March 22, 2023 · 10:29 pm

Georgie Girl Reports: Advice to Young Cats Living with People

Georgie Girl, taking a brief catnap

For cats, particularly younger cats hanging out with people, keep these points in mind:

  1. Whatever a human does is done better when supervised by at least one feline.
  2. To give proper supervision, the feline must get as close to the human’s work as possible, even if it means sitting on the human’s shoulder. If the human gets upset (if he or she hisses at you–ie.–blows in your face) then adjustments can be made. Sometimes I jump over to a box a few feet away from the computer, and watch as the human (aka my secretary) types. This is acceptable to the human.
  3. Cats are not “bad”. Nor do they “misbehave”. If the people you hang out with call you “bad” or say you are misbehaving, ignore these comments. They are not true. You are exercising your curiosity. I want to remind my fellow felines that curiosity indicates intelligence. If a human makes a disgusting (by “disgusting” think of a stinky litter box) comment about your intelligence, you can ignore that one too. It is not true. Cats are smart! Who should know better than a cat!

Georgie Girl

P. Booher, secretary

1 Comment

Filed under Georgie Girl Reports

March 20, 2023 · 10:37 pm

What I Am Enjoying Now

  1. Looking up in the night sky and recognizing some constellations like Orion the Hunter, Cassiopeia, and the Big Dipper.
  2. Daffodils blooming
  3. Hearing that red-winged blackbirds are back. I haven’t seen any yet, but I heard the birds are in the area.
  4. Reflecting on God’s providence for our household, especially in the past few years. Thinking about how God provided in the past decreases anxiety related to future needs and wants.
  5. Moments spent petting Georgie Girl, our new feline
  6. God is opening my faith up. I am practicing praying for situations, and then thanking Him for the victories before I see them. (Philippians 4:6,7) This gives me peace; I have given them to the One Who is able to do something about them.
  7. Blogging!  🙂
  8. Talking to friends on the phone
  9. Learning more about writing
  10. Looking forward to more things to enjoy!
  11. Reading
  12. Hearing robins chirping when I come home from work

©P. Booher

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

March 17, 2023 · 11:31 pm

Friday “Walks”–The Comforting Light

Photo Credit: P. Booher

A couple years ago the patterns of our household changed with my mother’s health issues. Her physical problems affected her mental state. Her sense of balance decreased and her need for personal comfort increased.

She insisted on having a corner light in the kitchen left on all night, along with the regular nightlight. Prior to this, we always practiced the habit of turning off all lights for the night, except for the nightlights. For some time I resented the extra amount on the electric bill. Now, though, when I wake up at night and see the circle of light, it comforts me. It is steadying to my emotional state to see it on.

As the light is comforting at night, so Jesus is comforting when I need Him. One day a friend called. She mentioned a frightening situation supposed to happen just a few miles away, with people armed and ready to fight. I hung up the phone, a knot of fear rapidly forming in my stomach. Just then, the first two lines from an old hymn, “Near to the Heart of God” leapt to mind. It’d been years since I heard the hymn; I didn’t even realize I remembered it. As the words played through my mind, so did a mental picture: I was leaning on Jesus, my head on His chest, and He had His arm around me, comforting and reassuring me.

Any time I remember that, I am still comforted by His caring and compassion.

Some Scriptures: John 1:9: “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” (NIV)

Psalm 103:13: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;” (NIV)

Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” (NIV)

©P. Booher

4 Comments

Filed under Faith Matters, Tips to Manage Stress

Tagged as , , ,

March 13, 2023 · 5:08 pm

Georgie Girl Reports: Georgie Girl Introduces Herself

Georgie Girl catching a catnap

Hi! I’m Georgie Girl. One of the people I hang out with wanted to call me “Georgina” but I quickly indicated my name is Georgie Girl. “Georgina” is dignified. Who wants to be dignified when you can have fun?! I’m a playgirl! I live for fun, fun, fun!!

I know the picture above doesn’t show me in a “fun” mode. I said to my secretary that I need a better picture, to give readers a more accurate representation, because I don’t always sleep. People could get the wrong idea. She asked if I wanted one which shows me redecorating the bookcase, or climbing the wall. I said I wasn’t climbing the wall, I was exploring it. But then I decided that might give readers an even more inaccurate idea about me. So I said to leave the picture there.

Speaking of fun (my favorite thing to talk about): it is so much FUN to swat an object off a shelf and watch it fall to the floor. You get to hear the thud it makes when it falls. That is so cool!! One of the people I hang with kept a cup filled with pens, pencils and markers on a shelf near the computer. It was so much fun to swat the cup. The cup hit the floor and the pens, pencils and markers scattered everywhere. Some of them rolled on the floor. That was even more fun because I could swat them again. I gave the people a chance for exercise because they got to pick up the pens, pencils and markers. Lately, though, I haven’t seen the cup around. I wonder why?

Georgie Girl

P. Booher, secretary

6 Comments

Filed under Country Cats, Georgie Girl Reports, humor

March 8, 2023 · 11:48 pm

“The Buck Stops Here”

One evening I looked at the dirty dishes. I wanted to do them, but I didn’t want to do them. Know what I mean? I wanted the result–clean dishes and a clean sink–but I didn’t want to do the work to get the result. Finally, the thought “The Buck Stops Here” came to mind, and I rolled up my sleeves, filled the dishpans, and got to work.

US president Harry S. Truman popularized the motto “The Buck Stops Here”. He kept a plaque engraved with those words on his desk. He used it as a reminder that although he could seek advice from others, in the end, it was his responsibility to make the decisions.

Now I use the phrase as a motivational aid. Most of the time, I use it to get myself to do household tasks that need done and don’t take long to do, but I just don’t feel like doing. As I plan this year to get rid of clutter and do more intensive cleaning, I know I’ll want to keep that phrase in my figurative “back pocket” to pull out.

P. Booher

Author’s Note: If you’d like to read another blog post on this subject of motivation, check out: Wake Up and Be Amazing! here:

2 Comments

Filed under Tips to Manage Stress

Tagged as ,

March 3, 2023 · 11:01 pm

Friday “Walks”–The Power of God’s Love

Photo Credit: P. Booher

One evening as I helped a relative a question/prayer came to the forefront of my mind: “Lord, what can cure dementia?” Immediately His answer came, “Love”.

I don’t know what brought that question to my mind. I don’t know if the person I was thinking of actually has dementia or not. I don’t know if the Lord meant divine love can actually cure dementia to the point a person no longer has it.

I do know divine love in all its facets: forgiveness, long-suffering, gentleness, patience, kindness, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness and self-control–along with a good sense of humor–can mitigate the effects of this heart-rending disease. God’s love helps the patient and the caregiver. His grace supports both people in the face of difficult, uncertain conditions. He can bring in help from many places.

Some Scriptures to take in: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b, NIV) which is a quote of Deuteronomy 31:6.

“Do everything in love.” (I Corinthians 16:14, NIV)

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Romans 8:35, NIV)

P. Booher

1 Comment

Filed under Faith Matters, Tips to Manage Stress

Tagged as ,

March 2, 2023 · 9:45 pm

Diving Into A Sea of Books–Southern Storm

Photo Credit: Pexels.com

As an avid reader, I get excited about the great number of books out there to read, either for entertainment, education, inspiration or with some books, all three. The quantity available in print, audio, and e-books reminds me of the vast amount of life in the oceans, so I call these book reviews “Diving Into A Sea of Books”. As with diving into an ocean looking for interesting objects, diving into books means you come across mixed results: over here, a book you don’t bother to finish, over there, a “treasure”–one you like so much you can’t wait to reread it, and over there, a book you read and think, “Meh”.

A library puts books in the laundromat I use. A sign invites people to choose a book to read while they are waiting for clothes to finish.

One day I picked up Terri Blackstock’s Southern Storm. A chapter or so later, and after some debate (I have a lot of books here at home to read, so why bring another home?) I decided I had to know how it ended!

From the start of the book to the finish, I was on an emotional roller coaster. Just when I thought the protagonist was out of trouble, I found that wasn’t so. New complications and difficulties quickly emerged, leaving me wondering how he was going to fare.

Along with the protagonist’s problems, his friends faced their own share of difficulties, some relating to him, others not. Some characters were not who they seem to be, further complicating matters.

The novel is in the Cape Refuge series. I had never read any of that series, but enjoyed reading Southern Storm as a stand-alone.

Also, for anyone wanting to try his or her hand at writing a thriller, reading Terri Blackstock’s book is like attending a writing class. You see a good example of how to do it:

the tension starts on the first page and doesn’t let up until the end

fast-paced action

description just enough to help reader place the scene

dialogue works to keep story moving

characters and situations are realistic

If you want a book that’s hard to put down, try Terri Blackstock’s Southern Storm.

©P. Booher

4 Comments

Filed under Creativity, Diving Into A Sea of Books, Writing

Tagged as ,

February 3, 2023 · 10:10 pm

Friday “Walks”–What God Did

Photo Credit: P. Booher

God moved some mountains for us recently.

  1. He fixed a sidewalk through the Men’s Ministry of the church I attend. My mother’s balance is not as good as it used to be, and any time she walked on our old sidewalk I held my breath. I knew it needed replacing, but I didn’t have the resources to do it. God did. The men used what they could from our old sidewalk, and placed new slabs where needed. They took out the two steps and sloped the sidewalk at a slight grade. It is more like a ramp now and much safer to walk on. The men also fixed a spot in our driveway. All this was done at no cost to us–the Men’s Ministry took up collections at their meetings. Any time I look out the door, I see God’s work through the Body of Christ. God said, “Here is a blessing for you and your mother.” Every day it is appreciated. It is such a relief to have it done!
  2. I have a job now, and I believe God opened the door. I walked into the local supermarket as a customer, and walked out with an informal job offer! I didn’t see a product I like on the shelf and wondered when it would be in. I saw two managers talking and asked them about it. In the course of the conversation, I mentioned that I used to work in retail. One of the managers said, “Well, if you ever want to get back into retail…” I replied that my legs hurt; I need to sit a lot. The manager said, “If you get a letter from your doctor stating that you need to sit, you can work as a cashier and we’ll provide you with a stool.” That is the way it worked out. This, after I looked for work and ran into roadblocks. Then, I walk in as a customer and walk out with a job practically handed to me!

Some Scriptures: “Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!…” (Ephesians 3:20, 21, ESV)

“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, NIV)

3 Comments

Filed under Faith Matters

January 18, 2023 · 8:00 am

Trying Something New

Awhile back God gave me the thought of taking a Scripture verse to color/memorize (I’ve been coloring more often lately, and working on Scripture memorization). “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower…” is one that came to mind. That led to thinking about the fruit of the Spirit, which the Apostle Paul lists in the Book of Galatians. Tying the two verses together made sense to me, because the fruit of the Spirit describes the Lord. So I decided to try something, and this is what I came up with:

Illustration Credit: P. Booher

I am thinking of creating pages similar to this for anyone to color/memorize. Any comments? (Please keep them respectful and constructive.)

Thanks.

P. Booher

8 Comments

Filed under Creativity, Faith Matters

January 13, 2023 · 8:00 am

Meditation Moments

Photo Credit: P. Booher

“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7,8 NLT)

Such good benefits from trusting in God!

P. Booher

Leave a comment

Filed under Country Ripples, Faith Matters