Signs Of Fall

We are having the most fantastic weather here in Oregon! It's warm, clear and sunny. We love it. August weather in September. To make up for the rain in August, perhaps. These days won't last long and we know they will soon be a memory. Everywhere we see signs that Fall is approaching. The big tree near my front door has begun to change her colors. It won't be long before her pretty leaves will cover the ground.

During a recent visit to a little mall in a nearby community we passed by Michael's. I spied some 'fun' scarecrows on display outside and I wanted to take a picture to share them with you. As I took my little, old camera out of my purse I couldn't believe what happened. One more? Who is that? Another friendly scarecrow?My sweetheart! I think he's the friendliest one of all!

Scarecrow, scarecrow,

How scary can you be?

You scare the birds

But you don't scare me!

Till The Storm Passes By

Through these last few days as I've watched the news and prayed for those in harm's way of the hurricane the words of this song kept coming to mind. My prayers continue for each one who was affected by the devastation and for those who lost loved ones because of the fury of the storm.

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,

While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.

'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,

Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Many times Satan whispered, 'There is no need to try,

For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by.'

But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise

Where no storm clouds ever darken the skies.

When the long night has ended and the storms come no more,

Let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore;

In that land where the tempest, never comes, Lord, may I

Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.

Chorus

Till the storm passes over,

Till the thunder sounds no more,

Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,

Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Song: 'Till The Storm Passes By'
Words and Music by Mosie Lister

Mountain Scenes

A few scenes from our trip home through the Cascade Mountains after Labor Day Weekend in Central Oregon.

The South Sister

Elk Lake with a glimpse of Broken Top above the hills.

Mount Bachelor above Elk Lake

Elk Lake Lodge

Broken Top and the road home

Large grassy meadow beside Sparks Lake below Mount Bachelor - taken from the site chosen to commemorate Ray Atkeson, Oregon’s photographer laureate. You can see the ski trails on the mountain.

Last look at the South SisterOne more view of Broken Top

On the other side of the mountains - Three Sisters and Broken Top in the distance

Homeward bound!

We Remember - And Pray!

If my people,

who are called by my name,

will humble themselves

and pray and seek my face

and turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven

and will forgive their sin

and will heal their land.

II Chronicles 7:14

Artwork compliments of Allposters.com

Awards and Honors

Since I began blogging last year I have received several awards that have deep meaning to me. It isn't the award that means so much - it's the friends who have shared them with me and the fact they find something in my blog that makes them want to visit again and again. Two new awards arrived recently. I'd like to share them with you now. I have some other awards and meme's to catch up on. I haven't forgotten but time has gotten away from me since they came my way. I'll share them soon. Very soon.




Cathy at Melodies and Hymnsongs blessed me with this award. Thank you very much, Cathy. Her blog is always a special place to visit. She has such pretty things to share and often just shares her heart and the music she loves. Please stop by to visit Cathy. I know you will see what I mean. Cathy is one of the new friends I've 'met' through this wonderful word of blog. I treasure the friendship we share.


The rules for receiving this award are:
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and which also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and a link to his/her blog so that it can be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link of the blog that presented him/her the award.
4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link arte y pico blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. Show these rules.

Cathy also has a music blog at Wordsong Collections. She and Tara at Days Missed On A Hammock both blessed me with this 'I Love Your Blog' award. That means a lot to me. Appreciation from dear friends touches my heart. Thank you, Cathy and Tara.

Cathy's music blog features wonderful worship music she has composed and written herself. I think you will be amazed by her talent and the love for God she expresses through the talent He gave her. Since I am also a musician I am deeply moved when I hear Cathy's music. Oh how I wish I could spend time with you, Cathy, and help you accomplish the dreams you have for developing and sharing your music! Couldn't we have a great time together?

Tara has become a friend whose blog I visit often. When I stop by I always feel like I'm sitting in her home or yard - or that I'm with her on an adventure. And when she shares a special 'hammock' spot I think I've gone to Heaven! Being a person who loves to relax in a hammock, this is where I could totally lose perspective and all sense of reality! Thank you, Tara, for sharing your life with me.

These are the official blog award rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate up to 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.

It is hard for me to chose just a few blogs to honor with these awards. I have so many that are special to me. I don't want to leave anyone out but since I can't give this to all of you I'll just chose a few now. I will give both of these awards to:

Katherine at Yellow Rose Arbor. Katherine and I have become friends who share our love for things yellow - roses, yellow glass and pottery, tea, and much more. Her blog is filled with the beauty of her lovely home and family and when she travels I feel I have joined the group. She is an inspiration to me to get my photo albums finished. Hers are true works of art! The only bad thing about our friendship is that we live on opposite corners of the United States. We dream of the day we might be able to visit each other!

La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality. If you haven't stopped by her blog, you need to. Her photography, her love for tea and things related and her love for lavendar make her blog a delightful 'get-away' from the stresses of everyday life. And if you haven't seen her cabin in the mountains of Eastern Oregon you need to visit her soon. She lives just a few hours away from my home, on the other side of Oregon. She and I share a mutual love for the Oregon Coast and I often comment on the beauty she shares from her travels in the Pacific Northwest. This friend helped me appreciate our little travel trailer in a new way when I commented to her that I wished for a cabin somewhere in the woods. Her response reminded me that my little trailer is a cabin-of-sorts. And we can take it nearly anywhere our hearts desire to go. Thank you, LaDonna, for your friendship and inspiration.


Lisa at Ivory Blush Roses - a new blog friend. If you haven't met Lisa or visited her blog you need to rush right over there immediately. You probably won't believe your eyes when you see her absolutely gorgeous crazy quilting and handwork. I can't seem to get enough of what she shares and I find myself there often. Just looking and wishing I could sit down next to her so she could teach me all the tips and tricks she has learned. Thank you, Lisa, for your inspiration. You make me want to reach just a bit deeper into the creative part of me and make everything I do have the same degree of beauty and quality I see in your work.

Cielo at The House In The Roses. When I visit Cielo's house in the roses I feel like I've walked into another world. Her fantastic photography takes me right into her home, her garden and into the world she sees around her. We share a love for roses, especially the Portland Rose Garden. I just can't imagine what fun we could have together if we could wander through rose gardens around the world! Thank you, Cielo, for inspiring me to reach a little higher, open my arms a bit wider and always stop. To smell the roses!

Melissa at The Inspired Room. Melissa lives in my state - not too far from my home. I am always amazed by the beautiful homes and gardens she shares with us. I often find an idea to use here in my home and yard. Or I dream of what life might be like in the gorgeous places she takes us. If you haven't stopped by to see Melissa, you need to do that. Her family beach house on the Oregon Coast is absolutely unbelievable. Spend a little time going back to see the renovations and then read about her daughter's recent wedding celebration there. You will almost feel as if you were there with them. Melissa introduced me to 'drive-bys'. Photos taken of homes and gardens as you drive by in the neighborhood. I have learned to see every neighborhood in a different way since then. I always wonder which of these homes or gardens would be good to share with my blog friends. Thanks, Melissa, for helping me see the world around me in a different way.

I hope you will take time to visit these dear blog friends. You won't be disappointed, I'm sure!

In The Garden

I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.

Chorus

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him

Though the night around me be falling,

But He bids me go; through the voice of woe

His voice to me is calling.

Song: 'In The Garden'

Words and music by C. Austin Miles

Finds and Treasures (9)

Yesterday morning I picked up my dear little mother and we went to garage sales, followed by lunch out together. This is the first time we have had a 'normal' Friday garage sale day together for quite awhile because of her recent illness. She is feeling much better and told me that she felt better yesterday than she has for a year. What an answer to prayer! We had a great time together and found some wonderful things at the sales we found along the way. My best buys were from my neighbor's garage sale - just across the street! I couldn't wait to show you the treasures I found there. My neighbors are a bit older than my sweetheart and I and have purchased a 'winter' home in Arizona. Now they are downsizing and cleaning out a lot of things that they don't want to keep here where they will spend Spring, Summer and part of the Fall each year. I was their first customer when they opened the garage door! Even before I picked up my dear mother and brought her back to the sale! I'm so glad I was over there early because I got things I will treasure. More special because they belonged to my dear neighbor lady.

Nearly three years ago we bought a new dining room set. It opens out bigger than the one we had before. Tablecloths I had for years only fit when it has no leaf or just one of the two leaves added. I have been collecting new tablecloths since then but have not added many to my supply. I was delighted to find that my neighbor had decided to sell two of hers! They will fit my table when it is opened up. This one has fruit in baskets. I didn't open the table - or even press the cloths - for the pictures.

Along the sides of the table. . .

And at the edges, the vine and fruit pattern is elegant.

The other tablecloth is the same Ecru color in a floral pattern.

The sides are filled with flowers and gorgeous designs.

But I really love the corners!I found some old opera glasses in a little leather case.See their name? Turtle.I couldn't leave this little, old, silver ladle. It will be perfect in one of my gravy boats!I love the detail on the handle. Roses!I was thrilled to find each of these beautiful things but that wasn't my best find of the day. When I saw this box I had to check it out. Couldn't leave it there without seeing what was inside.Oh, my goodness! Look what I found.A delicate, exquisite tea set. Made in. . .Luncheon plates. . . cups and saucers. . .And a sweet little teapot! Service for four with a couple of extra plates and an extra saucer. Did you see the price? I couldn't believe my eyes. When I said I would take it our neighbor man said, 'Oh, I feel so much better about this!' He told me this little set had belonged to my dear little German neighbor lady's grandmother. He really didn't want her to sell it. Now he was pleased that I had it and would always treasure it.

I bought some other things through the day. Grandma books for my grandkids, some puzzles and games, a few Christmas ornaments, a tabletop tripod for my new camera and a darling little wooden storage chest that needs a bit of work before I show it to you. I know where it will go when it's finished. But you have to wait! I promise I'll show it to you.

Yesterday's adventures meant a lot to me. Because my dear mother felt good again and had such fun. And because I have some wonderful treasures that belonged to my sweet neighbor. Now how can you have a better day?