~God Bless the Stewards of Our Land~

It's harvest time on our little hilltop! Farmer John is out combining the corn, working hard to catch up for time lost! We are so happy to see Farmer John because when he takes the corn, he gives us a glorious view in return...miles upon miles of beautiful plains. Stay tuned for some beautiful vistas!

Blessings~

~Frost~

Good Morning~It looks like the frost has arrived! It's a beautiful icy cold morning with tiny alps of frost gathering on my porch. Aren't they lovely? I almost wish it was White Wednesday!! Enjoy the moment!
Blessings~

~Vat the Heck, Ole?~

Good Morning!~It's a lovely day here in Iowa~the farmer's continue to rush to get the corn in as the weather has delayed harvest this year. God Bless them, as they are working day and night. My husbands' family originally settled in Minnesota, and have farmed there for generations. They are good and honest salt of the earth folks who rely on God and common sense for their daily bread. My hubby and I just love getting together with them. I received this cute joke the other day.....just had to share it with you!

Ole's car was hit by a truck in an accident. In court, the trucking company's lawyer was questioning Ole.

"Didn't you say, sir, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm Fine,?' asked the lawyer.

Ole responded, "Vell, I'll tell you vat happened. I had yust loaded my favorite mule, Bessie, into da...."

"I didn't ask you any details" the lawyer interrupted. "Just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, "I'm fine?"

Ole said, :Vell, I had yust got Bessie into da trailer and I vas driving down the road...."

The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question."

By this time, the Judge was fairly interested in Ole's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule, Bessie."

Ole thanked the Judge and proceeded. "Vell, as I vas saying, I had yust loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into da trailer and vas driving her down da higvay ven dis huge semi-truck and trailer ran da stop sign and smacked my truck right in da side. I vas trown into one ditch and Bessie vas trown into da other. I vas hurting real bad and didn't vant to move. However, I could hear Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape yust by her groans. Shortly after da accident da Higheay Patrolman, he came to da scene...He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he vent over to her...

"After he looked at her and saw her fatal condition he took out his gun and shot her right 'tween da eyes.

Den da Patrolman, he came across da road, gun still smoking, looked at me and said, "How are you feeling?"

"Now vat DA heck vould YOU say?"

Blessings~

The muscial selection for this post is "Fields of Gold" sung by Eva Cassidy

~It's A Harvest Moon!~The Farmers Are Working!

Did you see that moon last night? Oh my goodness but it was spectacular! A harvest moon! The farmers here are working on the cornfields now having already combined the beans. They work from sun up to sun down! They are getting closer to my house!! Our house is situated right smack dab on top of a hill, the back-back yard borders up against a cornfield. During the late fall and through winter and spring, the view from the back is far reaching and just beautiful! But in the summer, we are afforded a bit more privacy with the tall corn stalks. I love the change, and the view...and the corn. We have deer in our yard often-they like the corn too! Many times as I drive down the hill, I have to stop the truck and let the deer pass. How beautiful they are! I enjoy the fawns with their big eyes and white spots. I have my camera ready to snap some photos...I keep missing them..darn! My husband calls me the "deer stalker" as I am forever trying to get photos of them!! They're slippery though--one false move and they're gone like a shot! I am not the most graceful gal anyway....in my haste to "capture the moment" I usually trip over the rugs, or spill the dog's water...It's not easy being a paparazzi!! Happy Monday!

Blessings~

~See Ya Next Year!"~

I was up early this morning before the sun came up waiting patiently for yet another glorious sunrise to share with you..well, I got busy with morning chores and missed the red sky as the sun rose. I got to the back porch just as the clouds opened up just a bit, allowing the sun to shine through. What beautiful color! Instead of reds and oranges...blues, and purples, pinks and yellows. Stunning!
Look at the branches of the little tree, all barren and ready for winter! A few tiny leaves hanging on, not ready to go, waiting for a gust of wind to send them on their journey into the fields beyond. Yesterday was a very windy day, and the leaves from the trees were thick and blowing in swirls then up into the sky, they seem to be saying, "See ya next year!"
Time to get out the ol' rake and mower for the last time this year, and in their place, the shovel and snow blower....I feel like the tiny leaves left on the tree..I know it's comin' and I'll be ready, but I'm just not ready to let go!
Blessings~

~Using Time Wisely~

Throughout our lives we have heard the saying, "Use your time wisely." That thought keeps running through my mind today as I am sitting in front of my window watching the rain fall, the confetti of orange and red leaves blowing off of the trees, covering the green grass. The thunder is rumbling and the sky is a solid flat color of gray. I have my quilt, my books, a shawl that I am knitting , and I am cozy and warm. I am blessed.
Sometimes it is just all right to be quiet. It is a time to reflect and give thanks. A time of peace without demanding noise. No television, no music, no insistent message beeps from the phone...just silence.

"There is time in which to be, simply to be, that time in which God quietly tells us who we are and who He wants us to be. It is then that God can take our emptiness and fill it up with what He wants, and drain away the business with which we inevitable get involved in the dailyness of human living." Madeleine L'Engle

Sometimes it is necessary to be still..to use time wisely.

Blessings~

~Rose Colored Glasses~

Good Morning Friends! As I was reading my morning devotional, "Soul Retreats for Women" I came across this wonderful story that I wanted to share with you.

"A gal who is remembered around the world for her mountainous hope was described as "being excessively cheerful and unduly optimistic." She was said to have looked at an impossible situation through rose-colored glasses.
Five days into a trip across the Atlantic on the legendary Titanic, Margaret Tobin Brown found herself bobbing around in a lifeboat in the freezing cold with fourteen other women and prophet-of-doom officer. The officer insisted they'd never escape the undertow when the ship went down.

Margaret refused to give in to negative thinking. If this man wasn't going to save the lifeboat, she would. She insisted they keep warm by fast-paced rowing during those daunting hours before they were rescued, and lifted their hopes with her indomitable spirit. She created survivor lists and radioed them to the families. She even raised money for destitute victims of the sinking, collection almost $10,000 in pledges. She rightly earned the famous nickname, "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."

Isn't that a wonderful story? And in keeping with this uplifting theme, John Homer Miller wrote, " Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. Circumstances and situations do color life, but you....choose what the color will be."

My sweet mom gave me this little book in 2002, and I have read and reread it so many times. It's a dear book of poems and scripture mixed with quotes from various well known people. And such a great way to begin my day. I hope that you enjoyed the story as well.
Blessings~

~Dear Sweet Rebecca,

Good Morning Friends~

Just to share a few words and a newly completed project with you all. First,the words...it happens rarely that you find someone who is so generous of heart to take the time to share and post a wonderful new crafting technique with all who would want to learn. Rebecca of A Gathering of Thoughts is that rare jewel. I'm sure that many of you have visited her sites on Blogger and on Ebay as well and have seen her superb work. Rebecca is a very special lady and her work reflects her sweet soulful spirit. Through her beautiful blog I have learned to print a photo onto fabric! Thank You Sweet Rebecca!