A Sad October Morning

This blog takes precedence to the one I was planning on a much happier note, "Joyful Simplicities for October," but because of a tragic turn of events that I wished had never happened, the death of my beloved cat Kenya, October 23, 2010, this blog takes priority.

Just saying her name makes tears well up in my eyes, and a lump in my throat. Those of you who have lost their dear pets know the feelings I am describing.

Kenya, the love of my life, after 16 1/2 years of mutual love, loyalty and affection was dying from kidney failure. How could that be? She was always strong, active, playful, didn't look her age. Naively, I thought she could go on for at least another 5 years or more, and then die peacefuly, at home, in her sleep. Instead, in the last few weeks she quickly took a rapid turn for the worse. The last few days before she died, her unchanging beautiful face began to look weak and drawn. Despite her frail weakness she still would respond to my call, looking up with her big beautiful green almond shaped eyes, she managed to respond with her sweet trying to please cry, even getting up on wobbly weak legs to show her unfailing loyalty in wanting to please me. What should I do? Maybe it's an infection, or a bad tooth that can be easily fixed, I must take her to the Vet. But what if it is something worse? They may suggest to put her to sleep. What should I do? I felt so helpless, I couldn't save her. I had to decide. Should I let her die at home? Or must I make the dreaded decision to have her put to death? Those of you who have been through this, you remember that feeling, don't you? "It is the right thing to do, merciful, otherwise she will die a painful death", the Dr. said. "She will feel no pain. We will give her a sedative that puts her in a peaceful sleep, and then inject her with a drug that will stop her heart". "No hope Dr?" I asked. "No, I am sorry", he said, his eyes welling up with tears. "I know how you feel, I had to put my dog, my best friend to sleep just a few months ago and he was ony 10 years old. I would have done anything to extend his life another 3 years, but I was only thinking of myself not him. I did the right thing for him by relieving his suffering."

So, with a pain so deep in my heart, and stomach we conceded. I hugged Kenya, kissed her, and told her I loved her. She was then sedated. I could not be present for the final blow of stopping her heart. I left the room. A few minutes later the Dr. came out with my Kenya in a box. We took her home, and my dear husband buried her in the back yard, her final resting place.

In our lesson at the Kingdom Hall Sunday during the Watchtower study, one of the paragraphs spoke about a sister who was experiencing deep sadness due to past experiences in her life before she came into the truth. She said what helps her to get the strength to endure, is the genuine friends and spiritual family that now brings her happiness, and also she tries to focus on what Jehovah promises for the future. Replacing cries of sadness, with cries of joy.

Her comments are so true. In my distress Jehovah helped me by sending my dear family, friends and spiritual family to my aid. They felt my pain and gave me loving support. Thank you so much my dear friend Sandy (Sparrow). You truly are a loving, loyal friend, and I love you for that. Tom (Old Crow), and Mickey (Old Crow's wife), thank you too for being a good friend, showing love, understanding, and kindness. I love you for that. Also, Beth. What a sweet loving sister for wanting to come and give me loving moral support. I love you for that. That's what familly and friends are for. Infact, I was pleasantly surprised to receive from many of the brothers and sisters at the kingdom hall, sincere heartfelt sadness for what may seem to some a small loss. Thank you all. Your love and support was a great comfort and help. I love you all for that.

And most of all we love and thank Jehovah, our greatest friend and suppport, because really, as the scripture in Psalms 72:17-19 says "Blessed be Jehovah God, Israel's God who alone is doing wonderful works."

It is so strange coming home to my house now. Kenya would many times greet me when coming into the house. Her joyful, purring cry, as if to say "I'm happy you are home." No longer do I see her sitting on the window sill looking out the picture window in our living room, or sleeping in her favorite chair in the living room or on the bed in the computer room. No more does she come to sit next to us on the piano bench when we would play the piano. She seemed to appreciate music. No other cat we had has ever done that.

Ophilia too feels the loss of her big sister Kenya. After all she and Kenya have been together for at least 11 years. Whenever Kenya would be outside, Ophilia would cry at the side door to tell us, "let Kenya in," and as soon as we did Ophilia would rub up against her with a joyful cry. There were times they would be huddled together on the bed or couch, and at times they would have a spat, like most family members, but never held a grudge.

It was so sad to see Ophilia at the side door Saturday night, sitting, looking at the door crying, as if to say, "where is Kenya, let her in." Sorry Ophilia, Kenya is not coming in anymore.

Kenya's beautiful face and unique personality is etched in my mind, and heart. I won't forget her. I know as we get back into the busy routine of life, my thoughts of her will become less and less - but I willl never forget her. Something will happen that will jolt my memory of her and I will have tears well up, and pain for a moment again. But my love for her will never be for a moment but always.

Thank you for patiently letting me pour out my heart in this blog. It's not meant to depress, but helps me express my love for my Kenya and try to cope with this painful, unavoidable, part of life we all have in common. Everyone handles stress and grief differently. For me, talking and writing about it helps me cope getting the pain out of my heart, and mind. Also it can draw the love and friendship of my family and friends even closer. One dear brother kindly reminded me of the beautiful promise from God found at Isaiah 65:17-19....."the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart." What a wonderful hope Jehovah has provided.

I am hoping to get my original blog planned for October in before this month ends. If not, it will have to wait until November. Until then.....

This is Raven-as the crow flies

October First!

October, a time of beauty, a time when the earth is starting to slowly settle down, inspiring in us a desire to seek it's colorful, comforting, peacful charm. Let October seduce you with its abundant charm. Robert Frost put it so well when he said of October, "Beguile us in the way you know." "Release one leaf at the break of day; At noon release another leaf; one from our trees, one far away." So as this complex spinning world grows more bewildering, drink in deep this "beguiling month" and enjoy its boundless beauty in joyful simplicities of life.

Above all, may we take the time to thank and reflect appreciatively, meditate deeply, on the one who provided this all, our Father and life giver Jehovah God.

As the custom is, Raven's delight is to learn how each month received its name, October will be no different.

October is the tenth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with a length of 31 days. The eighth month in the old Roman calendar, October retained its name (from the Latin "octo" meaning "eight") after July and August, after Julius and Augustus Caesar respectively, when the calendar was originally created by the Romans.

The first frost usually happens in October in the North Temperate Zone. Leaves change to their brilliant colors, and begin to fall, making the ground a beautiful haven of color. The farmers have to finish harvesting of the crops, but winter isn't here yet. The cold won't stay. In fact, we will still have warm days ahead.

Most birds have left for the south by the first frost, but the sparrows love the weather. They are seed eaters, and eat many weed seeds that would otherwise damage the next field crops.

Farmers bring in the last of the fall crops and either store or ship them to other parts of the world. In some parts, apples and grapes are still on the trees and vines. Many apples are harvested at the end of October.

Football usually dominates the scene in October. Hockey also begins it's season in October. And, the World Series will steal some of the spotlight from other sports.

I will include with this blog some cute October poems, that help us visualize this glorious month.

OCTOBER QUOTE

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came;
The ashes, oaks, and maples,
And those of every name.

"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."

Oh suns and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour October's bright blue weather."

Because it is such a beautiful poem, I will print Robert Frosts poem in it's entirety.

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
one from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes' sake,
if the were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost--
For the grapes' sake along the all.

I must end this blog for now! I will return with some delightful fall activities. Your comments are welcomed. Until then....

This is Raven-as the crow flies!

Summer Ends- Fall Begins!

Yes, not only is fall in the air, it is here! Today is the first day of fall. The Autumnal
Equinox occurs Wednesday marking the start of the fall season.

The Autumnal Equinox occurs at 11:09 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. 22. This marks the beginning of fall for the northern hemisphere and the beginning of spring for the southern hemisphere.

The Autumnal Equinox marks the point when the earth is neither leaning toward or away from the the sun. On the equinox, the sun is located directly over the equator and generally equates to equal (equinox) day and nighttime lengths.

Equinox's occur twice each year giving us the fall equinox and the spring equinox.

The next change of season occurs on December 21, 2010 at 6:38 p.m. EST. This is when the Winter Solstice occurs marking the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere.

-

There is a full moon early Thursday morning (5:18 a.m.) and since it is the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox, it is called the "Harvest Moon".

In case you are wondering, we don't move the clocks back one hour until the first Sunday in November. This year that will be 2:00 a.m. November 7th.

-

How does the autumn make you feel?

-

"Autumn begins with a subtle change in the light, with skies a deeper blue, and nights that become suddenly clear and chilled. The season comes full with the first frost, the disappearance of migrant birds, and the harvesting of the season's last crops."- Glenn Wolff and Jerry Dennis

-

In the poem "The Months" by Sara Coleridge, she writes:

"Warm September brings the fruit

Sportsmen then begin to shoot"

-

Yes the fall brings many delights. A time of harvest, when the earth is prime. The harvesting of apples, figs, grapes, pumpkins, nuts and more. A time of beauty nothing can surpass, the vibrant colors of the majestic trees' leaves against a deep blue sky. Sitting with family and friends by a crackling fire on a crisp cool autumn night, sipping some wine, or perhaps hot apple cider, reminiscing of times past and things yet to be.

-

Yes all of this and more is the gift of our loving heavenly father that will never end! "Everything he has made pretty in its time. Even time indefinite he has put in their heart, that mankind may never find out the work that the true God has made from the start to the finish. I have come to know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during one's life, and also that every man should eat and indeed drink and see good for all his hard work. It is the gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13) "For all the days the earth continues, seed sowing and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

-

May we especially be active, and joyful during this fall season, in the great spiritual harvest taking place now. This is the most important work being done today, and we have the privilege of working with the master of the harvest, Jehovah God. This too is the gift of God.

-

There is more to come. Until then, have a happy fall.

-

This is Raven-as the crow flies!

-

Fall Is In The Air

Can you feel it? The way the air was crisp and cool, not hot and humid?Did you see it? Did you notice the color of the leaves on some trees changing? Or perhaps while walking on the street, you stopped to pick up some colorful fallen leaves on the ground.

Then too, you may have gazed with delight at the sight of a large V shaped flock of canadian geese flying overhead, off on it's journey south. Or, another pleasant sight to the eyes is to see a flock of blackbirds flying, sweeping and diving in a synchronized fashion overhead against a gray billowy clouded sky as you are driving along, meditating on the beauty of the earth and it's creator. Then too, you may notice the squirrels working hard now to store their food before winter sets in. These are some of the signs that fall is near.

What about the apples, and grapes ripe for harvesting, these are sure signs that we are nearing fall. Of course, one of the most pleasant sights to confirm we are in the fall season is to see with great joy the abundance of pumpkins all shapes and sizes. A gardening book stated, "If you want to be happy plant a pumpkin, and if you want to be really happy, plant a big one". I couldn't agree more. Everytime I see a pumpkin, any sullen spirits I may have quickly turns into a happy, jubilant cry for joy.

I am sure you may have some other indications that fall is in the air, and so I would be delighted for you to add to this list by your comments. Why not watch and jot down in a journal the varied changes you see taking place during this season. Perhaps save some leaves and press them to retain their beautiful fall color, as a rememberance of the fall. It will quickly come and go. Life is so short when you think of it in terms of seasons. If you are at a certain age lets say 40, or 50, you have seen only 40 or 50 falls. If you live to 80, you will have only seen 80 falls. Life is short when you view it from that perspective. We thank our loving father Jehovah God for his abounding love and his promise of everlasting life to enjoy each season, each day of life for ever and ever. Psalms 133:1-3; 21:4; Titus 1:2.

I began this blog I believe in February of this year, during the winter season; and so I have written about and enjoyed each season. Which season do I enjoy the most? It's hard to say, because each season has its own beauty. This lovely poem I am about to write expresses the delema we may have to choose which season is the happiest in life. What do you think?

"The question, "Which is the happiest season of life?" was asked of an aged man. And he replied:

"When spring comes, and in the soft air the buds are breaking on the trees, and they are covered with blossoms, I think, 'How beautiful is spring'; and when summer comes and covers the trees with its heavy foliage, and singing birds are among the branches, I think, 'How beautiful is summer.' When autumn loads them with golden fruit, and their leaves bear the gorgeous tint of frost, I think, 'How beautiful is autumn.' And when it is severe winter, and there is neither foliage nor fruit, then I look up through the leafless branches as I never could until now, and see the stars shine in God's home."- Source Unknown

"There is no season such delight can bring,As summer, autumn, winter and the spring."- William Browne, Variety, 163

-

You see, some men think that they are not well in spring, or summer, or autumn, or winter, it is only because they are not well in them.

-

Enjoy each season for what it is, and you will be happy.

-

This is Raven-as the crow flies!

September! A New Month Begins

September is one of Raven's favorite months. There are a few reasons why I get excited when the 9th month of our calendar year arrives.

For one thing it is the beginning of a new service year, the time when we increase our activity in the ministry. With renewed zeal and determination we pray for Jehovah's help in fulfilling our assignment; trying hard to make and reach short term goals as well as long term goals, and above all, working together in love and unity with all the brothers and sisters, as that will honor Jehovah, draw others to the truth, and increase our joy. The "joy of Jehovah is our stronghold."-- Nehemiah 8:10.

We have an added reason for joy this month. Another faithful sister has joined the pioneer ranks. Congratulations Janice! May Jehovah bless your self-sacrificing spirit. Looking forward to working with you in the ministry.

In addition to a new pioneer publisher, we are happy, and blessed to have a new baptized brother, Kyle. "It's just the beginning" Kyle. A wide door of activity is now opened to you. What a blessing and asset to the congregation. Congratulations to you, and your parents!

Another reason I enjoy September, it was the month Russell and I were married. It will be 42 years on the 28th.

I remember it as if it was yesterday. The sky was a deep azure blue. Not a cloud in it. A perfect day, not too warm or cold. We were surrounded by so many of our family and friends, sharing in our inextinguishable joy.

To me, he was a perfect wage from Jehovah, a gift for which I will be forever grateful. As expressed in the endearing words of the Shulammite maiden to her shepherd boy, Russell, "my dear one was dazzling and rudy the most conspicuous of ten thousand....His black hair is like the raven....His eyes like doves....His palate is sheer sweetness and everything about him is altogether desirable. This is my dear one, this is my boy companion..." Song of Solomon 5:9-16

Thank you Russ for your love, friendship, spirituality, and support. Happy Anniversary Month!

Being this is the first of September, my delight is to find out how each month got its name.

September is the ninth month of the year, according to the Gregorian calendar, which is used in almost all the world today. It was the seventh month in the old Roman calendar, and its name comes from the Latin septem, meaning seven. September later became the ninth month when the ancient Romans moved the beginning of their year from March 1 to January 1. September has had 29 days, 31 days, and, since the time of the Roman emperor Augustus, 30 days. Unlike the previous 8 months of the year which received their names from pagan God's and Goddesses, the last four months got their names from their original numerical placement in the year.

September is one of the warmest months in the Southern United States. Northern states have warm September days, but the nights get much cooler. It is also harvest time for crops. And, in Switzerland, it's called Harvest Month.

And so dear friends, September is the month when summer slowly comes to an end, soon the fall will settle in. May your September days be fruitful, filled with love, joy and peace.

I will end this blog with a cute "September" poem:

"When the goldenrod is yellow,
And leaves are turning brown -
Reluctantly the summer goes
In a cloud of thistledown.
When squirrels are harvesting
And birds in flight appear

By these autumn signs we know
September days are here."

This is Raven-as the crow flies!

Sourdough Bread And Beach Plum Jelly

How has your summer been so far? Busy? Hectic? Fun? The feeling you want to do so many things and not enough time to do them? That's about how my summer has been so far.

Something I wanted to accomplish for a long time was to make sourdough bread from scratch, without using store bought yeast, making my own "starter" by mixing just flour and water and allow the bacteria that's in the air to ferment the dough. This was how things were done years ago.

The process took time and patience, but seven days later I had a lovely sourdough starter that I was able to make 3 loaves of sourdough bread, and it was not only delicious but very nutritious.

A good sourdough starter can last for years, even decades, with the

proper loving care! Sourdoughs were originally produced by wild yeasts. The starter (or sometimes called a sponge) is a flour and water mixture that contains the yeast used to rise the bread. You can buy dried versions and then activate them or you can make your own, catching the wild yeasts indigenous to your area.

If you would like to try your hand at making sourdough bread you need to start with a sourdough starter. Instructions below:

Things You'll Need

Flour
Water
Time
Bowl
Refrigerator room

Step 1
Mix one cup room temperature water with one cup flour in a bowl. You can use all purpose flour, wheat, rye--anything your heart desires. Loosely cover the bowl with a kitchen towel.

Step 2
Let that mixture sit at room temperature for 24-48 hours. You should see bubbles starting to form.

Step 3
After you have bubbles in your starter, discard half of it and add another cup of water and another cup of flour. Mix this thoroughly, and put the starter in the fridge.

Step 4
Two days after you refrigerate your starter, discard half, and mix in another cup of flour and water each.

Step 5

Two days later, check your starter. It should have risen in the refrigerator. If it has doubled, it's ready to use. If it hasn't risen, give it more time.

Step 6
After your starter has matured, feed it about once a week by discarding half and mixing in a cup of flour and a cup of water. Kept on a regular feeding schedule, your starter will last indefinitely. To keep it replenished, you should feed it after you use a portion of it to make bread (with the cup of water, cup of flour mixture).

The Recipe:

3 1/2 cups rye, kamut, spelt, or whole wheat flour, which ever you prefer

3 cups rye flour
1 quart sourdough starter

3 cups filtered water
1 1/2 Tbsp salt

1. Mix all together, with a heavy duty wooden spoon 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Pour the dough evenly into 3 well greased bread pans.
3. Place the bread pans aside on a counter for at least 7 hours, covered loosely with a dish towel.

4. Once they have risen sufficiently, basically double in size and close to the top of the bread
pan, they are ready to be baked. The longer they stay out the more sour the taste, which I personally like.

5. Bake at 350 F for 1 hour

This simple basic sourdough bread is very tasty and nutritious. Especially toasted with butter and my homemade Beach Plum Jelly.Beach Plum Jelly is the taste of summer.

For the past 3 years we could not find many beach plums, but this year they were abundant.

This elusive, bittersweet, stubbornly hardy fruit is worth the while. Make no mistake: with their piquant zest, their edgy bitterness, like authentic British marmalades, beach plum jellies, jams, syrup, may become an acquired taste for you too. For true aficionados, the ravishing products of the prepared native fruit are addictive.

The beach plum is a low-growing fruiting shrub or small tree native along the sandy dunes of New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts all the way up to Newfoundland. It is most common on Cape Cod where beach plum has become a cottage commercial venture for Beach Plum Jams and Jellies. They bear over a period of about a month in late summer, their fruit ripening at graduated intervals on each individual shrub, so they must be harvested by hand in small batches

After spending about an hour picking these berries on a beautiful summer day at Short Beach, Russell and I managed to collect quite a few berries and preserved enough jelly to last us for a while, well into the late winter, early spring.

We especially enjoy eating our Beach Plum Jelly during the winter months reminiscing summer's activity, and days at the beach. The sun, sand and surf, the wind gently blowing, sea gulls flying and calling out a plaintive cry; the signs of summer slowly nearing it's end as we quickly gather our precious berries, a gift, that helps us reflect back to our creator and the summer past.

Recipe for Beach Plum Jam

2 quarts beach plum

2 1/2 cups water

3 1/2 cups sugar

Pit and cook beach plums in water about 15 minutes

Add sugar and bring to a hearty boil until thickens

Pour into sterilized jelly jars and process in a canner for 10 minutes

I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog on some of my summer activity. Maybe you will be inspired to try and make sourdough bread, and beach plum jelly, it will add another adventure to your life, and you really haven't lived until you try it!

This is Raven-as the crow flies

August First - As The Crow Flies!

July has come to an end, and a new month begins - August.

To me time is speeding up, it's flying by so fast. Still we have the same amount of time, and yet not enough time to get everything done that you would like to. Don't you agree? Of course the most important thing we focus on is spiritual things. That is our priority, and if we continue to put that first in our life, we will have lots of time, " forever", to do all the things we didn't have time to do in this old system of things.

Of course one thing I try hard to make time for is this blog. And it is the first of August, and so as tradition calls for it, Raven delights to blog every first of the month.

The month of August, what do you know about it? I hope this blog will enlighten you to some interesting facts about August.

The word August, is a Latin word meaning; inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic: an august performance of a religious drama

The month of August is named for the Roman Emperor Augustus. ( Before he became Augustus, this Caesar was named Octavian). He completed the calendar reforms begun by his great-uncle and adoptive father Julius Caesar. The Roman Senate, in order to curry favor with the tyrant changed the name of the eighth month. The name was changed from Sextilis which actually meant "sixth month".

The eighth month had been called the sixth month for over centuries, because the Roman Senate had rolled back the beginning of the year to January 1st in 153 B.C. but had not changed the names of the months to conform to their new position in the calendar.

August or Sextilis (at that time) originally had 30 days. Numa, in his reform took a day away and Julius in his reform in 46 B.C. gave a day back. When the Roman Senate designated the month August, they stole a day from February to build up July making June equal to the month of July (the month of Julius). Today it continues to carry 31 days.

It is interesting to note that in one secular reference it said, "eight years before Jesus was born, the name of the month changed from Sextilis to Augustus in honour of the Roman Emperor Augustus Caseasar, because many of the important events in his life happened around that time of year".

So it goes again, naming months after sinful imperfect, men, treating them like gods, honoring them instead of our heavenly Father Jehovah God, the one who made "times and seasons, months and years". (Genesis 1:14; 8:22; Psalms 74:17)

What else about August?

The Anglo-Saxons called August, Weodmonath, which means weed month, because it is the month when weeds and other plants grow most rapidly.

The birds are already planning to fly south for the winter. The insects are noisier and more numerous in August than in any other month.


Summer is about half-way through. We are still in the "dog days of summer", since the conjunction of the sun and the dog star, Sirius, occur throughout August.



This is perhaps the busiest month for businesses, since most people take their vacations in August.

Did you know that Friendship day is celebrated the first Sunday in August ~Sunday August 1st, 2010~ is Friendship day. But for true christians, friendship day is everyday! "A friend is loving all the time.......", Proverbs 17:17

The children will go back to school. Families will take that last weekend get-away before the cold sets in.

And for us, August 27, 28, 29, we will be privileged to attend our District Convention. Jehovah takes such good care of us. Can't wait for this spiritual feast.

I will end this blog with a little weather-lore for August.

The hottest days of the year often fall in August.

"Dry August and warm doth harvest no harm".

"If the first week of August be warm, the winter will be white and long".

For all those who love the snow, lets hope we have a white winter this year!














Our thoughts and prayers are with Old Crow who is recovering from hip-replacement surgery. Get better soon Crow, we miss you and want you crowing with us again!









This is Raven-as the crow flies!