Friday, June 30, 2017

Sabbath Music - Shabbat Shalom



Greetings and Good Shabbos, dear Gail-Friends!

This week, I've been meditating on this Scripture:

"Light is sown for the righteous
and joy for the upright in heart."
(Psalm 97:11)

It brings to mind a beautiful picture of a sower in a field, scattering seeds.  The seeds are light and seeds of joy.  These are the harvest of those who are righteous and upright in heart.  What a delightful meditation.  I can testify that those things are great and over-flowing blessings in my life.

Growing up, I was taught that keeping G-d's commandments was not necessary.  They actually taught that trying to be righteous was like filthy rags.  This is a misunderstanding of Scripture.  When the words were spoken, they meant to invent one's own way of being righteous, rather than obeying His commandments. G-d does indeed expect us to obey Him and live righteous lives.  Yeshua said, "If you love me, keep my commandments."  That's where the blessings of light and joy come from.  

One of His commandments that brings blessings of light and joy is that of observing His Sabbath.  I pray you will find that light and joy promised in Psalm 97.

This week's music is a playlist of songs for the Sabbath, titled Shabbat Shalom.  It begins with the blowing of the shofar, which is what we do at the beginning of our Shabbat service. The shofar blast is a call to worship ADONAI.  I hope you enjoy these songs. . . and I hope you dance!

My busyness has prevented me from doing postings this week, but I hope to post in the coming week on Wisdom Wednesday about Flourishing in Old Age, and then about The Beauty of the Ordinary on Thankful Thursday.  I hope you'll stop back by.

Shalom and Blessings to you.

  ~~~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       Modest Mom Monday Link-up     The Art of Homemaking Mondays   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS     Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday  Tune-In Thursday   Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday
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Friday, June 23, 2017

Sabbath Music - It is Good (Tov L'Hodot)




I've been meditating on Psalm 92 this week.  The psalm is subtitled "A Psalm for Shabbat", and is read weekly in some synagogues.  I love the note at the bottom of this Psalm in my Complete Jewish Bible:

"The holiness of Shabbat emerges as the shackles of daily life and the hurriedness of the workweek are set aside for a day.  In loving care, G-d provides Shabbat as a weekly time of restoration between humanity and their Creator." ~~ Rabbi Abraham Heschel


I hope you enjoy your Sabbath and this beautiful song, based on Psalm 92:

Tov L-Hodot - It Is Good by Michael ben David



~~~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       Modest Mom Monday Link-up     The Art of Homemaking Mondays   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS     Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

ThankFul Thursday - Florida Folk Festival #3



One of my favorite parts of the Florida Folk Festival is the folk dancing.  There were cloggers, Irish Step dancers, square dancers, and more.  The video above is of  English Contra dancing, which Jem and I both enjoy doing.  We didn't join in this day because it was about 5:00 pm, and we were pooped by then.


This video is of the Morris dancers.  The art form originated in England in the mid-1500's, and the performers wear costumes and (sometimes) masks.  Some dances involve loud noises made with sticks, flags, and scarves.  In this dance, an evil fellow appears.  Quite entertaining.  The history of Morris dancing is pretty interesting, and you can read a very informative article at this Wikileaks LINK. 


I loved joining the Shape Note Singers.  This is an interesting workshop, and even though I play piano and dulcimer and read music well, I finally gave up and just listened.

Shape note singing is tricky because you not only have to read music, you have to understand which shaped note is yours.  I sat in the alto section, near the tenors and bases, who were loud and overpowering.  I could tell that most of the attendees were skilled in this type of music, but me. . . not so much.  I had a tough time keeping to my part, especially when not familiar with the piece.  This is the book used in the singing.



The movies Cold Mountain and Oh, Brother Where Art Thou have scenes that include shape note singing, and you can find wonderful videos on YouTube.  Shape note singing is hard to explain, so if you're interested, this article from Wikipedia details it very well.   All I can tell you is it takes practice.

We attended a fabulous jam session with Les Dudek (check him out YouTube) who invited anyone who wanted to play on stage.  Several did, and this harmonica player was well prepared, and really good, too.





I just had to video the people enjoying the jam.  Watching the audience was as much fun as listening to the musicians and singers.






The Festival is a laid-back, take-it-easy kind of event, and you never know what you might see.  Here are a few interesting things I captured on camera:


You know, I'll never understand why anyone would wear one of "these" hats made popular at this year's women's march.  Perhaps that's how she sees herself (shaking my head).  She's got to be from up north, 'cause girls raised in the South have more respect for themselves.  We also know that a real lady sets the tone for respect and gets it!!!

I've seen many different instruments at the festival, but this is the first time I've seen a tuba. :)


I admired a lady's purse and she graciously allowed me to photograph it.  She also shared with me that she bought it at a gun show.  It's specially designed to hold a gun. Handy, right?  I love it.


Had to photograph this lovely dulcimer.  Isn't it gorgeous?


The Florida Folk Festival is a kick-off-your-shoes kind of place, so this is a common sight around the park:







There's so much more I could share, but I think I'm done for this year.  I hope you get to attend one day because I know you'll have a hand-clapping, foot-stomping, and folk dancing good time.  We sure did.

 Now, as promised, I have to share about the angel wings.


On the way home from the festival, we stopped for lunch in Deland.  I'd heard about these angel wings and wanted to get our picture made there, so I Googled it to find the address.  It's a bit tricky because it's in an alley behind a business.   You can read about the angel wings, and the artist, Erica Group,  HERE.

We met a nice couple there who took our picture.  We got to talking and believe it or not, his name was Jim and her name was Gail.  Amazing, right?  They told us about a great place to eat nearby, so if you ever visit Deland, be sure to try the Boston Coffee House.   We enjoyed the great food and atmosphere.

I'm so grateful to have this wonderful vacation, and for our Ma'gen Da'vid family who helped to make it happen.   We are blessed beyond my ability to tell.

Here are the links to my other posts about the 2017 Florida Folk Festival:


Florida Folk Festival 2017 -  #1

Florida Folk Festival 2017 - #2

~~~

I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       Modest Mom Monday Link-up     The Art of Homemaking Mondays   BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS     Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 

Monday, June 19, 2017

Wisdom Wednesdays - Children Grow Up



When my children were growing up, I had a decorative plaque on the wall that read:

Cleaning and dusting can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up we learn to our sorrow.

This quote was a guiding light for me in my house-keeping / cleaning routines.  It reminded me that my children were more important than a spotless home.  Yes, our home was clean, but I was not a neat freak as some of my friends were.  I've even quoted the saying to other mothers to remind them to keep priorities straight.

I did not know, until this week, that this quote was part of a poem:


Children Grow Up 

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby, loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.)

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep.

~Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

Isn't it a lovely poem?  I wasn't looking for it, but stumbled across it on another blog.  I'm so glad I did because I will treasure it, 

The days of childhood are so short.  Think of it, Gail-Friends, childhood is only ten to twelve years.  These are golden, precious years to enjoy their sweet kisses and hugs.  Ten to twelve short years to play together and be as silly as you want to be.  I look back on those days of my daughters lives as the most wonderful days of my entire life.

I remind you, young mothers, you will have decades to pursue your own interests or to have a career.  Treasure and make the most of the lovely days of baby and childhood because you'll have so many lovely memories to look back on.

As a grandmother, I'm now treasuring the childhood days of my grandson and enjoying every minute with him.  It's hard to believe he's going on eight years old because the years has gone by blindingly fast.  I'm trying not to blink because he'll be graduating college before I know it.
Jem & me with him at the pumpkin patch in 2009.

Out to eat together on Mother's Day 2017


Every day is precious, Gail-Friends.  Make the most of it

Blessings,
GG




~~~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       Modest Mom Monday Link-up      
   Growing Homemakers Link-Up      BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS LINK PARTYTitus 2 Tuesday     Share Your Stuff Tuesday    TITUS TUESDAYS @CORNERSTONE CONFESSIONS     Wordless Wednesdays    Classical Homemaking Link-Up    Judith’s Wholehearted Wednesday     Favorite Things Home and Garden Thursday at Delightsome Life  Paula's Weekend No Rules Blog Party Friendship Friday 

Friday, June 16, 2017

Sabbath Music - Hold to G-d's Unchanging Hand


Greetings Gail-Friends.  That blessed day is near. . . our day to slow down, rest, and draw near to Adonai.  My week has been super busy, so I'm looking forward to it.

This song has been on my mind --  Hold To G-d's Unchanging Hand.  It's such a great message during hard times.  If you're going through some, listen to the lyrics of this song.  I know it will encourage you.  Don't let the cares of this world steal your peace and joy.  Hold to His hand.  He's been holding you up since birth and He will see you through.

I hope you'll be blessed by this song, and I hope you have a blessed and peaceful Sabbath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   
Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up       

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Thankful Thursday - Florida Folk Festival - #2


These are the free CDs I've received at the Florida Folk Festival, and I've enjoyed listening to them.  Some of these songs are decades old but are quite interesting and entertaining. They are a collection of Florida performers ranging from church singers to honkey tonk crooners. . .Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Jews, Greeks, Indians, and more.  They are an eclectic bundle of JOY for me because I love all kinds of music.  You can hear some of these songs on YouTube, too.  Just type in Florida Folk Festival and you'll discover years of performances all the way back to the 1950's.


Storytelling is another aspect of the festival that I love.  Storytelling, like the musical performances and dancing, goes on all day long.  Many of the tale tellers also incorporate music with their stories, so I loved that.  The acoustics in the room below are amazing.  Another thing I love about visiting the storytelling area, which is in the Carillon Tower, is that it is air-conditioned.  Believe me, it gets plenty hot here in Florida by the end of May.  The festival also has giant fans around the park and even included a misting tent this year.  That feels divine on a hot Florida day, believe me.


This lady is from Haiti and told some hilarious tales, accompanied by two of her grandsons.



Liliane also taught classes at the Folklife Stage, talking extensively about Haitian food and folk remedies. She's in her nineties, a cancer survivor, and attributes her good health to the use of native plants.  She taught how to make beignets, Haitian style, and then passed out free samples.  I didn't taste them, but they looked really good.

Some other demonstrations taught in the Folklife Stage were how to harvest and cook swamp cabbage (very interesting to know if we ever run out of food), how to make a Florida cracker cowboy whip and use it (really handy if you have children -- JUST kidding),  alligator grappling (you never know when you'll need that here in the Sunshine State), chair caning, bobbin lace making, quilting, and much, much more.

The Seminole Indians demonstrated basket making techniques, the colorful and beautiful patchwork they're famous for (see below), and fighting techniques.  My husband really enjoyed that part.  He said the girls fought just as well as the boys. I was attending a dulcimer workshop, so I missed it.


This demonstration of Chinese art and music was delightful.  The musician, a professor at the University of Florida,  played the song about a rooster, while her husband painted his picture.  Since I adore both music and painting, I was enthralled.



We went to a brand new area for us this year. This area is called Florida Remembered and has exhibits and demonstrations about Florida history.  It's a bit of a hike to get to, but it's an enjoyable one as you walk through the beautiful green woods listening to and watching birds.

The fellow below was talking about the trapping trade in old Florida.  He was so interesting and quite the character.  I asked him about his "necklace" and he said, "That's what happened to a guy who aggravated me." Yikes!  I didn't ask any more questions.


Now that was one, BIG alligator.
Just thought you'd like to see an alligator foot up close.  Pretty fascinating, huh?
Jem was particularly interested in the demonstration of how to make distilled whiskey aka "corn licker."  Here in Florida, we call it "moonshine."  The moonshine guy kept repeating, "It's only for demonstration."  Trust me, I would not have wanted a sample.  Jem. . . maybe.



Speaking of the hike to get to the area, the park also provides free golf cart rides all day long to all areas of the park for those who need or want them. We used them often, especially by the end of the day when we're getting tired.  The festival goes on till after midnight, but we usually left between 5:00 and 7:00 pm.


I'll share one more post about our vacation next week, and I haven't forgotten my promise to tell you about the angel wings.

Folk Festival Part 1
Folk Festival Part 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sometimes share my posts with these friends:



Spiritual Sundays     Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life     GRAND Social       The Beauty in His Grip Link-Up   
Modest Mom Monday Link-up         Growing Homemakers Link-Up       


Tuesday, June 13, 2017

6 Tips for Painting Happy Rocks


I'm having so much fun painting rocks.  I'm enjoying writing positive, encouraging words on my rocks and praying for the person who finds them to be blessed.  Some of these are not quite finished, and then they have to be sealed.  When ready, I'll place them around town for others to find.


Did you know this is a growing phenomenan?  There are people painting and sharing rocks all over the country.  Adults and kids alike are having a blast with these happy rocks.  My grandson loves it.

This is his "potato" rock.
Here are some tips for painting rocks:

Source - I like the white rocks, and found mine at Lowe's for about $9.00 a bag.  There are probably thirty or forty rocks in the bag, some small and some large (see above).  Dollar General has a smaller bag of about a dozen small, dark rocks for a couple of bucks.  I've found these harder to paint on though. Some of the dark rocks have a coating on them, so I'm sticking with the white ones.