A German Playing Spanish Pipes, A One-eyed Dog, and Moose What?

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance . . .  Galatians 5:22-23

We went to the Newcastle Town Centre a couple days and heard afar off the sounds of pipes.  They drew us like a magnet to find this man standing in the cold trying to keep his reed warm enough to not squeak.  He said his reed didn't like the cold at all.  We asked about his instrument and he informed us he was from Germany playing Spanish pipes.  Notice the worn spot where his instrument rests?  I believe there is nothing (for us) that instills the longing to know our history than the sound of bagpipes, for some reason.  It must be in the genetic makeup.  Somewhere in our past, pipes were played at celebrations, at weddings, at funerals, and for all good reasons.  It is an effective sound that carries over hills and dales, reaching the ears and heart, with power to penetrate the very fiber of our beings to fill us with a mixture of melancholy, joy, and reflective meditation--whatever any given occasion demands.

Elder Blain always contributes to those with real talent.

Floating disembodied head!  One eyed, one tongue, flying purple people eater . . . this look was a bit disconcerting as he just sat there and stared at me while I visited someone needing encouragement.  I think he is blind and cannot hear, but this poor fellow seems happy, if he'd move so I know for sure that he is alive and not a statue. 

Robyn's Christmas present took three weeks to get here, but just in time for warmth.  I immediately decided she'd sent me mittens, ignoring the fact Elder Blain got socks (a clue).  Something looked strange when I put one on my hand.  I wondered why the mitten had been made out of a sock.  My brain was insisting it was a mitten for some reason, even when my dear husband told me they were socks.  Are the screws loosening in my brain or fallen out completely?  Duh, no thumb holes either.

All was sorted out within seconds and the cute "mittens" ended up where they belong--on my cold tootsies that are now very cozy and warm!