STRANGE STUFF ON THE CLOTHESLINE AND SOMETHING IN THE DIRT!

I'm excited to finally get the pictures on the blog--the ones I wanted to post yesterday and because of technical difficulties, I could not!

You will notice my clothesline is decorated with my newest spun, skeined, and washed 100% Alpaca yarn! Whoopee! This is an accomplishment for me.

Also yesterday, Rhi and I planted 30 tulip bulbs. It is best to dig a big hole several inches deep and quite wide and sort of scatter them. It was a lot of work since our soil is not all that cooperative. It has quite a bit of clay and it's been dry here until the last few days. We are hoping for the best with the tulips come spring. We planted three varieties. They are Rhi's favorite flower and so she is really looking forward to them. If we can keep the critters from carrying them away, biting them off right before blooming, digging them up, etc., we'll be all set!

Hope you had a lovely Sunday. Readers--please post a comment on what your favorite flower is! I had a little guessing game last year about mine and no one guessed after alot of clues. Mine is hollyhocks. What are yours?

THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER

If you have followed my blog for very long, you have seen this picture before...like last spring when it was taken! My camera card must be full and I wanted to do a post, so I had to delve back into the files to find a suitable photo.

Just this morning Rhiannon and I were noticing someone's lovely roses still blooming. She asked if we had a "last rose of summer" blooming anywhere on the property. I told her "no," that this year was kind of unusual. We most always have at least one hardy specimen that exerts itself in a last ditch effort this time of year, but I hadn't seen any yet.

Rhiannon wanted to put a rose on Clint's Grandma Sal's grave if we could--and she felt it should be our "last rose of summer," since this was a saying Grandma quoted alot. After a hard day's work in her garden or baking all day, her hair falling from the upswept style she always wore, she would often quote, "I'll bet I look like the last rose of summer." Grandma Sal was an important person in all our lives. We miss her greatly. She taught me so much about so many things. I got several of my best recipes for baked goods from her. She was an expert flower and vegetable gardener and I'll probably never come anywhere near being that good with plants. She was hands down the best cook I've ever known and that's not just my opinion. She was known far and wide for her spectacular baked goods and wonderful meals.

Well, lo and behold, after making a visit to the English garden to take in some of the ornaments for winter storage a little while ago, I saw that this same little rose has one bud on it. I hope within a few days we will have our "last rose of summer!"

I wanted to share some other pictures of what we did today, but as I said the camera wasn't cooperating. We worked really had today at various projects that have been left behind while we did all the traveling. We had to make a quick overnight trip to Iowa earlier in the week for a funeral. This, of course, was totally unexpected and came quite closely on the heels of returning from Colorado. I felt like I never got settled from that trip before it was time to take another. So I spent quite a bit of time today tying up loose ends as far as work around here goes.

Today we planted tulip bulbs that Rhi ordered back in May at the Holland Tulip Festival here in Michigan. They will be a spring treat in a few months! I finished digging all the potatoes, did 5 loads of laundry, mostly heavy bedding to catch what might be one of the last beautiful, windy days of fall, took a walk, did some cleaning, went to purchase a little gift to send to the granddaughters, and cleaned out some areas of my desk. Last but not least, and I wanted to show you a picture--I washed my 100% alpaca yarn that I spun. It's hanging out on the line to dry. I was pretty proud of it. Most of it is quite consistent and I'm happy with the finished product! I hope you enjoyed this fall day as much as I did. Blessings, LORI

A FEW LAST PICTURES OF OUR COLORADO TRIP

HERE ARE A FEW OF THE LAST PICTURES OF OUR TRIP! I AM READING TO EMMA FOR THE LAST TIME FOR A WHILE. THIS WAS KIND OF SAD. IT WAS A TEARFUL GOODBYE BEFORE THE NIGHT WAS OVER.


ALSO AMONG THE PHOTOS ARE A SCENE FROM "GARDEN OF THE GODS," A BEAUTIFUL ATTRACTION RISING OUT OF THE EARTH IN THE MIDDLE OF COLORADO SPRINGS! IT'S AMAZING AND VERY PRETTY.


I ALSO HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE OUTDOOR SCENES TAKEN DURING OUR TRIP TO THE STATE PARK UP IN THE MOUNTAINS.

SORRY THE LAST PICTURE IS BLURRY. THIS IS EMMA IN HER "BOB THE TOMATO" HAT THAT AUNT RHI FOUND AT HER VISIT TO FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, ALSO IN COLORADO SPRINGS. I DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD PICTURE OF SOPHIE ON OUR LAST EVENING TOGETHER.

THANKS FOR SHARING OUR TRIP WITH US THESE LAST FEW WEEKS. THOUGH WE'RE HOME NOW, AND IT'S QUIETER IN ONE SENSE, IT SEEMS WE'VE BEEN ON THE RUN EVERY WAKING MOMENT SINCE RETURNING. I THINK THAT HAS HELPED US FILL THE TIME WITHOUT THE GRANDBABIES. GOD IS GIVING THE GRACE I PRAYED FOR.

FOR THOSE WHO CARE--THE SOCKS ARE NOT YET COMPLETELY 'EVOLVED.'

WE ALSO CAME HOME TO A CRASHED COMPUTER AND THOUGHT I HAD LOST MY LATEST BOOK AND ALL OUR OTHER FILES WHICH INCLUDED BOOK 4 AND 5 WHICH WERE ONLY PARTIALLY WRITTEN. IT NOW APPEARS THAT OUR COMPUTER GUY (A COUSIN) WAS ABLE TO SAVE EVERYTHING! PRAISE GOD! I HAD A FEELING I NEEDED TO TAKE TIME TO PRINT OUT BOOK 4 WHICH WAS READY TO GO TO THE PROOFREADER RIGHT BEFORE WE LEFT. IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST THINGS WE DID. IT WAS AS IF THE LORD WAS WATCHING OVER ALL THESE SMALL DETAILS. THE BOOK IS SO CLOSE TO PUBLICATION AND FOR 24HOURS I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNSURE IF IT SURVIVED HAD WE NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO RUN IT OFF ON PAPER RIGHT BEFORE LEAVING. I'M SO THANKFUL TO GOD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO SWEAT IT OUT EVEN FOR THAT LONG! BLESSINGS, LORI

CHURCH AND FAMILY TIME IN COLORADO

Today we had a great time going to church and spending some really good quality family time together. We started off by going to the 10 am service at the church next to the Bible college. It's called Charis Christian Center. The pastor is one of Jt's teachers. He gave an excellent message and we were warmly welcomed. The church is much larger than we are used to back home. It was nice to sit with the family--something I rarely could do at our church. Since I'm on the worship team at home, I am on stage for a large portion of the service, then usually sit in the front bench while Emma and Sophie are in nursery. Even got to sit next to my husband for a change. Pastor's wives rarely get to do that during church and it can begin to feel lonely when everyone else has someone to sit with.



After church we went out for lunch and took some pictures of the girls while waiting for our food. Sophie was in a rare smiley mood. Usually she is very serious. Emma didn't want her picture taken while we were out on the bench, but Rhi snapped a quick photo anyway.

I hope you enjoyed a great day of fellowship at church today. We are counting down the hours now until we say a goodbye that will last for a few months--maybe longer. It will be difficult not to see the girls as often as we did. We are taking advantage of every moment now. Please go to my daughter's blog--www.loaded6string.blogspot.com to see some really great family pictures that we took in the last few days. Check her last few posts for some great photography. Blessings, LORI

KNITTING IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

Here are some pictures of our "tour" today into the mountains. It was incredibly beautiful scenery. We went to a state park and took our family pictures for our annual Christmas cards.

With this beautiful scenery, I couldn't resist having my picture taken with the wool I bought and the sock I was knitting. I know, it's a little weird, but that's my idea of a fun time--knitting and the beautiful wilderness! To me, wool and the colors of the earth go hand in hand. If you read my blog often, you've heard me say that I often look across the landscape and enjoy the colors of our cornfields back home or whatever scenery we see and think of wool, dyed in those shades.

The other evening when we were at the minister's conference, during worship we sang the Hillsongs song that everyone loves, "Shout to the Lord." As I was singing I was humbled at the lines that speak of the works of God's mighty hand. I suddenly thought to myself, 'I spend a great deal of time in my life with my handiwork, but it is NOTHING to the handiwork of God that is to be seen in creation.' This week has been a great reminder of that. No matter how intricate the work is that I am doing, He has done something so much greater in this beautiful creation! Blessings, LORI

A VIEW FROM OUR HOTEL

Though these pictures are a bit out of order, bear with me. Pike's Peak had snow on the top this morning. I couldn't resist taking a picture as I was out for my walk. That's the last picture.

The picture of me standing by the sign was taken on Wednesday just after we crossed the state line of Colorado. The really bad one of me by the fence was taken just outside of Colorado Springs this morning when Clint took me on a "fiber hunting" expedition. I found a WONDERFUL store with more roving than I've ever seen in one place in my life. They had looms, spinning wheels, and dye materials as well as a complete knitting shop. I bought one ounce each of white and gray Blue Faced Leicestershire to spin.

I should mention that we went as visitors to a session of the leadership/minister's conference at Charis Bible College last night. The service was wonderful. We got to hear Andrew Wommack preach. This was a big deal for me since I really enjoy his teaching. My son, being a first year student, was helping out as an usher. It was an experience I'll never forget. The Lord has really blessed me in the last few years to be able to meet or see several of the very famous Christian ministers. A few years ago we met John Hagee on a trip to San Antonio. We attended his church and then met him afterwards. I also met Lisa Bevere and Natalie Grant while in England. Our contacts with Resurrection Life Churches based in Grandville, Michigan has allowed us to meet other nationally known Christians as well. This has been a huge blessing to meet the faithful people that God is mightily using in the world today. Oh, to be used by God to win souls! May it be so! Blessings, LORI

MORE OF THE EVOLUTION OF A SOCK

As you can see, something went wrong in the evolution of the sock (is that a surprise?). Is this a mutation? It's more like survival of the fittest! It's a whole new sock! I hope you readers know that I'm making a statement here. I obviously don't believe in evolution. The more I read and learn the more the theory is completely unbelievable to me, though for years after being in school, I didn't question it.

I actually decided that the pattern was too difficult and got tired of the agony of it. This one is going better.

Little disclaimer: Never knit in the car while traveling. I have a friend who is an emt who alerted me to the dangers. You can only imagine the possible ramifications of a front seat knitter in a crash. However, obviously these pictures were taken in the car on our way out west.

This sock is made of a wool/acrylic blend and I love it. It is a heathered blue/brown with a little lace edge (that's what attracted me to it.) If I had read the preliminary instructions more closely, I'd have avoided a few mistakes. The second sock will be better. I had one of the double pointed needles that didn't match and lo and behold after I had knit quite a bit I realized it was a slightly different size. (I'm not known for perfection on some things. I have a huge assortment of old needles and will use mismatched to avoid purchasing--this time it backfired!

Blessings, LORI

WHAT HAPPENS TO MICHIGANDERS WHEN THEY GO OUT WEST!

For some of you blog followers who've never met my husband, this is a bit of a bad picture by which to introduce him....but this is what happens to Michiganders that go out west and really get into the spirit of things!

For a long time Clint has wanted a pair of black cowboy boots. I make western shirts and vests for him quite a bit and he has several very nice western suits. He is just lacking a pair of black boots. We've looked all over Nashville and even on our trips west before. So far no black boots to suit him. We couldn't resist this picture today as we searched some western stores here for just the right pair. Still no boots, but we're having a good time.

I absolutely cleaned up at the mall buying 5 articles of clothing for about $30. That never, never, never happens to me. I can barely ever find anything that fits and today, everything fit and was on huge sale! Even a pair of earrings I wanted were only $2.99!

I felt so blessed today as we got to eat lunch with JT, Kori, and girls as well as drive out into the mountains near Pike's Peak. I will share more of our trip with you soon! Blessings, LORI

GO WEST, YOUNG MAN! (and old man and women , and children!)!

Little did I know when I used to read these classic Horatio Alger novels to our homeschooled children, that one of them would actually choose to "Go West!" Alger's themes were often about the downtrodden young man that works hard and makes good in the world by striving and showing diligence.

On Monday we spent all day getting ready to follow Kori and Rhiannon and the girls to join JT in Colorado Springs. We vacuumed the air out of plastic bags full of pillows, blankets, and etc. to make more packing room in the vehicles. Both vehicles were filled to the gills!

We borrowed a car top carrier--and it was a good thing! Clint packed all our luggage in there and saved the back of the van for Kori and JT's household items! Plus Kori had her vehicle full as well. Moving across country is not an easy task.

Rhiannon and Kori and the girls left at 3:30 Tuesday morning and we left at 7:30. We finally met in York, Nebraska after a long day of driving--uneventful, thankfully, and stayed there last night!

Thanks for the prayers! We really felt the Lord watching over our traveling. More on the sock evolution and trip progress soon. Blessings, LORI

THE EVOLUTION OF A SOCK AND OTHER FALL PROJECTS

It seems like I've really worked hard this week! Everyday it was one big project after another. We are trying to get alot of little details done in preparation for our big trip out west in just a few days!

This trip came up suddenly and so we are scrambling to prepare in a number of ways. I never thought I'd get my applesauce and spaghetti sauce canned before leaving, but you see it--all done! I didn't do as much this year since we have leftover from other years and with half the family out west, we will use less as family dinners will be less frequent.

I had frozen tomato juice as I got enough tomatoes out of the garden little by little. I got it all out and made up the sauce on Thursday. As soon as it was in the pressure cooker, the apples were underway. Thankfully, Rhi got home early that day and could help and my Mom helped as well. We watched the girls in the afternoon and I was glad we were at the end of the canning project by then!

As well as canning and cleaning up the garden for the fall (digging potatoes, weeding, and tilling), I decided to start on a pair of knitted socks. I have long desired to become the queen of sock knitting. I figured I better get started or I'll never meet that goal! Since we are anticipating a long trip (20 hour drive one way), I thought it was a good time to begin a project. Here you see the first stages of a sock. I use the double-pointed needles because I haven't had time to have the girls in the spinning and weaving guild show me the trendy new toe-up, two-at-a-time, double circular needle system, though I'm anxious to try it. Since I am an old-fashioned girl, this will work just fine until I can learn the new way! I'm pretty pleased with these so far. They have a lacey pattern to them. Despite a few mistakes, I think they are going to be ok. I was trying to watch the pattern and watch Charles Dickens' "Bleak House," at the same time. Probably not a good idea. We are fans of his literature and decided to watch this very lengthy movie before we left for Colorado. I enjoyed it so much.

I will be gone and probably not posting the rest of the sock evolution until I get back. We plan to be gone for two weeks. I'm sure I'll have many beautiful pictures of the Rocky Mountains and our trip to share then. Pray for us if we come to mind. Blessings, LORI