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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: November 2011
Oooo! I Can Draw Curved Shells!
As I grow and change my skills actually gain a little traction. Somehow my hand learns how to lift, touch, and move. When I took my drawing class and we were covering a new concept, I always hoped I would … Continue reading
Posted in Sketches, quilts, photography
Tagged nature, postaday2011, postaweek2011, Sketches, quilts, photography
6 Comments
Sketch Photo: Homesick for the Sea
When I am homesick for the sea I have some gorgeous photos on my wall of oceans at sunset. I must clarify that those are photos I did not take. Sometimes i need more immediacy than that. I am at … Continue reading
Pumpkin Girl Strikes Again
As I mentioned in my post on 11/26 I took a drawing class. Besides my other posts for the next few weeks I am going to post photos I took of my charcoal sketches. i was amazed that I could … Continue reading
Posted in Nature
Tagged Creativity, literature, nature, postaday2011, postaweek2011, Sketches, quilts, photography
8 Comments
Stretching and Redefining: Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner
I have written before about moving to various cities. There are times in my life concurrent with a move or unrelated to a move when I have felt the need or urge to challenge myself or grow or change. I … Continue reading
The Beauty of Thanksgiving
I love the pace of Thanksgiving. Some years we go to my in-laws. That, of course is a delight. My amazing sister-in-law pulls together an extraordinary feast. We zoom around the kitchen together, peeling potatoes, laying out snacks, pulling the … Continue reading
Posted in food and recipes
Tagged Faith, food and recipes, God, inspiration, postaday2011, postaweek2011
2 Comments
The Joy of living Many Places
I was fortunate to move many times as I grew up. It stood me in good stead when I spent a semester in Italy in college. I bought a Eurail Pass and explored many countries (whether or not I could … Continue reading
Thanksgiving Comfort
So many people need encouragement—this time of year and in general. As is my wont, I searched through my books of quotations and my books of poetry. I wanted something that felt really encouraging and eloquent. I hope that it … Continue reading
I Still Believe…oh yes I do
Earlier today I wrote about how much I miss the Camelot years (or how they felt to me anyway) https://believeanyway.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/i-was-a-dreamer-and-idealist-am-i-still/. Why did I write about that? I have been tired and discouraged…..but quite honestly more tired and exhausted than discouraged. I … Continue reading
Posted in Misc blogger activities
Tagged Camelot, inspiration, Joy, perennial optimist, postaday2011, postaweek2011
2 Comments
I Was a Dreamer and Idealist: Am I Still?
I came of age in the 60s and 70s. My generation cut their teeth on the dream of changing the world, making it better. I remember the folk music and the protest music. When the dream was very young, JFK … Continue reading
Posted in politics
Tagged God, inspiration, perennial optimist, postaday2011, postaweek2011
13 Comments
I Always Want to Walk In the Light
When I speak of walking in the light I am not speaking solely of sunshine and bright lights. Rather, I am talking about walking with God. I am talking about not letting myself get downhearted. I am talking about not … Continue reading
L.M. Montgomery Was More than Anne
The Anne of Green Gables series was one of the series I loved as a young girl. I loved Anne’s dreaminess and forthrightness. I loved her temperament. She was so much fun and so fascinated by life. She grew and … Continue reading
Posted in Writing and Literature
Tagged Anne of Green Gables, Beany Malone, Betsy Ray, God, inspiration, Jo March, literature, postaday2011, postaweek2011
10 Comments
Sea Fever
Sea Fever—by John Masfield “I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the … Continue reading
Posted in Misc blogger activities
Tagged inspiration, ocean, perennial optimist, postaday2011, postaweek2011
6 Comments
Hand print on Your Own Walk of Fame
As this year is now in it final two months there are times when I ponder my own journey. I wonder, “what have I done? What have I accomplished? Would I be encouraged to place my hand prints on a walk of … Continue reading
Posted in Misc blogger activities
Tagged Ernest Borgnine, Faith, Hollywood Walk of Fame, inspiration, postaday2011, postaweek2011
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If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to? Daily Post Topic # 310
If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?. That’s a funny question. An interesting coincidence, actually. At one point when I was in junior high my girlfriends and I thought it would be fun … Continue reading
What puts the Ape in Apricot
I was thinking about fear and courage today. It is important to throw back my shoulders, stand tall and be filled with the courage the Holy Spirit sends me. Sometimes I need to see in in more simplistic terms. Does … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope
Tagged Courage, inspiration, postaday2011, postaweek2011
2 Comments
Have you ever protested for anything? Daily Post Topic #309
Have you ever protested for anything?. I have protested but not in the Occupy Wall Street Way. Instead, I got involved and worked “within the system”. When I became upset about poverty and hunger, I spent my hard earned money … Continue reading
Posted in politics
Tagged inspiration, perennial optimist, politics, postaday2011, postaweek2011
2 Comments
My Day of Prayer
A wise teacher once told me that the best way to stay close to God is to make each day a prayer from the moment I awaken until I am falling asleep. So that is how my day began. I … Continue reading
How to Pray Today
Most people familiar with Scripture know that Jesus taught us to pray. We pray “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…” and so on. But there are times in my life and days in my life that … Continue reading
Fall Means Apples and Apples Make Me Happy
I have always enjoyed fall. When I was a kid it signified hope, new school year, new teachers, new friends, new knee socks. It signified apple picking, and all kinds of cooking with apples. I’ve been canning apples and applesauce. … Continue reading
Canned Pumpkin Bread Photos and Follow-up
A number of days ago I shared my experience of canning pumpkin bread. I wanted to let you know I have done it again since, and met with the same terrific success. Nope–not bragging. Just letting you know if i … Continue reading
Let Us Rejoice and Be Glad
This is the Lord’s day. I truly rejoice. We started our Sunday on Saturday afternoon, as we often do. What a lovely, lovely Mass. The Gospel reading was Matthew 25: 14-30. The gist? It was the Gospel about the man … Continue reading
Posted in Misc blogger activities
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, Joy, postaday2011, postaweek2011
12 Comments
Write a post honoring veterans: Daily Post Topic #304 11/12
Write a post honoring veterans. The past few days I have been writing about my dad. He was a Marine. Today it just so happens the gurus at Daily Post have decided we should honor our veterans. Today I honor … Continue reading
God is SO Amazing [Dragonfly]
Some days I just have a bit of the doldrums. For part of today, that has been the case. Wasn’t feeling down or depressed or upset. But I needed to see something I had never seen before. I didn’t KNOW … Continue reading
Posted in Sketches, quilts, photography
Tagged God, nature, postaday2011, postaweek2011, weeklyphotochallenge
4 Comments
Weekly Photo Challenge: Wonder
Weekly Photo Challenge: Wonder. When I think of a photo of wonder I think of photos of sights that left you drop jaw amazed. I am not saying my photos are in and of themselves stunning. I am still not … Continue reading
What do you miss? Daily Post Topic #303
What do you miss?. I miss optimism, civility, and kindness in the culture. So often these days, people are harsh. Perhaps many of them suffer from sleep deprivation and/or malnutrition. Perhaps it has always been a harsh culture but I … Continue reading
Posted in Misc blogger activities
Tagged God, inspiration, perennial optimist, postaday2011, postaweek2011
6 Comments
Veterans Day with My Dad
Veterans Day was always special to my dad. So was the United States. He valued our freedoms and considered our freedom to be a privilege. He loved our country. He was a deep and wonderful man. During the turbulent 60s … Continue reading
Posted in Misc blogger activities
Tagged Faith, postaday2011, postaweek2011, Veterans Day
8 Comments
Semper Fi: What My Dad Taught Me After the Marines
My dad was a Marine. He was not in the Marines for his whole career. He was in for 2 years during the Korean War. I do know that when it comes to the Marines one doesn’t say “he was … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life and Issues
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, Marine Corps, Marriage, postaday2011, postaweek2011, Semper Fi
9 Comments
What do you wish you had 300 off? Daily Post topic #300
What do you wish you had 300 off?. I wish I had 300 more days to spend with each of the friends that I lived close to at various points in my life but now live far away from. I … Continue reading
Posted in Misc blogger activities
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, postaday2011, postaweek2011
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Did you have a secret hiding place? Daily Post Topic #299
Did you have a secret hiding place?.I didn’t have a secret hiding place. I did so wish that I could turn invisible and secretly wander other people’s houses and see how they looked. I wished I could turn invisible and … Continue reading
Believe Anyway 