The Autumn of Life

Greetings from NW Pennsylvania, the new frontier for this girl.

"Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all other seasons."  Jim Bishop

 I love this snap! It's the first time I went out to find fall color in PA. The light rain falling made it a mystical scene.

I'm still waiting for peak color in Brookville, The other week I drove into the forest in hopes of finding a little more. I wasn't disappointed. Light rain was falling as I drove through the forest, and peace was everywhere. Quiet, refreshing, beautiful. 

I hope you like some of my favorite snaps from that drive. 

I'm creating a new Shutterfly book of fall colors. I went through my journals to find quotes I like, and one particular quote caused me pause to ponder the words. C. S. Lewis said: "Yes, autumn is really the best of the seasons; and I'm not sure that old age isn't the best part of life. But of course, like autumn, it doesn't last."

I am in the autumn of life. As Charles Lowery said: "I am now officially too old to die young." But then he follows it up with: "It is the autumn of life . . . It's about dead and alive --- and I'm alive."

Autumn is truly a beautiful season of grandeur. And it's a season of dying. A cycle of life has ended, and a cold season of death follows. Too think, those beautiful colored leaves flying down to the ground and making a path of splendor is part of the dying process.   

I could have sat there forever listening to the water fall!

I celebrated six years of retirement this month. I'm so glad I was able to retire and enjoy a new season of life after years of working. Overall it's been good years, with my new season of life in NW PA finally over all the bumps and bruises.

Many people don't make it to retirement. Many people die shortly after retirement. We don't know when our last day will be lived on this earth. But until that happens, we're alive! Don't you want to go out in splendor like the autumn leaves?

You turn a corner and find something beautiful!

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, my new inspiration and desire in this season of life has moved to quilting. The thrill of quilting something and giving it to someone to encourage their heart is exciting.

Many of you have seen my "Hope" fabric. I've made many small pillows with the help of my friend, Gail, to give to people going through cancer treatments, or going through other difficulties. Now I want to make "Hope" quilted covers.

My newest quilt project is complete. I added some brighter colors in the design,and I'm pleased how it turned out.

I love the"Hope" fabric. Having that little word in the design is special. I believe in hope. I believe in God's Hope. And I want to share it.

So I will try and shine using the skills God has given me until my days on earth are over.

Not sure what kind of ferns those are on the ground but they were a lovely frame to the colorful forest!

A little walk across the bridge into the forest.

 I loved the surprise of leaves growing from the trunk!

Much can be said about Autumn being the best part of life. "The gift of old age is remembrance." unknown.There are many bumps and bruises in a life time, but there are also many good and fun times. Remembering the good and fun is a special blessing we have. Thank you God for memories.

When I take a picture it captures a memory. I may never see it again in person, but looking at the picture relives that special time. I think that's one reason I enjoy taking pictures. When looking at a picture it takes me back to that day in my life and the thrill of a special snap.

 “God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” J. M. Barrie

This pond was hidden from the road, but the map said it was here. So I walked just a few feet back into the woods and found it.

And writing is a form of remembering. I forget so many things in the process of living. But I can pick up my journals, and read my blog posts and remember what inspired those writings. It's all a part of my life. Never to be forgotten.

Yes, memory is a good remembrance of times gone by. Throw out the bad and hurt, and think on the good and happy. There's plenty of both, but dwelling on the bad cannot make it good. Dwelling on the good will bring smiles and peace.

Being older brings a lot of changes. You just have to laugh at all the strange things you do. But remembering the things of your life can bring great blessing.  Now that's something to ponder!

And a smile to leave you with . . .

 

"This is the first time I wallpapered a toilet seat cover," Jerry said, as he "installed" the picture at my Mom's request. And what does my 94 year old mother say: "Oh my, that's neat!"

"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more." Psalm 71:14

October News

Greetings from NW Pennsylvania, the new frontier for this girl.

It was a beautiful day to drive around and this barn stood out as we drove by. I'm usually partial to red barns, but this gray one made a pretty picture.

I was delighted to find an Amish village not far from home. Smicksburg is Amish Country in NW PA, about 45 minutes away. We visited there recently.

A small settlement of about 300 people, with a few shops to explore. We were pleased to find the Country Junction Restaurant. It's mentioned as being among the top 11 restaurants in PA. The food was delicious, the staff and service was great and the atmosphere was fun.

It's been difficult finding good restaurants. In MD we ate lunch out twice a week, mostly to get Mom out. We would drive an hour or two to good eating places. The only restaurants here that we have in MD are Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday and Hoss' Steak House, and all of them are 45 minutes away in DuBois.

Looks like a lot of events take place in Smicksburg. A fun place to visit!

So finding this new restaurant in Smicksburg was a great find! There are a few other restaurants we go to, one in Brookville, two in Punxsutawney (yes, Punxsutawney Phil's home) and one in Clarion.  And a favorite restaurant 15 minutes from home burned to the ground at the beginning of the summer. They've already started building and will reopen next spring.

I bought a new quilt centerpiece from an Amish home. It was a small building on their property and rugs and quilt pieces were offered. The quilt piece looks nice on the living room table. The owner told me of another lady who sells quilts in the next town over. I plan to visit it when we return.

As you can see I've proudly hung my very first quilt creation where I can see it from the couch. And those little figures are an old farmer and his wife. I drew a beard on the man so he'd look like Jerry. I bought them years ago and have always had them out to enjoy.

Speaking about quilts, I finished my second quilt creation! I'm so pleased. It's a 32" x 40" piece, and I love the colors. For only my second quilt piece, it turned out fairly well. I must admit, sewing all those lines through the middle wasn't easy. The first four lines I sewed weren't very good; the second four lines were a little better, and the rest turned out fairly well. I'm so thankful for this new creative outlet!

In September I enjoyed a girlfriend weekend in MD! I spent five days chatting with 14 friends. The sun shone, the temps were lovely and the company was grand! I wish I could have visited all my friends, but I'm thankful for those I was able to connect with.

They filled me with love, encouragement and happy memories, and I'll always be thankful for the friends God has given me. It was a beautiful five days driving to familiar homes and sitting down with friends.

My friend, Diana, colored these pages representing the things God has given me to do: Sewing, writing and photography. And I came home with a lot of goodies my friend's gifted me with. Thank you, dear friends! My friend, Carol's, deer also treated me with a walk through her field!

Fall will be in full bloom soon. I'll be driving around looking for beautiful scenes to photograph. I hope I'll have some lovely scenes to show you next time.

"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more." Psalm 71:14