October has been a month of exciting deliveries, within just days of each other! You may have noticed I haven't posted as much recently, and that is because I've had so much going on. Baby Danika arrived on Sunday, October 6, and our new home arrived on Friday, October 11! It was so exciting to see it finally arrive. The home is beautiful in every way, and while there are things that need to be fixed and adjusted including sheetrock, trim, doors, etc., it has all been a delight to look forward to moving into the home! 

This is the news we have been waiting 9 months for! Our precious Danika has safely arrived, and we couldn't be more thrilled to announce! She came into the world on October 6 at 4:33 p.m. weighing 8 pounds and 4 ounces. She has a dark head of hair, bright blue eyes with chubby little legs and neck rolls! She couldn't be more adorable and has wiggled her way into our hearts! Baby was able to nurse right away and has continued to feed well, and while Momma, our daughter, had an infection, and had to be on antibiotics, she has since recovered and is doing great.  The new little family went home yesterday, and spent the first night recuperating from all the excitement! 

UPDATE! Congratulations to ASHLEY for being the winner of my giveaway! Ashley, please email me your mailing address, and I will get a copy of the book on its way to you! Thank you to everyone who entered the contest! Many blessings to all of you! 

Hello dear friends! In this beautiful month of October, so many exciting things are happening that it is hard to keep up with them all! I appreciate each of you sharing in our excitement about our grandbaby! As I write this post - our little one is still hanging out in its "4.5-star" hotel. Danielle and her husband shared with us that they think the baby is enjoying its stay with all the needs provided, but they took .5 stars off because things have gotten a little cramped, lol! Danielle is more than ready for the hotel's "guest" to make its grand appearance - but we have yet to see that happen... soon though, very soon I hope to make that announcement! 

The garden in its Fall glory with my Burning Bush really giving a shout-out for Fall!

It is inevitable, I know that! But there is a mourning when it does happen. Every Fall season, when the frost warnings sound, I gather the harvest as much as possible and pray for the best. But at some point, the plants succumb to Frost's onslaught, and harvest season has come to a time of rest - that is, after the harvest has been gathered and put up for winter's enjoyment. Thankfully... my sunflowers survived the freeze - hardy souls that they are, and are still blooming away! 

I'm on the 50's ladder and climbed another rung this week! Yes, I celebrated another birthday this past week, and it was such a special time for me. I'm grateful for the community of precious family, friends, and neighbors that we have, and it feels wonderful to bask in the love shared. The day started with an incredible sunrise, just for me! Thank you, Lord! 

September - that month of rich beauty, cooler temperatures, brilliant skies, bright sunshine, and golden landscapes. What does September mean to you?  It is a time of harvest! Local gardens are bursting with bounty, as sunflowers make their final stretches towards the sun.  The rich days of September have arrived and they are a glorious time of year. 

Our neighbor was out of town and asked fellow neighbors to come and harvest the garden while she was gone. It was a beautiful place to wander around and enjoy!

UPDATE! I would like to congratulate VALENTINE for her winning entry in this book giveaway! I have your email Valentine and if you'll send me your mailing address, I will get this book in the mail to you! Thank you to all who entered, and I pray many blessings on each of you! 

Dear friends, 

I want to introduce you to a special new friend of mine! She is a fellow blogger, musician, and author, who has penned many books through the years. Her writing style speaks to your heart, and ministers as you read.  Nancy was a musician for many years, since retiring and beginning to write.  She writes inspirational stories, blogs, and devotionals.  

Nancy and I met in an online Christian writing community, and have discovered that we share many similar passions, one of which is early-morning walking! All of you know I love to walk in the mornings; that is where the Lord ministers to my heart daily. I draw my strength in those early morning hours! Nancy also is a walker, and shares on her blog https://nancykuykendall.com/ many stories and thoughts that come to her as she walks. 

Nancy's newest book is titled, "INTHE DARK", which is the hardest story she has ever written, because it is her own very personal story of her son's addiction to drugs, and how he became an overcomer. It is a story of redemption and hope! 

Nancy shares the synopsis of her book:

My oldest son was an addict for twenty years. Cigarettes, meth, and alcohol ruled his life. The title, IN THE DARK, describes both his life and mine. He walked the dark path of addiction. I lived in the dark because of my naivety. I knew nothing about drugs or addiction. I was at a loss to recognize or understand the signs and knew little of what was going on in his life. The stories shared in this book are my reflections on the journey I traveled as I dealt with my son’s addiction and then recovery. He found his way out of the dark. He survived. These reflections are meant to offer hope to mothers struggling with their child’s addiction. There is hope.

Nancy has created a short video you can watch to hear more of the story behind her book. 

I would give this book a 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From beginning to end, it was a book I could not put down. Every mother reading this book would understand the heartbreak at discovering the news your child had become addicted to a substance. Nancy shares how she walked the difficult journey - praying without ceasing - until redemption and victory took place. 

You will want to read her story, even if you've never had a child with addiction issues. This book brings hope to all who read. It is a story of hope in the Lord who hears and answers a mother's heartbroken cries. 

Because this book touched me so deeply, I want to offer it to my readers today.  If you are interested in opting in for the drawing please let me know by comment below.  The drawing will be open for two weeks and will close on Sunday, September 8th. Winners of the giveaway will be announced on this post and by email. 

If you are an anonymous commenter, please leave an email where you can be reached! 

Because of Amazon's limited shipping options, this giveaway is only open to US readers. The Kindle version is available for readers in other countries. 

You can also visit Nancy's blog found here: https://nancykuykendall.com/ 

These words of David, the psalmist who wrote this passage spoke to my heart today - I hope they will speak to yours! 

Psalm 22:25-28

My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: 

I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: 

they shall praise the LORD that seek him: 

your heart shall live for ever.

All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: 

and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

For the kingdom is the LORD'S: 

and he is the governor among the nations.

Remember this world belongs to the Lord, and no matter how things seem, He is the Governor among the nations. Our hope is steadfast in Him! 

May each of you be blessed on this last beautiful Monday of August! 

 Yes, it's true. It really is. Peeks of Fall/Autumn are showing up here, in August. This is not unusual for our area, but it still feels early! Some of our trees are already starting to turn, as you can see in this picture. My crabapple tree, lilacs, and maple trees have all started to turn colors. Our daylight hours are shortened from what they were a month ago. We are losing 1 minute of daylight a day as the sun inches back towards the equator away from us. My garden is still happy and doing well! But, I am soaking up every hour and minute of the last days of summer as we await the brilliantly beautiful season of fall. 

I was in a hurry when I made this bread. I made it this week, and it turned out wonderful! My sourdough starter was fed and then circumstances changed, and I wasn't able to be home for the 24-hour process of making the bread. So, I made this Hurry Up Sourdough Bread instead. (My own creation!)  This is how I did it :)  Hurry Up Sourdough Bread 2 cups sourdough starter 2-3 cups flour 1/2 cup water 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp Everything Bagel seasoning Stir starter, 1 cup flour, water, olive oil, and honey together. When dough starts to take form, stir in baking powder and salt. Continue to add flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough is soft and pliable, about 10 minutes or so.  Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let it sit for 30-45 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 450, and place your Dutch oven pan in the oven to preheat also. When ready to bake, sprinkle Everything Bagel (or other seasoning of choice) on top of the dough.  Place dough on a piece of parchment paper then place into the heated Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake until the bread is browned or the internal temperature reaches 205 degrees.  Remove from the oven carefully and let cool. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

The August super moon was so bright and beautiful!

It was bright and very orange-looking, so incredible to see!

August blooms are thrilling show-stoppers!

August skies over the garden

We've spent as much time at the river as we can, as summer is a fleeting season here!

An evening walk through our acreage shows that Fall indeed is here, in the middle of August! I love the season of fall, and I'm not sad that it is arriving - but I do love the last bits of summer too!

Sunflower blooms are late summer's greatest joy!

My hollyhock has finally bloomed! I wasn't sure it would, as it started from seed this spring. It is a show-stopper too!

Another joy of summertime! Watermelon was enjoyed outside on our front porch on a beautiful summer evening.

Our neighbor found a baby kitten perhaps 1-day-old crying in their shed. Evidently, a stray cat gave birth and left this kitten behind. They've been bottle-feeding her for the past month, and I've helped to care for her on days they couldn't be home. Isn't she precious!  But I can tell you who was not happy to meet the newcomer! Mr. Bandit. He didn't like his position of love and attention being stolen, not one bit! And Riley was just worried about the whole situation in general. Our animals keep us entertained, don't they?

Mr. Bandit is growing by leaps and bounds, and we realized it especially after caring for the little kitten!

August skies never fail to delight, especially as Autumn colors deepen!

Morning walks are brisk now - and I am wearing a flannel jacket in the mornings!  Here are some short videos to enjoy :)

I was delighted to see exciting promises that both the Aurora and the Perseids meteor showers were going to be seen in our area on Sunday night, August 11.  As I waited outside for the clouds to part, I was able to see some aurora activity, but unfortunately, because of the clouds, I couldn't see the meteor activity. It was a truly beautiful night though, and I have put together a video (below) of some of the pictures that I captured Sunday night. The vibrant skies spoke to the incredible Hand of the Lord who created such magnificence for us to see! 

Spring and Summer's parade of blooms has slowed as quiet contentment has set into my heart that Fall will soon be here. Cool night temps in the 40s remind me that summer is quickly fading away - and a beautiful summer it has been. We've been very blessed to have received 1/4" of rain over the weekend, and while our skies have been smoky at times from fires in other places, thankfully we have no fires close by us! There is much to be grateful for, in this time of shifting seasons. August is a month of dry, hot weather, where the skies are usually smoky from forest fires, yet harvest season is underway. Yes. August brings seasonal transition. It's a time of enjoying the beautiful season of Summer while realizing that Fall's cooler weather and clear skies are not far away. 

I have a "She Shed" in my garden where I can sit and enjoy the beauty of the world around me as it beckons my heart in measures of a splendid symphony. The summer breeze whistles gently through the pine and fir trees, while birds call out to each other in their musical tones of cheer. I hear my baby chicks happily "cheeping" as they explore the new world around them. Butterflies dance merrily among the blooms, while the crickets chirp happily in the shadows.  Hummingbirds buzz around as if their life depends on every drop of sugary fluid. A symphony without a conductor, and the only audience is me! 

I could sit in my garden all day and just soak in the beauty around me.

Oh... if only I could do just that!!

Mom arrived at the end of June, just in time to enjoy our beautiful cool weather. Coming from the triple-digit Texas heat, she was thrilled to be here! She stayed for 10 days, and left the day our weather turned hot! It was a blessed trip, and time for all of us, in every way. 

The glorious days of May have slipped by us so quickly - so much has happened in May that I haven't had time to post any updates.  The biggest event was a quick trip to Texas. My Dad's birthday was on May 19, and we gathered to remember him on his birthday. We also visited his grave where the tombstone was newly set. My sister and I visited Dad's tombstone with Mom for the first time and then the rest of our family gathered later. 

Mother... the very word is the embodiment of so many things!

My mother loved, gave, served, and dedicated her life to the Lord, and she leaves big footprints to walk in.

It's that special time of year that we look forward to during the winter - the time when the snow has finally melted, the mud has dried up, the cold snowy days have ceased, and Spring in all its glory has arrived.  The beauty of Spring never ceases to amaze every year! This year our spring has been a rollercoaster with days of warmth and sunshine, mixed in with many days of winter's chill.  But still... Spring has prevailed! 

Springtime blooms in Sandpoint, ID

Hello dear friends! A big thank you to everyone who entered my cookbook giveaway. I just read through each of your comments, and each one is such a blessing to me! I really wish I could give each and every one of you a copy of my cookbook!!

Today is the day I am giving away a paperback copy, and a Kindle copy of my cookbook. 

I am very excited to announce the two winners!

COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY! 

It has been a delightful adventure getting my cookbook published. I'm grateful to all of you who have expressed interest in my simple homegrown recipes! My passion for cooking, which began in childhood while assisting my mother in the kitchen, inspired the creation of this cookbook. Our parents kept a large garden, and we ate from the garden that supplied a plenteous supply of vegetables for our large family, friends, and neighbors. My dream was to compile a cookbook that showcases the various ways I incorporate homegrown vegetables and fruits into our family meals.  

I'm excited to finally share a surprise with you! In October, our daughter and son-in-law will welcome a new baby! It was during their birthday party in March that they shared the news but we were asked to keep it quiet until Danielle entered her second trimester.  That was hard to do! 

Being an enthusiastic gardener, I rely on the vegetables I grow in my garden - both canned and frozen - to eat from my pantry. There's nothing quite like the feeling of gathering the vegetables I need for a meal from my pantry and freezer during the winter. 

Looking back over 2000+ years, our hearts recall the events that brought Jesus to Calvary and his crucifixion.  At our Ladies' Bible Study on Thursday, we observed and rejoiced in the Passover dinner, just like Jesus and his disciples.  I am a co-teacher for this Bible study, and it was my turn to teach on Maundy Thursday.  I delved into the scriptures describing the Last Supper and studied resources to learn more about traditional Passover meals. With this information, I shared it with our women's group. It's incredible to witness how Jesus fulfilled the annual Passover Meal celebrations that symbolized Him! 

Due to my role in leading the service, I couldn't take many photos. However, I did capture a picture of us washing each other's hands, inspired by Jesus washing his disciples' feet.  

Spring sunshine has arrived - oh glory! After a long wet winter - what joy it is to have days in a row of sunshine! Springtime birds are arriving, and we can hear the sound of robins singing, while rain drips from the rooftops - signifying Spring's arrival. Even though it is muddy and rainy this time of year, we know that March and April showers bring May flowers, and for that, we rejoice! 

Our area has little marshes that fill up with water in the springtime, and there is always a variety of ducks enjoying the water! This is a male mallard drake enjoying the muddy spring waters!

Just a few days ago - this was our backyard scene. A snowstorm came through with about 5" of snow overnight - and it was 12 degrees the next morning!

The fir trees were blanketed with snow, creating the illusion of snow-covered fingers!

The sun was high in the sky with brilliant blue skies - a perfect day to romp around in our forest with Riley - I knew the snow wouldn't last - and we were out enjoying it while we could!

That evening, a glorious sunset filled the skies, and the snow reflected the pink-raptured tones.

A dear member of our community many years ago erected a cross on this rock outcropping next to a major highway in our area.  Vandals have destroyed it several times.

They used to have a light shining on it at night, but the vandals destroyed and took everything. So for several months, there was no cross and it saddened us all.  Finally, the decision was made to erect one again, and this time, security cameras were placed facing the cross, and it is tied down very securely.  It is a sad thing to have this kind of vandalism in our neighborhood!  With the bright sunshine, I drove out to see the cross.  It now stands in the shining sunlight overlooking the river. It was a glorious sight to see!

The rock outcropping, where the cross is placed, provides a scenic view of the Pend Oreille River, a glorious scene to behold any day of the year!

I wanted to soak up all the sunshine I could.  Winter was drawing to a close, and it was a magnificent day to enjoy the remnants of Winter. So,  I drove by our little mountain lake, and it was still covered in solid ice!

The absence of ice fishermen can be attributed to the recent string of warm days. The entire lake was still completely frozen solid, but I did not test it out!

I enjoyed the view from the dock. It was just beautiful - and the eagles were off in the distance - I could hear them calling to each other, but they never got close enough for me to photograph them.

Leaving the lake, driving through the forest - it was as if Winter was speaking to my heart,  "See how beautiful I am! You're going to miss me!"  I agreed --- but I argued back... "Winter, you've had your day, you know I love you but ... now it is time for Spring!"

Just between you and me - I really love Winter - and scenes like this make my heart so happy.  But I am ready to see some green now too...!

Hebrews 13:20-21 "Now the God of peace 

that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,

 that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood 

of the everlasting covenant, 

make you perfect in every good work to do his will, 

working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, 

through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory 

forever and ever, Amen." 

Today we held our monthly Community Prayer Meeting.  Among the many things we prayed for, one of the most important was for people's hearts to find encouragement in the Lord.   Many people feel discouraged about the future and are wondering what the days ahead may hold. While none of us knows what the future holds, we can rest assured in the promise that God does. So we lift all these needs to the Lord who knows that no matter how desperate the world scene is - how political systems are in turmoil, how so many evil things cause the deaths of innocent people that we love - no matter how traumatized things may get - we are held in the palm of the Lord's hands, and He will take good care of us!  Be encouraged, take heart - God is with us :)  Psalm 91:1-2  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

God bless each of you, I love you all dearly, and pray for you every day!