Thoughts and stories, by Pal

This is a very timely and interesting article!  The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and You Let Him By  Carolyn Nicolaysen  · December 8, 2021 Author’s Note: When I spoke in Herriman, Utah a few weeks ago I had several people ask about the checklist binder I had with me. I had not yet finished the sections but they are done and available now at  Totallyready.com  I do not have email addresses or a way to contact those who asked so please spread the word. These sections are checklists to help guide your preparations and to access as a guide when the power fails, storms are on their way or for cleaning up after a disaster. They are step by step and ready to go.                    Thieves love the holiday season. They can do all their “shopping” in one place as we place gifts under the tree, leave them on counters to wrap and are overwhelmed and often ignore common sense safety pra...

How exciting is this?  !  !   I will leave early tomorrow morning to fly to Beijing, China, with a tour group from the Alan McKay and Dick Jensen Tour group!   I will be posting some pictures during the tour, and then some more detailed blogs after I get home.  How crazy is it for an 83 (84 in October) year old lady to go on a trip half way around the world?  Don't worry, I have my burial paid for, and also an insurance that will cover me if I happen to pass away anywhere in the world!  I will be sent home by Medical Air Service!   But I DON'T PLAN TO DIE ON THIS TRIP! So watch for news clips and pictures on Facebook! And to top it off, I saw an ad in the newspaper this morning, of a piano sale!  I went down to the Piano Gallery, and bought a lovely digital piano!  It fits in my bedroom, and because of the limited space, you sit on the bed to play it!  They even included a lovely book of Classical pian...

My Southern Caribbean Cruise, part 2: Barbados claims the dubious distinction of creating Rum!  The pirates loved it! The words on the sign are: This new world liquor popularized under the name of rum originated in Barbados.  The substance distilled from the molasses, a by product of sugar cane was originally known as kill devil. How the name came to be rum is shrouded in mystery.  But many believe it starts with the aged liquor stored in a barrel being sold in a tavern owned by Captain Rumball.  This unique liquor sought after by patrons took it s name from the owner and was called Rum.   I had seen Barbados on my family pedigree charts, and last night I found it again.  I had an ancestor, Alexander Skeen, born about 1690 in Scotland, who went to Barbados, married a lady there, Jemima Dewe, and his first 2 children were born there, and christened in the St. James Church, on Barbados.  (One in 1700, and the other a few years ...

I first posted this last December 26th, 2016.  It is so fascinating!  The exciting thing is that in April I am going on a tour to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel!  On April 21, 2018, I will be visiting Petra with the group which includes many dear old friends I've known for many years -- Gloria and Tom Shakespeare, and some of their family!  This will be a dream come true for me! MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016 770. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE WISE MEN – WHO CAME TO HONOR JESUS? Written by Dr. John L. Lund                                        This is a fascinating article!                                                                Photo of Petra WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE WISE MEN – WHO CAME T...

                                      This is a fascinating article!                                                               Photo of Petra WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE WISE MEN – WHO CAME TO HONOR JESUS? Written by Dr. John L. Lund December 6, 2016 When you go to Israel, also plan a stop at Petra, Jordan.  It may be the home of two of the “wise men”. No one knows for sure how many wise men went to Bethlehem to honor Jesus as the newborn king of the Jews. Tradition says there were three wise men and there may have been. We do know that the wise men came from the east of Bethlehem “following yonder star.” However they did not arrive on the night that Jesus was born. The New Testament was originally written in Greek....