Bits of Life Wednesday - Hodgepodge

It's as though the mare turned and said,
'Stand up, Honey! Can't you see she's taking our picture?!'

Who? Where??

They're Percherons, I believe, such beautiful draft horses!

I found the following bit of information interesting: (from Wikipedia)

"The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Huisne river valley in western France, part of the former Perche province from which the breed takes its name. Usually gray or black in color, Percherons are well muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. Although their exact origins are unknown, the ancestors of the breed were present in the valley by the 17th century. They were originally bred for use as war horses. Over time, they began to be used for pulling stagecoaches and later for agriculture and hauling heavy goods. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Arabian blood was added to the breed. Exports of Percherons from France to the United States and other countries rose exponentially in the late 19th century, and the first purely Percheron stud book was created in France in 1883." 

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1. What has been the highlight of your summer so far? (It's still summer people!)

It might still be summer in your neck of the woods, but it's looking VERY like fall up here in NW Wisconsin. Soybeans are turning yellow, corn is ripe, sumac is turning red, the petunias are very leggy, etc.  And are we ever getting the rain!

But the highlight of our summer would have to be the birth of our FIRST GREAT GRANDCHILD:

Sweet P

2. What do you wish you'd done more of this summer? Less of?

I wish I'd spent more time at any of Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes. I wish I'd thought less about sorting through books and downsizing and how I should be doing more of it but wasn't. We spent good times with our two daughters' families, one in Wausau and the other in Madison, enjoyed birthday parties for a couple grandkids, a big family reunion, and the week that two of our grandsons were here with us.

Two very special grandsons!

Lake Mendota

at

UW Madison

3. Something you're looking forward to on your September calendar?

There's nothing specific on our September calendar except for dental appointments, but September, if it can get this rain out of its system pretty soon, should be a beautiful month. It usually is, and we typically get beautiful sunrises in September. I'm looking forward to the drier air (my hair will be so happy!), the cool and crisp of fall, and of course the color of God's landscape!

 A September morning in 2014

And I will be planning our October 13 'Early Thanksgiving.' We're hoping to get the whole family together, here, for that.

4. Best/favorite book you've read this summer?

My TWO favorites (in this order) would be 'Four Witnesses' by Rod Bennett, which I would encourage everyone to read:

and...

'Olivia the Spy,' by Ian Falconer,  Kindle version purchased while visiting grandkids. :-) (which I would encourage everyone to read aloud to their grandkids!)

5. Share something positive, encouraging, or uplifting here.

There is nothing more positive, encouraging, and uplifting that I can think of, than knowing that God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe loves me, is merciful, forgiving, and in control of all things. And that Jesus is the exact representation of God (because he IS God). It is a great truth that we need to keep in mind when the world seems to be going crazy around us.

“Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19  

  “'For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you,' declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” ~ Isaiah 41:13-14

The Lord is My Light and My Salvation
based upon Psalm 27 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the amazing Joyce for her dedication to Wednesday Hodgepodge for all these years! That was incredible commitment, Joyce, and we're grateful that you gave us something to write about with such interesting/clever questions. I jumped onto the Hodgepodge bandwagon quite late, but when I did, I found it to be a great place to meet other bloggers, read their take on the questions, and have that special Wednesday post we all loved. Thank you, Joyce! Enjoy your new home, lake, and that darling grandson!

Tommy & Smokey say HI!

enjoying the morning sunshine

***

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Have a great Wednesday!

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