Westward Ho!

Hello from Montana!  Last week, I was sent on a last-minute trip to visit some dear friends, and things have finally settled down enough for me to pause and post :)  I've been taking pictures like mad, and within 4 days of arriving, I had already taken 500 shots!  During that time, I spent time in 4 cities, went on 2 long walks, got lassoed into taking pictures of not one but two graduations, played softball, got injured (do those two always go together??), and ate way too many protein bars.  

Ah, life.  :)  

I hope you enjoy a sampling of my 500 pictures :)  Don't forget, you can zoom in!

Newlyweds (and newly pregnant!) Aaron and Sarah...

A walk with Kaitlin...

Lilacs...be still my heart :)

A girl next door caught a hummingbird in her house!  Isn't it amazing?

Annika's graduation!

Sisters...

After Anni's graduation, I took pictures of the graduates with their families in an amazing setting--one of the ladies in the church owned all this awesome photography equipment, and I just set up my camera and went to town :)  Here, my chief assistant Rebecca poses so I can get my settings right.

Annika and Tivoli!

Anni and I, laughing as usual :)

All the girls.  4 homegrown Angles and 2 adopted ones :)

We had some shocking news in the photography alcove...

Rebecca and Jameson...

To my family and friends, I miss you much!
Love from Montana to wherever you are,

Elise

rainy day rambles

A few weeks ago, Ellie asked if I would like to go for a walk through the woods with her and take some pictures of the new sprouts.  By now, everything is blooming and green surrounds us, but I am sure you will enjoy seeing what early spring looks like around here :)

Have a lovely weekend!

xoxo,

Elise

From me to you...

....a happy Valentine's day!

I spent the day with my sisters, running errands and shopping.  Now we've eaten dinner and have plans to watch one of our favorite childhood movies and make *caramel corn* mmmm:)

Now, I could go on to say how miserable it is to be single on Valentine's day, but that would be lying :)  Because of the Lord's work in my life, I am much more content where I am in life than I was one year ago.  (Hint-If you haven't already done so, please please go read "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment."  You really have no excuses not to, as it is available for free on Monergism here)

And if you're looking for more Valentinian (a Libby word) reading, the Botkin girls have put out an excellent snippet from their book here.

I better skedaddle and make that caramel corn....

I leave you with 2 reading recommendations, and......a love song :D

xoxo,

Elise

Part Two!!

Goody gumdrop--more pictures ;)

What I'm reading...

Ellie, posing with a ladder.....

Our sweet friend Prentiss with her little boy Hampton...

He is so cute, but refuses to smile for cameras--he just wants to take a serious look at them :)

 Part two of my knitting needle collection...

Wellies!

The view from above...

One day we had a nice snowfall so Libby and I scampered outside to photograph it...

Yes the light is cold, but I kinda like how the only color is her hat :)

Later, the sun came out and everything was a-sparkling...

We came in to a cozy blaze.  I get my love of fires and photographing them from Justus my brother and Libby my sister.  Many thanks to both of you :)

The view out my window on a snowy night...(my camera has a night mode that I'm trying to figure out)

Stars and snowy trees...

Yours truly...

Easter eggs decorated by Ellie--isn't she brilliant?

 I did my first painting job this month, and had to include a glimpse of it:)  I am pleased to say it went really well and I actually enjoyed it.

This picture is one of my favorites!  The colors and texture of the knitting came out so crisp...

Hopefully I'm inspiring some other beginners to get their feet wet and learn :)

I'm currently working on putting up a new feature on Winsome Skirts--shop by size!  This business is a continual learning experience, and a very good one.  If you are thinking of starting a small business online, I would encourage you to jump in and try it!  It is a great way to stretch you and gain new skills.  

Ta-ta for now!

xoxo, 

Elise

As promised....part one :)

Hulloo!

I am finally posting my pictures!  Since I waited so long to do it, the 300 pictures suddenly 

grew to 600 pictures :)  Here's an ex-clusive sampling of those 600. Enjoy!

An embroidered towel Ellie did for my Christmas present.

The embroideress :)

My favorite chair...

Libby, fabulous in fur :)

Just part of my knitting needle collection....

This is the best view I can get of Ellie before 9 am!

Our Christmas tree made for some fantastic bokeh!!

 Mmmm, peppermint hot chocolate!

Tree silhouettes...

My chickadee mug, Christmas present from Libby.  You know me so well:)

This makes me think of the verse in Revelation, 

"I have set before you an open door, which no man can shut."

Favorite boots...

Ellie and I in the window's reflection...

The few...the brave...the cleaning team :)

I just sat and took pictures of Ellie's manifold expressions during one of our frequent chats!

A tribute to Goldilocks:)

I hope you enjoyed that!  I'm sure enjoying learning how to take good pictures.  

This is only the beginning :D

May your Sabbath be full of peace and joy in the LORD!

xoxo,

Elise

A comrade's golden birthday

Libby turned 21 today!  And I sang her a very special song this morning.

"21 today, pom pom..." :D

(If you've read PG Wodehouse's A Damsel in Distress, you know the song too.)

I thank the Lord for the past 21 years I have been privileged to spend with this comrade.  We squabbled plenty growing up, but since we were each saved, our relationship has been such a blessing to me!  

Libby has exhorted me in my relationship with God countless times and I am so thankful for her gifts in that area.  This quote is so true of us...

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double.  ~Toni Morrison

Libby and I are sometimes so similar it's scary, but at other times we are total opposites.  That is part of the beauty of having a sister, and I am blessed to have three! :)

I love you so much, Libby!  

May the Lord bless you this year and utterly satisfy your heart with Himself !

xoxo,

Elise