~Off the Beaten Path~

Last Wednesday four of our ladies, one of our gentlemen and the two Eddy ladies headed out on a trip across "town" (or rather the county) to visit a small country gift and craft shop that the Eddys had stopped by at earlier this season. Boy were we in for a treat! Miller Medley "Off the Beaten Path" is a small, on the farm, home business run by Sue Miller and her husband. Their main expertice is leaded glass, the beauty of soldering lead around glass in intricate designs and styles for whatever suites your needs.







One of the main attractions and reasons we went was to look at these buttons! Lots and lots of buttons, all different shapes and colors, all just for 10/$1.00!

The atmosphere of the whole place was so cozy and welcoming, beautifully decorated and so homemade!


Old window frames made into shelving units and covered with all sorts of beautiful and unique gifts and treasures!

Old books, hand crafted pottery, beeswax candles and needlework art decorated bookshelves.

However most prominant throughout the whole little store was the eye catching beauty hanging from above and glimmering by the window and in the front door - the gorgeous work of leaded glass created my Mrs. Miller.

As she invited us to join her in her workshop in the next room, I soon came to understand the mistery of this unique art that I had before never even fathomed how it was done!

A wall of cubbies holding different sheets of glass, all different colores and textures... a long table covered with works in progress and another bench behind that held all the equipment to help create these peices of art! So organized and practical with the use of instruments, down to the use of a sharpy marker!

After asking many questions and finally started to get the idea of how it all worked she asked if we wanted to try some ourselves and tried our hand at cutting glass. Quite the remarkable experience and as Josiah started working his little "line" became a unique little creation!

As the ladies had been talking Josiah had been working on cutting out a design - the outline of a house. Mrs Miller went from there and help him finish it up with smoothing the edges, this making us all laugh as he had him wear her "goggles" to protect his eyes!

What a sport! The glasses had a little magnification to them which made it all the more hilarious!

After that she showed him how to cover it with a copper strip, press it smooth and then solder the edges completely with metal to seal it off. Yes, Josiah was allowed to touch the 700 degree hot tool and yes, mom walked out of the room!! =)

The result? A special experience for Josiah and over all a wonderful day we will not forget!

Thank you Eddys for taking us along for the adventure! =)

And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Yates: apples...cider...donuts...river walks

This past Tuesday our family joined the Eddy family on a field trip to Yates Cider Mill. The temperature was low and the wind was nippy so we quickly gathered inside the shop. At the moment they were not making cider but after enjoying a small snack and watching and waiting with promises that they would start soon we were able to see how they make that delicious drink!

Barn yard friends! Don't look too closely! =)

Yummy looking stuff I'm sure!

50 Tons of pressure!!

After leaving the mill we headed down on the "old railroad track" path and though the mothers stayed above, the rest of us quickly headed below to the smaller foot worn trails snaking alongside (sometimes quite close) the large river.

Out on a limb.

A glimmer of Autumn still left.

Papa Bear (Mr. Eddy) in his big chair!

Beautiful scenery declaring the glory of our Lord.

The crossing.

While traversing the trails we happened upon this gentleman coming from farther down the river caring this huge fish! He was heard to say that it was a Salmon!

Heading back. A wonderful morning it was, filled with learning and adventures...and as always, may God be glorified!

~GES

Thoughts: from an afternoon at the Lake

What a beautiful time we had at the Lake! The sun shone so brightly, and a merry little breeze blew pleasantly across the water, sending leaves tumbling through the air and whipping my hair playfully about my face. A perfect Autumn day! Perfect because the Lord made it so.

Running from the van, up the slight rise to the wooden steps, stopping at the top to look and look and look! What to look at first!? The stately Pines that created an aromatic frame to the view, the incredibly blue sky, with its few wispy clouds brushed delicately here and there by the Master Artist, or the “piers” of large rocks, boulders really, that wandered aimlessly away from the shore until they disappeared into the water.

The Water! You had to look at the water! The spectacular blue/green hues, reflecting so much of the sky, yet a color so much its own, white tipped waves causing momentary rifts in its vast expanse. The lines of a hymn float through my head . . .

“How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure!”

Despite the fact that this Lake looks immeasurable, unending, I know it has a limit, a boundary. Larger bodies of water exist, huge expanses that put my little blue Lake to shame. But they too have their territories marked off. “This far and no farther!” said the Creator, and so they obey. Vaster than all though, more immeasurable to thought, to comprehension, is the Love of God. The unfathomable Love of God. And how incredibly thankful I am . . .

“That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure!”

~FAS

October 30, 2007

October 30, 2007 marked the 6 year anniversary of cancer surgery for our dear friend and neighbor, Mr. Bryson. To celebrate this anniversary of God’s great grace and mercy, we were invited to travel with the family on a color tour of part of Michigan’s thumb. The trip was to eventually terminate at Country View Store, a favorite of our families. Along the round-about-way we took to get there, we stopped at the lovely Forrester Park for lunch.

What a perfectly beautiful day the Lord gave us! The sun shone brightly most of the day, and the sky was a splendid blue with a few pure white clouds. The weather was sufficiently cool to allow for a comfy cardigan despite the warmth of the sun. A perfect Autumn day. What a blessing!

Although at first we were a tad disappointed with the colors, (or the lack there-of) but a few dazzling trees were still sufficiently be-decked to elicit our admiring “oohs and aahs.” What lovely colors! Isn’t it a wonderful thing that the Creator chose such a beautiful way for trees to ready themselves for winter!

The boys had a grand time!

Our joy was unbounded when we finally caught a glimpse of the Lake. How blue the water looked! It was wonderful to finally reach the Park and be able to get out and stretch! After an initial frustration in regards to finding some very necessary facilities, (do you have any idea what it is like to drive 2 ½ hours and then find the bathrooms to be closed!?) we got out the picnic baskets and coolers found a picnic table and had lunch.

We just couldn’t stay away from the water, so most of us ended up eating our lunch on the short board-walk that over looked the beach. What an amazing view!!

The perpetually rolling waves breaking on the huge boulder sized rocks that projected out into the water, the long sandy beach, sprinkled with colorful Autumn leaves, and the incredible sky and water, echoing each other in blues and whites, until they blended into one along the horizon.

The huge boulders and remnants of an antique pier were forms of great entertainment for those of us who enjoyed "rock hopping,"

and much time was spent combing the beach to find "pretty" rocks,

and thin stones, smooth as paper which were "just the thing" for the boys who were trying their hand at skipping.

*smile*

Tiny Seashells were used to make quaint monograms in the sand,

and larger rocks were gathered and arranged to remind us of our true Rock!

A picture of all us young'uns :-)

The little Park afforded us much entertainment as well.

A couple of old merry-go-rounds,

(for the stout of heart and stomach:-)

good old-fashioned teeter-totters, and a row of antiqued looking metal horse swings were enjoyed by most of us children (and adults :-).

The latter being somewhat uncomfortable, but still providing a great form of amusement to those who “rode” and those who watched.

All too soon, it was time to go, and we all got back into the vehicles and continued on our way.

We are so thankful to the Lord for the beautiful day of fun and fellowship that He blessed us with, and even more thankful for His sparing Mr. Bryson’s life six years ago.

We pray that God will richly bless you and your family, Mr. B, in this year and for many years to come. Thank you for including us in your special day!

To God be the glory!

~ FAS

Days to Remember...

The last several day of October have been memorable! Maybe it's just because of the fact that we are still living the first year of life here in the country, or it's just that we have been doing a lot of new and fun things and God has blessed us indescribably in so many ways!

Sorry we're back to the "boring" blog posts but there is so much to put on and no one else to write right now so here you are! =)

Following are just bits and pieces of some of the photos I've taken lately. Enjoy as always!

We are official! Well, not really, but we were blessed with this special sign made by Mr. Bryson. May God be praised!

Beautiful leaves from our back acre.

Gardening is coming to a close but weeding seems to never be over! Here Christianna and Dragon are being supervised by Faith. =)

The Klatys blessed us with a bag of Indian corn (which they could not grow due having sweet corn too close by) so we planted them and the other day had a blast harvesting these little jewels of God's creations!

Beautiful...

and delicious! =)

A sweet little Dee-Dee (Chickadee) hopping through the grape vines and pecking at the dried sunflower heads.

This was what the view out our porch windows looked like the other day. Gorgeous!

You alone are the LORD;You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You. Nehemiah 9:6

Sunday morning before leaving for Church, Josiah, Faith and I were out admiring the sparkling frost that was heavily covering almost everything outside! Everything that the Lord has made is beautiful and declares His glory.

Stay tuned.... much more to come (when we have time!)

For Christ's glory!

~Grace