Repost: A Witness Now~Memorial Day 2012

Among the trees, flowering shrubs and manicured lawn they lay,

side by side,

each with their resting place marked

by a grave marker and American flag.

For this is a National Cemetery --

one of many and it is the final resting place for

Veterans of World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam and more recent conflicts.

Comrades in arms;

both those who have passed on full of years

and those who died while in the prime of their life.

The flags -- small and large --

wave in the breeze on the hillsides here;

so many lives--so many stories told and untold.

We come here-

children and other descendants, schoolmates, friends

and parents too.

Veterans and civilians,

some who have not forgotten the ferocity and cost of battle;

others who just feel the need to remember, to witness

this day-

the service and the sacrifice

of the precious souls at rest in this hallowed ground

above the city.

"You're his witness now.

Without a witness, they just disappear."

Blessings to the families of our fallen Veterans today.

May you find peace in the midst of your loss

and may you know we will remember.

Aimee

~

Update: May 2012.

My heart breaks as I listen to the evening news.

Another son; an only child lost on a battlefield far from his native land.

I want to take away this family's pain; dry their tears.

I want them to know another person cares for what they are suffering.

That for some of us this is not just another day.

I want them to know that the death and service of their son will always be remembered.

This post is humbly dedicated to the memory of that fallen Marine

and to the memory of all those lost.

May peace flood their hearts

and may peace be granted all mankind.

Note: above quote taken from 'Taking Chance', HBO films, 2009. USA.

Photos taken spring 2011, Willamette National Cemetery.

Syttende Mai: Parade From a Different Perspective

Ah! The wonder of a parade!

Here are a few photos from the very unique and most wonderful 2012 Syttende Mai parade...

 A robot boy--a most talented dancing robot boy!

(and behind him one of the most wonderful vintage cars)

 The great and very entertaining marching band kept us tapping our toes!

A lot of the beautiful Norwegian flag--

carried by boys and girls;

men and women;

and on cars! 

Here are a couple more of the vintage cars --

I LOVE vintage cars!

At one point we owned a 1949 car...

I didn't care for it much then;

how time changes ones perspective:)

 This was a true cultural celebration...

but it was also a neighborhood get together where one was invited to join,

if they would like,

in the day's festivities!

A large amount of bunads--which come in all different patterns

(for more on bunads I would invite you to visit My Little Norway

and Britt-Arnhild's blogs).

Everyone looks so wonderful in their bunads--

look at the wonderful detail in her skirt and apron!

I never get tired of looking at them.

 Oh a little parade goer...

this is cuteness indeed!

I love the little pacifier accessory!

Yep, it was one of the best parades ever... 

 I am SO happy to have been able to go!

Blessings,

Aimee

Note:

Sadly, the mournful laptop blues are still being sung at our house

but I have managed a few things online.

And now--the BIG test...

pressing 'publish' now:)

The WORD on Wednesday: Perfect Peace

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,

whose mind is stayed on Thee:

because he trusteth in Thee.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever:

for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength...

Isaiah 26: 3, 4 KJV

Have a blessed day!

Aimee

Note:

Between connection problems caused by our unsettled weather

and feeling slightly at a loss for the right words to say,

I am a bit behind on posting. I apologize and ask you to bear with me--

our forecast is calling for one more day of the spring storms and then sunshine again!

And, I have never been known to be at a loss for words for too long--LOL

Photo:

Beautiful flowers at Norse Hall last week.

Syttende Mai: Of Fjords

I have admired the Fjord horse for a long time now.

I can't remember for sure where I first saw one in person,

but most likely it was in Astoria.

All I know is since then I can't get enough of these beautiful, good natured, noble horses!

 So when I found out they were going to be at the Syttende Mai parade...

well it just added more reasons to go!

This first photo is of my best friend getting close and personal with one of them.

 I actually got a chance to ride one before...

not these of course, but a friend I worked with many years ago made arrangements for me

and my DD to meet, greet, love, pet, kiss, photograph and ride one at a stable she was familiar with.

Can I just say my smile that day (and that of my DD's was HUGE)!

I've ridden several breeds of horses before

(being a horse lover since early childhood)

but there is nothing like the Fjord!

 Nothing!

The people who came with the Fjords were quite wonderful too!

I had a lot of fun talking to them:)

Here one of them is getting this baby ready.

Pretty baby!

 Ready to go...

all decked out in flowers.

Looking quite gorgeous;

their riders in costume also!

This face needs to get kissed;

that face too.

I'm sure.  

Time to be on their way...

thank you making the parade

and our day just a little more special.

And a BIG thank you to your owners, trainers,

 care takers

and riders.

Until next time...

Blessings, Aimee

Notes:

for more information on these gentle beautiful horses see this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fjord_horse

or just 'google' fjord horse.

There are some amazing photos on the web.

Syttende Mai: Norse Hall

One of the most amazing places for those who love Norwegian culture as much as I do

is the historic Norse Hall located in Portland.

I have been there three times now--

for a Viking Pancake Breakfast with some friends,

for their 75th anniversary by myself

 (the hall was built in 1928)

and

yesterday with my best friend for their Syttende Mai parade and festivities.

 I love it at Norse Hall for many reasons--

the historical aspect of the building

 and the Norwegian culture.

But I also love it at Norse Hall because I've always felt at home there.

~

Yesterday was no exception--

from the warm smile on the lady who met us at the front door in her beautiful bunad,

to everyone else we talked to--

(especially the sweet lady in the bathroom,

the wonderful lady at the raffle table,

the fascinating man who told me all about the history of his folk costume,

the kitchen staff and more);

these are good, kind, fun, warm, hospitable people

who love this country and their Norwegian heritage!

 (BTW, I LOVE bunads--the gorgeous colors and embroidery;

 the solje they wear with it and more).

 Inside the hall we browsed around--

in the ballroom

 (where the dancing takes place),

the gift shop,

and later upstairs in search of the Nordic doll couple I remembered from so many years ago.

~

We'll start with the downstairs...

(although Kristin Liv badly wants me to post a photo of the Norwegian dolls first)

Here is their gorgeous carpet--

I LOVE the pattern and rich colors;

it's beautiful!

By the raffle table

(for a great cause)...

2 points if you know what that special cake all wrapped up in plastic is:) 

I know--it's one of the few things I haven't tried a bite of that I'd love to try---

well that and lutefisk.

An example of rosemaling--

something I collect and am very, very fond of!

We have several rosemalers in the PNW that I have talked to.

~

OK--time to go downstairs now

and eat some dessert:)

After all it's Syttende Mai...and today everyone can be Norwegian.

Here I treated my best friend

and I to some blotkake...

can you say "yummy"?

It was!

They also had other Nordic items to eat--

but we had eaten just before at Viking Soul

(post coming).

More art--

culinary art--

a piece of blotkake--

my piece to be specific,

right before I devoured it

to be even more specific.

YUM! 

HAVE to make this at home!

LOVE this place;

love the wonderful people that make their home here.

Love all the special Norwegians who have been a part of my life.

Love this day.

Blessings,

Aimee

Info:

Beautiful, wonderful Norse Hall's website is

http://norsehall.org/

They have some events throughout the year that are open to the general public and

you can also find information about the Sons of Norway,

a great organization

( you don't necessarily have to be Norwegian to join).

A BIG thank you to all the volunteers and people who contributed to the celebration yesterday

and also a BIG thank you for giving me permission to photograph and post photos of their hall too:)

Tusen takk!

Happy Syttende Mai

With her bath and shampoo done;

after a little sun

and attired in freshly laundered clothes,

Kristin Liv sets out for a week of celebrating her Norwegian heritage.

On her schedule this week:

Scan Imports

(a wonderful bit of Scandinavia in the Tri Counties),

Viking Soul

(a totally amazing "Norse inspired" food cart in the Belmont district of Portland),

Norse Hall

(a historic Sons of Norway lodge in the PNW)

and the 2012

Syttende Mai Parade

(a wonderful neighborhood parade featuring Fjord horses, vintage cars,

 a great marching band, beautiful bunads, many happy people and more)

Come along...

for on Syttende Mai

 all are welcome to be Norwegian:)

Aimee

Getting Ready to Celebrate

Earlier this week: What is Kristin Liv doing outside wrapped, very modestly I should say, in a dish towel?

I hope she doesn't stay outside too long. It will not be good if she gets a bad sunburn this week.

Kristin's clothes are almost dry. What do you think she is dressing up for? Is there something special happening this week? Something very special?

We'll know soon...maybe even today:)

Aimee

Notes:

Today is a very special one for me. It was on this day, some 48 years ago that I was baptized. It is extra special this year too because Ascension Day falls on May 17th. Of course, I cannot forget that someone very special to me has their birthday today (HAPPY Birthday) and then, of course, it is THAT day (the day Kristin was getting ready for earlier this week).  

Kristin Liv is named after

the main character in Sigrid Undset's wonderful trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter

and

after a Norwegian woman named Liv who lived in Washington state.

The WORD on Wednesday

Abide in Me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

 except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

 except ye abide in Me.

May you and I abide in Him.

Blessings,

Aimee

Verse:

John 15:4 KJV

Photos:

Our garden this week.

Of California Poppies

First there were the lemon colored daffodils that got me dreaming about spring days to come.

Then the many colored tulips which made my heart happy.

Next the white and light purple lilacs which smelled as wonderful as they looked,

the apple and cherry blossoms that were totally dreamy,

the rhodendrons with their large, gorgeous blooms

and now the orange California poppies!

I am ONE happy woman this spring

(well except for my son leaving).

For fellow California poppy loving people take a look at this photo...

 oh great and wonderful orange poppies please come and invade my garden:)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:California_Poppies1.jpg

Now, THAT would be heavenly...

speaking of heavenly, our irises are showing color now 

and

the buds on our roses are just about ready to open.

Spring stay forever...

please.

Blessings,

Aimee

Note: the photo above is mine;

the link will take you to an amazing photo of the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.

Springtime

Recently I found myself missing spring.

Not rainy, cloudy, gray, cold spring--no.

We have enough of that here in the PNW.

But the spring we are having now--sunny, blue skies, warm, but not too warm spring.

And, then, I found myself not wanting summer to come and change all this new life, the beautiful blossoms, the wonderful freshness and color of our gardens...

and His gardens.

Yes, I know summer has color too and blue skies and sunshine,

but it just seems that spring is SO alive,

SO new, SO colorful, SO fresh, SO exciting...

it just seems, like (as Alicia of Posy Gets Cozy says)

the lighting of spring is softer and more nuturing to the heart.

What do you think?

Do you prefer spring to summer or not and why?

 But maybe this feeling isn't because of spring at all;

perhaps it has more to do with my son leaving soon and missing my kids and grandkids...

of trading one season for another.

Maybe.

Blessings,

Aimee

Photos: Quimper Peninsula, Washington state.

Sunday Journey

Some journeys take you to the sea

and some to the desert.

But some take you to the mountains and these are the ones I really love!

 This past Sunday my DH and I headed out to spend some time on a mountain.

Actually, our destination was the very top of a mountain located not too far from Portland;

one that has a park there.

It was a beautiful day for a trip and we saw many pretty things.

~

We saw lots of great views of the valley below

 (don't worry we'll get to a photo of that).

We saw and safely passed a couple of bicyclists and one hiker

(yes I have photos but then I thought--would I want someone posting me on my bike?).

~

And, once we got to the park, we saw some motorcyclists...

one of my first dates with my hubby was spent on a motorcycle

(we were supposed to go to the coast by motorcyle, but he says I chickened out)

Funny man...with a good memory:)

 Besides the great valley views on the way up,
the bicyclists,
a hiker,
motorcyclists...
we saw

beautiful wildflowers of several different kinds.

I know which one here was my favorite,
but which one(s) do you like best?
~
I LOVE wildflowers and am always looking for them.
Not pictured here, but favorites of mine are bachelor buttons (cornflowers),
columbine and California buttons.

 Oh, I should also say, we saw a lot of trees too
and some picnic tables with pretty great views!

 And those views were the primary reason we came...
we wanted to see the mountains this place is known for.
And we did see them,
or at least we did see three of the five you supposedly can see from up there.

 ~

And yes, I took photos of them...after all that was the reason we had come.

I took a few with my regular lens

and then with some more with my zoom lens

(did you know I can change lenses now...it wasn't a foolproof process though and I was just thankful that my hubby wasn't there when I changed them back at our house later that day; embarrassing!)

But I'm not posting any of them--

at least today--

because, well, there just a bit disappointing I think.

Or maybe I am being too much a perfectionist; I need to think about it more.

Maybe later...
~

Meanwhile,

I will show you a photo of the valley we saw on the drive up to the park.

 Yes, that IS my hubby's arm--

as you can tell,

I was NOT focusing on his arm.

And yes, we were quite a ways up,
but now I am not reacting to heights like I was for a time
(thank you God).

 Here is a photo of one of the picnic tables with a view..

and yes, if you walk past that table a little bit you will KNOW how far up you are.

After all, this is the highest part of the mountain we were on.
~
OK. I have done some thinking--about the mountain photos, that is.
They are not as nice as I would have liked, but without them this
Sunday Journey post would not be complete ...so here are two of them.

 Mt Hood

Mt St Helens
(it looks quite a bit different than before the eruption).
Ok, time to continue our journey...

this sign should tell you that there is a bit of a steep slope on the way back down,
but just like the way up, it is quite pretty!

And at the bottom the Aimee who loves history so very, very much

found herself a bit of another kind of treasure in a little community there.

Yea!

Blessings,

Aimee

The WORD on Wednesday

I have been throughly enjoying the sunshine we've had lately. It is so satisfying and uplifting to walk in the garden and see new blossoms appearing on what seems to be a daily basis and feel the warmth of the sun! It is also uplifting to look up and see the wonderful blue in the sky!

Lately, with all the beautiful weather, I have felt the desire to hang our laundry outside to dry and so, today, I hung out my first full load of laundry for this year...it's actually an experiment to see how long things take to dry at various temperatures and wind conditions:) Today's load is, mostly, hung on a new folding rack I found; I am still looking for the 'perfect' retractable clothesline having decided that the one thing we didn't plan for in our garden plans was space for a clothesline:(



~

Speaking of the beautiful sunshine and spring weather, this past Sunday was gorgeous so my hubby and I went on a drive up to a mountain state park located a bit southwest of Portland. It was a gorgeous day up there and although we had to drive a bit faster than I would have liked on the road because of local (?) traffic, it was not too bad. Along the way there were some spectacular views of the valley and when we got to the top (where the park is located) we were treated to a view of three snow capped mountains; I did find out later we should have been able to see five so we will have to make another visit there to find the two missing mountains:)
Up there on the mountain, I also found some pretty wildflowers which was very nice! One thing not so nice---our DDD (darling daughter dog) got it into her head to jump out of our car while we were parked there and when I picked her up to put her back in it, my camera swung around and bopped her...I felt HORRIBLE but she seems fine. Still I felt horrible.

On the horrible, not horrible, happy, not so happy things of life...tonight I will say good bye to my final child to leave the Pacific NW. And even though he has not lived with us for a couple years, I am really feeling the Empty Nest Syndrome now. Can I say this? It doesn't feel so good:( It is not that I am unhappy for him; I am and I am thrilled with his plans which I will share with you later. It's just that I MISS our 2 kids and 5 grandkids that moved years ago and now the he will be thousands of miles away too. BIG SIGH...OK--enough sadness for today:(

I will end on a more positive, happy note. I am back to reading the Bible, almost daily, and praying the Scriptures still. I am much happier with my prayer life now, although there is still room for improvement in terms of consistency and time dedicated to it. And this brings me to my chosen WORD for today...

Be ye therefore followers of God,

as dear children;

and walk in love,

as Christ also hath loved us,

 and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmeeling savour.

Ephesians 5:1, 2 KJV

Have a great Wednesday!

Blessings,

Aimee

Photo: flowering tree on the Quimper Peninsula, Washington state.

Sorry for the rambling; busy day and a lot on my mind...
will be back soon with more regular posts and photos unless the sun tempts me TOO much:)