Patterns Theme: Pic #2

Add a spread of creamy butter and a good douse of this year's maple syrup to some crispy breakfast grids (aka non-skid pancakes) and you've got a yummy pattern going!

Week #5 Theme: Patterns

There's a stone wall in front of a large storage shed in my view out the living room window of our house. One day this winter I noticed the organized pattern of the stonework when it seemed that even the streams of melting snow were seeping from the wall in formation.

Found In PA Theme: Pic #7

Attending REACH (the ministry convention I mentioned earlier) was definitely a highlight in our PA week. It was so refreshing to be with many other believers (1800 in attendance the one day!) who wish to impact their world for Christ in a variety of ways. Since Faith Builders students ushered and served in other ways at this event, we got see Kayleen numerous times throughout the two days of convention. I loved our together time over supper at a Friendly's restaurant one evening.

Found In PA Theme: Pic #6

The last two days we were in PA we attended REACH, an Anabaptist Ministries Convention coordinated by Faith Builders. Our overnight lodging was at the Graber residence just minutes away from the large church at which REACH was held. It was a pleasure to renew acquaintance/friendship with my cousin Tom and his wife Galyn - a former student of mine - and their fun family.

(Isn't there often one shy character - even in a lively crew? :) )

Found In PA Theme: Pic #5

The second thing we did as tourists on our in-between day was to visit the Mennonite Historical Society in Lancaster, where they have a model of the biblical tabernacle, built to scale. It was a very meaningful and worshipful tour. The loaves on the table of shewbread were depicted in a manner that I had never imagined. I always pictured loaves like the bread my mom used to bake; these were more like a thick version of the buckwheat pancakes she used to make on a Saturday morning!

Found In PA Theme: Pic #4

On our in-between day in Lancaster County (after the NYP board meetings and before REACH) we were tourists and visited Sight & Sound for our first time ever. The current show is Jonah, the story of the runaway biblical prophet. The mercy of God for all repentant people is one of the themes that came through clearly in the story; I found it very moving.

Found In PA Theme: Pic #3

I loved hiking the creek flats at Camp Andrews with some of the other ladies who had come with their husbands involved in the NYP Board meetings. When we hikers came upon this unique plant, my nature-savvy companions were quite sure it was skunk cabbage, even though it wasn't emitting its signature odor. I wasn't familiar with the pineapple-resembling flower, but upon further investigation since we are home from our trip, I found that the ladies were right; this is indeed an eastern skunk cabbage plant.

Found In PA Theme: Pic #2

Ken's attending some NYP Board meetings brought us to PA the beginning of this week. The meeting place was Camp Andrews in southern Lancaster County. A branch of Camp Andrews is called Meadows of Hope (for troubled youth girls) and is situated across the highway from the Camp's hillside sprawl of buildings. I should think the idyllic setting of the Meadows would contribute to peace and healing in a troubled life.

Week #4 Theme: Found In PA

I know that a horse-n-buggy pic is easy to come by in our home area, but when we spend a week in Lancaster County, PA, I have to get a shot of one anyway. Because it's just so...well, Lancaster!

Flowers Theme: Pic #7

A rose to remember: a thing of beauty and of taste. (I didn't make many of them since they are a long and fiddly way to make apple pie!)

Flowers Theme: Pic #6

One of my creative SILs arranged this charming bouquet at a birthday tea for her mom. Even the teacup vase had significance - it once belonged to a lady somewhere in the ancestry. I thought the old and new made a lovely blend.

Flowers Theme: Pic #5

I think this rather common zinnia flower is positively brilliant and I am excited to post it on the first day of Spring! (growing things of color are coming)

Flowers Theme: Pic #4

Seeing this bouquet does my heart good in two ways (at least). The spring flowers lift my spirits and bring me hope. Also, I have beautiful memories of the occasion for which this bouquet was arranged: a bridal shower for my Joyful daughter-in-law.

Flowers Theme: Pic #3

Not only were these flowers fun to "grow" for a Valentine's meal, they were also nutritious. (heart-y, yes?)

Flowers Theme: Pic #2

Gerbera daisies are often bold and brilliant in bloom, but this one is softer and daintier-looking than usual. Which makes it no less striking, in my opinion. I had this plant in my window during the time Ricky was in Guatemala and I remember one season when I was missing him particularly much, it bloomed. I took it as a gift of comfort.

Week #3 Theme: Flowers

Bouquets of tulips like these graced the tables at our church's annual Ladies' Retreat earlier this year. I chose Flowers as my blog theme this week because I wanted to view some color and some hope. This week spring will arrive on the calendar, if not outdoors. Real flowers will arrive in their natural habitat in their own good time, but until then I will enjoy their cheer in other times and places, via photos. And, just so you know, there's a very good chance that there will be other weeks with a flower theme; it's hard to confine my collection to only seven!

Baking Theme: Pic #7

 A soft pretzel snail? No, I never had seen one either. Until Kerra's creative "little sister" suggested it. We all loved the results!

Baking Theme: Pic #6

It seems appropriate to post a pie pic on Pi Day - March Fourteenth (3.14 ). This delectable apple pie was actually made on last Pi Day, by the daughter who is away at college on this Pi Day. So I have happy memories of her and her pie, and this day I will serve my family an apple pudding cake instead of an apple pie and I will enjoy it and them, too.

Baking Theme: Pic #5

Yesterday our church family at Grace had a fellowship meal and retirement service in which to show our appreciation to long-time-pastor Earl and his wife Lucille for their faithfulness in ministry. Earl has been a preacher for 49 years! My SIL Rose's unique and tasty cake added to the occasion.

Baking Theme: Pic #4

A good way to fill one's calorie quota in a hurry: brownies, chocolate bars and cheesecake wedged into one luscious dessert.

Baking Theme: Pic #3

Two stromboli loaves, one with pizza ingredients and one with deli meat and cheese, made a lovely contribution to this year's Valentine's supper menu. Stromboli, as a meat-filled baked sandwich, was first made in the US, in an Italian restaurant near Philadelphia in 1950. It was named after a then recently-released film called Stromboli, which depicted life on a volcanic Italian island named Stromboli.

Baking Theme: Pic #2

For a dessert auction entry a number of years ago, I made these cupcakes and decorated them in a party theme. They sold alright, but probably more for their looks than their taste. (all that artificial color and flavor in the toppings?) Still, I'd eat one if it was offered. I'd just give the gumball to you.

Week #2 Theme: Baking

Oh, my. I guess I shouldn't post food pics when I'm hungry. I could use one of these chocolate-bitty, hazel-nutty pastry wedges right now. I should see if Kerra would be into replicating this scone project again next week during March break...

Ice Theme: Pic #7

There were days of this slow melt off the storage shed roof in February and I had plenty of awe-moments as I observed the formation of the beautiful ice curtain.

Ice Theme: Pic #6

If you visit Niagara Falls in January, you may see icy plants and fences surrounding the rushing waterfall. It isn't as colorful as summer scenery, but it surely has its own beauty.

Ice Theme: Pic #5

About a year ago, on a Sunday morning in March we had a phenomenal frost - almost an inch deep. And what a marvelous delicate and feathery inch it was!

Ice Theme: Pic #4

One day last winter when I looked out my washline door, I saw this drape of snow and ice glaciering off the roof. It sort of gives me that hushed, cold-yet-cozy walled-in feel of being inside the snow forts of my childhood. 

Ice Theme: Pic #3

I have good memories of this tea time with my sis, in celebration of a milestone b-day. The outdoor garden café, the pastries, the heart-shaped ice in the latte, the tabletop confetti of sun sprinkles through the lattice beside us... Unpictured is the best part: heart-shaped conversation.

Ice Theme: Pic #2

An icy waterfall developed on the Christmas greenery decorating the porch posts in front of Martin's Retail Store this winter.

Week #1 Theme: Ice

These unique icy growths overhung the little creek that flows under a bridge I cross frequently on my walks along Apple Grove Road.

End-of-Blog-Year Thoughts...

…I did it! It feels like a considerable accomplishment to have met my goal of posting a pic and a bit of a description every single day of one whole year.

…although I began with the hope that I could post daily, I kept telling myself that it is no biggie if I miss a day for some reason. There were times - especially at the beginning - before posting daily was an ingrained habit, that I nearly forgot to take a picture (or line one up) for the day, my computer wasn’t cooperating or I was at a place where the Internet was down or the signal was too weak to publish the post and I’d think, “Ok, today is the first time I won’t be able to blog, and I accept that.” Then, almost miraculously, it would work out. It started to seem like God wanted me to meet my goal.

"behold...there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground." Exodus 16:14

…I certainly did come to see God’s provision in the daily habit. It reminded me of the Israelite’s manna. In a way. There was always some gift of beauty or creativity that God shared with me each day – something to nourish my soul – and I got into the satisfying habit of gathering it daily with my camera. (not sure how the Hebrews gathering too much part of the story applies here! :))

…my world is full of God’s glory! All the beauty and wonder that I view and capture in photos “sound as advance echoes of a perfected world to come”, as Philip Yancey explains it. (idea taken from C.S. Lewis) I love that thought of the echoes we hear now leading us to – and getting us very excited about – the real Voice as their source.

…this endeavor to do a daily pic/write a thousand words has helped me practice contentment, at least if I figure it to be as this quote says: “Contentment is the reward collected by those who feel that what they have is better than what they are missing.”

…I’ve enjoyed the community aspect of the blogging daily. It increased my gratitude to be able to share my daily findings with others. Thank you for letting me flood your inbox with all those pics and messages (well, I guess it was your choice!), for giving me suggestions for photos and for sending your comments now and then. And for encouraging me to continue the blog, even after the year is up.

Which brings me to the question: What’s next? I think I will go for another year. But I’m planning to change things up a bit. Think weekly themes and pics from archives to go along with current ones. And, I won’t be so set on blogging daily. If it happens, fine. If not, I will be okay with that too, even if it doesn’t really live up to the name of the blog. I do know this – I will keep up the habit of looking for daily gifts, and creatively expressing my gratitude to the One who provides my manna.

“Let the morning bring me word (or photo scene) of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8