The Life of Mrs. Miles

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I created some fall-themed elements for you, from some photos I took while we were away at the coast. While walking with our nieces we found these 'treasures' of nuts and leaves. I hope you enjoy them. I had created the first single ones, but got carried away making the set with the swirls as well using some filters etc. I still have some different type of nuts in waiting to be done, which I will share with you soon. These single acorns may make some great brushes for your layouts.

Sweet little bird in russet coat
The livery of the closing year
I love thy lonely plaintive note
And tiny whispering song to hear
While on the style or garden seat
I sit to watch the falling leaves
The songs thy little joys repeat
My loneliness relieves.

By John Clare

Our Niece with Treasures!

It's kind of a nutty time, isn't it... summer is winding down to a quick end, and fall not quite here yet. I imagine it's more 'real' to my neighbors in the U.S.A as you've already got kids back at school – our schools don't go back in for a bit yet – though there is lots of preperation before that actually happens. Some apples are ready to be picked, hanging blushing red and ripe on the sagging tree branches. If I were a tree I'd be so relieved to have all that extra weight gone! I'm looking forward to trying all sorts of recipes using apples.

I've managed to can yet more peaches, and Miles is indicating he wouldn't be upset if I decided to do say a dozen more or so jars. I did the first lot in slices, but this second time I did them in halves – much more attractive! I always add ginger in too, for a bit of kick.

We spent a lovely day celebrating our daughter's birthday with her – in the city... She lives in Kelowna, a place which, like so many communities everywhere, is suffering great growing pains. There's always a wait at the bridge which crosses over the lake into town, and there's no way to get around that. We are generally used to a short wait, but during the summer tourist season the wait can and does grow into a one hour or longer affair. Such was the case for us. A little hint to pass along – if you're headed there, make sure you go potty beforehand... I had an agonizing wait. The bridge is being replaced by a new one, but that won't be ready for a year yet.

We went out for lunch and some shopping at the mall. Miles sank into a big easychair (the malls pretty smart to provide these for weary husbands – they surely profit from this!) and waited while we stuck our snorters into the Lush Store. Oh, its a veritable feast for the nasal canals! Intending to merely buy one item for Melanie, she turned it around and we both wound up with three items – something to do with a buy one get one, buy more get some more kinda thing... I ended up with two fizzy bath bombs, as follows:

SUGAR RUSH Can't seem to wake up in the morning? You need a Sugar Rush! As bright as the morning sun and as crisp as your favorite breakfast cereal, Sugar Rush bath bomb will motivate you like jolt of a double espresso. Feel energized with its stimulating cola-inspired fragrance with spicy cassia and cinnamon leaf. Orange oil helps revive while a hint of lavender adds balance. Go ahead, take a bath then take on the day!

BLACKBERRY This was Melanie's choice for me, and when I cut it in half (a whole one is just overkill for me) I found a little comic paper which ready BOOM BOOM! Despite its dark exterior the Blackberry bath bomb is the perfect antidote to winter days and nights. A berry blast with bergamot and frankincense will uplift your spirits and keep you motivated to maintain the resolutions of a new year.

The other item I 'had to have' was a yummy bath melt called You've Been Mangoed. Truly, it is so fresh smelling it makes your mouth water and pucker!– and the description is: If you're lookin for a refreshing pick up rather than a peaceful wind down from your bath - get Mangoed. The citrus explosion of lemon, lime and lemongrass will awaken energy reserves and keep you charged.

What's YOUR favorite Lush product? A gift basket from Lush would be my dream prezzie – I always take away a catalogue and drool over it, thinking “if I had a few hundred fall from the sky...”

Yesterday was our first day back at church this entire summer. The message was so good, and timely. Pastor Ed 'told it like it is' – about Faith. As he spoke my thoughts were brought to a personal revelation that to me, that though Faith is an not considered a verb, to me, it's an action word, its the action of Trust. See, when we Trust, then we move forward in Faith to actually do something. Faith is not passive. Trust is solid. It does not move, and it does not cause us to change (other than in our thinking). Faith, on the other hand, can move mountains. It's believing in what we trust to move ahead – even if it's strange or uncomfortable for us. To me, Faith is like the 'gift' of trust, for if I trust (that God is in control) I may have the gift of Faith, to walk in. Walking in Faith is never walking alone. Walking in Faith is knowing that no matter where the journey takes us, we can be confident it's where God wanted us to go. We can just enjoy the ride! So Trust in God, my friends, and have Faith He's with you, all the way.

1 Corinthians 13:2

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,

and if I have a faith that can move mountains,

but have not love, I am nothing.

Matthew 17:20

He replied, "Because you have so little faith.

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed,

you can say to this mountain, '

Move from here to there' and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you."

Mark 10:52

"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you."

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Ok, that was all my 'heavy stuff' and now I'll get on to some lighter subjects. I have a couple of reader layouts queued up – one is waiting permission to publish here. Actually the one I did recieve the go ahead on is one from GrumpyPup (ok you MUST share the tale of how you chose your username with us ...) I invited GrumpyPup to share a blog site with us, should she have one, and she doesn't ... but her dog Lucy does – and so since this layout is about Lucy, it's fitting! You can visit Lucy's blog by clicking here and thanks so much getting your talented owner to create and share your layout with us!

Film strip © Miles Derksen.

I used the VanDerLee Camouflage Filter for all Camo effects.

Net © GrumpyPup

Journaling reads: Lucy must think that our backyard is being invaded by terrorist (a.k.a. squirrels.) She goes outside everyday racing from tree to tree, looking upwards in hopes of seeing a terrorist. When she sees one, she sits, barking at it while wagging her tail. Occasionally she will see one on the ground searching for food. As she moves slowly, stalking it, she must be thinking, "Oh boy! I know I can catch this terrorist now." Getting closer and closer, she suddenly blasts off like a rocket causing the terrorist to flee to the closest tree.

We were informed that the annual 'star party' which takes place at a local mountain each summer, passed us by... darn. It's quite something, attracting astronomers from all over the world to our area. Well, can't change that, but I found something which is almost as delightful. If you have and use Google Earth, it now has a new feature which allows you to explore the night sky! It's pretty impressive – I've tried it out myself and I can see how this will be a huge asset to educators and up and coming astronomers too. Its as simple as a mouse click on the icon for the sky, and Google Earth swings you up for a view of all the constellations etc. To find out more about Google Sky just click here.

For all you teachers who are returning to school, or already at school – I've got a cute site especially for you. As the weather changes to fall, then into winter you certainly deal with your fair share of colds and runny noses. Who knew they could be useful? Piqued your interest? To find out what I'm talking about (and you get a bonus musical instrument through this too) just click here.

Sorry - no time for Today in History as I'm tutoring this morning. I will try to post again soon. Have a great day folks!

Barb's Handy Tip #301
Where'd You Snap That Photo?

This site is almost mesmerizing, really. Every minute as someone updates their Flickr Photo Gallery, the photo may make it into this feature, which shows you the photo and where it was uploaded from. Kind of a 'living screensaver' of sorts. A bit scary meybe. Good scary. Hint: when you hover over the small preview a large view opens.

FlickrVision (Beta)