Author Archives: oct17

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About oct17

The little girl in me loves bird watching, butterflies, sunrises, sunsets, walks in the rain; the adult I am enjoys the same. I sense God's awesomeness in all of life--what wonder there is in slicing a leek or cutting open a pomegranate. I have many favorite things--a formation of Canadian geese flying overhead, the giggles of my grand daughters, the first ripe watermelon in summer, snowflakes on my face--these gifts from my heavenly Father delight me continually.

blooming… in the litter…

Posted on March 22, 2021 by oct17

I was  mad… I had been picking up trash… litter…  is the nice word for the debris scattered alongside the road near our home in the country. The first day I gathered three large garbage bags in about two hours. … Continue reading →

Posted in early morning thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

… kissing frogs…

Posted on March 13, 2021 by oct17

I have always been gullible… … as the second oldest of nine children, I imagined myself as Cinderella when piles of laundry covered the floor on Monday, and I would iron for days. I spent many hours dreaming of kissing … Continue reading →

Posted in Marriage memos | 9 Comments

… puzzled…

Posted on March 1, 2021 by oct17

… puzzled… “This piece is not here. I know it’s missing. I have tried every piece of the same color.” Tom and I were convinced several times of this truth as we worked a puzzle last week. We began a … Continue reading →

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… connecting…

Posted on February 13, 2021 by oct17

The weather here in southwest Tennessee has been dreary, cold and gray for days. Perhaps that’s the reason for this longing of past days. Or the lack of hugs in the isolation and lock down.  Whatever it is, I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

… a redo …?

Posted on February 5, 2021 by oct17

Wow… the first page of the 2021 calendar is now a memory.  How quickly January  vanished. One day at a time, gone. Whatever happened… those events in our control or not, can never be undone.  We can’t turn the calendar … Continue reading →

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… in comfort…

Posted on January 20, 2021 by oct17

“Baked potatoes are my comfort food,” I uttered to myself as I inspected potatoes in the bin at our local Spar in Vienna, Austria, years ago.  A lady nearby, understood my quiet English, and said quickly, “I have never heard … Continue reading →

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… reflecting…

Posted on December 30, 2020 by oct17

This past Saturday morning I was wishing for the second day of Christmas. That’s what the day after Christmas is called in Austria, and it is a calendar holiday. There are several stories of its beginning in Europe, but it’s … Continue reading →

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…hope… in a changing world…

Posted on December 15, 2020 by oct17

I remember the snowy night Tom and I bought our first nativity. Woolworth’s was our favorite shopping place as newlyweds, a very popular five and dime store in America until 1997.  I had worked the candy and jewelry counter before … Continue reading →

Posted in early morning thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

… rambling… in thanks…

Posted on November 17, 2020 by oct17

One must always ramble in this area of being grateful… all day, every day.  I speak of the meaning of rambling as in … at length and unplanned. On my morning walk yesterday I began singing as I passed our … Continue reading →

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… walking wisely…

Posted on October 30, 2020 by oct17

I gasped at the size of this spider. Then I remembered the pest control guys told me two weeks ago this kind is my friend. “You want this one in your garage… even in your house. They eat the brown … Continue reading →

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