2022 January

your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path
Psalm119

🕰⏰⏱ January starts a new year🕰⏱⏰. 

Time to 🌌look towards the heavens and be thankful for all who came before us and all that will go forth after us.  Time to 🛷⛸⛷and time to clean and clear the slate so to speak:  new lists, new goals and lots of thank you notes. 

SIX WAYS TO CREATE BEAUTY IN YOUR HOME

* rearrange your furniture 

* declutter a closet or room, give to your local thrift store

* create a focal point 

* add something green or natural to your decor 

* add a mirror or new throw pillows

* Paint something 

Alpine glow

Sash loves all of it

Believe 
We believe a home is where your heart restores itself, each morning and evening with the Lord.  We believe in those that came before us; everyone has a story worth telling.  We believe in friendship, because friends who feel like family are the best kind of friends and family matters,   We believe in being kind; knowing we are made better when we work together.  We believe in courage and sliding past our comfortable path to try something new because failure is just another way of learning from mistakes.  We believe in doing good works each day.  We believe that newer and more are not always better. We believe in discovering beauty however subtle it may be.  We believe each day is a gift and that miracles are ready to be found and treasured if only we have eyes to see them.  We believe in a life well loved.

So I say live every day like it’s Christmas 🌲🐾🕰

Our western January is completely white and bright this year ❄️

December 2021

Classic Country Christmas 

Montana is having a drought year, so if you are not an early riser, or a mountain creature, you may never see the snow,  This is a picture of alpin glow last year but it makes me think of the song, Silent Night so its my December picture of the year.  There have been no silent nights this season as the wind is furious so far and the snow little to none because of it.  Although, the mountains are known for making their own weather so here’s to a mountain white Christmas 🎄 

  

also, we have Sash playing reindeer games all the time…

It is time to read a special Christmas story …

My pick is The Snowman’s Song 

Coasters or painted tiles are the Christmas choice art this year

 

November 2021

                            Beautiful Brown Blessed November

Gray horses on brass chargers

 Count your Blessings is our November theme.  The month to be thankful and count every breathing moment as a blessing each and every day.  God loves you, always.  I love this quote from Corinthians 13; 7 :  "Love always protects, always trusts, always perseveres "  and.  "Since God so loved us, We ought to love one another". John 4;11. In this spirit, a guest of honor party will be held at the shed/cabin for neighboring friends.

                     "Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."  Proverbs16;24

Harvesting is wrapping up and chores become routine again.  Frosty mornings have brought the habit of first putting on the long underwear and then dressing for the day.  Thanksgiving is in our thoughts as we plan to get together with family and friends.  Be Blessed.  

              "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care."  Teddy Roosevelt 

I'm trying to live and Listen to all the sounds around us.  Not to forget the gift of scent, so cinnamon is on my mind, I add a stick to my coffee every morning.  Brown bread is delicious with soup, and Mrs. Hubbard gave us the best recipe, so I will share.  It's very easy and quick:  2cups whole wheat flour

                            1/2 cup + 3T all purpose flour

                            1 cup brown (packed) sugar

                            2 tsp baking soda

                            2 cups buttermilk 

mix all dry ingredients together .  Slowly add the buttermilk until well blended.  pour in greased loaf pan.  bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  turn loaf out on side and cool.  Enjoy

CALENDAR:

Smile and say Thank you to a Veteran FOR THEIR SERVICE this Veterans Day, November 11th 

Also smile at a rancher, for our state Ag weekend, November 12-14th

Be Blessed as Thanksgiving is November 25th

Yellowish-orange-to-white October 2021

 Harvest or Hunter Full moon will be on October 20th in 2021.  It's a moment to look back in history to our ancestors and the lessons they can teach us.  Before industrialism, people focused on harvesting and preparing for the coming of Winter.  Ranchers in Montana have been doing this all summer.

to ride a horse is to fly without wings

I believe in living with nature and being a responsible steward of the natural world around us.  Living a natural lifestyle is a great way to let actions speak for themselves.  Billy Graham once said, "When we fail to see the world as God's creation, we will end up abusing it.  Selfishness and greed take over and we end up not caring about the environment or the problems we are creating for future generations.  So if you agree, try something simple, use less plastic or start recycling one thing, even extra clothes to the thrift store.  

Mostly, I write about being a good steward to the land, but this month I will include being good to yourself as well.  Be a SEER 

Stay positive

Eat right, if you crave a sweet treat go for a pineapple or other fruit of your choice.

Exercise a little each day ( even just a fast walk a day helps)

Rest in God's peace: read something from the Holy book each day and respect your need for sleep.

"or do you not know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price, So glorify God in your body."  Corinthians 6;19

start each day with a thankful heart

Now, on to our ancestors or those that came before us.

              

                It does not require many words to speak the truth.  Chief Joseph

 

When Chief Joseph began his 1879 address in Washington D.C., with these words, he was setting the stage for an entreaty to the U.S. government to allow his people, the New Perrce' American Indian tribe, to return to their land in the Pacific Northwest.  These words were an effort to show that two differing groups could understand each other and see one another's points of view. They are words worth living by as well.

An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all menace created equal.

                                          now that we're paying attention...

But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate--we cannot consecrate--we can not hallow--this ground.  The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.  The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.  It is for us the living, rather , to be dedicated here to unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.  It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave their last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

please take moment to contemplate a great leader --Abraham Lincoln part of the Gettysburg Address

Be kind to one another, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  Ephesians 4

Oct. 12, 2021

Summer to September 2021

September robins

 Fall has arrived with a cool hard frost and just enough rain to keep the crispy, golden grass pliable for cows and wildlife to continue grazing.  We are blessed with so much beauty and space in the west, so we must be forever thankful and respectful of God's massive country.

rest at the cabin

      

Be present;   Adapt;   Time with God;   Honor your gifts;   my favorite time each day!

Swimming at the natural bridge on a beauty full day

New welcome board

May the truth and the Lord’s peace fill your day.  Stay strong and responsible.  Pray for Marine Stu Scheuller and all who are persecuted by mismanaged power.

August 2021

                                    DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

shades of gray

Life is like a waterfall:  beautiful, steadfast, tumultuous ,adventurous, riveting, meandering, with perseverance power, and peaceful pools, yet other places of rushing waters and shadows, yet always light, God's gift of hope   

Thank God for shade trees and watering holes.  

 These are the dog days of summer and the heat has tremendously enhanced this year. (TFR)

Mountain Blue Sky Sash

TFR is my acronym for time for reflection.  Three questions I ask myself weekly,  

* Where have you seen God lately?  

* What are you studying or learning? 

*  What service have you done to honor your Lord?

I can always answer the first one because I am outside so much but I am constantly aware that I have to do the other two to stay happy.  Thanks for contemplating them with me this week.  Enjoy the last weeks of summer.

2021 JULY

HAPPY AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY MONTH

 Summer heat is here to stay; so get in the water 💦💦 a couple watercolors to express this sentiment.

western waters

Shep in her prime💦

Our prayer:  O God as we have taken care of Shep in life,
we ask that you watch over her in death.
You entrusted Shep to our care now we give
her back to You.  May Shep find a happy new home
in Your loving embrace.  As we remember Shep 
may we love each other more dearly.  Amen

June 2021

 Here we Go...Happy 100 Days of Summer!!

green summer shades

Happy Memorial Day, THANK YOU SOLDIERS
"Your life's calling is that place where your greatest joys and the needs of the world intersect."
Frederick Buechner

                                  

summer pasture

May Showers and Flowers 2021

MAY. 2021

 A wonderful life...full of work.  After a drier than normal April, May is gushing with showers and flowers💥💦🥀  Spring work and chores has been keeping everyone in the neighborhood busy as bees. The bees are back as well as many birds: cranes, hummingbirds and robins are flourishing and having big outdoor conferences in our backyard.  A good, new book for increasing your vocabulary is A Sand County ALMANAC by Aldo Leopold. A painting by me is in the works when I need a break.  

A story of Grays

....some spring scenes...

April 2021

Happy Easter to everyone!

HE has RISEN
This picture is unique with the electric pole seeming like a cross just under the light from the rising sun.

New paintings 
 

Email:  crossings28@yahoo.com

March 2021

💬 March comes in like a lamb.  

May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

James1:17. "every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights."

It is so beautiful in white.  I love the early morning light.  With my nature wanderings, I enjoy so much quietness.  Wonderful moments to breathe freely and silence that which seems to stream only the popular ideas.  As Robert Frost said, "the path less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

Land lover:  the kind of person that wakes at the first sign of light and works from dawn to dusk just to see and experience the beautiful things God has made; "each day has miracles of it's own."

Important Dates:

Burn permits available March 1

Daylight savings          March 14

St Patrick's Day.          March 17

First Day of Spring.    March 20

Palm Sunday               March 28

My list to find:  Signs of Spring

1. Geese and their sky dance upon us

2. More Minutes of LIGHT each day, grass greening up

3. Great horned owl up early like just after midnight

4. new calves in the fields

5. a hundred shades of brown, taupe, mud

6. the meadowlarks melody

7-10. >. Birds are Back:  wood peckers, sand hill cranes, robins, 

Three quick, easy, niceties to do for Easter guests:

Easy centerpiece, any glass vase will do, place eggs in the bottom and add a couple of willow sprigs for height

Cut an old card out for a place name
and punch holes for a ribbon
Also bunny ear napkins, just roll
on diagonal and fold in half.

Dye blue eggs after boiling purple cabbage , the longer you leave them in the blue cabbage water with a Tablespoon of the vinegar the darker the blue.  Onion rinds make a soft orangish-yellow color.

The Hearts of February 2021

Happy Hearts To You

Momma cows coming closer

V-shaped flying picturesque soundscapes are dotting the sky again.  The geese are coming back to the pastures scraping up seeds left from rolling out feed to the mother cows, waiting to calve.  It's quite wonderful and perfect timing.  Spring snow squalls frequent our days.  Spring is in the air, not too far away as the groundhog might say.

.
 

Look at my tail

Sash, cross country

Brrrr..... it's February in Montana, time to show how tough you really are, thankfulness and God's grace get us through winter with below freezing temps., all it's beauty.