Happy First Christmas!!!

Jordan and Chelsea sent us these photos of their first married Christmas, along with their two fur
kids.   Happy, Happy Holidays!!!!

Scary Visitor to Daughter's Farm

  This guy showed up on my daughter's neighbor's critter cam...how scary is this guy????  I don't
even think the two German Shepherds could take this critter....Mountain Lions are my very favorite big cat!!!  Wish I could see it in the daytime and in person.  Seriously!

Christmas.....what it really is all about!!!

Almost Christmas!!!

It's so hard to believe it's almost Christmas.  Is it me, or does time fly by faster than when we were young?

   Our winter has been extremely mild, in fact, I've only worn a winter coat one time this

season.  It's great for saving our oil, but mentally, it's just not feeling like Christmas time.  The

predictions are for a mild winter, thanks to El Nino, until late February.  Supposedly, we are to

get major snow then.  I'm only writing this so I can check back and see if it was so.

  Sam is still out of work, we are still keeping faith that things will come along soon.  Home design work is in process, but year's end puts delays on things.  There is another job we are waiting to hear about also, so hope continues.

  This is our first Christmas without our youngest son, Jordan.  He will be spending it with his new wife in Missouri.  Our daughter, Reenie and her family are in Washington and will be having their Christmas there.  Our son, Chip and his family will be with us on Christmas day, and a few days later, we will have another Christmas dinner with Sam's three grand daughters and their families.

The holidays will be very busy, and no, I'm not anywhere ready for them!!!!

  Ministry will be taking a lot of my time. The Bible Study at our local prison is on Thursday nights, which puts it on all the "Eves".  I'm looking forward to having a candle light service with the women on Thursday for their Christmas Eve service.  We will only be using their little flip lights, but I think we can make it very meaningful, in spite of the limits.  This is with the Work Release women, so security is a bit less tight there.  Sunday, a friend and I will be doing the Christmas Service in the main prison for the women.  We look forward to this every year!!!   Of course, our two Church events are those exact dates, so I will miss the party, and the service.  It's our first Christmas in our new church, so I do regret that, but we have to do what God gives us to do.  Women without their children and families need to be reminded that they are not alone. 

  So, I wish you all a very Blessed Holiday time as you enjoy your loved ones.  We are anticipating   the adventure that comes with a new cat at Christmas. So far, our Remi has not tried to climb the tree.  It think it's because it's artifical.  If it was a real one we would definitely have some problems. 

God bless you all!!!!

Comforting Promise!!

Food For New Year's Thoughts!!!

Christmas Greetings

True Christmas

Help Me!!!

Amazing Painting

Gorgeous and so touching

It's Charlie Brown Time!!!!

For those of you who really know me:

Inspiration

Hanlins Have Their Open Studio

My kids are having their first "open studio" event this weekend at their farm in Battleground, Washington.  Being a bit backward with computers, I was unable to put their ad on here, but
if you go to my e-mail and ask me, I'll forward it to you.  I really did try to find a way to download
it.  Anyway, my e-mail is  annaurora5@gmail.com, for those of you who don't know it.  Love
to you all.  Also, our kids' have a Blog...it's   Peculiar Ambitions.com if you would like to see
all their artsy stuff, and I think the article is there also....Check it out!!!

Goodbye to our Grandcat, Frankie Kopp

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day but it had a bit of sadness to it.  We lost our Grandcat, Frankie to
a urinary tract problem.  He was a very big, loving cat!  This photo does not do him justice but it
will be replaced when we find a better one.  Thank you Frankie for all the love you gave to Libby
and Megan.

Getting Older

Today is my 67th birthday.  Hard to believe I'm this old, except for when I get up out my chair

or walk too far.  Nothing spectacular happened, which is fine with me.  Our new friends, Deb

and Tom from NF Church took us to lunch to celebrate.  Best part of the lunch was my mousse mouse cake..so yummy.  All the kids called, but Sam and I spent the day relaxing with old movies.

A sure sign of getting older.  Hoping this week's weather will be good so we can finally get some

outside work done.  Still waiting on the Lord!!!  Several job potentials for Sam but time, time, time.

Always waiting it seems.  Life is a waiting room for sure.

Getting me through a rough time!!!

Yet Another one!

Times are hard, this inspired me!

Photos from my Trip to Washington

Eve with her gorgeous Dahlias.  There are many left on the stems as winter is approaching.  This beautiful array shows the variety she has grown. They are amazing! Something special about the weather or soil in Washington that makes them so huge and lovely. Good job Eve!!!

  The girls and I had a "day out" that took us to various shops that I favor, and to lunch at "Sweet Tomatoes".  I wish we had one of those near York.  The girls enjoyed the lunch with me and I was able to get some good photos of them.

One of my favorite stores is "Fred's" where I usually buy clothing, purses, and shoes.  This trip, because of a limited budget, I wasn't able to find any treasures. Except for some fun things that we messed with, like these hats.

I will be posting more photos after I get them downloaded onto my computer.  Had a wonderful trip!  Thank you Reenie and Paul for rescuing me!!!

Back In Pennsylvania

 I spent the entire day (yesterday) getting home from Washington State and the kids.  Got on a plane at about 9 am-ish in Portland (PST) and arrived in Washington D.C. approximately 4 hours and 40 min. later. This was according to the pilot.  I have never flown into our out of Reagan Airport, and was totally amazed at the size of it.  Fortunately, Sam has been there so he had some idea of where to go.  The trip home was a nightmare!!!  I hadn't eaten much except for a few Bugles, two Hershey pieces, and some granola, so I was STARVING!!!  The GPS took us home a back route, after we escaped the horrible traffic around D.C.  I finally made it to my Genova's oasis where we were able to get a bowl of hot soup and some fries.  Home never looked so good to me, and my cat, Hoots was over- attentive.  I'm not even sure that's a word, but it fits.  There was no point in doing anything but to crash onto my recliner and get some rest. Today, Sam had an interview an hour and a half away from here, which turned out to be a bit of a joke, but he got a call for more quotes on jobs for his home business.  There are 6 out now and we just continue to wait and pray for them to come in soon. Hopefully in an orderly fashion so he is able to do all of them.  Today has brought very horrible weather.  Sideways rain is falling and it's very gloomy.  While Sam was gone, I went to get the cats in from the rain only to find Remi with a HUGE dead squirrel.  He amazes me at his hunting abilities.  I didn't want him to eat it (which he was attempting) so I scurried to get clothing on, and to get it from him.  The only place to put it was in my studio until Sam came home to dispose of it for me.  I accomplished that to a hissing and very angry Remi.  On the way back into the house, my shoe caught the hose and put me onto my knees and face, into the wet/muddy yard.  Of course, it was just far enough into the open space that I had nothing to get hold of to get up.  By the time I managed to crawl (on my hurt knees) to the steps, I was drenched from the rain and mud.  Once inside, I managed to undress and access the damage to my knees.  The one that hit the grass seems ok, apart from some brush burns.  The left one hit the sidewalk and has an egg shape on the side of the cap. I'm icing it and staying off of it for the afternoon.  Hoping I didn't damage anything.  Knees are the only joints on me that work normally.  Should I say "were"?  So much for all the plans I had today to get unpacked etc.  So, I am home, awaiting the obvious pains I'm going to get from the fall.  Tomorrow will be a fun day for sure!!!  BUT,  I had a wonderful/relaxing visit with my family, and am ready to tear back into life here in the "Titanic", which is what Sam calls it.
Photos from the trip on next part.

Washington Fall

The rains have finally come, after a long dry summer.  Fortunately the fires never hit here. This is
my retreat place.  If there would be a way to avoid the long flight, it would be perfect.  Here are my
grand dogs, probably watching chickens.  We just had a coyote trying to get a chickens.  Never a
dull moment.  Lots of fun!!!

Amazing Painting

"AGONY IN THE GARDEN"...(1896)...Watercolor by James J. Tissot..hangs in Brooklyn Museum....

I want to paint like this when I grow up!!!

WHAT WISDOM!!!!

I JUST LOVE THIS!!!!  WHAT WISDOM!!!

Treasures of this Summer!

My grand daughter, Eve sent me Dahlia's to plant.  These are the results!

My ever faithful hibiscus came back this year.  These blossoms are about 10 inches across, AND it gave me 4 seed pods, which usually doesn't happen...I can share them!!!

Eve taught me how to save my geraniums over the winter (supposed to be me teaching her, but she is
very good with these things) and this is the result.  My methods never worked.  She puts them in peat moss.

The glads made a great showing this year also.  In spite of my negligence, they were lovely.

Our ever faithful moon flowers came up again.  I was a bit concerned early in the season, there were
no signs of them, but eventually they popped up.  They are always in places that they are not wanted, but they win out, because I love them, and they are my true repeating friends.

There were a few odd petunias left over from one of the planters I did.  They turned out to be worth the save.

I am hoping these beauties come back next year.  I didn't get their name, but they bloomed and bloomed, all summer.  I bought them at a sale at Walmart and didn't record them.  Next year!!!

Somehow this gorgeous sun-patient slipped in with the others.  It got it's own pot as a result of it not
being "pink", and earned it's own spot also.

Being a bit short on plant budget this year, I focused on getting only 6 of these Sun patients...they are
always very worth the money.  They doubled their size (twice this size) till now.  I love them!!!

No matter how well I plan, the moon flowers come up where they want to.  This one invaded the
Susans, but I left it there.

Trumpet vine had a bit more flowers this season than last. The hummers love it!!!

This wild daisy WEED comes up all over my gardens. Sam likes it, and he never comments on any flower.  So I leave this one just for him.  It's at the driveway so he can enjoy it when he comes and goes.  The others get pulled out because they choke out the other plants.  Very impressive-looking on this photo.

My Summer Visitor

   Every summer we get many of these amazing-looking creatures in our garden.  This one is on an elephant ear and was about 7 inches long (at least).  They remind me of space aliens.  One of the highlights of my summer.

Corn Is Cut, Weather Is Crisp

OCTOBER???  Where in the world did summer go?  Old cliche? Maybe so but it's true.  One day I'm in shorts with flip flops and the next the sweats and sneakers are on with my hoodie.  Just too much too quickly.  Rain, rain, rain...gray skies and leaves falling all around me.  Sinuses acting up from the leaves and mold, and bones aching from the change in temps.  All part of Fall season changes.
Sam is still home with no job.  Unemployment is to run out on the 7th with nothing in sight.  This
is one of the biggest trials of faith we've ever been through.  Most days we walk around in a type
of mental fog.   I'm not sure if it's the Lord putting a protection on us, or if we are just so worn out
mentally and emotionally that we are numb.  I continue to remind myself of the passage in Psalms
that says, "Be still, and know that I am God."  It's popped up quite often and it's what I recite when
my mind goes racing with all the horrors we could be facing.  We are thankful for our health, and
for our families, so the rest seems trivial.  Many have money but are battling life threatening diseases, that money can't fix.  Priorities are important, and yes that includes keeping our home.  But when it all comes down to the bottom line, it's all here when we leave this world.  Everything that we fret over, and work for is reduced to a piece of paper that someone else enjoys.  The only thing that makes our lives count is how many people's lives we have changed.  How many did we hold in times of trouble and pain?  How many did we help when their lives seemed empty and hopeless.  These
are the treasures we leave behind us.  The pieces of ourselves that we shared with others stick after we are dust.  We are only passing through this place, our home is with the Lord.  I believe we are to make the most of the time we have here, fleeting though it is.  Wasn't it yesterday that I was just graduating from High School?  We have our 50 year reunion next year!  It's all a blur that passes
by so quickly that we can barely grasp even memories of it.  So we enter October with the anti-
anticipation of a trip to see the kids, and hopes for a job, and for the joy of teaching art to my friends
when I return.  The rest is a mystery that I'm waiting to live.  It's in God's hands.

Rachal is 17 today!!!!

This is the most recent photo I have of her dancing with Uncle Jordan at his wedding.  Hard to believe our little Rachal is 17.  They don't give us much time do they???

Our New Grand Cat, Maggie

Happy 15th Birthday LIBBY!!!

Oh my, am I really 15?

 

 

Gee I really think I am!

      Blowing out the candles....

                          Gottem!!!!  Smile Pretty!!