Rain and clouds, some warm fuzzies, and planning ahead

This has not been a week for taking beautiful outdoor pictures.  I think we've had rainy and/or cloudy weather each day.   

Monday morning I took a picture from my front door, and that's pretty much how it's looked all week.  Yesterday as I walked into Pastor Lynn's house in the rain I was impressed with the big yellow tree that was still showing off despite the weather!

Once a month the women's group at GBRV meets for a time of sharing and prayer and also a project.  At our meeting on Monday evening we all brought items to put into Blessing Bags for shut-ins and others who do not feel comfortable or are not able to come to services.   We always have a fun time.  As you can see, a lot of planning goes into staying socially distanced and safe. 

 

I want to share some things that brought me joy this week in spite of the cloudy weather.  In the mail I received something from my stepbrother Roy.  Inside the envelope was a note from him and another envelope.  He said that when they cleaned out Grandma Mary's room at Richland Christian Home they found a letter that my dad had written to her, probably Christmas 2006.  Obviously it was very precious to her because she kept it with her through two moves - from their house in Gretna Springs to the apartment at her son Carl's house and then to the home.  As I read this, seeing the familiar handwriting of my Dad and the devotion and honor he gave to Mary, my tears flowed and I could hardly hold in my sobs.   

One of my cousins on the Witmer side of our family passed away after a long battle against cancer.  Betty Ann (Miller) Shrock.  She lived in Colorado.  Her son posted this painting she had done.  Apparently after she was an empty nester she took up a new hobby.  She obviously had amazing talent!  That big rose looks 3-D!

On Saturday when we were with Sam and the kids he gave me their new school pictures and I put them in this frame, replacing last year's.  Aren't they so beautiful???

At their school this week there was a theme each day.  This is what they wore on hat day.  Adorable!

I've been spending lots of time this week preparing to be away for a few weeks.  Can you believe it?  Not sure I can.  Way out in Portland Jeremy and Mike are managing foster parenting, home schooling, Jeremy's demanding job, and the pandemic restrictions all at once.  The two little boys (4 and 5) are struggling with all the disruptions that come with foster care.  The 16-year-old girl (older sister to the 4-year-old) is low-key and really appreciative of having a good home.  Last weekend they went to a cabin in the mountains, where these pictures were taken - her first time ever in the mountains.  Sorry no picture of Mike.  I guess he was the photographer.  

Actually, since Mike isn't in those pictures I will post this collage.  Last week it was ten years since his sister Linda donated one of her kidneys to him.   That was a scary time, and amazing when she was found to be a match.  They are both doing great ten years later!  Mike is the stay-at-home parent during this COVID season, and it ain't easy!  

They are flying me out for two weeks.  I'll be leaving next Thursday, the 5th.  I'm excited and apprehensive all at once.  Dick's not going because of work and hunting season.  Hopefully we can both go after COVID restrictions are over and we can have more of a vacation.  

So I'm doing a lot of things to make his food prep easier while I'm away.  In my freezer so far are egg muffins, ham and beans, and beef cabbage soup.   Those are two low carb dinners that he likes.  I'll also be adding some bags of the roasted sausage, veggies, and sweet potatoes that he likes so much.  And maybe chili.  See the pack that says "bacon, peppers, onions"?  That's what I add to his omelet most times.  So I browned those things and put them in an ice cube tray with some of the bacon drippings to hold them together.  He can use them to make a quicker omelet some mornings.  

I've been mending and hemming some things too.  Yesterday I tried something else for the first time.  I mended my purse straps with my sewing machine!  I have two purses that are exactly alike except for the color.  I love them because of all the compartments and pockets.  But I wear out the straps long before anything else.  I think I twirl them around my hand or something.  So yesterday I zigzag stitched all the edges of the straps.  Still looks rough, but hopefully I've prolonged the life of these purses.

Of course, no post is complete without some baby Elizer pictures!  This little guy is getting some ROLLS!  

When she sent me this one last evening my heart totally melted into a puddle!  That smile!  And his eyes!  She said he just started laughing out loud.  I can't wait to hear him!

Gotta get busy now!  Have a great weekend!

A really beautiful week

Sunday afternoon.  And what a change in weather!  We have just had the most beautiful, warm week.  So life-giving!!  But today is cloudy and damp with a chill in the air.  I took one of those Sunday afternoon naps on the sofa while Dick watched football.  It's been a while since I did that.  I hate how I feel when I wake up after a nap though.  

So here are some pictures I just couldn't help taking this week.  

The street leaving our community.  Last week I posted a picture from the other direction. 

Thursday's sunrise.  

I found another pumpkin at Walmart.  Not a real one, but I love the verse on it. 

Friday's sunrise. 

The view at the end of our street. 

I took this one as I was driving toward Anthony and Lori's on Friday.  Their place is on that mountain somewhere behind those tall evergreens.  

Soon I will need to go to a lot more effort to find beauty.  A week from today it will be getting dark earlier.  But maybe I'll see the sunrise more often while I'm in the kitchen helping Dick to get off to work, since it will be getting light earlier.   For a while at least.  

On Friday evening I again enjoyed watching J'von's football game on the iPad.  I heard the name "Collazo" quite a lot during the game.  They lost to a very good team this time, but in today's paper J'von was mentioned as one of three juniors whom the team will build around next year.   That's him in the front right, number 8.

Yesterday afternoon Dick and I headed down 322 to Duncannon.  This was the view coming down the other side of Seven Mountains.

I crawled to the second seat behind Dick so I would be able to get this unhindered view of the beautiful gorge.  

We ate dinner at our favorite place, Riverfront Bar and Grill, with Sam and the kids.  Even though there has been some rain, you can see that there are still rocks sticking up lots of places.  

Sammy had fun with Dick's binoculars.  He was checking out a house on the other side of the river.

I zoomed in and took this picture of it.  Dick saw on his GPS that that is Front Street, Harrisburg across the river.  Sometime on our way to Lancaster County we're going to go down Front Street instead of 322 and see if we can find the Riverside Bar and Grill from that side.  

Sammy wanted to show us the coolest bookstore ever a few miles away.  And it WAS the coolest bookstore ever.  Cupboard Maker Books - the hugest collection of used books I have ever seen.  Lots and lots of entire series of books.  Every category imaginable.   The front of the store was painted like a shelf of books!

That archway was made of books!

Follow the yellow brick road...

....to the children's books, of course!

There were several cats making themselves at home.  I regret that I did not take any pictures of the cat walks that were built up high throughout the store - for the cats!

We had so much fun there!  It's the kind of place you could spend a day.  The only suggestion I would have is more seating areas.  But I guess the idea is for people to buy books, not sit and read them, haha!

When we left it was already getting dark, so we dropped them off at Sam's place and headed back home.  We always have so much fun with them!

I did not get to see my favorite baby in person this week, but Destiny keeps me supplied with pictures and videos.  He was laughing at the musical mobile above his crib on the upper left photo.   And smiling at his mommy on the bottom left photo.  What a precious boy!  And look at the rolls he's getting on his legs and arms!  All on his mommy's milk too!

Here's a collage of silly shots that Anthony posted from a hike they did last Sunday.  Look at those rocks they were climbing!

Have a great week, everyone!

Beauty everywhere I look!

It's a very Monday Monday here.  Anyone remember that song from the 60's?  That was a long time ago!  Anyway, it's raining and dreary here in State College.  Good for getting some stuff done inside.  We had frost a couple of nights, and now my hanging impatiens is done, and so are most of my beautiful marigolds.  So, so sad!!  

I did get the most amazing picture of the street that leads into our community on Friday.  Sometimes when I'm sure I will see beautiful things, I open my phone camera and put it on the passenger seat so it's ready to pick up and snap.  I took this right through my car windshield!  I think it got better than real life, and I didn't even edit it.

Here's another one that turned out better than I expected.  One evening as I was coming home from Walmart on Rock Road, the sky was so full of huge dark clouds.  Again I had my phone camera open and ready.  When I got to the stop sign at our church I rolled my window down and snapped this.  Of course those extra flashes of light showed up only on the picture.  But they're kind of cool, aren't they?

We have not had many beautiful sunrises this fall.  But one morning I noticed this and went out to the front porch just in time. 

I took this over at Stauffer Acres as I was coming down the driveway from their house.  This is the lawn below the barn.  

But my favorite pictures this week are these!!!!  On Saturday I went to spend some time with Destiny.  Elizer was SO CUTE!!!!  I decided I just can't put these into collages.  They're just too good to be condensed!

A few times he looked like he was going to start crying instead!  Even that is adorable!

Destiny took these pictures when he was lying on his mat looking up at the colorful things above. I just want to kiss his face every time I look at these!

Nothing better than a precious baby asleep on your chest. 

Before I left I got a selfie.  I joked that we should go take it in the bathroom like we used to always do when we went to the movies together. 

Just this evening I made this collage of Destiny and Elizer, each with the same facial expression!

On Sunday evening I had a Zoom Meeting with my siblings.  Again for two hours!!!  My brother did join us via phone for a while, but most of the time it was just the sisters.  Oh so good to be together!!!!!  Our lives are so different from each others', and we live far and wide, but our connection to each other runs so deep and so dear.  

Have a good rest of the week, and stay safe!  

Lord, hear our cries!!!!