Monday, November 30, 2009

Thank You FarmGirlCyn

One of the first blogs I visited out here in blogland is
Cindy loves to garden and recently shared some sweet pea seeds with her blog friends!
Thank you Cindy!


The seeds came in my first Christmas card of the season!
To celebrate, I lit my new wintery votive holder
from Yankee Candle
I planted the sweet pea seeds in front of the dogwood tree.
I think they'll look sweet there, don't you?

Cindy has a wonderful blog

and posts about
all kinds of things!

*
Faith
Family
Sewing
Cooking
Gardening
 Making Gifts
oo
 ~Thank you, Cindy~
You're an awesome FarmGirl
and
sweet friend

Friday, November 27, 2009

Salt of the Earth


"You are the salt of the earth."

It's time to get out of the salt shaker!



*Let us be ambassadors of love, faith, truth*

*Joyfully embracing our gifts*
and what God has given us to do in this life.

*Ambassadors don't hang out much behind embassy walls*
Let us be light to one another.
"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
Luke 11:13


*Keep our own special distinctiveness*
"But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?"
Matthew 5:13


*Stay on duty. Let us be aware that we are each a reflection of God's love*
"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view."
2 Corinthians 5:16


Living a joy-filled life in this world is not a science
but a dance
that is lead by the Spirit.

Representing our King is the greatest privilege in the world.

*Post inspired by Rex Keener's sermon.
11.22.09


Wednesday, November 25, 2009

A THOUSAND BLESSINGS


and so many, many more
.   .   .


Giving thanks regularly begins a shift in the heart
~ to be so much more aware~

and awaken to the Grace & Blessings that
come each moment from God.
.   .   .
Sweet Thanksgiving Blessings Dear Family and Friends 
~I am so blessed to have you all in my life~

Love,  
              

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Pires Flower Basket - A Festival of Trees

A  FESTIVAL  OF  TREES

When my sister and I visit our father,
there's one place we MUST go . . .


Pires Flower Basket

Let me take you on a tour.
There will be lots of "ooooooo's" ~ "ahhhhhhh's"
and "WoW's!
When harvest-time is over,
the greenhouse begins to take on a holiday flair.


They really go all out
decorating each tree and table.
I love the red cardinals on the frosty greens.


These FUN displays will put a BIG Christmas smile on your face!

Pire's 5

Every shelf is filled with joy
There's a wreath on every door ~ and a ribbon on every bough
Pire's 2

Around every corner,
you'll see another Christmas surprise
~ a Winter Wonderland ~

If you're in central New York, stop in Pires Flower Basket in Norwich.
You'll plan for 10 minutes but then stay an hour!
You'll go home with flowers, ornaments, a decorated boxwood tree (with lights)
and a lemon cheesecake soy candle!A piece of Norwich pottery
And an adorable little winter friend to sit on your desk.
This lil' snowgirl came home with me.
Which one woud you choose?

~Happy Weekend Wanderings to You~

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Sky Watch Friday * Honk for Encouragement!

The geese flying in formation honk to encourage each of those up front to keep up their speed.

Is our honking is encouraging?
In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater.
The power of encouragement
(to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others)

is the quality of honking we seek.


Geese are in the skies!
They're leaving
... for now ...

All week I have seen several formations of geese in the sky at once.
It is always early...as I am on my way to work.

One morning, I just had to stop...
Two formations had already flown past...
But then there was a third!

~~~ Below, you can read more lessons from geese ~~~

Photobucket

LESSON FROM GEESE
by Milton Olson

FACT 1

As each goose flaps its wings it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

LESSON

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

FACT 2

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.

LESSON

If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

FACT 3

When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.

LESSON

It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

FACT 4

The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

LESSON

We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.

FACT 5

When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.

LESSON

If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

And a Good Sky Watching Weekend to you all !
Thank you to
our Sky Watch Friday hosts: Klaus Sandy Sylvia Wren Louise Fishing Guy

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

A BLUEBIRD GIVEAWAY to share with YOU!

at

A dear and wonderful blogger, Koralee, is having a FABULOUS giveaway!
She feels so blessed lately
that she decided to have her very first
Friendship and Love
giveaway
She went to a fabulous Barn Sale and
picked up a few glorious handmade items to share with us!
* * *
In her giveaway package is
*a lovely Friend banner
made from vintage seam binding and authentic German glass glitter
* a set of six special gift tags
handmade with vintage buttons, ribbon & glass glitter
&
*a "wee" little Paris perfume bottle
decorated with a sweet vintage key
{Koralee was told by Angela, the shopkeeper, that these bottles were found at the bottom of the Puget Sound}
* * *
You have until Tuesday November 24th
~Just leave her a comment on the giveaway post...

and read about more ways to enter twice or even thrice :)
I just had to share the fun!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Winter Delights & Spring Promises


While walking through our village park

I noticed the magnolias have such pretty buds

They will brave the cold and snow wearing
Fuzzy winter coats.

They are

Promises of Spring

promise

The crabapple trees
have lost their leaves
but
they are decked with bright red berries
a favorite treat for the robins
These berries (lil' apples) convince the fruit-loving
birds to stay a little longer.

I can hear them in the trees.
Pretty soon,
the crabapple tree in the front of my house
will be a
Thanksgiving banquet to many robins
and then,

The robins will truly be on their way.

Let's prepare our own warm winter coats
and
...eat plenty of apples & berries for good health...

~Have a wonderful week everyone~




Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sky Writing Friday

~ And Sometimes We Get to Draw on the Board ~
contrails 09
There were so many contrails left behind the other evening!
Photobucket
This is not common over our neighborhood.

Off I go for my camera...to share with all my sky loving friends!contrails 09

Sunset came quickly and the writing got even better!contrails 09

~~~The sky writing ended with a flourishing font ~~~

And a Good Sky Watching Weekend to you all !

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Honoring Our Veterans Today

A special day to honor those who gave it all... who give it all
every day
To all of those in your families
To all of those among our friends
To all of those we do not know
...
but have been there for us

I thank you
with all of my heart

veteran's day
Photos taken on our walk through our village
veteran's day
Collage created with photos taken from 2003 Reader's Digest
~It's been that long since we are in the M.East~

God be with you
and give you strength
comfort
and
perseverance.

*Dedicated to my brother-in-law, Barry, who served proudly
and our neighbor's son, Victor who is serving in Iraq

Monday, November 9, 2009

A few things I saw last week . . .


Some fun things I saw at our local diner and on a late afternoon stop at Pier One.

I don't really love shopping ...
but I do love 'poking around' a few favorite shops.

some fun things

Senior moments
heehee . . . I laugh in the face of them!



Friendship Pillow & Santa Apron
Pier One
If I can't make an apron like this in time for Christmas,
The elves will have to splurge!



It's very merry!



Pumpkin Pecan BiscottiGotta make these!
by
Yvonne @ StoneGable




Deadlines?
Gotta blog about those!
One of these days ;o)




Apple Rosette Pie
I think that's so pretty...Am I up to the challenge,
who knows?




...and speaking of deadlines...
I have two totes filled with projects to correct!
First quarter is almost over... grades are due in next Tuesday.
What's Maria doing?
Daydreaming about a Mrs. Claus apron.


okay

Back to work!
*That was fun though*

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Yes, Virginia there is . . .

a rose blooming in upstate, New York

in November!

November Rose

This plant finally had a reprieve

from the rains and beetles of the summer...


~ And surprised me with one more bloom ~

So that I will remember its sweetness throughout the winter . . .


An invitation from God to stop and be still.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

A Moon for Sky Watching

Did you see it this week?

A BIG ~ BEAUTIFUL MOON?


Photobucket

I did!
...And it took my breath Away...

After the moon obliged to another photo-shoot,
I thought
Maybe ~ A Moonlit Stroll?

And then the evening fire-whistle blew
.
...reminding me of the time...
I forgot we changed the clocks!

It was only five.

Moon!
You're so Early!


*Goodnight room,
Goodnight moon,

Goodnight stars, goodnight air,

Goodnight noises everywhere...


And a Good Sky Watching Weekend to you all !


Thank you to our Sky Watch Friday hosts: Klaus Sandy Sylvia Wren Louise Fishing Guy



*Words from

Goodnight Moon

by Margaret Wise Brown

Monday, November 2, 2009

Autumn is 'Leaving'

~ Autumn walks ~
Beauty hardly imaginable

Colors beyond compare
But, the trees are almost bare.

Our early Saturday walk revealed autumn trees
that had lost most of their leaves.

A few stood proud ~ still full and glorious.

Those multiple layers of leaves on the ground,
are almost as beautiful as when on the trees.


The creek flowed with last week's rain
and carried some leaves away...


"See you next spring,"
I said...
"See you next spring."


Have a wonderful week everyone!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Praise Tree


Dear friends and family,


Every Sunday,
we go up the Northway to church.

On the way, we pick up our son, Jason.
We meet our daughter & her fiancé,
and my sister & her family.


We truly enjoy the praise, the worship and message.

On the way home, between exits 2W and 2E
We pass a tree whose branches are lifted to the heavens.

I call it "The Praise Tree."

While browsing Chris and Jason's Adirondack camping photos,
I found this one...of Jason raising his hand with joy
surrounded by beauty and standing on a
king of the hill size rock.

I found quite a resemblance!

Praising man ~~~ Praising Tree

praise tree, jason

~ Happy Sunday to All ~

~Maria