Canvas of the Heart

Since moving into our new home, Mark has found several herbs around the house among the landscaping as well as in the garden. Mark loves to garden and is glad he gets to continue cultivating them. I have especially enjoyed putting the chives in my potato dishes, and the rosemary along with garlic, lemon, and oil to marinate chicken. I’m feeling very organic these days :)

  Barbara and I have been having fun creating art in the afternoons. We have been trying our hand at watercolor, ink, and handwriting.

Pictures from around our house :)                                                                                 Pictures from a nearby park and lake with running trails in Longview.         

Below are some pictures I took at a Tulip Farm in Woodland, WA which is about 30 minutes from Longview. In the month of April, you can find fields of Tulips in bloom in various locations around us. Woodland is nice and close by to Longview. There were rows and rows of various kinds and colors of Tulips. I have loved them since childhood for their bright colors, strong green stems and pleasing contours. God is so creative! I especially like the pink and red ones. Enjoy the pics!

                                            "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:31 Mark and I had the honor of visiting a local church last Sunday during the last of Mark's vacation time. The sermon was on forgiveness and centered on the above verse. It's a hard one. I am not one to hold a grudge, but as I listened the Holy Spirit tugged at my heart. I reflected on some recent nights where my thoughts were stewing and brewing. Beth Moore calls it nursing and rehearsing. As the pastor last Sunday put it, "If your'e telling people off in your daydreams, you probably have someone you need to forgive." "Herrrrrrrrrrrrre's your sign! " Ouch! At first, I denied that I might need to forgive someone. Iv'e been...

3-12-2013 I have a new addiction.  I recently found the HGTV channel on Dish network.  Who knew that people sporting hard hats, hammers, and funny lookin' goggles could be so entertaining?!? One day, after being sucked into about 4 episodes  I asked myself what's so doggone exciting about this channel?  Why do I keep turning to it when I have a free moment?  And then it hit me...most of these shows are about "redemption."  There was something in me that connected with people taking foreclosed or beat up homes and making them beautiful again.  Not only were the homes made beautiful, but also functional.  Even better, with every remodel agents would always appraise the homes at much higher values.  Sometimes people would totally update a new home and give it a completely new look.  Other times, they would find the bones of a home like an old brick wall or special wood details and shine up the old features bringing the character an...

BEFORE AFTER 3-9-2013 "Lashes" our Mini-Schnauzer was wayyyyyyy overdue for a day at the doggie spa. All in one day, she was fluffed, puffed, buffed and brushed! Her groomer said she was "diggin" the chicken-flavored toothpaste. So glad they just make that for dogs!