Sunset on River Cove Road

Contentment

Regardless of our circumstances, we are called to make the best use of every opportunity that God gives us to serve him—what the older translations call “redeeming the time” (Eph. 5:16; KJV). This means embracing whatever God has for us in every season of life.

This poem was written by a 14-year-old boy, and was originally published in "Who Gets the Glory?" by Dr. Charles R. Swindoll (author of one of my favorite books).


It was Spring, but it was Summer I wanted:
The warm days and the great outdoors.
It was Summer, but it was Fall I wanted:
The colorful leaves and the cool, dry air.
It was Fall, but it was Winter I wanted:
The beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season.
It was Winter, but it was Spring I wanted:
The warmth and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child, and it was adulthood I wanted:
The freedom and the respect.
I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted:
To be mature and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted:
The youth and the free spirit.
I was retired, but it was middle-aged I wanted:
The presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over,and I never got what I wanted.

Autumn colors and an amazing sunrise this morning

Vermont fall colors are just getting started.

An afternoon in the kitchen

I really enjoy baking, however, most of the things that are baked do not appear anywhere on the "approved foods" lists of low-carb diets.

Jörg and I have been folllowing the Dukan diet since we returned from our Montana trip in July. The diet is going well, but I miss being able to bake.

Fortunately, my children, while eating what we eat most of the time, still get sandwiches for lunch (home made bread), muffins for breakfast, and an occasional chocolate chip banana bread treat for an after school snack.

Ready for date night! (the first in quite awhile)

Completion

It has taken me most of the winter (which isn't actually over yet) to complete a knitting project.  This is probably one of the largest projects I have done to-date.  I have felted bags and backpacks, made baby blankets and scarves, and even a couple of hats, but this is the first piece of clothing that I have finished...that I can actually wear.  Sure, the ends around the arm holes and buttons curl (I haven't figured out how to solve that problem yet), but it's done, it fits, and it's symmetrical.  The arm holes are the right size, the length is good, and the color worked out really well.  Not bad considering I had to take a pattern written for S-M-L-XL and "guess" my way through adding more stitches here and there to get the right size for my shape.  As a novice knitter, this is a victory.