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.

Inside the National Cathedral

For InSPIREd Sunday I promised a couple weeks past that I’d share some inside shots from the Washington National Cathedral.

We searched the crypt for this very nook because we own a painting by a friend of ours that was inspired by this very spot in the cathedral. The next photo is of our painting that hangs in our home.

These photos I’ve shared today are just a very small sample of the amazing architecture and beauty of our National Cathedral. You can spend a day touring the Cathedral and Close and still miss some beautiful details. If you ever find your way to Washington D.C. take a Tour Trolley out to the Cathedral!

Hope your weekend has been inspired in some way.

Reflections

My walks on the trail give me some great photo opportunities. Today I’m sharing some reflections that my lens captured.

Linking to Weekend Reflections.
All of these photos were taken in Washington State on and around Lake Washington.

Water reflected on duck and duck reflected in the water.

I’m happy to be headed into a weekend with my sore throat and coughing spells gone. Woohoo! Apart from the rain and wind it should be a quiet weekend at this old house. It’s good to have those every once in a while. How’s your weekend looking?

Every Good Gift…

It’s Friday again and I’m joining Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for Friday’s Fave Five. So many good gifts come to us to enjoy and here are five from this past week that were perfect.

2015-02-01 Super Sunday6We had our second annual Super Sunday at church and it was so fabulous. Two of our pastors went head to head with short sermons on the great Comebacks in the Bible. In the end Jesus’ Comeback from Death had us all cheering. The perfect ending to the sermon. My church, pastors, and staff are a gift.

10945612_10205969125695521_2137270504244193458_nFor our afternoon festivities after church Dear had ribs in the smoker that came out just right. A great meal is a gift I enjoy and enjoying it with our daughter Katie and son in law Andrew made it perfect.

 

10437688_10205867108578790_4313922370450234755_nOur two sons were able to spend the weekend together and I love the photos they send my way. They had a nice snowy hike out the door of our son Dan’s home in Eastern Washington. It’s a good gift to Dear and me that our sons love each other.

310005_585390848160419_526762518_nThese girls (Mennonite Girls Can Cook) are a gift from the Lord to me and every week we share our joys, struggles, triumphs, and failures with each other holding each other up in prayer and giving each other encouragement. This gift of friendship is straight from the “Father of lights”.

1959399_10205999747661051_7491996857274709490_nJosh and Laura gifted me these cool ABC verse cards and I display one card each week so I can see it and work on learning the verse. I’m on the letter e. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) Since I’m a visual learner this gift was perfect to help me learn and retain the 26 verses included.

What gifts did you receive this week that brought some joy and light into your world?

Signs from Whidbey Island

Washington State has a few islands to enjoy. One of our favorites is Whidbey Island. The Bible camp our kids have attended and served as directors at is on Whidbey Island. When we have out of state company we try to include a trip to Whidbey Island. Our favorite town on the island is Langley. The Star store and the Saratoga Inn is in the little town of Langley. We stayed at the Saratoga Inn when we were attending a wedding on Whidbey.

We ate at Gerry’s kitchen in Freeland and had a great breakfast and I’m sad to say that they are now closed. There are a nice little collection of antique shops in this town.

Another town we like to walk through and eat their great Penn Cove Mussels is Coupeville. This visitor information center is in Coupeville. The town’s Main shopping street, Front Street, borders Penn Cove.

I had to include a nice bowl of mussels. We had these at Front Street Grill, Coconut Green Curry Mussels…delicious.

And here’s a photo of Penn Cove from Front Street.

I’m linking up with Lesley’s Signs Signs weekly meme.

Fences ~ Huntington Beach

This yard of oil memorabilia and other memorabilia in Huntington Beach is being transformed into a museum.

John A. Thomas Oil Museum

Huntington Beach used to be known as Oil City. We lived in Huntington Beach when our first 2 children were born. Our boys called these oil pumps “up and downs”. I can still hear their little boy voices saying “Mommy, Up and Downs!”

Linking up to Good Fences with thanks to TexWisGirl at Run*A*Round Ranch Report.

Miss Hope Turns 7!

It’s not every year that we get to celebrate a birthday with our Texas niece. This year Hope’s family decided to celebrate in California and add a trip to Disneyland for the cherry on top! I was so grateful I could travel down to California for the fun.

Hope’s new little brother Andrew got some gifts, too, since a lot of our family and friends were meeting him for the first time.

My niece Hope and my grand niece Avery.

My nephew Anthony with my grand nephew Thomas. He was the youngest guest on this day.

Hope’s birthday cake was 7 cupcakes with a candle in each.

I think she was pleased with the cupcakes her older cousins Debbee and Melissa made and decorated for her.

May God bless you and keep you dear Hope. May he make His face to shine upon you and give you peace!

Love you dearly…

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.

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Alton to Cotswolds 232The village was nice to walk through. It’s been fun to see the places we strolled by and through when we watch Downton.

Alton to Cotswolds 270Just to the right of this photo where you can see the bench is where they erected the War Monument during this season.

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Alton to Cotswolds 264My 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?