Mountain Musings

Flying High ~ Day 2

Until last week, Sarah was the only member of our family who had never flown before. That all changed when our friends from Texas rented an airplane for three hours one morning so their son Erich could fly us around the area and show us his piloting skills.

Here are Sarah and Mr. E. heading across the tarmac to catch their 30-minute ride. She survived and seemed to enjoy her first flight! Yay, Sarah!

Meanwhile, as each twosome was in the air, whoever wasn't flying played Dutch Blitz in the airport lounge to pass the time. We think they are now hooked on this fun game!

Erich did a fine job of showing us the sights (along with a few special moves demonstrating zero gravity...scream!), even letting us take the wheel to "fly" briefly. That made me quite nervous!

We flew over our house and saw our gardens, shed, and new addition from above. We also saw the Showalters' farm over at Heartland Harvest from the air, our friends the Wagners' house, and our local quarry. That was all so interesting!

 
Of course, we had to take a picture of the whole gang in front of the airplane after we all were back on the ground.

Thank you, Erich and family, for such a unique excursion...definitely not one we'd be privileged to do every day! It was fun!

~Deb

Next: Day 3 ~ Polyface Farm Tour

Texas Meets Virginia! ~ 1

We were delighted to host new family friends from Texas last week...lots of activities, lots of pictures, and lots to blog about! Hang on!

Erich (top right), a young man in our church who works with Jonathan, invited his family to come to Virginia for a visit to meet his friends and church family. We enjoyed hosting them while they were in our area. What a wonderful peak week for leaves here in the Valley...I think they fell in love with our mountains and cooler weather!

Day 1 ~ Hiking, Hymns, and Haircuts

Nothing like a hike to stretch your legs after a 24-hour drive! The first day we drove north and hiked Wolf Gap at Big Schloss, geocacheing while there, and picnicking afterward.

 

Each evening after supper we gathered for family devotions and a time of hymn singing.

And...since everyone left Texas needing a haircut, Kandace obliged by giving each of the guys in her family a cut...including shaving off a beard! Here they are all lined up...from oldest to youngest!

I think the first day was a great success, and there's more fun to come!

~Deb

Next: Day 2 - Flying High!

Praises and Sighs...

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  ~ Romans 8:28

Here's an update for those of you keeping up with the saga of moving my mom here to live with us. The good news: the new addition will be ready in one week!! Praise the Lord!

The not-so-good news: the buyer for her house just backed out of the deal! Sigh.

Please, please pray for my mom's emotions through all this and mostly for her health. This has been so hard for her to go through. Pray that another buyer will come along soon, and pray for us as we move her here this weekend.

The painters are here today; bathroom cabinets are being installed; and flooring folks show up on Friday. Things are wrapping up. Pictures of the finished project soon!

~Deb

Harvest Squash Bread

Take an acorn squash or two...

sliced in half and baked until soft....

Use mashed squash in Harvest Squash Bread dough....

Let loaves rise...

and enjoy a wedge!

~Hannah

Pumpkin Table Runner

 

Judi, over at Green Fairy Quilts, sewed this beautiful table runner and posted a tutorial of how to make one for your own fall table. I love those oranges! Someone will win one of her pumpkin table runners by leaving a comment on her blog. Winner's name will be drawn on Friday. Stop by and see what else Judi has in her shop!

~Deb

Leaf Peeping at Wintergreen

Over the weekend we decided to get away for a few hours to do some leaf peeping; so we drove up to Wintergreen Ski Resort, about an hour from us here in the Valley.

Some of the leaves had turned, especially in the higher elevations, but the majority around the Afton Mountain area have quite a ways to go for pretty fall color.

We had hoped the ski lift would be operating so we could take a chilly chair ride down the mountain, but we were a couple of weekends too early.

 

Maybe we'll head back to snowy Wintergreen next season for some skiing...and for some hot chocolate drinking and knitting in the lodge for non-skiers like me!

~Deb
 

I Was Glad...

...when they said unto me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord."

~ Psalm 122:1

~Deb

Friday Night Crunch Time

It's Friday night...you know, the Friday night before the second Saturday of the month, the Saturday the Block of the Month is supposed to be finished! Which means if I haven't even started sewing, it's c-r-u-n-c-h time, big time!

I told myself that this year's blocks would not be saved until the last minute! But, really, so much has been going on...

A quick recap: the girls and I spent four days last week helping my mom pack up lots of stuff, price articles for a huge yard sale, and in general, prepare to move her here with us. It was a very busy time!

Construction on the new addition is really coming along: the deck is completely finished now after delivery of the railings was delayed a bit; brick on the far side is up; siding on the back is almost done; windows are in; insulation was installed today; the door was cut in from Sarah's room so she's moved upstairs for now; and the sheet rock is scheduled for Monday! Whew!

Word from the builder: he's anticipating three more weeks to be finished! My mom's move is scheduled for October 30 - 31st. Sounds like it could be just the perfect transition into her new room. More busy weeks a'comin!

Back to sewing...Sarah is taking this year's Block of the Month class with me. Of course, she's all done with her block ahead of time!

I hope my block turns out this perfect; all her seams match! Well...back to sewing! I have some stitching to do before I can sleep!

Everyone have a great weekend!

~Deb
 

Singing Psalm 119

Dad has recently begun the endeavor of teaching through Psalm 119 on Sundays. Yesterday we studied the third octet of verses, mainly focusing on the phrase in verse 18, "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." We sang this new hymn corresponding to the theme of the illumination of God's Word by His Spirit.

I have been meaning to post a link to a helpful recording that was given to us several years ago. It is the whole chapter of Psalm 119 musically arranged and sung in 4-part harmony by some folks in PA. You can download the tracks for free here or purchase a CD here. Hearing Scripture set to music is known to be quite beneficial in the pursuit of memorization. This CD includes original compositions as well as familiar tunes such as "Pomp and Circumstance" or "The Skye Boat Song."

Here is another album I've been listening to lately. Psalms of Praise features 41 selections from The Book of Psalms for Singing, also tastefully sung in harmonious a cappella style. Great listening!

Comment with any of your favorite Scripture song recommendations.

~Hannah