Decades Of Love ! Happy Anniversary Jim ~

I have been married to the man of my dreams for almost 4 decades. I have known him that long. We were high school sweethearts, and married while we were both in college and working part time jobs to support ourselves. My beloved was still going to college and working two jobs when our first born , our daughter Autumn , joined our family. Shortly thereafter our two sons were born and we were still working part-time jobs , my husband was still attending his college classes. I am amazed when I look back on our lives to see how hard my husband worked for us ( often 2 jobs at a time), and still took time to play with our children, help me out with the children, keep up our home, and enjoy many simple yet rewarding family times, the times that count in the grand scheme of things that matter. My husband also made sure we were at church every Sunday morning, often helping out at church too.He supported our homeschooling the children in a time when home-schooling was unheard of and friends and family were not so supportive. Without the quiet strength and love of my husband, my beloved, I do not think we would have fared as well and God was so kind and gracious to me to give me my Jim. Happy anniversary Jim, I love you.~ ~" For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother , and shall cleave unto his own wife; and the two shall become one flesh..." Ephesians 5:31

Kitten Playground

Our granddaughters' kitten. 'Bubba', looks so cute playing with my weaving while it is still on the loom, but cute got out of hand quickly... This is what happened when I went to get myself a cup of coffee. I came back to a kitten wedged in the warp & heddles of my loom. I had to open the heddles and help him extricate himself. Of course I did take a moment to capture a few pictures.

This really can't be good for the warp threads, or the kitten.

He kept playing under the loom and in the weaving, climbing my legs too. OUCH !

After this picture I put him in the craft room and closed the door, somebody had to get some weaving done and it wasn't going to be him.

Summer Weaving

The warp (fiber I thread my loom with ) threads are chosen,

with help from the granddaughters' kitten.

The loom is threaded and I begin weaving rugs, using wool roving, which is long , continuous strands of carded wool from my sheep .

Weaving is for me a peaceful pursuit when I have successfully threaded the loom and am happy with the end result. I was able to produce 4 rugs from this warp and am looking forward to again threading the loom in different warp colors. Each time I weave I learn so much more about the craft, and the process causes me to think about life in general as I throw the shuttle back & forth, back & forth. " My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle." Job 7:6

July Celebration

How many kids can you fit into a kiddie pool? This is really family togetherness.

My husband and I had the privilege of hosting a 2 day Sister's Reunion with my sisters and their families. We gathered here to celebrate being family and the 4th of July. We had gunnysack races...

...water balloon toss and fights.

Children marveled at frogs,

close up,

and snakes too. Here my husband is showing the children a snake he found, and being the big kid he is, he chased my sisters around with the snake, to the great delight of the children. They loved seeing my sisters running and screaming. ( Sorry sisters )

The children made their own stick horses,

then raced them.

There were 3-legged races,

An aunt chatting with a niece...

...an uncle cuddling a nephew.

Slip n' slide,

painting bird houses,

a 4th of July parade,

a make your own ice cream sundae buffet with all the toppings and whip cream any kid ( or grown-up ) could want, as much as they wanted.Of course there was barbecue. We had boat rides, lawn games, just sit & visit time.

" Celebrate :..commemorate or rejoice over..." Funk & Wagnall Dictionary Celebrating family and our country's Independence Day with love and thankfulness, truly a blessing not to take for granted.

Treasure in The Mail !

I received a box full of treasures in the mail the day before I left for a week away from home. These little kissing parakeets salt& pepper shakers were among them. Aren't they cute? How did Constanza ( Peregrine Blue) of Por Amor Al Arte* know I like parakeets? I have two ( Bob & Betty ). Look at the items I unwrapped from the tissue paper pleasantly fragrant from the soap , sachets, and scented candle inside ! I displayed them on the antique Kitchen Queen in my sun-room and the treasures look as if they have always belonged there.

This little Teddy Bear will be attending many tea parties this summer.I am sure she will want honey with her tea.

I have never seen such a box as this little ram's head , the size of a walnut, exquisitely carved.I wonder what teensy treasure I can hide inside it.All the items are sitting on a fabric tea towel I am going to leave atop the Kitchen Queen. I love the colors and they are perfect for my home.

The pot-holder colors are pleasing to me , Constanza made it herself. I might have to hide this because the granddaughters were making plans to turn it into a doll dress. The true treasure here is the heart of the lady who sent me this box of gifts, each item was obviously well thought out and packed with care. Thank-you Constanza! No, this goat did not arrive in the package but is fast becoming a treasure around here. He was not intended to be a pet, but has endeared himself to us all, especially the granddaughters. Buddy loves to snuggle and play with us. He also bonded with the granddaughters' pet kitten, sleeping with the kitten, playing with the kitten, and bawling pitifully when the kitten is taken away to play.Buddy also perked up my 10 year old goat Thorin,who leaps about like a baby goat with him. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21~ "Treasure: Something very much valued." Amer. Dictionary of English Language ~ I have been having trouble with Blogger lately and although I was able to read your blogs, I was unable to comment on them. I was also unable to write and post my own. It is good to be back to blogging and although sometimes I get frustrated by Blogger, I remember what LindaSue of Buhl-A-Land said to me a long time ago, "It is hard to complain about a service that is free. " Also, Blogger does try to fix the problems quickly once they are known. Blogging is a treasure to me too, it has brought me the pleasures and treasures of friends like you . We are blessed, aren't we?

"It's A Gift To Be Simple, It's A Gift To Be Free.."

It's a gift to be loved...

...it's a gift to be happy...

...it's a gift to have enough food, and a place to call home...

...it's a gift to have family and people who love you...

...it's a gift to have sisters, a gift to have a parent or two who love you more than life itself, it is a gift to have Jesus as Savior. What more can we want for ?

The pictures above are of 4 of our granddaughters,the daughters of our oldest son. My husband and I have been away for more than a week, over the mountains and far away, visiting them.We had no television or internet, and spent the time just being with our granddaughters and sons, and youngest sons' wife Breezy. We brought the granddaughters home with us for summer vacation and are looking forward to fun times, sweet times, family times ~ building memories times. The trip home was enjoyable (excepting the blinding rain squalls ) as these little girls love to sing about Jesus and although they do have their sisterly spats, my husband and I have noticed these little girls love each other fiercely and are perfectly content with each other as friends and playmates. Makes our hearts glad."It's a gift to be simple..."

Saying Good-Bye To Someone Who Matters

My friend Pam has cancer, and more than a year ago was told she had until last summer to live. Well, she thoroughly enjoyed her days and made plans , and continued on taking trips, showing her miniature horses at the fair, enjoying family and friends, having tea parties . After surviving, and LIVING through the summer, she enjoyed the beautiful fall we had. The doctors told her to prepare for the end by Christmas... ...and she had a great Christmas with her husband, son and his wife, and her two grandchildren. Pam planned a trip to Europe and we fully believed she would be sending us postcards from England next week. God is taking her home to be with Him instead.Pam is amazing. Throughout this scary time she has not complained.She has enjoyed life to the fullest and the other day after visiting her in the hospital I realized what a big part of my life she has been, what an important part of my life she has been. Although we knew she was "terminal", I somehow never expected to have to say good-bye to Pam. Above is one of her horses & cart, her grandchildren and some of mine. She will be greatly missed by them, they all love her. "He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning until the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good in one's lifetime." Ecclesiastes 3:11,12