EARLY SUNSET WITH DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME...

It just didn't seem right tonight when at 4:30, the shadows were lengthening and by 5:30, the sun was setting here in SC!

 The reflection in our little lake was so beautiful and  still, like glass!  The tall long leaf pines were aglow with the sun just touching the tops of their trunks and needles making a striking reflection in the water.

Another view...

And reflection of the Maple Trees across the lake were no exception in beauty mirrored in the lake...

Within minutes, the sun was gone below the horizon...

Good night sweet Autumn Day
It's a shame you could not stay
And warm my heart a little longer...

Thank you sweet friends for stopping by
 and do come again soon.

♥Kerrie♥

It's a Mallard kind of Day!

Nippiness is in the air today but the sun is shining just beautifully!  The Mallards have come for their hand out and then went to the little lake and dunked and bathed.  They are so much fun to watch! 

This one is kind of blurry as she was moving but observe the beautiful feather detail!

Here is the male, so proud.

Now they find it necessary to bathe...

He is literally on a roll now-ha!

After the roll, he lifted up and fluttered his wings...

I love this picture of the two of them and the reflection of sky and tree branches...

What a blessing to see.  We are so privileged to be able to see them.  Thanking God for all his beauty and creatues!

♥Kerrie♥

My heart to yours...

CRANE IN THE RAIN.... and a new Author

Good afternoon dear friends!  It is a lazy rainy Autumn day!  Just saw this Crane fishing along the bank across from my window.  The pictures are not clear because of the rain, but I still wanted to post.

He is so incredibly large!  Just amazing!

Here he has just struck and gotten a fish!

And in this one he is maneuvering his head to swallow the fish.  I am sure he will be back to visit another time and perhaps my pictures will be better.

This is a mourning dove that was in the Bradford Pear tree yesterday.  He was all puffed up because it was only in the 40's early in the morning and he was feeling the cold.

What else is new today??  I just finished reading "The Preacher's Bride", by new Christian author, Jody Hedlund!  I could not put the book down!!  This is a Christain, historical Romance depicting the Purtian life of John Costin (real life John Bunyan who wrote "Pilgrim's Pride".  Taking place in the 17th century, England.  Ms. Hedlund brings alive for us the courageous and committed characters to the point where we feel we are true witnesses to the stuggle and perils of the Puritans during this historical period.
   Each character jumps fromt he pages pulling our heart strings or spurring our anger and fear.  This is an excellent novel, no boredom here!  More than once my heart was pounding while reading.  I loved the characters as if I knew them personally and admired the great courage of Elizabeth, John and the child Mary who was blind as they never wavered in their faith, even willing to die for their beliefs.
  This is a rich, believable description of life in the hard times that in real life were experienced by Puritans, John Bunyan and his wife Elizabeth.  While in prison, John wrote the classic, "Pilgrims Progress".  This book is available in books stores and on Amazon.  (Search by Author or Title) Happy reading to you all!

November 2 and Visit a Blogging Friend

Gooooood Morning!  I just came back from visiting one of my favorite blogging friends at Crocheting My Best With My Worsted with Molly!  She is one of the many crafty bloggers and her crocheted pieces are wonderful.  Many times they are something I have not seen before and I am delighted with her ideas and originality!  Makes me want to make something right away-ha!  So do stop by and Visit Molly today, you will be pleased for sure!

Isn't this beautiful?  It is Molly's version of a shrug with buttons added.  I love this!!  And who would not love to have this as a gift?!

Well, today is November 2nd and many of you are voting for the various candidates in your state!  Make informed intelligent decisions and VOTE!  I am really impressed with young friends on Face Book.  They are in Middle School and have been selecting and promoting their favorites for a couple of months now for SC elections.  I am very impressed that they are that aware and concerned about who is governing their state!  Amazing!  If our future is our Youth, I think there is definitely hope-ha!

 

Have a wonderful 2nd day of November.  48 degrees when I got up this morning.  I finally get to wear my "fluffy" robe-ha!  Come again soon!

♥KERRIE♥

My heart to yours...

HAPPY NOVEMBER 1ST!

WOW!  DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS NOVEMBER 1ST ALREADY?This year is certainly a "fly-by"!  This morning we were greeted by the Egret slowly waddling along the bank and fishing.  I love her stark whiteness broken only by the brightness of her dark yellow beak and black legs.

The crook in her neck is a perfect question mark.  I am wanting to paint so badly and just don't seem to have enough hours in the day.  Once we go to chemo treatments for Bill on Mondays and Thursdays, it seems our whole day is shot.  And I have never been a napper-ha!  I would like to lie down and rest but never seem to allow myself the luxury.  I feel blessed that Hubby is able to rest and has almost always been able to take a nap after treatment.

It is so lovely out here today!  69 degrees right now, sunshine and all the windows in the den are open.  I love the smell of the cooler air.  I still have some banana peppers on the plants that seem to have rejuvenated with the cool nights.

Banana pepper on November 1st-ya gotta love that!

Make sure to visit some new bloggers today.  A good rule of thumb is to visit your favorites and pick out one of their followers so you can mosy over and take a look at their blog.  I just love seeing what everyone else is doing, writing, crafting or picture taking!  I visited 3 new ones today before we went to the cancer center.  You can always find just a few minutes to drop in on a neighbor--Yes?

                      

♥Kerrie♥

My heart to yours....

Memories of Mom...

   My Mom was a "fancy stitcher" in the shoe factory, Dunn & McCarthy in Auburn, NY for nearly all of her life.  She was featured here in the local Citizen Advertiser Newspaper on the last day of her work.   July, 1989.  She was 78 years old.

   Mom loved her work, she always said it was her salvation.  When she was twelve, she lost her Dad in a train/car accident along with her oldest brother.  She was allowed to go to school until she was 15 years old and then she was taken out to work in the shoe factory to help support her family.  She had wanted to be a teacher.  To some extent this was fulfilled in that she taught young people the skill of stitching on shoes that is now a lost art.  Except for a few short years when she worked at another shoe company, she always worked for Dunn & McCarthy Enna Jettick's Shoe company and retired from there. 

   Mama walked to work every day although it was a good distance from her home.  She supported us when we were little as our Dad was an amputee and was not able to work most of his life.  But they did meet in the shoe factory where my Dad also went to work as a very young man to help out his family.

   My Mom was very highly thought of and respected for her excellent decorative stitches that she sewed on leather and suede. Mom was very crafty and she was always making clothes, toys, etc for us when we were little in addition to her working.  She has taught me all my crafting skills of knitting, crochet, sewing, doll making, ad infinitum!  She was patient and kind and always smiling.  She also did oil paintings and later in life became a China painter doing exquisite work.  I have several small pieces that she painted and treasure them.

   My Mom went to live with the Lord in 2000 at the age of 90 years.  I pictured her in heaven crocheting Angel wings....  Mom loved cats and my niece Jill said she dreamed Grandma was in heaven, and that she had a kitten.  I loved thinking of this.  And also that God had given her an assignment of watching over her boy baby at the time.  So like Mama!  Just a very short time later, I found a Demdaco figure of an Angel holding a cat and I sent it to Jill.  I like to think this all came from the Lord.....

  I have written my autobiography for my children containing the struggles my Mom endured while raising us and dealing with my father's handicap and drinking problem.  She was an absolutely amazing woman and we all loved and miss her dearly.



DUNN & MCCARTHY SHOE FACTORY
Auburn, New York
Vintage Post Card



Thank you for letting me share  my little Mama with you.  She was under five feet tall but a giant of a lady to me!

DAD AND MOM 1950'S

 Thank you for walking down memory lane with me and do come again soon.  I love sharing with you and have made some of the most wonderful friends in Blog World...
Please visit Kerrie's Home Journal for an inspirational message and a talented video of a 4 yr. old singing and playing.

GRANDDAUGHTERS AND GRANDSONS...

GRANDDAUGHTERS AND
    GRANDSONS....
    ©Kerrie O'Hearn Marquart

Granddaughters are made for loving
Grandmothers are made for hugs
Grandfathers are made for teasing
Grandsons are made to catch bugs.

Little hands were made to get dirty
Little dolls were made to hold
Little trucks were made to push
Elders were made to scold.

Little feet were made to run
Little smiles were meant to please
Little ones were made to have fun
Grandparents were made to age with ease.

Little girls grow up to be Mommies
Little boys grow up to be Dads
They all grow up to be Grandparents
If they are lucky lass and lads!

For there is no greater pleasure
Than a granddaughter or grandson
Old age's wonderful reward....
For once having loved someone.
                       ♥

Thank you for visiting and come back soon!  Check out http://kerrieshomejournal.blogspot.com/ for a spiritual message for today.
(Proverbs)