Feathered friends, an autumn scene.

 I wish I had a picture to show you,
 The oddest and most peculiar thing,
 have you ever witnessed a bird migration convergence ?
 Well, one just took place in my back yard.
 What kind of bird is it that has descended upon my grassy hills and lofty boughs, there name I know  not. How shall I convey the feeling I shall have to try and paint you a paragraph.

The chirping of hundreds of little voices is what made me notice, a sort of full and crowded call that was amplified on the frothy air that is still warm like summer but has a note of something nippy about it. The sound was of a sort lurid, and caught my attention almost immediately. 
In wonder did I stand staring upon the scene of at least a hundred ebony birds dotting the earth. 
Amongst patches of sheer luminescence filtering through the great pine boughs abutting the property,
splattering sun baked and dying grasses, there color changes from black of night to brilliance of hues purple and deep cyan, pigments that conjure images of exotic places and strange things, there tones of peacock perfection made me look and want to look again. 
they fluttered about from ground to tree, almost as if my some slight of hand did there plumes glitter from brilliance to black, there chatter incessant, there interaction jittery and simply fluttery. 
I longed to capture the scene, but alas all I have are words, and a strange memory. 
among the autumn hues they flew in one great body to where I shall never know.  But for one small moment they sat upon my earth pecking the greens resting there flighted wings. 


Ah,  I do so love autumn, if for the furry and feathered friends it bears on its colorful folds to my door. I wonder dear reader, have you met with any sort of fauna our co inhabiters of this earth, that has made you sigh in dreamy praise at all the Lord hads created. I'd love to look with wide eyes along with you, drop me a comment and let me know. Until then I'll most certainly be lost in art and words.
Rachel Hope

photo from pinterest

Begin again

Dearest reader,
I hope the first weeks of this shiny new year hasn't ill treated you.
I hope your resolutions have not been dashed upon the crags of doubt. and shattered into listless feelings of self doubt, and hopeless despondency.
My own first few weeks of this year have been crazy;
Its funny how little a word seems, and yet can be massive in its meanings with many deep levels and surface faces, to every eye and mind that sees and imagines.
In truth these first weeks has been fraught with trouble, persistent and buggarly. Layer upon layer of gross hardship, enough to cast a shadow of despondency over any living soul.
Enough to throw a hopeful fresh attitude into the far reaches of a cold desolate world, where hope and faith cannot tread. A place icy cold and crystal'd with dark shadows.
 Have you ever been depressed ? Then you might have an idea of what I'm trying to describe.  hopelessness is a huge part of that slippery slope into depression.
Perhaps your new year hasn't treated you all that well either. Perhaps your fighting hopelessness, right out of the gates.

If after the bells have signaled: the gun fired heralding the start of a new race, straight out of the gates you tripped and fell, or were facing so many bigger stronger adversaries that you just gave up. I want to encourage you anew. We don't need a new year, a january 1 to begin again, every day is a new day, cleche I know but its true none the less. The past is gone even if it was yesterday, or even recently, its gone forever. and the new beginning to focus on is now. We all stumble and we all need a hand.
Jesus said I make all things new, he has sealed forever new beginnings for us. In Him is newness of life.
Living in the past is another factor of that slope of defeat. if you live where you were, how can you see where you are going ? All around you will be ghostly shadows of sadness and grief. Because lets face it when your living in the past your constant companions are the bad choices or wrong doings either what you have done or has been done to you; not the happy smiles and blessings.
Somehow when we live in the dark past we begin to feel it in who we are, we almost become as shadowy and lustrous as those dead memories. And we draw into ourselves because we feel that the world has done us some injustice or soon will as "karma" for the wrongs we have committed to others.
Apart from the fact that I do not believe in karma, I want you to realize right now that no matter what it looks like. There are beautiful things around the corner because we are loved with an everlasting Love. And when we yield to that Love we find ourselves overwhelmed with gratefulness for blessings we couldn't have dreamt of. One of those blessings is the newness of life that we receive in christ, when we rely on his scarifies to make all things new in our mortal lives, then we are inviting the power of the ages to do a work in everything we are facing or struggling with. New beginnings are as easy as every day receiving His love for us, He has already forgiven our mistakes and short comings, we forgive ourselves and thank Him for his forgiveness and move on with the path we are on.
 How do we know he loved us ?
He said in his word in this we know what love is, in that He laid down his life for us.
He also said no greater love has a man then to lay down his life for his friends.
Friends God gave his only son the son that He loved for you and I, so we could be blessed and live lives of unimaginable grander for him and in him.
Make every day a new day and free yourselves from the shackles of self doubt and frustration, by seeing yourself new in him.

 Photo via pinterest

The heart of Thanksgiving

It feels as thought winter has indeed stopped to make a home here in my part of the world.
December had come, goodness me how that has happened, but I say that about all months that arrive so quickly, and lately it seems they all do.  Autumn is no more by the arrival of white, even if only a dusting serves as a reminder; every time I look out the window.
The colours of autumn have fallen long ago, another season nearly laid to rest.
At this time of year we celebrate thanksgiving, and indeed we have passed it by more than a week.

I had intended to write something, but....

With thanksgiving not so far behind. I wanted to write something that spoke of the holiday,
but more than that I wanted to write about the heart of thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is more than just a day to share with those we love, that is indeed wonderful, but thankfulness is a heart condition, not just a holiday.

Thanksgiving
 is one of the most beautiful forms of praise, that I can think of, its not just I love you because you did this for me, or oh thanks for the favour. No gratefulness in much deeper than all that surface stuff, this gratefulness is a one way overcoming (I hardly know how to put it into words its so not a thing) That wells up inside your spirit and spills over into any words that suffice, and sometimes don't suffice, praising a Father who gives everything so fully for our redemption, and enjoyment.
Its that thing that brings tears to your eyes when your heart is so fill, so wondrously jammed with beautiful blessings, that you can hardly stand to keep it in. That's why tears flow when your family's gathered in one room together and the chatter is noisy and jolly and frivolous but that moment is so perfect so joyful that your heart sees a blessing and gratefulness like a tree grows larger and larger.

Its hard to practise Thankfulness when we are restricted in our hearts by the doubts, and crushed down by terrible circumstances. We can easily become hard when we focus of the don't haves rather than the magnificent beauties we do have in our lives.

Thankfulness
is a funny thing if practised consistently, it conditions your heart for growth, and removes the above mentioned states. When your heart is conditioned your in a position to walk in the path designed for you before the foundation of the world. Set by God for your enjoyment.
I believe that Thankfulness stem's more from having something you wanted, granted to you. That is just one tiny facet of gratefulness.
True Thankfulness is an acknowledgement of someone greater than you who has endued you with an ocean of love and mercies and unmitigated grace. To make your life so marvellous, so breathtaking. And Thankfulness is the way to get there to that place;
because your focus is on His HUGE Love that surrounds you and drops pleasures into your life without warning or being asked. (have you ever thought that God just likes to see you smile ?)

Its every moment of every day recognising how magnificent this life is, laden with blessings so colossal so glorious that we haven't even imagined it. Recognising that and expecting so fully to see them in faith, that we give an offering of thanks to our loving Father in the heavenly because he satisfies the longing heart.
   For He satisfies the longing soul,
 and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
    ( Psalm 107:9)
An attitude of Gratitude holds such power, and frees your mind. I feel that it puts you in a place that is cushioned with His love. Because you made yourself aware of his love every day that you live in a place that's unrealistically peaceful.
Gratefulness gets you so caught up in His Love that you fly over the bumps on the journey because you have let Him hide you in the cleft of the Rock, you have taken up your residence in His courts and found refuge under His pavilions.
The Word tells is to forget not all His benefits, I believe this is why.
In a way its a pare of rose coloured glasses from the Creator of the universe, see through a heart full of Gratitude for the undeserving displays of His love for you in your life.
Its a beautiful mindset.
With it you'll enjoy life in so many ways unrestricted.

Perhaps if I may, in the up coming year designate a book, with blank pages for the breathings of gratatude. Make a choice to look for them and recognise the blessings and where they come from. imagine a whole year spent like that. Its a three hundred and sixtyfive day treasure hunt. Indeed I do believe that I shall add this to my new year. How about you ?

From my window.

photo credit

It's a bit over cast today, but I can hear a sweet melody from the birdies perched  at my window.
It's a sound that I welcome with reverence. My whole life I have loved nature, but as I have grown I seem to appreciate it all the more. As I watch these two little grey and yellow fellows search out for some obscure object in the gutter right out my window, I try and be still as I can. In hopes that this rare moment will somehow be prolonged if I don't breath. I believe I shall name them, Finy and Oliver. The wind has a slight chill, and smells of rain, I know In a little wile I will be listening to the sound of rain patter. I am fortunate to have a great big window to the right of my desk. Where as an artist or when I'm stuck for some word that my mind knows but can't remember I look out to nature and get refreshed.
I'm a bit of a romantic, so I have a special ability to overlook the house right smack dab across the street. The one that's in desperate need of a paint job. The one that when I'm in a more human mood, sticks out against the trees like a big khaki thumb. But today is not that day.
From my window I see only trees, lush green fields and nature at its best. With spring here the trees are in a bright green bloom, there tiny leaves not yet formed. Yet I love this season for that reason, the soft colors that are mere suggestions. I always find myself wishing I could stop and stay in a perpetual spring. The mountains are flowering, but this year in more of a pink, than green. I thought that odd but have been too caught up in the soft blush to ask why. When a gift is given you just say thanks. And that's what I have been doing. All this month, a whisper of thanks has been constant on my lips to the Father who so lovingly created all this. For us. A masterpiece that is so in need to be enjoyed. I certainly have tried to enjoy it. Many rambled through the woods have blessed me to see the sudden change that happens. In one week new life springs from some hidden  shadow, into the light.
Like the dancers who wait  behind the stage curtain until there number is to be performed, spring was just waiting. And I can only speak for myself, but  it has a very happy audience member. I have marveled at the tiny curled sprouts of ferns. And wild flowers that seem to grow in the strangest places.  Perhaps its because of a book I'm not much interested in, or perhaps it's the strange feeling I get every spring that has propelled me out of doors. Into nature where I feel at home.
Perhaps later I shall get out my paints and try and capture the fleeting season. But for now I'm content to draw these thoughts and feelings in words here, and capture the images of spring in my mind where they will go on for an infinity. I hope your all having a lovely spring.
I know myself and Finy and Oliver  are enjoying it immensely. Now if I only knew what they were searching for in that gutter.
Drop me a note if you have time and let me know what your favorite part of spring is. Please do.

Winter photography, and thankful heart

I opened my eyes on the morn to white flakes falling from the sky. My first reaction, as always is to admire the beauty.

Than my second is a desire to either capture that beauty in photographs, or to paint it into immortalized beauty. 

Unfortunately, the painting is out of the question, but I was able to snap a few photos. 

The creation our Heavenly father blessed us with never ceases to amaze me.

I am forever enthralled by he natural wonders that are there each and every season. 

If only we would open our busy eyes, and see them our days would be lighter, because out hearts would be thankful in a simple childlike way. 

I forgot to post a list of things I am thankful for. 

So I suppose theres nothing like the present, to do so. 

I am thankful for sweet family moments, the kind that seem hectic, and loud. 

For journals to scribble my tossed and sometimes turbulent 

Beauty that is unseen, unless one looks deeper than the outside

Snow I'm never going to be someone who dislikes snow

Writing time that seems to be opening more for me lately

The imagination that I am blessed with, it is a blessing even if sometimes it feels a curse

The word's of my Father 

My family of course, they make like un-boring 

Moments where he heart is just too full for words.

Theres so much more, but I will stop there. 

I hope your having a spectacular day dearest reader. 

Did you have snow today ? I would love to know. Also side note, are you a lover of snow or do you lament the white stuff. 

Book Love

I bet you can guess the nature of this post by the title.
I do so love books, old and new alike classics and contemporary and probably every genre.
From the first memory I have to now I have always loved books. Picture a small brunet girl with big dreaming eyes holding a large old book with a stagecoach on the front of the cloth bound volume, she would look at each word wondering what each word meant while thinking how impossible it seemed to a small child's mind that she would ever learn this strange writing. Preferring large picture less volumes, to the pictured ones she would stare at those words dreaming of the stories and adventures within the pages.
This little girl was me, and I haven't lost that love of books, as you can tell by the title.

I adore the library for that reason, I could spend all day every day there.
Its from these books that my inspiration is drawn, and of corse from all of you whose lovely blogs inspire me daily. But there's something about a book hand held that has a special quality, I prefer to read words from a page than from a screen, just personal preference.






 



One of my favorite pastimes is spent with a book always at my side, I have a real problem when it come to reading at the most inopportune times, like when I should be helping with supper :)
But there's something about getting lost within those pages, that enthralls me. I feel like a time traveler when ever I scan those pages, what fun it is to lose all sense of reality and of who you are and become that character within those pages. When it comes to reading the possibilities are endless, the world is all your own. I spent this past week in the lovely france, battling alongside joan of arc and a vary old magician, fighting a very ancient monster who was full bent on destroying the city of paris. See what I mean ?

CONFESSION: I really have an obsession when it comes to books.
What is your preference for books and your favorite genres ? I'd love to hear from you.

Time, Moments and February Dreams

Where has january gone I ask my self, it seems the hands on the clock wind down so quickly these days.
I must take this time to say adieu to January, you came and went I barely noticed you at all.
These days I seem to notice time go, like sand in my hands I cant really get a firm grasp on it it just keeps moving despite all my cries of protest, isn't it strange that as children time seemed to crawl with an excruciatingly sluggish pace, and now you turn around twice and a year has passed.
I am ever reminded to keep every day with persistence, by that I mean to keep my days as productive as they can, and I must admit I get quite frustrated when often they are not as I would like them to be.
With time flowing, and unless we invent some object to stop it, which isn't going to happen any time soon

I try to remind my self that every day every moment is a gift to be kept with respect, how I spend my time wont slow it down but it will maximize the few short hours we get each day. This has been something coming up allot in this infant year and I am determined to get it right and use every moment of spare time for something useful.

 But I have to say there are those moments that time seems to stand still, when lying in a field with the sun over head feeling life grow and breath in those moments time doesn't matter, I've been dreaming of those moments or at least grass covered hills.

So welcome February stay a while please.
How do you keep time and spend it wisely ? I would love to know.

Fireside Knitting

  Winter is a wonderful time for peaceful evenings by the hearth, I love to sit by mine and day dream, as the flames glow there Bright orange hue, by its side I muse all sorts of things personal and non, also I have  whilst enjoying its warmth been knitting. This hearth is of corse imaginary, how I wish My family had a hearth, we do have a lovely stove that throw's delicious heat on a cold winters eve. But thats not why I started writing this.  I have though been musing over lots of things and I have really been knitting, my first hat, I have formerly been a crocheter alone the only other article knitted by my hand was a scarf which was never finished due to a shortage of yarn, but that too, isn't why I started to write this post. Any way, I have found that whilst knitting there is a wonderful time to muse over all sorts of things, and day dream, these are two of my most loved pastimes, while clicking my needles rhythmically and fingers working tirelessly, this thought floated into my head, life is a lot like a work of knitting, How do i mean ? Only that as we tirelessly weave this masterpiece, We fall short we lose heart we "drop stitches", we grow weary and feel that nothing will ever come of our effort, but I feel this is because "WE" feel we must be the ones to knit our life story and we aren't the ones to. I believe if we let the Master knit and weave our life he makes our tapestry more colorful, more original, more pure to who we are as individuals than even we know, more beautiful and full of interest than we could have imagined. We don't have to work tirelessly to make our lives beautiful, it is His presence that will, let us invite Him to hold the knitting needles and knit us a story the world has never seen before, a breathtaking story surprising to even us living it. How beautiful will it be when we put our life in those hands, I promise you he will make it special.

Through the Eyes of a Child

Close your eyes and remember, remember a time when everything held within its self a quality of enchantment. Remember the dreams, excitement, and charm of life seen through the eyes of a  unburdened  heart.

 

Every moment held an inexpressible characteristic of something, something that could not be described. Why, I ask my self is it that as we grow we lose that special quality to see the lighter things. Why do we become so absorbed in the things that "must be done" that we completely forget about the important things, things like magic and wonder and the beauty of things that are seemingly simple, but can because of some complex reason that I don't understand hold the most meaning to every one involved. 

 I implore you to remember to look at this Christmas season through the eyes of a child, try though it may be hard, to forget about the endless things that need doing, or the many things that are piling up, and be in the moment. Its easy to be overwhelmed at this time of year with parties, presents, family, and our own expectations to make things absolutely perfect. Just remember that the most important things rarely are the big things that we try to with strength and might to pull off, but are the tiny things that take nearly no planing or are the spontaneous and simple things that give us warm happy memories. Things like walks in the winter snow, or traditions that have been passed from generation to generation, I know that even these things take someone planing them to make them happen, and its easy to despise this season because of the work and planning that goes into it but please don't. This christmas look at everything as a child would and find yourself in a wonder world of inspiration and joy, because christmas isn't about all the things we get hung up on, but its about remembering the real reason we have to celebrate. The freedom we have because of one tiny child and the sacrifice that He would ultimately make for all of us.

           All photos via Pintrest








                         

The Simple Things

As I slipped under my soft bed covers last night, and closed my eyes an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness washed over me, I am warm, safe and cozy in my bed, I drew up the soft quilts around me a happy contented feeling started deep within my heart and spread all over me. I uttered a soft prayer to thank my father for all His BLESSINGS in my life,  my mind flew to all the people out in the world cold, alone, hopeless, my prayer changed and I uttered a prayer for all those who have so much less than I have.
I was half way on my journey to the land of dreams, but my mind was still lit aflame with the torch of thankfulness I looked at my life, and I realized I'm truly rich. My life it full of beauty I'm surrounded by the most wonderful family any one could ask for, a family who teaches me many wonderful things just be being them selfs, things like inner strength, love that sees beyond the eyes, and the beauty of self sacrifice. I'm loved deeply by the Creator of the universe, He has blessed me with an imagination and a dreaming heart that keep me very busy even when I'm not dong anything at all. Its the little things in this life that we sometimes over look, things like,
                                         a warm bed, soft sheets

 a favorite nightie

 a sunny smile, blustery wind,

         happy banter between siblings and memories that capture these and make them last forever.
   How wonderful this life truly is, sometimes its not big things that make a life rich, but the small things that give our life that golden glow, when we look back on our life they are the blessings that gave us the most happiness. I am thinking about all the small things that aren't really small at all, they may be small to the eye but are really bigger on the inside.
                            Thank you Father for all the "small'' blessings happy sigh. 
   Remember its the small blessings that bring the most pleasure, look around your life and you will see your life is beautiful too. 

October Storm photographs

Well dear readers I promised pictures from the snow storm we got hit with on saturday, here is just a few of them.
     

These were taken early on in the day, the snow was just a light dusting then, later it would gather up

       to about  twelve inches or more.     

  I have to say I love snow but I also love autumn and I was so unhappy that my autumn colors were ruined by snow. But then I unhappily went out side, after my mother forced me to go. Though I was fighting every second I was soon was caught up in the magic of the moment,
 SNOW softly falling like a million  FEATHERS 
             fluttering
                 FALLING                                                  
                          swirling                                                                                                     

  STICKING to every LEAFE every patch of uncovered GROUND,
       TICKLING My cheeks DANCING around me, ah I was caught up in the beauty, no longer  
   fighting the warm  DELIGHTED feelings that arose within me.      

 SNOW during autumn, you want to know something ? I completely didn't mind having my AUTUMN colors ruined for a time by that lovely SNOW.  I realized I was doubly Blessed to have Autumn and Winter together in an exquisite display BLENDED perfectly together  by NATURE.
I would not trade that experience for anything My eyes captured everything my camera could not. How I will TREASURE everything, the white scenes, the CRISP wind, the very distinct smell of snow, ask me sometime and I'll try and describe it to you.
I hope you enjoy the pictures of those near perfect scenes.

Sending you love 

AUTUMNS WINDS

What is it about autumn that makes warm feelings surge through me,
thoughts of walks through the newly painted nature, being chased by the chill in the air but unwilling to be hurried on by it. Lovely colors that seemingly imitate those found in the sun. fireside evenings filled with warmth and enjoyment. quiet rainy days. All of these come to my mind when thinking of autumn, and all of these things make me treasure fall and its warm colors and flavors. I have relished in autumn, as I do every year and yet I seem to never tire of it.
But there is one thing I love in particular that I just had to write about today.
As I write this I'm looking out the window facing me, the sky is filled with beautiful violet grey clouds for certain a storm is on its way, the branches on the tree in our back yard is being tossed on the wind. Can you guess what it is I'm writing about ? Wind, wonderful wind, that unseen thing that tickles you softly and gives you the feelings of wings to fly, wind that mischievous child that doesn't mind tangling your hair or causing one to shiver. I love watching the wind though unseen on its own  giving us clues to it being here, like the way it catches the falling leaves scattering them here and there, bring colors of autumn to every corner of the street on which I live. The way the branches of the trees get caught within its grasp and move as if in a graceful dance moving to and fro. Can't you see it swirling twisting flowing everywhere all around us, the most beautiful invisible gift we have, WIND the word in its self inspires within me a sense of awe and mystery, its probably because I can't see it that I have a relentless fascination with the wind. If only I could capture the great sense of feelings I get when imagining its beauty, is that possible ? Perhaps that will be my great task, thats something to ponder on isn't it.
I hope you are enjoying your autumn, I would love to know your favorite thing about autumn or perhaps you have some fascination with something nature related, I would love to hear about it.
        Blessings

Magic

There's magic all around us, surrounding us everywhere.
It swirls and flows throughout time, carried on the air.
Perhaps you cannot see it but does that mean its not there ?
As children we could dream we saw the world through those wondering eyes
We felt and touched that magic never thinking to ask why.
We played there in its midst and gave no thought to the impossibilities
that with that mystery does persist.
As we grew could we not see that we were slowly losing the ability to dream ?
Did we grieve the loss of that which we could no longer see ?
We let that magic slowly slip away until it was all but a faded memory.
Can you see the magic that surounds us, though the mind says it is not there
can you still sense it flowing here and there.
Or does your mind say no to the impossible world in which we live and refuse to admit that life is full of magic no matter where you choose to look.
Look around you and see the mystery we call life and the many wonders it does bring,
and remember no matter who you are you can still DREAM.