Gorgeous Weather

It's very beautiful out there but the ragweed and other things are still bad so I'm pretty much staying indoors.  We did go to the Fort Sill Garage Sale.  Spent all of 6 dollars.  Bill got a wooden plaque with an eagle painted on it and I got two pair of earrings.  It got pretty warm but eventually the wind turned out of the North and that helped.  It's supposed to be in the 70's tomorrow.

Bill and I have to start locking up again in the months of October, November and December.  It means staying behind until everyone leaves and checking all the bathrooms, turning out all the lights and locking all the doors.  It involves quite a bit of walking through 3 big buildings.  The feet don't like it but it has to be done.  My brother has foot troubles similar to mine and his calmed down when he lost about 20 pounds.  I'm hoping that if I lose weight mine will ease up too.  The doc said that my acid reflux would be helped by losing 20-30 pounds.  Easier said than done.  But, I'm working on it.

Spidey is gone.  His web was destroyed by the wind the other day and he didn't rebuild it.  He just hung there for a couple of days and then he was gone.  I don't think he relocated, I'm pretty sure that he died.  I have no idea how long spiders live (usually not very long around me) but he looked pretty bad the last time I saw him.  No others have moved in to take his place.

I'm thinking about starting another colored pencil painting (drawing, whatever you want to call it).  I have the subject picked out.  A photo of a wolf that I saw in a magazine.  It should be a challenge.

Hamburger Helper has come out with a couple of gluten free things.  I tried them out and they are very good.  Chicken stir fry and beef stir fry.  Gluten free is really catching on.  Makes it easier for people like me.  Corn Chex cereal is good stuff.  They have a rice version too, both gluten free.

The Touch of the Master's Hand

'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who will start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar"-then, "Two!"  "Only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
Three dollars once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three-"  But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As sweet as a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bidden for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand!  And who'll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going, and gone!" said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand 
What changed its worth?"  Swift came the reply:
"The touch of the master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scattered with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine;
A game-and he travels on.
He's "going" once, and "going" twice,
He's "going" and almost "gone."
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand.

-Myra Brooks Welch

I found this poem from a book entitled Poems That Touch the Heart compiled by A.L. Alexander.  It's been put to music but I don't remember the name of the artist who sings it. 

Photo of the day, a rerun of Sassy.  I posted this quite a while ago.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17