Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover


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2018 Word of the Year: Roots

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My 2018 word of the year was ROOTS.

It sounds odd now, when I say roots, but by choosing it, I claimed the focus of concentrating on my roots.

Not only my spiritual roots, but the roots of who I am as a woman, mother, daughter, sister, wife, Nana. The importance of roots in the natural world, my love of nature and gardening, hiking, photography-all played a part in my word choice. My roots anchor me to who I was, am, and will be. With my roots firmly attached to Jesus, I know I am secure and safe from the storms of life, ponderous and damaging though they be.

My art project incorporating the word ROOTS didn’t pop into my head until well after the year got underway. Using watercolor paints, permanent markers, glitter glue (after all, life can always use more sparkle), ink, and rubber stamps, I created a piece to remind me of my word of the year.

My art was not stagnant the entire year. As I found more Bible verses or sayings, had thoughts about the word, or saw something missing and filled it in, I added to my project. I really like the finished look. It occupied a space on my work bulletin board where it was easy to see.

Tomorrow I will share my new 2019 word of the year. I’ve had some thoughts about it, some unique applications already in place. Just recently, the image for my art project popped into my mind, but it is not yet on paper.

Read about The Year of Peace here.

Do you choose a word for the year? Maybe you choose a phrase, sentiment, or goal. I’d love to hear!

 

 


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Happy 300 Party!

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Happy 300 blog followers party!

I might be slow, but I eventually catch on. Love, Laughter, and Life has reached 300 wonderful followers. How exciting!

Let’s celebrate!

Music: Upbeat and fast-paced (insert your favorite celebratory tune here; I am hopeless in remembering song titles, unless they are for the 5 and under crowd)

Decor: Balloons, sweet-smelling flowers, streamers, candles (in hurricane lamps for safety)

Dessert: Dark chocolate truffles with a few charcuterie and cheese platters artfully arranged for good measure

Drink: Sparkling water with twists of lemon, lime, and orange

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Thank you, dear ones. I appreciate each one of you!

Onward and upward to 2019!


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Three-Horse Alarm

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Happy New Year!

Like everyone else I’ve read or spoken with, I can’t believe how fast 2018 disappeared. I’m not sure which is correct: the older you get the faster time goes, or the older you get the slower time goes. Some days both are true. Or perhaps these sayings are talking about memory. Definitely true.

Welcome to 2019!

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For fun, I’d like to introduce you to our three-horse alarm, formerly posted about in this blog as The Three Chocolates.

The three chocolates (white, milk, and dark) live in the pasture next door. I only know 2 actual names, so the chocolates they remain. They are very good watch horses. Excellent in fact.

Not too long ago, I noticed all three stationed facing east (looking our way), heads up, tails up, ears forward, alert and ready to flee (or attack). That’s my alarm going off! Time to see what’s going on.

That time, an entire herd of goats was free from pasture and roaming just above the horses and our pasture. Not causing trouble, other than the possibility of traffic issues if they persisted in grazing west. I called to let authorities know. I knew exactly when help arrived due to the alarm horses. I could follow the drama by peeking out the window to see what the horses were doing.

Other days, with just one glance, I can tell from which direction trouble comes, be it dogs, people, noisy trucks, goats, other horses, yelling children . . .. It’s a pretty fascinating way to spend time, observing my alarm horses. They are used to us, and now we are in the category of boring. Unless we have snacks. But should a new person approach, beware the attention.

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Yesterday, two girls had dogs on leashes on the west side of the pasture fence. Oh, the alarm was a three-horse blare! Running, snorting, kicking up heels, and from the white chocolate, preparation to attack. We thought we might witness an injury accident as the girls were oblivious to the danger facing their dogs.

Fortunately, adults intervened and disaster was averted.

What an alarm system! I feel pretty secure knowing three sharp-eared, eagle-eyed equines stand guard in our little community. Combine the three-horse alarm with the five-dog contingent to the east and our hunting cat Monet who is ever alert, and there is not much that can sneak up on us.

Hope your New Year is as entertaining as life in the pasture.

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Start the New Year Right: Donate Blood to the Red Cross

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a poke, some squeezing

lounging on a vinyl couch

donate red to save

 

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by Angie Quantrell

 

This last year, when my mother-in-law was in the hospital, she required 6 units of the red stuff. My dad needed several units as he battled heart issues. It’s the least I can do, to give back so others in need can have fresh blood. In memory of my Daddy and Carole, I’ve been making sure to visit and give after my 56 days of recovery are complete.

Join me? For a short time, with each blood donation, the Red Cross is giving each donor long-sleeved shirts, while supplies last. Got mine. Tell them Angie sent you. 😉


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Merry Christmas!

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I can’t believe that Christmas is tomorrow, and fast on the heels of this special day, a new year waits to be born!

Thanks so much for visiting and hanging out with me this year. I’ve had fun exploring Haiku and photos, books, recipes, family antics and adventures, travels, and writerly topics. I hope you’ve enjoyed the posts, learned something new, laughed, or maybe wondered into which deep end I’ve fallen.

Merry Christmas to you and your family and friends! Praying that your time together will be blessed.

Peace to you!

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The grands, (l-r) Donavyn, Hayden, Autumn, Khloe, and Gage


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Holiday Haiku – 25 Days of Christmas Haiku: sum total

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children dancing with

excitement for sugar, treats,

and presents galore

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choirs singing with

exuberant heralding

joy for the season

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bright stores bursting with

color, music, fanciful

hope for green year’s end

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trees painted bright with

pointed stars, handmade baubles,

tall signature guest

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churches fill with

the eager, the worshipful,

ones who seek the Babe

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my heart blooms with peace

nostalgia and holy praise

for the Holy Gift

 

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by Angie Quantrell

 

Thank you for joining me on this Christmas Haiku journey! May this Season of Light speak to your heart and fill you with hopeful anticipation.

Read more Christmas Haiku here.


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Book Report: Porcupine’s Pie by Laura Renauld

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Porcupine’s Pie

Written by Laura Renauld

Illustrated by Jennie Poh

Beaming Books, 2018

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I’ve never used Capri Sun in a recipe before reading this book. Yes, that has something to do with the adorable Porcupine’s Pie!

Porcupine is getting ready for Fall Feast Day. She checks her cupboard for ingredients for her famous Cranberry Pie and heads to the river to wash cranberries. Along the way she meets her friends who have famous recipes as well, but these friend are missing ingredients. By the time Porcupine gets to the river, circumstances have changed and she is no longer able to make Cranberry Pie.

Instead, once her friends arrive at her home, Porcupine makes a new treat, Friendship Pie (recipe included).

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Porcupine’s Pie is full of sharing, kindness, and friendship. I’ve wanted to read it since it was born, but had to wait for it to arrive at my library. (Let me tell you a trick: Most libraries have a way to request new titles. I LOVE this feature. I requested Porcupine’s Pie a few months ago. Now I have a brand new copy in my hands to enjoy.)

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I read Porcupine’s Pie with my grands the other day. My granddaughter immediately jumped up, ready to bake a Friendship Pie. But alas, their larder did not have all necessary ingredients. So Nana went shopping and last night we made Friendship Pie.

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Where does Capri Sun fit in? The recipe calls for cranberry juice (or a favorite juice). On the first night when we first looked in the fridge, there was a big container of apple juice. So Nana did not purchase more juice. ONE DAY later, when we prepped the recipe, the juice was all gone! That happens in families with three kids. The only similar ingredient to be found was Capri Sun. Well then. I can now say I’ve cooked with Capri Sun!

Porcupine’s Pie gets two thumbs up! Add this one to your fall/friendship/sharing themes.

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Holiday Haiku – 25 Days of Christmas: sacred

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green, everlasting

evidence of sacred life

hope springs eternal

 

sacred

by Angie Quantrell

 

Thanks for joining me on a Christmas Haiku journey as I celebrate with words, thoughts, and photos that take me deep into my family’s Christmas traditions. Read more Christmas Haiku here.
May this Season of Light remind you of what is sacred.


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Holiday Haiku – 25 Days of Christmas Haiku: silent

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frozen reminder

season of rest, of silence

time stopped, be at peace

 

silent

by Angie Quantrell

 

Thanks for joining me on a Christmas Haiku journey as I celebrate with words, thoughts, and photos that take me deep into my family’s Christmas traditions. Read more Christmas Haiku here.
May this Season of Light fill your heart with the peace of silence.


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Holiday Haiku – 25 Days of Christmas Haiku: sacrifice

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Baby born to be

the world’s greatest sacrifice,

Lord Jesus, Son, Redeemer

 

sacrifice

by Angie Quantrell

Thanks for joining me on a Christmas Haiku journey as I celebrate with words, thoughts, and photos that take me deep into my family’s Christmas traditions. Read more Christmas Haiku here.

May this Season of Light brighten your life and show you the true Sacrifice.