A Wildflower Morning

Milbert's Tortoiseshells - A Great Find - And How They Survive the Winter It seems like our best nature explorations come during the spring and summer months, and some in fall.  Nature exploration in winter comes at a higher price and usually requires heavy coats, hats and gloves.  The flowers are dead, and there isn't much greenery.  But for the dedicated, nature exploration can be found in all seasons, as illustrated in the stories below. My son and I have decided to participate in the Outdoor Hour Challenges put out by Barb at http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com .  You can take a look at the November issue of the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival, if you are interested.  December's issue will be coming out at the end of the month. Two days ago my son was out exploring.  He turned over some boards that covered a hole on the hillside, and to his great surprise, he found two butterflies.  He knew they were butterflies because they had kn...

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6. Are you hungry?  This time of year people are hungry for cookies and chocolate and red striped candies.  They indulge in parties and giant feasts until they are stuffed and feel sick. But are you hungry for righteousness; so hungry that you'd do anything to get more of God, more of his righteousness, more of his unselfish heavenly character in your own life? Maybe you are hungry, thirsting for God.  But you stop there; do nothing more but wish.  You hope and desire to be a Christian, a real, all the time Christian, but it just doesn't seem to happen.  You look at your life, and there is no change, no joy, no love, no peace.  Don't stay there if you are hungry for more.  God has promised.  You shall be filled. Exercise your will today with determination.  I will be a wholehearted Christian, starting right now.  I will do all ...

My precious daughter has been playing the violin for two years now.  She got to play a solo in the church Christmas program this weekend.  All her hard work is starting to show; she's even learning to play vibrato now.  Our hearts our happy.  Glory to God, and thanks for the beautiful gifts He bestows on His children. Now Is Born the Divine Christ Child from Frohne Family on Vimeo .

Freezing fog settled in our valley over the last few days.  Temperatures were around 20 degrees in the day time.  Frost covered everything in sight.  It even took over my clothes line, dangling crystal spears the whole length.  The whole world seemed lined with intricately formed ice needles, winter artwork of the Creator.  Each icy needle grew to be almost 2 inches long.  I didn't know much about frost, so my son and I did a little research this morning and found out there are three main types of frost: window frost, rime frost and hoar frost.  Window frost forms lacy fern like designs on poorly insulated windows.  I used to see it when I was a kid, but I haven't seen it for years, probably because most houses have double pane windows now.  Rime frost is super cooled water droplets found most frequently on ship riggings out at sea during cold wintry weather.  It is more solid in appearance.  Hoar frost is white ice cry...

Lion's Park Bridge "Those who humbly study  the character of Jesus  will reflect His image more and more."   Review and Herald, March 19, 1894 "He who lives nearest to Jesus  shines the brightest." Signs of the Times, Aug. 16, 1905. "Continual devotion establishes so close a relation between Jesus and His disciples that the Christian becomes like HIm in mind and character." Desire of Ages, p. 251

My son has revamped is old neglected blog, The Young Naturalist , into a fresh, new blog.  In it he will be writing about his life and his nature studies.  His photography blog, Heavenly Light Photography , will remain as a showcase for his favorite photography work.  He would love it if you would regularly visit both of his blogs, and of course, he is greatly encouraged with comments.

Meet Magnificent, our grand Buff Brahman Rooster "Daily annoyances beset the path of young and old.  Those who would live patient, loving, cheerful lives  must pray.  Only by receiving constant help from God can we gain the victory over self." The Ministry of Healing, p. 393 *Photo by Heavenly Light Photography

Dear Friend who lives far away, I did find some colorful yarn in town on Friday, but at a price, I had to wait in a very long line for over an hour with dozens of other customers looking for a good deal.  I just know you would like the juicy, bright colors, rather like a wildflower meadow, in winter, I think.  I liked the colors and texture of the yarn so well I set right to work, or rather to relaxing with a crochet hook.  The chunky thread moved so quickly through the large hook that I'm happy to say this scarf is already finished.  And I feel accomplished.  Did you make any progress on your scarf? *Photo by Heavenly Light Photography

Something new and exciting is happening at our house.  I'll give you a hint!  There are two teachers and only one student, a camera woman, plus lots of noise.  We think it won't be long until there is four part  harmony.  We are really excited to think that all four member of the family will be able to play an musical instrument.

 This school year there has been very little time for the things I enjoy.  Our homeschooling days have been full to overflowing.  But it is Thanksgiving break, couldn't I do something enjoyable? How about some time to work on a fall colored quilt I started a few years ago?  You make a simple Nine-patch block.  And they you get out your rotary cutter and cut it in half in both directions.  I pinned each new set of four blocks into piles. Then I rearranged them into a new design and sewed them back together into a new block. The result looks amazingly complicated, but isn't.  With a little time, and a border, I'll have a new queen-sized quilt ready to put together.  And it was all made of random pieces of yardage from my fabric cupboard.

Well, my amazing husband did some online research and figured out what to do, and within a day of sending some information to google, my son has his blog back.  Today he posted some photos of the backyard campfire at the home of some friends on Saturday night.  The kids tested their skills and started the fire without matches or lighter.  And then they made some good old-fashioned campfire food, wrapped up in foil and cooked to perfection in the roaring fire.  What fun!  Be sure to leave a comment to welcome Heavenly Light Photograph y back to the web. 

If you are looking for my son's blog, please be patient.  Google and/or Blogger abruptly, without warning, deleted it today, and we are trying to figure out why and trying get it back. He's really sad.  He's put a lot of hard work into his blog, and appreciates all of his readers.  He hopes that if he gets his blog back, you will all come back too.

 The Great Blue Heron waits patiently in the creek.  Wait a minute!  I think there's something in here. Yep!  Got it.

Black -eyed Susan The temperature dipped low in the 20's one day this week.   The killing frost took the rest of the garden, but a couple hardy flowers still remained when the morning light hit them. Bachelor's Buttons What beautiful frosty morning sparkles backed in gold and blue!  Beauty to the end. ( Did the Bachelor give his last button to Susan? )

I think it is time to remember the blessings in my life. *Breathing - My dad and mom have been doing that for 1/3 more years then I have.  My kids are still doing that, and so is my husband.  And I remember that there is a time that breathing may stop.  Each breath is a gift. *Sharing - Birthdays.  It is birthday season for my family and some others we know.  I'm thankful for each year of life.  I'm thankful for the brand new baby boy born to my friends.  He took his first breath just not many days ago.  Wow!  Like Adam.  A brand new life breathing air created by God. *Wind - It blew through our area and shook the house last night.  It broke some things, but it also took many of the leaves off of our trees and blew them to the next county, or at least off our property.  That means I won't have to rake them anywhere. *Friends - One came by yesterday and we sipped cups of tea. Another came by today and we went for a walk...

Blaine and Faith, July 2008, with Shep, the Cougar survivor. These photos are in memory of Grandpa Blaine Kenney, who passed away last night.   Cancer attacked his brain and in less then three weeks from diagnosis, he was gone. Blaine was my husband Rob's, teacher back in 7th and 8th grade, in Anchorage, Alaska.  When Rob became a Christian, Blaine's family adopted him into their family every Sabbath, including him in church and everything they did.  He became one of the kids, and Blaine and his wife became his Christian parents. Faith on Sassy, the horse, and Blaine along side, July 2008.  At home in Baker City, OR When my husband started attending school in the "lower 48".  They had already moved there ahead of him.  He went to their house for every home leave and holiday.  He was the one who inspired my husband to get involved in amateur radio, which led him to his current career. Rob's birth dad was an awesome man too.  But he pa...

 There was so much to harvest yesterday we had to load it in the truck to bring it back to the house.  I'm amazed at the abundance. And all of it came from little seeds, mixed with good work, sun, rain, a watering system, and the blessing of God. That yellow and green melon in the lower center edge of the photo was pure delight.  I can't remember what it is called.  But I'll have to do some searching through the catalog so I can order some more of that seed.   6 boxes of tomatoes, and two buckets of little tomatoes, a box of zucchini and summer squash, a box of green beans with cucumbers, 5 watermelon, 6 other mixed melons  I'm short on time this week for canning, and my cupboards and freezer are getting very full.  So the green beans and zucchini went to an elderly gentleman who is always doing good things for other people.  Grandma convinced him that he needed to make zucchini patties too.  Some of the produce went to ...

 Do your remember when we planted potatoes back in May?   Well, deep under the soil, those potatoes grew.  They grew big! And we are glad to gather in the harvest.  We give thanks to our God for providing good food for us.  It is because of Him that potatoes grow.  It is because of Him that we have potatoes to eat.  We are grateful!

I got a phone call from the goat owners quite late last night.  The word finally spread far enough.  They were glad to know where their goats had gone.  They came early this morning to pick them up.  The goat had already escaped from the chicken pen, but they were enjoying tasty treats at the bottom of our hill.  The owners, who live about 1/3 of a mile away, have them back home, and are working on beefing up their fences.

Just a brief update on the goats.  They are still here.  I'm calling people, who are calling people, who are calling people.  All the goat owners in the area we can find don't seem to be missing goats.  Do people drop off unwanted goats like dogs?  My son wouldn't mind keeping them, but our chicken pen isn't very suitable.  The smaller one got out three times today.  Please pray that the goat owners and the sweet Nubian goats can get back together.

It's amazing how God works sometimes when you surrender to him, rather then trying to control the situation yourself. My young son was struggling to focus on homeschool this morning.  An emotional outburst was brewing, but I was determined that it would not be on my part.  Instead I was quietly praying, continually realigning my emotions with God.  If God be with me, who can be against me?  I called my son to prayer repeatedly, but he was resisting.  It didn't look like anything was going to resolve easily this morning.  Sure enough, it didn't take long.  He got frustrated, jumped up, and ran out the door. Should I follow him?  Chase him down?  Make him come back?  Force him to put that pencil back on the paper and form words? No.  I should pray.  And pray I did.  Lord, cover my son.  Call to his conscience.  Bring him back on his own please.  Diffuse the battle, if possible.  Nevertheless, not m...

God is near. He is calling and knocking. I can hear His voice. I open the door. He comes in. (Weighted pause.) (What does He think of what He sees.) He gently looks in my eyes, sees all . . . And smiles. I welcome Him in. I'm glad He wants to spend time with me. He's glad to see me. (Warm Embrace.) (Loving words.) We sit down to supper. We talk. Hearts shared. It's good, very good, all He's brought. I don't have much to offer Him, but noworry, He provided all that is on the table. Bread.  He made it Himself.  For me. Perfect ingredients. The finest ground grain.  (Jesus' sinless life) Olive oil (The Holy Spirit) Salt - to flavor and preserve (divine grace) Water - living, cleansing water Nothing else. Perfect bread.  Baked on the altar of the cross.  Pierced through. He breaks off a piece and offers it to me. It's the best.  All I need. Satisfying the deepest places. It cost everything, but He paid the price. "It's worth it," He ...

Do you see the surprise looking over the hood of this cute little Bog Orchid?  I had no idea this little guy was there until my son and I were just looking over these photos.  The more I look at God's creation, the more things I see that are there only for those who will slow down enough to look.  There is so much to learn.  Jesus wants to give us news eyes so we can see Him better too.  Just ask for His healing eye salve.  There is so much that we have only began to see.

For years I've wanted to go to Mt. Rainier when the wildflowers were blooming.  I'd heard that the meadows are breathtaking, and now I know the reports are correct.  Because of the late spring in the Northwest, the snow stayed late on the mountains, which pushed the peak bloom into September.  Often peak bloom is around a month or two earlier, depending on the elevation. The lupines were lovely, accented with sunny yellow composites, and the fascinating seed heads from the Western Pasqueflower, (Anemone occidentalis).  We got up early so we could make it to Tipsoo Lake, right along the highway at the eastern entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park.  Smoke from forest fires covered the mountain in a haze every day by noon.  I knew the mountain would look beautiful reflected on the lake in early morning light.  The meadows were still dew covered.  The air was sweet with fragrance. There were at least three different asters in the area....