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	<title>Barb's Blog</title>
	<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog</link>
	<description></description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:31:51 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Two Ways to Live</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In all the complexities that make up our lives, it&#8217;s kind of hard to believe that someone can narrow it down to there are &#8220;Two Ways to Live.&#8221;
It couldn&#8217;t be that easy. Are there really two main choices for our complicated lives?
The people at Matthias Media, a ministry from Australia,  have broken it down to Two [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/20/two-ways-to-live/</link>
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		<title>Eek, No Mouse!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Did you know the computer mouse is 40 years old? I had no idea, and there are some experts out there predicting its demise. Perhaps in the next 5 years.
Influenced by some video games, they feel that the computer mouse is no longer needed.
Taking over will be so called gestural computer mechanisms like touch screens [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/19/eek-no-mouse/</link>
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		<title>America&#8217;s Best Hospitals</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In this election year, health care seems to have taken a back seat in the news.
I thought this list was interesting though, and very pleased to find the Hospital at the top right here in Maryland!
1. Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
2. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
3. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles
4. Cleveland Clinic
5. Massachusetts General [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/19/americas-best-hospitals/</link>
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		<title>Judicial Tyranny</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I remember being a little girl, and hearing my mom say, &#8220;The one thing our very wise forfathers didn&#8217;t forsee, was how to keep the judicial branch of government from being too strong.&#8221;
I didn&#8217;t understand that completely then.
The Constitution establishes legislative and executive branches of government to establish policy, make laws, and govern the nation. The role of [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/16/judicial-tyranny/</link>
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		<title>Drill!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;You should be happy your gas is $4.00 a gallon, some of Europe pays twice that.&#8221;
It is often said and yet there is an error in this logic. Much of Europe has an amazing connection of transport that makes cars unnecessary. Many can roam about comfortably and never own a car. In many cases, a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/15/drill/</link>
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		<title>Hummingbird!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever observed a humming-bird moving about in an aerial dance among the flowers - a living prismatic gem&#8230;. it is a creature of such fairy-like loveliness as to mock all description.  ~W.H. Hudson, Green Mansions  
I have been trying now for awhile to capture a hummingbird with my new camera.
I finally had [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/14/hummingbird/</link>
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		<title>Never a Dull Moment</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today, I noticed while I was vacuuming the swimming pool something was missing from the pool ladder. I went to the shed to find the parts.
This green snake was inside to greet me.

It was really small around but rather long.

]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/12/never-a-dull-moment/</link>
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		<title>Cleaning the Roof</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I noticed the other day what a mess the roof of the house was, along with the debris staining the gutter guards. As I spent a day scrubbing it, I realized, &#8220;Wait a minute, I have two tall boys in the house.&#8221;
The next day, Miquel and Mike was given the job, and went beyond what [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/12/cleaning-the-roof/</link>
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		<title>What&#8217;s Your New Address?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.&#8221; Psalm 116:15
Today my son Miquel and I went to a funeral service for one of the most Godliest of men I have known, who had been ill for some time and passed away. Left behind is a very Godly and sweet family.
What made this [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/10/whats-your-new-address/</link>
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		<title>CHANGE Languages?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Obama, our little CHANGE candidate.
I think he is going too far in the following video, insisting people learn Spanish.
This is the United States of America, the English settled here, we speak the American form of English. That&#8217;s it.
Now don&#8217;t get me wrong. I like learning languages. I can in fact, speak and understand three languages. But I [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/09/change-languages/</link>
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		<title>Diplomatic Deadbeats</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I saw on FoxNews this morning that the diplomats living in New York City repeatedly refuse to pay for parking tickets that they have received from illegal parking.
Also, it goes beyond that, they buy property here in the U.S. and they also refuse to pay for their property taxes as well.
This is where Diplomatic Immunity  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/08/diplomatic-deadbeats/</link>
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		<title>The Wilds 2008</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Another year, another trip to The Wilds! Our teens will go to North Carolina for a week of fun, Bible study, and cut off from the world. No cell phones, no radios, no mp3 players, no computers, nothing. Each year, no one seems to even miss their connection to the outside world. Each year the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/06/the-wilds-2008/</link>
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		<title>To Decline or Not to Decline</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On this 4th of July weekend, and carrying over from my post yesterday, perhaps an email I received from Bill O&#8217;Reilly answers my question, why would we change, and WHAT would we change?
Here is some of what his email says:
A Nation in Decline?
By Bill O&#8217;Reilly 
Just in time for Independence Day, the bible of the American [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/05/to-decline-or-not-to-decline/</link>
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		<title>No &#8220;Change&#8221; from our Freedoms, Please</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
As we have a candidate screaming &#8220;change&#8221; from every rooftop, the following that Joe sent me truly begs to ponder how much &#8220;change&#8221; do we really need?
by By Craig R. Smith

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/04/no-change-from-our-freedoms-please/</link>
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		<title>Disco Swimming Pool</title>
		<description><![CDATA[When Laura and I made our trip to Wisconsin, we saw an item in the SkyMall catalog on the plane for a floating light for a swimming pool.
Today, as we needed something for the pool, we went to the pool store and found the same light, but for about $5 less. We bought it.
As soon as [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/03/disco-swimming-pool/</link>
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		<title>Been Busy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Um&#8230;.my last post I informed you that I finally purchased my dream camera! - The Canon 40D
Well, I&#8217;ve been busy&#8230;.

The camera has so much going for it. It brings birds right to your eyes!
Like this Sparrow:

Or this Goldfinch:

&#8230;and yesterday Laura and I went to Annapolis and we got some very sharp landscapes as well.

I am [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/07/02/been-busy/</link>
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		<title>My Summer Project</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
For as long as I can remember now, I have wanted a digital SLR camera.
Today I finally purchased a fine camera, the Canon 40D.
The thing has come with 4 CD&#8217;s of software to install and 5 manuals to read.
Today I took about 180 practice shots, and I think I am really going to like the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/28/my-summer-project/</link>
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		<title>Terrorists and Rights</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From Fox News:
Last week the Supreme Court ruled that terrorist detainees held by the U.S. military in Guantanamo Bay can challenge their detention in federal court.
Commentators called the ruling a major blow to the Bush administration and looked to the White House for its next move. But any effort by this White House to roll [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/27/terrorists-and-rights/</link>
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		<title>Pop Tarts</title>
		<description><![CDATA[After today, I needed some Brian Regan Humor. 
(I might need to loosen up my schedule)
 
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		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/25/pop-tarts/</link>
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		<title>The Vine</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A vine is taking over our yard and freaking my mom out.
Any idea what it is?


I think we have ruled out Virginia Creeper or Kudzu, but not sure&#8230;.
 
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/25/the-vine/</link>
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		<title>Cell Phone of the Future?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Nokia888


You dont have to carry it in your pocket or on your wrist. You can carry it anywhere, in anyform. You can roll it, bend it, put on your clothes like a clip. It also makes some form changes that makes it more ergonomical: i.e. when you want to talk on the phone, the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/24/cell-phone-of-the-future/</link>
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		<title>How Do I Look?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Psalm 139:14 declares, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Many Christians associate this verse with their pro-life beliefs. It makes sense as the verse before it mentions &#8220;thou hast covered me in my mother&#8217;s womb.&#8221; This and other verses just means to us that [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/23/how-do-i-look/</link>
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		<title>Love is not a Feeling</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Besides,&#8221; I went on, &#8220;love is not a feeling.&#8221;
&#8220;Not a feeling?&#8221; asked the tall girl. &#8220;What else could it be?&#8221;
&#8220;Love is a commitment of the will to the true good of the other person. Otherwise, how could people getting married promise to love each other? You can&#8217;t promise to have a feeling.&#8221;
 
Read more here
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/23/love-is-not-a-feeling/</link>
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		<title>Stoke Fear</title>
		<description><![CDATA[People who know me well, know that I believe in one race - the human race.  I believe that we can all trace our ancestry back to Noah, and before that Adam and Eve.
Ok, so after the tower of Babel we dispersed, moved to other parts of the globe where changes of skin coloring took [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/22/stoke-fear/</link>
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		<title>Little White Lie</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This came to my inbox this morning from someone who reads Mountain Wings. I really liked it, although the end part I might disagree with as I believe our God is omnipresent, however it is a very cute little story.
&#8220;I am a senior citizen and I take my position as an elder in my
 community seriously. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/21/little-white-lie/</link>
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		<title>Another Sister&#8217;s Birthday</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In our family, spring brings on a slew of birthdays in a row, starting in April, and not slowing down till end of June.
The addition of Petra to the family didn&#8217;t change that. No sooner have we calmed down from Linda&#8217;s birthday, it&#8217;s time to celebrate another.
This photo was taken of Petra (on the left) [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/19/another-sisters-birthday/</link>
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		<title>Debt and Covetousness</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Money is a terrible master, but it&#8217;s a good servant.
I don&#8217;t think that I am a materialistic person, however we learned in a sermon by Dr. Michael Duffy in church a few Sundays ago, that &#8216;wanting stuff&#8217; is basically in our fallen nature. He went on to say, &#8220;You don&#8217;t really have to teach a child [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/19/debt-and-covetousness/</link>
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		<title>The Air Car</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Some time back I blogged about the Tata Nano Car . Now it seems it has developed into something perhaps better in these oil-crazy times.

The Air Car.
Runs on compress air
Offers zero pollution
Low Running Cost
Sounds perfect doesn&#8217;t it?
You don&#8217;t even have to look for your keys, it runs on an access card.
Oh, and better yet, not [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/18/the-air-car/</link>
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		<title>Actions and Words</title>
		<description><![CDATA[“A man’s commitment to his beliefs is best measured by what he does behind the closed doors of his own home,” said Drew Johnson.
Drew Johnson, President of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research goes on to say,  “Al Gore is a hypocrite and a fraud when it comes to his commitment to the environment, judging [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/18/actions-and-words/</link>
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		<title>Firefox 3</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This Tuesday Firefox 3 will arrive.
The new features cover the full range from huge and game-changing to ones so subtle you may not notice them until you realize that using Firefox is just somehow easier and better. The range of improved features is similar — whole back-end systems have been rebuilt from scratch, while other [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/15/firefox-3/</link>
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		<title>Dad</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s Father&#8217;s Day here in the U.S.

I couldn&#8217;t let it pass without some mention of my sweet dad. He was the best of men.
He is very missed.
I found this poem on the internet and I thought to share it:
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		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/15/dad/</link>
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		<title>Linda&#8217;s Birthday</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
I love my big sister.
Today we celebrated her birthday. (It&#8217;s really the 16th)
George invited all of us to The Bayou in Havre de Grace.
Most of us feasted on crab cakes. They were perfection.
We had a great time with little Conner and Aiden.
Images of the celebration are  HERE 
In honor of my sister&#8217;s big day [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/14/lindas-birthday/</link>
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		<title>Rising Gas Prices, Rising Blood Pressure</title>
		<description><![CDATA[My mom went to her doctor the other day, and for the most part the doctor was pleased with her test results. He praised her for lowering her cholesteral, but had to mention, &#8220;Your blood pressure is a bit high.&#8221;
She responded, &#8220;Well before I came here I had to buy gas today and drive to your [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/14/rising-gas-prices-rising-blood-pressure/</link>
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		<title>Forget Presidents, Vote the Democratic Congress OUT</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) makes the claim “Since George Bush got into office…[gas prices saw a ] 250% increase.&#8221;
The truth of the matter is the day Democrats took control of Congress, January 4, 2007, gas prices averaged $2.33 per gallon, according to AAA. Today, the national average is $4.04 – a whopping $1.71 increase per [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/13/forget-presidents-vote-the-democratic-congress-out/</link>
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		<title>Campaign Money Trail</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I got an email from Ann Coulter today.
She asks: &#8220;Do you know which special interest has given more money to the Obama and Clinton campaigns than any other?&#8221;
Not Labor Unions
Not the Green Lobby
Not NEA nor AARP
The answer is WALL STREET.
According to CNNMoney.com, Wall Street securities and investment firms have given over $35 million to Democratic [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/12/campaign-money-trail/</link>
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		<title>Saying Goodbye</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The ornaments of your house will be the guests who frequent it.  ~Author Unknown 
Yesterday we had to say good-bye to Jared. It was nice to have his company. If only for a little while, I had in my home &#8220;a camera friend&#8221; which Laura has wished for me to have for years now.

Mom got [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/11/saying-goodbye/</link>
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		<title>Ellicott City, Maryland</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Yesterday we took Jared to Ellicott City, Maryland. I thought it would be a great place for a fellow like him who likes to take photos, to take advantage of all the history and picturesque venues. He loved it.
I did learn some things, for instance, I didn&#8217;t know it was once called Ellicott Mills.


In 1772, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/07/ellicott-city-maryland/</link>
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		<title>Jared and the Groundhog</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Well as our guest Jared soon found out, not only is our place a nuthouse, it&#8217;s part zoo.
We seem to have aquired a groundhog that has decided to make its home in our yard.
Jared quickly went about getting its picture.


Jared got some fabulous shots up close. Knowing the limitations of my camera, I just had [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/07/jared-and-the-groundhog/</link>
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		<title>First Gig</title>
		<description><![CDATA[When my son got back from Northland, the members of the band (Ryan, Simeon, and Doug) presented him with newly written music and a deadline of June 6th at Chapelgate Presbyterian Church for their first gig.
After much practice (in our barn) the day was here.
They are really talented and their efforts paid off last night. They connected [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/07/first-gig/</link>
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		<title>If You Were President</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This was from an email Lisa sent me:
So, I was talking to this little girl Catherine, the daughter of some
friends, and she said she wanted to be President some day.
Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there with us -
and I asked Catherine - &#34;If you were President what would be the
first thing you [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/05/if-you-were-president/</link>
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		<title>Everyday</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8230;is starting to look the same around here.  

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 447 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
IN MARYLAND THIS WATCH INCLUDES 13 COUNTIES
THE ATMOSPHERE IS FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/04/everyday/</link>
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		<title>Picking Up Jared</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Miquel made a few good friends at Northland, but the one he spoke of most was Jared.
When Miquel asked if he could spend a few days with us I said yes right away.
Since Jared lives in New Jersey, they decided he would take the ferry to Delaware and we would pick him up.
The trip from [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/03/picking-up-jared/</link>
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		<title>Cooking Class #8: Sweet &#038; Sour Pork</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The next category for Laura&#8217;s cooking class was to cook a meat. She selected Sweet and Sour Pork.

Ingredients:
To Serve 4
1 lb lean boneless pork
2 T. Dry Sherry
salt and pepper
1 egg
3 T. Flour
3 T. oil
2 Carrots
2 Onions
1 Cucumber
1 Garlic Clove
¼ c. ketchup
2 t. Soy Sauce
2 T. Vinegar
1 T. Brown Sugar
1 T. Cornstarch
1 ¼ c. Water
Cut meat into [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/06/02/cooking-class-8-sweet-sour-pork/</link>
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		<title>Saturday</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Spending it with a tornado watch.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS  ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 402 IN EFFECT  UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE  FOLLOWING AREAS
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
IN MARYLAND THIS WATCH INCLUDES 13  COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL MARYLAND
ANNE ARUNDEL           HOWARD   [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/31/saturday/</link>
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		<title>Obama&#8217;s Church at it Again.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I hope you will pardon (me, not the priest) for putting a video with cursing on it.
This was on FoxNews tonight and no beeps were made so it wasn&#8217;t highly offensive to television and shouldn&#8217;t shock anyone reading this, with the exception that this is language of a priest.
What disturbs me a great deal is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/29/obamas-church-at-it-again/</link>
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		<title>Social Freedom?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I love art. In many ways I would like to think that with my watercolors, drawings, and photography, I am an artist.
However, I don&#8217;t think in the name of Art we have freedoms that overstep that which is moral and decent. Of course, what is moral and decent has different interpretations, but in regards to children, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/29/social-freedom/</link>
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		<title>Seen on a T-Shirt</title>
		<description><![CDATA[At our Church Picnic, Tony wore an interesting T-shirt&#8230;

It says:
Religion is humans trying to work their way to God.
Christianity is God coming to men and women through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
&#8220;For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/28/seen-on-a-t-shirt/</link>
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		<title>The Xerraire Network</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
I have been trying to figure out a way to put all my websites listed in one place and under one domain name. This hasn&#8217;t been easy. I was never good with names for things like this. Anyway, for now, I have created the XerraireNetwork page, a list of all my sites and projects in one [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/27/the-xerraire-network/</link>
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		<title>Memorial Day (Part Two)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
The next part of Memorial Day Weekend was our church picnic.
The day started as usual, seeing Mr. Mason cooking the hamburgers and hotdogs.

Laura and Miquel in a big game of soccer.


Mike brought his appetite, and why not? No one cooks it up like Baptists at a barbecue!

If there is a baby around, Anna will find [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/27/memorial-day-part-two/</link>
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		<title>Memorial Day</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Our Memorial Day seemed to start on Sunday with Maranatha sending to our church a group of violinists who gave a concert of patriotic and spiritual songs.
I couldn&#8217;t help but think of this photo of Obama as when the group played the Star Spangled Banner, everyone, without being told to, young and old, rose and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/26/memorial-day/</link>
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		<title>Signs</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve had a strange, hard week. Without giving away too much information, let&#8217;s just say all the signs were there.
If you&#8217;re considering a relationship with someone, don&#8217;t ignore important signs.
A Dozen Ways to Get to Know Your Real Partner
The Signs Are All Around You

By Stacy D. Phillips
In my line of work &#8212; family law &#8212; [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/26/signs/</link>
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		<title>Bridgestone Screaming Squirrel Commercial</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In light of my I Brake for Squirrels blog, I thought I would share this commercial I saw while watching the French Open today.
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/25/bridgestone-screaming-squirrel-commercial/</link>
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		<title>My Day at Kinder</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We have had so much rain and cold, and the warm days we&#8217;ve had up till now have been very busy.
It was good to go to one of my favorite spots and just walk in the park with my camera&#8230;











 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/25/my-day-at-kinder/</link>
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		<title>New Client!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Oh yeah, I am definately keeping one foot in Wisconsin!

Visit Timberland Today, just opened up on the web, and a great place for worship in Crivitz, Wisconsin!
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/23/new-client/</link>
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		<title>Rock the Vote</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last night I was one of the millions who watched the Finale of American Idol.
At the end of a very entertaining two hours, they announced the number of people who had voted between David Cook and David Archuleta - Nearly 100 million people voted.
I couldn&#8217;t help but think how only a few less than the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/22/rock-the-vote/</link>
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		<title>Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay LESS</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As the House passes bill to sue OPEC, (Is this the best those liberal democrats can do?), Oil hits $132 a barrel, and Obama tells us to do with less, Newt Gingrich emailed me with another thought:
Drill Here
Drill Now
Pay Less
He continues:
Last week, liberals in Congress voted for the equivalent of a $150 billion tax increase. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/21/drill-here-drill-now-pay-less/</link>
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		<title>Graphics Progam and Windows Vista</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
It has been (and still is) a journey with my new computer.
Not only have I had to learn how to use a laptop and get used to those differences, I have also had to learn Windows Vista. On first glance, Vista looked like a system for people who just don&#8217;t know how to use computers with [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/20/graphics-progam-and-windows-vista/</link>
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		<title>Going Backwards</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I was just reading a speech that Obama gave recently, and frankly, it baffles me how he intends to get elected with this:
&#8220;We can&#8217;t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times &#8230; and then just expect that other countries are going to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/19/going-backwards/</link>
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		<title>Web Hosting</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I would be remiss if I didn&#8217;t share with the readers that PowWeb, the hosting plan that I use for all of Xerraireart.com, which means this blog as well, is having a huge discount sale.
Looking for web hosting? Check out PowWeb!
 

Hosting for just $3.88/month!

]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/18/web-hosting/</link>
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		<title>New Fonts</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s been awhile since this fontaholic got some new fonts!
Here&#8217;s the latest addition!

ank.ttf
ChaosTimes.TTF
DIRTC.TTF            
idiot.ttf                          
JellykaCastlesQueen.ttf 
Kingthings Christmas.ttf   
Ramon.ttf
Ramon-Bold.ttf
Ramon-Italic.ttf      
riesling.ttf         
The Great Thunder.ttf    
Walk-Around-the-Block.ttf 
Windsong.ttf
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/17/new-fonts-2/</link>
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		<title>It&#8217;s Our Oil and We&#8217;ll Pump if We Want To</title>
		<description><![CDATA[  This picture shows President Bush with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, asking for higher oil output, and the King refused. He is allowed to say no. It&#8217;s their oil, and they can pump it if they want to. I have no problem with that.
This is just another in a list of mistakes Bush makes [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/16/its-our-oil-and-well-pump-if-we-want-to/</link>
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		<title>Robins Update</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Some time ago, I blogged about robins making a nest in our front porch light.
I thought would be good to sneak a peak inside the nest, as I figured eggs were there by now, and I&#8217;ve seen the robins sitting on it, (although, I don&#8217;t know how, with the little space they allowed for themselves!)
Here [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/14/robins-update/</link>
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		<title>Learning Flash</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A while ago my sister gave me Teach Yourself Flash MX 2004.
It&#8217;s something I&#8217;ve been wanting to learn for awhile now, but time is always an issue.
Finally John and I have decided to set aside some time together to learn it.
We are only into our fist lesson, but it&#8217;s been fun.
Here is my first flash [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/14/learning-flash/</link>
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		<title>10 Hot Careers for 2008</title>
		<description><![CDATA[According to Yahoo Education News, these are the 10 top careers for 2008:
1. Marketing and Promotions Management
    * Median Salary: $63,610
    * Education: communications and/or marketing degree, personal experience
    * Bottom Line: If you can tell a story that earns your company new customers, you&#8217;ll love the view from your new corner office.
2. Medical Assisting
    [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/14/10-hot-careers-for-2008/</link>
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		<title>Granite Girls Soccer 2008</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Laura&#8217;s soccer came to an end today with the final tournament game. They won 4-3!

For more photos of the two years Laura has been playing with this fine team, look HERE.
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/13/granite-girls-soccer-2008/</link>
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		<title>Thimerosal</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ever since Miranda made a mention of this on my Fluoride post, I have been curious about this subject.
Today on FoxNews it was reported that 5,000 families are suing the U.S., alleging that vaccines caused autism and other neurological problems in their children. Lawyers for the families will present three different theories of how vaccines [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/12/thimerosal/</link>
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		<title>My Birthday!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As well as Mother&#8217;s Day, today was my birthday.
I came back from my trip to find presents and cards from Australia and Holland, as well as a card from my friend Myrna (a friend from as far back as before kindergarden!). Now that I was back at home, I got to celebrate the occasion with [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/11/my-birthday/</link>
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		<title>Mother&#8217;s Day 2008</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Mother&#8217;s Day was a day of recovering from my trip and I spent it with my mom, together with my sister and her family.
For this mother&#8217;s day, I thought I would share this lovely photograph I took of Miranda and little Silas. I took this image as we hiked around Reflection Lake at Northland, in [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/11/mothers-day-2008/</link>
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		<title>Serve</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity. ~Titus 2:7
In a pregraduation service at Northland, they acknowledged the spouses of the graduates with towels and a single rose. This seemed so right to me. Enric had a few obstacles and as many do, and faced a few hardships [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/11/serve/</link>
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		<title>The Graduate</title>
		<description><![CDATA[And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. ~Isaiah 42:16
My son graduated from Northland Baptist Bible College today. He has [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/10/the-graduate-2/</link>
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		<title>Wisonsin/Michigan</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I am blogging for the first time, away from home, at my hotel in Michigan.
This is fun!
Our trip went without any incident.
Here is Laura and Anna at BWI waiting for our flight with Midwest:


Flying over Lake Michigan is always exciting:

Miranda stopped to feed the baby on our way from Green Bay to Northland.
So, Laura and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/08/wisonsinmichigan/</link>
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		<title>Traveling</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.&#8221; &#8212; Lao Tzu
&#8220;For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel&#8217;s sake. The great affair is to move.&#8221; &#8212; Robert Louis Stevenson
&#8220;Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn&#8217;t [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/08/traveling/</link>
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		<title>More on the Fluoride Debate</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have already blogged on the dangers of fluoride, but more information on this toxic poison is continuing to pour in.
If I ever wondered why my thyroid doesn&#8217;t work properly, the mystery seems to be solved with the fluoride pills my dentist insisted to my mom that I take as a child, since we were [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/06/more-on-the-fluoride-debate/</link>
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		<title>Beijing - A No Vegemite Zone</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have in my desk a jar of Vegemite.
Now, why some people would want to eat the stuff, I have no idea.
I couldn&#8217;t get it past my nose.
I keep it for sentimental reasons.  
However, in Australia, they do eat it, some like it, and there does seem to be some health benefits for those [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/04/beijing-a-no-vegemite-zone/</link>
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		<title>No More Double Vision</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Some of my regular visitors noticed that my blog was having issues, it was posting double. So once people would click on the comment link, they would go to a page where the blog post appeared twice, and there were two comment forms as well.
After searching forums and Wordpress expert pages, turning off all plug-ins, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/03/no-more-double-vision/</link>
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		<title>Barb and the Squirrel</title>
		<description><![CDATA[My grandmom used to feed the squirrels peanuts straight from her hand. I remember as a child watching with wonder as she would reach out and they would just come up to her and reach for the peanut.

I used to fuss at the squirrels always eating my bird food. I have decided not to fight [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/05/01/barb-and-the-squirrel/</link>
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		<title>Cooking Class #7</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Laura decided for our pasta category on Ravioli.
I think I knew it was going to be difficult, but neither Laura nor I knew how involved homemade ravioli could be.
First you have to make the sauce, nearly 5 hours it took to cook!
Next was the homemade noodles, (the pasta around the filled ravioli). Then to cook [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/30/cooking-class-7/</link>
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		<title>Robins</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Only a short while ago, mom noticed a birds nest being built on the front porch light of our house&#8230;

It&#8217;s been fun watching how the robins have added to the nest.
Now we get to see Mommy Robin sitting on it, both the parents tending to it, keeping watch and fussing at us as we leave [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/29/robins/</link>
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		<title>17 Billion Dollars in Profits</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I was behind a lady in a line of cars at BJ&#8217;s the other day, we were at the gas pump. I looked at her as she was filling her car, and if I wasn&#8217;t mistaken, she looked close to crying. Watching the numbers roll around and accumulate was obviously adding to her stress level. I [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/29/17-billion-dollars-in-profits/</link>
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		<title>I Get Bullied a Lot</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This excerpt from Britain&#8217;s version of American Idol really touched me.
A young boy with an exceptional voice even left Simon speechless.
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/28/i-get-bullied-a-lot/</link>
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		<title>Dress Up Hitler</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I for one, can&#8217;t fathom why there would be a market for an Adolph Hitler Doll, but indeed they go on sale in the Ukraine, the very place where his regime killed around 3 million people.
The 16 inch doll will have clothes to change him in, with several outfits, including an “early-days Adolf,” and a “wartime Adolf.”
 “It [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/28/dress-up-hitler/</link>
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		<title>Food or Fuel?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you read the news headlines at all, between the economy, housing crisis, and food issues, it&#8217;s all starting to sound like the Black horse of the Apocalypse.

Consumer Confidence Falls to a 26 year low
Many States Appear to be in a Recession
UN secretary-general calls food price rise global crisis&#8230;
Oil Prices Jump
Oil shortage in UK ahead of [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/26/food-or-fuel/</link>
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		<title>Mom&#8217;s Birthday</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today is my mom&#8217;s birthday, so we filled the house with flowers&#8230;






Happy Birthday Mom!
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/25/moms-birthday/</link>
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		<title>All Talk Pelosi</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Apparently, &#8220;Nanny&#8221; Pelosi made a promise to reduce gas prices:
In a press release dated April 24, 2006, Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/23/all-talk-pelosi/</link>
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		<title>Sim City Has Stopped Working</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I thought I would share a few of my views of the new SimCity Societies.
Where the graphics and detail are amazing, there have been a few setbacks in my new Sim Journey.
But first the graphics. Here are a few screen shots: (you can click on the images for a larger view)
 




 
As you can see, it [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/21/sim-city-has-stopped-working/</link>
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		<title>8 Million Millionaires</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s nice to know in these difficult economic times, not everyone is suffering. Did you know that in the whole world there are 8 million millionaires?
The ranks of the world’s rich swelled to 8m during 2007 as the wealthy proved immune to the strains across global economies in the latter half of the year.
There was a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/20/8-million-millionaires/</link>
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		<title>Only You</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today is my mom and dad&#8217;s wedding anniversary.
Since I love looking at their old courtship and early marriage photos, I thought to make a slide show for this occasion.
I miss seeing them together now that dad is gone, but he sure is in our hearts in a big way. I know he is in mom&#8217;s.
 
Click here [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/14/only-you/</link>
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		<title>New Toy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[My desktop PC is 5 years old. It&#8217;s not running 100%, but it has been very good to me and I still love it.
However, since a lot of what I do with running my sites, web &#38; graphic design, homeschooling, photography, communications involves my computer, I felt it was time to get a new one [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/13/new-toy/</link>
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		<title>Obama vs. Clinton</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I sure had to, for once, appreciate Hillary&#8217;s break from &#8220;misstatements&#8221; when she reacted to Obama&#8217;s latest blunder.
He spoke recently to a people in Pennsylvania, whose unemployment rate is around what the national average is (4.9%) and tried to tell them how unhappy they are:
Obama touched off the controversy with his remarks at a closed [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/12/obama-vs-clinton/</link>
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		<title>Seeing Double</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It was brought to my attention that posts and comment boxes are appearing twice on my WordPress blog.
I have made no changes personally that I know of that would have caused this. However, my host did make some upgrades to my MySQL that might explain it, at the moment there doesn&#8217;t seem to be a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/11/seeing-double/</link>
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		<title>Outsiders View</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Having friends all around the world, it&#8217;s often interesting to hear how they view things about what goes on here.
Namely, the topic of some discussion has been our elections.
I had to chuckle when Petra (from Holland) sat down at the dinner table recently and stated, &#8220;If Hillary or Obama wins to be president, this country is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/07/outsiders-view/</link>
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		<title>Silas Growing Up!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Miranda is so thoughtful&#8230;and clever!
She thought of a cute way to show how Silas is growing by taking his photo each month next to a pillow in their green living room chair.
Has it been a half of a year already?
Here is our little Silas, now 6 months old and 20 pounds!

For larger image Click HERE
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/07/silas-growing-up/</link>
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		<title>Granite Girls Soccer</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Laura&#8217;s soccer is back in full force, this past week with a game each day!
She is having a great time!

Full size HERE
 
Now if we could only do something about these games in the cold and the rain!
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/04/05/granite-girls-soccer-2/</link>
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		<title>Hillary Health Care?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In a recent headline at Drudge Cash-strapped Clinton fails to pay bills, I may have raised an eyebrow or two, and I even scanned the article quickly, but nothing surprising really struck me.
Just like with other businesses, it’s common for campaigns to carry unpaid bills from month to month, but in Clinton’s case, it also [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/31/hillary-health-care/</link>
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		<title>Barbara Means Stranger</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I never thought that the name Barbara was any kind of popular, but it seems in the 30&#8217;s, 40&#8217;s, and 50&#8217;s it was.

Check the popularity of your name HERE
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/31/barbara-means-stranger/</link>
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		<title>In The Name of Tolerance?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[When you hear the word &#8220;jihad&#8221; what do you think of?
I can guess what most think of, and it only takes one Danish cartoon to conjure up all kinds of unpleasant images on our newspapers and television news reports.
After looking the word up, it has many significances, but there is a disturbing class in California giving it [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/31/in-the-name-of-tolerance/</link>
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		<title>Quotes for the Week</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On The Campaign Trail&#8230;
Behold the Democratic choices for president: One candidate whose 20-year spiritual guru has an adversarial relationship with America, and another who has a life-long adversarial relationship with the truth.”
— Michelle Malkin, Author, Syndicated Columnist
 
“In the days leading up to the March 4 Ohio primary, Barack Obama’s presidential campaign aired a TV ad [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/30/quotes-for-the-week/</link>
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		<title>Silas and his Dad</title>
		<description><![CDATA[“Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice” 
  
I couldn&#8217;t resist sharing this photo Miranda took.
Silas is getting so big. I just love how he is looking up to Enric in this picture. It would be great if he played guitar and piano like his dad.
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/29/silas-and-his-dad/</link>
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		<title>Obama and Rev. &#8220;Wrong&#8221; (part 2)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I hadn&#8217;t intended to make a part 2 to this particular blog. However the issue of Obama&#8217;s worthiness to office and items about his pastor of 20 years, won&#8217;t die out. In fact, new revelations are more disturbing each day.
First disturbing item came to my inbox.
As usual, I did my Snopes check and it is [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/29/obama-and-rev-wrong-part-2/</link>
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		<title>Tintin at the Movies!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I read today that Steven Spielberg will be making a trilogy movie of Tintin, one of my favorite comic book characters!
I have already enjoyed the HBO special cartoon movies, and already thought they were a treat.
 
 It is not yet known which of the 23 Tintin stories will be filmed.
More on the story HERE » Blistering [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/28/tintin-at-the-movies/</link>
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		<title>Cooking Class #6: New Duchess Spice Cake</title>
		<description><![CDATA[As I mentioned in my Easter blog, Laura made Spice Cake for the occasion of our family holiday dinner.

Here is the recipe for the Spice cake recipe I have been using for years.
2 1/2 c Sifted cake flour
2 1/3 c Sifted all-purpose flour   
1 c Sugar   
1 ts Baking soda  
1 1/2 ts Cinnamon 
3/4 ts Nutmeg   
3/4 ts Cloves   
1 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/26/cooking-class-6-new-duchess-spice-cake/</link>
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		<title>Lies</title>
		<description><![CDATA[“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it”
~Adolf Hitler
 
I am not a Hillary Clinton supporter, I have never liked her ever since her &#8220;staying home baking cookies&#8221; remark, and gee, it went downhill from there. She has a record, along with Bill, of seeing things in this [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/24/lies/</link>
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		<title>Easter (part 2)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Well Easter at our house is ever changing of late. We&#8217;re getting kind of used to Linda and George not being here, and we have come to realize that Stacey could show up with just about anyone, but for me, this year, Miquel was truly a missing piece. However after a nice morning in church, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/24/easter-part-2/</link>
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		<title>Easter (part 1)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Did you make it to church this Easter?
If not, can I invite you to take a listen to my Pastor from Anchor Baptist Church in Millersville, Maryland? Listen HERE

 
&#8220;&#8230;He became sin for us, He was the only One who could do it.
Have you ever thought to yourself, I am a pretty good person, I keep [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/24/easter-part-1/</link>
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		<title>Resurrection Day</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16

 
 
 
 
 
 
For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- Ephesians 2:8,9
 
 
 
 
 
 
 For the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/23/resurrection-day/</link>
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		<title>Baby Barbara via Animoto</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Occasionally I visit Mr. Jeff&#8217;s site and find something techie and interesting. Sometimes the content is over my head, but more than a few times, there is an item I understand and is quite fun.
Animoto I found, was right up my alley and easy to use! You grab a few sized photos, upload it to Animoto, set [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/20/baby-barbara-via-animoto/</link>
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		<title>Just the &#8220;Fax&#8221; Ma&#8217;am</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Yesterday, I sold my house. [add a glory hallelujah to that, as for in today's market and economy, this was no small feat].
Prior to settlement, at the advice of a friend, I acquired a copy of the settlement sheet. I saw in advance the estimated amount I would receive for the sale of the house.
When [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/19/just-the-fax-maam/</link>
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		<title>Obama and Rev. &#8220;Wrong&#8221;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I guess I have been waiting to blog about this subject for awhile now.
Seemed to make sense to at least WAIT and give Mr. Barak Obama a chance to explain, and give him the benefit of the doubt till as such time as he could. Yesterday he did give a speech on the actions, words, and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/19/obama-and-rev-wrong/</link>
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		<title>I Brake for Squirrels</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Sunday mornings around here can be hectic.
Getting my two (and any of their friends spending the night) ready for Sunday School or church and then the drive there can be quite interesting.
One Sunday, unknown to me, Mr. Scott was driving behind me. Now Mr. Scott is a very nice man, seems patient and kind, and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/18/i-brake-for-squirrels/</link>
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		<title>Cameron is One!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s truly a blessing to have lifelong friends.
 When the friendship just holds to the time when your daughters become as good of friends that we were at their age&#8230;..when that friendship carries on to the point when their grandchild turns one, and you get to be a part of that, it is even more special.
Today [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/15/cameron-is-one/</link>
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		<title>iPod made in China</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man&#8217;s need, but not every man&#8217;s greed”
 Mahatma Gandhi
As I was reading about the probe into the iPod Nano shooting sparks while recharging, I had to think, &#8220;Are these made in China too?&#8221;
Well, of course they are. Isn&#8217;t everything these days?
I investigated that ipods are indeed made in China, and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/13/959/</link>
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		<title>Don&#8217;t Blame Me</title>
		<description><![CDATA[(I didn&#8217;t vote for him- but I could have well predicted Martin O’Malley would do all he could to bring Maryland down).
[From MDGOP- came to my inbox today]
Following up on a Washington Times report that Governor Martin O’Malley approved over $600,000 in pay raises for his top aides, the Times has now uncovered that O’Malley [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/11/dont-blame-me/</link>
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		<title>Something in the Water</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Something in the water,&#8221; usually said as a joke. No more.
Apparently traces of 63 drugs have been found in the water supply around the U.S., including sex hormones.
Story HERE
 


TAP WATER TESTING





Here&#8217;s the list of metropolitan areas, with the number of pharmaceuticals detected and some examples of specific drugs that were found, or where tests were [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/11/something-in-the-water/</link>
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		<title>Anna</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Miquel is back from Northland for Spring Break!

Even though he desired to get back to our home church at Anchor, we attended services at Calvary to see Anna play the offertory music. Anchor is used to me with my camera, I don&#8217;t know what Calvary thought, but I taped her anyway.  
It was interesting [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/09/anna/</link>
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		<title>Padded Lamposts</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In a news story somewhat related to my last blog post, Connected and Mobile, I found this:  &#8220;London Lamp Posts Padded to Protect Distracted Texters.&#8221;
It seems cell phone texting addiction is worse than I thought!
 
 British telephone directory service 118 118 is out to save Londoners from themselves and has started wrapping lampposts in thick padding. Apparently serious [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/09/padded-lamposts/</link>
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		<title>Connected and Mobile</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I love communication. I love to be connected with others, know what is going on with their lives, share my latest, and make plans for future events with them. All of this requires communication of some sort.
I can also say that sometimes, busy lives keeps the lines of communication closed, and even so, it&#8217;s rather [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/06/connected-and-mobile/</link>
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		<title>Cooking Class #5: Pizza with Love</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week Laura had quick breads and this week we started on yeast breads. For her yeast breads, she chose pizza dough. We decided then to make an entire pizza from scratch, the dough and the sauce would be completely homemade.
Our first glitch seemed to come with the yeast. It wouldn&#8217;t bubble. So, we made [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/05/cooking-class-5-pizza-with-love/</link>
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		<title>Fifty Years of Math 1958-2008</title>
		<description><![CDATA[From Lisa. A gem!
Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for
$1.58. The counter-girl took my $2.00. I dug for my
change and I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it
to her. She stood there, holding the nickel and three
pennies, while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her
discomfort and tried [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/02/fifty-years-of-math-1958-2008/</link>
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		<title>Depression</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This post is based from today&#8217;s message at Anchor by Pastor Kevin Coleman - Quieting a Noisy Soul
It&#8217;s really hard to understand how young children are the fastest growing market for antidepressants.
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. This [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/02/depression/</link>
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		<title>Killer Wants State to Pay for His Sex-change Surgery</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you live in Massachusetts, and you are concerned or curious about where your tax dollars are going, be alerted that your money could pay for Robert Kosilek&#8217;s, a man convicted to life in prison for murdering his wife, sex change operation.
This man [or whatever] wrapped a wire around his wife&#8217;s neck three times and strangled her, dumped [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/03/01/killer-wants-state-to-pay-for-his-sex-change-surgery/</link>
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		<title>Geldof and Bush</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
I&#8217;ve always been kinda fascinated with the person that is Bob Geldof.
After his efforts putting together the whole of Live Aid, I read his autobiography. It was really interesting. But I am the kind of person that thinks everyone is interesting. We all have our stories to tell.
One of my favorite parts of his book [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/29/geldof-and-bush/</link>
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		<title>The &#8220;Saint&#8221; and the &#8220;Messiah&#8221;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
 
I guess the nose blowing &#8220;messiah obama&#8217; has a small disagreement with Saint Angelina.
Today, in the Washington Post, she says the contrary to Obama&#8217;s mantra regarding bringing the troops home.
Angelina writes, &#8220;My visit left me even more deeply convinced that we not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/28/the-saint-and-the-messiah/</link>
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		<title>Deceivers</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Still reading Ted Dekker&#8217;s 
Black: The Birth of Evil

 
&#8220;&#8230;trickery is a form of knowledge. And knowledge is a form of truth&#8230;&#8230;.So if by using trickery I persuade you to accept my knowledge, it can only be because I am smarter than you. I have more truth.&#8221;
 
 
movies free deepthroatmovies free sex ofnude galleries cheerleader movie freemovie [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/28/deceivers/</link>
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		<title>Cooking Class #4: Blueberry Muffins</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This class session we went straight to my old Betty Crocker Cookbook.
Laura found our session on quick breads a lot easier than last week&#8217;s Tortilla.
Here are the yummy results. (Tip from a friend: Sprinkle with brown sugar before putting them in the oven to bake.)

 
Blueberry Muffins
( Source: Betty Crocker Cookbook)   
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup salad [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/27/cooking-class-4-blueberry-muffins/</link>
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		<title>Cooking Class #3: Tortilla de Patatas</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This time around, Laura prepared a family favorite, Tortilla de Patatas.

 
 
 
We went with a tried and true method with a little variation
from the book, &#8220;The Complete Spanish Cookbook.&#8221;
 
 
 
 
Tortilla (Spanish Omelette)
5 T. Olive Oil
3 large potatoes, peeled and sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
6 eggs, lightly beaten
salt and pepper
In a pan heat half the oil.
Fry potatoes until tender, but [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/26/cooking-class-2-tortilla-de-patatas/</link>
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		<title>Silas Cam</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Since she doesn&#8217;t really use it, Laura gave Enric and Miranda her webcam.
I think it was a little overwhelming for Miranda at first, but, soon Silas had three gals here gushing all over him using modern technology. My mom was marveling suddenly how wonderful the net is.
Silas showed us he could roll over, play with [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/25/silas-cam/</link>
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		<title>New Look</title>
		<description><![CDATA[How do you like the new look?

I think spring isn&#8217;t getting here fast enough for me.
So I did some early spring cleaning on my blog, hoping for a fresh look.
Please bear with me if some things aren&#8217;t as they should be yet.
  
 
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		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/25/new-look-3/</link>
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		<title>The Things We Pay For!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
So I was talking to Lisa on the phone the other day.
She says:
&#8220;So I went to the store and bought water, air, and crickets. What&#8217;s up with that?&#8221;
I couldn&#8217;t help but laugh. We have water, air, and crickets in abundance.
Why would anyone need to buy any of them?
Frankly, it&#8217;s hilarious and she knew it when [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/22/the-things-we-pay-for/</link>
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		<title>Gonna Get a Battery</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
For years in my family, the catch phrase, and usually kinda sung to a melody, &#8220;Gonna get a battery!&#8221; was spoken.
Recently after some trials at home with a battery, I asked my mom, &#8220;Where did that come from?&#8221;
She told me that one time when they were living in Baltimore, a young boy, all excited, skipped [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/21/gonna-get-a-battery/</link>
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		<title>The Dash</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end
He noted that first came her date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
For that dash [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/18/the-dash/</link>
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		<title>Light</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 

I sit here in the dark with my flashlight on&#8230;.
Those who know me, and those who read my blog, know that I live in a house with issues.
It seems the house I have grown up in, the house I have moved back into with my children is getting old.
I think I have blogged about everything [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/17/light/</link>
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		<title>30-Day Sex Challenge</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
According to Fox News, a Florida Pastor has a new challenge for his church members.
&#8220;Single men and women can&#8217;t have sex for 30 days, and married couples are urged to have it every day.  

&#8220;If you look at studies, studies say in 30 days you can develop a habit,&#8221; said Pastor Paul Wirth.  

It definitely caught wives [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/15/30-day-sex-challenge/</link>
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		<title>Cooking Class #2: Jamaican Jerk Chicken Salad</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Laura treated me to a Valentines Day lunch today with a very odd sounding salad, but it tasted wonderful.

Here is the recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup prepared or purchased honey-mustard dressing
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
4 chicken breast halves without skin, boneless
1 tablespoon Jamaican jerk seasoning
2 large fresh mangoes
10 to 12 cups mixed greens
PREPARATION:
Stir together honey-mustard dressing and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/14/cooking-class-2-jamaican-jerk-chicken-salad/</link>
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		<title>Valentines 2008</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 

Happy Valentines Day!
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/14/valentines-2008/</link>
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		<title>Sisters of Support</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Who doesn&#8217;t need support?
In our church there is a program amongst the ladies called the Sisters of Support.
We agree to pray daily for one assigned to us and give encouragement to one another, but remain anonymous.
At the end of the year, there is an unveiling party.
This is my first year participating.
I am liking this so far&#8230;.I got [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/13/sisters-of-support/</link>
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		<title>Black (part 2)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Still reading Black and this passage seemed apt for the day before Valentines.  
Tanis: You find her beautiful, yes?
Tom: Yes
Tanis: She must know this if you are to win her.
Tom: And how does Elyon love?
Tanis: Excellent question!
          He chooses
          He pursues
          He rescues
          He woos
          He protects
          He lavishes!
          This you must do to win [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/13/black-part-2/</link>
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		<title>They&#8217;re Playing Our Song</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Ever have &#8220;a song&#8221; with someone?
My trip today around the blogsphere took me to &#8220;The Art of Getting By&#8217;s&#8221; request for suggestions on a wedding song. 
This was the list of questions:
1. If you&#8217;re married, what was your wedding song?
2. If you&#8217;re not married, what song would you wish was your wedding song?
3. Do you have any [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/11/theyre-playing-our-song/</link>
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		<title>Olympics in China</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I am starting to understand the upcoming Olympics in China less and less.
Forgetting the headlines on the toxic goods they produce and send out to the rest of the world, within their own country, they are starting a cleansing, imprisoning all of their &#34;troublemakers &#34; and their families, and this includes a 2 month old under [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/10/olympics-in-china/</link>
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		<title>Black</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Currently Reading:
 




Black 
After narrowly escaping an assassin&#8217;s bullet, Thomas Hunter finds that he is trapped in a cycle of falling asleep in one reality and waking up in another. Each has a dramatic impact on the other, each presents huge stakes, and the fate of each depends on him. Part one of Dekker&#8217;s trilogy.












]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/09/black/</link>
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		<title>Chase It Down</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
It seems Hillary Clinton&#8217;s campaign is short of money, and while it seems to me that they could tighten up with the $6,000 a night at the Bellagio and the tremendous steak and lobster dinners, she was found out to have taken 5 million of her own money and put it to her campaign.
Which had [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/08/chase-it-down/</link>
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		<title>Cooking Class: French Cauliflower Soup</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This semester, I added to Laura&#8217;s curriculum cooking class.
After some time discussing the food pyramid, balanced diet, table setting, and cooking terms, Laura got started with cooking.
She made her first soup, deciding on French Cauliflower Soup. It was delicious!

Here is the recipe:
1 head cauliflower, cut in flowerets
5 cups chicken stock
1/2 c. rice
1/4 c. chopped celery
1 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/07/cooking-class-french-cauliflower-soup/</link>
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		<title>What Oil Buys</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Having oil just seems to allow the world to look away and defend radicals to blow us up, each other up, and treat women (retarded and not retarded) like subhumans, that&#8217;s what I have concluded. Even though there is a promise of a 50 cent drop in price per gallon come this spring, no one should look [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/06/what-oil-buys/</link>
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		<title>Marylanders Beware</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Today I was in the rare position of being in the car alone, and with no teen in sight, I got to move the radio to AM Talk Radio.
I heard the following warning:
“In today’s State of the State Address, Martin O’Malley spoke of ‘protecting our priorities.’  Unfortunately, O’Malley’s priorities are not the priorities of Marylanders.  [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/06/marylanders-beware/</link>
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		<title>Top 500 Albums of All Time</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
According to Rolling Stone Magazine, the
following are the top 500 Albums of all time.
Many genres of music is listed here.
 
Do you see your favorite?
 
 
1. Sgt. Pepper&#8217;s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles
2. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
3. Revolver, The Beatles
4. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
5. Rubber Soul, The Beatles
6. What&#8217;s Going On, Marvin Gaye
7. Exile [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/05/top-500-albums-of-all-time/</link>
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		<title>My First Podcast</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
One of my members at Unique Exposures suggested that I do a podcast.
When he suggested it, he might have well said, &#8220;Phone Mars.&#8221;
I just didn&#8217;t even know how to begin.
 
It has been a while since he made that suggestion, and after a lot of educating myself, downloading different programs to use for recording and editing, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/02/my-first-podcast/</link>
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		<title>Scattered Ramblings</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I haven&#8217;t posted in a few days&#8230;and my mind sure has been all over the place.
 
It seems like everyone I know or talk to is sick. Our family was hit early this year and for Laura, it hasn&#8217;t seemed to have subsided. Not too long ago our pastor, between coughs&#8211;his and everyone else&#8217;s&#8211;said he had [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/02/01/scattered-ramblings/</link>
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		<title>Time Went By</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I have to admit it. I had never seen Casablanca until today.
Lately, Laura is into watching old movies, so twice now,
we have trekked to the library to pick up one or two or three.
We have really enjoyed them. I enjoy time with my daughter, as well
as answering questions some of these old movies might conjure [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/28/time-went-by/</link>
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		<title>Google Legos</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I rarely actually GO to Google.com.
I have the google toolbar which allows me to do a search from whatever page I am on.
What a delight when I went there today and saw google written out with Legos! Reminds me of the hours my children assembled legos creating all kinds of things from their imaginations. (they [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/28/google-legos/</link>
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		<title>Just a Mom</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
JUST A MoM?
A woman, renewing her driver&#8217;s license at the Motor Registration
office, was asked by the counter clerk to state her occupation.
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
&#8216;What I mean is,&#8217; explained the counter clerk,
&#8216;do you have a job or are you just a ..?&#8217;
&#8216;Of course I have a job,&#8217; snapped the woman.
&#8216;I&#8217;m a Mom.&#8217;
&#8216;We [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/26/just-a-mom/</link>
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		<title>Water Power</title>
		<description><![CDATA[“I believe that water will one day be employed as fuel, that hydrogen and oxygen which constitute it,
used singly or together, will furnish an inexhaustible source of heat and light, of an intensity of which
coal is not capable.”
– Jules Verne, The Mysterious Island (1874)

Damage to the U.S. oil infrastructure and skyrocketing fuel costs may have [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/26/water-power/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Technology</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Snippets of Tech News&#8230;
The New York Times reports that there is a silent auction at the FCC for bids for the 700 MGHZ signals that can be used to send wireless transmissions greater distances through populated areas of the country. Who? Google, AT&#038;T and IBM.
In spite of the economy, the technology industry will carry on. With processing speeds and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/26/technology/</link>
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		<title>Peasant Omelette</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I love my chats on the telephone with Miranda. Last night&#8217;s particular discussion led to omelettes.
I suddenly remembered a very tasty and delicious (But good for a budget) omelette recipe. This
is so yummy!

Peasant Omelette
4 to 5 slices thick bacon 4 boiled potatoes I onion 4 eggs 4 tablespoons milk Salt Pepper 2 tomatoes, sliced 2 ounces Swiss cheese, grated Parsley 1. Chop the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/25/peasant-omelette/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Deal Reached on Tax Rebates</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This just came into my inbox from the Washington Post:
Democratic and Republican congressional leaders reached a tentative deal Thursday on tax rebates of
$300 to $1,200 per family and business tax cuts to jolt the slumping economy.
My that was fast.
Things must really be bad.
The president just made the announcement on this idea a few days ago [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/24/deal-reached-on-tax-rebates/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>The Three Little Pigs: Banned</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The children&#8217;s classic, The Three Little Pigs, has been rejected by a British Government
Educational Agency, because&#8230;.it might offend Muslims.
Even the Muslims were critical of this decision.
Even so, the decision stands.
 
More on the story HERE
 
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/23/the-three-little-pigs-banned/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>The 10-Second Pro Life Apologist</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Recent headlines mention that abortion is in decline. Some articles ask why, as they are not sure.
Since Miranda recently showed me her 4-D sonogram, I&#8217;d like to think that perhaps technology
showing us what is inside the womb could be part of that.
How about reasoning like this? ( Found at STR.org )
If the unborn is growing, it [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/23/the-10-second-pro-life-apologist/</link>
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		<title>Fear</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
&#8220;The opposite of faith is not unbelief - it&#8217;s fear. That&#8217;s because both faith and fear are
focused on the future, the realm of the unknown. Fear cancels out faith because it can
freeze us in our tracks. Fear is overcome by faith in God who knows the future.&#8221; ~ DJ.
I have blogged about fear before. It [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/22/fear-3/</link>
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		<title>Excellence!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[“There are two things people want more than sex and money&#8230; recognition and praise.”
~ Mary Kay Ash

Tar Heel Ramblings left me an award!
The award originated with Project Mommy 
Thank you so much Lee!
It&#8217;s been a blessing to have your visits to my blog and your thoughtful comments, as well as going to your blog!
I guess I [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/22/excellence/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Bumper Sticker Seen</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I am so picking on the Clintons this week! Someone stop me! I can&#8217;t help
when people keep sending me such good stuff to share!

 
I hope I get something personal to share soon, and get this Clinton monkey off my back!
  
 
 
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/22/bumper-sticker-seen/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Caught Snoozing</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 

At first I didn&#8217;t want to believe it.
Surely Bill Clinton didn&#8217;t fall asleep during a
Martin Luther King Speech!
Surely the photo lies, and depicts a moment
only where he closed his eyes.
However, I watched the video, and sure enough, he does nod off, he does
anxiously look at his watch, he is just downright rude.
 
As the article suggests, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/21/caught-snoozing/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>N9NE Steakhouse Comparisons</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I never thought about what the democratic presidential contenders must eat while compaigning,
but a recent article gave a comparison between the Obama and Clinton camps at the recent outings
at N9NE Steakhouse.
Made me wonder, who pays for this? Is it paid for with contributions?







Obama&#8217;s Ordered $200 worth of food, including
two Kobe burgers,
two organic chicken sandwiches and
one order [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/20/n9ne-steakhouse-comparisons/</link>
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		<title>Barb &#038; Friends</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I like to try new things, so, this will be an experiement.
You might see something like the following when you post a comment to this blog.

There are a few posts in my blog that seem to have created some discussion, and I feel rather sorry for those really
deep into some questions having to hunt the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/18/barb-friends/</link>
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		<title>Know Your World</title>
		<description><![CDATA[How well do you know your Geography of the world?
Here is a cute game I just finished playing and my score:

 
Want to play? Visit HERE!
 
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/17/know-your-world/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Postcard Collection</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It was truly tempting to call this &#8220;Postcards from the Edge&#8221; after the week I just had, but, I resisted.
As I mentioned in another blog, Tuesday I had 12-13 hours of straight driving, with one small break for lunch.
On the way home, I was feeling fatigued and thought to get a candy bar to give [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/17/postcard-collection/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>House Goes Gourmet (or Meatloaf Gate)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s somewhat new democrat controlled congress, hasn&#8217;t been able provide any new legislation (and perhaps for that we should be thankful), but, now all back from their vacation break, has been able to acquire a whole new gourmet menu for the House of Representatives. Well at least they all settled on something.
The processed cheese [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/16/house-goes-gourmet-or-meatloaf-gate/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Driving in Pennsylvania</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Long before Mapquest, driving through Pennsylvania was truly an experience. My parents and I often made jokes that their signs rarely matched the correct information. Route numbers seemed confused, detours were enough to send you into another dimension, and towns were marked but somehow never appeared, just like their exit signs.
But that was the seventies.
Yesterday, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/16/driving-in-pennsylvania/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>It&#8217;s All About the Bride</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A few times in the past, some people have approached me about photographing their wedding.
I have shied away from that as it seems like a lot of stress and I doubted I could do well.
I do remember people offering advice at the time, and one thing that John said was, &#8220;It&#8217;s all about the bride.&#8221;

Wow [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/14/its-all-about-the-bride/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Manna?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
A joke that came to my inbox today from JimOnline.com
The teacher in our Bible class asked a woman to read from the Book of Numbers about the Israelites
wandering in the desert.
&#8220;The Lord heard you when you wailed, &#8216;If only we had meat to eat!&#8217; &#8221; she began.
&#8220;Now the Lord will give you meat. You will [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/12/manna/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Visual Dictionary</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It doesn&#8217;t seem that long ago, Petra was here, and she insisted on a few projects.
One of them was fixing Laura&#8217;s door handle, as she was constantly being locked in or out of her bedroom.
Well, I couldn&#8217;t have told you the doo-hickey from the thing-a-ma-bob, but there is now a visual dictionary online that has [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/12/visual-dictionary/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Meanest Mom on the Planet</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I had to laugh when I heard about a mom who found alcohol (breaking a rule she had established) in her son&#8217;s car who decided to sell the car with this ad:
&#8220;OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don&#8217;t love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/10/meanest-mom-on-the-planet/</link>
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		<title>Tata Nano</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
Not to be confused with the iPod Nano&#8217;s I just got my children for Christmas, and not nearly as small, India unveils its new car, the Tata Nano, for $2500, the same price as the DVD player in a Lexus.
&#8220;A team of 500 engineers worked on the car, to be produced at a plant in [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/10/tata-nano/</link>
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		<title>Perfect Wings</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I just said good-bye to one of my best friend&#8217;s mother tonight.
One day my friend Lisa introduced me to this very talkative skinny girl named Chris. Chris was like no one else I have ever met.
I can&#8217;t remember how my world became whisked into hers after that, but since about second grade we have been [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/07/perfect-wings/</link>
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		<title>The John MacArthur Study Bible</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For years I have kept close to me my 
The Defenders Study Bible
, but of late, I have enjoyed the MacArthur Study Bible given to Miquel by the generous John Fieck.
For thirty years, John has spent nearly thirty hours a week studying the Bible, taking detailed notes, and teaching people what he learns.  The [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/06/the-john-macarthur-study-bible/</link>
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		<title>New at SkinsGallery: iPhone Wallpapers</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
 
One never knows where inspiration will come from. I was going around to various blogs, and found that Jeff at More Than Fine was showing his new wallpapers for his iPhone from his own photography.
 
This immediately got me started to add a category
at SkinsGallery
 
I am sure I will manage to come up with some diverseones. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/05/new-at-skinsgallery-iphone-wallpapers/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Missing</title>
		<description><![CDATA[EDIT: Good News, Shelby has been found!
Our Neighbor Shelby

More information here
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/04/missing-2/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Mystic Journey</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Beth Ellen inspired me to open up Terragen2, which I haven&#8217;t done in a long time.
I forget sometimes how much fun (and frustrating) the program is.
Here is my latest creation,  Mystic Journey

Click here to see larger image on my Terragen Gallery
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2008/01/04/mystic-journey/</link>
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		<title>What is a Billion???</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The next time you hear a politician use the word &#8220;billion&#8221; in a casual manner, think about whether you want the &#8220;politicians&#8221; spending YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.
A. A billion [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/31/what-is-a-billion/</link>
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		<title>A Century Ago</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I thought on this New Year&#8217;s Eve, it might be interesting to look back 100 years ago.
The year is 1907.
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1907
*************
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/31/a-century-ago/</link>
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		<title>Brainless Canelons</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Andrew: Mama, Zack and I are going to safeway&#8230;can we get you anything?
Me: Cow brains if they have it.
 {silence}
Me: Ok, pork brains if they don&#8217;t have it. We have shopped all over today and can&#8217;t find either anywhere.
Andrew: okaaaay&#8230;&#8230;..we will ask for you.

The Catalan recipe of Canelons is meat filled pasta rolled into a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/30/brainless-canelons/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Mini Concert</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Well into Enric and Miranda&#8217;s stay here, we decided on an informal get together
with my sister and her husband, as well as Mrs. Moore. With this time together,
I thought it would be nice for Enric to play piano, a mini concert of sorts, so Miquel
could tape it for us to listen to again and again.

We [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/29/mini-concert/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>&#8216;Ave a bonza Chrissy, Mate</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Going with near 10 years tradition now, Australia came to Maryland in the form of a big,
heavy package filled with surprises and a complete color coded gift guide.
 
Calendars, lollies, and stubby holders cushioned the package well around other presents&#8230;
Miranda admires the echidna for baby Silas

Laura opens up a Tee-Shirt

The guys are excited over their boomerangs
 
 
Miranda and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/29/ave-a-bonza-chrissy-mate/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>New Years Resolution: Christlikeness</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.&#8221;
~Colossians 3:2
Hardly recovered from all the Christmas festivities and we were out again Wednesday night.
This time to hear Enric preach for Anchor&#8217;s Wednesday night service and prayer meeting.
A joy for this mama, I can assure you.

His topic? Christlikeness.
He stated that the one goal found [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/28/new-years-resolution-christlikeness/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Christmas 2007</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
 
My sister and her husband hosted Christmas this year.
We had a wonderful day: Photos HERE
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/27/christmas-2007/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Christmas Eve&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Our Christmas Eve is always a special occasion, but this year so much more with Enric, Miranda and Silas with us.
We first had a Catalan Dinner that I prepared, and it was the BEST Fideus I had ever made.
Next, we went to Christmas Eve Service at Church.
Then we came home and open presents.
Photos HERE
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/24/christmas-eve-3/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Happiness Is</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
When I was growing up, there were many posters and sayings that began with &#8220;Happiness is&#8230;&#8221;
Remember those?
Lately I&#8217;ve been thinking that happiness is your grandson fast asleep in your bed.
  

]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/24/happiness-is/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Christmas Eve</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I have always regarded Christmas Eve a special night.
Tonight with my whole family together, we will have a nice Fideus, go to church Christmas Eve&#8217;s service, then come home and have presents and enjoy being with each other.
My wishes are that my friends and all who read this blog have a very Merry Christmas, remembering [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/24/christmas-eve-2/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Oh Fudge!!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
I have to admit it, and others will back me up on this, my mom&#8217;s fudge that she
makes every Christmas, is legend around these parts. It&#8217;s a tradition really. My
Grandmom made it, my mom made it, my sister knows how, and my friends and
I have tried but failed in most of our attempts. So, I [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/21/oh-fudge/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Fasten Your Seatbelts!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
In light of all the recalls, toxic fish, toys, cat food, and other dangerous lead filled products
coming out of China, my mom tells me of a report that some airplane manufacturing is being
sent to this nation which seems to have few standards in production of goods.
After some google searches, I found a few articles vallidating the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/20/fasten-your-seatbelts/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Authentic Relationships</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
If on our deathbeds we were given an opportunity to relive an aspect of our life over,
the writer of Hurtling Toward Oblivion is convinced most would all choose our relationships -
a chance to improve a connection with someone we love the most.
&#8220;Love is not the road to authenticity-it IS authenticity.
 Love is not just a good [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/19/authentic-relationships/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Replace the Stupor</title>
		<description><![CDATA[
&#8220;Without a destination, there is never a favorable wind.&#8221; 
 
I am still reading the same book Hurtling Toward Oblivion. Each day that passes,
I like the book more. It&#8217;s not a long book by any means, so I am quickly
reaching the end of it.
As the writer comes to a close, and I frankly feel that he [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/18/replace-the-stupor/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Less</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
If God treats the tree like a tree, the machine like a machine, the man like a man, shouldn&#8217;t I, as a fellow-creature, do the same &#8212; treating each thing in integrity in its own order? And for the highest reason: because I love God &#8212; I love the One who has made it! Loving [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/17/less/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Four Boyfriends</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This was sent to my email today&#8230;
 
 
Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.
She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies.
She gave him nothing but the best.
She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/17/four-boyfriends/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Money and Time</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
 
  “Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it,
and others do just the same with their time.”
     ~ Goethe

 
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/14/money-and-time/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Merry Tossmas</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
At this time of year do you receive numerous &#8220;Non-Specified Holiday&#8221; catalogs that pile up and clutter your house?
Here is a fellow who is offended that few actually say Christmas Catalogs.
So, as he explains there are other months where we don&#8217;t clump special occasions together, say, Presidents and Valentines Day, he demonstrates what he does with [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/12/merry-tossmas/</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Al Gore, His $6,000 a Minute Speech</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
It&#8217;s been awhile since I have picked on Al Gore, but a headline criticizing him with a $6,000 a minute speech caught my attention.
The speech given at the Fortune Forum summit, was held at The Royal Courts of Justice and attracted world leaders, entrepreneurs and celebrity activists including Bob Geldof, Darryl Hannah and Jerry Hall.
Some [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/09/al-gore-his-6000-a-minute-speech/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>&#34;Decent&#34; Holiday</title>
		<description><![CDATA[��
As I have been listing here for some weeks now, most know that I advertise for many merchants.
This brings in some revenue that helps me run my sites.
As a publisher, we often receive updates, coupon codes, changes of program agreements on our emails.
This time of year of course, we get Holiday specials they would like [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/09/decent-holiday/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Autumn Snow</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
The trees still have red leaves on them and the weather paid no mind to the calendar at all, and the snow fell. We were only supposed to get about 2 inches, but by night, I would say closer to 4 fell here in Pasadena.
 
Mom said that it was reported, statistically it often snows on [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/06/autumn-snow/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Four Seasons Calendar</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Since 1989, I have been buying the Four Seasons Calendar with the artwork of John Sloane. The one year I missed because they were all sold out, my sister gave me hers.
If you like the beauty and landscapes of barns, Appalachia, churches, tradition, and the changing of the seasons, you will love these calendars. Get [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/05/four-seasons-calendar/</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>More</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
In the book I am reading, and blogged about, Hurtling Toward Oblivion, there is a section where the writer answers the question, &#8220;If you could use only ONE WORD to describe all that is happening in the world, which word would you choose?&#8221;
The writer&#8217;s answer. &#8220;More.&#8221;
He goes on to say no matter where we look [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/05/more/</link>
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		<title>Our Little Cowboy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Miranda and Enric have internet now, and one of the benefits to me will be getting more photos of the baby!
Soooooooo&#8230;.Here is a new Silas update. He is getting so round and handsome!

 
 
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/04/our-little-cowboy/</link>
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		<title>No to the IRS</title>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Today, after a long illness, I joined the land of the living, went shopping,  and saw a bumper sticker with the letters IRS crossed out, followed by the web address fairtax.org. I made a mental note to definately look it up. Here is what their website says:
What is the FairTax plan?
The FairTax plan is a [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.xerraireart.com/blog/2007/12/04/no-to-the-irs/</link>
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