Monthly Archives:July 2009

Okay . . . so a search on the ‘net for a childhood favorite book brought me to a forum convo about said book over at PaperBack Swap. Sadly, the person no longer had the book, but I was introduced to a pretty nifty idea.

How many of us (see my hand waving in the air?) have stacks of paperbacks we’ve read and then set aside? I see your piles of books – yes, I do!

Well, friends . . . this is a great way to pass those beloved books on to new homes – at no cost other than postage. When you join and post at least 10 titles of books you can part with you receive two credits. People can then ask for titles you’ve listed and, if you send that book on to them in a timely manner (and they receive it, of course), you will then receive a credit.

You, in turn, can use your credits to ask for books to be sent to you.

One credit per book. Easy, peasy!

Media rate postage for two books (rather than first class) saved me almost three dollars. But, do check with the postal employees if your book doesn’t weigh all that much – first class might be cheaper. I love small town post offices – the employees will tell you stuff like that.

😉

Anyway – have fun with it. I’m hoping to reduce the piles of books I have in every corner of my house through this means. I just have to sit down and post the rest of the isbn numbers onto the site.

Whoot!

I found the blog quite by accident – but it appeals to me on several levels – not the least of which is my former life as a catholic. My mother married a catholic man from a large (Irish, of course) catholic family. She vowed to raise her daughters “in the faith” even though she was not of the faith.

My sister and I attended mass on Sundays and catholic grade school as well as catholic high school. We wore white dresses and veils for our first communion. We were baptized (catholics sprinkle) when we were old enough to know or remember, btw. I think I must have been 6 years old or thereabouts.

My hubby and I were married in the catholic church I attended as a youngster.

I remember nuns in black robes with roasaries clicking. I remember priests who cried because they could not get the tabernacle open in order to serve communion. I remember priests who drank so much they could not hold a rosary prior to a funeral.

I remember darkened confessionals – but cannot recall the act of contrition we said by rote. I remember the sound of latin mass – the smell of incense – long Christmas eve masses at midnight. I remember the man who set the church building on fire accidentally by leaving his smouldering cigar on the confessional door.

There are a LOT of memories wrapped up in my life as a catholic.

Some of those memories are even from here in my adult hometown thousands of miles away from my childhood hometown. One is of the two nuns driving out to the cannery where we lived and worked our first nine months in Alaska. They offered to bring me back into the fold if I desired.

These same two nuns have now retired and gone back east to their mother convents.

Much of Peter the Sinner’s blog is about them and the disarray they helped cause in the area during their 30 year tenure.

I am no longer a catholic. There are many reasons – such things as PtS writes about? Yeah . . . those played a part – even though they occurred back in the childhood hometown and not here.

I am blessed to say – and to know beyond a doubt – that I am a sinner saved by faith in the living Christ. He alone – not a pope, priest, or nun – died for my sins and stretched out His arms to me in love.

When I die I am assured of my place in heaven – all because He died and rose again.

I won’t have to make a final act of contrition by rote – I pray each day for forgiveness for my sins – directly to the throne – not in a confessional to a man.

What a blessing to know that I am His and He is mine.

Praising!!!!!

barbara the sinner – saved by grace – washed in the Blood –

haha – made ya look!

But . . . IF I had it to do over again . . . and was still YOUNG . . .

THIS is what I would like to have done for MY wedding.

Happy 4th of July, everyone. Hope you’ve had a fun-filled day. Lessa, the Pup, Peppermist and friend, and I all went to the parade this morning. We were surprised to enjoy a sunny . . . HOT . . . day – generally 4th of July parade days are shrouded in cold, wet fog straight off Cook Inlet. There have only been a FEW days like today in the 31 years we’ve lived in Kenai.

Need I tell you I am sunburnt? I thought not.
😉

I took over 100 pictures during the parade . . . there were LOTS of wheels . . . vintage cars, race cars, motorcycles, high wheeled bicycle (the kind with a huge front wheel and tiny rear wheel) . . . there were horses, goats, dogs, floats featuring something to remind us that this year Alaska as a state turns 50 years old, the drum line from Kenai Central High School, the “little old lady” dancers, baseball teams, soccer teams, men in uniform, etc.

BUT . . . the highlight of the day for many of us was the Lawn Chair Drill Team. They marched in (not so) tight formation chanting loud enough for us to hear (left, right, left, no left, right, LEFT!!!) making us smile.

But everyone laughed and applauded when they sat in formation, crossed their legs right over left, waved to the left, crossed their legs left over right, waved to the right, sat and waited for the parade to move on again, then stood as one, RIGHT SHOULDER CHAIRS, and marched onward.

Yes, indeedy . . . I live in (small town) Alaska . . . we make our own fun. Come join us sometime.

First of all, I’d like to give a shout out to S., a webbie friend from RAINN. I promised him some more Alaskan pictures yesterday and did not get to it, so here you go . . . some more shots from Monday’s trek to Homer.

This is a shot of the Ninilchk Russian Orthodox church. The Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Church is the most photographed building in Ninilchik. Its services began in 1846 with the arrival of lay missionary Grigorii Kvasnikoff. This present building was designed by local architect Aleksei Oskolkoff and dedicated in 1901. (from Ninilchik, Alaska info page.)

If you are looking for the way to this church, be sharp-eyed. The turn sneaks up on you as you head southward toward Homer and if you aren’t careful you’ve already passed it and are on the way through Ninilchik proper.

There is a path from the church down into the old village, but it is a narrow path and you have to be fleet of foot to walk along it. (or maybe you just have to be younger than I.) You might be better to drive down into the village. We didn’t do that this trip as the road was blocked off by road construction crews. There used to be a store and gift shop open in the village. I don’t know if they are still there.

Next to the church is a small white house – I’m thinking maybe it is a rectory for the visiting priest? Yes, they still hold services in this church. I don’t think the outhouse next to it is still in use . . . although it just needs a new hinge to be available for use – that, and a path cleared to the door. The devil’s club and other flora has taken over the path so that it is barely accessible.

Behind a fenced area in front of the church is the cemetery for the orthodox. You might be able to see that the orthodox cross is different than the one we are most used to. Here’s an explanation I found:

The Russian Orthodox cross differs from the Western cross. The top bar represents the plaque that was hung over Christ’s head. The middle bar, as in Western Christianity, is the cross beam on which Christ’s wrists or palms were nailed. The slanted bottom bar is the footrest – and Christ’s feet are represented as being nailed individually rather than together.

On the other side of the church – outside the fenced area – is the American Legion cemetery. It really is a lovely spot overlooking the old village, Cook Inlet and the mountains.

Maybe I’ll post some more pictures later, but I hope you enjoy these for now.