywsj0JykbRvlHWlKcNvWqWGt9GDtq3hR9P-r2adjH6gILlU2VkQOfw_L7p736wj4vd7dg/s400/IMG_1392.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Strange roots seen on the trail.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwzgNlsdDvo4j2Ry6cZmBjbYmg7AdjwUxfRdHe6lsh_MNJywtKRIpsIsrvO3QISImjf-IvC3Tpf4jT5QHESryi3UZwdxTawgYjOyREqwUusl-BkUcLknuwgcZJF3qNqXFk7mm8w/s1600-h/IMG_1396.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388742685655595970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwzgNlsdDvo4j2Ry6cZmBjbYmg7AdjwUxfRdHe6lsh_MNJywtKRIpsIsrvO3QISImjf-IvC3Tpf4jT5QHESryi3UZwdxTawgYjOyREqwUusl-BkUcLknuwgcZJF3qNqXFk7mm8w/s400/IMG_1396.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Fishing boats on the bay side of Ucluelet.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtUyPTn1kMKGEtJsJ59Qln7pXJUSvXlrlN4x21VGpgau30NZo1t1W6C_ghevCV50fLsJ5V40myPl59_d32Lr8Whb5rOUQqyKl60Cp0C92oddyyJjK2a4jT57nrwx_kiU0QIMfxw/s1600-h/IMG_1398.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388742494389464786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYtUyPTn1kMKGEtJsJ59Qln7pXJUSvXlrlN4x21VGpgau30NZo1t1W6C_ghevCV50fLsJ5V40myPl59_d32Lr8Whb5rOUQqyKl60Cp0C92oddyyJjK2a4jT57nrwx_kiU0QIMfxw/s400/IMG_1398.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Another shot of the fishing boats.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS_HgbDhYxWKSwNnGUNEN3klZz0KblDfcpcnH_19ucO7YgwktCUHESIeZWwOVbXVfFjdrppSSQLOtwTUf3Ie1Wt9blo-fW5j6xwQ_xFO2psz6zJOoXuSQzaJysT2UC-ZTsgxgSw/s1600-h/IMG_1416.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388742088099588594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfS_HgbDhYxWKSwNnGUNEN3klZz0KblDfcpcnH_19ucO7YgwktCUHESIeZWwOVbXVfFjdrppSSQLOtwTUf3Ie1Wt9blo-fW5j6xwQ_xFO2psz6zJOoXuSQzaJysT2UC-ZTsgxgSw/s400/IMG_1416.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Abkaki Garden in Victoria.<br />(We saw Buchart Gardens on previous trips. We had just enough time to </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">check out this once private garden now open to the public.)<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs0qvCQG_QRsaGfzE1vU5VGy1rzjQTE6YdqX-L7i2aXb_fYdsYn2lETLuCmPCPhiWp49mnmxhHhGye7HdGQcnPJVELCSEXvpug9RLzYptRdEhkEaaeLz2B-w57QBRdN0WI-Zi4w/s1600-h/IMG_1418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388741808844085730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGs0qvCQG_QRsaGfzE1vU5VGy1rzjQTE6YdqX-L7i2aXb_fYdsYn2lETLuCmPCPhiWp49mnmxhHhGye7HdGQcnPJVELCSEXvpug9RLzYptRdEhkEaaeLz2B-w57QBRdN0WI-Zi4w/s400/IMG_1418.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Another shot of the gardens.<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG8ucC444wKOXh85lAOMmexm3xU_oeKmsQKRcOARhXWHAhTwQixRHK2TiLZSFwYx9yeLgXNP0kJ3iMQARVCiIRI0wLGTzfsThuTiT2Cf0TEOpOtpZnsVnBISMeLqvF5JGfZLAJQ/s1600-h/Empress+Hotel-Victoria.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388741456693766962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfG8ucC444wKOXh85lAOMmexm3xU_oeKmsQKRcOARhXWHAhTwQixRHK2TiLZSFwYx9yeLgXNP0kJ3iMQARVCiIRI0wLGTzfsThuTiT2Cf0TEOpOtpZnsVnBISMeLqvF5JGfZLAJQ/s400/Empress+Hotel-Victoria.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Empress Hotel in the harbor of Victoria.<br /></span><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-86542670052158871162009-09-10T15:47:00.003-07:002009-09-10T15:56:43.606-07:00Start Somewhere<span style="font-family:verdana;">(Note: I promised to share what I came up with from the writing exercise, so here you have it?)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I’d been sick for several days, and we were expecting out-of-town company in a couple of days. I was now way behind in my preparations and cleaning. Not to mention, that I was lacking in energy and short of time. There was so much I had intended to do before my friends arrived. Now I felt overwhelmed.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">These weren’t the kind of friends who would judge me for a bit of clutter and dust. We’ve been friends for over three decades. Nevertheless, I wanted my home to be clean and welcoming. The tasks that I wanted to accomplish would make me feel like a better hostess.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I started to fret. Then I had a chat with myself. <em>Stop wasting your energy fretting and just START SOMEWHERE! </em>(Am I the only one who gives advice to myself?!)<br /><br />So that is what I did. I started with the guest bedroom, dusting and tidying. Then I moved into the bathroom next to the bedroom. When those two rooms were company-ready, my spirits lifted and my perspective improved. I was able to prioritize other tasks and decide what mattered most. Before I knew my home was adequately prepared. Our friends arrived, and we shared several wonderful days.<br /><br />Since then I have continued to think about the experience and apply it to other areas of my life—projects or chores that needed to be tackled and other areas such as health and personal goals. Instead of waiting until I have huge increments of time—that of course rarely ever happens, I remind myself, “Start somewhere.” If I begin and make a little progress, it gives me the impetus to continue later when I have a little more time.<br /><br />Whether it is the weeds in my garden beds, the paperwork on my desk, or dirty windows, the process is the same. “Get started.” I started washing windows when I was preparing for my guests. I washed a couple of windows that were really bothering me. Later I washed a couple more. Bit by bit I’m making the rounds. Today I washed another three. Completion now seems possible. The end is now in sight.<br /><br />The same is true with writing. I’ve intended to write about this experience for over a month. I finally said, “Just start!” Writing for about 20 minutes led to more thinking and more writing. Now I have a string of words on paper.<br />Most of us have heard it said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So true. Without beginning, nothing will be accomplished, and we will not reach the desired destination.<br /><br />So first we start. Then we break things into smaller increments and things begin to seem possible. When my kids were younger and overwhelmed by something that loomed large for them like a school project, I would often tell them, “It’s a cinch by the inch and hard by the yard.”<br /><br />I don’t recall where I first heard that saying, but I liked it and knew it was applicable to challenges both large and small. I wanted to help them see the value in starting and then breaking things down in to smaller manageable segments. Then when they put those segments together in succession, they ended up getting to the final goal. The same is true for the rest of us.<br /><br />I have noticed that some things never seem to get completely finished, like the piles of paper on my office desk. Nevertheless, I keep starting. I make good headway. Then life calls me in other directions and things pile up again, so I begin again—and then again. Can you imagine how my office would look if I didn’t keep starting over and over again.<br /><br />We will probably never have everything accomplished to our satisfaction in this journey of life. We will always have projects demanding our time and a variety of challenges to face. Yet if we constantly take the first step and begin again and again, we will move forward toward those things we deem important. And we won’t waste our energy thinking about what we must do.<br /><br />What is it that looms large for you? What is it that you never seem to find the time to tackle?<br /><br /><blockquote>*A college degree? It is possible one class at a time. So get started.<br />*Weight loss? That comes one pound at a time, but you first have to start.<br />*A relational issue? Start somewhere.<br />*Spiritual growth? Begin with one thing that seems doable.<br />*Health? Take a step in the right direction.<br />*Ironing? Turn on the iron and pick up the first piece.<br /></blockquote><p>Our personalities may be different and our challenges and dreams may not be the same. Yet we are still all on a similar journey. And we all need to regularly be reminded to START SOMEWHERE. So that means you---and me! Let's get going!</p><p>(c) 2009 Marlene Depler</p><p>Obtain permission to print, reprint, or duplicate in any form.</span></p>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-82666562017449777892009-09-09T08:08:00.002-07:002009-09-09T08:21:24.659-07:00Writing ExerciseFor those of you who like to write now and then, here is a little exercise to get you started!<br /><br />Take 5 minutes and jot down 3-5 things you have been thinking about lately. (This can be anything, such as the change of seasons, aging, frugality, or your recent challenges with modern technology.) Now pick one.<br /><br />Take three sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 paper and a pen, and go somewhere that you would not normally write. Just start writing and don't stop until you have filled three pages! Neatness, grammar, paragraph breaks, and punctuation are not important!!! What you write might be random thoughts related to the topic you chose. You CANNOT do this wrong! So get going! <span style="color:#cc66cc;">HAPPY WRITING!</span><br /><br />Later come back and put what you have written on the computer. Tidy it up a bit and put connected thoughts together. Just see what you might come up with. Consider sharing with me what topic you chose to write about.<br /><br />In a few days, I will share with you what I wrote!!Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-43674233646921315552009-09-02T19:17:00.004-07:002009-09-02T19:29:44.911-07:00Out of the Mouth of Babes<span style="font-family:verdana;">I love the cute things kids say, especially my grandchildren. I wish I had written more of their saying down. Anyway, I thought I would share this conversation amongst three of them.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">My oldest daughter recently told of this discussion in the car:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Rachel says, "When I grow up I want to be a<br /><strong>vegetarian</strong>--you know a person who helps animals." (I smile.) </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Brent says,<br />"Well, I want to be a <strong>scientist</strong> or a <strong>video game player</strong>." (I chuckle.) </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Jacob pipes up, & I quote, "When grow up I want to be a<br /><strong>candy taster</strong>." (Uncontrollable laughter.) </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Whose kids are these?</span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Well, I certainly know whose grandkids these are!!!!!<br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-28410079398038453572009-08-25T09:44:00.008-07:002009-08-25T10:23:21.871-07:00Getting Ready for Flu Season<span style="font-family:verdana;">(Note: This may or may not interest those of you in the Northern Hemisphere. Nevertheless, I felt a need to try to help those who are interested in staying healthy this fall and winter.)<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Swine flu (H1N1) season is coming. With all the hype in the news, it makes us all a little fearful to say the least. So I want to give you some positive ways to approach flu season.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">It is important to understand that there are literally hundreds of H1N1 flu viruses. The current strain is similar to the Spanish flu of 1918 and the Hong Kong flu of 1968.<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">So what can we do that is proactive?<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Start now to build you immune system! Prepare your bodies defenses!</strong><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>*Nutriferon</strong></span>-boosts the body’s natural production of interferon/phytonutrient blend that provides immune support at the cellular level. #20960</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#009900;"><strong></strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>*Immunity I</strong></span>-blend of six immunoactive vitamins, patented blend of antioxidants with rosemary extract, and mineral support for a strong immune system. #20241<br /><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>*Defend & Resist</strong></span>-a herbal blend with Echinacea, black elderberry, and larch tree extract which stimulates the body’s natural resistance. #20613<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><p><span style="color:#009900;"><strong></strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>*VIVIX</strong>-</span>patented formula to fight aging at a cellular level, but it also contains the black elderberry! #21000</p><p></p><p>*Antioxidants such as <span style="color:#009900;"><strong>CarotoMax</strong> </span>and <span style="color:#009900;"><strong>FlavoMax</strong></span> #20652 and #20654 or any other antioxidants, many found in foods.</p><p></p><p><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></p><p><span style="color:#3333ff;">*FOR CHILDREN:</span> <span style="color:#009900;"><strong>Incredivites</strong></span>-first children’s chewable multi-vitamin in the U.S. with immune supporting lactoferrin, a nutrient also found naturally in breast milk and researched for its role in activating components of the immune system.</p><p><br /></p><span style="color:#009900;"><strong></strong></span><p><span style="color:#009900;"><strong></strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>*Optiflora</strong></span>-colon health supports immune health. #20639</p><p></p><p>*Try to get proper rest and reduce stress where possible.<br /><br />*Cut back on intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>WASH YOUR HANDS! WASH YOUR HANDS! WASH YOUR HANDS!<br /></strong></span>The spread of flu can be curbed by 90% by regular hand washing. Folks this is an easy one. Teach you kids this!<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Keep your fingers out of your eyes, nose, and mouth.<br /></strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Use</span></strong> <span style="color:#009900;"><strong>Basic G</strong></span> (#00525) <strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">and/or</span></strong> <span style="color:#009900;"><strong>Germ Off Disinfecting Wipes</strong></span> (#00322). Keep the wipes in zippered bags in your purse, in your car, and in your kids back packs. Wipe hands, steering wheel, doorknobs, desks, phones, etc. (You can make your own wipes with the Basis G if you choose. (Basis G spray bottles for mixing are #50531 and the dispenser bottle with dropper tip is #50419.)<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Consider masks for public transportation.<br /></strong></span><br />Hope this information is helpful. For more information, leave a message with email address to respond or go to my website </span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.shaklee.net/lifetimewellness">ww.shaklee.net/lifetimewellness</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">). </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Disclaimer: I am not a licensed healthe care professional. This information is shared as a friend to a friend.</span>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-16392125787147101942009-08-24T09:43:00.002-07:002009-08-24T09:50:58.579-07:00Food for Thought<span style="font-family:verdana;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Some people see clutter as signs of disorganization.<br />For others, clutter means a major creative project is going on." </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"> -Patricia H. Sprinkle </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">"When you organize, you're just reshuffling the same<br />heavy load. When you simplify, you actually eliminate a large chunk of it. Simplifying is not about learning how to do more in less time. It's about doing less so you'll enjoy it more." </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"> -Elaine St. James </span><br /></p></blockquote></span>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-74487046383298902902009-08-17T15:11:00.005-07:002009-08-17T15:22:42.193-07:00Apricot Cream Cheese Coffeecake<span style="font-family:verdana;">I made these coffeecakes for a recent baby shower brunch. (The original recipe called for apricot preserves. But it is also good with strawberry or raspberry perserves.) Thought you might enjoy the recipe! See below.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0ILB5b9ICVGtHRHwotjaRm5TTRam76s0rd1mmJ7Hk-eWAX4ov2D_92d7pX_oG-k-TriJEnYhDgTGi5Ts_uKEClU3uDdi-wm5xpucTfDRbO3u6VGsBaVJnNjPCPI57zBHEighbw/s1600-h/IMG_1236.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371059434416624770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0ILB5b9ICVGtHRHwotjaRm5TTRam76s0rd1mmJ7Hk-eWAX4ov2D_92d7pX_oG-k-TriJEnYhDgTGi5Ts_uKEClU3uDdi-wm5xpucTfDRbO3u6VGsBaVJnNjPCPI57zBHEighbw/s400/IMG_1236.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> This shows how half of the batter goes on the bottom of the pan---then the preserves---then the remaining batter. The batter is then spread evenly over the preserves.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv5mQ23Fo3VqMqGlowRi6HeA1trkMB8I8L2IuFw9Znlhi3U8UoVNhZ2vjgCP7PSg1UtRf3yi_OmBOO_RQImgThkjsod0DTBHnJ1OQwkCla7cwgmJPs7bVdqd-v-vYnIuYpiZGZA/s1600-h/IMG_1237.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371059285056743826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv5mQ23Fo3VqMqGlowRi6HeA1trkMB8I8L2IuFw9Znlhi3U8UoVNhZ2vjgCP7PSg1UtRf3yi_OmBOO_RQImgThkjsod0DTBHnJ1OQwkCla7cwgmJPs7bVdqd-v-vYnIuYpiZGZA/s400/IMG_1237.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Into the oven! This shows the crumb topping---the final touch before baking.</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7ztGByRRjfnT7hORdlvkGueNdibIB1D0gAIU63F88k9l3YZbDDQTkEAYSHPDOC-MzSkcBJJ5IHVj001LdPeneK8m6adUdqpWI0-lan6ThruOnKhx7ZoBf-aGU_LvcFxavt7Sxg/s1600-h/IMG_1238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371059176647518514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7ztGByRRjfnT7hORdlvkGueNdibIB1D0gAIU63F88k9l3YZbDDQTkEAYSHPDOC-MzSkcBJJ5IHVj001LdPeneK8m6adUdqpWI0-lan6ThruOnKhx7ZoBf-aGU_LvcFxavt7Sxg/s400/IMG_1238.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> All done and ready to eat! Very yummy!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Apricot Cream Cheese Coffeecake</span><br /></span><br />Cream together:<br /> 1 8oz. pkg. softened cream cheese<br /> ½ cup butter, softened<br /> 1 ¼ cups sugar<br /><br />Beat in:<br /> 2 eggs<br /> 1 teaspoon vanilla<br /> ½ teaspoon almond extract, opt.<br /><br />Sift together:<br /> 2 cups flour<br /> 1 teaspoon baking powder<br /> ½ teaspoon baking soda<br /> ¼ teaspoon salt<br /><br />Add flour mixture alternately with:<br /> 1/3 cup milk<br /><br />Pour half of batter in greased 9x13 baking pan and spread evenly.<br /><br />Spoon on and gently spread:<br /> 1 12 oz. jar of apricot (or raspberry or strawberry) preserves<br /><br />Spoon remaining batter over the top and gently spread to cover preserves.<br /><br />For TOPPING combine with pastry blender:<br /> ¼ cup butter, softened<br /> ½ cup sugar<br /> ¼ cup flour<br /> Then add 1/3 cup of sliced almonds, opt. Sprinkle the crumb mixture on top.<br /><br />Bake at 350º for 35-40 minutes.<br /><br />Good warm or cold!</span></div><div><br /><div></div></div></div>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-38166640969863720612009-08-10T21:04:00.003-07:002009-08-10T21:51:36.020-07:00Birthday Reflections<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pl67gR26gEcMKQ6jGrozhSTYQMq5fF4iFRBjjSfaRn9XWinaARWNNmEgLLDwDbR8rHo8VuCVcFPViQj2LEnS3KqkSa0wfvJIxx3Etx5MwB7imsnFpr3DQpqtii28C9jgt60dZw/s1600-h/IMG_1224.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368553646291041762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pl67gR26gEcMKQ6jGrozhSTYQMq5fF4iFRBjjSfaRn9XWinaARWNNmEgLLDwDbR8rHo8VuCVcFPViQj2LEnS3KqkSa0wfvJIxx3Etx5MwB7imsnFpr3DQpqtii28C9jgt60dZw/s400/IMG_1224.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">Birthdays nowadays always seem to bring out my reflective nature. Each year the number increases by one, and I wonder where the years have gone. I realize that more of my life is behind me than what lies before me. Thus I ponder the meaning of my life. <em>Have I lived it well? What next? What is God’s plan for me at this stage of life? Am I relevant in the world in which I live?</em> My pensive questions seem endless.<br /><br />I don’t readily have answers to all my questions. Maybe contemplating the questions is quite enough. Then I remind myself that growing older is a good thing, especially since the only one way to avoid aging is to die young. Yes, each year of life is a gift, and with that gift I must accept that aging comes with the territory.<br /><br />Today I relished the day in celebration of my birth. I sipped my morning homemade latte on the front porch. I picked myself a bouquet of pink, white, and purple zinnias. I opened a new mascara. I walked through the neighborhood. I got my free car wash! I washed the sheets on my bed. Cards and phone calls blessed my day. My husband took me out for a delicious dinner. All in all a lovely day! Now I shall go crawl in those clean sheets and thank God for giving me 58 years.<br /></span><div></div>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-60408605943367403252009-08-02T10:30:00.005-07:002009-08-02T10:54:17.323-07:00Cook Breakfast While You Sleep<span style="font-family:verdana;">Many of us grew up eating oatmeal for breakfast. My mom cooked old fashioned rolled oats two or three times a week. It was an economical staple in our household. Then I also cooked oatmeal for my kids—though probably not quite as often. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I first ate steel cut oats as a cooked breakfast cereal many years ago when my husband and I visited Scotland. I enjoyed it so much that I ate it almost every morning while we were there. When I returned home, I still didn’t cook it for myself. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Then several years later I rediscovered this hearty breakfast cereal as one of the many selections on the breakfast buffet at my favorite inn on the Oregon coast. So I purchased some steel cut oats to cook at home. They take a long time to cook, so before I would go to bed, I would bring the water to a boil, and then add a pinch on salt and the correct amount of oats to the water. I put a lid on it and remove it from the heat---let it set overnight. The next morning, it would only take ten minutes to cook it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Recently, one of my daughters found a suggestion online to cook the steel cut oats overnight in the crock-pot on low. And someone else suggested using a Pyrex or Corningware casserole dish or bowl inside the crock-pot (with water around it) for an easier clean-up. Wow! It’s great! Breakfast cooks while you sleep! Ready when you and your family are ready, and no waiting. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I buy organic steel cut oats at Vitamin Cottage for $2.03 for two pounds. At a dollar a pound that is an inexpensive healthy breakfast. (A serving is ¼ cup, so a little goes a long way.) Many other places carry steel cut oats. King Soopers has it in bulk, but it is more expensive. You can also find it in canisters and cans at most any store. The imported McCann’s is more expensive, but a good products. <span style="color:#ff0000;">Below are photos of the crock-pot process.</span> </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Let me know what you think! </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Here’s to a hot, healthy breakfast that cooks while you sleep!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVExxygblS0Loc1rqpzuLN-iKLmYtgPv9D5m1Zo5HTO0xnwsvYYwsEEQVubTLjS0Y6UzCxpjy_wtUnE4URbVImCujU8vtLivkjuIfVirlgeh24CLI1SImqcwpQ0uj2GeSEeps_tg/s1600-h/IMG_1214.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365423242230981634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVExxygblS0Loc1rqpzuLN-iKLmYtgPv9D5m1Zo5HTO0xnwsvYYwsEEQVubTLjS0Y6UzCxpjy_wtUnE4URbVImCujU8vtLivkjuIfVirlgeh24CLI1SImqcwpQ0uj2GeSEeps_tg/s400/IMG_1214.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Ready to cook! This is two servings. Use the package directions for the amounts of water, oats, and salt in the oven-safe casserole. (Most use 1/4 cup steel cut oats to 3/4 cup to 1 cup of water.) Put water around the dish inside the crock-pot. Turn on low when you go to bed.<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgJcX82UqAmUUfAsgazwKBcEIBMzZZEOQ6znvXDbjbQ_2nWFB4Cn4vgwqZgZwwKwi3m_byTx1TsJqzKMUnBHirESGiQlwfjXgTmRRIQe7ivfK5_tbr2PainhthiPWyWLni9ESUw/s1600-h/IMG_1215.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365423119256234514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgJcX82UqAmUUfAsgazwKBcEIBMzZZEOQ6znvXDbjbQ_2nWFB4Cn4vgwqZgZwwKwi3m_byTx1TsJqzKMUnBHirESGiQlwfjXgTmRRIQe7ivfK5_tbr2PainhthiPWyWLni9ESUw/s400/IMG_1215.JPG" border="0" /></a> This is what it looks like when you wake up in the morning. It is ready to dish up and serve.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7canwpCyRIhFFsJxIo4HhRvIxyLCZiIKUCflcw5Q108Pfje5kRYnkSQd62SZHegzIpxSZ5uF3iV07MMTCmvxaGhPw7Fx8KcKyJWZNU7BYVLsHko7H1DXXK7aKpX8uFLIr9OaRVQ/s1600-h/IMG_1216.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365422948417927714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7canwpCyRIhFFsJxIo4HhRvIxyLCZiIKUCflcw5Q108Pfje5kRYnkSQd62SZHegzIpxSZ5uF3iV07MMTCmvxaGhPw7Fx8KcKyJWZNU7BYVLsHko7H1DXXK7aKpX8uFLIr9OaRVQ/s400/IMG_1216.JPG" border="0" /></a> This morning I added blueberries (anti-oxidants!) and a few walnuts (good fat/Omega-3). I sweeten mine with either pure maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar.<br /><br /><div><br /> </div><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></p><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"></p><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></span></div></div></div>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13724025.post-33739784812882063132009-07-17T14:11:00.010-07:002009-07-17T14:32:33.298-07:00Marlene's GardensI thought I would share a few current blooms from my gardens. Enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ndEgUFw8Cdp2HmlWeeP6MK-hh_CYr0RDiooutTEeJgC8CBmrSoXsrYwY6ptnHGEidyM1RpTByMEaNP98QNwMgC9r9M6c_LDgqlTX7by3zuJgDsCvzNpHTAAiPb9jT8KCS4777Q/s1600-h/IMG_1186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359541863317643122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ndEgUFw8Cdp2HmlWeeP6MK-hh_CYr0RDiooutTEeJgC8CBmrSoXsrYwY6ptnHGEidyM1RpTByMEaNP98QNwMgC9r9M6c_LDgqlTX7by3zuJgDsCvzNpHTAAiPb9jT8KCS4777Q/s400/IMG_1186.JPG" border="0" /></a> Double Delight rose! This is one of my favorites. I have around 30 rose bushes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMYVEJ8Au-MXUnfmZP_fj_nWX5tMeBYZsmpw4_LHkh48LJjYuNSZC4qWUdrkyOkJKUHKK_8tXa4EXzSlk70QzHq9sUrP4EotqsRi7ztso_pDqrItvWVUNgGw9eOVQzkZHkO7-_Q/s1600-h/IMG_1195.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359541770131667250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMYVEJ8Au-MXUnfmZP_fj_nWX5tMeBYZsmpw4_LHkh48LJjYuNSZC4qWUdrkyOkJKUHKK_8tXa4EXzSlk70QzHq9sUrP4EotqsRi7ztso_pDqrItvWVUNgGw9eOVQzkZHkO7-_Q/s400/IMG_1195.JPG" border="0" /></a>Hidden bloom on my Endless Summer hydrangea. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrxH2fhoth2K7LtYoVU2qrkE_xp7ILM6RmJ34VzCQlZSZ0-qCLG2GrT62iVP2l3yOSWCmqpNLLLOUdyAEobSLymNe3REMaLmpBJMWXIP3z7GJ85vzKVb3LYrdjBnCDoErYYYdog/s1600-h/IMG_1187.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359541616674334898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrxH2fhoth2K7LtYoVU2qrkE_xp7ILM6RmJ34VzCQlZSZ0-qCLG2GrT62iVP2l3yOSWCmqpNLLLOUdyAEobSLymNe3REMaLmpBJMWXIP3z7GJ85vzKVb3LYrdjBnCDoErYYYdog/s400/IMG_1187.JPG" border="0" /></a> Daylilies! I don't know the variety. It was mismarked---I thought I was getting yellow.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCf7_kNoAvoFIhUpHH-FdaAO5cyi7PMDBmBN0zR-YKpjGZxgt8HOuUkWGS1rOSuQJ7PYrwDQ1WrUojcpecaJHhluQfIwSfgZ9FkgU6558kCddXs5bs7Tf6jMmjM3qsPS0pQRDlA/s1600-h/IMG_1190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359541475260280338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCf7_kNoAvoFIhUpHH-FdaAO5cyi7PMDBmBN0zR-YKpjGZxgt8HOuUkWGS1rOSuQJ7PYrwDQ1WrUojcpecaJHhluQfIwSfgZ9FkgU6558kCddXs5bs7Tf6jMmjM3qsPS0pQRDlA/s400/IMG_1190.JPG" border="0" /></a> Six of my eight garden beds. Fresh produce is wonderful<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXesuKMu2ReH1TuWKOD48hChh_ZvAyrmrbtRtO3eZIXh04o_qWpWtDmTobylChYjo5rvdrzVTnF3pvRlksYxz8ymsTLBhCP_ZuYgU86A72p2TncACu4KlLsG14YNfyRZjPpScTA/s1600-h/IMG_1184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359541337575894530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXesuKMu2ReH1TuWKOD48hChh_ZvAyrmrbtRtO3eZIXh04o_qWpWtDmTobylChYjo5rvdrzVTnF3pvRlksYxz8ymsTLBhCP_ZuYgU86A72p2TncACu4KlLsG14YNfyRZjPpScTA/s400/IMG_1184.JPG" border="0" /></a>I have four pots like this one on the back patio. The purple is million belles---one of my favorites especially for hanging baskets.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0IuoVzx88BGAkFkGFTE6pWhDf6XCNuE3Y5Yc4bCoGTWxIPTwRJOukDJwaTfiwyM97bbZvLZbIsPzLjlhW8eqCyuArmPcXES2hI2IH6d05YtWexR2p8mJGk54cyKRt_LlPlm6oA/s1600-h/IMG_1194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359541228431330690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0IuoVzx88BGAkFkGFTE6pWhDf6XCNuE3Y5Yc4bCoGTWxIPTwRJOukDJwaTfiwyM97bbZvLZbIsPzLjlhW8eqCyuArmPcXES2hI2IH6d05YtWexR2p8mJGk54cyKRt_LlPlm6oA/s400/IMG_1194.JPG" border="0" /></a> Geraniums and a nice place to relax.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaWndm7BLSzkx9XBt0om_E_hM2XoJZVwkKbiUOkJGa5tmhjObqx-HsLT2qDG3pxj56dG5zKmfjVXZs_FdDSwKNuCYp_1ORf-voSsZL5ai3SXAIMlNSF2Cx7sYB4XkHFf_RQ0dlQ/s1600-h/IMG_1188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359541095486743794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaWndm7BLSzkx9XBt0om_E_hM2XoJZVwkKbiUOkJGa5tmhjObqx-HsLT2qDG3pxj56dG5zKmfjVXZs_FdDSwKNuCYp_1ORf-voSsZL5ai3SXAIMlNSF2Cx7sYB4XkHFf_RQ0dlQ/s400/IMG_1188.JPG" border="0" /></a> Clematis and mixed annuals.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIOBV7tCFWGTZ2fr_AKd0X-PPwhlwxuZJrxx_3x3ARZmNA0XlxKI1t5NBGP56fCLX3RtwY5DZ_Z8bYtk2CmUsesgNiIX7qu3M48Aq7DJsLa_1PE3mOInAC5749_EB3jR4IeqbqQ/s1600-h/IMG_1193.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359540897602017538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIOBV7tCFWGTZ2fr_AKd0X-PPwhlwxuZJrxx_3x3ARZmNA0XlxKI1t5NBGP56fCLX3RtwY5DZ_Z8bYtk2CmUsesgNiIX7qu3M48Aq7DJsLa_1PE3mOInAC5749_EB3jR4IeqbqQ/s400/IMG_1193.JPG" border="0" /></a> I planted these petunias, and the marigolds seeded themselves from last year.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwWtCEAr1McBVvvhtK_k93MCP7SnXRaeczgdljmK_Hgtjl8-G1DjP2s86hhXH9jk8xUM-rA2S3e07LFa4_gtdxSF2D5RioeWXw4phtmKLMMWQUH8OoQpx558fJa6VPvUIIA0yRA/s1600-h/IMG_1192.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359540326437454594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwWtCEAr1McBVvvhtK_k93MCP7SnXRaeczgdljmK_Hgtjl8-G1DjP2s86hhXH9jk8xUM-rA2S3e07LFa4_gtdxSF2D5RioeWXw4phtmKLMMWQUH8OoQpx558fJa6VPvUIIA0yRA/s400/IMG_1192.JPG" border="0" /></a> Unexpected blooms! The lone petunia and blue salva came up "volunteer."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Marlene Deplerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17234416468274345329noreply@blogger.com2