Readers, Welcome to my blog (formerly Birds, Blooms, Books, etc). I'm entering a new decade taking on the challenge of moving from Maryland after living there 46 years and learning about my new home here in New England in the Live Free or Die state - New Hampshire. Join me as a write this new chapter of my life.

Monday, April 1, 2024

Squirrel Problem




The Presbyterian church called a meeting to decide what to do about their squirrel infestation. After much prayer and consideration, they concluded that the squirrels were predestined to be there, and they should not interfere with God’s divine will.

At the Baptist church, the squirrels had taken an interest in the baptistry. The deacons met and decided to put a water-slide on the baptistry and let the squirrels drown themselves. The squirrels liked the slide and, unfortunately, knew instinctively how to swim, so twice as many squirrels showed up the following week.

The Lutheran church decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God’s creatures. So, they humanely trapped their squirrels and set them free near the Baptist church. Two weeks later, the squirrels were back when the Baptists took down the water-slide.

The Episcopalians tried a much more unique path by setting out pans of whiskey around their church in an effort to kill the squirrels with alcohol poisoning. They sadly learned how much damage a band of drunk squirrels can do.

But the Catholic church came up with a more creative strategy! They baptized all the squirrels and made them members of the church. Now they only see them at Christmas and Easter.

Not much was heard from the Jewish synagogue. They took the first squirrel and circumcised him. They haven’t seen a squirrel since.

-Anonymous

Thanks, Marilyn for sending this to me.

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Fifty Years Ago. ...

 ... Dan and I were planning our wedding.

He had the rings after we spotted them in a jewelry store in Washington, DC near where my HUD internship had taken me to work on an assignment at OMB.

I had purchased my wedding dress, a shirtwaist in blue, when I was on an assignment to the HUD office in Atlanta early in 1974.

We planned to go to a Justice of the Peace to get married because we didn't see the necessity of spending oodles of money on a big wedding.

On this day 50 years ago, I perched on a step stool in the kitchen while Mom made dinner and posed the question: "How would you feel about Dan and I getting married by a Justice of the Peace?" 

Well, Mom didn't take it so well. The next night, Wednesday, Dan and I and Mom and Dad met for dinner at a restaurant to talk about it.  We settled on an immediate family only church wedding with Dad performing the ceremony.  When Dad asked the question "When do you want to do this?" Dan replied "Saturday." Dad's jaw dropped.

But we pulled it off.  Dad got his license to perform the ceremony just before we got our wedding license at the Fairfax County Courthouse. Dad arranged for us to use the Fairfax Presbyterian Church where they were members, Mom made a reservation at Evans Farm Inn for a dinner afterward.  She bought a cake at the local Giant food store. 

We told all that were invited and only one of my brothers couldn't come from Pittsburgh. My other brother flew down from Boston without his spouse.  My older sister was local and she, her husband and her first daughter, 3 months old attended. My two younger sisters were still living at home. Dan's parents were divorced so his dad came to the ceremony and his mom to the dinner. His three younger brothers attended.

Saturday evening, March 30, 1974 we were married.

In keeping with our frugality we didn't take a honeymoon until 1983 when Emily was 2.  We went to the St. Thomas, Virgin Islands for a week and Emily went to her cousin's home for that week.

On March 30th this year to celebrate, we will go to a play and dinner out.  Later this summer we will travel to Switzerland for two weeks and Emily and family will join us.


50 years ago. Age 23!


Now.

It's been a wonderful 50 years.

Monday, March 25, 2024

Have You Seen This?

 It makes a great point.


Click HERE to read the CNN article and click on the ad.