A frosty November morning in Illinois

In the mountains

Chris and family hiking at the Garden of the gods in their new home state of Colorado

Slide show

My son the photographer!

One of Chris's photos from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Don't you love the cool effects?

And here is the photographer himself, I stole this picture off his facebook - isn't he handsome!! I wonder who took the pictures?

Seed pods

The rain is falling, the trees are close to bare, winter is upon us. I got out the other day and snapped some pictures of these seed pods. Click on the image to enlarge it, they are really intricate works of art! This is the whole purpose for the plant, the flowers are beautiful, but the plants whole goal is to reproduce itself, so it is storing up its energy to produce seeds. These are all from different clematis plants around my yard, these feathery looking clusters will seperate and be carried away on the wind, to settle in a different place, and if a bird does not devour it, it will sink into the ground and next year it will be a new vine, growing toward the sun, giving off a beautiful display of flowers and then the final goal to produce seeds! Reminds me of myself, given life from the Son, allowing Him to make me beautiful from the inside out, with the goal to show forth Him so others will come to know Him, planting seeds as I go.

Fire!

This is my first fire of the season, I made a big pot of ham and beans and yeast cornbread (a new recipe I found) and we enjoyed it all! I spent the other part of the morning cleaning out my closet and dresser of my summer clothes, they are put in the top of the closet until spring - bring on the sweaters!!!

Quilting!

These are all the blocks for my Underground Railroad Quilt, now I just have to put it all together!

Just sat down and played this morning with this Poinsetta Wreath block, not sure what I will do with it, maybe add 2 more and make a runner, we'll see.

I feel loved, my birthday was last Friday and received numerous cards, gifts, phone calls and many well wishes for a good day and year - thanks everyone!

New link

I posted the wrong link for the pictures, try this: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1486308106#/album.php?aid=2006414&id=1486308106 Just copy and paste.

Fall in Illinois

Yesterday we spent the day traveling down along the Illinois River to the place where it and the Missouri River converge into the Mississippi River. We stopped at Pere Marquette State Park and then onto a little town named Grafton - this little town of 650 people (according to the sign) was bumper to bumper traffic, all the restaurants had long line as well. Check out all the pics at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30094117&l=06e4c&id=1486308106 have a great Monday!