Southern Porch Extension

[Edy]

Dear Mariane, your counsel is so wise, and dear Laurie, I'm praying for the inner strength you need to not let others disturb the peace in your heart from the Lord.

As for the video--"You can't tell a book by its cover" surely fits here!

Now I'm off to find some chocolate!

Thank you, Verna, for collecting all the posts so succinctly - sure makes it easier for me to remember who I wanted to add a comment.

Yes, Mariane, I agree with Verna about your advice in dealing with that old serpent that tries to rob us of our joy. I know he cannot stand the blood of Jesus or praise to the Lord, so he gets an earful of it from me if I get wind of his interference in my neck of the woods.

Laurie, I couldn't help thinking of you at our midweek Lenten service, tonight. We've been focusing on the persecuted church each week, tonight we lifted up North Korea. The message from Acts, about Paul and Silas praying and singing in prison, tied "then" and "now" together so well. Our prayer-group time was especially touching after watching this clip from the Cape Town 2010 Congress on World Evangelization. This young girl from North Korea tells about a dream she had (around 4:10) and the words she heard Jesus speak to her. I took it as a message for all of us, especially during those rugged steps on our journey through the wilderness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agG4vY2YpUQ

I've had to watch "The Prayer" video over and over. It gives me hope for a dark world to see the Lord sending out such shining lights in this youngest generation. The 16 year old girl is so mature, she seems like big sister to the shy 17 year old fellow. In fact, she reminds me so much of my grand-niece Jessica, they could almost be twins. I love it how he gives her credit for the support he feels having her beside him, and how she seems willing to be the wind beneath his wings. I cannot wait to have their first CD for myself!

Carole - I'm so glad you had such a delightful vacation time. I enjoyed the experience vicariously through your report of it.

[Laurie]

Your prayers mean so much. Things are settling down some, and I'm starting to feel better about some things, BUT still feeling vulnerable and we have a long road ahead of us yet.

Took care of some things with my mom yesterday on top of a three hour meeting with the auctioneer. Then came home and called one sibling and e-mailed another to update them. So it was over a 12 hour day yesterday. Typed/organized three pages of notes this morning so everyone is on the same page and knows the details about preparing for the auction. Then I spent time with my mom this afternoon to take care of some things. I have one or two things to address for my mom tomorrow, and then I need to try to catch up on some of my own stuff. Not sure how much I'll get done. Seriously, I'm about ready to drop.

Mariane and Edy, I listened to the videos. The talent one gave me goose bumps.

Mariane, enjoyed your story about the chocolate thieves at your house.

Carole, it sounds like you have a great time.

[Joanney]

I love my new job! Today, I got paid to walk two miles. That was 5 laps around the "Rollerdome" which is really the upper corridor of the Metrodome, opened up for people to rollerblade or to run. Today it was open only for the Prior Lake-Savage Schools Kids Company. The first lap I tried to walk slow enough that the girl with a death grip on my jacket sleeve would rollerblade instead of me just pulling her. The second time around, I walked beside her with her grabbing my arm twice for balance. The third time around, I could not keep up with her.

Monday, I am scheduled to go to the movie The Lorax with the kids. My boys do not think it fair that I will get paid for watching a movie. But that is my job. After that, I am not scheduled at all during Spring Break. This summer, the job will include Valleyfair and other such trips with the kids as well as normal daily activities.

Have I mentioned that I love my new job? And on top of that, I get more per hour than at my old job. (just not as many hours)

[Edy]

Joanney, I'm excited for you and your new job. That is wonderful news.

We're having such crazy weather, I hope the budding trees don't get too overwhelmed. One day we dress for 40-50 degree temps, but Sunday may reach 80. Hard to plan one's wardrobe! The grass is green and looks like it needs mowing, already - and it's still March. I bet that's a first!

[BeachGrandma]

Carole, I'm so glad you had a good time and are safely back home! Praise God for safe travel.

I only have a minute but wanted to leave this link with you all. If you click on each picture, you can see the details better:

http://www.phenomenaldusk.com/Gallery/w ... -of-italy/

[Laurie]

Joanney, I'm so glad you love your job. And I hope those steady hours plus subbing will bring in more than your previous job. From what you've said, it sounds like this work is a better fit for you.

I slept the best last night that I have in a while. I hope to work on getting caught up today. Then I tell myself I'm taking tomorrow OFF. I just have to or I won't be able to hold out.

People were mowing here in WI last weekend. I don't think we got any snow this month. Amazing considering that some of our worst snowstorms can occur in March. I get that there are disadvantages to this weather, BUT since I can't control that, I'll just plain enjoy it. I love having summer days in March. Since we've had colder than normal temps for the last few years, it's nice to finally have a mild winter and warmer temps.

[BeachGrandma]

Carol sends her love to everyone on the porch. She'll start home tomorrow and I know she'd appeciate our prayers for safety on the highway and for pain relief. It's been a pain-filled week for her but being the trooper that she is, she wanted to see her siblings so bad I think she would have gone through just about anything to get there. Today she's spending the day with Carissa, shopping for the kids and shopping is hard for her. She is very close to all her immediate and extended family and wishes she had the strength to do all that she'd like to, with and for them.

I know all of you are very good drivers, so here is a fun test to see how good your speed is!
The automobile driving manual says the average driver's reaction time is .75 seconds or
1 car length for every 10 mph.

Test your average reaction time. Be careful, this can be addictive! You will be surprised at how slow you really are.

JUST CLICK ON THE DART WHEN THE SHEEP STARTS TO RUN ..... THERE ARE 5 SHEEP

Click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/ ... rsion5.swf

(I confess I did TERRIBLE ! Even after repeated tries!)

[ready2go]

I averaged .29 seconds with several tries. Are the sheep in trouble with me on the road?

Don

[ready2go]

Someone please give me an answer to this question:

Just how in the world can the highly paid weather guys be so far off with their forecasts, and still keep their jobs?

All of them said we were supposed to have a beautiful spring day today with high temps approaching 80 degrees.

What did we get? A solid overcast day with temps in the low to mid 40's. Why couldn't they know the clouds were on their way? And...they missed the temp by 35 degrees!!! That in inexcusable! What are those dummies thinking about? Not the weather, that's for sure!

They all have expensive meteorology degrees...satelite photos...radar...charts...graphs...computers...wind direction/velocity monitors...low pressure/high pressure detection equipment...historical data...and puffed rice for breakfast.

I say, "FIRE 'EM ALL!!!" and "HIRE SOME OLD-TIMER FARMERS!!!"

Don

[Verna]

Everything is ready to bloom and the world is green again where I live.

Praying for Carol.

Happy for Joanney's new job.

Sheep crossing the road near me are safe!

Y'all take care!

[Verna]

Someone sent a link to this video to me today. . .and I loved it. Spring is here!

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id= ... llscreen=1

[Laurie]

Well said, Don. Since I don't get TV reception, I check the weather online ("local" TV station weather report page), and sometimes it will give two different high temperatures for the same day in two separate places of the report.

Edy, what are your thoughts on iodized salt v. non-iodized? I used to always buy iodized, but can't find any that doesn't have dextrose - though I don't think that little bit of dextrose affects me. I just wondered about your thoughts on the matter.

I can tell it's election year. My intelligence is insulted daily, I have more junkmail, my phone rings more often and with the same tired old message of saying something against someone instead of stepping up and saying what he himself believes. Overall, I'm more annoyed. Yep, it's election year alright. If I had to hear it on TV, too, I couldn't take it.

[BeachGrandma]

Proofreading is a dying art, wouldn't you say?

Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
This one I caught in the SGV Tribune the other day and called the Editorial Room and asked who wrote this. It took two or three readings before the editor realized that what he was reading was impossible!!! They put in a correction the next day.
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Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
No foolin', really? Ya think?
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Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Isn't that taking things a bit far!
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Panda Mating Fails; VeterinarianTakes Over
Just one of their extra services. No charge.
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Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!
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Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
See if that works any better than a fair trial!
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War Dims Hope for Peace
I can see where it might have that effect!
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Cold Wave Linked to CoolerTemperatures
Who woulda thought!
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Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
They may be on to something there!
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Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?
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Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
He probably IS the battery charge!
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New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Weren't they fat enough already?!
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Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That's what he gets for eating all those pinto beans!
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Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken?
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Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Must be a new course taught in Shop.
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Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Is that a new height requirement for med school?

[Edy]

...Edy, what are your thoughts on iodized salt v. non-iodized? I used to always buy iodized, but can't find any that doesn't have dextrose - though I don't think that little bit of dextrose affects me. I just wondered about your thoughts on the matter....

As I understand it, Laurie, iodine was added to salt because the Great Lakes area, especially, was recognized as depleted in iodine, causing a higher rate of the thyroid condition known as goiter. This is off the top of my head, but I could do a bit of research to check it out.

In a continuing ed class, I also learned that higher iodine content in the diet helps protect against breast cancer - probably why the rates for that cancer are so low in countries, like Japan, with a diet high in seafoods. Lately, we've been using sea salt. It is supposed to be richer in nutrients, but I haven't checked it out to see what, exactly. I shall see what I can find!

[Edy]

Okay, this is probably way more than anybody wants to know:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iodized_salt

I learned something new, too:

No-additive salts for canning and pickling

In contrast to table salt, which often has iodide as well as anticaking ingredients, special canning and pickling salt is made for producing the brine to be used in pickling vegetables and other food-stuffs. This salt has no iodine added because the iodide can be oxidised by the foods and darken them—a harmless but aesthetically undesirable effect.

Now, after reading about sea salt (which looks like sand, to me, with specks of "pepper" in it) I'm inclined to go back to Morton's regular iodized salt! I couldn't even find iodine listed among the minerals. We have had the larger "rocks" of sea salt crystals for the salt mill (which is white like regular salt and makes me wonder if it is genuine sea salt or not).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_salt
Perhaps Don, our science advisor, can tell us how they get the bigger size granules. I have no idea about that.