Merry Christmas

It's been a very busy month .. one that has blessed us with the arrival of our wee little granddaughter, Rowan.

At nearly two weeks of age, she is still in the hospital after needing heart surgery .. and may be home in about a week.  Need I say that we are very blessed to have her and can't wait to hold and spoil her.

We had a lovely dusting of snow Christmas Eve and have plans to spend Christmas Day with our loved ones at home. 

Amid the hustle and bustle of this busy season, it's nice to remember why we celebrate.  In a few hours, there will be much chatter and tearing of paper as the young and old open presents.  Platters of food .. and sweets to be passed at the table.  It is good to remember that Jesus is ...

... a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
   and the glory of your people Israel. ...Luke 2:32

A PJ Day

Here it is nearly 1:00 PM and I'm still in my pajamas.  The weather is cloudy and I am enjoying the leisurely time spent sipping coffee, eating homemade waffles (after grinding the wheat .. of course), fresh thick bacon from the piggy we bought at the fair .. sizzled crisp .. and watching a few cooking shows for inspiration.  America's Test Kitchen (Cooks Country) featured St. Louis style pork steaks that I'm going to search the internet and find the recipe. 

Granny Day Care is closed this coming week .. that means I'm in vacation mode and can eat bon bons, pick up and go shopping at any hour of the day, or just bask in homemaker's bliss.  With Christmas just around the corner, I'll probably finish up shopping and drag out the decoration boxes (with Mr. Mac's help) from the storage room.

Well, perhaps I should figure out what new recipe I'm going to invent with Thanksgiving leftovers.

See you around blogland.

  

Through A Glass Darkly

Deep Lake, Millersylvania State Park, Washington

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a (wo)man, I put away childish things.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians 13:11-13 (KJV)

Changing Of The Guard

photo by Mrs. Mac

We had a beautiful extended autumn this year .. warm and mild.  Then it all changed when we woke up with a few inches of snow yesterday morning ... with another four inches during the day.  Bright autumn day to .. beautiful white and black scene .. just with a few winks of sleep.  Our winters can last a long time in the North Woods ... five to seven months of the year can be expected.  This winter is supposed to be a 'la nina' weather pattern with heavy snowfall.  The first few months are great and a time of rest from gardening and kitchen canning work.  By February I'm ready for a little vacation to a warm sunny spot for about a week.  That's just long enough to get over the winter time blues and make spring and summer easier to wait for.

Have a blessed Sunday!

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

RIP Miss Holly

Nathan and his faithful companion, Miss Holly

I just went to check on my beloved Miss Holly (the dawg) and found she had passed away in her sleep.  Old age crept upon her with a heavy hand this year; first with a liver ailment .. then springing back to life, and now this autumn with aches and pains from the arrival of cold weather.  She passed with a little labored breathing that I thought was just snoring.  Just yesterday she was running around in the yard with a little gusto.  But .. she labored getting up and down.  Much love she gave, only asking for food and shelter.  My heart is filled with many happy memories that will keep me warm through the grieving period.  Rest in peace my beloved friend.  Good night.

Love,

Mamma

Still Life - Ruby Tuesday

In the Odyssey, Homer declares pears as a 'gift of the gods'

Red glow sweet crisp fruit

Hanging on orchard tree boughs

Washed by autumn's mist

Pears .. betwixt summer and winter .. aaaahhhh!

A very Ruby Tuesday .. for more inspiring photos and to join the 'red' rubies .. click here.

photo and Haiku by Mrs. Mac

On The Road Again

Edit - My screwy computer posted pictures from I don't know where .. that only show up on my iPhone .. not laptop .. What gives?  Anyhow .. I've reposted this post .. you're not seeing double.

This coming week I'm off to the second annual Scarf Sisters Retreat.  We're meeting in Northern Michigan for lots of catching up, eating, sight seeing .. and, of course, lots of hugs and prayer time.

2010 Scarf Sisters Reunion - Idaho

Hubby is holding down the fort .. and Ann will help out when needed with her younger brother Nathan.  But before I leave .. there's lots of work to finish.  Baking bread and making freezer meals.  There's also about 30 lbs of ripe tomatoes to can, raspberries and apples to pick and garden debris to burn.  For sure .. I will need a vacation from just getting ready to go on this trip.

Oh .. there's the oven timer .. have to scoot.  Enjoy your weekend!

Just Dance

Nathan has been back to school for nearly a month.  He had a nice surprise at school;  his (favorite) 5-6th grade teacher has moved up and is now his 8th grade teacher.  He is so happy to trek off to school each morning and is continually making progress.  His in home therapy has ended as he met all of his goals.  Now he spends two afternoon/evenings a week receiving developmental therapy in a group setting with a new set of goals.  This is a BIG deal for him .. considering that only a year ago he would barely set foot inside the building.  His comfort level has greatly increased.  My once introverted son is comfortable enough to dance to music in front of his peers.  Praising God for His goodness!

Early To Bed (Not)

Insomnia .. loud crickets .. change of life (two years and counting) .. summer rush in the garden .. have all been contributing to my lack of sleep.  I settle down on the couch for a little TV at night .. usually an old movie .. then doze off.  Usually I'm already for bed so I can just shuffle half asleep down the hallway to bed.  Once there, I toss and turn a few minutes.  Still tired.  Then it hits me.  I need to check the front door, take the pooch out for a potty run, get a glass of water, and heaven forbid if I've forgotten to brush my teeth and decide to use the electric (bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) toothbrush.  I get back in bed and have a hot flash, which makes me get up to turn on the fan and put on cooler jammies.  Settling back in .. I am WIDE AWAKE and thinking I should go bake the bread dough slowly rising on the counter.  This is the dough I forgot to add yeast to yesterday so hastily added it after I noticed it wasn't rising.  Humm .. I must have been distracted (again).  Adding dry yeast to bread dough is not a good idea.  But now it smells all yeasty and like sourdough .. so I don't want to waste it.  Time to turn on the oven and finish baking bread.  Smelling the yummy goodness makes me hungry so I make a pot of coffee and wait for the bread to finish.  My day today is going to suck.  I'll need a nap just after Nathan gets on the school bus .. oh, I forgot, it's Wednesday and I have my little grandson ALL DAY.  I really need to mature and better order my day!

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise .. Ben Franklin

Change In The Air ...

We've had a little hint of autumn this week.  Day time highs in the 70's .. and nights dipping down into the 40's.  Summer is not over as we're supposed to hit the 90's again soon .. but it was refreshing to feel the coolness of the evening air .. and see a shallow fog bank blanketing the nearby lake.  The crickets and frogs are singing their halleluiah chorus to the Lord of Heaven and Earth .. such lowly .. yet beautiful harmony they make.

Tuesday Nathan heads back to school.  His interventionist will continue to work at home with him for the month of September .. then he will transition to attending two afternoons a week at a local facility that helps people with developmental disabilities further their life skills.  There he will practice cooking and washing laundry and a host of other skills.  Eventually he can get a job with them and earn some money.  Good practice for our growing teen.  He went shopping with the Mr. and me today for six hours ... behaved beautifully!  Just to think a year ago we were very limited to our outings with him.  Now he's turned into such a mature young man.

My computer is acting up and not letting me post any new photos.  Will have to see about getting it repaired or replaced.  Too bad as it's not that old! 

Hubby and I have a little list started for our weekly date days.  Next week we hope to go kayaking.  What's up in your world?

“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.” – Psalms 145:18-19

Life Takes a Different Turn ...

sometimes. 

This has been a tough summer.  My oldest daughter and her husband are expecting their second baby .. a little girl named Rowan .. that has a severe heart defect.  She will need several surgeries and who knows what all procedures after she is born.  I'm stepping back and watching my daughter become this very calm, wise mom that is putting her priorities and house in order to take the best possible care of her growing family.  All I can say is that I'm sitting on the side lines and watching in awe as God leads this little family and helps to strengthen them for the rough ride ahead. 

Today's My Friday ...

Lovely violas that freely keep coming back year after year ..

Hubby confuses me sometimes when he says on Tuesday, 'Today's my Friday' because he has Wednesday and Thursday .. and most of Friday home from work.


When the real Friday rolls around, I'm thinking it 'feels' like Saturday.  Today is/was Friday .. and I did, indeed, think it was Saturday.  It doesn't help having Nathan in camp three days a week .. Mon/Wed/Thur .. which makes his having Friday off, once again, seem like Saturday because I can possibly sleep in .. unless, that is, oldest son is working Friday .. which is really his Saturday .. and calls on Thursday night to see if he can come over early Friday morning before he goes to work on his day off .. to have coffee with me.

Now that it's taken me so long to 'splain' myself .. it's actually Saturday .. that I've figured out all on my own.

If this is your Saturday .. what are you up to?

Verse of the day:

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,

and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.  He is the head over 

every power and authority"

  Colossians 2:9-10

Thunder STRUCK

I LOVE a good thunder storm.  Trouble is .. my dawg is a weenie and freaks out.  Tonight one such storm rolled through.  I have resorted to parking my truck on the driveway and tying up the dawg in the empty garage .. away from anything she can topple over.

Several weeks ago a magnificent storm rolled through.  We had company staying in the guest room above our garage .. and didn't want her to wake them up with barking .. so she was kept on a short leash in the dining room.  At 3 AM I awoke to what I thought was a burglar .. only to find out the dog had toppled some plants, books and mail off the bakers rack, tipped over her water and proceeded to tromp around creating a BIG MESS.  

Now the storm is passing.  Nathan has gone back to bed after spending an hour in the 'safe room' (interior bathroom) ....  all is well. 

Thank you Lord for sending the rain and for shaking up the heavens to remind us of your presence.

Ever Thankful

Nathan .. age 15

Thankful for one left in the nest.  After Ann moved out in May, I have come to discover it would be pretty lonely around here without any youngins at home.  Nathan (the possessor of an extra chromosome) is perpetually youthful and adds great joy to life.  To be so young at heart .. always .. is a gift beyond measure.

Every part of life is a season.  I think the empty nest phase would be quite .. well empty without our special needs son.  So thankful God knew we needed him before he was born.  Even with all of his challenges, life adds a richness that would be lacking without him.

In God's infinite wisdom .. He has blessed us and given us reason to have joy as we enter the golden stage of life.

Life In The S.L.O.W. Lane

Living with a broken pc and a slow internet connection may just suit me fine.  (I can't believe I just printed that) ... since my computer crashed last month .. by a hacker  .. resulting in less than better pc use .. (yes, I have anti-virus .. etc .. firewalls ..but when you have a SLOW connection .. sometimes the updates don't update in a timely fashion .. and don't update .. putting you at risk of the latest threat ..  make sense?).  This might be my signal to ditch the non existent internet service and go use the computer at the library once or twice a week when I am in town .. thus saving me about $700 a year!

Speaking of slow lane .. that is the pace our garden has taken this year as well.  Many of my May/June blooming flowers are just now putting on a show.  The veggie garden is a month behind as well in production.  I hope God is generous and extends the first frost date by at least a month so things have a chance to ripen before we descend into winter. 

Mangy Moose Lodge .. spring flowers in summer

Back to the computer .. now the picture scan/disc port on the pc shuts down when I load the disc into it.  So any pictures I post from home will have to be ones I can find stored on my broken pc prior to July 4 .. until I start using the library computer.  This seems complicated .. and maybe not worth the effort.  But .. I don't want to completely stop blogging (even though it may appear that I have already done so). 

Why do people have to be so evil and think up viruses .. scams .. hijackings?  I'll spare you with my idea about what God should do to them .. it's not a nice picture!

Summer Goodness x's Ten

Nathan, Jake and imagination at play

1. green lawn
2. perennials in full bloom
3. day camp
4. bird song
5. fresh garden produce
6. family gatherings
7. blue skies
8. homemade ice cream
9. BBQ's
10. road trips

Whatever Happened To Mrs. Mac?

Mr. and Mrs. Mac at Memorial Day Service

It's been a while since I dug in and wrote a blog post with more than a sentence and a few pictures.  Life has a way of passing by without so much as a hiccup .. then .. the brakes get applied. 

Our youngest daughter, Ann, recently moved out on her own.  She has been working as a dental assistant for almost a year now after graduating from school last summer.  This makes the homestead a bit quieter and has freed up my schedule.  You wouldn't think that having an adult child living at home would make the parent's calendar fill up .. but somehow now that she's not living here .. I have more (me) time.  Her room is being transformed into a little retreat for sewing projects and quiet day dreams. 

Nathan finished up the 8th grade yesterday and is home for the summer.  He has three days a week planned for summer camp activities.  Did I mention that he has progressed to the point that he can pretty much take care of himself? Thanks to the work of a very special interventionist that has helped to transform a very needy (special needs) child .. into one that is very capable of managing his own self without very much assistance.  PTL!  I'll post an update soon about his health after a recent scare we had .. but for now, let's just say he's growing like a weed and seems to be on the mend.  The docs don't suspect leukemia .. will know more after his next blood test in July.  Thank you all that have been praying for him ..

I hope to get my writing grove back and post more often.

Part II - Sepia Flying Fortress

Our visit to Felts Field's open house revisited in sepia.

A Flying Fortress .. Aluminum Overcast ... B17

Chrome in sepia .. a somewhat self-portrait

Felts Field .. part of Spokane Airport