K - Ann

Nine years ago I purchased a beautiful palomino mare for a 4H project for Stayton. He never got a chance to ride her. We bred her for a replacement colt for him.  This beautiful horse is K-Ann.  She is named in memory of "Kelley Ann", Stayton's mother.  K-Ann does have some attitude and carries herself a lot like Kelley, she's special and knows it.  The mare died when this baby was just two months old.  We doted over her every available moment and that shows in her temperment now.

This is a trainer who put a week of riding on K-Ann.

It has been a couple of years since we've ridden her

so I sent her to a professional.

K-Ann loved every minute of it.

Beautiful - just beautiful.

I hope to be riding her more now.

She's seven this year and stands a solid 16 hands.

I like to use a stepstool to get up on her.

Sorry, I didn't get a picture of me on her today.

                                                                                    

Just a little "frazzed"

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words.

Well, this is how I's feelin' tonight.

Was thinking I'd be poetic,

but so much for that feelin'.

My brother showed up last week, unannounced,

he left the same way.  Dog gone it.

It's been hot! Hot for me anyway.

Just seem to fall apart about 3 p.m.

and when it does cool off,

I'm just too tired to give a rip.

Stayton is on his way to the Grand Canyon.

Bet it's well over 100 there.

The Orioles (birds) are leaving already.

We've only had a few in today,

still seen a beautiful male.

By next week the mature males will be gone

and shortly after that the females and young will depart.

We have topped out at over 10 gallons of grape jelly.

I'm missing a couple goldfish from the pond.

Mystery to me.....

Don't really think the cats are in on it,

but maybe I'll catch someone in the act.

Maybe tomorrow.....

I love to Worship by Jonathan Butler.wmv

Just when.....

Just when you think things are "getting normal"...

My youngest brother showed up this week. 
 Haven't seen him in five years or more. 

So here we are. 
 He's looking for work and staying with us for a few days. 

 Hoping and praying that a door will open for him.

They were in New Orleans and that's a depressed area,
 more so than most.

Say a prayer for us all here.

I have enjoyed a couple rides on my horse Ginger.

  Hope to get some photos of her and me on here this week.  

 Other than that, just doing my daily things.

I've been doing bible study in the book of Ruth.

Amazing what "gems" can be found when you study

with a group and really "dig" into the word.

My group is an on-line study group with women from

all over the world. We know we have one from Denmark

and Australia, how cool is that?? Technology can be so fun.

Lovingkindness

"Lovingkindness"

I've read this word mutltiple times in scripture. 

Recently while reading Jonah I came across it

again and this time, for the first time

I discovered something about

"Lovingkindness"

I had never known.

God's "lovingkindness" is

God's faithful love,

for His unfaithful people.

Even when I've not been faithful,

He has shown His "Lovingkindness"

Psalm 51:1

Have mercy on me O' God,

according to thy "lovingkindness"

according unto the multitude of

thy tender mercies-

blot out my trangressions.

Psalm 63:3

Because thy "lovingkindness"

is better than life,

my lips shall praise thee.

A Great Sunday

First thing this morning, I had this baby robin on the deck.

The parent birds have brought them into the yard.

They love it when I water and the worms come up.

This little fawn showed up by itself.

He made his way around the fence to the water bucket.

We keep it out all summer with fresh water.

This evening a doe came in with her twins.

They stop by for a long drink and

it makes for a great photo shoot for me.

This is one of my better shots of the male Oriole.

We so enjoy them. 

They have taught their young to come in for jelly.

Since May 6th, we have gone thru

37 quarts of grape jelly.

The Orioles, Tanagers, Grosbeaks and House Finches

just love it.

The males will be leaving in just a few weeks,

the females and young are usually here til

end of August.

It's been a good day.

It was a busy week for us with company from

out of state.

God is Good!!!

Wildflowers and God's Blessings

Indian Paint Brush

I think I actually slept thru the night, til almost 6:00 a.m.!!!

I can't remember if I got up during the night,

really, this is a miracle in itself.

This morning as I'm here in my office, my quiet place,

where I pray, meditate, read  and study,

and take time to thank God for His Blessings.

I think of my children.

My oldest daughter Lisha,

her strength in the Lord. 

I can almost read daily how He has held her up

when she had no strength to stand.

Her testimony and writing of God's word in her life.

That's a blessing.

My daughter Mischel,

she has a heart bigger than any I've met.

This past year I learned how she has helped many

who were destitute and in need.

She's a single mom of five, but manages to

bless those in need.

Our son Michael is no longer with us in this world.

His memory has blessings in itself and

I'm still writing his testimony.

God had a plan and a purpose for Michael,

and though death took him,

it will only prove to make his story and testimony

more powerful as God allows it to be written.

Our grandson and "adopted son" Stayton.

How can I even put into words the blessing

he has been and continues to be in our lives.

His soft heart and his forgiving nature is far beyond

any I've ever known.

And today, I want to thank God for such a blessing and miracle.

Three years ago, under dire stress and turmoil we made the

decision to place our adopted son Desmond in a facility

out of state.  Away from home, family, friends.

I won't go into all of that now.

It was a time of turmoil and strife for all of us.

Tomorrow will mark his third year there.

God has worked miracles in all our lives these past three years.

Monday evening Desmond called to visit. 

 We talked of how things have gone for him this three years.

He sees how it has been a good decision.

I hope to write the story of Joseph for him,

 to see how God took Joseph and used all

that seemed so bad to be for so much good.

As our conversation continued, Desmond told me he was

thinking about becoming a Christian.

WOW!!!

Thru the rest of our phone visit,

God allowed me to pray the prayer of

salvation with Desmond to receive Christ as his saviour.

That is God at work!!!!

Today!!! Today!! I rejoice.

As I started my morning with my conversation with Him,

"Thank you Lord, thank you for this day. "

"This is your day, the day you have made. 

I will rejoice and be glad in it"

New Flower Bed

We recently moved this fence line and it left us with this vacant space.

Of course, it's a flower bed just waiting to happen.

So, after much digging, removing lots of flat rocks,

old ground cloth and dead grass.

We added more than a ton of new topsoil.

Put in some perennial plants and reused

some of the rocks for a natural look.

This fall I'll add some bulbs for spring flowers.

Have some wood vine to plant near the dead tree stump.

That will be pretty next year.

This is the view from the other end.

Notice the "flower tower" to the left of the gate.

I bought this round shelf unit at a garage sale.

It has 3 glass shelves, 16" in diameter.

After walking it all over my house,

trying to find just the right spot for it,

I moved it back outside, thinking it

was not such a good buy and would give it away,

until I seen something similiar in a magazine, and

look at it now.

I found the exact same size pots at the

hardware store. 

I plan to remove the bottom pot

and plant in day lilies directly in the soil.

I would like to put the "wave" petunias in here next year.

Can't you just imagine how beautiful?

I picked this large base up at a recycle center.

It was either the base for a large bird bath

or possibly a table.

I added a large round stepping stone on top

to support the peat pot planter.

This wave petunia has not done as well,

but still makes a pretty statement

for recycled "yard art"

Pressure time

We have had a busy weekend. On Friday we started a new project....thought this would be a "slam dunk"...
The ceiling in our den was the last "big ugly" in the main part of the house.  Ugly, ugly, ugly blue paint, cracked and actually large exposed raw wood from previous water damage.  It was the one glaring ugly that I really was ready to say goodbye to.  When I suggested to Pat that it could be our next "project", he jumped right into it.

Friday he brought home the materials, put up some pressed foam insulation (It's a "man" thing.  "We need to increase the R value there", I think it's increased by 4%??? )  Even the pink foam board with the Corning Label was an improvement.  Saturday we began installing "tongue and groove" pine.  Not an easy task considering we have a 12' span and a slightly bowed ceiling.  It was pretty intense in a few places.  By early afternoon I realized this was no longer a "slam dunk" project and we were truly "in over our heads", but as Pat often says "You can't say whoa in a horse race".

Due to sheer exhaustion we called it an evening and decided to wait til Sunday to finish the thing. Really hate to have this kind of work for Sunday.  We had company coming on Monday so we really needed to "get 'er done".

We decided to put up the few remaining boards before church then we would have time to clean up and get the house in order for our arriving guests, on Monday (did I say, Monday).  I had decided to paint a few pieces of exposed blue wall while I was at it, really hate that blue.  So there I was up on the ladder, paint brush in hand, when the phone rang.   Our guests were just over 2 hours away and headed to our house.
You know that "dream" you have, you're trying to run and just can't move??? Yea, that's the feeling.
I didn't panic, I don't think I panicked, maybe I panicked a little.....But I did start really moving. 

Fortunately those last few boards went in really easy.  I got two coats of paint on those small areas.
I began to clean up and move stuff back in place as Pat was putting the last few small pieces on the large skylight in there.  I was really moving fast at this time.

We got the den back together, got the house swept, vacuumed, dusted.  Even got a shower and the dishes done in the sink......our guests took a little longer to make that 2 hour trip and we managed to "redeem the time".  I've been told that I function well under pressure.......so guess I still have that trait. 

We're having a great visit with friends we met over 25 years ago in Washington.  We haven't seen them for about 15 years.  ( And you know....they didn't come to see our house, they came to see us!)

Who He Is

He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

He’s the keeper of creation and the creator of all.

He’s the architect of the universe and the manager of all time.

He always was, always is, always will be.

Unmoved, unchanged, undefeated and never undone.

He was bruised but brought healing.

He was pierced but eased pain.

He was persecuted but brought freedom.

He was dead and brings life.

He was risen to bring power. And He reigns to bring peace.

The world can’t understand Him. Armies can’t defeat Him.

Schools can’t explain Him and leaders can’t ignore Him.

Herod couldn’t kill Him. Nero couldn’t crush Him.

The new age cannot replace Him and

Oprah cannot explain Him away.

He is life. He is Love. He is longevity and He is the Lord.

He is goodness, and kindness and faithfulness and He is God.

He is holy and righteous and powerful and pure.

His ways are right, His word eternal,

His will unchanging and His mind is on us.

He’s our Savior, our guide, our peace, our joy,

our comfort, our Lord, and He rules our lives.

I serve Him because His bond is love, His yoke is easy,

His burden is light and His goal for us is abundant life.

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,

the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers,

 the leader of all leaders and His goal is a relationship with me.

He’ll never leave you, never forsake you,

never mislead you, never forget you, never overlook you

and never cancel your appointment in His appointment book.

When you fall, He’ll lift you up.

When you fail, He’ll forgive you.

When you're weak, He is strong.

When you’re lost, He is your way

When you’re afraid, He’s your courage.

When you stumble, He will steady you.

When you’re hurt, He’s going to heal you.

When you’re broken, He will mend you.

When you’re blind, He will lead you.

When you’re hungry, He will feed you.

When you face trials, He’s with you.

When I face persecution, He shields me.

When I face problems, He will comfort me.

When I face loss, He will provide for me.

When we face death,

He will carry us all home to meet Him.

He is everything for everybody,

everywhere, every time and in every way.

He is your God, and that, Sisters, is who you belong to!

- Priscilla Shirer (Deeper Still Conference)

A Good Day Fishing

Fishing trip to Greystone - Father's Day Weekend.

They had a blast!!! Caught so many fish they both were exhausted.

What a day!!!