October Originals

Well, well, well!! Hello October (and almost November!!) Did you know that between the last of October and the first of November is a very special day?! THE FIRST OF OCTEMBER!!! But better beware!! If you're not very, very careful, in a blink of a flash, you will have missed it.
In fact, it is so hard NOT to miss, that most people I know have never been able to slip inside it's joys!
(For those of you who don't know...it's cousin is Sleep Day--the day between Saturday and Sunday). A lot of people miss that one too.

Onto other such things, this month has been a blur of yet more activity.. The week after Tasha and Hank's wedding, we got to spend some more time with all the relatives and especially these awesome cousins!!

We got to show them around our place and they got to meet their first alpaca!! :)

I love this photo Alex captured (thanks to Alex for most of the photos on this post.) :)

That next weekend, Alex and I had the joy of video graphing the last 2 shows of Rockin' B Ranch's 20th Celebratory Dinner Shows!! What an honor that was, and it brought back memories for both of us..

And, for the first time, we were able to actually spend our courtship anniversary together...that was a LOT of fun! I am so blessed...

Alex got his winter vehicle, and his ole' pal Matthew and I had a lot of fun testing it out with him on the logging trails... Isn't the color glorious?! I have to say, I love Land Rover Discoverys.... (1994 is the best!) ;)

Of course, we had to take opportunity of a handy photographer in this landscape! (Courtesy of this lot to Matthew)

On another note, I've been working on downsizing the ranch, and we have now gone from over 50 head of alpacas to a mere 24 (and sliding) in the last 5 months! Praise God!

Also, as of this week, it has been ten years since we moved onto our ranch.... Looking back, I am so thankful my parents decided to move--first from Anchorage, and then from the Coeur d'Alene suburbia...what memories we have to cherish and are still making!!

Like.......

Introducing: the newest meat bringer of the family:

Thanks to Esther, we now have fresh deer meat in the freezer!! :)

 We sure had fun watching Hank and Tasha open their wedding presents too!! They sure got some fun and useful keepers!

(They even got their height right! :D)

 On the way up there, a couple of my men decided to have some fun....

Mmm...oh, do I love this time of year with the scrumptious cups of tea and cider, good books, warms scarves and tights, gloves and ear muffs! And crocheting... You know?! As my family can attest you used to NEVER find me without cross stitch, embroidery, or crocheting in my hands, but after the Philippines and medical studies, life changed so much, that it really has only been in the last year or so that I've taken my handwork and sewing back out!! And, boy am I glad I have!!
With life so busy and full, I'm not quite as fast at getting projects whipped out, but they're coming slowly but surely! Maybe I'll post pictures of a few in a while... :)

One of Alex and my favorite verses has been I Thessalonians 4:11-12, and I think it is quite appropriate this post:

"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye many walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may lack of nothing."

Tasha + Hank's Wedding

Well, on October 4th, my dear friend Natasha finally tied the knot. What a privilege it has been to walk through this relationship with her, and support her along the way! The wedding was completely her and Hank. Short, simple, and sweet, with a 1950's flare.

The wedding rehearsal went great, and it was a perfect evening too! What a wonderful and sentimental venue they picked!!

Isn't that gorgeous?!

 Saturday morning, we got there early to set-up the rest of everything.... This little guy (Peter), was my buddy for the morning.

 It was so much fun to meet all the rest of Alex and Tasha's extended family, and there was definitely connections made. :) And of course, it was wonderful to see precious Aunt Liz again...though we sure missed you Grandma Barb!

All the sisters together once again.

I loved how Tasha used a blusher veil. So many people nowadays are shying away from using it, and well.... I just thought it was absolutely lovely!!

 I didn't get a photo of their first kiss, but is was short and sweet, ending in a secure hug.

What fun their reunion was!!!

Just had to put in this photo of my dapper best friend...

Though in some ways, he has lost his sister, he has gained a brother!

Only brothers... (with Hank's brother Austin)

Isn't this couple so adorable?!

 Of course, along with the rest of the reception came cake (and cupcakes, gluten and gluten-free!), and was their's a beaut!!! It was a heart-shaped pyramid with fresh violets sprinkled around, with a cake topper saying "Mr & Mrs Little".

If their cake exchange is any preview of their marriage, it looks to be sweet, caring, and genial. :)

 And, of course with the cake comes DANCING! Oh, what fun we had! Ballroom and swing are the most fun in the world....

I made coordinating outfits for Alex and I, and I loved being his little helper, sidekick, and back up video-photo-grapher. I am sooooo blessed.

Did I ever tell anyone that I have the BEST father in the world?! He's amazing and so wonderful and wise!!

Alex has a pretty great dad too... It was so fun seeing them together--all dressed up!

And Mama (who sacrificed me being at her birthday party the night before so I could be at the rehearsal), is as lovely as ever with our precious friend Pamela!!

All in all, it was a wonderful wedding, bringing back to remembrance the meaning and beauty of a marriage centered around Christ.

"Wherefore they are no more twain,  but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

~ Matthew 19:6 ~

Cat Memories

Rebekah and I ran across some photos from 2005 and later that I wanted to share--just for memories' sake....  A long, long time ago, we got a cat who then had 2 litters of kittens, from which each of us got our own cat...

L to R - Back: Rebekah (5) / Serenity, Mama / Sophie, Rachel (10) / Princess, Daniel (14) / Earl Gray, David (9) / Rosie, Esther (4) / Timmy
L to R - Front: James (11 mo.) / Posie, Papa / Ivanhoe, Josiah (3) / Aurora, Me (12) / Callie (Aurora is nestled too), and Samuel (7) / Sable

Allergies took over--but me with my beloved Callico Meaddows

Rachel (10) and her beloved Princess

David (9) and Rosie

Samuel (7) and Sable

Rebekah  (almost 6) and her runt - Serenity

Esther (4) and Timmy

James (11 mon.) and Posie - that cat is only a month old, and nearly as big as he was! :)

This is a litter we had later from our other cat Angel--and boy, did they have fun trying to keep them in a straight line! :D

Just for kicks....a picture of my cousin pretending to be a deer

Rachel and her awesome cat Rowena (who got dressed up as a Princess one Christmas)

And just for kicks, I couldn't leave this picture out of little James (who isn't so little anymore!!) :)

It's amazing how the years fly by!! And unfortunately, so have the cats!! But then...so have the mice! ;) hehe

I would have included a Bible verse about cats--but couldn't find one..so this one about the 'big cats' will have to do. ;)

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

~ Proverbs 28:1 ~