Starry Sky Ranch

pond in early winter

a little note

....to say I am still here, but not.  Our Asher arrived last Saturday.  We have been laughing and driving and shopping and eating pretty much non-stop since then.  

Monday we had a photo shoot for a beautiful baby girl.  Husband rode along to be prop boy since he was off and we made a day of it wandering downtown. Taking more pictures of course. 

Yesterday we took a road trip to IKEA and the very nice Mobel Martin store because things were verging on country-with-a-K on the main floor after my attempt at dining room valances and it just wasn't working. A few tweaks later and I think we have settled on a Christmas theme.  I am sure you are terribly relieved for me. <g>

Maybe you would sympathize more with the kids who spent half an hour working out their order at McDonald's... Wow. No English speaking staff and their German didn't cut the mustard apparently. Then, once they did understand the order there was the fact that our German friends have not embraced the "fast" in fast food. They take the order, make the food, deliver it to the customer, all very civilized and orderly like. (I would add probably like we are supposed to eat... )   THEN they greet the next customer and start all over.  Mine were not prepared for that.  The adventures lol.  

In between were some bothersome medical tests, because hey, this isn't heaven.  We can always use a reminder and this is the thorn in the side that often does just that. His grace is sufficient though this sort of thing distracts a person, you know? 

So that is where I have been.  The pictures are piling up, there is much to show and tell.  Just hasn't been any time. And I need to skedaddle again.  But I will be back.  Even if in snippets.  I hope my American friends are enjoying a marvelous holiday weekend. I look forward to hearing what is happening in your world.  

Drop a little note. : ) 

 

on the Incredible Hulk and happiness

I woke up the other day to this little man padding around in his green Incredible Hulk jammies looking at me with a silly crooked smile.  How many mornings have I done this?  How many early morning whisperings about cartoons and football games? How many more will there be?  Not enough, is my verdict now as they are dwindling and young men are appearing where bitty guys used to be. I have loved being the mother of little boys. These may well be the last set of superhero pj's in our house.  If they are, I am really going to miss them.  

But they are here today.  And for that I am thankful.

 

wishing you a very blessed Thanksgiving Day

Power Thought - I am difficult to offend

Sharing a Power Thought for Sunday - "I am Difficult to Offend." 

Joyce begins by asking, Why give control of your day to other people? She explains that, 

"Rudeness, quick tempers, and holding grudges seem to be very common today.  People don't realize they are playing right into the devil's hands when they allow these negative and poisonous emotions to rule them." 

She goes on to share the example of Becca who,

"...is making progress growing in Christ when suddenly something happens at her church that offends her. Becca had hopes of being chosen to sing in the choir but for some reason she got passed over. Satan takes advantage of the situation and fills her mind all kinds of thoughts that are not even true. Becca begins to focus on what she imagines to be an attack of rejection, and she receives it as a personal attack instead of simply trusting God.  Sadly this scenario is repeated over and over in the world today. Sometimes I think we have more people in the world who are angry and offended than those who are not. 

Satan is fishing all the time hoping to catch someone in his trap. Don't take his bait! Start .... saying,

'I am difficult to offend.'"

Something to chew on. Hope you enjoy these and find them as challenging as I have. Happy Sunday! 

 

 

 

a big, big love in your heart

"Feel the sun on your face 

and the wind in your hair

and a big, big, love in your heart." 

-Lisa Stansfield

curtains for the living room

The old window scarf we were using for the living room was ok... for some other house, I finally decided.  It gave the room a decidedly Tuscan feel, which this house definitely does not have.  We have more of a farmhouse/granny chic thing goin' on.  No use fighting it.  In my fabric stash I had just enough yardage from a Joann's sale from years gone by to make two panels. Ridiculously easy.  Two rectangles hemmed. Or stitch witched if you dont sew.  

I already had the faux iron rod. And let me tell you it's no picnic installing these in plaster walls. Hence the insightly metal support in the center since we dared not drill another hole. But I digress. For $7.99/set I picked up the clip rings which work exactly like a clothes pin.  You simply slide them on the rod and clip the panels to them. Easy peasy,  If you want a cleaner crisper look you can line the top of the panels with some fusible interfacing.  Unlined, they have a shabby cottage feel since they drape a bit between the clips.  

Paris by Night

Late but here as promised.  I bring you, Paris by night.....

The Seine is a busy place after dark.  We boarded one of tour boats to get the riverside view of the city seen here and hereafter from the railing of our boat...

Au revoir for now! 

I love you sweet baby

Happy Birthday Abbie Rose, I love you sweet baby.

"The first thing in our list of things to do
Is to wake up right next to you
Second thing that we have planned
Is to kiss both of your hands

Third thing that we'll do today
Is look you in the eye and say
I love you sweet baby, I love you sweet baby
I love you more than anything."

- Kimya Dawson (on playlist right) 

Dinner Party

Last night we hosted a half dozen American executives, here for a housing conference.  We decided upon a (mostly) German family-style menu:

Brats and Brotchen

Cream cheese and sour cream mashed potatoes

coleslaw

relish trays

a sampling of German cookies

and the hit of the evening, Alannah's Schwarzwalder Kirche-Torte (Black Forest Cake)

As is usual in this home, there were many adaptations and substitutions.  She doctored up a box mix (meringue powder or extra egg whites are her trick to light yet crumb-less, sturdy layers) and cherry pie filling since we were short on time.  I believe she flavored the cherry filling with almond extract. Then assembled the whole per the directions on the recipe link. 

Fence Friday - watercolor edition

an oldie revisited as digital painting...

Happy Fence Friday!