I took a little road trip on Friday to get our son Ethan from college.  He has this whole week off from school and it’s been such a thrill for the whole family to have him back home again.  I texted him when I arrived at the dorm and he had a big smile as he walked out to where I was parked.  We both did.

I stopped at the Vermont Country store and it was the best store to browse around in.  I bought some cleaning supplies and learned from the lady there that my clothespins are coming apart because I have always just left them pinned on the clothesline after taking down the laundry.  She said I have to keep them in a tin or a clothespin bag.  I’ve been hanging out the clothes for 20 years and never knew this.  I thought they just weren’t making the clothespins like they used to.  I am still a bit skeptical but I am certainly going to try it and see if they keep breaking.  (I use the ones with the spring in the middle).  And would you look at this kitchen goods display and all the King Arthur Flour things?  I’m going to have to do my Mom’s Christmas shopping here.

Ethan and I also stopped at a little independent bookshop which was fun, too.

It goes without saying that we will be making this trip several times this year so it will be fun to get to know other towns….Vermont is beautiful!  I would be happy to take along any friends who might want to join me in retrieving Ethan throughout the year so we can stop at neat little shops.  🙂

Ethan surprised his girlfriend Tessa that night by showing up at her house for pizza with no warning.  They were one happy couple all weekend long.  He is leaving in a little while to pick her up from school.  (they have been dating for a year now) Sarah adores Tessa (the feeling is mutual).  When I saw them hugging I said, “let me take a picture!”

Out and about for football games.  Seth and Caleb both won their games this weekend.

Ethan and his best friend Zachary….both with a good month or more of college under their belts.  And of course Parker the Dog is happy to see his boys again.

Ethan has a bad cold so I’ve been torturing him with cough syrup.

The two of us went on a walk together this morning and I brought along my camera to photograph some of the beautiful fall colors.

The sun is shining for the first time in days.  It brightens everything, including our moods.

(just like Jesus–The Son)

I loved this scareCROW on one of our neighbor’s lawns.

looking up into the trees

We saw a hawk and a crow flying after each other (in an argument over something)

We saw a dead toad, a dead squirrel and a dead goldfinch during various times in our walk. Which was sad and rather odd.

Aren’t you glad I don’t take pictures of EVERYTHING????

looking up again

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

We saw a flock of bluebirds.   I wasn’t able to get any good photos because I didn’t have a good zoom lens with me.  There were about 10 of them flying about.  The farmhouse at the end of our street has bluebird houses which were obviously greatly appreciated this summer.

He walked barefoot because he’s ours country boy.  He has a straw in his mouth, too, but you can’t see it.

I rescued this fuzzy caterpillar from the road (lots of things are getting hit lately, as I mentioned earlier)…….

And would you look at this spider?   It’s exquisite!  I’m so glad we stopped and took a closer look at it.

Just a couple more random photos:

My brother Dave sent me this photo of Dad’s truck full of pumpkins and their puppy!  (I like how his white socks are all different sizes)

and……..

Sarah and I finished another book!  We read The Adventures of Benjamin Pink and it was delightful.

I read to her whenever we have some free time together and the other children are always welcome to listen with us, too, but she is the only one committed enough to stay snuggled up next to me.  The others do their own thing as they listen.  We started our third book this morning, it was one that I bought at the bookstore in Vermont with Ethan.

Well, it’s been a busy morning of digging pennies out of the garbage disposal, finding water leaking in the bathroom and calling the plumber, doing laundry and dishes, grocery shopping, taking Grace her purse at the school, cleaning up the house after a busy weekend, texting Jacob after he had a check up (perfect!so thankful), walking 3 miles with Ethan, and getting dinner started in the crock pot.  It’s been necessary and nice to sit and blog for a little while here with my friends (and Ethan sound asleep on the other couch).  Thank you all for reading along.  I pray that each of you who stop by here today has a very blessed and beautiful week.  I thank God for my friends and for this outlet where we can share and get to know each other.

Remember….you are loved.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.