What a fun picture! Alas, our one and only visit to a hot air balloon festival was when the balloons were all grounded. It was freezing cold, so we walked among the heat of the machines that were on to heat the balloon air in case the ban was lifted. We never did get to see them in air. It must be an awesome sight to see in person. Even more awesome to ride in one! Has anyone here done so?
Morning! It’s 10 degrees and the sun is shining but did not bring warmth with it!
There is a balloon festival every Labor Day in the Springs but we have never gone. We were always at Family Camp during that weekend.
When my Dad retired my older sister decided to treat him to a hot air ballon ride in Michigan where she lived. Lo and behold a thunderstorm was lurking and as soon as Dad was up in the air the storm moved in. Sis was in a panic as she was filming from below with her handy dandy video recorder. She handed the recorder to some stranger standing close by and she took off running after the run away balloon! To say the least she certainly made a memory for our Dad! And somehow that stranger found her after all the kerfuffle and returned the recorder which had some really hilarious audio captured! I have no desire to go up in one of those things!
Oooh, love that header. I have only seen blimps in person, no hot air balloons.
We are awaiting more tests today so Art missed lunch and dinner yesterday and now breakfast this morning with very few fluids except from the IV bag and water to wash down meds. I told the nurse that this is better than bariatric surgery for losing weight.
I’ve had a cup of coffee, Belvita biscuits, and graham crackers with apricot applesauce, all broght from home except for coffe available here. Sometime I need to go on a search for real food for myself but hate to leave since I never know when something might happen.
This beauty floated over our house last week, close enough that when Sammy went upstairs to her bedroom she could converse with the people outside her window.
I went on a hunter and gatherer mission and rounded up a fresh tuna salad sandwich. They snuck in a tomato thatI did not catch onto at first and it sure added good flavor. I found the second slice and removed it. It’s been years since I have had a tuna salad sandwich so it was worth the six dollars. I saved the chocolate chip cookie for Art in case they ever decide he can have food again. It is almost lunch time and Nada Word.
I almost went up in one, for an assignment, two papers ago, does that count? I can’t remember what happened that I didn’t. Weather issues canceled it, maybe?
New Mexico (Albuquerque?) is known for one of the biggest hot air balloon festivals I think?
Another election dump coming late today, I seem to now be swept in as part of that “team” that has to update all of that for us in the county (so many cities and school districts and candidates …) Sigh.
I overslept this morning, got up 30 minutes before our daily morning staff call that kicks off the work day. But I felt groggy.
I’ll get 9+ hours of overtime thanks to all those weekend assignments though.
Had a dream that my church was going to open a dog park on some extra land it had, but there were neighbors all around the space and I kept telling them it won’t work, too many homes too close — and sure enough, the dream ended with a bunch of the neighbors marching toward the church in protest! Weirdly they were holding kitchen utensils, all of them were women. That’s when I woke up with a start and realized I’d really overslept!
Janice, I like how you brought food from home that mirrors the hospital fare 🙂 Poor Art, hoping the tests get done quickly, the results are positive, and this ordeal will be over for you two soon.
~ Dark Providences are those events that not only cast a deep shadow but seem inexplicable. They seem to overwhelm us and turn our thoughts upside down in bewilderment. We are lost in trying to find out a purpose in them (Psalm 77:19). “When providences are dark it is difficult to read them” (John J Murray). If they are difficult to comprehend, how much more challenging is it to submit to God’s will that it should be so? It may seem virtually impossible. Perhaps God does not even seem to be near (Job 23:8-10). Yet it may be that in the confused noise of such dark trials we can discover more of what it is to trust an infinite God through submission. The darkness then becomes to us “the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). ~
More on the topic here (“Enduring dark providences,” written in 2021):
~ The past year has been difficult for many people. The question that many are asking in light of all the difficulties and suffering is related to God’s providence. Scottish theologian John Murray explained the dilemma well: “When adversity comes into our lives we tend to react in one of two ways. We may say that it is from a source other than God and He has no power to stop it; or we may say it is an evidence of God’s anger against us. Either way we are guilty of casting aspersions on the character of our Father and consequently of perverting our attitude to Him.”1 The Bible does give an answer to the question of where God is in the midst of our suffering. The answer is found in the doctrine of God’s providence.
What is the Doctrine of Providence?
The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of the universe, is sovereign over creation, and is independent from all things. But it also teaches that God is involved in creation, working in the world and in the lives of human beings. God is not aloof and uninvolved in the world, as deism teaches. Nor is God surprised by suffering and evil in the world, as open theism argues. God is transcendent over all things (Psalm 113:1–6), and yet He is still active and involved in the world (Psalm 113:7–9).
The doctrine of providence unites both the transcendence of God and the immanence of God. It can be defined this way: Providence is God’s active sovereignty and involvement in every aspect of our lives at all times for His glory and our good. …
Good thoughts, Dj. Things we all need to remember.
Well I got a start on my doors today. A friend came and we worked on them together. She has done this before and I said I needed the help and someone to crack the whip and get me started.
First we did the precoat which was an oil base. It really looked good. Then we had a lunch break before doing the stain. We were working on three doors and the jams of two of them.
The stain looked terrible. Then my friend read the can and it said to wait five minutes and wipe it off. Wiped most of it off and it looked okay, whew!
But I decided to wait on the other two doors. The one we finished is in the laundry room and will not be seen. I like the look of the door with just the prestain. I may go look for a natural stain.
Just as we finished I got a text from my daughter inviting me for Thanksgiving dinner. I was not sure if I would be invited. So this is a cause for rejoicing.
I just finished reading a new book by Tracy Higley, Nightfall in the Garden of Deep Time . Some of you might enjoy it. It can be inspiring for those of us with a creative bent.
From her website:
Kelsey Willoughby doesn’t have time to pursue her writing dreams. Imagination doesn’t pay the bills, and she’s busy saving her beautiful bookshop from online competition, hotel developers, and the sneaking suspicion that nobody reads anymore.
Not to mention all those voices telling her she doesn’t have talent.
But then the vacant lot of weeds next door starts to shimmer.
Wandering Views 
What a fun picture! Alas, our one and only visit to a hot air balloon festival was when the balloons were all grounded. It was freezing cold, so we walked among the heat of the machines that were on to heat the balloon air in case the ban was lifted. We never did get to see them in air. It must be an awesome sight to see in person. Even more awesome to ride in one! Has anyone here done so?
LikeLiked by 4 people
Morning! It’s 10 degrees and the sun is shining but did not bring warmth with it!
There is a balloon festival every Labor Day in the Springs but we have never gone. We were always at Family Camp during that weekend.
When my Dad retired my older sister decided to treat him to a hot air ballon ride in Michigan where she lived. Lo and behold a thunderstorm was lurking and as soon as Dad was up in the air the storm moved in. Sis was in a panic as she was filming from below with her handy dandy video recorder. She handed the recorder to some stranger standing close by and she took off running after the run away balloon! To say the least she certainly made a memory for our Dad! And somehow that stranger found her after all the kerfuffle and returned the recorder which had some really hilarious audio captured! I have no desire to go up in one of those things!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oooh, love that header. I have only seen blimps in person, no hot air balloons.
We are awaiting more tests today so Art missed lunch and dinner yesterday and now breakfast this morning with very few fluids except from the IV bag and water to wash down meds. I told the nurse that this is better than bariatric surgery for losing weight.
I’ve had a cup of coffee, Belvita biscuits, and graham crackers with apricot applesauce, all broght from home except for coffe available here. Sometime I need to go on a search for real food for myself but hate to leave since I never know when something might happen.
LikeLiked by 4 people
This beauty floated over our house last week, close enough that when Sammy went upstairs to her bedroom she could converse with the people outside her window.
LikeLiked by 4 people
So exciting, Linda!
I went on a hunter and gatherer mission and rounded up a fresh tuna salad sandwich. They snuck in a tomato thatI did not catch onto at first and it sure added good flavor. I found the second slice and removed it. It’s been years since I have had a tuna salad sandwich so it was worth the six dollars. I saved the chocolate chip cookie for Art in case they ever decide he can have food again. It is almost lunch time and Nada Word.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Making progress on the backlog: a 65-slide Powerpoint for the innocent Bible study ladies tomorrow.
As per Hemingway, if I have time, I may edit the photos down a few slides. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Up, Up and Away-ay!
I almost went up in one, for an assignment, two papers ago, does that count? I can’t remember what happened that I didn’t. Weather issues canceled it, maybe?
New Mexico (Albuquerque?) is known for one of the biggest hot air balloon festivals I think?
Another election dump coming late today, I seem to now be swept in as part of that “team” that has to update all of that for us in the county (so many cities and school districts and candidates …) Sigh.
I overslept this morning, got up 30 minutes before our daily morning staff call that kicks off the work day. But I felt groggy.
I’ll get 9+ hours of overtime thanks to all those weekend assignments though.
Had a dream that my church was going to open a dog park on some extra land it had, but there were neighbors all around the space and I kept telling them it won’t work, too many homes too close — and sure enough, the dream ended with a bunch of the neighbors marching toward the church in protest! Weirdly they were holding kitchen utensils, all of them were women. That’s when I woke up with a start and realized I’d really overslept!
Janice, I like how you brought food from home that mirrors the hospital fare 🙂 Poor Art, hoping the tests get done quickly, the results are positive, and this ordeal will be over for you two soon.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Of all times, lunch is really late! The man is hungry since breakfast tim yesterday and it’s almost 2 p.m. today!
And just like that that, the tray arrived! PTL!
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And before he can eat, someone came in to get vitals. All he wants is vittles😀
LikeLiked by 3 people
Someone here will enjoy this blog post . . . M for starters.
https://stevelaube.com/7-favorite-writer-destinations/
LikeLike
And if we had a theology thread (though this intersects with daily life, prayers and politics pretty well, too — as does all of theology 🙂 ):
https://www.reformationscotland.org/2017/03/10/submitting-to-gods-will-in-dark-providences/
Submitting to God’s Will in dark Providences
~ Dark Providences are those events that not only cast a deep shadow but seem inexplicable. They seem to overwhelm us and turn our thoughts upside down in bewilderment. We are lost in trying to find out a purpose in them (Psalm 77:19). “When providences are dark it is difficult to read them” (John J Murray). If they are difficult to comprehend, how much more challenging is it to submit to God’s will that it should be so? It may seem virtually impossible. Perhaps God does not even seem to be near (Job 23:8-10). Yet it may be that in the confused noise of such dark trials we can discover more of what it is to trust an infinite God through submission. The darkness then becomes to us “the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). ~
LikeLiked by 3 people
More on the topic here (“Enduring dark providences,” written in 2021):
~ The past year has been difficult for many people. The question that many are asking in light of all the difficulties and suffering is related to God’s providence. Scottish theologian John Murray explained the dilemma well: “When adversity comes into our lives we tend to react in one of two ways. We may say that it is from a source other than God and He has no power to stop it; or we may say it is an evidence of God’s anger against us. Either way we are guilty of casting aspersions on the character of our Father and consequently of perverting our attitude to Him.”1 The Bible does give an answer to the question of where God is in the midst of our suffering. The answer is found in the doctrine of God’s providence.
What is the Doctrine of Providence?
The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of the universe, is sovereign over creation, and is independent from all things. But it also teaches that God is involved in creation, working in the world and in the lives of human beings. God is not aloof and uninvolved in the world, as deism teaches. Nor is God surprised by suffering and evil in the world, as open theism argues. God is transcendent over all things (Psalm 113:1–6), and yet He is still active and involved in the world (Psalm 113:7–9).
The doctrine of providence unites both the transcendence of God and the immanence of God. It can be defined this way: Providence is God’s active sovereignty and involvement in every aspect of our lives at all times for His glory and our good. …
https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource-library/articles/enduring-dark-providences/
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good thoughts, Dj. Things we all need to remember.
Well I got a start on my doors today. A friend came and we worked on them together. She has done this before and I said I needed the help and someone to crack the whip and get me started.
First we did the precoat which was an oil base. It really looked good. Then we had a lunch break before doing the stain. We were working on three doors and the jams of two of them.
The stain looked terrible. Then my friend read the can and it said to wait five minutes and wipe it off. Wiped most of it off and it looked okay, whew!
But I decided to wait on the other two doors. The one we finished is in the laundry room and will not be seen. I like the look of the door with just the prestain. I may go look for a natural stain.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Just as we finished I got a text from my daughter inviting me for Thanksgiving dinner. I was not sure if I would be invited. So this is a cause for rejoicing.
LikeLiked by 4 people
oh, Mumsee, how I wish that you would check in. How may we be praying?
LikeLiked by 3 people
I just finished reading a new book by Tracy Higley, Nightfall in the Garden of Deep Time . Some of you might enjoy it. It can be inspiring for those of us with a creative bent.
From her website:
https://tracyhigleybooks.com/products/nightfall-in-the-garden-of-deep-time
LikeLiked by 2 people
‘Imagination doesn’t pay the bills,’ but does writing? lol?
I stained my back gate a couple years ago and it turned out really nice, if I don’t say so myself.
I’d like to stain the back fence, but it’s 6 feet tall, redwood, and the backyard is large.
Just finished the latest vote tally updates, had to do (again) the multiple city and school board races throughout our section of LA County.
My eyes started to glaze over with all those #s and percentages and names and cities. And my back also hurts now.
Another vote dump comes tomorrow but I have a major virtual port news conference in the morning which will keep me busy for most of the day.
LikeLiked by 2 people