Whatsoever things are lovely...

Welcome friends...thanks for coming by. We're seeking beauty in all of creation... in our faith and our families; our art and our music; our crafts and kitchens, and even in our own backyard. We'll share a poem or a recipe, a picture or a memory; maybe a dream of how we wish our life could be. And though we acknowledge that the world can be harsh, we're keeping it pleasant in our little corner; endeavoring to keep the words from the Book of all Books: ...Whatsoever things are lovely; think on these things.

I so enjoy hearing from you...so leave me a comment; it'll make my day!

Photo: Bee and thistle: Taken high in the Cascade Mountains where there is a bee buzzing on every thistle. by Debora Rorvig

Sunday, October 25, 2009

The leaves are a-blowin' and the rain is a-fallin'

Autumn has come to our corner of the Northwest. The wind is blowing the autumn leaves all around-it's an ever-changing kalaidescope of golden-green and orange hues. The bright oranges are juxtaposed against the dark gray clouds which are rolling in; and we are being drizzled with a constant mist. And if you promise not to tell; I'll share a local secret with you...We Washingtonians love our rain! It keeps our state a verdant green and gives us excuses for many delightful rainy-day pleasures. Like walking in the rain in my pink and black galoshes or reading a novel by the fire. My sister Linda has been stitching Campbells Kids on muslin tea towels, and sewing a pretty floral scalloped edge on them. One year my daughter-in-law made a cozy flannel-backed quilt for me with happy vintage floral squares. (Which I will gratefully curl up in this evening as I read my book-or blog.) When I spoke to my daughter Heather today, she had left the kids with her husband and was out shopping for shoes. The photo above shews some if my autumnal handiwork- stenciled maple leaves on burlap. Oh yes, I love the sun and the beach and my garden; but nature has given us a needed respite from the weeding and the barbeques and the baseball games...Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Mosaic Monday, Sawyer Glacier

This is Sawyer Glacier; as seen from the deck of the Norwegian Sun. It seemed like a scene from "Titanic" as our captain negotiated through the cold waters and around the icebergs. (Thank you Lord, for sonar!) What a spectacular view of God's handiwork! I shall never forget it.

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Saturday, October 17, 2009

Sisters Are Blossoms in the Garden of Life

I found this sweet little plate while on a shopping expedition with my sister, Linda. It says, "Sisters are Blossoms in the Garden of Life." How true! My sister is such a treasure to me. It's so appropriate that the little girl is holding a teddy bear...we spent the entire afternoon looking for teddy bears for our antique booth. What a hoot! A piece of advice; when sorting through second-hand stuffed animals you need to take your sister, your sense of humour, and a bottle of hand sanitizer!

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I Am From

I Am From...

by Debora Rorvig

I am from a lumber mill worker’s company house
with peeling paint and a sidewalk made of two by fours.
From faded flannel shirts that smell of pine and cedar boughs.

I am from Mason Jars of homed-canned pears,
from Dairygold milk with cream on top
in bottles on the porch.

I am from a garden plot with rows and rows of golden corn
that always wanted hoeing,
and from atop the highest branches of the Gravenstein apple tree in the Attolini’s orchard-
with apple juice dripping from my chin.

I am from saurkraut and wooden shoes-
the Millers and the Youngedykes,
and from the lively Scottish clan
who wear the McKinnon tartan.

From farmers and woodsmen
plain folk all,
who’s hands were calloused hard
but who’s hearts were tender-soft.

I am from ‘what will the neighbors think’
and ‘if you can’t say something nice,
don’t say anything at all.’

From saints and sinners who didn’t see eye to eye
but loved each other anyway,
and in their own way.

I am from the Western shores of Washington
strewn with agates, kelp and driftwood,
from Steelhead salmon, salty smoked
and chowder made from clams we dug
at Semiahmoo spit.

I am from my mother Ruby,
who taught me how to sew
on the old Singer treadle machine;
and told me all about my heritage.

And from my daddy, Raymond Claude
who took me nightcrawler hunting in the moonlight
and showed me how to bait my hook
and fish along the Nooksack River’s edge.

I am from an ancient, tattered Holy Bible kept safely on the upper shelf
with pictures of Jesus Christ
and a letter edged in black- carefully tucked inside.
There are births and deaths recorded there,
and a poem by great- great grandfather Alexander Laughlin Mckinnon
who I never met--and yet I know him
better than some I’ve met.

Precious is that Book to me.

And that is where I am from.

My Life List

*Seek first the Kingdom
*Never stop dreaming
*Make a difference in my students' lives
*Create alternate streams of income to fund my goals
*Dress with flair
*Master virbrato on my violin
*Try cross country skiing in Eastern Washington
*Lose those extra pounds and be healthy
*Be more active in my church
*Stop fearing things, people and confrontation; say what I think
*Stop Hurrying
*Inspire my grandchildren
*Own a Cottage on the Beach
*Live the Word
*Memorize the Book of Hebrews
*Find the perfect hairdo
*Be myself
*Look up old friends and make new ones
*Remodel the kitchen and bathroom
*Make my garden lovely
*Sleep under the stars in the desert and hear coyotes howl
*Write and publish a book(s)
*Travel toRio de Janiero, Cape Breton, South of France, Italy,Scotland, Wales, UK, Ireland, Norway, Turks & Caicos, New York City and the Eastern Seaboard; The Deep South, Africa