Hobbit Cottage News

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."   ... Isaiah 43:19


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I'd been waiting to catch Sally, our new neighbor, outside with her little blind dog so to ask her over for coffee next week. Yesterday I did that and so on Tuesday at 10:00 she will come over for a visit. I think we'll have a very pleasant time even though she does not drink coffee, she said. Or tea. Just milk or water. :)


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At this moment from my window it is brightly sunny, though with tiny snowflakes fluttering down. Sweet.

Truly, Hobbit Cottage sits on enchanted land, for when we lived both on the farm and in our other suburban town, we'd get a killing frost right around my mom's birthday, October 3rd. You could safely risk your life upon it.

But here? Only this morning, November 14th, did my little banana pepper plant finally get that woe-be-gone, I'm-dying look. Each killing frost since 2012 has happened much later here, though today's is certainly a record.

Another record? Two of my pansy plants survived our last snowy winter(!) and one still looked this happy three days ago:

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And one more record? Many Buffalo families never turn their main heater on until October, even if they see their breath around the breakfast table. Well, we tried to do that at our other 2 houses, but always, being sensible wimps, caved-in usually by September's middle.

But here in this snug place! We comfortably waited until November 5th to rev up the main heater. November 5th! Now, we did often use our tiny electric woodstove and twice, the other one upstairs, but still. That never would have sufficed in our other houses.

Also, say what you will, but I believe the weather has changed. At least a bit. At least here in Buffalo.

So! Never stop believing God can change things, that He can make a way where there appears to be none. Suddenly, He can bring a Light so bright, so healing, that our eyes see things a whole other way. And Life never again appears the same--but better. And new.

Even if it looks the same ol' way to everyone else.

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Just one more bit of news... Probably the clerks at my supermarket call me The Cat Food Lady because every Saturday morning I unload a bazillion cans of the stuff upon their rolling belt. I try not to feel guilty about making them scan every little can, but still I do, not wanting to bother anyone (a first-born trait that's hard to shake). 

If only our store had those convenient boxes of canned food in Daniel-and-Sammy-loving varieties! But they don't. Alas.

But oh my! This week I discovered that WalMart Online does. The boxes arrived in only two days and now on some winter Saturdays I won't even have to go shopping at all, since I'm stocked up on (most) everything else. Not only will I be better prepared for an end-of-the-world scenario, but now store clerks will no longer dread my face. :)

Another Suddenly! Another happy, God-sent change, thrilling only to me, but perhaps helpful news to someone else.

You never know.





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"Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."   ... John 8:12


"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"   ... 2 Corinthians 5:17


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“November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.”

― Clyde Watson



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"Determine in your heart never to give up." ... Neil Vermillion



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Free Kindle books:

Small Talk: How to Connect Effortlessly With Anyone

The Promise of a Sound Mind

Safely Home

Roast Beef, Medium  (Thanks, Kristi!)

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