Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Christmas - Time!

Over the next 7 days counting down to Christmas, we'll be reflecting upon this wonderful season!


A couple weeks ago, I walked into the living room to see this....

The clock was sitting among the toys....

I thought about this....

A timepiece among the nativity story....

Time....

The Israelites had been waiting years for this time....

The time for which the Messiah would be born....

(Emphasis mine!)

Psalm 69:13 (ESV)
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. 
At an acceptable time, O God, 
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

At the perfect time, with His steadfast love, God sent our savior, Jesus!

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)
For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
    there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
    to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a place chosen many years before!

Micah 5:2-3 (ESV)
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
    to the people of Israel.

Time is present...even at Jesus' birth!

Luke 2:1-7 (ESV)
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Even after His birth, when the Magi came!

Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come toworship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Christmas time is here....
Time with which we spend with family and friends....
Time in which we remember how precious time is....
Time in which we celebrate the birth of our Savior....

Throwback Tuesday: By the Christmas Tree!


Sometimes during the Christmas season, you need something special to wear to a fancy fete! A dress like this always does the trick. Especially if it has roses and sparkles! It's also a good dress for a bit of dancing around the Christmas tree or under a star-filled sky! This is one of my favorite vintage dresses as it twirls deliciously! Heehee!! 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Throwback Tuesday: Mother Ginger....continued!!

So last year, I posted Mother Ginger!! :~D 

As today marks exactly one year since I posted the post, I thought I'd share a couple pictures from this year's Mother Ginger! Same costume, but updated as now you can see how it works! 


Mother Ginger is a doll from the Nutcracker Ballet! She has little children hiding under her skirt...


It's a lot of fun to do this dance....except when they all get goofy and start tickling your legs!! *shudder*


Winslow photo-bomb!!! :~D

All in all, dancing our mini-Nutcracker has to be one of the highlights of our Christmas season! T-Tot is Clara, and the Russian doll; Lil' G is the Chinese doll and the Spanish doll; L-Jo is our Arabian doll; and I'm the Sugar Plum Fairy, the French doll, the Arabian doll, and Mother Ginger!!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Am I still reading? Yep!!

Eons ago, I told y'all about my goal of 365 books. I'm reaching the end now, and realized I haven't typed up the books I've read in over two months! Hahaha! So here's a lengthy list of books I've read....


Animal Farm by George Orwell 
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Introverts in the Church by Adam S. McHugh
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson 
The Last Silk Dress by Ann Rinaldi
The Fifth of March by Ann Rinaldi
Wolf by the Ears by Ann Rinaldi
A Spoonful of Sugar by Brenda Ashford 
Manners and Customs of Bible Lands by Fred H. Wright
The Devious Book for Cats by Fluffy and Bonkers 
Treasure in an Oatmeal Box by Ken Gire
William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher 
Only You by Laity, Lough, White Smith, and Yapp 
Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan 
The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson 
King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard 
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Won't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
The Bamboo Cross by Homer E. Dowdy
Goodbye Mr. Chips by James Hilton
Isle of Swords by Wayne Thomas Batson
When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke
When Breaks the Dawn by Janette Oke
When Comes the Spring by Janette Oke
When Hope Springs New by Janette Oke
Start of the Trail by Louise Dickinson Rich
Beyond the Gathering Storm by Janette Oke
When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke
Isle of Fire by Wayne Thomas Batson
12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
The Healing Quilt by Wanda E Brunstetter 
Beauty by Susan Wilson
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Adirondack Tales by Eleanor Early 
Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs
The Good Master by Kate Seredy
Curse of the Spider King by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper
Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge 
When Courage Calls by Janette Oke
The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson 
Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith
Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith
Lost & Found - A Memoir by Kathryn Slattery 
The Tender Years by Janette Oke
A Searching Heart by Janette Oke
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A Quiet Strength by Janette Oke
Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart
The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith 
Like Gold Refined by Janette Oke
The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
Too Long a Stranger by Janette Oke
Smitten by Coble, Billerbeck, Hunt, and Hunter
Secretly Smitten by Coble, Billerbeck, Hunt, and Hunter 
The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson 
Smitten Book Club by Coble, Billerbeck, Hunt, and Hunter
The Girl's Still Got it by Liz Curtis Higgs
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick 
A Lost Lady by Willa Cather
Songbird - Under a German Moon by Tricia Goyer
A Russian Princess by Ekaterina Meshcherskaya 
Venom and Song by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper 
The Tide of the Unmaking by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper

Saturday, December 6, 2014

20,000 views!!!



Whoa!! 20,000 views! Wow! I'm amazed! I really am! Ahh, I suppose it's time to reminisce on some of the past posts! What do you think? Heehee! ;~)

My Very First Post - A strange post on the myths of homeschooling!

My Most Popular Post - A Throwback Tuesday I did for Rachel Louise Carson!

My 2nd Most Popular Post - A post I did on why I wear skirts!

 My 3rd Most Popular Post - A post about my Hope Chest! I should do an updated one soon....

My 4th Most Popular Post - A post I did as a follow up on why I wear skirts, things I've learned while wearing skirts!

My 5th Most Popular Post - A guest post my friend Noah did while I was camping this past summer! Go read it! It's awesome!

Now for past celebration posts:





For all of you who have read my blog, I have to say:


We've had serious posts, strange posts, silly posts, sad post, sweet posts, super-awesomeness posts, and who knows what else!!

Thank you for stopping by my Home on the Erie Canal!!


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Throwback Tuesday: For a Winter's Evening


 For caroling, or a sleigh ride,
for winter strolls through the countryside,
or enjoying gentle snowfalls,
'tis a perfect outfit for a winter evening!


 ~ Winter Wonderland ~

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

A White Thanksgiving!








A friend agreed with me that this should be the song for today:

I'm dreaming of a white Thanksgiving
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear gobblers in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Thanksgiving
With every mashed potato that I roast
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your turkey meat be white! 


Thanksgiving!


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Throwback Tuesday: Dressed for the Holiday Social Season


With Thanksgiving only a couple days away, the start of the holiday season is here! 

This is a perfect outfit if you are going: 
to a dinner, 
the opera, 
a performance of Nutcracker ballet, 
a classy vintage movie theater to watch a Christmas classic such as  
It's a Wonderful Life or The Christmas Carol,
being a hostess for Thanksgiving,
attending a party,
going to the symphony,
enjoying a delightful tea,
or just dressing up for fun this holiday season!


Timeless yet elegant for any social event this holiday season!


**disclaimer** I wouldn't recommend wearing this for one of those ugly holiday sweater contest parties. It just doesn't seem appropriate..... ;~)

Monday, November 24, 2014

The Pleiades

 (Picture credit goes to my Dad. Taken a few years ago)


Every winter, since I was a little girl, I would scan the winter sky for the Pleiades. 

 Every year I'd search until I found them. 

Today I found them in the night sky, and I'm still amazed that yet it's such a tiny constellation, they're mentioned 3 times in the Bible.

Job 9:9 (ESV)
Who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south.

Job 38:31 (ESV)
Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?

Amos 5:8 (ESV)
He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is his name.

From here, they seem so small, yet they are stars which are a clear indication they aren't. 

Stars fascinate me. 

I could look at them for hours. 

While the Pleiades may not be one of the larger constellations, or more important ones, they're always there. 

Year after year. 

For centuries.

It leaves me in awe.

Psalm 147:4 (ESV)
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names

Isaiah 40:26 (ESV)
Lift up your eyes on high and see:
    who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
    calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
    and because he is strong in power
    not one is missing.

The stars were created by an Almighty God.

When I see what he has made, I'm in awe of his power.

God is good.

Thank you God for making the stars!

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (ESV)
 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.