A Rose for David

    At 8:52 PM on May 2nd my newest nephew came into the world making me an auntie for the 9th time, he weighed 8 lbs 5 oz and was 19 1/2 in. long. The Sunday after he was born there was a rose at church to honor his arrival and the pastor announced it before the sermon.
   Three moments at his birth stand out to me more than others, the first was the moment he was born and my sister (his mother) held him in her arms for the very first time, the look of joy on her face right then was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, the second was the moment she held him and said with such joy that it was a little boy, the announcement we had all been waiting for all those nine months. And the third, the moment I held him in my arms for the first time, it was one of such immense joy it cannot be described, it is an amazing thing to hold a new life in your arms, the result of such hard work on the part of its mother and imagine all the things that it may do. I'm sure David will grow up to do great things.

Psalm 127:3   Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.

 

 

Dancers Among Us

  I don't know if any of you have heard of Dancers Among Us but its this thing where people take pictures of themselves (your someone takes a picture of them) in some sort of dancerish pose but just in ordinary life, clothes, and activities so they're like "a dancer among us". If you want to know more about it here's the link... https://www.dancersamongus.com/  Anyway my sister Lirise told me about it so I decided to take some pictures of my own. I took so many that I couldn't decide which I liked best so I will just post all the nicest ones.......

 

I thought the tractor  would go rather well with my blog title.

 

Autumn Bounties

   Autumn is such a lovely time of year with all the beautiful colors, tastes, and happy celebrations. Everywhere I look outside I see Autumn peeping around the corner. I see it in leaves of orange, gold, russet, amber, and crimson that adorn the branches of the plum tree, I see it in crisp apples, orange pumpkins, and bright red rosehips, I see it in my first piece of pumpkin pie, and I see it in late golden pears. Ah yes, I see Autumn in all its bounties.
 Psalm 67:6   The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.

Goodbye Summer

     Our wonderful long summer is waning, the weather is cooling, and the time for sun hats and bare feet is coming to an end. I admit, I'm not at all sorry to say goodbye for I really think I've had my fill of summer. And as the leaves begin to turn all the colors that are just some of the many reason why I love Autumn and birds gather in flocks on power lines in preparation to fly to the Sunny South for that chilly winter their instincts tell them is coming, I begin to dream excitedly of crisp, nipping air, warm sweaters, cozy socks, and knitted hats. We are well stocked with fire wood and the pumpkins are ready for the cooking of all things pumpkin. A box of pumpkin tea waits in the cupboard, apples ripen on bent branches, and oh, the thought of fresh cider sends a thrill all through me!!
      I must buckle down and make my self really get to work on the story I'm writing for a little magazine my cousin and I make before what's left of this year is over and done and the time for our next issue is long gone. At least that is something to keep me busy while I wait for the Autumn to come.
     Christmas is sneaking up on us and thoughts of presents are heavy on my mind. Oh what to give this person, that person, and the other. A sprig of mistletoe is tucked away safe and sound,  and as I turn the calendar page to September I excitedly count the remaining months until I tack it up to a beam where it will await Christmas love birds.

Practice Makes Perfect

 Practicing some photography with my sister and brother-in-law's rings....

Dawn

By Larin S. Larson

    Curls of mist wind their way through tall birches, wrapping around slender white trunks. A blanket of soft fog lies thickly over dew drenched grasses. Slowly, like a melody the faintest angle blush appears above high frosted hills and the first lark sings, her sweet lilting tune drifting through the valley. Laughing breezes tickle a fawn's nose and he nudges his mother to wake her. Daises and wild sweet peas turn their faces to welcome the warmth of the sun as it shows its golden face, flooding the valley with light.   

 

 

Rose Petal Jam

Just finished my first batch of rose petal jam!
Here's the link for the blog I got recipe from.....  http://www.feastingathome.com/rose-petal-jam/

Rose Petal Jam

 

Ingredients:

1 ½ C
2 oz (approx. 2 cups lightly packed or to what would be a perfectly comfy fairy bed)
2 C organic cane sugar
3 T fresh lemon juice
1 tsp Pomonas fruit pectin (available in natural food stores)

Instructions:

Place water and roses in a sauce pan. Bring to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes. Add 1 ¾ c of sugar into the simmering petals . Stir to dissolve the sugar crystals. Add 3 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice. Pay attention to the gorgeous vibrant color that emerges. Simmer 10 minutes. Mix the remaining ¼ c sugar and pectin in a bowl. While stirring the jam add the pectin mixture sprinkle by sprinkle to insure pectin incorporates without clumping. Continue to simmer for 20 minutes. It may seem quite loose for jam, it will firm up as it sets but does remain more of a silky syrup with luscious bits of petals. Keeps for 2 months in the fridge, also freezes beautifully and canning is always a brilliant option.