Pink Saturday

Happy PINK Saturday!!

I 'm in the Pink

this weekend as we are deep in the throes of planning our

yearly trip to Boston!

Now, this is a 12 hour drive for us so we are breaking

up the trip with a few side attractions!

First, we have box seats for Chris Botti, jazz trumpeter.. at the Wolf Trap near Washington,DC.

To quote the Wolf Trap's own words, "The best selling jazz instrumentalist in music today, this crossover jazz trumpeter has shared the stage and screen with big names including Sting, Paul Simon, Josh Groban, and Steven Tyler.

The next day our

Pink adventures

continue in New York as we stop over in Warwick and the Warwickshire Bed and Breakfast!!



This gorgeous Victorian Home was built in 1893 and exudes the drama and charm of an OLDE English Manor.... Just my style for

true Pinkness and delight!



Of course, our visit with the kids in Boston always delivers the rarest kind of
Pink pleasure..

just to sit around their table and chat or watch an old vintage movie together warms the cockles of my heart...

but on this visit we plan visiting Cape Cod as well.

Whether were taking in all the sites, or digging into some amazing seafood...

Pinkness level

will be shooting skyhigh on our visit!

Then on our return home we will detour with a stopover at a favorite Bed and Breakfast in Lititz, PA... The Swiss Woods...

Here you can see , last year,Lynn was in the

PINK

as we enjoyed out morning coffee in our private garden retreat right outside the door of our room!


All in all, a wonderful excursion, sure to put

roses

in our cheeks and a lilting

Pink glow

upon our faces...

For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!!!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your PINKNESS today!!

Yes, I did take a bit of Pink Licence with my post this week but having a pink attitude of expectation is as good as Pink gets for me!

Word Filled Wednesday

Click here for more WFW!

Happy Homemaker Monday

The Stay at Home Mom hosts this each week.
The weather in my neck of the woods:
Hot, hot, and more hot! Dry, dry, dry!! Would love a nice rainy day or 2 or 5.

Things that make me happy:
Cool, refreshing, reviving rain!


Book I'm reading:
Knowing God, by James Tarter


What I'm enjoying on TV:
The second season of the series All Creatures Great and Small


On the menu for dinner:
Bar-be-cued boneless pork ribs



On my To Do List:
Sweep and mop the floors
Fold put away laundry
Organize my studio... why does it forever more need to be organized


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
The almost sugar free chocolate cake recipe of the side panel of the Betty Crocker box that Gerri shared with us last mnth... Im taking it to Bible study this week


In the craft basket:

home-made cards



Looking forward to this week:
Getting my yard sale items over to the church for the huge benefit sale and working hard there to get the items we've been amassing priced ...it will be really good to get this chore behind us... huge undertaking!!


Tips and Tricks:
well I am just enthralled with these waxless battery operated candles that look so nice "burning" but won't burn your house down! Im in the process of collecting some for every room!!


My favorite blog post this week:
probably this one.... I need to blog more, I think... been a little off my game lately


Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):

A Year from Oak Cottage
I love Marie's blog... I go there for encouragement and ideas on the most scrumptious meals.... but dont stop by unless you have several minutes to just revel in her offerings..
No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):



Well I have to share anyway... I almost let July get past me without sharing our precious little patriot.... she will be 25 in just 3 days so I will take this opportunity to wish her a wonderful happy birthday!!!!

Lesson learned the past few days:


How important it is to practice Godliness every moment especially those moments when we are alone in the house facing a trial, perhaps a test for the Lord... not to have a conniption fit just because no one is around.... Im not so sure there wasnt a crowd in the room last Thursday when I got a little bent out of shape.....


On my mind:
So much trouble in the world... so many needing jobs, homes, healings!


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in silver settings!
Proverbs 25:11

Pink Saturday

Happy PINK Saturday!!

I love the exqusite PINKness of my daylilies.... their perky little ruffly edges
and sunny yellow centers delight the eye!!!



Clustered together the pink day lilies lure the weary traveler to the garden to refresh and bask in their rosy beauty..


and enjoy their every hue!

For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!!!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your PINKNESS today!!

Skywatch Friday

At close of day a respite from the heat settles over our valley and gives us some relief!

For more skies visit Skyley.

Word Filled Wednesday

Click here for more WFW!

Pink Saturday

Happy PINK Saturday!!
You can see just how dry we are here in Virginia.... but the Pinkness just keeps blooming and blooming.

The foliage on my showy lilies may be distressed, but the blossoms are singing out "Enjoy my Pinkness!!""

As delicate and exquisite pink is, it definitely is a survivor and will find its way!
For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!!!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your PINKNESS today!!

Skywatch Friday

At close of day a respite from the heat settles over our valley and give us some relief!

For more skies visit Skyley.

Friends for Life

There are just some folks who you know that no matter what you're going to be friends... for life.Even though I've really only known Dottie for about four years now... our paths had crossed through church activities for some time before... but when we were both going to the same church and the same Sunday School class we really began to realize just how much we had in common.... and how much we just loved chatting over tea and coffee...





She and her brother Bill and her two puppies, Heather and Holly, just bless us with sweet, true blue fellowship!!!!



Dottie is such an amazingly intelligent and competent gal... she really keeps me on my toes.... whether it is in our deep discussions about world events or spiritual growth she stretches my horizons and encourages me to reach higher.... and when Im out of sorts or just need someone to talk to... she's always there. Like last nght when Lynn had a dinner meeting about work.... Dottie cleared her schedule to come share dinner with me and watch a movie...
so since we both enjoy breakfast out so much I thought we'd just have breakfast in..

and then we watched Australia with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman... a great after dinner chick flick

Summer Blues

I am so glad I visited Heidi this morning and her celebration of the Summer Blues. I have been infatuated with the "Blues" of summer my self....blues has been my color of choice this season..


Everytime I stop in a shop, blue captures my eye and I end up bringing home a bag with something ... like my new blue place mats.... these gorgeous throw pillows ....


... a sweet pottery vase for lavendar painted with delicate blue posies...


I suppose my "Blue" inspiration is a natural thing.. as I gaze our my summer windows, blue cheers my very soul!




Every hue of blue....







Even the filtered light that comes on the window calms my busy spirit and gives a sense of repose in blue!




So I am joining Heidi in just reveling in the majesty of "Blue" this season.... and allowing it's cool and refreshing loveliness wash over me as I celebrate this rest of the summer season!!!

No Rain Date Necessary

This week I was privileged to chaffeur my parents to their Woodlanders cookout hosted by our dear friends, Sarah and Wally... The weather forecat was iffy on Tuesday ut the threat of rain only brought a respite form the hot dry conditions we've been experiencing.... plus, Wally's wonderful covered patio served us well. So let the good rain come, we enjoyed its welcome visitation. Sarah, the hostess with the mostess, never fails to create a festive and welcoming affair


My parents certainly enjoyed fellowshiping with their church friends...



I really love wally's home... the environs are so beautiful, and lush...



The food and drink flowed freely... and I was good... I refused to eat my hot dog on a bun.... then I was able to enjoy my brownie!!


Summer is a time for relaxed fellowship and fun family affairs.

One really does need to make accommodations whereever possible with all the wonderful food events that make summer so enjoyable!!!

Daily "Pearls"

Through my window: It is mid July..... a bit of a respite from the heat has finally drifted in to bring us relief..... there is the smell of summer rain in the air.....
Through my door: I'll be leaving shortly to take my mom to a social event with her church friends.... over to Sarah and Wally's... for a cook out... I am bringing my homemade chili for the hotdogs... and a nice charred hotdog with chili sounds pretty good to me today!!!
Hearing: I am listening to the music on my blog.... the Piano Solo from Braveheart is currently playing.... such a haunting melody... it conjures such depths of feeling and remembrance...
What's Cooking:Well, Lynn wanted me to thaw some pork chops so I suppose that would be the thing to do... thankfully he brought home Chinese for dinner last evening.
Hearth and Home: I purchased new picture frames to hold my family coat of arms so that they will all match ... my two older ones have always been in the basement den... but I am bringing them up and creating a family collection of artifacts in the central hall of our home....
Healthy Living: This is week two of our summer study for the first Place Bible ZInitiative whereby we are striving to balance our lives in it's 4 fold attributes.. spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional..... this week the challenge is to lose 2 pounds and keep them off... Keepiing it off has been a trial for me lately!!!!
Creative Corner: The heat of the day has taken its toll on my wonderful blue hydrangea bush this summer.... the blooms have all withered and turned brown... I am fortunate that the lovely blossoms I cut for a boouquet actually dried nicely and I am using them as a dried bouquet now... as they retained their luscious deep hue. Bu I also purchased a few blue hydrangeas in silk this week to incorporate into an arrangement... one can never have enough blue hydrangeas in summer!!!
Reading:

First Place Bible Study... A Summer Study
The Book of Isaiah
PS God Loves You Devotional by Connie Witter

On My Mind: How fortunate I am to live this life... this family....this time in human history....
it is funny... I used to really wish I could have lived in the days of yore... or wished I lived in another land.... well.. I still do sometimes daydream about living in the highlands or the on the moors of the United Kingdom....but I am chasing a rabbit trail.... I am very much aware of America's fall from grace..... beginning in the 60's when government took prayer out of the schools.... and then in the last decade whereby our society is attempting to eliminate God from all public arenas... Oh, if only the church had been bold to stand up for God in those early days.... but she was complacent.... not paying attention.... too comfortable in her slumber and lukewarm ness to realize what was happening.... today one only needs to look to Europe to see what happens when God is taken out of the scheme of man's affairs... all forms of evil are upheld and the there is no godly vision... without vision then the people perish...
I speak to wonderful people in the Uk on a daily basis... people whom I am pleased to call my friends... yet I am so burdened for them as they have lost touch with the Lord... many have no idea who he is.... They dont even understand the premise of a Bible study.... they cant fathom a desire to know God...yet... the enemy has perpetrated all kinds of schemes on them which draws them more and more into his clutches.... through music and ideologies... seeing these things I am consumed with the notion that our nation is hurtling toward this very same abyss at an alarming pace.... so I think... what is my responsibility... what should be the response of the church.. this is an awesome time to be alive... God is putting an urgency and a mission in my heart..... a vision is in the making.... I ponder and pray for the boldness to move wth it into action!


My prayer life.I am still seeking to be more intentional in praying...our corporate praying every other saturday isnt enough.... it is time in my life for intentional perseverance of prayer... lifting our home, our community, our church and our nation before God for His mercy, direction, His protection, and His hand to be on us....


Gratefulness: I am grateful for the direction I see God leading me... the opportunities and the growth.. the developing wisdom of when to speak and what to say.... little by little I am yielding my flesh to His spirit.... praise God!!!

Praying:So many requests from so many....for health, stability, healing, strength, courage, forgiveness, unity, wisdom, provision, ..."Help us" Lord!"

Planning: There tucked away in the back of my mind is the necessity for me to create a song file of my favorite tunes to take along to Boston... we're using our GPS and a comuter file to run the music through our car radio..... uploading the files is becoming a bane to me.... getting it into the mp3 format..... why does this seem so diffiuclt this time??? What am I doing wrong.. Oh.. just keep it tucked away back there until........
Simple Pleasures: I must admit I just really enjoy chatting with my friends around the world through Facebook.... it is amazing to me that that is even possible... a simple thing to chat across the fence... but to chat across the world......
Thanks to Thia. I just happened on her site tonight and fell in love with this theme so I am borrowing it. Her original is found on her site, Harvest of Pearls.

Pink Saturday

I love to be alert to just any pink that sprinkles my world.... sometimes it is an explosion... but sometimes it is a dash!

For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!!!

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your PINKNESS today!!

Skywatch Friday

An early summer Lancaster sunset is a thing of beauty and mystery.

For more skies visit Skyley.

Word Filled Wednesday

The Lord provides for all our needs if we but put our trust and faith in Him....He is my hiding ploace and an ever present help in storming times...

Click here for more WFW!

Three or more Tuesday

Visit Tam at The Gypsy's Corner for more TOMT..

Today for my Three or More Tuesday I would like to share about my surprise birthday party last night... well, I actually turn 60 day after tomorrow, which fact, helped in keeping this event a complete surprise.... I thought Lynn was just taking us and my parents out for dinner.

We left home at abut 4:20 and picked up mom and dad then we proceeded to drive all around town looking for a place to eat for the next hour.... when we arrived in the next county I should have had my suspicions, but even then , I just had no idea!! Eventually, we pulled in to Amanda's in-laws driveway.... and my expectations suddenly soared,,,

because by this time I was becoming quite hopeful for an amazing repast..... and I was not to be disappointed!!!

To say that this event was well thought out and executed is just plain lame.... To know our hostess, Jan, you must know that her flair for creating themed parties is nationally acclaimed.... her renown for party planning stretches half way across America and probably beyond....my party took us on a trek around the world in commemoration of my life and family!!!.. We traveled from my home town... to Europe,, to Asia, and back again.. all in one beautiful festive, delicious evening!!!

To begin every place setting was completely personalized and spectacular...



My place mat was of Williamsburg to celebrate the years I taught Virginia History... Lynn's was of the State Capitol since he is a state employee... Mom's was a rooster... being a Cox she loves to crow... ( no she loves roosters.... HEEHEE) and dad's was the Old Mabry's Mill.. very appropriate!
A close up shot reveals my Korean linen napkin which is a youngster swinging which is a traditional pastime for young ladies.... to remind me of my darling daughter, Amanda!!!

For our appetizer Jan transported us to Europe... with a fabulous German cheese and cracker competing with an English cheese and cracker... Lynn and I lived in Germany the first year of our marriage..and of course, I long to visit the United Kingdom... soon.... as my genealogical roots are calling my name!!! A local apple cider from Botetourt County... my school division..... rounded out the first course.... then we were on to new locales.... with a wisk and fourish Jan changed the setting....

and we were off to Asia... a lovely Korean doll and china plate graced center place.... and Kevin's amazing dinner was served... including Korean Bulgogi, a fabulous asparagus and beef dish, Korean soup, chicken and veggies,and delicious sweet and sour tilapia... yumyum!!!!! All served over a wonderful stir fried rice laden with veggies and delicate spices!! (Note, the beautiful vase commemorating the Hokies as our kids ' Alma mater!!)


You will note an all new place setting and new tone for the festivities.... conversation lulled as we all enjoyed the savory meal.... with each course I was presented a gift bag of goodies which I will share about directly... but whallah!!

Again the scene was transformed... and we returned to America just in time for a patriotic celebration...


with a twist of my beloved Scotland thrown in to make everything just perfect.

Even though our dear friends Sarah and Wally couldn't attend Sarah sent along her marvelous shortbread's for the occasion which served with a German coffee , UMMMMM!! and Jan's wonderful fruited pudding... made for a festive end to a fabulously memorable birthday dinner!!


And since dad's birthday is this month as well....

he got to celebrate, too!!!

So now to the amazing and significant gifts....

My lovely birthday card was completely approrpriate for me.... as I love to enjoy my daily cup of tea and dream about far away places on the moors and highlands of Scotland..

The white bag of gifts sported a tribute to Germany and England...

Pictured here are the gorgeous German napkins, and German chocolate covered butter biscuits... ummmm!,, and some local Apple Butter processed just beyond my school where I taught for 30 years.....Scottish collection of jams and jellies,, and a tin of Highland blend tea...
Other bags featured the following wonders

A Symphony Bar celebrates the talents of our marvelous children Amanda and Joshua, living in Boston,,, there were 2 boxes of Boston Tea Party Tea, as well as some Virginia Hubs peanuts, and Korean stir Fry sauce!

Also in tribute to our kids,, there was a bottle of Cape Cod dressing and a package of Massachusettes cranberries.... each and every delightful article special in the memories each one evoked in such a personalized and symbolic manner.... Well, I did say, Jan is an artistic party planner extraordinaire!!! And this celebration will go down in the annuls of my life as an amazing celebration of life and family... Jan and Kevin... there are no words adequate to express my heart felt delight and wonder for last evening! So I revert to my favorite exclamation!

YAYA!!!!!