Canning Days

    For basically as long as I can remember (which is back to when I was almost three), my family has annually canned fruit. When you're little, you can find yourself sitting in a chair at the kitchen table wielding a butter knife in one hand and a cherry in the other. No, dear, you don't need to cut it with that; we're not taking the pits out. Just pluck the stem off and put the cherry in the jar. But . . . we all grow older, don't we? And before we know it, we are soaked from our fingertips up to our elbows in mushy pear juice. No matter how messy it gets, the reward of smooth, sweet slices of pear is so delicious. I'd say canned pears, peaches, and cherries are my favorites, though we do others, also.

   This year, our canning adventures included:

          apricots,

              pears,

             cherries,

              and prunes.

   If you are considering helping with a pear-peeling session, here's a spot of advice: make very sure you hold the pear over the table . . . and hold it gently; do not hold it tightly. If you do, you'll soon be left with an empty, sloppy hand and with a runaway pear half gloating over its victory while it's four feet away from you on the kitchen floor. I've learned this, and it's not fun to chase after rebellious fruit halves that can't stay where they are supposed to.

Have you ever canned or helped with canning? What's your favorite canned food?

There Goes the Rain/ Going Ballistic Update

    Good afternoon, friends! I am pleased to report that sunshine still exists and that behind the clouds, the sun is shining; believe me even though you can't quite make it out. (Yes, that's from the song "Behind the Clouds.") While I do like rain, I enjoy the sight of sun peeking tentatively around the cloud's fluffy shoulder to reassure me it's still there. And guess what else? The sky's still blue! Eeks! The "nice" weather (top three pictures) can turn into "summer weather" (bottom three) very quickly indeed!

   Before

   and after.

And now about Going Ballistic. I've gotten people-- *ahem ahem* you know who you are --asking me to put up more of Going Ballistic. I'd been thinking I could quietly stop putting up more snippets, but when you faithful readers ask for more, I hate to refuse. So I will be putting up at least one more chapter . . . and maybe two . . . and maybe three, but no promises. I love it when you all love my stories. It's such an encouragement. So . . . keep your eyes open, and hopefully I'll have some snippets on here soon.

How's your weather? Does it look like autumn yet, or is summer being stubborn and hanging on as long as possible where you are?

Favorite Authors & Books #4 / Classics Pt. 1

    I think one of the best types of books are the ones dubbed "kid's book" yet are still entertaining enough to hold the attention of a bit older reader, like myself. These books, many of whom have found a spot in history's hall of classics, are great for pulling off the shelf both when you want to read in your head and when your audience includes a young group of eager listeners. There are a few I still appreciate, and will continue to appreciate, even if they are considered for little kids. 

   The first classic I want to mention is The Cricket in Times Square.

   I love this book. It's so fun and engaging (hey, that's probably why it got a Newbery Honor!), and I do not find it boring. This opinion certainly can differ from person to person, and I agree some people would find it boring, but I myself really like this book! So happy to have it on my bookshelf.

   It follows the adventures of Tucker Mouse, Harry Cat, and Chester Cricket --who becomes a famous musician due to his musical talent-- in Times Square.

Sensitive content: a bit of smoking in one scene

Age recommendation: 8+

My rating: 4 star

Note: I hope to do more parts of this "classics" post. Please tell me below in the comments if you think that sounds interesting enough. I don't want to be posting things that are dull!

Oh, and I got a new "signature." 

Notable Events

    Hey, I'm back! Many apologies for waiting so long, but the obligations of school have begun their annual consumption of time. That said, maybe I should try to write up multiple posts during free time and then schedule them for the weekdays?

   Not many things have happened recently . . . except a funny story which took place this last Lord's Day (yesterday). The church we are going to is holding their  services outside (legally, of course). The rain had been holding off, but a foreboding chill was in the air, promising that it would not remain dry for long. 

   And, well, it didn't. I had noticed some small stray droplets falling here and there, so I can't say I was really surprised when a sudden downpour startled people into opening umbrellas, flipping up their jacket hoods, or holding up a book or board of some kind above their head. A few people rushed to cover the equipment, while a few hardy souls sat calmly in their chairs, watching the commotion and making no move to shield themselves from the wet onslaught. I was among those who calmly retrieved an umbrella . . . though my doing so was mostly because I just wanted to hold one, not really because I cared so much about getting wet. I love rain. The other day, it was pouring at our house, so I ran outside in bare feet and began splashing the water in the puddles every which way, not minding that my hems were being soaked. (Yes, that's me. *grin*)

   Did you know that the Bible speaks of rain numerous times, and not just during its recounting of the Great Flood? Psalm 135:5-7 says:

For I know that the Lord is great and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightnings for the rain, Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.

   If you are like me, you do not like high winds, nor are you very fond of lightning. Big winds, especially, make me nervous. But this verse says God makes the lightning and the wind is from His treasuries? You know, I don't think I've really thought about that verse until right now, as I am typing this. Hmm. God is in control of the winds, because they come from Him. I need to remember that next time I'm in bed listening to the wind!

What's been happening with you? Do you like rain? What about wind? (Haha.) And could you help me out bit? For those of you who do follow/read my blog, do you have any extra suggestions for blog posts? I figure I have a generally wide variety of posts, but if you've got another idea of what you'd enjoy seeing, maybe I'll add it to the list!

Signed,

Martha 

Take Me Out to the Campground

    I'm back! We've been busy (which I'm sure you all can relate to) and I've been gone for a bit of time, too . . . at the one of the most glorious places one can go on a short vacation. I happen to have just thought of my own rendition of a song that is perfect to describe it.

The Campground.

(Read this with the "Take Me out to the Ball Game" tune in mind.)

Take me out to the campground,

Take me out to the woods;

Let's set up the tents

And get out the s'mores.

I don't care if they burn; 

I'll get more.

For it's camp-camp-camping for me,

And if it rains it's a shame,

Yet I'll stay, stay, stay out there

All the same!

   

   Anyway, yeah, that's where we've been. (And by the way, I don't prefer a rainy camping trip . . . but it sounded effective, so . . .) And I've brought back more than pictures with me; I've brought stories. Okay, let me tell you about them before I unleash the photographs.

(1) I was sitting innocently in front of the camp fire in the deepening twilight when I took note of some random bird that wouldn't stop flapping around over our campsite. Crazy bird, go to sleep. Oh ho. That just went to show the fact that I obviously hadn't been paying any attention, or I could've distinguished the difference between the chirp of a bird and the squeak of a bat. Now, I'm going to up and say it: I do not like bats and they make me uneasy. I know they won't hurt me unless I try to touch them or something (which I certainly would not do of my own free will), but they strike me as kind of weird. Oh well. Maybe it's just me?

(2) We went swimming in a nearby lake. The shallow end, which basically came up to just over my waist, was refreshing and pleasantly warm. I thought I might need to wear sandals if the bottom was rocky, but as it turned out, once you got past the shore (and the rocks were smooth anyway), it was delightfully sandy. 

I headed out to the buoys, growing more pleased as I learned that this was indeed a very pleasant spot for a swim. Well, that was until I tried venturing past the "shallow end" buoys into the deep end . . . which did have buoys, too. (Don't worry; I wasn't breaking the rules.) I thought it might be fun to swim for "real". 

Ha ha. Little did I know that I was going right into a patch of my sea-faring arch-enemy: seaweed. After a few dramatic events, I came to the decision that the shallow end was perfectly fine and certainly fit for me. I'm not too fond of swimming in super deep water anyway. I like to be able to feel or at least see the bottom. But anyhow, I learned a lesson: seaweed does not care how you feel about it, and it will not move out into the middle of the lake and away from the designated swimming area just cause you don't like it. *sigh* Inconsiderate plants. *laughs*

   Alright, after all that, maybe you would like me to pause my rambling and show the pictures now? Great idea; I was just thinking the same thing! Well, here you go:

                       Got a little visitor in our campsite!

   Our puppy's first camping trip! She leaps away when we splash her with water at home, but she showed her true colors when she soaked herself at the beach in her attempts to eat the waves breaking on the shore. Silly girl.

   Yep, that's all. Of course, I am glad when we get home after camping trips, but it's fun while it lasts. The first day is the most fun because you know you have a whole camping trip to have fun, and the last day is most sad, because it's all over now. Smelling campfires, roasting s'mores (or burning them, if you're like me), and hearing the quiet murmuring and rustling in early mornings, accompanied by the sound of zippers zipping and unzipping. Snuggling in the cozy jacket or hoodie, watching the flames flicker in the ring, and wondering how in the world the Lord did it. 

   He made all this, no matter what anyone else says. It wasn't evolution; it wasn't the big bang. No, the Creator of all this is even more incredible than anything man could dream up. It is impossible to explain away God's patent that He placed on all his creation. It is obvious that only an infinitely wise, all-powerful God could have made all this out of nothing, for He needed nothing but His word. Even nature itself testifies to His role as Creator and Lord. 

   Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all it contains; let the field exult, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness. 

Psalm 96:11-13

Signed,

Martha

Life Update

    So sorry I haven't been around much, but with the new school year starting up and summer drawing to a close, I'm going to be too busy to post as often as I had been. Never fear, though; I'll do my best to post at least once a week. 

      I've got exciting news. I'm participating in a short-story writing contest over at Andi's Blog. And the TOP FIVE have been listed just today. Go on over and check it out! Read those fantastic stories and vote for your favorite! I can't wait to see who will be crowned the two winners. 

   We're also planning on taking a trip again! (Hooray for road trips!) I personally love long drives, complete with forested roads, sack lunch, a few precious books, and a backpack resting on your feet. Here's to hoping I get some splendid pictures to share with you all. So stay tuned! 

   Also, I've got a request. I know I don't have too many people visiting my blog yet, but I have got something for those of you who do and have published a book before! I've got a request that goes something like this: if you would, comment below and tell me how (and through what process) you got your book published. If you are willing to share that information with me, I'd be appreciative. I'm exploring the idea of self-publishing a book within the next few years (if I can), and I'd love to know what options are out there. Thanks!

Signed,

Martha