Have an apple

Stolen, stolen be your apples

 

The weekend was HOT over the weekend! I was visiting my sister in CT and we went to an apple orchard near her on Sunday evening. My sister stuck her hand out the car window and grabbed a couple of apples on the way out. I put them on my lap and off we went...

~

The sun setting over a Connecticut valley.

The Longview cider house and Rogers apple orchards

were absolutely beautiful! We watched the sun set over a valley filled with apple orchards and farms and when we turned around the almost full moon was rising over the trees.

It was a stunning evening!

~

My sister and I had reserved a fire pit back in September when she was visiting my house on Labor Day. It had room for 6 and we intended on inviting my cousins but they were all busy. My sister invited her daughter's boyfriend's mother and she brought her sister along. It was 2 sets of sisters. I hadn't met either one of them before but it was nice to talk with them. 

We ended up asking for the fire to be put out because it was nearly 90 degrees even though we were there from 4:00-6:30!

Once the sun began to set a little breeze picked up and it cooled off slightly. We had a lovely time and I really enjoyed getting to know the ladies.

I'm the one in the hat.

~

My sister and I are very different in personality and temperament. We have always loved each other and been there for one another but have had challenges in our relationship. When my mother was alive she and my sister were very close and that sometimes prevented my sister and I from becoming closer as adults. Since my mother's death in 2021 we have been working toward building a closer relationship. We're not really a "talk it through" kind of a family so it's mostly just being together, enjoying each other's company, and knowing that we come from the same memories. There is definitely love and care between us but we are very different. 

Anyway, I was visiting her last weekend and her cat kept coming up to me for pets, which he doesn't normally do. He has the prettiest green eyes.

I'm so thankful for my sister and though she has very challenging health struggles I'm grateful that she is still here and that we get a chance to spend time together. 

~

I noticed while I was with my sister and the other ladies that each of them had a health issue that they struggled with. My sister struggles with cancer and the side effects of her radiation, one of the ladies had a stroke a few years back, and the other had a hip replacement that limits her balance and movement. Each of them had a life changing health issue that forced them to change the way they live. I think I was a year or two older than all of them but I was in the best health. 

I am eternally grateful for that. Truly, truly thankful for my ability to get around with relative ease and live a relatively pain free life. 

I don't have any idea why some of us are stricken with health issues and others are not but it made me appreciate my health more and vow to take better care of myself. 

~

Friday fave fives

Down in the valley

 

I am so thankful for a chance to spend a lovely weekend with my sister. We went out to a beautiful apple orchard and sat around a fire pit with friends to watch the sun setting over the valley. 

It was stunning!

Thankful Thursday

True light

 

t

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him,

yet the world did not know him.

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, 

he gave the right to become the children of God,

who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man

but of God.

John 1:9-13

~ ~ ~

Let's have coffee

Dinner for 6

 

Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and glazed carrots

and apple pie

It has been a long time since I was cooking dinner for my family every evening. My daughters are grown now and my youngest has a family of her own. Every once in a while I head up to my daughter's house and cook dinner for her family.

It gives her a bit of a break and gives me a chance to spend time with my grandchildren.

My youngest granddaughter, Natalie, has been asking to make an apple pie with me for a while so we made one for dessert. I think snacking on the cinnamon and sugar coated apples is her favourite part so I made sure to cut up some extra apples!

Busy Monday

Gleaning grace

t

 In the beginning was the word, 

and the word was with God, 

and the word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through him,

and without him was not anything made that was made.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5

~ ~ ~

Yes. 

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. 

When I read this today I am reminded that we are all just human beings, fallible and imperfect, and spinning on this ball we call earth. Regardless of what our political beliefs are, whether we believe that we are heading in the right direction or that these are the darkest of times, the light of God shines, and that is the only light we need. 

In him was life and the life was the light of men.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Scripture and a snapshot

Sunday scripture blessing

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Autumn in New England

I am so grateful for our beautiful autumn weather. 

Even the oaks in the wood are full of beautiful colour!

One of our local churches had their semi-annual rummage sale over the weekend.

I picked up these two beautiful rugs for a song.

Don't mind the messes in the back round. I was cleaning as I put them down.

I put one in my bedroom and one under my kitchen table. 

~

There was another treasure sale at the Jeremiah Lee mansion which is just around the corner from my me.

I picked up these beautiful hand painted twin head and foot boards. They didn't have 

the bed rails but I only paid $25.00 for both so I just figured out how to set them up using the bed frame

I already have.

It may be that I actually have two headboards since they are exactly the same size but I am happy.

They are so pretty and unique.

~

Well...I also saw a beautiful little antique-y table at the treasure sale. It didn't have a price on it and it was 

not something I needed or even had a place for so I passed it by. 

Later in the afternoon I happened to notice a facebook post on my town page saying

that all the leftover items were free. I thought I would just take a quick drive by...

I was looking through some pictures but nothing interested me until I noticed that all of 

the pictures were on top of the table that I wanted! 

It was meant to be! 

As I was trying to get it into my car a woman was parked next to me and offered to help. She noticed a 

tray in my car and admired it. I have been driving around with it in my car for about a year now.

It was my mother's and my sister had taken it when our mother passed away but didn't have a place

to put it so she gave it to me. I don't have a place to put it either and neither of my daughters

wanted it. I just didn't have the heart to donate it so it's been in my car. I gave it to the woman and she

was so happy to have it. I'm so grateful that it found a happy home and that I ended up with the table that I

wanted as well. 

I set it up as my desk with one of the leaves open. 

I walked along a conservatory trail on my way to work one morning this week.

It was so pretty along the shore and the wildflowers were absolutely beautiful. 

Friday fave fives

Welcome October

 

Oh how I love autumn in New England!

Absolutely the most beautiful time of year and this year has not disappointed us weather wise.

Almost every single day has been full of sunshine and even the days when it rained were stormy and cozy.

The sunflowers are bowing their heavy heads full of seed for the birds

and the trees are full of nuts for the little animals.

Welcome October!

I have the tiniest little pumpkin sitting on my desk. It's so cute and diminutive. 

This weekend I will pull the petunias out of the window box and replace them with colourful

 chrysanthemums. I used to put tiny pumpkins in the window box as well but those pesky squirrels

 nibbled away at them.  I will get a few big pumpkins as well and put them out on the front porch. 

We will carve them later in the month. I love jack-o-lanterns and children in costume

but am not a big Halloween fan. 

🎃

Thankful Thursday