The Giveaway Recipient Is . . .

But before I reveal who [I know. I know]  I just want to thank each of you who visit here.  Blogging would not be as compelling an activity for me were it not for you.  Your comments have often been my introduction to you.  I am enjoying getting to know you.  It is fun to realize our common interests, and thought provoking to consider our differing experiences :)  You make my life more beautiful, and I am grateful for you.  I hope that reading my blog will be a gift for you that you enjoy opening. 

My oldest daughter offered to pick my giveaway recipient who is ...

Meredith!!!  Can you please send me your mailing address?

Harvest time is one of my favorite seasons.  Lately I have been wanting to harvest some of my knitting and crochet projects, but I have to focus my busyness on those projects if I want that to happen:)  Are you harvesting anything?  xxx from Gracie

Dahlia Days

Saturday, on the way home from a wedding dress fitting, my daughters spotted a roadside stand selling Dahlias, so they bought several bouquets for us all to enjoy.  I wondered if the Dahlias came from the field across from Teresa's farm. Then Sunday afternoon we drove south to Canby, OR, to enjoy the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival at the fairgrounds.  I want to try to crochet some pumpkins and squash so I bought a couple of balls of yarn.  I was excited to find a drive band cord for my youngest daughter's spinning wheel, too!  I bumped into some friends from California there which was great fun!  And when I got home and checked my blog I found some comments from some new and some old blog friends!  Thanks so much for visiting!  On September 30, 2012,  I will be drawing a commenter's name in celebration of my first year of blogging; and in thanks for their visit and comments I will be sending them  a  gift.  Will you be the one who will receive a gift?  xxx from Gracie

Gracie's Flock of Sheep :)

One Journal's End

While on a weekend jaunt to the San Francisco Bay Area in California last weekend, I reached the final page of my Reasons to be Cheerful Journal...which, using a Pollyanna philosophy could be a reason to be cheerful, I guess, but left me feeling a bit sad nonetheless.  However, as I have typed before, I am so glad I saw Kate's blog challenge to journal a reason a day one has to feel cheerful!  It was especially good for me do so on the days when I had to ponder at length to recognize a reason :)  I have never tried to illustrate on a consistant basis, either, and doing that pleased the six-year-old within me immensely!  I found I could embrace my primitive style and not worry about whether anyone liked it or not.  I enjoyed the creative process and was grateful for it.  Following are photos of the last pages of my  journal and some glimpses of the sights and folks we saw while traveling.  We traveled many miles and shared many smiles.  What have your days been like?  Remember to leave a comment before September 30, 2012 if you would like a chance to receive my giveaway in celebration of my first year of blogging and in thanks for your visits :)  xxx from Gracie

Friday we drove south from Portland, Oregon, to the golden hills of California and Mt. Shasta.

My oldest daughter and I knit dishcloths along the way.

We stopped at Five Guys for burgers in Redding, California. 

We explored the Sundial Bridge in Redding.

Saturday we celebrated a first birthday!

On Sunday we crossed the Oakland Bay.

 

 We visited Great Grandma. 

We visited dear friends.

Monday we drove back to Portland, past pumpkins, tomato trucks, bales of hay, palm trees, windmills, and olive groves.

Time with Teresa

After completing a list of errands I drove out past Corbett, Oregon, to the Portland Women's Forum Viewpoint.

Although it was a misty day, the sight was still magnificent and mysterious...beckoning to be explored and enjoyed.

It reminded me of sights my husband and I saw in 1975 when we flew to South Korea to
visit the children we hoped to adopt.

In Corbett I stopped to take a picture of this sign that displays Teresa Kasner's artistry.

Then I drove to find Teresa and Dayle's farm which includes this pear tree,

this barn Dayle designed and built with the help of Teresa, their kids and a contractor who poured the foundation.

Autumn is gently showing up as the landscape tries out different color schemes, and I felt welcomed

as I first glimpsed the lovely old blue farmhouse peeking out at me from among the trees,

and I felt welcomed by the chuckling waterfall,

and Teresa who prepared a wonderful lunch for us to enjoy!

I brought baskets and candlesticks and UK Country Living Magazines and my computers 

and knitting and crocheting to play with at Teresa's and I got to play with Teresa's dollhouse,

and Buddy [Dog] and greet Lucy [Cat] and visit with Dayle a bit before and after he ran 

some errands, AND as I was leaving Teresa gave me some Coastal Living magazines to read

and a  formal introduction to the Girls [Hens]!

When I started blogging I had no idea how much fun I could have...how very blessed I would

feel as I meet other bloggers through their blogs and now Teresa face to face!  If you have not

already, I hope you will visit Teresa's blog and enjoy her beautiful view of the world around

her.

Remember if you want a chance to receive a little giveaway from me in celebration of my first

year of blogging and in thanks to those of you who interact with me, just leave a comment

on one of my posts this month, before September 30, 2012.

Are you having fun blogging :)   xxx from Gracie

Tomato Time

This is the picture I posted May 31, 2012, of our  test garden site for planter boxes we want to put somewhere in 2013. Our neighbor predicted we would not get any tomatoes because there was not enough sun in this spot....sigh....

September 11, 2012, I snapped this photo of my oldest grand girl running to report to me that we had some RED tomatoes!!  But our neighbor was probably right that this spot may not get enough sun.  Even though the plants were in fertile soil and were watered regularly, the plants look practically the same size they were three months ago!!!

But we are thankful for and enjoying the red, orange, and yellow tomatoes that have grown.  Quite a few of them never made it into the house because we just HAD to taste them to make sure they were ripe : )

I can't send you any tomatoes, but remember that I plan to send one of you the giveaway below on September 30, 2012, if you leave a comment and want to have a chance for me to draw your name.

Until then I have more to post to you because we just got back from a few days with family and friends in the San Francisco Bay area. I am wondering, "How is your creative life  growing?"  xxx from Gracie