Christmas

Hats!

Found some time on my hands, and hats I wanted for some grandbabies...and yarn just sitting there... SO I created my own patterns, and made some hats! what do you think?

Angels amongst us

I know we have all wondered ..."would I ever recognize an angel if he/she was amonst us? " We know that at anytime, we could be called upon to entertain an angel. Well today, I have not doubt, that I was in the presence of a few of them... or at least the closest, purest folks that could be angels.

today I went to a Christmas concert

They weren't even standing in order! One faced left, one faced right, but most faced forward. The music came from a tape player/ karaoke player...and one song ran into the next. Oh dear they couldn't even carry the tunes well, or even know the words..but most sang enthusiastically, santa hats on, smiles lighting up the faces.

The songs were GREAT!! I think though next year I am going to ask that the 'Santa Claus is coming to town' be eliminated from the list... the lady sitting next to me, all but burst out crying when we sang about being 'naughty or nice' it was obvious that it was real to her, You could almost hear her say " I hope I've been good enough!" The way her face contorted in pain was heart breaking...someone mentioned that perhaps she was remembering her previous life, when she didn't get gifts. I don't know, but I am sure she knew what the words meant.

A few songs later the group was singing "Joy to the World"... and the young man in the front row closed his eyes, and lifted both hands up in an attitude of worship...he didn't care that he wasn't in church, he didn't care who was watching...all he knew was that the songs spoke of of having joy that the King of Kings had arrived!

After the group had performed, a request was made from the audience that one of them wanted to share a song with everyone. The thin,elderly, blind lady with shaking hands received the microphone and sang her song. While the words might not have been exactly right, the melody was on the money! and I don't think I have every heard "Oh Holy Night" sung more beautifully,.

I left there with a smile, knowing that I just had Christmas...and I had been amongst some angels. Thank You God!

down to the basics

Friday morning found us without power, therefore no phone, no electronics. Morning's silence rings with the occasional resounding...CRRAAACCKKKK as huge limbs ripped from their trunks, and trees without deep roots fell with the weight of the layer of ice on them.... giving the back yard a new look

I love the beauty that this type of storm lays on our landscape- the white and dark clouds soon gave way to blue skies and the sunlight sparkled through the glassy trees...what an awesome richness displayed by his hand

the pictures don't do it justice... the landscape sparkled.
It was a time rarely experienced- the quiet reigned, and at night when you rounded the corner a mile outside of town, the darkness loomed...but it wasn't a bad darkness.. it made for family laughs, candles, games, and a good night's sleep... I think that every once in a while we should ... make the most of our moments ....

Keeping it simple

To keep it simple!

Its all about HIM!

To see Him in my day... no matter where I am, what I am doing, He IS always there, softly speaking, always shining the light on my path, always loving.... no matter if I am busy with 'stuff'

busy with the clanging, and clatter that this life brings... I often find myself deaf!

but my heart yearns to hear, to quiet this clamor of noise that so often keeps my attention

and then on the way home.. the black clouds part and the skies open up a hole with beams of sunshine.... and I am awed by the beauty He displays, and I rest..

A thankful Heart

I am so thankful for the blogs

I am thankful that I get to glimpse the heart of those who Love Him - He who sings over us!

I am thankful that I can be reminded of what it is all about...even if it is just pictures of your day, whether it be children, or your environment- indoors and outdoors

You have no idea on how it refreshes me.

Listening to your background music..speaks to my soul, and I am so thankful that you take the time to find or write ministering songs-

Though I might never write a comment on your blog- know I read them, they are precious to me, and give me hope.. hope of life dreams fulfilled, hope of knowing God speaks to all of us in the small and large things, hope of tomorrows, hope of healings, hope of a huge generation that will know God intimately from birth onward...because of you, because of your heart- your heart that longs, and seeks the truth, seeks to know more of HIM- right where you are, right there in the midst of your life, even sometimes just doing your thing among the 'stuff'... waiting....

and you breathe, you sing, you worship, you trust

Thank you all

quiet and waiting

God's creation- freckled, a little mischievous, compassionate, creative, ... these are some of the words that I know describe me.
Who am I? Who am I in this world... why am here today? What is it HE wants me to do? Encourager, exhorter... words for this morning- I agree I am that too.
But what am I to do at work, what do I answer when they say... what job do you want? what job will bring you peace? I want to say 'NONE!!!" I don't want to work at all! I want to spend my days with my husband and family, creating little gifts, or big ones , maybe sell a thing or two for a little spending money.... but my heart hears the whisper, confirmed by life's circumstance " Not yet, just a little longer. Chin up! I will give you rest!"
So back to the questions... what answer do I give today? and my heart knows the secret.. peace will lead the way. The 'Peace' that links with the One who lays out this path laid in stone, a light shines softly on each step ahead. Regardless of who is with me, this path is mine alone!
Sometimes- okay most of the time, I want to see where this path will lead, but He shares with me only that which this day needs.
So in a short while I will meet with my boss, and coworkers, nurses just like me... and I will tell of my desire, I will tell them of 'me'... I will take a step of faith, I will take a giant leap... the unknown, unwritten future will be a future of inner peace.

tribute to a friend

Friend

So much could be said, yet your picture tells it all, it radiates you in a moment of happiness. You were a woman loved and a woman that gave love.

A mother who loved her family- husband, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, parents, and in-laws
Grandchildren were the joy of her life- she loved to spend time with them, as much as she could.
She was more than her quiet demeanor spoke- a life that was lived in the echo of mercy and grace, knowing her own weaknesses, she yielded to His strength, once wobbling, and weary, she leaned into Him and found His strength enough ... she knew the power of the resurrected life, and worshiped freely the King of Kings.

Because you were forgiven, you freely forgave and harbored no ill.
Because you were wounded and healed, you had a heart of mercy, and handed out grace
Because you knew love, therefore you loved..... without expecting anything in return

My life was enriched by the moment in time, when our lives touched.... It seems it was too short.. but I guess it was time enough.

Thank you for your love.

Thanks for being my friend.

hero and villain

We had an unfortunate happening the other night.... one that ended up working out in the end, however there were more than a few moments of stress, sweating, fear, and probably a few unspoken words of questionable endearment playing around in my spouse's brain during this unfortunate time.
a little bit of supporting information... the afternoon/evening started great! I got to spend more than a few minutes on the deck, working at finishing the jewelry started by my sister and her granddaughter last weekend. An hour had gone by, Bruce was sleeping in his favorite recliner...and the weather started to get cooler. As I was organizing my 'stuff' to return to their proper spaces, I came across the tool of the night! A find that gave me great joy because I knew I could become a hero soon to my husband... and almost on que he walked out on the deck to have his 'after nap' smoke. I retreated inside and quietly pulled out my tool.(THE VILLAIN)
I took it to the lock and I was thrilled to see that it worked like a charm.... We didn't get one with his recent buy... and Bruce had expressed a desire to be able to lock his prize possessions. (the victim? )

I was a bit smug when I walked up to Bruce and tell him I had just "Made HIS day!!!" A somewhat doubtful expression was quickly replaced by a wide smile and an exclamation of delight when I handed him the tool... something that I had laying around in my jewelry extras... Confidently I walked with him inside, and watched him approach HIS desk, and insert the tool. First left, then right, then left then right... Obviously my husband had no clue how to use a skeleton key...so I offered to work my magic... turn clockwise...nothing, maybe a little bit of contact but essentially nothing...turn to the left obviously did nothing either ..why ? well because I left it LOCKED? Who would think that my tool would so soon lose its effectiveness on this lock... THIS LOCK....??? my husband's prize possession, an antique of some value.... and all his personal stuff inside? WHAT HAD I DONE??? He in all his wisdom says.. "why didn't you try the key with the desk open? that way if it didn't work we could still access things?" I don't know, I just didn't think that way! but I truly felt awful, and realized that the morrow would bring an early trip to local antique shop looking for keys. He never yelled, or said anything sarcastic...I think he was overwhelmed with shock. I did have the thought to give him hope, and sent him on to his mother's place- if anyone had a skeleton key SHE WOULD! While he was gone ...Ben came by... a son sent by divine appointment ( he had a sliver)... I told him what I did, and he echoed his father's statement " why didn't you try the lock with it open?" duhhh... But Ben prides himself on being able to open anything, and has the patience of a saint, or a pastor... alot more than his father anyway... and after a good thirty minutes, working on the drawer below lock...examining the workings of it, etc, trying some of mom's useful tools that have helped her over the years...none worked until this!! (the hero)
YOU might not have something like this in your possesion...but I have a mother in law who kindly gave me alot of her stash of 'stuff'... and this (if you look closely) is a crochet hook... the smallest...used to make fine lace edging.... but bent at this angle...became a hero!
I can only hope I learned my lesson... stop trying to be a hero!.... and if you want to see if something locks...lock it in open position.... But also something else came out of it... We told Ben he would make a fine locksmith, and since they are few and far between...why not check out how to get certified?

Productive!

okay three wk plus 3 days post op, and I have actually completed some sewing projects! The purse I actually cut out and sewed the main pieces before surgery, I just had to hand sew the binding part..and now I have to pick a button. who would believe that this cost me less than $3??.. some upholstery samples purchased for less than $1 each at a fabric store closing ... No pattern, but I had a general idea of what I wanted...its not perfect... a couple of errors are noted in fitting of the last pieces but isn't that part of homemade sometimes? I used 2 samples cut in a diagonal and pieced together, and took off a 5 inch strip from the bottom of each and used to make outside pockets with three divided sections.
Inside the purse I used a complimentary fabric and made one medium sized zippered pocket (6" square), and one pocket to hold pens and narrow (2.5 inch) objects for quick access.
I also made a sturdy bottom with another scrapped upholstery sample... so the purse can actually stand on its own ... Oh and Thanks andrea for leaving that yardage of green heavy fabric in your apartment...it came in handy for the shoulder strap and binding. Now if I can only figure out which button to use..looking at these pictures does help..that oblong button looks actually blue..black is too stark, so I will probably go with the yellow or leather look brown. I will end up making a loop and button closure
Now for a couple of pictures for that last of the diapers for Dee
well actually they are for Bella...supposed to be for 10 to 20lb... she will use strappis for diaper closures and there will be diaper covers overtop. Sophia's diapers were made with soaker sewed in and velcro'd... I was hoping to use snaps on these, but need the proper equipment. And I made Bella's with pockets so the soaker liners can be added and removed... ALL of my diaper stuff that I made these last couple of weeks were from scraps that I had in my fabric stash... I tend to hate to throw usable pieces away, and I know my son in law would have gladly helped me along... but the flannel scraps, gauze material, and faux suede came in handy. Don't they look comfy?
oh those clips? they are from my quilting tools...heavy duty and they helped show the tab style of final product. those plaid flannel soaker inserts at the top are made from the fabric I had bought at $1/yd to make for Coffee Cabin use a few years back... the white soakers are gauze material scraps from a blouse I made Andrea YEARS ago. the pink flannel is left over from a baby quilt I made for Abbie, the yellow from some pj I made someone sometime, and the blue flannel- a used receiving blanket... and the white faux suede? from an outfit I made someone years ago... I have also made fleece covers...the fleece ? from left over fleece from hats I made for my kids and grandkids over the years...its funny to think that Sophia is wearing on her bottom what Ben has worn on his head (as in matching NOT that I used his hat to make her diaper cover...though humm maybe that is an idea???) and I used both my regular sewing machine (Bernina- my gem) and my serger- both invaluable in diaper making. Twas fun, but now I am looking forward to my eldest granddaughter coming over to help me reclaim my dining area, reclaim my floors, and she can help me cut out another project I hope to complete before I return to the working grindstone.

mid night thoughts

2 weeks post total knee,,,and still trying to plan my own recovery... I really would like to think that I can sleep for longer than 2-3 hours , and that I won't need as much pain med as yesterday..only to be kept awake and in pain looking for the four hour mark to arrive,,, in the middle of the night...and need I tell you that time does move slowly as you watch the clock.? I thought I had done rather nicely by increasing the Tylenol and decreasing the hydrocodone amount during the day...I did do fine until evening, and then it has been catch up ever since. position changes, exercises, ice, heat, ice, ice ice...and to no avail... so up I get at 145am awaiting the 4 am pill time.. at least it gives me real quiet time... and daily reflections, scripture readings etc

Shall I ever learn? one can only pray that I learn to rest and trust in the one who IS in control... and stop trying to take the reins .... that EVERY area of my life is concern to HIM.... breathe, breathe, breathe... every area of my life has a path designed by HIM...every area...every area!

Well thanks for stopping by... On a positive note-I have dragged out fabric, and downloaded patterns, and pictures that stimulate my creative juices to make some extra baby gifts..or gifts for the mommies. And of course I ordered some fabric..... I also realized the night before surgery that I could not complete what I intended so I sent two baby blankets to my wonderful sister Mary Ellen... to quilt for me during this season of post op healing,,, then she will return so I can complete them before andrea's baby makes her arrival

No pictures- didn't feel you really wanted to see this foot long stapled incision ... gggg

standing out in a crowd

Hannah giggled at me the other day, because I had two seemingly boring pictures on my camera. I had taken pictures of a local cornfield ...why? because every day when I drove by it on my way home I was mesmerized by a handful of stalks that stood above the rest. From this angle it isn't very impressing, but the message was still the same.. and it was a challenge to my spirit
"are you - who are being observed from all angles, by many passing by... are you being seen as standing above the rest? Are you being all HE intends you to be and are you seen as standing above the rest?"
obviously there are many areas that I was, and am convicted of settling for being part of the crowd, but I am truly amazed that He can take the normal boring things in life, and whisper a word of a heavenly perspective.... and reminds me that He is always there, and He cares.
thanks for listening!

pic

okay this is a pic of recent (within two months) fabric buy...my intent was to buy chocolate browns and teals...hummmmm








here is my so called stash of 'browns' (oh my do I have a problem..see blog below)











and this is my greens








and last but not least.. my intent was to purchase teals...but I couldn't resist

Seasons

I think I chose my blog name, because I love the autumn- just this week the air had a whiff of autumn and my heart sang- and it surprised me... how could I forget how much I love the coolness of the air, the crunch of leaves under my feet, and the spectacular beauty of the hills around me... ? one just has to look at my fabric stash and glance at my 'browns' to see that I am inclined to buy the colors that sing 'autumn is in the air' I have to force myself to buy the chocolate browns...I Love the chocolate browns...but when I am out there looking at these huge selections of colors I forget what I came in for...and the autumn colors draw me in...so I get just a wee bit for that 'quilt' I am going to make someday , for someone. Lately I have made some purchases on line...which is probably good for me- perhaps I buy less? (ha) anyway with a promise and a vision to make a quilt for my second child and spouse... i HAVE to look at the chocolate fbric to buy ( along with those of teal blue) alas, I also was looking at fabric to make some baby quilts... 4 additional grandbabies this year! and 3 hopefully will be getting a quilt made especially for them.... and in my effort to buy 'alittle' fabric to have on hand for when I create these... I found I bought one or two of the 'fall' color collections... I have a problem!!!
Hummmm maybe its because I woke up one morning and realized that my spring and summer have slowly retreated to my past, and I am alive with this wonderful autumn season! I am thankful that in the natural there is still fruit to be picked, banquets to be had, harvest to be gleaned, and things to be planted. The leaves may change color a bit, but they aren't yet dead... and they can sing in the breeze as the autumn winds blow....ummmm... a cup of tea, and sitting on the porch.... brings a smile to my face

Settling in

After 4 months we are finally settling in a bit more... the last being where my sewing area is going to be set up, so I can not only access it easily but so it is inspirational, and pleasing to the eye...both for me and for Bruce. I also have come to accept that I like red, and so in setting up my area, I tended to bring the thread of red throughout each area.


Our bedroom is quite large, 14x14? and moving things around a bit have opened a bit more room. I needed to be a little creative in storing items both for the sewing area, as well as our normal other bedroom items, suitcases and the like. So I went to the second hand store found a microwave cart and another wall shelf unit for under $10 , and painted them white...I added the cabinet that was I inherited when I moved here (broken door and all) and found that it fit nicely onto my new white cart. The shelf unit was of similar design to another wall shelf, and the white suited it better than the unfinished pine look that it had. I also painted white the multi drawer /and shelf unit that I had inherited from one of my children...and brought them together. It took me the last couple of weeks to finally put away all the small stuff, take the fabric out of the plastic clear boxes- I need the visual to be inspired...this is the final result.