"Mountain Born" and Raising Men

I think good books are always worth re-reading!

So I borrowed this little one from my nephew for a second time and was not disappointed. Instead I was struck deeper with the straightforward, yet kind way in which the boy, Peter, was being raised to be a man of character, strength, and courage.

Are you raising any boys to be men? Don't miss out of this little gem of a book! (Even girls learning to be women shouldn't miss it.)

 

"Wolves were not heard of again in that countryside. No tracks were seen in the snow during the winter; no hungry howling came on the frosty wind at night; and none of the farms knew loss.

"'There are some things,' Benj commented on it to Peter, 'that can't seem to live right with the rest of the world. They cause trouble to the good things and so they have to leave. I don't like what has to be done at times like that, but--' he sighed heavily, 'a man's got to be able to do it.'

"'David was able, wasn't he, Benj?'

"Benj thought a long time. 'He was so, and he wasn't afraid to stand up to a big one named Goliath who was causing trouble in his countryside. Easygoing is the way we all like best to be, but we can't let easiness take the fight out of us.'

• "Mountain Born" by Elizabeth Yates

Rain!

After a dry summer, the sound and smell of rain are such a joy... even for the 4th time in a week! 

Thankfully rain also makes the weeds easier to pull!

Free Audiobook by Alistair Begg

Through the end of August 2023 you can download this FREE audiobook written and read by one of my favorite Bible-teachers! 

Focusing on the life of the captive-turned-prophet Daniel in Babylon is amazingly fitting for this time.

Request your free download here: 

https://info.truthforlife.org/brave

Work is a Gift!

Physical work is a gift! This fact becomes very clear when more than a decade of chronic pain and debilitating fatigue (along with a myriad of other symptoms) has kept one from it. 

What a joy to once again work as a "Gardener" in my Creator's huge, beautiful creation!

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."

• Genesis 2:15

👉🏽 What physical work brings you joy?! Comment below!

July 2023 Recap

This summer is so full that I am obviously not getting to the blog often. And for this recap, I have a video link rather than photos for you. 

Enjoy this July Recap full of meals from the garden, a camping trip, our return to sailing, and more! 

To watch on YouTube, click HERE.

Note: You can also find a couple monthly recap videos from last year on the same YouTube channel, but I don't plan on making more since the editing takes more time than I care to give.

Click on each topic below for links to short videos previewed in the July Recap video:

Chamomile Tea Harvest

Sailing Inspired by the Books of Arthur Ransome

Geranium Watercolor 

Camping Trip 

Nature-Journaling while Camping  

Foot Spa Tutorial 

Tour of Organically-Grown, Raised-Bed Gardens

Chocolate Buckwheat Porridge Recipe

June 2023 Recap

June 2023:

Have I mentioned I got to do a test-knit for Reywa Fibers with their lovely 100% yak-down yarn? This sweater design by Meli Alness puts all the detail into the sleeves, starting with bobbles wherever the knitter feels like adding them!

Meanwhile, Dad and I got out sailing for the first time in 2 years! I made a video of that day (and the books that helped inspire it) here:

https://youtu.be/GnaqelBQU7g

Father's Day (in a previous post) also included this little one's first try on her mamma's old tricycle!

Our long, northern days make great sun-tea! (When the wildfire smoke isn't too thick for the sun to shine through...) Get my "recipe" on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/G4T0iNKdAJ0

Flowers and vegetables are in season!

June also begins herb-harvest season for tea year-round. 

Short video of chamomile harvest here: https://youtube.com/shorts/2oFLM68UmdI?feature=share

It was fun to pull out the old Etch-a-Sketch for a long day in the car with Maren and kids...



...and great to see my youngest foster-brother again (at his daughter's graduation, mentioned in the previous post). Ninh was 10 when I was born and loved carrying me around!

Don't forget our June birthday!

And... the test-knit of Reywa Fibers' Chiaki Sweater is complete! The last step of embroidering the sleeves at will was so fun!

Find the pattern and yarn here (both on sale through the end of July!): 
https://www.reywafibers.com/shop-patterns/chiaki-sweater

Time for another page in the nature-journal to help me focus in on God's beautiful creation!

And our carpenters came back to get more siding on!



Dad is currently painting more siding since the lumberyard did not order enough to finish our garage, and the manufacturer meanwhile quite making our smooth version of this product. Thankfully they had a double-wide product that could be ripped in half and painted. But it is a huge project for Dad who was already in the middle of many others...

Celebrations!

These have been weeks of celebrations!





Through Father's Day, birthday, graduation, and Independence Day... FAMILY has been the common thread.







One thing nearly a decade of chronic illness has taught me is that FOOD is not as important to a celebration as we usually think. When all the traditional foods are stripped away by food sensitivities, there is still FAMILY!



Though my sister and I have not been able to eat many of the foods our family is enjoying in these pics, we have learned to be creative to replace a few of the traditions. But even that was unavailable when I celebrated Independence Day with little bits of the most bland foods to try get digestion back on track after a short flu. I was just grateful to recover in time to spend the day with extended family!



But even when family is not available, the AUTHOR of the family and of life itself is always with His children.

"All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies." • Psalm 25:10

That love brings meaning to all our celebrations!

"But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress." • Psalm 59:16

"Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you." • Psalm 63:3

What celebrations have you enjoyed lately?!