Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

This hymn by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) has always been one of my favorites during Advent. I was reading through the lyrics for a project yesterday and they touched me deeply... almost as if reading them for the first time.

Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set they people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne.

Shadow Shot Sunday #6

Hosted by Hey Harriet
(click on SSS image for more photos)

Mostly shadow with only a few strips of sunlight for accent.

Deck the Halls

I couldn't resist sharing this clip I got in an e-mail from my sister-in-law. Enjoy!

Ponderings #2

If you could only have one condiment for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

1. Mustard

2. Mayonnaise

3. Ketchup (Catsup)

4. Salsa

5. Other (please elaborate!)

Without a doubt, it would be mustard for me. Just look at all the varieties! Spicy brown mustard, honey mustard, whole seed mustard, Dijon mustard and my favorite - plain old yellow mustard. I might miss ketchup just a little, but mustard wins hands down.

What about you?

Cozy Mystery Bookmark

When I signed up for the Cozy Mystery Challenge hosted by Kris at Not Enough Books, she promised that everyone who completed the challenge would receive a fun bookmark.

True to her word, I got mine in the mail last month. Isn't it cute? What makes it extra fun is that years ago I collected owls and still enjoy seeing them on things.

I have lots of reading ahead of me in the coming year and will enjoy using my new bookmark. Thanks, Kris!

Busy as a Beaver

Look at what some beavers have been up to in our pond. The top photo is a house (lodge, hut, den) that they constructed in a matter of days right in the midst of one of my favorite fishing spots.

The bottom photo shows another house that has some mud on the sides. The mud is obviously a recent addition since it hasn't dried. Some folks say the beavers start "mudding" when they're fixing to have babies. Others say it's just a way to insulate from the cold or protect the home from predators.

Both photos can be enlarged by clicking.

Shadow Shot Sunday #5

Hosted by Hey Harriet
(click on SSS image for more photos)



Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey!

What's in a Name 4

Can you believe I'm signing up for another reading challenge?!

I saw this challenge on several blogs this year and when Dorte mentioned it I knew I had to join in. Hosted by Beth Fish, the What's in a Name 4 challenge runs for the entire year and requires reading one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a number in the title.
2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title.
3. A book with a size in the title.
4. A book with travel or movement in the title.
5. A book with evil in the title.
6. A book with a life stage in the title.

I know I said in an earlier post that I don't like speculating on my choices too much, but on this one I think I already know some of the books I'll read.

1. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
2. Possibly Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (I've read and enjoyed other Chevalier books )
3.
4. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
5.
6. Being Dead is No Excuse by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays (Bob has been telling me to read this for years and you can't deny "being dead" is a life stage!)

I'm open to suggestions for my two blanks (and #2).

Unless some of the books overlap, I've now committed myself to 20 books for 2011. Plus, I want to do a couple of challenges again that don't come up until later in the year. Then there are always books that don't fall into a challenge, not to mention magazines. Looks like I'm gonna have to really focus on reading!

My Word!

Jenners made an announcement on her blog yesterday concerning an adoption. She made it sound so fun and easy (and free!) that I couldn't resist an adoption of my own.

Words! We're talking about words! If you go to the Save the Words website you will find a whole array of words which are no longer used in the English language. They are perfectly good words. The only thing wrong with them is that no one uses them anymore so they've been discarded. Isn't that sad?

I really had no intention of adopting my own word. I wasn't sure I could truly give one the love and attention (and usage) it deserved. And if I didn't care for it properly, what would happen? Would it be taken away from me? Would I be punished? Would I be emblazoned with a scarlet letter? (or scarlet word?)

Of course I had to take a peek. Jenners warned that they were cute and would call out to us (pick me!). It didn't take long. I knew my word the moment I saw it.

Aquabib

a noun meaning "water-drinker"

I am an aquabib and proud of it! As an aquabib I drink close to 100 ounces of water each day. I'm sitting here drinking a glass of water as I type this entry. Aquabib. Aquabib. I like the sound of it!!

Now my challenge is to try and use my new word as often as possible. Who knows...I might decide to adopt another and give it a sibling!

2011 Global Reading Challenge

Dorte at DJ's Krimiblog hosted a "Global Reading Challenge" this year that looked like a lot of fun. She's offering it again in 2011 with just a few minor changes (click on the image above or in the sidebar for all the details) and since I now have several reading challenges under my belt, I think I'm going to give it a try.

I've decided to sign up for the "medium" level in which I need to read two books from each of the seven continents. The seventh continent can either be Antarctica or a venue of my choice, such as outer space, the sea, a fantasy world, etc.

The challenge doesn't specifically state whether the author has to be from that continent or whether the novel just take place there. Either way, I think it will be a challenge for me to step out of my comfort zone of Britian and the US. I think my personal challenge will be to try and make sure at least one of the two novels is by an author from that continent since the location part will be easier.

I hate to speculate too heavily on what books I'll read at this point. For one, I need to do some research. Also, I'm bad about changing my mind. I feel sure one of my Africa books will be a "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" novel and perhaps a Europe selection will be a "Commissario Brunetti" mystery. Beyond that..... who knows?!