Peonies!

I love everything about the peonies.  I love it's appearance but I especially love that God created them in such a way that in order for them to open a little ant has to come along and eat off the gummy stuff that keeps them shut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My daughter saw the above orange flower hanging out by itself in the peonies' field along with some of these other beautiful flowers (and even beautiful weeds) and she altered the shot and made it look like a painting. I thought it was very unusual and beautiful. This is what it looked like originally.

 

 

 

 

On my way home from the shoot, I saw these fantastic creatures!

 

 

 

Water Lilies

I've been working to finally get through my owners manual for my Canon Rebel.  It's been fun to experiement with shooting manually rather than always using the automatic setting which, up until now, is basically how I've been shooting my pictures. These are some of my first efforts shooting manually.

The colors of a water lily are extrodinary.  I marvel at the amazing colors God has seen fit to bestow upon us for His glory and our enjoyment.

Sarris's Ice Cream Parlor, Pittsburgh, PA

While recently in Pittsburgh, Ron found this great local haunt to take us too...

 

 

While on this trip, I have been reading The Parish Papers, which is a trilogy of Christian novels, written by George MacDonald.  He says, "A woman ought to love her child because it is her husband's more than because it is her own, and because it is God's more than either's."  

The Second Air and Space Museum

Little did we know, but there is a second Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, VA and this was our last stop for museums on the way home.  

 

The highlight of this museum, for me, was the space shuttle.  There is something about seeing something in person that is that large, and that actually was in space. 

 

We were able to go to the observation deck to watch the planes come in, which was a bit difficult with the snow, but we did see one.  This part of the museum taught you about what the pilots hear, and see on their screens, when they are coming in to land.

 

The girls went in a simulator and spun all the way around.  One of them was doubtful entering into the whole adventure but they got off with big smiles and enjoyed the thrill.

 

This is the Enola Gay

 

The plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima.

 

The Montgolfier Brothers were famous French ballonist.  Their furniture was on exhibit and clearly reflected their great love for flying in a hot air balloon.

Another Visit to More Dear Friends

While I lived in Virginia I had the joy of worshiping at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, VA.  Jennie and Dave Coffin would extend very warm hospitality to me and that hospitality turned to friendship.  It was a great pleasure to have my kids spend time with these two dear saints and to be in their fellowship again.  If you click on the link above, Pastor Coffin has some very useful resources on his site. We were talking about how people leave an indelible mark on you.  The Coffins taught me to seek to render the judgment of charity at all turns, to warmly show hospitality and to observe the sabbath -- just to name a few. I am so grateful God put them in my life.

 

Jennie, as some of you know, is a wonderful potter and made me my original dishes when we first got married, and has made me a second set since over the past 15 years many of the first set sadly broke.  Take a look at Jennie's pottery She ships anywhere and her work is truly beautiful.  Her mugs feel incredibly comfortable in your hand when you sip on your coffee in the a.m .  She does wedding registration and special orders too.  Design your own plates, etc.   She showed us some of the tools of her trade.

 

 

 

 

 

Jennie has a very fascinating collection of brushes she uses.  The hair on the brushes are made of all different sorts of things.  One even uses human hair (that of a child).

 

 

To put a cherry on top of the whole time in the D.C. area, the Lord provided a beautiful snow storm (the first for Virginia, and Delaware this year).  Just enough to make it beautiful and yet little enough to safely make our way home.

 

 

 

 

Lincoln Memorial

 

As we were walking up the stairs we heard a "street preacher" on the corner of a huge marbel slab preaching the gospel. 

 

Of course the view looking down the steps is lovely...

 

And on our way to the car we saw the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial...

 

 

 

 

 

Glass Harp Old Town - Alexandria, VA

If you have never heard a glass harp being played, I would encourage you to watch the link below.  This Christian man happened to be in Alexandria when we went there on Saturday to view my friends pottery in a nearby gallery.  I had seen him before, in years past, but thought it would be too cold for him to play.  But there he was!  It's an amazing instrument.  He played Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and more.  Truly beautiful.

Glass Harp Being Played in Alexandria