My book that is. It needed some cosmetic surgery. When they say, ‘camera ready’, they are not kidding! You may purchase your own copy (please do! you’ll love it!) by clicking on the above Lulu button. Thank you for all your words of encouragement. Don’t forget the drawing tomorrow. Stop by and see who won!
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You only have today and tomorrow to post a comment and get your name entered into the drawing for this lovely tea/coffee pot.
Click on the pic to make it bigger.
You can get a tilt shift lens for a couple of grand, or, you can do the effects yourself in photoshop or in my case, GIMP. I tried reading and following the instructions provided on line, but form the screen shots, it looks like his GIMP is a bit different from mine and/or I just couldn’t make heads or tails form most of it because I’m not proficient in GIMP.
Here are some examples of really great tilt shift photos. Not done by me! Remember, these are photos of real things and real places. They are made to appear to be scale models because of either the lens used or manipulation of the photo.
Tiny Tea Party, originally uploaded by Sherry’s Rose Cottage.
My Favorite Chocolate Pot, originally uploaded by Sherry’s Rose Cottage.
Cup & Saucer Collection, originally uploaded by talekinker.
Ranunculas-Teapot, originally uploaded by teacup mosaics.
, originally uploaded by m.hadding.
Blue Ribbon, originally uploaded by talekinker.
Royal Albert Tea and Cupcakes, originally uploaded by Candylei.
gradient, originally uploaded by Vladimirs Guculaks.
Tech Hubby would love the Swiss army Knife usb thingy.
Frog Takes Tea with Friends, originally uploaded by Candylei.
Tiny and Strong, originally uploaded by VL77.
I’m cruising Flickr today. Do you like it when I do this, showing you different tea photos? let me know.
Hello Lovelies. I’m giving away this delicious looking strawberry metal teapot. It is for decorative purposes only. I will be drawing from the names of people who have left me a comment in the month of July. Any comment past or present until 07/31. The drawing will be held the first week of August. You may go back and comment on any posting to qualify.
Good luck to all!
We are having a bit of a heat wave this year. It hit 101 yesterday which is a bit unusual for our city. Last year, we had so much wonderful rain. Not this year.
Here is a picture of what it looks like where Tech Hubby and I spent the 4th of July. It was so very beautiful. I’d love to have a home there some day, maybe. Sometimes the idea of something is better than the reality.
One of the things that makes our trip to the lodge every year so enjoyable is the wonderful people there with whom we get to visit. I get to watch, ‘J’ grow up. Her birthday is two days before mine. This year, I brought my Anne of Green Gables book for her as a gift. She is doing her best to hide herself in a big ball cap and jacket, despite the heat.
Our hosts are delightful as well. You know those kind of people, kind to everyone, generous and loving. Many things are discussed during the few days we visit. Our topics of discussion range from string theory, to ancient ruins to conspiracy theories. We quite enjoy ourselves.
One thing I’ve noticed though that is not enjoyable to hear is the mixing of Christianity with other religions.
Christianity is and always has been different and able to stand on its own without needing to be ‘padded’ with other, false doctrines. Jesus himself said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ John 14:6
There is no other path to eternal salvation. There is no other doctrine, no other ‘truth’ no other anything that will get you into heaven and enjoying eternity with God than through the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. If you are believing something else, with or in place of the gospel, you are in for a nasty surprise one day. You cannot worship the earth and God. You cannot worship any other deity and God. Only God. It is high time Christians stopped trying to please everyone and focused only on pleasing God. We cannot accommodate every other spiritual belief and still call ourselves Christians. To be a Christian means to be a follower of Christ. That’s it. Christ. Nothing else.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
Refrain
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
Refrain
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
Refrain
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Refrain
The holidays are coming up and so is that age old question:what gift should I give? You don’t really want to just buy something that could end up at a garage sale or gathering dust on a shelf. Why not give a gift that your friends and family can cherish now, and in the future? Why not give a gift that they will enjoy and will remind them of you even after you have passed away from this world? Give your friends and family the gift of your life.
It broke my heart when my beloved grandmother and dear Aunt left this world before their stories could be told. Don’t let this happen to you. I have met so many interesting people through my blog. Every person has a story to tell. Why not tell yours?
That red book standing out on the shelf above could be the book that holds your story, your legacy.
Contact me today. Tell me your story and leave your legacy.
I had such a lovely birthday. I am truely blessed by my family and Tech Hubby. We had dinner with mom and dad last night then went to their house for peanut butter pie with home made chocolate sauce. My gift to you today? -the recipes for both! I apologize in advance for not giving credit where it is due for the recipe source. I asked mom where she got the recipe and she said, ‘from a lady at work years ago’. This recipe has been seen at birthdays for many years now so who knows at which job or through what lady it was discovered.
PEANUT BUTTER PIE (makes 2 pies)
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 C peanut butter
1/2- 3/4 container of Cool-Whip (c)
Marie Calender’s pie crusts.
Cook and cool pie crusts according to directions on package. Allow the ice cream to melt. Combine ice cream and pb. Add Cool-Whip (c) last gently stirring. Fill pie shells and place in freezer until solid.
HOME MADE CHOCOLATE SAUCE
1 C sugar
1 heaping, and I do mean heaping TBS of Cocoa powder.
1 small container of whipping cream-must be whipping cream, not table cream
dash of salt
2 TBS butter
Combine all ingredients and cook over med. heat whisking constantly. Boil for exactly 2 minutes remove from heat and add 1/2 to 3/4 tsp vanilla.
Try hard not to eat right out of the pan!
I hope you enjoy this recipe. I sure do!
Thank you to all of my dear internet friends for the wonderful emails and comments for a happy birthday!
Sometimes, a gift, wrapped in pretty paper and a bow are just what is needed. A treasure you couldn’t imagine indulging yourself with (for me found at the Antiques Mall) is always a welcomed treat, but this year, I wanted to treat myself to a few luxurious experiences. Now, those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know I firmly believe in using your ‘good stuff’ as everyday stuff;china, linens, pretty candles, etc. I don’t believe that pleasure, in the proper context, should ever be labeled as a guilty pleasure. That said, here’s what I have done so far for my birthday.
Tech Hubby gave me one dozen long stemmed roses, a creamy white color with pink blushes. I combined them with the status from my garden and made a lovely bouquet. Last night I, with birthday money, picked up a container of caviar and a bottle of ‘pink champagne’. This morning, I enjoyed a champagne breakfast of caviar on toast points. I was going to make blinis, but I wasn’t feeling well enough to stand in the kitchen for so long. I also indulged in a bowl of Rainer cherries. For those of you who live where they are cheap and plentiful may not understand why they would be such a treat, but here in Colorado, they are $8.99 a pound. I found some on sale and snatched them up! The picture above features one of my most favorite candy bars ever. I don’t usually buy them as they are a bit pricey but again, I’m going for an experience this time rather than a trinket. Mozart bars are :Finest pistachio marzipan and hazelnut nougat in a crispy milk chocolate.
Yes, it is just as good as it sounds.
Then, there is this little guy from Whitman’s, filled with fine artist designed chocolates. This one might become a more frequent indulgence, especially when I have a tea party. These cute chocolates would look perfect on a three tiered tray laden with sandwiches, scones and fruit. Don’t you agree?
So now, I must go and get ready for lunch with mom before the tourists crowd up the place where we are planning to meet.
Have a wonderful day everyone and whether or not it is your birthday, find away of enjoying something today you wouldn’t normally do for yourself, that would be my gift to you!
It has been brought to my attention that how my book turned out is quite different then what I submitted for printing. I have temporarily suspended its availability while I work on correcting the problems. Thank you for your patience.
A Teacupful of TurmoilA Teacupful of Turmoil (book)
Print: $8.89
Download: $6.25
For Ruby Cross, life is filled with difficulties and sorrows, until a kindly, elderly patron from the tea room where Ruby works,takes her under her wing and mentors her into a way of life Ruby has never before experienced. There are a few bumps along the way with flared tempers,inflamed jealousies and blackmail. Vi, Ruby’s mentor, has a handsome great-nephew, Devlin Cummings-Black staying with her in her huge mansion.Can Ruby let herself heal,enjoy the second chance she’s been given and tear down her walls and let love in? Will love grow between Devlin and Ruby or will a handsome stranger come between them?
Did you know that Alaska is about 58 MILLION acres big. 58 Million. Let that sink in for a minute. Now, in Alaska, there is a huge oil reserve. Yes, it’s huge, but it is ONLY roughly 2 million acres out of 58 million. Two. Our fuel has been held hostage by environmental terrorists. I despise environmental terrorists. Why? Because unless they are growing their own food, clothes and riding horses everywhere or walking, they are hypocrites. It is not just fuel that consumes energy folks. If you wear any items of clothing for which you are not producing the raw materials, you are consuming raw energy and resources in the manufacturing and shipping of those clothes. Unless you grow your own food, you are consuming raw energy in the growing and shipping of everything you eat, and use in America. You simply cannot get away from it. So, while enviro. terrorists wag their fingers at everyone else and try to keep us from using our own natural resources, other countries are stealing our supplies.
So, FINALLY, the Interior Dept. has opened up 2.6 million acres for drilling. Woohoo! Oh, and while our lovely enrivo. terrorists keep us from using our own resources via off shore drilling, China is stealing our oil. See, China doesn’t care if we use our oil or not, it’s just more for them. So while we’re all lighting candles and singing Kum-bye-ah over spotted owls and sacrificing our fuel because of hysteria over destroying the environment, China positions oil crews just beyond our borders and sucks up our much needed resources. That, my dears, is messed up! If there is going to be drilling for oil off our shores, it should be we who are doing the drilling. America must once again become self sustaining. We are too dependent on other nations for food, fuel and manufacturing.
America is again in a battle for her independence. Independence from foreign dependence.
So, Tuesday is my birthday. By now, you all know I’m a tad eccentric. What would be my ultimate b-day gift? Well, if you happen to have an extra $85,000.00 lying around you don’t know what to do with, you could always buy me THIS. I am gaga for trolleys. Why? I love old stuff. I really, really love old stuff. Trolleys are great for tricking out in the Steampunk style as they already have great wood panels and brass accessories. This particular trolley comes with a potty. Very important for those of us who suffer from IBS.
Even though it’s called the party trolley, you know what I would do with it. That’s right, it becomes the tea trolley. yeah, baby! There I would go, puttering down the road, ding! ding!, stopping to have tea with people.
Heck, it would just even be a blast to drive the thing!
DING! DING!
I received an email from the church secretary today regarding the fall home groups. Ack! Fall! Meetings and start dates begin next month. NEXT MONTH! and in September.
Here is my challenge to you, join one of my Yahoo! groups. Either the Three Plus One Club
alt=”Click here to join threeplusoneclub”>
Click to join threeplusoneclub
or Christian ladies Tea Society.
alt=”Click here to join christianladiesteasociety”>
Click to join christianladiesteasociety
Why? Because people are lonely. People are seeking. Be a mentor. Reach out and make friends and change people’s lives for the better. More ideas and recipes to come on both group sites.
I love the unique ways that God comes up with to show me things.
This week, especially today, He is talking to me about water. I turned on our oscillating sprinkler in the back yard, trying to get that big brown patch, my peonies, and my rhubarb plant to perk up. Word must have spread through out the song bird community as soon, my yard and trees were filled with their colorful antics as they tried to get the best spot for a free shower. Some, swooped through the falling water drops in great acrobatic maneuvers, others perched on branches or hopped around in the grass. After being splashed with the water, they would shake and flutter to spread the water out over their bodies. It is clear, they were enjoying this rare treat.
Living things need water. Not just water, but clean water, free from contaminates.
Recently, in one of the on-line tea site/yahoo! groups I visit, a lady from England who had just moved to a mountain community in America, was writing about how she was told not to drink the water from the tap. She felt that if she filtered it or boiled it she would be ok to drink it. I wrote to her cautioning her against drinking her tap water. Here in Colorado, there have been several towns with water issues this year. In some cases the water was safe to drink after boiling, while in other instances, you could not even bathe in it without getting sick.
The contaminates in the water of these mountain towns ranged from dead rodents to microscopic, but still deadly, bacteria. Yes, you could filter out the rodents, boil the water and drink it, but why would you want to? Wouldn’t you rather have pure clean water free of contaminates?
People not only need good, clean physical water, but good clean spiritual water.
International Standard Version (©2008)
Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Someone may say, “I’m allowed to do anything,” but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but not everything encourages growth.
Why am I bringing this up? Well, I had a disturbing conversation this morning with a loved one. No, it wasn’t Tech Hubby, we’re good. I was trying to explain to this person a review I had read on a book she had lent to me that she had read and thoroughly enjoyed. I had wanted to have a discussion with her about it, but it was clear to me she felt I was attacking her and her reading choices. One thing she said to me that shocked me was, ‘Everyone has their opinion and is entitled to it.’ Why did this surprise me so? Well, this book we were discussing(trying to discuss) contains biblical untruths and heresy. The person I was talking to enjoyed the book for other reasons without taking into account the inaccuracies. Why would this matter? you might ask. Well, what if someone else is reading this book and is unstable in their relationship with God or is a new Christian or it’s given to someone who isn’t a Christian in a well meaning but misguided attempt to lead them to salvation?
Sentences like this:’
‘On page 110 (of The Shack) Jesus says that He is perhaps not the way, truth, and life, but the BEST way to relate to the Father and Holy Spirit. Papa God, the African-American female, says she has many followers of many religions in different lands. This is not Orthodox Christianity…’
Quote taken from Jan Markell over at The Omega Letter.
A wrong opinion (those who feel sex with children is ok, is an opinion, a wrong opinion but do you see where I’m going? ) can be very damaging. The gospel, isn’t about an opinion, it’s about irrefutable truths. The gospel isn’t about shopping around for a belief and you take some from here and some from over there and you patch together a universal and spiritual truth that fits you. The gospel is about changing yourself to be a reflection of Jesus. What would you think of a mirror that gave you its opinion of how you look or how you should look but never gave you an honest picture of yourself? What if an honest reflect was what it would take to save your life? Would you want your mirror to be subjective then, when your live was on the line? How about when eternity is on the line? How much weight would someone’s opinion hold if you did some serious thinking about where you were going to spend eternity and their opinion took you down a path of destruction? Would you be so eager to hear their opinion then? I wouldn’t.
International Standard Version (©2008)
You blind guides! You filter out a gnat, yet swallow a camel!
There has been a great deal of camel swallowing going on in churches lately. There has been more discussion of worship music than sin. What the lady in the fifth row is wearing than, what really matters. Perhaps this is why people are getting so riled up when challenged on such things as which is better, worshiping the creation, flowers, or worshiping the creator, God. Btw, the answer is, God should be worshiped, not the flowers. Even the rocks know this and cry out when we get distracted.
Jesus is THE ONLY WAY, the ONLY TRUTH and the ONLY LIFE.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
So, if you are reading anything else and thinking it might be fun or a little bit true (that’s like being a little bit pregnant, you either are or you are not and something is either true or it is not), it is boiled down, contaminated and not fit for consumption by your spirit. Some things should be read to see what the enemy is using now to distract people, but it should never be accepted as a partial truth because something in it made you feel good.
Opinions are like belly buttons, everyone has one, but only God has the Truth.
Well, it’s official, I have put my book on Lulu. Click HERE to see the book cover.
Click ——>
to buy it.
I just read a great piece by Stephanie Finch on Why You Should Never Be a Start Up Girlfriend.
Well, being a start up wife can be quite a challenge too.
You don’t just have one absent minded geek in our life, you have many, and the finance guys, and lawyers and my personal favorite, our friend the loquacious folklorist who once came to our house and monologued for 16 hours straight. At 10:00p.m. my ears hurt, my head was swimming and I went to bed, leaving my husband to fend for himself.
Being around someone 24/7 who is driven, creative, emotional and amazing, changes you. I’m more aware of my surroundings politically. I know more about technology now than I ever did the previous 40 years of my life whether I wanted to learn or not.
I love my husbands merry band of start up guys. These are people who know people. These are people who deal in multiple zeros to the left of the decimal point. These are people who don’t sit around complaining about an issue but discuss how to make it better and in some cases, how to make it better and sell it.
In one instance, Tech Hubby and I were scouring D.C. for an appropriate dress for me to wear to the Metropolitan Club. Oh, how I wished that instead of Girl Scouts, my mom had insisted I take etiquette lessons. I did my level best to study up on what to do before we left for the trip, but in some cases, no amount of reading can make up for experience. This is why I got into etiquette. You just never know what life is going to throw at you and nothing I learned in Girl Scouts prepared me for anything I’m experiencing today. (btw, no, I did not steal the tiny silver teaspoon that came with my tea at the end of dinner but oh, I was sorely tempted!)
Being married to this man, this wonderful creative, accomplished man who loves the Lord and is not afraid to show it, makes me want to utilize my creativity more. I see him grinding out the code bit by bit, not giving up, accomplishing amazing things (he has two Academy awards in the Scientific and Engineering category). I have seen him deliver on his promises which is so refreshing to see in a person given how flaky some people can be.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all peaches and cream. Start ups rely on other people’s money, so do we. if they don’t get paid, we don’t get paid. It can be a bit unnerving but I’m learning to rely on God as it should be. He is our source. There are many nights of going to bed alone while he stays up until 3 a.m hammering out a project. Tech guys can be night owls. Keep that in mind if you’re thinking of transitioning from Girlfriend 2.0 to Wife 1.0. We usually only eat dinner together on home group night. Many days, though, we make a point to eat breakfast together and have ‘quiet time’ where we read our bibles, discuss what we’ve read and catch up on what each other is doing and how things are going. There is usually a good deal of laughter and good natured teasing.
There is also the times where he is physically in the room, but his mind is coding. It’s like having a ‘Husband on a Tether’. He’s there, floating way above it all. Would you like to talk to him? I’ll give the line a tug and see if he can come down.
Did you see the movie, ‘The Jane Austen Book Club’? Remember the guy who kept comparing Jane’s books to Star Wars movies, yep, Tech Hubby. Most things in life get compared to technology, code, explosions, liquid oxygen (especially cool for bbq experiments, watched on YouTube) The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Universe (enthusiastically quoted), Monty Python (enthusiastically quoted). He cannot remember a single word of music even if he has just sung the song, but he can sit down, read a coding book in a week and get started on the project as soon as he’s finished reading how to do it. Many of his books are 4-5 inches think, minimum. Yeah, he’s good.
I love my Tech Hubby. He is exactly the man for me and I’m so glad he is in my life. it’s a good thing though, that I can entertain myself and have interests and hobbies that I can do without him. If you’re needy, don’t marry a start up guy, go find a 8-5 guy who is home on the weekends. It takes a different kind of woman to love such a different kind of man. A woman who is independent, understanding, patient, patient, patient, forgiving, creative and patient.
A Teacupful of Turmoil is now on Lulu. You have enjoyed the first 4 chapters, and now the entire book is available for you to purchase and take with you to the beach or pool or park. You are no longer stuck at your computer screen waiting for the next chapter.
You may either buy it as a download or buy a paperback copy to be shipped to you.
Take A Teacupful of Turmoil with you where ever you go this summer!
Please give some feed back here on what you think of the cover art. I took the picture and designed the cover.
Thank you for stopping by and if you purchase a copy of my baby, er, I mean book, an extra special thank you to you!
head on over to The Scarlett Rose Garden to watch some great videos on how to pinup your hair like Rosie, do Victory Rolls, and retro make up. It’s fun!
Our government was/is supposed to be created by the people, for the people. That was all blown away when Congress held a secret meeting on March 13th of this year. Please watch the following videos and be educated about how your rights are being stripped away. Americans have enjoyed unpresidented freedoms for the last 300 or so years. If we don’t stand up for our rights, we could end up like China and North Korea.
What is REX-84?
Rex 84, short for Readiness Exercise 1984, was a plan by the United States federal government to test their ability to detain large numbers of American citizens in case of massive civil unrest or national emergency. Exercises similar to Rex 84 happen periodically.[1] Plans for roundups of persons in the United States in times of crisis are constructed during periods of increased political repression such as the Palmer Raids and the McCarthy Era. For example, from 1967 to 1971 the FBI kept a list of persons to be rounded up as subversive, dubbed the “ADEX” list.[2]
According to scholar Diana Reynolds:
- The Rex-84 Alpha Explan (Readiness Exercise 1984, Exercise Plan; otherwise known as a continuity of government plan), indicates that FEMA in association with 34 other federal civil departments and agencies conducted a civil readiness exercise during April 5-13, 1984. It was conducted in coordination and simultaneously with a Joint Chiefs exercise, Night Train 84, a worldwide military command post exercise (including Continental U.S. Forces or CONUS) based on multi-emergency scenarios operating both abroad and at home. In the combined exercise, Rex-84 Bravo, FEMA and DOD led the other federal agencies and departments, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Secret Service, the Treasury, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Veterans Administration through a gaming exercise to test military assistance in civil defense.
- The exercise anticipated civil disturbances, major demonstrations and strikes that would affect continuity of government and/or resource mobilization. To fight subversive activities, there was authorization for the military to implement government ordered movements of civilian populations at state and regional levels, the arrest of certain unidentified segments of the population, and the imposition of martial rule. [3]
Existence of a master military contingency plan, “Garden Plot” and a similar earlier exercise, “Lantern Spike” were originally revealed by journalist Ron Ridenhour, who summarized his findings in “Garden Plot and the New Action Army.”[4]
Rex 84 was mentioned during the Iran-Contra Hearings in 1987, and subsequently reported on by the Miami Herald on July 5, 1987. [5]A number of websites and alternative publications that span the political spectrum have hypothesized upon the basic material about Rex 84, and in many cases hyperbolized it into a form of urban legend or conspiracy theory. Rex 84 is sometimes cited as an extension of the fictional King Alfred Plan, a strategy to detain African Americans. Nonetheless, the basic facts about Rex 84 and other contingency planning readiness exercises–and the potential threat they pose to civil liberties if fully implemented in a real operation–are taken seriously by scholars and civil liberties activists.[6]
CHAPTER FOUR
Devlin watched as the sun came up over the eastern plains. He had been up all night pacing back and forth in front of the fire place in his room. The argument at dinner last night only increased his aunt’s resolve to give everything away to That Woman. How had she done it? How had she been able to wheedle her way into his aunt’s life and into her/ his fortune? What now? He could not stand idly by and risk losing the family estate to a stranger no matter how captivating she was or how beautiful she looked when she was flustered. She seemed to be flustered around him quite a bit. The idea came to Devlin as a surprise at first. Why hadn’t he thought of it sooner? Could he pull it off without getting caught up in her web of lies? His tired body wanted to rest after a night of anxiety ridden pacing. He sat down in the wing back by the fireplace. Not to rest, but to plan. This was something he had done before, he could do it again. The only difference was that the stakes were higher. What of it? He was a man of means, used to being challenged and used to getting his way. He rarely disappointed himself by not getting what he wanted and this would be no different. In fact, his plan would get him everything he wanted and a little more, just because he could.
Feeling energized by his new plan, he rang for breakfast and hopped into the shower. He was done and shaving when Myers knocked on his door with the tray. She set everything up by the window as was his custom and left without a word. Devlin finished his routine and sat down to enjoy his spinach and cheese, egg white omelet with whole grain toast on the side and strawberry jelly. Black coffee and the morning paper helped to greet the morning and make it some what bearable to be awake at this hour after not having slept all night. Despite his lack of sleep, Devlin decided to keep his appointments for the day which meant beginning the day at the Garden of the Gods country club. After dressing in wool slacks and a cashmere sweater over a button down shirt, Devlin went downstairs to don his coat and scarf and headed out the front door and into his vintage DB5 Aston Martin. As he drove to the club he kept thinking about Ruby, his aunt, and about how much had happened in the short amount of time since he had met Ruby yesterday morning. In a little over twenty four hours she had gone from a pretty stranger in the park, and possible conquest, to a house mate but still possible conquest. He shifted the gears a little harder than he intended just thinking about all the trouble she could cause now that she was in residence. She would most likely chop the house up into apartments and rent it to strangers who would steal the fixtures and ruin the floors. He growled at himself, no matter how hard he tried to stay angry at her, his mind kept wandering to the way she smiled, when she had smiled at him, before she started scowling at him, which seemed to be all she did since he first met her in his aunt’s hall.
She was curvy and beautiful, slightly plump, and as he tried to formulate the rest of his plan, all he could do was think about was how pretty she was and how flustered he made her. It made him smile to think about her. He was still smiling at the thought of her when he turned his car into the club’s drive way. He was hoping a good game of racket ball would clear his head so he could think later. He handed his keys to the valet and entered the club and checked in before heading to the locker room. Charles was already there and changing into his shorts when Devlin set his bag on the bench between them and began to fill in his friend on all that had happened since their last match as he changed his clothes and they headed to the court and began playing.
“You’re in love!”
“Charles, don’t be ridiculous.”
“No, I’m serious.”
“So am I. She’s a liability that’s all. Someone I need to deal with if I’m going to keep that house in the family. I’d marry her to do it. I would.”
“What, did you have to invent a reason to marry just so that you wouldn’t look like you had caved?”
“What?!”
“You met this girl. She got to you. You’re thinking, ‘Hey maybe she could be the one.’
But you have such a reputation as a ladies’ man you can’t just do the dating thing and marry her so you invent some drama to make it all worthy of the reputation of the Great Devlin Black. You can’t just go out and find a girl, there has to be a thing. A catch. You can’t just fall in love you have your reputation to think about.”
“You’re so full of it!” Devlin shot the angry words at his friend and hit the ball harder. He had come here to think and to get some support for his plan, not to be picked apart and analyzed.
“No, man, think about it. You have spent time in Europe, Asia, India. You have done business all over the world and you’ve had pretty women in every country but you’ve never needed or supposedly had a reason to marry any of them until now.”
“Focus, Charles, it’s about the house. The house that my great-grandfather built. The house that was supposed to be mine.”
“Please. You have enough money to build a replica of that place ten times over and still have enough left over to keep generations of Blacks happy and gainfully unemployed.”
The growl started deep within Devlin’s chest. Charles never had a chance. Suddenly it was impossible to keep up with Devlin who seemed determined to take his anger at Charles’ words out on the racquetball, and his friend.
“Hey, ease up.” Charles tried to protest but it only drove Devlin’s anger deeper.
Whack, grunt, splat. Devlin looked over to see his friend sprawled out on the court floor, unconscious. He cursed to himself under his breath and pushed the buzzer for one of the club’s first aid techs. A few moments later, Charles was sitting in a club chair with an ice pack on his face glaring at Devlin. It had been serious enough for the tech to call in the club doctor but Charles and declined a trip to the E.R.
“Here, let me take a look,” offered Devlin.
“You’re not going to punch me now are you?”
“Shut up and let me look.” Devlin felt about an inch tall for what he had done but did not know how to make it up to his friend. At the time of the incident, he wasn’t sure with whom he had been more angry, himself or Charles. The fact that he took his anger out on his friend only made it worse when he had been hurt. He had only wanted his friend to lose, not to be injured. He pulled back the ice pack and winced at what he saw. Charles’ eye was now swollen shut and the skin around it was beginning to darken. He would have a nice shiner before too long. Devlin’s heart sank. He offered to give his friend a ride home. When they had changed and were getting ready to leave, the club manager asked to speak to Devlin in private. Charles waited patiently.
“What was that all about?” He asked when Devlin finally emerged from the manager’s office, his face a barely contained storm of anger.
“I’ll tell you in the car. Let’s go.”
Devlin eased his friend into the front seat, tipped the valet and climbed into the driver’s seat and took off, losing himself in his thoughts.
“Dev?”
Devlin smiled at the old nickname. They had come up with them when they were younger thinking their given names were too stiff for a couple of ten year olds. Dev and Chuck.
“I’ve been suspended. Unsportsmanlike behavior. One month.”
“One month! But I’m fine.”
“That’s not the issue. They reviewed the game from the tape. You know they have cameras everywhere. Even though I didn’t deliberately aim for your head, I hit the ball too hard for you to avoid it. I’m sorry, Charles. I only wanted to win. I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know, I know.”
Devlin drove through the familiar streets of downtown Colorado Springs. His friend lived in one of the over priced (in Devlin’s opinion) lofts that lacked the character and charm of the older neighborhoods. Some developer a few hears back, had bought up some of the older buildings, stripped them of their charm and built industrial looking lofts within their historic walls. Devlin hated the exposed heating and air conditioning vents and the fact that you had a really great view of the police communications tower. For almost a million dollars he could find a hundred properties he liked better that had more room, character and no bums relieving themselves on the sidewalk in front of the building. His car bottomed out on the entrance to the under ground parking but he didn’t say a word.
Charles looked at him in disbelief.
“Wow, you must feel really guilty.”
“Let’s just get you upstairs.”
He was sure it would hurt too much to make laughing at his friend worth it, so Charles let it go and they rode the elevator in silence. Once inside, Charles flopped down on his leather sofa and turned on the t.v. looking for a game as Devlin refilled the ice in the baggie for his eye and grabbed them both a bottled water from the fridge.
“Here” he grunted at Charles offering both items to him without much fanfare. He sat down in a chair and focused on the game for a while as they both sipped in silence.
“I think you’re right.” Devlin waited for his admission to sink in and for his friend to react. Charles sat still and waited for his friend to continue. These moments were few and far between so he thought it would be best to just let his friend get it all out at once.
“I do want the house, but it’s more than just that. How can one chance meeting make a man feel this way. It’s more than just wanting a one-nighter with her, but why? Why is she different than the others that I’ve had. And let me tell you, there’s been more than a few.”
Charles rolled his eyes at that one but let it pass. The great womanizer, Devlin Black was having an epiphany. He would have gladly suffered two black eyes not to miss this.
Devlin went on, “She’s tall and red headed. When have I ever gone for a tall red head?”
Charles shrugged knowing it wouldn’t matter but feeling like he need to interact a little.
“I haven’t even really sat down to get to know her. There was dinner last night but that turned into a fight and I left this morning before she was up. She probably wouldn’t want anything to do with me now anyway after all that’s happened and I still have my doubts about her motives.”
Charles cleared his throat. “Maybe you should go home and get to know her.”
Devlin looked at him.
“She may not be as bad as you think. Obviously there is something about her that appeals to your aunt or she wouldn’t have done what she did. I don’t think your aunt was trying to hurt you, Devlin. Look at all she has done for you over the years. She has always been involved in charitable organizations and loves helping other people. Maybe she thought you had proven that you can take care of yourself and she just wanted to help out this woman-”
“Ruby.”
“Ruby, and give her a chance.”
“Well, that is what Aunt Vi said last night.”
“There you go. Why didn’t you believe her?”
“Because she’s getting older and I had been gone for a while and I thought she had been taken advantage of by Ruby.”
“You need to trust you aunt’s judgment.”
“Maybe. Ruby’s not going anywhere and the doctor said you needed to be monitored for twenty-four hours so I’m staying until Becky can come by and stay with you. If Ruby is still at Vi’s when I get back I’ll make things better. If not, well, there’s my answer.”
Charles looked at the clock. It wasn’t even eleven. It was going to be a long day until six when Becky could get there after work. His girlfriend’s boss wouldn’t let her have the day off to look after him but he knew she would be here as soon as she could leave work.
“Why don’t you order some food then if you’re going to stay.”
“Chinese?”
“Chinese.”
Devlin picked up the phone and speed dialed their favorite place.
“They’ll be here in about 30-45 minutes.”
They sat in silence watching the game, waiting for the food.
I was watching a show on PBS last night called: Great Lodges of the Canadian Rockies. Aside from the Banff which was magnificent, one that stuck out in my mind was the Six Glaciers Teahouse. There are no pictures of it on line and it is not necessarily a spectacular structure like the Banff, but there is just something about it that appealed to me. They have no electricity or hot water, but no phones to ring and distract them or steal them away from the beauty of the Rockies and quiet contemplation. I’d love to go there, or back to Bubba’s without all those people being there, sucking up the quiet. I enjoyed meeting and being with the people who were there, to a point. Then, I would have loved being there alone with Tech Hubby.
Our friends who own the Lost Stirrup Lodge, are owned by two papillions. This is the smaller of the two. His name is Tout de suite, pronounced, ‘toot sweet’. He has a slightly larger black and white brother named Wink.
This little guy jumped up on the foot stool, then walked across Tech Hubby’s legs like a bridge, then settled down and made himself quite at home. Interestingly enough, Tech Hubby let him. Tech Hubby does not like animals and does not understand the psychology behind pets. Toot also likes to sniff your eyes. Don’t ask because I have no idea why.
When I tried to hold him and pet him, this is what he said, (use your best Inspector Clouseau voice) “Non my Cheri. I am not a cute fluffy toy to be played with, I am a fierce guard dog. I must protect zee mountain lodge from zee poodles. Zey are planning a coup. I just know it. I must remain on high alert and cannot be distracted by zee scratching of zee ears.”
I’d like you to meet one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, Bubba. Every year, Bubba has a powered para glider fly-in at his lodge in south west Colorado near the Royal Gorge. Take a peek at his site and the Colorado beauty we are all blessed with on a daily basis.
Here are some photos I took last year.
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Here are quotes from some of our founding fathers on the Fourth of July, independence, and thanksgiving. For all of you who beat the drum of separation of church and state (which is NOT in the constitution so stop calling the constitutional separation of church and state!) Please take note of all the references to God Almighty. The One, the only, God of America.
In 1776, John Adams declared, “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.”
The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God’s Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being perswaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and soulds as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ.”-George Washington.
“We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We’ve staked the future of all our political institutions upon our capacity…to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”
James Madison, 1778 to the General Assembly of the State of Virginia
America was built on the ten commandments, not forced diversity, tolerance and political correctness.- Melissa Bishop
“ The Law given from Sinai [The Ten Commandments] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code.”
John Quincy Adams. Letters to his son. p. 61
“All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery
and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.”
Noah Webster. History. p. 339
William Bradford
• wrote that they [the Pilgrims] were seeking:
• 1) “a better, and easier place of living”; and that “the children of the group were being drawn away by evil examples into extravagance and dangerous courses [in Holland]“
• 2) “The great hope, and for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world”
The Mayflower Compact (authored by William Bradford) 1620 | Signing of the Mayflower painting | Picture of Compact
“Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together…”
(The children of the group were being drawn away by evil examples into extravagance and dangerous courses…)
This sounds a great deal like what we are going through today. How many times must history repeat itself before we get it right?
John Adams and John Hancock:
We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus! [April 18, 1775]
John Adams:
“ The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
• “[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
–John Adams in a letter written to Abigail on the day the Declaration was approved by Congress
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” –October 11, 1798
“I have examined all religions, as well as my narrow sphere, my straightened means, and my busy life, would allow; and the result is that the Bible is the best Book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen.” December 25, 1813 letter to Thomas Jefferson
“Without Religion this World would be Something not fit to be mentioned in polite Company, I mean Hell.” [John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, April 19, 1817] |
Samuel Adams: | Portrait of Sam Adams |
John, John Quincy, and Sam Adams
“ He who made all men hath made the truths necessary to human happiness obvious to all… Our forefathers opened the Bible to all.” [ "American Independence," August 1, 1776. Speech delivered at the State House in Philadelphia]
“ Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity… and leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system.” [October 4, 1790]
This one especially rings true.
John Quincy Adams:
• “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day [the Fourth of July]?” “Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity”?
–1837, at the age of 69, when he delivered a Fourth of July speech at Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Could someone please send KBIQ, Q102.7 some money so that our supposed to be Christian radio station doesn’t have to run anti-Dobson ads to keep the lights on?
LINK to video commentary on new anti-Dobson radio ad.
Posting a day early because of the holiday. Print it out and take it with you to read while the burgers are grilling. I have peppered this post with links. I thought it might be fun to go to other people’s blogs and web sites of places mentioned in the chapter.
CHAPTER THREE
An hour and a half later, Ruby sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes. She would be a fool to turn down such a generous offer. She went into the bathroom that connected to her room, splashed her face to get rid of the salt from her tears, grabbed the compact and lipstick from her purse, and fixed her face the best she could. She was combing her hair with her fingers when there came a soft knock at her door.
“Miss?”
It was Myers. Ruby crossed the room to answer the door. “Yes?” she asked.
“Miss, if you are ready for that tour…?”
“Yes, of course! Come on, Ruby. Let’s go look at our new home!”
Violet had been listening to them from down the hall. When she heard Ruby say she would stay, tears sprang to the corners of her eyes and her smile could have lit up the whole city. She would no longer be stuck in this big mansion all by herself. She now had the Victorian equivalent of a ‘companion’. The house would finally be filled once again with happy voices and activity. Violet loved action and activity and both had been missing for far too long. She stepped out of the shadows as Maxine and Ruby entered the hall.
“I’m so happy,” Vi exclaimed as she gave Ruby an almost bone crushing hug.
Ruby let out a little puff of air. Violet was stronger than she looked. Maxine and Daphne danced around the pair as they hugged. It was quite a sight that greeted Devlin as he came to the top of the stairs. He had been going to his room to change out of his wet clothes from his day at the park. He took a closer look at the woman hugging his Aunt. It was her. The woman from the park that had taken his breath a
away. He blinked his eyes hard once to make sure he had really seen her. She had left in such a hurry he thought he had some how offended her. He smiled at the thought as he remembered how stern she had been with her dog for running off. He, on the other hand, had thought it a most fortuitous event for it had allowed him to meet her. If the dog hadn’t run off and he hadn’t been able to see those exquisite eyes of the woman, what would he have day dreamed about all day? Just then a sharp bark interrupted his musing. A blurry fluff of white and red was bounding its way towards him with another blurry fluff of black and white trailing behind. Devlin waited for the two dogs to come to him. He greeted Daphne with one treat and introduced himself to Maxine with another.
‘Traitor’, thought Ruby as she watched Maxine sell herself for what looked like a piece of chicken jerky.
“Devlin!” Vi’s exuberant greeting of the stranger made Ruby flinch. “How’s my favorite nephew?”
Ruby groaned to herself as her heart sank. It was HIM and he was the great-nephew living with Vi. This changed everything. She couldn’t move in now. Could she?
Ruby felt her face flush as tiny beads of sweat broke out all over her body. Her panic attack was interrupted by their words.
“Hello, Aunt Vi, I see we have visitors.”
“Ruby isn’t just a visitor, Devlin, she’s going to be living with us.”
“For how long?”
“For as long as she likes. She is th