07 September 2014

Life Updates

 Life.
Constantly changing;
sometimes challenging.
ALWAYS a gift!
 
I meant to be here.
Really I did.
But then real life intervened with some challenging challenges:)
 
First, a severely congested ear left me temporarily deaf on one side
and very, very uncomfortable
(can I say how grateful I am for medicine?)
 
And, I believe it was around the same time that we lost our high speed Internet
(which really isn't so high speed even on its good days).
Suffice it to say this makes blogging quite the challenge:)
 
Of course, there was the usual stuff too--
 
Then tonight,
after a few wonderful days of finally getting out to a farm store and
attending a living history reenactment
(both in the valley)
topped off by
FINALLY
getting to see close up some of the trees of the famous Neskowin Ghost Forest
(coast),
I found our freezer door wasn't completely closed sometime last week and...
well it isn't a pretty picture--
worse yet I have NO more frozen fruit juice bars
(LOL)
 
But, hey, it was well past the time when the freezer should have been
cleaned, organized and defrosted anyway:)
 
 
So life has intervened and plans for posts have been slightly changed.
I hope you'll understand.
 
In the meantime I hope some recent photos will suffice.
 
 
Beautiful Neskowin Beach--
Neskowin Creek,
Proposal Rock (right)
and Cascade Head (left).
 
More photos later...
 
 
Our garden -- prunes.
Each year our harvest of pears, Asian pears, apples, etc., etc. is SO big
we have lots to give away to family and friends.
Since we don't spray, they love it
and so do we as less gets wasted! 
 
BTW, do you see those gorgeous raindrops??
Yep, we finally had a few 'minutes' of rain in August.
And yes, I raced outside to fully enjoy it because it has been miserably warm
 and dry here this summer
(I gladly admit to being a summer wimp).
ANY rain is a HUGE blessing right now
with our fire danger so very high.
  
 
During a trip to one of my favorite farm stores in the valley,
the friend I was with gave me a tour of three of the Russian Old Believer churches...
Here is a link if you'd like to learn more about them:
and a very short video can be found here:
Some info about their unique cross can be found here:
 
 
A photo from the Fur Trapper Encampment that was held in Champoeg State Park.
It was fascinating learning more about the trappers and how they lived in the PNW!
I have some more photos to share later...
an interesting part of our history!
More info can be found here at this University of Washington site:
Go Huskies:)
 
 
I believe this is the first time I have seen a little red wagon at the beach...
I think I LOVE it:)
Did you see the tent too closer to the ocean?
Maybe that's what this fair skinned Celtic lass needs.
 
 
The farm store was GREAT!
More about our visit there later
(until then you can think about yummy peach pies and fabulous cheese).
Mmm. I think I'll go eat that last piece of pie right now.
 
Despite the challenges these weeks have brought,
the above were all blessings.
Another unexpected blessing occurred when I deactivated my personal Facebook account
earlier this month.
I had considered doing it before,
for a variety of reasons,
and one day I realized
 it was way past time to do it.
Can I say that I feel happier and freer having done so?
 I will reevaluate this change early next month.
 
Another positive thing,  has been my yearly observance of Elul....
(it's sort of like a Lent when you set time aside to draw closer to God).
I have observed it more or less each year since hearing a Christian pastor talk about it.
(An earlier post about Elul:
 
Here's one of the key verses I've been studying that I'll share with you.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 KJV
 
I like that!
 
Blessings,
Aimee
 
Sorry if there are any errors.
Aimee should never, ever blog when it's well past time to be asleep.
 
 

12 comments:

Bethany Carson said...

Psalm 27:1 is one of my favorites! With God on our side we have nothing to fear.

Neskowin beach looks beautiful!

Noelle the dreamer said...

Oh dear, earaches are always painful! Praying it is almost over Dear!
Love the photos of the prunes and the church's steeple!
Must go back and check this Elul post of yours. We all need Him whilst we 'climb the mountains'.
God bless,

My Dog Sam - Ruptured Disk said...

Hi Aimee, we liked this post too (actually we like them all). It's always nice to see someone who can see the positive side of things when something unexpected and possibly, unpleasant happens. Yea to your unflinching, positive spirit and outlook.

Teresa Kasner said...

That first shot of the ocean, beach and cliffs is wonderful. We have plums on our trees too. Enjoy your week. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Linda W. said...

Lovely beach shots! And I'm with you, I'm not a fan of hot summers, especially the one we've been having. As far as I'm concerned, the fall rains can't come fast enough.

Betsy said...

I like your verse Aimee. In light of the state of the world, I'll admit to having some feelings of fear. But with the LORD, I have no reason to fear. What is the worst that can happen? I go to be with Him forever. I need to work on fear and I'll remember this verse often.
I enjoyed your photos today. I've often thought of deleting FB too, but always stop because I have so many family that live far, far away and it's a good way to keep in touch. The other "stuff" drives me nuts though. :-)
Blessings,
Betsy

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

I am glad you are feeling better. You know ya gotta stop going places I go and not seeing each other...hahaha! I was out at a farm store too, and think that's where you were (Baumans). I almost went to the reenactment as well. But I had too much to do on a Sat. i can't remember what your last comment was on a post of mine. I will answer it soon. I need to defrost my chest freezer but it's too full at the moment! Have a good week, my friend! Hugs!

Gracie Saylor said...

So many interesting things in this post, Aimee. I explored many of your links, and saved them so that I can go back to reread them. Your prune photo is especially pretty to me. Thanks! xx

Lorrie said...

Life is full of unexpected opportunities for relying on God's grace and strength. Your photos are beautiful. And how do you prevent worms in your apples without spray? We planted trees 18 months ago and had some lovely big apples this year, but each one had a worm hole. Nasty. I don't want to spray chemicals.

aimee said...

@Bethany~
It's a great verse for today! Glad you liked the beach photo. If you ever come westward again, you will have to go there:)
Blessings,
Aimee

@Noelle~
I agree, I hate ear problems. My doctor says there's no infection though so just time and more meds should take care of the problem (and prayers too)! Isn't that a great steeple? Loved it and the other two she brought me by. Yum! Our prunes are yummy:)
You are SO right--those mountains can be difficult!
Blessings,
Aimee

@Sam~
Ahhh! You are SO sweet to say that! I do try to be positive, although I have times, just like everyone else, when I am not as positive as I would like to be. Thanks--you made me smile just now:)
BLessings,
Aimee

@Teresa~
Thank you! It was beautiful there -- as it always is! I bet your plums are yummy:) My mom used to freeze them and we would eat them just like popscicles--YUM! Have a great week!
BLessings,
Aimee

@Linda~
Thanks! I've never seen that beach as crowded as it was. It was challenging, but fun, to shoot photos there! LOL. I totally agree--fall rains down here AND snow in the mountains :):)
Blessings,
Aimee

@Betsy~
SO happy it blessed you and others! I do understand. It is easy to let fear into your life with the state of the world today. You are SO right though--that is HIS never changing promise!! I hear you about the Facebook. I think my son deactivating his gave me courage to do the same. We are going to skype, text, call and maybe--maybe--do instagram. Everyone's situation is different and you need to do what is best for you and your family. I SO understand about the other 'stuff'---yuck!! :)
Thanks! Glad you liked to photos.
Blessings,
Aimee

@Becky~
Thanks! I am glad they are a bit better too. LOL! Yep, it was Baumans--my second visit there and I loved it as much as my first! The reenactment was interesting -- you would have liked it. I hear you about busy Saturdays--LOL. My freezer project has been put on hold for awhile and will have to be done in stages as when I shut the door some things that were thawed froze to the shelves. Hahahaha:)
Blessings,
Aimee

@Gracie~
Thanks and you're welcome! I never get tired of learning and researching things:) I really liked that prune photo too--I LOVE photos taken after (or in this case-- during) rain.
Blessings,
Aimee

@Lorrie~
Definitely, life sure is!! Thank you! We have worms too, but next year I am going to try the DIY organic fruit traps my neighbor told me about and see if that helps. I will see if I can get some info for you if you would like. I know you place the traps in the trees around blooming time and the they were very easy to make.
Blessings,
Aimee
PS: I hate chemicals too. We try to use them as little as possible and just on the ornamentals not our edibles.

Lorrie said...

Thanks for the info, Aimee. I'd love to know about the organic pest traps.

aimee said...

@Lorrie~
No problem. I will try to find it for you:)
Blessings,
Aimee

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