Like A Watered Garden

For those of you that were wondering, no, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I've been on a blogging sabbatical. Gosh I've missed interacting with the sweet friends I've made in blogville over the last several months! I feel like everyone else got to go to a party and I had to stay home and do chores. (think Cinderella here)

So...for those of you that have found your way back to my humble blog, you will notice I have a new name and address. It's the same old blog, same old me, same ramblings and reflections... I've just changed the name and address. (security reasons...and do you know just how hard it is to find a blog name that hasn't already been taken!!!??? Sorry, I digress.)

Have you ever read Isaiah 58:11? (see verse in my header above) It speaks of life and beauty, provision and faithfulness, nurturing and strength. Such a rich picture and a perfect reminder to me that it is God who satisfies, who guides, who gives strength and who causes growth.

My name change has already prompted two people today to ask me if I'm a gardener. Oh mercy me!! If you knew me in real life...you would laugh right along with me. The plants at our local nursery shutter and wilt the minute I darken the doors of the garden center...fearing for their lives, lest I should actually purchase them. Word has gotten around. Yes, it is certain death (or at least severe dehydration) to any herbage unfortunate enough to end up in our yard. I'm not sure which is worse...a slow death from neglect, or to perish under the hoof of the local deer brigade out for midnight snacks. Really now, just because we endure summer temperatures high enough to fry an egg on the front walkway, doesn't give these bright and happy flowers the right to fade, shrivel and collapse within a month or two of their liberation from the garden center. It's not that I'm rationing water or anything...I just don't like the heat any more than the next guy. I tend to overlook the job of watering potted or bedding plants a little more often than I should. So, there you have it. Confession is good for the soul. THAT, my dear blogville friends, is the reason I am drawn to Isaiah 58:11. God is Good. He waters, He supplies, He nurtures...and we grow. I gave my blog this name as a daily reminder that God delights to give us what we need to have abundant life, to grow lush and green, and to be the source of all that is good in our lives.

So, next time we are feeling dried up and parched, weary to the bone, or can't seem to focus on anything else but the weeds, remember... it is God who wishes to make us Like A Watered Garden.

Busy Times...

Just to let you know I'm still alive... but would appreciate your prayers. Life is very hectic here with some "business" deadlines and life in general. My plate is pretty full. I need to focus on the things at hand right now, so blogging will be a little "quiet" on my end. Today I had the priviledge of accompanying a dear friend and her husband to the hospital while she had surgery. She is doing fine and we are praying for a speedy recovery. Once again, God's hand was evident in all the details. He is so faithful!

I will be updating things in blogville as soon as I can come up for air. Hope you all are doing well...I've missed not visiting with you this week.

Friendship, Encouragement & Taking The Next Step

I would like to thank those of you, who through your comments, have been very encouraging to me relating to my photography skills and some of the pictures I have posted. I am honored that you would take notice enough to leave me a kind remark.

I have been drawn to photography since I was a young girl and can spend hours looking through albums and boxes full of pictures. It's like being able to hold a memory in my hand! I receive much joy from capturing life through the lens of a camera, and feel it is an art form to be shared and celebrated. I guess part of my growth and education has been the realization that not everyone shares my view. Not everyone wants their picture taken, or wants the memories that a picture evokes. For some, looking back is an unwelcome and painful reminder. A picture may represent hurtful times, relationships or a suffering self image. I suppose, even though for me these lessons were painfully learned, the concepts are good for any photographer to understand. In light of this negative feedback, I developed a fairly guarded approach in pursuing anything having to do with my love of reflecting on life through photography. It has only been within the past few years that I have begun branching out and am becoming more confident in my skills as a photographer. It is still a struggle for me, with my perfectionistic tendencies, to look at my work and feel certain that I have the skills to bump this effort up to the next level. I don't know if any of you can relate to this process or not, but it has been a major player for me over the past few years.

My husband has been an amazing "cheerleader". He has been encouraging me to branch out and pursue my interest now that the girls are grown and on their own. Our daughters, other family members and friends have joined in as well and given me courage to begin taking steps (however hesitant I may be) towards gaining confidence that I really may, in fact, have a talent in this area. Brad has spent endless hours researching equipment and reviews. I couldn't ask for a better partner (both in life and in business :-). For years I have been shooting for family and friends; capturing baby's births, portraits, engagements, Bridal photos and weddings. I also do contract work for a local wedding photographer.

Now, Brad and I have decided to officially hang out my shingle in a related area. In addition to the free lance work I am currently doing, we are moving into the area of producing vir*tual tours for the Re*al Es*tate industry. We have gathered the equipment and software needed and will be getting this service up to speed shortly. This door was opened when a local photographer, who is relocating out of town, offered to train me and help me get started. So...looks like we are taking the plunge! I certainly have my work cut out for me dealing with new software, equipment, web sites, and general business "start-up". I am planning for this to be a part time opportunity and maybe eventually grow into more of a family business. Our youngest daughter is interested in assisting with this endeavor, however, that is not yet an option with her living out of town. So....new things on the horizon over here!! If God brings me to your mind, please pray with us for wisdom, and God's continued leading. He has opened the door...so I am walking by faith, until at which time He chooses to redirect my steps.

8th Grade Education

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895...

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895? This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, Kansas, USA. It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, KS, and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

8th Grade Final Exam: Salina, KS -1895

Grammar (Time, one hour)

1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.

2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.

3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph

4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of "lie,""play," and "run."

5. Define case; Illustrate each case.

6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.

7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time, 1. 25 hours)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.

2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?

3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1050 lbs. For tare?

4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?

5. Find the cost of 6720 lbs. Coal at $6.00 per ton.

6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.

7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. Long at $20 per meter?

8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.

9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?

10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided.

2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus.

3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.

4. Show the territorial growth of the United States.

5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas.

6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.

7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour) Do we even know what this is??
1. What is meant by the following: Alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?

2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?

3. What are the following, and give examples of each: Trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals

4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)

5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.

6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.

7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.

8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.

9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.

10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?

2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas?

3 Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?

4. Describe the mountains of North America

5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia, Odessa, Denver, Manitoba, Hecla, Yukon, St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco.

6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S

7. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.

8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?

9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.

10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete. Gives the saying "he only had an 8th grade education" a whole new meaning, doesn't it? Also shows you how poor our education system has become... and, NO! I don't have the answers, and I failed the 8th grade test!

I recently received this from my cousin, Irene, via email... Pretty amazing!! (and embarrassing...Ouch!!)

Rockin' Chicks

I hope you all had a great 4th of July Celebration. Erin and Micah came over, and although I refuse to post the sad outcome of our card game (girls against guys), we did indeed enjoy our meal together and visiting. Wish that Meg, Ashley and Casey could have joined us!!!

I haven't been able to visit Blogville much over the past several days as I've been rather busy with processing some recent photo shoots, related topics and family stuff. However, I HAVE been missing my "cyber-friends". :-) I really do need to take moment to post a belated thank-you to Ginger for her vote of confidence and bloggityville friendship. She recently awarded me a "Rocking Chick" award and posted a link to my site. Thanks for thinking of me Ginger!! I too have really enjoyed the many new friendships I am making through blogging...kind of like "cyber pen-pals"!

Since you all know I can't do anything without posting pictures...I decided to give you proof that, yes...Ginger IS indeed CORRECT... I am truly a "rocking chick". (Remember I hit the half century mark this year...so I am an OLD ROCKING CHICK)

Actually, Ginger and I are both old lady rockin' chicks.... here we are during our last visit at the Sr Rockin Chicks Meeting: (Ginger was pointing out to me that she liked my new pair of orthopedic shoes...they are stylin')

As a matter of fact...I have been a "ROCKIN' CHICK" for quite some time...Here I am in my younger years...

See, my status as a "Rockin' Chick" goes waaaaay back.... Here I am as just a young thing... just a rockin' and reading. Of course, this was back before Blogville...so I had to do my readin' the old fashioned way. "And that's the truth!"

And, those of you that know me "in real life"...yes, I do love to sit on the porch and do a little "rockin'" from time to time. Nothing like a little fresh air to lift the spirits. And...I could even be classified as a "fashionable rockin' chick"... (Ginger, you left that part out) Check out my fancy hat!!

And, last...but not least... I want you to know...I have raised our daughters correctly. I have brought them up to be "Rockin' Chicks" as well... spending hours of training by example from the time they could sit at my knee. (or on my knee...whatever the case may be) So...to all you young mothers out there in Blogville... if you want to teach your daughters to be cool rockin' chicks (like Ginger and I) then take my advice... They are never too young to train. You Go Girls...Rockin' Chicks Unite! :-)

Now, to prove that this training from an early age really did take root in at least one of our offspring... I would like to share with you the link for our eldest daughter's new blog: Simply Homemaking!! TA DA!! Stop by and visit Erin and leave her a sweet comment. If the truth be known (and it must be since my name is CANDID Reflections) Erin was the one that got me started in Blogville almost one year ago. I wouldn't be having all this fun if it weren't for her encouragement and tech savvy ways. Ok, so she gets credit for the Blogville part...but, I get credit for the Rockin' Chick training. (you know...we Mom's have to grab credit whenever we can-right? ;-) Now if I could only get our other two rockin' chicks to join us in Blogville once in awhile. Ohhhhhhh wellllllllll.

Thanks for asking....

Happy Anniversary Honey!!

31 Years ago Brad and I went on our first date...

31 years of friendship, 28 1/2 years of marriage, three daughters and two son-in-loves later and we are still going on dates...

and still in love.

Thanks for asking me out Brad! Love you!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!