A Wildflower Morning

50 Years Together. Photo by William at Heavenly Light Photography. Last night we celebrated my parents 50th anniversary.  We are so thankful for their all their committed years together.  The gathering was small, because they no longer live close to where they spent most of their married life together, and many other people were unable to come because of health reasons. Some special people were able to attend, including the flower girl from their wedding (mom's niece), a candle lighter (mom's brother), and the lady in charge of the cake (mom's sister).  My sister made a beautiful slide show of their life.  We extend a big thanks to my Auntie who decorated the gluten-free cake I had baked in advance. (You can find the recipe for the cake here .)  It was a really special occasion.  Thank you to everyone who came, everyone who helped prepare, and everyone who have supported and encouraged my parents through the years.  They are a good example of faithful love through thick

 Just after we sat down to eat my daughter's birthday breakfast, potatoes and tofu, I was informed that there was a burner that was really smoking, really black stinky smoke. I lept into the kitchen and found that my nice stainless steel spatula had somehow fallen on a burner, that somehow hadn't gotten turned off. The black plastic handle was melting really good. I carried it straight outside, then opened every door in the house. Everyone took their breakfast to eat else where. It took about an hour for the air to clear out enough for us to come back to that part of the house. So much on getting an early start on preparing for Thanksgiving, instead my room got cleaned. Thankfully, everything else went better today, and the weather was really nice after days of wind and rain. The pies are in the oven, the entree is already baked. The windows are washed. I am looking forward to a wonderful day tomorrow. And my daughter did have a nice birthday, even th

 Leaves such a blessing. In the spring they are green and breath life into our world. In summer they support the tree and shelter birds nests. In Fall, they are a playground for children. In winter they compost getting ready for my spring garden. Some years wind blows the fall leaves away so we never have to rake them. Other years they get rained on, and are no fun at all.  This year, they are perfect - dry, crunchy and easy to rake.  We made a monstrous pile with them for playing in,  right under the rope swing. Here she comes. Perfect landing!  Great fun.   Three fall backwards into the pile. I did too.  Can you see me? Today the leaves are headed to the compost pile. Blessings abundant. 

We have a new puppy, a Jack Russel Terrier named Cookie.  She is 3 months old, and a gift to us from the man who hit and killed our beloved dog Sammy.  (His mother is a breeder in Northern Idaho.)  She had been with us only 2 nights when we took her camping with us.  She did really well, and spent a lot of time tucked in a life jacket or a back pack.  She didn't really know how to walk on a lead, and she tired out real quickly.  It has now been two weeks since she went camping, and now she has grown a lot, and is a real puppy, chewing on things, making messes and needing lots of training.  She is learning fast, but not fast enough at times for my patience. She is real cute and has some winning ways about her.  Enjoy the photos.

We got to go camping last weekend, our little family, all of us together.  My daughter is home from her summer work.  Her health has improved, though is not perfect.  We went to this beautiful lake on the southern edge of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, north of Cle Elum, WA.  Tucquala Lake refected perfectly the high point of Cathedral Dome into its clear waters.  We took a canoe and a kayak with us and went out for a paddle to the end of the lake, right after breakfast.  What a beautiful way to spend Sabbath.  Enjoy some photos of our trip. Our quiet campsite by Tucquala Lake, WA Kayaker and photographer Dipper or Water Ouzal The Water Ouzal followed us from log to log Every turn in the lake was beautiful. Sister got a turn in the Kayak too. The ducks didn't put up with our approach too long before they flew away. These ducks swam in front of us for a long time before we got close enough to zoom in on them with the camera. Fog and c

"Father Where Shall I Work Today"   Meade MacGuire "Father, where shall I work today?" And my love flowed warm and free. Then he pointed out a tiny spot and said, "Tend that for me." I answered quickly, "Oh no, not that! Why, no one would ever see, No matter how well my work was done. Not that little place for me." And the word he spoke, it was not stern; He answered me tenderly: "Ah, little one, search that heart of thine; Art thou working for them or for me? Nazareth was a little place, And so was Galilee."

Brodiaea douglasii, Watercolor by Barbara Frohne  My watercolor kit is on the right, beside the jars of colored water.  Brushes are right where I can reach them.  Inspiration is to the left, along with paintings from the past.  I've taken over my daughters school desk while she is away.  (I might not give it back, it has perfect light for one of my favorite hobbies.)   Camassia quamash, watercolor by Barbara Frohne So many things in life crowd out the things a mother really enjoys.  I am so excited that I have made time to paint the last few days.  It is almost as fun as being right out in the meadow on a sunny day.  And there are no mosquitoes! Camassia quamash, watercolor by Barbara Frohne

Want to safeguard your health?  Here are the four steps you need.  You can do it today and every day. 1.  Gratitude.  Tell everyone "Thank you."  Write down what you are grateful for.  Keep a gratitude journal.  Read And Voskamp's book, "One Thousand Gifts."  Counteract negative thinking with gratitude.  "And be thankful." Col. 3: 17.   2.  Rejoicing.  Especially rejoicing in the kindness and love of God.  Sing.  Listen to uplifting music.  Read God's word and rejoice while you are reading it for everything that God has done, is doing, and has promised to do for you.  "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."  Proverbs 17:22.  Rejoice out loud, if possible. 3.  Benevolence.  Benevolence means act of charity.  Charity means loving kindness.  Do something good for someone else.  An act of kindness, for someone you know, or someone you don't, goes a long way.  Smiles are free, and make your home pleasant.  Share some food, so

I am thinking of several people I know and love.  Rotten, unfair things are happening to all of them.  It just isn't right.  Where is the beauty and love and joy in this world. Oh, yes.  I remember.  Sin.  There was an old TV commercial that had a man frying an egg.  The voice said something like "This is your brain ... on drugs."  Well, all this stuff that is happening to my friends,  this is the world, (that was created to be beautiful and full of love) ... on SIN.  It leaves us all wounded, fried, so to speak.  Is there any hope?  Yes. And the link you need to read today is just one example of what happens when we pray and give God permission to do what He is waiting to do.  It is called " The Unimaginable Happened to Me ."   Has it happened to you?  Maybe you will be the next person to be able to write a testimony of the living God in action. *Photo by William at Heavenly Light Photograpy.

Golden Mantle Squirrel on the Continental Divide in Kootenay National Park, Canada Are you hungry for some real spiritual food that satisfies?  Are you getting tired of the meaningless, empty things that come and go?  Maybe you feel so pressed and tired that you are almost ready to give up? The Bible says in Isaiah 55:1-3: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."   There is something available that will satisfy, heal and refresh.  Come to God.  Listen to what

For those of you who care, my daughter has been able to stay working most days for the last two weeks.  We weren't sure what was going to happen for a while, but the natural remedies are helping.  She is sleeping better now too thanks to another natural remedy.  It's a blessing.  We are thankful for God's care.  We are thankful for your prayers. She is getting close to the end of her project, and it looks like she will be able to make it all the way to completion.

Friends from Michigan came to visit my daughter this weekend.  They brought some peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil with them, per my request.  On Sabbath, the oils relaxed her lungs and throat, and she could breath without struggle once again.  But this last week has left her very tired.  It is possible for her to canvass, but not with energy.  So our friends took her home for the week for some rest and relaxation.  We pray that in a few days to a week she can return back to her work and sell books for the rest of the program.  I am so glad to have my daughter breathing again, and in a trusted place where she can rest for a while.  Thank you for praying for her. 

I guess we should not stop praying.  My daughter is struggling to breathe again, like the air is being forced out before she is finished taking it in.  We don't know where to turn.

My daughter is breathing again, and so am I.  You can read her story here .  She was already feeling so much better that they were able to stop for a smoothie on the way home.  Just a few hours ago it was so hard to breathe, she didn't want to talk to me very long.  She sounded like a different person on the way out of the chiropractor's office.  Thanks to Beth, her dear team leader, who took her through all of this, even the late night ER trip. Thanks to God who cares for all of us, and gives wisdom to those who ask for help.  Thanks to God for restoring my dear daughter back to health. The moral of the story:  There was something wrong with her, even though the ER Doc couldn't find it, and there was something that could be done about it.  Good chiropractors have my highest respect.

We are praying for Dear Daughter, who spent some time in ER last night, and came out with the report of "nothing life threateningly wrong with her."  But there is something wrong.  She is still having trouble breathing.  Please pray for her and for wisdom for us.  She won't be allowed to canvass until this is resolved.

It is time to pray for my dear daughter.  The dizziness and some other issues went away with the electrolytes.  But today the other issues are back.  It seems to be electrolyte related.  I have her drinking her minerals, via phone directions.  She needs a full recovery, or something else, likely more serious, is wrong.

My Sweet Visitor on another day when we were camping togther The nicest thing happened today.  One of my daughters' dear friends came over to visit me.  Isn't that so thoughtful of her.  She thought I might be missing my daughter and thought we might have a little fun together.  And that we did.  First we went out to tour the garden together.  We congratulated the bees for the good they are doing, pollinating all the flowers.  We smelled the Sweet Peas and admired all the daisies and Snap Dragons.  I told her about the Love-in-a-Mist Flowers, and promised to save her some seed. Then we went inside and I taught her how to make homemade gluten-free bread, so she can do it at home for the gluten-free members of her family. What that girl did not know is how much I needed to have a good time with a cheerful person.  She really cheered up my day.  It was fun to snap a photo of her to send to my far away daughter, who by the way needs some prayers.  She isn't feeling as

 When we were Coyote Ridge last weekend we found some beautiful insects crawling around on the lupines.  It took me a long time to figure this out, but I think they were eating the flowers, though it was hard to spot the damage they left.  I am wishing that I knew what kind they are, so I could learn more about them Their iridescent teal blue really shone in the sunlight.  They were pretty patient with the tourists sticking macro lenses right up in their faces.

Those of you who know my daughter might want to read this post by her team leader about some little surprises. 

(If you click on the photos you can see them larger.)  It has been a long time since my last wildflower wander.  It's been years since I saw spring on Coyote Ridge, in the Blue Mountains of Oregon.  My first time here was about this time of year, but my little guy must have been only around 3 or 4.  In my minds eye I picture him bouncing energeticly through the flowers, singing a happy song.  This weekend he stalked good photos with an intense focus, and only came to see me when he wanted to know about something.  He's learned a lot since then.  He remembers the names of almost all the wildflowers. Out in the west side of the meadow is a heavy, old picnic table, a very, long hike from the parking area.  It has obviously been there many years, almost sunk to it's waist in meadow mud.  The sturdy benches became a resting place once again, while its top hosted supper carried in by knapsack.  I laid down and watched a Red-shafted Flicker dart from a old tree snag, to