Thankful Thursday ~ My View From The Porch

 This is a well-traveled and used area of our property. The lattice hides the wood shed where we also keep our garbage cans. This area is in full view of our front porch too, so it is nice for it to be somewhat visually appealing.

 The mirror was a Goodwill find for under $5.00 and has endured quite a few winters here. The ceramic planters are re-planted every spring. The bird-bath is new. We have 3 bird-feeders hung in the trees surrounding the wood shed.

 Every morning and in the early evenings we sit on the porch and watch the birds fly in for sunflower seeds. We see chickadees, nuthatches, Oregon Juncos, Stellar Jays, Grosbeaks, finches, Goldfinches, sparrows, Towhees, Cedar Waxwings ~ to name a few. We also watch hummingbirds flit around the Bleeding Hearts and Ajuga that grow lush around the porch and squirrels doing acrobatic tricks to get as many seeds from the "squirrel-proof" feeders as they can carry away in their pouches.

There is no end to the entertainment at the feeders and in the garden, especially now that the weather has warmed. Thank-you Lord for your glorious creation ! ~"For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers or authorities- all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:16,16

Spot Of Gratitude For Simple Things

 Are you seeing spots? I see spots, and lots of them here on Cedar Pond. My Jacob Sheep are spotted, and the lambs are little jumping spots of joy. My sheep are simple pleasures. Just watching them brings me joy. This is Thora and her new twin ewe ( girl) lambs.

It is a real blessing to have twin ewes by Thora. The sire of these ewes is my new ram , Tonkin. I am thinking I will need to give these girls 'T' names...

As I did my daily chores I took an extra amount of time to simply stand & watch my sheep, chickens, ducks & turkeys. I realized I may not always have the pleasure of such abundance in the coming years, for who knows what the future brings? Ill health, a change of fortune, the need to occupy myself with other things...any and all could change my way of life in a heart-beat. I cannot bear to think of a spring time without new lambs and sweet , fluffy chicks. To not be able to sit by our pond and watch our silly ducks court, quack, and dive head first into the pond for things to eat leaving them bottoms up and making us laugh is a sad thought. Yet I know God in His wisdom knows us and what is best for us. Should he deem it best for us to live otherwise as we move on in the seasons of life, He has given us these times right now to savor and remember. I pause often to soak in the sights, sounds, and joys of today and remember the funny little antics of my farm animals. I make a conscious effort to appreciate the bounty I have here in the simple things. God is so good, praise him !

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beale

Jeannie's Quilts ~ 'Liberty Or Death'

Jeannie Austin is amazing. Her quilts show a woman who is not only talented in quilting, but design, family history, story-telling, and sharing her skills with the community .Her love of quilting spills over into her family & community in great abundance. Because so many wanted to see her quilts and photograph them , Jeannie brought them to the Lacamas Community Center in our little community and with help, hung them up for photographing. There were a few of us snapping pictures and I missed some very good shots of her quilts, but I hope the pictures I did capture show her quilts in good light. Please click onto any pictures you want enlarged for better viewing. Close-up of one square. Jeannie's quilts are stories told in fabric, and most of her quilts are fabric & thread stitching her family history.I wish I had taken notes on what she was saying as each quilt was unfurled to be photographed, and this post shows only one quilt. I will be sharing the quilts I photographed in coming posts, but really feel her quilts are works of art . I think she could hold a quilt show and easily fill a large room with them. I did not get pictures of the backs and bindings of the quilts, but they too, were worthy of their own display.Jeannie inspired me to sew with care, creativity, and an attitude of sewing for the future generations to come. With the high price of fabric, the rarity of hand-sewn & hand-quilted items, combined with the love invested in a quilt, it is well to consider the design and future of any quilt you set your heart to make, and make it well! * I am thankful for women who freely share their skills and knowledge with other women , thereby passing on the joy of creating a life well-lived and well-loved within the means and abilities God has granted .

Thank-you!

I am going to dedicate my blog to giving thanks for the rest of this month.I want my first expressions of thanks to be for YOU! I moved my Blogger List of FOLLOWERS to just below my header to acknowledge my appreciation for you all, and what you have contributed to my life. Blogging has enriched my life, and that of my family in ways I will not elaborate here except to say your many prayers and words of encouragement, your kind and helpful comments, well~ you humble me.Your blogs too, enrich my life, inspire me, entertain me.Thank-you, very much. "Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend. Albert Camus "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises unto His name." Psalm 92:1

America, My Home

Our Front Porch

"We ask Thee to lead our country in the paths where Thou wouldst have her walk, to do the tasks which Thou hast laid before her. So may we together seek happiness for all our citizens in the name of Him who created all equal in His sight, and therefore brothers.Amen. " Peter Marshall I love my country, my home. I am so thankful God allowed me to be born here in America and I am so thankful for the many, take -for -granted privileges I have because I was born here. I believe to despise your country, your home, is to despise what God in His wisdom has granted you, wherever you are. Does He not tell us to be content with what He provides? (Philippians 4:11) I would be content to live wherever God plants me ( might take an attitude adjustment ), because He knows best. I am so thankful though that this country is my home, for the many freedoms I enjoy. Thank-you Lord for America, my home! Celebrate with joy and thankfulness today for the freedoms we still have, pray for our leaders ,our men and women in the military who serve at the bidding of our leaders, and enjoy the fireworks!

TRUE FREEDOM: "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36

Blessings Abundant , Giving Thanks !

~The Granddaughters are here ! They brought their father, our oldest son, and they brought their Uncle ( our youngest son and his wife) and Aunt and their dogs....we are ALL together this Thanksgiving. This is an answer to prayer, ceaseless, tear filled prayers........Praise Him from whom ALL blessings flow! O.K., O.K., they did not drive here, the Uncle and Father, and Aunt drove the vehicle that brought them literally 'over the river and through the woods', and over the mountains and through the pass. Here they are with Poppa, my Hubby, walking down the driveway towards home. They really love their Poppa!~For anyone interested in the Thanksgiving we shared,and a funny picture of Hubby, please check out our daughter's blog A.Joy At Home. ~The day after Thanksgiving we had a brunch here in our home and Hubby's parents came to share a meal and time with their grandchildren and Great-grandchildren. We are blessed beyond words to have had all three of our children, precious spouses , eight grandchildren, AND Hubby's parents here with us. Precious time, not taken for granted time. Below is a picture of all eight grandchildren and Taz...the red Heeler that is a vital part of our youngest son and his wife's family. Taz is one of five very important furry canine companions that share their lives with our family. Taz was part of our son and his wife's ( precious daughter-in-law) wedding party. He wore a bow-tie! ~Here is a picture of Hubby's parents with our three kids, precious spouses, and grandchildren. "But the loving kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children To those who keep His covenant and remember His precepts to do them." Psalm 103:17,18 ~And joy oh joy...PUPPIES ! Puppies and children, what a sweet combo. The grandchildren hold our puppies. Here , two sisters snuggle puppies.

~Two more sisters snuggle puppies. What lucky puppies!~

~Our youngest granddaughter is much more interested in snuggling our youngest grandson! Youngest grandson was fascinated by his cousin, and sometimes a little fearful...she cuddles hard !Our daughter was laughing because #6 Granddaughter was so crazy about her cousin and the expressions you don't see here are so cute, funny, and touching.But look at HIS face.. ~On the last day here the granddaughters were pretty excited. They wanted to do everything all over...feed the animals, hold the puppies, play with the cousins, do art projects.....but there was no more time here. However, they are very excited about the snow at home, the holiday festivities at their new school, fun with the new pony and Uncle and Aunt and Daddy, kittens and.....so, here they eat a healthy breakfast of Coco Puffs and orange juice.

~The sister on the other side of the table~

~Time to go little granddaughters. We'll miss you. We love you. You were all so good, and fun and remind us of the joy of life. You remind me God answers prayer. He answers prayers I think are not being heard, and He answers in His time and His way, which is His Way...beyond our comprehension, but righteous and perfect in His time. Thank-you Lord for your mercy. ~"He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him." Psalm 103 :10-13