Saving Time

How does that work exactly? Saving time? We spring forward. Then we fall back. OR We spring ahead. Then we fall behind. Some of us spring back and fall forward. On our face. That's where I feel today. The time change always messes with my schedule. Yesterday at 5 o'clock it felt like it was 7 and I should be winding down for the day. This morning, I was awake at my normal time but that is actually an hour earlier. Good grief! Who thought this time change was a good idea? Here's what I found out:

How and When Did Daylight Saving Time Start?

Ben Franklin—of "early to bed and early to rise" fame—was apparently the first person to suggest the concept of daylight savings, according to computer scientist David Prerau, author of the book Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time.

While serving as U.S. ambassador to France in Paris, Franklin wrote of being awakened at 6 a.m. and realizing, to his surprise, that the sun would rise far earlier than he usually did. Imagine the resources that might be saved if he and others rose before noon and burned less midnight oil, Franklin, tongue half in cheek, wrote to a newspaper.

"Franklin seriously realized it would be beneficial to make better use of daylight but he didn't really know how to implement it," Prerau said.

It wasn't until World War I that daylight savings were realized on a grand scale. Germany was the first state to adopt the time changes, to reduce artificial lighting and thereby save coal for the war effort. Friends and foes soon followed suit.

In the U.S. a federal law standardized the yearly start and end of daylight saving time in 1918—for the states that chose to observe it.

During World War II the U.S. made daylight saving time mandatory for the whole country, as a way to save wartime resources. Between February 9, 1942, and September 30, 1945, the government took it a step further. During this period daylight saving time was observed year-round, essentially making it the new standard time, if only for a few years.

Since the end of World War II, though, daylight saving time has always been optional for U.S. states. But its beginning and end have shifted—and occasionally disappeared.

During the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo, the U.S. once again extended daylight saving time through the winter, resulting in a one percent decrease in the country's electrical load, according to federal studies cited by Prerau.

Thirty years later the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was enacted, mandating a controversial monthlong extension of daylight saving time, starting in 2007. (taken from the national geographic website)

Personally, I'm with Arizona who does not change their clocks. Let's just live with the time we have and enjoy today, This Day!

Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting. Have a fabulous day and week.

Peace and Joy,

Susan

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV) ¹ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Happy Fall Y'all

Today, according to the calendar, is the first day of autumn. The autumnal equinox. Equal day and night.

What fall means to me:

falling leaves

Hay rides

Pumpkin pie

harvest

Scarecrow

FAMILY

apple cider

Blessings

autumn

Give Thanks

Sadly, it also means that winter, cold, snow, and ice are just around the corned. Ugh! Not a fan. So I'll just enjoy the milder temps, family gatherings, and the daily blessings of today...This Day! What does fall mean to you? Thank you for stopping by and visiting.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV) ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

I'm Falling for HodgePodge Week 44

1. What do you do at the first sign of a cold? Will you get a flu shot this year? At the first sign of a cold, I take Zicam. It definitely helps. I will get a flu shot too.

2. What advice can you give about how to conquer fear? Face it. Head on. ".....all things are possible to him who believes." Mark 9:23

3. Share two good things about your life right now. I'm breathing. lol. Yes, really. And, I am loved.

4. A hot fall fashion trend in 2011 is a return to sixties style...tunics with pants, shift dresses, pencil skirts, cinched waists, bold prints, high necklines and short lengths to name a few. How does this fashion trend fit with your wardrobe and personal sense of style? I like to wear what works for me. If there is something trendy that fits into my current wardrobe, I might add it.

5. Were you involved in scouting as a kid? How about as an adult? I was a Campfire Girl. Does anyone know about this group?

6. Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin...your favorite fall flavor? Apple!

7. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher? Honest, modest, compassionate, creative, committed, prepared, caring, respectful, fair, conscientious, interested, dedicated, patriotic, and godly.

8. Insert your own random thought here. I'm headed to a photog workshop today that I'm super excited about attending. The instructor is Brett Jarnagin of Flashfire. His work is amazing. Check it out! The best part? I won the seat at this workshop. This is going to set my photog style apart. Well, at least that is my hope. We'll see how my fall sessions look. :)

What do you have planned for fall? Be sure to check out my new fall gottado list here!

Thank you for stopping by and visiting. Please hop on over to Joyce's to read other participants answers or better yet, link up with your own.

 

Peace and Joy,

Susan

1 Peter 3:8 (NKJV) Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

Fall Gottado

Can you believe it???? Summer is almost over. Technically. According to the calendar. Next Friday, the 23rd is the first day of Autumn. Are you ready for it? Am I ready for it? Not really. I love summer. Love, Love, LOVE summer.

To help me transition to cooler temperatures, I'm starting something new. A fall gottado list. My summer gottado list really helps me. I list food I want to can and freeze. Places I want to see. Events I want to attend. How'd I do on it? I'll save that for another post.


Here's my first ever fall gotta do list:

Apple picking

Make leaf art

Go on a hay-ride

Have a photoshoot in a leaf pile

Enjoy a bonfire with s'mores

Make caramel apples

CORN MAZE!!!

Go to a pumpkin patch

Go on 2 dates

Make fall cookies (I already have two new recipes to try)

Take a nature walk (bring the camera!!!)

Trick-or-treat (help at the church event)

Bake pies (what are your favorites? maybe I'll try something new)

Decorate (carve/paint) a pumpkin

Drink Fancy Coffee Drinks (Yep, Capitolized)

Picnic

I've never been big on decorating my house for fall or Halloween. I'm more the jump-right-into-Christmas kinda gal. But decorating a pumpkin sounds rather appealing to me for some reason.


Do you have a favorite fall tradition? Perhaps you make an outstanding pie or cookie and would share your recipe or technique. Do you have a corn maze in your neck of the woods?


Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting. Have a wonder day.


Peace and Joy,
Susan

Genesis 1:14 (NKJV) Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;

Is it Just Me?

Or are you having problems with Blogger's formatting? Seriously! I spend the time to type out my ramblings. Save them. Go back to edit and as soon as I change one character....all my formatting disappears! What's up with that?


Some days it seems like it takes me an eternity just to get out one thought. Who has that kind of time. Really? Certainly not me. I want to be able to sit down and crank out my post and move on to my gottado list. One thing on my "gottado" list is to set aside one or two days a week where I spend a couple hours preparing posts for upcoming dates. I'm hoping this will help me plan my time better. You know....better time management. Of course, having to go back and reformat everything is not helping achieve this goal.

Or are you thankful for the change to cooler temperatures? Seriously. Don't get me wrong. I L.O.V.E. summer, but it was exceptionally, oppressively hot and humid and dry.  Can't you smell fall in the air? Isn't it just wonderful having cooler nights and warm, sunny days?  Sitting by the fire? Which is a perfect segue to my giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, you still have time. Go HERE to enter. 


Or are you  ready for comfort foods? You know the type: soups, chili, and stews. The smell of fresh baked goods. Yes. I'm ready.


Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting. Please leave your comment on what fall means to you and your family.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Titus 2:2 (NIV) Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Another CSN Giveaway!!!

The wonderful people at CSN Stores are offering a $40 gift certificate to my readers! I'm so excited for you. CSN Stores is comprised of over 200 specialized online stores that offer a wide variety of home goods. You can find anything from luggage to kitchen tables, cookware to baby cribs, tools to office furniture. You name it - they have it!

The season is rapidly changing from summer to fall. Can you smell it in the air??? I sure can. Fall festivals abound in small rural communities. Mine is no different. Apple Festival. BBQ cook-offs.  Football games. Bonfires. Here is a fire pit or fire ring you can add to your own back yard for those get togethers.

Maybe you're in need of some seating for those gatherings. Here is a nice bench.

But there are so many options.You can choose anything from their many site selections. Home decorations. Children's furniture. Strollers. Housewares. Treadmills. (yes. I said the "T" word. lol)

Here's how you get in on this fabulous giveaway. FIRST! You must be a follower of my blog. THEN-Visit CSN Stores and leave me a comment telling me what you would be interested in ordering. You don't have to be specific, and you can change your mind.

For this giveaway, I'm giving you extra chances to win. You are allowed to leave one comment on this post each day the giveaway is open. Also, if you post about the giveaway on your blog, you'll get an extra entry (please provide a link to that post). It's that simple! The giveaway will be open through midnight (central time), September 16. So you have several chances to win. The winner will be announced Saturday, September 18.

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Colossians 1:28 (NIV) We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Project 365

August is in full swing and it's almost time for fall semester to start! Yesterday, we purchased school supplies for the grand-boy. Our college football season officially starts today. Are you winding down summer activities and preparing for the upcoming school year? What are some fall activities you are looking forward to?

My pictures for my Project 365 are up on time again this week. Hop on over to my photo blog, Shutter Clicks, to see them. Be sure to stop by Sara's blog too. She's our gracious host for this fun project. If you could take a picture of one scene today, This Day, that captures your life what would it be?

Peace and Joy,
Susan

Galatians 4:10 (NIV) You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!