On the Mountainside

Bachelor buttons blooming along a peaceful mountainside road.

I reach out to touch one as my husband brings our car to a stop.

Sad memories of yesterday still collide in my heart and mind;

they colour today a shade of grey.

But there, on this rural road, above the valley floor

I find a bit of blue in this small, fragile flower's petals and for a moment

I smile.

Blessings this Saturday morn.

Aimee

Today

I was going to post this morning about another lavender farm;

about the beauty of the world around us;

about a day filled with peace and many blessings.

I can't.

Last night, I stayed with my father and awoke in the early morning to reports

of the horrible tragedy in Aurora, Colorado.

I cannot make sense of this;

I didn't understand Columbine, Virginia Tech, Norway or any of the other mass shootings.

I've never been able to understand the mentality of someone who could take life like this--

so callously, so coldly and in such a calculated manner;

I cannot make sense of someone who would knowingly choose to hurt so many families,

including his own.

God did not create us to be like this;

He created us to love one another--as He loved us.
He condemns acts such as this one.

On this very sad day I send prayers and thoughts

 to those who have lost loved ones,

to those who are wounded and in hospitals-

some fighting for their lives at this very moment,

 to medical staff using every skill they have to save the wounded and heal broken bodies,

to firemen and the police who are dealing with the aftermath

(and those still in danger)

and to the family of this young man.

Lord, be with us on this very sad, very horrible day.

God, bring healing to our land
and the ones that follow it.

God bless,

Aimee

The WORD on Wednesday: God's Unfailing Love

Sometimes I feel like God has deserted me...

that I am alone;

that He longer loves me.

Sometimes

 I even feel as if the words spoken on the cross by Jesus Christ could be my own...

"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

(Matthew 27:46b KJV)

Others have felt this way before me;

even King David, a man after God's own heart

 (see Acts 13:22 KJV).

In Psalm 42:9, He writes

"I will say unto God my rock,

Why hast Thou forgotten me?

why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"

~

You see
 (and I am reminding myself here)

these feelings that God has deserted you,

that He doesn't love you,

that He doesn't care for you or your needs...

are just that--feelings;

NOT reality.

~

The truth; the reality can be found here

in these verses also written by King David,

under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

  Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

your justice like the ocean depths.

 You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.

How precious is Your unfailing love, O God!

All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of Your wings...

Psalm 36:5-7 NLT

~

So the truth is

you and I are not alone,

God has not deserted us.

And despite the circumstances that you and I are facing

God loves us

and

He wants you
and I to know that.

~

O God,

Pour out Your unfailing love on those who love You...

Aimee

 ~

Photos:

Central Oregon coast range wildflowers

Gleneden Beach

A view on a rural road in Lincoln County, Oregon

Notes:

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Last scripture verse Psalm 36:10a KJV

Lavender Festival: Music + Good Conversation in the Hills

I've loved this area of the Pacific NW for years and thought I pretty well knew it,

but there was a road I'd never been on...this past weekend we turned on that road.

 After a few miles of driving past pretty wild sweet peas,

gorgeous vistas,

beautiful evergreen and deciduous trees,

country homes and more,

we arrived at our destination--

Woodland Lavender,

a farm located high on a hill above the valley floor.

 There we found fragrant bouquets of lavender hanging in the shade,

bees happily going about their work of making honey, some nice lavender products,

and a very talented musician, Therese Michaud playing wonderful melodies on her keyboard.

Soon we met the owner who offered to show us,

in response to our question, the proper way to prune lavender...

we followed her to the field where

she used a small, sharp scythe with which she quickly and skillfully accomplished the task,

leaving a perfectly shaped mound and a basket full of lavender.

We had a really good time talking with her and a friend of hers!

~

After a bit, I headed off to see the old farmhouse there--

where I imagined a pioneer family, just like my ancestors, sitting on the front porch of the house

or working in the fields nearby.

In many ways I would have liked living back then...

would you? 

I spent quite a lot of time walking around this old (1898) home--

admiring the awesome view

and wishing the lighting wasn't quite so harsh on this sunny, very bright day.

 But what can one do when you can't control the weather...

while you take your photos,

you breathe in the calming fragrance of the lavender,

you talk with the many interesting people who share your love of this plant

and you say a quiet thank you for the ability to enjoy this blessing

(and we did all that and more)!

Blessings,

Aimee

Note:

A BIG thank you to the very kind owner of Woodland Lavender for permission to take and post photos of her beautiful farm during this year's Lavender Festival!

If you would like more information  please see this link: http://www.woodlandlavender.com/index.html

For fellow lavender lovers you can find information on the annual festival here:

http://www.oregonlavenderfestival.org/

(the festival is held in mid July but some farms have additional hours or are open by appointment)

And here, on this site:

http://www.myspace.com/theresemichaud/music

you can listen to some of the beautiful music we heard at Woodland Lavender this past Saturday

(a favorite of mine is her composition 'Cottage')

As is always the case unless I state otherwise,

I am not associated with this farm, the festival or musician:)

And now,

I bid you a good night as I am

off to bed...

Lavender Weekend

Good Monday afternoon!

I hope today finds you well and surrounded by love.

This last weekend was quite a busy but enjoyable one for me as we toured 6 of the farms/venues of the Lavender Festival! It was a wonderful weekend and I will tell (and show) you about it as soon as I can, but first we have our own lavender harvest to take care of--all 9 plants or so:)

Have a great day and share a smile with those you meet!

You never know what a difference such a simple gesture will make.

Blessings,

Aimee

Photo:

A field of lavender at the beautiful Lavender Valley farm in Hood River, Oregon (taken 2009).

Another Day; Another Beautiful Covered Bridge

Vintage things, antiques, historical items and places.

I never grow tired of seeing things of our  past.

In fact, as I type this, I am currently looking for a particular vintage item:)

We will see what happens with this new dream of mine...

One of the things I love most of all these categories are covered bridges;

I just cannot get enough of walking and sometimes even driving through them.

So far I've been to quite a few covered bridges:

In Benton County, OR

Harris, Wren area

(located south of the Ritner Covered Bridge)

In Linn County, Oregon

Short, Cascadia area

 (also seen in the link below)

Weddle, Sweet Home

(the link also has photos I took of the following) 

the Dahlenburg Covered Foot Bridge and the

Whitmore Covered Foot Bridge).

Shimanek

(this link also has photos I took of the following)

Hannah

Larwood

In Polk County, OR

Ritner, near Pedee

Recently we added another one---#10 for me:

the beautiful Drift Creek Covered Bridge, located in the Rose Lodge area of Lincoln County!

How many years had I passed the sign about it on the way to the central coast of Oregon.

Always wondering, always curious to see it.

This weekend we passed that sign again, twice,

and this time, we turned:)

The Drift Creek Covered Bridge was rescued by a local family who rebuilt and restored it.

The story of how that happened is an amazing story of how God works in His children's lives and faith.

If you go (it is less than one mile off Highway 18) you can read this story;

you can even take home a copy of it

(free copies are available on a bench located inside the bridge).

 I am SO thankful that they were able to save this bridge!

Located in a peaceful, rural area not far from its original home on Drift Creek

(BTW--my hubby remembers seeing this bridge when he was younger;

I am SO jealous...I should remember it too and I don't.

But I have memories of it now.

And now...

how many more covered bridges will I get to see this year?

And which ones to see...there are SO many:)

Have you ever been to a covered bridge?

a historic church, general store or schoolhouse?

(My grandma taught in a one room schoolhouse)

a fort or an old home?

(We lived in one old house when I was a teen.

It had a claw foot bathtub,

built in storage, glass doors and more.

 I didn't like it much then;

I feel much different about it today)

Have you ever ridden in an old truck or car?

(We used to own a car from the 1940's)

Do you think historic preservation is important?

(I do)

Has God ever worked a miracle in your or your family's life?

(Definitely...)

Would you like to share it?

(If so I would love to hear it! You can leave a comment or link to that story on your blog;

if you want to stay anonymous just use the drop down menu on the comment feature.)

Blessings,
Aimee

Of Gooseberries: A repost with updates

This morning my best friend came over and picked most of our gooseberries--which was awesome because it has been really warm out and I don't deal well with the heat. However, when she finished and took home the ones she wanted, I was left when the most time consuming task of pulling the tips and tails off these little jewels of the garden.
As of now, I still have at least 1/2 bucket left to do which I will finish in the morning as I am spending the night at my sibs.

For those of you who may not be familiar with these totally yummy fruits here goes...a repost from a few years ago:)

Today I spent a LOT of quality time removing the tips and tails from what was left of our garden's gooseberries. It was interesting...and a bit maddening. Actually it was a lot maddening but worth it..

Now, for those of you who've eaten a gooseberry before you'll understand why someone would be willing to spend hours and hours to preserve these delightful, totally yummy berries--for the rest of you let me tell you about my almost poetic love for them in hopes that you, too, will try some.

How do I love thee oh lovely berry of green? Let me count the ways.

1) You taste a bit like a lemon when you aren't totally ripe and I -- am the original lemon lover. For those of you who like their fruit sweeter, every recipe I have seen calls for sugar so you'll be happy too.
2) When you ripen totally you're a bit like a kiwi, sort of like the gold kiwis I bought last month. Yummy and sweeter then before.

3) You're a pretty little berry--all nice and green (actually I understand some of you come in red too) with a totally cool round design. So cute!!! Update: since this post I have eaten some of the red ones and they are fabulous; so good, in fact, that I am thinking of planting a red gooseberry!
4) I am told that you make the best pies and other desserts. I will soon know that for sure, for tomorrow -- if it isn't HOT again -- will be baking day around here:)
5) Preparing you for preservation takes a LOT of time and patience, and I need to practice the latter (actually picking you takes a lot of time and patience too--and a watchful eye for thorns.)

Have any of you ever tried gooseberries and what did you think of them?

Blessings from the land of gooseberries + (update) very sore fingers,
Aimee
--

Photos:
Gooseberries, before the tips and tails were removed. I read that you can do this with either a knife or your fingers, I used the latter and it worked well for me. Update: well=works, but takes LOTS of time.  Of course, you can help yourselves to the yummy little things to keep your strength and energy up...there are benefits you know to this process.
Gooseberries, after the tips and tails were removed.
Gooseberries in quart freezer bags (about 3 cups per bag). Dry packed without sugar. Update: today I put 4 cups per quart freezer bag; after all they hold 4 cups and I didn't want to waste bags.

Back in Time: Vintage Finds + WORD on Wednesday

We are still going through all the things from mom and dad's house. A very frustrating task to be sure, but sometimes made pleasant by little treasures we find from our past (and their past). This past Sunday I stayed with my dad, at my sib's house while they were out of town. I went through 2 large bags of clothes--some of which I kept--and then I found this medium box my sibling had set aside...inside were momentos from junior high and high school years, but there were also these treasures:)

I love the trim on this one, the hemline and -- of course -- the main color used! 

Can you see a little girl baking cookies with her apron clad mom in the early 60's?

And how about this cute, probably homemade, potholder?

In our childhood we spent quite a few days at Kah-Nee-Tah in Oregon's high desert

(Warm Springs Reservation) among teepees, Indian fry bread, dancing, horses and warm, beautiful blue swimming pools.  Good days!

When I was older, I attended a Pow Wow on the coast--the dancing, the Native American traditional costumes, the salmon baked in the old way were all wonderful! But another thing that stood out to me was the Native American's deep respect for their elders--that was deeply meaningful to me.

I think in our youth oriented culture we have lost that.

Not that our youth aren't important--no! That is our legacy;

they are our the only treasures we leave when we pass on.

But our senior citizens have so much to offer us--in cultural values,

rich memories of days gone by,

and much, much more.

What we stand to lose if we ignore this rich heritage we have.

Another little apron with pretty flowers.  

An old handkerchief.

Yes in the days before facial tissue, we used cloth handkerchiefs:) 

This reminds me of the story of the Three Little Pigs;

anyone else remember that?

"Little pig, little pig let me come in"

BAD wolf! LOL

Another, more vibrant, apron.

Very nice colors on this one.

An old pair of scizzors...hum, I am wondering if these might have been our grandma's...

do you know how old hey might be?  

And last, but not least, were these gloves.

They are embroidered at the wrists and also in the area that fits over the back of the hand.

Pretty colors; not sure when these were made...

Also found--

but not in the box

NOPE

were photos of my mom

in grade school.

These were adorable

and I excitedly told my sibling about them when they returned from their time out of town:)

THESE

were the truly priceless treasures:)

What treasures from your past have you found?

What is your favorite era?

What do you want to leave your children?

Your grandchildren?

WORD on Wednesday:

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:

there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches...

a good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children...

Proverbs 13: 7, 22a KJV

Saturday Sparkles

Who doesn't like firework displays?

(except for some pets that is)

The colors...

 The beautiful reflections of color...

The excitement as to what colorful combination will be next...

I know I love them... 

 Do you?

Did you go to any fireworks displays this year?

Have you ever photographed them?

This is the second year that I have made an attempt to photograph fireworks  with my DSLR...

this time sitting in our car on some rural road.

I still have more to learn but I love trying:)

Blessings,

Aimee

Morning in the Garden + A Scripture for Saturday

 New treasures to discover.

New sights to see.

 Cool ponds to walk in on this, a new day.

A day that brings new gifts to us--

gifts of many types

 

But the most precious gift of all 

is the gift of time,

the gift of another day.

What should I do with this gift?

What are you doing?

Blessings,

Aimee

~

Saturday Scripture

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud,

and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so

 the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations...

Isaiah 61:11 KJV

~ ~ ~

 Photos:

wildflower garden

a weed

 area adjacent to the lower pond

(DH  in the pond clearing the inlet screens; a nice task on this hot summer day)

a bee's breakfast: culinary lavender

cosmos (wildflower garden)

gooseberries

(part of my yummy breakfast this AM along with strawberries, blueberries)
another visitor to our culinary lavender

Craving Chocolate? A Trip to Moonstruck

Hope you had a great 4th of July~

Awhile back, when my DDIL was still here, she decided that it was time for me to make good on something I had been promising her for a long time. I decided it was a great idea too so we headed off to the Moonstruck location we had visited after a trip to Ft Vancouver quite awhile ago.

Now let me say, I have known about Moonstruck (aka chocolate heaven) for a few years now---actually since I was still working outside the home. One of my fellow co-workers, as a thank you gift, rewarded staff with some huge chocolate bars from there. My choice then? The Mayan--a delicious combo of cinnamon, crushed almonds and chocolate. It was love at first sight (smell, taste. touch) and that love continues to this day.

Well of course after that initial experience (and the ones following it), I had to introduce my sweet DIL to their chocolate; I knew she was the kind who would appreciate it:) So I did...and now she (and others in her family) share the same love I have of this most yummy chocolate. See what a good influence I have on others:)
Anyway, back to our visit...since photos often speak louder than words, I will let them do the talking (or at least most of it)...

Doesn't she look SO grown up in this cute outfit?

My current favorite...I could eat one of these everyday! I love citrus flavored chocolate.

Yum! LOVE Moonstruck chocolates!

Blessings,

Aimee

Notes:

Thank you to the staff of Moonstruck who gave permission for photos to be taken

and posted on this blog.

As always, unless otherwise stated,

 I am not associated with Moonstruck in any way except as a satisfied customer!

Here is their website should you want to check them out:

http://www.moonstruckchocolate.com/

Happy Independence Day America!

O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet

Whose stern impassion'd stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness

America! America!

God mend thine ev'ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes prov'd

In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country lov'd,

And mercy more than life.

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness,

And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream

That sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam

Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea.

Oh Lord I pray this prayer for my country and my fellow countrymen...

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make His face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 KJV

God bless my homeland.

God grant that we may never forget its rich faith heritage.

Aimee

Photos:

fireworks display

wheat field near Heirloom Roses

Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs, CO

my current favorite central Oregon coast beach

The Mayflower II, Plymouth, MA

(courtesy of my cousins F. + N. Blessings)

SW Portland

Willamette National Cemetery

SW Portland

small rural cemetery

Notes:

America the Beautiful

Lyrics: Katherine Bates

As found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_the_Beautiful#Lyrics