Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Appetite Blessings I’m How many things do we take for granted in our everyday lives instead of appreciating them as a blessing from God? A recent bout with sickness gave me a renewed appreciation for the blessing of an appetite. We may remember to thank God for our food,

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Christmas So many blessings of Christmas surround us during this Christmas season. Beautiful lights decorate homes and businesses. In stores, libraries and schools, we are treated with lovely Christmas trees sparkling with ornaments in numerous styles. Our mail boxes are filled with welcomed cards and letters from much loved

Mary’s Monday Musing to Quilt Encouragement Chipmunks The snow-covered mountains towered over us. Trees with immense girth scraped the clouds while streams grey with glacier sediment rushed past us, yet the tourist’s cameras were trained on a little chipmunk munching on a nut. Chipmunks are delightful little animals with a pretty chestnut colored fur coat

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Rock, Paper, Scissors Another train came alongside us on a second track. Our speeds were the same which allowed one of the cars to proceed slowly next to ours.  We waved and enjoyed seeing each other as our two cars slowly moved down the train track side by side.

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement A Running Grizzly The grizzly bear had grown from her cub days when we first saw her. Now, a full-grown female, she could run with great speed and shake the ground as her great paws pounded the ground. We lined the fence of her enclosure to watch when she

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement A Running Grizzly The grizzly bear had grown from her cub days when we first saw her. Now, a full-grown female, she could run with great speed and shake the ground as her great paws pounded the ground. We lined the fence of her enclosure to watch when she

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Kiss a Moose I doubt kissing a moose is high on the list of most people’s wish list. Yet, there stood the youthful moose and the opportunity to plant a tentative kiss on her young cheek. She was a tall youngster quite comfortable with people crowding around her fenced

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Bears and Blueberries “Stop the Bus.” “There’s a bear.” “Where” “On the left, about ten o’clock.” To exclamations of delight, and the sound of clicking cameras, our tour bus driver pulled over and the Denali National Park visitors exclaimed and laughed with appreciation. We stood to better watch the

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Sitka Needles “Yummy.” I chewed on the caramel candy. “Delicious,” My husband agreed. “Who would have thought such good candy could come from Spruce needles, of all things.” “Well, not just any Spruce needles. The ingredients list says it’s made with Sitka Spruce needles.” I reached for another one.

Mary’s Musings to Quilt Encouragement. Whale’s Tails “Look!” “There!” “The whale’s tail!” Everyone on the small whale-watching boat chortled with delight. With a graceful wave, the humpback whale tail slammed the water, and he disappeared again under the surface of the water. This amazing sight of power and playfulness thrilled his human audience. Several times