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Archive for the ‘Blessings’ Category

Summer wanes making way for the appearance of fall. Fall in southeast Mississippi is more a calendar event than a season. It arrives without the flashy show of colorful leaves so celebrated along the east coast. Brilliantly colored foliage is sparse and crisp, cool mornings few. Still beauty abounds. Summer blossoms linger as fall blooms appear. Here are a few of the blooms and other wonders around our place last week.

Lingering four o’clocks…soon they will be gone until spring.

Yellow roses remind me of my dad…

Wild ageratum

Purple Lantana

The Confederate rose hibiscus…it opens white in the morning and turns dark pink by evening time.

Confederate rose hibiscus later in the day…

An intoxicated bumble sleeping on a confederate rose leaf…

This dew-covered spider web shone like a string of diamonds in the early morning sunshine.

Pompas grass…

Brilliantly colored leaves are few, but beauty abounds. 

Until next time…

And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you. Mark 13:5

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Eighteen years ago God blessed our family with a beautiful baby girl…our firstborn grandchild.  Today she is a beautiful young woman.  She has been a source of great joy.  She is my granddaughter and my friend.  It has been my great pleasure to spend this day with her…spoiling each other in the very best of ways.

Our beautiful birthday girl…

Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A…we brought our own Starbucks with us. 

We went birthday shopping and picked up Taco Bell and brought it home for lunch.  Kirsten (said birthday girl) made cupcakes that are cooling, and we will frost them in a little while with her new Wilton cake decorating tools.  That was part of our gift to her.  The rest of the day will be spent chilling and enjoying time together. 

I surely thank God for her.

Until next time…

Children’s children are the crown of old men (and women); and the glory of children are their fathers.  Proverbs 17:6

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More than a week has slipped by without a blog post.  It will never cease to amaze me how quickly time passes us by.  Seconds to minutes; minutes to hours; hours to days.  Gone…never to be retrieved.  James said “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:14)  The older I get the more I understand this great truth.  Though time will always remain abstract, filling it with things of importance becomes more imperative with its passing.  Blogging is a small indulgence I allow myself for the simple sake of expressing myself.  The past few days have been about the more needful things, some of which are even more simple.

My sweet husband had nine days off work.  We did not go on a dream vacation though we would have relished in doing so. Our time was spent at home, together, in peace and harmony. A dream vacation may have been more exciting or more relaxing, but it could not have been sweeter.  

Instead of a  getaway to the mountains we opted to use our vacation money to buy lumber, nails and cement for a much-needed new front porch/deck.   We’ve needed one for quite a while, but  procrastination won out and the old front porch continued to deteriorate.  Isn’t that the way procrastination goes with almost anything?  It reached the point I was fearful someone would fall while using them.  It was time to take action!  I’m not a lot of help hauling lumber and swinging a hammer, and our carpenter son-in-law was unavailable to help.  My dear husband was facing a Lone Ranger construction job with me as his Tonto.  This project wasn’t looking good…then along came our pastor to the rescue!  Neither of these guys are carpenters, but by putting their brawn and brains together we ended up with a sturdy front deck.  I prayed for them, too, and asked a couple of my friends to join me!   Our new porch is not perfect, but I am still well pleased.  My rebel husband used a chain saw to cut the lumber.  He has a perfectly good circular saw…go figure.  :)

Because we were blessed with much-needed rain EVERY day my sweet husband was home, it took three days for the building of the deck to be finished. For the same reason, clean-up remains for another day off.  The old porch decking will be repurposed into a grass-free, weed-free plant platform.  I’m thinking we may even be able to convert it into a “green house” for over-wintering my ornamental plants.  I sure hope so, but I think my dear husband really hates it when I do a lot of thinking.

Day 1…the work has begun.  (My sweetie)

 Our pastor and friend…

Day 2…the new porch is coming right along…

Day 3…complete.

We still have plans of adding lattice around the bottom of the porch to keep the dogs and chickens out from under it.  While the guys were tearing down the old porch, they found a couple of young snakes.  My honey said they had a diamond-shaped head.  Ugh…where there are small snakes you can bet big ones have been close by.  The lattice-work won’t keep the snakes out, but it will hopefully help prevent our canine kids from being snake bitten. 

That’s it for this time around…I need to get up and get moving.  The day is wasting, and I’ve got much to do. 

Until next time…

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.  Matthew 18:20

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Thank you to the men and women who have secured and continue to ensure the freedom we have enjoyed in the United States of America. That precious freedom is slipping through our hands. Our ancestor’s gift of freedom is in jeopardy of being forfeited and fought for in vain.  The enemy is within.  The solution is simple.

There is no freedom greater than that found in Jesus Christ.

Until next time…

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  Romans 8:21

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Each summer when the cucumber crop comes in I make sweet pickles for my family.  Last year’s bounty is down to three jars.  I needed cucumbers in a big way.  Before my fall at the end of last month I arranged to order the cukes I needed from my local grocer.  After the fall making pickles was out of the question.  I couldn’t do that and follow my doctor’s instructions, too. I was really thankful I put off ordering the cucumbers until after the weekend.   It’s been so hot in southeast Mississippi most gardens are struggling and cucumbers have not been especially plentiful.  I was beginning to wonder if I would get to make the beloved pickles my family enjoys throughout the year.  I believe in the power of prayer and that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to care about the little things…even pickles.  I told Him of my need.  Just a couple of days after my prayerful plea, a dear lady at church offered me some pickling cucumbers.  She was even going to pick them!  Yesterday she called me, and I went to her house and picked up a five gallon bucket of cucumbers perfect for pickling.  God answers prayer!

This morning I washed and sliced my precious future pickles and put them in a lime bath.  Tomorrow I’ll rinse them and cover them in a spiced, vinegar syrup for another twenty-four hours.  On Wednesday morning they will go into prepared canning jars and be processed.  Sweet pickles we will have!

My lady friend told me she will pick again on Wednesday or Thursday, and I can have more cucumbers if I want them.  If she calls again, I will repeat this process…and I will feel every bit as blessed as I do with this bounty. 


Until next time…

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.  Ecclesiastes 7:3

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The day I received the wonderful box of stash-building goodies from Lisa, I also became the new owner of a crazy quilt block made by her.  Between my amazement of the abundance of the crazy quilting pieces parts Lisa shared and the WordPress glitch that prevented updates, I completely forgot to share the beautiful block.  Here it is…a little late but not forgotten!

I love my Lisa block and thank her for it from the bottom of my heart!

While I’m feeling “crazy” I’ll share the quiltie I made for Barbara to show her she is loved and thought of during this time of healing and refurbishment as she recovers from surgery.  It is similar but not just like the quiltie I made for the Fruit of the Spirit swap at Art4Mail.  Barbara headed up the swap and chose the theme…Love seemed like the perfect get well card theme.  I hope she can feel the love.  :)

side two…

In the very near future I will be reviewing a super special product…Tropical Traditions, Gold Label, Virgin Coconut Oil.  Coconut Oil has been used in my kitchen for a number of years for a variety of purposes.  This is a brand new to me.  Over the next week or so I will be using it and reporting my thoughts back here.  I’m looking forward to reviewing Tropical Traditions’ product.

 Check out this video to learn more…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h6eycjf29M

Until the next time…

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Philippians 4:5

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If the package I received from my bloggy/Art4Mail friend Lisa was the cake…the Fruit Of The Spirit quiltie that arrived in the same mail run was the icing.   In a previous post I shared the naked blocks I made for my first-ever quiltie.  The 9-part theme “Fruit of the Spirit” was one I could not resist.  Yesterday the postman delivered the “love” quiltie made for me by Donna.  After opening the parcel I had no doubt Donna knows the true meaning of love.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  John 3:16-18

Here’s side one of the ”Love” quiltie Donna made.

Side Two…

I love my quiltie…thank you for swapping, Donna.

Last night I put the finishing touches on the quiltie I made for this swap.  Sadly it does not go to Donna, because we had an uneven number of people sign up.  I love the one on one swaps best.

Here’s the one I made for my swap partner…

and the back…

I hope she likes hers as much as I like mine.  :)

All the talk about cake and icing made me hungry for something sweet.  I opted for homemade peanut butter cookies.  I wish I could share them with you.  They are just the right…soft in the center and mmm mmm good to the last bite.

Until next time…

 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13

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Yes, I know Christmas is in December, but for just a few minutes after the postman made today’s delivery I was sure Christmas had arrived again.  My bloggy/Art4Mail friend Lisa sent me a stash-building care package filled with wonderful pretties to help wile away my crazy quilting hours in fanciful style.  The box was filled with laces and trims, shiny-fancy fabrics, beads and baubles, motifs and more.  I was enamored and enchanted…wowed by Lisa’s generosity.  Not long ago, she said something along the line of “we make such good friends through the computer”.  And it is true.  (Yes…I know sentences don’t begin with “and”…just call me a grammar rebel.)

I took pictures of all the treasures.  The pictures turned out a bit dark, but you can still get the gist of all the package held.

Fabulous beaded trims…

Shiny Fancy Fabrics…

Trims and lace and Kreinik thread…

A pile of pretty silk ribbon…

And these lovely pictures…In my novice ignorance I’m not sure exactly how to use them.  They may be iron on transfers.  I’ll definitely be looking into it.  I’ve seen lots of beautiful work where they’ve been used within a block.

The pictures only show a bit of what sweet Lisa shared.  Thank you, Lisa.  I appreciate you.

Until next time…

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.  These things I command you, that ye love one another.  John 15:13-17

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Juli hosted a giveaway on her blog  A Crazy Quilting Adventure a couple of weeks ago.  Once again, my random number won!  I’m enjoying this streak of wonderfully good fortune I’ve had lately.  (and continue to give God the glory for blessing me richly…)  Juli gave away a yummy, strawberry pincushion she made herself and a fabric pack of the winner’s choice from her Etsy shop.  I opted to have Juli pick the fabric pack.  She sent red of which I had very little.  It’s funny how that worked!  Check out her blog and see the cool platypus Juli made and entered into a crazy quilting contest…and won!  Thank you, Juli!  I love my strawberry and will make good use of the generous, red fabric pack.  I love the touch a handwritten note adds.

Friday evening I received an email from a yahoo group friend telling me about a great teaching video she found online.  You get three guess what the subject is… She asked if I would be interested in it.  Today a video arrived in the mail…drop-shipped from the seller.  It is 160 minutes of crazy quilt instruction, ideas, eye candy…what a treat!  Thank you, Pam.  I look forward to watching it…over and over.  You are such a sweetheart!  (If you are interested in the video, check back later when the new crazy quilt resource page I am building appears.)

And now for my WIP…

Last week I shared my first naked fancy fabric block.  It’s not complete, but I’ve spent between twenty-five to thirty hours working on it during the evening hours over the past week.  The butterfly is pinned, because I am not sure it will remain there.  The square is laying in a place I pass by frequently so I can glance over and see how the butterfly placement strikes me.  We’ll see.  I wasn’t sure how I would like working on the slick, fancy fabrics, because I am a 100% cotton kind of girl, but I’ve really enjoyed the finery feel as I stitched.  Working on this square has caused me to see the need of keeping a journal of the blocks I make and embellish.  The thread colors I chose to use in this square are very similar to colors in my stash I did not choose to use.  I did not write down the numbers and found it very difficult, if not impossible, to match the color when it came time to use that particular thread again…hence I was not always successful.  From here on out a record of the color used in each seam will be noted in a journal.  It’s a good thing there are no rules set in stone when crazy quilting…

This morning a class taught by Christen Brown on crazy quilt embellishing began.  I’m excited about being part of the class, because Christen turns out beautiful work.  She makes it look effortless…The class is four weeks long (online) so my fancy fabric WIP block will take a back seat for a while.  I’m sure to pick it up and work on it from time to time, but the bulk of my stitching efforts will be focused on the class.  Hopefully we will see some great improvements in my work.  :)

Until next time…

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

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A couple of days after Valentine’s Day I entered my name in a crazy, wonderful giveaway at Nicki Lee’s Ravio Lee Dreams.  To my delight, I won.  One hundred and fourteen people commented on Nicki’s giveaway post…and I won.  To say I was thrilled when Nicki notified me would be an understatement.  A month and a half ago I decided to try my hand at crazy quilting and have become hopelessly hooked.  Though I have a vast fabric stash, I was lacking many of the things used to embellish crazy squares.  Every fun money penny I’ve had since going crazy for crazy quilting has been spent on supplies to work with.  I told Nicki I had talked to God about my “need” just days before she notified me I won her lavish giveaway.  God really used her to bless me!  That’s the kind of wonderful God He is!

Before opening the packages, I took time to take a picture.  (That was hard…really hard.)  The heart was originally filled with assorted chocolates of which I never saw, but Nicki left the yummy-smelling paper liner in the tin.  It made the wonderful “eye candy” she sent me smell so good.  Even the tie around the tissue-wrapped package will be used in a square.

Inside the tissue-wrapped package was several pieces of yummy fancy fabric…They will make beautiful naked squares.

The tin was chock full of wonderful lace motifs and trims…beads and ribbon.  I was in awe when I looked inside.

Beads and buttons and ribbons…

Everything…incuding a sweet card.

Is it any wonder I am feeling really blessed?  I sure appreciate Nicki’s generosity, and I can’t wait to start stitching using all the wonderful “eye candy” she bestowed upon me.

Until next time…Count your blessings.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  James 1:17

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