Saturday in the Greenhouse

For something completely different today, here's a look at the middle of October in our yard.  I did a quick walk one afternoon and captured a last look at autumn.

Cranberries still hanging

I love the textures in the dried zinnias

1 pumpkin still hiding in the grass

Bright green mint crawling everywhere

Dried sunflower heads

And by the next morning, this had happened -

Which meant that I had to get into the greenhouse for a final picking and cleanup!

Things were still growing

and slowly ripening

which meant I had all these tomatoes to pick!

Greenhouse almost ready for winter  

and my very dark chlorophyll-stained hand

at the end of the day!

And that's all she wrote for gardening this year!

In just 4 months it will be time to plant seeds again!

I'm not quite excited about that yet -

maybe after 4 more months of winter I'll feel different :)

Gratitude Gifts Today

#4795 - #4832

- safety while storms rage all over the continent
- cocooning at home and avoiding icy roads
- empty chicken house, just in time
- cleaned out deep freeze
- room enough for all

- little trick-or-treaters
- great big 'thanks' shouted back at me
- imagination - of littles and parents
- candles burning bright in pumpkins
- "This Little Light of Mine"

- sewing
- iPhone photos - amazing technology
- slow cooker ready meals
- garlic smashed potatoes
- leftovers

- chicken stock cooking after supper
- fresh pears
- mint green tea
- rescheduling visits
- little ones playing in the sandbox

- cords and sweaters
- down-filled jacket
- warm gloves and boots
- hot dogs for lunch at school
- colours of the rainbow

- sun shining while snow diamonds twinkle
- chickadees outside my kitchen window
- fourteen cups of pumpkin for the freezer
- first batch of poppycock
- filling shoeboxes to send

- 3 gifts that begin with 'N' - our daugher Naomi, nuts and nachos

- quiet night times

- gifts that only He can give

- words of hymns that speak straight to me

- my Saviour and His unfailing love for me

Remembrance Day

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Robert Laurence Binyon

NaBloPoMo #5

NaBloPoMo #5 - If you could have any job you want, what would it be?

I still really love teaching so I'm not sure I would change that.  But I've always had a heart for helping children in other parts of the world and haven't really done much about going and being part of that.

My niece has a dream about building a school in China and I wish that I spoke Mandarin (or any other language for that matter!) so I could go and help her.  Working with girls in Afghanistan, teaching in Africa, or going to any place in the world where there are huge education needs would be something that I'd like to experience.

In 2004 I spent 2 weeks doing professional development with teachers in western Belize alongside 3 colleagues from our school division.  The teachers were so receptive and so excited to learn more about helping their students.  They did their jobs with so few materials and supplies.  Their classes were big, their schools had the bare minimum in furniture and books -  and still they worked so hard to make a difference with and for their students.  My time spent in San Ignacio was the highlight of my career and remains an incredible memory!

Having said that, I'd really like to work as a tour guide somewhere with lots of history, cool buildings, and unique experiences.  The little hurdle of language skills pops up but the question assumes that all the requirements for the job would somehow magically happen.  (Ah, dreams!)   I know the travel industry is a hard business - long hours, demanding clients, on the road often - but it's always had a pull on me.

So - do tell - what would your dream job be?

Five on Friday

1.

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit light a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it..”

Wilfred Peterson (1900-1995); Author

2.  A big winter storm this week has left us buried in fluffy snow and made the roads very icy and slippery.  After 2 days of driving in it, I'm safely cocooned at home today - drinking lovely homemade chai tea and sewing Christmas treats.  I am happy!

3.  I poked around online a bit today and ordered a few things for Christmas :)  

4.  A few weeks ago I went to an East Indian grocery store in the city to buy some whole spices for making a chai tea concentrate.  I nearly called my friend to come over and read the words on the bags - everything was in Punjabi!  Eventually I found the spice wall and by looking at the shapes of the whole spices, I was able to identify what I needed.  Heather gave me this chai tea recipe and this morning I actually made a batch.  It was wonderful!!  The fresh orange zest comes through beautifully and using half milk was still too strong so I did a 1/3 tea, 2/3 milk ratio.  I'm so happy to have my very own recipe for my favourite hot beverage!  Thanks so much, Lindsay Jewell!

5.  Photo of the week:

after 2.5 days of winter storming 

outside our patio just after 4 pm

(see the sun going down already?!)

Lists of 2012 - #43

Listography - #43 - Random Happy Memories

1.  Getting the phone calls that told us about the birth of each of our grandchildren.

2.  The wedding days of our children.

3.  Quading trips with my family.

4.  Seeing animals on safari, especially the first giraffes, zebras and lions.

5.  Working with teachers on professional development in Belize.

6.  Climbing the Great Wall of China.

7.  Taking the train through Poland and the Czech Republic.

8.  Driving through Austria and seeing the beautiful mountains and architecture.

9.  Staying at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.

10.  Seeing the incredible farms of Brazil and Argentina.

11.  Sea kayaking around the shore in Nova Scotia.

12.  Summers spent with my grandparents at the farm.

NaBloPoMo #4

NaBloPoMO #4

 If you were President of the United States, what would your first act in office be?

So many needs, so many agendas, so much inequality, so many with so much and so many with so little.

I wish there was a way to equalize things so that everyone could have the resources to meet their needs for food, shelter, education and healthcare.

Could I wipe out poverty and provide hope for those who are marginalized and on the fringe of society?  To provide opportunities and hope for women, their children and families would be my first act in office.  How to do it?  I have no idea except I do know that prayer can accomplish anything.

 It makes me sad and somewhat angry that so much of government is controlled by big business and people who's agendas are motivated by profit, with no consideration of ethics or morals.  I believe there are enough resources in the world but they are not distributed and available to all.   When it's politics and power interfering I wish there could be great big sweeping changes.

NaBloPoMo - #3

Halloween 2012 

I was so surprised to run and open the door after the doorbell rang and see 7 - yes, seven! - trick or treaters standing there!  We never get that many kids at one time ever!  They crowded into the entryway and I started to recognize faces from my days of subbing at the local school. 

Little Miss S was surprised to see me - “Mrs. K, I didn’t know you lived here!” 

As I dropped bags of chips, boxes of Smarties, and bars of KitKats into their pillowcases, one bigger boy piped up with “It smells like chicken in here.”  

“Yes,” I said, “if I had known you were coming, I would have made some for you.”  

“Hey, can I trade candy for chicken?” was his immediate response!

I’m sure I will remember that response each and every Halloween from now on because it was so spontaneous and so unique.  Candy for chicken - imagine!!  Who would have thought I’d hear that on Halloween night?  It was probably his stomach screaming for protein after a long day of sugary treats!

(Using an idea from Write.Click.Scrapbook)

Five on Friday

  1.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004); psychiatrist, author

2.   Did you know that  within 72 hours you’ll forget 95 percent of what you heard? 

3.  This week I popped a lovely little chicken into my slow cooker, added a little paprika and garlic salt, filled the cavity with an onion and a whole head of garlic (following the ideas here) - and walked away for 7+ hours.  When I got home, the house smelled yummy and supper was nearly ready.  I cooked some potatoes, squeezed the head of roasted garlic into them and (s)mashed the whole lot together.  Some gravy from the slow cooker drippings and cooked creamed cabbage rounded out a  most delicious meal!  You should try it!  I'm so glad I took N's advice and tried this method.  

4.  I started a little sewing project this week - but I can't show you because it's going to be a Christmas present.  I like how it's turning out so far :)  Next up - some pouches for the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

5.  Photo of the week:

the birthday girl with her Olympic swimming pool cake

(her Mama is so creative!)

NaBloPoMo #2

National Blogging Post Month

Prompt #2 - If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

W - e - l - l - --- it would have to be somewhere close to most of my family!  I would not be happy if I lived far away from all of them and could only see them once a year.  I'm so blessed to be able to drive to my parents, my sisters and brothers, and three of our four children (sorry, M!).  I like being able to celebrate birthdays, to watch the milestones as they grow up, to cheer at games and sporting events, to bake pies and watch flowers grow together.   I am content living on our farm with its wide open spaces, beautiful views and tall trees.

One of the things I like best about living in a cold climate is the definite change in seasons - the leaves greening up the bare limbs of trees in springtime, the long evenings of summer, the gorgeous coloured leaves of autumn and the hoarfrost and snowflakes of winter.  I'll take short trips to here and there and everywhere over leaving our home and our province to move somewhere far away.  There are so many wonderful places that we've visited and I know there are many more just waiting for us to explore!

But the old adage that there's no place like home really does ring true for me.  I'm always happy to travel and then I'm happy to come home again.  I'll be calling this place home for many years to come, I hope.

Lists of 2012 - #42

Listography 2012 - #42 - Answered Prayers

1.  For safety while driving daily

2.  For guiding our decisions and actions while being stewards of the land and farming

3.  For continuing good health for me and those I love

4.  For dignity for our parents while they age

5.  For energy, strength, curiosity and the ability to learn for our grandchildren

6.  For bountiful food that we've produced

7.  For wisdom in finances

8.  For patience - moment by moment some days

9.  For days of subbing

10.  For simpler, quieter, intentional living

11.  For opportunities to serve in many places in many ways

12.  For grace day after day

National Blog Posting Month

Over at BlogHer, November has the distinction of being National Blog Posting Month (otherwise known as NaBloPoMo).  The idea is to write and share something every single day for the month.  I'm in!  After the busy-ness of summer and fall, I'm ready to focus on writing and sharing more.  Plus I love the idea of recording some thoughts and memories of this time in my life.  Feel free to check it out and join in - I'd love to visit you and read your posts so let me know where to find you :)

The prompt for November 1is "what's your favourite quote and why".

I have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to Words and different ones speak to me on different days depending on my mood, what season it is and the things about which I'm praying.  I went back and looked at everything I'd collected on my board.  What a pleasant surprise to read some that I'd tucked away and forgotten about!

Many of my favourite words come from the Bible.  There are promises in Isaiah, comfort in the Psalms, words from Jesus in the gospels, and wisdom from Paul in his writings.  This quote isn't a scripture but the words speak straight to my heart.  God is always there, He loves me more than I can understand and He promises all that I need as He looks after it all.

And I also love these words.  I've always been interested in women's issues and in helping women around the world.  It's fascinating to see how women survive, work hard to support their families and what they do to make life better - all the while smiling and encouraging each other.  Perhaps it's because I have three daughters and now four granddaughters that I love so much and of whom I've so very proud that these words speak so clearly to me.  

Gratitude Gifts Today

#4755 - #4795

- whole school assembly quietly hearing about an amazing father and son, the Hoyt family

- quiet hallways

- arms to carry things

- grocery sales

- finding small Christmas gifts

- leftovers

- chocolate covered donut :)

- green tomato salsa finally finished

- new pyjamas for the grands

- gluing paper together to make cards

- Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to fill

- birthday gift collected

- days of subbing

- book club gatherings

- lively discussion and a pool of ideas

- apple cider

- podcast of WE Day

- singing "Happy Birthday" over the phone

- new words from Maëlle

- meeting Meadow at the door when she comes home from school

- baking cookies with little helpers

- watching them lick the spoon just like my kids did

- Olympic themed birthday party, complete with games and national anthems

- photos of Helayna throughout the last year

- birthday cake

- holding Peyton - she's grown so much!

- Jolly Jumper bouncing as she practices her moves

- Halloween outfits and decorations

- grilled cheese sandwiches with basil and tomatoes (thanks, D & K!)

- beautiful warm sunshine melting snow

- Monday mornings at home

- putting away garden vegetables in muffins, sauce and relish

- bags of grated carrots carried to the freezer

- all the dishes washed

- Halloween treat bags to share

- daily devotions and scriptures

- switching the radio from awful news reports to praise music

- His protection while traveling on icy roads

- His word and the promises in it

- talking about what this means for us and how to be wise stewards

Five on Friday

1.  "Love your home - its physical spaces, its personal history, the relationships that define it."  Thomas Kinkade              

2.  Our book club read "Purge" by Sofia Oksana, translated from the Finnish this month.  It was an amazing historical crime fiction novel about two women in Estonia.  Full of family relationships, intrigue, and suspense, it gave me a look into life under the Communist regime.  There were so many themes to ponder and twists and turns in the plot.  And I haven't even finished reading it yet!  This is the second book we've discussed about the international sex trade - such a huge, sad and somber issue.

3.  Pinterest is full of Christmas ideas these days!  Oh, my - so much inspiration!

4.  I am so very proud of my nieces who both were at Alberta's first WE Day this week.  They are amazing women who serve their communities and inspire others in so many amazing ways.  I encourage you to watch the podcast - the energy is incredible.



5.  Photo of the week:

the top of Samuel's treehouse tree

Lists of 2012 - #41

Listography 2012 - #41 - 10 Things I Love About My Daughter(s)

Three daughters - three lists?
Or 1 list with 30 things on it?
Or 3 lists with 3.3333 things for a total of 10?
And 1 more list for our precious daughter-in-law?
Or just make the list already?  :))

Dedicated to K, H, M and N -

1.  Our daughters walk with God and lean on Him.  What a great example for their families!

2.  They love their children with every fiber of their being and take such good care of them.

3.  They've each married a wonderful partner who loves, encourages and appreciates them.  (So thankful for those men!)

4.  Each one of them is committed to healthy eating, preparing food from scratch, using local food and preserving summer goodness for winter use.

5.  They love their cameras and use them often :)

6.  Exercise is an everyday active part of their lives, whether it's a video and an exercise mat, a bike ride, a run with the stroller or a walk after a big meal.  I'm so proud of them for taking good care of their bodies.

7.  They are volunteers in their churches and their communities.

8.  They appreciate their grandparents and our family history.

9.  They believe birthdays are very special occasions and they make them special for their families.

10.  They love the outdoors and our beautiful country and take every opportunity to hike, camp, ski, bike and explore - with their little ones in tow!

11.  Intentional spending and the wise use of money are part of their everyday.   They make good choices for their families.

12.  They are country girls who love wide open spaces, fresh air and animals.  I think each of them would love to have a pen of chickens in the backyard, a few lambs playing in the grass, a pot-belly pig to scratch and cats and dogs playing with the kids - perhaps one day!

I am so very proud of these 4 beautiful women!

Gratitude Gifts Today

#4720 - #4755

- reading books over and over with the grandchildren
- Blake singing "Jesus Loves Me"
- lights burning brightly as the nights lengthen
- 3 sets of vehicle lights shining as the combine repairs progress
- every single seed of canola - it might never have grown at all - all a gift from God (to paraphrase Ann)

- supper ready before 10 a.m.
- baking pies with Naomi and Mom
- coring apples with Blake and Maëlle
- cinnamon and sugar on top of Mom's pies (no one else makes them like this!)
- taking apple pie to the field for supper

- pictures of harvesting
- eating supper inside the van while the wind howled outside
- neighbors coming to help combine
- more and more pails of beets gathered in
- last row of carrots dug

- going to bed at 9:30 p.m.
- donuts :)
- my orange vest from Austria
- helping to setup for book fair
- marking spelling tests quickly

- delicious food at the Harvest Supper
- enjoying a movie with our Bible study group
- afternoon nap on a Saturday
- hot cup of coffee to warm my fingers
- autumn inventory in the yard

- Sunday dinner ready - on Saturday night!
- Amazing Race and amazing places
- my Gramma's pearls
- blog friendships
- text messaging

- a greenhouse to grow tomatoes in
- a dishwasher
- all the good food that He grew for us this summer
- how much abundance He has blessed us with
- singing praise hymns

Creating

I was desperate for some cards last week so I did a little creating.  In the process of moving things around on my table, I found a photograph that just needed a layout too :)  I used the leftovers to create the cards. The card designs were inspired by the Stamp It Vol. 9 issue of Papercrafts magazine.

The photo really doesn't do this one justice (the card itself is actually turquoise cardstock the colour of the chevron washi tape) - but I mailed all three of them off before I realized this was the only picture I had taken.  The hexagons are chipboard by Pink Paislee from the Nantucket line and the #2 made it perfect for a second anniversary card!

Five on Friday

1.  Quotes I love:

  

via Pinterest

2.  The Harvest Supper at our church is tonight and I am definitely looking forward to sauerkraut and pork ribs as well as a piece of pie!  Of course there will be lots of other good food too.

3.  Three nights this week we had supper in the field which is an event filled with memories for me.  My Mom took many meals to the field wherever my Dad was working when we were kids and our whole married life I've done the same.   It doesn't matter what the food is - it all tastes better when it's eaten outdoors!

4.  It seems to me that the beets are multiplying overnight in our garden!  We do have 2 very, very long rows that my enthusiastic planter-husband put in and so far this fall I have dug 12 (yes, you heard it right - 12!) five gallon pails.  And I'm sure there are at least 2 more out there!  That count does not include all the bunches I pulled throughout the summer as I thinned them out and gave them away.  Do you need / want some?????

5.  Photo of the week:

(technically imperfect - 

but so many memories in each element)

Lists of 2012 - #40

Listography 2012 - #40 - Favourite Recipes

This could be a very long list!  But in the spirit of my lists this year, I'll limit it to 12 favourites.
(H) means a heritage recipe unique to our family - kind of a family secret :)
If you are interested in any of the others, let me know and I'll be happy to share.

1.  Brownies (H)

2.  Poppycock (H)

3.  Banana Oatmeal Muffins (H)

4.  Chicken Cacciatorie

5.  Raspberry Cheesecake

6.  Honey Wheat Buns (H)

7.  Swarties' Hash Browns

8.  Sauerkraut and Ribs

9.  Mom's Apple Pie

10.  Green Rice

11.  Tortilla Espanola

12.  Shortbread (H)

World Food Day

World Food Day, celebrated around the world today, aims to focus the world's attention on hungry people and what we can do help change lives.  This amazing CBC link talks about Molly who lives in Kenya, benefits from the World Food Program*  and then shows videos that she took as part of a special project.

At the end of the video you'll be invited to take a short quiz and when you do, a donation is made to the World Food Program by an anonymous donor.  Please go and do what you can to help!

* WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. Each year, on average, it feeds more than 90 million people in more than 70 countries.

Baking

Last year, the Pioneer Woman talked about a very cute baking pan she had that made lovely little acorn shapes.  Well, I found that pan at Superstore for just $9.99 :) and it was the last one they had - score!

So today Blake, Maëlle and I made banana muffins and baked them while Meadow was at school.  They are just adorable.

The instructions give a tip for putting icing on the flat sides and then gluing them together to make a 3-

D nut shape - wouldn't that be clever?  Next time we'll try that.

Such a little addition to my kitchen but it made me - and my helpers -  very happy today!

Hello, Monday!

Hello, middle of October - suddenly this year is running away!

Hello, day with the grandchildren.

Hello, picture day at school - hopefully I can do her hair the way she wants.

Hello, three days of subbing.

Hello, apple pie-making.

Hello, Bible study group - we missed you over the summer.

Hello, harvest supper - sauerkraut and ribs, turkey and pumpkin pie - yum!

Hello, beets - how many of you are still in the garden?!  Are you still multiplying?!

Hello, sewing machine - it's time to get some Christmas gifts made.

Hello, sweaters and corduroy pants - it's much chillier these days.

Hello, new batch of sauerkraut.

Hello, Monday!

Five on Friday

1.

“There’s always going to be bad stuff out there. But here’s the amazing thing - light trumps darkness every time. You stick a candle into the dark, but you can’t stick the dark into the light.”

Jodi Picoult (born 1966); Author

2.  I'm at the Rural Alberta Community Physician Attraction and Retention Conference today - how's that for a long title?!

3.  My plans to do a bit of a photo walk downtown got rained out :(  Better rain than snow, I guess.

4.  The world is full of amazing people, doing amazing things, with amazing attitudes!  I had a great reminder of that today.

5.  Photo of the week:

special Thanksgiving drawing from Meadow

(whipped up just as quick as could be when she got home from school)

Lists of 2012 - #39

Listography 2012 - #39 - Things I'm Grateful For

1.  God's love and Jesus who saved me

2.  My health - and the health of my whole family

3.  Freedom

4.  Abundance - of food, shelter, clothing - everything I need

5.  Our grandchildren and their parents (our children)

6.  My senses

7.  My parents and my siblings

8.  Education

9.  Universal health care

10.  Literacy and books

11.  Friends

12.  My camera :)

A Taste of Winter

No matter which window I looked out today, the view was the same!

It was snowing when I woke up and the white flakes just kept coming all day long!

By late afternoon, it let up and the golden leaves still hanging on and the snow-capped evergreens created a very pretty picture.

Tonight's forecast is for -8 C and more flurries but a reprieve is predicted for Friday.  Oh, the joys of autumn in Alberta.

Gratitude Gifts Today

#4673 - #4720

- candles burning brightly
- digging potatoes without a fork or hoe
- more tomatoes in boxes
- a few precious apples from our tree
- 50 pumpkins from our volunteer plants

zucchini, ambercup squash, spaghetti squash, 

pumpkins and onions - all from our garden

- more pails of beets and potatoes
- much needed rain
- waterslides with grandsons
- impromptu plans
- groceries for Thanksgiving weekend

- chocolate covered almonds
- a shy little one saying "it was a good day"
- late evening nachos
- 20 lbs. of big beautiful onions from our garden
- daily blog visits for inspiration and wise words

- making Soule Salsa
- a whole container full of chopped cilantro
- taking time to make and send cards
- long afternoon naps
- her "what did you make in the oven today?" as she comes in the door after school

- more pails of beets and sacks of potatoes
- grain combined, straw baled, field empty
- building puzzles together
- Maëlle's help putting clothes in the dryer
- watching them skate at the arena

- yellow leaves "raining down"
- car heater blowing warm air
- special envelopes tucked in a bag for Gramma and Grampa on Thanksgiving
- pumpkin pie with whipped cream
- watching the cousins visit together

- heritage pictures from 50+ years ago
- history books
- cream puffs
- 80th birthday parties
- fresh flowers, many fresh flowers

- rolling up cabbage rolls
- vacuumed and scrubbed floor
- making cranberry sauce
- chickens, happy as can be
- gathering around Thanksgiving tables

- digging carrots with Auntie Ruth and Mom
- visiting with nieces and nephews
- Thanksgiving display at church
- Mom's turkey stuffing
- my Dad's giant pumpkins

- that He gives us everything - everything!
- His grace new for each day, no matter what

Five on Friday

1.

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”

Khalil Gibran (1883-1931);

2.  Only 80 days until Christmas!!

3.  We've had two nights in a row of frigid (like -6 degrees C) nighttime temperatures - summer is definitely over.  I hoped my sunflowers would make it to Thanksgiving but they are droopy and finished.   It's supposed to warm up a bit NEXT week - I really need to get the garden root vegetables pulled out and put away.

4.  I canned my first batch of sauerkraut this week!  I made this one all by myself for the first time :)  I will need to make one more batch so I have enough to share around the family.  My pantry shelves are getting very full!

5.  Photo of the week:

In Nose Creek Park

Lists of 2012 - #38

Listography 2012 - #38 - Photos I Wish I'd Taken

I only have a few regrets in my life and this week's topic reveals one of them!

1.  Newborn photos of our son and daughters

2.  Little fingers, toes, ears, smiles - the closeups of babies

3.  All the firsts - first smile, first rollover, first sitting, first crawling, first steps, first tooth - and so on.

4.  Reading together when they were little

5.  My pregnancies - I have 1 photo from 36 months total of being pregnant.

6.  More people pictures when we were on vacations (seriously - I have more pictures of elk in the mountains than of the people who were on the trip!,

7.  Pictures of our parents with our children when they were little - I have some from birthdays but didn't do it regularly.

8.  Farm pictures of Bob working, especially in the dairy barn

9.  Photos of the kids helping me in the kitchen and the garden

10.  Pictures of our vehicles through the years

11.  Photos of building our house

12.  Everyday photos of the things we ate, the games we played, the people who were in our lives.

I guess the lesson learned from this is that when you know better, you do better.  So our grandchildren are blessed - I take lots of photos of them and their parents take even more!  And each one is just a precious reminder of their days.

Gratitude Gifts Today

#4623 - #4673

- students laughing in the gym
- listening in as they share jokes with friends
- Maëlle's laugh as she watches Blake (he can entertain her like no one else!)
- more potatoes dug
- cattle grazing in the early morning autumn mist as the sun rises

- smell of autumn leaves
- empty boxes as fruit is preserved and eaten up
- mailing cards to loved ones
- time for wandering through the new Winners that opened in our community
- little treasures to tuck away for Christmas giving

- thinking about sending shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child
- new books
- home for supper
- pansies, sunflowers and sweet peas blooming on
- bumper crop of squash and pumpkins this year

- more tomatoes
- days of subbing with good plans and wonderful students
- amazing education assistants
- safe driving
- taking the scenic route

- me in bed by 9:30 p.m. (giant surprise!)
- breakfast with grandchildren
- walking to the bus together
- seeing the community gathered at the playground at 7:45 a.m
- watching her climb aboard - all grown up and confident

- seeing her in her learning space
- sitting together on the floor while she reads about beetles
- shopping together
- finding ways to support others around the world (Tom's shoes)
- supper ready in the crockpot when we got home

- frozen fruit yogurt as a treat
- jars and jars and jars all full
- photo albums filled with memories
- reading stories together
- help to fill the shopping cart

- picking one treat
- time at the playground
- hungrily eating lunch together, all 3 of us
- watching them play together
- a walk in the park

- taking photos
- watching Heather take photos
- words of wisdom on Sunday morning
- lunch with friends
- text messages from our children

(smallest and largest of my tomatoes in the greenhouse)

- picking more tomatoes
- gradually cleaning out gardens
- sales
- His love, no matter what anyone else thinks
- feeling completely surrounded by grace and love