Saturday and Sunday

Hooray!  It's the weekend.  I have been mulling over the events of the last few days and last weekend, and I feel so incredibly blessed to have so many things go right.  Sure, I hit my son's car last week.  It could have been bad, but it wasn't, and it is already running in top shape again.  I have more things done around the house.
I learned that I may not be doing Paraguay Knits for next year, as the missionaries in Paraguay are retiring this year.  I think I was a little saddened to give it up!  Such fellowship and such fun projects.  I made some blessed friendships through that whole project.
We'll see if anyone new will be assigned to that tribe who would like to continue the project
Now it's time to finish my Irish Aran Fisherman's sweaters for my menfolk.
I read "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders," for my book club which will meet Monday.  Depressing.  Is it depressing because it describes an Islamic lifestyle--both the very rich and the very poor?  Or just humanity?  I tend toward the religious explanation.
Faith is something that can give deepest joy in the moment, or it can stay one through darkness.  Everyone has darkness, and I am no stranger to it.  I battle my blue days like anyone else.  I am grateful for the grace from God to manage those days. 
By the way, we still think there will be Corsettes in our future.  Mal sehen, as the Germans say! 
I heard Governor Tim Pawlenty on Wednesday evening.  He is so likable.  I always thought he was just a good old boy, but he really is smart!  He handled himself very well in the forum we attended.
Just want to say one more thing---follow Christ!  He satisfies.

The bee article I referred to in my last post

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=143737

Survival

Despite great activity over the weekend we are all intact, but very tired!  Back to the Monday hum-drum.   My son is now graduated, officially, from high school.  We celebrated with grandparents and a few close friends.   He has many prospects for the fall, but as he is enrolled full-time in college already we are waiting for a lighter schedule to make some decisions about the future.
The new hives have distinct personalities.  One is laid back and sweet.  One is defensive and aggressive.  I know which one I'll have to avoid until they get to know me.
The queen in the old hive is still alive, but there is no brood.  Yet.  We are trying to see what will come of the miticide and other care given to prolong her life.
I keep praying for a miracle to occur, and for the bees to develop some ability or capability to withstand the bee collapse issues that plague the world today.
There is an article on World Net Daily today which sums up some of the issues really well.  It is frightening.
As a Bible Believing Christian I know and cling to promises in Scripture that we can put our trust in the Lord. That includes everything----the demise of the bees, the demise of our lifestyles, the demise or profit of our very lives.  How many Christians have taken that promise to their violent ends?  They are the ones who stand at the throne of God.  It is far better to have that hope of eternity than to live a life of wanton waste.  That is truly survival at its absolute best.  God bless you.

Corsettes and Queens

The other day Misty had a rendevous with the Basset boy next door.  I really thought she was "over" her season, but she was entirely receptive to his affection!  So, I guess we won't we having Corgis but Corsettes!
This was not my plan, but I know as well as anyone that things rarely go as planned.
We have two new hives in the yard.  The bees have been shut into them still, as they were hived late in the evening, and we are not sure if the Queens were actually hived as well.  They may have flown off after release.  It was too dark to check. 
So we have many things to ponder.
I continue with cleaning, preparing for the big weekend: My son's graduation party, playing the piano at church, the Choir concert at Benson Great Hall, and my in-laws coming to visit.  Oh, and my younger boy passed his firearm safety test, so he'll be at the range for field testing on Saturday.  Did I mention that we had a prophecy conference to attend as well?  Typical activity at Corgi Hollows.

The end is near!

Yesterday I had a discussion with one of my children about the people who wore those signs on the streets of big cities.  Are there any people doing that anymore?  I wonder how it would be to go downtown and talk about the end of the ages to strangers.  Volcanoes, earthquakes, drought, bee dilemmas, famine, meteors (wow, I've never seen anything like that!) and signs in the heavens, political quagmires; what more can indicate that time is short?  This past week has been exciting.  I am sorry for those who suffer.  I hope the message is not lost through suffering.  Repent, believe.  Time is short.
I believe the Bible, and I am only more convinced as I age that truth is in its teachings.  I choose not to pick and choose which doctrines I give credence to.  I just simply believe it all is true, and somehow my worldview makes infinite sense.  What a joy.  What peace!

Yesterday in choir we sang something I cannot keep from weeping with.  "Light Everlasting," by Christianson.  Math is the language of science.  Music is the language of worship.  I consider it a privilege to be a part of making such memorable and moving worship.

What to do with the bees?

We ordered 2 new packages of bees.  Our bees continue to gather pollen and they seem to be doing okay, but we'll see how the weekend goes for them.    Can you imagine killing a hive full of bees on purpose?  It makes me sad to think of it.
I am going to a Home School conference this weekend, with my daughter.  How rarely we are able to be together, just the two of us.  I'm looking forward to it.
Misty is still in heat, but we've given up this season for Corgi puppies.  There is just so much happening in our lives it's not working.  She needs more time to mature, too.

I'm graduating my firstborn in a few weeks.  That's something, isn't it?

Paraguay Knits

Got the shipment done for the babies in Paraguay.  Hooray---off it goes for this year!

What a couple of Days Can Do

On Friday we checked the beehive and found it was infested with varroa mites.  Oh, Oh, OH!  Somehow we need to figure the treatment we will use, or just get new bees if possible.  We do mourn for these small creatures.  The next two weeks are full of insane activity, so I will not even try to write.  I have too much to think about and accomplish.  Hope I can report in two weeks.  And taxes....

After a wonderful lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant, we plan to have a campfire in the back yard tonight.  The weather is perfect.  The bees are really doing well, and for this we are thankful!  I sold 4 pounds of honey this week, and I charged $8/lb.  That's pretty good, for this wonderful stuff.  I could or should charge more.  This is artisan honey, and no where else can it be replicated.  It is really good.

Looking forward to a relatively quiet weekend, now that the testing is done.  I got "Faith like Potatoes" from the library to watch sometime this weekend. 

Nap time

Things are going so swiftly I need a nap---I'm tired.  "Such a Lovely Song"  is a phrase in the Anders Enderoth song we are singing for choir tonight.  It is a perfect little catchy blip for the soul to sing at odd moments during the day.

On we go to the next activity.   

Discussed the "Christian Manifesto" by Schaeffer this morning at science.  Fascinating to review after 2 decades.

Reunion

Today I clean and cook. Fresh Mozzarella is waiting for some homemade pizza dough. I've got some files to go through, and the ever-lasting laundry to see to.
Misty is outside barking at the world, and I need to see if I can arrange a tete-te-te t with George again before this season is over. Complications!
I am itching to get back to The Sweater I'm knitting. I have the back complete, and half the front. Just starting the raglan edges and the neckline. I know the sleeves take forever, but psychologically it seems over half done. Off to work, and school, of course! We'll get through the math, history, spelling and reading in time to do some of the CAT test (which is timed)
I must return that to the testing service before the end of next week.
I'm breaking a sweat just sitting here typing my list of to-dos! How typical.
My friends from college days are coming for dinner. Homemade pizza, (I do the dough too, of course!) chocolate cake, strawberries, salad. Should I do a cheese bread too? Probably won't have time.
I'm going to miss Sarah Pahlin and Michelle Bachmann at the Convention Center today. Rats. I think SP's book was GREAT!

Two Worlds

For the past months I've been so struck by the awareness of the two worlds we exist in, and their intersection. As a child I understood them more as one, but now in my dotage I can see the obvious dichotomy. Perhaps cynicism has lent itself to my thought shaping. Certainly my worldview has influenced me.
For those of us who became spiritually attuned as children, and grew toward that knowledge through the years, the reality of the spiritual world is almost self evident.
People who have not experienced it, and do not acknowledge it have really no concept of its existence! This fascinates me! How does one even describe the things of the spirit to someone who has knowledge only of the base?
I'm thankful for God's Word. It eloquently describes the spiritual, but again, some will remain unconvinced. Must run off to a busy day of spring cleaning. The physical is calling.

Monday

Reading James Herriot's biography and I'm finding it inspiring and sad. Today is bookclub and the book is Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger. Interesting to note that Herriot (Alf Wight) was heavily influenced by Salinger. I can't stand Catcher in the Rye, but I love the Herriot books! Funny.
Off to a busy, insane first Monday of the month. Band, book club, coffee with my "sisters," and School of course. Love this time of year.
Misty may meet up with George sometime this week again.
She ran and ran and RAN out at Grandpa and Grandma's house on Easter. It was a sight to see. She got the first woodtick of the season, too. Frontline is useless! Blackberry appears to have avoided any troubles. It was a wonderful day! Dog heaven.

New at this

Here are some photos I think are illustrative of Corgi Hollow. Expect more, as my daughter is an avid photographer, and she captures life here well.
Today is sunny, dry and quiet. The perfect spring day. No bluebirds yet, and after a decade of watching them in the back yard it's sad to think they may not be here this year!
Plenty of chickadees, red-winged black birds, ravens, and finches of all types.
The bees are bringing Dandelion pollen back in their leg pouches, so they've been scouting.

Jesus is Risen. He is Risen Indeed.
Have a beautiful Resurrection Sunday.

We are trying!!

Misty met George yesterday, and as of now she has played hard to get. We so want Corgi puppies to happen, but it's out of our control. These things just have to happen naturally!
Misty is a two year old gorgeous tri color registered purebred Welsh Pembroke Corgi from a sheep farm in Nebraska. She herds several kids, loves her family mightily.
Thanks to Tasha Tudor she joined our family 2 years ago. She is a dream come true!

Her animal sibs are a Black Lab mix, named Blackberry, and a sleek black cat with a marshmallow named Kiwi.

George is a typical sable/white Corgi male. Very sweet, very cute.

When he got here he marked the entire yard, including the back of our beehive! Courageous fellow.

I have lots to share on knitting, honey, health, home schooling, books, and OPINIONS. This is a start. Welcome to Corgi Hollows, and come again soon.