Welcome Spring!

A BIG welcome to official spring!

(and for those of you still suffering with winter type weather a fervent hope that soon you will see sunnier skies and warmer temperatures)

Blessings,

Aimee

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Photo: our other bleeding heart, now blooming too (although this is a photo from last autumn because I am TOO lazy to connect my external drive right now) :)

On Stuff

Now that the kitchen and dining room remodel is mostly done, I am left with the task of sorting the stuff to put back in the hutch, the portable island (that will serve as a buffet) and the nice large kitchen island (the other kitchen cabs are pretty well organized and filled now)
--

As I sort through the items laying on the table, and those stored in a large 'rubbermaid' type container in the family room (I haven't had the courage yet to get to the bunch of 'rubbermaid' type containers stored in the room recently vacated by my oldest son)...

--

and as I talk to my best friend (currently in the throes of moving) and my sibling (who will soon be doing the same), I moan---what WAS I thinking (referring, of course, to what exactly possessed me to buy 2 of the exact same marble rolling pins)???

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AND
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Um. Where am I going to put all this stuff?

And then I give a silent TY to my former coworker who, years ago, changed my ideas about buying stuff...(and who BTW doesn't know she did this, because she was talking to someone else at the time. Conclusion: some conversations are meant to be heard by others.)

BUT---

why didn't I hear this wisdom earlier in life?

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And right on the heels of that thought (even though we have no debts and do have some savings & retirement)...

wow, I wonder how much more we would have in savings if I hadn't bought some of this stuff?

--

Just what was I thinking during my antique, oriental,

Nordic and rubber stamp collecting years?

But sometimes---occasionally---a very pleasant thought interrupts ALL that negativity about things of the past I can't change (OK more then occasionally since I really DO like most of my kitchen and dining room stuff and since I wasn't all bad with stewardship of our resources)

--

Hey, I'm really happy I get a chance to use these now!

(after unpacking 4 very PNW looking pottery soup mugs)

and

Wow, I STILL love these!

(on some very pretty stemware bought for our anniversary several years ago and a neat teakettle--1 of 2)

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And then 'fear' hits me as I think

-- again --

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JUST

where am I going to put all this?
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Good thing my DH doesn't read my blog;

he wanted to put more cabinets in the kitchen and I said no. Silly woman that I am ---I was going for aesthetics not practicality and thought we would have enough room....

Sometimes wisdow comes with age :)

Blessings from the midst of my semi-organized house,

Aimee

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Photos:

oriental umbrella

nordic door chime (sans the 'chime' parts which are -- hopefully -- packed somewhere)

A Walk in His Garden: Peace & Joy in the Mountains

What is it within me that constantly calls me up into the foothills and mountains of the PNW? Is it the silence I find there--silence unbroken except for a few passing vehicles or the call of a hawk as it passes overhead?

Or is it the peace and joy that fills my heart as we climb higher into the place I love so much -- the place where my heart feels most at home.

Blessings from the beautiful PNW,

Aimee

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Photos:

Foothills and mountains of PNW; a recent family trip.

The Word on Wednesday

“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
In His hands are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down:

let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”

Blessings,

Aimee

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Psalms 95:1-6 KJV

The Word on Wednesday

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalms 46:10 KJV

Blessings this Wednesday,

Aimee

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Photos: from a recent family trip.

The Joys of Springtime in Winter

Ah, the joys of springtime in winter!

Pink and white flowering trees!

Emerald green moss!

And more moss growing on tall trees on the mountainside.

And lastly green, green ferns set under tall trees, on those cool mountainsides!

Ah, the joys and wonders of early spring!

BUT, did you know that springtime in winter has a serious downside though?

It's true.

I wouldn't lie to you.

Let me explain -

please.

You see spring in winter means....

that besides all this breathtaking beauty (and my increase in trips to these beautiful places).

The PNW also has-

pollen galore.

Cough, sneeze; sneeze, cough.

And ants unlimited.

Countless small, smelly crawling things all over our new white sink,

countertops and ME!

(Seriously YUCKY and a bit ouchy too!!!)

and of course the most serious downside....

the Slithery-One (aka snake) season is now OFFICIALLY open at Aimee's place.

As of Saturday--in the driveway--unnoticed totally by me till Farmer Boy pointed him (or her) out--

Serious sigh:(

Ah, spring!

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You know that even with THAT most serious downside,

I STILL love an early spring and always will:)

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Blessings,

Aimee

The Word on Wednesday

“He hath made every thing beautiful in His time…” Ecclesiastes 3:11a KJV

Blessings this Wednesday night, Aimee

Photos: camellia, magnolia

Some Favorite Blogs & Websites

Note--decided to repost this with some additions.

These are a few of my favorite blogs and websites. I don't always agree with every post, but much to all of what they say blesses, inspires and teaches me. I hope they'll bless you too:)

Some blogs first---
http://dorcassmucker.blogspot.com/ (From the PNW-a Mennonite author-delightful blog)
http://littlecabininthewoods.typepad.com/my_weblog/ (From the Blue Ridge Mts-beautiful photos and inspirational writings)
http://oldcentennialfarmhouse.blogspot.com/ (From MI--vintage goodies, great photos, old farmhouse life and much more!)

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking (From OK--a well known site with photos, lots of recipes, homeschooling and more; blog author has published a recipe book and was recently seen on TV)
http://www.annesfood.blogspot.com/ (From Sweden--cooking, cats and a pretty cute baby boy--in English)
http://limeblog.net/ (From Norway--Christian pastor, mom and scrapbooker; love the Norwegian and family photos- in English) Can you tell I love blogs from the Nordic countries?
http://morningramble.blogspot.com/ (From Texas--beautiful photos, simple living, Christian living and more)
http://momzoo.blogspot.com (From UT--LDS mom of 5 adorable kids. Momzoo constantly amazes me with her household skills especially in food preservation! Oh and she occasionally includes some beautiful photos of the mts there!)

http://autumnliving.blogspot.com (From Eastern TN--just found this blog recently, thanks to momzoo, and am really enjoying the photos of TN and homesteading info!)

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Websites--
http://hebrew4christians.com (Since I recently resumed my study of the Hebrew language --I will write about the why later--this is a site I really like along with some books I purchased quite awhile ago.)
http://translate.google.com/# (Love this! Large number of languages available)

Well my hubby man just woke up --2:37 AM and wants pizza so more later:)
Blessings, Aimee

Choices

How often little decisions we make every day affect our peace & well being.

We choose to use our limited energy, resources and time on things that don't satisfy the deepest longings of our soul; on things that are self-serving and may even contribute to negative emotions and habits. Things that are not evil on the surface but also are not the best choices for us to make at that time. Things that are not good stewardship of the gifts and blessings we have been given.

I'm thinking, would we choose to do these things, that are comparatively worthless in terms of eternity (or even a peaceful and satisfying life now), if we knew our time here was short? If we knew that we only had a few years-months-days to live?

Or if we knew a friend, a neighbor or a family member did?

Would we choose to use our moments differently if we were privy to that kind of knowledge?

Or would we instead spend the time left to us in prayer and reflection; taking care of family, reaching out to help the hurting, doing necessary chores, visiting with beloved friends. leaving a legacy of love?

I know that, when offered all the distractions this modern world offers, I often choose poorly-- thinking that 'tomorrow is another day'--that there will always be more time.

And these foolish choices on how I use my time add up to a lot of wasted time with little to show for it.

It's a true statement that time is a gift not given in unlimited quantities

and

it seems like the older I get, the more I am aware of that fact.

Today, although I got up way too late (insert frowning face here!), I chose to turn off the things of the world -- the political bantering, the endless news shows, the empty entertainment -- and listen instead to music and messages that touched my soul. Music (prayer songs) that spoke to me of God's love and of His unending forgiveness to His children. And music that called me to a better way--a way of love, humility, grace and peace.

Tonight those thoughts are still with me--despite the fact that my hubby has the TV on, the beautiful words I heard this afternoon keep replaying in my mind and spirit tonight; and they are still refreshing my innermost being and bringing me peace--something the thing I chose to turn off could never do.

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May you find blessings & peace in your day,

Aimee

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Photos & notes: spring continues with more blossoms. Daily I see changes, increased signs of the garden having left winter well behind.

Bleeding heart (the first of two to have blossoms; I LOVE this plant!), plum blossoms (ditto on the LOVE statement!), raindrop 'diamonds' on columbine leaves, heather (I think or is it heath?? Not in my garden but seen in another garden this week), forsythia on forsythia (color my world sunny yellow!)

Of Spring Blossoms

In the garden it seems more like March or April then February--both our wild and one of the cultivated plum trees are now in bloom; their small but incredibly beautiful white blossoms remind me so much of an oriental flower arrangement. It is tempting to cut more branches to place in our home, but I am trying to be careful, knowing that the blossoms must stay where they are for us to have a harvest of fruit later this summer.

Maybe just a few more flowering branches though.

By the ponds, the magnolia is showing off its beautiful pink buds now as one by one they all emerge from the safety of their fuzzy winter shelters. Soon they'll open completely and white saucer like blossoms will cover the tree. And I will sit on the bamboo bench nearby and gaze upwards at their beauty, and the beauty of the blue waters of the pond with the countryside beyond. And I will be in awe and wonder at this beautiful world God has created.

A world filled with pink, purple, white, red and other colors

splashes of pastel and jewel tone colors set perfectly against the gray, green and other earth tones that form the foundation and background of the garden.

Wow! It is such a blessing to live in this beautiful place of tree and snow covered mountains, verdant valleys, rugged coastlines and high deserts!

Blessings from the PNW,

Aimee

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Photos: wild plum blossoms (with some forsythia), magnolia, tete a tete daffodil

Pancakes Anyone?

With all the recent commercials lately about National Pancake Day, I am really getting in the mood for pancakes!! Despite my NW heritage though, I am not craving flapjacks or the usual breakfast fare...nope.

What I am craving are plattar (Swedish pancakes) with lingonberries...so yummy! These are the thin, small pancakes that I never tire of!

Or maybe some aebleskivers (round pancake like treat originally from Denmark) with raspberry preserves--delicious! It is NO wonder that NWer's are willing to wait in long lines at Scandinavian festivals for these:)

Or possibly all of the above AND a (German or) Dutch Baby pancake with powdered sugar and a bit of lemon juice drizzled on top....It is no wonder I like them--my mom often made Yorkshire pudding with her roasts; very similar to the pancake except the Yorkshire pudding is savory and the pancake sweet. Talking about mom's Yorkshire pudding makes me hungry for those too!

Oh will tomorrow morning ever come???

More importantly is my cast iron aebleskiver pan well enough seasoned?

Blessings,

Aimee

What do you like to eat for breakfast?

What is your favorite type of pancake?

Note: I have made both of the Nordic pancakes above from mixes, but also from scratch. They are both easy to do if your pan is well seasoned--the plattar can be made without a special pan or with one; the aebleskiver requires one. Recipes for all three of these pancakes widely available on the web:)

I have no association with IHOP, who is running the current ads about National Pancake Day, but understand that they are raising money for charity. If you are interested please see their website. The actual date for National Pancake Day was last Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday.

Of Ponds, Blossoms & Spring Days

Up early to do some chores I took time to watch the dawn's colors as reflected on our upper pond and stroll around a bit. The sky was beautiful and our lawn (AKA field) looked like a gorgeous carpet of several shades of green--believe me this photo does not do it justice!

Later, after a nap (still recovering from the cold, etc) I tried to take some pictures of the now blooming wild plums with a wiggly dog in tow! Needless to say I finally put her inside and returned to take some photos and cut a few forsythia and plum branches for a nice spring bouquet! Have I said how much I LOVE yellow and white blossoms at this time of year (oh yea, I guess I have said that -- a time or two!)

I also took time to just sit on our deck steps and drink in the fragrance of the daphne (oh so sweet), the warmth of the sun overhead and the overall beauty of the day!

And...

on this first week of Lent I couldn't help but thank God for all He has given you & I -- surely nature and creation point out His glory and love for us!

Lenten Blessings, Aimee
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"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most Highl"
Psalms 9: 1-2 NIV
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Photos:
Early morning carpet of green
Freshly picked plum & forsythia blossoms
Lower pond plants breaking their winter dormancy
Praecox rhodo reflection in upper pond
Daylily leaf shadow on flagstone

Welcome to Lent 2010

I am reposting this from last year with a few changes.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season (more info here)--the 40 days set aside by some churches to reflect on the Holy Week to come.

I invite you to join other Christ followers and use this special time of reflection, just a little over one month, to think about what Christ did for man by coming to this world as a helpless babe, walking and working among mankind for some 33 years, then dying in our place on the Cross at Calvary and rising to life again. It's good to reflect on how you can share His love with others everyday too.

Here are some online Lenten deotionals and resource I found.

*Goshen College-Mennonite (available as a RSS feed or daily e-mail)
*Creighton College-Roman Catholic (audio, written and other Lenten resources including cooking for Lent)
* Evangelical Covenant Church-weekly writings througout the Lenten season

If you have a favorite Lenten resource and/or online devotional feel free to leave the url in the comments section and why you like it:) Lent, like Advent, was new to me until several years ago.
And now a verse--
" For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. " John 3:16 KJV

Lenten Blessings, Aimee.

Photos: Cross on hill in Oregon along I-5; Mt Angel abbey, Oregon; First Lutheran Church in Poulsbo,Washington (Kitsap Peninsula); St Paul's Episcopal Church in Pt Gamble, Washington (also on Kitsap Peninsula) and St Peter's Catholic Church near King Sealth's gravesite at Suquamish, Washington

Little Bit of This; Little Bit of That

What a difference a few days, prayers and medicine make! No more laryngitis, much less coughing, face swelling greatly diminished...just waiting for this eye infection to resolve so I can feel totally 'normal' again (well at least I'll be able to wear both contacts so I can SEE normally again).

In the garden spring continues with little (and some bigger) changes daily. The foliage of some columbine and a bleeding heart plant have made their appearance now; the stems of spring bulbs continue to get taller and closer to revealing their blossoms! And more-

The most recently planted pieris--the ones on a berm in the Japanese-style garden--are now catching up with the much older one by the lower pond.

Near the upper pond, the magnolia's furry, grayish buds (that remind me of a pussy willow's catkins) are now starting to open and I suspect that soon we will be blessed by beautiful white blooms! ( Hum, the pic is kind of blurry--just like my vision right now)

Also, in the pond area, the crabapple has come to life--I am really eager to see its incredibly beautiful blossoms too--but i think we are a ways off from that 'reveal'!

And last, but not least, the daphne buds have started to open and I found these little garden treasures hiding out by one side of the herb barrel!

Of course, all this spring like weather -- blooms and way too long grass has me thinking. In fact, it has me thinking a lot and ---

it has me thankful!!

Not for the flowers and blue skies -- well actually I am quite grateful for them.

But that way too long grass has me a bit nervous and ...

I am EXTREMELY thankful that I have boots to wear right now in that field AKA as our lawn.

And why would that be you say? Well I am a thinking that with all of this warm weather, all of those additional rocks we put it this last year...and the two ponds...and did I say that way-too-deep grass???

Well I am thinking I might just 'luck out' again and repeat one of my 'close' encounters from last year--hence the thankfulness for the boots.

So, as I go about my daily picture hunt with only partially clear vision...and as that grass gets even longer (but still is too wet to mow) I am thinking that the FIRST official 2010 snake encounter is not too far away for me. So along with the garden tools I will have to put together my very own, personal anti-snake kit. It will help me avoid encounters like these from 2009:)

• The brooch (AKA snake under the rock) episode--I am thinking gloves, THICK ones -- and giving up any rock moving I might be tempted to do.
• Snakes in the path and on the river rock; snakes in the garden and by the pond episodes--a pole, a LONG pole to beat on the ground with (and if that doesn't work play keep away from Aimee with)

But to avoid any snakes in the shadow episodes---the one where I stepped right on an unseen, totally immobile snake in the DEEP shadow of a big shrub as I bent down to turn on the hose connection on the ground. Yea to prepare for times like that, I am thinking of digging out those knee high boots I used to wear to work AND investing in elbow length gloves (or maybe an automatic watering system)

Blessings, Aimee

Valentine's Day

Like Christmas this year, Valentine's Day 2010 will be quite different then I would have liked. My cold is still bad; I've also developed an eye infection and skin infection which has caused the entire eye area (down to the cheekbone) swell and look --- well -- really, really nasty. I am now on medication for the infections though and, God willing, they expect improvement in a day or two. Until then I am HAPPY to stay out of public places and in the comfort of my warm home under a fleecy comforter!

Anyway, I am saying all this to point out the fact that sometimes life cannot be planned and there are always times when you will find yourself disappointed at the way things turned out. Such is life and I am reminded that even when disappointments come our way, we are still surrounded by many blessings if we only look for them.

Some of my blessings this Valentine's Day eve---

• A hubby willing to accompany me to the doctor of MY choice--even though our insurance won't cover the visit
• Antibiotics and well trained, compassionate health care professionals!
• Family and friends
• Knowing that this week will bring more color in the garden, possibly more blue skies above me and beautiful music to surround me!

Have a blessed Valentine's Day!

Aimee

Wordless Wednesday (but not quite in the way you'd expect)

Today I am celebrating what I see on a lot of blogs...wordless Wednesday; but in my case I am celebrating it literally. You see about 2 days ago I lost my voice and it's been replaced by a squeaky, half whispered thingee quite unlike my real one.

Our dogs alternate between obedience and disobedience as I attempt to issue orders for them to 'come', 'go slow' or 'move'. Of course, they sometimes don't obey me when I have a normal voice either...

My hubby keeps asking 'what'? -- he can't hear me either; he finally just told me to stop trying to talk.

When others do 'hear' me they mostly have 1 of 2 reactions; shock and concern or laughter. They all know that being wordless is REALLY not a normal state for me.

I am SO glad that I rarely catch colds and that I've had laryngitis even less frequently. All and all I will be glad to return to 'normal' --- at least my normal.

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Wishing you health and many blessings, Aimee

Photos: field daisies, pussy willows, the leaves of one of the miniature roses (they never really seemed to lose their leaves this winter), praecox rhodendron (imagine a big bush covered in these beauties), first dandelion (well at least the first one I found), leftover storm 'damage' (or an opportunity for a photo-what is hard to see is that this cone is tightly wedged in there)

Love: quotes to reflect on

"The most beautiful sight this earth affords is a man or woman so filled with love that duty is only a name, and its performance the natural outflow and expression of the love which has become the central principle of their life."

Josiah Gilbert Holland, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), pg 394

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"Love feels no burden, regards not labors, strives toward more than it attains, argues not of impossibility, since it believes that it may and can do all things."

Thomas A Kempis, German monk & mystic, The Imitation of Christ, pt 3, ch 6 (1471)

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"When one has once fully entered the realm of Love, the world--no matter how imperfect--becomes rich and beautiful, it consists solely of opportunities for Love."

Soren Kierkegaard, Works of Love (1847)

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"They do not love that do not show their love."

William Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I, Scene 1

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"Love comforted like sunshine after rain."

William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis

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"An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge."

John Wesley, The Works of Rev John Wesley (1830)

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----and last, but certainly not least, these verses found in the Holy Bible

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“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

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"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

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Blessings, Aimee

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Note: Excerpted from the following webpage, http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Love. Text, on this post only, available under CC-BY-SA. If you wish to use the text please see the following links for legal terms of use: http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Terms_of_Use
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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Photo: pieris -- reminds me of a bridal bouquet