Xanga

Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God.

Philippians 4:1 (The Message)

Minnesota Scenery

…surrounding Bob & Doris’ House

Sunday, February 21

 It was encouraging to attend the small country church where our brother-in-law serves as pastor. 

Because this was the day after their daughter’s wedding, he asked a visiting wedding guest/pastor to bring the morning message. Afterward everyone (including many visitors) enjoyed a fellowship meal in the church basement.

~~~

I took lots of pictures during the next six days – Monday to Saturday – and after going through them, decided to divide my Xanga entries into twelve subjects (there will probably be more than twelve posts!).

This entry features pictures surrounding Bob and Doris’ House

~~~

 Their driveway

 When we had been away, there was usually a cat or dog on the porch waiting for us to return.

 Japheth and Aimee live on the same acreage, so I was never clear which dog or cat belonged to whom as they were back and forth between the two houses many times in a day.

 This woodstove in the entrance keeps their small home cozy and warm.

 I enjoyed sitting on the couch (to the left of the photo) or walking to these windows because of the beautiful view outside.

 This is what I saw if I looked out the left pane of the window on the left (see previous photo). Dawson and Hope’s home – where we slept Thursday through Sunday – was just beyond the trees in the background.

 Now I am at the center pane looking a bit to the right. Notice the picnic table next to the trees.

 The picnic table and chairs are waiting for a warmer day. I attempted to walk toward the lake, but the snow was much deeper than my boots.

 An evening shot as the sun was setting.

 There are lots of white birch trees in their yard.

 One day while sitting on the couch, working on wedding pictures, I was pleased to see several Evening Grosbeaks. The males are yellow, black, and white.

 The females are grey with very little yellow.

 I noticed these rosehips while washing dishes each day, but the sun was never quite right, then one afternoon it was perfect, making the red berries glitter.

~~~

Tomorrow’s Post: Walking to Japheth and Aimee’s House.

~~~

Minnesota Scenery

…surrounding Bob & Doris’ House

Sunday, February 21

 It was encouraging to attend the small country church where our brother-in-law serves as pastor. 

Because this was the day after their daughter’s wedding, he asked a visiting wedding guest/pastor to bring the morning message. Afterward everyone (including many visitors) enjoyed a fellowship meal in the church basement.

~~~

I took lots of pictures during the next six days – Monday to Saturday – and after going through them, decided to divide my Xanga entries into twelve subjects (there will probably be more than twelve posts!).

This entry features pictures surrounding Bob and Doris’ House

~~~

 Their driveway

 When we had been away, there was usually a cat or dog on the porch waiting for us to return.

 Japheth and Aimee live on the same acreage, so I was never clear which dog or cat belonged to whom as they were back and forth between the two houses many times in a day.

 This woodstove in the entrance keeps their small home cozy and warm.

 I enjoyed sitting on the couch (to the left of the photo) or walking to these windows because of the beautiful view outside.

 This is what I saw if I looked out the left pane of the window on the left (see previous photo). Dawson and Hope’s home – where we slept Thursday through Sunday – was just beyond the trees in the background.

 Now I am at the center pane looking a bit to the right. Notice the picnic table next to the trees.

 The picnic table and chairs are waiting for a warmer day. I attempted to walk toward the lake, but the snow was much deeper than my boots.

 An evening shot as the sun was setting.

 There are lots of white birch trees in their yard.

 One day while sitting on the couch, working on wedding pictures, I was pleased to see several Evening Grosbeaks. The males are yellow, black, and white.

 The females are grey with very little yellow.

 I noticed these rosehips while washing dishes each day, but the sun was never quite right, then one afternoon it was perfect, making the red berries glitter.

~~~

Tomorrow’s Post: Walking to Japheth and Aimee’s House.

~~~

Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this? When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

Romans 9:20-21 (New Living Translation)

Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this? When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

Romans 9:20-21 (New Living Translation)

Throwing a Vase

…a continuation of the last entry

Thursday, February 18

 To throw. The Old English word thrawan from which to throw comes, means to twist or turn. The German word drehen, a direct relative of to throw, means turn and is used in German for throwing. Because the activity of forming pots on the wheel has not changed since Old English times, the word throw has retained its original meaning in the language of pottery.

Those who say they throw pots are using the historically correct term. Those who say they turn pots are using more current language. Both are saying the same thing.

It was great timing that we arrived at Dawson and Hope’s residence as he was preparing to throw a vase.

 Dawson’s hands skillfully shaped and molded the piece of clay.

 His light touching and gentle pulling resulted in amazing changes to the lump of clay.

He used a few other tools of the trade to bring a desired result.

Throwing a Vase

…a continuation of the last entry

Thursday, February 18

 To throw. The Old English word thrawan from which to throw comes, means to twist or turn. The German word drehen, a direct relative of to throw, means turn and is used in German for throwing. Because the activity of forming pots on the wheel has not changed since Old English times, the word throw has retained its original meaning in the language of pottery.

Those who say they throw pots are using the historically correct term. Those who say they turn pots are using more current language. Both are saying the same thing.

It was great timing that we arrived at Dawson and Hope’s residence as he was preparing to throw a vase.

 Dawson’s hands skillfully shaped and molded the piece of clay.

 His light touching and gentle pulling resulted in amazing changes to the lump of clay.

He used a few other tools of the trade to bring a desired result.

We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us.

Isaiah 64:8 (The Message)

We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us.

Isaiah 64:8 (The Message)

Minnesota Photos

…other than those that were wedding-related

Arrival Day, Thursday, February 19

It was wonderful to see north central Minnesota in late winter where ice fishing shanties are popular on many lakes.

Our first stop, while traveling to Bob and Doris’ house, was this store where Cerwin purchased a nonresident fishing license. (He and our brother-in-law Bob are going ice fishing early Monday morning – after the wedding.) This store is their local gas station and post office, and the only building on this side of the town.

The east coast (where we live) rarely has a town with so few buildings or residents. I only needed two photos to capture the buildings across the street.

That’s it – the whole town.

This is next to the store. Do any of you know what this Indian word means?

After Cerwin finished his purchase, we drove a few more miles to the residence (next door to Bob and Doris) where Cerwin and I took our suitcases to the room where we would sleep for the next four nights. Before leaving, we discovered that the owner of the house (Dawson) was in his exterior garage preparing to “throw” a vase.

This amazes me – the ability to design beautiful pottery.

Because Dawson is in the construction business, and work is almost nonexistent in winter, he is in the early stages of starting a pottery business.

~~~~

Tonight’s entry: Throwing a Pottery Vase

~~~