Morning Air

I love stepping out on our deck early in the morning when the dogs go outside.  The fresh morning air smells so good.   I breath in the fresh clean air and look around at all the trees and the wonder that is nature.   Sometimes the birds are singing and sometimes there is silence.  The silence is beautiful.  I stand and look and wait for something to happen.  If I wait long enough (doesn’t always happen) there’s usually some action in the yard or woods.   Either the snap of a branch in the woods and a deer comes into view.  Or maybe it’s the buzz of hummingbird wings (they are long gone now)  The sound of hummingbird wings makes me freeze in my tracks.  I just stand and watch them at the feeder.  They are so amazing.   My husband has all the facts about them stored in his head and recites them.  I should know them by know, but I don't.  In the winter, I like to enjoy the silence of the snow.  We have lots of pine trees and the snow looks so beautiful.  I'm looking forward to that. Yes, maybe a little crazy!  That’s what our back yard is like.  It’s fenced in for our dogs.   I should mention that we border an 800 acre state park so we have more than our share of wildlife.  The wildlife is free to move about in our front yard, and they do.  The deer bed down in the front yard quite often.  We have 3 bucks that are hanging out now.  Two seem to travel together.  I wonder if they were one of the sets of twins we had living here a few years ago.  This past spring/summer, we had a few day old fawn sleeping right outside out front door.  Needless to say, we were house bound until he/she was called by her momma.   There was no way I was disturbing that sweet little thing.    Here he/she is after a nap and before taking off to find momma.

My allergies have been bothering me lately and it seems the best thing is fresh air.  So this morning at 6:15 am (ee gads!) I took the dogs for a walk.  It’s good for all of us.  It has to be done in two trips as these two pups, although they get along great, don’t walk well together.  Together they add up to WAY too much excitement for one person!  I would be going down the road on my face or butt!   That’s not how I want to start my day if I can help it!  The fresh air feels good.  What do you do at 6:15 am?

Fresh Morning Thoughts

“Thoughts are like flowers; those gathered in the morning keep fresh the longest” — Andre Gide.  

I am inspired by the words of others, special words.  What makes the words special?   Many things.  They are heart felt, describe a beautful moment, are about our Lord and Savior, and they are uplifting.  I am thankful for the authors of these special words.  They inspire me to live a better life and to remember my purpose.  And sometimes they even inspire me to paint.   Other times they just make me smile or stop to think about life and what a joy and a gift it is.     

During this November of Thanksgiving please visit Rebecca Writes to read about what other are thankful for.  Today, I am thankful for the authors that share their words that inspire us.

Auction to Benefit Evy and Rocky: Lord's Chapel

I first read about Evy a few weeks ago and was so touched by her story and that of her family that I donated one of my prints to the upcoming auction taking place Nov 22nd and 23rd to raise money to send Evy to a camp.   There are lots of great items on the auction.  You can read more about Evy, her battle with brain cancer, her twin sister and her family, as well as the "monkeys" who have helped, on these sites:
http://evybeatscancer.blogspot.com/
http://momastery.blogspot.com/2010/10/fight-like-girl-guest-post-by-andrea.html
http://momastery.blogspot.com/2010/11/dear-evy.html

Here is the link to the Auction.  http://momasteryauction.blogspot.com/
   

Lord's Chapel by Colleen Carkhuff Conrad

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Something to make you Smile

Rebecca Writes November gratitude; I am thankful for the things that make me smile.  It helps keep me sane!   Please enjoy.

A Weekend to rest . . . kind of

My hardworking husband took a much deserved and needed hiatus from kitchen remodling this weekend.   Of course, it was not an entire weekend off as there are SO many leaves in the yard.  He had raking and mowing to do.  The kids across the street were jumping in the leaf pile as he was raking.  I think that made part of the chore fun for him.

 The weekend off gave me the opportunity to introduce him to Trader Joe’s.   We found lots of yummy looking and sounding things.  Now we will meander our way thru the things in the freeze to see we were right!   And of course, we had to have a few bottles of that great Charles Shaw wine!   

Hard to believe thanksgiving is just over a week away.   Thru one of my favorite blogs Thistle Cove Farm (thanks Sandra!) I found Rebecca Writes, who asks us to share what we are grateful for.  So for the remainder of the November of Thanksgiving as Rebecca calls it, I will share with you the things I am grateful for.   My hardworking husband of 26 years is right up there at the top of the list!  But he is so much more than hardworking . . .  he is generous, compassionate, caring, loving, thoughtful, patient, very funny, handsome and playful and he has a deep love and respect for me.   We are each other’s best friend.   I am keenly aware everyday of how fortunate I am that God caused our paths to cross 30 plus years ago.  For that I am ever so grateful.



Chuck and Darla . . . he does not spend enough time in that hammock!



Veterans Day . . . a little history

Depending on your interest/knowledge of history you may or may not know this, but here goes (courtesy of http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp)
 
November 11, 1918 is generally regarding as the end of "the war to end all wars", World War I.  Although the war officially ended with the siging of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28,1919, the fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  In November 1919 President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"   The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.    In 1954, "Armistice Day" a day primarily  set aside to honor veterans of World War I, was renamed Veterans day in order to honor veterans of all wars.   The change was brought about by the World War II and the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history and after American forces fought aggression in Korea.

So, today, on Veteran's Day, thank a veteran who has served and/or thank one who is serving now.

Here are a few ways.

Operation Gratitude http://www.opgratitude.com/from_iraq.php
Let's Say Thanks http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html
You can send cards/letters/packages to anysoldier.com to insure that soldiers without loved ones here in the states also receive encouragement.

And finally, a poem written by a soldier during World War II set to music recently by John Gorka, one of my favorite artists.  Someone has added images.  It's very touching.

An Irish Blessing on this cool November Day

I love the word "November" and I've been trying to figure out why. I think it's because November is a time of tradition, a time of giving thanks. I have a lot of great memories of Thanksgiving, of family meals and traveling to visit friends.  So, on this cool November day, may I share with you an Irish blessing.  You would expect something less from someone named Colleen?

May the blessing of God's soft rain be on you,
Falling gently on your head, refreshing your soul
With the sweetness of little flowers newly blooming.
May the strength of the winds of Heaven bless you,
Carrying the rain to wash your spirit clean
Sparkling after in the sunlight.
May the blessing of God's earth be on you,
And as you walk the roads,
May you always have a kind word for those you meet.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/29726438/thanksgiving-joys-greetings-embossed