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!

Once again, winter has arrived in March! Many people in the comments shared that they have had an unusual winter, just like us here in North Idaho.  In late January, we experienced frigid temperatures, with the lowest reaching -23 degrees, not factoring in windchill.  A chinook or warming wind arrived two days later, increasing temperatures by over 60 degrees in just one day. This rapid warming caused all the accumulated snow to melt, giving us a taste of spring and allowing me to do some gardening. February followed a similar pattern - abundant rain, with occasional snow, but a hint of spring in the air.  March came and it's been nonstop snowing ever since. Every day in March has seen snowfall, and today marks the 4th day.  Despite my love for snow and knowing how much we need the moisture, I am not complaining, but sharing how strange this winter has been! 

My garden is under its new blanket of March snow!

Little bits of joy - sunshine sparkling on the crisp snow on my clematis - awaiting spring patiently! Winter showcasing its glorious beauty!  I think Riley likes the sunshine too!  Oh! It is a glorious day when the sun comes out with peeks of blue skies!

Last week, as Riley and I were walking, we saw this large elk herd on our neighbor's property.

Elk are very skittish, and as soon as I stopped walking, and took out my camera - they moved quickly away, back into the cover of the forest.

In my keto journey, I've been using almond milk, and making my own rather than using dairy.  All in limited quantities of course - but here is my process for making almond milk.   HOMEMADE ALMOND MILK 1 cup organic almonds 5 cups water Dash of salt Mix all ingredients in a bowl, cover, and let sit overnight.  In the morning, drain the liquid. Add almonds to the blender, with 5 cups of fresh water. Blend on high until smooth.  Using a nut milk bag, or clean tea towel, strain almonds from the milk, squeezing until the almond meal is dry.  Pour milk into a glass container. Stays good for 4-5 days.  NOTE: Almond meal can be dried and used as almond meal flour - spread on parchment paper on the sheet pan and bake at 200 degrees until dry to touch about 1 hour. Refrigerate. Then... once you have your homemade almond meal from your almonds - you can stretch that 1 cup of almonds a little farther, and you can make homemade Sourdough Almond Crackers!  HOMEMADE SOURDOUGH ALMOND CRACKERS 1/2 cup almond meal 1/4 cup bacon grease (melted butter can also be used) 1/2 cup sourdough starter, freshly fed 1 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp seasoning of choice - Everything Bagel, Italian, garlic etc.  Mix all ingredients together until it forms a ball. If the dough is dry, add more bacon grease until you have a workable dough.  Cover in a bowl and refrigerate. After at least 30 minutes, place the ball onto a parchment sheet placed on a cookie sheet. Place a parchment paper over the ball. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to the edges of the sheet, until very thin.  Slice the dough with a sharp knife into small squares.  Bake at 350 for 20 - 25 minutes. Remove from oven, and allow crackers to cool on cookie sheet. Store in an airtight container.  My favorite way to enjoy these crackers is to mix a pouch of Lemon Pepper tuna (or any tuna you may have, about 6 oz) with 1/4 cup cream cheese spread, 2 Tbsp diced onion, and enjoy with the crackers.  A delicious snack :)  I am of the mindset to use up every bit of everything I can and make it useful.  Isn't it great that from 1 cup of almonds, you can get 5 cups of almond milk and 1 cup of almond meal which can be used in other recipes‽ ?! By the way - I learned something this week! Do you know what an interrobang is? (I used it at the end of the last paragraph) Well, I did not - but it is this little punctuation marker created back in the 1960's indicating a question asked in an exclamatory manner.  It looks like this ‽  It is basically an exclamation mark and a question mark together. Have you ever used or seen one of these before? I thought it was a fun piece of information to learn :) You can find more information about interrobang here on the Merriam-Webster site :)  Interrobang

I've got seeds started in the greenhouse! I use seedling mats to keep them warm. I have not had to heat my greenhouse this year. If the temps drop down into the teens, I will put out a heat lamp, but the seedlings are fine on the mat with temps into the 20s.

I don't buy expensive pots to put my seedlings in. I simply use plastic grocery store containers with plastic lids.  I make holes in the bottom for drainage and keep the containers covered.  This process has worked for me for many years!

My neighbor's Australian Shepherd puppy, whom I've been "puppy-sitting" is wiggling her way further into my heart! She is just so adorable.

She and Riley enjoy playtime in the garden, a safe place where she can run to her heart's content without too much freedom. In her puppy stage, she has no clue about roads and wild animals, so this is a safe place for her to play unleashed for now - at least while it is still winter!

She and Riley are masters at their silly dog games!

Riley is a good "momma" influence to Bejeweled and makes me think... is it time for me to get another puppy?

After playing in the garden, she was so exhausted, covered in snowballs, that she just collapsed once we got inside!

Sound asleep by my chair as I worked on this blog post :)

On the 28th of February last year, I took Annie on her last walk. We knew she had been failing, and I had found a back brace for her that enabled her to walk. She was so happy in that snowstorm as we walked. I let her off the leash, and let her explore to her heart's content.

Annie never liked the camera, and would never look at the camera.  Thankfully I did get this picture of both of us enjoying the snow just days before she passed.    On March 3, 2023 - a day that hurts to remember still - Annie couldn't walk to the door. I had to carry her to the car. I was home alone, and somehow, I managed it. She was in pain and I was sobbing. At the vet's office, we found she had advanced-stage cancer, and we had to let her go. I called my family on a conference call, and the vet kindly gave us all the time we needed, as each one of my family members told her how much they loved her.  Her passing left a gaping hole in our life.  She was a dog that understood me, and loved us - we were her world.  She and I shared a love of the snow, and walking together - we both would happily walk all day long if we could!  We know she lived her best life with us, and though we will always miss her, she was a special one-of-a-kind dog - and we've had a lot of dogs.  Her memory will never be forgotten.  This passage of scripture has spoken to my heart this week - I wanted to share it with you:  Verse 5 "Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee", really ministered to my heart. How I depend on the Lord for His strength - I go from strength to strength, leaning always on Him for all things.   I worked on a new video this week - one that you can use as background music for your Easter/Lent/Passover time of remembering the Lord.   If you watch the video closely, you will see a picture of me enjoying a sunrise on the shores of Prince Edward Island.  We visited the Island while in New Brunswick visiting my Gram in October 2022 as she was so ill.  It was a special morning, the sunrise was so magnificent as it rose over the Charlottetown,  PEI harbor, and the song I chose to pair it with is "It Is Well With My Soul".   Indeed, that song still ministers greatly to my heart today.  Life is full of ups, downs, joys and sorrows, health and sickness, worry and praise.  But - through it all, I can still say, It Is Well With My Soul.  May this video be a blessing to you, and please know that each one of you remains in my prayers - the days we live in are troublesome, and worries are many.  Prayer sustains us! We must keep our thoughts on Him while looking at all the beauty He has created in this world for us to enjoy.  God bless each of you!