Happy Birthday Big Ben...

Today, London's Victorian chimes of Big Ben carried the customary four notes from Handel's Messiah every fifteen minutes across the city in celebration of the clock's 150th birthday.

On May 31, 1859, the clock officially started keeping time. Big Ben started tolling a few days later, and within months it cracked and didn't resume service until 1862.

At first legislators complained that it was too loud, while The Times of London lamented that the blunders surrounding the project were a "disgrace to all concerned".

But, as the bad memories faded and London's collective ear became used to the bong of the great bell, the tower became a cherished part of the city's landscape, and the country's self-image.

Big Ben is actually the nickname for the great bell of the clock.

Down By The Garden Gate....

Yesterday , as I was away working, my dearest the "First Sergeant" hung my little old gate and created a new piece of rock wall to partner alongside.

It leads into the back of the woods, which I fondly call the gateway to the "hundred acre wood" joshing of course ;)

We had purchased the fencing a couple of years earlier, from an old family homestead, seventeen original picket-fence panels, and one little gate.
We have used the fencing, all around the property, since there was not enough to completely fence the entire area.

It works well, a piece here, a few pieces there...



I understand the triumph and the truth
Wrought into these walls of rugged stone.
They are a miracle of patient hands,
They are a victory of suffering, a paean of pain;
All pangs of death, all cries of birth,
Are in the mute, moss-covered stones;
They are eloquent to my hands
O beautiful, blind stones, inarticulate and dumb!
In the deep gloom of their hearts there is a gleam
Of the primeval sun which looked upon them
When they were begotten.
So in the heart of man shines forever
A beam from the everlasting sun of God.
Rude and unresponsive are the stones;
Yet in them divine things lie concealed;
I hear their imprisoned chant:
~ The Song of the Stone Wall by Helen Keller 1910

The Uplifting Blogger Award...

I have received a new blog award from fellow blogger, Pastor Sharon, at Dances With God a recent recipient of the award herself.

Pastor Sharon, is ONE busy and entertaining lady. Not only is she a seminary student in the process of studying to earn a degree in her second career, she is also a lady who is devoted to God and her family.

Her blog is both entertaining, funny, wise, and enlightening; her love of life and serving the Lord is eminent.

Thank you Pastor Sharon, I am truly humbled.

"The Uplifting Blogger Award, goes to fellow bloggers who visit frequently and raise my spirits with their kind words of encouragement, their beautiful images and their wonderful outlook on life. They make blogging a positive experience and continue to make my life richer."

"Please feel free to pass this award along to your friends. I ask that you do name them but you don't have to link to them.

Just stop by their blogs and let them know you've given them this award."

In the "share the love" spirit, I would like to pass along this award to the following bloggers who daily raise my spirits and offer words of encouragement.

The Writers Porch
A Parson's Wife
Gaston Studio
Home Haven Ministry

Joyful Reflections
The Smith's Bennie and Patsy

The Diary of Dagenham Dave

http://ldburgus.blogspot.com/

Thank you dear friends for always giving me the encouragement to share my musings with you !

How Was Your Day ?

First I had trouble getting out of bed....

Then I had a Stiff Neck...

Washed my hair and couldn't do anything with it...

New diet doesn't seem to be working out....

Got chewed out by the boss...


Got caught in the rain at lunchtime.......

The lunch I had, didn't seem to agree with me....

The new employee stood before the paper shredder looking confused.
"Need some help?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied. "How does this thing work?"
"Simple," I said, taking the fat report from her hand and feeding it into the shredder.
"Thanks, but where do the copies come out?"

I feel trapped....

Uninvited guests show up at dinnertime.....

I'm alone in the house at night and I think I hear a noise in the basement.....

Maybe tomorrow will be better !!

Something's Missing...

First Piano Lesson....Purrrfect.

Optimism...

Real optimism is aware of problems but recognizes solutions;

Knows about difficulties but believes they can be overcome;

Sees the negatives, but accentuates the positives;

Is exposed to the worst but expects the best;

Has reason to complain, but chooses to smile.

~William Arthur Ward

Of Friendships and Fish & Chips......

I was digging through some photographs yesterday, and came across this picture.

It was sent to me several years ago, from my childhood best friend Caroline, (on the right), taken standing in front of her parents Fish and Chip shop in my hometown.
I think we were about nine years old, and inseparable.

At some point the photograph had been torn, and Caroline had taped it back together, which accounts for the distortion in her little face.
I think someone may have told me NOT to smile :)

Her younger brother (David), shown in the middle of the photograph was a "live wire", always teasing us girls.
Sadly, he has passed away, from complications with his diabetes.
He was much too young to have left this earth.......



We made some wonderful memories in the age of innocence.....

Life's Little Rules....

Stay out of trouble.....


Aim for greater heights...

Stay focused on your job....

Exercise to maintain good health.....

Practice team work....

Rely on your trusted partner to watch your back.... Take your time trusting others.

Save for rainy days....

Take time to rest and relax.....

Always take time to smile.....

Realize that nothing is impossible.......

Mothering Sunday...

A "Happy Mother's Day".... to all of our wonderful mums.

"A Mother holds her children's hands for a while
.......their hearts forever."


His Mother
Even He that died for us upon the cross, in the last hour,
in the unutterable agony of death,
was mindful of His mother,
as if to teach us that this holy love
should be our last worldly thought - the last point of earth
from which the soul should take its flight for heaven.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow



Mother Love ~ James John Hill


“Who ran to help me when I fell,
And would some pretty story tell,
Or kiss the place to make it well? My mother”

~ Anne Taylor


Reading to Mother ~ John Morgan

Gone To Pot....

Busy running down the road to the garden center today...

Passing my favorite old homestead

Down the country lane

Waiving " hello" to the old weathered barn


Now where did I leave my gardening gloves ?

The iris are in bloom ...

New wellies...

I think I'll make a cuppa and sit here for a spell.......mulling over my plans.

The Loot....

Rain stopped play....