Maybe Now You'll Wish You Had Snow, or Trying Really Hard to Find Beauty in the Ugly

Yesterday on my walk, the sun came out for awhile showing off the tread marks on the road. Today the temperatures are above freezing, so we have slush and puddles to see. I'm thinking this is way more fun than being hot somewhere. And staring at blue sky all day long. And smelling flowers and grass. . .

Grass

Photo taken yesterday behind our house

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Ps.103:15-18

For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." 1 Peter 1:24-25

Temporary Good-byes

Thursday afternoon, Maria left to work at a weekend retreat. She's been so excited to go, but Bridget was a bit sad and made a very dramatic good-bye scene. Leo stayed home with Bridget and even let Bridge take pictures of him. Woo-hoo!


Photo by Bridget

Flash Back Friday 53

The Queen Mother taking pictures, 1984.
Photo by Alan Boyer


For some reason, this one reminds me of Anne Murray.

Morning Has Broken

This morning, I had to be at a meeting downtown at a church here in the city of churches by 8 am. The highways were very icy so I left early knowing that I if I had extra time I could take some photos during the golden hour of sunrise. This was a bit difficult seeing as I wasn't dressed for the bitter cold, I had coffee and tons of papers and high heels. Duh. (Stay tuned tomorrow for the proper photographic stance one must take.)



I took some pictures inside the sanctuary through the glass and when I came home and saw them, I saw that green thing floating by. I think it's cool, do you?

Colorful Snow Day

Yesterday, the kids had their long awaited snow day. Bridget looked stunned when she found out at O'dark thirty in the morning. In the afternoon, I went out looking through our still un-plowed neighborhood for color and I found the ever-photogenic berries I photographed last year.

Netherlands Nuesday 13

Doesn't that mean "Don't walk on the grass?" Apparently, the chickens at Het Loo think it means they can't wear their shoes.

Snow Shot

I could sneak out of the house with no shoes just long enough to take this one.

We finally got some snow over the weekend which is nicer in January than just plain gray and cold. The 15 degree temperature feels almost balmy to me today since it was only about 8 degrees over the weekend.

I've always had a Flickr account to host the pictures for this blog, but over the weekend, I signed up for a Pro account which has been fun. You can click on any of the pictures in this blog and then click on "jewelsofkent" in the right hand column and then you'll be able to see any of the 1,347 pictures I've uploaded. I've put some into sets, but obviously a lot more could be done. CED2008 is a set for a group I've joined to be creative everyday - it's low pressure, so you don't have to post to it everyday. So anyway, feel free to browse!

Grace

Baptism for new baby in our church this morning - a reminder of God's grace

This morning, we left at about 10:05am for our 10:30 church service. It was about 10 degrees (Farenheit) out and the roads were extremely icy, cars were in the ditch, and Maria was behind the wheel. We got there safely, in one piece, just a little late. I brought my camera in with me because I didn't want to leave it in the cold and so I was able to get the picture above of this young couple with their first baby. Nothing like being in the right place at the right time - with my camera in hand no less. It was amazing when after the baptism, we were standing around praying for the baby and everyone broke out into a most beautiful, a capella, Jesus Loves Me you have ever heard!

Leo Says

My master went meet her friend Annette at Panerra. She better watch it - there's a lot of snow. If she gets snowed in, who will fill my food dish? Oh wait, she never does that anyway.

Flash Back Friday 52

Bridget, Maria & Edward stopping along the Appalachian Trail, 2004

Bridgie's First Exams

You have to say that kind of like you would sing her first day of school all long and drawn out with the emphasis on "first". She has been beside herself with excitement for exams this week, stopping only to watch the first American Idol of the year which also was cause for great excitement. They went well today. She said it was a "nice experience."



Edward & Maria were sitting here yesterday studying for exams and Edward was flicking around a laminated paper. This went on for about 2 minutes till finally Maria cried out like Lucy Van Pelt, "Stop that! What is that and why is it laminated?!" Edward was happy to get her attention and told her it was a thing with stuff on it. Hasn't he learned a lot in school?

Dreaming of Warmer Days

Paige, Allie & Bridget riding the waves, 2007, OBX

Sometimes when it's very gray and cold around here (aka, January) it's nice to be able to see some pictures from the summer. We have been going to the OBX for vacation for 4 years now, and the first year, I could ride the waves for hours. Now I look at the picture and I think, "Ouch". The last couple years, the ocean has been a bit of an angry fellow the way she has spit us out onto the rough sand like Jonah.

Anyhoo, Edward beat me to the polls yesterday to vote in his first election. When I got there, I noticed his name & John's name crossed off and tried to make conversation with the poll workers who seemed like they would rather not be bothered. In a side note, the candidate that we, the 3 voting Smilde's voted for, did not win in Michigan. We'll try harder next time.

Netherlands Nuesday 12

Modern Dutch Landscape, September 2007