Building a Wall...Outdoor Wednesday

I will not likely ever do a
project like this one. It is
way too involved and requires one
to sweat...

O.k, so I have done my share of
sweating while helping Mikey the past
few weeks as we pulled weeds, planted and
mulched. However, the wall that
my brother, Allan, is building is
huge. It requires a lot of knowledge
and the willingness to take the
time to do it well.

If I look at a completed wall it
honestly never occurs to me to
wonder about its construction.

I simply decide if I like the way
it looks or not.

However, its appearance is very dependent
upon the foundation laid and the behind
the scenes preparation. (Oh, you can
guess the analogies I could draw from
all of this...but I won't.)

Let's just enjoy the process, shall we?

In this case, the wall is holding back
tons of dirt.
Well, not the stone wall
that you see, it is the retaining wall
behind the stone that actually does the
work.


Inside the dirt and bolted firmly to the
retaining wall and the house are cables.
Large, firm cables.

Between the retaining wall and the stonework
is a layer of gravel.


Finally, you get to the stone which is fitted
so tightly together that no material such as
concrete or mortar is necessary. It is a huge
puzzle.
The stones lying around are the pieces
to this amazing puzzle.
Each one will have a place.
It is Allan's job
to make them fit.

I have to say, I think he is doing a wonderful
job. The wall is coming along so well.





Now, just before we arrived a truck had delivered
four of these piles of stone.

That is approximately
one and a half piles more than he anticipates needing.

I expect there will be a few more stone walls on the
property. They will look wonderful and make for
a very cohesive look.


Hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.
Happy Outdoor Wednesday to you!
Hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.
I hope you'll visit many of the
Outdoor posts.
♥♥Becky K.♥♥

My Talented Brother

Some time ago I showed you a couple of my brother's
doors. He and his wife built this house and he has
personally done nearly every piece of wood in the house.

All of the kitchen cabinetry, the baseboard, window
casing, etc. It is done to perfection...because that
is the only way he would have it.

He made these doors from scratch.
I love the sayings he put in them.




and...




This is one of the few pieces he hasn't sold.
I remember, as a teenager, loading up the car and
heading out to the Pennsylvania Arts Festival.
It was usually hot and humid.
We sat and smiled at the crowds as they admired
Allan's work. I was so proud. Maybe a bit jealous
that my talents didn't lie in something so tangible.


Over the years most pieces sold
but there are a couple hanging
around. We enjoy those and watch
Allan now pour all of that creativity
into his home. See the woodwork around
the windows?
He did it all from rough lumber.



The kitty is Tigger.
She is sixteen years old.
Unfortunately she is beginning to
look her age. But she is still very
sweet. Allan had given her to us as a
kitten. We gave her back as an adult.

I love to raise up kittens and then
bless others with them and rescue
the next kitty. I never try to force
pets on anyone, though. That would not
be nice for either cat or human.



Tomorrow for Outdoor Wednesday I
plan to show you what is happening
with these stones.

Yet another gorgeous project
at Allan's house.

Thank You, brother, for letting me
share your work.
I am so proud of you!
God blessed you...big time...
with these abilities!!!!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Mining for Blue

A Blue Monday Post
hosted by Sally at the
Smiling Sally Blog.


I hope you'll visit Sally and
see the other links for
Blue Monday.


When Mom, Chelsea and I went to State College this past
week we visited a favorite restaurant.

The Canopy out front is very
festive...

There is an artistic feel to the
framework...if you stretch your
imagination just a bit.






Prospector's is known for its Ribs.

I have never gotten ribs but love several
other dishes here. My choice on Friday was
an open face Chicken Parmesan Sandwich.
Yum!

Chelsea ordered my second favorite...
steak salad. Oh, the fries, cheese and
steak on this salad make it so good!



We'll have to use the blue in our eyes
to make this photo count for Blue Monday.
Maybe the teal-ish color in Chelsea's shirt.



Waiting for our food...
we took just a couple of photos.


My brother and sister-in-love.
Allan and Bev!



As we left I snapped a few shots
of the front of the building.



You can tell there was a definite
effort to use a red, white and
blue theme in the flowers.



Personally, I love the blue jeans of
Mr. Prospector.
Don't you?
♥♥Becky K.♥♥

I'm Thinking...June 27th

This is the second week of the
I'm Thinking Series of Posts.

So much to this past week.
The obvious would be the things
in the news...Like the fact that
most of us would have thought
Farrah Fawcett's Passing would have
been a major news story.
It likely would have been if it
hadn't been for the unexpected
death of a sad man named Michael
Jackson.

Makes one really stop and take stock
of the legacy being left. How do I
want to be eulogized...certainly not
like this. I pray that my life is
one that edifies, brings glory to
God and is lived full of rich friendships
and fellowship.

I could cry for the sad, lonely life of
this unusual man.

To contrast this news...Yesterday I had the
priviledge of attending a retirement party
in State College for the woman who had been
my Dad's secretary for more than twenty years.

Her name is Karen.

She is an amazing woman.
What tends to happen at these kinds of events
is a sort of eulogy of one's life's work.
Karen deserved the wonderful things said about
her. She is a woman of God who listens well,
gives sound advice and loves much.



She was always quick to offer prayer, right there at
her desk, rather than lots of words.

The contrast to this week's news could
not have been more obvious.

Would that this is how they would remember me.
I have work to do with the Lord's help.

I have to tell you about the way God showed
Himself in our day yesterday.

Mom and I were listening to a book on tape
as we drove. It was written by Queen Noor,
of Jordan. We were finding it very interesting.

Then all of a sudden, we found ourselves being
lulled to a sleepiness by the voice of the
woman doing the reading. Both of us, at the
same time.

I asked Mom if she was ok. She told me she
was struggling to stay awake. So we decided
it best to take the tape out....naturally.

Suddenly through the car's speakers came the
voice of Karen. The woman who was retiring.
Now, she was not only the secretary for my
Dad but an on air announcer for many years at
this Christian Radio Station. Dad was the Director
of Ministries and hosted a short Radio Program
called The Take it Along Song.

Anyway, It turns out that Karen and
our friend Mark VanOuse, the station
manager were doing a final interview.
For the next half hour they talked and chatted
about life at the Radio Station and what Karen
had cherished about her job.

So many times she mentioned Dad and there was one
time in particular that caused Mom and I both
to break down. Karen talked about her baptism
as a believer and how Dad had held communion
after it. This made Mark chime in about how
special Communion was if my Dad was leading it.
How he savored the precious time in fellowship
with the Lord. Karen told of the times of
Communion at a Bible Study Dad led in their home
for eighteen years. All of this was something
that Mom and I are so familiar with and it was
so special to hear this kind of a legacy about
my Dad and her husband.

So different...to the news of this week.

We saw many old friends last night and then drove
home again, as Mom has to work today.

But I wouldn't have missed that half hour of our
trip for anything.

I am glad we got tired.
I am glad the radio had been
turned to this radio station at
a potty stop just a few short moments before.

Even though Dad was just a local public figure
and not a world wide celebrity...I would much,
much rather have his legacy to hold on to and
aspire to than anything else.

It is about Eternity, people.
Eternity.
That is what lasts.

I want to make a difference.
Like my Dad did.
Like Karen is doing in the lives
of those she comes in contact with.

I'm thinking...are You?

Much more to share from our quick trip
to State College but we must run out to
an auction now. Sorry...we will suffer
through the fun of this auction.

See you soon!


♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Music...It is Powerful!

During our Sunday service we sang
the song by Horatio Spafford, inspired
by a very painful time in his life.

He had just lost most of his family
in a tragic shipwreck and had just
looked over the place where they
had perished. He penned the words
It Is Well With My Soul.

Our tiny congregation sang this with
their entire hearts and it was
beautiful. The children's voices singing
so fervently melted my heart. I pray
that these words will have real meaning
to them in the days to come as life
throws them curve balls. It is bound
to happen.

The words of this song are so powerful
and as I played the piano I found my
eyes swimming in tears by the time we
reached the crescendo of the song...the
fourth verse.

O Lord, haste the day when my faith
shall be sight! The clouds be rolled
back like a scroll. The trump shall
resound...and the Lord shall descend...
Even So...It is well...With My Soul.

In this YouTube clip, Bill Gaither tells the story of
the hymn in front of a home that was
Mr. Spafford's. The Hymn is then sung,
beautifully by the choir and two featured
soloists, Guy Penrod and David Phelps.


Life isn't always peaches and cream
but how wonderful to remember that even
in those situations we can truly and
honestly say,
It is well with my Soul.

Whatever you may be facing today
I hope you will be encouraged with
the knowledge that you are not in it
alone.

I hope God will grant you the grace to
embrace these words for your very own.

That all will be well, with your soul!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Good Morning!

We are off and running again!

Busy week!

Yesterday Mikey and I did a
mega mulching and planting
job in Lancaster,

Then I took him to his part-time
job, and Chelsea and I went to
spend some time dog sitting...

After that we did another edging and
mulching job in a nearby village.

Finally, we met the family for
Warren's Birthday Dinner.

Happy Birthday, just a day late
To you, Warren. I wasn't going
to say anything...but...

You are just too cute!
I had to!

Crazy days...
Happy Days!

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

From Our Yard - Outdoor Wednesday

I love to look across the road to this
grove of trees. The cows like to find
shade here.



My baby pink hydrangea.
This was a sympathy gift
when Warren's Dad passed away.
It came from his employer.
I am sooo happy that it survived
the move from pot to garden.



The Bee Balm is crowding it somewhat
so I need to move something.
I'll figure it out early next
Spring...



And then there are Mikey's massive
blue hydrangea flower heads...




This is only its second year
here in Mikey's Flower Bed,
but the flowers don't seem to
know how young they are.



Just as our chihuahua, Chloe, has the
attitude of a very large dog, these flowers
have the attitude of a large
hydrangea bush.
So full and sure of themselves.



Outdoor Wednesday...June 24, 2009.

Hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

Pop by here to see more Outdoor Photos and
Projects.

Happy Outdoor Wednesday to you!
Please stop back soon.

♥♥Becky K.♥♥

Moms and Missions

Frigate Birds Soaring at Sunrise, Cayos Cochinos, Islas De La Bahia, Honduras

What?
You are going to Honduras?


Maya, Copan, Honduras

Sure enough, on the spur of the
moment both of our Moms are leaving
next month for a quick Mission
Trip to Honduras!


View of a Stadium, Tegucigalpa, Honduras

All it took was one quick phone
call from my Auntie N. and just
like that they are committed to
go.

Yesterday we went to the craft
store to buy beads and jewelry
cord to make "gospel" bracelets.
We can make several hundred with
all of the supplies we purchased.

This will be an all church activity
as we sit and chat after Fellowship
Meals. Stringing beads that tell
of Jesus love and the change He makes
in our lives and for our future will
be time well spent.

Warren's Mom, Georgia, will be on
the medical team...as she is an RN,
and my Mom, Ruth, will be spending time
teaching children as they wait
their turn to see the medical team.

We are also in the middle of getting
Georgia ready for her trip to South
Dakota in the Fall. A trip to bring
eyeglasses to the Native Americans.

I am so thankful that these ladies are
using their gifts and talents for the
Lord. At this stage of my life I am
just a supporter and encourager but I
am watching and learning!

What are you watching and learning
from those around you?

Enjoy your day!
♥♥Becky K.♥♥

All photos on this post are
courtesy of Allposters.com

Blues and More from a Sunday Drive

A Blue Monday Post as hosted by the
amazing Sally...

of the Smiling Sally Blog.
Sally is in the process of moving and getting
settled and yet she is a wonderful hostess here.
You will enjoy the many posts that feature
things of blue.

Days and days of rain paused
to allow the sun to shine revealing
beauty in a contrast between the
greens and the blues.

We cruised through the countryside
with my arm out the window...finger
cramping from holding onto the
camera so tightly...

Beautiful Lancaster County as we
saw it on Father's Day 2009.









A small town cemetery...






Want to sleep in a train car?
It can be the blue one!








It was so very pretty!


















There was much laughter and fun in
our van as we took back road after back road.
Mom and Chelsea got into fits of laughter in the
back seats as Warren and I randomly chose roads to
investigate. The boys pretended to be sooo ready to
be home but I am pretty sure they were having fun too.

I will leave you with a mosaic of the skies from
Sunday...



For more mosaics please visit Mary at Little Red House.
To have even more fun...make a mosaic and join the party.

Have a crazy good week!!
♥♥Becky K.♥♥