Out of the Closet

We brought an old game 

 out of the closet.

It took awhile to sort through 

our collection of various pieces,

and refresh ourselves with the

basic rules (thanks to the internet)...

 but the game commenced and eventually ended

with sore fingers from the "flicking".

Tonight we may try makeshift cues!

Two Men and a Backseat Driver

It was Sunday afternoon, and to break up our table game routine,

we looked up the Barn Quilt Tour description from the Archbold (OH) Sesquicentennial celebration

and set off--

Two Men and a Backseat Driver!

These are six of the ten barns/quilts on the tour.

Our outing included stopping to see a small herd of longhorn cattle,

waiting for a train,

and a few dead ends.

We returned to play a couple more games

and enjoy a lunch of Indiana cantaloupe, a variety of baby tomatoes,

and curried chicken salad in croissants. 

It was a relaxing way to spend Sunday afternoon and evening.

Barns
Functional. Enduring.
Strong. Silent.
Decorated now.
Kissed with simple beauty.
Crowned.
Like royalty.

Do Your Own Research

This was the information on the bottom of the jigsaw puzzle

that we attacked with a vengeance and anticipation last week.

A combination of pleasure, determination and frustration

filled the hours we spent finishing the puzzle 

only to end up with this bit of disappointment--

We were down on our hands and knees and turned furniture over

searching for the missing piece.  Never DID find it.

My conclusion is that you can't trust what is written on the bottom

of a used jigsaw puzzle box.

There's a lot written on social media these days

that is equally disappointing.

It is best to Do Your Own Research.

Especially before passing it on as a fact!

All Pieces Here

 Thanksgiving Day behind us

and having arrived home at 12:01 this morning 

after a bit of a holiday blitz,

we are taking it easy today.

 Our "Black Friday" will consist of baking a turkey my husband was graciously gifted with

by his part-time employer (Grabill Do It Best Hardware),

balancing the checkbook, football games,
running the car to dealer for a 1/2 hour recall adjustment,
and then taking a nap or two.

I also brought out this jigsaw puzzle purchased somewhat warily at a thrift store.

We'll try to get the border done today.

I found this note on back of the box to be somewhat reassuring...

I find THIS to be so much MORE reassuring --

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,  

and in Him you have been made complete, 

and He is the head over all rule and authority.

Colossians 2:9-10

All pieces are here!

In Him, I am complete.

Hallelujah.

The Week that Was

 Time flies!  A week ago all my siblings were together as my father preached

at the chapel service of the retirement home in which my mother resides.

 And there was music!

It was a blessed time.

 My husband painted this mirror.  I listed it on a facebook garage sale site.

It sold, and I met the buyer to make the delivery.

 My husband spent a few days in Florida on business,

 and I took advantage of "aloneness" to dally in a couple of my favorite thrift stores.

I was pleased to find a few odds and ends including the bottle of cologne

 and three blue & white plates.

The week concluded beautifully with our first snowfall of the season.

It was a pleasure to look out the window, and the drive to Ohio to be with my parents 

yesterday took us through a virtual Winter Wonderland!

 These were highlights of the Week that Was.
It wasn't a perfect week, but God was!

God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time.  

(Ecclesiastes 3:11, NET Bible)

Picniking in December

 My parents are quite intentional about having their pictures taken together frequently.

 We, on the other hand, have very few of ourselves.

 And when they DO "happen" it is just that--happenstance!

 This one was taken unbeknownst to us last Friday.

 We were attending an office Christmas party - a Mystery Dinner Theater.

 Here we are.  Trying to decide Who Dun It!

Since it might be awhile until we have another photo of ourselves,

I decided to have a little fun.

I "picniked" it!

I sent it to our grandchildren labeled,

"Santa and his Mrs. are makin' a list and checkin' it twice!"
(Guess the cat's out of the bag now!)

Usually I forget about picnik. 

Glad I tried it today.

Have YOU tried picnik (or another photo enhancer)?

Creativity

 

“There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. 

And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium 

and it will be lost.”  — Martha Graham

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, 

making mistakes, and having fun.” — Mary Lou Cook

 The key question isn’t “What fosters creativity?” But it is "Why in God’s name isn’t everyone creative? Where was the human potential lost? How was it crippled?" I think therefore a good question might be not "Why do people create?" But "Why do people not create or innovate?" We have got to abandon that sense of amazement in the face of creativity, as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything. — Abraham Maslow

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, 

and that voice will be silenced.” — Vincent van Gogh

 We went to Taste of Arts this afternoon.

I had fun trying my hand at hat-making

(with a little help from friends).
Newspaper, masking tape, scotch tape and tissue paper
are MAGIC!

Nobody is bored when he is trying to make something that is beautiful, 

or to discover something that is true.  - William Inge

“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” - Albert Einstein

A Time for Every Delight

 A time for Dairy Queen treats

Framed picture on wall in Warsaw DQ

 a time to pray

Billy Sunday at Billy Sunday Museum

 a time to acquaint the younger generation with 

giants in our Christian heritage

 a time to play - Score Four

 a time to catch fire-flies

a time to be sure our solar lights were working

and then a time to go to bed. 

(There was also a trip to the library, counting 371 horses on the way,

several other games, and a great dinner

at Holy Trinity Church...and this was just 1/2 a day!)

"To everything -- a season, and a time to every delight under the heavens..." 

(Young's Literal Translation of Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Reflections on Riverfest

Saturday morning our daughter, two of HER daughters, and their cousin Sammie 

went with us to the second annual Riverfest.  

Here they are standing in front of the bridge 

that spans one of three rivers that converge in Fort Wayne.

Features we enjoyed:  free canoe and kayak excursions,

free bottled water and snacks, 

free balloons, free kids' carnival with free prizes,

many hands-on activities (cookie decorating, crafts, etc.)

plenty of porta-potties and trash cans

an amazing number of upbeat volunteers,

 a silent auction of painted rocking chairs,

a trail of arts and crafts vendors, local bands, food vendors,

pontoon rides, a boat show and parade...

(We weren't able to stay for the evening fireworks.)

"Thanks" seems inadequate to express our appreciation

to the corporate sponsors and volunteers for our amazing experience!

What local events does YOUR family enjoy?