Here's a new one! 

Gimcrack :

gimcrack \JIM-krak\, noun:
1. A showy but useless or worthless object; a gewgaw.

adjective:
1. Tastelessly showy; cheap; gaudy.

I have heard of a gewgaw and I can spot a gimcrack a mile away.  Just didn't know the word. 

And boy, is it interesting!

Predictions of the Year 2000
from The Ladies Home Journal  of December 1900

The Ladies Home Journal from December 1900, which contained a fascinating article by John Elfreth Watkins, Jr. “What May Happen in the Next Hundred Years”.

Mr. Watkins wrote: “These prophecies will seem strange, almost impossible. Yet, they have come from the most learned and conservative minds in America. To the wisest and most careful men in our greatest institutions of science and learning I have gone, asking each in his turn to forecast for me what, in his opinion, will have been wrought in his own field of investigation before the dawn of 2001 - a century from now. These opinions I have carefully transcribed.”

During the Year 2000, we included Mr. Watkins research in our feature articles. We invite you to comment on these predictions, whether they have been realized in some way or how they can never be accomplished! In any event, we know you’ll enjoy these entries.

Prediction #1: There will probably be from 350,000,000 to 500,000,000 people in America and its possessions by the lapse of another century. Nicaragua will ask for admission to our Union after the completion of the great canal. Mexico will be next. Europe, seeking more territory to the south of us, will cause many of the South and Central American republics to be voted into the Union by their own people.”

Prediction #2: The American will be taller by from one to two inches. His increase of stature will result from better health, due to vast reforms in medicine, sanitation, food and athletics. He will live fifty years instead of thirty-five as at present – for he will reside in the suburbs. The city house will practically be no more. Building in blocks will be illegal. The trip from suburban home to office will require a few minutes only. A penny will pay the fare.

Prediction #3: Gymnastics will begin in the nursery, where toys and games will be designed to strengthen the muscles. Exercise will be compulsory in the schools. Every school, college and community will have a complete gymnasium. All cities will have public gymnasiums. A man or woman unable to walk ten miles at a stretch will be regarded as a weakling. 

You'll have to follow the link to read the rest of them!   Some are eerily accurate, some are ridiculously ridiculous and you just have to be thankful that some of them never came to be.

HT:  Tom and Bosacks 

Note to Self:

Next year, when you're scrolling through blog posts for the last day of snow; it snowed today, April 28th.

A very busy couple of house finches have been very busily investigating the two grapevine wreaths that hang on the windows on either side of the front of my house.  Their noisy, cheerful chatter has kept me company in the mornings, and I have begun to get used to the feeling of someone looking over my shoulder as they cling to the screens and peer through the windows.

I do hope they decide to build a nest and raise a family.  I love house finches and if they build a nest in either of those wreaths, I will have a bird's eye view of the nest. 

(And something fun to blog about for a couple of weeks!)

(photo from Wikipedia article) 

This is the last day for Project Green photos, so I am going to sneak in a couple of extra today!

All these pictures were taken on May 8th of last year.  I can't imagine seeing anything even approaching this advance of spring at this point, but who knows?  I'll try to remember to check out the same areas of the garden and see if spring ever gets "caught up" this year!

This would make a good Project Blue entry:

 
Makes me feel blue just thinking about it. . .  

Blessed Lord, in thee is refuge,
Safety for my trembling soul:
Pow'r to lift my head when drooping
'Midst the angry billow's roll.
I will trust thee,
I will trust thee,
I will trust thee,
All my life thou shalt control.

In the past, too, unbelieving,
'Midst the tempest I have been,
And my heart has slowly trusted
What my eyes have never seen.
Blessed Jesus,
Blessed Jesus,
Blessed Jesus,
Teach me on thine arm to lean.

O, for trust that brings the triumph
When defeat seems strangely near;
O, for faith that changes fighting
Into vict'ry's ringing cheer!
Faith triumphant,
Faith triumphant,
Faith triumphant,
Knowing not defeat or fear.

Trinity Hymnal #420 

I bless God that our salvation in no wise depends on our own works . . . but I never would have any believer for a moment forget that our sense of our salvation depends much on the manner of our living.

J.C. Ryle, Holiness 

 'Here a Linden-tree stood, bright'ning
All adown its silver rind;
For, as some trees draw the lightning,
So this tree, unto my mind,
Drew to earth the blessed sunshine
From the sky where it was shrined"--Elizabeth Barrett Browning

"Be ay of chere as light as lefe on Linde."--Chaucer

More entries at Anna Carson Photography 

Project Green will be winding up tomorrow, so now's the time if you have something to share!  Anna will announce the next project color late in May.  That gives us all lots of time to sharpen our skills of observation when it comes to color.  Who knows?  You might have the perfect one in the pocket when the new color is announced.

Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc

New Zealand 

Seriously Good Wine 

More Project Green Photos at Anna Carson Photography 

Cream of Asparagus Soup

Cook in covered saucepan:
1 lb. fresh asparagus, chopped
1/4 c. chopped onion
1 c. chicken broth

When asparagus is just tender, if desired, press through food mill or blend until smooth.

Heat in saucepan
2 T. butter
2 T. flour
1/2 t. salt
pepper to taste

Stir in:
1 additional cup chicken broth
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches boing point.

Stir in:
asparagus puree
1 c. milk
Stir a little hot mixture into 1/2 c. sour cream or plain yogurt
Stir into hot mixture.

Add:
1 t. fresh lemon juice

Heat just to serving temperature, stirring frequently. Sprinkle with fresh chives.
(I topped the soup with a dollop of sour creme, green onion, and roasted red pepper strips)
Option: Tough ends of asparagus may be included if blender or food mill is used.

More Project Green Photos at Anna Carson Photography. 

I left the house around 12:30 for Bible Study at Dorothy's house.  Just got home a little bit ago and in those three, short hours, it seems as though every tree on every corner is competing with every other tree on every other corner to see who can make the most leaves fastest!

It is an amazing transformation!  As I walked up the cobblestone walk to Dorothy's back door, I noticed her pink bleeding hearts were blooming already and her white ones were just beginning to form buds.  By the time I left, the white bleeding hearts were, well not just buds, but heart shaped blooms.

 My own myrtle and pachysandra are now blooming and I found a dandelion.

 Yes, today was wake up day for all the late bloomers.

Sigh. . .spring at last! 

Garden Clogs 

right where I left 'em 

I've liked David Cook more and more as the season has progressed, so this was not a total surprise. We sat with our mouths open. I was blown away. A new favorite version of an old favorite song.

I love the varied shades of green, from the silvery shoots to the fresh green leaves, to the deep green mature foliage. 

More entries at Anna Carson Photography

I didn't realize until Rebecca invited us to share our petitionary prayers that most of mine are of the sort that, well, you just don't want to share.  I don't mean to be dark and mysterious, but as petitions are so often for others, preserving and respecting the the privacy of others (and myself!) has hampered my participation.

All that to say this:  I am grateful that the One who bears my prayers before the throne of God knows my petitions better than I know them myself.  We have a Great High Priest who hears and knows and presents our prayers before the throne of the Majesty on High.

And the saints can intercede for each other without details, for our needs, while varied, are all common to man.

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:14-16 

He listens, He knows, He understands, He intercedes. 

Do you know what kind of plant is emerging?

The first person to guess correctly wins a bookmark from Bookworm Bookmarks! 

More Project Green photos at Anna Carson Photography 

UPDATE:  We have a winner! And it's my own sister (who won fair and square!)  I guess I don't need to ask you to send me your address!

 Here's what you win:

Peeking through the "tree"hole 

I lost 1.5 pounds last week, so I've be able to get rid of my hospital weight gain.  Yippee!  It took just less than 4 days to gain three pounds and almost two weeks to lose it!  Moral of the story:  do not go backwards!  Even a disappointing .5 pound a week or no loss at all is better than a weight gain!

Here are my stats for the past week:

The past week's weight loss--1.5 pound.

Total weight loss--7.5 pounds.

Fitness Averages per day:

average miles per day:  1.57

average calories burned per treadmill workout: 168 (tallied only during the treadmill portion plus whatever is burned during the exercise portion)

carbs burned per treadmill workout: 21.5 (same as above)

speed/incline: I'm still doing the same pre-programmed "total body workout" but I have increased the incline +2 for every programmed cycle throughout the program.

I've also increased the number of workouts with the hand weights and exercise ball and have added some new sets.  I'm surprised at how much I am beginning to look forward to working out. I worked outside in the yard for over three solid hours this weekend and I could really tell the difference. Between the new medicine that is controlling my arrhythmias and my increased level of fitness, I was able to work much longer and without total exhaustion.

I'm still disappointed at the slow weight loss.  Therefore, there will be fewer carbs in the form of pasta, rice, potatoes, and bread on the old brown plate this week.  I know, I know.  The idea was portion control, not deprivation, but it seems that carbs continue to be my downfall, even in smaller portions.