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I Love a Snowy Day

This morning – in place of a sunrise – we had grey skies.

The birds knew it was going to snow, and were quite busy, but I most loved watching this chubby Goldfinch.  I can’t decide if she eats too much, or if it she just has more winter feathers than the others. 

The snow arrived shortly after lunch.

My favorite bird picture today.

Holly

Decorative, dried grass.

~~~

I stayed with my food plan and walked 1,500 steps on our Air Climber.  I especially enjoyed following an Air Climber video today.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

Proverbs 3:5 NIV

Protection

A few more seconds would have made a big difference for me, my stepmother, and the driver of a sulky.

Photo – from the Internet – of a similar sulky.

We were on our way home from the quilt auction yesterday when I noticed a runaway horse – pulling a sulky – quickly approaching the stop sign to my immediate right.  The driver was leaning back as far as he could in an effort to stop the horse.

I knew the horse wasn’t stopping, so stopped to let him by, and just like that he dashed across the road in front of our car.  The bus driver approaching from the opposite direction must have noticed the action, because he also stopped.

The wheel of the sulky caught a telephone pole, throwing the driver, and unhitching the horse.  I waited long enough to see the driver get up and approach the horse, who had stopped by this time.  I do wonder what happened after that, but didn’t think I could be of any help, and it didn’t appear that the man or horse needed immediate medical care.

As I noticed the long line of traffic behind me and behind the bus, I realized how much God was involved in the man’s protection, as well as ours.  A large horse running into the side of our car could have caused a serious accident.  The opening for the horse to run straight through heavy traffic without hitting anyone – or getting hit – was definite protection from the Lord. 

I still feel blessed to have been spared from an accident, and prayed for the driver several times today.  I am sure he has some bruises and sore muscles.  He must have been calling out to the Lord for protection as his horse approached the heavy traffic.

~~~

This afternoon while I was talking to our youngest daughter on her cell phone, telling her about the horse, she exclaimed, “A cow just ran across the road in front of me.”  Then a young boy who was intent on stopping the cow, ran across the road right after it.  The boy stopped right in front of her car when he realized what he had done.

Praise God for His protection of everyone there as well.

Can you tell we live in the country?

~~~

My diet update.

I walked 1,000 steps (similar to one mile) on the Air Climber and stayed with the diet.  I like how I feel, but also have some sore leg muscles.  I will let you know how much weight I lose at the end of ten days.

In case you wonder why I am posting this, it’s because I have been wanting to lose three pounds for several years, after while I needed to lose five pounds, and it was beginning to creep up to seven.    Apparently it is time to change my eating habits.

It was also time to do something drastic, and make myself accountable to someone. 

Hold tight to everything that is good.

Romans 12:9 CEV

Quilt Auction

I had a fabulous day doing something I know almost nothing about.  I went to a quilt auction.  Why?  Because my sister and her husband recently purchased this auction, and I wanted to see what it is all about.

We (I took my step-mother along) got there just before 9 a.m., and enjoyed looking over the 644 quilts displayed on both sides of New Holland Fire Hall.

Some of my favorite were antique quilts that will be sold at the next auction – March 11.

9:00 a.m. – Time to begin.

One hundred quilts were sold each hour.

My brother-in-law, Marlin, and his daughter, Karen.

I did not get a good picture of my sister, but that is her in the red sweater.  When I was not taking pictures, I was sitting between her and my stepmother (in pink).

Our daughter-in-law. Chris (left), spent most of the day clerking.

Removing quilts from the racks.

Loading them on a wagon.

Stacking them on a table.

Displaying the quilt.

 The girls on stage were not only coordinated in dress – there was rarely a glitch in keeping the quilts displayed for bidding.  The lady on the right side of the stage prepared the bags for storing the quilt until the purchaser picked it up.

My sister said about one-third to a half are made locally.  The others come from all over the United States.  Prices:  $175 to $350 – depending on size and design.

Many buyers are local, however, several come from neighboring states and at times from Canada.  I expect the bulk of quilts and tops are purchased to retail in shops.

This is a pieced quilt top.

Notice all the black bags in the background.  They were stacked in order, and when you took your receipt to the left side of the stage, your quilt(s) was given to you.

~~~

Information:  Hometowne Auction

mna@dejazzd.com or kldull@dejazzd.com

~~~

My Purchase

It is perfect for our kingsize waterbed.

~~

Exercise and Diet Update

I was able to stay on my diet until supper when we went to Cerwin’s mother, who had prepared pork, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables.

However, I think I adjusted my portion to what was acceptable.

I walked only 700 steps on the Air Climber because of being out of the house so much today.

Give me wisdom and good sense.

I trust your commands.

Psalm 119:66 CEV

Wish I Could Have Captured it On Camera

The other day I was watching a finch at my feeder when it looked straight up – and continued to do so for awhile – completely ignoring me.

All of a sudden a hawk swooped down and picked up a bird from the ground.

That eliminates birds from my feeder for about half-an-hour.

~~~

Stayed with my ten-day diet plan.

Walked 1,200 steps on the Air Climber

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is faithful to all his promises

and loving toward all he has made.

Psalm 145:13 NIV

Frosty Morning

I wasn’t paying a lot of attention to the weather, so was surprised to wake up to a frosty morning.

~~~

Truck Rally Committee Meeting

Truck Rally is still five-and-a-half months away, but each year we meet on the second Sunday afternoon of January. 

Truck Rally Coordinators Gene and Rose Gehman make sure each committee person has opportunity to share concerns and new ideas.

Meanwhile the littlest ones were doing their own thing on the floor.

…and I didn’t think about taking a picture of the three older ones in our children’s room, or the one who was sleeping.

Following the meeting we served a light meal, then those from the Lancaster Chapter finalized plans for the Lancaster Banquet on March 29.

~~~

For those who are following my ten-day diet – I stuck to it today, and walked 1,000 steps on the Air Climber.

~~~

Trust God, my friends,

and always tell him each one of your concerns.

God is our place of safety.

Psalm 62:8 CEV