Head on over to Mennonite Girls Can Cook to get the recipe for this Banana Blueberry Bread.
I’m still a busy bee with my company. I’ll have some catching up to do later this week. We are dry and warm in the Seattle area. Hope all is well with all of you on this very last day of July.
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us,
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
Seek us when we go astray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Thou hast promised to receive us,
Poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
Grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
We will early turn to Thee.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
We will early turn to Thee.
Early let us seek Thy favor,
Early let us do Thy will;
Blessèd Lord and only Savior,
With Thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Words: Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1836.
On July 28th in 1866 Helen Beatrix Potter was born. She lived to be 77 years old.
Here is my collection of Beatrix Potter figurines to date in the following collages…
I bought most of the figurines in England in 1973 and 1974.
This little rabbit made her famous with The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
“I don’t know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits whose names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter….”
“And that – a letter to a small boy called Noel- was the beginning of the Beatrix Potter Books.”
I started my Beatrix Potter Collection in the summer of 1973 while touring England. I bought the Biography The Tale of Beatrix Potter by Margaret Lane in Oxford July of 1974.
Dear and I bought two full sets of Beatrix Potter Story Collection at Foyle’s in London and had them shipped home to us. One set for us and one set for our first niece born in 1973, Jenna. I suppose technically she wasn’t my niece until Dear and I were married in December of 1974. You can see our set is well used and loved.
The fun story behind The Tale of Little Pig Robinson revolves around our firstborn son, Josh. We would let him pick a bedtime story for us to read to him each night and he caught on real quick that The Tale of Little Pig Robinson is one of the longest tales in the Beatrix Potter collection. He’d request it each night to extend the time before bedtime! Each of our three children are brilliant in their own way…
In the summer of 2014, Dear and I made a 40th anniversary trip to England and on this trip we spent an afternoon in Gloucester and of course had to visit this sweet shop close to Gloucester Cathedral.
We knew about this shop in Gloucester and were determined to visit it while we were in Gloucester 41 years after I started my collection. 
There are lots of shops relating to Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit in England.
This shop had a lot of fun displays filled with memorabilia.
I’ve enjoyed all these books about Beatrix Potter. The latest book I received was from Josh and Laura, Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life. The book on Beatrix Potter’s Derwentwater was a great resource for a walking trip we took with good friends in 2006 staying at a farm on the Derwentwater for a few days during our time in Great Britain. So sad that while we were in the Lake District we didn’t visit Hilltop! Maybe on a future trip we’ll take the time to visit.
Soon we’ll be able to read some of Beatrix Potter’s stories to our little Addy.
I copied and pasted this post from earlier in honor of all things Beatrix Potter that I so enjoy. This was my latest Beatrix Potter find a month or so ago.
She continues to charm us and make us smile. We are so grateful that our kids send us photos.
We are having family from Southern California arrive tonight for several days. This old house is totally booked with all the rooms filled. I will be scarce online. Hope you all have a great end to July.
1. We’ve reached edition number 315 here in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. So tell us, what were you doing at 3:15 yesterday? Is that typical? On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being low and 10 being high) what’s your energy level usually like at 3:15 PM?
Most Tuesdays at or close to 3:15 you’ll find us enjoying Tequila Tuesday at our local Mexican Restaurant. We’ve been enjoying this tradition for a few years now. When our favorite waitress, Liliana, sees us drive up she heads to the bar to make us a Cadillac Margarita (no salt). Yesterday was no exception and we enjoyed our early dinner/late lunch close to 3:15ish. Things are usually slow at the restaurant so it gives Dear and me a nice stretch of time to talk and get caught up.
Energy level at 3:15 is probably about a 6.
2. A frisbee, a tantrum, a towel, a party, a punch, or a curveball…which have you most recently thrown or had thrown at/for you? Elaborate.
Most recently a party since we had guests for 6 days and we had as many meals and outings as we could fit in over those days. My dishwasher was in constant motion. Thankfully one of the full party days was at our oldest son’s and dil’s so my dishwasher had a day of rest.
3. What are three things that would help you right now. Tell us how or why.
4. Do you think you’re strong? Why or why not? What makes you strong?
Strong enough physically, except for my carpal tunnel issues right now. I’m strong in my beliefs and this protects me from straying from the Truth. I react strongly to trends that are a load of lies, spiritually. My Dear is a wise man spiritually with good discernment and he helps me stay on tract, too. Staying connected to God and His Holy Spirit makes me strong.
Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
5. Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What’s your favorite book set sometime in the past?
One of my favorites is Byzantium by Stephen R. Lawhead
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Time is flying with our little Addy May. She’s four months already. Babies change so quickly during their first year of life. We need to plan our next trip across the mountains to see her soon.
3 days, 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 4 months.
Linking up to Wednesday Hodgepodge, where Jo asks the questions and we come up with the answers.
Thank you my Lord
For a beautiful day
Thank you my Lord
I’m so happy to say
Thank you my Lord
For the flowers that grow
There would be nothing I know
Without You
Thank you my Lord
For the sun in the sky
Thank you my Lord
I’m so grateful that I
Thank you my Lord
For the rivers that flow
There would be nothing I know
Without You
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
For the things He has done
With His blood He has saved me
Thank you my Lord
Just let me live my life
For all the mountains
…from the U.S.A. and British Columbia, Canada.
On our way to Canada on Saturday afternoon we slowed down at the border and I took a shot of this white barn right next to the border between the U.S.A. and British Columbia. We had a nice little chat with the Border agent and she decided we were worthy to enter her country. We stopped at Terry and Lovella’s once we were in Abbotsford and enjoyed some refreshments and conversation before we headed to our main event in Canada, a 70’s themed birthday party for one of our MGCC gals and her dear hubby.
We followed Terry and Lovella to the party and I snapped these photos as we flew along the B.C. country roads.
I’ll be sharing the photos from the groovy party soon, can you dig it?
Our cookie treats at each dinner place setting at the 70’s party.
Linking up to The Barn Collective with Tom and Mosaic Monday with Maggie.
Oh dear…I will be having 2 late nights in a row. We got home from Canada last night after 11pm and tonight I’m headed to a 7:30 Seattle Sounders Soccer match. I guess I was born to boogie. Peace out y’all.
Lord of True Light
Lord of true light, we gratefully adore Thee
For all Thy gifts bestowed upon our race,
For saints of old, who made their vows before Thee,
And told the world the wonders of Thy grace.
We praise Thee, Lord, that now the light is falling
Here on Thy servant in this solemn hour;
Confirm in him, his high and holy calling,
Endue him with Thy wisdom, love and power.
Be in his mind, the truth of all his teaching,
Give him the faith that welcomes all the light,
Till, from the shadows to Thy presence reaching,
He sees the glory that shall end our night.
Be in his heart, the fount of all his loving,
Make him a shepherd, kind to young and old,
Patient and watchful when Thy sheep are roving,
Tending with care the lambs within the fold.
Be in his will, his strength for self denial;
Fit him to follow Thee through pain and loss,
Serving the world, until through every trial
He learns at length the triumph of the cross.
Words: Henry R. Moxley (1881-1964)
1 John 1:5 (ESV)
On Sunday we decided to have a last hoorah with our guests and 8 of us headed to the Woodland Park Zoo. It took a while to find parking spots since it seems several thousand other folk thought it was a good day for the zoo, too.
This heron wasn’t part of the zoo but was watching the penguin feeding area carefully to see if there would be any leftovers.
While walking at the zoo Josh called and made reservations for dinner in the Greenlake area of Seattle, next to the zoo.
Dukes was a great choice and we all enjoyed our choices.
At the zoo promises were made for ice cream and we convinced the 2 littles that they would enjoy the ice cream more after dinner at an ice cream parlor a few doors down from Dukes instead of the choices at the zoo.
The kids were satisfied. Josh was excited to see some dairy free choices, too. Thanks Ben and Jerry’s for making his favorite, Chunky Monkey, dairy free. This was a great way to end our time on Sunday. This was National Ice Cream Day after all.
I’ll be linking to Eileen’s Saturday’s Critters.
We are headed up to Canada on Saturday for a party, it will be groovy and we’ll catch you on the flip-side.
While niece/cousin Jenna visited with two of her kids and with their grandma we had as much family time as possible. Our kids from Eastern Washington traveled the five plus hours with our little Addy to enjoy the time, too. Saturday at Gramps’ and Baba’s house there was lots of activity and Addy was happy to sit with her Auntie or cousins when she was fed and awake.
Games and discussions were enjoyed. Little T-Rex has lots of questions that need to be answered.
When it was time for a little nap Baba’s lap had just the right cushion for comfort and when Addy woke up she had some words and love squeezes for Gramps.
Later in the day after we had yummy taco salad and pica de gallo we started a fire to enjoy S’mores.
Addy expresses herself well without words.
Love this expression with her mommy and daddy and the way she has her hand resting on Sky’s head in the grandparent with grands shot.
More shots with mommy and daddy.
Addy laughed out loud with her cousin once removed, our niece Jenna. The expression in the center photo cracks me up. Mister (T-Rex) was quite proud of being able to walk along our wall and our tree stumps.
Cousins!
These are 3 of the “B” grands all together at our house 2017.
And here’s a flashback to when Dear and I were able to enjoy our first little niece, Jenna, back in the 70’s. So happy that we could get the chance to enjoy her and two of her kids at our house in 2017. We need a proper “B” reunion with all the B’s together soon.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 