Glorious Sunset!

"From the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same

the Lord's name is to be praised."

Psalm 113:3

~&~

Joining Cindy at My Romantic Home

for

Show and Tell Friday

Of Ballet Bags, Buttermilk Bread and Butter

Find the recipes in

The Pantry

and

Bag photos in

The Sewing Room!

~*~

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands."

"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens."

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet."

Selected from Proverbs 31

Brooking disappointment

We had a lovely family excursion planned for our last

weekend together with #2 daughter visiting from

New York. We were to get up early on Saturday morning,

meet with #1 daughter and her family, and

drive the 2 1/2 hours down to Woodland Washington

to do a little spelunking in Apes Caves (near Mt. St. Helen's)

and then visit the nearby Cedar Creek Grist Mill.

The weather at home was a brisk but sunshiny day.

The weather on the mountain...

We couldn't park near the entrance to the caves

because of snow (:~{ and the little girls couldn't

walk the 1/2 mile to get there, so we played in the snow

and took a short trek around the "Trail of Two Trees".

This is a small 'tube' formed when two large trees were

felled by the lava and then burned

leaving an empty space where the trees had been.

Daughter #1 following the boardwalk.

Auntie Shan showing the girls where they would

come out of the tube.

Miss Morgan checking it out.

She is ready for the adventure...

but Miss Raegan would have none of it ~ even with Grandpa!

With flashlight in hand, and a little help from Grandpa,

Morgan eagerly enters the tube.

She, her Mommy and Auntie were the only brave souls

to navigate the 40 ft. 'L' shaped tube.

Did I mention I am claustrophobic? :~O

~*~

On our way back down the mountain to go to the

Grist Mill, we stopped at a lakeside park

to have our 'winter picnic' lunch.

Let me just say ~

COLD!!!

But, lunch was delicious ~

cheese and crackers and venison summer sausage,

oven baked chicken,

potato salad,

sweet potato chips,

fruit,

and juice.

But it was so bitterly COLD! We ate quickly and made a hasty

retreat down the mountain!

~*~

When we arrived at the Grist Mill we discovered that

IT WAS CLOSED!!!

So disappointing since we had checked the website
and they posted their hours as open every Saturday

hours 1pm. - 4pm.

Grandpa and his 'little sweetheart' Morgan...

trying on each others' hats!

~

After we shared some yummy homemade oatmeal raisin cookies

provided by daughter #1, we said our farewells and

promised to come again when the weather

and millers are more cooperative!

~*~

" Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines,

though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food,

though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will exult in the LORD. I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places."

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Epiphany (Twelfth Day)

Epiphany, n. The festival celebrated on the sixth day of January, the twelfth day after Christmas, in commemoration of the appearance of Christ to the Magi or philosophers of the East, who came to adore Him with presents, or, as others maintain, to commemorate the appearance of the star to the Magi or the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The Greek fathers use the word for the appearance of Christ in the world, the sense in which Paul uses the word. Sometimes called Twelfth Day.

~*~

My #2 Daughter and I took a trip to Victoria, B.C. for a couple of days.

Along with window shopping in downtown Victoria,

we took a tour out to the Butchart Gardens to see the Christmas Display.

The Parliament Building, downtown Victoria.

Frozen Waterwheel!

Carollers!

Lighted trees.

The Gardens were decked out with scenes of the Twelve Days of Christmas!

(Please excuse the poor photos ~ I've lost my camera manual and don't know how to

take shots in the dark.)

Feel free to sing along as we discover each scene of the Carol!
~*~

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A Partridge in a Pear Tree!
~

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Two Turtle Doves
~
On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Three French Hens!
~
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Four Calling Birds!
(You can't see in the photo, but each bird has a type of telephone!)
~
On the Fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Five Golden Rings!
~
On the Sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Six geese a laying.
(Couldn't get all the geese in the shot!)
~
On the Seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Seven Swans a swimming.
~
On the Eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eight Maids a milking.
~
On the Ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Nine Ladies dancing.
~
On the Tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Ten Lords a leaping!
(Animated frogs were 'jumping' up from behind a wall ~
couldn't get them all at the same time!)
~
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me...



Eleven Pipers piping.
(A long window display showed 11. I couldn't get close enough
to get them all and the darkness made them blurry. :~{
~
On the Twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me...


Twelve Drummers drumming!
(Twelve lighted arches above the parking lot had the
last line of the song.)
~*~
Today is Epiphany!


"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him....
they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh."
Selected from Matthew 2

Pulla!

New recipe in The Pantry!

Come check it out!

"Give us this day our daily bread."

Matthew 6:11

Just Poppin' in to say "Hi!"

I am so sorry to be remiss in posting these last couple weeks. Our youngest daughter is visiting from New York and we are not missing any opportunity to enjoy each other's company!

I do miss visiting with you all, and do hope to be back with you soon.

Here are a few photos of some of our little jaunts ~ trying to work off some of those calories that multiplied during our Christmas and New Year's festivities!

~*~

Stretching our legs along Valley Rose Drive.

A mossy 'Do' on a fence post.

"And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man."

Genesis 27:11

A lonely boat on Hammersley Inlet.

"Turn to me and be gracious to me, For I am lonely and afflicted."

Psalm 25:16

Ferns marching up the tree trunks.

"LORD, when Thou didst go out from Seir, When Thou didst march from the field of Edom, The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped, Even the clouds dripped water."
Judges 5:4

Beauty and color found even in the weathered top of a piling.

"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to meditate in His temple."

Psalm 27:4

Waiting, patiently!

"The LORD is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance."

2 Peter 3:9

~*~

A Winter Hike At...

The brisk air 'encouraged' us to keep up a warm pace!

"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?"

Job 38:20

Where once there was a footbridge, now washed out

by a raging river, only the foundation rocks remain.

Even...

in...

Winter, there is beautiful color peeking out from

the snowy white mantle!

"Shelter in a time of storm"

Isaiah 25:4

Gnarly, Dude!

Peace like a river!

Wishing you all His peace in 2011!

~*~

"He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8