Living Simply
Our yard looks so wild right now. Shrubs, trees, and flowers have not been trimmed in awhile. And I don’t know if we’ll have any time this year to do any landscaping.
While in Seattle recently, I did see a garden that is landscaped in a way that I like. It’s simple and peaceful. Makes me think of what heaven will be like.
Hopefully I’ll be able to get enough resources through the internet, books, and magazines to make my garden a tranquil place for me and others to enjoy.
We received a lovely gift in the mail – a one year pass to the Minnesota State Parks with a weather-channel radio that you crank (in case of Minnesota inclement weather). We’re not sure who sent us the gift as it came with no card although the gifter must be an MPR listener.
Today we decided to use our pass and go to the Wild River State Park in Wild River, Minnesota. The drive was beautiful as we passed many lakes and the Minnesota trees that are in full bloom. We headed straight to the Visitor Center to see what trails they had that weren’t too long or strenuous. The first sign we saw was a warning sign.
This is not the best greeting but it’s a good thing they had the warning as I haven’t been reading my camp books to know to look out for poison ivy. After picking up a pamphlet with a list of the trails, we decided to take the Amiks Pond Bluebird Trail as it seemed pretty easy(we didn’t see any bluebirds though).
The trail started very easy and soon led us to a bench where we could rest if we wanted to.
Eventually the trail turned grassy and beyond the bend we could see part of the St Croix River.
Then — the St Croix River opened up in all its splendor. The river was flowing more quickly than I thought it would.
The St Croix is a beautiful river. The trees on the other side are in the state of Wisconsin. After passing the river, we came to a road where one can rent canoes. This area had more warning signs of bears in the area and infested waters with exotic species. Okay so — maybe I don’t want to canoe in this river.
After passing this area, the pamphlet we had told us to go to an area so we could see the makings of a beaver dam so we headed that way. Most of the dam was covered though and all we could see were branches. The picture below shows the entrance to the dam (on the left).
Unfortunately, this was the demise of our interesting walk. As we headed back to the original trail, we spotted ticks on us. We quickly got them off but then something bit me on my shoulder. I quickly slapped and killed it but could not tell what it was. It left a huge bite on my left shoulder. I don’t know if it was a tick or a different type of bug. Ouch!
After this walk, I came away with my first two Minnesota mosquito bites and an unknown bug bite.
When we originally left the visitor center, I finally admitted out loud what I’ve known for years — I am not a hardcore nature fan. Actually I’m not a medium or softcore fan either. I’m a nature lover that prefers to see it all from afar. (Well, in heaven I’m sure we won’t have all the bugs trying to bite us.)
For now, I’m itchy and don’t want to see any more ticks or hear any more mosquito songs in my ear or feel them on my body.
Lately I’ve been running into articles on Noah and the ark.
The first one is in Kentucky. The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority has granted more than $40 million in tax incentives for a planned $172 million Bible-based theme park which has a full-size replica of Noah’s ark with live animals. To read that article, click here.
The second article is about a man who is in construction and has built an ark in the Netherlands (for the second time)- approximately similar size as the dimensions of the original Bible ark.
There have been many articles written about Noah’s ark with many speculators on where the ark is currently located with some stating it’s been found in Turkey.
Some people say that those who believe in God need to have physical evidence in order for their faith to be affirmed. But, if their faith is not affirmed without the ark then their faith is not really faith.
This reminds me of the story of Thomas in the book of John in the Bible. All of the disciples had seen Jesus after the resurrection except for Thomas. It was he who stated “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.â€
Thomas is called a man who had little faith. Thomas eventually sees Jesus, puts his fingers/hand in Jesus’ hand and side and then believes. But Jesus says:
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.†John 20:29
Today’s temperature reached a balmy 91 degrees. I’ve noticed that the higher the temperature, the lower the humidity. I don’t know if that’s an accurate statement for every day, but today it was true.
Running around today in the car, I had to run the air conditioner. When I arrived home around 4:30 pm, the house was nice and cool. We had no windows open and with the trees overshadowing our house, we were quite surprised that we did not need our air conditioner.
However, we do have to test the air conditioner before the weather gets too wild to make sure it works. Buying a new house means you have to test everything before you need it.
Today I went to the Department of Licensing in downtown St Paul, Minnesota and took the written test so I could get my Minnesota drivers license.
I studied a long time online before taking the test. I did not read the manual which, according to a sign I saw in their office today, is no longer available in booklet form. I assumed (incorrectly) that the questions online would be the exact same ones, with some variations, of the ones on the written test.
Although some of the questions were similar, they were asked differently. The questions I did not study for online I guessed at, used logic for the others or had knowledge based on all my years of driving.
The attendant who took care of me after the test was very friendly. I think it’s because I was beaming that I passed. I normally don’t do well on tests even if I have the knowledge in my head. A mental block forms and I fail.
But not this time! I felt sorry for the young man sitting two seats away from me who looked like he was having a hard time understanding what they were asking.
Minnesota license plates? Check! Minnesota driver’s license? Check!
Yippee!
I remember as a little girl lying down and rolling downhill. It was such a fun experience and I would do it over and over again.
I never worried about running into dog poop. My spontaneity and carefree ways didn’t allow my mind to think about such negative things. Would I do it now that I’m older? Probably not. I see too many people who walk their dogs on grass like this. Â (laughing)
We’ve started receiving our first visitors to our birdbath. First, a cardinal – he took his bath too quickly and I wasn’t able to photograph him. Then, a robin came by to bathe. Other birds waited in the trees for their turn.
Nature is so fun to watch at our new house.
In our search for a good Mexican restaurant in the Lake Elmo area, we ran across Plaza Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant in Oakdale, Minnesota – a neighboring city.
I ordered the burrito which came with a ranch sauce slathered on the top of it which was not very appetizing unless you REALLY like ranch dressing.
My husband had the combo Chili Relleno/Burrito/Enchilada combo which was okay.
The pico de gallo sauce they gave us tasted old. Â Bummer.
Still hunting for a really good Mexican restaurant in our area.
Eeekkkk!! What is it?
Today I was looking out my window at our deck and all the windblown debris from the 45 mph winds we were having and I spotted this green bug. It was scuttling back and forth at breakneck speed. Back and forth – back and forth. I have never seen a bug this green in all my life.
I haven’t been able to find it on the internet. Anyone know what it is?
Arriving early at the airport (not unusual), I returned my rental car and proceeded to the security check-in. Unlike Minneapolis, SeaTac only has backscatter x-ray machines now so unless they are out of commission, one has to go through them or request the hand pat down. I opted for the pat down. The security guard seemed very surprised. Are you sure, he asked? Yes. You understand … blah, blah, blah. I said yes. He read me a script he had hanging around his neck. Are you still sure, he asked again. Yes I said. He called for a female agent and I stood off to the side. I inquired about my belongings because they were no longer “with” me but at the end of the x-ray belt now. He told me not to worry.
So — I waited. He asked again if I was sure. Hmmm … I wonder why he kept asking? Again, I said yes. He called a second time for a female agent.
It probably took about 10 minutes for the female agent to arrive but since I was early enough to board an earlier flight so I was not worried about time.
When the female agent arrived, she asked me to get all of my belongings off of the x-ray belt. I went to get them but felt like I didn’t have everything but couldn’t remember what I might have missed and didn’t want to cause alarm so continued back to the agent. She then started reading a script from memory. What? I said after the second line. She repeated it then continued. What? I said after the 4th line. She repeated it. She spoke so softly. I told her I was hard of hearing and she needed to speak up. In spite of that, I had to ask her to repeat herself at least 5 more times.
After reading through her memorized script she asked me if I wanted a private screening. Uh … no. I want the whole world to see me being patted down for no reason (well, I didn’t say that but that’s what I thought). I’ve seen too many people who give TSA a hard time and then get pulled aside for hours.
The female agent explained that she would “feel” my private parts up to resistance. Hmm … I’m glad I came padded for them. Â HAHAHAHAHA Â She also explained that my private parts would only be touched by the backside of her palm and not the palm itself. As if it really mattered …
Actually, it wasn’t too bad. Well, considering I was padded for them. I’m surprised they didn’t say anything but maybe people are normally padded in certain areas.
In gathering my things, I then noticed that I did not have my laptop bag. Oops! I looked back and it was still on the x-ray belt. I grabbed it without anyone saying anything and went my way. So much for their carefulness.
When I made it to the gate, I saw that there was an earlier flight to Minneapolis. Should I try to catch it? Then the thought came to my mind about how some people get on a different flight and the one they should have been on crashes (or the reverse). What a dilemma! Minds sure like to play tricks on people.
Being hungry and not wanting to rush to see if I could get on since this earlier flight was already boarding, I decided to stick with my original flight and feel composed instead of rushed.
I spotted a Seattle’s Best Coffee and had a cocoa with a lemon currant scone. Yum!
I am looking forward to my return to Minnesota. I have a very special person waiting for me on that side.
