Week 33

Rest and Relaxation

     My husband has a demanding job.  He works long hours and there is always more that he could be working on.  Last week he had a much needed, relaxing, vacation at our cottage.  He really did take it easy (well, there was one conference call and a few e-mails he couldn't resist doing!)   The following photos show some of the relaxing scenes that we shared last week.

"Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.  Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.  The burden that I ask you to accept is easy;  the load I give you to carry is light."

Matthew 11: 28-30 New Century Version

                                        Lake Huron at Station Beach in Kincardine, Ontario                             Aug 8, 2013

                                             Lighthouse and marina in Kincardine, Ontario                              Aug 8, 2013

                                   Big, old, blue, lifeguard chairs at Station Beach in Kincardine                 Aug 8, 2013

                                                          Seagulls on the shore                                                   Aug 8, 2013

                                                 The picturesque town of Paisley, Ontario                                Aug 7, 2013

                                                      Saugeen River in Paisley, Ontario                                       Aug 7, 2013

                                                Old railway trestle in Paisley, Ontario                                       Aug 7, 2013

                                                       Sunset in Point Clark, Ontario                                             Aug 2, 2013

                                                      Silhouette of Tim on rock                                                   Aug 4, 2013

                                 Spectacular sunset at Station Beach in Kincardine, Ontario                        Aug 8, 2013

Week 32

Some of My Favourite People

     We are just back from spending a week of holidays at our cottage.  Here are some of my favourite photos of some of my favourite people who came for a visit! 

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

I John 4:11 NIV

                                                        One of my beautiful nieces                                        August 3, 2013

                       The girls heading down to the beach            Aug 3, 2013

                                                          Tim at the beach                                                          Aug 3, 2013

                                                         My nephew on the rock                                                 Aug 3, 2013

                                                           My sister and one of her daughters                                        Aug 4, 2013

                                                         What a handsome couple!                                              Aug 4, 2013

                                                                       Father & Son                                                 Aug 4, 2013

                                                               I love this family!                                                       Aug 4, 2013

                                          A visit from our good friends, Jim & Diane                                   August 9, 2013 

Week 31

Mid-Summer Flowers

     Here is a sampling of some of the flowers that are currently blooming around our place - so many different shapes and colours.  I enjoy using my macro lens as I see details in the flowers that I sometimes miss as I tend to glance at the overall look of the flower and don't normally go looking for the tiny details.  If our Creator cares about all the little details of flowers, then we can be confident that He cares even more about all the details of our lives.

"Consider how the lilies grow.  They do not labour or spin.  Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!"

Luke 12: 27 & 28 NIV

                                                                        Day Lily                                                          July 2013

                                                                     Hollyhock                                                          July 2013

                                                 False Sunflower - Heliopsis                                                    July 2013

                                                             Shasta Daisies                                                           July 2013

                                                     Purple Coneflower  (Echinacea)                                           July 2013

                                                                        Phlox                                                           July 2013

                                                  Rudbeckia (Brown-Eyed Susan, Coneflower)                            July 2013

                                                                     Sweet Pea                                                          July 2013

                                                                      Hydrangea                                                          July 2013     

                                            Hostas                                   July 2013

                                        Creeping Bellflowers  (even weeds can be pretty!)                                July 2013

It will be a couple of weeks until I have another blog post

Week 30

Sunsets at the Beach

     The climax of our relaxing days at the beach is going out to watch the sun set over the lake.  In the middle of July, it is setting about 9:00 p.m.  They say that Lake Huron has some of the best sunsets in the world - I'm not sure who "they" are, but we do get some fine displays!  Sometimes it is the red or yellow sun just dipping into the horizon and other times the clouds and sky light up with colour in a spectacular way.   

     I hope you enjoy seeing photos of a couple of the sunsets that I witnessed last week during my stay at the cottage.  Photos don't always do justice to sunsets because the camera lens can't capture the whole expanse of sky and water like our eyes can.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

Psalm 19:1

                                                                  Setting sun through the dune grass                                      July 13, 2013

   The humidity has cleared and we enjoy a refreshing breeze while watching the sun set          July 20, 2013 

                                   A silhouette of my husband strolling on the beach while the sun is setting                  July 20, 2013

                                           Reflections on the shore                  July 20, 2013

Week 29

"Peace, Be Still"

"Then He [Jesus] arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" 

And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?"  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, 

"Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey him!"

Mark 4: 39-41 NKJV

     I have returned from spending a very calm, quiet, restful, hot and humid week at the cottage.  Lake Huron is seldom this calm for so many days in a row and I am sure that I will have a very different lake to show you sometime later in the summer.  Days like the ones you will see below, are very peaceful, but I also love fresh, windy days with big waves and "white caps" out as far as you can see.                  

     I hope viewing these photos leaves you with a sense of peace during what might be a hectic or stressful day for you.

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. 

 The Lord be with all of you."

2 Thessalonians 3:16 NIV

                                                  As calm as Lake Huron ever gets                          week of July 14, 2013

                                                 Seagulls standing on all available rocks                                     July 2013

                                                                          Gentle lapping at the shore                                               July 2013

                                                       My cousins enjoying the view                                      July 15, 2013

                                                                  

Week 28

Mmm...Local Farm Fresh Produce

     I grew up in a farming community and even though I live in a city now, we are fortunate to have farm fresh produce very close by.  So my whole life I have been able to eat strawberries and other fruits and vegetables the very day they have been picked when they are locally in season.  Strawberries are a favourite of our family and when they are in season we pretty well eat them every day.  And tender fresh peas...how delectable!  My dad and mom used to love having creamed peas on toast for lunch.  My husband and children think that is a little weird, but I used to think it was a great meal!  Every year when I make creamed peas (as a side dish!), it brings me back to my childhood and reminds me of my parents.  I can picture myself sitting on our covered porch helping my mother pod peas.  Food seems to evoke some very strong memories!

                                                 Strawberries... sight...smell...taste!                                           July 2013

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him."

Psalm 34:8 NIV

                                                                                   Worth the work!                                                          July 2013

"He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate - bringing forth food from the earth..."

Psalm 104:14 NIV

P.S. There will be a few weeks this summer when I will be on holidays and not posting on Wednesdays, but I will be sure to be taking pictures and will double up on the posts when I am home.

Week 27

July 1st Long Weekend - Canada Day!

"Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. 

 Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order.

Treat everyone you meet with dignity. 

 Love your spiritual family. 

 Revere God.  

Respect the government."

I Peter 2:13 & 17 The Message

     We Canadians have just come off of a long weekend.  Our immediate family was together at our cottage and then right on Canada Day we joined some of my side of the family at my brother's cottage.  There were a couple of new baby boys for everyone to meet. 

     I am so thankful for my family and so blessed to live in one of the best countries in the whole world.

     Without further adieu here are several photos of our weekend:

                             Our oldest son, our daughter-in-law, and our almost 9 month old grandson       June 30,  2013

                             My husband & our grandson              June 30, 2013

                                                             A good little eater                                                 June 30, 2013

                                                                                             Our Family                                                                      June 30, 2013

 Two of my nieces walking the beach - a cool and overcast Canada Day in SW Ontario in 2013 (photo by Dave)

                    Two little cousins meeting each other for the first time           July 1, 2013

                                      My adorable great-niece!                        July 1, 2013

                                               "Cute little Canadian" is right!                                                July 1,  2013

                           My nephew and his daughter dressed in red to celebrate Canada Day            July 1, 2013 

                                           Siblings "Cute little Canadian" & "100% True Canuck"                             July 1, 2013