Friday, October 21, 2022

Porch #65 * Long Driveways & Little Barns

  PORCH
your go-to weekend companion
discover a fresh perspective
get unstuck
embrace community
grow your faith in Christ
share your story





Good Friday morning to you, dear friends!

A quick glance at the clock tells me I have less than 90 minutes to get this newsletter out to you.  That may be a tough sell because my eyes can't stop riveting to the view out oldest daughter's big kitchen window, trees all gold and russet and fading green.  And when the breeze blows soft, tired leaves float slowly groundward to join their already crinkling companions.

As with everything autumn, I'm captivated. 

We're in the final stretch of our little road trip.  We traveled down to the Annapolis daughter's house for a long weekend, stopped to catch our breath for a few days in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and are finishing up at the Connecticut daughter's place.  

And a few things dawned on me this morning which may or may not have meaning to you.

🐓

1.  We raised our daughters in a little ranch house deep in the woods atop a long, steep, winding driveway.

They are now raising their own families, hundreds of miles apart, in houses deep in the woods atop long, steep, winding driveways.

2.  Back in the day, Mr. Handyman built them a very fun treehouse perched way up high at the top of the driveway on the left-hand side.

These days, both girls have little barns at the top of their driveways on the left-hand side.

3.  Mr. Handyman and his son-in-law built new barn doors for the Annapolis daughter last weekend.

Mr. Handyman and the Connecticut daughter are building a chicken coop in their barn this weekend.

4.  Even though their personalities and circumstances are different, both daughters and their families value the same things.  

A strong faith in Christ honed and solidified by incredibly hard seasons.  Substantial family time.  Women with very long, thick, gorgeous hair.  Faithful ministry.  Quirky humor.  Love of Camp and Cape.  Busy kitchens at the hub of activity.  

And the presence of barking/chirping animals to wake each household up at o'dark thirty.

🐓

Time to go now.  I'm off to take the towels out of the dryer, re-organize the spice rack (at her request), and then tromp through the woods to find bittersweet vines to wind into a pretty wreath for the little farmer's porch.

Be still my soul.  Life is full and golden in this season ... only because of His goodness and mercy.

Linda

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him."  The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him;  It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
- Lamentations 3:21-26

click to subscribe

32 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. They say 'good things come to those who wait.' More often than not, we've found that true. We've stopped 'leaning on our own understanding' a long time ago.

      Proverbs 3:5
      👨‍👩‍👧‍👧👨‍👩‍👧‍👧👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

      Delete
  2. Such different, and beautiful, scenery from your little spot in this great landscape God has made. I have a vine of bittersweet in our home....artificial of course. And your list makes me think about our own...daughter, son, how different they seem yet how more alike I know they are. Thanks, Linda, for a sweet taste of grace for my morning - Debby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Whoever coined the phrase 'all is grace' said it all, didn't they, friend ...
      🎁

      Delete
  3. This HAS been quite the beautiful fall - such vibrant colors that stayed longer than usual too. Your photos are so good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And now the rain comes and all is well and cozy inside by the fire ...

      Delete
  4. Sounds like a refreshing, rejuvenating journey, Linda. Something you needed! Love and blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Trudy! I hope you're doing well ...
      🙋‍♀️

      Delete
  5. Sounds like a lovely visit! Sometimes it's hard to keep my eyes on the road while driving around town when the leaves are so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear you, Barbara ... this makes errands a pleasure, doesn't it!
      🚙

      Delete
  6. Sounds like you've been enjoying a bit of heaven on earth. Thank you for sharing your delightful moments with us!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely photos, fall is my favorite season, I love the changing colors!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We get little color change around here so traveling around has been such a treat.
      😎

      Delete
  8. These are lovely photos -- especially the eggs. I love the parallels between your lives and your daughters. Thanks for coming by today, too! Lovely to see you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm loving those parallels, too, Jeanie. It was a bit eye-opening for me to think about ...
      👩‍❤️‍👩

      Delete
  9. I love this, Linda. When I dare to envision what the future might be like for our little family, I imagine similar scenes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love how you put that, Lois ... let's dare to envision, to dream, to pray!

      Delete
  10. May I borrow your Mr. Handyman for a little while? Love that little red house in the woods. It would make a great ManCave!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr. Handyman is always available to lend a hand. One of the many things I love about him. He's be over in a flash if you guys lived closer.
      🛠️

      Delete
  11. Your photos are stunning. I'm sure the fall foliage is incredible in your neck of the woods.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't you just love the gifts in each season change?!
      🛍️

      Delete
  12. Enjoy your family time! It sounds wonderful and it must be so encouraging to see your daughters valuing the same things and recreating happy memories from childhood for their own families.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, yes, Lesley. It's always good to focus on the good things God has done ... sure beats constantly ruminating over the hard times.
      😇.

      Delete
  13. Oh My! Those eggs and everything! And a house up the windy road - so beautiful to see the legacy of nesting handed down so beautifully! I loved sitting for a few here, soaking up your beautiful fall!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I love that, Maryleigh ... 'a legacy of nesting.' Wow, thank you for painting that beautiful picture!
      🎨

      Delete
  14. Linda, I can just picture how simply serene, breathtaking and picturesque your autumn visits were.
    Visiting today from G&T

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'simply serene, breathtaking and picturesque'

      You've repainted the picture beautifully, friend ...
      🎨

      Delete
  15. Your photos are incredible, Linda! I especially love the eggs.

    Hugs and blessings 💐

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The eggs are from an image I found years ago from an unknown creator. I wish I could give them proper credit!
      📸

      Delete