It Finally Feels Like Spring ~

Last year I was sooooo looking forward to Autumn, even Winter, I realize there are those of you who cringe at the thought of cooler / cold seasons, but I really don't care for the dry, sometimes, intense heat of the desert. Now don't get me wrong I do love the beauty the desert has but the heat last longer than any cooler weather we might have. This past fall and winter it was un-usually dry and mild, not good for fruit trees that need a good chilling. 

When I took these pictures of what made it through the winter I was very impressed.  Even the cheap clearance plants from Tractor Supply came through. When I took the first group of photo's it was a cooler cloudy day which was sought after by me since March was awful and unusually hot! All of us here were commenting about it, but not holding our breath in hopes it would turn to the normal Spring temps. And then it was finally a reprieve. Yay!

He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. Psalm 135:7 ESV

He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls dsown his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. Psalm 147:15-18

Today I took the pics below and so excited about the blossoms on my Meyer Lemon - As I'm hoping for lemons! Last year I got eleven.

 

God is good always, I wasn't able to tend to anything the last few years and I was blessed with what harvest we got. This year the only thing I'm not certain about is the fruit trees. They took a beating with the heat and several limbs didn't make it. I hope they come around and I pray I'm able to help them along.

Here we are almost halfway through April and this past week has been beautiful and what a blessing to go from the stark - dust - and heat of March. I am truly thankful. They say summer is going to be a bear, but my son mentioned we might get El Nino this year that could interfere with our weather I hope that reprieve will last longer ~ a lot longer. :)

"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." Genesis 8:22 ESV

Weather is always changing like our seasons ~ But He is in control of them all and I'm glad He is.

Wednesday Trash Day ~

No kidding Wednesday is our trash day.  But what I'm talking about is a different type of trash.  One that pollutes are skies here in Graham County.  We are known for our beautiful skies and especially at night when it's really dark, you can't even image the stars that you see,  God's beautiful galaxy is absolutely stunning!  The skies here are so perfect for viewing that we have an International Observatory with one of the largest and most powerful telescopes in the world.  I previously blogged listing a couple links here.  But in recent years we have become what seems to be the testing ground of many flight type patterns.  Some even have oily type of film / residue that the sun reflects off in the trails coming from flights.  Below and taken through our not so clean car window, on the lower left hand side is an oil film.  We see this often.  :(  I wished I had a better picture - I'm sure I'll have another opportunity.

4/20/15 6:14 AM 

I talk to many people and of all ages who have lived here all their lives.  When asked about the hazy overcast to heavily overcast days they can't recall a time when its been quite like this.  This isn't just today - it is often and on going.  I just happened to have noticed this morning there was excess amount of rows from the flying and of course I had my cell on me.  They started very early and by 8:30 or so - well you can see from the pictures.

It has been a windy May, however, even with the wind the haziness starts fairly quickly and within a day or the next day or two we are socked in!  Last week skies were awful!  Yes we have cars, big trucks and yes there is the mines, it doesn't come even close.  This is the worst - unnecessary and seems to be on purpose!  As you can view from the slideshow they are man made rows - - not clouds.  Here's a very interesting link to check out GeoEngineeringWatch.

Time was taken for my rant!
I'm so thankful for God watching over us.

Isaiah 40:26

Lift your eyes and look to the 

heavens:

Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host

one by one,

and calls them each by name.

Because of his great power and

mighty strength,

not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 42:5

This is what God the Lord says--

he who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it,

who gives breath to its people, 

and life to those who walk on it:

He alone sustains me ~

An Honorary Choctaw ~

In February we had the pleasure of escorting a dear friend to the annual Choctaw Nation Cultural Meeting held at the Hilton in Mesa, AZ.  The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is large.  In fact once covering a very large and possibly largest area in the southeastern portion of Oklahoma. Since many in the tribe are living elsewhere the Chief and tribal leaders travel to the tribe.  Art goes yearly and invited us, being a Choctaw - he made us honorary Choctaws for the day.   :)   

We made new friends and Art (center) got to meet up with old ones - so much fun!   He enrolled me in a beading class and I made a pair of earrings. 

I was so impressed with everything I saw and heard. From the opening prayer by elder Lilly Roberts (very moving)  - I wished I had a better picture or clip of the prayer!  She prayed in the Choctaw language and translated in english.  She also teaches the Choctaw language, a lovely woman.

Chief Gary Batton and Asst. Chief Jack Austin Jr. both had wonderful things to say about their people and plans for their future.

Chief Batton was amiable and I enjoyed watching him interacting with others.  Everyone seemed important to him.  He honored the elderly, as well as, the young and in conversation genuinely seemed interested in what you were saying.  We all need more of that!

I don't want to forget the dancing and again I wish I had been able to take video clips for you to see and enjoy.  

~

We did have such a wonderful time and enjoyed learning more about the Choctaw people.  Below are a few links of interest.  Again I'd like to throw out a big thank you to Art!  :) 

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Clip on Cultural Revival (cultural history and preserving their culture - very interesting)

the opening on clip is from the previous Chief;  the Wheelock Academy Broading School.



Lastly from Smithsonian NMAI

I Hope You Enjoy!

November ~

Yep, with another full year coming to an end, I'm sitting here this morning with so many thoughts of what to say.  It seems in my efforts to post more often has been spaced farther about.  We've (the sand people, ha) finally been getting a reprieve from what seemed like the longest summer on record.  Now enjoying a cooler and much appreciated rainier climate.  It's so wonderful when we get any rain I just want to enjoy this blessing.

Upon opening my page I noticed that a blogger I follow posted; Winter Rain In The Desert - I had to share her beautiful pictures with you via links.  Margarethe Brummermann has a wonderful blog called Arizona: Beetles, Bugs, Birds and More - I hope you check it out.  I need to take the time also I missed many of her posts; and others.  (Breaking news)!  It is snowing 7AM Sunday morning - :) snow! Though short lived is now mixed with rain a desert refreshing for the sand people. :)  Our mountain this morning has completely vanished in all the cloud cover I can't wait to see it's beauty when it reappears.  :)

This morning I'm missing my companion Sweet Sophie - she pasted away with bone cancer in September.  Sophie (mostly, and not to forget Miki) had many adventures with me to share and was always close by while posting.  She would definitely be enjoying this weather!


Miki not so much she enjoyed warmth and liked being cozy, however, not when she was on a good hunt!  Both are dearly missed.

Earlier this year I started posting on the newest activity or projects with many "phases" - involving the building of the shed / Taj mahul as I refer to it and I planned updates.   Well LOL!  I took several pictures most of which were deleted I'm sad to say.  I also had, what I thought, comical story lines to go along with a few.  One example would be a picture of the mover I took sitting under the tree waiting patiently for the completion of the shed.  When finished a fine place for it to spend out of the weather when not in use.  Well it's finally in the building - though the building is mostly done.  What a process it has been for this shed/ Taj mahul project!  The projects first posting was in February and over the months were irritations, frustrations, many starts and stops - to numerous to write in  "phases" intending to be somewhat humorous; lead us to where the shed is today - oh / Taj mahul.  And, bless his heart, my dad worked both physically and mentally at the point of obsession that we are so happy its just about done.  Posted are a series of photos and without the tales ~



For myself, I did work on a few of my own projects and actually planted winter greens in the semi-restored garden.  Though I don't want to make this post any longer and I have much more I'd like to say, I'll close for now.

In ending Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  It has been a very tough year and I still can say I have much to be thankful for.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7 EVS

I needed to post a couple more as you can see the mountain is still covered and hasn't been out at all - now being 4:45 PM and the garden looks cold but I hope they make it.  I didn't get any straw yet or make covers :(  I need to work faster :/

Times When Enough Is Enough Already ~

Of course, it all started out like, hummm:

For instance, our poor truck had been through it, three windows decided to drop and the mechanism that makes them work broke and needs replace.  This happened before with our truck and until we got it fixed we simply propped it up with a stick.  Not perfect but a temporary fix.  :)  So now three, Argh!

Of, course when money is tight repair jobs can be
some slower.  The tires are in sad shape and are in need of replacing but I thought at least for now I'd get some air in them.  So I got the pump out and hooking everything up - battery was DEAD! Forget I said! Moving on.  However, I'll add, it wasn't until recent that we've been able to even drive the truck.  :/

While driving the van a tire blew .  .  .  Don't get me started!  The van tire of course has been repaired and drivable.  Yay!  I'm thankful for the van - though - it's the most uncomfortable vehicle I've driven it gets me from point A to B without too much trouble.  :)  A blessing - really.

We/I still have all the other things going in our lives here, not to forget our little blessing,

 

 

Logan, we haven't seen yet in person - what a joy he is, even by photo and video clips.  He has a smile that will light up a room!

When I started blogging Refracted Lite in 2008, my first post stated, I was hoping to inspire others as the many that have inspired me over the years.  I really don't know how inspiring I've been recently - I never seem to get any posting done.  Sure, I do have many drafts going but they seem to loose the meaning if I can't stay on it.  Have you ever been so busy - and yes, I've been a broken record, as I read this morning - "I am weary God but I can prevail." Proverbs 30:1 NIV  

Busy ~ not just in the physical sense but mentally.  Sometimes the mind just will not quit!  I've allowed myself to fall into it - the trap.  :/  Feeling mentally drained!  My sister once told me she didn't have the luxury of time to blog.  I've thought on that and thought on that; with know response other than - how I do things have changed.  Moving here was a hard one and one that requires more, even in steps.  Everything is laid out in distance and example would be 190 + steps one way for laundry, depending on how fast I'm moving and the strides I'm taking.  Boy I miss my laundry room.   I'm also 5 or 6 years older! yikes!

And, like you, there are things that go on in our lives, I'm not at liberty to share, adding to the "Enough."  Recently I purchased a book called, Women Who Do Too Much, by Patricia Sprinkle.  "How to stop doing it all and start enjoying your life."  I bought this book for my sister who didn't have the luxury of time.  Funny, I thought I gave it to her and recently found it in a packed box.  I've since then started reading! LOL  I managed the first chapter before I crashed.  One quote I'll share,

"Will you remember to thank me for little mercies that make these days easier." Patricia Sprinkle

Yes, I'm thankful for them making my days easier.  Sometimes I/we can forget :( the Lord sends us mercies in times when all we see is "ENOUGH."  I miss the things I used to be able to do in Ohio, but I can honestly say that about every place I've lived.  The Lord always blesses me with something else.  I'll close with that thought an photo's below of my new favorite place I've been blessed to have here.  Cottage Bakery here in Safford - So to all of you that live in the area PLEASE support them! They're what I call a REAL bakery, wonderful people with delish baked goods.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions (mercies) never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."  Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV

September Here & Gone ~ Here's October!

As you can see I haven't been on that much - sadly, I miss posting -using my "bit" more creative side; I love sharing.  I keep very busy but don't seem to have the time to get it here.  I try to keep some notes before I loose my thoughts on what I want to post though I have to laugh I start forgetting.  LOL For instance I have several things I do for Savoring Flavors - with recipe notes (sticky) stuck on the inside cabinet or written in small notebooks or used mail envelopes - - pictures on my phone (poor) and memory card I transferred - but didn't name it etc.  You get the idea! It's slow and I'm striving to get better.  There are several recipes I've been making and new things I've been doing so I hope you stop by and check I just might have something posted. :)

This year we (both me and hubby) made it to the Salsa Festival Car Show.  The turnout was great, very nice to see the town active since most of the time it isn't.  :(  Of course business like banks, salons, local (yeah--short break it's raining! Awesome!) Restaurants, few clothing stores do having a trickling to steady business.  Safford is a touch place for small business to succeed.  I have to give them credit they work at it very hard to compete.  Mostly we shop small business and do our best to avoid Wally World altogether!  Most of the time (and the rain stopped) L it's the very last place we would stop and most of the time we decide we don't need it and don't!    

Back to the Salsa Festival - we didn't see the Chihuahuas races or the salsa cook off or even shop the little booths.  We just did the car show and we enjoyed that!  Posted are some of the pictures I took of a great mess of cars.  

Now as much fun and joy that getting to go to the car show might have been  - and now into October; nothing compares to the joy we have seeing a picture of our first grandbaby!  Yep it's hard to believe it.  I shared with a friend I look nothing like my grandma's!  We hopefully will see him soon he sure is a sweetheart!
 

Logan Michael

By the way I do hope you take some time and check out the cars after you stop staring at Logan :)

What's This!

Spring is March 20, yep starts tomorrow and today we actually had our first snow here at our elevation of 3300 + feet~ you can check your elevation here.   I enjoyed the snow and it sure came down pretty good.  The melt down well be another story and not as pleasant, lol.  We knew the weather was going to turn for the next couple days and I'm happy to say I didn't get anything planted - waiting for the "last" freeze and motivation.  My fruit trees and grape vines started to get their leaves so I'm hoping they'll be fine. 



It snowed a bit more and then cleared up. I don't mind the little break in the weather - for once it gets hot it will be that way for a long time. Looking forward to spring~

Up To The Mountain~

There's much to say about the mountain.  It's a place where you may go and recharge.  A place to capture the beauty of a creator.  A place of quiet solitude to think and ponder things.  A place to listen or pray.  A wonderful blessing to enjoy and go to.  Everyone needs a mountain to go to.  Maybe you don't have a mountain but you have a place you enjoy going.  A place of rest.

I was crying to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain.  Psalm 3:4

Make sure you scroll to the bottom of my blog page and pause the tunes so you can hear this great song:)

Yes It's December!

Yes it is December and I truly thought I'd have a chance to write some on my blog - I miss doing so.  This has been some year and moving here, will I was looking at things settling down some.  It was wonderful having both Jake and Aaron here and I enjoyed seeing them help their Gramp mend the gate.

The goodbyes though are always sad especially since the boys haven't seen their Gramp in ten years or so.
I'm so happy they did - the only one missing was Mat.  All three boys came to our rescue though in what was a most needed time.  We are so proud of them.

My husband has had such a bad time of it with his illness.  On a happy note though doctors thought he had TB but he didn't - Thank you Jesus!  Getting back on track is definitely a difficult one and is going slow.  Getting hooked up to the VA has been interesting and somewhat disappointing at times to say the least.  This week Jim had a set back and is back in the hospital.  I know he will recover and we are relying on our faith - it has been hard though and a real test.

On a happy note and in the busiest of times; my Dad's dog Molly had ten beautiful, perfect pups!

We (my husband and I) had the opportunity to witness and help in the miracle of birth.  Molly was wonderful and for a first time mom and for being so young - was like a pro!  How can people even question the presences of a creator?  It takes more faith to believe that something comes from nothing!

And, speaking of the miracle of birth,  Christmas is a time when we look at the Miracle birth of babe born such a long time ago.  A Savior for all who believe. This Christmas I pray you take time and what could prove to be the most important time you take this Christmas.  Take time to get to know the person who we celebrate this holiday for.

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us'). Isaiah 7:14 NLT

We all can't be together this Christmas but, I have comfort in knowing we are together in spirit and much love for each other.  Merry Christmas to all and blessing for the coming New Year.

I took a short break last week and shot some pictures around and about of interest - below are just a few. 

A Bit Of Autumn Coming ~

Yesterday, but not today, I heard a small soft voice telling me - when you go on your walk take your camera.  So yesterday morning Sophie and I went out on our walk, the air was cool and crisp - perfect for walking.  Sophie really doesn't care for the heat whereas Miki loves the heat; moving out west should prove to be interesting indeed.  But for Sophie she was very happy on the walk - I usually let her off her lead to romp and run in the field with some ditches that are across street.  Also across the street from the house are woods not yet fully developed, there are just few houses; it's great for walks and exploring.

But did I listen to that small voice? No.  I wished I had.  For on that walk, I saw the coolest thing, as Sophie was investigating new smells in a ditch, I was looking at a couple Blue birds up in the branches of a couple dead trees that were side by side.  They were going from one to the other as if they were playing.  I followed the trees down and when I got to where I was looking straight ahead - there it was sitting on a nub on one of the dead trees and owl.  It was setting ever so quietly watching Sophie.  The owl seemed to be very curious as to what she was doing.  I was so excited and amazed at watching this owl.  Then very unhappy that I didn't bring my camera!   I can't be totally certain but after looking up owls of Ohio I'm leaning toward it being the Barred Owl.  Its markings blended in with the trees and after reading about the owl it had the characteristics of the Barred.  Absolutely awesome.
After a while he/she lit off the tree to another and then further into the woods - without one sound.

I went back the next few days with camera in hand hoping to get a glimpse of that beautiful bird and capture a shot for my collection of bird photos.  Nope! I'm sorry to say I haven't seen the owl again, but I do hear hoos at night; so someday (hopefully soon) I'll be able to catch a shot but for now I hope you enjoy some shots I did take of autumn coming.

Have you ever heard a small soft voice from inside telling you something?  I think all of us have may have experienced this.  You might go with a gut feeling, some say it's intuition, or your inner self.  I believe, mostly, all of the time - for me it's the Holy Spirit.  You might not agree and that's okay.  But I believe that God wants to richly bless us and in His word, He said He would speak to His sheep.  Even if in the simple things in our lives like taking a walk and enjoying His creations in Autumn.  That is what I would call - a relationship.

For information on owls in Ohio you can go to: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/9/pdf/pub423.pdf
And this site how to spot a  Barred Owl

My Day So Far . . .

Today I had a some what busy morning and thinking about it when don't I have something going on these resent days. This morning I worked some dough for bread and went to Voytko Farms to pick blue berries. This year my picking companions were my friend Joan and little sweet granddaughter Rita. I was so happy Joan asked me to pick berries with her. we went for blue berries and was blessed with black raspberries. Little Rita was a trooper and not only did she pick and get pricked; she helped spot the good ones for us. This will be a wonderful memory for me. Thank you Joanie.

After awhile Rita wanted to head back so Joan took her home, as she was tired. Then Joan came back to the farm and we headed for the blue berries. This year the blue berries were not as thick as last years but, not all were ripe just yet. I think or I hope I can get back over if a few days or so.

We have down sized quite a bit but we still have a lot to do. Our hope is to be out on Ohio at this point by the end of the month or sooner. We have to leave it in the Lords hands. He is the only one that is keeping me sane.

Today's weather is also interesting - after I got home and got my bread in the oven; clouds of what looked like doom came up. Then all of a sudden at the sky opened up and it came down hard and fast. Within about 5 minutes or more it moved on. Hey that's Ohio!


Last years post Blueberry Heaven and be found here: http://refractedlite.blogspot.com/2008/07/blueberry-heaven.html
and, Voytko Farms is found here: http://www.voytkofarms.com/ I hope if you're in the area you make plans to stop in.

A Bit Of Mystic~

I thought I'd share just a few pictures I was able to get of Mystic, CT. this past Monday. Of course the highlight of the trip was Mathew and Dannielle getting married - a very beautiful ceremony I'll share about a little later. Picture was taken with my phone I was without my camera at the wedding but, it was being used. I don't know if I'd do that again.

The trip started out with trying to leave Ohio Wednesday of last week - it seemed to be taking forever to leave the area - and boy we really had a time of it too! We had so much to do and load to take to the kids. We found out earlier that the rehearsal and dinner was going to take place Friday so I had to prepare the Chicken Tikka Masala and freeze it to take. I'm so thankful and happy I did too; for there was no way I could have pulled that off with making it there. I also made a wonderful Cocoa Apple Cake (new recipe) that traveled very well. If fact it road on top of the truck a short distance without us even knowing it wasn't latched down. . . The truck needed to have some work down and as with everything sometimes some things always seems to go wrong or take longer (though nothing real major) We borrowed a trailer from a friend also to haul the goods. LOL We also ended up having to take our dogs (but they're the best travelers and love to go) so I needed to make sure all there stuff was ready like food, I make it myself. We also were going to have another traveler coming along.

Tuesday Dannielle's friend Anna got a ride to the house, she was one of the beautiful bridesmaids in the wedding and a very lovely young lady we enjoyed her company and out look on things. Well, Wednesday came and gone - moving into Thursday. We finally started loading and there was threat of rain but Jim got everything wrapped up tight so when we did get some rain everything was fine. Now all loaded and finally off (leaving the house around 8 PM) we needed to make one stop before leaving the area but while we were in the parking lot at Giant Eagle, Aaron noticed the trailer lights were no longer working properly. Jim brought the right tools for everything so he was able to do some electrical work on it and finally we were officially on the road by 9PM. You could say stopping was a blessing ~ that's when we found the cake!

Aaron was a trooper driving straight through I stayed awake myself snoozing here and there once Jim was awake I think I might have had 30 minutes to and hour before pulling into Mat's.
So we unloaded everything and got it into the house. Aaron was able to get about 3 hours sleep at this point the rest of us worked around there while Mat ran errands. Not forgetting the rehearsal and dinner I started the rice and made a cucumber dish to go with the Masala for 6PM. All went well but I was happy to get back to sleep. Saturday was more to do and Sunday was the BIG Day.
There's so many more stories I could tell maybe later. I did tell Anna a few times that we do seem to always provide and adventure or some form of entrainment wherever we may go. HA Over all we all weather the trip well I wished we could have stayed longer. Monday was a more restful paced day being able to spend much of the day with the newlyweds and wonderful day for taking pictures. I hope you enjoy them.

Slideshow!

Not much other than the same is going on in my neck of the woods. I've been to busy with the whatevers and don't want to sound repetitive. Which leads me to trying something new on my post. "Slideshow fun." When I got back from my son and daughter n laws and mentioning I would try to get more pictures up; I just didn't seem to get around to it. I had so many that you could be scrolling for sometime a slideshow was just the ticket. I was very pleased when a fellow blogger had it on her site that made the task less daunting. I tell people I'm not blonde just intermittent! LOL I hope you enjoy what I have so far. If you click on the slide show it will take you to the main site enlarged.