March Blossoms

These pots from the store add a bit of brightness even when the sun is not shining this month.

Primroses and African Violets

A Taste of Summer

On March 19th we added fresh greens to our salads.

Though our garden is still frozen, these were grown by Dad in the basement. Yum!! 

Norwegian Mittens

Back in the winter of 2015 I attempted what I had previously said "I could never do" - knit and design patterns in two colors.

When you find a free pattern for a pair of mittens so like those made by your relatives in Norway... how can you resist?!

After first knitting a plain, single-color pair of mittens to make sure I could even handle that, I dug out a book to teach me the intricacies of weaving and stranding. 

Not too long after making a couple test swatches, I was wearing my very first pair of Norwegian mittens.

Which, by the way, are great in the snow!

That was so much fun that I soon decided to develop my own patterns.

There has been lots of ripping out and knitting backwards through the process. And even a couple of flops.

But after more than twenty pair, I can't wait to incorporate more and more new designs!

From toddler to my Dad's size large...

... the knitting goes on. But, I have no use for all those mittens, so it is also fun to find other people wanting to warm their hands by way of Elsa's Etsy shop!

That means I can continue the joy of trying out new ideas... when I have yarn available, that is.

Obviously winter is a popular time of year to knit with this beautiful, soft, American wool. I had to wait four months for my colors to come back in stock.

Now I am back in business!

Feed the Birds

Feeding the birds has been my job again this winter. We all enjoy watching the busy little bodies coming to feed when snow covers all other food sources. 

But even now without the snow, we are still being treated to a lively show each day - including a dozen or more cosy and chattering sparrows who live in the huge spruce apartment complex.

But beware the cat who has learned how the flock loves to stay warm under nearby vehicles. I even caught Gully hunting from the top of the car-tire one day!

Adventures with MCAD

Though our next appointments aren't until May, Dr. V. had Elsa and me do some research to learn about Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD).  (Wikipedia has a pretty good, simplified description here.) She wanted us to get a head start on dealing with this beyond-allergy affliction since it seems to finally make sense of the symptoms that are keeping us mostly at home (away from crowds - sadly even church) this winter.

After listening to in-depth talks by the doctors who are currently doing the research and developing treatments, we are both encouraged and discouraged. It is encouraging to have more answers as to why we have to live this way. (Someone knows we are not crazy!!) But it can be discouraging to realize that there is yet another huge wall in the way of our return to a "normal" life.

More and more, we see that only God can tear down all these walls and bring the restoration we so desire.

But while we wait for His timing, we adjust our lives yet again, let go of yet another layer of normalcy, and wear masks when we have to be around triggers such as fragrances (most are made from chemicals that set us off), molds and dust, or smoke. But even that cannot help avoid the trigger of stress. Yes, amazingly these rogue cells can be triggered by simple stress.

The makers of these masks claim they are designed to be a fashion statement, but I'm not so sure that is the statement I want to make. :-) It tends to scream "Look at me!"... the last thing I have wanted to do in public. But it has also prompted more people to share of their own struggles with our culture's pervasive fragrances - struggles that are often hidden because people still want to spend time with their family and friends without bringing up an issue that could be taken personally and cause offense.

While Elsa and I find our new look to make some people uncomfortable, my students have been great about it (with an advance warning!)

I have encountered a couple funny situations as well.

Good thing the people at our small-town's bank know me. With a masked, armed robbery still fresh on all our minds, they got a good, long laugh out of letting me in the building!

And while sitting in a large clinic waiting room a couple weeks ago (where my second yearly, post-thyroid-cancer neck-ultrasound showed last year's spot had disappeared! Praise God!!!), a little boy caught sight of me across the room and totally embarrassed his mom by pointing and laughing uncontrollably. It was SO CUTE as I could see it was utterly innocent mirth. I was just the funniest thing he had ever seen! :-D

So, God brings joy amid new pain.

Stand Still

55 STAND STILL IN JORDAN

The son felt that his days were becoming a breathless rush.

His Father searched him with questions: What of the minutes before the rush of the day is upon thee? Are thou filling them too full? Thy day may indeed be as Jordan that overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest; but when thou comest to the brink of the water of Jordan dost thou stand still in Jordan? 

Rise from thy knees and stand. Stand still and know that I am God. Stand still and know that I am Peace. Give Me time to bathe thee in peace. Then, as the brimming hours pass by thee, give Me time to renew thee in peace.

From "His thoughts said... His Father said..." by Amy Carmichael

Be Still, My Soul

The following lyrics have been on my mind often lately. God slid this hymn tune into my mind when I needed it, and it keeps coming back along with the names and faces of friends who could also use this encouragement. So, I have been sending these words all over the country recently. 

Maybe you need these truth-reminders today too?

Be still, my soul! The Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul! thy best, thy heav’nly Friend

Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

 

Be still, my soul! thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 

Be still, my soul! the hour is hast’ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul! when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

 

Katharina A. von Schlegel, 1752

Translated by Jane L. Borthwick, 1855

Sorting

These well-worn baby shoes were found when sorting Grandpa and Grandma's house. Now we try to spot them in use in photos of my grandparents and their siblings.

Winter Past

We would be hard-pressed to find much lingering snow - even in the shade anymore. Spring thaws began so early this year. But even without snow, the temperatures keep reminding us that winter is not officially over... yet.

So this may be the best time to post the last pictures I still had hanging around of this past winter's beauties.

  

Winter Light

Sunshine is rare enough in our northern winters that it makes an amazing difference whenever it shows up. Just recently I was struck afresh by how much more detail is set off and made clear when the sunlight hits that which we are seeing.

That reminded me of how many times God's Word talks about Light. I'll share a few of those verses today along with some photos from a sunny, snowy day earlier this winter.

Your word is a lamp to my feet,
    and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105

Snow-covered, green kale

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Genesis 1:3

A bright red crab-apple freeze-drying on the garden bench

Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, 

to lead them on their way,

 and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, 

that they might go by day and by night

Exodus 13:21

Tiny ice chunk caught in grape-vine

Many say, “Who will show us any good?”
Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.

Psalm 4:6 

Curls of grape-vine tendrils hanging onto ice

For with you is the spring of life.
In your light shall we see light.

Psalm 36:9 

A loyal dog

The entrance of your words gives light.
It gives understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119:130 

A few last, dried and frozen grapes waiting for the birds

I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. 

I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. 

I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. 

I will do these things, and I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 42:16 

Tiny tree and long shadows

 Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. 

He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, 

but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 

John 1:1-5

Asparagus acting as a snow-fence

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 

There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; 

for the Lord God will illuminate them. 

They will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:4-5

Squirrely Antics

What's a squirrel doing up our little Pagoda Dogwood tree in the flower-bed??

Trying to plot a path to the suet bird-feeder...

"Can I get there from the deck railing any easier?"

"Okay, I'll settle for seed on the ground instead."

Though I didn't catch it on camera, our little critter had somehow climbed this thin, metal pole and was clinging among the scroll work, trying to reach the feeder. Persistence!