Tommy and Smokey, my assistants
joining me on the screen porch
A couple weeks ago, I was looking for something that would hold my color pencils that I use when journaling (a habit forced encouraged by a dear friend of mine back in May.) Did I tell you about this already? If you've heard it before, just stop me. Anyway, I reluctantly began journaling and it was like drudgery! But after about a week, I decided it wasn't too bad, and now I can't stay away from it. I went from a nearly empty page each day to one filled with text, quotations I like, Scripture I love, and little things I like to draw. No, I'm not an artist, but really, the more I do this the easier it seems to become. And almost as addictive as eating pistachios while watching a movie!
So back to the point of all this: I tried carrying my color pencils in a Tupperware box. Ugh. Then I found a nice pencils box here in the house (one of those things I didn't purge - see?), but then went on Amazon to see if I could find a briefcase or something that would be handy to carry with me. I looked at cases with handles, but I already carry a large canvas bag and it would be one more thing!
Then I saw this colorful holder with spaces for 72 color pencils. It rolls up and easily fits into my canvas bag along with my journal, my wallet, and my little English red phone box tin of mints - so it's easy to carry with me. I ordered it. This is one reason Amazon loves me. Although I don't get birthday greetings from them like I do from Google.
See? All wrapped up
Here's the Amazon link in case anyone's interested:
I love the fabric too. A nice canvas-type fabric with a print I like.
It came with two long black cords for tying it up after you've rolled up the canvas.
You've got to be kidding me! That is SO much work and such a nuisance! So I cut the cords off and got two large ponytailers that I can quickly slip onto the roll.
Perfect!
You can see by my journal entry above, that I didn't seem to know what day it was before I started. Good grief!
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."
Join Joyce and the Gang
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She writes the questions;
we write the answers.
Plug them into their own blog
and join in!
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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