Walks in His Gardens: Autumn Wanderings

Autumn is an amazing time of the year in the PNW and I love nothing better then to wander about on rural and mountain roads every chance I get and everywhere I travel. With so many paths and so many roads there is never a chance of becoming bored

Some routes climb up into the foothills and mountains, leading you over train tracks

and by old trestles on narrow country roads that wander about the rural setting. .

Some roads run down into the valley past fields now emptied of their crop.

Many lead past old barns with dramatic rooflines.

Every turn, every curve of the road brings you to a new discovery, a new view, a new panorama that delights your eyes...and your soul if you let it.

It is a journey where even the seemingly common things of this world are transformed into the dramatic.

It is the beautiful PNW in autumn

and its sights and sounds bless me everyday I am alive.

Blessings,

Aimee

-

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."

Psalms 34:8 KJV

-

Photos:

Photos taken in the same region as the Farm Tour.

Party Like A Baby!

So I'm sure you are asking yourself how does one party like a baby? Well allow me--one proud grandma of one beautiful baby granddaughter to tell you how it is properly done.

First you must begin with the party girl. She must be one year old and dressed appropriately for said party--in this case coifed in a cute little hairstyle and suitably dressed in an adorable yellow and blue sundress with ribbons down the back.

Of course, there must also be party guests prepared to celebrate such a grand occasion with said one year old birthday girl--parents, big sibling, grandparents, great-grandparents and other friends and family.

Party decorations are likewise vitally important to every first year party's success and must be carefully chosen --BIG balloons are an absolute party MUST!! Also key to the party's success is their placement; BTW Grandma thought the balloons were totally awesome!!

Let the party begin!!!

Family and friends arrive, food and beverages are served, partiers enjoying themselves, baby girl taking it all in….good thus far.
---
And then it is time for the rite of passage; the symbol of a new year arriving for said baby girl--it's time for the birthday cake of course!! And in baby girl’s case it was delectable birthday cupcakes.
--
The birthday candle, the birthday melody, birthday candle extinguished--good thus far!
The traditional birthday cake mess all over the face and body? WHAT? Nope, not much of one at all--one wipe with a towelette is all that is needed! AMAZING!

Grandma is SO impressed with baby girl's dainty manners (after all your uncle needed a bath after his one year birthday cake!)! Impressive! What a good mom you must have little one! (BTW baby girl cupcakes were made by talented mom of baby girl, and her very talented mom! And have I said yet that they were really, really yummy?) Especially the chocolate ones with the white frosting! --
-

But what is this?

This large cup full of brownish, sugary liquid..so close.

the balloons with those tempting long strings

one quick moving baby….

the hands, the grip, the pull down, the bump….

the fast moving liquid swiftly moving towards the food,

the mom,

the grandma...

--

The intensive clean up!

(But none on the party girl!!! Yea! The party continues with the opening of the gifts (see below for photos).

--

So how do you party like a baby? You do it as all other babies have done--in your own unique and special way

(AND BTW Baby Girl that is just one of the reasons we love you totally…

because you are so uniquely you and we wouldn't have it any other way!)

--

And now a few other birthday photos...

Stretchhhhhhhing is such a good exercise and SO important with the many toy temptations close at hand.

Party gifts included some beautiful clothing, a big red colander (kind of like grandma's big red bowl), some cute little toys and stuffed animals, and these wonderful noise making maracas!! Baby Girl really liked them--maybe she will be a percussionist someday? Maybe, not.

A milk break for one thirsty little party girl -- after all partying can make baby girls SO very thirsty when one is not used to it!

A first chapter comes to an end and a second one begins! Congrats little one and GREAT JOB on passing this important rite of passage!!

But most of all --

blessings always and lots of love too!

Grandma Aimee

-

Thursday Thanks-giving: mountain roads and answered prayer

Yes, I know this isn't Thursday, but yesterday as a friend and I were traveling over some mountain roads, I was thinking how grateful I am for them... but it hasn't always been that way.



Those who know me, know that I've loved mountains for a very long time. When I look at them (or better yet are on them) they elicit a deep emotional response within my soul - as if God placed this deep love for them within my DNA-and I know that it is on them that I often feel closest to the Creator. But mountain roads are another thing. Dread and outright fear would be the term I used to describe them -- for a very long time.

It wasn't always that way though-nope! Earlier in my life you would have found me on places like the top of Pike's Peak (CO), traveling up a gondola at Grouse Mt (BC, Canada), on a chair lift in the Cascades--in summer-and on the countless mountain roads my parents and others took me on in the NW, Canada, the Rockies and the SW. You also might have seen me on cliffside trails in Hawaii and the Pacific NW, on the side of the Grand Canyon, at the top of the Space Needle and other 'high' places. No problems until THAT night...the beginning of the change.

It was a cold and VERY snowy night about 25 years ago. We were traveling in our small convertible when we hit ice and slid straight towards the other (lake) side of the road. Now I don’t know if I cried out to God for help; knowing me I probably did, but a miracle occurred--we came to a stop on the only embankment in the area. A little bit to the left or right and the ending might have been very different. Did I say my infant son and young daughter were in the back seat at this time (my daughter still remembers the incident)?

Over time I developed a rather pronounced reaction to mountain roads, especially those that ran by water or had drop offs or cliffs and it got worse as the years passed. It limited travel, at times, and caused conflict; it changed travel plans and it hurt me deeply as I loved to be in the mountains more then any other place. My PCP ordered meds to take during trips but these, at times, were not sufficiently strong enough to help-most noticeably on one trip to the Canadian Rockies, a place I really love, where we had to change our itinerary completely when. after miles along cliffside and other roads, I ended up with a severe anxiety reaction that couldn't be controlled.

At work, a suggestion by a fellow employee to look only at the road ahead of me, instead of to the side, helped--and I still do that at times but this was not enough and I could not truly enjoy the journey upwards. Years later, another friend said something about taking baby steps and attacking the problem by not avoiding it (actually the fellow employee had mentioned something like this too, but I wasn’t ready for it then). And so the process began--slowly but deliberately and with a friend driving that I had total trust in.

Now I can truly say that I am doing better; still on fairly non dramatic roads--no outright cliffs like some roads in the Gorge, mountains and coast have, but high enough so that there are definite panoramic views. I am also trying to travel upwards often enough so that fear does not have a chance to build up again.

As for the original site of THAT incident--the one we believe precipitated this fear of mountain roads and heights--I have yet to return there and feel at ease and yet, the idea of doing so at some point in the future does not fill me with the same trepidation it once did. However, it would not be on a snowy, dark night and would certainly not be in a convertible!
---
So on this third Thursday Friday of November, I can truly say that I am thankful for the mountains, mountain roads AND most of all--answered prayers.
-
Blessings,
Aimee
---
Photos:
NW Oregon
Alaska (4 photos)
Canada (2 photos)
NW Oregon
Central Oregon--Cascades

Note:
An apology for the quality of some photos. The prints themselves are beautiful but I was
a) too lazy to scan them
and
b) the house is still caught deep in the throes of chaos--albeit not as deep as previously so it would not be an easy process to scan them:)

Photo Credit:
Credit for Alaska and Canadian photos goes to my dad (yea, dad) and thanks to both of my parents for permission to post them here. They were taken during a trip on the Inner Passage to Alaska--a place I have never been but which I would love to go as it reminds me of some photos I've seen in Norway--another place I have never been but would love to go! The Canadian photos were taken in the Rockies--near Banff and Jasper from what I can remember. I have been there before but not for some time. Incredible place:)

Pondering

“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:23-25 KJV

------
“Christians follow their Lord by imitating His life and obeying His commands. To shoulder one’s cross meant to carry one’s own cross to the place of crucifixion...Applied to the disciples, it meant to identify completely with Christ’s message, even if it meant death. We must deny our selfish desires to use our time and money our own way and to choose our own direction in life without regard to Christ. Following Christ in this life may be costly, but in the long run, it is well worth the pain and effort.” (Ilumina Software: © 2003, Tyndale House Publishers)

----

Lately I've been pondering these verses. They remind me of the well known quote from Jim Elliot's journal: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

------

I believe, that even if we're not called on to become martyrs for our Christian faith as Mr Elliot was, we're all called to lay down our 'rights' -- the rights to 'our' money, 'our' time, 'our' way, 'our' (fill in the blank here). If we are to be truly Christ like then we must be willing to deny ourselves, as Christ did, and walk the narrow path. We must look at life from an eternal point of view rather then solely a temporal one and be willing to do as He would have us do in all things.

--

By this I am not saying that we cannot have nice homes or savings in the bank and I am not saying that we cannot take vacations or have a dependable, newer model car. Nope, it is not for me to judge others for what they have--that is between them and God; after all there were both rich and poor believers in Biblical times, and the same is true today.

-

What I am saying is that we must be willing to surrender all that we are in terms of talents, intelligence, personality AND all that we have in terms of money, time and other resources to God and His work. To look for His will, instead of ours, daily. To live out the life HE calls us to live in the manner He calls us to live it and to be the people He saved us to be.

When I was younger I heard two people speak that did take up their cross; two women that I admire greatly to this day. One was Elizabeth Elliot (wife of the Jim quoted above) who chose to give up her 'right' to hate or take revenge on the people who had recently murdered her husband and the 'right' to live in safety. Instead she chose to go right into the midst of these same people, with her little daughter; to live among them and to teach them about the God who loves the whole world. Talk about belief and trust in God being lived out on a daily basis! And the result was one of eternal importance--many were saved and stopped living the chaotic life they once lived.

-

The other woman was Corrie ten Boom, who with her family chose to give up their rights for safety (security) in order to give shelter to some Jews who faced almost certain death if the Nazis found them. It cost her a lot--imprisonment in a concentration camp, her freedom, her family (some of whom died in the camps they were sent to). But both she and her entire family thought God's will and commandments (things of eternal significance) more important to obey then anything they might lose here on earth - up to and including their lives.

--

Sadly, in my own life, I have not always lived up to the standard God calls us to as Christ followers. The other night I had a very bad scare and this set me to thinking if I knew I had only a week or a month to live, how would I change my actions and reactions, my words and my thoughts, my deeds. I had to admit there were still changes that needed to be made in my life; priorities that needed to be looked at.

-

And I will.

Blessings,

Aimee
-

.Photo: cemetery not far from two of the farms featured here.

Mid Autumn Scenes

Early autumn, with its blue skies and moderate temperatures is over in the PNW and the season of wintry storms has begun bringing high winds, colder weather, rain (with flooding in places) and some beautiful white snow to the higher mountains of the NW.

Here, in the garden, trees and shrubs continue to shed their beautiful leaves resulting in many colorful carpets of red, yellow and orange.

Lingonberries appear to be ready for harvesting; the kiwi also, and in the back garden the grapes were pronounced 'great' by my best friend who came over to help me get the garden ready for the storms sure to come this season.

A few plants continue to bloom--one of the two bleeding hearts, an Encore azalea, the viburnum, a cosmos or two, the camellia sasanqua (an autumn/winter bloomer) and some lavender. The garden is beginning to settle down for its late autumn/winter rest and Aimee is hoping for snow:)

Gunnera and leaves.

Water lily (hardy variety), water hyacinths (not hardy) and fallen leaves of the Japanese maples near the upper pond's edge.-

A carpet of dogwood leaves lie strewn across the ground and path.

Close up of water hyacinth and fallen leaves. -

Fallen maple leaves lay across the mossy surface of a Japanese lantern top. -

Another view of the water lily. -

-

And a photo of fallen leaves blown against the lawn's edge before it was mowed.

Blessings,

Aimee

Adding to the Collection

This week's addition to my cyber sign collection is....

So very cool!

Blessings,

Aimee

-

Note: for more signs see here and here.

Good News is News Too!

Another thing that drives me crazy is the lack of good news we see on TV and other media now a days. Yes, I know and understand (and weep sometimes) over the news that makes the news--the unloving acts of violence and greed towards one fellow man. And yes, I know that there is a lot of fear out there with the families that are now struggling with the very real issues of unemployment, illness and more. I don't mean to minimize your pain at all and I fervently hope that if you are suffering with these issues you'll see an improvement in your painful situation soon!

But back to the subject at hand---good news. Yes, even in this day and age of uncertainty I hope we don't lose sight that everyday, in every community nationwide (and worldwide), there are acts of kindness taking place---people helping people in what ever way they can! And I wish that this more hopeful, positive and REAL message could make its way onto more TV screens, radio and newspaper outlets because I fervently believe this message needs to be heard-that our children need to see the good news that more kind then evil deeds are being done everyday in the communities around them; that there is a better way of living to aspire to and that their lives can make a profound difference -- at home and in this world.

Blessings,

Aimee

--
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4: 29-32 KJV
-
“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42 NLT (© 2003 Ilumina Software, Tyndale House Publishers)
-
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God“ . Matthew 5:7-9 KJV

--
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40 KJV

--
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Love will last forever” I Corinthians 13: 4-8a KJV

-

Note: I have added 2 new widgets to this blog. They are on the right side and both are found at the Foundation for a Better Life website (info in post below)-one is a daily quote with a postive message and the other is a news article sharing good news! I hope they will be a blessing to you:)

A Better Life

I am not a fan of the majority of ads that we see now a days on TV. I don’t enjoy their not too subtle message that one must fit a certain image to be of worth in this age we live or buy a certain so and so to be a good mother to your child, to be a loving spouse to your wife, and so on. YUCK!
-
One of the few exceptions to these type of commercials are the ads put out by the Foundation for a Better Life. I LOVE the positive values they advocate--values of inspiring others, living with love and forgiveness, etc. Although the foundation does not affiliate itself with any religious organization, it effectively IMO portrays values that ALL people--no matter their cultural or religious background should be able to agree upon. Values that we, as parents and grandparents, should seek to pass onto our families and more then that--our communities. Values not at odds with the Golden Rule and 10 Commandments AND values consistent with our American heritage. Simple and yet life changing, universal values that would make a world wide change if every individual sought to incorporate them more in their daily living.
-
Now the question is -- have I always lived up to these values? No, I like every other human being am a fallible person--I get angry at times; sometimes even allowing it to spill over into bitterness and I have other faults too. BUT I seek to live better--more honestly, more loving, more kindhearted, more Christ-like and when I fall short I ask forgiveness from the One who so clearly and completely understands my weaknesses and faults--my Creator. Then I return to the right path--the path of love and seeking to 'pass it on'.
-
Blessings,
Aimee
-
Links:
http://www.values.com/ (Foundation for a Better Life with free downloads of posters, etc)

Thursday Thanks-giving: family, friends & hot baths

This week I am thankful for all the things that make life more bearable when you are ill; things that we often take for granted like refrigerators, a wide variety of food, dependable heat and warm blankets, and hot baths. Yes I am really thankful for all these things!

-

I am also thankful for a son's willing nature this week that sent him late in the evening to the store not once, but twice, to get me a few items that might sit well on my very upset stomach and then refused to be repaid for the extra amount that he spent on them. Such is love and I am grateful! In fact, I am grateful for ALL the family and friends God has blessed me with! May God bless them and may they walk in HIS ways througout their lives.

-

Blessings,

Aimee

-

Photos:

My eldest son at a lake in WA--I think...

and at his first birthday party.

Has it really been that many years?

PNW Farm Tour: Farm Bakery, Plants, Fruit, Veggies & More

Not too far from Koch's Farm, is another great farm--French Prairie Gardens! Actually I should say that it's a farm, farm store, nursery and bakery--and a very yummy bakery at that; one that I understand has even been featured before on local TV there!

Inside the store is where you'll find ice cream, seasonal fresh veggies and fruit, baked items, frozen berries and other items---one of my favorites being a really nice selection of woven baskets perfect for storing magazines or whatever.

And now the farm bakery---I can say a lot about their delicious fresh baked pumpkin scones (or their marianberry ones), the yummy apple cider cinnamon sprinkled donuts or the pies--berry, peach, pumpkin--that they make seasonally (some available frozen in their freezer case; they had some mini pies too). They have other baked goods too in their display case.
Suggestion: it is a good thing to call ahead if you are looking for a certain item as they are quite popular and busy during the summer/harvest season. I am told that after this season it is also good to call ahead to order the item(s) you may be desiring:)

Two areas I didn't visit are the nursery located behind the store and the fun area they put together for families during the early autumn season. Info is available on their website (link below). All in all, I found the staff friendly and helpful (the farm is another family owned farm-yea!) and the visit a lot of (munch, munch) fun!!!!
I would also like to take a moment to thank them for making our visit there so nice (and yummy) and giving me permission to post the photos I took on my blog. Just so you know I am not in any way associated with the farm but do recommend it for a fun place to stop if you are in their area. In fact my suggestion is to do a farm tour of the area--all of which could be covered in a day or two depending on the time you spend sightseeing. Here is their website where you can find more information about the farm's offerings/events and contact info. Enjoy!

-

Blessings, Aimee

-

Photos:

Farm Store exterior

Rural view and decoration for Autumn Harvest Festival

Fruit Pie

Freshly baked apple cider cinnamon donuts & pumpkin scones

Freezer Woes

What's a bowl of figs doing on a post titled 'Freezer Woes"? Well read on to find out the whole sad (and preventable) story.

Tonight my son awakened me to tell me that somehow -- in the midst of the BIG project chaos -- the freezer got unplugged and almost everything is ruined! This coming on the steps of throwing out a lot of dried food only to find out later that the guidelines for storage had been changed and a large part of it was probably OK:(

Can I just take a moment to scream here? Argh!

OK I am back. Incredibly sad, angry with myself and not too happy right now, but I'm back.

There's nothing much that can be done at this point about the freezer food. If I hadn't been so ill this week I might have caught it before now; but as it is my DH figures the freezer's probably been unplugged since the weekend and although the food is cold still, it looks like it will have to be discarded for safety's sake because it is totally defrosted.

-

Now part of why I am SO upset is not just the food that will have to be thrown away this time, but also the accumulative feelings of remorse over all the food our family has wasted in the past--food that no one wanted to eat, food that I was too worn out to cook after a long day at work, food wasted for other reasons. I feel bad about the waste itself (bad stewardship) but I feel bad for another reason and that is this food represents time and energy that my DH spent in working to be able to buy it

and

food is a gift from God and I've not always treated it as such; I feel very bad about that too. But food waste is not an uncommon thing in the US, where having so much but living lives at a frantic pace has often led to waste you would likely not see in the so-called developing countries or by the generations that preceeded this one. Now, I don't think ALL families waste food to the degree I've seen mentioned, but I know that many do; and if you're a family that doesn't waste food I totally applaud you!

-

So tomorrow will be dedicated to throwing out the freezer food that once was bought or preserved to nourish our family and now will only add to an already busy landfill. It will also be a day of repentance for past waste and sincere prayers that God will give me the consistency I need in this area of weakness and bad habit. I will also be looking into getting a freezer alarm to ensure this particular problem (the freezer getting accidentally unplugged) doesn't occur again.

-

Woefully yours,

Aimee

-

Links:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp

(scroll down to find food safety guideline chart in case of emergency--or as in my case accidental power loss to freezer and/or refrigerator)

(Also you might be interested in doing a search for average food waste in US family. If these estimates are true they are rather sad)

To Honor Those Who Served

When I was growing up I didn’t realize just how many of our family had served in American wars, but as I studied our family history I became more and more aware of their service to and love for our country.

Some of my ancestors and extended family fought in the War for Independence, some in the Civil War, others in World War I & II, the Korean Conflict and other family members up to the current war.

A few died in service to America.

This day, as America pauses to honor all its Veterans and active Servicemen (and women), I would like to take time to honor all Americans who have served or are still serving at home and abroad too.

May God bless each and everyone of you.

May those of you who are homeless find shelter;

may those without jobs find work.

May God grant you who serve and your families courage, safety and freedom from fear.

And may God bestow to those who have lost loved ones, in this and prior wars, peace and comfort during the night of your storm and always.

-
May God bless America

and

grant our nation, and the entire world, a true and lasting peace.

-

Blessings,

Aimee

Jewels of the Garden

Everytime I walk in my garden I am captivated by the beauty to be found there.

Day by day I see changes - brought on by storm winds, rain and other elements.

I look at the reds and I see rubies,

and the yellows topaz.

The oranges...well I am not sure what jewel they would be but I know they're incredibly beautiful and priceless to me.

These walks, through the jewels of my garden,

refresh my soul like a walk in the PNW forests or mountains

for I see the hand of God who created them all no matter where I go

and that makes me feel peaceful.

-

Blessings,

Aimee

-
Photos

Japanese maple leaves caught on top of bamboo bench.

Laceleaf Japanese maple leaf caught on spirae.

Japanese maple leaves against sky.

Dogwood leaves.

Laceleaf Japanese maple leaves, moss, rocks.

And finally...

more Japanese maple leaves:)