MUSINGS (our blog)

Not freezing yet!

2011-12-01T02:50:00.001-08:00

High cross replica in Ulster Museum.
Can anyone identify it?

The temperatures have stayed around 10 degrees centigrade but today the car told us 3 degrees. At 3 degrees the temperature is blinking advising me to drive carefully. Now is that amazing? Do all newer cars do that? We are staying well and warm.

Last night Marda presented her slides from her trip to China to the Cornerstone Community members. Tonight she will go to a lecture hosted by Contemporary Christianity Ireland. Bob Goudzwaard will speak on 'Money, Magic, Greed and the Power of Illusions: A Christian Critique of Our Time.' She will hope to understand economics, sure she will! Ward will attend the church midweek meeting where Jack is teaching about Gospel in Conflict.

A trip to the neurologist today yielded a nod of approval and "keep it up and see you in six months". What can we do with chronic illnesses? You live with them. Ward confirmed the meds don't affect the kidneys or liver and is doing his exercise routine right now.

Reading and wandering

2011-11-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

I have two books going. The first is Mountain Rain, a biography of James O. Fraser by Eileen Fraser Crossman. Fraser was an adventurous missionary who worked with the Lisu peoples of Yunnan province in the early 20th Century. Having spent 8 days in Yunnan in August, I find this early pioneer's work very interesting. The second book is Paperboy, a memoir by Tony Macaulay. Macauley grew up in the upper Shankill Road and writes about his experiences and remembrances from his childhood in the mid 1970s. The language is colloquial and can teach me how to have a north Belfast accent if I apply myself. These two thoughts are tied together by a funny blog my friend Dinah Chong just published. It is my same situation, so it is. Dinah has been at it since I met her in 1994 a Canadian born Chinese having moved to China to live and work. So it is hard to believe she still feels like she is at kindergarten level! Surely she exaggerates but it reads well and sobers my enthusiasm for when I put my own mind to learning putonghua, the language of China.

40 years later

2011-10-12T01:40:00.000-07:00

Well it's true that one can't post photos so blogging is not the same. Soon all those smart ones will solve the problem and this old lady can continue to try and keep up with media venues for comms. I dont think anyone reads my blogspot anyways.

What I was going to post was a sweet picture of us. Aw!!!

What happened to August?

2011-09-19T05:01:00.000-07:00

This is the 3rd try at this posting. What happened to August? It was spent futzing on the computer a wasteful pastime which sucks up our time. Why can't I post a photo with this post? I now have an Ipad2 but it wont let me access my photos to post them.

2011-09-19T04:54:00.000-07:00

Omnipotent Christ
Help us help you
Care for the children
In this lifetime above the ground.

Loose their laughter flow their tears
like a sedative
Sleeping war, stilling violence
Imparting giggles of blasting innocence,
Elevating life to shining redeemed levels
Of truce in neighboring, world sandboxes—
Protesting their own savage extinctions
Sighted in too many adult crosshairs
Recognizing only shadows and stopping their age.

Don’t let nations swirl in preoccupation over
‘Who’s the greatest’,
Making idols, grabbing your essence, Lord
That we fail to hear their voices in song
Or fail to see with their eyes
Of no grid, no agenda reality.

This day your day, God
Wheel them safely around injury,
Far from the clutch and choke of illnesses
Free from the butt end of injustice,
To grow up in Christ
Everywhere in the world
Digging in the dirt of a peaceful front yard
Playing hours of hosted games on backyard concrete
Welcoming the chant of your applauding Trinity,
Caressed in the long arms of God - announcing
“Whoever welcomes this little child
In my name
Welcomes me.
And whoever welcomes me,
Welcomes the One who sent me.
For he who is least among you all—
He is the greatest.

New friends Denise and Mikes

2011-07-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

Our new friends Denise and Mike came with their friend Michael Tinne who spent every summer of his life in Co Donegal. His father had a summer cottage. How this visit came about was an email, "Subject: ADX alum”. Denise introduces herself as alum of ADX Zeta chapter, coming to Ireland, and was told she had met me in Berkeley.

She later said she was at the Dwight Way house, my house, and Celeste’s Maybeck mansion, over 10 years ago. Her email said she is an artist (with a website). Bingo! We exchange a few excited emails and set to meet up, later turning into staying with us for a couple of days.

Her work is www.seedsfineart.org and she is active with CIVA. They came and I ran them around Belfast city. Mike is an architect, she an artist using clay, and a type 1 diabetic, they go to a Missouri Synod Lutheran church of 5000 people (St John's in Orange, CA), and she recently fired up a big gas kiln, 7 years after it was provided to her. Her work inspired me and she loved Ward's poetry and our church.

Her advice: Go sell at Victoria Square. God will provide something miraculously so I should build the kiln shed and wait.

Long days out and about

2011-07-01T02:08:00.000-07:00

missed a posting in June. With the long days we were out a lot and tired when we got in. With long days and regular watering plants flourish. These Chinese lanterns are twice the size of the ones in my Berkeley garden!

What a glorious month of feeding we have had too. We were reminded of Mount Stewart and Portaferry, by the Presbyterian Women bus run. Mount Stewart was the place where we were hosted by an English couple who were Buddhist back in 2005. Now we learn the Rollinsons have moved to the Zen Garden that is part of the National Trust. That is good karma for them. In hindsight they were people placed along the way to point us to where we would go. Claire said we are lonely here but you will have an easier time moving to Northern Ireland because you will be a part of a church community. She was also one who welcomed us to stay with them when a devout Christian turned us away with a Bible quote. Because we stayed at Mt Stewart we were able to meet Maureen and Doug Edmundson who also encouraged us by many kindnesses. So bringing us to this week's outing we went back to Portaferry to visit Hugh and Anne, friends of the Edmondsons,. God washed us with blessings as we shared time and stories with this precious couple. Hugh has lived with Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) for 10 years and is still enjoying a full life.

Call to worship for the children

2011-05-29T12:45:00.001-07:00

Omnipotent Christ

Help us help you

Care for the children

In this lifetime above the ground.

Loose their laughter flow their tears

like a sedative

Sleeping war, stilling violence

Imparting giggles of blasting innocence,

Elevating life to shining redeemed levels

Of truce in neighboring, world sandboxes—

Protesting their own savage extinctions

Sighted in too many adult crosshairs

Recognizing only shadows and stopping their age.

Don’t let nations swirl in preoccupation over

‘Who’s the greatest’,

Making idols, grabbing your essence, Lord

That we fail to hear their voices in song

Or fail to see with their eyes

Of no grid, no agenda reality.

This day your day, God

Wheel them safely around injury,

Far from the clutch and choke of illnesses

Free from the butt end of injustice,

To grow up in Christ

Everywhere in the world

Digging in the dirt of a peaceful front yard

Playing hours of hosted games on backyard concrete

Welcoming the chant of your applauding Trinity,

Caressed in the long arms of God - announcing

“Whoever welcomes this little child

In my name

Welcomes me.

And whoever welcomes me,

Welcomes the One who sent me.

For he who is least among you all—

He is the greatest.

EASTER SUNDAY

2011-04-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

College Avenue Presbyterian Church has combined the new with the old creating a wonderful worship service of celebration and praise. The old is our suspended cross brought in from the garden and raised in the sanctuary worship space and then the invitation to those bereaved to come to the cross and be comforted by the gathered and by Christ. The new is Monte McClain our new pastor, his guitar, and the children. He leads a time of learning with the children via the secret box to "stump the pastor." Today the Beatty grandchildren joined to make a big group of little ones.

As we head back to Belfast we are encouraged to know our home church is strong and uplifted as they send us back to represent them to the people of Belfast.

You can't make up a skipped month

2011-03-19T18:02:00.000-07:00

February is short. I had intended to post but I didn't. It was a wonderful month.

Vidda and I "explored" and took this photo of a pool we swam in as children. It is in the Santa Monica canyon area. We were invited as a family to swim while my granduncle was the cook at this home. I was around 13 years old and mentioned to the owner that I was interested in architecture so he took us all over to a friend of his in the neighborhood. We met an architect and toured his modern house. To view two fabulous custom built houses at that early age set the course of my career journey.

Los Angeles has a rich assemblage of architectural gems. Thank you to the owners who have built, preserved, and allowed us to visit them.

Break from Dinner Party prep

2011-01-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

Today is a Saturday and I'm ahead of time in prep for our small dinner party. Other than Thanksgiving this is the first dinner party we have hosted.

This photo is from December. Right now the snow is gone but there is a fog in the yard and the temps are down to freezing.

Our tickets are purchased and we head for California on 9 February. Renew our visas and return for a year or more. We like it here. Why Belfast? Because we can, because there is community, because we have a place to be here.

When we return we will pray, do poetry and pottery, resume visitations, assist the minister, weave relationships and welcome guests. Spring is coming!

Final few thoughts

2010-12-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

The red door is ours. Now we have a doorbell too. People do drop over and we are blessed by their visits.

We have prayer time on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. and quiet meditation at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. An evening visit from the Belfast L'Arche community to inaugurate the prayer room was also held this month.

We had eight days of frozen heater pipes but thankfully none burst and three people came to our rescue with space heaters. This started while Marda was away for a short jaunt to Lebanon while she got delayed in London's Heathrow airport both ways. Ward was worst for the wear and Marda returned with our friend Mui who good naturally suffered with the cold as we did.

We are enjoying the last few days of the millennium's first decade. God's blessings to all of you for 2011.

MOMA Ulster Museum, Belfast

2010-12-07T09:51:00.000-08:00

This is the coolest page and we didn't make it ourselves. http://weabelfast.weebly.com
Marda's picture; Ward's poem; our beloved leader Carole on the tele!

MOMA Project at Ulster Museum

2010-12-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

My brain!! I know I posted the info on our debut at the Ulster Museum. www.wea-ni.com. I don't see it, so here it is again and here is more. Click the link: http://weabelfast.weebly.com and enjoy. Links to the two videos the WEA made of our work for the MOMA project at the Ulster Museum. This was a fantastic project and we felt like celebrities.

ThanksGiving

2010-11-25T06:56:00.001-08:00

What is this? After 2 1/2 years I have bought a rice cooker! It comes with a steaming rack so I'll have to experiment to see if it will warm or cook anything while the rice is cooking below. I opened my Christmas present to myself early to make a ThanksGiving meal on Saturday. A10# frozen turkey cost $30 here.

We are full of thanks. Grateful. resting, reading, and creating things. Ward is working on a Christmas poem and I am making porcelain pottery.

This photo is us with four children from the 34th African Children's Choir. These four girls and their teacher stayed with us for a night after performing a concert at our church on November 10th. They are from Uganda and Kenya and have been traveling for 14 months in the States and UK. They sing and dance and tour and raise money that supports over 3000 children in African schools. This experience demonstrated what love can do for a child and how infectious that love is. Uncle Ward and Auntie Marda were very much loved by these happy, thankful, and talented girls. We loved it all.

Last bit.

Today is American Thanksgiving and we got our first snowfall of the season here in Belfast.

This photo is taken from our front window.

September 2010 - Fame with God

2010-09-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

Eliot Engel is my sister’s Congressional Representative in America. He represents her and a districtfull of voting others in his high political office. He telephoned me recently and asked if I were the same Ward Stothers who drove around America camping out with him for twelve weeks in 1967.

I was and am. He came over to my house in California and shared warm, memoried stories of our trip. For this time period of discussion I acquired his fame, notoriety, and distinction, getting to know him again. I became a friend and a link to his importance and voice.

Our God has made it easier for us to know Him and His glory, with the talkfull thought of prayer, and a songfull praise of voice. Friends, do we meet God every day in response to His call, or do we set Him aside in history, skipping His leading, forgetting His name.

Now is God’s Call for Our Worship.

Home in California

2010-09-13T09:55:00.001-07:00

Being here allowed me to help my ADX sister, Alice, finish up some work on the sorority house. Some of you know I own a portion of a house used by the ADX Beta chapter on the CAL campus. Alice replaced the foundation, electrical panel, heating, and painted the exterior. It has a new life and needed a new mortgage. We did our part to keep the building trades going. Over 40 years ago I joined the chapter at UCLA and made lifelong precious friends. This group of Christian women supports us now, and shaped our perspective of serving God with our lives.

Top of the Stairs

2010-08-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

We have moved what we could. It took 5 carloads and 4 of us up and down the stairs plus Ward to watch. Now we are living in our old bare house living out of our suitcases until we go tomorrow. You are not suppose to tell the public you are gone but we have nothing valuable to steal. Probability here is they don't steal.

So when we return we will bring a weaving or two and start to build the community house which will be called The Loom. An actual loom may even find its way to our house and who knows what might come of that! Dare I bring some yarn back too?

Our life recently has been very trying, but we have tried to learn and be positive even through trials. Not all of life is easy and I recall recently someone saying troubles can remind us that many have troubles and show courage. May our courage be evident for we have much for which to be thankful.

OMG time is flying by!

2010-07-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

This photo is of a portion of a glass window in the renovated Belfast City Hall. When we have visitors we get out and see things. Thank you visitors!

We hope the sentiment behind this window is not WORKERS OR MANAGEMENT but one of all of us as workers laboring for peace. Someone designed it, someone paid for it, someone installed it, someone made it, and someone conceived the sentiment. Together we transform.

I am taking five minutes to post before I go into manic worker mode to complete all that needs completing. Posting some snail mail. Completing some children's crafts for our Summer outreach. Switching my mobile phone number to my new phone. Signing the lease. Getting our passports. Coordinating the move with our housemate. Closing our gas and electric accounts. Moving the landline. Informing the neighbors. Pack and move. Somehow it feels good to tell the world. Will you pray with us and for us?

12 July

2010-07-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

What else could happen? Would you believe my SIM card crashed over the weekend? I am undaunted. Praise God for everything!

Now I will not be distracted by my Blackberry to send and answer email all day long. At least for a month until I can get to the T-Mobile shop in New York my email will no longer be immediate.

Called both Alaina and Jerem and now going to check out how to load BBC streaming news. We are safe indoors.

Helicopters overhead. Today is 12 July in Belfast. For those who don't know this photo is the main Orange Order hall. The Orangemen have returned and now the local flute band is coming up the Crumlin Road.

June has been crazy

2010-06-16T03:40:00.000-07:00

Today I can be quiet which means prayer, silence, and thinking. It also means catching up on paperwork which sorts my thinking. Ward is meeting with Bill McKnight his poet friend "for a coffee" at the Belfast Castle to meet a minister who wants to use their poetry in his teaching on Colossians.

What else to report. I crashed our wonderful car. We have a neurology consultation tomorrow. We get our biometrics on the 22nd and hopefully move in mid July. The sun is out and the Eastons, Wights, and Burns are visiting in sequence.

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

2010-05-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

On Easter Tuesday I was invited to go down to Dublin to go to the Chester Beatty Library to see an exhibit of "Telling Images of China 15th - 20th Century" Chinese paintings from Shanghai.

This library houses historic religious books including a papyrus fragment with a part of the Bible from John's gospel in Greek from 150 AD. Remarkable.

Then we went to the Science Gallery to see the subject show. The crochet show needs some explanation. Two Australian women Margaret and Christine Wertheim of the Institute for Figuring in Los Angeles, started this work to bring attention to the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef. The project has grown with now 3000 contributors from around the world.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-05T07:34:00.001-07:00

Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.

I felt like a kid again when Bob, (Marian) and Tilly handed us two Easter eggs and a sweet card. Just like the Italian children in Boston who get Perugia eggs, the Irish children, us included, get Cadbury eggs.

We get Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday as holidays. The banks and many stores are closed. Today we are going to a gospel meeting at a wee Pentecostal church, and tomorrow Marda is going to Dublin to see a Chinese art exhibit.

Spring? A different meaning here.

2010-03-31T09:19:00.001-07:00

I was told yesterday that the odds are greater that we would get snow on Easter than on Christmas in Northern Ireland. If last night is any indication I think this must be right. It blew and stormed and snowed all night.

When we returned from California in mid March, we saw crocuses in the parks and my California sensibilities said ah Spring has sprung. Longer days, flowers true. I forgot the "March winds, April showers.."

This is one of two window boxes planted with bulbs. Yes that is snow on the soil. They get no direct sunlight thus the plants are rather scrawny but since we have to move I'm hoping for a home with a sunny window ledge.

Halfway thru January!

2010-01-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

The snow/ice is finally gone. With short days sunrise at 8:30 am and sundown at 4:30 pm we feel like hybernating. Our car survived a drive up to the North coast thru the snow and started sputtering two days after our trip. Thank God, it didn't happen on the trip north. Diagnosis: engine running on two cylinders, so coil packs and spark plugs replaced. Runs fine now but what are coil packs?

Our trip included an overnight at Corrymeela, a visit to Portrush Presbyterian, lunch in Portrush, coffee with the Gilfillans at Downhill Hostel, and little hikes at the Giant's Causeway, Carrick a Rede, and Lion's Gate where I almost got stuck in the snow. The National Trust shop at the Giant's Causeway yielded many gifts for our houseguest to take home. Why else are we driving up to the North coast in the snow. God is gracious and everything was beautiful.

Christmas Greetings

2009-12-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

Marda's pottery and Ward's new poem. Enjoy!
www.quonstothers.com/christmas2009.html

Merry Christmas to everyone! We've got snow and it is cold and beautiful. Goodbye to the naughties, as they called the first decade here, and Happy Joyous 2010!

Pumpkin pie

2009-11-29T13:45:00.000-08:00

There is no Libby's canned pumpkin here. I bought a pumpkin and tonight I baked it and strained it for pie. I have also brought a pie plate back to Belfast from Berkeley as they don't sell Pyrex pie plates here. I even roasted the seeds and am peeling them to eat. While googling for a recipe I found out they are good for protein and fibre.

Our Early Friends

2009-10-24T10:54:00.001-07:00

Patricia Woody
We called her Patsy Woody and we have known each other since the beginning.

I'm so glad you were a part of my childhood, my neighborhood, Sixth Avenue School, Foshay Junior High, Dorsey High School, and the UCLA university days, and later precious get-togethers every few years. I'm inspired that you followed your passion to write. You were a hero for many of us.

God took you to be in heaven. Too soon for us but in His time.

2009-10-09T11:30:00.001-07:00

Father Damien is being canonized this very Sunday, 11 October 2009 by the Vatican. What a privilege to visit the leper colony on Kalaupapa with Kawika, Makana, Moani, and Brenda in 2006. I'm glad to share this "rest of the story" for recognition of this humble servant.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-23-2009/father-damiens-legacy/2030/ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-23-2009/father-damiens-legacy/2030/

Putting feet to our faith

2009-10-05T05:13:00.000-07:00

We were inspired this week by Pastor Jack Mckee. Ward met him in San Francisco several years ago before we knew we were coming to Belfast. Our organist Danny Halford informed Ward about that meeting. When we got here to Belfast we found that Jack was one of the ministers in our area and have attended his church a few times.
He is currently conducting a Cross Vigil with all due credit to Arthur Blessitt. And if you go by to encourage him you might end up on his Blog as we did. I finished his book, The Cross and The Gun. Check this out, we are noted on day 18, 22 and 24. www.newlifeministriesireland.co.uk/cross_vigil.html

August came and went

2009-09-17T09:29:00.000-07:00

We went with it and now mid September and we have had nine days without any rain! It is unheard of.

Everything in our lives is back into full swing with the exception of a Cross Border class using ICT (basic computers and Word) as a tool to explore attitudes about peace and reconciliation. We look forward to this new opportunity to engage on the subject. It starts in October at the Vine Centre.

I've started to make decent pottery. This vessel was made in a studio of an expert. Let's see if I can duplicate it and make more and better.

July came and went

2009-07-28T05:58:00.000-07:00

Last week I experienced the loudest thunder that I have ever heard in my life. We have also seen the kind of downpour with the stream of water pressure in the storm drains that lifts manhole covers in the streets. High speed beating wipers can barely keep the windshield clear.
On top of that we saw this double rainbow as we were emerging from a church after an evening worship. It only lasted a few minutes but it awed us all. I suppose I could have taken a more artistic angle but I did capture both before they disappeared. With the changing weather comes our changing moods. Ward says its because we have nothing to do with the summer lull in programs. Maybe he is right we busy ourselves with programs.
Me I'm seeking to manifest the joy of the Lord all the time. I'm done with moods. I'm finding joy in the meditative exercise of creating something with my hands. Sometimes I'm full of joy with words and the computer. Often with communicating. But always while making something that wasn't there before. I've posted the beginnings of my pottery at www.quonstothers.com

UVF decommissioning

2009-06-27T04:33:00.000-07:00

For those who wonder if the Troubles are over for Northern Ireland the process continues. This is a significant milestone that weapons are being decommissioned by the loyalist paramilitary groups.

Whereas I am just an observer working as a volunteer in the Shankill Road community the report from the BBC comes as great news to me. Not because I have ever felt unsafe since moving here but because it is a political milestone, another building block in the rebuilding of civil society and true democracy. It is a sign that fear has been reduced and with freedom from fear the people might move on to love God and love all others.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8121842.stm

This is a good day!

What's on your mind?

2009-06-10T11:54:00.000-07:00

The title question "What's on your mind" has replaced "you've got
mail"; well not replaced for some of us slow changers who still use
AOL. It is a unique concept on whichFacebook is premised, that your
friends want to know the answer to this question. So as some people
have 600 friends it is hard to believe all or even many of them would
be interested to read the dribble (Ward calls it popular culture; don't be offended) that mostly get posted to this question.

Alas we have also joined the crowd and try to keep something active on Facebook, as well as posting longer thoughts on our blog. We are feeling pressed to use our landline and mobile phones with live voices to friends near and far, keep our five email accounts answered, write a few letters, notes, cards and postcards, issue a monthly newsletter, update our website, see people, attend weekly commitments and events. This is all "comms" or communications.

Spiritually we talk to God personally, together, and with others. We listen to God by reading the Bible, and during prayer and meditation. Sometimes we hear God through the writing of others. At this time Marda is reading Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd. It's a wonderful exploration of the Sacred Feminine. We've only recently been made aware of the feminine attributed to the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Christian trinity.

Weather

2009-06-06T05:54:00.000-07:00

It is raining today. Jerem and Conor came last Monday and brought California sun. We have had exceptional weather beautiful long days. The sun was up when we woke at 5 this morning, to take them to the airport. Today they left and it started to rain at 10 a.m. This was after I washed the car and hung a load of wash to dry. I had to run out to get the clothes off the line.

When we went to California in February it rained. Many people thanked us for the rain. Thank you Jerem and Conor for the sun!

He is risen. He is not here. Mk 16:6

2009-04-20T00:17:00.000-07:00

Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

These are common phrases with which Christians greet each other especially during the Easter season. For Ward and I the Easter season is year round because without the resurrection all our faith would be in vain. The resurrection is our reconciliation and our joy.

Although it has been difficult to figure out what is on and what is off during these two weeks of Easter break, we have appreciated the free days to do other things beyond our normal routine. We took a bus trip to Rosapenna in Co Donegal, saw a play in the Opera House, and visited or contacted a few extra people. Refreshed we return to our routine and anticipate God’s kingdom work with joy. Monday, Tea Talk and Pray at Edenbrooke Primary School.

He is risen!

Birthdays

2009-03-25T03:58:00.000-07:00

Marda here, today is the second day of my 65th year of life. Yesterday, I celebrated my 64th birthday and remember well that the Beattles memorialized this birthday long ago and many baby boomers will follow wondering how we got so old. 64 is not old, well, it is not as old as it used to be, relative to lifespan and opportunities. So do something important, keep well, enjoy your life and your celebrations.

March winds

2009-03-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

I'm quite aware that you may read the title as March winds as in "winds up" but I am in fact talking about the stuff that blows. We are getting quite a bit of wind and then we will get April showers. So as we took the rains with us on our short trip to California during which everyone praised us since there had been a drought, we are happy to return to Belfast where it doesn't rain continuously just periodically. In fact the sun is out today and we get credited with bringing the sun back from California.

Never give in to the jetlag notion of just a short nap. It will only prolong the problem. Since I returned with a cough I gave in to naps to rest and that caused me to wake up at 4 in the morning for a week. Then my cough became vertigo. So I have prolonged a day's transition into a week and a half of slow motion sluggish existance.

This makes up for the 200 miles per hour that I was clocking in Berkeley.

A new tradition

2009-01-29T06:12:00.000-08:00

2009 is well along and hope over fear is the prevailing theme. We have transitioned through the holidays to embrace the new era of uncertainty, continued conservations, and hopeful outcomes. Our holidays were quiet but joy full. We sent Christmas cards with newsletters, and packages to the States. Some arrived before Thanksgiving and others last week. All were mailed in early November.

We took an Ulster Bus tour to Killarney for five days. The scenery was beautiful and the time of year brilliant. The week before Christmas the driver said 400 people came to the hotel on ten buses of 40 each. Our bus had 22 and the hotel was quiet. The first day we visited Tralee where Ward got a new wool cap, and then Killarney where Marda bought some gifts. The second day we toured clockwise around the Dingle Peninsula and spent time at Inch strand, the Blaskets, then in Dingle. The third day we drove counterclockwise around the ring of Kerry, stopping in Waterville and Sneem and photo stops for views of the Gap of Dunloe, Muckross House and Ross Castle. Food was great and company as well. We were blessed with no rain and no crowds.

So at least while we can and while we are in Ireland we may plan to continue this tradition but the pound was weak against the Euro so while lunches were dear the set price for the tour including bus, room rate and meals at the hotel were a bargain. I suspect the price will go up next year on the tours to euro based countries.

Thankfulness

2008-11-29T11:21:00.000-08:00

The people in here go from Halloween which includes firecrackers and fireworks straight to Christmas with decorations inside and outside the homes. Turkey is the traditional Christmas meal along with Christmas cakes which appear to be like our fruitcake and mostly homemade.

Since turkeys are just begining to show up in the markets and are costing about $50 for frozen ones we passed and found a fresh deboned stuffed chicken in a butcher shop for $7 and roasted it with mashed potatoes, peas and water chestnuts, sauted mushrooms and homemade brownies with vanilla ice cream, for our Thanksgiving meal. We were happy. I baked a pumpkin since there is no canned pumpkin to be found, and will make pumpkin pie for my next meal for eight.

I have discovered marzipan and butter stollen imported from Germany. Yum. And I recieved a hospice cookbook from a lady in the church with recipes for traybakes. This is the next project to go through these recipes and start making some up for gifts for our shutins for the holidays. Can you imagine most of these sweets are assembled and don't require baking!

Musings on the weather

2008-10-11T04:35:00.000-07:00

Today the sun is out brightly. It lifts my spirit and makes me feel energetic! When Irish people ask us why we've come here, from California, and what do we think, they often comment about the weather in a negative tone. I surprise them by saying I rather enjoy the weather. I've noticed some relief as if somehow they were responsible. I truly do like the weather. It changes constantly. Aye, they say, you are right it changes all the time.

Praying people start their public prayers with thanksgiving for the sun and the rain. Actually we do need them both. Ireland is the emerald Isle, with all shades of green and brightly sparkling as a gem. You gotta have the rain AND the sun for this.

Today's low is 5 C and high 15 C or 40 F and 60 F. It is very nice!

Vidda's Birthday and start of Stothers' Blog

2008-09-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

What a better way to commence the blog portion of our website: Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! HBD, HBD, HBD to you. Dear sister I love you.

What happened in July, August, September? Lots. Too much to summarize now except to say, here we are and settling in nicely.

Visitors have come this summer. The last of which was Lynne who was in Dublin and emailed me inviting me to come down with the offer of taking me to lunch. So I jumped on the Goldline Express and bought a return ticket for 16.90 pounds. Expensive lunch, but an outing I wanted, and we visited the Guinness Storehouse, the National Museum of Ireland to see the gold and the bog bodies, and stopped into SpecSavers to see Ruth.

An earlier attempt to blog without the blog template.

1 July 2008 Tuesday, weather rainy

I banged out a two page email to introduce a visiting journalist to what life is like in Northern Ireland for this newbie. People are extremely inviting and welcoming. Ward was told everyone could be expected to invite you in without a prior call if you showed up at their door. Most people turn on the kettle and you get a cup of tea with milk and a variety of sweets. We were invited to dinner by one of the church regulars who apologized that she had not had us over earlier. We love it. People are friendly and we are able to be ourselves. Having just finished the autobiography of one of the local clergy Rev Jackson Buick it is obvious that street evangelists, mission halls, prison chaplains, and church faithfulness are a part of the fabric of the community. How was that overlaid with the sectarian violence that lasted so long?

10 June 2008 Tuesday, weather great

It's interesting that an event can change your whole outlook. We actually have 3 events. Next week the women we met who comes from California will bring her friends and help us clean a room at the church to be used as a prayer room, then we expect a visit from a women who seeks to meet her e-harmony date in Northern Ireland, and then a visit from a journalist referred through old friends. I look forward to these new people.

5 June 2008 Thursday, weather the best yet

Just got back form New York City. wonderful time. Will summarize in Newsletter

26 May 2008, Monday, weather sunny still

The Belfast City Council has built what they call Leisure Centres throughout the city. There is one two short blocks from our house. We went there this morning for a Tai Bo class which is modified kick-boxing to music. Leisure Centre use is free for people over 60 before 11 a.m. All other times the classes are one pound (or two dollars) a discount from the 4.2 pounds per class for others. The Centre is clean, staffed with friendly people, and has childcare, a pool, and well outfitted fitness room. Sitting in the lobby waiting, Ward met Carson. Inevitably people ask if we are over on holiday and when we tell them we've moved here, they are intrigued. It seems the best answer is "because we can" but people like to hear that we've come to work for the church or to work in the community too.

24 May 2008, Saturday, weather sunny again.

This is the beginning of a chronological notation of our observations. Today we go to Gosford Park with the children of the church. Last Saturday we went to Newry and Portadown with the women of the church and some husbands and Freddie who goes to everything. I bought two items from the Oxfam thrift shop and put two items in their bag to recycle. Buying a few things made me happy.