Monthly Archives: May 2013

10 05, 2013

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

By |2013-05-10T05:09:59-05:00May 10th, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday, Uncategorized|5 Comments

by Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our next-door neighbor called yesterday afternoon and said, “There is something on the outside wall of your house that you will want to see.”

My first question was “Is it alive?”

“Very much alive” was the answer.

So I headed out side to see whatever it was….

taranula

Yup, it is a tarantula.

Rachel’s first comment was “It is not coming inside.”

Since it was close to the window of our bedroom, we discussed whether tarantulas could get through glass. We decided they could not.

Beekeeper Brian put on a glove and was planning to hold it, but it got a little testy – picture all those hairy legs sticking straight up.

We left it alone.

About 2:30 in the next morning, Tucker started whining. I took him to the back door, but he didn’t need to go outside. I checked the weather, but no thunderstorm in sight.

We went back to bed.

I must confess, I did lay awake for a while wondering about the spider. But I soon fell back asleep and so did Tucker.

This morning the itsy bitsy spider was gone.

I’m not sure what is more disconcerting – seeing the spider one day or not seeing it the next.

6 05, 2013

Where do you write?

By |2013-05-06T06:50:12-05:00May 6th, 2013|Make Me Think Monday|3 Comments

I’m always fascinated by where writers write and what their writing spaces look like. I enjoy looking at pictures of famous authors’ desk and writing spaces.

Some places where writers write are pretty awesome.

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Charlotte Bronte’s Writing Space

This blog has some wonderful examples of famous writer’s offices.

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Rudyard Kipling’s Writing Space
If you’re as fascinated by where writers write as I am, I recommend these sites. 

After thirty-three years of working in my old office, our recent move meant I had to create a new writing space.

The old room offered plenty of space for me, my writing assistant plus two desks-one for my laptop and one for my desktop, a Xerox machine, and multiple bookcases.

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A complete world for my writing space.

Not so in our new location. This house has 1,200 square feet compared to 3,600 square feet in our old home. Needless to say, my new writing space is MUCH smaller.

SMALL isn’t the problem.

I can work in small spaces. I’ve written in cars, hotel rooms, on a train, and even on a cruise. All I need is spot for my computer or AlphaSmart.

But there’s something special about having my own office space. Now I’m using the smaller extra bedroom. Too bad the desk I brought with me was designed for a much larger space and the room already has a twin-sized trundle bed.

The real problem was finding places for all the extra-writing stuff—printers, files, reference and resource books, etc. No room for the tables, file cabinets, and bookcases. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

After weeks of placing things, my office writing space now looks like this. Plenty of room for my writing assistants and me.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWith my office set up again, I’m set to get back to some serious writing.

YOUR TURN: Do you have a writing office? If not, what is your writing space like?

3 05, 2013

Visitor at School

By |2013-05-03T07:00:05-05:00May 3rd, 2013|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|7 Comments

by Guest Blogger Chicken Wrangler Sara

Coco, our youngest dachshund, was sick this week with a bacterial infection in her stomach. The vet said not to feed her for 24 hours.

 coco

I figured the other three dachshunds would not be too thrilled about fasting with Coco so I took her to school with me. 

I kept her kennel behind my desk and covered it up during my classes so the kids would not be distracted.

Coco, who was not pleased with this plan, made her feelings known by whining loudly. In each class, when the students asked about the noise, I had to admit that I had my dog at school. 

One of the fifth grade girls was quite relieved. She said, “Whew, I thought you were going to say you had a chicken back there.” 

Did she really think I’d bring a chicken to school? 

But on the other hand, if Mary could take her little lamb to school, I guess I could bring a chicken…or a daschund with a tummy ache.

2 05, 2013

The National Day of Prayer

By |2013-05-02T05:03:35-05:00May 2nd, 2013|Uncategorized|2 Comments

LARGE-POSTERIn 1952, the United States Senate designated the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer.

A day set aside when Americans of all faiths gather in prayer in front of courthouses, houses of worship, mosques, synagogues, and temples. Communities schedule luncheons, picnics, and music performances revolving around praying for our nation.

Click here to find a celebration near you: http://nationaldayofprayer.org/events/

The theme for today’s 62nd annual observance of National Day of Prayer is “Pray for America.” At noon today, Honorary Chairman Pastor Greg Laurie will offer this prayer:

“Father, we come to You to pray for our nation, the United States of America.

How You have blessed us through the years, Lord! We rightly sing, “America, America, God shed His grace on thee.” Yet we see trouble in our culture today. We see the breakdown of the family, crippling addictions, and random acts of horrific violence.

Lord, we need Your help in America. In recent days, we have done our best to remove Your Word and Your counsel from our courtrooms, classrooms and culture. It seems, as President Lincoln once said, that we have “forgotten God.” But Lord, You have not forgotten us! You can bless and help and revive our country again.

Scripture tells us that “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Lord, in Your mercy, we ask that You would exalt our country again. We have had a number of great awakenings in America. We have experienced times of refreshing, and revivals that changed not only the spiritual but also the moral landscape. As the psalmist said, “Will You not revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6)

That is our prayer for America today, Lord. Send a mighty spiritual awakening that will turn the hearts of men and women, boys and girls back to you. You have told us if we will humble ourselves and pray, and seek Your face and turn from our wicked ways, that You will forgive our sins and heal our land. (2 Chronicles7:14)

Forgive us today, Lord, and heal this troubled land that we love so much.

We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ.”

The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. A day when people of all faiths can pause and pray for our nation and our leaders.

nationaldayofprayer

I believe we can do nothing more important and encourage everyone, no matter what his or her religious preference, to join me today.

1 05, 2013

One Word Wednesday – ACTION

By |2013-05-01T06:38:45-05:00May 1st, 2013|one word Wednesday, writer, writing|2 Comments

Action

For merchandise with this one word motivation: http://www.squidoo.com/one-word-quotes#module154058087

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”   ~St. Francis of Assisi~

Novels begin with the first word on the page or computer screen.

ACTION on your part gets that first word there.

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