A Day Off…

Thankfully today is President’s Day and Dear has the day off. We’ve been working and celebrating all weekend and our yard project continues today. I’ll be strapping on my back brace and helping Dear after my coffee. I’ll show you a little of what’s gone on this weekend already and I’ll show the complete before and afters of our yard project soon.

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On Saturday, Valentines Day, we headed to the Home Depot and bought what we’d need for the beginning of our yard project. We finished the first half of what we planned and will continue with the second half today.

2015-02-15 V-Day projects

On Sunday we took the day off from our project and after church we had a nice brunch/lunch with Josh and Laura catching up on a lot of what’s been going on in our lives the last few weeks. It was a good time filled with fun, laughter and some hard things, too. That’s life, isn’t it? After the kids left we changed up a bit and headed to downtown Seattle for our belated Valentine dinner at Morton’s Steak House.

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The food was delicious and that Grand Marnier Souffle for two was a very nice way to end our meal!

I’ll end with a little tribute to one of the presidents we celebrate on this day, Abraham Lincoln. The quote is from Lincoln’s Devotional.

 

Communion with God 

 a Source of Joy

There be many that say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou has put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. Psalm iv. 6, 7.

Lord, what is life? if spent with thee,
In humble praise and prayer,
How long or short my life may be
I feel no anxious care:
though life depart, my joys shall last,
When life and all its joys are past.

Hope your cares are few and your joy is full. Do you have today off? What does your day hold?

The Love of God ~ Hymn

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The Love of God

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Refrain

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Refrain

Words: Frederick M. Lehman, 1917.

InSPIREd Sunday with Reflections…

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Wells Cathedral

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Chipping Campden (Cotswolds), St. James’ Church

I’m hankering to go back to England. We’ll have to wait until 2016 since this year is filled up with our son’s wedding and all the festivities that go along with that.

Thank you to Beth and Sally for InSPIREd Sunday. I’m also linking up with James and Weekend Reflections.

Happy Valentines Day!

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I managed to put up a few Valentine Day decorations. I’m enjoying these fun little Valentine clothes pins. Josh and Laura bought us the sign for our 40th wedding anniversary.

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Signs of Spring 007

I bought this plate at the thrift store and enjoyed the sentiment on it. The following Antique post cards are all from Dear’s great great Aunt’s stash.

 

 

We are going to work in the yard together this Valentines Day. The weather is cooperating and we need to go when the going is good. On Sunday early evening we’ll enjoy a meal out at a downtown Seattle Steakhouse. What are your plans with your Valentine?

 

 

Springing Up Already!

Some of my favorite things in my yard this week! I count all of these as blessings from above.

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Things that are springing up around here are among my favorites for

Friday’s Fave Five hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

The Lenten Rose is my favorite plant that ushers in the Lenten Season.

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These primroses appear every year and I didn’t plant them. I’m always happy to see them.

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What fun to see these miniature daffodils springing up, too.

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We managed to prune both our apple tree and pear tree this week and that was a huge accomplishment at this old house.

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My bonus fave is my verse of the week from my abc Scripture Memory Cards…

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The fact that we have been called and redeemed by God is pure love…

Have a wonderful Valentines Day and President’s Day Weekend.

Do you get Monday off? What were some of your favorites this week?

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!

In Between the Constant Dripping…

birds-squirrels 038… we had fun watching the birds and squirrels in our yard and we managed to prune our apple tree. The Pine Siskins were quite active and numerous at the feeder.

birds-squirrels 012Incoming!

birds-squirrels 013Outgoing!

birds-squirrels 015Showing all their color!

birds-squirrels 001 This industrious squirrel thought maybe it could get to the feeder from the un-pruned branches of the apple tree. Silly squirrel…

2015-02-07 birds-squirrelsThree squirrels, the most we’ve seen altogether in our yard decided it was easier to pick up the droppings below the feeder.

pruning 002 We braved the dripping skies and started to prune the apple tree on Saturday.

pruning 005 On Sunday we managed to get the majority of the unwanted branches removed and cut down to size for the yard waste bin with just a few stragglers that we may or may not trim. We wouldn’t have been able to get so much done without the help of Andrew and Katie who came over after church on Sunday.

So we are feeling quite accomplished here at this old house. How was your weekend?

 

The Barn Collective

Both of these buildings are on the same property on Whidbey Island in Washington State. The Large barn is now an antique store.

I’m linking up with Rose Street Reflections and Barn Collective #18. Thank you Amy!

We had a drippy but productive weekend at this old house. I’ll post some photos from the weekend tomorrow.

Count Your Blessings ~ Hymn

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Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Refrain

Words: Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1897.