A Privacy of Storm

"Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight: the withered air
Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,
And veils the farm-house at the garden's end.
The sled and traveler stopped, the courier's feet
Delayed, all friends shut out, and housemates sit
Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed
In a tumultuous privacy of storm."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

* * *

The middle *window* of the collage is what I look through when I'm sitting at our kitchen table, either studying, reading or eating a meal ~ I've always loved the view and it's especially breathtaking right after a heavy snowfall as seen in these photos taken a couple of days ago :o)

Let It Snow

This is the beautiful sight I was treated to when I woke up this morning but the temps have warmed up and rain is forecast before the afternoon is over :o(

It was soft, fluttery and beautiful while it lasted . . .

New Year BLESSINGS to Everyone!

Memories

Pink Rose by Anna Scott

"God gave us memories 
that we might have roses in December."

~ Sir James Barrie ~

A Fluffy White Reminder

A fluffy white reminder that winter is just around the corner ... I actually heard the plow come down to clear our street this evening and that's one of the SOUNDS of WINTER in our area :o)

Last Showy Days of Autumn

Every time I enjoy a long walk, I take my camera in hand because I never know what I'm going to see ~ a few days ago I was privileged to see bumble bees close-up as they flitted from flower to flower :o)

Something else greets me the morning following a long walk and that is a bout of sometimes very painful gout!

This time 'round it wasn't as painful as other times but it still announced that it was present and wouldn't let me forget its existence as my right foot ached!!

I guess I'll have to try shorter, more frequent walks and see if the same thing happens :o)

Pizza and Thanksgiving

Because my husband is working today, I'll be eating supper before he arrives home.

The good thing is that I decided to make homemade pizza so I can pop his into the oven so it's ready just before he walks in the door, giving him time to get into his casual duds before he sets down to enjoy :o)

I trust that everyone is enjoying their weekend.  

Here in Canada it's Thanksgiving officially on Monday but my husband will be back to work that day as well ... in any case, we are thankful EVERY day for all the blessings showered upon us by the Lord.

Blessings,

Farewell to Rainbow Leaves

Playing Trains by Stephen Darbisher

When the bold branches
bid farewell to rainbow leaves ---
Welcome wool sweaters.

~B. Cybrill ~

Autumn Moonlight

Autumn Moonlight by J. Rodney Reveal

For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.  

For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad.  

 

~ Edwin Way Teale ~
We had a lovely, full, harvest moon like this
shine several nights ago and it was breathtaking!

Tuesday at My House

It's that time of year once again, when the days are warm and sunny with a gentle breeze ~ today the breeze is much stronger than usual, but I'm not complaining :o)

The nights are very cool and the green leaves are beginning to change to shades of golden amber, orange and red. 

As I sit at my desk typing, the warm rays of the sun are shining through my open door and the glass of the door-length window on the storm door intensifies its warmth and brightens my little home ~ I love it!!

I've been working on the family tree of a friend's daughter's boyfriend and it's been challenging and most interesting and the fact that he and his family are really interested in what I find for them makes it all the more worthwhile to me.

My dear husband has the next couple of weeks for vacation but we're staying around home as we have appointments for various things that we couldn't normally do when he's working during the week! 

He has things he wants to do around the house and yard and we have his birthday coming up so we plan on going to the city to our favourite chinese restaurant which makes Szechuan cuisine from scratch - it doesn't have a drop of MSG in it and every Friday has an all-you-can-eat buffet with this scrumptious, completely homemade food :o)

My intense gout pain has subsided, just barely letting me know it's still there ready to go again and this morning I woke up with a dreadfully sore throat, but other than that, I'm doing fine and on my way out the door to do a few errands since I have the car ... may each of you have a wonderful week!!

Blessings,

Back to School Time

found via Google Images

It's that time of year once again when little ones are starting back to school ... either public school or earlier if they are homeschooled.

Today was the 1st day in our area for children to return to classes and one of the things I love about the end of summer is finding Crayola crayons on sale!

Guess what I did!! I bought 6 of the 24 packs to give out to little children that we know and 1 of the 64 packs to have on hand here at home anytime visitors come over who have little children.  We already have lots of paper for them to colour on and it gives them something fun to do when their Mommy and Daddy are busy chatting with us :o)

When I'm out THRIFTING, I always keep my eyes open for really neat childrens books that would be great to have here for little ones to look through or read while they are over visiting ...

As you can tell, I'm one that likes to be prepared :o)

Blessings,

Hot and Humid Days

Although I am very thankful that we don't dress with long sleeves and gowns in the summer anymore, I feel much like this woman looks!!

It's been so very HOT and HUMID in our neck of the woods ALL week that for most of the time, I'm perspiring profusely and uncomfortable and wiping my forehead :o(

The temps are between 30-35 degrees Celsius / 86-95 degrees F. every day and as far as the humidity goes, it's TOO HIGH for me!

I am thankful that we have air conditioning in the car but unfortunately I don't have it during the day :o(

It's almost midnight and it's still 26 deg C / almost 80 deg F so needless to say, my bedroom fan will be blowing lots of hot air around but it's better than no fan at all :o)

It's really too hot and uncomfortable to do anything but what is absolutely necessary around the house and needless to say, baking is not an option!

Blessings,

Summer Small Talk

painting by Frank Benson of his daughters

'Cross the summer meadows

Waft simple pleasantries,
Soft whisper 'tween the tall grass
And the passing breeze
Where crickets call to June bugs
And swaying willows sigh ---
Beguiling summer small talk
To charm the passers-by.

Round a rippling millpond
Rise murmurings of frogs
Who've gathered there to gossip
On old mossy logs.
And dabbling ducks go quacking
Amidst these duckweed sprays ---
Just idle summer small talk
To pass the time of day.

Chatty wrens and warblers
Commune in serenades,
Enchanting rustic rhythms
Eloquently phrased.
And to these summer places
I'm helplessly allured;
Enthralled by summer small talk,
I hang on every word.

~ Lon Myruski ~

A Cozy Rain

 Mike Hovancsek

 

The best kind of rain, of course, 

is a cozy rain ... the rain that falls on a day

when you'd just as soon stay in bed a little longer, 

write letters or read a good book by the fire, 

take early tea with hot scones and jam 

and look out the streaked window with complacency. 

 ~ Susan Allen Toth, England For All Seasons ~

 

1st Signs of Spring

Last Friday, the buds on our maple tree were closed tightly and there was no sign of my bleeding heart plants but Monday afternoon the buds were open and the bleeding heart shrubs were a couple of inches above ground!!

I know for much of the world, spring flowers are already in full bloom but the signs I've enjoyed are early for our neck of the woods :o)

A question for all gardeners out there -- last year was our 1st year for planting HOSTAS across the front and I'm wondering when they usually begin to appear above the ground after winter?

Blessings,

It's verrrry cold here but with the snow glistening in the sun, I just had to take camera in hand and go for a walk :o)

In temperatures of 16* F and a slight wind, my hands were so cold that they almost hurt by the time I arrived back home!

The scenes captured are just off a pathway in the woods near the top of one of the roads in our area . . . we are blessed to be very near town as well as having nature to view and enjoy, so it's the best of both and we are only a hop, skip and jump to the entrance to the main highway to the city!

Blessings,

From Our House to Yours

photo courtesy of AllPosters

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:
for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

This glorious section is what I was meditating on in my reading this morning and I wanted to share it.

May each of you have a blessed Christmas with your families. For those of you without family nearby or who have lost loved ones this year, may the Lord be your portion and may He keep and strengthen you during what will be a difficult time.

Days of Fun and Flurry

Monday began with the doorbell announcing the delivery of a lovely floral arrangement from my Mom, a tradition she began many years ago. Later in the day, I had fun wrapping gifts to musical accompaniment.

We have an old-fashioned rural type mailbox at the end of our driveway and when I noticed that the delivery car was parked there longer than usual, my curiosity was piqued and I hurried down to check!

We received a packaged gift from across the country as well as a handful of cards from different corners of the world, including a surprise one from a neighbour right across the street :o)

The forecast for Monday had been for us to get our 1st snowstorm of the season so my husband had been planning to work from home, which fortunately he can do when the need arises.

Going downstairs to check on his computer Sunday night, his nose noticed the acrid smell and to his dismay, he discovered that the computer motherboard had burned at some point earlier that day!! Needless to say, he wasn't able to work from home and the storm didn't occur in our area after all so that was a blessing.

Fortunately, he discovered that his hard drive is still fine which means, with the right cables and the purchase of an external *case*, he can still access all his data on his old hard drive with whatever new computer he is able to buy! YAY!!

We finally managed to find one that has the Windows XP operating system which he needs to be able to use all his music software, is the right price and has what he needs.

Although this is an unexpected expense, we are very thankful that one with Windows XP is still available as replacing his music software would have been even MORE expensive as he can now have his music room all set up :o)

Yesterday I finally managed to get into the local health clinic at the hospital to get my seasonal flu shot so I guess I'm ALL ready for winter . . .

As a Christmas gift to all my in-laws, I've done the family tree for each spouse that has married into my husband's family to add to our joint family tree which I began working on in 1998.

I've just discovered that each CD had LOTS of room after I've added their family trees and a database application to read them, so I've added a wonderful assortment of OLD family photos that I hope they will enjoy and treasure :o)

Now I'm off to finish up the other 5 CD compilations :o)

Blessings,

Autumn Blessings

We've been busy these past weeks, enjoying my mom's visit with us and at first, the 8 weeks seemed to have no end in sight and that made for a very leisurely visit.

But sadly, all good things eventually come to an end and the countdown has officially begun...she leaves very early next week, so we're going to make the most of the next few days and evenings!!

Although she really hates getting her picture taken, I managed to convince her yesterday that now's the time and I wouldn't take NO for an answer :o)

She doesn't have the mobility she once had so has enjoyed shopping while here -- now the only problem is that between the small gifts that we bought for our 2 grandsons, etc. for her to take back, she almost doesn't have enough room :o(

Oh well, the two of us can always sit on the top of each suitcase to ENSURE that they close properly!

Blessings,

Making Your Home Come Alive

Spring Lilacs by Pat Shephard

"Whether you live alone or with a spouse,
parents ... or with 10 children,
it is your housekeeping
that makes your home come alive,

that turns it into a small society in its own right,
a vital place with its own ways and rhythms,

the place where you can be more yourself
than you can be anywhere else."

~ Cheryl Mendelson, HOME COMFORTS ~

Spring Bouquet in a Vase by James Guilliam

I will be leaving in a few days and still have a dental appointment Monday and some blood tests to have done on my way home from that *fun* excursion :o)

I will likely post from time to time when I'm away visiting loved ones and friends, especially photos of my 2 little grandsons and any scenic shots that are especially beautiful o)

Blessings to you as each day of Spring unfolds,

Persistent Wintry Weather

I thought we were only supposed to get flurries Monday night,

but this was my kitchen window view
when I awoke yesterday morning!

This was the view from my living room window ~
When we get a snowfall at this time of year,
it usually doesn't last that long . . .

Have a wonderful day!