Here we are, almost into the middle of December and just now the weather has gotten cold. That’s ok. It makes winter even shorter, at least in my head.
Here are some images before the weather turned at Pertle Springs. Such blue skies and water.
Then we have the culprit that brought in the cold. A thunder storm in December! Brief, but successful.
Enjoy!
Cate B
I wrote this four years ago………different yard to view now, different town, but still feel the same.
Happy December 2017 Everyone!
I’m sitting at my kitchen table enjoying a cup of coffee with my blueberry bagel. I love to sit here and think and read blogs and look outside every few seconds. Today is warmer than last week but we were still coated with a glimmer of frost earlier.
The backyard is very busy this morning, We have a large oak tree about 3 yards off the house so there is an abundance of acorns on the ground. Well, the ones the squirrels didn’t get and the ones the dogs didn’t eat. Out there I see a small flock of robins, a bluejay, two black-capped chickadees and a common flicker (woodpecker) so close I could see the whites of his eyes. Well, the blacks of his eyes. I never was so close to this bird before. The cardinals are visiting also. Very busy. I love it. There is something about God’s beautiful artistic talent that just brings me great joy and happiness. I am very thankful I get to be part of this scenery.
Life is so full of bumps and bruises and breaks that I often welcome a scene full of life and peace and normalcy. A great way to start the new week.
Squirrel!
Enjoy!
wingedprisms (cate b)
It’s that time of year where the colors outside are slim pickins. So here is a glimpse of texture from my own backyard.
Oh. And a really cute dog named Teddy Roosevelt.
Enjoy!
Cate B
Today I was sitting in my friends business having a wonderful time catching up and sipping coffee. They have a Quilt Shop. They sell all the supplies you need to make your own quilts from material and threads to the machines that assist you. There is an atmosphere of peace there.
I love businesses that bring out the creativity in people. I always get inspired without anyone saying anything to me. Even home improvement stores do that to me. But I am one to not always succumb to the long arms of creativity that reach out and taunt you until you say yes to their biddings. Then, before you know it, the tentacles grab you and lure you to buy all the supplies you need to make the perfect item you see displayed in all its finished glory before you.
I’m being funny here. I have learned my limitations of talents and abilities in the crafts department. And that is why I can say no to the taunts. I still get tempted but manage to pull away just in time. Quilting is beautiful and I love to cuddle under a lovely quilt……that someone else made. I lack patience in such a project. Maybe some day.
When my husband and I left the store we decided to take the country route home. It’s pretty brown here and gray in the winter months. But I noticed this barn with a “quilt” painted on the front:
My mind wandered from that point on. While with our friends we talked about seasons. How cold the mid-west winters are and how we long to be on a beach in a tropical paradise during those days.
We talked how the seasons in nature are similar to the seasons of our lives. I’ll tell you what I mean.
There is a purpose for winter. A time to die and lay hidden to bring forth life when the time to right. Sometimes those hidden things can never come forth or come forth stunted if they do not pass through the cold winter season.
Spring. New life. New colors. New blossoms. Multiplied beauty from the last year. Fresh and warm and welcomed.
Summer. Fun! Enjoyment of the fruits of a long cold winter. The fruits of spring rains and melting snow.
Autumn. The beauty of life slowing and changing into glorious colors once more before the frosty winds take over and put the seeds to sleep for another season of dying only to bring forth life once again.
As far as my life goes, my heart issues, I thought long and hard on this and still am. How often I, Cate B, reflect on the warmth of summer. How often I want the winter of my life to be finished and brought into spring way faster than it feels like it’s happening. I want it now. But, why do I want that so much? What is my hurry?
Sometimes winter is painful. Sometimes I can feel frostbitten on the inside and want so much to be blossoming like a field of wild flowers. But the more I listened to my friend talk with us from his heart the more I felt that I need to not rush this winter season of my life. Or any season of the heart. I really do want all of what God has for me in this life on this earth. So if going through the “winter of my heart” is what will bring me out blooming beautiful then so be it. After all, several times I have told my Lord that I just want all He has for me. I gave Him permission to make me into the person I’m to be.
So I will keep layering my clothes to stay warm against the elements. I will prepare myself for the coming seasons so I can listen and receive all the dying and blooming on the inside that needs to be done. And I will gladly grab those warm surprise days that pop up now and then or the trip to the warmer climate for a week to help get me through. It is worth it. Being alive and aware and becoming me is so worth it.
Enjoy!
Cate B
I haven’t posted very much recently. It’s been a time of reflective – something. It’s winter! Now that I’m in the beginning of our seventh year in the mid-west, well, I feel, I feel…….. what do I feel? I feel that staying indoors in the winter is a good idea. Sorry mid-westerners for judging you.
But Spring is coming. I know that because it’s like the law of gravity. Spring will be here in March whether the weather is warmer or not. It’s a given. But seriously, even though the cold keeps coming back, each week we are gifted with warmer days and more sunshine. The air feels fresh and hopeful. Spring is coming.
I wrote a post in January titled It’s Time to Get Busy. It was about the book I’m supposed to be writing. I actually wrote the dedication page and two chapters back then. Also the cover is pretty much decided. Then winter break ended and I am with my lovely lassies (the grand daughters) full-time again. Well, the book is a work in progress. I decided not to stress about it. What is the hurry? I want it to be good and if I try to write and care for the girls then it will not be good.
I beat myself up too much about it though. I want perfection and I know I cannot achieve that as a human being so the beatings begin. Anyone else do that? Surely I’m not that unique.
Spring break will arrive in a few short weeks and perhaps another chapter or two will be written. In the meantime, it is still very brown outside and very cold today. Still waiting for snow. May get a little on the weekend. I haven’t been out much to even take photos, so this one will have to tie you over. 😉
I love my red PF Flyers!
Enjoy!
cate b
Here are a few pics from Charles Dickens Day in the streets of The Burg. The actual temperature wasn’t very cold, but the clouds and dampness made it feel much colder.
Let’s just say it was rather Dickens-Like in it’s feel. Very little happening on the street as I had envisioned it. Where were the street urchins?
I think most happened indoors but very little direction from anyone on the street. Oh well.
Enjoy!
cate b
Hello All. I’ve been busy with the grand-girls so I haven’t been posting very much.
It has been cold this last week here, in The Burg. Highs in he twenties and lows are well, lower. But later this week we should be back to normal. High will get up into the forties. Yay!
We were expecting our first snow yesterday but only got flurries. Today a bit fell, so I took the opportunity to go to my lily pond.
I’m entering winter a little slowly with heels planted in the ground. I had such a wonderful summer this year that I felt it shouldn’t be over. But all good things……. well, I don’t really believe that all good things must come to an end. But winter is upon us and it is needed.
Enjoy your seasons, wherever you live. There is a purpose to them.
Enjoy!
cate b
Autumn is still here but the trees and the colors have definitely transitioned to a wintry look. Sad in a lot of ways, but still beautiful.
These pictures were taken in Knob Noster State Park . We were the only two people there. I love that, but I feel like people are missing out on great views of nature and fresh air. Oh well, I can call it my park 😉
Enjoy!
cate b
Finally we can go outside with just a hoodie and our wellies.
Wellies
The Geese Are on the Move
Winter Thaw
Hope is springing forth once again. Above freezing temperatures and the earth is thawing out.
Enjoy!
cate b
We are fast approaching the end of January, 2014. Do you know what that means? Spring is getting closer. YES! It has been quite a cold winter for most of the U.S. Today, where I am, it is a balmy 43* as I type this, and I have no socks on. Tomorrow’s high should be around 56*! But Monday, well Monday – you just can’t trust that day. Our high should be about 16* and a low of 3. That is winter.
Winters like these tend to keep me indoors way too much for my liking. In my last post, Winter Hopes, I mentioned winter being a reflective time. A time to process and regroup, so to speak. But for me, it is very easy to slip into hopelessness when I have cabin fever and life seems to be on hold.
I was in “The Burg” last week, as I am every week for my four day stay with the grand daughters. I love that time with them and assisting my kids so they can attend University. But we were getting punchy, the girls and I. The two year old loves to go outside. I was able to take her for a walk one day last week. Just one! The other days were so cold that it would have been dangerous to her skin to go out. So, when my husband came to pick me up on Thursday, he wanted to go to a local town that we were curious about. We knew it was small……. Knob Noster, MO. Here is a pic from downtown Knob Noster:
I’m not sure this business is even open. That made me sad. We did find a Tea Room that was full of collectibles at wonderful prices. Little girls tea parties can be celebrated there also. They serve lunch and tea and the woman who owned it is delightful and so friendly. We will go back. But we are not sure how tiny towns like this survive. Whiteman Airforce base is nearby but the “larger” town of Warrensburg has more to offer.
From there we went to a Bakery/Bulk Foods shop that is usually closed when we have been in the area. It was open and on the way home. Let me tell you – just when I was feeling hopeless about my future and the weather, etc, this little gem of a place brought forth full sunshine and warmth. Funny how the little things in life can change your whole outlook. I love that.
We turned off the main highway and traveled the 2.8 miles to the shop. Here is some of what we saw:
farms…….
Then the treasure –
The Mixing Bowl
We walked into this small shop which is on the property with the family home and farm. A bubble of hopeful joy met us in a tiny lady-like form of the friendliest Mennonite woman I have ever met. She did all the baking and bundling of bulk food products. And the cheeses! You cannot beat the prices of the cheese she sells.
PIE! Amazing Pie!
What can I say? These taste fabulous!!!
Ahhhh! You can’t beat the price – we take this daily and for the gallon it is unbeatable!
Hallelujah!
Vanilla Beans!
I did not buy this from our new friend 😉 But got it for VANILLA!!!
Vanilla should be ready in April!
So, my point of this post is to say, I was going down into a hopeless state and just changing my environment and finding something so unexpected in the midst of stark winter surroundings, turned my whole outlook around. I headed home upbeat and joyful with a couple of bags of goodies to boot!
THEN, my dogs, who missed me while I was away in The Burg, were so happy to see me that little George Bailey jumped up and accidentally ripped the bag containing the jams. My Gooseberry Jam fell to the floor and broke. I actually cried. The dogs ran outside because they fear my crying and I cleaned it up and welcomed them back into the house with many hugs. Little George was relieved. No sense crying over spilt jam because I know where to by more. 😀
My friends, I hope you all have a hopeful winter and look with anticipation to spring coming. Because it is a certainty that spring will come!
Enjoy!
cate b
