Ghost Plays Tag with Sassy

 Sassy has a white mussel now. She normally goes to the front to guard the garden and look for Ranger Bob.

Sassy wanted to go outside in the backyard, so I let her out. Soon I heard a " Wuff! Wuff! Wuff!" It was so gentle that it did not sound quite like a dog. Sassy issues orders with sharp, indignant barks.

I peaked out the backdoor, suspecting it was Ghost (her stage name, to avoid costly lawsuits). She is the beautiful white puppy who invited herself into the Rose Garden when I was sitting on the ground and working with some plants. Ghost seemed to know the coast was clear, the family would not pursue her. We had a little talk and Ghost rewarded me with kisses, licks, and a place on her dance card. The family wanted her back but did not want to trample the garden. After all, I grow real weeds. Ghost went back and everyone was happy.

Ghost is quite large and slender now, with long silky hair. She wanted to play tag with Sassy, and they both jumped around, feigning attacks, and had fun in spite of the fence. I will do some things in the backyard, and Ghost is likely to insist on some talk, petting, and perhaps tennis ball chasing.

Left Unsaid - The Cause of the LCMS-ELCA-WELS-ELS Meltdown

From the Ovaltine Discussion Club for Cranky Elderly Pastors

In 1970.......The LCMS had 2,788,536 Baptized Members

In 2000.......The LCMS had 2,554,088 Baptized Members

In 2021.......The LCMS had 1,807,408 Baptized Members

In the past 50 years the LCMS has lost about 1 million Baptized Members and about 700,000 of those losses came in the past 20 years.  The last 20 years have seen
a significant decline as an aging membership is accelerating their death rate.  In
addition to that fact our congregations have not added new young members in any
significant way.  With a shrinking membership the LCMS has a real challenge to survive.

ELCA (LCA-ALC), WELS, LCMS, and others jumped on Fuller Seminary's Church Growth like hobos on a hotdog, accelerating their decline while unleashing their closeted wokeness.

The Hummingbird Effect

I was sitting in the shade of our spacious patio when I saw a large bug hovering on the port side. It moved in front of me, an arm's length away - a hummingbird. He did an up/down left/right exam and went back to feeding. A bit later, I got the same scan from the smaller one - they have separate feeders.

Sassy watches the neighborhood for me. Her attention changes with the audience. Children playing get her 100% attention, and she has a happy look the whole time. Dogs - even on a leash - greatly offend her, and she trots over to ID them. Delivery people are sometimes timid. One left his package halfway up the driveway because Sassy rose slowly from her resting position and assumed her attack dog look. Dog lovers ask about Sassy's nature and bend down to lavish praise (which I suggest). Sassy turns into a lovable puppy with her body wagging in delight.

In front of me, over in the Butterfly Garden, and behind the house, a wide variety of God's creatures charm people. I have had young squirrels look into the kitchen from the outside ledge, as if to say, "Where's our food? Mama told us to lay off the milk and eat at Jackson's." A variety of water sources give them shallow pools for bathing. 

I bought a bag of kettle corn - don't start on me.

"This is the nutrient content of a 100-gram (3.5-oz) serving of air-popped popcorn (5):

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 7% of the RDI.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 12% of the RDI.
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): 8% of the RDI.
• Iron: 18% of the RDI.
• Magnesium: 36% of the RDI.
• Phosphorus: 36% of the RDI.
• Potassium: 9% of the RDI.
• Zinc: 21% of the RDI.
• Copper: 13% of the RDI.
• Manganese: 56% of the RDI."

I ate a small amount - no really - and left the rest on the lids of the two barrels. Soon after, a female cardinal landed and began eating. There was no competition, so she kept looking around and eating. What did the bag cost? Nothing - it was borrowed from the entertainment budget.

 Veterans Honor roses are often on the altar, and they are placed on a veteran's grave afterwards.