Gratitude Gifts Today

Beautiful summer days, weddings celebrations, Sunday worship, plenty of work, and unlimited blessings to go with all of those - that's what filled this week up!  Sometimes when I feel like the day is less than perfect and there are problems and worries, I begin to count and am so, so amazed at how my attitude can be changed.  All of this, and I mean every. single. little. thing., is given by God in His gracious love and I am amazed that He does this for me day after day after day!  And He does the very same for you too, if you just stop and note it.  Blessings indeed!




#2593 - #2647

- early morning light
- green branches waving in the breeze
- yellow flowers of carragana bushes
- fresh basil leaves on a sandwich

- little brown wren flying into the birdhouse
- big bluejay sitting on the fork handle
- greenhouse sheltering plants
- cranberry blossoms

- Farmer's Day pancake breakfast
- a quiet day at home
- ongoing transplanting
- plant fertilizer

- digging out old shoes that still fit
- baking muffins
- fresh fruit for breakfast
- taking breakfast to them

- pizza baked on the barbecue grill
- dressing up
- wedding service
- wrapped wedding gifts

- reminders of our vows and years we've shared
- wedding band, circle of promise
- visiting and reminiscing with friends
- community history book with stories captured

- heartfelt words from bride's father, groom's brothers and others
- dancing together
- amazing food
- hugs

- sharing lunch with our church family
- planning for next year's programs
- afternoon naps
- water to give plants

- days of subbing
- time for shopping
- perfect birthday gifts
- thrift store finds

- book club friends
- books to read
- enthusiasm
- laughter shared

- beautiful yards
- spaces that are filled with living and loving
- phone messages
- tall trees sheltering our space

- sewing projects
- barbecued burgers with melted cheese
- new recipes
- prayers at night

- His incredible goodness to me
- His love, without fail, every single day!

Celebrating

A wedding is such a wonderful event and we were lucky enough to celebrate one this weekend!  Brett's mom is a dear friend of mine and I taught Kristen way back in playschool.  Both families live in our community and we enjoyed being part of their special day.  Photos tell the story best :)

And just because I have so few photos of my friends, here are the three of us!  

I am blessed to have these wonderful women with whom to share joys and sorrows.

Lists of 2011 - #23

Listography #23 - Favourite Things to Do in My Free Time

1.  Sew

2.  Scrapbook

3.  'Play' with our children and grandchildren

4.  Read

5.  Travel

6.  Hang out with my sister

7.  Make cards

8.  Go camping

9.  Take photographs

10.  Bake

11.  Write letters / send cards

12.  Visit with my friends

13.  Check out blogs

14.  Go for drives and explore the countryside

15.  Look at my scrapbooks and photo albums

Wordless Wednesday

Creating

Just a sneak peek  - - -

More details soon :)

Gratitude Gifts Today

A quiet day at home - transplanting squash and zucchini,  putting some asters in a pot, watching plants emerge from seeds, sewing something special, reading blogs and books - resting in His love and grace.  As the season moves through the last days of spring complete with frost and one last (I hope!) round of snow, my heart is full of thanks and joy at all that I've been given.  God's love is endless and that is reason to celebrate!




#2564 - #2593

- blooming lilacs
- the smell of lilacs as I go by on the path
- a day at home
- computer and printer

- friendships
- open window + birds singing + wind rustling leaves
- birthday gifts
- hearing Bob practise his German conversation

- sunset stroll in gardens
- zucchini roots poking through holes in the pots
- fruit forming on the tomatoes
- washing machine working away

- a new box for plants
- juicy green grapes
- hockey games
- pictures of our children and grandchildren

May, 2010

- inspiration online
- packages ready to mail
- delicious oranges, crisp from the fridge
- pots of flowers outside on the grass

- meals shared
- last apple pie from the deep freeze
- smiles from Maëlle
- sewing and new fabric

- finishing a neglected project
- vacuumed floors
- homemade sweet potato fries and salmon burgers
- evening walks
- His love for me!

Thinking Handmade

Anna Maria Horner, a wonderful fabric and pattern designer, featured this video on her blog today.  It made me want to pick up my embroidery needle and preserve the tiny bit of knowledge and skill that I have.  It's definitely making me think twice about buying machine produced goods that are produced in factories  sweatshops.

I would love to visit this spot in Cyprus!

Right Now

Right Now, I am ...

moving plants in and out of the greenhouse and the garage, trying to keep them safe from cold temperatures

appreciating the last of the 2010 frozen apple pies, baking now

planning birthday celebrations - this is the busiest month for family birthdays - 2 grandchildren, a daughter (and another one in early July), a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, a sister and 2 brothers

falling behind on housework

anticipating the second game in the Stanley Cup playoffs - Go, Vancouver, Go!

laughing with Meadow on the phone

feeling creative and quite happy that some projects are being finished

enjoying a quiet day inside, sewing, baking and reading

remembering to pray for Melinda, Tyler and Samuel who have arrived at their new apartment

hoping our plants survived the snow and freezing temperatures last night - the growing season here gets shorter every year!

zinnia in my pot

Thanks to Heather and Amanda Soule for this post idea and inspiration!

Five on Friday

1.  I found a tiny but oh, so lovely, quilt shop in Spruce Grove today.  At Woodland Quilting, the walls were covered with samples and the shelves were stuffed with beautiful fabrics.   They had Basic Grey fabrics and many gorgeous fat quarters.  If you are in the area and looking for fabric, I highly recommend stopping by.    I wish they had a website that you could check out.

2.  There is a weather warning for frost - AND snow tonight!!  It's the 3rd of June - what the heck??!!

3.  The Company's Coming cookbook company has a new book titled "Whole Grain Cooking".   It features grains in everything from appetizers to desserts.  I have a huge collection of books from this company and I'll be watching for this one to add to my shelf.

4.  Melinda, Tyler and Samuel are on their way to Fredericton, NB this weekend.  If you could say a prayer for safe travels and a community to call home I (and they) would be most appreciative.

5.  I completely missed that in May this little blog celebrated its 5th birthday!!  It's been 1577 posts, sharing stories and pictures and celebrating this life I lead.  Thanks for being along for the ride!

lists of 2011 - #22

Listography #22 - Things I Am Loving Right Now

1.  Sunshine

2.  Green growing things

3.  Flowers - on trees, in pots, growing everywhere :)

4.  Tomato with basil and jalapeno havarti cheese on toast

5.  Being a grandmother to 6 littles

6.  Fresh spinach and fresh rhubarb from the garden

7.  Skyping with Samuel, Melinda and Tyler

8.  Sewing birthday gifts :)

9.  Lilacs in a vase

10.  Crisp, cold watermelon slices

11.  Listening to our son and daughter-in-law's plans

12.  Chai chill-lattes

Wordless Wednesday

Shopping for Shoes

Clark's Domino Pip Sandal - what do you think???

Gratitude Gifts

As this month ends and the days of spring go by, there are still surprises everyday.  The weather has been so warm and sunny - and then on Saturday night we had frost!  It went to -4 degrees C nearby and there were a few plants that were touched and have black top leaves.  I think our fruit trees were protected and the saskatoons were finished blooming.  Most of Alberta has had frost warnings for the past 3 nights.

Even amidst life's surprises and twists and turns, His goodness is constant.  There are no surprises from Him!  Or if there are, as in the case of Mary and Joseph from our Bible study this week, He has it all figured out and we only need to trust Him.  When I think of what was asked of Mary and her response, I see myself as severely lacking in so many ways.  May I be reminded of her life often - as I count on each day!




#2541 - #2564


- green, green grass without dandelions

- brownies
- playing along with the grandchildren's pretend games
- holding Maëlle
- supper ready at 10:30 a.m.
- first spinach salad from the garden
- promise of flowers to come

- sunny afternoons
- greenhouse tour
- seed potatoes
- pink Rocky Mountain Lavendar geranium

- wind that blows mosquitoes away
- unpacking new-to-us toys
- birthday cake in kindergarten
- fresh tulips from Naomi's garden
- plants safe from the frost

- praise songs while driving
- reassurance that a friend is doing okay
- sewing
- grilled cheese sandwiches
- phone call from my brother
- soft ice cream
- pictures in the flowers

"Two Pansy Friends"

Six on Saturday

What was supposed to be Five on Friday has now become Six on Saturday!  Still sounds good to me!

1.  The dandelion field that is supposed to be our lawn is currently being mowed down!  Seriously, after the rain last weekend and a bit of heat now, every. single. dandelion seed that was ever on the lawn has sprouted and bloomed!  The bright yellow is cheerful but the height was approaching "let's graze the cows" status.

2.  I was a lucky winner in the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway last week!  This very sweet little diaper clutch is coming to me - thanks to Tiffany at twilltapeshop.com.   I think it will make a perfect gift :)

(photo from Tiffany's blog)

3.   I put together a birthday gift this morning and now I really don't want to give it away!  But I know it will be loved and appreciated where it's going too.

4.  Apple trees in full bloom this week make me very happy - so gorgeous!

5.  We had spinach salad, using the first volunteer spinach from the garden, last night.  It was delicious and I am excited to be able to use fresh lettuce and radishes soon.  You just can't beat the taste of picking something and eating it within an hour!

6.  My beautiful new barbecue (a wonderful birthday and Mother's Day gift) is making grilling an easy and enjoyable way to serve supper these days.  So far I've done asparagus, roasted vegetables, Italian sausages, pork chops, chicken thighs, salmon, burgers and steak.   Using the rotisserie is on the agenda soon.  Thanks, D & K, N & J, for this generous gift.

Winners!

I was absolutely amazed at how many people were involved with the Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway event earlier this week!  There were 550 giveaways in the 3 categories and I was  able to only enter a handful of them.  I think you'd have to be on your computer day and night to get around to everyone!

I was thrilled to have 209 people stop by my blog!  I'd initially thought that maybe I'd get 50 - 75 comments and as the number grew, I started thinking about how I could share with a few more of these visitors.  So I decided to offer 3 giveaways - it's not like I don't have enough fabric in my stash and sewing a few more pillowcases won't take very long.

So random number generator chose #94, #70 and #140 which means that the prizes are going to :


The Sewing Dork said...


My dream project is a mystery to me at this point, but an entire weekend alone without the kids to sew seems like a dream...

come see me too (I'm local) for a giveaway.
www.sewingdork.blogspot.com

pianomama said...

My dream project is a King size quilt out of Hometown by Sweetwater.....adore that fabric

thriftyfinn said...

Thanks for the chance!

It blew me away that I had visitors from Turkey, Greece, Portugal, the UK, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada!  Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that would happen!  So I'm sending a treat to Calgary, Alberta, one to Colorado and one to Finland.  Blogging and the internet are amazing, aren't they?  I did try to return the favour and check out as many of my visitors as I could.  I wish I could send everyone a treat - Canada Post would love me!!  I definitely am looking forward to the next Giveaway Day in December - now, what shall I create for that???

Lists of 2011 - #21

Listography #21 - Songs I Could Listen to Over and Over

1.  Hallejulah by  The Canadian Tenors

2.  You Raised Me Up by Josh Groban

3.  Highly Favored by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith

4.  Lead Me To The Cross by Hillsong

5.  Call On Jesus by Nicole C. Mullen

6.  Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion

7.  Seasons of Love from the RENT soundtrack

8.  Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys

9.  Forever Young by Rod Stewart

10.  Thank The Lord For The Night Time by Neil Diamond

A whole bunch of oldies on this list!!

What Color Are You?

Go and try this very cool voice of color test!  It was interesting and I loved seeing the decor samples with my color palette at the end.  A great way to spend a few minutes appreciating color and the role it plays in our lives.

Wordless Wednesday

Gratitude Gifts

After a busy week of fieldwork and seeding, Bob was able to seed all the grain and then the rain began during the night.  It was perfect timing!  The seed is planted and now the miracle of growth begins and we wait for the harvest.  The days ahead will be filled with all that the crops need to flourish and we will watch the skies for storms and leave all the rest to God.  This is definitely the season when I enjoy being a farm family.

There is so much goodness in this season as plants grow and flower.  The promise of what is to come makes the days of waiting worth it.  In awhile there will be berries and fruits, kernels and roots but in the meantime, we rest in God's provision.  And I count on with all the goodness that He bestows.



#2514 - #2541

- sun's rays streaming through the clouds as the day ends

- surprising our grandchildren

- watching them love the water and swimming

- green leaves

- seeds in the ground and fieldwork finished for now

- the warmth of a greenhouse

- great. big. tomato plants from Bob's parents

- mayday trees in bloom

- first rhubarb crisp

- sewing again!

- colour, everywhere colour

- fruit trees in bloom

saskatoons

- tucking away an extra cupful of rhubarb to use in the winter

- opening the dishwasher to sparkling clean dishes

- more days of subbing

- visiting on the phone with our children

- plants growing quickly

- volunteer spinach ready to eat

- eating creamsicles on the deck

- packages of seeds

- a vacuum cleaner

- new quilting book

- visiting

- little boys on bikes

- knowing the the Master controls the seed, the growing, the harvest

- knowing that He controls my life in just the same way

- that He cares for all this and all of us - what a joy!

Giveaway Day at Sew, Mama, Sew!

May 26 - Giveaway Closed

Winners have been contacted and I will post them soon.

Welcome - and if you are visiting via the links on Sew, Mama, Sew, I'm so happy that you stopped by!  I have had the pleasure of winning a few things via their site over the past few months (a book and 2 sets of Kona solid color charms) and I want to pass on some goodness to others today.

When I first saw the invitation to join the Giveaway Day festival (because, really - a chance to win is always worthy of celebration), I debated about signing up because I've been teaching fulltime for 2 and a half weeks and because it's so busy on the farm and in the garden right now.  Then I decided I could send some sewing supplies, at the very least, and when I remembered the lovely pillowcases I've made for a few gifts this year, I knew I could give them too.

So, I've sewed a set of sweet pea pillowcases to give away along with a purple (our granddaughters' favourite colour) fat quarter package of 6 pieces.  And I know that this category is for sewing supplies but I thought a little extra something handmade might make you smile!

I am happy to ship internationally (I know how disappointing it is to be left out!) and this giveaway will stay open until 11:59 p.m. on May 25th.

When you enter, please tell me what your dream project would be - I love to hear what others are yearning to create!  And if you are one of my regular readers, please enter too - and then go to Sew, Mama, Sew to visit other bloggers and enter for a few more chances to win handmade items or some supplies.  There are so many amazingly creative people in blogland and I guarantee you will soon be inspired to start sewing too!

Note - there are 3 different giveway lists and each of the links above will take you to another one of them.  Have fun and good luck!!

Five on Friday

1.  Today the neighbor walked his cows 2 1/2 miles down the road to their summer pasture at our farm.  There were no cowbells and I missed taking a picture of the drive - but I still feel like I'm in Switzerland when I say "summer pasture!"  Remember Heidi and her grandfather taking the goats up the mountain?

2.  Lots of grain is being planted these days.  And the dust blows and the mosquitoes bite!

3.  In the past 24 hours, suddenly all the fruit trees have started blooming.  They look gorgeous and the smell is divine.

4.  I noticed today just how many colors of green there are when the leaves first appear.

(poplar tree growing in the ditch)

5.  I spent a good part of the day planting, watering and rototilling.  It was wonderful to have a day outside to enjoy spring and marvel at how fast everything is growing.  Thank you, Lord - for the growing and for the day.

Lists of 2011 - #20

Listography #20 - Things That Are Over-rated

In my humble opinion -

1.  Video games

2.  Celebrity lives

3.  Reality TV shows

4.  Tim Horton's Coffee

5.  Walmart

6.  Scary Halloween decorations

7.  Facebook

8.  Pickled herring

9.  Diet soft drinks

10.  Immaculate houses

Wordless Wednesday

Creating

A few years back, circle journals were a hot project in the scrapbooking world.  I joined two groups and faithfully completed layouts in each journal as it came to me, using the journal topic that each participant had chosen.  The first group was made up of 13 people - and that journal has not yet arrived home!  I wish I could get it back - hopefully one day.   But this weekend I finished my entry - and the journal! - for the last person in the second group.

Jackie chose the topic "Happiness" and this is what I created for her book.  I quite like how it turned out with all the little tags and I know Jackie is going to have fun seeing what everyone shared with her.   Another checkmark on my to-do list!

Gratitude Gifts

This middle part of May (goodness, how can that be already?!)  brings our grandson's birthday and I definitely miss being part of his celebrations.  He lives right across on the other side of the country, which is much too far away for my liking, but we were able to Skype with him on his special day.  It's just amazing to use all the technology that can keep us connected!  Last night I found some pictures of the day he was born and then some of his party with us last year - and I am amazed that this little bundle of boy has grown into a running, babbling, energetic, full of smiles little man!  Happy, happy Birthday, Samuel - we love you!

In both our Bible study and the pastor's sermon this week, I was reminded that the plan God has for us can often seem strange - think of the story of Joseph (Genesis 39 - 50).  And even though we believe in HIm, we are not guaranteed that we will be treated 'fairly' or that we will live a charmed life.  But I do know that He is my Gate  (John 10) and His is the path I travel because He is with me.   And I need Him there and He stays with me - and His grace falls on me daily.



#2489 - #2514

- Samuel's second birthday

- a mommy and a daddy who love their son with every ounce of their being

- Canada Post who delivers birthday presents

- barbecued burgers and a multitude of salads

- bird songs as I walk along the road

- Blake's smile and his arms reaching out to me (really it just melts my heart!)

- another visit to the greenhouse

- growing things

- mosquito repellent (it's essential right now)

- bumblebees and the promise of pollination

- Meadow's excitement at every plant in the greenhouse

- pansies - and the reminder of my gramma

- friends and late night conversation

- doctors and medicine for a friend

- Saturday morning with no alarm clock ringing

- fields drying

- plants for my pots

- telephone, email and Skype

- envelopes of pictures found

- memories, memories, memories

- chats with my sister

- the smell of cultivated fields

- learning more from His word

- welcoming a new couple at church

- living in Him, rejoicing and trusting

Lists of 2011 - #19

Listography #19 - Favorite Childhood Memories

1.  Getting ice cream revels with Grampa Hetman  at the creamery in Onoway.

2.  Washing cucumbers in the big washtub with my Mom when the local county councillor bustled onto the yard.  He  talked about upgrading the nearby gravel road so the bus could get to our farm because I was starting school soon.

3.  Sitting on my dad's knee at the kitchen table  and reading the whole grade one reader ("See Dick and Jane") on the first day of Christmas vacation.

4.  Going to watch the parade in Wetaskiwin - and seeing my Dad and his stuccoing partner come down the street with their truck, throwing out candy - when he'd told Mom that he had to go to work that day.  She'd really wanted him to come with us to the parade and he kept his part in the parade a complete secret from us.

5.  Helping milk cows in the barn while my parents discussed buying his parent's farm - and telling them it would be a good idea because Gramma had running water and my brothers were always so dirty at the end of the day.  I was 8 years old, I think!

6.  Coming home from school one winter day while Mom and Dad were in Edmonton (they went like once a year - it was 40 miles away!) and going to check on a cow who had just calved.  She needed a vet and I ran over to Uncle Dick's (our neighbor) so he could come and help.

7.  Dressing up with Aunt Addie's hats and purses (she was Uncle Dick's wife and we were like their grandchildren who lived far away in Grande Prairie and Fort St. John).

8.  Gramma and Grampa Hetman arriving with a big Dole banana box full of fresh donuts.

9.  The geese at their farm, especially how quiet and sleepy they would be in the afternoon, after Gramma fed them chopped grain with poppyseeds, soaked in milk!

10.  Laying on the floor upstairs and looking through the grate, down in to the living room where the adults were visiting when we had company.

11.  Chasing the boys at school on the merry-go-round.

12.  Crying when I was supposed to go with Dad to take Gramma Hetman home when my youngest sister was born.   He was taking all 4 of us kids so that Mom and the new baby could have a quiet afternoon - but I got to stay home too!

Apparently this lead prompted a whole host of memories to come rushing to the surface!!

Wordless Wednesday

Creating

It was National Scrapbooking Day on Saturday and Heather and I spent the day at a crop event in Calgary.  It's been a long time since I've sat down and created from noon til midnight - and that's just what we did!

Several scrapbookers that I admire, including Stacy Julian and Leigh Penner, have lately done "Right Now" layouts that feature their children.  So I took that inspiration and created layouts featuring our grandchildren.  I am half done this little project and am so happy with how it's turning out.  Someday I'd love to mount these and display them in our living room.

Becky Novacek said today that she'd like to wallpaper her house with pictures of her grandchildren - and I'd be just fine with that idea!!

Helayna

Samuel

Maëlle

The journaling describes some of the unique characteristics of each of them at this stage in their lives.  I'm looking forward to having all 6 of them completed soon.  Thanks for looking!