I read this story with fresh eyes last night. I have a very dear friend who has a very troubled life. She stayed with me last week. In the end I had to take her home. For many reasons. I found that in projecting her world view onto me and my Husband we were in a very difficult situation.
I wanted to read how Sarah behaved with Hagar. Pretty badly realy, but all understandable. Hagar was given to Abraham as a surrogate mother for Sarah’s children. Sarah was so distraught at not having children she ways prepared to compromise the sanctity of her marriage to ask Abraham to father a child with her slave. There are lots of issuess here!
Then as Hagars status had changed, even though was used by both Sarah and Abraham, yet still a slave in their household Hagars resentment at her situation manifested itself towards Sarah. The plot thickens here. Abraham tells Sarah eventually to do what she wants with Hagar. It is all very sad, fraught and a definately can of worms. This is why I like the Holy Bible, it shows us how we get things so very wrong, and when God comes along and has a chat with us, He reveals what all the problems are, and then provides the means to sort out our problems. If we actually want to.
There is an expression ‘Mother’s and other ranks’. I can quite see that Hagar tormented Sarah about her childlessness. I have experienced this from almost every mother who simply can’t understand why I don’t have children. Also why I don’t have this experience of womanhood. The Lord took away my grief. I left my anguish with Him. This saved our marriage. We are dog sitters now! This is probably why we have such interesting dogs! Anyway this muddypaws is quite a handful. She has a keen political mind, and a lot of health issues to keep us worried. She has a pretty vicious streak to other dogs of lesser ranks, and a general attitude problem to being given too much fuss.
Her hearing has improved, although it is obviously selective. The baby blue tits are getting on her nerves and she is barking at them to be quiet and not attract the magpie and crow. These two are having skirmishes over the bird table. My reasoning is that if I fill them up on bread, they won’t be interested in the baby blue tits when they fledge.
I was also interested to review the story of Lot. How even when the very presence of God dragged him and his family out of his house and Sodom he didn’t want to go. He was living in a place God wanted to destroy, however, even though Abraham was pretty flawed. In human terms, God Still listened to his intercession for Lot and his family. God put in Abraham’s heart and gave Him the courage to question God, so God could reveal His nature, and that He wants us to be catalysts for the best outcome in a bad situation. It’s what Redemption is about.
I have been visiting some wonderful memories of my Grandparents. I was remembering the words of my Mothers Father. He taught me to play draughts and when we just got to stalemates in draughts, he started teaching me Chess. He told me of being a POW. I remember him telling me about how to get rid of the lice and ticks in clothing. Obviously clothing other people had worn before they died. He told me that the biters hid in the seams of the clothing, and that he took a lighted match and ran it through the seams. That you could actually hear the crawlies popping as they got burned. I suppose I am thinking of this because the carpets made me itchy.
Anyway I am not going to singe my carpets. Although I might just do it to the bag, just for the sake of my Grandfathers memory and survival. I am deliberating on giving the rose carpet an Ammonia shampoo. I might use the dogs shampoo, because it foams up nicely in a squeeze bottle. I put some essential oils in with her shampoo to help keep the ticks off her. Anyway, if I do this and put a teaspoon of Ammonia in with the mix and foam it, I can brush it into the rose carpet, which might brighten the colours up a bit. Then when it’s dry I can vacuum it and put it in the freezer. The Ammonia ought to kill some more mites as well. There are two other bits of carpet with pile, so they can have the same treatment.
This is rather becoming an exorcism of age, neglect, and general wear and tear. I still don’t know if we are going to keep the carpets. The rose carpet has definately softened up a bit. I am wondering if it will have any fur left on it if I carry on with this plan. Anyway it’s moth eaten anyway. The colours on the back of the rose carpet are lovely where they haven’t faded, I am just thinking of a way to brighten up the good side, Otherwise I might be tempted to just use it wrong side up.
Anyway the sourdough starter is coming on. I made a first loaf with it yesterday which is not bad without any extra yeast. I cheated this morning and fed them with some date syrup and coconut flower nectar and some spelt flower, and some French flour that already has yeast in it. I also mixed in another sachet of yeast into the bread I made this morning. The sourdough starters haven’t matured enough yet to get fluffy bread, so it needs some help in the bread. I put three medjool dates in with this loaf for a change. These are from Israel. It’s all fermenting and proving at the moment. It’s been through the dough cycle in the bread maker, and then got a bashing about with extra spelt flour, the French flour, some olive oil salt and herbs and spices. I kept the seeds from the French flour to put on top of the bread when I bake it. I like experimenting. I am using organic Apple cider Vinegar as an acidity regulator. Sourdough can actually get too sour. I suppose this bit ought to be on the cookery page. Anyway the birds are tucking into the first loaf on the bird table. I played Pétanque yesterday and got out of the house. I was exhausted after five games. I need to get a bit fitter.
Church today. I am loving being back at Church. It is wonderful to hear the Word Of God, And inspired preaching. I am starting to sing a bit. This is another spiritual hurdle to clamber over. I wasn’t allowed to sing as a child, and my Husband doesn’t like me singing. Everyone says I am out of tune.that doesn’t like me singing. It’s just that I don’t always sing the tune.
Have a very blessed day of rest today. Meet with friends, if you haven’t got any try talking to strangers. I had a lovely chat to someone who came and sat on the bench I was flaked out on. He says he only goes to town on a Saturday. He is a Pétanque player too and was watching the Ladies tournament I played in. I was just happy to be out playing. I definately need to play women more. It’s very different without totesterone fuelled competition! We are a lot more focussed and clinical tactically. The men make a lot of mistakes trying to beat women players!
I wanted to read how Sarah behaved with Hagar. Pretty badly realy, but all understandable. Hagar was given to Abraham as a surrogate mother for Sarah’s children. Sarah was so distraught at not having children she ways prepared to compromise the sanctity of her marriage to ask Abraham to father a child with her slave. There are lots of issuess here!
Then as Hagars status had changed, even though was used by both Sarah and Abraham, yet still a slave in their household Hagars resentment at her situation manifested itself towards Sarah. The plot thickens here. Abraham tells Sarah eventually to do what she wants with Hagar. It is all very sad, fraught and a definately can of worms. This is why I like the Holy Bible, it shows us how we get things so very wrong, and when God comes along and has a chat with us, He reveals what all the problems are, and then provides the means to sort out our problems. If we actually want to.
There is an expression ‘Mother’s and other ranks’. I can quite see that Hagar tormented Sarah about her childlessness. I have experienced this from almost every mother who simply can’t understand why I don’t have children. Also why I don’t have this experience of womanhood. The Lord took away my grief. I left my anguish with Him. This saved our marriage. We are dog sitters now! This is probably why we have such interesting dogs! Anyway this muddypaws is quite a handful. She has a keen political mind, and a lot of health issues to keep us worried. She has a pretty vicious streak to other dogs of lesser ranks, and a general attitude problem to being given too much fuss.
Her hearing has improved, although it is obviously selective. The baby blue tits are getting on her nerves and she is barking at them to be quiet and not attract the magpie and crow. These two are having skirmishes over the bird table. My reasoning is that if I fill them up on bread, they won’t be interested in the baby blue tits when they fledge.
I was also interested to review the story of Lot. How even when the very presence of God dragged him and his family out of his house and Sodom he didn’t want to go. He was living in a place God wanted to destroy, however, even though Abraham was pretty flawed. In human terms, God Still listened to his intercession for Lot and his family. God put in Abraham’s heart and gave Him the courage to question God, so God could reveal His nature, and that He wants us to be catalysts for the best outcome in a bad situation. It’s what Redemption is about.
I have been visiting some wonderful memories of my Grandparents. I was remembering the words of my Mothers Father. He taught me to play draughts and when we just got to stalemates in draughts, he started teaching me Chess. He told me of being a POW. I remember him telling me about how to get rid of the lice and ticks in clothing. Obviously clothing other people had worn before they died. He told me that the biters hid in the seams of the clothing, and that he took a lighted match and ran it through the seams. That you could actually hear the crawlies popping as they got burned. I suppose I am thinking of this because the carpets made me itchy.
Anyway I am not going to singe my carpets. Although I might just do it to the bag, just for the sake of my Grandfathers memory and survival. I am deliberating on giving the rose carpet an Ammonia shampoo. I might use the dogs shampoo, because it foams up nicely in a squeeze bottle. I put some essential oils in with her shampoo to help keep the ticks off her. Anyway, if I do this and put a teaspoon of Ammonia in with the mix and foam it, I can brush it into the rose carpet, which might brighten the colours up a bit. Then when it’s dry I can vacuum it and put it in the freezer. The Ammonia ought to kill some more mites as well. There are two other bits of carpet with pile, so they can have the same treatment.
This is rather becoming an exorcism of age, neglect, and general wear and tear. I still don’t know if we are going to keep the carpets. The rose carpet has definately softened up a bit. I am wondering if it will have any fur left on it if I carry on with this plan. Anyway it’s moth eaten anyway. The colours on the back of the rose carpet are lovely where they haven’t faded, I am just thinking of a way to brighten up the good side, Otherwise I might be tempted to just use it wrong side up.
Anyway the sourdough starter is coming on. I made a first loaf with it yesterday which is not bad without any extra yeast. I cheated this morning and fed them with some date syrup and coconut flower nectar and some spelt flower, and some French flour that already has yeast in it. I also mixed in another sachet of yeast into the bread I made this morning. The sourdough starters haven’t matured enough yet to get fluffy bread, so it needs some help in the bread. I put three medjool dates in with this loaf for a change. These are from Israel. It’s all fermenting and proving at the moment. It’s been through the dough cycle in the bread maker, and then got a bashing about with extra spelt flour, the French flour, some olive oil salt and herbs and spices. I kept the seeds from the French flour to put on top of the bread when I bake it. I like experimenting. I am using organic Apple cider Vinegar as an acidity regulator. Sourdough can actually get too sour. I suppose this bit ought to be on the cookery page. Anyway the birds are tucking into the first loaf on the bird table. I played Pétanque yesterday and got out of the house. I was exhausted after five games. I need to get a bit fitter.
Church today. I am loving being back at Church. It is wonderful to hear the Word Of God, And inspired preaching. I am starting to sing a bit. This is another spiritual hurdle to clamber over. I wasn’t allowed to sing as a child, and my Husband doesn’t like me singing. Everyone says I am out of tune.that doesn’t like me singing. It’s just that I don’t always sing the tune.
Have a very blessed day of rest today. Meet with friends, if you haven’t got any try talking to strangers. I had a lovely chat to someone who came and sat on the bench I was flaked out on. He says he only goes to town on a Saturday. He is a Pétanque player too and was watching the Ladies tournament I played in. I was just happy to be out playing. I definately need to play women more. It’s very different without totesterone fuelled competition! We are a lot more focussed and clinical tactically. The men make a lot of mistakes trying to beat women players!
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