Patti Lynn Clark Barnett

The Gwynedd Wildlife Preserve is absolutely beautiful and practically in our own back yard. I'm supportive of private citizens and corporations preserving green space and I'm also very grateful they have prevented this land from being subdivided. Otherwise, we would not be able to enjoy it like we do.

Last Sunday was a spectacular day with clear blue skies and it was so warm we ended up carrying our coats. Far more like spring than mid winter temperatures. Other than very muddy trails, it was perfect. My husband and I sat under this lonely hickory tree last year and ate hickory nuts he arduously cracked with a rock. Fresh hickory nuts taste fantastic, but if you have ever eaten them from the shell, you'll understand why they are so very expensive, that is if you can find them at all.  It is virtually impossible for mere humans to extract the delicious little nuggets from their cloistered embedments and chambers. However, an amazing non struggle for the squirrels I've seen devouring them with almost mechanical speed. Seems to me the hickory nut tree is rare and headed for extintion. This being the first I've seen in years. On this visit, we could not find a single nut that the squirrels had not gotten to first. Must have heard we were coming:))

I am thankful to God for our good health and the ability to experience the joy of days like this.

No nation that proclaims to be a God honoring and God fearing peoples should even consider a Democratic candidate for the presidency.

Now, Whoa, Nellie! Not so fast. Before condemning me to the ranks of, "Evangelical, partisan right wing, radical, nutzoid" and all those other kind, flattering and respectful names the democratic left liberals have for any true believing Christian, take into consideration what all of these Democratic candidates run on, uphold and represent.  In no way am I diminishing the importance of the basic domestic and foreign issues. However, none of these are more important than selecting a president that does not embrace the two greatest," abominations" in the sight of God. Those would be the shedding of innocent blood and homosexuality.
 
Regardless of how Bishop Gene Robinson, in his pathetic attempts to torture scripture and explain away the truth about homosexuality, God still, flat out, calls it sin.  Since the homosexual bishop contends this matter is only mentioned in the Old Testament, relegated to the ash heaps of history like the old Levitical laws, I wonder how he explains Romans 1? It is repeatedly condemned and cities and nations were destroyed for this and the afore mentioned abomination. You could ask the descendants of those that lived in Sodom and Gomorrah--if any existed! I have no personal animus toward gays. In fact, I've probably dated several of them in the past, finding them among the most creative and gracious sorts of individuals. I don't know whether it's genetic or learned behavior. But like any other behavior condemned in Holy Scripture it doesn't have to be acted upon. All humans have a sinful nature, but the sin is in the "performance" of that act and the lack of repentence. I believe, as a nation, we will be punished for encouraging and embracing the homosexual life style and abortion. The Bible is very clear on that.
 
Now, I fully expect to be called a primitive, espousing such ideas. But that doesn't bother me much since I am a daily Bible reader (DBR). Being a DBR certainly doesn't qualify me for saint hood or suggest that I have perfect understanding. It does protect and prevent me from being deluded by the MSM and functionally illiterate about the major Biblical truths. Some of the Bible is mysterious, but other highly emphasized portions are so clear that even a fool can get the message.
 
I am on a mission to get people reading the book our founding fathers believed was Divinely inspired. Lincoln said, "I have never doubted the truths in the holy scriptures, even though I don't go to church."  This great nation was founded on the truths inspired and recorded by Providence. What would these noble men of yore think if they knew America, the greatest nation on earth, was even considering electing a President that upheld this non-Biblical valuelessness? 

Happy New Year! 

We visited Washington, D.C over the holidays. It was a much more moving experience than previous visits. Chiefly, because we visited the Lincoln Memorial and took the time to read Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and the Gettysburg Address which are huge inscriptions on the interior walls. While we were reading, two people stopped to only glance at the right wall containing Lincoln's inspirational words. I heard one of the two quip, "Just a bunch of words". I thought that was so depressingly telling. Most people were far more interested in getting pictures of themselves made in front of the statue than in reading those Biblically-based, time honored thoughts and ideals that have changed human destiny.

We also visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. They were both moving.  The squad of ghost-like soldiers at the Korean Memorial was especially eerie and strange. All of those reminders of the lives given for the cause of freedom was indeed sobering and brought a renewed sense of appreciation for the America we call home. 
 
The National Gallery of Art is a place in which I could easily take up residence. I never tire of the art treasures there. We perused,  "The Art of the American Snapshot, 1888-1978" on display consisting of original snapshots. These snapshots are a spontaneous, chronological record of tragic, humorous and unexpected events, somewhat like I try to capture in my songs.

  From snapshot collection

I was especially struck by the beauty and whimsical expression of "Girl With Shell" by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux.

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