Month: February 2016

njaybrown

Animal Brutality

I read an article today about some children beating a KITTEN so badly that it had to be euthanized. A photo was shown of the poor little defenseless kitten, and it hurt my heart to see that.
The worse thing though, was the wickedness of the children who beat the kitten. Such cold hearted brutality in children isn’t normal. I hope the children’s parents are contacted and investigated for child abuse or child neglect. Children aren’t born violent, they are taught how to be violent. By the people in their lives.

What’s happened to the world? Children torturing animals, babies being murdered, it’s horrible. Horrible.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-equation/201104/children-who-are-cruel-animals-when-worry

http://cfawr.org/animal-abuse.php

Animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people. Deviant behaviors such as animal abuse generally originate from a traumatic childhood. The American Psychiatric Association considers animal cruelty as one of the diagnostic criteria of conduct disorder. The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) defines conduct disorder as “a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age appropriate societal norms or rules are violated.” Conduct disorder is found in those who abuse animals and abuse people.

Clinical evidence indicates that animal cruelty is one of the symptoms usually seen at the earliest stages of conduct disorder, often by the age of eight. This information has only recently been included in the DSM so some psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers are just now becoming aware of it.

Many psychological, sociological and criminology studies in recent decades have clearly shown that violent offenders have adolescent histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty. The F.B.I. has analyzed the lives of serial killers and their findings suggest that most serial killers have killed or tortured animals as children. Further research has shown consistent patterns of animal cruelty among perpetrators of more common forms of abuse such as: child abuse, spouse abuse and elder abuse.

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Allen Brantley was quoted as saying, “Animal cruelty is not a harmless venting of emotion in a healthy individual; This is a warning sign.” There are deep psychological issues that lead to violent crimes against people

 

njaybrown

Sunday

Today, hubby and I went to church, and listened to the preacher talk about how important it is to marry the person God chooses for you. He also said, if you’re already married, that is for life, and if you put Jesus and His Word into your marriage, it will be so much better. The bible text was from Genesis, Chapter 24, how Isaac got Rebekah for his wife.
After church, I took a nap, and then spent some time buying butterfly-attracting plants for my garden. Now I have several hours of back-straining planting ahead of me, which is the only part of gardening I dislike. Before buying plants, hubby and I spent 2 hours freeing up several sprinkler heads from roots that had grown around them, preventing them from popping up out of the ground and doing their very important job.
So, with the sprinklers working, it’s ok to plant. I also bought some grass seed, to help “fluff up” the front lawn. We got some bare patches during the winter, so I’m hoping this grass seed takes root and fills in the bald spots.
After that, I spent time trying to get this shawl knitted up and finished. It’s the pattern some of us in my group online are knitting at the same time. Two ladies have finished theirs, and I’m working to get this last section knitted up, so I can move on to other, shorter projects, and one big project. I’m in the process of knitting a lap blanket for either my dad, or a Hospice patient, as part of my grieving process. I’m already trying to deal with the inevitable loss of dad, by working on this blanket. I talked to him today, he still sounds very good and alert. I hope he makes it through another year, it would be nice to have him here next Christmas, but God only knows. My mother died several years ago.
My selfishness wants you to always stay by my side.
Knowing that you are going to be gone,
Won’t make your leaving any easier.

Source: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/not-ready-for-goodbye#ixzz40rIXDo9N
#familyfriendpoems

njaybrown

Caron Simply Soft Yarn Giveaway

Another giveaway from those fine folks at Yarnspirations and All Free Knitting!
http://www.allfreeknitting.com/sweeps/Caron-Simply-Soft-Yarn

Enter to win the Caron Simply Soft Yarn Bundle! One lucky winner will receive 3 skeins of Caron Simply Soft in Autumn Maze. The deadline to enter is February 21, 2016 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time.

Your favorite Caron Simply Soft Yarn is oh so luxurious and comfortable, and ever-popular with knitters. With its luster and sheen look you’re sure to find the perfect knit pattern to work up.

njaybrown

Chihuahua Races (and other dogs, too)

A good Christian friend of mine sent a link to the Dewey Beach Chihuahua races, which I’d never heard of until she and her husband told me! Thanks, Tina! I’m partial to Chihuahuas and Pomeranians, since I have one Chi, and one Chi-Pom mix, and I love them both!
What kind of dog do you have?
Here’s some links to Chi races, and other breeds of dogs racing around:

Poof is obviously in training on the circular track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRTrCiPvK6o

Weiner dog races! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKzkIlOe8mw

German shepherd racing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOxgSZIbVBw

Look at the cute little babies! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvZcVNmlrws
Sideways Chihuahua puppy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2SNbzOgw10

njaybrown

Another Giveaway! This One’s from Bergere de France Yarns!

Click here to enter for a chance to win 8 skeins of Bergere de France yarns:
http://www.allfreeknitting.com/sweeps/The-Essential-Winter-Yarn-Collection-Bergere-de-France

From All Free Knitting’s website: The Essential Winter Yarn Collection
Gifted by Bergere de France
Value: $155.60

Win a basket of the finest French-made yarns! Grab your chance to try out the high quality yarns produced in one of the most advanced mills of its kind in Europe. The deadline to enter is February 21, 2016 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time.
The prize includes a selection of 8 skeins from Bergere de France’s top yarns, featuring:

Merinos Alpaga: Combining 100% pure French Merino sheep wool with alpaca, this roving yarn will keep you warm and cozy all winter long.
Initial: This round, slightly dappled yarn is made entirely from recycled materials: the more you use, the happier the planet!
Ideal: The essential yarn for all your family knitting projects. No one can resist its even finish, and anything made in this 40% combed wool yarn is sure to keep its shape.
Magic+: A chunky, even, round yarn containing 50% combed wool to emphasize the beauty of all your hand-knits.
Cyclone: A subtle blend of multicolored and plain strands in a light, wavy yarn resulting in a beautifully nuanced effect.

njaybrown

Monday Chit Chat

Psalms Chapter 1
1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly [are] not so: but [are] like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
*****************************************************************************************************
Volunteer Day 2 at the Hospice Thrift Store. Today was fun, meeting one of the managers, and working with him, and another new volunteer. We sorted donated men’s clothing, and chatted a lot. There was a box full of clothes, about 4 feet high, and 4 feet wide!
I clocked in there before they opened, and ran the vacuum cleaner through the whole store, which took about an hour! Messy, messy! The head manager was very appreciative of me doing that, too. That makes me feel good, and like I want to keep on volunteering there.

After that, I came home and did some work with my online book and charity group, Amish Books and Charity Knitting. We have over 400 members, and in March we’re going to have a readalong again. March’s choice is REDEMPTION, by Shelley Shepard Gray, Amish fiction author. http://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Shelley-Shepard-Gray/dp/0062292358/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455576971&sr=8-1&keywords=redemption+shelley+shepard+gray
It was a popular choice in the poll I made. I make a poll each month, so we get a fair idea of which book is more appealing to the majority of voters and readers in my group.
We also are having a knitalong, and the pattern chosen is the Zilver shawl. I’m knitting it today, and it’s turning out rather nicely. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zilver
It’s such a blessing to me, really, to be able to talk with and get to know so many nice ladies in my group. Betsyq, Daisymea, Hadenmaiden,lonestarlady,isagobi, so many more, too many to name. Everyone has hard times, and times of rejoicing, and having someone to share it with makes the burden easier, and the happiness compounded.

I haven’t talked to dad today, he prefers getting phone calls every other day, I think. Not a lot to say all the time. My older brother is still upset and angry over his grandchildren not getting any of dad’s inheritance, and I say for shame!! (I’m not getting anything, either) How rude to be thinking of that, and dad is still here!! I mean, get over it, and stop acting like a brat. He called me and ended up insulting me to the point where I was crying, so I told just said goodbye and hung up.
Well, that’s all for now.

njaybrown

Women Covering Their Heads

Not a lot going on today. I went to church alone, and the preaching was about Heaven. I enjoyed being in amongst other Christians, too. Today I wore my lacy headcovering for the first time in church. Of course no one said anything, but it will be a silent witness for other women to wear coverings on their head.
1 Corinthians 11: 1Cor.11
[1] Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
[2] Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
[3] But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
[4] Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
[5] But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
[6] For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
[7] For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
[8] For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
[9] Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
[10] For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
[11] Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
[12] For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of god.
[13] Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
[14] Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

Someone showed me the Greek words pertaining to the subject, their definitions, and it is a command from God for women to cover their heads. It is showing respect for God’s authority.
Luke 6:46King James Version (KJV)
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

njaybrown

Visiting Dad

Yesterday, I, one of my daughters, and my ex visited my dad at his house. He’s 89, and his health has been going downhill for the past year or more. He responds well to current topics we talk about, he just does not remember much about the recent past. He’s 6 feet tall, and down to 125 pounds. He uses a walker, but still does some leg exercises. He has trouble eating solid foods, and needs to use a thickener in some of his drinks so he doesn’t choke.
So, we all sat around in his living room, chatting it up, laughing, telling jokes, ribbing each other, and keeping it all upbeat. He seemed to really enjoy it, and while they were visiting, his lady friend wanted me to drive her to the store to get a few items, so we left, and it took about 45 minutes for the whole trip down the road. I had to search the store to see where she had walked off to, grocery shopping, I finally saw her heel zip past towards another aisle, so I trotted that way, and caught up with her. For an 85 year old woman, she’s very spry. Tiny, too.
After we got back and I unloaded her groceries for her, the conversation was still going strong, although dad looked a little dazed, staring off into space, so I politely ended the visit a few minutes later. I think he was getting tired, and needed a nap.
It was a good visit.
He has not fallen but one time since my daughter and I rolled up all the scatter rugs! Hospice nurses come by 3x a week to care for him, and keep an evaluation going. I’m glad he can stay home for now, and not be in a nursing home. Not yet. I understand completely why people DO need to be in nursing homes, though. No judgements here.
You never know how you’re going to act in a circumstance until it actually happens to you. So it’s best to try to be kind and Christ-like when listening to others tell you why they did something. You just never really know, until it happens to you.