in rest and quietness

I recently got convicted by this verse from Isaiah 30:15: "In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength but you will have none of it." Ouch!

Today is the day the Lord has made indeed. It's a beautiful day to repent and rest. I've had some quiet time outside and a bit of garden work. I cut some colorful roses outside while Hubby chills on the patio. The last couple of days have given quiet moments of repentance, with the Lord speaking through His Word and His pastor. Today I feel a different kind of strength!

a beautiful creation

Hubby and I have been adding things here and there to our backyard. Thankfully the weather continues to be mild enough for us to do most of our living outside!

Yesterday, while buying treats for our chickies, we found several bird feeders on clearance. We both liked this copper windmill one. At the store Hubby tells me he'll reuse some old oak stakes we have as a hanging post for the feeder. I had no clue what stakes to which he was referring.

When we got home I started to prepare lunch for my visiting family while Hubby puttered around in the backyard, setting up the treats for the girls, etc. Next thing I know he comes up with the post he had put together for the feeder and it is amazing!!! He had reused the stakes we originally used for the grapevines. He asked me to come outside so I can tell him where to put the post.

We placed it where we can view it from the kitchen, my spot at the dining table and the TV room. Within a few hours, the small birds that chirp all day have discovered it and have made it their hangout. I love the rustic look of it. It is simple but yet so beautiful! Our backyard is really becoming our peaceful retreat. We also put up a feeder for the hummingbirds. We have yet to see them drink from it but it looks awesome too.

The best part of our little backyard paradise is that Hubby and I both love it and are drawn to it. It is truly our breath of fresh air. Hubby has his own special seat where he has a view of a big part of the backyard. It really is relaxing and he craves the peacefulness. He's had heavy burdens lately and I am so proud and thankful of the choices and decisions he's making. He so desires to do the right thing and what is best for us. I really am blessed to be his wife and share in all of the Lord's blessings with him.

precious children

My brother, his wife, son and daughter visited us for the day yesterday and it was a very fun, memorable day. We were truly blessed. They loved our chickens and braved feeding them treats from their little hands. They oooh'd and aaah'd over them, called them "chickies" and were just all over them.

They also loved on Scooby and my 4-year old niece is pictured here telling Scoob a story:-) My niece is really tiny and Scoob seemed to tower over her, making her nervous. But the crate provided enough security, hence the storytelling.

We played with water guns outside, with my nephew making up all sorts of "international foul" rules. We went scootering - with my nephew on his razr, my niece on her Disney princess bike and me on my old 10-speed. While enjoying riding in circles around our court, my nephew notices a kite flying at the other end of our street! I rushed to gather the kids quickly and ran into the house to grab my kite!!!

For the next hour or so we ran and ran and flew my kite! It was awesome! Nephew really got going on it and got the kite to fly way above the houses where the wind was strong and steady. Hubby came out to join us and gave us the best tip: no need to run around so much! Once the kite catches wind, just let the string out slowly and it will continue to climb. Wow! It was exhilarating! The pull was too strong for my little girl but Nephew was able to manage it. It was a beautiful moment.

Interspersed in between has my Hubby playing catch with our niece while nephew and I flew the kite. We sure burned a lot of calories that afternoon, which was good since we had some homemade mac and cheese, hotdogs and sausage for lunch earlier that day.

We also played Uno and played fetch with Scoob in the backyard. My brother and his family live in the big city so I love the opportunity to show the kids a different way of life. For the next visit our plan is to make homemade pizza!

jealous

I forgot I had taken a picture of this beautiful hydrangea bush from our weekend on the coast. The B&B where we stayed had an enclosed atrium garden and it was perfect for growing hydrangeas. I don't have great shady spots in my garden so it's very tough to grow these. The one from Tony is flourishing well. I hope to transplant it soon!

great breakfast for Sunday!

The girls delivered one more this morning:-) Of course our dilemma right now is that we don't know if it's both hens laying. We now have two eggs and we plan on having them for breakfast tomorrow. My Hubby is humoring me today. My nephew and niece are visiting today and I want them to see the egg in the nesting box!

the girls are home!

We picked up our egg layers Wednesday night at a rural town about 20 miles from our home. The seller had about 40 Rhode Island Reds and had just collected about a dozen large brown eggs. Very, very encouraging!

So we picked our two, paid $10 each and took them home in Scooby's old crate. We appropriately named them Velma and Daphne:-) Got their bedding all set up and both their feeders. Less than 24 hours later, we got our first egg! Woo hoo!!!

resting in Him

I wish I had taken a picture of this pine tree Hubby and I saw earlier. It had brown pine cones that sat on the end of the branches...a balancing art of sorts. We saw the most beautiful evergreens. I expressed to Hubby how incredibly varied the Lord's creation is!!!

I've got worship music playing softly on my iPad and this is a picture of my feet as I lounge in the sitting room. Bright picture windows letting in the coastal sunlight. Can't see the beach but it's only a few hundred feet away. It is relatively quiet...just the ticking of the clock, the soft music and rumble of cars down Highway 1.

beautiful coastal sights

Today is our first full day in Mendocino/Fort Bragg. While Hubby naps some, I'm taking some time to do a bit of writing.

My husband is truly a sweetheart and days like this I need to remember often. He endured the trek through the Mendocino Botanical Gardens, where we marveled at various colors of rhododendrons and then another mile down to see the Point Cabrillo lighthouse. Every step felt like knives stabbing him in the back but he wanted to enjoy all this beautiful creation with me. I know it truly was painful for him, even more so because he wanted to do more.

We had a more enjoyable lunch at North Coast Brewpub and Grill. Dinner there last night was a bit of a disappointment. I think when it comes to brewpubs, sitting at the bar makes a big difference. The bartender Paul was super-friendly and bid us "God bless you" on our way out - a first at a brew pub! We enjoyed some tennis on TV and Hubby had some good brews. Hence the nap.

I am enjoying some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and coffee in the front room of this old Victorian. Time for some Good Word from the Lord.

a very productive Saturday

Hubby had a great time at the brew fest last night...raved and raved about it! I was glad - he needed the night out with the guys. I had a chance to hang out earlier that day with my girlfriend so my tank was good. Coffee and lots of talking - always a good combo.

Saturday morning started with a good walk with my Scooby girl and then really good quiet time. I'm trying to memorize verses again. It's been awhile but it is a very worthwhile discipline. Very filling!

We went to another brew fest by the river. This time just Hubby and I and we appreciate the quality time. We played our usual games of yatzee. But the park was just jammed pack with people. We lasted barely an hour. But we got to eat really, really good nachos and Hubby paid for it dearly with his tummy.

When we got back home, it was only 2:30 - perfect for a nap! After we rested some, we tackled another backyard project: The Chicken Coop! We had put it together last weekend but needed to clear the area where we needed to place it. That meant moving some rocks and plants. And here's the finished product! I am hoping to get chickens by next weekend.

easy Friday night

I haven't had a Friday night like this in years! I am hanging out at Starbucks at a mall having finished a yummy dinner at Panda Express (my fave - the orange chicken plus mixed veggies and Beijing beef, which I shouldn't have had). I walked the mall some, trying to burn off some of my dinner. I dropped off my Hubby and a couple of his friends at a local brew fest. I'm the designated driver and getting the rare chance of personal quality time while Hubby enjoys himself too.

It's a beautiful warm spring day. I just may need to find me a table outside. It is cool enough inside the cafe that I may need to put on my jacket and that doesn't seem right!

Now I am outside and the temp is perfect! Lots of bird noises and a few people milling around. We've got a big weekend planned: another brew fest tomorrow by the river, wine country on Sunday and then the coast for some much needed refreshment, esp for my Hubby. The Lord is so generous with us.

a blur

This month's been a blur. April ended very sadly for our home. My Hubby's best friend of 25 years died after a tragic motorcycle accident. It is very surreal since we didn't find out until 2 months later. We had plans on visiting him in the summer and it's very hard to believe our dear Tony is gone.

This hydrangea was a gift from him, the first time he visited our home. I don't have a whole lot of partial shade in my garden so it's been very difficult to grow hydrangeas and I love them! I am happy to see this little bush thriving on our porch, especially given its newfound meaning. I plan on transferring it to a better pot.

Tony, we look forward to seeing you later in the most beautiful Garden with the best and first Gardener ever!