a smile and a wink

I stepped out last night to look at a couple

of

heavenly bodies...

...and they winked back at me!

It was Moon and Jupiter.

I said, "just a minute guys, I'll be right back with my camera!"

They waited ever so quietly as the winds kept the clouds away.

I snapped a half a dozen pictures and then thanked them for posing so sweetly.

If it's a clear night where you are, go outside and look UP!

It's a real WOW moment.

What a beautiful universe God made!

~

“The moon, like a flower

In heaven's high bower,

With silent delight

Sits and smiles on the night.”

 William Blake

And I pray that you,
 being rooted and established in love,

may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,

to grasp

how

wide

and

long

and

high

and

deep

is the love

of Christ,

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge

—that you may be filled to the measure

of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-21

{Finding His gifts in the skies above and in the gardens along my paths...}

Enjoy heavenly skies at

and Pink Saturday at Beverly's!

Early Signs

The northeast has had AMAZING weather.

Today it was in the 60's!

Early signs of spring are everywhere these days.

Doesn't God know know how to decorate for spring!
It's beautiful!

Last year's lil' crabapples dangling like red earrings, new spring buds and aqua skies.

Aqua and Red

And now we know why we love these colors together!

Look at the red new buds on this tree!

The crocuses are opening up... 

After I cropped this photo, I noticed a bee doing some early spring work!

This was fun to see.

And, YES! I did hop on the squares :o) 

That's a must!

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:

when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.

-Charles Dickens

Spring has returned.

The Earth is like a child that knows poems.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

May we find the hope of spring blossoming in our hearts

like poetry!

Have a wonderful week, dear friends 

♥

Enjoy more sky views by visiting
Sky Watch Friday!

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Friends in Spirit

I think of you all so often.

♥

...the dear people I have met through blogging.

You have all inspired me in so many ways.

If you look in my cupboards or my desk, you would smile

to see some of your inspirations.

{heart-shaped apple tarts, Nordicware, Dutch magazines, goats milk soap, lots of Earl Grey tea}

baking and cooking, photography and homemade cards,

learning how to wrap pretty packages for family and friends,

sharing

♥

♫ Thank you for being a friend ♫

Love,
        ~ Maria

{Do you recognize this postcard Francis?}

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an oldfashioned wrap for my blueberry scones

I recently made blueberry scones

and thought to use my muffin tins lined with hand cut parchment squares.

I love the way they came out

and how easily they lifted from the pans and from the paper.

blueberry scone recipe

I hope you are having a wonderful week dear friends.

♥

Regardless of life's ups and downs,

a little prayer

and

a cuppa tea {with a special treat} really soothes the soul, doesn't it?

"Bread and water can so easily be toast and tea."

but

Toast and tea can so easily become blueberry scones and a London Fog...

London Fog recipe

family love from east to west

It was a year ago today that my son, Jason,

went to his interview in Austin, Texas.

He loves his job and loves living in a great city with amazing weather.
Knowing how I love "looking up,"
Jason sent me some beautiful photos taken on his commute to and from work.

We are so proud of him... but oh how we miss him.

♥

Chris and I were able to visit Amanda during the first part of my February break.
We enjoyed some of our favorite things!
Of course
talking ♥ talking ♥ talking!
I'm not a big shopper, {and neither is Chris} but I wanted to stop at the Vera Bradley Outlet nearby.
Unbeknownst to us, there was 40% off sale going on... that is off of their outlet price!
... so we were very, very tempted...
Like crazy ladies, we waited an hour and a half
just to get inside the store.

Chris was thrilled :o) NOT!
but
He was a real honey bunch and got us coffees at Starbucks and
we talked even more ♥

{I'm glad Starbucks found a nice mild blend...have you tried their "Blonde" coffees?}

I was able to take home the purse I wanted for such a great price!
 {It retails for $69, is on sale for $49 online and at the outlet it's $34 and with 40% off ... I paid only $20}

 We took home a few gifts too!

We also just love the Walkway Over the Hudson.
Amanda's dogs, Chino and Mr. Darcy love it too!

A stop at Adams Fairacre Farms is a must as well.

 I picked up amazing produce at amazing prices
and these sweet red tulips to bring a little springtime to my father's house.

On Monday, it was off to my father's in central New York.
We had a great visit and some heavy work to do.

Remember the days when people installed wall-to-wall carpeting over hardwood floors?

Look what was under my father's carpeting!

His home looks like new ~ even the air smells fresher!

{Chris always asks if he can help!}

We moved around a lot of furniture and emptied the china closet and buffet.
I found some sweet treasures that were most likely last handled when Dad moved over 30 yrs. ago.
When I picked up my mother's pie holder, I held it for a long time thinking that
it was last used when she was alive.
These sweet treasures had been stored away too long...

Dad was so happy to see some of these things,
Right now, the pretty red crystal candy dish has a little bluebird in it,
but some of his favorite candies will be in it soon!
The dessert tiered set and pie holder came home with me ♥
He's happy that these things came out of their hiding place!

How has this week been going for you?

Are you enjoying amazing weather like Jason?

Or,

are you having deep winter weather?

Here, in the northeast... we are supposed to have a little snow tonight.

2 - 4 inches...then rain.

Still... a very easy winter... and I like it!

Have a wonderful weekend my friends
and always look up as do the others at Sky Watch Friday!

Climb Every Mountain!

My sister and brother-in-law

LOVE

The Adirondack Mountains.

Hiking up Mt. Marcy was their first date ♥

Climbing Mt. Allen {above} is in their future.

 *

My brother-in-law climbs even when it's below zero.

* * * Brrrrrrrr  * * *

These are photos he took on two recent treks,

..Mt. Redfield and Mt. Cliff...

Their goal is to climb all 46 Adirondack Mts.

God bless them!

*

Barry's commentary on his recent climb...

"Revenge is mine, and then some! 

A few weeks ago ice on Cliff got the best of me, but yesterday was a new day.  The hike was 11 hours and 18 miles long.  We wore crampons the entire time. Snowshoes carried but not needed.

It was a zen hike for sure.

Redfield measures 4606 feet and is the 15th highest peak in NY.  Cliff measures 3960 feet and is 44th of the 46 highest peaks.  For me that was number 37 and 38.  Only 7 more to go to earn my 46er."
 

"...Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

 Isaiah 40:31

Thank you for sharing your amazing photographs, Barry!

It's great to enjoy your adventures from a warm and cozy location :o)

Happy weekend to all my friends and family who love nature ♥