November carries a beauty all of it's own... as I walk outdoors I notice the shift of lighting. The lake seems bluer – must be the contrast of the bright yellow leaves of the cottonwood trees in the foreground. Each leaf seems punched out crisply as they flutter precariously at the ends of each branch. The branches themselves give them up reluctantly – but when they do, the leaves dance away on the sharp, biting wind. They caper in the draughts as if they're playing to a conductor's wand as he directs a dramatic piece of music.

They settle in a golden layer, covering the green grass beneath. Once the ground begins to claim them, they start to fade to brown, in spots and splashes until eventually they're merely spidery brown skeletons upon a soggy stem. And then, they're nature's porrige – nutrients and a protection for the grass to be fed upon when spring is ushered in the following year.

On the trails I find an intriguing micro-world has come to life! What appears the eye as a blanket of mouldering brown fodder is suddenly tranformed to a three-dimentional mushroomscape! Due to the large mass their 'lids' hold, they simply lift whatever's on the roof when their stems push upward. The result is a canopy of leaves, grass and even gravel, ground – just off the ground. Its almost like a trick of the eye – only the persistant and patient eye gains the reward!

So this is part of the beauty that November has for me. Stay tuned for more!

Words of Wisdom I've read today:

Deuteronomy 32

1 Listen, O heavens, and I will speak;

hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

2 Let my teaching fall like rain

and my words descend like dew,

like showers on new grass,

like abundant rain on tender plants.

3 I will proclaim the name of the LORD.

Oh, praise the greatness of our God!

4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,

upright and just is he.

*****

I hope you enjoy this fall poem which came to my attention recently:

My father was first to hear

The passage of geese each fall,

Passing above the house so near

He'd hear within his heart their call.

And then at breakfast time he'd say:

“The geese were heading south last night,”

For he'd lain awake till day,

Feeling his earthbound soul take flight.

Knowing that winter's wind comes soon

After rushing off those wings,

Seeing them pass before the moon,

Recalling the lure of far off things.

Richard Peck

*****

My brother Barry (see my Sis-in-Law's blog) sent me these thoughts to ponder...

Only in America do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

Only in America ......do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.

Only in America do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in America ......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

Only in America do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.

Only in America ......do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

Only in America ... .do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

EVER WONDER ....

Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin ?

Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?

Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?

Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?

Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'?

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?

You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!

Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

Barb's Rope Camping Elements

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These are the last of the REQUESTS for rope elements I've recieved... please, leave a comment if you have a rope-y request, I'm game!

Barb's Handy Tip #314

Transform Pixel to Vector – online!

Wow – handy little site I must say! This would be of good use for some of you scrapbookers, in particular!

This site converts bitmap images to vector art - it's an online auto-tracer. Just upload your image and we will vectorize it for you. Vector art is useful because it allows you to scale an image without making it blurry or pixelated. Vectorization (aka tracing) is the process of converting a raster image to a vector image. Raster images are pixel-based, whereas vector images are represented by geometric shapes such as lines, circles and curves. The site is currently tuned for tracing logos and photos.

Input: JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF

Output: EPS, SVG, PNG

(click words for some...)

VECTOR MAGIC

Barb's Rope Horse Element
download

As the days grow cold and dim with November's chill breath I'm finding my spiritual self 'losing my leaves' as a tree does – and I'm like the barren branches, scratching the sky for the 'more' that my soul is seeking after. There's turbulence in my innermost parts these days and I simply don't know how to deal with it.

Its not about God, its not about my Faith in Him. I DO believe, with all my heart. I'm just at a 'jumping off place', a 'fork in the road' trying to decide whats my next decision. Oh, how easy it would be to just be complacent and stay static, doing what I'm doing – but again, the danger there is I would get what I would get, y'know? And what I'm getting right now is simply not enough. This makes me incredibly sad inside because its scary to accept the cold hard facts because, as our Pastor recently preached, it means you then have to DO something with that. Its time to quit flying under the radar – time to get radical in doing. I'm not sure what this exactly means for me.

God has given you incredible potential.

Don't be afraid to take risks.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,

but a spirit of power,

of love and self-discipline.”

2 Timothy 1:7

My emotions have been in a turmoil for a while. I've prayed about it. I've tried analyzing it. I've prayed with my husband about it – for what affects one in a marriage has a direct bearing on the other. Thankfully, my husband supports me 100%. For this, I'm completely broken.

Anything that makes you pray, is a blessing.

“Call upon me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you,

and you will honor me.”

Psalm 50:15

I've come to know that many non-Christians will find this hard to understand. I've have discovered that there's a misconception that once a person becomes a Christian, they no longer have the same problems the rest of the world does. And even more alarming, that if we should have a problem, then we will automatically react differently than non-believers. Well, in a perfect world that would be. And in most cases, the closer we walk to God then it is readily evident. But then again, we are human. We are all sinners. Nobody's perfect. And even though we LOVE our brothers and sisters, we don't always LIKE them. And not all LIKE us back.

Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.

“But if we confess our sins to Him,

He can be depended on to forgive us

and to cleanse us from every wrong.”

1 John 1:9

I think what runs us into trouble, is trusting in people, rather than in Jesus. People will always let us down, whether we believe that or not – its by our very nature. So we set ourselves up for disappointment by merely having expectations of others. When we try to conform others to our way of thinking they will always come up short. At some point, its wise to just accept one another. Love one another, but accept each other for the way we are. Accept and move on. Unless you marry someone. Then, you should have expectations – high expectations... OF YOURSELF. Expect you can be the best for your mate – without exception. Work out being your best to the person you promise yourself to. (I'm not talking about abusive relationships)

So begins a journey for me right now. I'm taking a breather from whats 'normal' in my life. I'm taking some time out to explore my options. And I'm finding confirmation that God has something in the works for me. I'm receiving affirmation from so many places – and it frightens and excites me all at the same time.

Victory is gained only through conflict.

“For whatever is born of God

overcomes the world;

and this is the victory that overcomes the world,

our faith.”

1 John 5:4

One of the sources which presented itself to me in the past few days, was the arrival of an Advance Reader Copy of Dr. Gary Thomas's newest book – The Beautiful Fight (link to the left if you would like to learn more) Miles and I've begun to delve into it, and right from the first chapter it's carrying a powerful message. Its making me realize immediately how I was placing so much emphasis on morality that I'm almost missing the point of what God really wants me to experience. I'm measuring my faith so much by what I'm not doing out of love and respect for God, that I can't see past that. I can get so hung up on whats 'correct' and 'not correct' to the extreme that I could not move beyond. Its time for me to find out the 'more' that He has waiting for me. I must be unafraid to embrace whatever God will have us doing in the future, even if this means change – or just a change of attitude within myself.

You can't see around the corners – but God Can (Robert A. Cook)

“Show me the path where I should go,

O Lord, point out the right road for me to walk.”

Psalm 25:4

Gary Thomas is hoping his book will aid in seeking a Return to Splendor – the splendor and passion which moved Christians of the past to declare and stand up for their faith – even when it cost them their lives. An unshakable, steadfast and joyous faith which defined their very lives.

Yeah, who does not desire a faith like this, a walk like this? Are we really living when we are scared to die for it? I'm dying to live this way.

I want to be like Jesus.

What about you? Are you content with your faith today? Is it fluid? All encompassing? If it's not 'more' for you today, are you willing to face it to make a change? If you're a non-Christian, what are your expectations of a Christian? I'd love to hear from you!

I'll share more about The Beautiful Fight as we read more. I know Sacred Marriage was the most powerful marriage book my husband and I've ever come across (and believe me, we've read many!) So we have a great anticipation this book will be of good value to read.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER!
(click to see larger!)


Credits:
All 'stuff' from Shabby Princess Harvest Spice Kit

You know, blogging comes pretty natural to me - I can usually just sit down and compose something in a short amount of time, but I feel out to sea at what to write for my sister's birthday post. See, my Sis is way younger than me - used to be I felt we were an entire generation apart even. Not to the point that she was in diapers and I in Depends, but somewhere in between that.



Time does some magical stuff, and the best thing its done is brought us together as we share 'adulthood' together. In the past decade I've come to know and love her in a whole new way, with a whole new appreciation. Whats more amazing yet, is I don't just LOVE this woman I call my sister, but I really LIKE her too!



I'm sure I was jealous of you Nina, when you were a girl... after all, I was the only girl in a family of six boys before you popped on the scene. Not only, but you were so DARN CUTE! If I think back in my mind, I always see you in that kindergarten picture with long blonde pigtails and the funny, sweet, lopsided grin. You stole my Daddy's heart - something I coveted dearly, so I'm sure in my green monster (envy) reared up. How silly silly silly of me - I missed out on so much with you. But life is lived forward, and I'm just so grateful we can make up for lost time! You're not just my sister, you're my friend.



I pray you have a wonderful day - my heart will be with you today!



Here's a little sweet thought for your day:

To be honest;
to be kind;
to earn a little
and to spend a little less;
to make, upon the whole,
a family happier for his presence;
to renounce, when that shall be necessary,
and not be embittered;
to keep a few friends,
but these without capitulation;
above all, in the same condition,
to keep friends with himself;
here is a task for all that a man has of fortitude and delicacy.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Happy Birthday Candy!



credits:
Smile - Dz- QuoteChallenge

Polaroid: Scarlett heels

Papers:

Beautiful Rage (red) - scarlett heels

Alpha:

netterscrapalpha - scarlett heels

redalpha - scarlett heels

Brown Branches - DCD Harvest Time Pt. 1

Happy Birthday to our Candy! You were very aptly named, as you really are a sweet person. We've always enjoyed our times with you - you have a quiet gentleness about you. There's nothing fake about you. We're wishing you the best (tho I know this is a day late) We look forward to seeing you again.

Miles Gets Spoiled!

Oh it was a surprise, alright! My man is SO HARD to sneak something on... I'd planned this little cake episode well in advance. I'd baked this huge monstrosity under the guise that I was visiting my friend Becky for a morning, and that he could not come home for lunch because we were making a mess of the place. This was on a Monday, and the potluck (where I wanted to ambush him) was on Wednesday. He thought that I was having to ride my bike into the potluck on Wednesday because he had the van, so that would have thrown him off to know I could not possibly bike a cake in... hehe...



So the cake got baked on Monday. It was a three-mix affair, two chocolate fudge, one rainbow bits. Nutella filling and peach pineapple jam for the big one. See, there were two cakes... a 'spoiler' cake to fool him, and then the big one.



Everything which COULD go wrong, DID go wrong while I was baking. My friend Becky, tho she was here while I made it, was next door for a bit, for which I am grateful for as I'm sure it resembled a cement plant over here. It was so bad that I had to completely vacuum my kitchen after - I don't know how I got so much stuff everywhere.



So I made a tiny cake - cut off the end of a slab, and decorated it special. The big cake got decorated and sent to a friends house to keep till Wednesday. On Monday's Miles practices Worship music with a friend from our church, so that night was the fooler, as we presented Miles with the miniature cake. I told him I cut the cake into portions and froze the rest so's not to wreck his waistline. So he figured that was that.



Tuesday night I quietly 'informed' people at the school that we would ambush him at the potluck and 'please, don't mention it'... which of course someone did and felt terrible. But I did a quick cover for that one too. The long and short of it is that I did manage to take him completely by surprise on Wednesday - got the monster cake in by my friend B. giving me a ride! It turned out to be a very fun time, and tho my sweety is shy and retiring, I know he was touched. Thanks to all who helped me pull this off.



PS - I could not bring myself to actually eat the monstrosity of a cake...

BARB'S 'HOWDY' COWBOY HAT
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And, andandand... it was KIM'S birthday too - and I'm grovelling at you my good friend. You have been so hugely awesome to me - and I still plan to do something nice for ya, but could you please move your birthday just a tad so it does not fall so close to my husband, sister and nieces? Or at least alert me a month ahead! I will find some special way to spoil you yet - I'll make you your own KIM day, k? I'm sure everybody in the scrapping universe knows it was your milestone day, but just in case not, then please hop over and leave some belated birfday hugs for my friend!

I could'nt resist sharing a few fun links with you. The following link will allow you to listen to a station I occaisionally listen to when I get tired of all the same-sounding tunes out there... its Creeeeeeepy music, from Movie Scores.

I was suggesting to a friend, that if you put this music on first, then, when you can see some older kids coming to the door for treats... then having tied a string to the door handle beforehand, and making sure its not really latched... when they reach the door pull the string and let it swing open slowwwwwwwwww and dramatically. Muahhhahahhahhaha!



To get the music, at any rate, just click HERE and choose the Creepy option!

Barb's HOWDY Bandana Element
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Be nice to the young little spooks and drive carefully! Have a safe evening.

The following is a short video complilation of what our parents must have actually thought of as scary oh so long ago... now its just laughable and endearing, I am sure. Don't you just long to scream like this sometimes?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MILES!

(click to view larger)

Credits:

Photo Frame – KimB's Mylittleafrican

All other elements and 'stuff' – Shabby Princess's Harvest Spice

Today's blog will be brief as it's my Miles birthday today! Not that we have a day of fun and romance planned – nnnnnooo, in fact he has to work all day and evening too. Sigh. But even though, I will still have some sweet little surprises for him... pampering and such. We shall REALLY celebrate this coming weekend. We've cleared our calendars and have some special plans.

Miles, I love you more with every passing year. You make my every living moment twice as sweet for having shared all the highs and lows with you. I look forward, with anticipation, to growing old with you – for us to weather the storms and celebrate the joys which will come our way, too. Your personality and charms are ever-fresh, and your dedication to our marriage is deeper than ever. My passion for you is immeasurable. Thank you for your continous investment in me... you make me feel brilliant, beautiful, desirable. I pray the Lord allows us many more years together here on earth.

One hundred years together
Would surely be too few--
For every day--
All over again...
I fall in love with you.

Barb's HOWDY Saddle Element

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I hope you enjoy this rope saddle element I've created. I've still got a few more western themed elements lined up! Still taking requests too - just leave a comment!

Playing with my newfound CorelDraw skills -
using my handsome/sweet brother as a model (tee hee!)
He's really a manly-man kinda guy...

What have I been up to lately? Well, a bit of this and that. Still working on a graphics course at the Learning Center, learning the ins and outs of Coreldraw. I'm enjoying it tremendously, too! I've been doing some designing and working out on my rowing machine as well. That is, when I'm not speed walking the rows of the orchard to keep fit. My knees have an audible crunch these days so though I am truly tempted to run, I won't. The orchard affords me some soft ground, fresh air and a wonderful ambiance to work out to. I'd rather do this than go on a treadmill any old day! I just hope I don't run into a bear/deer/tractor someday – LOL!

I recently discovered that we can actually recieve three whole channels on our tv... and on one, I can get Martha Stewart at 11:00 a.m. Sooooooo... I've thrown Oprah over for Martha for a few days... this is when I'm on the rowing machine. I did watch one Oprah when I couldn't manage to fit my workout in at 11... but her show was with Dr. Oz – all about colon cancer and other such ickies... I'll get checked ALREADY... but in the meantime I think I'll stick to watching Martha stick glittery spiders on hairbands and other life-changing craft ideas.

Working out and watching her inspired me to crack open one of her cookbooks which has been gathering dust on my bookshelf. I decided to make me some yeast breadsticks, from scratch. Now, I did follow her recipe, mostly... of course I added my own choice of Victoria Epicure spices (introduced to me by my sis, Nina) and then I had to deviate from Martha's recipe further when she called me to make little one inch balls and roll them into 16 inch sticks. Ha. I'd love to see her try that... it don't work, trust me. The lengths break into biddy pieces. So, I rolled mine out into an longish rectangle and then I cut them using a nifty roller thing I bought at the thrift ages ago. Then I twisted my sticks. I bet mine worked out better than hers. And oh yeah, Martha, I brush my dough with olive oil, and salted it before I cut, not after. So there. At any rate, mine turned out so good that Miles begged me to hide them on him so he did not eat them all at once.

I will leave you with a funny lil video I found on YouTube for my sister Nina, who loves puddies.

Hope you enjoy Sis!

New Western Rope Elements

Download my HOWDY western word elements!

I recently recieved a request from blog reader Mahalo for some western style words, so here you are! I've got a few more goodies coming up in the next week, all western themed, so stay tuned!



For all you who 'do the Halloween thing'... the following was sent to me by my brother. Its an online spelling game based on all the spooky and creepy words - so you can make sure you correctly spell words like cadaver, cauldron etc... To play simply click HERE

Blogged with Flock

Coffee Art Pics - Reloaded

I've finally figured out how to stick the photos in here for you, however, I'm sure I'm going about it in a backhand way...I will have to consult with my Left-Brained Husband who 'Knows All'...  and, also, I don't know who originally published these photos either or I would surely give credit here! 

Blogged with Flock

Isn't this just the cutest picture? The dog looks as serious and as the boy!

This is another I recieved from my friends Roger and Marie. Unfortunately, I thought I had it all figured out with Flock, but I still have to iron some things out. I'm so sorry you could not see the coffee pics, I know of another place which posted them recently, so I will find them and repost. So sorry.

Here's my own prayer for the day:

Give me work to do;
Give me health;
Give me joy in simple things.
Give me an eye for beauty,
A tongue for truth,
A heart that loves,
A mind that reasons.
A sympathy that understands;
Give me neither malice nor envy,
But a true kindness
And a noble common sense.
At the close of each day
Give me a book,
And a friend with whom I can be silent.

Thanks for visiting me!

Blogged with Flock

Too Nice to Drink!

My friends Roger and Marie supply me with the most interesting links and pictures... and I just had to share these coffee art pictures with you... They know I love to create, but I've never 'painted' with my coffee...

Blogged with Flock

Untitled

NEW SHABBY PRINCESS KIT UP! 

If you're like me, then you're grinning from ear to ear to see the latest Shabby Princess (free) kit up and ready for download.  What a sweet princess!  Don't forget to leave some love when you download!  Just click HERE to be transported!