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All content on this blog is copyright protected.~ask permission to use my content (including re-blogging)Margaret Barry Settlement House
I am a perennial optimist
I Am Becoming the Me I Was Born To Be
As I journey through this part of my life I have discovered my next mountain. The key is to be the me I want to be in the world, as my gift back to God.-
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Smiling Jesus: by Frances Hook
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Monthly Archives: May 2011
Spring is different here
Spring is different here in the Southwest. Understand, I spent almost my entire life in the north, in snow country. Spring was an exuberant time there—when it was finally in the upper 40s to low 50s you felt an irresistable urge … Continue reading
Who should you be remembering today? Topic # 142
Who should you be remembering today?. My grandpa that fought in WWI, my uncle that fought in WWII, my dad’s best friend Don that was part of the Berlin Airlift, my dad and uncle in the Korean War, friends that … Continue reading
Posted in Friendship, politics
Tagged Faith, Friendship, politics, postaday2011, postaweek2011
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How do you decide what risks to take? Topic # 141
How do you decide what risks to take?. When reaching a decision involving a risk I often begin by making a list (physically or mentally) of the pros and cons. This helps me identify the advantages of taking the risk … Continue reading
I really love Saturday
I love the pace of Saturdays most of the time. The past few weeks my husband and I have had to work all weekend at our jobs. He has had a product deadline to take care of. I, of course, … Continue reading
Favorite beach activity: My own topic # 139
As a kid, I spent my summers on the Mississippi River with my family. We waterskied, we swam, we camped on sandbars. We had campfires—sometimes we did s’mores, but not usually. I loved awakening to the smell of bacon cooking … Continue reading
Weekly Photo Challenge: Water
Weekly Photo Challenge: Water. Even in my beloved Phoenix I can find a place to go near water and restore my soul.
Posted in Sketches, quilts, photography
Tagged postaday2011, postaweek2011, weeklyphotochallenge
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What makes you feel like you’re still a kid? Topic #138
What makes you feel like you’re still a kid? Sitting by a campfire and toasting marshmallows in preparation for making s’mores makes me feel like a kid. Skipping through puddles during a rainstorm makes me feel like a kid, too…..and oh … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment
Tagged Music to remember, postaday2011, postaweek2011, time with friends
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Water 5/26/11
Weekly Photo Challenge: Water. Being around water has always been restorative to me. When I was a kid it was lakes and rivers and walking in the rain. As an adult it has included those things and expanded to include … Continue reading
Posted in Nature
Tagged perennial optimist, postaday2011, postaweek2011, relaxation, stress, weeklyphotochallenge
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What invention do you most need right now? Topic # 137
What invention do you most need right now?. I could go for a teleporter device and a tool that makes time stand still while I get a lot of things done! Perhaps then I could clear my backlog of things … Continue reading
How do you decide who to be friends with? Topic # 136
How do you decide who to be friends with? I have moved many times in my life and beyond that have redefined myself a few additional times beyond that. What do I mean by redefined myself? No, I do not develop … Continue reading
If you started a music band, what would the name be? Post # 135
If you started a music band, what would the name be?. I think I would call my band “U Have the Unmitigated Gall 2″. I know it is a strange name—but I have always loved the expression ‘you have the … Continue reading
Life lessons and Life Affirming Friendships
Wow, don’t you find that there are moments in your life when people lift you up? My goodness have I ever been lifted up by love, prayers and support. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t feeling alone, friendless or ignored. … Continue reading
What film have you seen more than any other? Post #133
What film have you seen more than any other?. Sorry folks, but this is a three-way tie. It really is. The films are: The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind, and Casablanca. All three of these films are outstanding. … Continue reading
“Our Deepest Fear” —- light up the world
I love this poem by Marianne Williamson….it speaks to my heart and I use it often when I am trying to help my students, or help a friend that is going through a difficult time. Here it is: Our Deepest … Continue reading
Weekly Photo Challenge: Tiny 5/20/11
Weekly Photo Challenge: Tiny.
Posted in Nature
Tagged dragonfly perched on reed, nature, postaday2011, postaweek2011, weeklyphotochallenge
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If your house were on fire, what would you grab first? Topic # 131
If your house were on fire, what would you grab first?. I am assuming my family (including the pets) are all out safe and sound and we all have our cell phones and chargers [since we generally have them on … Continue reading
Posted in Misc blogger activities
Tagged house, organization, postaday2011, postaweek2011
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Describe the last time you were truly surprised. Topic # 130
Describe the last time you were truly surprised.. The last time I was truly surprised was many years ago. We were living in MN and were members of a wonderful parish. I was working at the church, and it turned … Continue reading
Describe your first job : Topic # 129
Describe your first job interview. My first job interview was at McDonald’s. It was actually a bit of a stressful interview, as the manager asked a series of questions [that i no longer recall] in order to determine if i … Continue reading
Should you help homeless people? Why or why not? Post # 128
Should you help homeless people? Why or why not?. Yes you should help them. You should help them by directing them or bringing them to the agencies and non-profits that can directly help them get back on their feet. You … Continue reading
Posted in Positive Thinking
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What character from a book can’t you stop thinking about? Topic # 126
What character from a book can’t you stop thinking about?. Atticus Finch is one of the most memorable characters in fiction. He gives me pause. Reading To Kill a Mockingbird or just remembering him makes me stand a little taller. He … Continue reading
Posted in Writing and Literature
Tagged compassion, literature, postaday2011, postaweek2011
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Good Morning God—Now I See You!
I heard a talk many years ago during a parish mission. The title of the talk was “When you wake up”. The priest said to the attendees something like this: “When you wake up in the morning do you groan … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged God in Charge, perennial optimist, students, tutoring
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Write about something you see: Topic # 125
Write about something you see. As I blog today I am sitting in my family room. I am looking at a little wooden box with a scene painted on the cover. It is a painting of an adirondack chair on … Continue reading
Posted in Friendship
Tagged Friendship, ocean, perennial optimist, postaday2011, postaweek2011
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Make a prediction about life in 2021 Topic # 124
Make a prediction about life in 2021. How about this—we will no longer pay the senate or house unless they do what we want them to do!
Weekly Photo Challenge: Red
Weekly Photo Challenge: Red.
Posted in Sketches, quilts, photography
Tagged postaday2011, postaweek2011, weeklyphotochallenge
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Write about a mistake you can learn from Post # 122
Write about a mistake you can learn from. There have been times I have trusted too easily and been too open with people. This at times has ended up in hurt for me. For example, I assume there is more … Continue reading
Write about something you want to do, but know you shouldn’t Post # 121
Write about something you want to do, but know you shouldn’t. This question is a difficult one for me to answer. I generally don’t consider engaging in behavior that is wrong or immoral or socially unacceptable. So I will have … Continue reading
Weekly Photo Challenge: Wildlife 5/6/11
Weekly Photo Challenge: Wildlife. We came across these skulls in the front yard of a touristy shop in Sedona. Very, very Georgia O’Keefe in appearance!
Posted in Sketches, quilts, photography
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Make a prediction about next week. Post # 118
Make a prediction about next week. I predict that I will have a lovely Mother’s Day. I know that my husband and son will spoil me and spend uninterrupted time with me. I predict they will make a lovely meal … Continue reading
Posted in Misc blogger activities
Tagged Faith, perennial optimist, postaday2011, postaweek2011, tutoring
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What a week! Time to collapse.
Today I completely collapsed. I have been on the run all week. I am sure you have had weeks like that, too. My week was filled with work, chores, appointments, and errands. Some weeks work energizes me and some weeks … Continue reading
Pick something you don’t like, and choose to accept it . Post # 117
Pick something you don’t like, and choose to accept it. What i don’t like is people that try to pick a fight or an argument no matter what facts you happen to have to counteract the argument. They just cling … Continue reading
Believe Anyway 