My Favorite Season, Just Around the Corner!

Indian Summer

Along the line of smoky hills

The crimson forest stands

And all the day the bluejay calls

Throughout the autumn lands.

Now by the brook the maple leans,

With all her glory spread,

And all the sumacs on the hill

Have turned their green to red.

Now by great marshes wrapped in mist

Or past some rivers mouth,

Throughout the long cold autumn days,

Wild birds are flying south.

William Wilfred Campbell

Indian Summer

Along the line of smoky hills
The crimson forest stands,
And all the day the blue-jay calls
Throughout the autumn lands.

Now by the brook the maple leans
With all his glory spread,
And all the sumachs on the hills
Have turned their green to red.

Now by great marshes wrapt in mist,
Or past some river's mouth,
Throughout the long, still autumn day
Wild birds are flying south.

- See more at: http://allpoetry.com/poem/8484509-Indian-Summer-by-William-Wilfred-Campbell#sthash.oOMVAoPv.dpuf

A Review and Fall at the Door

First a review that is long overdue. I have received some amazing books from B & H publishing. One of them is going to be a resource for our home school in the fall. It is called, 'Illustrated Bible Survey' and is authored by Ed Hinson and Elmer L. Towns. It gives an indepth overview of the Bible and is full of maps and illustrations. There are some beautiful photographs too and the book is written in easy to understand format with good detail. I would recommend it for anyone that wants to get a good background on the Bible that is user friendly. It would be an excellent tool for students, families, and pastors.

Fall is arriving quickly. The nights are cool and the top of my maple is beginning to change color. We wear sweaters when we go walking or at least bring them along. My garden is growing tired, the beans are no longer as eager to produce and the pumpkin flowers have faded.

The boys and I went on a mini-holiday yesterday. We drove to Kingston to shop for clothes (even homeschool kids need new clothes) and of course, it included several stops along Lake Ontario, some serious fishing, and food. We also wandered around in the Cataraqui Town Centre for a while. American Eagle jeans were on for $20 which made for a happy 16 year old. Loonie milkshakes were part of the day too, twice. You need to live near a Reid's dairy to understand, but they make amazing, really cheap shakes that are so thick they require a spoon. We capped off the day by visiting the water front in Gananoque on the way home.

We were in awe of the beauty of God's world as we walked along the shores of Lake Ontario. So many wild flowers, bugs, birds, and of course, black rat snakes. Leave it to Patrick to find one right away. We were impressed too with how beautiful the worn rocks along the shore line were. Kind of like how God wears off our rough edges to make us more beautiful. As He molds and shapes us, the true beauty of Him in us shines through.

Here are some pictures to brighten your day.

Along the shoreline

Golden rod

Berries

Robert

Petunias along the St. Lawrence in Gananoque

Lovely color combo!

Patrick's 2 foot pike

Random Thoughts

A bus full of campers passed me today as I biked through our city. Kids were squealing and sticking arms out the windows. I'm not sure where they were headed but the site of the big yellow vehicle brought me back to a childhood memory.

It was the year my big sister was away and I was the only one to get on the bus each morning. I must have been around 11 or so.

There were two buses that went by each school day; a highschool bus and an elementary one. I rode the second one, and it always arrived second too. I had this horrible fear that the driver of the first bus would think I was tall enough for highschool and would try to stop and make me get on the bus, so I would hide in the bushes by the fence while it drove by. Then I would pop out just in time to catch my own bus.

One day I was hiding in the bushes when, horror of horrors, the first bus stopped. I trembled with fear and tried to almost disappear into the undergrowth. Then I heard the voice of my bus driver say, "Anita! Get out of those bushes and get on the bus!"The second bus had come first!

I was pretty humiliated.

But I learned from it. As my own children grew, I often tried to put myself in their shoes. The boy who wouldn't come inside because we had company, the girl who hid by the neighbors step while her sister asked them to come play, the hidden overdue library book. Life is not always easy. We learn and we grow but sometimes the child in us still struggles with the simplest of things.

I still feel slightly apprehensive getting on a bus. 

Another Review!

I have received a beautiful copy of the NKJV Holman Study Bible from B & H publishing. It reminds me somehow of a little Bible my friend used to carry in her purse when we were children. It is wonderful to see photos of actual places that are mentioned in the Bible. There are plenty of maps and great study guides and reference material. But it is much more. Here is a quote from the actual website.

"Holman Bible Publishers is excited to present the Holman Study Bible: NKJV Edition, a new edition modeled after its own 2011 ECPA Christian Book Award-winning HCSB Study Bible, where every well-conceived study help is practically placed on the same page spread as the related biblical text. It also features 15,000 study notes, 141 photos, 62 timelines, 59 maps, 40-page concordance, 20 articles and essays on practical and theological issues, 16 illustrations and reconstructions, and 15 charts.

Other details of the Holman Study Bible: NKJV Edition include a two-column text setting, center-column cross references, the words of Christ in red type, extensive book introductions, one- and three-year Bible reading plans, a notes section, four-color presentation page and family records section, and two-piece die-cut gift box.

All study features throughout the Holman Study Bible: NKJV Edition are designed to put the emphasis where it must be – on making the Scriptures, God’s written Word, clear and understandable."

I look forward to reading from it. It is always nice to begin reading a new Bible that isn't full of my scribbled notes and highlights. But don't worry. I'll mark it up soon enough!

Blessings, Anita

A Bible Review

It is always nice to get something in the mail. I just received a new Bible from B&H publishing. It is from Holman Publishers in Nashville Tennessee, New King James Version and large print. My reason for ordering it was because I wanted it for my 13 year old son, Patrick. He likes to follow along in church and did not have this version. He really likes the large print for finding things easily. The cover is good quality and the pages are thick enough to turn without effort. I am so pleased with it, I wish I had ordered it for myself.

We have added on three new grandbabies this spring. Two little girls and a little boy. So exciting. Our renovations are coming along nicely and the garden is in!  So are the flower beds. God is amazing. Every spring the earth renews its beauty according to His plan. I have lilacs in my back yard and the trees are so green and full. Beautiful. Grass is growing and the birds have all returned. Fall is my favorite time of year but after the long winter we had this year, spring is almost just as good! Happy Springtime everyone! Quick before summer arrives!

How Sweet It Is.....

No, I haven't deserted this blog, but life is busy. I've been blessed with two new grandbabes in the last month, our house is dusty with renovations, and I am still homeschooling two teens.

I won't play catch up. I just don't have time and I know I promised pictures but those too can wait.

However, we had some fun this week and I wanted to share. We are in the city now. City folk again, but hey, we have some lovely country in our back yard. A horse farm behind the back fence and in our own yard, some honest to goodness maple trees. So what does a countrified kid like my Patrick do with those? He taps them. Then he curls up in a lawn chair on the back deck and cooks up some yummy syrup for our pancakes. We started with a large pan of sap, but as expected, ended up with about a cup and a half of runny syrup. We chose not to boil it down all the way because that would have left us with nothing. Mmm. Those pancakes were delicious.

Next year we may go bigger and tap all four maples, but this year we just had two spiles so we didn't get too much. Still, a great deal of fun.

Still a little chilly this morning!

Our trusty little Coleman stove and a barbecue tank

Syrup of sorts, little thin but yummy!

Happy 2014

Pictures are coming...I miss this blog and the putting of life on paper. Once the tree is down and things are put away, I want to update. Blessings for a wonderful 2014 to all of you! This is a new year God has granted us, fresh starts, new ideas, new life to live. Take advantage of every moment.