While We Were Lambing

During lambing season, we decided to take the back way home to catch a glimpse of the wildflowers.  The beautiful show of white trillium, red trillium, trout lily, wood geranium and violets made the trip up the steep, narrow, rough road well worthwhile.
Each time we come home this way our thoughts are drawn to what must have been going through the minds of our Great-Great Grandparents Andrew and Amy and our Great Grandparents David and Hannah as they made this trip by horse and wagon carrying all their worldly possessions to our high mountain home.
What a blessing it is to have the opportunity to travel so often in their ‘footsteps’.

Our Dear Raven R.I.P.

Our Raven was a rescue puppy in the truest sense of the phrase.  She and her siblings, their umbilical cords still attached, were left on the doorstep of a shelter during the night.  The shelter workers saved all but one of the eleven puppies.  They were moved to a private shelter, and when we went looking for a puppy, there was Raven sitting off in a corner by herself, the quietest little thing there. 

She grew into a beautiful dog, so full of love.  A fierce protector of her family, if we had to go down over the hill, she would wait at the pasture gate until we returned.   The finder of lost possessions, she would bring you things that belonged to you – a glove, a credit card, even an ear of corn out of an open trash can.  She loved to ‘help’ you put on your shoes, and paw at your leg while you were eating breakfast.  She loved to play Sit, Shake, Lie Down and would do the whole routine whenever she saw a treat in your hand.   She was loved by the barncats, especially Muffy who definitely considered Raven, her dog.  She was our buddy, our sidekick; she loved to ride in the truck and was always ready for a trip to the feed store.  A happy dog, her tail never stopped wagging.  
  

After battling for weeks with prescriptons, diet, new routines and finally hospitalization, we lost our battle against kidney failure and had to put Raven to sleep on Monday.  We held her and surrounded her with love until the very end.  She was our constant companion and is deeply missed. 

moment{s}

{this moment} – holiday moments 
A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week*.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
*participating with SouleMama… enjoying permission to break the rules
Hoping your holiday continues to be filled with the joy of family, the wonder of childhood and the peace of a few quiet moments of reflection.


Sunday Muse

Mt. Olivet

They sing of the church in the valley.
But my heart receives a great thrill
When I think of the home of my childhood
And the little white church on the hill.

It stands as a symbol of Gods love
And mother and father love too
For they went with us each Sunday morning
To show us the pathway so true.

God’s acre is near and our dear ones
Lie under its green grassy sod
Their lives have been our inspiration
We know they’ve gone home to God.

I’ve seen very beautiful churches
Some that I’ll never forget.
But none so dear as the church on the hill
The one that we call Olivet.

~ Great-Aunt Ida Dixon Price