Jeff the Plumber...another real American story!

Okay, I know I said I was taking a break. But the break is being interrupted for this Political Reality Show. Once again my friend TruthSeeker has shared a true story, that explains Joe the Plumper Economics. Make sure you go down to Part 1.

Also check out his Ten Years After post if you missed it. This is his personal true story of what was going on in the banking business, and how all those bad mortgage's got through!

What did you do....quit blogging?

This was a recent comment on my last post...which was awhile ago, by my buddy Strider.

Friends in blogland, I am sorry. I think I just need to take an official blog break till after the elections. Sorry to those of you that stop by looking for a post. I am seriously addicted to the news these days. I normally do not watch this much TV.

My other excuse is, and I am somewhat ashamed to admit this. I have started a facebook page, and it is getting out of control. I originally signed up so I could view Martha Stewart's facebook...ha another confession. Then gradually with out my really paying attention...(I actually hate all the silly hoopla on facebook) But first one friend and then another, then soon my church family was all on facebook. Now every teenager and college student I know has added me, and well everytime I look at my email, there are a billion things going on that need my attention in that ridiculous application. :>

So there ya have it! True confessions. Look for me to be back in a consistent form definitely after the elections...only 15 more days. Then the tube will be off and I can regain a normal life.

I will leave you with a few Puddin Toe updates...

P.T. after a walk with Nana...she fell asleep and I had to take this picture ;)

P.T is now a walking girl. Her first pumpkin patch outing!

The Battle Cry

We are living in what seems perilous times. The news can seem quite frightening, as it comes at us night after night into our homes by way of the nightly news. I must admit I am quite addicted to watching it lately. It seems so much is a stake. So I have been asking God how am I suppose to respond to all this????


This is how He has answered me. Now is NOT the time to be focused on the impending doom, and all the destruction we keep hearing about. Instead it is time to keep our focus on what is eternal, what is good, and most of all what is God's Battle Plan. I was reminded this week of King Jehoshaphat, when the nation of Israel was facing certain destruction. Jehoshaphat went before God, and this is what He told Him in 2 Chron. 20:15...do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude. For the battle is not your, but Gods.

So what did Jehoshaphat do? He gathered his people and instead of taking up arms and fighting the enemy, he sent out the singers, the dancers, the musicians, and the people began to praise God and to declare His goodness and mercy

2Ch 20:22 "As soon as they started shouting and praising, GOD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead."
How cool it that...? I love this kind of battle strategy.

In Psalms 149 we see further evidence that Praise is indeed a weapon!

Praise Jehovah! Sing to Jehovah a new song, His praise in the congregation of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; let the sons of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His name in the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
For Jehovah takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation.
Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to carry out vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples,
to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with iron-bands,
to carry out on them the judgment written; this is an honor for all His saints. Praise Jehovah!

I know that this sounds so strange and completely the opposite of what we think we should be doing during such serious times, but in all these years I have been serving God I have figured out a thing or two and one of those things is that God's ways and my ways are not usually the same. So I am trying here to see things His way =]

I believe as we declare the goodness of God, and praise Him, especially when what we see in the natural looks so ominous, that it does indeed confound the enemy. He gets confused and starts to loose much ground. This Psalm even indicates that our praises bind the enemy and put him in chains... So that is my Battle Cry...The High Praises of God in my mouth!!!!

Woman Who Wine/Whine

Well come along with me for my second outing with a group of ladies who have gathered together once a month to explore our wonderful and vast wine region in south eastern Washington State. We have dubbed ourselves "Women Who Wine/Whine ."

The Columbia Vally region lies along the same latitude as the great Burgundy and Bordeaux regions of France--with rich volcanic soil, and perfect temperature for growing the best wine grapes. In about a 60 mile radius from my front door we have over 80 wineries to choose from.

We gathered at a parking lot today and we're whisked away to an unknown destination by our fearless leader Kay Syrah. She has the unique opportunity of meeting many folks in the local wine industry when she is working for Tapteil Winery in their tasting room. Today we gave her another nickname "The Connector" It turns out she has arranged a meeting/tour with a fairly new winery in town. So new I can't even find it on the maps. A large California winery Pacific Rim decided to move a major part of their wine production facilities up to this region to buy, grow and bottle our local grapes. Read their story to find out why, something about our wonderful terra.

Scott Kopf the Lab Manager/Enologist teaches us about his job. He takes us right into his laboratory, hands us some glasses and proceeds to take us around the warehouse tasting little sips of great vats of wine in progress.

Each one of the yellow bottles represents a batch of wine, that is in the making. Everyday Scot keeps a close watch on the wine. I loved this part of the tour! This is a job for some reason I think I would find fascinating.

We tried a Riesling, Chien Blanc, and a wonderful Raspberry Port. The port was just a little experiment they were trying out. One of the great advantages of visiting these local wineries I am finding out is that many of the designer wines never hit the major markets. They can only be purchased directly from the winery. We have his name and he has ours, and when they go to bottle that heavenly stuff, we are on the call list for one of the first cases off the production line. Fun way to start our morning.
We then head off to Processor for some shopping. We visited a local sweet shop called Chukar Cherries. They had everything you could think of to do with cherries and chocolate, and then some. I tasted a cherry chutney, and cherry salsa that were unique and special.
We headed across the street for a stop at Bonnie's Vine and Gift Shop and a tasting. We have tasting rooms around here, like Seattle has coffee shops...they are everywhere. Today we were after some of the unique and lesser known wineries. So out we headed to find a a small winery called Pontin Del Roza

I was hoping to taste some robust Italian style wines here. To be honest I can't say that this was my favorite...matter of fact I ended up purchasing a courtesy bottle of White Riesling. The reds were disappointing to me. Just trying to keep it real.

Can you believe we are only half way through our day. Stay tuned for Part II

Burrrr....

I must admit fall is finally in the air here. I have the fireplace guy scheduled to do our yearly check and start our pilot light this week. Hopeful I can figure out how to do this myself next time =/ I hope tomorrow on my outing I will enjoy a bit of the fall air. Look for a post later this week that will be highlighting my trip. Some of you may have figured it out by my sidebar. I noticed we have had a few visitors.

Indian Summer

These guys are buddies!

I was just over at Vee's place and the whole blog world seems to be taken up with fall. Well...yeah I guess it is technically fall. I am having a crazy time though trying to convince myself of that here when our weather is just so darn spectacular right now. Just in recent days a tinge of a hint of color is hitting some early turning foliage. We are really right in the middle of the most awesome Indian summer. It’s supposed to hit the 90's tomorrow! We are mostly in the high 70's during the day and 50's at night.

I can't resist being outside as much as possible. The parks are really drawing me, and well tomorrow I am going to just play in my garden and pretend it is still summer.

Here are some pictures I took last Friday when I convinced Papa to come play hooky with Puddin Toes and I in the park.

He makes a face

She makes a face

Quite the cute little game they had going on here

and if you notice the background foliage...not looking much like fall yet