Something Lost

"It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful. What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way! A woman's task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. It's a big task, too, Caddie -- harder than cutting trees or building mills or damming rivers. It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things.... A woman's work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man's. But no man could ever do it so well.... I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind." -Carol Ryrie Brink, Caddie Woodlawn (excerpt) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A woman's calling is noble, and good, and so very, very vital. As women, we must never consider the home to be second in importance to the workplace.

The never-ending, seldom-posted Colorado narrative: Wednesday in Pagosa Springs

Wednesday. Wednesday was the day we totally chilled out. It was a grey day with a light rain, just the sort of day to take it easy and really settle into vacation mode. After sleeping in, I left Mary to snooze away the rest of the morning and I went for a run in "our" neighborhood. It really was that; I believe I've mentioned before that we were in a substantial condo community. For reasons I do not know, it tickled me to be able to step out of our door and go for a jog while on vacation. Maybe it's because on family vacations growing up we usually crammed as much carefully planned activity into the day as possible - leaving little room for individual reflection or exploration (which is perfectly logical since as a family there was necessarily planning and structure involved to keep things running smoothly). Those vacations were a blast in their own right, but this was my very first absolutely grown-up trip - no parents, no siblings, hundreds of miles from anyone I know. This is going to sound awful, but...it was great :-). Don't be shocked - you know that while we all thoroughly enjoy familiar home-settings and family close by, sometimes it is delightful to scamper away on your own now and again to breath new air and see new things. I digress! My jog was wet. Wet and cold. I was a wet, cold popsicle when I marched back into the condo. I got thawed and cleaned up, Mary got herself up and moving, and we decided to run to the shopping district to see what we could see (or rather, buy) And so we did. The shops were interesting. You had your regular assortment of things you could've bought in any state combined with authentic and local "stuff". One of our favorite stores was an interesting gift shop connected to a real-live boot, hat, and ranch/farm outfitter. You could just tell that real people could come in and buy a hat worthy of wearing around the local cows. We spent money. Yes, a little too much money. My justification was "for Pete's sake, we are in Colorado...you don't get to do this every day. I'm spending the money and doing it right!" We checked out a local artists' shop - where multiple local artists sold their stuff. There were striking photographs, paintings, jewelry, fiber arts, crafts, and other handmade gems. We picked up a carefully chosen gift or two there during our stay. The end of this fruitful day? How about a hot soak in natural springs...beneath a night sky... The top photo was taken across the river from the hot springs place. Do you see the blue umbrellas? They are in the area that the hot springs/hot tubs were. The bottom photo is yours truly, keeping house in our condo :-)

"I Smile at My Enemies"

"And Hannah prayed and said: 'My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.'" 1 Samuel 2:1

To Think On

"It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it." — Oscar Wilde

Christa Wells: My Best Remedy

Stumbled across this video while blog-hopping tonight...lovely.

A Warm Yellow Cupcake

A warm yellow cupcake - before icing adds its gaudy touch. I love to break open the cupcake and eat it in pieces. Yes, I do enjoy cupcakes with icing - and icing can help redeem a sub-par cupcake... but a nice moist yellow cupcake is the stuff. Icing sometimes complicates things unpleasantly. Above is a shot of the cupcakes I made this afternoon. Yes, I iced them. I told you I do not despise icing! I did, however, eat one plain. :-)

Autumn

Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than genial breezes. Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits. ~Samuel Butler

marigold

"nothing in my hand i bring"

"A sense of our own folly is a great step towards being wise, when it leads us to rely on the wisdom of the Lord." - C.H. Spurgeon