Traveling

New cover for my Kindle.

I finished a book this morning lent by a friend and ordered the next one in the series on my Kindle.

Been reading while traveling to the camper for the weekend.

Looking Back

My two journals contain my thoughts and prayers for this year. Soon I will begin a new one for the fall, pages fresh and new, waiting.

How quickly we forget the struggles as we enter a season of sunshine!

The winter season was difficult for me. Letting go of what I wanted, moving into a new mindset...

Spring was rougher...

In July, summer arrived.

What does autumn hold?

My words have held true throughout.

Disencumber.
Eucharisteo.
Grace.

Waiting and Watching

The rain has been falling steadily all day on already soaked farmland. We are waiting for the winds of Hurricane Irene, hoping to keep power.

I have been catching up on DVRd programs as hubby napped and checking my blogs now.

Check out my granddaughter's blog. Creative, gutsy and fun!
http://365perfectstrangers.blogspot.com/

Motivated

This was the scene at midnight last night.  When  Pam was here, she suggested  that I could move the two tall bookshelves out of my office to make space. Around 7:30 I went into the office to straighten up and decided to empty one bookshelf. When I tried to move the other one, it began to come apart. Oh oh!

 This is the finished scene today. I got up early this morning and went to work. Where did I put all those book and papers and art stuff?

I lugged art supplies upstairs to my art desk, which is out of commission right now, hid papers in the printer cabinet, and put the majority of my books in this trunk which I found at a yard sale two weeks ago. The rest I gave to mom for her Trash & Treasure sale.

My favorite corner. Notice the altered traincase my daughter gave me for my birthday.
http://alteredbyamber.blogspot.com/

Home With Treasures

Pam left for home today. Before she left, we made a stop at my favorite store - Serendipitous II.
I couldn't pass this up.

Favorite Book Nook

Scottie's is my favorite second-hand bookstore. It's located about 10 minutes from my camper and I love to visit every chance I get.

I took Pam there today and we were trying to locate the large print section to find books for her mom.

I turned to find the owner standing behind me. As I was asking him where it was, my eyes caught sight of a sign over his shoulder- Large Print.
A big grin came across his face and we all had a good laugh:)

Pam found a book and I found an old copy of the New Testament, JB Phillips edition.

The Kindle is a great invention but it can't offer the experience of standing in a bookstore with anticipation of a good find.

It All Started With A Movie

Pam & I arrived in Bangor in time for a nice supper. Then we met my daughter and her daughter at the movies.

Loaded up with popcorn and candy we settled in to watch The Help.
I hadn't read the book although I meant to before the movie arrived. I think the four women sitting in front of us had because they seemed to delight in scenes before we did, anticipating what was coming.
Laughter turned to tears by the end. My daughter described it as gut-wrenching.

We all loved it, from 15 to 59.

It was a great beginning to the week. Today we saw Lily swim (more later), did some shopping, had a great lunch and spent more time with my girls.

Now we are snuggled in at the camper for the night.
Thank you Lord for a blessed day.

Summer Blessings

A Mennonite family was selling these peaches along the road. Delicious.

Yesterday we visited the Amish bakeries in town and picked up more goodies.
The young lady working in one of them was sharing how she sometimes sleeps in- until 7:00a.m. :)
I managed to keep a straight face as that is when I awaken daily.

Pam and I are heading to the camper today.
Happy Sunday!

Afternoon Delight

Pam & I had a couple of hours to relax and enjoy our afternoon.

Rainstorm moved through as we dug out the goodies.

We started out in my quilt magazines and moved on from there.

This one is my favorite new find! Wondering if it is always this delightful?

Dream Day

Photo Painting by McKenna Walker

What a beautiful day!

Freshly washed sheets on the line
Sweet mown grass
Grilled salmon salad for lunch
Chimes brushed by breeze
Resting

Easy Together

Pam and I have been friends for so long that we flow together.

After doing some errands we came home to a snack of mint-chip coconut milk ice cream. I checked my email and she read a bit in her book.

Gorgeous day outside too!

Tea Time

A long day after a friend's funeral, standing in the rain at the gravesite and talks with old friends.
Now cup of white Ginger tea to warm up.

Umbrella Days

There are days that just seem hard.

I have been looking forward to my friend Pam coming for weeks. Our first day together and I am feeling awful. Dizziness is back, exhausted, heavy like the weather. Prayed my way through the day.

Tonight we grabbed our umbrellas as we left to go to the funeral home. The weather report says 100 percent chance of rain.

I am in bed praying that tomorrow is a better day. Good night dear bloggers.

Painting by my granddaughter McKenna

Weekend With the Walkers

My daughter and her family came up for the weekend. It went so fast because they didn't arrive until late Friday night then left this morning, but we had a ball!

We took rides to the Amish bakeries, visited a friend, watched the clouds roll in ( it is thundering right now so I must hurry with this post), ice cream at Houlton Farms (the best), looked through old pics, walked with Lily, ordered Ken's Moo cards ( more on this later), my homemade pizza, ...

Lots of hugs and fun :)

Summer Storm Clouds

This is getting to be a regular sight this summer. Busy day but sharing my evening view.

Leave the Light On

Source: architecturaldesigns.com via with on Pinterest

When I was a young mother, I often felt lost and afraid. Another mother whose children were a bit older befriended me. I loved going to her house. It was a big farmhouse with a wrap-around porch. They kept it cold so I always took a sweater and warm clothes for the kids, which became a joke after awhile. We had many a meal there and made sweet memories. I always felt welcome and safe.

Years passed and children grew up. Our lives turned in other directions, but I never forgot the kindness and love shown to me during those vulnerable years.

Today my friend, Peggy, went home to be with the Lord after a long battle with leukemia. Heaven is richer, then so am I for having known her.

Pieces of Yesterday, Plans for Today

Bottle from Serendipitous II, Flower from my Yard

Blue Skies

 

 

Choosing Pictures

Pictures

I was so busy yesterday that I didn't have a chance to blog. It was a gorgeous day, on of the few we've had this summer. Look at that blue sky (pic2) beyond my new hanging glass!

I painted a small bureau for my guest room, printed pics for new frames to hang, cleaned my office and attended an evening meeting to plan for Beth Moore simulcast. When I got home at 9:00 p.m. my hubby has a salad from Subway waiting for me. How sweet!

I guess it's time for a break. I woke up this morning to rain outside and the room spinning inside. Not sure if it was the paint/shellac yesterday, the bee spray hubby sprayed this morning by our window for the umpteenth time to get rid of those pests, or simply a bug. After cancelling all my plans for the day, I settled down with a cup of peppermint tea, journal and Bible.

Starting to feel better so I am going to play in BlogLand for a while. :)

Art Fair Treasures

Purchased Tent When Temp Reached 80

Chalk Drawings by People Walking By

Cousin Kobi Checking Out Her Work

Sissy Looking On

Most Memorable Moment

Bought this from the booth next to Ken's

 "Future Somethings" 

 I couldn't sleep that night for my mind was filled with special moments from throughout the day.

• The young woman who purchased McKenna's first painting
• The shade of trees over wooden benches
• Lily's bare piggies on the bench
• Family gathered together for support
• Smiles of faces as they perused Ken's work
• Grampy grabbing the video guy to film his girl
• McKenna's Joy
• My purchase of Future Somethings
• Most Memorable - McKenna took her earnings and bought her mom a print she had admired. With great emotion she presented it to her mom, my daughter for all the support, canvas hunting, etc that she had given. I was in tears.
• How blessed I am to have these two amazing women in my life!

Travel Read

I am delighting in the new Where Women Create magazine. It sure makes the three hour trip home go a bit faster!

Art Fair

80 degrees, family, cameras and our emerging artist all added up to a special day.
See the humble beginnings at Amber's blog- http://alteredbyamber.blogspot.com/2011/08/humble-beginnings.html

Switching Gears

Heading to McKenna's art show, leaving the unfinished room behind.

A Work in Progress

The work continues. Here's the new floor and my friend helping my brother-in-law put the mopboards in.

I touched up the walls with paint I thought matched and it dried darker. Sigh.

By the way, I scrapped my color scheme with the grays after purchasing a gallon of gray paint that I hated.

There are some good lessons in this time. I am learning to trust God's guidance and not worry about mistakes and relax.

Oh and remember what I said about God's backup plan? LoL. He has the master plan. I just get to enjoy the journey.

Tired but smiling.

The Photo That Started It All

I loved the floor in this photo from Country Homes & Interiors, British edition.
Two years ago I painted the old wood floor chocolate brown in the guest room according to instructions from a local hardware store clerk. Everything sticks to it and the paint peels.
The walls are the pink in the second photo so I fell in love with the color scheme idea in the magazine.

If you read my post from last night, you know my plan didn't happen.
We have a floor in process and definitely not the white/gray.

I am still tackling the color theme, so I'll let you know how it goes.

I wanted to touch up my walls, but alas no paint left over. And no! I am not going to repaint the walls.

My scripture this morning:

Proverbs 3 Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Me and I will direct your paths.
I'm glad God has a backup plan for all my failed ones.

Past My Bedtime

I can hardly believe it's been only 3 days since I got home. What a busy week.

Each morning I have been asking God for wisdom for the day.

Today I began in one direction and ended up in another.
I wanted to sand the floor in the guest room down to the bare wood but there were a few complications. My husband jumped in and encouraged me to get a laminate floor found cheap( relative term) at Mardens.

I followed his advice but now my house is upside down, my brother-in-law carpenter can't finish the job until Thursday, it's a different color scheme than I planned, and I am tired.

Wisdom,Lord?

Looking back over the day, I realize the floor stripping, sanding, painting would have been hindered by the high humidity that we have right now but it seemed simpler at the time. Now I have baseboards to paint and....

Enough. I prayed for wisdom and my day turned. I will have strength to finish the project.

It is past my bedtime. Goodnight Blogworld.

Remind Me Why I Came Home?

Source: jessicaswift.com via Paula on Pinterest

This picture makes me think about my three days of sweet rest last week at the camper.

Now picture the phone ringing, bills strewn across my desk, laundry piled, someone knocking at the door, killing 6 bees that have invaded my house, hubby's to- do- list, where's the check question, and a stolen moment to blog and you have my morning! Need to take a breath after that long-running sentence? It's not even noon yet!

How about the afternoon? A trip to the bank to straighten out their mistake again, Lowes to get the RIGHT sandpaper, and a dentist appointment.

Time to remember Eucharisteo. Thank you Lord ...