That Old Bloggy Rhythm

Good Housekeeping - October 1927

I am out of my "bloggy" rhythm right now and it appears that I am not alone. I am receiving apologies and explanations from blog friends who have been a bit scarce lately. I completely understand. It's an interesting season for all of us: personally and economically.

When it comes to blogging, I don't have expectations. If there is pressure of any kind to make timely posts or visits, then I think we're defeating the purpose of blogging. I realize that we can drive people away if we become too lax in posting. Certainly, there's balance.

I have made fabulous friends through blogging and I give all of you complete permission to live your lives and post without pressure. We can simply place a comma at the end of each visit, agreeing to pick up the conversation when our schedules allow.

So, to all who have left me wonderful messages, I appreciate your visits! And, you will be seeing me on your blog porches in the next couple of days. I am building a business right now, so much of my spare time is being allocated to networking.

Have a super weekend!

KJ

ELECTION THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
"To desire revival…and at the same time to neglect (personal) prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another."
–A. W. Tozer

Raking Leaves

<= Good Housekeeping - October 1916

I never had the privilege of setting a pile of leaves ablaze. This is one area that I would have enjoyed seeing my efforts go up in flames. Certainly, with all of the California wild fires currently burning, this could never be considered.

As I type this post, I am barefoot, wearing a t-shirt and stretch jeans. I was dressed this way when I went outside to protect my plants from the dry heat that has been chasing away the night chills at sunrise.

I can't imagine raking leaves dressed like the woman on this vintage magazine cover. Making a fashion statement during yard work—especially in high heels—has never been a priority. No, I would rather be dressed in clothes that don't mind rolling in leaves.

Tea for Tuesday

Good Housekeeping - October 1929

I enjoy reading British blogs and websites for the sheer pleasure of seeing words spelled differently and to gain a different perspective of everyday life. Wouldn't you agree that taking a lift seems more experiential than using an elevator? I guess you could say it's...uplifting.

Growing up, Orange Pekoe tea was always stocked in my parent's kitchen pantry. In my summer "Teahouse of the August Spoon" series, I identified what the term Orange Pekoe means: it's not a flavor but a grade of tea. Well, apparently the Brits have given Orange Pekoe a good grade because it has been named the "best tea to have with a fry-up!"

ORANGE PEKOE NAMED BEST TEA TO HAVE WITH A FRY-UP - By Nick Allen, Telegraph.co.uk

Last Updated: 2:05PM BST 14 Sep 2008

Contrary to popular belief English breakfast tea was found not to make the most of the classic combination of fried eggs, bacon, sausages, black pudding, mushrooms and baked beans.

The search for the perfect accompaniment to a stodgy breakfast was conducted to mark 100 years since the invention of the tea bag and was overseen by Whittard of Chelsea's "tea master" Giles Hilton.

Mr Hilton said: "English breakfasts should always be accompanied by a mug of steaming tea and at its best, eaten in the greasy spoon round the corner.

"Most often the tea served will be a blend of Kenyan, Assam and Ceylon tea but in my experience Orange Pekoe tea is the best.

"It suits the English taste for a rich, strong tasting, black tea which takes milk well. It is the very best Ceylon tea and it is important to remember that it does not taste of oranges".

Orange instead refers to the Royal House of Orange, a mark of quality assigned by Dutch traders, as well as the distinctive colour.

The tea comes from Sri Lanka and won out over others because it holds its own against the taste of food like bacon, egg and sausage.

Russian Caravan and Assam Large Leaf were also found to be excellent teas to have with a fry-up.

But Mr Hilton warned of some disastrous combinations to watch out for including matching a fry up with Jasmine Green tea.

Although it helps to cut through the fat content of the meal, the Jasmine perfume leaves the palate confused, ruins the simple flavours and renders the restorative ability of an English breakfast powerless.

Earl Grey and Mango Indica should also never be drunk with a fried breakfast, he said. For coffee drinkers Santos and Java were found to match a fry-up perfectly.

Spiritual Sundays - Closets

A good word from Charles Spurgeon has a way of bringing our spiritual tires into alignment!

Charles Spurgeon - Psalm 119:15

I will meditate in Thy precepts. There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in His service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. Truth is something like the cluster of the vine: if we would have wine from it, we must bruise it; we must press and squeeze it many times. The bruiser's feet must come down joyfully upon the bunches, or else the juice will not flow; and they must well tread the grapes, or else much of the precious liquid will be wasted. So we must, by meditation, tread the clusters of truth, if we would get the wine of consolation therefrom. Our bodies are not supported by merely taking food into the mouth, but the process which really supplies the muscle, and the nerve, and the sinew, and the bone, is the process of digestion. It is by digestion that the outward food becomes assimilated with the inner life. Our souls are not nourished merely by listening awhile to this, and then to that, and then to the other part of divine truth. Hearing, reading, marking, and learning, all require inwardly digesting to complete their usefulness, and the inward digesting of the truth lies for the most part in meditating upon it. Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord, and be this our resolve this morning, "I will meditate in Thy precepts."

The Bible: Know it in your head, stow it in your heart,
show it in your life, sow it in the world. -Our Daily Bread

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