It's backward but true:
What we need is not better
strategy or greater drive.
What we need is a truer view of our own
weakness and a coming to the end of ourselves.
God calls the end of our try-in-our-own-strength
the beginning of His stand-back-and-watch-Me.
~Ruth Chou Simons
~*~
Just sharing a few photos today with precious little commentary. I live alone. Most days my brain feels like mush. Nothing going on up there except one gnat buzzing in a slow, circular fashion. Perhaps it's trying to come in for a landing, too.
My friend Steph took me and my sister on a historical drive past all the notable homes in her life a few weeks ago. It had been planned for months and happened right on time. The pictures that follow are of her grandparents' farm overlooking the White Mountains. It was an overcast day, but that did not dampen our adventure. We thought the day would end after lunch. It didn't. We carried right on. The day ended after ice cream. You know that it is my belief that all good days end with ice cream.
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| The White Mountains of New Hampshire |
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The Sunken Garden
 These days the farm has new owners. They are very kind to Steph as they allow her to visit the pond and swim, which she does a few times a week. She swims three laps. It is such an idyllic place. I am glad that I was able to visit. One more thing, since I last posted, I've had another computer crash. My daughter is taking me and my less than a year and a half old iPad to the hospital this week. I am currently working on a skitzy laptop that skips and lurches all over like a frisky goat. It's beyond frustrating. Oh well. So that explains why I haven't been communicating much. My sincere apologies. I won't blame you for not commenting. ツ Love, Vee |
What a beautiful place. It is really nice that the new owners let her swim in the pond! Hope you get your computer problems fixed soon! xo
ReplyDeleteTechnology! It is a blessing when it works and a curse when it doesn't. Stay safe, dear Vee, and enjoy the summer.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Hmmm... I can think of another of our blog friends who likes to end the day with ice cream :).
ReplyDeleteHow great that you could get out and enjoy such a nice outing. I love outings where someone else is the driver. Better to soak in all the beautiful scenery that way. Everything appears so pretty and tranquil and I like the way you edited your photos.
Computer problems are so annoying. I do hope you are able to get yours fixed soon.
So enjoyed hearing from you today, Vee. Take good care.
I'm glad your ipad will get some treatment! What a lovely farm, that sunken garden is lovely and so is the pond.
ReplyDeleteI think that is a fun outing. I could use one. It won't happen anytime soon, but we are planning a road trip with my parents in September.
I do not like computer issues. Who does? I love outings like this one especially when there are food stops. Our heat and my cataract surgeries are making my head pretty foggy and my days unproductive. I'd be a bit scared to swim in a pond. I'm chicken about many things out in the wild. Sadly my insides are rebelling against ice cream or I'd end many days with some. Hope the rest of your week runs well.
ReplyDeleteSteph's husband has gently suggested that she not swim out there all alone unless he can accompany her. She is not a fan of the suggestion.
DeleteHope that with a working iPad, I may be able to comment at your blog again.
Hi Vee ~ so glad you have your comments section on. I loved the pictures and your comentary. What a lovey trip. My computer has been down, so I've missed a lot. But back up and running. Hope you are having a good day! Is it hot where you live?
ReplyDeleteIt can be, though no 100° days here this summer. In the 90s has me crying uncle, Today is only 72.°
DeleteSuch delightful photos of your day out. Sorry about your computer problems. Wishing you a very nice afternoon and evening.❤️
ReplyDeleteHow very nice to hear from you. It’s been too long.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Cheryl
Oh Vee! You have blessed my heart so much to see my beloved White Mountains and such beautiful property. I am assuming this is still in Maine? We used to live in Conway, NH, and I know those overcast days so well. I would drive people around the valley and tell them "On a clear day you can see Mt. Washington from here." They didn't believe me. One time I even drove my niece from Florida all the way to the base of the mountain at the Cog Railway station, and it was so cloudy we still could not see the mountain. When I later showed her pictures of what was really there she couldn't believe it. I knew all the best places to drive around and see the mountain from many viewpoints. I'm so glad you shared this today. I am longing for some White Mountain views again in person. Not sure we'll make it up this fall afterall, since I am having so many issues with my neck, etc. Maybe next year. Enjoy the beauty for me please, okay?
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely outing - a beautiful place. So nice to see a post from you. I miss you. Oh yes, ice cream is a great end to the day. I'm still having my little dish of it most evenings.
ReplyDeleteHow nice to do a drive with your friend and sister. The photos are so pretty! Ice cream is always a good ending. I hope the iPad issue gets resolved. My iPad is so mild that I only use it for keeping the notes for my grandchildren that I use for their letters.
ReplyDeleteAt times it's so difficult to be alone. Especially if you are a people person. So, I feel for you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place to explore with your sister and your friend. It looks like a very peaceful farm. Technology - it's either very good or very bad. I hope your IPad is treated successfully! It's so very nice to see a post from you.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see a post from your haven! It sounds like a perfect outing…and yes, all good days should end with ice-cream! The White Mountains were in the clouds when we were in that area as well. I must go back at look at my pic’s again. So many good memories! I love the words of Ruth Chou Simmons…so much wisdom! Take care, my friend.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a nice outing, your area is absolutely beautiful! I keep telling my hubby that we haven’t been to your part of the country, someday we will. I remember as a child that was one place my dad always wanted to visit.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely pictures. Beautiful scenery. It looks like it was a refreshing day. I'm not a big ice cream person, but I had some hot fudge sauce and whipped topping, so I made me a sundae this evening. It was a lovely way to end the day. ;^)
ReplyDeleteHope you get your computer issues straightened out. It can be a love/hate relationship some days. I loved reading about this little "trip" with a friend. I think about going back to Va sometimes to drive past the houses I lived in - but then I know it will just dig up a lot of sadness so my thoughts move on. Anyone can just go to google maps and type in the address where they lived and for like 80-90% of us see it now. Be prepared to cry and many cases. As a young girl after my Mom remarried to we went to the White Mountains several times....I remember the Old Man of the Mountains and an "Indian" face and the "Flume" with the bitter cold water in the stream....oooh was that cold!
ReplyDeleteOh, Bernideen, it was so nice to read your memories of the White Mountains! We live about 45 minutes from the area you are mentioning. I'm so happy to think that you have been here. Last summer we had missionaries from Puerto Rico visiting with us. We took them to the White Mountains on a very hot day and they enjoyed testing that bitter cold water you mentioned with their toes. Thanks for sharing your sweet memories.
DeleteThe beauty of the White Mountains are so lovely to see, Vee. Memories of visits there are stiring my heart. Sounds like a nice day to enjoy out and about. Ice cream to top it all off makes it extra sweet. How nice your friend can still enjoy swimming in the pond.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteIt was so much fun to read this post, Vee. It sounds like a lovely day! All that green in the photos of the pond and sunken garden! I am so happy that you and Kim got to take this delightful trip with your friend.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, of course, all good days should end with ice cream! Mr. T and I have an ice cream date planned for this very evening!
Glad you had an outing in our backyard, Vee, the White Mountains are beautiful anytime of year. And, of course, it’s always a good day when it ends with ice cream, but then what day isn’t a good day! Nice that your friend can go back and swim in the pond. Good luck with getting the iPad up and running right. Technology is great when it works, awful when it doesn’t and frustrating too.
ReplyDeleteNo, I had an outing in my own backyard overlooking your backyard. The mountains are about forty miles from where we were.
DeleteSo good to hear from you Vee! We've been spending our summer camping but it has rained every trip. It still is great to get away for a few days though. Your photos are beautiful and I love the idea of ending the day with ice cream.
ReplyDeleteOf course I am leaving a comment, Vee, because you have been a good friend to me over the years. Sorry about the computer problems. Say what they do about social media and such, we get pretty much left behind w/o our computers. Blogging, games, and FaceBook and such -- all those things help to keep us just that much "computer savvy" so that when problems arise, we have at least a ghost of an idea how to seek a remedy.
ReplyDeleteThe piece you posted by Ruth Chow Simons fits me right now. I'm at the end of myself. What you've shared is instructional and a comfort to me.
Love the pictures. Thanks for taking us along on your adventure.
Beautiful pictures Vee. Oh girl...you had me at ice cream! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteAw - so nice to hear from you again and hear about that wonderful outing! Am loving the words of wisdom at your beginning. I am in total agreement about the ice-cream!! Hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteHi Vee,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your computer problems. No one likes those, do they? I apologize for being late in visiting and commenting on your post; I've kind of been out of blogland for a few weeks with so much going on around here. Today, we are enjoying the blessed sound of silence. :)
These pictures are beautiful! I always think it would be so nice to live somewhere like that with a VIEW. Maybe that's why I like to visit the mountains so much. Your friend's grandparents were blessed to have such a lovely spot to call home. I like the sunken garden. I'm glad the three of you had such a fun outing, and I agree that the best times end with ice cream. :D I'm always glad to see a post from you, and I hope you have a good weekend, my friend.
Love and hugs,
Denise at Forest Manor
What fun to have a special outing with your sister and your friend! I'm sure it was fascinating to get a personal tour of the homes where your friend has lived. You certainly had some beautiful scenes! Last fall, my mom guided my sister and me and Bekah on a tour of all of the houses in our town (she lived in many other places too!) in which she had lived as a child. It was a day well spent.
ReplyDeleteLove your opening quote!
Hi Vee…. Just stoping by to say I hope things are good with you !,
ReplyDeleteLove ❤️, bj
I love peaceful places like the ones in your photos. ~ Computers are wonderful when they are working right and can be so frustrating when they aren't. ~ I need to visit here more often. I find that your posts have a calming affect.
ReplyDeleteI had to stop by and say hi. For whatever reason, this post really touched my heart. I am so happy you had such a fun trip. I hope the rest of this week is a beautiful one for you. Take care HUGS across the miles.
ReplyDelete