Over 300′ tall.
Hollowed out from fires over the years. This actually makes the tree stronger.
Tom’s wingspan is 6′. Wow.
The tallest redwood in the forest. 310′ and 1600 years old.
These are the moments I’ll carry in my heart forever. ❤
This gallery contains 19 photos.
My lunch: potato crusted sole with spinach and grilled onions 🙂
Compliments of the Chef. 🙂 Chocolate and Blackberries–two of my favorites!
Part of the dining room–a working fireplace for cold nights.
Our special table for four by the working kitchen.
School in progress.
Barn Swallows made nests in the top of the window.
“Food is life. Create and savor yours!”
Our visit to Korbel Winery – Home of America’s Champagne.
The location of Korbel used to be a Redwood Forest. In the center of this ring of trees is the parent tree that was cut down. The trees surrounding the stump are “baby trees”.
French Oak barrels that used to store the fermenting juice. They can hold approx. 1600 gallons.
Korbel was the wine of the Millenium and was used to toast in the year – 2000.
My favorite photo of the day.
Graphic Credit: joomla.uproc.lib.mi.us
No, Tom and I haven’t been married 75 years. Heck, I’m only turning 55 next week! So why the title? Let me explain…starting today we’re going on a two-week vacation with dear friends. This is our 35th anniversary trip and this is their 40th anniversary trip. So you see, combined we’re celebrating 75 years of marriage. I tried convincing the guys that this qualifies for our diamond anniversaries, but they didn’t go for it. California’s Gold Coast will have to do. 🙂
We plan to visit Napa and Sonoma Valley wineries, the Redwoods forests, San Francisco, the Pacific Coast Highway, and whatever suits our fancy. It’s going to be a relaxing, romantic and memorable trip.
I plan to post photos as we go, and they will have to do, for you see–I’m on vacation, and I have more important things to do than sit at my computer and write. So, if you want to follow us on our trip–click the follow button and enjoy.
As a treat we discovered the following video of a couple who are celebrating their Diamond Anniversary. They were married in 1939! Click the photo to watch their story…
When Tom and I first started The Romantic Vineyard there weren’t many marriage blogs focusing on the positives of married life–romancing your spouse, date night ideas, honoring and respecting your spouse. Most were focused on the struggles marriages encounter and how to deal with them. Both are good. Both are needed.
But things have changed.
Marriage blogs are all over the internet now, offering advice from the benefits of staying physically fit to how to recover when your spouse has been unfaithful. There are thousands of tips on how to manage your finances to how to romance your spouse. You can find any information needed and not all of it is good.
If you endorse same sex marriage, you can find a blog that supports your conviction. If you believe having a girlfriend and a wife is okay, there are blogs to support it. You can even find blogs that say that pornography in marriage can be a useful tool for a healthy sex life., or that sexual bondage is a good thing.
Really? Yes, really. We live in the age of information, and blogs allow anyone to give information whether it’s true or not, whether it’s healthy or not. This can cause guilt to abound, even in those marriages where you are genuinely wanting what’s right that will help your marriage last a lifetime.
So it matters what blogs you read.
It matters what information you absorb, because information stored becomes what convicts the heart when failure to adhere to that standard happens.
Our standard is established in the Bible. It didn’t originate with us; it’s God’s plan for a marriage that glorifies Him. We believe marriage isn’t for our happiness as much as it’s for God’s glory. We are a reflection of Him and His love for the church. So how we treat each other should mirror that eternal relationship. This is Truth to store and from which to draw to grow your marriage.
I know there are times when you just don’t want to work on another problem or face another issue in your relationship. Sometimes you want to escape from it all and simply enjoy life. I get it. Marriage is hard work. It takes a willingness to make yourself do what you may not feel like doing.
For instance, I remember a time when I was not in the mood for Tom’s affectionate advances. I knew he was wanting intimate time with me, but my feelings were no where in “the zone”. I wanted space. I wanted to do what I wanted and not give in to what he wanted. So I gave hints to that effect…not responding to his touch or kiss. Sighing when I knew he would hear me, etc.
It pains me to confess this, but if I’m going to be a marriage blogger, it’s my responsibility to be honest and open. Tom and I haven’t arrived. Our marriage is still a work in progress. We need daily grace and daily forgiveness. We must resist our selfish tendencies and humble ourselves for the good of the other. Why? Because God has ordained our relationship to be an example to others, our children, our grandchildren, our friends and those who know us from afar.
We know that some of our posts can make you want to click over to Words With Friends or Candy Crush and just.not.think.about.it. And sometimes it’s okay to do that. Why? Because absorbing truth for lasting change takes a lifetime. Hearing Truth is like pouring water on parched ground. As it sits, it seeps, and the ground is eventually softened making the next watering easier to absorb.
I don’t know where you are in your marriage vineyard. You may be well on your way to growth and you’re starting to reap the fruit. You may be past the harvest and having to crush some grapes to extract what’s good and throw away what’s not. You may be realizing that not all on which you’ve built your marriage is good ground. There may be times where you both have to dismantle some of what you’ve built, and conviction is the first step.
Our encouragement to you is to resist the temptation to avoid hearing the truth. When truth hurts it’s usually because there’s an area that needs to hear it.
God knows the areas in which our marriage needs to grow. And when He focuses on the sore spot our first tendency is jerk away. Instead of doing that, try digging deeper and see if the pain doesn’t lessen.
Consider a child with a splinter in her hand–when her parent tries to use tweezers to remove it, she pulls her hand away not wanting it to hurt. But the hurt of removing the splinter is exactly what she needs to find relief, not in pulling away.
What marriage topics cause you guilt? Is the guilt godly or does it stem from wrong beliefs? Once you know the guilt is valid, then we encourage you to hold your hand still and let God do what only He can do–that’s when the healing begins.
A picture captures a moment in time to help us remember the experience, the people or the place photographed. I love to look at pictures as much as I like to take them. I see it as a type of journalism. Once the shot is caught on camera I know I’ll always remember it.
Our thoughts are like pictures in our mind. What we allow ourselves to record in our thoughts will be remembered for a long time. This is why it is so important to follow the command of Scripture by taking every thought captive.
When it comes to how we think of our spouse and our marriage it is even more important to guard our thoughts.
It’s often the one with whom we are closest that we are the most critical. We can nit-pick every flaw and judge every (in)action. We can smother our spouse with accusations and never say a word. This is more dangerous than you know.
There is an old adage that says “You are what you eat.” I think it could be said similarly…
“Our marriage is what we allow ourselves to think of it.”
Think the best of your spouse when they don’t do something you hoped they would and your thoughts will stop there. On the contrary, if you critically judge your spouse’s motives you’ll open a door of angry thoughts towards them–like a Pandora’s Box you wished you’d never opened.
Sadly, many couples have lived this way for so many years that the issues are no longer clear, just the animosity they feel towards each other.
How can we erase the photos mounted on the walls of our mind? How can we begin to undo the damage years of unguarded thoughts have wrought? The answer is easier than you might think.
First of all repent. Ask God to forgive you for thinking critically of your spouse. Then ask Him to help you undo the damage done. It might be an impossible task for us, but not for God. His power is limitless and He is able to save. Finally, His mercies are new every morning, so every morning you can ask for His help, His mercy, His power to work in you enabling you to begin thinking differently towards your spouse and marriage.
I love the movie, What About Bob? The concept Dr. Marvin (Richard Dreyfuss) shares with Bob (Bill Murray), his patient, is a good one (albeit a bit exagerrated) to practice and it’s biblical. Here’s the clip:
Zechariah 4:10 says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…”
Whenever there is work to be done we have to start somewhere, and it can seem daunting. But if God has led you to read this post today, and you are being convicted to change, then God has planted a seed of hope in your heart. Taking the small steps each day to change the way you think and act towards your spouse is like a tiny seedling taking root. It will grow if treated well. Neglect it and no doubt it will wither and die.
So, our encouragement to you today is to decide what one thing you can work on starting today. Pray and ask God for help to do the impossible and watch what happens. We have a feeling your baby steps will end up like giant leaps in the years to come. Now that’s a picture to hang on to.
This afternoon I’m heading to south Orlando for my first National Women’s Conference sponsored by The Gospel Coalition. To say I’m excited would be an understatement. It’s good to go to conferences such as these. It’s a time to pull away from the normal routine and make room for God. I am looking forward to seeing what He will say to me through His Word, primarily the book of Nehemiah. I’m excited to gather with friends far and near to reconnect and hear what’s going on in their lives. I’m excited to see how what I learn will help me in the days, weeks and months ahead to be a better wife, mother, Nana and friend. God uses our weak efforts to make lasting marks on our lives, and I’m confident this is one of those times in my life.
I invite you to follow me on Twitter as I’ll tweet throughout the conference quotes worth sharing and Truths I hear. You can also follow along using the hashtag: #TGCW14.
There is a lengthy list of speakers including Tim and Kathy Keller and John and Noelle Piper. I have no idea what God will do in my heart this weekend, but I do know that I’m going full of faith and expectant that what He does will surprise and amaze me.
When was the last time you pulled away in this way? How was your life impacted for good?
It’s the day of the week to plan a walk together sometime this week as part of our Summer Challenge. Today I want to share about the Rails to Trails Conservancy taking place all over the country. Here’s what their mission statement says:
Our Mission
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., whose mission it is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.
Tom and I have enjoyed biking and walking on several trails in and around Orlando. It’s usually beautiful, quiet and paved. If you are interested in discovering what trails are available near your home check out this handy Trail Link that provides trail information listed by state.
In addition RTC provides a free iPhone app to help you discover what trails are close to where you are, even while visiting other state. For more info on this great resource click the image below.
Won’t you share with us a photo of your Wednesday’s Walk?
And when you do, use the hashtag #WednesdaysWalk. It’ll be fun to see what the view was for you as you took a walk together. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to add your photo there as well. I would love to see Wednesday’s Walk become the hottest trend in social media as a way of elevating the importance of quality time spent together…it can happen, one step at a time. 🙂
There are times when settling is a good thing, like when you find a place to call home, or when you’re finally able to settle a long-standing argument. Settling on a purchase price of something means both parties are satisfied with the bottom line and agree no more negotiating is necessary. Settling also has permanence to it–like when an avalanche settles at the bottom of a mountain; once the dust clears you know the pile of rocks is there for good.
But there are times when we should never settle, especially in marriage.
We should never settle in:
Settling brings stagnation and stifles our forward movement.
Like a stream that no longer flows to the sea; if there’s a dam blocking the water, it stagnates and attracts all kinds of unwanted pests. It’s best to deal with the blockage and allow the stream to flow freely again. It will not only be best for your relationship, but also for all those who know and love you.
In what ways have you settled?
#wednesdayswalk
It’s Wednesday once again. How have you been doing with our Summer challenge to take regular walks together? Don’t miss this weekly chance to slow down and enjoy the time together. Be sure to use the hashtag #WednesdaysWalk when you upload a photo. If you have a Twitter account we encourage you to share it there as well.
I just finished my second ladies retreat at our cabin in North Carolina. It was all that I hoped for and more! The theme for this retreat was Contentment, which led Tom and I to have the following conversation today about contentment in marriage while we were driving through the mountains. This is one of my favorite parts of road trips with Tom; he talks and shares his wisdom with me. He says he has trouble putting his thoughts on paper, so I thought I would record, for your benefit, what a casual conversation with him is like. It begins after I asked him what contentment in marriage looks like.
It’s time for Wednesdays Walk once again. Remember we have a challenge taking place this summer to help all couples get outside and enjoy a leisurely walk together. Take your camera and share with us your view. Make your photo inspiring, beautiful and fun. Use your imagination as to how to make it a walk you’ll always remember. Life is too short to miss out on opportunities such as this.
Maybe you’ve tried all of these before, and it doesn’t sound inviting. Maybe you’ve never tried any. Wherever you are in your walking skills, please give it a try. We believe it will inspire you to explore your world together in new way. And walking is good for your health!
I’ve created a button for you to grab if you’d like to take part this summer. We’ll use the hashtag#WednesdaysWalk and see if we can’t cause some walking inspiration among marriages. It’s worth a shot, and if no one else takes part, at least we’ll have some quality time together.
Link the photo to this address: https://theromanticvineyard.com/2014/05/27/wedwalk/
If you have a blog, won’t you consider promoting this trend? As a bonus, we’re going to offer a prize at the end of the summer to the best #WednesdaysWalk photo. It will be selected based on creativity, beauty and simply if we like it!
🙂
Most everyone who is on social media knows what #TBT means. It’s a hashtag for Throwback Thursday where you post a photo from your past worth sharing. I’ve enjoyed seeing and remembering things long forgotten as a result of this simple assignment. I love it. I have no idea who started this trend, but it’s one that has staying power because everyone has old pictures worth sharing, right?
This got me thinking…what if we were to seize Wednesdays in much the same way, but by sharing photos from walks we’ve taken together. I don’t know about you, but I tend to spend too much time on the computer inside my house, and forget there is a world waiting to be enjoyed outside. Walking helps us slow down and drink in the beauty God has created.
What if this summer we were to purpose to take walks together–it doesn’t have to be on Wednesdays–taking pictures of the view we’ve enjoyed? I think it would be inspiring and something worth promoting on blogs everywhere. I’ve created a button for you to grab if you’d like to take part this summer. We’ll use the hashtag #WednesdaysWalk and see if we can’t cause some walking inspiration among marriages. It’s worth a shot, and if no one else takes part, at least we’ll have some quality time together.
Link the photo to this address: https://theromanticvineyard.com/2014/05/27/wedwalk/
If you have a blog, won’t you consider promoting this trend? As a bonus, we’re going to offer a prize at the end of the summer to the best #WednesdaysWalk photo. It will be selected based on creativity, beauty and simply if we like it!🙂
NOTE: The photo we selected for our button was from a walk we took on Prince Edward Island a couple of years ago. Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy holding hands on your walk. That’s the best part! Happy Walking! Please take a moment and comment if you like the idea. Thanks!
Today I can’t shake the heaviness on my heart towards those who have lost a spouse or another member of their family through their valiant service to our country. And I shouldn’t try to shake it. Instead, I want to pray for them as if it were me who had suffered such a loss.
Tom and I talked about their reality last night after watching the National Memorial Day Concert on the White House lawn. They shared the personal stories of their experience, and it was heart-wrenching. And to think they signed up to be such heroes!
One man’s story: John Peck was severely hurt. Came home to recover, and then returned to fight more. But the second time he was caught in an IED explosion he didn’t see coming. He woke up two months later in a hospital with no legs or hands. His wife, whom he loved and needed more than anything, couldn’t take the pain and left him. How tragic for his marriage partner in this life to desert him at the very moment he needed her most. I can’t place judgment on her, for I don’t know all the details of what made her choose to leave. But Tom and I did have a good conversation about what it means to be committed to our marriage 100%. It’s good to remember your marriage vows when times are good to help you through the tough times that are sure to come. If you would like to learn more about this soldier journey to recovery and how you could help, please click the graphic:
We have a long-time friend who serves as an Army Chaplain, and his words are worth repeating on this Memorial Day. Won’t you join us at some point today to pause and pray for the families for whom today really is a tear-filled memorial?
“Sometimes there are no words. Sometimes there aren’t enough tears. And there is never enough honor.”
On each Veteran’s Day we recognize all those who serve in uniform in the defense of our great land. But it is on Memorial Day that we honor all those men and women who never came home. Please, on Monday May the 26th, make every effort to pray for and express your deep gratefulness to the families whose loved one serve with honor and distinction, and who gave their last full measure of devotion to our nation. Let not one of us be named among those who would neglect this duty to our fellow citizens and those they have left behind.
– Chuck Williams, Chaplain of the United States Army
I recently posted the following on my author blog. I find the research fascinating…I may never cry again without thinking of it.
Photo by Rose-Lynn Fisher
Most everyone who is 50+ is familiar with the song by the same name as this blog post. In fact, you’re most likely singing it now that I’ve mentioned it–you’re welcome! 🙂 But did you know that whatever circumstances signal our tears also cause those tears to look differently under a microscope? I recently read a fascinating article that not only described these differences in full detail, but also provided photographs of the different types of tears to highlight how different they look.
Take the photograph at the top of this post; they are basal tears–those shed as a reflex to pain or atmospheric irritants. They actually look like rain falling and forming a river, don’t they?
Here’s another one:
Photo by Rose-Lynn Fisher
Any idea what caused these types of tears? It is the tears of change–something I’ve been shedding quite a bit these days. Something Tom…
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