Trip to visit Chad, Angela, and Mia

Now that we are back safe and sound in Virginia, the yard is mostly mowed, we are mostly unpacked, and I found a little time here is an update from our trip to Idaho.

We had a good visit with our oldest daughter, her husband, and their cute little ball of energy Mia. Tona and Angela got in some crafting, Chad and I went on a little hike up City Creek trail, some friends came by for a visit, we enjoyed seeing everyone at worship service in Blackfoot, and plenty of good eating and coffee in between.

In between the periods of rain ( I understand it was record setting! ) we did get a chance to get out and enjoy the green Idaho countryside.

Here is Tona, Mia, and Angela taking a picture break on the Portneuf River trail (Chad was working). The river was up and had been flooding. In an overflow area Mia went to walk across on some sticks which gave way and she got good and wet. Tona has on her quilted jacket she finished making just before the trip and is sporting her new hairdo!

Here is Mia with the wind blowing in her ears!

Looks like she is enjoying herself. Kinda makes you want to try it yourself!?!?!?!

This rose hip was glistening after the rain.

I had to get Chad in here with Mia!

Here is something a little different - GEARS!

Chad took me out to the garage and he had the engine out of their old car. Over 90 pictures later I had calmed down enough to head back inside. So I thought I would leave you with a couple of pictures to see for yourself!

This dipstick handle was a neat element. I probably could have done a little cropping to come up with a more compelling image but I wanted to present the view I had at the moment and save the delay on getting this posting published.

We came back home to a few rainy days but it is clear and sunny today.

Whatever the weather we can rejoice that God has given us another day in His care to serve Him and enjoy His creation.

For more pictures of our trip please visit Chad and Angela's blog Cup of Tea

A little bit about Patrick Henry

We went on a local Civil War tour and got to see a new piece of history. This is the Shelton House where Patrick Henry's first wife lived and they were married in the parlor. The new part is the park service just came into possession of this treasure so it is not open to the public as they have a lot of restoration and repair to undertake to get it ready. We were glad to be able to get an early look in the downstairs and see what it looks like.

This is a picture (of a copy of a painting) of Patrick Henry hanging in the old Hanover Court House.

While we were at the Court House we got to see a reenactment of the Case of the Parson's Cause. In this case Patrick Henry argued in the settlement phase of the case concerning how much extra compensation the government should pay the parsons, i.e. preachers. What a strange concept for today, eh?

This is one of the actors who performed the part of the sheriff.

This is a picture of the recreated inside of the Hanover Court House where Patrick Henry argued the case of the Parson's Cause superimposed with a historical drawing of the real inside of the Court House.

History coexists with the reality of the present.

The Hanover Court House was built in 1735 and later expanded to its present size.

Patrick Henry was an advocate for freedom who spoke out even when it was not popular.

May voices continue to rise to the cause of freedom wherever tyranny abounds.

April Showers ...

... Bring May Flowers!!!

Bleeding hearts from the mound behind the house.

 

Iris bud in the morning light

 

Native 'mountain' laurel from behind the house will be in bloom soon.

 

Native azalea transplanted from a nearby ditch

 

Dwarf bearded iris near an old beech stump

 

Big beautiful iris along the fence

 

New spider wort that Tona just planted out next to the road

 

Orange azalea in the front yard

 

 

Clematis growing on a cedar fence near the sidewalk.  

It sure make a nice greater as you walk up to the front door!

 

Red azalea in front of the outbuilding with an unidentified guest.

 

Azalea blooms in the fern garden.

 

Spring brings so many wonderful flowers to view and enjoy.  I think they were splendidly designed by God with beauty in mind.  All the vast array of colors, sizes, shapes, and fragrances testify to their Creator.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9 ESV

Tennessee News and Views

We heard news of wonderful happenings down in Tennessee and went to see the parents of our future grandchild!

 

Here is the new mommy standing in the kitchen and talking with her mommy.  The new addition is due in the fall.  Jessica was looking glowingly good!

 

Garrett, Jessica, and Malichi relaxing.  

Little does Malichi know what is in store for him!

 

Garrett and Jessica recently moved to a house in the country so I spent some time getting a few pictures around the house. 

 

Orchids in the kitchen window.  

This is the outside of their house.  Garrett had just mowed the yard and it really looked good.  It was a cloudy day the first day.

 

This picture of Tona was at Garrett and Jessica's with a little post processing in Picasa.

Here are a few other recent photos since we returned from Tennessee.

Tona was working on a craft project while I was at the office on a recent Sunday afternoon.  Thankfully there was an empty cube next to mine.

 

Daffodil on a spring evening.

Don't mind the man behind the camera!!!

March 2009

Spring is on its way!!!

We have had temperatures from 4 to almost 84 in the last two weeks.  Now it is in the 30's and raining.  The buds are swelling on the bushes and the daffodils are blooming.  Hopefully this rain and then some sun will help bring everything out.  This Hellebores is a very early blooming plant.  

We had to replace a leaking bathroom faucet - the replacement resembles an old pitcher pump.  I remember many times priming and pumping water with one when I was kid - this one works so much better!!!

Tona had a quilt made with an iris pattern, she wanted a picture and I wanted her to 'pose' with it.  

 

The bounce flash used is integrated with the camera metering and looks much better then usual.  Hopefully my flash pictures will continue to improve as I learn better how to use it. 

This is a self portrait I made one Sunday afternoon.  The lighting was from a large window without flash.

 

Along with the big swings in temperature we got about 8 inches of snow on the weekend we were supposed to go to Tennessee to visit our youngest daughter Jessica and her husband Garrett.  If the Lord wills we hope to see them this weekend!

 

 I tried to use the flash to capture the falling snow flakes.  

The evening sun was lighting the firewood with a warm glow, so I took the dogs out for a walk and took a few pictures.

 

 

 

Something strange in this picture!?!?!?!?  

We now have two coffee drinkers in the house.

Here is a strange sight that caught my eye - note the poison label on the truck carrying the portable toilet.  

 

This is the same Hellebores plant that was in the first picture just barely sticking out of the snow. 

Hope to have pictures and news from Tennessee next time!!!

December 2008 Round-up!

Chad and Angela came to visit and we took them to the Virginia Holocaust Museum.  Here they are standing outside of a genuine antique Polish cattle car similar to the ones used to transport so many to places they did not want to go during that awful time.

We were indeed blessed to have Alex Lebenstein as our guide .  There are so few Holocaust survivors left who can give a first hand account of what they suffered.  Alex was 11 years old when the cruelty of man came into his life.

There were many recreations of their suffering in the museum but this one of the crematory just outside of the gas 'showers' brings the point home.   The prisoners were used to dispose of their dead fellow prisoners reducing them to 4-6 pounds of ashes. 

While I would recommend everyone to visit be advised that it is disturbing and not appropriate for young children.

Chad and Angela brought Mia to visit also and she was cute, adorable, spunky and a whole lot of fun to have around.  Our Pomeranian, Yogi, especially enjoyed having her to wrestle with.  She made up for her smaller size in speed and spunk! 

Tona and Angela got into crafting (surprize!) and here they are posing with their handiwork! 

Tona's Celtic knot applique in progress.  She seems to always have a craft going and works on it (or them) whenever she get some spare time.

Sweetie's hair got long enough this winter for a new hairdo.  Don't you think she's cute!!!

The rest of the Heart's-A-Burstin residents - Brooke, Cosmic, Beethoven, Mozart, along with Frank and the hens are all doing fine.  

We are looking forward to new adventures in 2009 and may God bless you in His service, Randy and Tona (RAT).

Fall 2008 Update

Time for a fall update!  

Here is Tona, Yogi, and Sweetie taking a break!!!  I think Tona was going to look at sewing books when the 'crew' decided to join in.

Sweetie in a close-up!

Yogi and Sweetie having a playful 'conversation'.

This mushroom growing on the side of the old stump 'was just begging to get its picture taken'! 

Here is a side view of our house this fall with most of the leaves already down.  Our black cat  had a nice seat to keep an eye on things.

This is what I have been busy with this summer, and we have already used a good bit of wood so far.

We were inundated with acorns this fall and this one is sprouting.

A woodland shrub showing its fall colors.

This fall was very colorful and the roses do very well in the fall after the beetles are gone.

We are blessed to have such beauty in the changing of the seasons!

Time for a cup of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc!

Tona is working on some Celtic knots applique for a quilt and I am hoping for some snow this winter for the next update!