The thought of cooking dinner when the weather is unseasonably warm just does not excite me. The past two days the temperatures have soared to the high 80's and even 90...almost unheard of for April in the Northwest. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining...I love it!
Read MoreHome alone on Saturday, I was happy to get a call from a friend inviting me to visit the tulip fields with her daughter and grandsons. Though the morning had been overcast and chilly, the sun had broken through the clouds in the early afternoon. Hoping that by arriving late in the afternoon the crowds would be dissipating, we ventured north towards Skagit Valley.
Read MoreHave you ever experienced times in your life when God seems strangely silent? You pray and wait and watch...looking for an inkling that He is working, yet you see no change. Your faith is stretched as never before and all you can do is cling to the promises of God...a God you know to be faithful.
Read MoreDo you remember way last summer when I mentioned that our church was searching for a new Pastor since our former, beloved, Pastor of 16 years had resigned? The search is still in process! Recently we invited a young Pastor and his wife, and baby son, to come out West for an interview.
Read MoreWhen the skies seem grey and filled with rain for days on end, the thought of escaping to find some sunny weather is enticing. And if you throw in a sandy beach and warm water, I'm all in!
Read MoreWith Valentine's Day just around the corner, I wanted to add just a little touch of red throughout the main living areas of our home. My mother always added a little special decor for each major holiday so I guess I'm carrying on her tradition. Mom just added simple things...not much glitz and glamour. You can go crazy with themed decor with stores like Michael's or Hobby Lobby nearby, but that's just not my style. As you can see in the photo above, I just added some primroses to a bowl for a little color.
Read MoreA birthday was coming up for a special young lady. Knowing she loves peanut butter and chocolate, I decided to make a chocolate cake with peanut butter butter cream icing. Having made one once before for a nurse friend at work, I knew that those flavors work wonderfully in a cake. After all, who does not love a Reese's Peanut Butter cup?
Read MoreVenturing out for an evening at the theatre is one of my favorite things to do, especially in the winter. There is just something so wonderful about seeing the actors live on stage, displaying their talents,
Read MoreWhen our sons were in grade school years ago, my husband and I would pick them up from school on wintry Friday afternoons and head for Stevens Pass Ski Resort. After a snack in the car on the drive up to the Pass, they would jump into a ski lesson at 5 o'clock or join their friends out on the slopes.
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Spending a few days in the mountains was a balm for my soul. After the busyness of the Christmas season, the slow pace of life was so welcome. And...there was snow...lots and lots of snow!
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A blog by Gracia Gilbertson, owner of Gracious Offering, an interior design company.
A few of the things I love...
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Last weekend my cousin, Kirsten, and I journeyed to Idaho to attend the Memorial service for one of our dear Aunts. As we took the back roads through Duvall and North Bend to avoid the Friday morning work traffic, we reminisced about family reunions with our large extended family.
In anticipation of Norway's Constitution Day, on the 17th of May (Syttende Mai), I decided to bake a Verdens Beste Kake...World's Best Cake. Apparently in 2002, Norwegians voted this cake be their "national cake", beating out the famed Kransekake (Norway's Ring cake). If you've ever tasted Kransekake, you know this was quite a feat!