Green is the Word

I am in  such a  green mood   lately....I suppose   mainly because everywhere I look   things are   just  growing and growing....I  love the  rain   and cooler weather of this summer....  I love  today's weather....  a  temperate 75  degrees   now at  3pm....   Lynn is  actually   painting   the outside of our house... something he has been   wanting to start  all  summer...but  things  kept getting in the way!   It is a lovely   time....   

   

Personal struggles with  my mom     have  settled for a   short span  today and I can actually be home  for a  while  so he is free to  climb  up  on the house.... I  dont  dare   want him up there   unless I am home.... but yes,,,   the  illness    that  mom is  experiencing  offers  a  different  sense of  green....   a  an unpleasant   kind of green that   is unsettling....  that  sets   the mind to wondering,  "what  next, Lord?".. 

 Then there is another  kind of  joyful green...   another   kind of   growing....   

Our  Lil  Birdie is just growing and growing   doubling  every week it seems....

How   would I   describe  this green...

a lovely  spring  green  of  new life and wonder....   and   a  green  that  is   so  marvelously filled  with  joy and  anticipation,   we   can  hardly  contain   our  exultation!

Green has so many connotations  that I never  considered before...

God  most certainly   is the  creative Master   of the universe   as He gives us the myriad    hues of    color....   and each and every   shade   can resonate   a different  sense  or  feeling or memory  in our  lives....I   love how   I can  see   the  whole  matrix of   life,   its joys and  struggles   in  each   view of God's world  and   it reminds  me   that  we can find   peace and solace,   joy and relief,,   peace and rest  if we   remember to   turn it all,   the good and the bad,  right back into God's  safe keeping....  What a blessing!  He is there all the time!

  I am sharing on  these   weekly   parties.... A Return to Loveliness@ A Delightsome Life

On the Rails Again!

Click here to return to the Tablescaper!
In June  I posted the  precursor to this   post....  We have just returned from our    rail trip to Boston...


a  photo from previous trip

Again our  first and always choice  is  the quiet car for  travelling, especially  when it will be  12  long hours....  the peace is  conducive to   rest, reading and my favorite  ...   listening to  my  music  via earphones...and now   to our delight,   all trains   offer  wi-fi  which  really  makes for  a more pleasant passage.

When   your  train leaves at 7:30am and the station is   90 minutes away,     it makes for an early  departure....   one never knows  quite  what  to  expect weather-wise until  the     fog   burns off...

But     last Friday   proved to be   a lovely   travel day!

I loved these   flowers   that  bloomed   in wet places  along the   line!

Much of the  view   was   trees and more trees  and thankfully blue   skies!

The Big Apple  was  a bit  smoggy..  but    better than the dreary   conditions  on our last  pass through! 
My favorite  part of  the  trip north is      through Connecticut  as the  rail skirts  along the  southern  coast of the state.
With    lovely  seaports   to the north,

Thinking Autumn Already?

We have just returned   from Boston   seeing  our   kids.....can   one ever see your  kids enough....  this time  I  went to  share in  Amanda's   wonderful  baby shower....  She is so blessed by such marvelous friends  both at  work and at  church,as  well,   as  friends  as   close as  family who   just   simply  love her  .....     Just  a few  are  shown here with   our darling   Amanda.  

So on this visit Lynn and I took  Amtrak   on this  12 hour  trip .. our  first  Amtrak experience together....  so   I was   very limited in  what I could purchase  on this trip...but   what can I say...when  Amanda   says, "Wanna go to 

?'
We dont have   one      anywhere nearby so...  I told her, "only if I can  rent  a part of her closet     just until  we  visit again if Isee  something I can't live without!"  And I did... actually,  Amanda found  it for me...
  I  didnt take a photo...  they were  wrapped up so   well,   but   she found  exactly 6  of these!

  I actually   bought  6  soup bowls.....  regular  price  at Replacements,  16.00  each.   At HG  there were 2.99  each. In other words,  all  six  for  just over the price  of 1.....  I call that a bargain!I   dont   have this pattern,  but I do have   these.

  The Herdsman... 
which  I   think  are  just perfect for  autumn settings  like this one....so Im sure   my  herdsman  lives in the country and   harvests the hay  for his  beautiful sheep....   and I  can already   begin   thinking about     a  new   setting  ....   we will be  returning to   Amanda   in a  few weeks  after the baby   comes....when they  decide  they are ready to   ask us to   come....or become  desperate to have us   what ever comes first!
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home on Thursday

Wendy at The Shabby Nest for Frugal Friday

Sweet and Simple Friday   at Rooted in Thyme

Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday

Debra at Common Ground for Be Inspired Friday

Kate at Chic On A Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday

Happy Homemaker Monday

Visit Sandra here for more HHM!

The weather.....

well, it isnt much better   this week so far..  it is a very humid 86  as I write this

Right now I am....

taking a break  frm  laundry and   organizing....  these twon  items   seem  to  consume me in their need to be done,  but  I never seems to make the headway I need to make!

Thinking.... 

Yes,  pondering... that is word  for   today.. there is so much to ponder.. I dont know if you  are   feeling it  but  I  sense a  time in   history where  God is   wanting to  connect with his people in new ways....   through His creation...
 
source
and the heavenlies...

source
 both these  were posted on Facebook this past week....

Looking forward to...
getting  to  actually see and hold Little Birdie in my arms...

On my reading pile....

Earth's Earliest Ages, by George Pember

Daily Bible reading...Obadiah, Jonah, 

Daily devotional.. My Utmost for His Highest 

Seven Men by Eric Metaxas

On my TV..... 

very disappointed in TV lately....  I do  enjoy  Daystar,  Trinity, and The Word networks.

Blog Hopping

Introducing Pretty Little Things....if you ,love  all   things crafty  and sweet,  especially  when you're thinking of little  girls!!!

On my to do list....

laundry

errands
clean house (this list never changes)

grocery shopping  
visitation with my   parents  

Bible Study

Looking around the house....
Do I have to!?!

From the camera:

I know this  was  taken about  3 months ago and I am  just realizing  how very fast these  3 months have flown by...  We were on our way to   our Sunday  night  Bible Study class which has  become such an integral part of our lives,  I  would be  so very  sad  if it were to   suddenly  stop for one reason or another....when you are having so much fun fellowshipping around the awesome  Word or God  time stands still...  

On my prayer list..... 

Our family, parents, daughter ,  Little Birdie*, son-in law, 

Our church, and church family 

our nation, leaders, 

Israel and the Middle East 

Bible verse, Devotional  or  thoughtful  words:

Romans 1:11-12

11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Pass the Pot O' Tea Please

Nothing  speaks  to the   inner  soul   like  a  calming    afternoon break over a  cup of   lovely tea...  Teatime around here  is  an essential  part of  the day.... No matter  what I am doing,   taking a tea break makes everything  seem more  peaceful and  less dreadful...  and  let's face it, life can become somewhat dreadful..  Just having  the tea components   readily available is  part of the experience....

One doesnt   want to spend   undue  time trying to locate the  implements!
How about tea  in the morning,    by the bedside!Why, I think tea for one, as long as it is for me, is a lovely  thing!
 

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” 

― C.S. Lewis

Tea on the sideboard  in preparation for  a  luncheon  gathering is   an absolute!

On   a miserably hot and humid day like today,   an iced tea  break is called for....

Kate Greenaway  wrote....

"With a cool breeze blowing, and not too much heat -

And doesn't the tea-tray look charmingly neat?"

Or,   sometime,  an iced tea  break on the porch with my sweetie,   makes the day   special!

One of my favorite   teatimes is when I steal  away  with   my  cuppa tea  and   enjoy  my   new magazine of fresh ideas and   lovely  inspirations!
Or if it is   extremely pleasant in  the garden,   an afternoon  soiree' is   simply sublime!

"Bread and water can so easily be toast and tea."  ~Unknown

An afternoon of bird watching and  drawing,  is much more   festive with a bit of tea and  a sweet!

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” 

― Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady

The Tea Party 

I had a little tea party 

This afternoon at three. 

'Twas very small-

Three guest in all-

Just I, myself and me. 

Myself ate all the sandwiches, 

While I drank up the tea;

'Twas also I who ate the pie

And passed the cake to me. 

~Jessica Nelson North 

Sometimes  we just cant wait and  must have  tea with our   breakfast...  

I always  enjoy so much  everyone's   lovely  sentiments about tea and  their   beautiful teatime settings....    Please  check out these  sites for   more !

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz CottageTea Cup Tuesday~ Artful Affirmations
Tea Cup Tuesday ~Martha’s Favorites
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ Antiques and Teacups
Friends Sharing Tea ~ Open House @Bernideen’s Teatime Blog
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Home and Garden @ A Delightsome Life
Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home on Thursday

Happy Homemaker

Visit Sandra here for more HHM!

The weather.....

yikes,  it is  91 degrees and  humid.....   think I'll stay in the hopuse  today!

Right now I am....

taking a break... ahvent  been blogging for a  spell...  been too busy....   today I finished  making   my  Grammie CC gift   to Little Birdie.... more on that later.

Thinking.... 

One of these days  pretty soon, Lynn and  I will be  boarding  the train  and heading  north to see the kids....  toa ttend   a baby shower for Amanda and Birdie....I  am  so  pleased that  my  sewing  ability   came  out  jsut in time for me to tackle and complete  my  secret   shower gift...   however, it wasnt without it's shares of  trouble.....  Let's jsut say I did quite a bit of  ripping out yesterday!
   yikes!
  But today  it is   complete and looking   very nice!

Looking forward to...
getting  to  actually see and hold Little Birdie in my arms...

On my reading pile....

Daily Bible reading...Proverbs

Daily devotional.. My Utmost for His Highest 

Seven Men by Eric Metaxas

On my TV..... 

an occasional   old  film on  TMC

Blog Hopping

Today I enjoyed Pondside
Uplifting,   peaceful,. and   simply   sublime!

On my to do list....

sewing project

laundry

errands
clean house (this list never changes)

grocery shopping  

In the craft basket.... 

Looking around the house....

looks like    someone is trying to get some things ready to post.... 

  a large box,  filler paper, and  bubble wrap,   and   bundles  lying about... Hmmmmm

From the camera:

Documenting   the  fun evening we  enjoyed last Friday at  the Yacht club on Smith Mountain Lake

 It was    cool and breezy  well, it  fell  wonderful compared to today!

The water was a bit choppy  so   we   didnt  take the  sailboat out....  but  enjoyed watching   others   speed by...   The  food   brought by  our  Sunday School class was   delish and the  company  as usual was   merry!...

I   found  my game....  I  pretty good at   throw the bean bag!!!

heheheheheheh!

On my prayer list..... 

Our family, parents, daughter ,  Little Birdie*, son-in law, 

Our church, and church family 

our nation, leaders, 

Israel and the Middle East 

Bible verse, Devotional  or  thoughtful  words:
PSALM 51:1

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin

  Smiling Sally here!

There was a ton of blue to be seen Friday , as compared to the   tones of  gray all last week!

Back to Basic Living

It  has been   rather   good to put the  red, white, and blue away and get back to basics...

It all started with my  birthday yesterday...

  I  received  some   wonderful  gifts...

This book  is one  our   Bible  teacher has  been  quoting from   now for several weeks...

I  can't wait to   get into it... Im definitely taking it on my train trip....  later this month!

Another great read   I got was 

I am  reading this book aloud to my husband each morning..   we  are  so inpsired  by   Eric Metaxas' writing!

Some   personal items and  delicious food followed...   but this next item I,  also, love....

My friend   walked into  the    consignment shop and  just  said, "Lord,  Show me what Carolyn would like."

This gorgeous brass pitcher made in Italy....  

which I added to   this   arrangement

I felt  so   amazed  a month ago   when  the Lord led me to this  painting.. one Im pretty sure most  folks  would  bypass in a hurry,  but   I love it........  what cant be seen  in this photo very well,  is that in the far background  on the right is the shadow of St. George slaying the dragon.... I love the  spiritual  connotation of this...

for  our battle is in the spirit realm....our weapons  are  spirit, as well!

Notice how the   delicate   yet intricate  shape of the   new pitcher   mimics the   graceful lines of the one in the photo....  I  love it!

I turn now   180 degrees and  capture the  dining table...

Time to  hail   teatime.... 

My dear cousin, Pam,  is   coming   for a wee visit  this evening,  as   several of my mom's sisters  are gathering to   visit with  her, dad and us  tomorrow  for luncheon.......

I want to take  advantage of  Pam's visit  to   enjoy a bit of teatime together...  
   so I found this  wonderful low carb  dessert  to try 
for this evening...paired  with  a nice  green tea  fruited  cooler....   yum!


Summer To Autumn Peach Galette
in Diana's Recipe Book


Servings: 8

Comments:
Top each slice with a dollap of Lite or Fat-Free Non-Dairy Whipped Topping, and indulge in this lovely summer to autumn galette.


Ingredients:
1/2 of a 15-ounce package folded refrigerated unbaked
piecrust (1 crust)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups peeled and sliced peaches
(1 1/2 pounds)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 large egg, beaten
1 tablespoon water

Instructions:
Let the pie crust stand at room temperature according to package
directions; unfold. Line a large baking sheet with foil and lightly flour.
Place pastry on the prepared baking sheet and roll to a 14 x 11-inc oval.

In a large mixing bowl stir together granulated sugar, flour, and
nutmeg. Stir in peaches and lemon juice. Spoon peach mixture onto
pastry, leaving a 2-inch border.

Fold pastry border up and over peaches, folding edges gently as needed. Combine egg and water.Brush egg mixture onto the top and sides of the crust. Bake in a 375 degree F. oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until the crust is golden. If necessary, cover top crust with foil for the last 10 to 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning. Cool for 30 minutes on the baking sheet. Makes 8 servings.

Tip: You can substitute nectarines, plums, or other summer fruit for the peaches, if desired.
source

This week Im sharing here....

Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally
A Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage
Tea Cup Tuesday~ Artful Affirmations
Tea Cup Tuesday ~Martha’s Favorites
Tuesday Cuppa Tea~ Antiques and Teacups
Friends Sharing Tea ~ Open House @Bernideen’s Teatime Blog
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Favorite Things Thursday at Katherine’s Corner
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home on Thursday