A Secret for Remembering that Anything is Possible

Fidget has gotten into photography lately. When she is out of film she uses my digital camera. Which is nice because we can delete a lot. She has taken to making videos of her 'kids'. She's into superheroes too. So yesterday after Bible study she borrowed the camera while I was making lunch. She said  she was doing family portraits.

But that's just Pooh Bear, I said. No, she said, it's a family portrait of Pooh Bear and Silky! 

And this is her new superhero, Blue Diamond. I love her spelling. At this age I just so love to see her creativity coming out, so I don't want to correct her all the time. If I did I'm sure I could discourage her very easily. She often leaves out vowels and word endings. We do work on those things at school. But being a kid is about being creative. I want to foster that and I want her to remember that when she grows up she was always encouraged to create. 

Here is the painting I'm making her for Christmas, from my favorite photo of her at the nearby topiary gardens. I work on it after she's in bed every night. When it's finished, I'm going to start writing the story that goes with it. I can't wait until it's Christmas and I get to give them to her. One look should be all it takes anytime she needs reminding that with imagination, anything is possible!

Columbus Day Cavorting

The Pres and I had work to do this morning. I'm getting near the end of the oil portrait but the more I do, the more I see that needs done. The Pres was experiencing the same thing in his work. Clearly it was time for a change of pace. After a couple of games of yard baseball with Fidget, we set off riding our bikes and had lunch in town at an ancient diner. This afternoon we went looking for low tide at Brenton Point State Park. But there are public access water spots all along the road leading there, so we stopped at plenty. We even found a little bit of pottery! This piece has 'CO' on it. I'm not sure that it's really old but it was intriguing. Of course I kept it.

I can't get over the vibrant greens in the water plants. It is such a good feeling to walk among them and to feel them swish your feet as the tide sways them to and fro. 

 But they are also slippery!

So, it was Columbus Day and Christopher Columbus was the last thing on our minds. But the same God who called him across the water is still leading us today.

Tomorrow, it's back to work. The Pres and Fidget are back to school, and I'm back to wrestling with the painting. But since God has called us to this life, there's no place we'd rather be. I'll put the latest picture of the painting here. I don't know if anyone else can see the progress but it makes me happy to share it. 

Secrets

 Hello and happy fall from Harbor View! I have some soup simmering and just a little bit of time to knit or drop a line. I love this time of year. Something about the cold is invigorating. And there is still plenty of time to consider making things for friends and family members for Christmas. As long as I have a minute I'll show you a secret Christmas project. I know it doesn't look like much yet. If it did, I couldn't show it here. I am partial to greens, but even so, isn't this yarn pretty?

 

Here is last year's secret project: holiday-theme quilted place mats with matching napkins! Christmas ornaments, stars, geometric designs, holly and peppermint sticks mixed and matched to make cheerful place settings for everyone in the family, and even some friends who didn't expect a gift.
 

I tried to keep one side Christmasy and the other side vaguely wintry. That way they can be used all winter. I had seen a place mat sort of like this on a wall at the local quilt shop and thought I'd try it for Christmas. They had only one pocket for the napkin, but I put two. When you have two though, you end up using them for the silverware and there napkin has to go on the plate or on the side.  

They're shown on our glass-topped dining room table, made from an old door from a slave cabin in Orangeburg, SC. The Pres made the table when we moved to Virginia three years ago; Fidget's former teacher at Beaufort Montessori and her husband gave us several special old doors when we left, and this one was our favorite. The table was perfect for our new dining room. We'd never had a dining room- or a dining room table. I love the look of all the layers of paint partially sanded under the glass.

I love being able to make things for loved ones. We are pretty low budget around here. But that doesn't mean handmade gifts can't be as special, or even more special in some instances, as store bought items. Another thing I want to make is a painting of this little scene for Fidget for Christmas. I have such a great story idea in my head. I'd love to give Fidget the painting with its own story! I think that would be a most memorable gift.What are you making this season?

Work in Progress

I am sick this week and we have gone on a field trip to a glass-blowing studio. But I thought I'd still show what I am working on at home. This is a portrait of our Va neighbor Christie's niece. It isn't where I'd like it yet but I trust it is headed in the right direction.

Cape Cod

Joan and Eddie have been gone almost a week already and I still haven't caught up showing the lovely scenes we witnessed together. We have been catching up on school work and hanging out with the Pres.  These pictures are from our time with Joan and Eddie on Cape Cod last Saturday. 

It was a little cool out, but we still saw a few people beachcombing when we did. I was surprised to see the grasses growing right out to the water. It was so pretty. There were not many shells, but we did find a few old pottery shards. I was amazed! We didn't stay long, as there was so much to see elsewhere.

These are artist shacks in Hyannis Port, a little greenway right past the docks, as you can tell by the boats in the background. Artists rent these shacks and are open on the weekends working in these studios and selling their wares.

It turned into a beautiful day and we saw lots of boats, but most were motor boats, as compared with the hundreds of sailboats we see daily in Newport. We took a tour boat right out of the port and for a little over an hour we heard local history and saw points of interest on the coast. The boat we were on was 101 years old. I didn't get a picture of it, naturally.

While we were on Cape Cod we shopped and sampled at the local brewery (and didn't bring any beer home since it was still early in the day and were told the beer would spoil in the car), toured the Cape Cod Potato Chip factory, and stopped at artist Peter Coes' yard sale and studio. We passed cranberry bogs and made a mental note to come back during the harvest.

 This weekend there is an arts festival here in town but we have been frequenting our low tide haunts instead of buying art work. The things we find are free, and sometimes very exciting! This morning after his devotions, Eddie sent me a verse for the newsletter that I think is perfect for today...

Proverbs 24: 3-4  "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."

Beauty All Around

The two weeks we had with my in-laws went by so quickly. We ate seafood, barbecued, tried new recipes, and just enjoyed being together. I hardly know how to catch up with showing all we did. These pictures show just one day's events.

 

We went to the Green Animals Topiary Gardens and had a tour of the grand house on the property. Fidget's favorite part were the toy exhibits. One room was all doll houses. The woman who lived there loved children so she hosted a children's party every July. They still carry on her tradition. Too bad we missed it. I wonder if we'll be here for it next year.

There were dozens of animals and people created in topiaries on the property. Fidget delighted in running through them, back and forth. She even hugged the giant bear, right before we were told not to touch the bushes. Oops!

The dahlia garden was exquisite. I could have stayed there all day. There are times when I look back through pictures of all we've done and think, was I really surrounded by all that beauty? 

 The inventive scarecrows welcomed visitors more than scaring any away. 

 Even the gates at the property were distinctive.There was no way to photograph it all!

That same day, we switched gears after lunch and took a boat ride out in the harbor. Not only did we get a closer look at some historic places, we also passed Mirabella V, the tallest-masted sailboat in the world. She was in harbor for the International Boat Show over the weekend. This was the highest-priced boat there, on sale for 49 million euros! I wonder if they had any offers?

  
The first woman light house keeper lived and worked here.  Her father had been keeper of the light before her. I think this sounds like the perfect start to a children's book...

The far boat in this shot, we were told on our boat tour, is the one from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. We knew there was something familiar about it. There were so many beautiful boats and things to see on shore, it was hard to take it all in at once. Looking back, I wish I had more pictures. I am so glad we have at least three more seasons to enjoy here!

On Remembering

Today cannot pass without remembering ten years ago. The Lord has carried us this far and will continue. This hymn which we sang at worship this morning states it well. Words by Edward Mote, ca. 1836. Still just as true today. I find comfort in knowing the Lord has always existed and will continue no matter what happens. And He has promised to take to Heaven all those who love Him and call upon Him for forgiveness of their sins. In this I rest.


My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.