1. Shasta daisies have very strong roots.
2. I can fill my yard clippings barrel with only my front yard weeds and clippings. The back will have to wait until the next pick-up day.
3. I love listening to the birds sing. I wonder if they're always happy?
4. Eight yards of landscaping bark is a lot. (I already knew this, but I tend to forget each year until it's delivered.)
5. My car won't see the inside of the garage for a few weeks.
6. If you leave a Herseys chocolate candy bar on the front seat of the car on a sunny afternoon, it will melt.
7. If you put a melted chocolate candy bar in the fridge, it will fix itself in only an hour. :)
8. I truly enjoy gardening in the spring. (I'll probably feel differently in the summer.)
9. I'm physically out of shape.
10. God's creation is wonderful.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Awesome Concert!
Last night I was able to attend a concert by two wonderful Christian singers: Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith. It was such a worshipful evening. They began by singing together; then each took a turn alone before ending the concert with a medley of worship songs together. They also sang bits of each other's songs, which was fun. Steven Curtis shared how his faith has been tested but also grown stronger through the accidental death of his young daughter last May. It is through tragedies and the difficult times in our life that we learn to really trust in God's sovereignty and also the hope of eternal life through Jesus. It was wonderful concert and an awesome evening of worship to our God.
(Unfortunately we were in the very last row of the balcony which makes for very poor photos! Thankfully the sound was still great.)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Women's Weekend
I am so blessed to have colleagues who are also friends. This weekend a group of us enjoyed an overnight getaway together in South Haven, MI. We were able to stay in two adjoining condos along the Lake Michigan beach and we had a great time together. Since the weather was perfect on Saturday afternoon, we first just sat on the beach enjoying the sunshine and water. Later, we walked downtown and did a little shopping before having dinner together at Clementine's, a fun local restaurant. We enjoyed conversation and games like "Catch Phrase" in the evening, along with peanut butter pie and cheesecake (yum!) before finally falling asleep. After a leisurely breakfast the next morning, we headed back home to our everyday responsibilities. It was a great weekend getaway and time of respite.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Biltmore Estate Photo
While touring the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, a photographer takes everyone's picture. I can't believe I actually paid $25 for this, but I'm calling it my part in the "Biltmore Stimulus Package!" I decided to get my money's worth by placing it on the blog for all to see.
Spring Break in North Carolina - Part 3
We spent our last morning in North Carolina at Chimney Rock State Park. It was a beautiful day for hiking - sunny with temperatures in the high 50s. Located in the mountains, Chimney Rock is a large stone cliff jutting out from a mountain. There are several hiking trails, including one to the nearby Hickory Nut Waterfall. While my parents took the elevator to the top of the chimney to enjoy the view, Tosca and I first hiked for an hour to the waterfall and then climbed the trail to the top of Chimney Rock. The views were spectacular! This was a great way to end our time in North Carolina.
We headed for home in the early afternoon, making it as far as Lexington, Kentucky where we spent the night at the same Hampton Inn from the week before. My dad and I watched the latest episode of Lost while my mom (tried to) read her her book. We got up early on Thursday and arrived home around 5:00.
I'm so thankful for this time away from normal routines. North Carolina is a beautiful place in the springtime. This was a wonderful vacation: to see the beauty of God's creation and spend time with my parents.
We headed for home in the early afternoon, making it as far as Lexington, Kentucky where we spent the night at the same Hampton Inn from the week before. My dad and I watched the latest episode of Lost while my mom (tried to) read her her book. We got up early on Thursday and arrived home around 5:00.
I'm so thankful for this time away from normal routines. North Carolina is a beautiful place in the springtime. This was a wonderful vacation: to see the beauty of God's creation and spend time with my parents.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Spring Break in North Carolina - Part 2
After touring the grounds and gardens of the Biltmore Estate on Sunday afternoon, we spent Monday inside the palatial house. There are 250 rooms on four floors plus the basement, including 43 bathrooms! Each of the rooms open to the public is magnificently decorated; it truly resembles a palace. The house was completed in 1895 for George and Edith Vanderbilt and is still the largest privately owned home in the United States. We enjoyed our visit to the Estate, but I'm definitely thankful I don't live in such a big house - it would take a long time to clean everything.
The weather turned much colder on Monday and we awoke to snow-covered bushes on Tuesday. So much for escaping snow in the south. We decided to stay in our cabin all day: reading, listening to music, and playing Rummikub.
The weather turned much colder on Monday and we awoke to snow-covered bushes on Tuesday. So much for escaping snow in the south. We decided to stay in our cabin all day: reading, listening to music, and playing Rummikub.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Spring Break in North Carolina - Part 1
I love spring vacation! After a long, cold and snowy winter the promise of spring is wonderful. My parents and I, along with my dog, Tosca, are spending much of the week in Asheville, North Carolina - one of the most pet-friendly cities in the United States.
We arrived last Saturday evening to balmy temperatures in the 60s and lots of sun. We're staying at the Mountain Springs cabins just outside of Asheville. Our cabin is right near a mountain stream, so we can hear the water as well as the birds singing. It's so peaceful. I would definitely recommend it. (http://www.mtnsprings.com)
Tosca and I spent about an hour yesterday morning hiking through the woods to a pretty waterfall while my parents sat at an overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway, reading and knitting and enjoying the view of the mountains. We had a great walk, and Tosca enjoyed drinking from the streams. I also realized a little difference between dogs and people when they hike: I carefully picked my way through the rocks and along the trail to stay clear of any mud and to find the best path. Tosca, however, simply walked the quickest way - stepping in water, mud, and over rocks. I figured there's probably an analogy in this somewhere as to how we go through our Christian walk, but I can't decide if Tosca's way or my way is better. (My way is definitely less messy, however.)
Tosca thoroughly loved the pools of water when we arrived at the waterfall. It was so fun to watch her jump in the water and swim to the other side, scrambling up on the rocks. She raced back and forth along the side of the stream, almost prancing like a pony. I wish I had a camcorder.
Because the day was beautiful (sunny and in the 70s), we spent the afternoon touring the grounds of the Biltmore Estate. The gardens just opened this weekend and, although not everything was blooming yet, we did see a beautiful display of tulips mixed with pansies and other spring flowers. Many of the spring flowering trees and bushes are blooming also. Dogs are not allowed in any of the buildings at the Biltmore, but the grounds are very pet-friendly. They even have special water buckets just for dogs. My mom and I walked along a path through several of the numerous gardens all the way to a pond where my dad met us with the car.
The only sad part about the day is that I left my pedometer back at the cabin. Our staff at school is involved in a little contest counting the number of steps we walk each day. Of course I forget the pedometer the day I'm doing a lot of walking!
It was a wonderful day to reflect on the beauty of God's creation.
We arrived last Saturday evening to balmy temperatures in the 60s and lots of sun. We're staying at the Mountain Springs cabins just outside of Asheville. Our cabin is right near a mountain stream, so we can hear the water as well as the birds singing. It's so peaceful. I would definitely recommend it. (http://www.mtnsprings.com)
Tosca and I spent about an hour yesterday morning hiking through the woods to a pretty waterfall while my parents sat at an overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway, reading and knitting and enjoying the view of the mountains. We had a great walk, and Tosca enjoyed drinking from the streams. I also realized a little difference between dogs and people when they hike: I carefully picked my way through the rocks and along the trail to stay clear of any mud and to find the best path. Tosca, however, simply walked the quickest way - stepping in water, mud, and over rocks. I figured there's probably an analogy in this somewhere as to how we go through our Christian walk, but I can't decide if Tosca's way or my way is better. (My way is definitely less messy, however.)
Tosca thoroughly loved the pools of water when we arrived at the waterfall. It was so fun to watch her jump in the water and swim to the other side, scrambling up on the rocks. She raced back and forth along the side of the stream, almost prancing like a pony. I wish I had a camcorder.
Because the day was beautiful (sunny and in the 70s), we spent the afternoon touring the grounds of the Biltmore Estate. The gardens just opened this weekend and, although not everything was blooming yet, we did see a beautiful display of tulips mixed with pansies and other spring flowers. Many of the spring flowering trees and bushes are blooming also. Dogs are not allowed in any of the buildings at the Biltmore, but the grounds are very pet-friendly. They even have special water buckets just for dogs. My mom and I walked along a path through several of the numerous gardens all the way to a pond where my dad met us with the car.
The only sad part about the day is that I left my pedometer back at the cabin. Our staff at school is involved in a little contest counting the number of steps we walk each day. Of course I forget the pedometer the day I'm doing a lot of walking!
It was a wonderful day to reflect on the beauty of God's creation.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
First Day of Spring Break
Things To Do:
* Finally clean the house - completed (yeah!)
* Work in the yard - completed
Pick up all the fallen branches, twigs, and leftover leaves and bring them to the street for pickup.
* Run errands - completed
My visit to the allergy doctor to get my allergy shot became quite frustrating when I saw the sign on the door announcing they were closed. The frustration turned into happiness when I found out the pair of jeans I was buying was 50% off the sale price (originally $45; I paid $18!).
* Change the sheets on the bed - completed
It's definitely spring because the flannel sheets are now put away.
* Iron - completed
(The 2 laundry baskets full of clothes have been sitting around for over 2 weeks waiting to be ironed. I finally did the ironing tonight while watching the final ER episode.)
* Pack for trip to North Carolina - not completed
This one is pretty important as we leave early tomorrow morning. But as it's already almost midnight I think it's going to wait until tomorrow. Everything else is done and I'm feeling good.
* Finally clean the house - completed (yeah!)
* Work in the yard - completed
Pick up all the fallen branches, twigs, and leftover leaves and bring them to the street for pickup.
* Run errands - completed
My visit to the allergy doctor to get my allergy shot became quite frustrating when I saw the sign on the door announcing they were closed. The frustration turned into happiness when I found out the pair of jeans I was buying was 50% off the sale price (originally $45; I paid $18!).
* Change the sheets on the bed - completed
It's definitely spring because the flannel sheets are now put away.
* Iron - completed
(The 2 laundry baskets full of clothes have been sitting around for over 2 weeks waiting to be ironed. I finally did the ironing tonight while watching the final ER episode.)
* Pack for trip to North Carolina - not completed
This one is pretty important as we leave early tomorrow morning. But as it's already almost midnight I think it's going to wait until tomorrow. Everything else is done and I'm feeling good.
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