I NEED A "Middle C" . . .

 . . . but more than that, I need my YAHWEH!!

As a musician I know that the "middle C" pitch/key is basically the note on which others are built.  When determining proper pitch, you start with "middle C", and typically that is the first note that is taught/learned.  No matter what is "off key", out of sync, out nof rhythm, or just unwritten or unsung, "middle C" is the same, never changing.  I can count on it as a musician.

My "YAHWEH" is the GOD who is the "I AM" . . . unchanging, never moving, never wavering. Always loving, comforting, encouraging, healing, and is the total truth!  When my life seems off key, out of sync, out of rhythm or there are no words to describe it, I'm struggling with finding the "note" to sing and can't seem to get the "pitch" for the music of my life and my heart . . . I can go to and count on the "middle C" . . . MY YAHWEH!!!

PRAISE GOD for MY YAHWEH!

What a Year, this year of 2013

My last posting here was many months ago and it's startling to see how long it has been.  It has been a year of struggle with life, with issues and with understanding God's will and way.  But it has been a year of learning more and more about God's grace and love, His provision, mercies and unending patience!

My prayer is that I will be more trusting and faithful to Him, that I can let Him lead and not be concerned about the future, but be diligent to His call, to dig into His Word more deeply and to walk with Him more intimately.  And, to be ever and always in prayer!!

WINTER WANDERINGS

How can it be that March is already just about here?  How can it be that the first two months of 2013 are already history?  It seems like, in the quiet of the post-holiday weeks, I have been busy with all of my usual projects such as sewing, papercrafting, power walking, some photography, writing, trying to keep up with housecleaning and a myriad of other things that come with daily living.

I was in no hurry to take down all of my Christmas decorations and put them away.  I spent a lot of time putting them all up and just enjoyed them, so, what was the hurry?  None whatsoever!  So I took my time and was able to let the red of Christmas flow into some Valentine themed decorations.  I decorate my bathroom for Christmas but when it gets un-decorated I let it evolve into the colors I associate with winter, which are burgundy and deep hunter green.  I love those colors and I love to use them in my house!  

I believe in the presence of angels and I could relate some real-life stories to substantiate that but I won't do that here and now.  But I collect angels and have a wonderful variety of different ones.  Some of them "hang out" in my bathroom, pretty much year round.  They are in colors and themes that they can just blend in with the current color and theme.

My angels remind of the presence of God in my life and everything that He is to me . . . provision, grace, mercy, comfort, healer, defender, stronghold, shepherd, strengthener, encourager and LOVER OF MY SOUL!!  I'm thankful for my God and my Savior and look forward to seeing what blessings He has in store for me in 2013!

The roses are wooden ones my hubby carved from pricot wood, as are the leaves.  He attached to apple twigs and placed them in this vase he turned on his lathe.  They have been in my bathroom for several years and I think they are just beautiful!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the CELTIC FARMGIRL

Please accept my invitation to stop in and have a cup of mulled wine or hot coffee on this Christmas Day in southwest Colorado.  We are enjoying a relaxing, refreshing day with family and praising our God for the significance of this Blessed Celebration . . . the gift of His son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

I've just posted photos of the different things I've used to decorate my house for the holiday, some new, some family heirlooms, some antique/vintage, some fun and funky . . . just because I enjoy Christmas so much and enjoy decorating! 

Thank you all for visiting, for your encouragements, prayers and friendship through the year.  Trusting God to bring us through 2013 in His Grace and Love!

Ahhh . . .SWEET SEPTEMBER

This apple tree is in our neighbor's orchard across the road and I just smile every time I look at it's little "bobbed haircut" look

 

 

It has been decades since I've had the decadent pleasure of actually savoring September!   I have worked in teaching and school jobs for many years and, as many teachers and school know, September is incredibly busy.  And, there is usually the bounty of harvest to tend to with cleaning out gardens, picking fruit, canning, freezing and whatever else one does to "put away".

 

For the past four years I have been working as a caregiver for my sister, and at the end of August, ended my career as her caregiver.  It has been an incredibly difficult journey and I know that I now just need to be her SISTER.   So, I'm trusting the Lord with our finances and what retirement we receive and the money I earn from my little "Farm Fresh Aprons" business.

 

We didn't plant a garden this year for a variety of reasons, but the main one is that we had such poor snowfall last winter we knew that irrigation would be an issue. For the first year in many, we just didn't plant . . . very out of character for me!  I love gardening!

 

 

Treasures from our farm and orchards where we raised lots of apples.

 

I am a power walker and have been for a very long time, so that is part of my daily routine . . . usually 4-5 miles each day.  I live in the country on part of what used to be our family farm and when I walk I enjoy the canal bank that takes me around the back side of our property and other neighbors.  I get to see deer, coyotes, geese, ducks, blue heron, rabbits, rock chucks and all kinds of other critters.  In the winter time I've seen elk and there are bear out and about, especially during the fruit harvest time.  And, of course, the less desirable furry creatures such as skunks and porcupine.

 

Old scale my dad used on the farm

 

 

My canine pal, Bramble, loves to go with me on our walks and to be outside on our place. So, we are out and about quite a bit and I am actually SAVORING September.   We are blessed with clean, fresh mountain air, gloriously clear and brilliant blue skies and I'm just loving that more and more.

Fall is my favorite season anyway, but this year I'm just grateful for the gift I've been given to not be harried by a busy, hectic job and not being able to get outside.  I'm grateful for the fact I don't have to slave over the stove with fruit peelings and pulp up to my earlobes.  While I enjoy the harvest and having all that wonderful food put away . . . I, honestly, am grateful to not be overloaded . . for the first time in a very, very long time.

Another scale my dad used, along with old wooden boxes and other goodies. In the picture below in the little red
basket are all the old stamps there were used to stamp the cardboard apple boxes with variety, size, etc. before
they went for sale.

 

The temperatures have cooled off, the scents and "feelings" of fall are in the air.  I finally had time to clean my house and put out my fall decorations and start lighting my fall scented candles . . mmmmm!   We are still in the midst of our Farmers Market season so I'm still sewing aprons for that and then it'll continue for some Christmas Bazaars, so my sewing machine is still busy.  But it's happier because I'm pulled in fewer directions and not so "hot and bothered" with the summer heat.

Yes, I'm savoring September!   Sweet, sweet September!!!
Thank you Lord, for September and for the TIME you've given me to slow down, drink . . and breathe . . it all in and just wrap myself in its sweetness!  And wrap myself in YOU, your grace, your love and all you are! 

 Thank you!

BIRDIE, BRAMBLE and the CALICO TRAIL

There's nothing like a nice hike in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and it's even better when your daughter and your favorite doggie pal get to go with you.  I'm soooooo grateful for the opportunity  to strike out with my daughter, Robin . . . aka "Birdie" . . . on the Calico Trail this summer.  My sweet doggie, Bramble, is such a fun companion and we enjoyed her company so much!

Doesn't "Birdie" have a beautiful smile?   She's just beautiful all over and especially inside.  She is my only daughter, my best friend and companion and partner in our glamping adventures . . we are the "4871 GLAMPING FARMGIRLS".

And Bramble is ready for us to stop goofing off and get back up the trail!  THANK YOU LORD for
my "BIRDIE", BRAMBLE . . . and the wonderful creation of the Colorado Rocky Mountains!   THANK YOU for hiking trails and fun times!

FAMILY . . . fun, funky . . what can I say?

Back row, lt to rt: Kerry and Tim Gardner, Mike Benedetto, Dan Beaver, Chris Lehman
Melanie Danbrook is on the the lt. in front of Kerry.
Front row, lt. to rt: Jan Milner with Skittles, CJ, Robin Armstrong-Miller, Danaya Benedetto, Lynnelle Beaver and Brittany Lehman.  The cutie in front in the pink bathing suit is Emma Lehman.

We have a pretty big family and I don't think we'll ever ALL be in the same place at the same time.  But we try to enjoy the daylights out of times we have when we can be together and see each other. My family is scattered from British Columbia, down into Oregon and clear across the entire U.S. of A. to North Carolina.  My daughter and I were on a road trip recently all over the State of Colorado, which included working as crew members at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Rocky Mountains event.  Two of my nieces were part of our crew and then we went into Denver to the home of one of those gals for a bit more family fun.  Shopping, sitting around chatting, a family BBQ. . . general silliness.  This pic is of that group of family members, taken June 25, 2012.

Thank you Lord for family!

My daughter, Robin; myself; my niece Melanie from British Columbia, and; Lynnelle, my niece from the Denver area. We had finished our work for Day One of the event and were at the Wellness Village, in Frisco, Colorado. 
It was such an honor and privilege to work with these girls . . . all family . . . on the crew for tthis event!