WHITE ON WHITE

photos murmuringcottage via tumblr

VIEW FROM MY ROOF

dream-weaver

ONLY A MARBLE

(Note:  With the Middle East prevalent in the news, I thought I would share

this story about everyday life that occurred while we lived there some years ago)

After donning the Arabic scarf and long black coat, I trudged up the steep stairs, wondering what new experience life on the roof would offer today. Coming from the dark, cool interior of the two-story stone house, I emerged through the blue metal door with a heaping basket of wet, clean laundry.

With the final piece of clothing pegged onto the line and heaving a sigh of relief, I glanced at the various shapes and colors of laundry flapping happily in the wind under a flawless blue sky, knowing they would soon be dry. I could take a few moments to leisurely observe the world around me from my airy vantage point on the roof. New and unusual happenings occurred on a regular basis in the mile-and-a-half high city of this ancient Middle-Eastern country of Yemen.

city of sanaa--the daily beast

Many sounds were carried to me on the wind that day as I squinted at the piercing light and searched for their origin: the stentorian rhythm of the call to prayer from the mosque down the alley; a mother pleading with an errant child below from her latticed third story window; and the ululation of goats being led through the dusty street by a wizened shepherdess, her cry in competition with the mosque.

I turned around to find a pair of dark eyes watching me. A partially-veiled woman on the roof opposite was also in process of pegging laundry on this sun-splashed day. I smiled. She shyly returned my smile and tentatively held up her hand in greeting.

sanaa news

Nearby on the roof across from us both, I heard the sound of much yelling and laughter and found the source to be a group of boys who were excitedly playing at a game. As I watched, they seemed to be throwing something against the wall, then retrieving it—they were playing with marbles! What fun they were having at such a simple game. These people never failed to amaze me by their ability to savor the basic pleasures of life. It seemed living in one of the poorest countries in the world caused them to appreciate what they had, no matter how small or insignificant the item might appear to others.

Hadn't I previously seen some marbles scattered here and there on our rooftop? A plan formed in my mind, one that hopefully would show my desire for friendship.

After retrieving four or five tiny marbles, I called across to the boys, held one up and began lobbing them across the chasm separating us. Grins covered their faces and giggles erupted as their eager hands were held out to receive what was rightfully theirs. They yelled, “Thank you!” in Arabic, returned to playing again and I thought no more about it. The fact that it had been a simple gesture on my part made what happened later all the more remarkable.

Several days had passed when my husband, son and I piled into the Land Cruiser and were making slow progress over the heavily-rutted alley on our way to teach English. All at once our vehicle was surrounded by a group of dusty little boys who were excitedly jumping into the air and saluting me. Their leader was holding something in his hand and came near for me to see. What could it be?

In a flash it dawned on me! These were the Rooftop Marble Players, and somehow by my artless act of returning their tiny glass toys I had become their heroine. Once again the childlike simplicity of these people touched me deeply, for it would be unusual for children in my country to respond in this exuberant fashion to so small a favor. We were the only westerners living in their part of the city, and just days before the faces of these boys had carried looks of distrust, and even hostility, possibly echoing the feelings of their parents toward the unknown foreign neighbors.

As I pondered this new unaffected openness, I realized God is not looking for His people to be especially gifted or highly educated in order to serve Him, no matter where we are. He desires that we walk in humility, and show kindness to those around us. Simple kindness; as simple as a marble finding it's rightful home.

IN HONOR OF THE SNOW

STOPPING BY WOODS

By Robert Frost

              Whose woods these are I think I know. 

              His house is in the village, though;

              He will not see me stopping here

              To watch his woods fill up with snow.

              My little horse must think it queer

              To stop without a farmhouse near

              Between the woods and frozen lake

              The darkest evening of the year.

              He gives his harness bells a shake

              To ask if there is some mistake.

              The only other sound's the sweep

              Of easy wind and downy flake.

              The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

              But I have promises to keep,

              And miles to go before I sleep,

              And miles to go before I sleep.

For a wonderful reading of this poem, complete with sound
affects, go to this link: http://youtube/nie5dGD6OQA.  Sorry, I
don't know how to link this, so you will have to copy/paste.

THE VIEW FROM MY WINDOW

"Snow that falleth soft
sinketh deep."

--Anon

GINGERBREAD FOR CHRISTMAS!

We have now passed the calendar's mile marker for Thanksgiving, and are heading for the blessed time of year when we remember and celebrate the birth, the nativity, of our dear Lord Jesus Christ.  One of the traditions I have actually been able to keep through the years is the making of gingerbread cookies, iced and yummy, and I'd like to pass this delicious recipe on to you for your own cookie-making capers.  A suggestion I've learned over the years, one that has kept me from collapsing and the production becoming too tedious, is to break the segments into different days.  You can invite your children (or grandchildren) to help you with the icing too.  I pray the gingerbready fragrance that fills your homes will bring joy to your hearts, a foreshadowing of the JOY of Christmas to come! 

THIS YEAR I ALSO MADE GINGERBREAD FOR AUTUMN/THANKSGIVING

GINGERBREAD COOKIES

4 cups sifted FLOUR

1 tsp SALT

1 tsp SODA

2 tsp BAKING POWDER

2 tsp GINGER

1 tsp CLOVES

1 tsp CINNAMON

1 tsp NUTMEG

1 cup SHORTENING
(1/2 cup BUTTER, 1/2 cup COCONUT OIL or 
COCONUT BUTTER)
1 cup GRANULATED SUGAR
1 cup MOLASSES

(NOT Blackstrap--you will break your teeth!)

2 EGGS, separated

2-3 cups sifted CONFECTIONERS SUGAR

(Or enough to hold it's shape, not runny)

Day One: Sift together flour, salt, soda, baking powder, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Cream shortening with granulated sugar until fluffy.  Add molasses and egg yolks (save whites for icing).  Mix well.  Stir in the flour mixture.  Shape dough into a ball, wrap in waxed paper and chill 2 to 3 hours or overnight.

Day Two:  Remove from 'frig and roll out small portions of dough 1/4 inch thick on lightly-floured surface.  Cut into cookie cutter shapes and place on ungreased baking sheets not too close to each other (give room to puff up).  Bake at 350F 8-12 minutes (keeping an eye on them), depending on size of cookie.  I generally bake mine 8-9 minutes, but your oven may heat differently.  Remove from oven, cool 2 minutes on baking sheets and then remove to wire rack to cool completely (OR eat one warm from the oven!)...note, I said "one"(ha!).  When fully cool, place them in an airtight container.

Day Three:  Blend egg whites with confectioners sugar and beat until thick enough to hold it's shape.  Decorate using the icing tube of your choice.  Yield will depend on the size of the cookie cutters you use.  ENJOY!

COLOR THERAPY FOR A FOGGY DAY

Keppingerphoto

Crawfordphoto

Etsy

Crawfordphoto

Keppingerphoto

Crawfordphoto

Rossphoto

Groomerphoto

Keppingerphoto

all photos murmuringcottage via tumblr unless otherwise noted

THE VIEW FROM MY WINDOW

The glory of Fall has come and departed...

...for another glory, which is of Winter.

Today I am comforted by these words which

shall not fail while the earth's

clock ticks:

"While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease."
(Genesis 8:22)

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick

THANKSGIVING THEN AND NOW

Norman Rockwell

May this day be filled with family, friends,

good food and good cheer no matter where we gather--

with true thanksgiving in our hearts toward a God

who gives liberally to all out of His 

bountiful storehouse of love!

NOW THIS IS REAL EYE CANDY!

tumbler

HOLY BAPTISM

BAPTISM:

FROM THE SHALLOWS TO THE DEPTHS

For many years I felt my assignment from God

Had been to float in a birdbath,

Enjoying the beauty of the sky

But longing for a wider experience

And view of His creation.

He has now taken me and submerged my being

In His great and vast ocean

Where there is no bottom nor end.

I can swim freely and enjoy the beauty

Of creatures innumerable

Who seem to have anticipated my arrival.

The waters which receive me are warm and welcoming

And have an eternal quality;

They change me while remaining the same.

The rays from the Son shine to the depths

Giving Life to all they touch.

I have only begun to search these Life-giving waters,

But the more I embrace them

The more I find to explore and revel in.

The awareness has dawned that I have come Home

And the Giver of Life is at the center of this new world,

Holding it all together

With the Word of His mouth.

To my amazement

My tears of repentance yielding joy

Have mingled with the very waters I am being baptized in,

Producing life forevermore and endless praise

To the One who called me to Himself

And translated me

Into the depths of His love.

Christ of the Abyss