A Summer Walk Down Memory Lane

The calendar may be saying it's January,but for this post,I'm thinking summer.I hope you don't mind getting away from cold, snow and winter weather for just a little while.

The following are still pictures taken by Jake,before the time of digital cameras.

As I was scrolling through my photos,I saw these and just have to share them, for no other reason, than that I like how they look.

I am guessing at some of the locations.I do believe this is at Rainbow Falls in the Whiteshell.

I won't venture a guess on this location, but the deep colors are what drew me to it.

Again,I have no idea where this was.It looks like this couple, unknown to me and I'm pretty sure to Jake as well, were enjoying a leisurely ride down the river.

Look at the peaceful water and the reflections.So pretty.

This is at Rainbow Falls in Whitehall Provincial Park in eastern Manitoba.

This almost looks like the shore of Lake Minniwasta,but I've never seen a patch of flowers like this there.Now,considering that this was many years ago,I guess that could account for the flowers I've never seen.

Wild Monarda is delicate and pretty.This is likely in some rural roadside ditch.

I had better not give a name for these,cause I am just not sure.The purple and yellow sure do make for a nice picture.

I know what this is.This is a patch of Tansy.The small button like flowers are easy to identify.

Not only do I know what kind of flowers these are,but I also know the location.The red Painted Daisy among the white Daisies were growing right on our yard.

 All these lovely scenes are created by God,the Maker of this universe.We get to enjoy their beauty and try our best to capture some of that beauty with a camera.

Closing Thought:

The Maker of the universe is the helper of God’s people! 

Long Ago Sunsets

I am still sharing photos pulled out of the archives.These were all taken my Hubby,Jake,many years ago.I just hate to see them hiding on my computer so I share them here in hopes that they will cause you to look for beauty around you and to be thankful for each precious moment of life.

On my last post,I shared snowy photos, today,let's warm it up with a few sunset scenes.

Over the years, we took many a drive out into the countryside in order to capture the sunset.

Harvest time was and is always a good time to get pictures like this.

I am not sure just where this was taken, but I do know that I like how it looks.

I know exactly where Jake got this and the next shot.It had been a wet year so there were large puddles of water on the fields.This was one such puddle, but the setting sun turned it into a beautiful spot.This is on the way to the Pembina Valley.

This is a zoomed out view of the previous photo. The colors are simply amazing.

I was with Jake on many photo excursions, even though I did not own a camera at the time.This picture, though,was taken on one of those times when I was not there's I have no idea where it was.

This is another photo, where I am not sure of the location.,These last two images may well have happened even before we were married.I say that simply to say that they are old picture, but still so pretty.

Closing Thought:

Today, feel the awe and wonder of creation.

Looking Back to 1997

Looking through old photos can be a fascinating pastime, but as  blogger, it can result in blogs going back in time.I recently looked back to old photos taken years ago.I may have shared some of these but I also have newer friends who may not have seen them.

Let me set the stage for this post.During the winter of 1996-97,the forecasters were saying that with the amounts of snow we had, there would be no flooding in southern Manitoba that spring.Well,those words were spoken too soon.On April 4,1997,with Crocuses already blooming and the grass coming back to life, we started getting some snow.It snowed all night and then then more the next day.Now all this loose snow and then the winds picked up.We quickly were in ,what has been called the snowstorm of the century. During this storm we got about 20 inches of snow, combined with strong winds. For a few days we were not going anywhere.The following pictures, were taken once the streets had been partially opened.

This is our yard, after the storm. Note the layer of snow on the roof.

Looking south of my house along the street.Cars that had been left on the street were almost buried.

This is from my house looking west along the street.

I said the streets were partially opened, this is what I mean.One lane traffic only.

Residential areas were battling high banks of snow.

It was amazing to drive around and see the huge snow banks everywhere. All this snow melted, and that happened rather quickly, seeing it was already April.This quickly led to the flood of the century in some areas of Manitoba and even North Dakota.

It is fun to look back at these images, but I am OK if we don't get another storm like that any time soon. 

Closing Thought:

 The God who created the universe (and the snow) is the God who loves you.

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All Glory,Honor and Power

Have you ever just taken time to look up into the sky and allowed the majesty and greatness of God overwhelm you? We live on this small ball of dirt, we call earth and home, but there is a vast universe all around us, a universe held in perfect order by God Himself.

Recently the praise band at my church sang, what to me was brand new song.I didn't know the tune, but the words spoke to me and caused me to worship God.

I want to share the words of that song,Cannons by Phil Wickham, with some pictures I have taken and one taken by my son,Steve.

It's falling from the clouds

A strange and lovely sound

I hear it in the thunder and rain

It's ringing in the skies

Like cannons in the night

The music of the universe plays

You are holy great and mighty

The moon and the stars declare who You are

I'm so unworthy, but still You love me

Forever my heart will sing of how great You are

Beautiful and free

Song of Galaxies

It's reaching far beyond the milky way

****Photo by Steve Hiebert****

Lets join in with the sound

C'mon let's sing it loud

As the music of the universe plays

All glory, honor, power is Yours amen

All glory, honor, power is Yours amen

All glory, honor, power is Yours forever amen

 What other words can I say to end this, but

Praise be to God,who loves us and keeps us in His care.

More From The Archives

It is a dangerous thing to look back at old photos. I did that recently and found some more which may or may not have been used on this blog previously.Either way, they are just to good to leave hidden, in my opinion.I can say that unashamedly,because these were all taken by Jake,before the time of digital cameras.

Bambi looks alert and ready to run.

Mom and two fawns are out enjoying an evening stroll.

Another White-tailed dear.They all seem to be on high alert.

A patch of Dianthus in our garden.

The flower emblem of Manitoba,the Prairie Crocus blooms in early spring.They are not as abundant in the pastures as they once were.

Island Park in Portage La Prairie,Manitoba,used to have a wonderful display of tulips in spring.

I do not know where this picture was taken, maybe from a different angle at lake Minniwasta,but I do like it.

I am so thankful that I have all these pictures which Jake took.Many I know where he took them, but even the ones I don't, are still special.

Closing Thought:

You are not what has happened to you. 

You are what you choose to become. 

Happy New Year

To all my friends, both near and far, 

Happy New Year. 

May This year,2018,be filled with love, peace and joy.

To start things off right,I thought I would take you back in time and share a few more of Jake's pictures. There is no better way to spend a cold day than to look back at some of the old pictures and especially those taken during warmer days.

Usually we sing the song Count Your Blessings during the Thanksgiving season, but I think the new year would be a good time to stop and count our blessings.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Tulips in our garden, many years ago.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.

 Wild Aster,in some local ditch.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings—money cannot buy 

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

 Lady Slippers growing in the wild.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

 Wild flower covered meadow.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God has done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

*Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

More Tulips from our garden.

All photo credits go to Jake Hiebert

Closing Thought:

Step into the New Year with confidence, knowing that God is in full control.

Snowy Scenes of Long Ago

As we approach the end of another year, the thing to do

 it seems, is to look back over the year and review some highlights.Well,I am looking back as well, but not just 12 months,I'm going back years, maybe as many as 50 years.

In this post,I am sharing pictures captured by my Hubby,long before he had that title.These pictures may well be around 50 years old, but the beauty remains the same, it is timeless.

Since I did not take these pictures,I cannot say exactly where they were made.I do know that all of them were captured in rural southern Manitoba.

This is a favourite of mine.I love the blue sky and the hoar frost on the trees.The tracks in the foreground are made by cross country skiers.

This looks like it is at Lake Minniwasta. Once again the trees have frost on them and that adds to the beauty.

A heavy fog is shrouding the distant view, but helps to bring the fence into focus.

Southern Manitobas has a lot of flat land, but we do have some small hills.This is from one of those hills, looking down onto the farmland.

This picture is not as old as the others.This is Steve, as a young boy, playing on the snowdrifts on our yard.

Closing Thought:

"Without change life is not possible. Breath itself is a constant exchange of air, without which we would die. The temptation is to resist change out of anxiety that we will lose our identity. Instead, what we need to do is breathe—opening ourselves intentionally to wonder, curiosity, playfulness, creativity, and hope."

Christmas Wishes

It's that special time of the year when greetings of Merry Christmas ring through the air.I want to join in that chorus and send special wishes to all my friends, both those I see often and those who I have not met yet.

I'm adding a few wintery pictures for your enjoyment.This first one is a macro of water droplets on the window. Just one of those fun shots, taken for no special reason.

A fresh layer of snow and a visit to Lake Minniwasta,resulted in this scene. This was several weeks ago and, although we had snow, the lake was not frozen over yet.

The sky has a different look in winter, but I do like the clouds here.

Both this picture and the next, convey a feeling of cold.The snow covered prairie landscape can have a rather forlorn look in winter.

From the bottom of my heart,I wish for each of you a Blessed Christmas and a time to make wonderful memories with your family and friends.

Closing Thought:

As we celebrate Christmas may we all remember the reason for this special day,The Birth of Jesus Christ.