I had to post a photo of bleeding hearts because my granddaughter calls them “heartbeats”.  Love her!

May 7 – 13

3 gifts about your home:

382. my little potted herb garden on the deck that will flavor our grilling this summer

383.  the stone walk shade garden

384. fun architecture

3 gifts in a closet:

385. art supplies

386. St. John’s Bible Prints for vbgallery.com

387. Vine & Branches cards & gifts

3 gifts found in the dark:

388. The Lord will be the judge…

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12

389. when you’re in the dark, the tiniest light is intense and draws your steps toward it’s glow

You, LORD, are my lamp; the LORD turns my darkness into light.  2 Samuel 22:29

390. An explanation for evil
They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Ephesians 4:18

391. a gift outside – a twelve mile training bike ride

392. a gifts inside – seeing the shadow shawl chevrons

393. a gift upside down -  sometimes God allows your life to be upside-down so He can re-orient, or re-calibrate your life to His purposes.

3 gifts about your parents:

394. they came back to church after I became a believer

395. they stayed married even during tough times

396. they both tenaciously followed their own paths

3 gifts held in hand today:

397. friends from church who make kettle corn at the Shepherds Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival

398. felted silk and wool scarves at the Festival

399. pottery at the St. Croix Potters Tour

3 gifts found in your mother:

400. passing down her love of the handcrafted.  She used to love to go on the St. Croix Pottery Tour every Mother’s Day weekend.

401.  her beautiful pottery

402. her love of wild flower gardening

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.  1 Corinthians 9:23

Have a blessed week ahead dear friends and let God be your light,

In Him,

Laurie

Fortunately my lens helped get close enough to identify that we had a Great Horned Owl nesting off our driveway.  We watched her every time we came and went.  I’d hoo hoo hoo at her and she would not flinch, but unblinkingly stared me down.

By April 5th the leaves began to bud out and she seemed to be sitting higher on the nest and it seemed that she laid down over the nest with her tail sticking out the other side, which I found funny as owls seem to be upright birds, and this was more of a chicken posture.

By April 14th, we could see white fuzzy little heads poking over the edge of the nest and we saw the two baby owls for the first time with mom standing guard.

Here they are on April 2oth, and evidence of what momma owl was feeding the youngsters.  They are called pellets and are the remains of whatever they ate, filled with bones, feathers and fur.  Apparently owls have favorite places to eat and we found a couple other places nearby with pellets scattered around.

A wide shot from April 22nd gives you an idea of how high they were, with a close up of their down, mom on a branch and a pair of staring baby owl eyes.

April 24th brought lots of great shots of the nest from below, Mom on a branch beside the nest, and maybe Mom feeding the owlets with her wing up in the air, or maybe killing a rodent or bird in the nest?

There were more pellets, this one with a black bird foot….

and great shots of the babies checking out their world. This one is fuzzy but it was difficult for the camera to focus with all the leaves.  What was apparent at this stage was the owlets movements were increasing as they stood on the edge of the nest and stretched and stood up.

This was the final day of watching the owls, and we were fortunate to see one of the babies up close.  What a thrill.  Dan went out for his early morning walk and then called me to bring the camera out and see what was sitting on the driveway.  What are the chances?  Does God know I studied animal behavior at Gustavus?  I think so.  Here are the parting shots of our owl adventure, and the little buck that came to say goodbye.

And momma was up in the tree watching the whole thing….

Life is full, some good, some hard…so I continue to count my gifts….and see the beauty,,,

April 30th – May 6

361. a gift given. 362. a gift made – rhubarb bars for Small Group tonight

363. a gift sacrificed – time

3 gifts tasted:

364. fresh asparagus from the garden

365. blueberry yogurt smoothie

366. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.  Psalm 34:8

3 gifts flat:

367. the little shawl

368. a check to pay bills

369. menu at Nordstrom’s where a dear friend took me to lunch!  Thanks Kathy : )

3 gifts found in difficult people:

370. they help you practice patience
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.  Proverbs 19:11

371. they bring you to your knees in prayer
In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.  Psalm 109:4

372. they encourage you to think of much better ways to relate
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.  1 Peter 1:22

3 gifts before 9 am: This was a seriously wonderful morning!

373. coffee delivered by my husband : )

374. One of the Great Horned Owl Babies is out of the nest and sitting on the driveway

Those talons could do some serious damage!

375. Just as I was getting close to the baby owl a little buck came into view, but the owl kept a very close eye on me, following my every move.

376. a gift in a sign – grandchild #5 – It’s a girl!

377. a gift in a smile – proud parents

378. a gift in a snack – crunch

3 gifts found in Christ:

379. family

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:14-19

380. gifts given to all by the Holy Spirit
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  1 Corinthians 12:4

381.  hope

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  Psalm 25:5

Want to count your own gifts?  Jump in to the lovely community at a holy experience by clicking the button below.   You’ll be blessed….

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 40:8

April 23rd – 29th

Especially thankful for beauty this week…as if the LORD is whispering, “all will be well”.

3 gifts reflecting:

340. As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.  Proverbs 27:19

341. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  1 Corinthians 13:12

342. a dirty pool

3 gifts fragile:

343. Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.
What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web.
They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.

Job 8:13-15

344. our plans

345. mama ducks nest under the diving board.  “My” 2 baby great horned owls are about to fly the nest and there will be no more checking on them every day, so when we saw mama duck fussing around under the diving board a week ago, we were hopeful to have another nest to watch.  And here they are!

346. a gift cloth – jammies  (I never did color in the lines – b.o.r.i.n.g!)

347. a gift steel – a new used car

348. a gift wood - firewood

3 gifts moving:

349. little girls on stage

350. the middle brother after the dance recital

351. the little brother bringing me a bouquet of lilacs

3 gifts ugly-beautiful:

352. dreary gray skies bringing much needed rain

So thankful that what man means for harm, God will use for good.

353. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  Luke 6:45

354. to those who say, “Let God hurry; let him hasten his work so we may see it.
The plan of the Holy One of Israel—let it approach, let it come into view, so we may know it.”

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.

Isaiah 5:15-19

3 gifts orange

555. the bushes leafing out

356. tulip in the garden

357. hens & chicks

3 gifts in dirt:

358. worms hard at work tending the soil

359. white violets in the woods

360. here comes dinner!

So thankful for the body of Christ and God’s creation –

Another week of watching for gifts each day…keeping me afloat in hard times, and the company of knitting friends who soften the bumpy road.

Laurie

Link to Ann’s blog by clicking on the button below, and join in today.

It’s been such a blessing to look back at the weeks of counting since January and to be reminded of the goodness and beauty that surrounds us.  I didn’t count gifts the first year with Ann Voskamp at a holy experience, because I was afraid to commit to looking that hard.  Sigh.  When Ann asked us again to count with her, graciously giving us a list each month,  I chose to be intentional and do the Joy Dare this year. Not always well or easily, but now without fear of failure, and with greater understanding that it’s all about what He’s done, and nothing about me.  What an indescribable gift it has been to my soul, this giving of thanks.  It has helped move me through a tough year, focusing and filling my days and reminding me of His presence through these presents.  As Ann says,

“Chronicle the 1000, endless ways He loves.
Open the gift of JOY in Him!”

April 16-22nd

3 hard eucharisteos:

319. my back went out all week and caused me to slow down, which was a blessing!

320. not yet knowing, but soon

321. continuing to be in the ‘waiting room’

3 gifts woven together:

322. Yeah! My first pair of hand knit socks.

323. our family over the years, and how it changes as our kids have babies…so sweet.

324. the stories of our lives

3 gifts inherited:

325. creativity

326. love of working with my hands

327. grandma C’s love of knitting

3 gifts square:

328. a favorite drawing from Italy

329. my dapping block for making domes in jewelry

330. the bottom of my Kalahari tote bag

331. a gift stacked – steps, columns and arches

332. a gift stashed – a multitude of knitting projects from the Yarn Hop last week (I wasn’t going to get anything! Hmmmm…joy overcame self-control)

333. a gift stilled – Northwestern College Chapel entry

3 gifts found in Christ:  These beautiful cards are made by a North Carolina artist, and are carried in my store, Vine & Branches Gallery.  Aren’t they lovely?

334. Faith (This card can be found by clicking here)

335. Wisdom (This card can be found by clicking here)

336. Joy (This card can be found by clicking here)

3 gifts close:

Thanks to the body of Christ at work in our church, you’ve been a rich source of support

337. Hearing this verse at church -

I am safe from all dangers; in the assembly of his people I praise the Lord.  Psalm 26:12

338. Praying and listening friends

339. “God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.  2 Samuel 22:31

Lord help us in our planning for the re-emergence of Vine & Branches through a summer art show and sale in August.  Bring together the artists and their work, and help me with vbgallery.com, insideout-blog.com and arise-designs.com and all the social media.  We have lots of connections to make and you are the true connector of our hearts, which is so much bigger than the internet and with power!  Bring together the artists, their work and their love for you and your Word.  Please pray with us that the Word of God created before time, would be beautifully created by our hands to remind us of Your promises, Your Word, Your comfort, Your provision and protection.  Bless this community effort with joy in the Name of your Son and with the power of Your Holy Spirit.  Amen!

What an exciting time.  Join us in prayer and in praise of the Father.  Do you know Christian artists who would like to become a part of the Vine & Branches family?  Email me: laurie@vbgallery.com

In Jesus powerful name,

Laurie

April 9th – 15th

Counting 100 gifts with Ann Voskamp is changing me.  Would you like to count your gifts?  Just click on the ‘one thousand gifts’ button at the bottom of the post to join with the thanks-givers.  Gifts abound and naming them is a blessing that will change your heart and keep you searching for daily treasures.  It is good to give thanks!

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

1 Timothy 4:4

298. a gift hiding – if I knew what it was, I’d have found it!

299. a gift held – a latte on a warm sunny afternoon

300. a gift heard – returning birdies

3 gifts opened up:

301. white windmill wildflowers

302. magenta tulips

303. my mind and my heart

3 gifts budding/blooming:

304. sunny yellow daffodils

305. the funky fun bulb that Leslie planted

306. fragrant lilac buds

3 gifts worn:

307. prayer at the MN Prayer Breakfast because of the speaker, Dr. Richard Foth

308. my favorite jeans

309. motorcycle boots

3 gifts bright:

310. Hand-dyed yarn at Lila & Claudine’s for the Twin Cities Yarn Hop

311. felted pillows

312. life size Lila and Claudine at the knit shop

3 gifts looking up:

313. beauty in the apple tree

314. the fuzzy grey heads of 2 baby great horned owls peeking out of the nest!

315. my Father

316. a gift in a bag – socks I’m learning to knit

317. a gift in a box – goldfish crackers

318. a gift in a book – the treasures and promises in the Bible

This week has gone especially fast with 2 days of Yarn Hopping with a friend, another family birthday, the owl sighting, the green explosion of leaves on the trees, lots of much needed rain and blooming bulbs.  Beautiful color everywhere!

Praying your spring is full of growth and renewal,

Laurie

Come and join us in counting your own gifts each day. This naming of thanks has been a gift beyond measure.

This years Easter dinner table was so much fun.  Many hours were spent knitting and felting easter eggs and embroidering them with initials and flowers. It all started innocently enough with finding 2 concrete planters at Home Goods.  They were filled with dirt and planted with grass seed for the center of the table, around which would be the knit and felted handmade eggs.  Simple enough right?

The grass grew outside and the eggs began to take shape, and what started as a simple knitting and felting project with an array of beautiful colors quickly turned into a major project.  Surprise!

The dining table is quite long so it needed a focal point, and a glass bowl filled with pansy’s provided a burst of color for very little money.  Cut flowers are wonderful from the florist, but when you can use what’s in your own yard, or what’s on sale why not?  Pansy’s were only a few dollars for a whole pack of eight.  Once the table was grounded with living plants, it was simple to gather the chicks and eggs to create a spring garden in bloom with the grass and pansy’s.  Reagan played with the grass and eggs all during dinner, checking out each eggs decorations and creating holes for them to nest in.  So sweet.

Now the confession.  This would have been a ‘gracious plenty’ as grandma used to say, but another fun thought popped into my mind.  Why not make egg place cards in little pots for the kids to have?  See the question mark eggs?  They are the two little ones that will be at the table next Easter.  Can’t wait to meet them (note to self: get another high chair)!

The grandkids also had their places.

Looks like I forgot to take an individual photo of Johnnie’s egg, but here are the families grouped together.  Even the dogs  got into the party.

The girls who love their puppies loved their doggie eggs.

Right now Jack (4) is fascinated with worms, so we found a pattern for knitting them.  Isn’t it cute?    Well, I hope you had a  blessed Easter with your family.  Spring is here and it’s time to celebrate that winter is gone, and new life abounds.

Enjoy your spring sunshine,

Laurie

April 2 – April 8th

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

by Charles Wesley

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

3 gifts white:

277. The lamb who was slain.

Revelation5:11-13

278. cloud waves

279. blossoms

3 gifts surprisingly found:

280. healing through feeling

281. renewed after a good workout on the bike

282. refreshed after seeing flowers at Linder’s Garden Center

3 gifts in His Word:

283. After having coffee at Dunn Brothers this morning, Theresa held my hands and prayed.  As we opened our eyes and looked up, a man walked by and said, “Were you praying?”  “Yes” we said.  He then looked directly at me and said, “Something is about to break loose for you.  Like what we are celebrating this weekend.  The Word was in the grave on Friday, but on Sunday, the Word was alive.  You’re going to experience that power”.   Well to say I was shocked was an understatement and I didn’t know if I should believe him or not.  Theresa got chills.  Later as I was finishing my BSF study of Ephesians this verse jumped out at me for my earlier experience.  Be alert!  I am talking to you, and keep on praying.  Thank you Lord!

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6:18

284. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  1 Peter 3:15-16

285.  My Arise Designs website edits were updated by the Web Guy, so I may soon have the site up!  Scripture is a huge part of the descriptions of the jewelry pieces and it’s so good to see them!

3 gifts @:

286. 11am – listening to a lecture on Ephesians

287. 2pm – planting pansy’s in a big bowl for the Easter table

288. 6pm – Having a great meal with Dan-o at Alcapulco.

3 gifts nailed together:

289. A cross made by James Quentin Young, Minnesota artist

290. my Arise Designs nail cross

291.  Love on the cross

3 gifts waited for:

292.  The Resurrection

From this cross:

To this one:

293. A resolution

294. The lamb of God

3 gifts rising up:

295. my heart at Easter services

296. laughter at Easter dinner with the family

297. Our Lord and Savior, praise God!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia!

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!

Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

Friends,

On a trip to Iceland a couple of years ago, we came across these little lambs.  I was so taken by their running around and kicking up their heels, so full of life. Praying your hearts will be filled with His love, that makes you want to run & jump for the sheer pleasure of it.

In His Love,

Laurie

Come and join us in counting your own gifts each day.  This naming of thanks has been a gift beyond measure.

{lambskin from Iceland}

{photos: by Laurie & Dan Ashbach}

A psalm. For giving grateful praise. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Psalm 100:1

Mar 26th – April 1st

Happy Easter Week Friends!

3 gifts almost gone:

256. my coffee capsules – danger!

257. the silhouettes of bare branches

258. winters brown landscape

3 gifts redeemed:

259. my life!

260. my purpose

261. my mistakes

3 gifts entwined:

262. Families

263. Knitted Easter eggs

264. Friends

3 gifts of His promises:

265. For no matter how many promises God has made,

they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.

He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us,

and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,

guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22

My Sealed in Christ pendant in 14K yellow gold from my Arise Designs Jewelry Collections.

266.

He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired,
and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

267.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don’t be troubled or afraid.

3 gifts uncovered:

268. Tamarac needles emerging

269. Hosta poking up and out

270. Fernheads unfurling

271. a gift heard – singing birds building nests

272. a gift held – a chickadee gift for a praying friend

273. a gift hoped for – an outcome that will allow us to really help the needy

3 gifts round:

274. chick belly’s

275. my motorcycle tires that took me on a ride today : )

276. bubbles from soapy little hands

May God bless you this week leading up to Easter Sunday, remembering His sacrifice and rejoicing over His release.  Praying for all to experience and understand this life-changing miracle.

In His love,

Laurie

Joining with the community of gift counters over at a holy experience. Please join us!

To buy the pattern from Marie Mayhew, the designer click here.  She has lots more patterns as well to tempt you.

To make your own chicks you’ll need:

-sport weight wool yarn in yellow for the body & orange for the beak, or any other color if you’re adventurous.  I used Tree Frog Alpaca.

-size 7 double point needles

-needle and thread to sew on the eyes (2 black beads) and wings

-wire, orange beads, pliers & wire cutters for the legs

-fiberfill

-a couple of hours

Start the chick on the business end with a knobby little tail, knitting in the round.  You’ll increase, do a few rounds for the body of the belly and decrease into the neck and head and end by knitting the beak in orange.  The directions were easy to follow and I am a relatively new knitter.

Next you’ll whip out the wings.

After your parts are complete its time to felt the body in the washer,  using hot water in the smallest load, and a drop of detergent.  Use a timer so you can stop the cycle before it starts to spin. These chicks took a total of three 12 minute washes and they were felted and fuzzy.  Check them after each timed cycle.  This post on felting will help if you have more questions.

While the body is in the washer, grab the wings and gently hand felt them with running hot water, a drop of soap and rub between your fingers until the individual stitches begin to disappear.

Next you’re onto the legs.  Marie’s directions were great and with these photo’s you’ll be done in 15 minutes.  The legs need to be wired together inside the body, making sure that the sharp ends are buried in the fiberfill.  Then go ahead and stitch the stuffing hole shut and sew on the little wings.  Oh and don’t forget 2 black beads for the eyes.

Voila!  You now have the cutest little chicks to celebrate the coming of Spring!

Have fun. Peep!

Happy Easter,

Laurie