How Can I Leave This?

I found this Aspen on my bike  ride the other day...

I thought they only grew in the interior.

He's a beauty, as he shows off his radiance.

A golden aspen...I think I need one.

Ah...Did I say I was leaving this too?

(I know it's Halloween, but I'd rather show the true colors)

I'm Leaving This Too?

I woke up to find the morning sun splashing color on my Red Sunset Maple.

Oh, I love it...I'm leaving this???

The same Sunset Maple at mid day.

And finally, at the end of the day as the sun was shutting down,

one more final glimpse of my Red Sunset Maple.

Four majestic views in the same day...

And I'm leaving this, too?

I'm Leaving This, For?

A stroll on a beach front with snow capped mountains...

and fall colors in abundance?

A dip in a glacier fed lake?

Snow capped mountains reminding me of winter wonderland to come?

Even though the sun is shining, but so is that nippy wind.

He just informed me that he'd rather head south.

BOOTH 490!

All I knew was that I was looking for Booth 490!

Go to the right, then to the left and turn the corner again....

Way down the aisle, I could finally see the sign,

WINKS

And there she was to greet us.

How wonderful to be able to partner with this wonderful gal,

Wendy, who owns Winks Gift Shop in Chilliwack.

She invited us to share our MGCC book signings in her wonderful booth,

at the West Coast Women's Show, one of BC's largest events, this past weekend.

And here is our dedicated, fearless, leader...putting the final touches to our day,

always willing to meet, greet and share the story with everyone.

Women, from all walks of life, interested in knowing how we met,

where we came from, how we got started and excited to hear about us

sharing our author royalties with an orphanage in Ukraine.

The Good Shepherd Shelter.

Ellen whipped down from Seattle to join the gang,

she is a real trooper in more than one way.

Thanks Ellen for always supporting us and making the extra effort.

One of the highlights was being invited and asked to share at the "Kitchen Theatre."

"Gathering Family for Breakfast"

Here we demonstrated waffles, custard, berry sauce and egg cups.

Chef Dez was the Host, and loved being surrounded by our group.

We all know that he sampled everything.

At the end of the day...he announced

that the MGCC Women had one of the best presentations,

 and we executed it in timely fashion as we only had 30 minutes.

But ladies, let me tell you...

we also took time to observe and watch the Firemen cook,

as they made their own stunning presentation.

We smiled as they licked their fingers.

But they were having fun.

At the end of the day, nothing was more heart warming,

to see how many women's hearts were touched by the story,

that Winks proceeds, for the books were going to feed an orphange in Romania.

Wendy and Dave just came back from Romania blessing an entire village with food hampers.

Women would just grab a  book and say,

"This just makes me want to continue to support your ministry."

At 9:00 pm, I looked at Wendy...and I knew we were at the end of the day.

Thanks to Wendy and her whole team.

Thank you Dave for treating us with royalty and generosity.

You are a great team to partner with and we'd do it all over again.

Now, grab your car and dash out to visit Winks.

I'm sure it will be a hit on your Christmas list.

Remember it's Booth 490!

And This Was Thanksgiving 2011!

 

These girls can be seen conniving all the time. 

You never know what they are up to...

but it keeps us all smiling and wondering.

We just finished celebrating our Thanksgiving weekend.

The weather could not of cooperated more perfectly.

How would you know that a trip to the shop would become eventful and entertaining?

Bikes...Striders, Trikes, Teeter Totters..

Young and old...joined in the fun of playing a balancing act.

Isn't that what the Family is all about?

And finally I gave the cue...

"Dunk the turkey"

the moment they had been waiting for.

So this year we deep fried it outdoors as the weather was superb.

Did you know that it takes about 1 hour to cook a 15 pound turkey?

And it never tasted better.

One little one could not help but pick the freshly cut turkey.

We enjoyed a delicious meal around the family table...

and we were barely finished and I heard the words,

"Can we go out and play in the dark?"

The sun was setting...the evening mist was settling...

out came the jackets, blankets and toques.

And we sat for hours sitting around the campfire,

introducing Smores for some.

Others began to sing...

"You push the handle in...you push the handle out...

the smoke goes up the chimney just the same?"

And on it went, actions and all.

And guess who kept the momentum rolling?

Old time memories were being revisited and

we will all remember this Thanksgiving....2011

We were thankful and recognized God's hand of provision 

in many different ways as we reflected over the past year.

And the Winner Is....

Thank-you to all of you who responded either through comments or emails.

We do have a winner.

Can you locate her?

She is the flower girl on this photo.

She and I will catch up later this week and trust me...

She will learn all about the Big Red Bowl,

as I present her with our Mennonite Girls Can Cook, Cookbook!

Congratulations Christy!

You see, my sister Sheryl married Dave who had this sweet little niece.

I was Sheryl's maid of honor...

And my real honor was to take care of her small niece, Christy.

I followed her every step and made sure that she acted just like a princess.

As you can see,

I am looking down at her constantly and approving her behavior in a reassuring way.

She actually remembers me as the lady taking care of her.

I believe today that she really is a Princess with a tiny princess of her own.

I wish you the best in your business as you continue to sell Tupperware!

Who would of know that you would be taking care of me, right now?

Congratulations Sheryl & Dave!

You've made it.... 25 years!

Twenty five years ago...and look at our stories.

They have tangled again!

EXCHANGE???

This big red bowl created quite the excitement this weekend.

I was told that family members were all out of town.

So I thought I would experiment....

with Judy's Refrigerator Potato Rolls,
that can only be found in our MGCC Cookbook.

Thanks Kathy for sharing your fancy Hovis bread pans with me!
They are unique and are on my Christmas list!

Ah...I see a little hand stretched over the loaves...testing.

How high do they need to be?

There's nothing like peaking into the oven window...

and waiting for the end results.

"Are they still too hot to eat?"

"When can we eat them?"

Each day I cut up enough dough to make another quick pan.

Somehow...my kids said they would not be home,

but by the end of the weekend all the baking was gone!

One Red Bowl, with One BIG Recipe,

and many variations...
to be made fresh daily up to five days!
Since when does yeast dough last that long?

Meanwhile the little one bounced upside down with glee...just waiting...

And wondering when I would be ready to play his favorite game...

"Go Fish, Oma!!!"

Now does anyone know where I can find that Big Red Bowl?

I heard that it's a Tupper ware Bowl....

Who sells Tupperware?

Hey, let's make an exchange....

Red Bowl for MGCC Cookbook.


Do I have any one who can help?
Leave a comment and let's get acquainted.
 

Bringing in the Sheaves!

It's been a year of reflection with gratitude.

For these young boys!

For this wonderful partner of mine... he's still checking the moisture content.

For the sun shining through my front door highlighting the fresh bouquet of dried wheat kernels.

For the bags of ground flour that have your name written on them...

For the smells of freshly baked wheat bread to be shared with family and friends.

For the reminders in nature that keep drawing me back to HIM!...

Anyone driving past, will probably hear me humming

the old familiar song...Bringing in the Sheaves.

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,

Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;

Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,

Fearing neither clouds nor winter's chilling breeze;

By and by the harvest and the labor ended,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,

Though the loss sustained, our spirit  often grieves;

When our weeping's over, He will bid us welcome,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

~~~~~~~~

This song reflects my heart of gratitude to God.

He has seen my heart being weathered through many storms.

I have wept...I have grieved...I have feared...

But one thing I know for sure,

he has laid a strong foundation in my heart,

which allows me to keep singing!

"We shall come rejoicing, Bringing in the Sheaves"