A happy ironstone surprise...

When I found this little Meakin ironstone sugar bowl at the Goodwill while we were at the coast last week,

 I had no idea that it was the mate to a little Meakin ironstone creamer

 that I found quite some time ago at a Goodwill at home in Portland.

What a happy surprise!

I'm a big fan of ironstone and, as you can see, a big fan of lavender as well.

Labor Day weekend, to me, signals the end of summer,

although I know that autumn doesn't officially begin until September 23rd.

It's been a lovely summer, and while part of me hates it to end

the other part of me is already planning little autumn changes around the house.

In the meanwhile, we still have Labor Day weekend, 

including a wedding and a church barbecue, which includes the annual homemade ice cream competition!

I've been planning my entry.

Yummm!

I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend-

summer's last hurrah!

still following,

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

                  

Jennifer Rizzo's Fabulously Creative Friday

Texture Tuesday Travels...

(desat 20%, Kim's cora texture, hardlight, 30% opacity)

My favorite photos to shoot and edit for Texture Tuesdays are still life photos.

Since we're on vacation, I'm stretching myself and using various shots from our travels.

The flower above was growing in the dunes by the sea.

(Kim's flow texture, overlay, 40% opacity)

It was a sunny but very windy day when we walked the beach near Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

The photo below is my husband crossing the dunes to get back to where we parked the car.

(Kim's cherish texture, screen mode, 30% opacity)

The first half of our vacation was spent on the Oregon coast.

We then drove over the Cascade mountains to spend the remainder of our vacation in central Oregon.

The photo below is of Detroit Lake, which we stopped by on the drive.

(Kim's touch of texture 2, screen mode, 25% opacity)

The rest of the photos were taken on my iPhone 5s.  

I don't typically use phone photos for Texture Tuesday, but had some fun with these shots.

Here in central Oregon,  juniper trees with their blueberry lookalike juniper berries, grow everywhere.

(Kim's sybil texture, overlay, 30% opacity)

Queen Ann's Lace...

(Kim's elevate texture, hardlight, 40% opacity)

We saw five deer out on our run this morning.

I couldn't get close enough to get a really clear photo with my iPhone camera,

so I decided to heavily texture this photo, giving it an almost watercolor effect.

(Kim's 99 texture, multiply mode, 75% opacity)

I enjoyed doing a little something different this week.

I hope you enjoyed looking at them!

still following,

texture-twist

Summer vacation 2014 thanks...

We are on the second half of our vacation.

Last week we were at the Oregon coast

and this week we are in central Oregon.

It has its own unique and very different beauty than the coast or the Willamette Valley of Oregon where we live.

I think part of the secret of developing a habit of gratitude is developing the ability to see and appreciate the beauty in all kinds of different circumstances, situations and seasons.

Admittedly, it's easier to find reasons to give thanks in the good times, (like on vacation!),

than in times of deep trial and testing,

but God is there, His beauty is still there.

I need to remember to ask Him to give me eyes to see Him, 

to see His beauty,

and to help me to repeatedly give Him the thanks He deserves,

no matter where I am or what I am going through.

********************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone) 

 

#5046-#5085

8-18-14-

-vacation! Thank you, God!

-the way the coastal fog blows in, then moves on, giving way to the sun

-buying healthy groceries 

-walking by the sea as the sun begins to set

-a comment from @shereadstruth on my instagram

8-19-14-

-a great night's sleep

-a foggy coastal morning

-strong, hot coffee in a favorite cup I brought from home

-healthy oat bran/walnut/raisin pancakes

-slow vacation mornings

-a long walk by the sea

-delicious homemade soup

-Hebrews 11- "of whom the world was not worthy"

8-20-14-

-a really comfortable bed in our vacation rental and another great night's sleep

-the tide way out

-Hebrews 12 - "Jesus the Author and Perfecter of my faith"

-a text from my daughter that my granddaughter got the kindergarten teacher that she wanted for her

-a long walk on a different section of the beach, my favorite

8-21-14-

-meeting the whole day's Fitbit goals on a long, long beach walk with the hubs

-finding a flawlessly perfect shell on my walk, 

but giving it to a cute little freckle faced boy who was shell hunting nearby

-taking a long bubble bath after my long walk

-a lazy afternoon reading and catnapping

-a new bracelet from the hubs

-the hubs raving about how good the soup is even when it's leftover

-hot tea and devotions on the balcony overlooking the bay

8-22-14-

-8 hours of good sleep

-another foggy morning

-runny egg yolk sopped up with crispy pan toasted homemade bread

-driving to Newport and walking on Agate beach

-beautiful Yaquina Head light house

-our freezer at home quitting, but our house sitter catching it before all the food was ruined

8-23-14-

-leaving the coast today-so thankful for this time away

-a safe drive home

-surprise!  the ironstone sugar bowl I found thrifting on vacation is the mate to an ironstone 

creamer I found quite some time ago at a thrift store at home

-eating the first ripe tomatoes from our yard

8-24-14-

-a safe drive to central Oregon

-knowing our church is in good hands when we are take a Sunday off

-a phone call from the two oldest grands

-the different kind of beauty found here in central Oregon

-the good feeling when my Fitbit vibrates, meaning I've met my daily goal

gratefully yours,

Matthew 4:18-19...

"As Jesus was walking along the shore of the sea..."

I love those words.

Nothing cures what ails me like a walk by the sea with Jesus.

He always seems especially near when I'm walking on the shore, 

the sound of the waves crashing,

the sea breeze blowing my hair.

I always seem to hear His voice more clearly there.

It's the place I've gone to in my most troubled times,

the place I run to when I'm desperate to hear Him,

and He's never failed to meet me there.

I guess you could call it "our place".

At least that's the way I like to think of it.

Where's your favorite place to meet with Jesus?

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely Lisha Epperson.