Friday, November 9

A Salute to the Veterans Who Have Touched My Life

Sunday November 11, is Remembrance Day in Canada. It is a day to honour veterans for the sacrifice they've made to assure we live in freedom. So, in honour of Remembrance Day, I would like to introduce you to the veterans who have touched my life.

Private Frederick Willson - my Dad. This photo was taken in 1940 when he was in basic training.


This is my Uncle Bill. He served with the Hamilton Light Infantry and was sent to England early during WWII. He participated in Operation Jubilee and landed on the beach at Dieppe, France. His best friend died on that beach in my uncle's arms. He was wounded and when he recuperated, he moved into Caan, France. It was there that he was wounded so badly that he was shipped home.

Dieppe was a military disaster. Hundreds of soldiers died on that beach. There were four landings that day and Uncle Bill landed right at Dieppe. The German soldiers were aware that the troops were moving in and they shot the men as they landed. Some were still in the water when they lost their lives. Uncle Bill didn't talk about the landing much, but the one thing I remember was that he said the water was red with blood. Now that I've studied the landing, I'm surprised that anyone survived. I'm glad that Uncle Bill came home. He was a lot of fun and always had time for us when we were kids.


This is my Uncle Bert. He was stationed in British Columbia during WWII. He was a guard at the Japanese Interment Camp there. When it came time, he was shipped overseas and took part in the Liberation of Holland.

I give thanks that so many young men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice in order that we may live in freedom. I salute those men and women from Canada and the US, as well as all other countries who are now far from home and family, serving their countries. Let's pray that they will all come home.

A Wonderful Gift

I am speechless. Carolyn at Talk to Grams has honored me with a beautiful award. I am deeply touched.

This is what Carolyn wrote when she presented me with the award. For Social Conscience: Mary at Mary at Mary's Writing Nook Mary has interesting post about a various issues and they hold your interest all the way through!!

Thanks, Carolyn. This means a lot to me.

Now I would like to pass this on to a few who are definitely deserving:

Denise of Samaritan Women

Sharon of Rose of Sharon

Lori of Pink Faded Roses

Mrs. Staggs of Merryville

Joan of Erstwhile Librarian

Enjoy ladies and thanks for being a great inspiration to me.

Show and Tell Friday

It seems that this week has passed by rather quickly because it's already Friday and time for Show and Tell. This week I'm dedicating Show and Tell Friday to Kelly, who loves snow. To meet Kelly, visit Carolyn at Talk to Grams.

We had snow yesterday, though there was no accumulation, but I did manage to get a few pictures of our first snowfall of the year. Kelli at No Place Like Home is this week's host. Thank you Kelli.

Below is a picture of the park across the street. If you look closely, you can see the snow and there is quite a bit on the camera lens.



Above there is snow on the spent Iris leaves and on the snapdragons. Imagine snapdragons blooming in November in Ontario.


In the photo above you can see the snow on the leaves if you look closely. There's not much, as it was melting as fast as it hit the ground. Does anyone know what the red and yellow flowers are called? I was told they are strawflowers, but I'm not sure. These are one of my favorites.


These were given to me by my neighbor. They have new buds on them and are doing better now than they did all summer. They seed themselves and each year I have to thin them out so they won't take over the entire garden. My neighbor told me these are Hungarian Geraniums, but I'm not sure. They do have beautiful flowers and the foliage is a lovely green. If anyone can tell me what they are, I'd appreciate it.

Well that is all for Show and Tell Friday for this week. See you here again next Friday. Have a wonderful and safe weekend.

A Special Award


I would like to thank Denise at Shortybear's Place for honoring me with this very special award. It means the world to me. Denise has touched my life in a special way. Thank you, Denise.

I would like to pass this on to a few special people who have touched me in some way.




Carolyn at Talk to Grams

I have so many special friends here that I find it's hard to choose. So, if you are on my blogroll and would like this award, I am presenting it to you. I visit your blogs almost daily and you visit mine and I consider you all online friends that are cherished. Enjoy!

Thursday, November 8

Thankful Thursday


I can't believe that Thursday is here already. For some reason I had it in my head that it was Wednesday. Maybe I'm just trying to stop time in its tracks so I can get everything done that I need to do.

Thankful Thursday is one of my favorite days of the week. Though I give thanks daily for blessings received, this is the day that I share them with you.

1. I am thankful for all my dear friends that I've met here. This week I've been especially blessed by Denise O., Denise W., Sharon, Michele, Grams and Kathy. Thank you, Ladies.

2. For my grandsons being back in school after one of them had a full week off and the other one three days. There's a flu bug going around up here.

3. For the snow that is falling outside my window. It's a fine snow that will probably not accumulate, but we do need snow to make the Earth fertile. I am not quite as thankful for the cold and wind.

4. For the tow truck driver who had to retrieve my husband's keys from the locked van. He knows my husband and only charged him a fraction of the usual price. No, hubby didn't lock the keys in, but he did leave the door open on that rented van when he was away from it and a stranger shut the door. I'm not sure that the man realized that when the door shuts, it automatically locks. Oh, the blessings of modern technology. However, it could have cost a lot more, so I'm very thankful that it happened the way it did.

5. For all things that Our Father provides. In this nation, we are truly blessed.

This week I would like to pay special tribute to the men and women from both the US and Canada who are stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq. I am thankful they are willing to take a stand to protect the world from terrorism. May God keep watch over them all.

If you would like to participate in Thankful Thursday, please visit Crystal at God is in Control and learn more about it.

Wednesday, November 7

What's Cooking? - Low Fat Thanksgiving Dinner

If you'd like some tips on how to serve a low fat Thanksgiving dinner, stop by What's Cooking.

Peace on Earth


Live Well Wednesday


Darlene at Live Well is starting Live Well Wednesday. The idea is allow women "to to reshape their body and life, by moving faith to the forefront, making healthier lifestyle choices, and finding our worth in in the eyes of our Father.

Through "Live Well!," Darlene Schacht reveals to women how the spirit influences our soul, and how our souls greatly influence the choices we make for our bodies and lifestyle. By feeding and nurturing our spirit and soul, we free our bodies from the captivity of sin, bringing glory to God and peace to our lives."

Christian women face many challenges that women all over the world face every day. My particular battle is with my weight. Let me tell you a little about it.

When I was in elementary school, I was chubby. I wasn't teased about my weight because our principal had a very strict rule about judging others. Those were the days when the Bible was read before the day's work began. Right after Bible reading came the Lord's Prayer. No one protested, it was what was done and that was that. We also sang God Save the Queen and Oh, Canada.

All that to say that when I turned 14, I was determined to be thinner. I worked hard around the farm, so my weight wasn't a lack of exercise like it is today. But determined I was and that weight came off. The day I was married, my waist was a slim 21 inches.

The weight stayed off for years. I gained 20 pounds when I was pregnant with my daughter. The day after she was born, I weighed only one pound more that I had when I became pregnant. I was ecstatic!

After many years, I turned 35. That was the year that my weight began to skyrocket. No, I wasn't gulping down huge portions of food. I had no explanation for why I was packing on weight and neither did my doctor. "Probably genetics," he told me.

My paternal grandmother and I look a lot alike - in fact photos of her when she was younger could be mistaken for me, yet I'm not as heavy as she was. However, if I don't keep watch over my calories, I could well surpass her. I'm determined that I will not let that happen.

In 1992, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I began to control my blood sugar by diet. By 2000, I was on meds to keep my glucose levels down. In 2005, the pills weren't doing their job. Now the doctor has me on a new med that works well. My blood sugar levels are back under control.

Today, I am heavier than I've ever been in my life. I can't say I'm uncomfortable about who I am, but the weight makes me uncomfortable in a physical sense. I know I have to lose weight and have tried everything I know to do that. I lose a couple of pounds and then when I go back to the doctor, I've gained it again. Though I'm living well, measuring all of my portions, keeping a food journal and counting calories, the weight loss is going very slow.

If you are trying to lose weight, here are a few pointers on how to live well:

1. Keep a food journal and write down everything you put in your mouth. This is very important, as we taste things throughout the day that we don't realize give us lots of calories. You will be surprised at how many things you "taste" that add to the calorie count.

2. Take a half hour walk daily. You don't have to do the entire 30 minutes all at once. Three ten minute walks are better than nothing. However, if you can set aside a half hour a day, it is much better.

3. Keep carbs to a minimum. Bread and pasta can pack on the pounds without us realizing it.

4. Watch the sweets. We all love sweets, but they are full of calories.

5. Treat yourself once a week to avoid going on a spree because of cravings.

6. Walk, don't drive. If you must drive, park in the spot that is furthest from the door. Believe it or not, this little bit of exercise makes a big difference.

7. Keep a bowl of raw vegetables in the refrigerator. Carrot and celery sticks, green pepper, raw mushrooms - any kind of raw vegetable that you like. Then when you think you are hungry, eat a handful of the veggies. This will cut down on a lot of calories.

8. When you purchase fruit at the store, cut it into pieces and leave a covered container of fruit in the refrigerator. This includes watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, all types of berries and more. Do not cut apples to leave in the refrigerator, as they will turn brown when the air hits them.

9. Place a note on the refrigerator door that says, "Am are you really hungry? Do you need a snack right now?" This will make you think twice before you open the door.

10. Look to our Father to guide you along the way. Keep your eyes toward the heavens. With God's help you can achieve all things.

I had stopped doing the above ten things, but am once again looking toward the heavens. I can do this and so can you. Please let me know how you are doing. Living well will extend our lives and keep us in optimum health.

Tuesday, November 6

Blogging Pays with Blogsvertise

Tonight I was following my usual routine of reading and posting on all of my favorite blogs when I came across a very interesting post at Writing the Cyber Highway. Michele had created a post about how to make money with Blogsvertise.

Always looking for additional writing assignments to bring in extra money, Michele's post piqued my interest. I could make money just by posting on my blog? This was a surprise because I had never heard of blogging for money. Excellent! I love blogging and making a little money doing something I love is very appealing. So, I followed the link in Michele's post and signed up!

Benefits of Blogsvertise

  • Being able to make a little extra cash just for writing on my blog, which I love to do.
  • There is no requirement to endorse any product. I just have to mention it and link back to it three times in my post.
  • If I don't like a product, I can even complain about it. However, I'm not usually one to complain so that probably will never happen, but I will definitely be truthful and give an honest opinion about any product or website that I review.

Do You Need Extra Cash?

If you need a little extra cash (who doesn't at this time of year,) you too can blog for money by signing up with Blogsvertise. All you have to do is follow the link in this post and sign up, which is extremely easy.

Approval

Once you fill in the information required, submit your blog for approval. It won't be long until you receive an email asking you to activate your Blogsvertise account. Then you'll be directed to write a post about Blogsvertise on your blog in order for you to be approved. It's best you do this as soon as possible. The sooner you are approved, the sooner you will get an assignment and begin making money. The post lets the folks at Blogsvertise know that you understand the process and the rules. This increases your chances of approval by Blogsvertise administration.

Assignments

Once the folks at Blogsvertise give their approval, you will be given assignments. They will place your blog in the assignment queue and send you an email specifying the product, service and website that you will review on your blog. You are never required to endorse any product. All you have to do is mention said product in your post and include three links back to their website.

Once your post has been made, you submit your URL (address of the post) to Blogsvertise. When the post has been approved, your assignment is complete. Payment will be made through Pay Pal after 30 days.

The Extra Money

Of course you'd like to know how much extra money you can make through Blogsvertise. The website specifies that the rate for new accounts is between $4.00 and $25.00 per entry. The majority will fall into the range of $5. to $15. That means if you complete ten assignments in one month and they all are approved, $50 to $150 will be deposited in your Pay Pal account after 30 days. Not bad for writing on your blog, which you enjoy.

The rate you earn is based on your blog's popularity and traffic. However, the news gets even better. After you have completed 5 tasks, you are allowed to ask for a pay increase.

I have studied and explored the Blogsvertise site while writing this post, in order to familiarize myself with all there is to know and learn. This looks so easy and since I love blogging anyway, I am looking forward to making a little extra cash in time for Christmas, just by doing what I enjoy most - blogging.

So, don't be shy. I'm sure you could use some extra cash. Click on the Blogsvertise link and sign up to make a little extra money.

My Latest Meme Tag

blueblue at A Spot With Pots has tagged me for a Picture meme. The meme originated with Kate at Our Red House.

The rules are simple: post a picture of yourself on your blog. As some may feel uncomfortable posting a current photo, a baby or childhood picture is fine. Post the picture, tell us the story behind it, copy the logo, and tag three others (without forgetting to tell them that they have been tagged!)
I am going to do a random tag out of my comments. Here are the winners:

Love Sows Seeds

Paula at On A Rainy Night

Yellow Rose Arbor

Be sure to check out these ladies' sites. They are all wonderful.

I'm not a very photogenic person, so I hope no one was expecting too much. LOL

Of course no one has to participate that doesn't feel comfortable doing so. If anyone that visits would like to participate, you are already tagged by me, so feel free to do so.



Monday, November 5

My Goodness Duds - Giveaway

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Patriot at Made in the USA is hosting a Giveaway. "For this giveaway, one winner will receive a bib of their choice, and a second winner will receive an outfit of their choice!!!" These baby apparel items are really cute. Be sure to follow the link and check out the Giveaway. It's going to be a lot of fun to see who wins these wonderful items.

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In other news, Tina of Tina's Odds and Ends tagged me for the meme "What would I write if I had an extra hour every day?"

I had already taken part in this meme when Michele from Writing the Cyber Highway tagged me. However, I wondered if I could come up with anything else to write with an extra hour each day. This is what I discovered:

I would begin to write poetry again. All I have to do is see a beautiful picture and I can write a poem about it - or see something in nature that inspires me - or someone can say or write something that gives me a picture and I can write a poem about it. I love writing poetry and wish that I had more time. I will post a poem that I've written one of these days.

I would write more often in my grandsons' journals if I had an extra hour a day. Maybe that doesn't count because I think I said that in the last meme.

I would write more family stories, such as this one I wrote about The Old Pump. I love writing memoirs of my childhood and really should put all of these stories into a book.

I'm not sure who to tag this time so I will leave it open. Anyone who reads this is welcome to participate. If you do, please leave a comment so I can read your post.

Memory Verse Monday


Karen at Karen's Ramblings is hosting Memory Verse Monday, as she does every week. To join in the fun, visit Karen by clicking on the name of her website to find out all about it.


This week I chose Psalm 119:105

"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path "


There have been many times over the years when I've been assaulted by the enemy. This verse has always given me comfort at those times. Because of something that happened in my childhood, I have suffered from depression since my early teens. However, I've been able to sweep those events to the side and for the most part only remember the good times. I do not dwell on the negative, but on the positive. I have also forgiven the one who caused this depression to come into my life. For only by forgiveness can we heal.

What Am I Doing Today?


Today is going to be a busy day. I write web content for a website that is getting ready to launch and I have to choose ten articles to write for the month of December. They will be due on November 30th. To top it all off, I'm already late getting that information to the editor. I send my suggestions to him and he approves them. Once in a while he already has something that I've suggested and then he makes a couple of suggestions. He's a very easy-going editor, for which I am glad.

Next, I have to clean this house up a bit. Last week I didn't get much done, so I'm paying this week. There's also a few things I need to get rid of and this is a perfect time of year to do so. Christmas Baskets are always happy to receive items to give to those less fortunate during the holiday season.
I will try to make a regular post later in the day. I'm brainstorming to try to think of something of interest. In the meantime, here is a little something.
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Do you remember any of the Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes that you learned as a child? When we had my niece's baby shower, we played a nursery rhyme game and not one person got them all right. I remember a lot of them and said them to the grandsons when they were little. I wouldn't want to see Mother Goose lost to the children of our age. Here's one that Grandma used to say to me:

Monday's child is fair of face


Tuesday's child is full of grace


Wednesday's child is full of woe


Thursday's child has far to go


Friday's child is loving and giving


Saturday's child works hard for it's living


But the child born on the Sabbath Day


Is fair and wise and good and gay.

What day were you born on? I am a Wednesday's child and though I wouldn't say I am full of woe, I've battled depression for years. It's not a deep, dark depression like some people experience, but an on-going light depression. I have never let it get me down and try my best to be an optimist. I learned long ago that fighting this battle is neverending. However, keeping busy and having great friends to support me along with my family keeps me at the top most of the time.




Sunday, November 4

Green Thumb Sunday

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For Green Thumb Sunday this week, I am going to show you a photo of one of my blue morning glories. For years I tried to grow morning glories. I purchased seeds and plants but the morning glories just never came up. This year, my luck changed. I planted the seeds a little later than I should have and didn't really expect any results. Lo and behold, before long little green sprouts were shooting up out of the ground. Before I knew it I had blue morning glories, which are my favorites. The package that I purchased said they would be a pink/red color.


The morning glories continued to grow up the trellis all summer and right into fall. Last week, I took the photo of this morning glory just before lunch. Notice that one to the right of it was already spent. It's very odd for morning glories to be blooming in Ontario in October. A beautiful flower that survived a light frost or two.

Be sure to visit my Treasures to Me blog to read my story "The Old Pump." It is a story of my childhood and I'm sure you will enjoy it. Just click on the title of the story.