Carpe Diem

Aaaah, Saturday!

1. sleep late
2. be less strict with Nathan's diet
3. trip to the public library
4. make 'sticky chicken wings'
5. Nathan's friend to come over for the evening. Menu: self made mini (English) muffin pizzas, salad, and the above referenced wings, hot apple cider, visit a few local neighbors for treats, and a spooky kids movie
6. clean the guest room and bath
7. change beds and wash sheets/towels
8. call my parents
9. write two thank you letters
10. respond to being the winner of a blog contest!

Photo: By Mrs. Mac, October, 2009, Lake Okanagan, BC

THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL

by: Robert Louis Stevenson

NAKED house, a naked moor,

A shivering pool before the door,

A garden bare of flowers and fruit

And poplars at the garden foot:

Such is the place that I live in,

Bleak without and bare within.




Yet shall your ragged moor receive

The incomparable pomp of eve,

And the cold glories of dawn

Behind your shivering trees be drawn;

And when the wind from place to place

Doth the unmoored cloud-galleons chase,

Your garden gloom and gleam again,

With leaping sun, with glancing rain.

Here shall the wizard moon ascend

The heavens, in the crimson end

Of day's declining splendour; here

The army of the stars appear.

The neighbor hollows dry or wet,

Spring shall with tender flowers beset;

And oft the morning muser see

Larks rising from the broomy lea,

And every fairy wheel and thread

Of cobweb dew-bediamonded.

When daisies go, shall winter time

Silver the simple grass with rime;

Autumnal frosts enchant the pool

And make the cart-ruts beautiful;

And when snow-bright the moor expands,

How shall your children clap their hands!

To make this earth our hermitage,

A cheerful and a changeful page,

God's bright and intricate device

Of days and seasons doth suffice.




Photo Art: By Mrs. Mac, October 2009

Psalm 118

Psalm 118

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

² Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."

³ Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."

⁴ Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."

⁵ In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.

⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

⁷ The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

¹⁰ All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

¹¹ They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

¹² They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

¹³ I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.

¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!

¹⁶ The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

¹⁷ I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

¹⁹ Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.

²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;

²³ the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵ O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.

²⁷ The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

I received this Psalm in an email today from Felisol. It spoke to my heart in many areas, especially in regards to our bankrupt political system.

Photo: by & digitally 'mastered' by Mrs. Mac. October 24, 2009. Taken aboard a fast moving train in Northeast Washington State.

Imagination At Play .. The Great Pumpkin Train Run

Play and imagination are great tools for children to develop. Yes, some use their imagination in such a way as to become something outside their ordinary capability. Take my son, Nathan, for example. He is rather standoffish most of the time until you are invited into his social world. In this world, he is just an average (well maybe not so average .. but for him, it's average ;) kid with some of the similar likes and dislikes as any teen: A girl he's sweet on; the most current movies (albeit, still in the Disney mode); video games (OK, not the violent ones), and so on. Then there is his imaginative side. The one that comes out once in a while when he dons his 'Mr. Incredible' costume. A macho side that struts with his (fake) pumped up muscles to show the world that 'he's all that' (to quote a passe teen phrase). The imagination at play is hysterical from my view but important none the less. It shows me a more 'typical' side and what Nathan is capable of.

Yesterday our family went on a scenic fall train ride ... and for a few moments Nathan was able to SHINE while he pretended to be Mr. Incredible. Then the spell was broken when some nearby train patrons decided to laugh and cackle out loud SO much as to send him back 'inside' his being. Back to a standoffish little boy that has quirky behavior (autistic traits) and needs the protection of his family. But, oh for a few moments, he shined brightly!

Pics: Top .. Mr. Incredible/Nathan
Bottom .. Nathan with big sister Elizabeth and his little (dragon) nephew Jacob

The 'Sweeter' Side Of Life

We never did make it over to Banff, Alberta, Canada. The highway was through the Canadian Rockies and snow tires were required ... which I don't have. Next year maybe Mr. Mac and I can make a trip up there for a few days and enjoy some of the famed hot springs along the way.

My friends, Irene & Belinda, were good traveling buddies. We made quite a 'Three Musketeers" group of gabby gals. And, of course, what would a trip to Canada be without a few stops at Tim Horton's for Coffee and goodies, eh? And a few more bakeries ... perhaps ... hey, we're on vaca.



Photos: Mrs. Mac running out of Tim Horton's :),
Mrs. Mac inside T.H.'s
The 'Three Musketeers' glamor shot inside a model
home for sale (a little diversion for the salesman;)
Oh, another 'Blissful' bakery in Peachland, BC

The Way We ...

... Were

I have finally put up my portrait on the wall above the office desk. Next to it is Mr. Mac's gun toting portrait in uniform. The way we were ... in the mid 1990's. Funny to see these two much younger versions of ourselves staring back at us from the days of our youth. I wasn't going to put my pic up, but my blank 'trophy' wall next to Mr. Mac's 20+ year career trophy wall was beginning to get 'occupied' with more of his plaques of platitude. I had to put a stop to that! Now intermixed with his official looking certificates and professional on the job pictures, I have hung a few of my unrelated items ... hey, it's my wall, ahem. BTW for the record, that's my shotgun he's holding :)


Next month we celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary. He's making plans for a romantic get-a-way here and here

Those Geraniums

... my favorite potted plant ... geraniums .. whether the scented variety, or plain ol' Tango Red, scream summer, white picket fences, sailboats on blue shimmering seas, friendly cats, rocking chairs, porch swings ... you'd think they were some lofty snooty flower from the places they call home. This window flower box arrangement was spied, captured .. and 'enhanced' via computer wizzardry to become a watercolor snapshot of delight. However grand geraniums can be, the winter winds and frosty mornings let them know that they're not the boss :)

Wilted and withered down to a clump of mush is a geranium left out on its own in the winter climate. There's just no reviving them, no mater how sweet you talk. So if you have any potted ones left out on your porch, be sure to tuck them away in a cool dark place over winter to see if they will give you another showy year.


Here are a few more pictures from my
recent trip. As you can see, God has
such talent when he created our earthly home. The beach was all mine for a moment in time. And the waterfall (Hardy Falls) is at the end of a stream used by spawning salmon. The hike to the falls followed a shallow stream with fish ladders. Some fish were still swimming upstream. To imagine the thousands of miles each fish swims .. then to return to the same place it was hatched. Amazing creation!

Photos: Top, 'Geraniums In The Looking Glass' .. taken and enhanced by Mrs. Mac. .. downtown Peachland, BC (10/09)

Middle, Lone beach, Peachland, BC
10/09

Bottom, Hardy Falls, Peachland, BC
10/09

Falling Into Autumn

In years past my scrub maple trees began turning red in September. This year they got hit all at once with cold temps in Mid October causing their leaves to turn crispy brown before changing colors. There they stay on the trees ... crunchy .. brown ..leaves not wanting to FALL off. Bare trees with colored leaves swirling around their feet are a much prettier sight than trees with brown crunchy leaves wanting to hang on. OK, I'm done complaining. A few days ago I returned from my trip to Canada. Relax became my middle name. Over the next few days I'll try to post some pictures. For some reason life is getting in the way of my blogging time. I suppose that's OK, but I do miss visiting and writing down my thoughts (as shallow as they are at times ;)

Photo by Mrs. Mac: Lake Okanagan, 10/09

Silver & Gold

Make new friends but keep the old ... some are silver ... others gold.

Next week hubby will be on his own with the troops (Ann, Elizabeth, Patrick, Ryan) taking charge of the home front. I try to run a tight ship and have a schedule that looks rather official. Taking a vacation from my family requires an act of God. Nathan just needs to be looked after all the time that breaks from him are far and few between. So while the family is busy watching Nathan and figuring out the schedule (on/off the school bus, bed time, bath night, etc), I hope to be enjoying a get away with some silver and gold gal pals to British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Will most likely not be posting much if any while I'm away ... so don't hold your breath.

Be back after my batteries are recharged :0)

Changing Of The Guard ....

Rain, autumn leaves,

wind rustling through the pines, cloud draped moon, breath suspended mid air, a tinge of frost with the last of the garden

hanging on by deep roots

and straw bed covers. Oh how I marvel at the work of

God's creative hand

exchanging the pages of summer for the warm fire glow of fall.

Words and picture by Mrs. Mac, 10/3/09