Good Golly…

We are already on the letter G for ABC Wednesday! Thank you to Denise Nesbitt and the ABC team!

I’m going with Green and Gargoyle for the letter G. Green moss is something that we have quite an abundance of here in the great Northwest.

Our apple tree is covered in moss.

On our trips to Great Britain we enjoy looking up to see the Gargoyles that are here and there.

We have gargoyles here in the U.S.A., too. My daughter and I toured the Biltmore House and Gardens and these creatures looked down on us.

One last addition to the letter G is my Bible verse card for the week. Timely indeed because of the letter G and because of present circumstances!

Hope you are enjoying the last week of February. So many of you are enduring some harsh winter conditions and I hope things settle down to a more mild clime. We have some rain in the forecast again here in the Northwest after enjoying several dry sunny days.

Forty Days of Lent…

We are on the letter F for ABC Wednesday and it’s timely for Fat Tuesday and the Forty Days of Lent. Thank you to Denise Nesbitt and the ABC team.

Today is Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday (feast of pancakes) which means tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. I did not observe Lent growing up but I had lots of Catholic friends in my schools and was always curious as to why they showed up with a black ash mark on their foreheads on this particular Wednesday. When I found out they were giving up gum or candy for Lent I was more curious as to why. So here’s a little overview of what all this means. This article from the Liverpool Echo really covers things well.

During my school days I made a decision to follow Christ. This was the beginning of my faith journey. This decision and my changing of allegiance has not cost me much compared to the 21 Christians who were savagely beheaded by ISIS just because they were Christians. My cost has been mild compared. I’ve been mocked at times, disregarded, and made fun of. Among some people who view themselves as intellectuals I’ve been considered brainless.

I’ve also received many benefits that far outweigh the cost. As my faith grows and I deny some of my own selfish desires I’ve received the fruit of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. I fail a lot but I’m forgiven and I carry on in faith that God will continue to lead me and help me fulfill all I’ve been called to do. Each day I have to decide to follow Christ or follow me me me. Some days, many days, it’s all about me! Every day He is faithful.

When Dear and I were in Great Britain last year we visited Hereford Cathedral and I took photos of this Shrine that illustrates Luke 9:23.

And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

So…are you eating pancakes today? Do you observe Lent? What are your plans for Fat Tuesday?

Ebb and Flow

All of these photos were taken on a Saturday morning walk at Huntington Beach, California on January 24th. One of my sisters lives a few blocks from this beach. It was great to walk along the beach and out to the end of the pier with my sister and sister in law this nice windy morning. Not to shabby to walk and talk with scenes like these…

Ebb and Flow:

1: the alternate ebb and flood of the tide

2: a condition or rhythm of alternate forward and backward movement or of alternate decline and renewed advance

Since we’re on E for ABC Wednesday I decided to call this Ebb and Flow. Thank you Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Team!

Return to Downton Abbey

D is for Downton Abbey for ABC Wednesday this week. Thank you Denise Nesbitt and the ABC team!

The village of Bampton was used for filming outdoor scenes, most notably St. Mary’s Church and the library, which serves as the entrance to the cottage hospital. On our trip to England with our son and daughter in law in September of 2013 we stopped at this Oxfordshire Village.

The village was nice to walk through. It’s been fun to see the places we strolled by and through when we watch Downton.

Just to the right of this photo where you can see the bench is where they erected the War Monument during this season.

My Daughter and I had a marathon day of watching season 5 of Downton Abbey last week and now I don’t have to wait till Sunday nights to see one episode at a time. I was a lot more pleased with the ending of this season. Are you a fan of Downton Abbey?

California

California here I come, right back where I started from.

Where bowers of flowers bloom in the sun.

Each morning at dawning birdies sing and everything.

Sun kissed Miss says don’t be late.

That’s why I can hardly wait, Open up your golden gate, California here I come.

I was born in California so this is a song I easily claim. I’m happy for my growing up days and my early married days in California but I’m very content to be living in the Seattle area now. I do look forward to my trips back to visit. The top photo is from the plane on our descent into John Wayne Airport. We turned inland at Catalina Island and this is the first time I’ve seen it so clearly from a plane. The beach photos are all from Huntington Beach where one of my sister’s lives.

It’s time for ABC Wednesday and we are on the letter C so I’m sharing some photos from my trip to Southern California last week and a photo of the bougainvillea from my archives. Thank you to Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team.

B is for Birthdays!

January is a big birthday month at this old house. Our oldest son was born on January 19th and his younger brother arrived two years later on January 16th. My younger brother was born on January 22nd and my youngest niece, Hope, was born on January 25th.

I set Joshua’s birthday table around a Washington state sports theme. Since we were celebrating the night before the NFC championship game here in Seattle I added some Seattle Seahawks touches to our Seattle Sounders Soccer themed table.

The Seahawks and the Sounders have similar team colors which made it easy and fun.

Our boy was happy with the table setting, the Ribeye steaks and his special request dessert. We had such a good time celebrating Josh.

Josh and Laura gifted me these beautiful illustrated ABC verse cards at Christmas and I’ll share the verse for letter B, too.

On Tuesday you can click on over for more ABC Wednesday posts on the letter B. Thank you to Denise Nesbitt who started this meme and to the team of bloggers who manage it every week.

Appetizers!

A is for Appetizers!

We love food at this old house and sometimes our meals out are all about the appetizers. Bruschetta is something we like to order and it’s interesting to try all the different styles of it. We also like flat breads with tasty toppings. The top right photo is a favorite of ours, fried Polenta with a creamy mushroom sauce from Nell Thorn Restaurant in La Conner, Washington. The top left photo is from Eureka at University Village in Seattle. Those are Oso Buco Riblets and their take on Bruschetta. The bottom left photo are 4 plates of appetizers from Canlis in Seattle, Washington. The Flat Bread on the bottom right is from Seasons 52 at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California.

Join in with ABC Wednesday in this new year. We are at the beginning of the alphabet again and our thanks go out to Denise Nesbitt the originator of the meme and to her team of bloggers that help keep the meme going.

Swans

We’ve never ever seen as many swans as when we are traveling in England.

Along the river Thames we enjoyed seeing quite a few.

This was a feeding frenzy. You are able to buy bags of food for the swans along the riverfront in Windsor.

Close to this swan swimming along with it’s cygnet we saw another swan who had ruffled it’s feathers.

I’m guessing it thought these Canadian Geese were getting too close.

We also saw these Swans and Cygnets on the River Wye.

I’m linking to ABC Wednesday for S is for Swans. Thank you Denise Nesbitt and the hard working ABC Team! As we are nearing the end of the alphabet yet again it’s time reveal new logo designed by Troy. You’ll have to click on over and see the fabulous new logo for Round Sixteen! Thank you Troy!

This week I’m getting my ~~swans~~ ducks in a row since we’re having our Thanksgiving feast this Saturday. Our middle son and his girlfriend are coming for the weekend so lots of plans are afoot. Hope to get around and see everyone in between my preparations. Can you believe we are in the second half of November already!!??

P is for Pumpkin Cookies!

These cookies are perfect for this pumpkin time of year. The recipe for these Pumpkin Spice Cookies is located on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog. Click and you’ll be taken straight to the recipe.

The first time I made them was for a wedding shower for our daughter Katie.

I’m linking up to ABC Wednesday that was originally started by Mrs. Nesbitt and now hosted by a few faithful followers!

O is for October!

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” from Anne of Green Gables

October…one of my favorite months of the year. It’s when colors begin to change.

It’s when the regular season of MLS soccer comes to an end and when playoffs loom ahead!

In October we love to visit our middle son in Eastern Washington. The photo above is taken on his property.

When there is still a little color in some Autumn plants and the leaves are falling.

Oh my…the leaves keep falling.

At this old house I wouldn’t have to mow again except for the fact that I use the mower as a vacuum for the leaves.

I do love October even though it brings more yard work at this old house. The tree that drops all these leaves isn’t even our tree.

I’m linking up to ABC Wednesday that was started by Mrs. Nesbitt and continues on with the help of a great team.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Category Archives: ABC Wednesday