End of September Garden Harvest

My garden is still in harvest mode, this late in September!  When I checked on my tomato plants, I found this huge caterpillar...

It's a tobacco hornworm, and it will eat through tomatoes at a voracious rate.  Three tomatoes were a loss because of this little booger.  It's not so little, either--it's huge.  It also has some decent camouflage--I didn't realize I was taking pictures of its rear end until I looked it up and noticed the red spike on the back end.  Little stinker.  I broke off the branch it was hanging out on, and set it on the picnic table for a few extra pictures, then left that dude to fend for itself.  Not in my garden, bro!

The Alpine strawberries were still producing, as you can see below, and I got a nice handful for a morning bowl of oatmeal tomorrow.

Harvest:  a nice colander of Garden Peach (yellow) tomatoes, Early Girl tomatoes (still going strong!), a few plump jalapenos, a handful of Alpine strawberries, and a nice bunch of green beans.  You can see I'm going to have to work on harvesting the parsley, too, as it's surrounding my colander like a jungle!

I'm thankful that the Lord blessed this year's harvest.  We may not have much money while Fernando's business is struggling to get off the ground, but we have fresh food for now and for a little while, too.  There's nothing like real food from your own garden!


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

Down at the River

Today found us in Princeton, Illinois, at the site of the Captain Swift Bridge, the only two-lane covered bridge in Illinois.  No one was jumping off the bridge; we were next to it, along the Big Bureau Creek, to witness the public baptism of two young men.

Big Bureau Creek was muddy-looking this afternoon, and seemed to be rather shallow.  But you need only a few feet for a baptism, so it would work.  Turned out there's a deep channel a little more than halfway across, and the guys stood almost chest-deep in water--plenty for today's ceremony!

Lakota was baptized first, then Robin.

We had a time of prayer over these two young men who publicly dedicated their lives to Christ.

The B. family brought an old pump organ, so we had an accompaniment to our singing!

We all signed the baptism certificates as witnesses.

It's amazing and praise-worthy to see young folks declaring their allegiance to Jesus Christ because of a heart saved by His blood!


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

Birthday Week-End

The culmination of my birthday week was a lovely Saturday spent at Pamela's house, where she had invited several ladies for brunch and uplifting conversation and time together.

The ladies humored my need for a photograph.  :)

Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

Birthday Week -- Bubble Tea

Toward the end of my official birthday week, Sarah (adult daughter of one of my church friends) invited me over to teach me how to make bubble tea.  Sarah and her sisters all pitched in, and I watched, asked questions, and learned how to make this Taiwanese tea-based drink.

Cooking up the boba (black tapioca balls) on the stovetop.

Sarah made the tea earlier, and once the boba were done (was done?  Is boba plural??) she mixed it all up and served it in glasses with fat straws (the tapioca balls are large!).

What a fun afternoon!


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

Birthday Week -- A New Park

This sunny, warm afternoon found me running out to my local photography print lab to pick up portraits I shot of some of the guys on the football team (I had been hired to do portraits, head shots, and two home games!!).  I had noticed this park down the street from the lab; it's not on my usual way home, but one day I went the opposite direction down the street and found this.  Today, I stopped for a little bit to wander and take some pictures to include on my website.  I have a section dedicated to session locations for my clients to browse in case they're stuck for where we can take pictures together.

Don't you love the stone bridge?

Weeping willows are so pretty.

A bridge on the other side of the street, next to some baseball fields.

It was so nice to take a little "alone break" for an hour this week.


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

More 50th Birthday Week Fun

The picture says it all.  I wanted Fernando to take me shooting with my Dad.  So he did.

We had so much fun!  Dad took to the range pretty quickly, and was an amazing shot with both a Glock 19 and our 22 rifle.  He tried the S&W revolver but didn't like it as much as I do (love that gun!)

Looking back, here's a phone picture Fernando took of me from my very first time shooting a handgun (revolver) at the shooting range.

What fun!


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

A Sweet Gift

The day after one's birthday is always hard, especially if one has stayed up late, then has to get up to take one's son to the train station at 6:00am.  Sigh.

But, when I stumbled downstairs to grab my purse and a car key this morning, I saw this sitting on the counter...

Danny had made tea for me--organic Irish Breakfast tea, in my Polish pottery mug, filled up nice and high, with an inverted saucer over the top to keep it hot.

A sweet morning gift from a precious son.


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

My Actual Birthday

Lots of birthday posts here lately!  I have only one birthday, but this 50th birthday continued for a week!  I'm hoping it'll last longer than that--not because of gifts or anything, mind you, but because it's a new era, a new season in my life.  And, I want to take advantage of the time I now have, and live it to the fullest.  Life, and that more abundantly.

Today is Monday, and it was a fine day for a birthday.  It was still warm outside, and one of the things I decided to do was to hop on over to Goodwill with my 25% off to see what I could find.  My mom came with me, too!

I discovered a set of blue glasses, and decided for $8-9 I would replace the mishmash of glasses in my kitchen cabinet with them.  I also found a pretty, brand-new fall/spring top with beading around the neckline for a few dollars.

While Mom and I stood in line, someone came walking up to me--my "sister" Tressey!!  She had been at my house to wish me a happy birthday in person, and the guys told her where I was.  We chatted in the store, through the checkout line, then out into the parking lot before hugs were exchanged and Mom and I went home.  When I walked into the kitchen, I saw what Tressey had dropped off:

After dinner, we had CAKE, the second cake Becki made for me.  We brought it home on her well-used jelly roll pan, but that cake is ure pretty!

I asked my guys, and my parents, to sing to me, and they did.

Danny sang quite elaborately, too!

What a fun birthday!  Here are the glasses I bought...

And the top...

I am blessed.


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

The Day Between Days

The Day Between Days.  Or, the day after our anniversary, and the day before my birthday.  That's what today was, and it was a special one!

First, we went to Grace Church, the home church of our friends the B. family, where other friends attend as well.  It was a beautiful service--so refreshing to worship the Lord and study the Word together.  My friend Becki baked me a cake!!  Chocolate with chocolate frosting, as I had "requested" in a past conversation.

I spent the day with these sisters!

After church, Pamela said they had a family commitment, Karen and her family left, and our family followed Becki back to her home.  We talked about going to El Zarape, a local Mexican restaurant.  We had eaten there once before and the food was delicious, so I wanted to go back for my birthday.

Becki's family decided to go with us, so we followed them there, then walked into the restaurant.  I kept following them to a back room, then I was ushered in and---SURPRISE!  I have no pictures of it, but they were forwarded to me.  If you see videos below, I've updated this post.  :)

Everyone was stuffed, to say the least--great food, lots of great friends...  My parents came, too!  Since they decided to come home early from the lake (instead of staying through the beginning of October), they made the drive out west to surprise me for my birthday.  *big grin*

Back at the Becki's home, we chatted and lingered, until we really had to be getting home.  Becki presented me with another whole chocolate cake with chocolate frosting!  I guess we'd have to eat it throughout the week--oh, my.  I really would be getting a birthday week!

My day between days was extra special this year, and I'm so thankful I got to spend it with extra-special friends and family.


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

Reflections on 28

Darling,

We made it another year, Papi.  I look at that photo above and see the picture of us on our wedding day, and marvel that we thought we were so mature back then.  We really were just kids, weren't we?

We've had a fairly easy marriage, a fairly simple relationship.  Being opposites, we just fit.  I don't understand you; you don't understand me.  And most of the time that works smoothly and seamlessly!  Seriously, though, we've experienced a lot, and lately, a lot more than we thought we'd ever be facing at this point in our lives.  It's one thing to be broke newlyweds, living on love, so to speak, and quite another to be oldy-weds (ha!) in extremely difficult ongoing circumstances.  Our cares and concerns are different now, since then we literally had nothing but a few pieces of furniture and few responsibilities, and now--the issues seem to be overwhelming.

You know I'm not going to write a flowery, ornate missive here.  Simply, the Lord has kept us, and He is faithful.  I've quoted the following verse throughout my posts about our journey these past few years, and I'll quote it here because when all is said and done, His faithfulness is what has kept us, in His care and as one together.

This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23 NASB

I love you, and thank God for 28 amazing years together.

Yours forever,

Your Girly.


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website

Reflections on 50

Fifty is almost here.  Since my town is as old as I will be in a few days, I borrowed one of their celebratory signs down the street from home, and gave Fernando a photography lesson to capture the joy of a rather huge milestone.

It's funny how I feel 18 in my heart, though my body obviously doesn't cooperate with that much younger and invincible age.  I'm determined to have fun with this new stage of life, because it's either celebrate with enthusiasm or mope like Eeyore--and who wants to live the entire second half of her life like a gloomy donkey?  Not I.

I decided, unilaterally of course, that I deserved an entire birthday week.  So today, to start things off, since Fernando was free during the day, we parked on the side of the road near one of the "50" signs and had some fun.  It took just a little bit to decide that I didn't care what other people thought as they drove by looking at the crazy lady making weird faces in front of the big 50.  I decided it's time to stop caring what others think; that's not meant in the sense that I don't put others first--it's meant that I am going to live my life out as the Holy Spirit directs, without worrying about the judgment of others because it doesn't measure up to their personal standards.  For those of you who are thinking, Oh my goodness, she's wearing jeans! I say, You may not have the freedom to do so; I do.  And I love you in the Lord.

It wasn't until I turned 30 that I was comfortable with who I am.  I'm still trying to figure it out.  I don't fit the traditional female mold, I've tried to be that ideal woman, but now I'm just being me, quirky personality and all.  I will be a little crazy at times.  And I'll also be sweet and kind, because I have a tender heart toward others.

But, I'll also stick out my tongue at you--playfully, of course, because I'm having fun and I want you to have fun, too.

A personal photo shoot is hard work, involving teaching Fernando how to compose the image the way I want, then getting set up and hoping I look okay and he's focusing properly, and trying to hold my smile while he counts, oh so slowly, "One...  Two...  Three..." and finally the shutter snaps.  "Count faster, honey!"  But we got some great shots, I think. 

At the end of the day, the guys got me my favorite treat:  Ooey Gooey Concrete from Andy's.

I think I'll have a very special year.


Back to life,
Christine

Visit my photography blog
Visit my photography website