Simple Woman #55

For Today . . . August 17, 2009

Outside my window. . . summer day, fluffy white clouds, sunshine and a cool breeze blowing in.

I am thankful . . . for safety as we work with machinery on tight timelines, trying to finish before storms come.

And I am also thankful . . . for seeing our five grandchildren and knowing that their parents are being diligent in bringing them to know and grow with God.

I am praying . . . for wisdom to do what God wants me to do, even if it is contrary to the world's wisdom and ways.

I am thinking . . . about what to bake for the weekend - hiking and helping days.

I am celebrating . . . the goodness of summer - weather, produce and activities.

From the kitchen . . . borscht, pasta with creamy shrimp and peapods, and cooked raspberry jam.

I am wearing . . . blue shorts, Edmonton Oilers hockey tshirt, and runners.

I am reading . . . just finished Still Alice by Lisa Genova - the story of a university professor who slowly (or not so slowly) loses her thoughts and memory to Alzheimer's disease. This is the September selection for our book club and I'm going to do a seperate post reviewing it - it's powerful!

I am hoping . . . that we have zero breakdowns as we make silage this week!

I am hearing . . . the drone of a 150 horsepower tractor as it pulls a forage harvester and hy-dump along the green-yellow barley laid down in rows across the field.

I am creating . . . a cover for my gratitude journal.

Around the house and yard . . . recycling piled high, compost (beet tops and bean ends) to take to the garden, map and hiking book on the table, and more laundry piled up. And making me happy on the patio - my beautiful rosebush is just breaking open with more gorgeous red blossoms!

One of my favourite things . . . making a meal using meat, vegetables and berries that we've grown ourselves.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . silage today and tomorrow, seeing Meadow and Blake, book club gathering, helping Heather and Jonathan move on the weekend, lots of garden things to keep ahead of and grass to cut.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . .



These little shoes waiting outside the door of the tent make me smile!! Memories make me happy!

Learning the Lesson

Yesterday at church our Bible readings and Pastor's sermon were all about wisdom - specifically the wisdom we have from God, that we then live out in our daily lives. I've been thinking about that this morning and then I read this entry from Ann over at Holy Experience. She writes powerfully of what it means to know and walk in a daily relationship with God. And to know God's grace and His gifts, to trust Him and to live in joy means to walk in gratitude - counting each one of the blessings He has given us.

Gratitude Gifts Today (and thus begins my list):

- sun shining and breeze blowing on the land

- raspberries, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, beans and beets from the garden



- hymns playing through the house

- fresh tea in my mug

- washing machine that works without help from me

- time to sit and be still



- flowers blooming

Please join the Gratitude Community with us! Monday mornings are the time to link.

(photos from the archives - Heather's tomato plant in 2006, sunflower from my garden - 2007)

Glimpses of New York City

I still have some pictures from New York City that I want to share with you :))



These two beautiful nearly lifesize pieces were outside a shop near 5th Avenue. I'd love to have either of them in my yard as they represent my love of reading and books.

Happy Birthday, Mary!!

Today just happens to be a very significant day for the lovely Very Mary, one of the most amazing people I know!! She is celebrating 3 decades so Heather and a whole bunch of other friends contributed to a blog-hop in Mary's honour. You can start over at Heather's blog and follow the links to see some great cards and read some awesome thoughts about Mary.

I met Mary via Heather, who was so, so excited to finally have a scrapbooking friend in Calgary, when they met many years ago. For awhile we all hung out online at a place called Canada Scrapbooks and then later we moved on over to Scraptivity. The rest is history, as they say, since we all now hang out at blogs and online galleries. And some of us are totally in awe of others, which would pretty much explain my relationship with all of the girls in this here blog-hop! But I digress - back to Mary!

There are so many marvelous things I could share about Mary but here are my 5 random tidbits:

1. I loved hearing Mary's description of her trip to CKU-Nashville several years ago. And I was blown away when I heard that she won the contest there for best photograph (I think) and came home with awesome prizes. I still have CKU on my "bucket list" so I'm in awe of pretty much anyone who's been able to attend one :))

2. A few years ago Mary's Mom (who is also a teacher like I am) took her on an awesome trip to Italy. It's just hilarious to hear Mary's stories about the trip!! Ask her sometime about the waiter that she kissed or all the time (not!) they were able to spend at amazing sites in Rome. The way that girl can tell stories is mind-boggling!!

3. And then there's the scrapbook album that Mary created for her Mom about that trip - sensational photos + attention to details + incredible writing = an album to treasure forever!

4. After Mary wrote her Professional Engineering exam. she and Derrick went on a little holiday to Disneyland in California. They had the best time and her stories made me want to go back and experience the happiest place on earth again. Oh, and the other thing about that trip - Mary forgot her inspiration book on the plane, which is an awful thing to lose for someone so creative. So now everytime I get off an airplane, I check the pockets to make sure I haven't forgotten something - and am reminded of Mary's loss!

5. Mary is so inspiring and so very generous! She gave me the most perfect little treasures from her stash of scrapbooking supplies to create pages about our trip to China. And she's always sharing ideas and tid-bits to make my layouts better. The attention to detail and the time she devotes to having each thing perfect when she creates is such an inspiration to me. And I love her blog too!

So, Happy Happy Birthday, Mary!!



I hope you got to sleep in this morning, that there will be cake and birthday hats in abundance, and that you will be completely spoiled today! ((( HUGS )))

And there's more - hop on over to here and see who else is wishing you a happy day! (I know this certain someone had to work today so you might have to be patient until she has a chance to post.)

Ten on Thursday

1. For the first time in many years, I made dill pickles this week! Only 2 jars mind you, but it's a start!

2. Dayspring, a division of Hallmark cards, that specializes in Christian cards and merchandise has launched a new blog featuring some amazing Christian women. Check out (in)Courage and have your heart lifted up!

3. I love leaving the library with a stack of new books and magazines to read! I had to return some books today and couldn't resist a few new ones, even though I have so many other things to do these days.

4. I picked all the zucchini in the garden and made a batch of relish. I love that smell of vinegar and spices, simmering together. And of course there's more zucchini growing back already!


5. What's up with the weather??? The high for tomorrow is a paltry +13 degrees Celsius! Looks like summer might be over here.

6. Here are some of the bags that went into the freezer yesterday - saskatoons, snap pea pods, and green and yellow beans. We won't starve this winter :))


7. Silaging is also on the agenda around here these days. Going from these beautiful tall stalks of barley -



to a whole bunch of activity on the field -


chopper picking it up and spitting out little pieces -


hauled to the yard and pressed into a long white bag or into a pit to provide winter feed for the cattle.


8. Becky shared these tips from Martha Stewart today - good reminders, I think.


9. With that, I must now return to my regular programming - dealing with these beauties! My friend (thanks, S!) and I went to a u-pick farm today and came away with 10 pails of strawberries. Two of mine are already cut up and in the freezer - I'm nearly half done! We are so blessed to have this abundance of delicious food to enjoy now and throughout the winter!

10. Question of the day - what's your favourite way to eat fresh strawberries? I like them so many ways but sliced with brown sugar and cream is right near the top of the list for me. But then there's strawberry shortcake where the cake is a sweet biscuit - yum! Be sure to share your fave - I might have a little prize to share with someone ;0)

Sweethearts

Camping for a weekend with these two was no end of fun! They played so well together and had fun down by the river (where Heather snapped this great photo - thanks!), at the beach, in the camper, in the tent,


and sharing Meadow's run bike. How blessed we are to be able to go on these adventures with these little ones! Our summer is fantastic because of happy days like these.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Happy 77th Birthday to my Dad today!
This is one of the very earliest pictures I have of him -
more stories waiting to be recorded right here!!

with Heather, before she was a year old

A farmer, through and through, for his whole life.

He has wonderful rapport with each of his grandchildren,
enjoying their company on every occasion.

He is so interested in learning more by experiencing things and reading avidly.
Agriculture is definitely his passion! Here my sister captured him examining the grapes
in a Nova Scotian vineyard.

Our lives have been richly blessed by his presence, his wisdom and his love.

Simple Daybook 54

For Today . . . August 10, 2009

Outside my window. . . cloudy, cool and +20 degrees F - one of those coolish summer days.

I am thankful . . . for the opportunity to worship, be nourished and challenged in my faith community.

And I am also thankful . . . for phone calls with our children (I know I've said this before but it's still something I cherish).

I am praying . . . that all children enrolled in the Compassion program would be able to continue their education successfully, without worrying about having to go to work to help support their families.

I am thinking . . . how wonderful it was to see my best college friends again - even when the occasion was a celebration of life.

I am celebrating . . . my Mom's 76th and my Dad's 77th birthdays this week.

From the kitchen. . . oatmeal with saskatoons for breakfast, leftover borscht for lunch and a whole bunch of fresh garden veggies with steaks for supper. Oh, I guess I should mention the chocolate zucchini cake too!

I am wearing . . . black warmup pants, red tshirt and crocs.

I am reading . . . Fires in the Dark by Louise Doughty - a novel about Romany culture up to and during World War II

I am hoping . . . to write some letters and send off cards this week.

I am hearing . . . Amy Grant singing from Time Again

I am creating . . . an accordion folder scrapbook project with pictures from our Jasper camping trip.

Around the house and yard . . . Bob picked (what a help that was!) and I froze 5 pails of raspberries yesterday, 2 pails of saskatoons to put away today, cucumbers waiting to be pickled - the garden is in full production and the house is on hold!!

One of my favourite things . . . pictures of fruits, vegetables, trees and flowers.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . staying ahead of the garden, picking strawberries (the last ones at the upick farm, I think), helping Bob with a silage making project, and hopefully getting down to help Heather with their packing.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . . saskatoons hanging heavy and ripe on our 4 bushes. So far we've picked 5 ice cream pails full and I think there are 2 more to still pick. We have never seen so many huge berries as this year.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

It's my Mom's 76th birthday today!




Thanks to my sister, Esther, for taking these pictures over the years. She's captured 3 parts of my mom so perfectly!

As I searched for a few pictures to show you, I started thinking about Ali Edwards' new online class, Yesterday and Today, at Big Picture Scrapbooking. These pictures are just begging for the stories to go with them, aren't they?!! I should really get them documented. Maybe this class would be the start of that project :))

Fair Judging

There were lots of fruit, vegetable and flower entries at a county fair where I judged today. It's always so nice to see the best examples displayed beautifully.


And the handicrafts that were shown were exquisite. The third quilt from the right was given a "best of show" ribbon. I could have taken it home with me - it was exactly the colors I love! My area of responsibility was the junior crafts section. I only judge a couple of fairs each year but I really do enjoy it. There are so many talented artisans and dedicated producers creating beautiful things out there!


This set was my favourite of all the paintings. Again the colors are so beautiful and the paint had lovely dimensions that added incredible texture to the piece. I'd love to hang these in my home every spring!!

I'm always inspired when I spend a day looking at other's projects!

Ten on Thursday

1.  Today I picked the first ripe tomato from our plant!

There are more coming!  So I guess I won't be buying tomatoes at the farmer's market this week :))

2.  From the garden today:  snap peas, regular peas, yellow beans, cucumbers (a surprise when I looked under the leaves), red potatoes, raspberries and zucchini.  We are in full summer production - and it's a happy thing!

3.  Speaking of zucchini - I made muffins, a loaf and zucchini cheese squares.  Would you like the recipe for this lovely lunch dish?  It also makes a great appetizer when cut into small pieces.

Zucchini Cheese Squares

(from Garden Way's Zucchini Cookbook, 1977)

1 cup zucchini, coarsely grated and drained

1 cup grated carrots

3 eggs

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped

1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 tbsps. fresh thyme, chopped

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 cup Feta cheese, mashed

dashes of salt, pepper and paprika

1 1/2 cups flour

Place all ingredients in large bowl and mix well with flour.  Turn into greased 9 X 9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes until browned.  Cut into squares and serve.  

The squares are also really tasty the next day, even cold.  

4.   Back to school shopping is in full swing, as evidenced by the lineups at Staples today, when I stopped to get printer ink.  It's quite the industry, isn't it?!

5.  Here are a few glimpses of last weekend's hiking excursion, courtesy of Bob.

The Skyline Hiking Group, 2009

6.

One of the mountain meadows, in full wildflower bloom.

Evidence of other living things in the area. 

7.

Early in the morning, the valley was clouded in but high above it was clear.  I love how Bob captured it here. 

8.

And the wildflowers were absolutely gorgeous - such beautiful colors and so many varieties.  The multitude of mosquitoes, on the other hand, were huge and ferocious.

9.  This photo was chosen by the group leader from our World Wide Photo Walk as the best of our group.  I agree completely!  It was so interesting to watch Braeden compose the shot and then see his results on the screen.  I knew - and I think everyone did - right away that it was an awesome one.  

10.  If you are looking for some scrapbooking inspiration this summer, go to Big Picture Scrapbooking and sign up for August's  free online class called Busy Women Out of Time, On a Budget and Still Inspired.  I guarantee it will make you want to create something right away!  I'm really excited about the accordion album - so many possibilities with this little piece.  

Our Boys

Just a few pictures of our sweet grandsons today.

What joy and smiles they bring to us already!  

Simple Woman #53

For Today . . . August 4, 2009

Outside my window. . . cloudy, windy, and very cool as we drive home from Jasper after a weekend of camping and hiking (for the dads).  We had to abandon our plans of a morning bike ride - it was just too cold.  

I am  thankful . . . that the hikers returned safely and have many stories to share about their adventures.  

And I am also thankful . . . for camping time with 4 of our grandchildren and 2 of our daughters, even if it was crazy at times!

I am praying . . . that I would continue to grow my relationship with God as this devotional reminds me. 

I am thinking . . . about how much we've been away - the good times and memories we've had - and now how much I want to stay home for a while!

From the kitchen. . . time to get back into cooking and healthy eating!

I am wearing . . . black warmup pants, green polka dotted shirt,  and crocs.

I am reading . . . Summerhill Secrets, a series of short stories about a girl living in Pennsylvania Amish country (near Lancaster, where we were while on our Pennsylvania road trip with Mel and Samuel) by Beverly Lewis

I am hoping . . . to get the raspberries picked tonight.

I am hearing . . . the clock ticking.

I am creating . . . some thank-you cards.

Around the house and yard . . .  raspberries, saskatoons and peas to pick,  the first ripe tomato to savour, a mountain of laundry to do, the camper to unpack and clean up, and settling back into routines. 

One of my favourite things . . . fresh raspberries with brown sugar and cream.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . a haircut, garden work, judging at a local fair, visit to the Farmer's Market and sleeping in my own bed!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you . . . the moon rising over the mountains as we drove out to Jasper.   

If you are interested, you can also read Heather and Melinda's entries for today.  

After 33 Years

4 kids,

1 daughter-in-law and 3 son-in-laws,

5 grandchildren,

25 years of milking cows,

a lifetime of farming,

nearly 14 years of teaching,

visits to 4 continents,

volunteering in our community,

and with God's blessings -

I'm so glad I married him!

Happy Anniversary, Bob!   Love you!! 

As a good friend wrote to us, it's one-third of a century!!  Yesterday morning (our actual anniversary date) as we were flying home, I said to him, "Did you ever think 33 years ago that we would be flying to New York to visit our grandson, or that we'd have 4 married children, or that we'd have lived a life filled with so much goodness? "  And his answer - "I couldn't have imagined where life would take us!  There's  been so much more to it than I ever thought."  And I agree whole-heartedly!!

(picture taken in Central Park)

Ten on Thursday

1.  The Newark airport was jam packed with people this morning!  So many flights had been cancelled yesterday that it created quite alot of mayhem there as everyone came back this morning to try to get on other flights.  Our plane stood on the tarmack for more than an hour before it was airborne.

2.  On my list of things to do next time we visit New York City -

     - a tour of the United Nations 

     - an evening  at a Broadway play

     - a city bus tour on one of the double decker busses

     - another walk through Central Park

     - a longer visit to F.A.O. Schwarz, the toystore

     - a visit to the hospital where Tyler is studying

     - more cuddling with Samuel

I might have to go more than once!

3.  The espresso machine was down at Starbuck's this morning and they couldn't make any hot specialty drinks.   What a disappointment!

4.   We came home to find - 

raspberries - 

zucchini - 

and peas in our garden!

5.  You should see how purple my hands are after picking an ice cream pail full of saskatoons tonight!  There's at least another pail full still out there to be picked in the morning.  

How marvelous it is to have fresh produce in the summertime!!

6.  The first - and biggest - tomato on my potted plant is turning pink!

7.  Heather picked us up at the airport today - the sweetest sound was "Gramma, Gramma, Gramma" and the best gift was great big smiles from Silas, Helayna and Heather!

8.  It is good to be safely home, out in the countryside, where the air is fresh and cool!

9.  I spent a couple of hours during our plane ride home this morning editting some of the 550+ pictures we took.  Pictures like this - - 

Oh, is he ever fun to play with now!!  Grampa really got the smiles going with his little games.  

10.   Using the Her Space My Space His Space prompts for this week:

Tool

Polychromatic (showing many colors)

Key