All Who Wander Are Not Lost...

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."
Author: St. Augustine

We are out 'reading' a part of the world these days. Seattle and Vancouver to be precise. It's been a great trip so far. Smooth flights, good hotels, easy drives...the weather has been warmer than typical for the Pacific Northwest...which means I've not been too cold. Refreshingly cool is the way I'd describe it.

There have been a few very interesting creative moments I'll share with you in coming days. There have also been some flat out awe inspiring gardening moments to share as well.

Here's a few photos to share the flavor of the trip...

Memoir Monday ~ Fourth of July

We just had a great time with family and friends over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. I hope you did, too!

What memories do you have of the Fourth?
What did your family do to celebrate?
Did you stay home or travel?
Were you around for the country's bi-centennial celebration?
What foods make the holiday special?
Who made those foods?
Who were the people you remember spending time with?
Any special or unique outfits or activities?

What's YOUR favorite memory of the Fourth of July?

Ready,

Set,

Write! Paint! Create!

Garden Bounty

Today was a good day in the garden. Tomatoes, peppers, basil, and okra. The heat is on here in Texas so the tomatoes will hunker down for a few weeks. Everything else will kick into high gear. I love plants like okra and basil that laugh at our heat....as long as we keep them watered that is.

We picked more blackberries.


I had a batch we picked a few days ago in the fridge. Together with today's harvest, I had enough to make 8 pints of blackberry preserves. They'll be yummy on biscuits or ice cream. It's been a few years since I made any kind of fruit preserve or jam. It was fun and fairly easy to do.



For the next little while, gardening means watering and keeping ahead of the weeds. Why is it that weeds don't seem to suffer from heat stress like my favored plants do?

Memoir Monday ~ Engagements

Kevin and Lisa

Since it's just become offcial that I'll be a mom-in-law in a few short months (more about that later), let's stroll down memory lane a bit considering our own engagements. Write about the day you got engaged. Or write about a romantic evening, trip, or event. A special date, perhaps....or a day that turned out to be very romantic in memory, but you didn't think so at the time.

Got any photos to put with your memoir story? If you are an artist, take a moment to sketch an image. What would a quilt block of your memory look like?

I hope you have a pleasant trip down Remember Lane.

An insistent and nasty infection kept me sluggish all last week, then a trip to an out of town wedding, so I didn't get as much done on my travel memoir or the blog as I planned. Hopefully, I'll post my travel piece by tonight.

Until then, muse upon your romantic memories. Happy writing!

Flown

The day finally arrived.




After six months of thinking and planning, The Baseball Guy got on a plane. Seven weeks this summer, he and a friend will be interns for our missionary family in Ghent, Belgium.

Two airplanes, a train, a bus, and a walk later, they arrived safe and sound. Tired and hungry as only two teenage boys who've traveled for 20+ hours can be, I imagine.

Zack and Nathan

It is a mind-boggling thing to know your 'baby' is a quarter of the way around the planet....and he got there without a parental type accompanying him.

Maybe he is all grown up, after all.

If you are a praying person, please offer a prayer for their safety, their growth, and their ability to be a blessing to others this summer.

My house is very, very quiet.

Memoir Monday ~ Travel

We've been delving into lots of memories in the last few weeks. Sifting through photos for the Baseball guy's graduation was the trigger I think. He is the infant in the photo above. It is amazing to me how very quickly my sons grew from infants to taller-than-me men.

It is fun to hear my guys tell stories about our lives. Their perspective, their interpretations. To hear what made them laugh and what surprised them. We may not always agree on what exactly happened moment by moment, but it is fun to share family stories. Those experiences, those memories, and those stories tie us together. A unique bond.

I'd like to capture more of my memories in story form. We have tales which used to be told by The Pilot Guy's dad or my parents. Right now they are held in our heads, but I want them on paper to be enjoyed. Too many of my dad's stories died with him. The same with my mom.

For the next few weeks ~ a summer project, I'm initiating Memoir Monday. Each week will have a theme. Join me in writing a memory of the past, for the future. If you post your memoir on your blog, leave a link in the comments section so we can all enjoy. And not just your own memories....if you are headed to a family gathering of some sort this summer, take a notepad. Even better, take a video camera and a recorder. Be the story catcher in your family.

This week's theme is travel. Write about a trip or a vacation. Write about the first time you traveled by boat, or airplane, or ox cart. Write up a funny or scary or poignant memory of a place not your home. Foods, scents, sights...what sticks in your mind about a place?

Book Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the drawing for 'From the Ground Up' is Laughing Lioness.

Thanks to all who played the game!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Daylilies

It's daylily time...



















Don't forget to go to Sunday's post and sign up for the give away.