Coastal Rainbows

Hi friends!  I recently returned from Washington State.  Jenny and I visited my sweet mom and my brothers and my sisters in law.  We went to my brother's new island home.  Isn't this view incredible?  We sat and talked, looking out the window, and reveling in God's amazing work.  

This is Jenny's birthday pie.  Yummy!  It's the month for pie baking.  Maybe I'll lug the food processor down from the inaccessible cupboard above the refrigerator today.  It's so heavy but I have apples that want to be a pie.  I also have bananas that want to be banana bread.  I better get baking!  When I read my grandmother's diaries I find many entries that speak of baking.  Who ate all those bakes?  I really don't know but I am always inspired by baking talk.  Are you?  

I've also been thinking about sewing.  I love needlework of all sorts and I can't do it all (at least I don't think I can) but I do have three or four things to finish (a dress, linen pants, pajama pants, a long smock/blouse).  Remember when I was sewing all those costumes?  Wow. Now I don't know how I did all that.

Here's what I love about November:

the cool air, the leaves, family birthdays, thoughts of the Thanksgiving feast, anticipation of Christmas festivities, cheery retail displays, holiday ideas . . . 

What are your November thoughts?

 

Another Bear for Pom Pom

My sister sent me a gift card so I used it for pink hiking shoes (no, I have not been hiking) and this adorable Jelly Cat bear.  Isn't he darling?  I love his face.  He's such a nice size, too.  He's perfect for sleeping, tucked under your chin. The pink hikers are very supportive and very warm, so maybe I might go "hiking" in our neighborhood. When I was looking at them online James said, "Are you going to go hiking?" I replied, "No." Silly Pom Pom. 

I am a dyer now.  I have dyed four things. I used RIT dye and the washing machine to dye a dress, t shirt, and blouse the color marigold and then I dyed this blouse neon green.  SO satisfying!  

This is the dress.  I wore it to meet a friend for pancakes (yum) but I took it off as soon as I got home because I got tired of myself as a goldie. 

A very sweet and precious friend gave me a gift card to KnitPicks so I ordered all the beautiful wool pictured below.  JOY!

I stayed with James and Noah when Christie and Jeff went to California for an anniversary trip.  It was very lovely but they both got sick and didn't feel 100%.  I was so happy taking care of them.  When they felt a bit better, we went to the book store.  I had seen this book earlier on a previous book store visit and snatched it up.  It's not as fun as it looks and Granny is a horrible follower of folding directions.  The papers are so lovely, but the results were flops. I hope their parents can follow instructions more accurately. 

Here is a very old photo of James.  He has 2 smiles for you.

Thank you for your nice responses on my last post.  I like hearing what you guys think. 

How are you going to make the most of October?  I'm looking for ideas.

I like you so much.  Thank you for stopping by!

xoxoxo
 

Pom Pom's Pumpkin Patch

Wow!  October!  I had a busy September because we started Bible study which meets once a week AND we had three birthdays!  Everyone came for my birthday and I had so much fun!  There are 21 of us!  Also, CB's boyfriend came and he is very fun.  Jeff and Christie gave me the dishes above.  We used them last night.  Is that kind of a funny dinner?  We're kind of plain - hamburger patties and soup. Coleslaw.  Hmmmmm.

You know how I didn't have much in the way of growing things planned for this year because Bill needs a break from fall clean up?  Yes, well - it's been kinda sad not having an abundance of plants so we have to figure out something for next year. I did buy two pumpkin plants at the nursery way last June and LOOK!  They are huge and I have quite the pumpkin patch!

I do have a small zinnia bed and I'm so happy about it.  Next year I want more, more, more!

I subscribed to a local veggie/fruit box and it involves a lot of cooking to keep up with all the yummy freshness.  I got a Japanese knife for my birthday and it really makes chopping a fun experience!  LOL!

Aria and Atticus came for a weekend and we swam at Kelli's and did other fun things.  It was so delightful to have them. They are very nice people.

 

I found a new hairdresser while I stayed with Jenny's dogs.  I love her!  My hair looks more silvery here because of the light.  It's actually whiter than this.  

I'm off to stay with James and Noah for a few days while their parents have a nice anniversary trip.  After that it will feel like the holidays. I know, I am jumping ahead, but I already ordered some holiday quilts to use as kitchen curtains and I've been looking for an additional Christmas tree.  I think our fall here is going to be gorgeous and I look forward to November because Jenny and I are going to visit my mom.

What are you up to?  Are you well?  I hope so!  Have you been thinking deep thoughts or feeling good feelings?  Do you have any new insights?  I hope you'll share them if you do! 

Thank you for popping in.  You're so nice to do so!  Sending heaps of love your way!  xo
 

Swoosh! Summer!

Hi Everyone!  Do you like Winnie (Kelli's dog)?  She likes YOU! I had fun times staying with dogs and girls!  I DID swim at Jenny's and I got a lot of sun.  It's rare for me to get a suntan because I am indoorsy.  

Look at the rhubarb!  We got two harvests!  I'm hoping for one more!

I went up to my friend's house for lunch.  She lives in the mountains and her house is so big and cozy! 

I'm still knitting on this patchy blanket.

And I am working on a quilt as you go hexi throw AND I am embroidering this happy house.

 

Are you enjoying a lot of summer fruits and vegetables?  My sister is swamped with squash!

We had fun on the 4th of July and I have really liked summer, but now I am feeling the pinch and crunch of fall obligations.  I kind of want to sit around with nothing to do.  That sounds nice.

I hope you've been up to joyful things and that you feel purposeful and deeply loved.

xo
 

In Summer

Jenny's family bought an above ground pool so they can cool off just outside their patio door.  It's very cold and when I stay with the girls and the dogs in a couple of weeks I am going to take a polar plunge or two.  I like seeing ladies in the UK go swimming in the sea, even in winter!  I like the after part, when they bundle up on the beach and drink coffee. Does it sound fun to you? 
It's a good time for walks and bike rides.  We've had a lot of rain so everything is green!

A sweet friend came over for a tea party lunch.  I have been receiving a vegetable box for a while and they include edible flowers, so I put flowers on her plate and a squash blossom in her soup.  Funny!  We tasted the squash blossoms and considered tasting the other flowers, but we just looked at them.

 

We have had a little slipping and a little sliding going on here.  Weeeeeeee!

I've had the memory blanket pattern for a while and you're supposed to use leftover yarn to make it, but I ordered a bunch of acrylic yarn to make mine.  The directions were easy in some ways and challenging in other ways.

 I'm glad I've been riding my bicycle.  I love it so much.  

I've been doing a study titled Grace Filled Plate.

I'm happy that you popped in.  Thank you!

May!

Hello!  I've been working on a slide show for an end of the year Bible study celebration and I realized that I have really lost some "know how" and some skills because I don't mess around with photos as much as I used to.  I think it's the iPhone's fault😂 because I really did love loading photos from my nice camera onto my laptop and then I loved editing.  I was always on the lookout for something lovely to photograph and it was fun!  So, now that most of my responsibilities are finished for the time being, I might try to learn some things, like photo editing, video editing, and other fancy things!

We have a funny take on gardening this year.  We are going to try to stay ahead of the "volunteer" growth.  I use the Hula Hoe to discourage the plentiful seedlings.  It just gets to be too much and too jungle-y. When it's time to clean up the yard to prepare for winter, Bill ends up having to do the heavy lifting, digging and pulling.  He doesn't find that fun, so we are going to keep things slim and trim.  Try.

Right now it's apple blossom time and WOW!  Don't you love the blossoms?

It's also time for birds. I was mad at the squirrels because they were being quite greedy and swinging on the feeders, knocking them to the ground and scattering seeds everywhere.  I hung two little thistle sacks for the finches in place of the black sunflower feeders, but so far there are no takers.  Boo.

I've had a bad cold and my taste buds are tired.  Does that happen to you?  I think I should choose things that taste very good to me like tomato soup and Goldfish crackers. 

 AND cherries!  I keep forgetting to buy cherry juice.  I hear it is very good for us.  Sometimes cherries make my stomach hurt, but sometimes they don't.  Aren't they beautiful anyway?

Tea is nice for colds, so maybe I can make a dent in my tea supply.

I feel a bit free as a bird because some of my busy things that needed to be attended to are finished for the year. It's sort of like the end of the year when I taught public school.  The gift of time is truly a gift!

What are YOU up to?  Are you well?  Are you reading a lot? Are you making things?  Are you growing?

Thanks for popping by!  (BIG HUG!)
 

Whatcha Doing?

Hello friends!  I hope you had a lovely Easter!  The weather was perfect here!  The kids roller bladed outside and ran around the yard.  No flowers yet.  Bill and I plan to keep things sparse in the garden because last year the cosmos and the sunflowers took over and it felt too cluttered.  We'll see how we do when stuff begins popping up!  I rode my bike the other day and went into all the nooks and crannies of the neighborhood and remembered how glorious it is to go down the hill!  Wheeeeeeee!

I'm planning a tea party for Monday. I have a meeting with the friends I do Bible study with.  We'll have scones and lots of whipped cream.  I'm going to have to consult my tea party, fika, and hygge books for a few more ideas. What's your favorite tea party food?

I hope you have some worthy tasks at hand and that you are enjoying the day to day doings that are set before you.  I'm having a friend join me for lunch today and then we'll go for a walk.  My walks have been very few and far between.

Tell me a few simple things you are going to do today.  I'm still fixating on "work" and what we do each day.  I'm nosy but also forever interested in how others order their day and jump into their work.  

Thank you for reading.  You're kind. 
 

Easter is Coming!

Hello everyone!  We've been back from Thailand for two weeks.  We've recovered from jet lag and nursed colds and healed.  It was a looooong journey.  Going there and back in one week felt a bit like I imagine time travel! LOL!  Walking through very crowded airports and presenting our passports over and over again wasn't super complicated, simple actually, but seems sort of surreal now that we are home again.  Do you ever feel that way when you have a new experience? Do you feel like it's hard to stay in the moment?  Maybe when we get to Heaven, we'll experience things fully and exist at the heights of JOY.  

I enjoyed looking at the more jungle-y environment near Bangkok.  I couldn't help but think of the soldiers who fought in similar jungles during the Vietnam war and the huge culture shock they had to overcome.  The beach was pretty and the water was warm. The big rocks coming out of the water were powerful looking.  The BEST part = hearing our friends from Asia telling the stories of their ministries, the joy of being with other believers, and the satisfied hunger they experienced as they learned MORE about Jesus and how to walk with Him.  Best. Part. For sure. 

Home again and loving being here.  I pick up my knitting and click, click, click, not producing finished products, but thoroughly enjoying the process of working with my hands.  My Advent scarf is almost finished and it is thick and warm, long and bright.  It's completely satisfying. A gift.

And it's spring.  It's still chilly here, but the calendar says Easter season is here and in some places, daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths are popping up.  Ours will soon.  I'm looking forward to Easter.  I like setting the table, thinking of fresh and sumptuous side dishes, coloring eggs, and singing, "He arose!  He arose! Christ Jesus, HE arose!"

Remember this lamb I got for Christmas last year (or the year before)?  Noah REALLY wants to ride her (he calls it mutton busting) but I do not allow it.  I love sheep because I am one.  I am HIS sheep, so safe in the fold.

This sheep is wearing my bunny ears (Jenny says it's scary) but I shall wear the bunny ears to my coffee date with Sondra this morning.  I hope you are enjoying the build up to Easter.  God be with you.