Nature Does It's Thing... around the world!

I've always had a weakness for growing stuff...  Even growing up in a rather dry climate with limited water....  I was always trying to coax some miracle out of the dirt. 

That's what these things are - miracles!  We heard last week about when we give thanks for our food to remember that we can't even create a green bean!!  (From nothing that is...)  God put the miracle in the seed, and we can grow it, sure.  But, could we create one?  Nope!  So, we give thanks for our food.  We need miracles.  We depend on them, and I enjoy them.  A lot!

In Australia, I took quite a few pictures of flowers and beautiful foliage.  Even though it was Fall time for them, actually just beginning winter, there was beauty all around us.  I will spare you the majority and share just a few...

 I know this picture (above) isn't particularly beautiful, but I took it because it is Aloe Vera - just growing right in a nook under a deck.  Just like - wild!  This is a wonderful healing plant.  I grow one in my house for when we get a burn.

 These two pictures (above and below) were taken in the Bunya Mountains.  This was a rainforest.  SO fascinating!  There were actually those vines hanging down like Tarzan hung from.  :)  And these plants below just start growing on any old tree.

 I've grown this flower (above) at home.  Love these!  These were in a garden at my Sister-In-Law's brother's home. 

And this was down by the Brisbane River.  This was an amazingly beautiful area.  We thoroughly enjoyed all the beauty of the country.  I feel like we barely scratched the surface, but sooner or later, you start missing home...

 So, 2 1/2 weeks after we left home, we came back to this! 

 And this...

 And my peonies even waited for us!

 So... lots of beauty at home too.  It was actually a really nice time to come home.  Stuff was growing everywhere.  I had planted my whole garden before we left, and it had all come up and was just needing a little weeding. But, I enjoy that.  It was a good way to beat the jet lag and a good way to witness little miracles up really close.

Swallowed up?

Each of my Sisters-in-law have done such a nice job of updating their blogs, and I enjoy them so much!  I don't know why I always have so many excuses in my mind not to post stuff... I take so many pictures - even beautiful pictures that I love! And then I don't do anything with them. Or I do something with them way later - which is what is happening now!

Anyway, I called this post "Swallowed up" because the main excuse at the time was our Australia trip.  These things happened BEFORE that!  So, here goes...

Lana had her last piano recital in April.  It's hard to see her friend beside her on the bench as they play their duet, but there are four hands!  And when the video zooms in you can see the numbers on the back of each of their left hands... they had a track meet together the day before!  I was happy to hear that they will play duets again for festival this year even though Lana is no longer taking lessons.

Speaking of track... That is Lana in green just passing the finish line at State in the 2 mile.  She qualified for State in three events.  She didn't place in this event, but gained a nice PR.  I was amazed at her self-discipline to hold back the first few laps, and then she started picking off runners one by one.  It was a fun race to watch!

And in other happenings, Evan drove his Rod and Resto' Beetle to school on the last day.  Needless to say, it was quite a sensation in the parking lot that day!  Even the teachers had to go out and check it over. :)

So, that was mid-to-late May.  Then we headed to Australia, and I already posted about that!  Yay!

Becoming Reality

I've dreamed for many years of having a greenhouse.  In our brutal winter climate, it is doubtful that we can grow things year-round in a greenhouse unless it is heated.  I don't want to break the bank with the electricity bill, so we opted for a greenhouse/garden shed combination that will include some insulation and some heavy-duty polycarbonate glazing...

Harvesting year-round will likely still be a dream, but extending the seasons will shortly become a reality!

My hope was to have a shed that will look pleasing as well as be functional.  Good thing I have such a talented husband and son!  They are building this thing from scratch...Amazing!!

Thanks to Grandpa for lending a hand with concrete.

Taking shape...

Part of my justification for this project was so Evan could learn all this stuff from his dad.  It's so nice to have real reasons, right?  After all, we know that a few gallons of garden produce over the years will NOT pay for this structure...

Part of the payment for this indulgence will be the room full of warm sunshine in February...  I can't wait to experience that! Oh... the smell of dirt in that sun-filled room as well...

And Evan has had some excellent experience with building - with a very good teacher.

This picture was taken from the inside looking out.  The glazing is triple wall, so not perfectly clear, but warmer and stronger than a thinner variety.

It will be a learning experience for me to garden in this new environment.  I can't wait to give it a try!

The Land Down Under

Our trip to Australia was too special not to post!  We enjoyed every bit of it...

High above the Brisbane River...  This bridge tour was over 1,100 stairs.  I didn't take this picture.  I was in the park below. I feel almost like I experienced it because of the stories and pictures! 

We had some beach time along the Sunshine Coast.  Beautiful!  And this is their winter!  :)

...and no, my fellow North Dakotans, this is not snow!

We enjoyed stunning views from a house in the Bunya Mountains.  We went on a lovely hike there and had this amazing adventure below...

This was one of my favorite parts of the trip.  It felt really cool to have those beautiful birds so close!

Lana spent a lot of time between her cousins in the back seat.  We did lots of traveling by car.

We tried lots of new fruits - including this beautiful dragon fruit.  Other fruits we tried were:  passion fruit, custard apple, persimmons, papaya, Lady Finger bananas, quince and figs.  Yum!

Here we are at some relative's house - comparing football ways.  Evan went to a tournament to watch Sam play. 

New Friend!

 The moon is different there.  Instead of the Man in the Moon, they have a rabbit!  You can see him hopping on the left side. His ears kind of curve toward the top center of the moon.

We were on Australian ground for two weeks.  The last few days there, we took public transportation to a resort on the coast and had a few days to relax.  Call it tradition - Lana buried Evan in the sand.

At one of the train stations, heading back to Steve's...

And after a night there, we headed for home!  It was a bit strange leaving there in the morning, because we weren't tired until we landed in LA 14 hours later.  So, it was bright day-time, and we were ready to sleep!  Let's just say, it took some time to recover, but the trip was well worth it.  Well worth it...  :)

Little Aussie Turns Two!

Our littlest niece turned two yesterday.  She's a long ways away, but she and her family are close in heart now that we spent some time together! 

Many expressions!  :)

Cute little button, isn't she?

Reading to the girls on the last evening there.  Happy Birthday Girlie! And we miss your big sister too!

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Our Mother

Beyond life's gateway Mother rests
Where neither storm nor pain
Disturb her peace and quietness
For Heaven is her gain.

Her voice that once so clear and sweet
In gentle tones did fall
Was silenced in a moment's time
To answer Heaven's call.

She worries not of storm or cold
Of hopes so often shattered
As o'er and o'er and o'er she would
As one by one we scattered.

The load she carried for so long
We oft were not aware
For from her lips there was a song
And from her heart a prayer.

The kindly words and deeds she did
Will speak our lifetime through
Reminding us that most we have
To mother, it is due.

She wore amongst us something great
Which out wears marble-stone
The ornament of truth and grace
By which her life has known.

That meek and quiet spirit too
That's valued great by God
Will have its imprint on our lives
Far deeper than the rod.

She did not leave us yellow gold
What most in life would treasure
But showed us how to live for God
And loved us without measure.

This heritage she gave to us
Means more than any other
And thanks to God who gave to us
This gift, a Godly Mother.

-Kenneth Dissmore

Small Blessings

 I love birds.  I think they are one of our small blessings in life.  Some days I feel like they are BIG blessings!  One day this week was like that.  I was working away at my computer, and I heard a chickadee at my feeder outside the living room, "Chickadee-dee-dee!"  It was music to my ears!  Since we moved to this place almost 17 years ago, there were chickadees.  We'd hear them singing all winter.  Then two winters ago, they all disappeared.  I have not seen one here since, until this week!  Keep your fingers crossed for me...  I hope they stay!  :)

The next day I heard some more singing, and there was a redpoll at the feeder!  We think they are heralding an early spring.  Looking forward to some warmer weather this week...

 

 These grasses are another small blessing.  All winter they have been waving at us through one of the living room windows.  They dance around in the slightest breezes, and are quite cheerful.  Many years they would have been broken off and covered up by snow, but not this year!  Soon I will have to cut these stalks off so new ones can grow again.

Are pigeons blessings?  I was shocked to see this fancy couple on our roof the same day I saw the chickadee.  They are very interesting and have been hanging around for a few days now.

And lastly... I'm quite sure this is NOT a small blessing, but it is interesting anyway...  Remember that snowman?  He was looking thin lately.  Rob and Evan decided to move him closer to the house with the tractor, and somehow their plans changed...

I guess they needed to use that tractor for something this winter!!! 

Only in North Dakota

38 below zero with the windchill.  Hmmmm.....  but, here she is after her 5K - still smiling!

And a little later with her friend Anne.  They started running together last year, and have both been hooked ever since! 

Winter

We have had a lovely winter!  This picture was taken this month - in January!  Last year at this time, we were deep into "explaining" (not complaining) about our weather woes.  This year, we bought insurance to try to prevent the problem...

This tractor has been our "insurance policy" I guess.  So far it has worked!  This is another January picture!! :)  The past few weeks have been WARM!  We've enjoyed several days in the 30's.  Wow!  It's good for our spirits.

Another thing that is good for our spirits is to exercise.  This picture was taken in December.  The temperature was below zero, but she covered up and went out anyway.  I love the sunset playing off her hair. 

And here she is in January!  She has a pretty nice Dad who has kept her running trail around the yard blown out.  But, we certainly couldn't have done that last winter!  Notice - no cold gear here!  It warmed up.

Guy Stuff...  New tires, mud flaps, and exhaust for Evan's pickup.

And LED's for the interior.  Huh? 

So happy together...  Mattie and an empty peanut butter jar.  She has become in tune to when a jar sounds empty during meal time.  Goofy Dog!!

The kids had a day off from school last week.  I had professional development all day, and was greeted by this sight when I came in the driveway!  :)  These are the blessings of winter!  As of today, most of our snow is gone. The snowman is still standing but looking very thin.  I'm happy and will remain happy without snow...  of course the snowmobilers in the family are starting to get a bit grumbly!  I'm sure we'll still get our share.  We still have February and March (and if it was like last year, even April into May!!!)  I'm liking this new insurance policy.