Reading and Writing

It is sometimes hard to do everything our good intentions tell us we should do. I have, again, been absent here. We had a very full July, with company and car shows to name a few things. Oh, and I should not forget VBS.
Since August 21, I have been involved in a reading project. Our church has undertaken to read the Bible, in 90 days. It is a special program, with daily portions set out on a reminder card. Sometimes I am successful, and other times, I am very much behind. There seems to be at least two purposes in doing this. The first is just to make sure that we have read the whole Bible. I have been in Sunday School and church for many years, and I was a student at a Christian College. I have taken numerous Bible classes, but I will confess that I am finding things I do not recall every reading. God is making it fresh to me. I believe the second purpose in our church undertaking this goal is for unity in our branch of the body of believers. Over the last few years we have had issues that have really rocked the boat. If we, as a body, are on the same page in the Word of God, it seems there should be healing and direction for us. Okay, so that is the reading part of my reading and writing.
Now, about writing. . . I dabble here, and there, and have done freelance work for an agent in a foreign country. He always had all the work I could handle, and then some, but some of the writing did not ride well with my conscience. I had found a US based freelance brokerage about two years ago. Maybe longer. I had taken the test to be allowed to write, and had been scored, but never had written anything. I had even recommended others to write there, and they had done well, but I was stubborn and had not written. That has changed. I am in serious need of income, and do not seem to be able to find a job. I find that it is an enjoyable place to take assignments, and I am learning new things and getting paid. My only issue is that there is not always enough work that I choose to do at my approved writing level. I still feel blessed to be able to be at home and to lay aside the worry issue about money.

Stubborn, and stiffnecked. That is what God called the Israelites many times. At first, I did not want to read the Bible in 90 days, and I rebelled , and almost missed a blessing. There is no reason that I cannot, or should not do this. Stubborn, and stiffnecked . . . even when I should have been doing something for my own good, like writing. I have missed at least two years of income from this site, and from other sites where I have started, but not continued with my writing. You would think I am old enough to know better, and to do better with my life.

Are you searching for something?

I admit that most of the things I do, I earn something for it. That includes searching the web. I belong to a site called Swagbucks. My strategy is to redeem my points for $5 Amazon gift cards. I earn points by searching, mostly. I also answer a daily poll, and look at the no obligation special offers. I attempt surveys and sometimes I even play games. There are shopping coupons on the website that you can print. When they are redeemed, you get points. Actually, the points are called Swagbucks. I redeem at least twice a month. Here is a link if you would like to look around.
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/gardengerty

I am off to bed early. I am doing a reset in a grocery store. It is only a day's work, but it pays well. I found it on narms.com You can set up a profile on narms, and find jobs in retail such as merchandising and mystery shopping.
I love the internet and all of its potential. Hope to see you in some of the places I visit.

Summer is here.

It is Memorial Day Weekend, and we have warm weather today. Many are at the lakes or at barbecues. My garden is telling me it is thirsty.
I seem to be constantly online, trying to make a few cents. My first tier of extended unemployment benefits have been used up. There is nothing to apply for that I am qualified for.

Memories, and memorials . . . we remember and thank our service men and women through the years. We also remember people killed in huge catastrophes, both man made and natural, like the Murrah Building and the Twin Towers. People killed in hurricanes and the most recent tornado that demolished Joplin, Mo. Whoever you are remembering, or memorializing today, may your heart be blessed.

Summer plans for me? My husband and I will go to at least one huge car show, as vendors for DWG. That will be in July, Know something funny? I just recruited his first distributor under him, from one of my online discussion groups. I told him she was a wise woman and much ahead of her time in modern methods.

I have a friend getting married, and I will make her a cake and help with the reception. That is also in July. My daughter and grand daughters will spend a week with us in July, too. Yay!!None of my July activities interfere with VBS, so I will help there.

What will I do in June? From the looks of things I will be picking cherries. Lots of them. I would love to go to Minnesota, but that is a bit up in the air. Hubby is doing a temporary job inspecting fields. He is working for a crop improvement organization, just before harvest. If that is done before my daughter goes to the lake with her in laws, I may get to go to Minnesota in June. If not, we will go in August. June will be spent trying to establish myself with more real online earnings. I hope to find a data entry job, or a call center job if I cannot find data entry.

I hope that summer sees me more faithfully blogging and also supporting my friends in their blogs and other endeavors. I also hope it finds me enjoying lakes, and gardens, and creative products and family . I wish you a wonderful summertime.
Heather

A book you should read

Heaven is for Real--A friend from Sunday School loaned me this book, and I loved it.

It is a little boy's astounding story of his trip to Heaven and back. As told by his father, his earthly father.

Colton experienced a life threatening illness, and while in a hospital, receiving care, he went to heaven. His story comes out piece by piece, in little snippets at the fast food joint, and many other places over many years. His father has written the story down as this book. Colton told his story in the way any little child would, in his words, and with complete honesty. He described people he had never met in this life, and knew things that his parents had never told him. This is a story of hope and healing.

Todd Burpo is a Wesleyan Minister in Nebraska, and each story he is given by Colton, he matches with scripture. I liked that. This book was an easy read, and a great encouragement.

Many others have enjoyed this book as well, it was on the New York Times Best Seller List. It is well written and enriched by a time line of events and an arrangement of family photos. Colton and his dad often played a game about "Is it right?" about depictions of Heaven and of Jesus. The only artist that Colton ever said had it right was another child, who had said she had been to Heaven as well. An image of that picture and some details are also included in this book.

Publisher is Thomas Nelson ISBN978-0-8499-4615-8 price$16.99

I posted a version of this review on Gather last week.

The more things change . . .

The plans for April have changed. We were going to go to Las Vegas for a business meeting, for two days. Well, each of the cars we tentatively planned to take have had issues. We rode home from Salina, Ks. in a tow truck yesterday. Because we had the car towed to our house instead of to the dealership, the insurance would not pay the whole bill. We knew that. It was actually the suggestion of the insurance office, though, because she knew that the dealership would take quite a while and charge us several hundred dollars, we still would need to get home, and chances are, Bob can fix the car right in our driveway for much less.
As a result of this extra expense, and MY insecurity about taking our cars that far, we have decided not to go. The price of gas is still going up, and we have decided we could take three fun trips for about the same amount, without going into debt. We were going to have three expensive nights in a hotel there and gasoline, and food, and two or three nights on the road.
I have been going to the YMCA for a little over two weeks, and I have purchased one of the "shaker weights" and some Danskin brand shape up shoes. I am beginning to see results. I have lost about five pounds of the weight I gained around Christmas. The shoes . . . well I do not know if they make me look more toned, but they make me feel like I have incredible posture. So they are a good deal as far as I am concerned. My arms are toning, I cannot say absolutely that it is the shaker weight, it could be the water walking. Overall, I am pleased.
Spring is here. I planted peas on St. Patrick's day. I have blooming daffodils and crocus. My tomato seeds have come up.
I am looking at more online writing, or a job. I will write here again, soon.

Heather

Wichita Garden Show

I have on occasion attended this show for about twenty five years. I have a blue spruce tree in my front yard that was a seedling given to one of my children the first time I went with a friend. It is taller than a house now, I think. It is amazing how a concrete coliseum can be converted into spring gardens in just a few days.
This year the theme was movies and various exhibitors did themed gardens to go along with them. We saw Mr. Myagi's patio from Karate Kid, and a garden from UP, and The Secret Garden. Jurassic Park and Avatar had gardens and walk through areas as well. Kansas State Extension wants us to get into the gardening Hobbit, and they had a Hobbit home and raised garden. See the round green door in my photo?
Our senses were filled with the sounds of water and the smells of soil and flowers. Our eyes were delighted with greenery and beautiful colors. It was a spring vacation in one day.
Like everything else, this show has become expensive, and also very commercial. Exhibitors do not just want to show you their wares, they want to sell them to you, today, right now!
I have a lot of pictures and many business cards to sort through. I have websites I would love to visit. Meanwhile, we are expecting rain, freezing rain and possibly snow in the next day or two, then warm weather by Friday.
In an act of hope I sprinkled grass seed on bare spots in my yard and got peat pellets to put tomato seeds in.
I am looking forward to Spring.

Have a wonderful week.

That's Where You'll Find Me

Okay, I am from Kansas, the Land of Oz, or as the promotional material says, The Land of Ahhhs. I am also a citizen of the world, a traveler on the Web. I posted in a previous entry that I am a member of MyLot. Another place I call home is Gather.com http://gardengerty.gather.com/
I post as Heather E. Gather is a worth while site to join, because you make friends, learn new things, and also, you can earn points, that translate into gift cards.

Remember the muffins from a previous post? Here is the recipe:
The person who posted it to Gather gives credit to hillbillyhousewife.com

Oatmeal Muffins to eat when you are broke.

1 cup dry oatmeal
1 cup sour milk, buttermilk or yogurt (you can use powdered buttermilk)
1 medium egg
1/2 C white or brown sugar
1/3 C oil
1 1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp. each salt and baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder

In a large bowl combine the oatmeal and buttermilk or sour milk or yogurt
Let it set awhile so that the oatmeal soaks up some of the liquid.
Add the egg, sugar and oil, beat really well with a wire whisk.
Stir in flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, but do not over stir. It should only take 20-30 strokes to mix all the dry patches in.
Spoon the batter into a dozen well oiled standard muffin cups and bake at 4oo for about twenty minutes. Best served hot.

Like I said, I tweaked it a little. I stir in flax seed meal and wheat germ, a tablespoon or so of each. I also add a good handful of dried fruit, and chopped nuts. If the batter is too thick I stir in a tablespoon full of milk as well. This makes 30 or so mini muffins.
I usually use yogurt for the liquid--Vanilla or fruit flavored.

These make great little bites for breakfast or snack, and they are just sweet enough to take care of cravings.

I hope I made you want to bake.

Tomorrow, I may go spend part of the day with a friend.

Have fun,
Heather