Wednesday, August 13, 2008

A visit from a friend...

This lovely little lady decided to pay us a visit at Charm & Grace Cottage. She is quite fond of cottages, I think, and so she has come our way. She has dressed beautifully for her visit, don't you think?




"She set off on a fine spring afternoon along the cart-road that leads over the hill. She was wearing a shawl and a poke bonnet."

She has not come for tea, today, as she is much too busy with her four little hatchlings that came along in June. We must watch over her carefully because she is very easily led astray by all manner of foxy gentlemen. If you would like to hear all about her adventure, visit The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck here.




Jemima waddled her way into my life some (eh-hem) years ago. My mother and I would walk to our small hometown library housed in the same little building as the city hall. The diminutive, dark grayish-green books were a perfect fit for my young hands. I was hooked, then, on all the little characters that Miss Potter brought to life right on those small pages. Jemima was and is a favorite, and she still comes to visit me often.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Along the Garden Path...

Some beautiful gardens from around the world...







Monday, August 11, 2008

Encouraging Mondays... Tea and Narnia

Anyone for tea with C.S. Lewis?
(along with some fantastic photos of Lewis' desk at The Kilns,
courtesy of Robyn & Perry Granberry.)




Here are some notable quotes from the pen of Clive Staples Lewis, author of many wonderful books for both adults and children including the much-loved Chronicles of Narnia.

  • You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.



  • Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.


  • God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.


  • Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.



  • Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.


  • Reason is the natural order of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.


  • You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.



  • A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.


  • Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.


  • Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.


Sunday, August 10, 2008

Grace for the Journey...

Hope that does not disappoint...




Saturday, August 9, 2008

Stop, Look, & Listen...

How Great Is Our God




Performed by Chris Tomlin
Images courtesy of Heartlight.org.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Fruitful Fridays...

Along with gearing up for the school year, I have been working on a few things this week. I am doing a series of pencil drawings inspired by...



...Victoria magazine.


hollyhocks and roses...

...and some other white flowers yet to come.

Then there is this picture (below) that I am doing for a friend. It's a sweet story which, if she gives her permission, I will tell you all about it once it is complete.

And then I threw in a little surprise... since I have never posted a picture of myself, I thought I would share my little workspace (with me actually in it this time.)


Yes, this is my little corner (literally) of the world... or make that my little corner of the dining room! This is where the elbow grease happens... the inspiration comes before and sometimes during the "elbow grease" process. Happy Fruitful Friday to all!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Barter


Barter

by Sara Teasdale

Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up
Holding wonder like a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like a curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Something to cool us down...

OK, it's been in the upper 90's to 100 with extreme humidity for the past couple of weeks. I don't know about you, but I really need something to cool me down!






Now, doesn't that feel cooler already?

:-)

Monday, August 4, 2008

Encouraging Mondays...

An award, awards, and five things I love...




First, I must thank my sweet friend Vee from A Haven for Vee for the Brillante Award she has bestowed on me. Not only am I honored to receive the award, but particularly as it is from Vee. She is a thoughtful and generous blogger, a kind encourager, and also a happy newlywed.


These are the rules:


1. Please put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. You must nominate 7 fellow bloggers for this award. (I will not be doing this, as most of my choices for this award have already received it previously. See comment below list.)
4. Add links to the recipients.
5. Leave a comment so the recipients know they have received an award.

I would just like to say that I think all the blogs in my sidebar deserve this award. So, if your blog appears there, consider yourself awarded. If you have received the award before, feel free to accept it again. If you have never received it, consider yourself duly awarded. Post the award to your site and follow the rules (or not).

Now, I have been tagged by Schotzy at Wings of Eagles for five things I love:

1. God's Word

2. My family

3. Whatever flower is currently in bloom

4. Seeing creativity unfold

5. Vivaldi's Four Seasons

This one came with no rules. Again, most of you have participated in one of these before. If you would like to participate again, consider yourself tagged!

Finally, many of you have been to me as Jonathon was to David: "And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God." (1 Samuel 23:16) I hope in some way, I have encouraged you as well.