A Few of FR's Finest .... Every Day .... 1-25/26-06 .... Winter Poetry and Potpourri

1-25-06 | JustAmy

[JustAmy]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!

~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear, GodBlessUsa ~

COLD!

It has a bitter bitingness, that turns all things to metal,
And colors freeze to shades of gray, and restless dust must settle.
It creeps in every nesting spot, like damp upon the soul,
My grasp becomes most tenuous. I'm sure I'll lose control,

As every surface seems to lose its rough and gripping texture,
The world is slipping into ice. At least, that's my conjecture.
Cold has orbited round again, to shade our hope, and kill it.
It slowly inches inward toward the soul, to try and chill it.

Darkness seems to last, and last, with daylight wan and bleak,
And every dawn a cheerless one, as cold light shows its streak.
The cold seeps in, its metal-gray sleek hardness like a gun,
To stifle hope and joy. We freeze instead of run.

For where is there to run to? Even rivers have been stopped.
And even sheltering leaves of trees have all been crisply cropped.
The fangs of Winter's frozen teeth hang down like smiles of looming death,
And frozen remnants of one's life condense with every breath.

The first time that I shivered I was ready to shout, "Hold!
The years that I've seen Winter, I recall, and this is getting old!"
I'm disagreeable most days, but I'll nod if you happen to mention,
To the first poor soul who says to me, "It's as cold as the Devil's intention!"

NicknamedBob . . . . January 18, 2006

Fog Flowers

I like to call them Fog Flowers, those tiny crystals of rain.
They carpet the world in silence, they glorify dirt in the lane.
There seems all a hush to their presence, the softest tinkle of sound,
And even the animals quiet, as a blanket descends on the town.

Some look upon it as frigid, but warming and soft is the throw,
The flowers asleep in the garden, will snuggle and smile under snow.
“But it makes the road too slippery!” I hear the complaints starting now.
As it furrows and windblows and softens, the marks that were left by the plow.

You seem to not understand it, this miracle silently wrought.
For where will you go now to find it, when this is what you have sought?
A promise of hope from your Father, a gentle reminder of love,
Each entity fallen from Heaven, is getting a kiss from above.

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . . . . December 5, 2004

Shepherd Pie

1 1/2 lbs. Ground Meat
2 small onions, chopped
1/4 C. Beef Bouillon
1 can (16.5 oz.) English Peas
4 to 5 carrots, thinly sliced
2 C. Gravy
8 potatoes (2 1/2 pounds) mashed and seasoned with salt, pepper, and butter

Cook meat and onions in 1/4 cup bouillon until well done. Drain and season.

Place mixture in an 8 by 11 inch baking pan, cover with layer of carrots and peas.

Prepare two cups medium thick gravy using bouillon to flavor.

Pour hot gravy over meat and vegetables.

Mash potatoes, seasoning with a little milk, salt, and pepper. Spread potatoes over meat mixture and dot the top with butter.

Bake 1 hour in a preheated 300 degree oven.

CREAMY CHEESY POTATO SOUP

4 c. diced white potatoes
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/4 c. chopped onion
1/4 c. chopped parsley
4 c. water
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 c. whole milk
1 c. evaporated
3 tbsp. butter
4 oz. Cheddar cheese grated
4 to 6 slices of Velveeta cheese

Combine the vegetables, water and seasonings in a pot and boil until vegetables are tender. Drain water from potatoes. Add the milk and bring to just under the boiling point. Add the cheeses and

butter and stir over a very low heat just until cheeses and butter are melted. Stir gently as not to mash your potato chunks. Serve garnished with fresh

parsley.

WINTER COOKIES

1 cup of water
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup of brown sugar
Lemon juice
4 large eggs
1 cup nuts
2 cups of dried fruit
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Sample the Cuervo to check quality.

Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.

Turn on the electric mixer...
Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar...Beat again.

At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK, try another cup ... just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit, .....
Pick the frigging fruit off floor

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something.

Check the Jose Cuervo.

Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
Add one table.
Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.

Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.
Don't forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

12-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #14

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 01-23-06 Military Monday 01-24-06 A Birders' Eye View

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[JustAmy]

[JustAmy]

[JustAmy]

A sincere Thank You for all your help, MamaBear.

[JustAmy]

Good evening, William Creel. Great to see you this evening.

Heck, if I know! :)

[JustAmy]

[JustAmy]

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Dutchess; Dansangel; , and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maigrey...................cousin OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin..........niece, loved one Pippin...nephew & his fiancee weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew Dubya............................nephew StarCMC......................brother ValerieUSA..................2 sons Lakeside......................2 sons LakeLady.....................nephew Spruce.....................daughter Philman_36..............2 nephews bjcintennessee.......son, niece Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend Katydidnt..........................son MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty cjk..........................active duty Trish.......................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue..................active duty Notwithstanding.....active duty thumperusn.............active duty Q6-God.....................active duty Q6-God...................twin brother Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx..................active duty Old Sarge................active duty Bykrbayb.........................son Hope and Glory................son Walkenfree............2 grandsons, 3 nephews, 1 granddaughter ariamne.....................2 cousins Zechariah_8_13..brother-in-law, cousin El Gato.....................nephew MississippyMuddy.............sister MississippyMuddy.....2 nephews Kramster......................stepson veeceeque................active duty freema.............. nephew and son Jemian............................ son Lone Red Ranger...Brother in law No Longer Free State ..... active duty right2parent.................son Ike..................................son repubmom......................son Skyraider........................ son CMS................... active duty CyberAnt.................nephew Jen's mom.............daughter 911angelady...........2 sons U S Army EOD.............daughter weldgophardline ...................Son

scubachick...............husband ladtx........................2 sons Its_me_K.E.T...................son gator girl.................husband severa.......husband, brother Hostel......................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA...............................son katykelly......................son cookcounty.....................son SpookBrat...nephew, cousin Doug from Upland...son-in-law Himyar..........................son boxerblues................2 sons the piper.........................son sheeza.......................husband kemathen7.................husband Tiffee4Bob.................boyfriend deadhead......................cousin JimRobinson.........2 nephews TexKat..............son, step-son Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel.........................niece Donaeus......................nephew dixie sass...................nephew BeAllYouCanBe...................son Repubmommy...............brother AgThorn.........................2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.............................son Rose inRoseBear...cousin's hubby Skimask.......................Son Atomic Conspiracy..half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...nephew Atomic Conspiracy..........niece Sunflowergal..............grandson visualops.......................cousin Alouette..............................son mrstank.......................husband MrsMike31..................husband eaglesiniowa......................son auboy............................cousin spotbust1...................husband Leofl.................................son chena................................son campfollower...................fiance LUV W..............................son painter.........................nephew ProudAFDad......................son TheMayor....friends'son & nephew mhking........................cousin Misty4jc......................husband Colorado Slim................ nephew Tapatio.....................2 nephews CGblue....................active duty ak_daddoo.....................nephew DirtyHarryY2K.......daughter,son-in-law nelibeli.........................nephew bigghurtt...................Active duty frankiep....................Active duty Palladin.......................grandson Gonzo......................friend's son jkphoto.........................nephew JRios1968..................Active Duty Azbushgal..........................son rahbert............................son Kimmykay...........................son sneakers……….son NavySEAL F-16 .................son wolfcreek................daughter JesseJane ............ cousin. Roses0508..................son SoldiersPrayingMom.........son WakeUpandVote..........brother mrs tiggywinkle............cousin MEG33..................grandson jrushing ................. son CMS....................active duty

[Mama_Bear]

You are sincerely welcome. Truth be told, my feelings would probably be hurt if you didn't ask me to help with your graphics. ;-)

You know I love playing in photoshop and you give me a good reason to "play". :-)

[JustAmy]

[JustAmy]

I'm glad you enjoy it because I will be calling again next month. :)

[JustAmy]

[Mama_Bear]

I'm glad you enjoy it because I will be calling again next month. :)

I'm counting on it. (Now I have set it up so that you can't not ask me help. LOL.) :-)

[JustAmy]

LOL

[JustAmy]

Looks like it really is time for bed.
See you in a few hours.
Goodnight, Everyone.

((( Bro ))), thank you for this adorable graphic.
See you tomorrow.

[MEG33]

Brrr..Let's cozy up to a fire

[StarCMC]

[The Mayor]

January 25, 2006

And It Was So

Read:
Genesis 1:1-13

God said, . . . and it was so. —Genesis 1:9

Bible In One Year: Exodus 12-13; Matthew 16

The words are repeated several times in Genesis 1, the story of creation: "And it was so."

Whatever God said—it happened. "Let there be light . . . . Let there be a firmament . . . . Let the earth bring forth grass . . . ." Then, each time, the words: "And it was so." God spoke the words, and it became a reality.

As I read about this beginning of our world and the power of God, I started to think about some other things God and His Son Jesus have said—things we can count on.

When Jesus was talking about His followers, He said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28). If we have put our trust in Him, we can be assured that we have eternal life right now and will live with Him forever.

The writer to the Hebrews said, "Be content with such things as you have. For [God] Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Hebrews 13:5). We can be sure that our needs will be met and that we won't be left alone.

One of Jesus' most comforting promises is "I will come again and receive you to Myself" (John 14:3). He said it; we can believe it and wait confidently for that day.

Count on God's word. It will be so. —Anne Cetas

No matter what may come to pass,
God's precious Word still stands,
This universe is held intact
Within His mighty hands. —Williams

God said it. I believe it. That settles it.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
How Does God Keep His Promises?

[MEG33]

ROFLOL! Glad I had put my coffee down before clicking on. ;)

[MEG33]

Thank you, Mayor..

[StarCMC]

LOL!! That one always cracks me up!!