The Naked Archeologist

I'm recommending The Naked Archeologist on Amazon Prime. The show's premise is that Biblical archeology (defined I think as that done in and around Jerusalem and other sites in Israel) can confirm the truth of Biblical stories like the destruction of the Temple, the end to the siege of Jerusalem by the Assyrians, and other historical references. There is also much discussion of why professional archeologists discredit finds by amateurs. The Dead Sea Scrolls, for instance, found by a Bedouin shepherd following his goat, were disparaged for ten years as being fake.

I am finding this series fascinating. The science is discussed in a way that is understandable. The artifacts are amazing. Some of the finds are from two to three thousand years ago.

If you have Amazon Prime and are interested in ancient history, give this series a try.

More (and more) Snow

Just a few pictures to let you know what my morning has included.

One thing we didn't plan for when starting our AirBnB was who was 

going to shovel when it snowed and Dean was out of town!!! 

He has only been gone since Friday morning and will be home tonight

and I feel like it has been forever. I now have numbers of some folks who

might come in such a situation. This is a case of hind sight being 20/20.

Path from garage to parking lot. The last quarter was dug by a man

with a delightful English accent who was walking past with his shovel.

Thank you, David! I love you. 

Oso's path that I refused to clear this morning instead digging

him steps out the other door. These walls are now so tall that

they scare me and I don't want either one of us flattened.

Yep - taller than I am.

Icicles out the back window.

They are pretty. 

It Just Keeps Coming

Snow - and it keeps coming and getting deeper.

Although cold, I keep saying, "but not like Minnesota."

Oso is not sure what happened to his path. Yes, it is still there

but unshoveled, the snow reaches his tummy. 

"Do I really have to do this, mom?" 

Yes, honey, you do. And he did. Twice now he has run to the end of the path,

found a clear spot, done what had to be done and raced back inside. He

loves to play in the snow. Taking care of business is another matter, especially

when the wind is blowing. 

Update Agatha Christie?

I don't think so!

OK, I know that in lots of the movie or TV adaptations of Agatha Christie mysteries slight and subtle changes have been made to engage a modern audience a little more fully. I live with that.

But this? No. A three part series of The A B C Murders was on Amazon Prime last night.

It had a good cast: Rupert Grint who has matured into older roles since his Harry Potter days. John Malkovich as Poirot was the wrong casting of a good actor in a good role that was entirely wrong for him. He just wasn't Poirot.

They tried to make Poirot into someone he is not. Were they trying to add mystery to the mystery? I don't know. To give him a history beyond a Belgium detective who fled his country during WWI is just not Christie and gives the story a weird turn.

The basic plot line was the same but they tried to ~ what? ~ modernize it? to make it more interesting to today's audience? Throw in a touch of sadomasochism? OK. And it's just not Christie.

I guess I am spoiled. I have read the books over and over. I have the dvd's and watch over and over the David Suchet Poirots (and the Joan Hickson Miss Marples). I know these stories. I know these characters. I like them the way they are. Don't mess with the Queen of Crime Writers.

And for goodness sake, if you are going to mess with the story line, at least make it interesting and worth watching instead of dull and slow and boring. Sigh.

A Silent Time

Several of my FB friends have posted today about silence and that is exactly what we have had in our house today. In a split second we went from a house filled with squeals and laughter and loud voices to Silence. 

Now I have always appreciated silence and all it can mean and be whether while meditating or just being. I also love and appreciate my grandchildren. So today was a day of mixed blessings. 

I miss the little ones: the laughter, even the tears, the demands, the initiative and the pleasure in plans that still pop from Mama Susan’s head (thank goodness) spontaneously in response to a moment’s need. 

And ~ I am very grateful for the silence. Even the gentle drumming of the rain changed to snow which falls silently and no thought of the disturbance it might be creating later. 

In the silence I have read. I have written. I have played games. I have sat and watched the snow and the fire whose crackle was sometimes the only sound in the house. I have been still, hardly aware of my own heart beat as I have lived into the Silence. 

Blessings abound whether in sparkling noise or in blessed silence. 

Reflections on Turning 76

So today I begin the last quarter of my first century. 

I put it that way on purpose because even though thoughts of my own mortality have been prominent over the last day or so, I have every intention of living for a while longer and possibly even seeing the first days of my second century. Who knows? I have a rich and long genetic history plus I am healthy and active and I eat well. And I love life. 

I am not afraid of death as long as it comes gently and without a lot of pain. My faith tells me there is Light and Love on the other side and I will enjoy whatever continuation my journey takes. What I will miss is life here and now. 

I love my family and want lots more time with them to attend graduations and weddings and soccer games and theatre performances; family dinners and special conversations; hugs and tears and laughter and fun.

I love the beach and because I live in the mountains, I need plenty of time to make it to the beach and enjoy the sun and sand and warm salt water. And because I live in the mountains, I need plenty of time to snowshoe and hike and enjoy the tiny wildlife that inhabit the area right off my deck in the summer. 

I am a business woman for the first time in my life. Our AirBnB experiment is going really well and we are meeting extraordinary people from all over the world. It really is a delight to be hosting in this way. 

I’m a reader - yes, mostly of cozy mysteries but also of history and theology  and other genres that catch my fancy. There are so many books and so little time as they say. I love to read and plan on doing so for a long while. 

And so it goes - life lived to its fullest. Sunrises and sunsets. Water and hills and mountains and trees. Family and friends and delightful people who come to stay and leave again. Clean sheets, indoor plumbing, anesthetics. And food ~ 

Chocolate: what a good way to celebrate this birthday. A delicious cookie from a friend last night. Cupcakes from a meeting I attended today. My grandson’s pudding (with whipped cream and a cherry on top) for dessert tonight. Fondue tomorrow night at another celebratory dinner with family. 

I am a very fortunate and blessed human being, grateful to be continuing this journey around the sun. Blessings to you too, my friends, as your journeys continue at whatever stage and age you are!

We Had a Moon!!

I admit to being envious of all my friends who had clear skies and posted pictures of the blood red moon and the eclipse night before last. We had heavy clouds and snow. Last night we had the moon.

Oh it was wasn't blood red, and it was clear and bright and white. And large - so large as it hung low in the sky.

The forest is lovely under a full moon. It reminds me of Clement Moore's Christmas poem: the moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave a luster of mid-day to objects below.

Shadows are stark and deep and just outside them the snow glistens. The world becomes a study in black and white. There is no other view like it. Snow hangs heavy on pine branches while deep within there is no green, only the black contrasting shadows cast by the moon.

Maybe I didn't get to see the eclipse or take a picture of a blood red moon, and I did get to see the  miracle of a full moon on freshly fallen snow and in my soul, if not physically, danced in the Light.