Heard It Through The Grapevine

California vintners in the Napa Valley area, which primarily produce Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio wines, have developed a new hybrid grape that acts as an anti-diuretic.

It is expected to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the bathroom during the night.

The new wine will be marketed as...

PINO MORE

Love, Freely Given

The past week has been very hectic and busy as my goal of accomplishments completed. Many hours have been put in this week, preparing for a ninetieth year old birthday party for my patient that I do private duty nursing for.

Invitations sent out with RSVP response cards, brought back one hundred people attending. This was going to be quite the task, yet not unmanageable. The menu was chosen, BBQ, which was cooked by a local neighbor on a grill, which made it even more special, not to mention very good. With this, I prepared for 100 guest, baked beans, two different slaw's, BBQ and regular, potato salad, corn on the cob, whole wheat and regular rolls, tea, pop, coffee. The cake was a three tier, solid white with fresh flowers of blue Delphinia, white roses, and greenery. My theme colors were blue, and white, complete set tables, but done so with paper. I give credit to If It's Paper Inc. for supplying some of the prettiest paper products I have ever seen. This complete setup was casual, yet completely elegant.

The tables were covered with white linen table clothes, thus me adding blue place mats, white plates, blue napkins that had a sweet white flower design on them, blue forks and a blue dessert fork, placed above the plate. In the center of each table were flower vases filled with blue Delphinia, and baby breath, with two balloons tied to this, one blue, one white with different colors of streamers opposite the color of balloons.

For the entertainment, I had two speakers, one who was raised in the same church as my patient, and another one who had worked with her for many years. There were two singers, one singing gospel songs, the other singing modern day songs. Also one comedian, and the introduction of another, Ms Pansy Harper Sassafras, who was completely a southern belle, hat and all.

It was the perfect event, with the perfect ending. My patient was overwhelmingly surprised, honored, and appreciative. To her, I give my honor and all of my love. I certainly was blessed through love and action. Isn't that one of the reasons we are placed here on the earth for? To love, serve and give to another, especially one who can't give to themselves?

Have a great evening all...

passion

Two's Company Three's A Crowd

It's time for a porch call dear. Drinks ready, and fresh veggies... Come on up and sit for a spell.

With being the intelligent human beings we all are, right? We all know "what goes in, must come out?" ... ok... Pfffft, usually!

I don't have a very large bathroom. However, adequate. Hmmmmm, just how adequate is it? I think the hidden thought here and question is, Do I really want to share this with others, especially when I'm in there. And yes, for any reason.

Sam, he thinks so. He thinks he has earned the right to be in the bathroom at any given day, hour, minute, or just because. When I'm bathing, washing my face, teeth, especially when I go potty. His potty is in the bathroom also. I go potty, Sam goes potty. I go to bathe, Sam goes and watches me bathe and licks... I brush my teeth, Sam is sitting on my potty watching.

I mean the minute he hears me walk in the direction of the bathroom, Sam beats me to the draw... but he waits to see what my choice will be. We have a routine or he certainly does. AND NOTHING, and I mean nothing ever bothers Sam in there.

I talk to God all over my home, and usually always in the bathroom. I now, while in there, look down at Sam and say, "Sam, say good morning to God." Sam, well Sam, he is my human cat, who sleeps, eats, poops, bathes, all with me.

So,is there a silver lining to this? I don't know, except for the facts that I never need a book, and Sam never leaves the toilet lid up.

Enjoy your evening all. I see my daughter coming. What is it that I see in her hands? It's snuggled in a ball, furry, tiny, Oh Lord...she didn't? Delilah!

passion

Faithfully Waiting

It is one thing to decry the rat race...that is the good and honorable work of moralists. It is quite another thing to quit the rat race, to drop out, to refuse to run any further--that is the work of the individualist. It is offensive because it is impolite; it makes the rebuke personal; the individualist calls not his or her behavior into question, but mine."

Paul Gruchow

Overwhelmed we become, with many earthly obstacles that are thrown into our pathway. We never ask for them, as many sneaks in like a slithering snake, which always travels in pairs. Never visible to the eyes are both at the same time, but one remains always hidden in the background to take up the refuse where one may have left off.

Do we run away from these obstacles when we become so burdened down by them that our cross to bear becomes so heavy that it is like a rat trying to escape whilst running around a maze or in a wheel? The circle never goes away, but it can become broken.

Do we as individuals take this personal when someone dear to us... just stops instantly, drops out of our life, disappears, because they become tired of the life drama by people, places and things? Do they run away because they have demons that must be conquered before they can move forward with peace and restfulness?

Do we find blame within ourselves because of their departure, while all along knowing, we did our very best to enhance the relationship, secure the friendship. Do we think that perhaps our very best given was actually not the very best one needed, but needed more?

Unfortunately, yes we do. It is human nature to do so when we care.

Not always is everyone we meet the perfect specimen that we should allow to enter into our personal realm. After a trillion refusals, we allow yet, another, into our lives. When this is earned, approved, sealed by the heart, it is never done with a hidden agenda, but done so with complete honesty, an open book relationship so there can never be any misguided perceptions. Anything less would have been unacceptable.

So, what do we do should this occur?

The only reasonable, mind acceptable, soul searching, heart assuring answer is:

Faithfully, we wait for them to return.

My honor always,

passion ~

Gods Letter To Woman

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being.
When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils.
But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man, because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity. From one bone, I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man's life.

I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone, I shaped you....... I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The ribcage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. Support man as the rib cage supports the body.

You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side. You are my perfect angel.....You are my beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart.

Your eyes...don't change them. Your lips, how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form. Your hands so gentle to touch. I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I've held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are most like me. Adam walked with me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely. He could not see me or touch me. He could only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you; my Holiness, my Strength, my Purity, my Love, my Protection andSupport. You are special because you are an extension of me.

Man represents my image, woman my emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God. So man......treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt me. What you do to her, you do to me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart; the heart of your Father, and the heart of her Father.

Woman, honor man. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle quietness, show your strength. In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self. That you belong not only as his greatest gift and power, but you belong to him.

As always, my honor

passion ~

Yadda Yadda Of The Sisterhood

The night has fallen and the summons heard. One, outside on her deck. One, inside on her couch. Another, at her kitchen sink. The bell has been rung, the candle lit. The ashtrays cleaned and readied. The coffee made and waiting. Soda instead in the hand of one who doesn't really like coffee, as the joining of three souls, return to one. Distance never to make a difference. Tears to never make one run. Searching, with the courage to tell ones story, with no judgement given, nor taken.

Call it what one may, the sisterhood returned like so many other times. From one being in Texas, two from North Carolina, there isn't power on earth that could force the stopping of a meeting when called. It is the magic of just knowing one is hurting, needing, requiring the attention that only the bond can give, complete honesty.


It is the special intimate powers within the mind, that more times than not, triggers the instinct that something may be wrong, or right, or needed, perhaps just being... It is a deep level of trust that has already been tried and trusted... and gained leverage to the highest shapeable form within the heart. Thank you and I love you Tinkerbell and Little Miss Brat... it is the number three, as angels come in three's. For it is here, my heart will heal.

Children laughing in the background, ages twelve, eleven and six. One being Dracula, one watching television, one boxing on the computer, the match between Bush/Kerry. Please don't be silly! Of course Bush won! Ahhhhhhhhhhh, the joys of the Yadda... never go away.

As always,

passion ~

Addiction, In The Rarest Form

Hurriedly always, to get home from the chaos of yet another day, Dinner cooked, chores done, evening expected schedule accomplished, boy child tucked in. Finally, a breath taken. Candles lit, oil bath begun, hair washed, teeth brushed, readily awaiting for the moment...

Inhaling, the wait is over. !! Good conversation, stories told. Writing, sharing, a leading hand. Laughing, listening, smiling, routine.

Thirty minutes given, "Now off with you, dream sweet"

A routine.

A fragment of ones imagination?

I don't think so.

As always,

passion ~

Magic Of The Waterfalls

There is a magic power within the vision of a waterfall as it flows from one area to another, crossing millions of miles to get to the destination it longs for. It is similar to the human wants and needs with them longing to reach their goals, dreams, desires, their own truth.

The journey of the flow sometimes takes years to get to where it belongs. More times than not, the flow will cross over to another stream, pathway. All in God's plan to open up many streams for the different many journeys that will be taken. The flow of the journey will never cease to end.

Magic, special powers, journeys, never to cease? A step out in faith? Perhaps so.

As always,

passion ~

And God Said "Good morning passion"

And God said" Good morning passion. Where have you been?

All tied up Lord, in other things.

And God said, "Welcome back passion, for I have missed you!"

And I... you, Lord.

My Angel, Crying

How ironic that I have been feeling a tugging of the heart for the past few weeks, that I have posted even ahead of today about these feelings. I have been deeply hurt today unbeknown by someone I have respected, adored, perhaps desired and held close to my heart for months now. Even my angel cried. :-(

The Set Of The Sail

In the process of living, the winds of circumstances blow on us all in an unending flow that touches each of our lives.…

What guides us to different destinations in life is determined by the way we have chosen to set our sail. The way that each of us thinks makes the major difference in where each of us arrive. The major difference is the set of the sail.

The same circumstances happen to us all. We have disappointments and challenges. We all have reversals and those moments when, in spite of our best plans and efforts, things just seem to fall apart.…In the final analysis, it is not what happens that determines the quality of our lives, it is what we choose to do when we have struggled to set the sail and then discover, after all of our efforts, that the wind has changed directions.

When the winds change, we must change. We must struggle to our feet once more and reset the sail in the manner that will steer us toward the destination of our own deliberate choosing. The set of the sail, how we think and how we respond, has a far greater capacity to destroy our lives than any challenges we face. How quickly and responsibly we react to adversity is far more important than the adversity itself. Once we discipline ourselves to understand this, we will finally and willingly conclude that the great challenge of life is to control the process of our thinking.

Learning to reset the sail with the changing winds rather than permitting ourselves to be blown in a direction we did not purposely choose requires the development of a whole new discipline. It involves going to work on establishing a powerful, personal philosophy that will help to influence in a positive way all that we do and that we think and decide. If we can succeed in this worthy endeavor, the result will be a change in the course of our income, lifestyle and relationships, and in how we feel about the things of value as well as the times of challenge. If we can alter the way we perceive, judge and decide upon the main issues of life, then we can dramatically change our lives.

By: Jim Rohn

All Good Things Must End?

Good morning to all,

Early morning here in North Carolina, yet here I am, still up. It is official, I'm tired. Having been sick all week, yet faithful, I'm at work. The good news is tonight will be my last night to spend the night except on Fridays. Back to the regular hours and nights in my own bed. There is something to be said about "No place like home."

However, with that being said, I feel like this is my second home. My relationship with my patient and her daughter rests comfortably relating to that of me having another grandmother and mother. I have been so blessed to have had both placed in my pathway. The journey has been nothing short of honorable.

Honorable, a word with meaning that is so huge. Honorable, a word that unless one is really special, possesses not this trait. I wonder why? I wonder why so many human beings haven't a clue what it means to be honorable? Perhaps it is that they were never taught, or that their prorities are really all in the wrong places. Maybe it is that they themselves never experienced it, so therefore will never experience the reality or emotion of it.

My nature understands nothing else. My soul is the sister of honorable. My mind is captured and caged, failing to understand anything less given by myself to another or given back to me in return. Allowing people into my realm is all together a different story. It isn't an all of a sudden event. The decision is based on many standards. I call it the five golden rule. Respect, trust, lotalty, honor and love. All in that order.

Finally, at home now with a lapse of five hours in this writing with little rest. But it is over now, with me faced with many decisions in regard to my life, job, family and my personal relationships. I don't do well with changes as I have stated many times. I like and require routine. But then again,

All good things must end.

As always,

passion

Pondering Of A Six Year Old

One rainy afternoon a Dad was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick.
Suddenly his daughter, Aspen , spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat.

"Dad, I'm thinking of something."

This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. He was eager to hear.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.
"The rain!" she began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away."

After the chill bumps raced up my arms he was able to respond.

"That's really good, Aspen."

Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So he asked...

"Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?"

Aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer:

"We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."

He will always remember this whenever he turns his wipers on.

Isn't it distressing to know that when you forward this message you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. In order to see the Rainbow, you must first endure some Rain.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

Ol' Spot

A group of country neighbors wanted to get together on a regular basis and socialize. As a result, about 10 couples formed a dinner club and agreed to meet for dinner at a different neighbors' house each month.

Of course, the lady of the house was to prepare the meal. When it came time for Dick and Jane Brown tohave the dinner at their house, like most women, Jane wanted to outdo all the others and prepare a meal that was the best that any of them had ever lapped a lip over. A few days before the big event, Jane got out her cookbook and decided to have mushroom smothered steak. When she went to the store to buy some mushrooms, she found the price for a small can was more than she wanted to pay.

She then told her husband, "We aren't going to have mushrooms because they are too expensive." He said, "Why don't you go down in the pasture and pick some of those mushrooms? There are plenty of them right in the creek bed." She said, "No, I don't want to do that, because I have heard that wild mushrooms are poison." He then said, "I don't think so. I see the varmints eating them all the time and it never has affected them."

After thinking about this, Jane decided to give this a try and got in the pickup and went down in the pasture and picked some. She brought the wild mushrooms back home and washed them, sliced and diced them to get them ready to go over her smothered steak. Then she went out on the back porch and got Ol' Spot's (the yard dog) bowl and gave him a double handful. She even put some bacon grease on them to make them tasty. Ol' Spot didn't slow down until he had eaten every bite. All morning long, Jane watched him and the wild mushrooms didn't seem to affect him, so she decided to use them.

The meal was a great success, and Jane even hired a lady from town to come out and help her serve. She had on a white apron and a little cap on her head. It was first class. After everyone had finished, they all began to kick back and relax and socialize. The men were visitingand the women started to gossip a bit.

About this time, the lady from town came in from the kitchen and whispered in Jane's ear. She said, "Mrs. Brown, Spot just died." With this news, Jane went into hysterics. After she finally calmed down, she called the doctor and told him what had happened. The doctor said, "It's bad, but I think we can take care of it. I will call for an ambulance and I will be there as quick as I can get there. We'll give everyone enemas and we will pump out everyone's stomach. Everything will be fine. Just keep them all there and keep them calm."

It wasn't long until they could hear the wail of the siren as the ambulance was coming down the road. When they got there, the EMTs got out with their suitcases, syringes, and a stomach pump. The doctor arrived shortly thereafter. One by one, they took each person into the master bathroom, gave them an enema and pumped out their stomach. After the last one was finished, the doctor came out and said, "I think everything will be fine now, and heleft."

They were all looking pretty peaked sitting around the living room, and about this time, the town lady came in and said, "You know, that fellow that ran over Ol' Spot never even stopped!!

All I Have Heard Must Be True ?

In the mist of all of my canning, All-Star games and caring for two families, I ended up spending Saturday at the hospital ER with Frances. She took a fall late the night before and when I arrived Saturday to give her daughter her medications through IVs I decided she needed to go and be checked over.

She had fallen while trying to sit down at the dinning room table, lost her balance and an employee couldn't keep her from falling, actually pulling Pat down with her. She landed on her left hip that had an hip replacement three summers ago from a fall. :-( The same hip was solid blue, swollen and her bottom calf was all blue and swelled and looked like a baseball. This set off a red flag instantly when I saw it, because when one is on Coumadin, a blood thinner, no mistakes or chances can ever be taken.

So we are in the ER, at a small hospital where they still use hanging curtains to separate 2 large rooms. We got her settled in and she was to have x-rays and an MRI, on her head where she also hit it above her eye. This was going to take a bit of time, so when the staff left with her, I went out side for a few moments. As I was leaving the ER, I noticed from the side of my eye that a crowd of people were coming into the waiting area to sign in, with one, a teenager, looking like he had something wrong with his face. Not looking directly at any of the party, I exited the building.

As I returned to my cubby hole in the ER, right beside me was that young man and what seemed like his father. The conversation I heard speaks for itself.

Did you not realize what you were doing?

No, I wasn't paying attention or something.

How many cans of fuel were there, just two?

Yes, and I wasn't paying attention. I just grabbed one.

Well couldn't you tell a difference in them? The fuel, In the smell of them?

No, I wasn't paying attention. I was just trying to get the brush to burn.

There is a difference in the smell with gas and fuel oil, Son.

I instantly let out an uh-huh... covering my mouth, as if not to let them know I was listening to their conversation. It continued and when this young teenager said the next sentence I began to understand.

As I said I wasn't paying attention and there is something different about this gas and fuel oil here. It doesn't smell like it does in West Virginia.

Well, I reckon everyone is trying to burn round here now that it has rained a bit.

He leaves the ER for a bit, and I'm sitting there shaking my head, and trying to not say out loud again uh-huh as they start up the conversation again.

Well, you look better already. That white cream has already took the red off of your face, but you do have some second degree burns.

A few moments passed and nothing was said then all of a sudden out of his fathers mouth came this:

I tell you how you can really get something to burn good. Take some pine cones, soak them in black motor oil and this will set fire to anything.

There on the ER table laid his son, blistered up from a gas explosion that came back on him, being taught how to continue to burn but the proper way. As I said, this conversation speaks for itself.

Frances returned, nothing broken, just bruised really bad and sore. Given a prescription for pain medication, we came home, gratefully. It just goes to show you how blessed many are.

passion ~

Gardening And Canning Update

Gracious! Have I been busy. I was thinking that time would slow down here for me a bit , but what do I know, right? Time never stops, so we keep on keeping on. My patients daughter came home last Friday from the hospital! Yeah!!!!! She is doing rather well, but having to have IV antibiotics daily and knee packing daily, so I do this for her.

The garden hasn't stopped either. I'm canning for her as well as me, so my count as of tonight, is: Green beans 30 quarts. Squash 26 quarts, 10 pints, frozen for breads and other things, 40 pints. Dill pickles so far, 20 quarts and 12 pints.

My grandmother called me one day this week, not sure what day it was and said " "Passsssionnnn, I have two five gallon buckets of squash and zucchini that Mike picked for you if you want it?" Mike is my uncle, who grows a garden each year and it is absolutely beautiful and always plentiful. I hardly knew what to say to this offer, as I'm up to my head in produce here, but the grateful side of me said "Of course Grandmother."

The okra is growing and will be ready in a week or so. There are 120 tomato plants loaded, and I'm certainly glad none are riping right now. I do plan to can juice and tomato's, then make home made soup for the winter and spaghetti sauce. This comes in handy when your tired and in a hurry to fix something for dinner. All one has to do is add the meat, and shabam, there is your meal.

In the middle of all of my canning affairs, I restarted my weight loss program. It has been really hard to maintain this in the proper fashion as sometimes I grab on the run, and this isn't always the best thing for me. I need to learn to remember that I'm as important as canning is, or anything else is. As I said I need to be taught this as I have never just placed myself first. It isn't in my nature. :-)

One more caner filled, and I can go to bed. :-)

passion ~