The Needle in a Haystack

Oh what A busy Month this Has been!

 hard to believe that it has been two weeks almost since I posted on my blog... so much going on.... all good!

 A new neice to get aquainted with!

 

  There was Jamie's 30th birthday that required a bit of celebration... not every day you have your child turn 30!

.. and a trip to WV to give a few birthday hugs to my Grams.... we gave her a laptop... apparently she wants to do facebook.... who am I to hold this woman back!

..and some last minute crochet for a sweet KY neice turning 2...

 Add in all of that plus 12 plants full of huge tomatoes, broodie hens to be pampered, cucumbers waiting to be eaten, market days and travel days, onions to be pulled, mint to be dried, Chris attended a welding class and made some cool things so we are researching welding stuff ...AND... many prayers for  huge decisions for our family to make....

   Chris is THE match for a bone marrow recipient... it really wasn't much of a decision of course he will... we are waiting on the call for his physical and then he will begin a series of shots to increase his bone marrow to harvest....while just joint pain and tiredness so far seem to be the worse side effects, it is still a procedure.... and we certainly have begun to pray for the reciepient!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

  Have a fine day...all day long!

 

Cape Henry Lighthouse(s)

The last couple days we were able to combine work and play so we spent a couple days at VA Beach.  The weather was beautiful floating in the 80s.  we were able to visit the cape Henry Lights which shares the spot where the Jamestown colony first came ashore before heading up the banks to Jamestown.  It is also a Revolutionary war site. Thought I would share a few pictures...

 

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

 

Have a fine day...............all day long!

To Remember D-Day... Bedford ,VA

 It seemed only natural as we were doing a job in Bedford Va this week to visit the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va... Humbling.... very humbling......

   Bedford was chosen because of the number of those lost in one day per capita was greater then anywhere else in the country.  Out of the 3200 residents in  the town, 19 lost their life that day.  despite the 98 degree temps we braved the heat to walk the trail.... and we were brought to tears as we witnessed a woman who had brought her father, a survivor of Normandy to pay his respects... as he took out his hankerchief we cried with him... not even pretending it was sweat.... its Ok to look and some what understand what those young men were going through... the heat, the high cliffs, the bullets splashing the water as they tried to storm the shore.... a buddy down...the will to survive.... the heart to do what was right.....

  The beaches at Normandy were not beaches as we know them her on teh East Coast... but cliffs that were crumbling and jagged

 This statue was a gift from the French, the bottom half of the face was blown off by a shell.... a grim reminder....

  If you are anywhere near Bedford Va ( beautiful countryside by the way), we highly suggest you visit the memorial.  You can read more about it HERE AT THE D_DAY MEMORIAL website.

Deuteronomy 20:8 (KJV):
8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.

Thank you...........

A Washington State Post

 Is it hot where you are?  whew, its a bit toasty here in the Carolinas.  I made 3 different types of salads early this morning and called it a day in the kitchen.. I doubt anyone will want much anyway as hot as it is...

  Anyhow, My week was totally made when I reacieved the sweetest package from a dear young friend in Washington State.  She is very creative and talented and knows I love all things artsy. I totally encourage her to expand on her talents. she is an excellent photographer and sent me a beautiful photo she had taken ..

 pardon my camera glare on the photo I am NOT a picture taker... but I do love this photo and she wona couple of awards with it

   She attended a workshop on cloth dolls recently on a camping trip and was so happy she thought of me to send one of her creations along... I am in love with it and when she is not posing for pictures in my den she sits on my bed.

While not the same pattern I did google and found this  NO SEW RAGDOLL pattern that looks like lots of fun and a great scrap user... I love simple toys... especially those made with love...

 Thanks bunches Miss Kristy for my presents... and  Congrats on your Graduation!! We are proud of you!

  AND

 Because its a total Washington post.. I finished up a book from Washington for My Book Across the States project... yes, I know I have been working on this since 2007... but I don't believe I set any limits on myself.. and it is just a totally fun thing to do as much as I love to read...

so... my book for Washington was.............

16 Lighhouse Road by Debbie Macomber.  I liked it.  The book gave a bit of flavor of Washington State... no deep plots, lots of interesting characters.  A very good lite read.  I will probably look for more of this authors books, as a matter of fact there is one I am already on the prowl for if we can work in a library trip this week. Things are a tad busy through next week..

So back to my Washington friend... as I was reading over her note again it reminded me of this Bible verse

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. 

... Friends are very good things... no matter how old or young.... tell your friends you care for them.... and have a fine day... all day long!

 

 

Frying Eggs on the Sidewalk

Ok, maybe not that bad... but sustained 95 plus degree temps with high humidity sure makes it feel a bit rough to motivate on those outside chores... or inside chores for that matter.  We find ourselves up early to feed the animals, hang out the clothes and garden then lots of reading, writing  and drinking ice water ( or sweet tea)  until the sun sets and cools a bit then we tend to the house and and things that might work a sweat a bit.

 

Did you have a reflective Memorial Day?  I suppose it is going like the other holidays where the focus is totally removed from what we should be remembering and placed on having fun... Even the Commander in Chief played golf that day.... We reflected...

 We have looked in to too many faces and shed too many tears to not spend this day not thinking of heroes... Our own soldier son reminded us so much that day with the Bible verse John 15:13....

We did spend part of the morning listening to a very very interesting interview between John Piper and Rick Warren.   We had sort of a prejudice against Rick Warren as we spent a few days at Saddleback Church in 2005 and it seemed  very over done, but the interview shed alot of light from both ends and I do respect what he has set out to do...as always I lean more on the side of Reformed Theology but not quite there ... but if someone HAD to label me I suppose that would be it... If you are interested in hearing it you can google Piper/Warren and it comes up... a very good listen..

  This months service project iis dishcloths fr the tornado victims... where ever those victims might be...I happened to have experienced a town destroyed in 1974 by a tornado in Xenia Ohio and I can tell you the devestation is very humbling.

  I wish I could post a slew of wonderful recipes but the truth is we have cooked very little most of the meals have been salads and sliced meats and cheese on crakers... fresh fruit...

  One of the perks of our "shoppe" is it is located right beside a dear Hispanic lady who brings in fresh produce... we do most of our produce shopping from her as she raises her 3 little girls ( all very cute who come with her), while her husband does migrant work at one of the local tobacco warehouses.. its win /win for us... This last weekend seemed like a wonderful time to make pineapple boats.

Pineapple boats

cut a pienapple in half and take out the "meat" part leveling the shell ( slice length wise ..up and down..not across)

Mix fresh fruits... we used strawberries, blueberries, peaches, grapes and the pineapple.... mix together and scoop back into the pineapple shells and add a couple HUGE scoops of rainbow sherbert..add a muffin and this makes a wonderful cool dinner on a hot night...

  I also tend to brown large quanties of ground beef with taco seasoning in the morning and then we make plates of nachos through out the day . We can do all this in the microwave and it keeps the house cooler then firing up the stove...

  do you have any good summer recipes to share?  I love trying new things..

 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Next time you see a soldier, remember that...and ahve a fine day...all day long!