sandra's garden of peaceful thoughts

Grandma's no 1 treasure

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:15:12 GMT

Fergus coloured in a picture for a competition and won 3rd prize in the under 3 group.

I should have taken a pic of the colouring before sending it as it was very colourful.Fergus is so happy to have a'letter' & even posed for the photo ! Fergus' chicken pox have almost gone now and I am hoping to get photos of both our grandsons together this weekend .Sorry not to have been around ,my computer is so slow and I am seriously considering a new one .....until then ,thanks for recent visits & I will catch up eventually ...I must just make it clear that the page Fergus is holding is the certificate he was sent & NOT his own colouring :-)

FERGUS HAS CHICKEN POX

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:08:23 GMT

Just as the title , of my long overdue blog,says Fergus has chicken pox ! We're really not sure who he got them from as no one we know has them .Although,I think his visit to the playgroup,where he will be going after Easter , is the most likely place .

I took a photo of Fergus showing his spots , but they don't show up too well .Thankfully he has not been troubled too much by them & as they came out over 4 or 5 days he got used to it gradually .The ones on his head kept him awake one night but apart from that & the runny nose he had for three weeks before all is well with him .

The timing was bad as our other baby grandson & family were visiting at the weekend and I wanted to get photos of them together ....maybe next time all will go to plan .Fergus was sad not to be able to " play with William" but he did see him & said " baby William is beautiful grandma "

Baby ...another grandson to treasure :-)

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:33:18 GMT

William John Ellerington Barker

weight 8lbs 9ozs

was born on the 29th January 2008

to proud parents Wayne and Liz ...

announced by a very proud grandma :-)

children's questions

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:45:12 GMT

What is the difference between luck and a blessing?

Webster’s dictionary defines luck as the “force that brings good or bad”. The ancient Greeks and Romans used to worship luck in the form of the goddess Fortuna. Her name even became another word for luck, ‘fortune’. A blessing is defined as “to invoke Divine Care”. The source of blessings is God Himself!

Luck is a pagan, non-Christian concept that views good or bad fortune — and success — as a tangible thing unto itself. Certain items, like rabbits’ feet, four-leaf clovers, and other “good luck” charms” are said to “bring luck”. Certain days, and even people, are considered “lucky”. Seeking “luck” is closely connected with superstition, which in turn connected to magic. According to this world view, humans are at the mercy of unseen powerful and uncertain forces that may help or hurt us.

A blessing is very different from the idea of luck. God is Lord of the world. A blessing asks for His Divine Protection and help. Whereas luck can be good or bad, a blessing is always good. God’s care for us and the world is called Divine Providence. This concern for us is grounded in love, and is personal and real. By extension the symbols of God, such as the Cross, religious medals, or phylacta (little bags of earth from holy places), are powerful when they are used not as “lucky charms”, but as signs that we believe in God’s power and protection. They are not sources of power themselves but only point back to God. Those who do not know God are trapped in a world that is full of fears and evil forces that they try to manipulate with magic and superstition. Christians can look on life and not be afraid, for Christ has destroyed the power of evil. If we trust in Him and follow His ways, nothing can really harm us. Christians reject the very existence of the idea of “luck”. Attracting “luck” with a charm, a special day according to the zodiac, or other such things, is nonsense!

To quote Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, “God bless us, everyone!”
URL: http://www.theologic.com/oflweb. This web site is donated and maintained by TheoLogic Systems, which provides software and information tools for Orthodox Christians and parishes world wide. ristmas Carol, “God bless us, everyone!”

Thanks to V.Rev.Fr. Nicholas Hughes, proistamenos of SS. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Mansfield, OH, for filling Father’s cassock for this issue!

Talking about have you found Grandma ???

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:46:22 GMT

just for fun ....thanks to Patty :-)

THE COMPUTER SWALLOWED GRANDMA
..................
The computer swallowed grandma.
Yes, honestly it's true!
She pressed 'control' and 'enter'
And disappeared from view.
It devoured her completely,
The thought just makes me squirm.
She must have caught a virus
Or been eaten by a worm.
I've searched through the recycle bin
And files of every kind;
I've even used the Internet,
But nothing did I find.
In desperation, I asked Jeeves
My searches to refine.
The reply from him was negative,
Not a thing was found 'online.'
So, if inside your 'Inbox,'
My Grandma you should see,
Please 'Copy,''Scan' and 'Paste' her
And send her back to me.

This is a tribute to all the Grandmas who have been fearless and learned
To use the Computer........
They are the greatest!!!

I am one of these Grandmas ,and proud of it !
http://patty1940.spaces.live.com/default.aspx

2008 No promises or resolutions !

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 23:41:59 GMT

2008 has got off to a good start around here ,I enjoyed my stay with Wayne and Liz and am back home and minding Fergus today. He is such fun to be with and there is never a dull moment .Listening to him as he plays and talks reminds me of when our three sons were small .This morning he asked for his car from the patio, and then enjoyed cleaning it before riding around the house in it . Next thing I heard him say "I made a banjo grandma " as I turned to look he laughed & added "no silly me ,not a banjo, a barrier " and he had laid a long handled broom across the kitchen doorway.What an imagination :-)

Since my last blog I have closed my facebook site ,most of the contacts I have on there are also on live spaces and I do find this easier to use ..excuses over ...lol

The truth is I can't keep up with all the stuff on there .

I will keep my 'multiply' site ,though I haven't added anything for ages, as I do like to keep in touch with the 'cyber church' site ....no promises to add regular posts on here ,but I will add monthly albums and get around to visit your spaces as and when I have time .

*blessings*

sandra

basil looking cute in his hat and jumper & ben looking black and sleek

The Humberbridge ,through the train window.

Happy New Year

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:50:53 GMT

HAPPY NEW YEAR

peace and joy be yours in 2008

*blessings*

sandra

*******************************

wednesday evening 2nd Jan .

I am going to stay with Wayne & Liz for a week ...I will attempt to catch up with you all when I return ...and I may even learn how to use facebook during 2008!

Christmas

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 21:37:26 GMT

Happy Christmas

Grandma's little puzzler

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:15:24 GMT

It is so long since I updated on here ...so here goes .

Fergus will be 27 months old ,to the minute,by the time I have written this !He is turning into a puzzler .Not surprising when we are a family who enjoy jigsaws and puzzles .I bought a new 15 piece jigsaw ,thinking it would take a while to work out .We did it together once and after mixing up the pieces I went to put the kettle on .Then a little voice said "it's finished grandma"....and there was the 'peppa pig 'puzzle completed !

So I got the camera out for the next time.Since then we have upgraded to some more challenging stuff ,but nothing seems to put Fergus off and he soon works out the easiest way ,usually starting with a face or some easily recognised part .

We have both had a cold and cough virus that seems to be taking an age to clear ,the postman told me there seems to be half the town ill ..he looked healthy enough ,maybe we need to get out in the cold air more .brr !

I spent an enjoyable day in the Hull museum area last month.An elderly uncle made it even more interesting and enjoyable by recounting his wartime memories as he showed me around the streets leading to the Streetlife museum .He makes 'memory tapes' for several of us as presents each Christmas .He has an amazing recall of events and remembers past business premises with clarity ....and has a store of memories well worth listening to which give a good history of Hull too:-)

softly and tenderly Jesus is calling

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:54:38 GMT

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16

Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling

Listen to this hymn http://www.apples-cherries.com/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/farm/Christian-hymns.html?hrec=29

Tune: Thompson
Words and music: Will Lamartine Thompson 1847-1909

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He's waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Refrain:
Come home, come home,
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

(refrain)

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

(refrain)

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

(refrain)

....................................................................................................................................................

I have been listening to Daniel O'Donnell's 'Faith and Inspiration' cd ,this song is the first one on the disc... and how movingly he sings from his heart to get the message across .How can one not be moved by such words !

Jesus longs for us all to accept Him as Lord and Saviour.

Why wait ,if Jesus is calling YOU, today is the day to act an it !

God's plan for our salvation

http://www.godlovestheworld.com/

a sad day

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:09:56 GMT

Yesterday Pepper my hamster died....he had slowed down a lot over the last week or two but was still eating well,so I was sad to find him lying in the cage yesterday afternoon as he was only around 18 months old .At the weekend I changed his bedding for the winter one I used last year in case the change in temperature at night was making him lethargic. On Monday he enjoyed several hours of sunshine in the conservatory and was lively when handled and seemed happy with his warmer bed . Fergus ,seeing the cage was empty, asked where Pepper was, so I told him that he had gone to live with Jesus and that Jesus was looking after him now ..his reply "is he coming back ?"when I said no ,Fergus asked"is he happy ?"... Maybe this is not scriptural to tell him this ..but how could I tell him I had dug a hole in the raised border and buried Pepper in the cold ground !

This reminded me of when one of our cats died years ago and I was minding Timmy ,the youngest son of our vicar ..he asked me where the cat had gone and I told him the same as I had told our sons 'she has died and gone to live with Jesus',when he told his dad he questioned why I would say that ..so I asked him 'what are you going to tell them ?'..which was the last I heard about my explanation :-)

Our little ones need a kind answer when a pet dies ,and I am sure that The God I know will not condemn me for my answers .

*blessings*

photos of Pepper taken on Monday .

I am free

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:16:59 GMT

I am free !

In the days of my youth

I went my own way,

I did my own thing

and had my own say .

As I got older

things changed in my life-

I married,had children,

became mother and wife.

Things weren't always easy during those years...

I lost friends and family

and shed many tears .
I searched for the reason and meaning of life-

then I heard God, in the midst of my strife

I asked Him to help me,

and show me the way.

I prayed and He listened to what I did say.

I knew that God loved me ,

and that I loved Him..

He rescued and saved me from a lifetime of sin.

My life's still not perfect,then ,why should it be !

But I'm walking with Jesus

and now I am free.

published in 'echoes of life'

IBSN(hardback) 861612621

IBSN(softback) 861612672

God's plan for our salvation

http://www.godlovestheworld.com/

out and about

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 21:51:45 GMT

Where did the past month go ! I never seem to get around to doing anything online these days and when I do msn will not let me post the comments I write on some spaces .whilst I have been absent on here I have had more time for driving though :-) I can now manage to drive in the dark without being scared witless .After several drives to Beverley and Bridlington in the evenings and back in the dark I am much more confident and can mostly keep up with the traffic speeds expected . Also .I went to Kingswood retail park on my own, on Saturday, for the first time and enjoyed looking around the shops I wanted to view and without interruption ,well apart from 'himself' ringing to ask where I was ,was I alright ..meaning was the car ok ....this happens most times I take the car .It should be me doing the checking, as all the scratches & bumps have been his doing so far !

For anyone thinking of learning to drive ,especially around my age ,I say 'go for it' as I love every minute I spend driving ..even in the dark :-D

I have also visited Hull,by train,to view the new St Stephens shopping centre and the changes to th rail and bus/coach travel system.There are a few of the stores open and the bulders are still around finising the project ,even so it is a better entrance to Hull for travellers than previously ...a shame that most of the shops were already in Hull and have vacated their high street positions leaving more empty shops :-( I did take photos ,though it was not easy as the traffic through Hull is always heavy during the daytime .

Jude 1 vv 1 & 2

"To all who are chosen and loved by God the Father and are kept safe by Jesus Christ. I pray that God will greatly bless you with kindness, peace, and love! "



   sandra



888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

blogged details on the project for anyone interested in knowing :-

St Stephen's

St Stephen's is the biggest, most ambitious city centre redevelopment in Hull. The project will generate over 2,500 permanent jobs and transform Hull city centre. The 40-acre St Stephen’s development comprises:

a new, state of the art integrated transport interchange
a shopping and leisure complex, including around 30 shops and stores
new homes for the Hull Truck Theatre and the Albemarle Music Centre
a hotel and a residential quarter

The most striking feature of St Stephen's shopping and leisure complex will be its dramatic, glazed canopy roof structure. It will span the length and breadth of the curved 'street', which will be as wide as London's Oxford Street.

The roof extends through the development, providing natural daylight and, at night, an impressive illuminated landmark. The 'street' will remain open to the public 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Facts and figures

Total cost - £160million
New, integrated transport interchange
40 acre site including the interchange
Food superstore 10,000 sq m
30,000-sq. m of shopping along a central, covered 'street' 28-bed hotel
A new home for Hull Truck Theatre
New home for Albemarle Music Centre
220 new city centre homes
Tree-lined open spaces and squares
1550 car spaces
Cycle routes
2,500 new permanent jobs
Over 30 large format stores
24 hour 10,000 sq. m. superstore
Sizes from 500 sq. m. to 3500sq. m.
Double height frontages and trading on two levels
Glazed canopy fully covering the 250m long street
Leisure and entertainment facilities

More information

*
Jude 1 vv 1 & 2

"To all who are chosen and loved by God the Father and are kept safe by Jesus Christ. I pray that God will greatly bless you with kindness, peace, and love! "

sandra

Back to normal....

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 20:00:00 GMT

whatever normal is ..lol

I had a great holiday and enjoyed spending so much time with Wayne and Liz .I did miss Fergus though :-(

He was two on the 11th september ,and makes sure he tells everyone he meets "I'm 2 now" he is such a treasure .Being away from my computer for over two weeks was not as traumatic as I expected and I have not had chance to get do much on here since I returned home, but I will get around to replying to you all soon ...and posting some Fergus photos !

love and blessings

sandra

NOT 'live writer' ...

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:36:44 GMT

As you will notice I have given up on 'live writer 'for now ..I will try again when I get back from my holiday .I will be away for two weeks from tomorrow, staying 'down south'with our eldest son and his wife .As I am travelling by rail my laptop will be staying at home, better than risking losing or dropping it :-(

I am taking my new camera with me though,and hope to take lots of photos .of things other than Fergus :-) who btw is also going on holiday with his mum & dad ...missing him already !

well,have a great two weeks everyone , I will catch up with you all when I return .

*blessings*

sandra .

my new camera

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:35:16 GMT

I got a new camera :-) I chose it then consulted Gavin ,to make sure it was a decent buy,and then ordered it online to pick up from 'Comet 'at the Kingswood retail park .

this is what I bought :-

FUJIFILM FINEPIX A 825 :-

Megapixels: 8
LCD screen: 2.5"
Optical zoom: 4x
Digital zoom: 7x
Memory card type: SD card

I have not had much chance to use it yet but it seems just as 'user friendly 'than my last one ....and cheaper too as prices for digital cameras has dropped considerably since I purchased the last one .

Now to get the photos into this'live writer' blog :-)

Well,I got the photos onto the blog but could not get it to publish until I removed them !

any ideas on what I am doing wrong ?

trying out windows live writer

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:02:15 GMT

As this is my first time of using this method of posting I thought that 'red for danger' would be a good colour for the font .I am not a happy bunny just now because ,as some of you already know, my digital camera is broken It has had a good life and taken more than 10,000 photos .Fergus wonders why I am not carrying the camera everywhere we go Today I used Jeff's camera again , only at home though as I find it heavy and cumbersome after being used to my own lighter weight smaller one ,I have to admit it takes a much better photo than mine does/did .So I am trying to decide on a replacement ..something that is light and small but takes a good photo .I have in mind to maybe buy a digital video camera . decisions decisions

Well I managed to get this to publish ,not sure if I will bother to use it again though as I have no idea what it can do .grrrr ,can't remember how to get photos into the blog ....I think that I need lessons from that friendly little blue fairy

*blessings*

sandra

Well,I got a new camera and blogged on 'live writer'about it and even added some photos ...BUT

i cannot get it to post :-( I will try again later .

Churches Together in Driffield

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:36:09 GMT

This Sunday 'Churches together in Driffield 'said goodbye to two church leaders ...Lieutenant Lynda Melin is leaving us to retire and two new Captains ,husband and wife,will be taking over the leadership of the Salvation Army Corp .in Driffield based at 125 The Mount . Lynda intends to come back to worship with the many friends that she has ,made in Driffield during the years she has been an officer here .We also said goodbye to Christian Fellowship minister ,Arthur Wood ,who is moving to the Cheshire area to take up a new post there .All Saints Church was filled with Christians from all the churches in Driffield for the praise service organised by Churches Together leaders ..and what an amazing time of worship we all joined together in .The Holy Spirit moved among us as we enjoyed the selection of songs chosen by each Church minister who introduced and explained their reasons for choosing the song/hymn .I am sure that our singing would be heard by people passing by as we 'raised the roof'with our music and songs .How good it is for us to meet with our brothers and sisters in Christ and share such a time of praise ,prayer and worship together ..a foretaste of Heaven !

(I hope to post the song titles...soon )

sorry for being so lazy and not updating my space regularly.I would like to thank those of you who leave comments for me even when I do not update my blog ,you are a great encouragement to me :-)

Driffield Show day 18th July 2007

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:23:10 GMT

This year was the 132nd Driffield Annual Agricultural Show Day and I had the pleasure of taking Fergus ,our 22 month old grandson. there for the afternoon .The showground is on the outskirts of town and thousands of people from all over the country come here for the day's show,where farm animals are judged and people show their garden produce & craft skills for prizes .Fergus was excited about seeing the animals and had got a bit mixed up as he thought there would be elephants :-)

He was not disappointed though as he enjoyed watching the show jumping and seeing the cart horses and loved the rabbits ,guinea pigs and various birds in the 'fur and feather' tent.I did get some photos of but it wasn't easy as Fergus was eager to keep moving .His face was a picture when he saw the huge new farm machinery ,and of course there were cars and lawn mowers ...he said 'a big playground 'when we got through the gates ...lol .Well, to a toddler I suppose that is what it looks like ! We both enjoyed strolling around and had a great afternoon together ,What a privilege for me to take Fergus to his first Driffield Show .

All Saints Church Driffield

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:38:52 GMT

(this article of news is taken from Driffield Post;a local newspaper)

Security clampdown after lead theft

Rev.Mike Smith mopping up after the latest theft

CHURCH leaders are tightening security at Driffield's All Saints' Church after it was attacked by thieves for the third time.

Thousands of pounds worth of lead was stripped from the roof of the church in the latest attack, which came to light when water started pouring through after last week's heavy rain.

Now the Vicar of Driffield, the Rev Mike Smith, says more CCTV cameras will be installed to protect the building and the churchyard will probably have to be closed to the public at night.

"It is sad to have to do that because the gates are usually left open, but vehicles are being used to get in and out," he said.

"We do have CCTV cameras around the back of the church, but this was not at the side where the cameras are and we will have to install more."
In the latest attack, thieves have stripped lead from the roof of a side aisle and stolen some of

the lead down-pipes which had only recently been replaced following an earlier theft.

Mr Smith said the cost of the latest attack is not yet known, but contractors who have been carrying out repairs on the roof have reported that more lead is missing this time than in the last attack, when £5,500 worth of lead was stolen.

The attack is the third in only a few weeks, and although the thefts are covered by insurance, Mr Smith said that there is still a cost to the church.

"Every time there is a claim we have to pay an excess and we have made so many claims that our insurers are now saying they are to review our policy," he said.

Church leaders are also assessing the damage caused to the wooden floor of the church itself, caused when the water leaked through the roof after the lead was stolen.

www.alison.morris@yrnltd.co.uk

Last Updated: 05 July 2007 12:31 PM

.............................................

my own photos of All Saints,taken in the last few months

Photo Album: William .16 June (taken last week in May)

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:22:32 GMT

William .16 June (taken last week in May)

hello grandma ..

thankyou for this ...what is it called ?

you made me a tag toy ..funny name

I prefer my muslin square

it makes my thumb go where I like it to be

William practices sitting up in his ring

hello again grandma

bathtime makes me smile

grandma ha s her camera again!

a nap on the big bed is nice .....

More Photos...

Photo Album: Fun with Fergus 25 -3 -2008

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:46:04 GMT

Fun with Fergus 25 -3 -2008

Fergus getting ready for a 'photo shoot '

"I can see you grandma"

"look at me now "

bathtime fun

Photo Album: Grandma's number 1 treasure + treasure no 2 !

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:36:19 GMT

Grandma's number 1 treasure + treasure no 2 !

'feeding' himself.....

where are the ducks?

posing for me

and again

fergus likes Brum

a nice smile for grandma

angry william in fergus' pushchair :-(

sleeping now ( 09-03-2008 )

but only just :-)

Photo Album: A visit to Burton Agnes gardens 11 February 2008

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:20:40 GMT

A visit to Burton Agnes gardens 11 February 2008

snowdrops ..

everywhere you look

so pretty

Burton Agnes Hall www.burton-agnes.co.uk

the walled garden

inside the garden

interesting vegetables :-)

Photo Album: A frosty day in Cambourne. 19th February 2008

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:40:20 GMT

A frosty day in Cambourne. 19th February 2008

clear sky

and beautiful looking trees

and berries

and bushes

all transformed by a thick frost

even this glove left on the railing looks interesting !

Photo Album: baby William Barker

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:13:05 GMT

baby William Barker

peaceful & 'full' :-)

very alert

fast asleep,first day with 'clothes' on (feb 17th ) & first pic I took of him:-)

born sucking his hand ! (marks are from forceps and suction)

swaddled by daddy :-)

Photo Album: Fergus Christmas :-)

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:39:31 GMT

Fergus Christmas :-)

after his morning bath

cheeky boy said "I'm a baby Jesus now "!

my own father Christmas

looking a little serious

as he was not sure about the hat !

at the garden centre

Fergus didn't want to visit Santa

at home and back to his puzzles

this one has 24 pieces

and 28 in this one

More Photos...

sandra's garden of peaceful thoughts

Grandma's no 1 treasure

FERGUS HAS CHICKEN POX

Baby ...another grandson to treasure :-)

children's questions

Talking about have you found Grandma ???

2008 No promises or resolutions !

Happy New Year

Christmas

Grandma's little puzzler

softly and tenderly Jesus is calling

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling

a sad day

I am free

out and about

Back to normal....

NOT 'live writer' ...

my new camera

trying out windows live writer

Churches Together in Driffield

Driffield Show day 18th July 2007

All Saints Church Driffield

(this article of news is taken from Driffield Post;a local newspaper)

Security clampdown after lead theft

Photo Album: William .16 June (taken last week in May)

Photo Album: Fun with Fergus 25 -3 -2008

Photo Album: Grandma's number 1 treasure + treasure no 2 !

Photo Album: A visit to Burton Agnes gardens 11 February 2008

Photo Album: A frosty day in Cambourne. 19th February 2008

Photo Album: baby William Barker

Photo Album: Fergus Christmas :-)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16