Perfection

This makes me hungry Internet. It also has my soul yearning for spring. Yesterday we had an unusual glimpse into spring with weather in the sixties and sun that frequently peaked around the clouds to warm our faces.

It was heavenly.

While I wait with great angst for the tulips and the daffodils to show their pretty heads, I am going to dream of our veggie garden. I'll dream of fresh heirloom tomatoes and tender basil (which I might add is the perfect mix of flavors with balsamic vinegar and fresh mozzarella and is to my great joy "gluten free").

Please hurry spring...

Encourage,
Raine

New Years Resolution

I am a sensitive artist, originally uploaded by kevindooley.

I make them every year Internet...some I'm able to keep...others not so much.

This year, yours truly, the "queen of burnt" is going to try and really learn how to cook. (you can stop laughing now...no really...please stop).

I am not a "terrible" cook, but I am also not a great one. The issue is even more compounded with my "hunk o'burnin loves" allergy to gluten.

Not only am I attempting to make wonderful meals for our family that taste good(which for me is a challenge in itself) but I also need to learn how to make tasty meals without gluten. This is the hardest thing for this frozen "corn dog" mom to deal with. I can't grab whatever is on sale, pop it into the micro and make it for dinner.

I have to plan (what?) and make organized lists (are you serious?) and spend more time in the kitchen (I would rather clean your bathroom).

People tell me that once I get the hang of it that I will really enjoy myself (I'm not sure what they are smoking but I want some!).

Only time...and umpteen different failures will tell. I will keep you updated sporadically this year as you come along for the journey.

Here is to a new year and to hopefully healthier, "tastier", nonburnt eating.

Encourage,
Raine

Poppies

In the wee early morning you will find them closed with their heads gently resting. It is only when the sun comes out that they transform....the sun brings out their beauty.

Sometimes, I feel like a poppy flower. I am delicate, easily bruised and I find myself closing when I can't see the Son. It is only when the Son shows His glory that I fully awaken...this is when I truly bloom.

Encourage~
Raine

Early morning in a Somerset poppy field, originally uploaded by Carl Loves Somerset.

Festival of trees....well..."ginger trees" that is

This past December we had Christmas a couple of weeks early. My family, my amazing parents, my beautiful sisters, and my often sarcastic and funny brothers all headed for the hills.

18 people, 16 paper snowflakes, 15 ginger trees, 11 family meals, 8 different types of desserts, 6 bathrooms, 5 days, 4 nights, 3 reasons to celebrate, all on 1 big snowy mountain.


Here are some pictures of our "ginger tree" decorating competition. It was pretty fierce this year.




Lilly's Tree


Whitney's Tree


Nora's Tree


Mitchell's Tree


My Sister's Tree (and yes, she will hurt me if she finds out I posted this picture of her...but in all fairness she did strip me naked once and lock me outside when I was eleven...so I think we can call it good now!)

Brother Caleb had some trouble with Tree #1...he cried.

Actually...we all cried.


Momsie's Tree and an imposter tree...nice try brother Caleb.


Jake...eating his Tree.


Sister Alli and her Tree.


"Santa" Bill's Tree


The "Boy's" Tree.



Brother Micah's Tree.


Ella Bella's Tree


My "hunk o' burning love" and his Tree (be still my heart)


Graceful's Tree.

Lilly is our big winner for the "under 18" tree decorating contest!!


The big winner for the adults....


The King and Queen of our Castle!!


"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck"

Encourage~
Raine

More winter magic

It was unbelievable.


It made us feel so small.



And a little weird too...but you already new we were on the nutty side.

Encourage~
Raine

Simply magical

The day after Christmas.

Is it odd Internet that I have more peace on the day "after" Christmas than I do on the day of Christmas? I no longer have a ginormous "to do" list starring me in the face. I don't have to drive to umpteen different stores looking for a pet frog for my seven year old. My insecurities with my pie making skills (or lack there of) can slowly melt away until next year.

I am going to savor it.

A couple of weeks ago our state experienced a deep freeze. We drove the kids up to McDowell Creek Falls and we found this.



Something so simple...falling water...frozen into beautiful ice crystals.

In one word I would describe it as...magical.

Encourage~
Raine

Land of the living

Hello Internet!! I have returned to the land of the living. This first term was harder than I imagined it would be. I have the tendency to think I am a super star and I am mildly surprised when I realize that in fact...I am not. :0)

I'll be back soon,

Encourage,

~Raine

Frosted Gift

This morning we woke up to this.....a cold, crunchy, frosty wonderland...

Frosted Gift, originally uploaded by Tommy Simms.

I was happy to have no where to go this morning. Instead I turned my electric blanket up to "8", put on thick socks, heated up some eggnog, and slide back into bed to read.

I "heart" days like these.

Encourage,

~Raine~

Talking Turkey

Talking Turkey, originally uploaded by ReyGuy.

Hey! Happy Thanksgiving week!!!

May it be full of giving and loving....

~Raine

sweet autumn

Fall Trees, originally uploaded by hot sync.

Life sometimes sweeps you up into it's whirlwind.

Spinning...spining...spinning.

And all of a sudden, the whirlwind dies down and it is then that you remember to look at the beauty all around you.

Encourage one another,

~Raine