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Summer and Sundays

We've seen some crazy weather systems this summer.  

One early morning in June (and I mean '1:30' a.m. early) we found ourselves ~ a small band of the PJ-clad and the utterly fascinated, woken from sleep and standing slack-jaw in front of an upper story bedroom window.  

Slack jawed and naive I might add.

The violence & fury of thunder & lightning of that night (along with the hurricane force winds bowing our trees every which way) was matched, perhaps even trumped! 

at the end of August ~ 

a storm we watched from a basement window this time around.

Saner yes, but not near as much bang for your buck as the saying goes.

                            And yet ...

Who can watch such a display of power and might and not feel very small indeed?

This is what I've come to appreciate most about Storms in general, whether they be spiritual, physical, emotional or geographical...

they put me in my place and in a proper perspective.

Dependent and very much at the mercy of the Creator of the universe.

The same One who scoops the ocean in his two hands,

measures the sky between thumb and pinkie,

who marches an army of stars out each night, 

counts them off, calls each by name...

Calls each by name!

Seriously, who do we think we are?

Who even comes close to being like God?

We had a terrific sermon this morning covering 

the comfort message of Isaiah 40.  

What a great Word that is.

Need some encouragement?

You'll find it there in spades.

Happy Sabbath Rest to all.

Summer Sweeping By

Four grandchildren are heading off to school for the first time this September.  

Apparently, my angst over this fact shows up all over my face.  Now, when this delightful passel of pure innocence barges through the door ~ all tripping over each other in the mad crush to be the first to update me with the latest school supplies, they check themselves.  They even assume an apologetic tone and quickly assure me that they can still visit when they have holidays.
Pfft!!

      I am trying to put on a braver face and act more mature.

The grandkids are wearing their crochet hat creations by Tricia.
As soon as I can recover the name of her business, I shall set up a link here.

L'il Ones Custom Crochet Creations

Thanks Amy!  :)

One thing I AM celebrating with great pleasure

is the completion of my first ever blog book!

 A Once-in-a-lifetime trip to England in 2008 with my baby girl was encapsulated in my first ever blog which in turn has finally become my first ever blog book.
I had set aside July to get that job done and missed that deadline by a mere three days.  

160 high quality gloss pages showcasing more than 600 photos and accompanied with copious amounts of  journalling and memories.

 I am extremely pleased with the results.  And trust me, 

ANYONE can do this if I can.  

Look up Blurb Booksmart  and let your imagination go!

A fitting tribute to summers end may be a picture of my first ever sighting of the Cicada.

Who can even imagine the haze of those hot summer days without the piercing buzz of the Cicada? 

One of these locust-looking insects woke me up at 4am from its perch on the foyer wall a few weeks ago and I simply had to take a picture.  

Then I had to find some courage to 'dispose' of it somehow so I could get back to sleep.

This particular specimen was about two inches in length, VERY leggy and three dimensional.

 I could not stomach the idea of splatting it against the wall so I swatted it with a wad of wet paper towel and scurried it out the front door.

*ish*

It was minus two legs ~ carnage I found in the morning.  Ugh.

First Annual Chesley Coffeehouse

Without Mom that is.

She kept the tradition running for 35 years in a row.  

As torch bearers, unwilling to let such a fine tradition die an ignoble death, we held our first Sunday Coffeehouse in her honour.  Two precious family friends, Uncle Bert & Aunt Arien from Owen Sound  (who know our Mom better and longer than anyone of us) happily*bravely accepted our invitation to submerge themselves in our mass gathering & share in our time of remembrance.

It started the week before the wagon train set out, a simple mass e-mail suggestion.

Sunday Gathering moves from Crooked Cottage 26 
to Cottage 68 down from the Chapel.  

Coffee and Juice are on the house.  
Bring smiles and baked goods to share.  

If everyone brings a bit we'll have a lot.  

This was the Understatement of the Week.

Within 24 hours, the RSVP's were sailing thru cyber space at lightning speed, everyone spurring sparring each other on with the promise of a dessert 

more elaborate and sinful than the last.  

Citrus Cheesecake, Strawberry Trifle, Oven Fresh Cinnamon Buns, Mom's Famous Mocha Bars...

It was getting serious.  

As one nephew observed, "My inbox hurts".

The whole thing somehow spun itself into a bona fide Bake-Off Competition with official prize ribbons (designed by Cathy) and awarded by self-appointed family 'dignitary'  Sir William Casey the 5th and his faithful, taste-tester man-servant, Atchoo... 

??? ...yep.  

Clearly this family of ours was over-due for a reunion.

The next competition will follow a rule book 

(now in draft mode if you can believe it) 

and the one impeachable offence sadly but swiftly disqualified these contributions 

sans discussion OR apology.  

Hard core competitive. tsk. tsk.

Contributions in serious contention however....

 

Brittany said she'd bake three things and bring the best out of three or the least burnt.  She scored honourable mention despite her lack of confidence...   

Meanwhile, a thing of MAJOR attraction 

was going down on the dock below...

Uncle Case was offering personal guided tours 

of Chesley Lake in his motorboat.

The line-up was long and endless and
have the undeniable makings of a great Chesley memory.

A break for station identification while I pause for a 

gander at some of the most highly esteemed little peeps 

of my life:

*sigh*  - have enjoyed several quiet conversations with our sweetpea JB, 

the newest lamb-chop in the flock.

And now - the moment we've all gorged for.

Votes were tallied.  Sir William Casey stood -- a hush went thru the crowd.

Third place goes to Andrea for the recipe Mom's Mocha Whatchamecallit

Second place is awarded to Sarah for the 

instantly devoured Oven Fresh Cinnamon Buns

First place to (surprise, surprise) Michelle, 

whose reputation for home baking is legendary and 

whose Strawberry Trifle Delight was (yes indeed) incredibly awesome!

But wait!

What's this?  

Michelle carelessly leaves her first place ribbon behind?

Lying neglected in the crumbs?

Not to worry.  

It was promptly scooped up by Susie - 

purveyor of no less than TWO 

(albeit untouched) store-bought 

(i.e. ruthlessly scorned) desserts.  

Her very wide smile proves the proverb:

He who laughs last, laughs best!

You gotta love it.

I'm quite sure Mom would have approved.