He is risen! Alleluia.
Daily lifting life's empty bowl to see what God provides to sustain, nourish, and strengthen His child.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Small world
Ann Voskamp has had several guest posters on her blog in past weeks, especially while she was in Haiti. One of these was Leslie Leyland Fields. I found her post about the waves and storms in Alaska compared to the storms of life interesting. I decided to read an earlier post. She mentions in it that her brother-in-law who is director of the Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation showed her a fake scroll that looked authentic. Weston?!
But of course, I should have deduced. Last name Fields, lives on Kodiak Island, Alaska, salmon fishes in the family enterprise. I knew Weston Fields when he was a professor at Grace College in Indiana. We haven’t seen much of him except at conferences or a few times he popped into my husband’s office in Dallas. He lives in Jerusalem now.
We have such good memories of the salmon he brought back every August to share with his faculty colleagues and spouses by inviting them to a salmon dinner at his house. When my husband and I were first married, we rented Weston’s house for 2 months while ours was under construction. He and his wife Bev and daughter Tammy were in Alaska.
Leslie has photos of the island where the family fishes. I had never seen any from Wes. I find her writing engaging and will certainly be visiting again to peruse more posts and links. She travels around the United States giving workshops on writing and speaking at conferences so she is no amateur.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Blog Anniversary
One year ago I put my first post on From a Beggar’s Bowl. I had created the account on blogspot and came up with a title slightly before, but the first actual posting was March 22nd, 2012. It has been an interesting journey. I am going to describe in detail some of what I discovered; now would be a good place to bail out if you have no interest in blogging. This is post 99. If I had planned more carefully, it could have been number 100 on my anniversary. No big deal.
I have learned some of the mechanics of posting, editing, etc. I use Windows Live Writer for typing up and inserting photos most of the time. I like it. I did create a few posts direct on blogspot. The biggest difference is that the photos if you click on them when it has been done thru blogspot, show up as a long strip so that the reader could just look at the photos and ignore the words. I am not sure I like that. I have done that on some of the blogs I have visited; clicked on the first photo, brought up the strip, looked at the rest of the photos and then left the blog without reading another word. You can also more easily add captions to photos; at least, I haven’t become very adept at that on Windows Live Writer.
At first, I didn’t tell anybody I had a blog. Eventually, I told my two sisters and a few acquaintances; then I placed a link to a post on Facebook, widening the exposure. The next step would be to join blog circles or hops or to link with other blogs or subscribe to them with the idea they would reciprocate. I’m not sure of the mechanics of doing that; I think the tutorials on blogspot would discuss how to do it. I haven’t explored those because I am not sure I want to take that step. I have some ambivalence to exposing myself. See my post Why Blog as to my motivation.
When I finally explored the dashboard, especially the statistics area, I noticed that some of my traffic came from strange-sounding places: vampire.stat; adsensewatchdog; filmhill. I was pretty suspicious of these from the get-go. I did click on vampire stat once to see why it would be directing traffic to my blog. I became pretty sure that these were monetized web sites trying to make a buck off of me in some way. If you want to learn more about these bots, this discussion sums up their game. Basically, they are not trying to drive traffic to your blog, but hoping you will click on the link in your traffic report so that they can count your visit in their stats and boost their profit-making ability. Apparently, in a few cases (zombiestat) they deposit spyware or other nasty things on computers not well-protected, but for the most part they are harmless. Except, they give new bloggers a false sense of the traffic to their blog. It is demoralizing to realize you have few real followers when you have 20 “views”. You want so desperately to believe your “baby” is going to succeed that those first stats are exciting. Unfortunately, they are not real readers, but these bots.
The dashboard overview graphic also is skewed not only because of these bots, but because even though you chose not to count your own viewing of your blog , it does show up in this graphic. The list of views for individual posts, however, does accurately reflect the number of views. My post list shows my highest number of views at 48 for the Home post. 43 for the Moravian Stool. The recipe posts have about a dozen views. These posts managed to offer something of value to readers outside of my inner circle. They gave history about Indiana Glass Company or provided an image of the stool and links to a relevant article or gave a recipe to try. Under the traffic report you can see the key search terms people used that landed them on your blog. These are legitimate readers who hopefully gained something from the posts. Since my blog is not narrow in scope, these readers probably did not become followers the way say a recipe site would draw in someone who found a recipe they liked. That’s OK. At least I know information I provided was helpful. Sometimes, a post has few views, then for some reason takes off. The Applebees Brownie Bites posted last October did that last month. They seem to have come from word searches on Google, but why the sudden surge in traffic? I have no idea.
I tried to post fairly often, at least a few times a week (except while out-of-town as I did not want to try creating a post on a small screen such as my Nook—but I could have as one can post from tablets and even smart phones). Did I post too much? Too little? Was I too philosophical and not practical enough? I would love to get feedback. I can see myself continuing, but probably not as frequently. The initial excitement wears off (and the bots are a downer). Most blogs die within 2-3 years. I like to travel and to read so probably I will at least keep some of those types of posts coming for awhile. Beyond that, who knows.
I have learned some of the mechanics of posting, editing, etc. I use Windows Live Writer for typing up and inserting photos most of the time. I like it. I did create a few posts direct on blogspot. The biggest difference is that the photos if you click on them when it has been done thru blogspot, show up as a long strip so that the reader could just look at the photos and ignore the words. I am not sure I like that. I have done that on some of the blogs I have visited; clicked on the first photo, brought up the strip, looked at the rest of the photos and then left the blog without reading another word. You can also more easily add captions to photos; at least, I haven’t become very adept at that on Windows Live Writer.
At first, I didn’t tell anybody I had a blog. Eventually, I told my two sisters and a few acquaintances; then I placed a link to a post on Facebook, widening the exposure. The next step would be to join blog circles or hops or to link with other blogs or subscribe to them with the idea they would reciprocate. I’m not sure of the mechanics of doing that; I think the tutorials on blogspot would discuss how to do it. I haven’t explored those because I am not sure I want to take that step. I have some ambivalence to exposing myself. See my post Why Blog as to my motivation.
When I finally explored the dashboard, especially the statistics area, I noticed that some of my traffic came from strange-sounding places: vampire.stat; adsensewatchdog; filmhill. I was pretty suspicious of these from the get-go. I did click on vampire stat once to see why it would be directing traffic to my blog. I became pretty sure that these were monetized web sites trying to make a buck off of me in some way. If you want to learn more about these bots, this discussion sums up their game. Basically, they are not trying to drive traffic to your blog, but hoping you will click on the link in your traffic report so that they can count your visit in their stats and boost their profit-making ability. Apparently, in a few cases (zombiestat) they deposit spyware or other nasty things on computers not well-protected, but for the most part they are harmless. Except, they give new bloggers a false sense of the traffic to their blog. It is demoralizing to realize you have few real followers when you have 20 “views”. You want so desperately to believe your “baby” is going to succeed that those first stats are exciting. Unfortunately, they are not real readers, but these bots.
The dashboard overview graphic also is skewed not only because of these bots, but because even though you chose not to count your own viewing of your blog , it does show up in this graphic. The list of views for individual posts, however, does accurately reflect the number of views. My post list shows my highest number of views at 48 for the Home post. 43 for the Moravian Stool. The recipe posts have about a dozen views. These posts managed to offer something of value to readers outside of my inner circle. They gave history about Indiana Glass Company or provided an image of the stool and links to a relevant article or gave a recipe to try. Under the traffic report you can see the key search terms people used that landed them on your blog. These are legitimate readers who hopefully gained something from the posts. Since my blog is not narrow in scope, these readers probably did not become followers the way say a recipe site would draw in someone who found a recipe they liked. That’s OK. At least I know information I provided was helpful. Sometimes, a post has few views, then for some reason takes off. The Applebees Brownie Bites posted last October did that last month. They seem to have come from word searches on Google, but why the sudden surge in traffic? I have no idea.
I tried to post fairly often, at least a few times a week (except while out-of-town as I did not want to try creating a post on a small screen such as my Nook—but I could have as one can post from tablets and even smart phones). Did I post too much? Too little? Was I too philosophical and not practical enough? I would love to get feedback. I can see myself continuing, but probably not as frequently. The initial excitement wears off (and the bots are a downer). Most blogs die within 2-3 years. I like to travel and to read so probably I will at least keep some of those types of posts coming for awhile. Beyond that, who knows.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Take a Dare
These thoughts from Ann Voskamp challenged me today. How about you? Are we willing to let go of our ideas of what our lives should be and see God work? For some of us, our natural inclinations and behavior traits go contrary to “let go and let God”, but we need to at least pray about what has been presented and have the Holy Spirit gently nudge us where God wants us.
From Ann:
Dare to be grateful for every good thing. And dare to know it’s all good. That’s what God does: God works everything for good.
Dare to never make pain invisible but dare to say injustice is intolerable. This takes courage. This takes Christ.
Dare to give up clarity — because God gives a call. Dare to give up life road maps — because God gives a relationship.
Dare to live without answers — because God gives His hand.
Dare to live by faith — not by feelings, formulas, facts or fences.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Beyond Happier At Home
I want to re-read Gretchen Rubin’s Happier at Home before sharing any thoughts, but that has been postponed a bit as I am reading some of the books she references.
Snoop : What Your Stuff Says About You by Sam Gosling might fall into the pop psychology area, but he does have good credentials and cites other research projects. His thesis that “when it comes to the most essential components of our personality, the things we own and the way we arrange them can say more about who we are than even our most intimate conversations” may be true, but he fails to make a convincing case. He promises to show us “which of your tastes and habits provide particularly useful portals into your personality”, but while he discloses some interesting tidbits, he brings in studies and experiments that seem to weaken that claim. Even with the more concrete suggestions, he keeps making exceptions to the supposed correlations between traits and the environments we create for ourselves. Some correlations we make intuitively have been proven incorrect by studies; yet, Gosling’s guidelines are also shaky.
Where the book is helpful is not in learning how to snoop, but in explaining the dimensions of personality and the facets of each trait. When we understand that certain facets go together, we understand each other better. Gosling uses and defines the Big 5.
1) Openness to new experiences 2) Conscientiousness 3) Extraversion 4) Agreeableness 5) Neuroticism (OCEAN)
He cites and gives an example of Dr. John Johnson’s evaluative personality tool. You can utilize the full inventory to recognize your own traits by clicking on the link. Not too many surprises for me when I did the online inventory. I would suggest you do it when you are relaxed and rested and in a good mood. I was tired and feeling a bit down; I suspect that influenced where on the scale of answers I put myself. Still, there were mostly differences of degree not substance. I had one facet that I totally disagree with the results, however. Because we often perceive our ideal self (how we want to be seen) rather than our true self, Johnson suggests asking people that we know well and trust if we exhibit the trait or facet in question.
Gosling almost undermines his thesis by suggesting that we move beyond traits to discover the goals and needs, hopes and values, and perceptions of self that make up the personal story of individuals. In fact, at one point he discusses using the “stuff” clues to engage a person in sharing their story. That’s not snooping; that’s how people get to know and understand each other. Nothing sneaky about launching questions and conversations about items a person owns.
Gosling also describes Dan McAdams’ work The Stories We Live By : Personal Myths and the Making of the Self to help us understand how we form a personal identity. McAdams defines identity as “the inner story of the self that integrates the reconstructed past, perceived present, and anticipated future to provide life with unity, purpose, and meaning”. It is the narrative you tell about yourself to make sense out of what has happened in the past and the kind of person you are now.
The issue Gosling presents is that whether we choose to project or protect our inner selves, the environments we create in the spaces that we inhabit (especially private space such as a bedroom vs public space such as a living room) reveal much about us, maybe even more than we intend to reveal. Where he fails is to strongly explain just what our stuff says. There is no explicit list of correlation to guide us except perhaps for the traits of conscientiousness and openness. Gosling cites a study that demonstrates that most people want their true identity known, at least as they enter deeper levels of intimacy. Clues to differentiate the person from the persona only go so far. Let’s talk.
Snoop : What Your Stuff Says About You by Sam Gosling might fall into the pop psychology area, but he does have good credentials and cites other research projects. His thesis that “when it comes to the most essential components of our personality, the things we own and the way we arrange them can say more about who we are than even our most intimate conversations” may be true, but he fails to make a convincing case. He promises to show us “which of your tastes and habits provide particularly useful portals into your personality”, but while he discloses some interesting tidbits, he brings in studies and experiments that seem to weaken that claim. Even with the more concrete suggestions, he keeps making exceptions to the supposed correlations between traits and the environments we create for ourselves. Some correlations we make intuitively have been proven incorrect by studies; yet, Gosling’s guidelines are also shaky.
Where the book is helpful is not in learning how to snoop, but in explaining the dimensions of personality and the facets of each trait. When we understand that certain facets go together, we understand each other better. Gosling uses and defines the Big 5.
1) Openness to new experiences 2) Conscientiousness 3) Extraversion 4) Agreeableness 5) Neuroticism (OCEAN)
He cites and gives an example of Dr. John Johnson’s evaluative personality tool. You can utilize the full inventory to recognize your own traits by clicking on the link. Not too many surprises for me when I did the online inventory. I would suggest you do it when you are relaxed and rested and in a good mood. I was tired and feeling a bit down; I suspect that influenced where on the scale of answers I put myself. Still, there were mostly differences of degree not substance. I had one facet that I totally disagree with the results, however. Because we often perceive our ideal self (how we want to be seen) rather than our true self, Johnson suggests asking people that we know well and trust if we exhibit the trait or facet in question.
Gosling almost undermines his thesis by suggesting that we move beyond traits to discover the goals and needs, hopes and values, and perceptions of self that make up the personal story of individuals. In fact, at one point he discusses using the “stuff” clues to engage a person in sharing their story. That’s not snooping; that’s how people get to know and understand each other. Nothing sneaky about launching questions and conversations about items a person owns.
Gosling also describes Dan McAdams’ work The Stories We Live By : Personal Myths and the Making of the Self to help us understand how we form a personal identity. McAdams defines identity as “the inner story of the self that integrates the reconstructed past, perceived present, and anticipated future to provide life with unity, purpose, and meaning”. It is the narrative you tell about yourself to make sense out of what has happened in the past and the kind of person you are now.
The issue Gosling presents is that whether we choose to project or protect our inner selves, the environments we create in the spaces that we inhabit (especially private space such as a bedroom vs public space such as a living room) reveal much about us, maybe even more than we intend to reveal. Where he fails is to strongly explain just what our stuff says. There is no explicit list of correlation to guide us except perhaps for the traits of conscientiousness and openness. Gosling cites a study that demonstrates that most people want their true identity known, at least as they enter deeper levels of intimacy. Clues to differentiate the person from the persona only go so far. Let’s talk.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
In the Sun’s Orbit
Now that the income tax filing is done, I have time to read through my happiness/gratitude book I have kept for the past 2 1/2 years. As I reflect on the notations, it is obvious that sunshine, sunsets, sunrise, are the most frequent terms. We woke to 21 degrees this morning, but the bright sunshine has worked to melt most of the remaining snow, and it is about 40 degrees. Our first winter in taking up residence again in Indiana we had very little sunshine. The skies were gray most of the time and even the TV weatherman kept using the term dismal. I felt down much of January and February of 2008. Sunshine makes a big difference in how I cope with winter. I don’t know how people who live in places like Alaska with very few hours of daylight for many months can stand it. I jotted down rain in my book when I was cozily comfortable in my house (the avoidance of rain I guess). I even was thankful for rain one day when I needed to go out because we were in drought and the moisture was precious and greatly needed.
The second most mentioned item was chocolate in some form (cocoa, chocolate cake, candy, warm chocolate chip cookies with melty chips). Yes, I am a chocoholic. I don’t need big servings, but if I go very many days without chocolate I start to crave it. I enjoy Godiva and See’s candies. However, for day-to-day chocolate needs, I like Lindt Lindor dark chocolate truffles. Earlier this year I toured the DeBrand Chocolates factory in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Their silk truffle was tasty but too messy. The interior was more like a syrup. The Lindt brand has just the right consistency: hard outer shell with a soft inner core that melts in the mouth but not liquidy and drippy.
Do you have a favorite chocolate? Do you need sunshine to function at your best? I am also looking to the promise of spring. Not too much longer according to the calendar, but calendars don’t always reflect reality.
The second most mentioned item was chocolate in some form (cocoa, chocolate cake, candy, warm chocolate chip cookies with melty chips). Yes, I am a chocoholic. I don’t need big servings, but if I go very many days without chocolate I start to crave it. I enjoy Godiva and See’s candies. However, for day-to-day chocolate needs, I like Lindt Lindor dark chocolate truffles. Earlier this year I toured the DeBrand Chocolates factory in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Their silk truffle was tasty but too messy. The interior was more like a syrup. The Lindt brand has just the right consistency: hard outer shell with a soft inner core that melts in the mouth but not liquidy and drippy.
Do you have a favorite chocolate? Do you need sunshine to function at your best? I am also looking to the promise of spring. Not too much longer according to the calendar, but calendars don’t always reflect reality.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Charleston and Savannah
First, let me tell you that our time in Charleston and Savannah was as daytrippers. We visited each city twice. I’m sure actually staying in each city would impart a truer flavor of place. Also, February would be quite different than spring or summer. However, I did come away with certain impressions. Both Cities have large active ports and architectually striking bridges.
Savannah’s main bridge over the Savannah River
The Ravenal Bridge between Charleston and Mount Pleasant
We took a guided walking tour of Charleston; we rode a trolley with narration in Savannah, really only exploring on foot River Street, Ellis Square, City Market, Forsyth Park, and part of Bay Street. The two approaches meant more opportunity to see up-close details in Charleston but a broader viewing of more of Savannah.
Charleston lives up to its reputation of charm and graciousness; Savannah was friendlier. Both have long histories, and one is impressed by the age of many buildings and tombstones. I felt a sense of “we-are-better-than-you” pride in Charleston; a folksiness and “come be a part of us” in Savannah.
Some of the differences are probably rooted in the early days. Charles Towne founded in 1670 was overseen by king-appointed Lord Proprietors. Large plantations in the surrounding countryside depended on slave labor. Interestingly enough, the early crops were rice, tea, indigo. Strong relations with Barbados resulted in importation of rum. Later, many sons of wealthy Barbados landowners came to Charleston to establish businesses as only the first son would inherit the land. Many of these lived in what is now Rainbow Row near the docks.
Savannah, on the other hand, when founded in 1733 established wards of residential and commercial buildings around 24 public squares on a grid. The idea was to have tradesmen and shopkeepers and outlying farms. Grand plantations were not the norm. Georgia’s charter outlawed slaves, distilled spirits, Catholics, and lawyers. Laws allowing these forbidden items were later passed, but initially the social demographic and culture differed from Charleston.
Our first visit to Savannah started with the Colonial Faire and Muster at Wormsloe in the outskirts of the city. This historic site preserves the ruins of the home of Noble Jones, who arrived with Oglethorpe in 1733. Mr. Jones proved invaluable in scouting for Spanish encroachment and in survey work. When slavery was legalized, he expanded his holdings, which passed to his descendants thru 10 generations. Costumed interpreters and re-enactors provide demonstrations of colonial life at this state-run site, though this special event included guests from South Carolina and Georgia groups.
After lunch, we went downtown and walked River Street, rode the free ferry across the Savannah River and back, and ate ice cream sitting in the lovely sunshine. We watched people enjoying a nice Saturday along the river and going to a cheerleading competition at the Convention Center. We also toured aboard the ship Peacemaker docked that weekend in Savannah.
Our car was parked near Ellis Square, one of the surviving 22 squares. Ellis is not so park-like, having been redone in 2010 with an interactive fountain. We looked thru shops at adjoining City Market.
Our second time we rode the trolley. We hopped off to have lunch at Paula Deen’s Lady and Sons restaurant; caught another trolley to Forsyth Park with touches of spring popping out.
Bordering the park is a Victorian-era neighborhood.
We did head Savannah direction one Sunday, but out to Tybee Island (disappointed), Fort Pulaski (see photos below), and to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, a suburb of Savannah.
Mighty Eighth:
Charleston offers many guided walking tours. They average $20, but are worth the price. One would be overwhelmed without some shepherding. Carriage tours are an alternative.
Our second time to Charleston was actually to nearby Mount Pleasant. We toured the U.S.S. Yorktown carrier at Patriot's Point Naval and Maritime Museum.
Savannah’s main bridge over the Savannah River
The Ravenal Bridge between Charleston and Mount Pleasant
We took a guided walking tour of Charleston; we rode a trolley with narration in Savannah, really only exploring on foot River Street, Ellis Square, City Market, Forsyth Park, and part of Bay Street. The two approaches meant more opportunity to see up-close details in Charleston but a broader viewing of more of Savannah.
Charleston lives up to its reputation of charm and graciousness; Savannah was friendlier. Both have long histories, and one is impressed by the age of many buildings and tombstones. I felt a sense of “we-are-better-than-you” pride in Charleston; a folksiness and “come be a part of us” in Savannah.
Some of the differences are probably rooted in the early days. Charles Towne founded in 1670 was overseen by king-appointed Lord Proprietors. Large plantations in the surrounding countryside depended on slave labor. Interestingly enough, the early crops were rice, tea, indigo. Strong relations with Barbados resulted in importation of rum. Later, many sons of wealthy Barbados landowners came to Charleston to establish businesses as only the first son would inherit the land. Many of these lived in what is now Rainbow Row near the docks.
Savannah, on the other hand, when founded in 1733 established wards of residential and commercial buildings around 24 public squares on a grid. The idea was to have tradesmen and shopkeepers and outlying farms. Grand plantations were not the norm. Georgia’s charter outlawed slaves, distilled spirits, Catholics, and lawyers. Laws allowing these forbidden items were later passed, but initially the social demographic and culture differed from Charleston.
Our first visit to Savannah started with the Colonial Faire and Muster at Wormsloe in the outskirts of the city. This historic site preserves the ruins of the home of Noble Jones, who arrived with Oglethorpe in 1733. Mr. Jones proved invaluable in scouting for Spanish encroachment and in survey work. When slavery was legalized, he expanded his holdings, which passed to his descendants thru 10 generations. Costumed interpreters and re-enactors provide demonstrations of colonial life at this state-run site, though this special event included guests from South Carolina and Georgia groups.
After lunch, we went downtown and walked River Street, rode the free ferry across the Savannah River and back, and ate ice cream sitting in the lovely sunshine. We watched people enjoying a nice Saturday along the river and going to a cheerleading competition at the Convention Center. We also toured aboard the ship Peacemaker docked that weekend in Savannah.
Our car was parked near Ellis Square, one of the surviving 22 squares. Ellis is not so park-like, having been redone in 2010 with an interactive fountain. We looked thru shops at adjoining City Market.
Our second time we rode the trolley. We hopped off to have lunch at Paula Deen’s Lady and Sons restaurant; caught another trolley to Forsyth Park with touches of spring popping out.
Bordering the park is a Victorian-era neighborhood.
We did head Savannah direction one Sunday, but out to Tybee Island (disappointed), Fort Pulaski (see photos below), and to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, a suburb of Savannah.
Mighty Eighth:
Charleston offers many guided walking tours. They average $20, but are worth the price. One would be overwhelmed without some shepherding. Carriage tours are an alternative.
Our second time to Charleston was actually to nearby Mount Pleasant. We toured the U.S.S. Yorktown carrier at Patriot's Point Naval and Maritime Museum.
Then we drove to Boone Hall Plantation, which is still a working plantation, though with crops different than cotton. They do have a small patch of cotton for educational purposes. A cold wind had chilled us all day so we skipped the open-air coach tour of the grounds, but we especially enjoyed the Gullah Culture Presentation. The sea island language derived from West African dialects and English. Because of the isolation of these groups after the Civil War, the language and culture have been preserved by the ancestors. Sweetgrass baskets are the noted folk art.
So much to do and see in Charleston and Savannah. If we return, perhaps a B & B would be nice, but we were glad to make these outings from Hilton Head Island.
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