The Flowers of Twenty-Thirteen

Ellie is our flower girl.  She dreams of flower gardens, reads the 15 lb. flower encyclopedia like it's a thriller, spouts latin flower names, wanders our property in search of fresh blooms, and brightens our home with her findings.  This past year, she has kept me in near-constant supply of flowers.  My desk and table almost always have a bouquet (or three!).  

Flowers are Ellie's way of saying "I love you," so they are especially nice to have around :)

Ellie's floral gifts have been a constant source of photography inspiration for me, so here you find the flowers that have adorned my room for the last seven months.  

Drink them in, as Anne of Green Gables would say :)

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."  

Isaiah 40:8

-E

The Business of Play

One afternoon last month, Libby and I had the immense pleasure and important duty of sharing in the playtime of two young friends.  John and Timmy briefed us in the art of war...and fishing :)

This was John's handcrafted version of "Axis and Allies," only he called it "Eks and Allies."

The Eks, you must understand, are a fiercely ruthless and barbaric people whose one goal in their short and bloody lifetimes is to conquer the world.  Notice John's creativity in coming up with new lands--my favorite being Zeklink and New Zeklink--and incorporating them with the globe as we know it.

Whether studying how to mobilize your forces and defend your land, or how to jab your fishing rod into a rapidly passing fish's mouth before your opponent can slosh him into HIS bucket, you are constantly kept on your toes when around active youngsters.  Libby and I learn so much whenever we have opportunities like this, and love to enter wholeheartedly into their games.

Happy Independence Day to you all!

xoxo,

Elise

Big Skies

Hello!  During my stay in Montana, I have been feasting on Psalms and contemplating God's majesty each day.  You simply can't help it...this is Big Sky country after all :)

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, from this time forth and forevermore."  Psalm 125:2

I love being between the trampoline and the sunset...

 "The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of men."  

Psalm 115:16

I hope you are inspired to spend some time meditating on God's power and strength today.

xoxo,

Elise

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