The crown of the year

Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; ...

Psalm 65:11

A bit 'a' fluff

Sophie came home on September 11. She was a soft, sweet, little gift from God on the anniversary of a dark day.

We'd known she was outside since two evenings before, but hadn't been able to put our hands on her. I'd seen her alone in the wee hours, and we were concerned about her. That Friday morning, I cancelled an appointment due to a sore throat, my mother headed out to the grocery store, and I stepped out on our deck and picked the baby up off the top step.

She was thin and scared, but after about week or so, she really wasn't either. :)

September 18, 2009

Lily stepped right in to help provide baby care, and after some consideration, Georgie decided that playing with a little sister could be fun.

She's just exuberant. She loves Lily, and the sofa (it's good for bouncing on and sleeping on ... and a partial inspiration for her name), and baskets of potatoes (apparently they're also wonderful places to sleep and play), and reading books, and eating whipped cream. Isn't that a lovely list of "loves"? :)

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, ... : and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25

Autumn chill

We'd had a warm & muggy autumn, with only one brief breath of cool air... until late last week, when, after a stormy night, the chill finally arrived!

It was just in time for the weekend, which was blessedly free from outside commitments or pressing deadlines, and was therefore free for us all to enjoy the pleasures of the season... hot coffee & tea, a fire, long sleeves, and extra layers on the beds.

I think all of us felt better - even the kitties raced around and played with their toys and each other. I was able to spend Saturday in my favorite way... doing domestic sorts of things in preparation for a quiet Sunday.

It was refreshing!

Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

Job 37:22

Apple season

We were blessed to find bags of clearance-priced apples at the grocery store Friday afternoon -- McIntosh, Gala, and Golden Delicious. They join my mother's apple canister collection under the new-to-us apple wreath found at a charity sale last weekend.

There are apple-y things on the menu!

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:11-12

Change of seasons

We accomplished a few projects this summer... the pantry got organized, and the kitchen mantel and the badly scuffed kitchen table both got fresh paint.

So, now there's a nice, neat row of dried beans & rice & pasta for fall dishes lining the mantel. And, the refreshed table is adorned with a pot of mums given to us by a nice neighbor!

... Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

And he changeth the times and the seasons: ...

Daniel 2:20b-21a

A garden view

This is our view from the window over the kitchen sink.

Our old house has old windows, with "wavy" glass... it makes a very pretty "special effect" as we look at the world outside.

And this summer, we're enjoying looking at our garden, and our pomegranate bushes (one visible on the left), and our big pear tree (center back of the photo, but in the corner of the yard).

(Photo taken July 14, 2009)

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; ...

Genesis 2:9a

Some blessings of the week past

* Quite-cool-for-July temperatures ... a welcome respite from a significant heatwave
* Full rain barrels
* A growing garden quickly thirsty for the water from the full rain barrels
* Tomato plants in need of tying up
* A promising library book to begin
* A generous gift
* The pleasure of planning a fun outing with my mother

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:17

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
Psalm 92:1

Daily delight

We've really enjoyed our "2009 Beautiful Blessings" Lang calendar. It was a bit of a splurge earlier this year, but it's been worth it just for the daily delight of a pretty sight!

The paintings are by Shelly Reeves Smith -- such inviting scenes, done with lovely soft colors, and completed with Scriptures in graceful calligraphy. We have it taped to the refrigerator, so we can see it often. :)

Another sight I'm enjoying daily is just visible on the left... our "new" window coverings in the pantry. The shutters were re-purposed, and my mother stitched the blue & white striped & checked valance earlier this year. I think it gives our pantry a fresh cottage-y look.

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13

Summer day's end

I move downstairs in the summertime to escape the attic heat. My summer bed this year is a very comfortable one in a cool spot -- very welcoming at the end of the day!

This is what will greet me tonight...

~ A pretty bookmark

~ A stack of books

~ Rose-sprigged pillows

~ A soft, light quilt

~ A cool breeze

~ And, probably, a kitty cat or two :)

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Icy dessert coffee

It's definitely felt like summer lately! Our temperatures have been hovering near 100 degrees for days, and we've been enjoying some pleasures specific to the season... like ice cold beverages!

My favorite iced drinks this summer have been our "mochaccinos."



We make about a quart of "strong" coffee (for us, that's 4 tablespoons of coffee in our little Bodum French press).

Then, we add 1/2 cup of powdered milk,
1/4 cup of sugar,
and 3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup.

We give it a little time to cool, and preferably, chill. (Otherwise, it melts the ice and dilutes the drink!)

Then, of course, pour over ice... and, enjoy!

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
John 4:13-15

Pretty projects & special touches

~ ~ ~

Most days are filled with ordinary duties, and at the end of the day, I often find I've taken little or no time for pretty projects or special touches. It's such a pleasure, though, to do something pretty, and over the past several weeks, as small needs and tasks came up, we took our chance!

~ ~ ~

My lavender is such a pleasure to me. Two of my pots were started from seed several years ago, and I've been blessed to have them bloom year after year. Often, though, I don't do anything with the blooms except to welcome the sight and scent of them. But this year I trimmed, which will hopefully be good for the plants. And, the result was a petite bouquet!

We took a few moments to remove the petals and added them to a small jar of sugar. It's now "steeping" in the refrigerator, waiting to be added to a special confection.

~ ~ ~
A broken lampshade was mended and then decorated with a lovely "wallie" purchased ages ago and set aside.

We thought the results were so pretty that we gathered up some more candidates to decorate, too! :)

~ ~ ~

And, my supply of purchased birthday cards was dwindling. So, I recently spent a pleasant Sunday afternoon with pretty papers, scissors, and stamps. I'm now ready for two upcoming birthdays!

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
Psalm 90:17

Summer is nigh

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Matthew 24:32 & 33

Joy in the morning

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:

weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 30:5

A fountain opened

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

Zechariah 12:1

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Zechariah 12:10

In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

Zechariah 13:1

Rainy days

I'd gotten "thirsty" for some rainy days during these dry years, and God filled my cup this past week.

We had days of steady, soaking rain. The thunder rumbled... off in the distance. We turned on the lamps, and enjoyed some quiet afternoons. I napped on the sofa with a soft pillow one day; another, I piddled around in my room with some of my pretty tea things. We went to sleep to the sound of rain, and woke up to it.

It was so good to have the Lord provide, so abundantly, a need only He could meet.

The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, ...
Deuteronomy 28:12a

Daily Acts of Service

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ...

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25: 34-36, 40

"There is a tendency, I think, on the part of those of us who are well fed, clothed, and housed to imagine that the needy people to whom Jesus refers in Matthew 25 are people we don't know -- the sort of people who are served at homeless shelters and soup kitchens, at which we ought therefore to volunteer at least occasionally. But housework is all about feeding and clothing and sheltering people who, in the absence of that daily work, would otherwise be hungry and ill-clad and ill-housed."
Excerpt from Chapter 1, Keeping House by Margaret Kim Peterson

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1

Spring buds

A few weeks ago, I realized that I was looking forward to spring. Sometimes, after a warm winter, spring just heralds the onset of warmer weather with hot to follow. Not so this year! Winter past was actually cold! The serious chill settled in sometime in November and with the exception of a holiday thaw, it has continued cold (relatively, of course) until the last few days. We even got *snow*! On March 1st!

I love winter and its home comforts, but it feels good to feel content near the end of a favorite season. I'm so grateful for seasons. They are a lovely gift from God -- change in His time.

So, it's been with pleasure that I've seen that there’s just “something” about the slant of the sun through my southern windows lately. The robins have been busy for awhile. Some of our early bulbs have already started to fade, but we’ve enjoyed some daffodils and hyacinths, and the azaleas are getting started. It’s beginning to look a lot like spring!

What have I been looking forward to? The warmth, and the flowers, and the soft colors. There have already been some seasonal blessings. And, I have little ideas & plans budding -- tiny things, but pleasant, fresh, & pretty!

• I've had the misty impression that spring was all tied up with grace and femininity this year … I pulled out a creamy freesia body wash, good for both winter-dried skin and a spring-ish craving for florals! I’ve splurged a few dollars on some lavender scrub and a fresh bottle of clear polish for my nails. My mother treated to some thrift store finds of pretty blouses, modestly cut, with lovely details; and, just for fun, a Belvah bag, new with tag and crisp “dotty” bow.
• February's classic novels, like Death Comes for the Archbishop, Robinson Crusoe, and Goodbye, Mr. Chips, have given way to the current “bit a' fluff” (a light perspective of Pride & Prejudice). I think, though, that what I’m craving now is Wives & Daughters. Past experience with Mrs. Gaskell’s novels says that it will be gentle, substantive, romantic, and very satisfying. And, its pretty pink cover seems "just right." :)


• And, there’s the garden, of course! The ever-self-refreshing “to-do” list this week includes planting some seedlings for the summer garden. Drew has given me a little "greenhouse" seed starter set just for that purpose. After necessities were purchased on Saturday morning, we treated ourselves to a trip to Lowe’s garden center, and felt so blessed when we left! My mother came home with two beautiful specimens of Navajo thornless blackberries -- the type she’d been wanting for years! We also came home with some extra catnip plants, one of the great delights of the fur-babies’ lives. And, there are a few pretty basil plants for me to try propagating-by-rooting.
  

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

Song of Solomon 2:10-12

Our winter weekend

The pleasant highlights of the past weekend...

* Family game night on Friday, by the fire, with fish sticks

* Early outing to a church sale (coming home with books, electric blankets, and a Paul Revere kettle for the heater)

* Clearance ground beef... and hamburgers for lunch. And, lots of browned ground beef for the freezer... all recipe-ready!

* Afternoon sunshine and time to spend on the sofa with some preliminary garden plans

* Saturday evening by the fire with needlepoint and the beginning of our annual February Bleak House marathon

* Sunday afternoon reading time (Robinson Crusoe) in my chair with a soft wool blanket

* Sunday supper of toast "soldiers" and soft-boiled eggs... in egg cups... with little egg "cozies" on the spares to keep them warm :)

* And, a little more needlepoint, a little more Bleak House, and a hot cup of tea with cream

~ Thank you for the blessings, Lord. ~

...the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1 Timothy 6:17b

Today's blessings

* Church bells chiming "half past" as we waited at an intersection
* A birthday visit with a very dear aunt
* One part of a big project completed
* Answered prayer and restored health
* One very large blanket & two large pretty mugs at the thrift store... how very January-ish!
* A restocked pantry
* A soft, warm, prettily-cut jacket in a lovely shade... on clearance :)
* Birds splashing happily in a very large mud puddle
* Cold weather in the forecast
* A warm fire, a cozy chair, and a funny storybook waiting...

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

January day brighteners

* Camellias from our yard.


* Praise & worship music playing


* A surprise package filled with beautiful things from far-away cousins

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: ...

Ecclesiastes 3:11a

A finishing touch

We celebrated the New Year with four days "off," then closed out the long weekend, and the holiday season, with a Sunday evening tea tray by the Christmas tree.

(Tea was poured from my dear red tea pot and served with warm cranberry orange scones.)

Anticipation, and hope

Christmas is my favorite season of the year, and during the lights and sparkle of the holidays, I think January usually just looks a little bleak off in the future. Sarah said it well --"the starkness of January’s chill normalcy."

But, I love winter, and indoor coziness, and there's always hope, so I've been thinking of things that I'm looking forward to in January...

There'll be new movies on Sunday nights.

I have a comfy cozy sort of book to read... Miss Buncle's Book (and sequel!) by D. E. Stevenson. And, I have a new little reading spot in the living room ... a comfortable chair, with a just-right ottoman, and a soft wool blanket to ward off chill.

Our winter garden is producing... the turnips look especially happy. And, there's broccoli and cauliflower coming along.

Soup. And, hot chocolate. And, hot tea. With cream.

A big project will be nearing completion.

My needlepoint is waiting patiently.

And, surely, we'll need sweaters again! :)

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Lamentations 3:21-24

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

Psalm 71:5