Sunday, June 30, 2013

Choose To See

The Path  “Even during those times when the path is darkest,
He leaves little bits of evidence all the way
– bread crumbs of grace –
that can give me what I need to take the next step.
But I can only find them if I choose to SEE.”



written by Mary Beth Chapman
from ‘Choosing To SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope’

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Northwest Gathering 2013

NWG 2013Northwest Gathering 2013 was held at Andersen’s RV Park in Long Beach, Washington.  I think most of us are still basking in the memories – treasuring the moments we spent together.  The photo above was taken by a man on Andersen’s staff.  He has a photography business on the side.  One afternoon he climbed up on the roof of the office to capture the moment for us.  You can see that we were tightly packed into the RV park.  We had the entire park for all four days of our gathering.  The photo shows our proximity to the beach and the Pacific Ocean just a ways beyond.  A short trail took us to the beach anytime our hearts desired.  Early the first evening I decided to take my camera and slip away to the beach by myself.  At first I wondered about the wisdom of going alone but the sea was calling and I didn't want to miss what was happening.  The sun was about set.NWG 1st Sunset As I got to the point where the path ended and the beach began, I looked ahead and I realized I was not alone.  There, straight ahead of me – on the beach – was a row of Sisters lined up in their chairs to watch the sunset!Sisters On The BeachI had to laugh at the thought that I would be the only one to follow the sun!  More Sisters arrived and soon we were just a group of gals who had one thing in common.  We had come to watch the sunset on the beach.  It didn't take long.  We saw what we had come to see.  The sky changed before our eyes and we weren’t disappointed.NWG 1st Sunset 2After awhile it was time for me to head back to camp.  I turned to go and as I walked through the sand, I looked up and saw the moon.  1st Night MoonThere’s nothing quite like walking a sandy path from the beach under the full moon.  The sound of the waves, the colors of the sky and the sand beneath my feet made me smile.  I felt such peace.  It was a good start to a few days away.  My trailer was not far from the end of the path.  When I got back it was time to turn on lights and get ready for nightfall.  Before I headed over to sit by my neighbor’s campfire I turned on the little lights my sweetheart had helped me hang on the rock guard awning over my front window.  Once they were lit I stood back and smiled.  Trailer LightsI was finally settled in.  This was the what I had waited for.  I had no idea everything the days ahead would bring but I knew it was going to be good.  This was only the beginning.

I know you want to see the trailers.  There is a lot to see and I will share them with you.  We’ll take a walk through the RV park and enjoy it all.  Get ready – put on your walking shoes.  We’ll start soon.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sisters By The Sea

P6207662Today I said goodbye to a group of Sisters – all part of Sisters On The Fly Eighth Annual Northwest Gathering.  We were Sisters from Oregon, Idaho, Washington, from British Columbia, Canada and a few who came from California.  Saying goodbye was hard since we had laughed and played and talked and chatted and eaten and shopped together for the last four days.  I’m still reflecting on our time together on the Washington Coast.  There is so much I’d love to tell you.  And I will.  Soon.Andersen's RVIn the meantime I must shift gears and get back to ‘real’ life.  My dearest and best-est friend from college days is coming tomorrow.  She and her hubby will spend some sweet hours with us before they head home on Tuesday.  While I ponder things from the past few days and while I try hard to get back into things at home I leave you with a tiny peek of my time away.  It’s a time I will never forget.  Time spent with gals I will never forget.  Friendships made.  Bonds established.  Plans for the future determined so we will meet again.P6217666
P6217681

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Sister Camp Scenes

I'm on the road again!  My sweetheart is taking me and our 'big' trailer to the Washington Coast for a long-awaited event.  Sisters On The Fly gals from around Oregon, Washington and Idaho will gather today for the Eighth Annual Northwest Gathering.  There will be a lot of vintage - and other - trailers in the RV park that will be our home over the next few days.  Things have been planned and prepared for our days together - days (and nights, since we're all girls!) will be filled with laughter and chatter and food and fun.   And, hopefully, walks on the beach. The weather forecast isn't as promising as we had hoped, but - hey - it could be wrong!  I may check in and share a bit of the doings from time to time - we will have internet access and I know there will be way too much to keep to myself.

I thought I would share bits and pieces of our recent campout near my home - things you haven't seen before.  Some of these gals will be at our gathering this week and I'm sure they will have a few of these things with them.  Some have wind chimes in bushes and on trailer awnings (I have wind chimes this time, too!). . .
P6017343
An old milk can filled with Hydrangeas. . .
P6017308
Vintage ironing boards (love the way she used jeans to cover this one). . .P6017347Sisters On The Fly books. . .
P6017351
Collections. . .P6017356
A Sisters On The Fly flag hung in a car window. . .
P6017358 Chalkboard signs. . .
P6017361
Shelves filled with memorabilia. . .P6017367A row of petticoats hung high. . . P6017382And a welcome sign at our Sisters Camp hosts site.P6017379As dusk begins to settle down around us, lights in all colors, shapes and sizes come on around us. A vintage thermos that was made into a lamp and a tiny chandelier light the way around this tiny trailer.
P6017383
Green and red pepper-shaped lights  top this cute trailer.P6017386Lights shaped like little vintage trailers make me smile.  I have lights like these that will hang from the front of our big trailer through the next few days.P6017388Lights that cascade over a big umbrella catch the attention of everyone who passes by.
P6017390
There's something new to see every time you walk around camp.  It's fun to hear the stories behind things and see the personalities of my Sisters through the things that touch their hearts.  It’s amazing what you can see when you slow down and walk and look and listen.

You can be sure there will be more photos and ideas and stories to share when I return.  This has been in the planning for a long time.  Registration was limited and I'm thrilled to go.  I've been waiting - it's finally time!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Sweet Retreat

Our camping and fishing trip up on the mountain was a sweet retreat.  We’ve never been to the lake this early in the season and I was surprised that it was colder than I expected.  There were times when the sun broke through and we let it soak into our hearts and bodies. At other times wind blew across the lake and clouds dropped light rains all around us.  We had a private spot beside the lake, just steps from the water.  Lakeside RetreatThe view from our campsite was wonderful.  Through the windows on the side. . .P6127439And at the front.P6127434 My sweetheart was right at home on the lake.  Fishing was good!  He caught his limit each day – fresh fish on the grill makes a tasty meal.  We brought fish home in the freezer to enjoy in the near future. P6127425We didn’t go up the mountain to Timberline Lodge this time.  We stayed pretty close to ‘home’.  It was time to get away and relax.  And we did.  There was no cell phone, computer or TV.  The nights were quiet and sleep came easily.  I only ventured out in the boat once. On the BoatJoey didn’t get to go on the boat this time.  He did something that seemed to bruise his ribs or shoulder on one side – we think he hit it on the steps in his excitement to go outside one day.  When I put his little life jacket on him so he could go on the boat with me it seemed to press on that area.  It was obvious that it hurt him so he had to stay behind.  (He’s better now!)  He watched it all and waited patiently for me to return home again.P6137537
He was happy to stay inside with me much of the time.  The two of us like to be warm!  We went on walks every day and he practiced being off leash at times with good results.  He was a very good boy – now if he could do the same at home!

The days went by quickly and it was soon time to pack up and head home.  Blue skies bid us farewell as we headed home with plans to return again soon.Blue Skies

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Grace

 P6137459 O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace.  ― A.W. Tozer

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Daffodil – As She Was

I’m sharing the beginning of Daffodil’s journey with you so you can catch up to what’s happening with her now.  Her transformation journey is picking up speed these days.  But first, you really must see what she looked like when we first brought her home.  As the journey continues you will begin to see where she’s headed.  The photos I’m sharing today won’t give you a clue of the beauty that lies ahead.  Trust me – it will happen.  In the meantime, brace yourself for an astounding tour!  The door will be open when you get there.  Come on over to Daffodil's Journey to see what I mean.P4109313

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

The Grand Lodge

While we’re away at the lake I thought I would share photos I promised to share quite awhile ago.  You may remember that I told you about our winter-time trip up the mountain here and I promised to take you inside the Timberline Lodge.  I started editing photos of the grand lodge and then life took me in some other directions.  So, come with me as I take you for a winter visit to this wonderful historic lodge.  As we walk through the big front doors and cross the main lobby we see a sign that gives us a bit of direction.P3186368Before we go upstairs to enjoy more of the old building let’s walk around the main level where we can see some interesting parts of the lodge.  This is just one of the interesting, old, hand-crafted doors throughout the lodge.P3186369Just beyond the door, inside one of the meeting rooms, you will see huge quilted drapes that are very heavy.  They are lined and insulated with some kind of thick material that helps keep cold drafts out of the room.  The design is the same for drapes all through the building.  I’ve never noticed them before and I suspect they are taken down and carefully stored during the summer months.  P3186372I’d like to take a closer look at the details.  The workmanship is exquisite!  Every detail is perfect!  What a great idea!  Quilts made just to be used as winter drapes – this might is a good idea for anyone who lives where there are extremely low temperatures in the winter.P3186374 Just down the hall there’s another interesting doorway.  The lights are low in the hallways and my photos don’t do justice to the details.P3186375Out in the main lobby, close to where we came in, a multi-sided fireplace waits to warm winter visitors.  I’m always attracted to the incredible workmanship of the fireplaces and other details inside the building. P3186376 There are wooden seats and wood and iron chairs with seats that look like rawhide scattered around the lobby.  Nearby are displays and reader boards with information about the history and the geography of the lodge.  In a small room to the side of these chairs a movie play many times through the day giving visitors a look at the history of the lodge.  Seeing actual film footage of the conditions the workers endured to build this grand, old lodge is pretty incredible.   P3186379 Upstairs on the second level you see how much the snowdrift has begun to melt.  It completely covered the window through much of the winter.  In the summer time you have a great view of the mountain from here.
P3186380 Let’s take a closer look at the snowdrift.  The textures are fascinating.P3186381A warm fire is waiting for us when we reach the third floor.  I love the old handmade wrought iron lamps around the fireplace.  It’s not unusual to see people sitting close to the fire while they rest or visit with friends.P3186395I’d love to sit and enjoy the fire but I can’t stay away from the big windows that give us a view of the peak of the mountain.  In the summertime it seems that the mountain is so close you could reach out and touch it.P3186404 If you turn around and look up you will see the huge hand-hewn timbers that support the roof. P3186401 Enormous lights hang from the timbers high above our heads.  Heavy chains and iron rods hold them in place.P3186400It’s time to start heading downstairs but I can’t resist one more look at the mountain from up here.  Shadows cast a silhouette of the peak of the roof, the cupola and the weathervane high atop the Grand Old Lodge.  I could stay here all day!P3186407We turn and begin to walk around the fireplace.  On the other side you see this sign that gives us interesting information about the lodge and its relationship to the mountain.  I’m sorry the quality of my photo is so poor – it was quite dark on this side of the fireplace. P3186389An interesting handmade door gives access to the elevator.  We’ll pass and take the stairs down. P3186392Let’s take a side staircase.  There’s no traffic there right now and we can stop to look at one of the many hand-carved newel posts in the building.  It’s a beaver, a symbol of our state - Oregon is the Beaver State.P3186428Some day I want to go up and down all the staircases and see them all – they’re all different.
We won’t be far from here while we’re at the lake this week.  I imagine we will take an afternoon drive up to see this grand place – we usually do.  It will look different this time.  Winter has gone.  Summer has arrived.