Through the Bible in 90 Days

Jill and I are having a great time reading the Bible in 90 days, along with our church. We have taken the B-90 Challenge. We have been at it for one week, and we are already through Genesis and Exodus. It is really entertaining to read the Bible at this rate. Sure, some of the genealogies are a bit dry, but they are important to the overall understanding of the saga.

I once had occasion to read the Bible in 60 days. It was a great experience, but I think 90 days is a nicer pace. Using the B-90 Challenge Bible, it is a mere 12 pages a day of reading. I have tried the "Bible in a year" plans, but they go so slowly that you can't really keep track of the story. Then I lose interest and fail to continue...usually somewhere in Leviticus.

So, if you haven't read through the Bible recently, I recommend this plan. If you are a believer, you really need to read through the Bible periodically: it is God's love letter to you. If you are not a believer, reading through the Bible can't hurt you, and it has been such a powerful influence in the world for the past 3,500 years that you really ought to know what is in it.

There is a thief in the neighborhood!

Finally, after three + months in our new home, I was able to get out and do some yard work. Landscaping in winter is difficult at best. In our yard, when it has rained, walking is hazardous...it makes you taller. What I mean to say is that the clay soil tends to collect on the bottom of your shoes, and after a time, you actually can accumulate enough that your shoes no longer touch the ground.

Today, the ground was comparatively dry. So, of course, the first thing I did was get out the hose and attach a sprayer. I sprayed the new shoots of poison oak that are coming up all over the back yard. I hope that, by starting now, I can pretty much eradicate this noxious weed before summer is over.

Next, I put on my burglar's mask and dark glasses and went across the street to steal some plants! Well, that is not 100% true...well, actually the only truth in that statement is that I went across the street. I didn't have to disguise myself, and I didn't have to steal plants. Our contractor has graciously told us that we may take any plant materials that are on any of the lots in the development on which no one has built a house.

I found the mother lode of ferns. So, I dug up five nice big ferns and planted them strategically under the oak trees in the back yard.

Jill got a picture of my good side, while
I was digging holes to plant the ferns.

Then I turned around, and she got my bad side.

Pogo came out to help, too.
She is the official family sniffer

I call this the "dance of the fern planter."
Just tamping down the soil.

In all, I made three trips to Duane's dig-'em-yourself nursery. In addition to the ferns, I found three lovely Oregon grape plants. Here's the final result:

The little plant on the left is one of the Oregon grapes.

Isn't this a lovely fern? There are dozens like this still available.

I added another fern behind the tree, so Jill took another photo.

This photo doesn't do justice to the bed I filled
within a semi-circle of trees. There are three
ferns and two Oregon grapes. I can't wait to get
some bark dust to scatter around them.

It will be a while yet before we can put in lawn, because I need to have someone come and dig trenches so I can put in the sprinkler system first. I also plan to make a waterfall and a dry creek bed in the back yard.

I have made some composite photos of the overall plan for the front yard, as well. My hope is that, when we finish, it will look something like this:

Front composite photo.

Side yard composite photo.

Snow today in Dallas

OK, OK, you people on the east coast and in Indiana, don't laugh...we had some snow today. Yes, on 1/11/11 we had (have) snow falling and sticking...kinda.

Earlier in the day, the sun was out, so I decided it was time to take Sadie out for some exercise. She fired right up; although, I am embarrassed to say, it has been since October 23rd that her engine last ran. There has just been so much to do, getting into our new home, that Sadie has been a bit neglected. She sits, cozy, in her garage; no need for winterizing, because the garage is insulated.

Part of my motivation was that we received a ten cents a gallon discount coupon for gas at Safeway. With Gas currently at $3.119 per gallon, ten cents off seemed like a good time to fill up. We disconnected Sadie's various umbilici, gingerly drove her out of the garage and down the hill to fill up. It turns out the discount is only good for the first 30 gallons, which means we saved $3.00; not a fortune, but enough for a caramel machiato, one of these days.

The gas station attendants were very kind and washed Sadie's dirty windshield while we were there. When we were finished (40.7 gallons later), we headed for the countryside to give the old girl some exercise. We had a lovely drive out to Perrydale, a little farming community a bit north of Dallas. The countryside was gorgeous, Sadie purred, and Jill and I reveled in being on the road. In fact, we determined it is time to plan the first camping trip of 2011.

While we were on the road, I started the Onan generator for a little exercise and ran the electric heater in the coach. It ran like a top...the generator, that is...well, the heater did fine, too. We returned home, parked our venerable lady and went in to have lunch.

That's when the snow began to fall. I felt pretty smug. I got Sadie gassed up at a discount, gave her some exercise, enjoyed a drive in the country with my best girl, and got home before the snow began to fall.

It is odd how a particular day or occurrence affects one's soul. I told Jill after we got home that, somehow, taking Sadie out for a drive made me feel that we are finally settled at home in Dallas. She told me that, whenever she is feeling grumpy or having cravings, all I need to do is take her for a ride in Sadie...or give her some chocolate...or, ahem.

So, yes, we had some snow in Dallas today. I am not exactly regretting that I gave away my skis before we moved, but we had snow today in Dallas.

A little Christmas fun

I think Laura had more fun with this crazy cat toy than anything else this Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all. We are spending Christmas in San Diego with our two daughters, son-in-law and two grandsons. The weather is sunny and 65 degrees; no white Christmas for us, but being with the family is better than all the snow in the world.

The only thing missing is having our son and daughter-in-law with us. I can't complain too loudly, though, because they are baby-sitting our pooch, while we are away. Thanks, Pat and Katie.

We are off to Christmas Eve worship this afternoon and then to some friends' for a Christmas Eve gathering and dinner. Thank you, Father God, for this wonderful time of the year, but thank you most of all for sending your Son to be born in a lowly manger and grow up to pay the ransom for my sins and everyone-else's!

Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year!

Another milestone

Here I am with my beautiful bride.

Bob and Angela live just four blocks from us.

Chuck is the discussion leader for our Life Group.
Here he is with wife Darlene. Dottie is on the right.

Dottie looks on as Ursula snuggles up to hubby, Eric.

This evening we marked another milestone in our transition to life in Dallas and our new home. Up until today, our only dinner guests had been family. We had 9 guests for a potluck dinner this evening. The group is our Life Group from church. Unfortunately, there were several who were unable to attend. Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time.

The menu included glazed ham, tossed salad, a layered salad with nuts and berries, a wonderful dish that was reminiscent of scalloped potatoes but included French fried onions, some delicious Chinese-style stir-fried green beans, a fruit salad, dinner rolls, and pumpkin cheesecake pie. Beverages included ice water, coffee and hot spiced cider. There was no lack of things to eat, and no one went hungry.

We had some lovely conversation, before, during and after dinner. It was fun to show off the house we have been telling the group about for the last three months.

As has been our usual experience when entertaining, we had the house cleaned up and back in order before all of the guests had made it home. I don't know about our guests, but Jill and I had a marvelous time.

Big news!!

Oh, happy day! Our son, Patrick, called this afternoon to tell us that his wife, Katie, is expecting a baby come next August. We are thrilled for them...and for us.

I must admit that I was unsure how to react, at first. It was my understanding that the kids were planning to be pregnant at this time next year, after Pat has finished his masters degree. I am afraid I didn't gush enough, when he told me the news.

What was really fun is the fact that I had planned to go to Patrick's school to watch him coach basketball this evening. After we got the great news, and Pat told us that Katie would be at the game, Jill decided to go with me. That was a great thing, because Katie was bubbling over with excitement and needed a woman to share with. I would have been a woefully inadequate, although sympathetic ear for her.

So, that's the big news. We will continue to offer updates as things develop.