Gathering the Moments~August

If the first and lowest operation of pain shatters the illusion that all is well, the second shatters the illusion that what we have, whether good or bad in itself, is our own and enough for us. Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We ‘have all we want’ is a terrible saying when ‘all’ does not include God. We find God an interruption. As St Augustine says somewhere, ‘God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full—there’s nowhere for Him to put it.’ Or as a friend of mine said, ‘We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it’s there for emergencies but he hopes he’ll never have to use it.’ Now God, who has made us, knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as he leaves us any other resort where it can even plausibly be looked for. While what we call ‘our own life’ remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. What then can God do in our interests but make ‘our own life’ less agreeable to us, and take away the plausible source of false happiness?

~C.S. Lewis

The Problem of Pain 

~a beautiful prayer and free graphic~

~Gathering the Moments August Collage~
You can find more Gathering the Moments at Thinking About Home.
August was so quiet that I had time to think and think and think—always dangerous. You probably have anticipated the results of all that thinking. I hope so; I didn't lay down all those crumbs for nothing.☺

As it turns out, I will not be seeing you in September and so I humbly suggest that Note Card Party buttons be removed from sidebars. I offer the party to anyone who has participated in the past and might be interested. As good alternatives, I highly recommend Judith's Mosaic Monday, Donna's Photo Challenge, and Cheryl's Gathering the Moments. 
Not a fan of a long goodbye so will say instead, many blessings to you. Have a beautiful September! (If all goes well, I'll be back sharing Gathering the Moments~September.)

  Sunday comments are always closed

No Note Card Party

Ordinarily, I'd be letting you know that Mr. Linky would be up this afternoon for the monthly Note Card Party. However, I have GOOD news! No Note Card Parties this summer. None. Zip. You are officially off the hook for June, July, and August. Have a wonderful summer!  Thanks for checking in...

May Note Card Party

By day the goldfinches dip in yellow flight, by night the frogs sing that song that never goes out of favor.

~E.B. White

A Report in Spring 

The collage reveals a secret or two and a cheat or two. (Secrets and cheats revealed: The flowers were all taken in the wee patch of garden shown on my box top. I used the macro setting and thereby tricked some into thinking I had a lovely clematis when what I really have is a patch of lavender and pink phlox with tiny blossoms. The lilac bud was, by a few days, a former photo and the new single lilac bloom peeking through the leaves is shown on the box top with my big fingers in there pulling the leaves away so I could get the shot. The final cheat is that I showed the coral bells on the box top, but not in the set of four. The color didn't quite work, though the plant does live in that same small patch of garden.)

Couldn't resist the call of the springtime garden even though that was not my first choice.

So Soon?

~a new dahlia~ I know! Can you believe it? It's time for our monthly Note Card Party. This means that I will be posting between 2 and 2:30 tomorrow afternoon making Mr. Linky available for a jumpstart for those who want one. Otherwise, the party runs all day Wednesday and closes Thursday morning around 10. 
There's not a lot to it, though you can find out more by clicking *here.*
Hope to see you there! (I know it's a busy time of year.)
Have fun with this. Edit those photos and play!

Trying Something New~April Note Card Party

Yes, I am so excited about trying something new that I nearly forgot to add the formerly used photo. 

Maybe I'll try it again and get good at it. Currently, it's something of a red hot mess. I think that you can best tell what I did in the "Thinking of You" card where you can see the horizon line. I didn't like that look and so my experiments took me to blotting that line, which is how I wound up with shadows and blotches and a generally muddled look. Ahhhh...the joy of trying something new.
Looking forward to seeing your note cards this evening!
P.S. If you visit the directions page *here,* you will find new buttons added at the bottom. Perhaps there is finally something for everyone.
 

Brooks, Schools, Pinwheels

Though I tried repeatedly to get the code for button making to work, I failed. After three hours, something has got to be more important. Picking fluff from a cotton ball would be more important. So, if you'd like a new Note Card Party button, feel free to snag this the old-fashioned way. You may link to the home page here or you may link to the *directions page.* Thank you so much for linking; it is much appreciated. 

Tomorrow Mr. Linky will be up between 2 and 2:30. After this post is published, I'm going to start having some fun with this month's Note Card Party. I have my props all gathered. It will be different anyway.

~~~

This is the final picture showing snow-melt progress in just two short weeks. I can't believe that two weeks ago, it looked this way:

And now?

And, though that is bad, it is a huge improvement. The burlap has been removed from the rosebushes and, when the forsythia blooms, I shall be pruning them. The azalea bush needs trimming even before it blooms because of broken branches. It'll be looking good in a month. I hope. You will be happy to know that I am sparing you the weekly installments henceforth. ☺
Here's a photo taken this morning  showing the little brook that winds behind the house. It passes through a culvert under the road and into the river. That's why it looks as if I'm standing in the brook.

 

The little red schoolhouse on the hill. Soon, it will be invisible from this vantage point.

Snow plow damage. It turned this sign into a pinwheel.
Well, that's it for today. See you tomorrow!

Spring Surprise

I do love a joke. Woke up to a great one!

 Eight inches of new snow on the first day of spring. Hahahhahahaha...

 It's official: we're buried in it.

Are we discouraged? No! We have our trusty sleds and will make the best of it.
Thanks to Teachers' Workshop days, I have the added benefit of some grandboys who will keep me hopping for the next two days. After sledding, we're pondering baking some gingerbread boys, if only we can talk Jake into not thinking of them as Christmas cookies.
Any snow in your corner? How about a haboob dust storm?

P.S. Thanks to all who participated in the Note Card Party. You brought spring and good cheer. When I was checking again last night, I saw how well you got around and visited one another and it truly warmed my heart. ♥

Humble Offerings~Note Card Party

These days, life has slowed to that which must be done and I'm afraid that my note cards reflect it this month. Each is a former offering from 2011. My intent had been to look for photos taken around this date; however, I shouldn't have been surprised to learn that March is typically a slow month where I take few photos. 
Perhaps it is the teacher in me that leans toward seasonal offerings —— a rut if ever I've known one. That and to carry through on a theme is challenging for me.

~doily wreath and tulips~

~spring wreath~

~first spring visit to the garden~

~new maple syrup~

The photo above is my personal favorite because there's always something comforting about a pancake and syrup. John and I are hoping that one day soon there'll be the proper weather for the sap to flow. Our supply of maple syrup needs replenishing. Is the sap flowing in your corner?

Hope that you've had an easier time gathering photos. Though I tout this party as easy-peasy, sometimes it ain't. ☺

Reminder

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is 

not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 

But if we hope for what we do 

not see, we wait for it with patience. 

~Romans 8:24–25

~2011 daffodils~

No spring in sight here. There's snow so high that my neighbor's dog comes visiting at the dining room window walking on top of snow four feet high. He peeks right in and winks at me. The good news is that, once spring begins, she'll not be kept back. Rather like that scene in the Narnia movie when the melting begins in earnest and everyone comforts others with "Aslan is on the move."

Source In case you're in need of a little spring, I am linking to this under five-minute video of tulip fields near Keukenhof Gardens in Holland. If you're not eager to fly these days, have a peek. It's a quick vacation and very relaxing. 
Yes, well, I am planning a Note Card Party for Wednesday. Mr. Linky will be up Tuesday afternoon at the usual time. Please see sidebar for links to information. Bring spring with you, if you'd like!

What About Lunch?

Well now, it has been a busy, fun week. We have had one snowstorm after the next interrupted by brilliant blue skies and fierce white snow. We are buried.
 Appropriately enough, the grands' sleds are named Snowstorm and they keep them parked on the deck at the ready. Come back tomorrow and I'll show you more of that. (I know that snow scenes are causing some folks anxiety, but I'll try to only show the prettiest and best. Oh and I'll even include John's ride down the luge!)
Moving right along...

It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?"

 ~A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)

 ~what about lunch~

I've included three out of four possible lunches this week. I don't even remember the missing one. Today, as a reward for good behavior, we're ordering in. (We had planned to go out, but it's another stormy day.)

So that's boxed Mac and Cheese (it must be Kraft), Pannukakku (not a hit with the photo bomber below, but John and I love it and have it every few weeks or so), and turkey wraps.

These cute dinner napkins arrived this week from Joanne at My Not-So-Empty Nest. The napkin rings are adorable! We sure do go through a lot of dinner napkins around here so it was fun to receive ones with such cute graphics. Joanne provides a tutorial *here.* Thank you, Joanne!

And a big thank you to those who participated in the Note Card Party on Tuesday/Wednesday and the Downton Abbey Discussion Wednesday Thursday (I no longer know what day it is). I couldn't have done it without you!

February Note Card Party

Certainly we are out of touch with the world here in snowtime. But many of our happiest memories are winter memories. Each day is a sort of triumph. It takes so much effort and planning merely to exist and keep warm. But see, we have been comfortable, we have been content! And each night we go to our beds with a sense of having truly lived that day.

~Elizabeth Coatsworth 

Guess that you can see what might be on my mind these days. Now to see what's on yours!

*Please review rules prior to linking by clicking on the Note Card Party button or the date reminder. Thank you!*

Busy Week

A couple of points of business:
1. The Note Card Party will be up tomorrow afternoon between 2 and 2:30 (It runs all day Wednesday without my adding any other posts to interfere.)
2. This week's Downton Abbey Discussion will be Thursday. 
It's a busy week. It even started off busy. 

~Roofs Needed Shoveling~

~Grands Graduated to the Really Big Hill~ Speaking of grands, they're mine all week. I'll be keeping up as time allows!

January Note Card Party

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire; it is the time for home. 

~Edith Sitwell

Knowing that I am in need of comforts this week, I thought perhaps you might enjoy some, too. Comforts too often equals food for me. Wish that, like so many of you, I could get away with a bit of tea, a book, and a blankie. At least, thus far, I'm getting away with virtual food.☺

 ~banana bread~

 ~Kim's Lemon Crisps~

 ~ Sock-it-to-me Cake~

~salad preps~ With the exception of the box top sample cover, all photos have been shown before. 
And here we go heading into 2014 with this first Note Card Party of the year. Let's enjoy it!

January Note Card Party Reminder

Just a quick reminder that it's almost time for January's Note Card Party. Mr. Linky will be up tomorrow afternoon between 2 and 2:30. The actual party is on Wednesday, January 15. 
Hope to see you then! Newcomers are always welcome!
Comments are closed today; however, most questions can be answered by clicking on the Note Card Button in my sidebar or on the date listed. 
A wonderful day to you...

Thank you!

Thank you so much to all who participated in this month's Note Card Party. Some posted, many visited, it was just wonderful. I was surprised for such a busy month.
~~~ 
The snow that now rests on my little porch arrangement covers a multitude of sins, but it is too cold to open the door and leave it open to take the shot. Yes, things are just that tight around here. 
Keeping up with everyone is a great joy. It is so much fun to see what you're up to whether it's decorating when you didn't expect to or baking or traveling. How much longer will the collective "we" be able to keep all plates spinning. We'll see!
Speaking of spinning plates, I'm off to shop today. Dear Lord, may it be the final day I'll have to go out to face the madding crowd this year. ☺
Have yourself a happy day!

December Note Card Party

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. 

~Norman Vincent Peale

~photo from 2011~

A package all the way from the UK brought the wee banner above and the Christmas ornament below. Someone has been crafting. I love them! Thank you, Linds ♥!

This calendar is a recent win at Donna's Cottage Days and Journeys. What a wonderful way to use one's own photography. Donna, you continue to amaze me!
And I'm so looking forward to your photography. The storm isn't coming in until later this afternoon so all will be well with the Note Card Party world.