'Ruby Slippers'

It has truly been a beautiful, beautiful beginning, & almost to the middle of Autumn. 
All of the canning & freezing of garden produce is finished.

This....

became this.

We picked our last roses of summer...

They are so very beautiful!

& still a delight to the 

!!!!

But there are compensations for the exchange of the sights & fragrances of Summer to Autumn,  as we discover when we take our  one day or even one afternoon holiday.

Our drive to Hill City began with very cool, rainy & foggy weather, but the fog made it rather enchanting, sort of wrapped around us like a misty,  foggy hug.

"Once in the highlands, the highlands of Scotland, deep in the woods on a murky brae....🎶🎶". I feel like I can just walk right into 'Brigadoon'. So magical, sigh...

I'm sure it's there, see it? In the hill of mist beyond foggy mountain?

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

On this particular jaunt we were surprised & excited to see a herd of Dall Sheep climbing up the side of a high cliff not far from where we live.

This is absolutely amazing to me. "Uhhhh, where do I go from here?" is what I would be saying, but not these guys. They were made for this kind of terrain. Dall Sheep (also called Bighorn Sheep) have cloven hooves, equipped with strong pads, which helps them maneuver easily on rough & rocky terrain. 

Here is 'Big Papa Ram'. He actually posed for at least thirty seconds to make sure I got a good picture. A real 'HamRam'! 

Although these sheep are from the 'Family Bovidae' & deer are from the 'Family Cervidae', because of their cloven hooves & ability to climb & get through difficult places, I am reminded of the scripture, Habakkuk 3:18, "The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, & He will make me walk on my high places.", which to me is a variation of the scripture, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. The Lord God & Christ. & me. We got this!!

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

The leaves are changing.

Don't you just love this sunburst?! I caught this on our drive down Spearfish Canyon.

I love all kinds of water pictures, but oh these sun shimmer waters...

These waters just sound so joyful!

All of these little rivulets originate from the falls in the background.

The walkways are strewn with fallen leaves that have their own distinct & personal fragrance which I find delightful & invigorating!

& those oh so mysterious little paths & nooks, that may lead to...

(whispered)...somewhere.

More surprises! A little family of Mountain Goats. They really are out of the goat family, as are antelope, but I think that they are much cuter than the goat or antelope!

Something else that I would just love to hug!

but I don't think Mama would let me! Aren't they just adorable?!?

The road back home.

Little journeys are wonderful perks in life, different sights, different smells, out-of-the-ordinary & pleasant changes, food for the soul for all of us. It stimulates our minds, even our bodies, deep-breathing for the spirit. & then, at the end of each little adventure, awaits.....home. Home. One of the most beautiful words in the human language. Where awaits that favorite chair by the fireside

and a good book.

or gather together with your favorite people for a savory homemade-with-love supper. 💖

  or where you can slip into that favorite cozy sweatshirt, brew a cup of tea & wrap up in a 'softie', sit in front of a window & watch the sunset.

I think to every heart, there really is... (now put on your ruby slippers & click your heels three times!)... no place like home.  & as a mother & home-maker (another word I love!) for my children & grandchildren, my goal has always been to make a home like the sentiments in Washington Irving's 'Old Christmas: From the Sketchbook', 

"It was the policy of the good old gentleman (me too!) to make his children feel that home was the happiest place in the world ; & I value this delicious home-feeling as one of the choicest gifts that a parent can bestow."

There has been a serious erosion of the importance & significance of womanhood, motherhood & being a homemaker over the last several years. (By the way, 'just a' should never be in the same sentence with the title 'Homemaker'.) To make a home the happiest place to be for anyone who crosses the threshold of our hearth's door, takes great thought, heart, energy & organizational skills; a home that exudes Jesus through our womanhood & embraces all like a warm, encompassing, wrap around HUG!! 

I believe creating this kind of home atmosphere is imperative to fortify all of those coming & going from our homes. So much of life is hard & can demoralize even the most stoic of us at times. We, as women & homemakers can provide the much needed 'respite', for the weary, the lonely, the hurting, the suffering. On a smaller but necessary scale, we are the mini statues of liberty on our own home-sweet-homefront. It is no small endeavor to build  a 'happiest place in the world' called home. We not only give life, we resuscitate it. Think of that! Our 'profession' is one that humankind cannot exist without! Home-builders, Home-makers, Home-keepers. That's a pretty challenging & even sobering vocation. But so fulfilling, so rich & life-giving. Ralph Waldo Emerson said,

"The purpose of life is to....be useful, to be honorable, to be  compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived, & lived well."

Another job description for the homemaker. The way I see it, is as homemakers, we're pretty indespensable! & how ever fun & enjoyable  those little trips & vacations are, at the end of the journey, home is waiting. You don't have to put on your ruby slippers & click your heels three times. You ARE the ruby slippers!

Raintree Perk of the Day

"In my Father's house are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you." Love, Jesus

"...where a new day is dawning, a lovely new morning..."

forever...home at last.