a lovely day

every once in a while a day comes along that just begs to be blogged about. this was that day. nothing spectacular. just lots of goodness.

it all started by doing something i have long wanted to do....attend an estate sale. a friend and i drove about 30 miles to a darling little town in iowa, only to discover that the sale is tomorrow. we did get a sneak peek at what was going up for auction, including some amazing grandmother's flower garden quilts from the 1940s, a hay rack filled to the brim with buttons & beads, and other goodies. we were drawn there by the promise of 52 boxes of canning jars, which turned out to be mostly pint sized. but i came home with some small treasures that were going to be thrown out....a paper doll set dating to the 30's & 40s and a box of little aprons made from darling 1930s prints that would make the sweetest quilt. they were a fund raising project. people were asked to measure their waists and give penny for each inch! (can you imagine asking people to do that now?) the money was to go in the little pocket of each apron and be sent back to the "rainbow girls club". too, too cute.

we had extra time due to the lack of an auction, so before going home, we went to the state park, just a few block down the street from my house, and picked two boxes of concord grapes for me to juice. this was a loving friend who helped me pick, because she had already picked and juiced her own. the grapes are free for anyone who wants them - free is fun!

next on to the elementary to help with noah's field trip to baxter's orchards (just up the street from our house in the opposite direction from the state park). i held his hand as we walked through rows of trees, learned about 5 different types of apples, and watched noah picked his very own apple. golden sunlight was streaming through the trees - so perfect.

later i walked back to baxter's, with lexi, tashi, & gracie, to finally visit the friday afternoon farmer's market. i've been meaning to get there every friday since we moved here. but something always comes up, or my memory fails. i was rewarded with banana peppers, red bell peppers, giant egg plants, and sweet potatoes at great prices.

brock & i finished up the day with a trip to the temple, followed by annie's frozen custard. i'm feeling very blessed!

little bits of other days to share:

the last time i went to the temple:
i walked the mile or so home. it was raining ever so slightly, but i walked slowly, savoring where i live. the antique shop i had been wanting to peek into was finally open so i browsed, completely amazed by the tiny, tiny waist size of the gibson girl skirts. next, i stopped at the mill and bakery to buy whole wheat peanut butter cookies to munch as i walked. i munched too many, but enjoyed it so.

the last time i went for a jog:
it was evening. the soy bean & corn fields were turning golden yellow. they contrasted beautifully with the green pastures and wooded hills. as i turned around to make my return home, mist was settling into the vales between the hillsides. the sky was a brilliant pink, and lit up the golden soy beans fields until they glowed, with red barns adding addition splashes of color. and i was grateful. it is so healing & relaxing to run amid such beauty.

what an amazing world god has created for us. what incredible blessings he has poured out upon me. as i touch sun-warmed grapes, or breath sweet autumn air, i feel god's love. and i am grateful.

Comments

[heather]

sounds so wonderful.

[Mary Smith]

Beautiful images and feelings. I felt like I was there with you. It has been so misty and lovely lately, ne? Just yesterday I was thinking that we HAVE to come down to see you soon while we can still spend time outdoors. Get ready for the wind, darling. And your other post -- oh, you always get me crying. Very sweet.