"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Captivating [wip wed. 4.24.2013]





















Have you a cup of tea at the ready?

I am longing for a visit with you.   

So here I am posting pictures of the beautiful Ruby shawl I am trying to crochet.  And isn't our cherry tree beautiful as it burst into bloom and is now releasing its blossoms in flurries?  And did you see one of our last red camelia blooms?  And then there is Mt. Hood in its beautiful snowy white cape.  And Clara Parkes who publishes the Knitter's Review, and has written some fibery focused books, is also in the interesting process of following The Great White Bale of wool through all the stages of its processing and writing about it. It is a beautiful story, to me, that I hope she will turn into a  beautiful book :-)

For a little over a week, I have been reading [with highlighter in hand]  the New York Times bestseller, Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge.  In it  I read, "...it is God who reveals beauty as essential to life.  You are the image bearer of this God.  That is why you long for those things too.  There is a radiance hidden in your heart that the world desperately needs."

What is beautiful in and around you?

xx,
Gracie






31 comments:

  1. What beautiful wool, love the colours and the shawl will be lovely. Awsome pictures too, never get tired of seeing a snowy mountain.
    Beautiful things here has been having family come and stay ☺ ☺
    wendy in oz xo

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  2. You, my friend are one of the beautiful "things" around me. Not that you're a thing though! :-). Your shawl is coming along wonderfully and your photos are so beautiful. Thank you for the comment you left for me. If feel so amazed at the friendship that has sprung up between us. God is SO good to send me friends like you.
    (I think we should both hop in the car and head for Teresa's camp. I never have weather as good as hers at the coast.)
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  3. Wow Gracie.mwhatban amazing post. I love the shawl is starting to look soo beautiful. And the pictures are to make one breathless. Your friendship is a blessing to me and makes my life more beautiful. That sounds like its a wonderful book. I hope you are having a wonderful week. :)

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  4. Wow, such evocative images in this post.. you are beginning to be quite the photographic artist! There is so much beautiful around me - but you know that because I share it, like you do. We'll be heading home tomorrow - thanks for checking on our chickens. Did you enjoy the eggs? I look forward to seeing you again, soon!! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. It was our pleasure to check on your chickens and collect some of the beautiful and yummy eggs your hens produce! Thank you for your trust. My kids think you have a beautiful farm and they enjoyed visiting your feathered friends :-) I look forward to our next visit as well !
      xx,
      Gracie

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  5. Not just the cherry tree, but ALL of the trees in your front yard are beautiful! Oregon is such a gorgeous place. I loved it there!!! SO green and lush.
    Great pictures!!
    Happy almost weekend!
    xo Kris

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  6. Dear Gracie! I am so excited to find your blog in network, I see you are very interesting collocuter. I`m Maria, from Russia, Moscow, I`m 38. But infortunately I have some priblems in my inglish skills, but I try to improve it. I would like to make friends with you, read your beautiful blog and post comments sometimes.
    I like knitting and other crafts, travelling, reading... What else?))) I like too many things!))
    These photos are wonderfull and so spring!Have a nice day, Gracie!

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments, and for introducing yourself, Mariah! I look forward to our blogging friendship and am now following your blog. I only know English and still make mistakes using it, so I admire that you know more than one language, even if you do make some mistakes, too. Blessings to you and yours,
      Gracie

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    2. Thank you, Gracie!
      I studied english at school and University, but I don`t have a conversation practise enough, so I forget it... My blog is in russian, and, it will be dificult for your understanding even using google translator, but I can explain somethings to you if you would like.
      Do you understand my english well? )) I start to listen radio in english (exactly, american english) and I hope to speak better...

      With the best wishes, Mariah.

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    3. The Google translator is helping me understand your blog, but I will ask you for extra help if it fails.
      Thanks from Gracie :-)

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  7. hello Gracie and what a beautiful post with beautiful photographs. Love the colours in the shawl. There are many beautiful things around me- although cold here the leaves and blossoms have finally appeared and are stunning. Later on after school my beautiful D.I.L. and my granddaughters will visit me. We will soon be seeing our other son and his beautiful family.
    I am feeling very fortunate. I have received some gifts for my granddaughters from a fellow blogger and have two new followers. One of my new followers is Taci!! Hope you have a lovely weekend. Hugs Anne x

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  8. I never tire of pictures of Mount Hood. Spring is starting here a bit late!

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  9. Gracie, your photos are always such a pleasure to see....they are all so beautiful especially your cherry tree....one I would really love to have! Mt. Hood is looking good.... always gorgeous, something I have never seen in person. Such a beautiful place where you live!
    Keep those pictures coming!
    Hugs, Shari

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  10. Your photos are always so pretty. I love the shawl you are starting.

    Blessings always

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  11. YOU KNOW now that the green is all around you and the flowers have burst, I dont want to see snowy peaks!!! Ha ha ha.
    I love all the images and I love the yarn colors.
    I love your quote and heres whats beautiful around me:

    the hasta are shooting up from the ground
    the forsythia are in bloom
    the daffodils have peaked out
    and the moon was glorious on my way home from work last night

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  12. Beautiful pictures. I remember my dad use to take us often to MT Hood to play in the snow when we were growing up. Just wondered what kind of blossoming tree is that? Apple or Walnut or?

    enjoy your day

    Erika

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    1. The white flowering trees near me are mostly wild cherry trees, but I am not sure what the pink blossoming trees are. We had several pink blossoming dogwood trees in the last place we lived, but they were a rounder shape than the ones I have seen most recently. However perhaps what I am seeing closest to me now are just a different variety of dogwood.
      I'm glad you are enjoying the photos, Erika. I am having fun sharing them :-)
      Gracie

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  13. What gorgeous photos, as always. I must say the sight of evergreens just dotted about pulls on my heartstrings. What is beautiful here in Aberdeen: the colours of the evening reflected on the River Dee; a blue heron fishing; a day of sun and hailstones; the scent of daffodils in a vase; the smile on my daughter's face when she's feeling better. So much to be grateful for. Oh and the full moon! Which will look the same as in Oregon. :-)

    By the way, I pointed Lorna of the Lorna's Tearoom Delights blog towards your own blog; she did a post about "Dull [Scotland] and Boring [Oregon]".

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  14. All beautiful things. I really enjoyed this post. You live in such a pretty place and I really enjoy seeing pictures of it. I love that shawl you are making.

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  15. Your blog and kind words are always beautiful to me Gracie.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  16. You know what is beautiful in my life and around me right now.
    I like the statement that we are the image bearers of beauty--just as we were created in the likeness of the Creator and bear His image.

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  17. This post is beautiful, for one....

    I love that gleam of the mallard's head in the background of the hanging branches. And all your lovely photos - what is that flowering tree?

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  18. Ahhh beautiful photos. I love the one of the duck with the branches as the focus in front. So pretty.

    My 12-day-old nephew had surgery to remove a tumor today. It's been a scary time, but the photo of him post-surgery, alive and well, is the most beautiful thing I've seen in a long time.

    x
    Jenny

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  19. Oh, I love the colors in that Ruby shawl you're making!! Debra Norville has a nice line of yarn and I'm seriously thinking of getting some of that very same color. And it goes without saying that you truly do live in a beautiful area there. I love seeing all your beautiful photos!!

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  20. So many lovely photos, you tree is indeed glories.

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  21. Hello Gracie,

    I simply had to add my penny's worth to all your other lovely comments! Your pictures are beautiful and so very inspiring. Beauty is everywhere we look these days! I've been living for four years in the Loire Valley now and I have never before seen such profuse blossom on the fruit trees.

    I wish you a very happy week.

    Stephanie

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  22. Gorgeous pictures of the blossom trees and wonderful Mt Hood! In fact all your photos were a joy to see! Your new shawl is looking lovely too, Gracie.
    Wishing you a happy week.
    Helen x

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  23. Beautiful photo's - as always! I love the way that you capture the images and share them with us all :) I can't wait to see your shawl when it is finished and the colours in it look fantastic.
    Beauty is all around us at the moment - the earth is springing back to life and the colours of blossom mingled with all the varying shades of green make me really happy.
    Have a lovely week x x

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  24. Hello Gracie,
    How lucky you are to have such lovely views from your windows. Is that your garden? It looks quite big to me. Isn't cherry blossom just lovely..... so delicately tinged with pink. Lovely shawl....perfect for those colours. Ruby red... how very exotic but beautiful.

    The storms have gone elsewhere now and we have a beautifully sunny spring day here in Alicante.

    Many thanks for popping into my blog and for your kind comments.

    keep well

    Amanda :-)

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  25. I love the blossom and the mountains.
    Sarah x

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  26. Wow, the mountain behind the Maple is amazing. Great wool for crochet, don't have to keep changing the balls.

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Thank you for visiting me today! I welcome your comments!