Weekend Words

The following quotes are from the Kate Humble book I mentioned in my previous post.

"For me walking feels as vital as breathing.  The first thing I do, every morning I can, is to go for a walk - for an hour, or longer if I can get away with it - usually alone apart from my dogs.  I find the simple action of putting one foot in front of the other, and the rhythm of that action, incredibly therapeutic.  It wakes me up, unscrambles my sleep-fogged head.  But it also gives me a sense of immersion, of being rooted somewhere, makes me feel part of where I am, a sensory and physical connection to the bit of world I find myself in." (p13)

I can so relate to this.  I love to walk alone.  I don't have dogs, but if I did I would let them come with me :)  And my mind is generally unscrambled by the time I go for my walk as I have spent about half an hour drinking my 'wake up' cup of tea before I head outside.  And I can also relate to the 'connectedness' of a place after I have walked the area.  Whenever I go to a new place one of the first things I like to do is go for a walk to get a 'feel' for the place.

"At home...there are many routes I've done time and time again at different times of the day and at different times of the year.  There is nothing boring about this because one of the great joys of seeing a place on foot is that it allows you to notice things, little things, that would otherwise be missed.  The more familiar a route becomes, the more, I find, it is easy to notice things that have either been overlooked previously or have changed." (p15)

I confess, a lot of my walking I seem to do on auto pilot, not really noticing where I am going (having walked the same route - except for going in the opposite direction sometimes to 'unwind' - for years now), but it is usually because my mind is so active.  Once my thoughts slow down and I get them 'sorted' in my head, then I find I am noticing the minutiae around me...a leaf on the path, a branch on a bare tree, a bird call, the clouds in the sky...

"We ought to take outdoor walks, to refresh and raise the spirits by deep breathing in the open air." (p22 - a quote by Seneca)

I tend to get 'cabin fever' if cooped up inside all day, especially during winter, when our homes can get warm and stuffy due to heating.  I long to get out in that cold, fresh, winter air, even if it's raining!

"Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things.  It is the one way of freedom.  If you go to a place on anything but your own two feet, you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside." (p22 - a quote by Elizabeth von Armin)

Amen to that!!

Which leads me to the other part of this post...


Jesus did a lot of walking, and also left us an example of how to walk with God and please Him.  Here are a few thoughts (and verses) I've put together...

How can we walk with God and please Him?

1. Walk according to the Spirit - Romans 8:3-5
....do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

2. Walk properly/decently/honestly - Romans 13:13
Let us walk properly.....

3. Walk by faith (doing good works) - Ephesians 2:8-10
.....for we are.....created in Christ Jesus for good works.....that we should walk in them.

4. Walk in unconditional love - Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love.....

5. Walk in wisdom - Ephesians 5:15
.....walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.....
Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom.....redeeming the time.

6. Walk in truth - 2 John 4
.....walking in truth.

7. Walk in His commandments (in love) - 2 John 6
This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.....

8. Walk in unity - Ephesians 4:1-3
.....walk worthy of the calling.....endeavouring to keep the unity.....

9. Walk in light - Ephesians 5:8-10
.....walk as children of light.....

10. Walk worthy - Colossians 1:10
That you may walk worthy of the Lord.....

Do not walk according to the flesh - 1 John 2:16-17

Imitate Christ - 1 Corinthians 11:1 - He is our example!

This got a bit longer than I had planned, but it's good to get these thoughts out of my head and written down.  Now there's room to fit some new ones in :))

I did go for a walk this morning, and if it wasn't pouring with rain now, I'd go for another one...

xx

On the road and home again

Have had my friend Debbie staying for the week and we have been out and about, hence the lack of a blog post, which I now hope to rectify.

We had a day trip to Penguin, by the sea...

And came across this free street library...

I did take an inside photo, but I was trying to hold the door open and take the photo at the same time and it wasn't very clear, so you'll just have to imagine it full of shelves of books...


On another day we went to the town of Latrobe and visited Reliquaire.  The original building burnt down in 2015, and this new building now stands on the same site.  It is an amazing place!  This is just the main atrium area, there are numerous smaller rooms off each side...

A close up of some of the lovely merchandise...

Didn't have much time there, so I hope to make a trip back soon.  We went on to meet up with another of our long time friends for lunch.  We three have been friends for about 30 years and try and catch up at least once a year.

And here we are...at The Cherry Shed for lunch.  The three amigos...

Debbie, me, Fay

A couple of photos from my walks this week.  On my street that I walk down to the river...

 we still have some autumn colour around

this church is now a privately owned home

At the river...

 this was an early morning shot

and this one was taken late afternoon

Here's Hazel in her cardigan I knitted for her...

she's not looking too impressed, but it seems to fit her well

While we're on the subject of knitting...

 my squares are coming along

Still working on the crocheted granny...

and picked up this book from the library this morning.  Only read the preamble so far, but I think it's going to be good.  More in next post...

Did you make it to the end?   I almost didn't!   I think I'm going to need to post more than once a week.  Or say less...

Today has been cold, grey and showery.  It's almost dark, so I will light the fire and hunker down for the evening with my knitting and book.

Enjoy your weekend!

xx

Last week...

Did the Westmorland Falls walk with friend Vicki on Saturday...

 at the Falls

On the track...

   

"Beam me up Scotty"...

Vicki took this one of me getting a close up shot 

The weather was perfect!  Supposed to take an hour each way, but we did it quicker :)


And during last week Marnie and I took a trip to Latrobe so we could pick up some yarn we had on hold at the Wool Shop...

 the first section of the shop: craft and sewing supplies and hand made gifts

Through the doorway to the wool section...

oh my goodness...surrounded by yarn...bliss!!!

Here are a few pics from my walk this morning...

 Winter is fast approaching...

Many of the trees are already bare...

The ducks don't seem to mind the approach of winter...

I'll leave you with the happy smiling face of my youngest grandson...

Jaya - 3 months old already!

My friend Debbie is due to arrive here in about an hour, she is driving up from the south of the state, to stay for the week.  We have a couple of outings planned, so hopefully I can get back later in the week with an update.

It's cold, grey and raining here so I'm glad I don't have to venture out again.  Think I'll light the wood heater earlier today (don't usually light it till late afternoon), and get some knitting done.

Enjoy your day!

xx

Weekend Words

For those who are interested in the Anabaptist faith, these are some of the free publications I receive...

Contact details are:

Seed of Truth - I emailed them and requested the monthly magazine (email address at bottom of link page).

Anabaptist Voice - you can request a print copy (published quarterly) or read online.

Beside Still Waters - a bi-monthly daily devotional.  No website, but you can write to them at:

Still Waters Ministries
285 Antioch Road
Clarkson KY 42726
USA
Ph: (270) 242-0459

Or for Canada:
Beside The Still Waters
4180 Line 61 RR 1
Milverton ON N0K 1M0
Canada
Ph: (519) 595-3533


I also subscribe to these two publications (not free) and mostly for women, although men are welcome to read too :) :

Keepers at Home
Carlisle Press
2673 TR 421
Sugar Creek OH 44681
USA
Ph: 1-800-852-4482

Ladies Journal
P O Box 138
Loysville PA 17047
USA
Ph: 717 789 3288


And I've been listening to some very good messages from annual Anabaptist conferences HERE.

That should keep you busy!

I'm off to knit and listen to another conference message :)

xx

In no particular order

Here's a random roundup of the last week or so.  Let's see if I can do better in keeping up with blog posts in the future...

Found these two hiding in a box.  They are now sitting on one of the bookcases in my lounge room and enjoying the warmth from the wood heater...

part of a once much larger bear collection
(Perhaps I should name them.  Any suggestions?)

Still working on my diagonal squares...

and picked up this piece of new cotton material at the op shop recently for $2!  There is about 3 metres of fabric there, so I'm hoping to make a skirt from some of it

Collected these two from the library...

read them years ago, but they make a nice easy read so might start the first one in the series tonight

Some autumn colour in my garden...

deciduous and evergreen blueberries in the front, thornless blackberries behind, and part of my apple tree on the right of the photo

Hazel's cardigan is ready to be mailed off to her...

Finished reading this book last night.  It was very good.  Based on a true story/incident (The Northkill Massacre) involving the authors ancestors...

need to get back to working on my crocheted blanket

If you go HERE, there is info about the book and also an interview with the author which I found interesting (unfortunately there are a few ads on the site).  And you can read an excerpt HERE.
I have ordered the next two books in the series.
If you are interested in the Amish, Amish America is a good site.   There are the annoying ads that you need to try and ignore, but lots of good info and articles.

Friend Vicki, grandson Denver and I did the Alum Cliffs walk last week...

a short easy walk

Denver 'chilling' at the lookout...

The view from the lookout...

the Mersey River in the valley

Denver picked these pretty flowers from his garden for me...

for Nanna's Day :)


It's cold, mostly grey (with a touch of sunshine), windy and an occasional shower (typical late autumn weather), so it will be an inside day today.  I'm hoping to get some emails and letter writing done, along with reading, knitting, crocheting...

I came across this quote recently and totally agree with it...

Letter writing is the only device for combining solitude with good company.

- George Gordon Byron (1788-1824)


So I'm off to enjoy some solitude, with a touch of good company!

xx

Weekend Words

A Tribute to Mothers...

“Home is the true wife’s kingdom.... Very largely does the wife hold in her hands, as a sacred trust, the happiness and the highest good of the hearts that nestle there....

In the last analysis, home happiness depends on the wife. Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere. Her hands fashion its beauty. Her heart makes its love. And the end is so worthy, so noble, so divine, that no woman who has been called to be a wife, and has listened to the call, should consider any price too great to pay, to be the light, the joy, the blessing, the inspiration of a home.

 But the woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies.”

"A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness.  God sends many beautiful things to this world, many noble gifts;  but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows in a mother who has learned love’s lesson well, and has realized something of the meaning of her sacred calling.”  - J R Miller

this print by Jessie Willcox Smith hangs in my bathroom

The Best of All 

Some have silver and some have gold,

But you have a child in your arms to hold.

Some have power and some have land,

But you have the touch of a little hand.

Some have riches and some have pride, 

But you have a hug at eventide.

Some have fame but you have more,

The patter of feet on the bedroom floor.

A dear good-night in the darkness there,

And the tender words of a little prayer.

A tousled head on the bed to lay,

At the ragged end of a happy day.

And the light of the stars on a little face,

A darling smile that moonbeams trace.

What matters then if wealth we miss,

For what is gold compared to this?

 - Anonymous

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there!

xx

Weekend Words

Unless in the first waking moments of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on the wrong level all day;

but swing the door wide open and pray to your father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.

- Oswald Chambers

"He hath said..." (Hebrews 13:5)

If we can only grasp these words by faith, we have an all-conquering weapon in our hand.  What doubt will not be slain by this two-edged sword?  What fear is there which shall not fall smitten with a deadly wound before this arrow from the bow of God's covenant?

Will not the distresses of life and the pangs of death; will not the corruptions within and the snares without; will not the trials from above, and the temptations from beneath, all seem but light afflictions, when we can hide ourselves beneath the bulwark of "He hath said?"

Yes, whether for delight in our quietude, or for strength in our conflict, "He hath said" must be our daily resort.

- C H Spurgeon

God says, "I will never leave thee," then I can with good courage say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear."  I will not be haunted with apprehension.

This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God's say so.  I will be full of courage...

Faith in many a one falters when the apprehensions come; they forget the meaning of God's say so, forget to take a deep breath spiritually.  The only way to get the dread taken out of us is to listen to God's say so...

It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in the way, He has said, "I will never leave thee."

- Oswald Chambers

The Best Laid Plans and Yarn Along

Have been down and out for a couple of days with a full blown migraine attack.  Feeling better today, but as it's raining...

...it's a good day to do a catch up post

Due to the migraine, I had to cancel my haircut on Monday (What!?!  You're getting it cut again?!?!) and helping out at the hymn singalong at Kanangra (aged care facility) on Tuesday, but was up to going to Latrobe and Devonport with Marnie yesterday for an appointment she had and also some shopping.  So while I was waiting for her I browsed the op shops and picked up a quilting hoop and a book (The Quilt), then to the patchwork/craft shop (will try and remember to take a photo next time) for buttons for Hazel's cardigan (but couldn't decide between the green and the wooden ones, so will see which look best when I get it sewn up), and some yarn for a new (oh dear!) project.  I'd only gone in for the buttons, but you know how it is, or maybe you don't, but I know how it is for me, and I couldn't resist!  It's pure wool (from Bendigo Woollen Mills but this store in Latrobe stock it) so I bought 3 balls of Bloom.  The colourway is called Spring (in anticipation of), and I thought of crocheting a blanket, but when I started it last night I found the yarn would often split and also the variegations did not show up as well with the crocheting, so have decided to knit diagonal (mindless) squares.  It's really nice to knit with and I like the way you can see the colour graduations...

I also bought some parsley at the nursery to plant in the garden as I expand my herbs.  Now have mint, sage, rosemary, bay and parsley.

Still working on my crocheted blanket and reading (along with about 5 other books) this David Bercot book...

and browsing the latest Victoria mag

And here's one Anushka sent through to me recently of little Jaya (now 7 weeks old) taken while they were out walking...

obviously his dreams are sweet with the little smile on his lips :)

Hoping life is sweet for you too!

xx

PS - Here's the Yarn Along LINK