TAKING A REST

 

 

 Come to Me,

all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Doesn't this look like a beautiful place to have quiet time?

 

 

 

 

Postscript:

 

Blogging was great, but like many others, I've moved on to different activities, or 'inactivities' as the case may be. From time to time, I may pop back in with a post of updates, photos, verses, etc.

Thanks to all of you who have visited this blog.

May your days be filled with God's blessings.

 

SNOWY DAYS

We're enjoying the beautiful snow falling outside.

The first good snow of the winter for us.

I'd hoped to have some birds at the feeders in this pic,

but they all made a fast exit when Bill went outside with the camera.

 

Side yard near garage apartment.

 

Lower area is back patio; potting shed in background.

 

 

Hope you've enjoyed a lovely weekend, too!

WINTER

"I do an awful lot of thinking and dreaming about things in the past and the future - the timelessness of the rocks and the hills - all the people who have existed there. I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show.” -Andrew Wyeth

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE HYMNS

This is one of my favorite hymns,

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

sung by Anne Walsh

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,

Vast unmeasured, boundless, free!

Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!

Underneath me, all around me, is the current

of Thy love

Leading onward, leading homeward to

Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,

Spread His praise from shore to shore!

How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth

never, nevermore!

How He watches o'er His loved ones,

died to call them all His own

how for them He intercedeth, watcheth

o'er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus,

'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me

And it lifts me up to glory,

for it lifts me up to Thee!

EASTER! HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

Have a Blessed Easter!

SMALL STUFF

Mosaic update.

Here are a few recently completed small projects.

I have two larger works-in-progress,

and several small decoupage

gift items in the works, so will

post more later.

****

Celestial Lady, Irridescent vitreous and micro tile,

beads, crystal droplets, bling and ceramic brooch

 Apricot Roses, stained glass and micro tile

Name Plaque, stained glass, micro tile,

scrabble letters and bling

Vase of Flowers,

Vitreous tile, flower brooches, gilded clay pot

BLESSINGS

Here are some blessings

for St. Patrick's Day,

& beyond.....

 

May you always have work for your hands to do
May your pockets hold always a coin or two
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain
May the hand of a friend always be near you
And may God fill your heart

with gladness to cheer you.

& one more...

CONTENTMENT

I think the apostle Paul said this first.

Martha must've read her Bible!

Phil. 4:11-13. I hope Martha had read the best part; v.13:

'I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.'

LETS HEAR IT FOR CROWS!

Crows are among the most intelligent of birds. Experiments indicate that American crows can count to three or four, are good at solving puzzles, have good memories, employ a diverse and behaviorally complex range of vocalizations and quickly learn to associate various noises and symbols with food.

****

This video is of two very unlikely friends!

This is unbelievable!

I'm not sure what country this is from, 

or what language the people are speaking,

but just watch the crow!

He has a small, round lid, &  is using it

to slide down the rooftop! 

So funny! 

Notice when he flies away, he takes his lid with him!

These photos are of our 'almost pet', Joe, the Crow.

He & his family are never far from our yard, &

come flying onto the driveway when we call.

Here he is on our back patio, while

I'm standing only a few feet away with the camera.

If he wants peanuts,

he sits on a branch outside my bay window,

or outside the kitchen window,

& waits until I see him.

Joe & his family have been regular members

of our yard menagerie for over three years.
Surprisingly, they are very compatable
with the many chipmunks we feed.
They even (quite vigorously!) chase hawks
from our yard, much to our delight!

We love the crows!

FRIDAY FUNNY: FYI

For all you trivia buffs, research has produced a list of interesting (possible) relatives from the Family Tree of Vincent Van Gogh

His dizzy aunt: Verti Gogh

The brother who worked at a convenience store: Stopn Gogh

The brother who bleached his clothes white: Hue Gogh

The cousin from Illinois: Chica Gogh

His magician uncle: Wherediddy Gogh

His Mexican cousin: Amee Gogh

The Mexican cousin's American half brother: Grin Gogh

An aunt who taught positive thinking: Wayto Gogh

A sister who loved disco: Go Gogh

The ballroom dancing aunt: Tan Gogh

The bird lover uncle: Flamin Gogh

The brother who ate prunes: Gotta Gogh

The nephew who drove a stage coach: Wellsfar Gogh

His nephew psychoanalyst: E Gogh

The fruit loving cousin: Man Gogh

The little bouncy nephew: Poe Gogh

And his niece who travels the country in a van: Winnie Bay Gogh 

Well, there you Gogh!

Happy weekend, everyone!   S: ) 

AND YOU THOUGHT PARROTS WERE COLORFUL

Golden Pheasant

Lilac-Breasted Roller

Nicobar Pigeon

Fancy Black & White Chicken

Himalayan Monal

What amazingly gorgeous birds!

There are hundreds upon thousands more than the ones pictured here.

When I look at these pictures, I can't help but think

"What beauty God has provided for our enjoyment!"

WHAT'S NEW?

As we begin 2012, here are some beautiful PROMISES from God's Word for the NEW YEAR.

Even though the Bible was written so many hundreds of years ago, it's pages are filled with NEW, NEW, NEW.

This is just a sampling. I'll bet if you search, you'll find so many more!


*****

New MERCIES...Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are NEW every morning. --Lamentations 3:23

New SONG..He put a NEW song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. --Psalm 40:3

New ATTITUDE..Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made NEW in the attitude of your minds;

New SELF..(continuing)..and to put on the NEW self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. --Ephesians 4:21-24

New THINGS...See, the former things have taken place, and NEW things I declare. --Isaiah 42:9

New NAME...you will be called by a NEW name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. --Isaiah 62:2

New HEART and SPIRIT...Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a NEW heart and a NEW spirit. --Ezekiel 18:31

New CREATION...Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has gone, the NEW has come. --2 Corinthians 5:17

New BIRTH.. In His great mercy He has given us a NEW birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. --1 Peter 1:3b

New LIFE...We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a NEW life. --Romans 6:4

New COVENANT...Christ is the mediator of a NEW covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. --Hebrews 9:15

New HEAVEN and New EARTH...But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a NEW heaven and a NEW earth, the home of righteousness. --2 Peter 3:13

*****

WELCOME, 2012

Happy New Year, family & friends!

Hoping this is a year of joy and blessings!

GIVING THANKS

Here are my Thanksgiving wishes for you, expressed in these wonderful postcards from over a hundred years ago.

Wherever you are, and however you spend this day, it is my hope that your heart will be filled to overflowing with gratitude and thanksgiving for a loving God, who blesses us with so much more than we could ever deserve!

A HAPPY THOUGHT!

GIRLIE WISDOM

1. A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills... She has 14 kids but she doesn't really care.

2. One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

3. My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

4. The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes .

5. The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.

6. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends..

7. Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.....

8. Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.

9. Amazing! You hang something in your closet, for a while, and it shrinks 2 sizes!

10. Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!' .....Now, I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name, and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat.. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

11. I read this article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!

BEAR-ly THERE!

Never a dull moment here in the mountains!
We knew something was amiss when we heard the neighbors' dogs pitching a fit. You could hear their barking all over the neighborhood!
Bill snapped these photos from under the tree near our mailboxes.

You can't see them in these pics, but there are two cubs up higher in the tree. They were huddled on a branch on the back side of the tree trunk.

After all the excitement subsided, the bears were still in the tree. They'll probably wait until dark to make their 'escape'.

Hope they don't come to our house!

THE MASTER OF MY BOAT

I hope you enjoy this wonderful old poem by Joseph Addington Richards.

Young Woman in a Boat

--Pierre Auguste Renoir

The Master of My Boat

I owned a little boat awhile ago
And sailed a Morning Sea without a fear,

And whither any breeze might fairly blow
I'd steer the little craft afar or near.

Mine was the boat,

And mine the air,
And mine the sea,

Not mine a care.

My boat became my place of nightly toil,
I sailed at sunset to the fishing ground;

At morn the boat was freighted with the spoil
That my all-conquering work and skill had found.

Mine was the boat,

And mine the net,
And mine the skill

And power to get.

One day there passed along the silent shore,
While I my net was casting in the sea,

A Man, who spoke as never man before;
I followed Him new life began in me.

Mine was the boat,

But His the voice,
And His the call,

Yet mine the choice.

Ah, 'twas a fearful night out on the lake,
And all my skill availed not at the helm,

Till Him asleep I waken, crying, "Take,
Take Thou command, lest waters overwhelm!"

His was the boat,

And His the sea,
And His the peace

O'er all and me.

Once from His boat He taught the curious throng,
Then bade me let down nets out in the sea;

I murmured, but obeyed, nor was it long
Before the catch amazed and humbled me.

His was the boat,

And His the skill,
And His the catch,
And His my will.

10 YEARS

ANOTHER DAY

ANOTHER DAY

~Grace E Easley

Lord thank You for another day,

Within this life of mine

Give me the strength to live it well,

Whatever I may find.

Bestow from Your abundance,

Whatever I may lack

To use the hours wisely,

For I cannot have them back.

Lord thank you for another day,

In which to make amends

For little slights or petty words,

Inflicted on my friends.

For sometimes losing patience,

With problems that I find,

For seeing faults in other lives,

But not the ones in mine.

Lord thank You for another chance,

In which to try to be

A little more deserving

Of the gifts You've given me.

Sunlight and Shadow

by Winslow Homer