If you happen to be in the Northern Hemisphere and are tired of seeing snow, here’s some green coming your way!
All photos–Author’s collection.
P. Booher
Monthly Archives: February 2021
Easy Tips for Saving Money
- Men’s old cotton T-shirts and babies’ cloth diapers work well for dusting. They are soft and won’t scratch the furniture. On the same order, towels and washcloths beginning to show wear can still be used to clean sinks, bathtubs, or the car. If you have pets, old towels work fine to put on the bottom of the pet carrier. If the pet messes on them, the towels can be thrown out.
- Years ago I worked at a discount store. It carried some clothing, but mainly knicknacks, artificial flowers, kitchen, bedroom and bath items. I marveled at the creative ways people could make low-cost gifts simply by putting different items together. For instance, for a wedding shower a person could buy towels, washcloths, sheets, and a few other goods, place them in a round laundry basket, and wrap the laundry basket with an extra-large vinyl disposable picnic tablecloth. A 54″by 108″ tablecloth did an admirable job of covering the basket, and there was even some tablecloth length to spare for tying the gift shut in a “bow”.
- This is the time of year living in the Northern Hemisphere, especially if you live where it’s often cloudy, can bring on “cabin fever”. I’m sure it’s more prevalent this winter due to the lockdowns, etc. of COVID-19. When I worked at the discount store, people got some relief from cabin fever without spending a lot of money by purchasing artificial flowers, vases, and candles in the new spring colors. Sometimes people bought new tablecloths and placemats too. They were able to freshen their homes for under $20.
- For many years I relied on clay litter when changing cat boxes. Eventually I had enough of choking on the dust. Fortunately I discovered an alternative—kitty litter made out of pine pellets. However, the 20-pound bags don’t last as long as I thought they would, and the only place I can buy them is some distance away. I discovered the local feed store carries 40-pound bags of pine-pellet horse bedding—at a cheaper price than the 20-pound bags of pine-pellet kitty litter. The man at the feed store told me a lot of people use the horse bedding for kitty litter. So on my next trip for bird food I bought a bag of horse bedding, and tried it out in Abby’s boxes. Abby’s OK with using it; I’m OK with the savings!
©P. Booher
Filed under Tips to Save Money
Friday Photos–Nature’s Lines, Angles, Textures, and Shadows
All photos from Author’s collection.
P. Booher
Filed under Friday Photos
Wake Up and Be Amazing
I saw the slogan “Wake Up and Be Amazing” on an item.
For some reason my mind grabbed that phrase and wouldn’t let go. At first, my idea of “amazing” was wake up, jump in the shower, fix my hair in a fabulous hairdo and wear a stunning outfit to work or shopping. Only one problem–nobody ever accused me of having a “fabulous hairdo” or wearing a “stunning outfit”. So I thought, Well, “wake up and be amazing” sounds wonderful, but that’s not me.
Then I thought about an email the lead pastor of my church sent out. He talked about an upcoming day the church set aside to give special recognition to the associate pastors. He said that, “Every day they give 100%. Some days their 100% is more than other days, but they still give 100% every day!”
My mind combined the slogan and the email, and I thought maybe “wake up and be amazing” doesn’t mean the externals of how a person looks. Maybe it means to do what I’m supposed to do whether I feel like it or not, whether I feel “qualified” or not. Maybe “wake up and be amazing” means to do it the best I can, to face whatever life hands me that day as graciously and enthusiastically as I possibly can.
©P. Booher
Filed under Country Ripples
Friday Photos–Bright Colors!
For anyone in the Northern Hemisphere who’s tired of winter, here’s some photos from warmer times. Enjoy!
All photos: Author’s collection.
©P. Booher
Filed under Friday Photos
What I Am Thankful For Today (on a cold day)
Thank You, God, that–
1. The furnace is working properly.
2. I could get up out of bed and do what I needed and wanted to do (I have experienced a time when I couldn’t do that.)
3. The car started and worked fine as I went on errands.
4.We have running water (it didn’t freeze overnight).
5. I had fun throwing peanuts outside for the blue jays, squirrels, and whomever wants them.
6. It was cold, but the roads were fine.
7. I enjoy going to the local store where I buy bird food and peanuts. The people are friendly and helpful, and always willing to take purchases to the car.
8. I’m having fun writing this piece!
9. The gift of writing You gave me keeps growing and expanding as I learn more and write more. I think it will continue to be an ever-expanding gift. That is a humbling, exciting, and challenging idea.
10. I have a warm place to sleep tonight.
11. I have enough, for tonight.
12. Finally, God, I thank You that You are here; You are interested; You care. You are interested and You care even for people who don’t care about You.
©P. Booher
“…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5:28) NIV
Filed under Country Ripples, Faith Matters
Friday Photos–Town Cat, Country Cats, II
The title for this post is a misnomer, in that there’s no town cat, just country cats.
All photos: Author’s collection.
P. Booher
Filed under Country Cats, Friday Photos
Diving Into A Sea of Books–Beach Devotions
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 that you like so much you can’t wait to reread it, and over there, a book you read and think, “Meh”.
In Beach Devotions Laura Van Gatz uses photographs and wording to transport the reader to the beach, in this case, a lake beach. I’ve never been to a lake or ocean beach, so reading this slender book of devotions acted as a chance to vacation in a different world and see what it has to offer, albeit vicariously.
Each two-page devotion features an item or activity commonly found on or done on a beach, such as sea glass, playing volleyball, or a natural event, such as a thunderstorm. Every natural or material item or activity provides spiritual food for thought.
The author’s tone is that of a friend/guide who wants you to enjoy the beach world she knows. She is never condescending, and freely admits the times she has messed up in her relationship with God.
If you are looking for a devotional book that’s a bit different, or want to read a volume which takes you into a slower pace, try Beach Devotions.
©P. Booher
Filed under Diving Into A Sea of Books
Challenges to Writing
For the past five or six years I’ve become aware of the increasing importance writing is having in my life. Writing used to be an activity I did when the yearning was too strong to ignore. Now my writing is demanding an everyday, disciplined approach. Being a person who never followed the same schedule every day (at work and at home), this is a challenge for me–one I’m still working on. I’m confident that problem can be handled with some thought and research, as I read how other writers handle such a problem.
The other challenge is much darker, as it tries to sow seeds of doubt and despair. This slides into my mind in moments when my guard is down, after I watched, heard, or read some negative news item. The challenge is best expressed as, “Why bother to write when the news is so bad? What good will your writing do?”
I used to let such questions keep me from writing. Now, I take my cue from three ideas.
One comes from the example of the Apostle Paul. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote some of the New Testament books of the Bible (Philippians is one that comes to mind) while he was in a Roman dungeon, chained to a guard. He didn’t have the power to change his circumstances, yet he still wrote, convinced of the importance of his message and the necessity of getting it out.
Two is some words given to me several years ago in a prayer meeting. The pastor asked those who had the gift of exhortation to walk among those of us attending, and to speak to whomever needed spoken to. A husband and wife came up to me and said, “The Lord wants us to tell you: “You are too reticent. You have things to say. You need to say them.”
Three is the very fact that there is opposition means that it is important to go on, to not quit, no matter how negative things get.
©P. Booher
Filed under Country Ripples, Creativity, Writing
Country Ripples 
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