There's something about fall that always gets me. The brilliant colors, the crisp air, the playful breezes that knock one off one's feet. Everything seems to come alive, in one last great burst of life before winter settles in to lull things to sleep. The weather is perfect, cold enough to wear my favorite coat, but warm enough to go without a scarf and boots.
I love looking out of the back windows and seeing a shifting sea of crimson and orange. My favorite time is when not all of the trees have turned yet, so some are green with occasional bursts of orange. Along the road I take to symphony there is one tree that I always look for, as it always turns earlier than the rest. I drive through a sea of green, and then just around a turn there is this flame of scarlet, shooting proudly towards the sky. It catches my breath every time. I love walking through the carpet of leaves on the ground, crunching busily. I love watching the wind catch a tree, whirling the leaves off of the branches and tumbling them to the ground. I love the smell of pumpkin pie baking in the oven (even though I don't actually like to eat it, shocking, I know). The smells of cinnamon and vanilla wafting from candles lighted throughout the house, the sunshine on my sisters' hair, the toothless pumpkins grinning on doorsteps, all of these bring me joy.
Every fall I realize afresh how much stuff the Lord has created, how creative His mind is, and how short I fall of His glory. I am always brought to a new awareness of how far I stand from Him, and how enormous the sacrifice was for Him to bring me closer. May my every thought give Him glory.
Showing posts with label Description. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Description. Show all posts
November 23, 2011
August 21, 2010
Phone!!
The latest back-to-school accessory: the cell phone. Teens of all ages are picking one up as they head off to serious academic studies. With features such as a 1.3 mp camera, 3G web browser, and full text messaging capabilites, this accessory has everything one needs for a successful school year. Some packages even include a small combination safe for protection against younger siblings. No stylish teen will be without one this coming fall.
Kudos to my little bro John for taking the photos without chopping my head off. :-)
July 24, 2010
Summer
Crickets. Icy popsicles sliding down the back of one's throat. Heat. Running around in bare feet on the sweet, green grass after dark. Sunshine. Brightly-colored swimsuits hanging over the deck rail to dry. Juicy hot dogs in soft buns drizzled with ketchup and mustard (how burnt the dogs are depends on who's cooking, over here). All of these things say summer. Below are some fun things we enjoy during summer......
1) TP Dad's study
We did this one day while he and Mom were out grocery shopping. I hung loops from the ceiling, while the others strung it all over his radios and bookshelves. As a finishing touch Britt hung a sign that said "Beware" right in front of the door. It was marvelous, and turned out beautifully. :-)
2) Have water fights with hoses
Lately as a relief from the heat, we've taken to going outside after lunch and having water battles. Everyone puts on swimsuits, (and if we're really into it we'll put on goggles) and form sides. Usually it's Britt and John against Suzy, Chrissy, and I. Each team gets a hose that is attached to a spigot and two or three buckets. The larger team gets the handicap of the short hose with bad water pressure, while the smaller team gets the long hose with the super-strong spray nozzle. The hoses are on opposite sides of the driveway, with the trucks forming nice "cover". Then the battle is on!! Everyone has loads of fun squirting hoses and dumping water buckets over heads. The water from the hoses is nice, cold well-water, so you really cool down. Sometimes we'll be really sneaky and sabotage the other team's water supply.
3) Read
Every afternoon we have naptime, or siesta hour, or quiet time, or whatever you like to call it. Everyone picks out books of their choice, lies down on their beds, and reads for an hour or two. Sometimes they'll even fall asleep! Favorite reads this summer: The Happy Hollisters (Suzers), Tom Swift (John), Hank the Cowdog (Britt), Little Women (Chrissy), and MurderIntheClosetWithaKnife (me).
4) Form a broomstick band in the living room
If we're really wild, we'll put in our favorite CD and turn up the volume. Broomsticks and our small stools are used for stand microphones and guitars, while the side tables are pushed together for a drum set. Then we'll have our lead singer, chorus line, and the ever-popular silent, but dancing, drummer. Or we'll have competitions, to see who can rock it up the silliest. It usually lasts for about an hour, until all our energy is spent. Then we have to expend more energy to clean up!
5) Make a river
In past summmers we've dug rivers on the backyard hill. It consists of a small trough, about a foot wide that runs down the hill, ending in a large, shallow pool at the bottom. Then we place the hose at the top, and watch the water course down. Some rivers have been super elaborate, with tiny waterfalls, tunnels, turns, pebble pools, and obstructions. Then we race acorns down, or stage desperate survival attempts with same acorns. The ones that don't make it are thrown into the woods as being too puny. One year we were determined to dig a pool at the end deep enough to wade in, until Mom caught us digging by the propane tank and put a stop to it.
6) Cover as much of the house as possible with huge tents
We'll raid the linen closet for blankets and sheets, take all the available seating, and use all the available floor space to build tents. Our design has evolved through the years, starting with the unreliable use-heavy-blankets-to-make-it-as-dark-as-possible model held together with safety pins, to the present streamlined use-light-sheets-with-ceilings-high-enough-to-kneel-in model that involves strategic use of flat surfaces and weights. Every person has their own apartment and business building, completely furnished. The best ones have "electricity" which basically uses small lamps with long extension cords. They will stay up for as many as 3 days while we sleep in them, until Mom declares that she cannot live with her house like this any longer and will we please put it all away before she has a nervous breakdown.
Five children in a house with lots of odds and ends can usually come up with a lot to do. As long as we clean up afterwards, in the summertime we can pretty much do whatever. The school year, however, is a different story. :-)
1) TP Dad's study
We did this one day while he and Mom were out grocery shopping. I hung loops from the ceiling, while the others strung it all over his radios and bookshelves. As a finishing touch Britt hung a sign that said "Beware" right in front of the door. It was marvelous, and turned out beautifully. :-)
2) Have water fights with hoses
Lately as a relief from the heat, we've taken to going outside after lunch and having water battles. Everyone puts on swimsuits, (and if we're really into it we'll put on goggles) and form sides. Usually it's Britt and John against Suzy, Chrissy, and I. Each team gets a hose that is attached to a spigot and two or three buckets. The larger team gets the handicap of the short hose with bad water pressure, while the smaller team gets the long hose with the super-strong spray nozzle. The hoses are on opposite sides of the driveway, with the trucks forming nice "cover". Then the battle is on!! Everyone has loads of fun squirting hoses and dumping water buckets over heads. The water from the hoses is nice, cold well-water, so you really cool down. Sometimes we'll be really sneaky and sabotage the other team's water supply.
3) Read
Every afternoon we have naptime, or siesta hour, or quiet time, or whatever you like to call it. Everyone picks out books of their choice, lies down on their beds, and reads for an hour or two. Sometimes they'll even fall asleep! Favorite reads this summer: The Happy Hollisters (Suzers), Tom Swift (John), Hank the Cowdog (Britt), Little Women (Chrissy), and MurderIntheClosetWithaKnife (me).
4) Form a broomstick band in the living room
If we're really wild, we'll put in our favorite CD and turn up the volume. Broomsticks and our small stools are used for stand microphones and guitars, while the side tables are pushed together for a drum set. Then we'll have our lead singer, chorus line, and the ever-popular silent, but dancing, drummer. Or we'll have competitions, to see who can rock it up the silliest. It usually lasts for about an hour, until all our energy is spent. Then we have to expend more energy to clean up!
5) Make a river
In past summmers we've dug rivers on the backyard hill. It consists of a small trough, about a foot wide that runs down the hill, ending in a large, shallow pool at the bottom. Then we place the hose at the top, and watch the water course down. Some rivers have been super elaborate, with tiny waterfalls, tunnels, turns, pebble pools, and obstructions. Then we race acorns down, or stage desperate survival attempts with same acorns. The ones that don't make it are thrown into the woods as being too puny. One year we were determined to dig a pool at the end deep enough to wade in, until Mom caught us digging by the propane tank and put a stop to it.
6) Cover as much of the house as possible with huge tents
We'll raid the linen closet for blankets and sheets, take all the available seating, and use all the available floor space to build tents. Our design has evolved through the years, starting with the unreliable use-heavy-blankets-to-make-it-as-dark-as-possible model held together with safety pins, to the present streamlined use-light-sheets-with-ceilings-high-enough-to-kneel-in model that involves strategic use of flat surfaces and weights. Every person has their own apartment and business building, completely furnished. The best ones have "electricity" which basically uses small lamps with long extension cords. They will stay up for as many as 3 days while we sleep in them, until Mom declares that she cannot live with her house like this any longer and will we please put it all away before she has a nervous breakdown.
Five children in a house with lots of odds and ends can usually come up with a lot to do. As long as we clean up afterwards, in the summertime we can pretty much do whatever. The school year, however, is a different story. :-)
February 20, 2010
Sweetheart Dinner
Last Friday evening, the choice for diners looking for a romantic getaway was the exclusive restaurant Little Italy. A perfect mix of old and new, Little Italy charmed its visitors. Candles glowed on tables, strings of lights hung from the ceiling, and potted plants gave a touch of green to the plaster walls. Big-band music was playing on a stereo, and after a few volume adjustments made a lovely background.
Note: all photographs were taken after the couples had left, and are of the servers, NOT the patrons!
The service was extremely polite, and while somewhat inexperienced, still added to the atmosphere. The servers, drink-refillers, host and hostess, bus boy, and clean-up girl all looked extremely correct in black slacks with a solid top. This writer particularly like the bus boy's Winnie the Pooh tie. Appetizers and salad were served promptly, as were drinks, but the entrees did take a little while in emerging from the kitchen. It was well worth the wait, however, as the servers attested to.
The menu consisted of choice gourmet Italian food. Bruschetta, sausage cups and cheese pinwheels were served as appetizers. A delicious Caesar salad was next, with the diner's choice of spaghetti and meatballs or chicken alfredo on fettucine following. Miniature cherry cheesecakes, or a scoop of cherry pie-filling wrapped in a won ton and fried (known as a Cherry Yum Yum) concluded the evening. Coffee, raspberry lemonade, and water flowed freely throughout, served by waiters who did not spill.
Note: all photographs were taken after the couples had left, and are of the servers, NOT the patrons!
The service was extremely polite, and while somewhat inexperienced, still added to the atmosphere. The servers, drink-refillers, host and hostess, bus boy, and clean-up girl all looked extremely correct in black slacks with a solid top. This writer particularly like the bus boy's Winnie the Pooh tie. Appetizers and salad were served promptly, as were drinks, but the entrees did take a little while in emerging from the kitchen. It was well worth the wait, however, as the servers attested to.
The menu consisted of choice gourmet Italian food. Bruschetta, sausage cups and cheese pinwheels were served as appetizers. A delicious Caesar salad was next, with the diner's choice of spaghetti and meatballs or chicken alfredo on fettucine following. Miniature cherry cheesecakes, or a scoop of cherry pie-filling wrapped in a won ton and fried (known as a Cherry Yum Yum) concluded the evening. Coffee, raspberry lemonade, and water flowed freely throughout, served by waiters who did not spill.
The atmosphere of Little Italy was relaxed and romantic. So much so that there were even a few dancers on the floor. Tables were wrapped in white shelf-paper. Conversation hearts, pink M&Ms, and red crayons made creative centerpieces, while a single candle on each table provided mood lighting.
The hosts took patrons' coats as they walked through the door, then guided them to a table. Servers appeared with appetizers, then took drink, salad, and entree orders. The bus boy served entrees, drink-refillers glided from table to table, and the clean-up girl stacked dishes then disappeared into the kitchen. A photographer circulated among the tables, snapping photos of distinguished patrons.
Little Italy charmed its visitors. One diner observed, "This is the best nightclub we have ever been to." Superb food, attentive service, and a charming atmosphere all combined to make a wonderful evening. It is hoped that Little Italy will appear again next Valentine's Day.
A special thank you is due to Eric and Sarah for their amazing leadership through this whole project, and unfailing patience. Also to the dishwashers Collin and Will!
Coffee and Other Bloopers:
Have you ever had a waitress who forgot to ask how you liked your coffee and had to come back? Who did it twice? Who remembered in the middle of her question that she was talking to the person who didn't need food, and quickly turned her head just in time to say the last word to the correct person? Who almost spilled her tray multiple times? Who asked you if you wanted dessert while you were in the middle of eating your entree? Who referred to the desserts as "Fattening" and "More Fattening"? Who accidentally sprayed whipped cream all over her slacks while she was garnishing a dessert?
Well, guess who that was!! ;-)
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