And they lived...

So Mark and Jennifer share their joy in the sharing of Shepherd's Glen.  As Mark said, it is built as a place to come away and be still, reconnecting with the Lord and His creation.  A place for relationship, solitude, respite, healing...

...it is The Good Shepherd's Glen -

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall want nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

and leads me beside the waters of peace;

he renews life within me,

and for his name's sake guides me in the right path.

Even though I walk through a valley dark as death

I fear no evil, for thou art with me,

thy staff and thy crook are my comfort.

Thou spreadest a table for me in the sight of my enemies;

thou hast richly bathed my head wtih oil,

and my cup runs over.

Goodness and love unfailing, these will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

my whole life long."

Psalm 23

New English Version

Celebration of Thanks

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we invited all those who had been part of the process in the design, creation and completion of Shepherd's Glen to come and enjoy the finished product along with their families.  Over sixty people were able to attend the gathering.  Mark shared words of gratitude highlighting the efforts of everyone as important and valuable towards the accomplishment of the dream. 

The family members got to appreciate the hard work and creativity of each craftsman.

Mark and Mike exchanged appreciation. 

Barbeque was the meal of thanks!

Not only were two cabins built,

but relationships have also been built over the course of this project.

We give thanks for all of these new friends.

Remembering Montana

Our joy in the thanksgiving gathering was overshadowed by a very sad event.  Montana, our beloved thirteen year old labrador, took off on a morning hike/run in up to the ridge and did not return.  We searched the road, trails, ridge, and hollows with no sign of him.  He belonged to Lauren and shared his joy and gentle nature with the family for all of those thirteen years.  His sweet face and happy tail will be greatly missed.  We always hoped his departure would occur on the trail which was the place he loved...we just did not want it to be quite yet.  Montana, we love and remember you.

Welcome Thanksgiving Guests!

 

 Jane Maley welcomes guests as they arrive at Shepherd's Glen for Thanksgiving.  We have dreamed of sharing holiday meals and time together for two years.  What a joy to have the time finally arrive to open the door for a holiday celebration.  

Perfectly poised persimmons...

Enjoying the spread.

After dinner battleship and reading by the fireside

You Guys Have Really Outdone Yourselves!

I arrived to bring some fireplace grates and screens on my way to Franklin.  Devin and I arrived as dirt was being moved around with big equipment so we scurried inside to be out of the way.  I got her settled, warmed up her lunch, and brought in another load from the van.  The sun was warming up so I opened up the screened porch door for the fresh breezes...something was different...what was it???  Suddenly, I realized there was the shimmer of light on the porch ceiling.  Light?  From where?  Running out to the ramp, I glimpsed the blue-green POND in all its sun-sparkled glory.  Raptured, I nearly threw myself off the edge into the water until I calmed myself down and remembered it was a November day and the pond is fed by spring water.  Instead I ran out to find Mike and express my gratitude.  He thought I was more excited about the pond and waterfalls then I'd been over the cabins.  Well, the cabins gradually took shape over two years while this was an unexpected surprise in one week!   It is more beautiful than I dreamed possible.  The guys humbly said that they had made it up as they went.  They really outdid themselves this time! 

Furniture Delivery

Sofa and host-chair manufacturing, cushion completion, and table crafting all came together in the same week.  It was perfect timing to schedule the moving van to bring some antiques from home as well as the refrigerator and completed furnishings just in time for friends to gather for a canoe trip in the brisk fall temperatures.  A Man and A Van braved the trek into the wilderness - wondering at times how far off the main road I would lead them.  DCF made the wonderful upholstered furnishings according to Kim's fabric picks and design input.  Terry outdid himself with the dining table and bench seating.  The table top was made from an oak tree that was removed from our home a few years ago.  Terry combined that "new" wood with old timbers to make a work of art.   



Call it "Complete"

All that is left is the landscaping.  Many are to be thanked for this project.  From idea and inspiration to creation and completion - Shepherd's Glen is a beautiful culmination of everyone's talents and gifts.  Thank you to the long list of individuals to whom we extend our appreciation. 

Our desire was to create a place of refuge where one could enjoy the pristine beauty of creation. Our structure was intended to honor the land with minimal impact; looking like it has been in place for a hundred years. Using reclaimed wood and alternative energy, we hoped to remain good stewards of the gift the land is to us and our heirs.

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." Psalm 24:1