N IS FOR...

...NOMENCLATURE


To be honest the first time I heard this word, I didn't know what it meant.  I'm not sure I am really clear on it now.  However, this word, NOMENCLATURE was applied by an editor of some repute to my TRUE story which follows:


My husband is a pastor and teacher and our last name is Jones.  When our first son was born and we were deciding what name to choose, my husband kept pushing for Martyn Lloyd, after a well known preacher, teacher and writer in England, Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones.  I wouldn't agree because I didn't think it was fair to have a child try to live up to a name like that.  So we decided to go with our Welsh heritage and chose GLYN.


When our second son was born, we went through the same debate, but I still wouldn't agree.  So this time we chose the good Welsh name, OWEN.


A few years later when Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones retired from his pulpit at Westminster Chapel in London, his successor was appointed.




His  successor's name?  ...Rev. Glyn Owen!

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY TRUE STORY!

This post is part of the challenge ABC WEDNESDAY hosted by Denise Nesbitt and friends.

Wednesday's Word on Tuesday.

I apologize.

I have removed this post because although what was said was true, it was not all said at the same time under the signature of Ben Stein.  It was a cut and paste job that was passed on to me.  If you read it, you will know that there was nothing subversive or disrespectful about it.  But to my mind, it's not completely honest for me to publish it as though it were a complete article written by Ben Stein.  Too bad.  But I am sorry for the mistake.

Another Happy Ending

From this:

...to this!

..

A month or so ago, some friends at church told me they were looking for a silver tabby kitten.  So when this one showed up at the shelter, I called them to come and take a look.  Of course they fell in love with her!  So since I have "visiting rights",  I went to see her yesterday.  She is looking wonderful!  Sleek, soft, glossy, silver fur and a ton of energy to go with it.  But she is already learning what she can do and not do (like biting or scratching furniture) and she is such an intelligent little thing. I don't know if she is the same kitten in the first picture, but she certainly has similar markings.  Her name is Junie, because she was born in June.

A LEAVE OF ABSENCE

At the end of this week I will be taking a leave of absence until after Thanksgiving.  I will miss you all.  Can't take the lap top with me, so I will have a lot of catching up to do when I get back.  Don't forget me.  I will be visiting and making comments this week and doing my last ABC Wednesday on Tuesday. Until then... Happy Blogging to you all!

55 Flash Fiction Friday

Flash fiction done in 55 words is hosted by Mr. Knowitall

"I know I'm a perfectionist," Elena said to her husband as they approached the doctor's office, "but I'm not that bad."

"Let's see what the doctor says," answered her husband.

The consultation began.  Then summing up the situation the doctor said, "You know, Elena has always given 110%."

"No way" she interjected quickly, "I give150%!"


I joined this challenge a week or so ago and didn't realize that I was so close to a temporary computer absence.  So this is only my second offering.  But I will be back again right after Thanksgiving.

More Details to come.

M IS FOR......

MAPS
The world map below is my husband's.  I bought it for him 20 or 30 years ago (along with the little red pins,) when he started his life as a 'world traveler'.  You can see he has been many, many places.  Some of them he has visited many times .  His traveling has been on behalf of the World Evangelical Congregational Conference, visiting member churches, preaching and teaching.

I have probably been to about a dozen of these places on this map.  I can't say I'm too sorry, because some of these places carry their own hazards which I could do without.

M is also for magnets.  

The ones below are just a few of many we have collected.  We don't really officially 'collect' them.  It's just that when we are away if we see one that we particularly like, we buy it and add it to our refrigerator.

The lifeboat on the left is my prize.  I bought it at the Lifeboat House at the North Landing in Flamborough, UK, my childhood haunts.

The seal and the fisherman holding his catch, we bought in Norway last year, where we met Rune of 'Visual Norway.'

Of course, bottom right, is the griffon of Wales.

This post is part of ABC Wednesday hosted by Denise Nesbitt.

Take a look at the other participants' entries by clicking on the link.

The Virtual Paintout Entry

This is my entry for "The Virtual Paintout" hosted by Bill McGuffy.  It is a house in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.  In this painting challenge, a place in the world is chosen by Bill and we artists go visit via Google Street Maps.  There, we cruise the streets via the little golden man and decide on a view we like and paint it using Google maps.  Then we send the link and the painting to Bill who posts it on his blog:

http://virtualpaintout.blogspot.com/  

Mexico is a vibrant place with many, what I call 'busy' scenes.  So I found it difficult to choose something at my skill level, which is not very high.  You should visit Bill's blog and see some really good paintings done this month.  It's definitely worth the visit.

Shelter Cats.

Since the adoption of Sterling, I've had two other cats as favorites.  One, Cassidy, was completely black, 2 years old and the sweetest nature.  Oh, I could have taken her home, given half the chance.  She was adopted on Thursday.
Then there is Minnie, a two year old black and white, with a cheeky black and white face and white whiskers -- almost a tuxie I think.  She has quite a personality as well as liking cuddles, tummy rubs and playing with the feather wand. She was still there Thursday, but for how long who knows?  I know I should be glad that they are being adopted but these three have been in the large room, which is like a living room, with a couple of other cats so it's almost like they are mine.
So just for my own pleasure I decided to do a painting of the last shot I took of Sterling.  You may recognize it.

As usual, I can see a few needed improvements.  One thing I have to find is a brush that can make fine strokes for fur or whiskers.

This is the original photo:

He was 'way too handsome!

Flash Fiction Friday

This is my first submission to this challenge, a 'story' in 55 words exactly.  I can post it here O.K. I'm just not sure about linking up with the leader. But I'll have a go.

( Thanks to Monsoon-Dreams for the Photograph of the old Steps)

He lumbered heavily up the old stone steps, puffing and panting like the old man he was.  Why did she ask him to come up here?  Only a few more steps to go.  Suddenly, there she was -- in her wedding dress!  In the dusk she looked as young as the day they were married. 

WEDNESDAY'S WORDS ON THURSDAY

Here's an interesting quote from Sunday's Parade Magazine:  "We are better at understanding morality than we are at living it....I'm not aware of any other species that even has a moral sensibility"  This was said by the disgraced former governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer -- and he should know!
The hardest thing for anyone who is not a committed Christian to accept is that mankind is morally evil by nature.  That sounds so politically incorrect and harsh. And before long , the way things are going, it may even be categorized as hate speech.
But it gets worse. 
Mankind is not only morally evil, he, (we, you and I) know it.  We know good from evil and there is none of us who has chosen to good every time we are given a choice.  Benjamin Franklin tried to create in himself a better moral character.  Being a brilliant man he had it all figured out as to how he would do it.  But it didn't work. He eventually gave up. ( More info on this. If you want it, ask me.)
As unpopular as this may sound, there is no hope for us to improve ourselves, consistently, persistently  and effectively. 
Once we accept this as true -- THEN there is hope for us --  because God has said "there is none that is righteous, no no one".  But God "can cleanse us of all unrighteousness".  "For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us"  "We will become a new creation."  -- one which doesn't sin and one in which God has cleansed away all our old sins.
Are you frankly fed up, distressed and becoming cynical about the state of our world?  Is it never going to get better. Will we ever get honest politicians, and world leaders?

Try as we like it can't be done without Christ.  All the laws and politics cannot change this world while mankind is still living in it in our sinful state.  What a humiliating statement that is. Pride was the original sin .  Humility will put things right again.


The road to a new and perfect life and world is by acknowledging that we are sinful and asking God to change us personally and then change this whole world.

NEWSFLASH

For the best blog of the day -- and in fact for a long time, do stop over at Morning's Minion especially if you like cats and you need a good laugh. 
wwwmorningsminion.blogspot.com

L is for Ll (chl)

L is for Ll  pronounced 'Chl' which is, tho' not too accurate, the best we crazy English can do.

First there is Llandudno:

This beautiful, sunny little town is on the north coast of Wales and is where my mother and father -in-law lived a good number of their later years, in a small but cozy flat on the third floor of an apartment building (no elevator!) and only one block from the beach.

Then there is Llanberis:

 The small town in Snowdonia, North Wales, at the foot of Mount Snowdon. There is the magnificent Llanberis Pass that winds it way through the mountains.  Beautiful scenery.

And finally there is:

LLanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiligogogoch

which means:

"St. Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool of Llantysilio of the red cave."

Yes, it really is a place but usually it is referred to as Llanfair P.G.

Sorry no picture of this, but if you take the train to Anglesey you will pass through this town and see the whole name on the station platform.  In any case, this name has FOUR 'L's in the middle so that should make up for no photo.

I have had the most excellent cream teas in each of these places.  Oh! What I would give for one right now!

I find it hard to believe that no other ABC-er hasn't already gone this route for the letter L in other years, but I don't know how to find out.  So forgive me if it has been done before. I'm sure all my other friendly Welsh bloggers must have considered this, but there can never be too muchof Wales -- or cream teas!

Yellow Bird...

This little yellow bird has been visiting our pyracantha bush outside the den window for several days. I'm pretty sure it's a yellow warbler. Notice it's sharp beak, so it isn't a lesser goldfinch.  One day I saw it and it had reddish brown marks on its breast.  Today I had my camera at the ready, but he/she wouldn't turn to face me and he moves quickly and doesn't stay around long. But I did get these two photos.

I took these through two glass panes.  The patio window door was open, so they came out pretty well considering.

Below is my entry for Wanda's Art Challenge

 Autumn Leaves.

I tried to be different and select the picture that did not have the traditional fall colors.

Does He Look Like Moses?

Moth has been delivering these two tablets of stone these past three weeks.  They are a gift from our mission, Morning Star Messengers, to commemorate a very special event.

These two granite plaques were engraved here in Carlsbad to commemorate the rescue of more than 150 people from the  Mortlock Islands  which are part of Micronesia.  There are two kinds of islands out in Micronesia.  The 'high' ones which have mountains and rock up to several thousand feet and the 'low' ones which barely rise more than a couple of feet above sea level.

In 1907 a disastrous typhoon and tidal wave devastated the low islands of the Mortlocks and hundreds of people were displaced  and many were drowned. Places had to be found for the refugees from this disaster, but many of the rest of the islands of Micronesia had barely enough food and crops to sustain their own population.  However the people of Pohnpei, a high, island, opened their hearts to 159 of the refugees -- a great gesture of generosity.

To commemorate this act of brotherhood, the Mortlockese still living on Pohnpei asked for a plaque of recognition for the 100th Anniversary of this event.  Things move slowly in the islands and communication is still not easy, but at last the project was agreed upon and two weeks ago the granite blocks were delivered by my husband.  They will be affixed to the Mortlockese church on Pohnpei  so that this gesture of the Pohnpeians will be suitably memorialized.