365 Days in Michigan City, IN

It's Springing!

2009-03-21T14:15:00.003-05:00

Hubby was surprised as he walked the 4 acres with Roxie. He found a zillion little flowers this year, peaking up through the ground. They almost look "hesitant" but they're just shy little heralds. Which I could keep them all!

Snow today . . . Gone tomorrow?

2009-02-05T15:58:00.003-06:00

We really got a load of snow yesterday . . . You can hardly see where my front steps should be.

The weatherman SAYS it'll hit 50 tomorrow. Will that mean Indiana will have its first mudslides? Should make for interesting AFTER shots.

God sure has a sense of humor. Seems to be saying "Look what I can do ... and tomorrow, I'll take it all away!" AMAZING! Wow, talk about some drifting . . . And to think I slept through this wind?
My beautiful old evergreens, heavy with snow . . . Poor ole girls!

Those are flowering shrubs under the three windows . . . They'll be fine!

Roxie didn't seem to mind. It wasn't really COLD.

Look how perfectly the snow fell on my car!

UGH - NO shovelling for me . . .

Yep - The insulation is working!

Always in our tail when taking photos!

And to think I can' t find my boots....

Why God Allows Pain

2008-11-09T12:23:00.010-06:00

This is one of the best explanations of why God
allows pain and suffering that I have seen. . .

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut a nd his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said, 'I don't believe that God exists.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer.
'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.'
Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.' The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber, 'You know what? Barbers do not exist.' 'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!' 'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'

'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'
'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'

BE BLESSED AND BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

I just don't understand . . .

2008-10-19T12:06:00.010-05:00

While I understand the of issues in this campaign, what I can't understand is how ANYONE,

has been able to raise $150,000,000.00 for his campaign during September alone.

People are loosing their houses, gas tanks haven't had their belly full for months and months due to high gas prices, people have lost jobs, the country is in economic crisis ...

AND YET ...

DESPITE THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY ...

Barack Obama raises $150,000,000.00 in a month - an excessive and historic amount.

HOW COULD DONATIONS HAVE LEGITIMATELY BEEN MADE WITH THE COUNTRY IN THIS CRISIS?

People have no money, spending is tight, businesses are closing, bills are unpaid, people are angry, and YET,

Barack Obama managed in one month to raise that whopping amount of $150,000,000.00!

McCain pledged to accept public funding in a general election, provided the Democratic nominee does the same. Barack agreed, but hasn't kept his word. Should McCain have said yes, then no?

Obama told "Joe the Plumber" that it was best to "spread the wealth around."

I guess he's staying true to THAT word as he "spreads the wealth" to his own gain.

. . . . . . . . . .

Maybe people should have paid their mortgages first, and filled up their gas tanks and their cupboards instead of making contributions. Maybe not so many wallets would be so tight.

. . . . . . . . . . .

I guess "political expediency" forgives a multitude of sins ... in his mind. Just think of how many people could be helped with this huge sum.

Autumn Leaves . . .

2008-10-12T13:02:00.023-05:00

This is the view I see when
I stand in the front yard of my
house on the outskirts
of LaPorte County, Northern Indiana ....
Some gold .....

. . . and the BIG Burning Bush that is taller than my garage
roof is beginning a slow burn . . .

Here's one
of the two
big pines we
have in the front,
the ones I call
"sisters".

And here, a jogger
was nice enough to hustle by so
you have a good perspective
of the tree's size.

Its nice to live where there are
visible changes in the season.
It gets you "in the mood" to do things . . .
for all the "necessary changes"
. . . like making wonderful apple scented melting tarts, and cinnamon bun tarts . . .
The necessary closet changes
as seasonal clothing is put away,
and warm clothes are aired out and
put in place for days when
layering is necessary, but a coat isn't needed.

And its good to sleep with the window
open just a crack, getting in cold air,
so snuggling is fun!

++++++

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

For everything there is a season, and time for every purpose under heaven . . .

Lonely Chairs at Beachwalk . . .

2008-10-10T23:01:00.010-05:00

For some reason,

as I cruise through Beachwalk,

I notice that front porch chairs

are a recurring theme on all

of them . . .

And the chairs are all empty.

Didn't find one home

with people sitting

on their porches.

Maybe sitting on porches

is a lost art.

Maybe people prefer not actually looking

at each other as they talk . . .

sometimes incessantly,

at least on their cells.

Or probably, people have forgotten how to relax

and enjoy having nothing to do.

It seems I never have time to relax.

I don't know what to do with myself

when there's "nothing" to do.

There's always "something' that needs

to be done. ALWAYS! Work, work, work . . .

These chairs, if they could talk,

what would they say?

Maybe they'd say "I was hoping

for company. "

Sad, isn't it?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 10:30-33

A Drive Through "Beach Walk"

2008-10-08T08:48:00.019-05:00

Running parallel to part of Lake Michigan's lake front is

the infamous Lake Shore Drive.

Al Capone actually owned a house here in early years ... way down the drive.

Rumors are that there was an underground tunnel that led

straight to the highway, which made escaping the law a cinch.

And the garden's grounds were pistol shaped!

But today . . .

If you take a right, you can drive through a gated community

into a summer Disney Land atmosphere . . .

Now mind you, not just anyone can live here.

It's for the rich and semi-famous.

(They're who are a legend on their own dime.)

The community is basically for
"Chicago people . . ."

So let's take a right, and see what's in there!

~~~~ ****~~~~

There are narrow little streets with sand sliding off the sloped banks,

and lots of beach grass.

Lawns are never mowed - after all - this is a Get Away spot.

Its ALL beach grass anyway, so its perfectly acceptable,

to let your lawn go au naturale!

Its all "eye candy" in here . . .

Made to look like Cape Cod?

Don't you think that's odd?

All with a cute white fence . . .

Must have cost a pence!

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Houses that are small . . .

There are houses that are tall . . .

Houses that are blue . . .

All are quaint and new.

Houses that are pink . . .

No one will raise a stink!

Even a shade of rose . . . that's how the story goes . . .

Yes, every house is a little different than the next.

All have slightly different architecture,

all lined up side by side,

and I'm sure they all live happily ever after.

+ + + + + +

There are about 100 houses in this little

community of rich folk.

Tomorrow, we'll look further!

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

2008-10-04T21:08:00.010-05:00

Here's a quick bird's eye view of a couple of MY focal points.

Starting (left to right):

When I think of Michigan City, I think of Lake Michigan. When I was living in W. La Fayette, I missed not being able to drive past the lake. It has its own smell ... not a bad smell, but a unique one. I could probably be anywhere in the world, and pick out this scent. In the winter, its all iced over. The lake's waves freeze in motion - just gorgeous ice formations that only moving water can make.
The second photo is the harbor. We have a tremendous Chicago influx once May 1 passes. We're their summer dwelling place, just an hour away and a straight shot on I-94. They're coming here for the low real estate next to the lake where they can do their boating on our beautiful lake. So, this is the harbor where they dock! Of course, some locals use the harbor too!
The old band shell was the site of many band concerts at Washington Park in its early years. Washington Park is actually part of the whole lakefront and was really a tourist attraction in former years. Even tho there's little left that resembles its former years, some structures do remain, and the band shell is one of them. Loren and I were married there and it was a gorgeous setting! Later, we'll explore more of the wedding there and the park and zoo!
This is my church, St. Paul Lutheran. I went to Vacation Bible School here, my children attended parochial school here, and my daughter was married here. Its a beautiful, old fashioned church in every sense of the word.
We have the only Indiana lighthouse on all of Lake Michigan. It has a wonderful fog horn and the US Coast Guard station is all right there on the same front. I'm sure that horn has saved many lives. The US Coast Guard is very busy during our summer with all the alcohol and boating. Unfortunately, they not only do Homeland Security and also police the lakefront, but they are also responsible for responding to drownings that are almost inevitable in a living body of water as huge as this lake.
Next, my beautiful daughter, Natalie, and her lab in the camo vest
... and lastly is my daughter and son, Kris, and the little boy is my grandson, also named Kristoffer. The little girl is a stepsister.

So that's it for today. Now you have a "feel" for the northern Midwest, as I know it!

Mark 5:13 (Whole Chapter) So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

What? ... a commercial already?

2008-10-02T23:00:00.002-05:00

My husband is a sneak! He loves to catch me unaware. His day is made when he can sneak up on me ... and he claims its the "indian" in him. Do you know how frustrating this is?There was a well-known American Indian tribe by our last name, but he's a stubborn German, through and through.

Last week, I did my usual thing and went to a half price day. When I go to the Goodwill a town over, I make a point of never wearing makeup and just "go as I am".

Why? Easy! No one knows the difference!

No one expects anything of me, and its fun. I don't run into people I know, and I can just be "Lauren: Plain and Simple!" Yeah!

So here's a bit of a word from my "sponsor". This is my place of release! Here's where I shop and have nearly guilt-free spending ... to some degree. Does it look like your Goodwill? Are they the same all over?

So here I was being caught unaware ... thanks to the Sneak of Sneaks!

Luckily my head was down ... not that it would matter. See the stylish couture?

And the basket! Good grief - notice the basket! Its not overflowing! Oh, wait - I know why:

He was with. When I go by myself, I bring a lot more out ... then just kind of assemble it in the house.

One thing that amazes me is that men not only have selective hearing, but selective vision. I can ask him if he's seen the something that's been sitting in the same spot for months, and then when I tell him that I've sold it, he can have a completely blank look and tell me he's never seen it before, and where did I get that?? He such a ... a ... a ... MAN!

I'll get back to the subject of this blog, which is actually to show you around Michigan City, but because he thought he was being so sly, here ya go ... and that's the end of the commercial.

~~*****~~

Proverbs 11:27

He who seeks good finds goodwill (God's favor), but God's curse come to those who seach for evil.
YES!!!

Starting off ... Fruits of the Season & Spirit: Day 1

2008-10-02T15:35:00.001-05:00

Nature is telling me that the seasons are changing. The summer was long - but short. Not too many days of 90+ temperatures, but too many over 80 for my Danish constitution.

Temperatures of 75 and below are my cup of tea. I weather the cold with no problem.

I don't like having to be closed up in the house, and find myself hibernating in the summer, so for me, the weather change brings a sense of freedom to get outside without feeling "faintish".

As I was outside today, I saw some "fruits of this season" and decided to share them with you ... just little tell-tale signs of how things are in Northern Indiana.

This is my Burning Bush, producing little red berries ... and you can see that its normal green foliage is beginning to turn red. I'll take a full photo of this bush tomorrow. It must love the soil because its really gotten huge!

Next, in my yard, I find these curious hard apple-like fruits. I have never known the name of this bush. Its older, and has only grown to about 4 feet tall, and has a spread of about 8 feet. As you can see, its lost most of its leaves already.

I've never opened on of the "apples", so maybe we'll see what's inside of them tomorrow!

The bush has some thorns, so many there's a rose inside!

These bushes will drop their apples and then they'll just disappear. We never have any detectable off-spring, so who knows? Maybe the deer are coming in at night and sneeking away with them.

We have a field that we've let go natural for the past two years. It separates the neighbors from us, and it takes about 2 hours to mow on a riding mower, so with gas being high, we just decided to save our time and money.

The neighbor wasn't happy . . . He says we have "tumble weeds" that get in his pool . . .

I keep telling him "We're in INDIANA! We don't HAVE tumbleweeds!"

But in this pretty field, these little flowers are still blooming. These little girls just aren't ready to give in to the season yet, and the bees were taking complete advantage of them! Aren't they pretty? I bravely picked a bunch and brought them in to dry. I'm just curious if they'll stay white . . .

I don't know their name either, but I love wild flowers. Luckily, the bees were willing to share with me.

In the front of our house, we have the "Two Sisters" - or so I call them. They're two HUGE pine trees, of some sort, and they're just ladened and burdened with their long pine cones.

These two trees have got to be about 40 years old or more. I'll take a full shot of it tomorrow, if I remember, and you'll see what majestic trees these are.

I'd be just sick if lighting hit them.

So far so good. The Lord must be protecting them, and maybe they're acting as a lightening rod for our house.

When they were smaller, they were great for decorating, but now, you'd need a mechanical lift to put the star on top!

They're a real focal point of our property and probably spread 25 feet or more.

Wish I could think of something to do with this wealth of pine cones! Funny, but I never see baby pine trees growing ... There must be several hundred cones, but never a baby pine.

Sounds like a very sad story, doesn't it?

Well, if they're not going to have children, at least the girls have each other ... their long arms intertwining ... and finding strength in each! Makes me wish I had a sister to rely on. But, all things considered, I do have a lot of "sisters" that I share my joys and woes with.

Every woman needs other women to share personal things with. Croning is a good thing.

~~***~~

Galatians 5:22:
22But the fruit of the Holy Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
23Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence).