Homekeeping Hearts

I was feeling quite domestic today... I even had a burst of energy... I did some dusting, laundry, crocheting, (lots of that, as I am 'hooked' on it...) I cleaned off the computer desk and did some filing, washed up some large pans and cleaned in the kitchen. I even baked some Fresh Apple Cake from my Mom's recipe... and then I cooked a wonderful supper for Husband. Tomorrow I will be hanging out with Great Sally as she and I are going to hit the road and do a little shopping, or at least hunt for bargains. Have a great weekend!

Art Class

I have always been drawn to artistic people... that's just me. I had several talented boyfriends in high school... one did the silkscreen of Paul McCartney (above) and the wood block print (below).

The silkscreen print below is of George Harrison, done by another talented friend. I even had him sign it in case he became famous... whether or not he is, I do not know.

I've kept these prints simply because I think they are very good. I always enjoyed art classes in high school, getting paint on my smock and being creative, it just felt... like where I belonged.

Does He know? Does He care?

Jesus is looking in my window and watching over me...

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar." Psalm 139:1-2

The Lord declared, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." Jeremiah 1:5

"I have engraved you on the palms of my hands," says the Lord. Isaiah 49:16

"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear, " says the Lord. Isaiah 65:24

"The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." Nahum 1:7

He knows my address.

Good Morning Mary Sunshine

I'm enjoying the early morning light coming through my bedroom window...

I was going to hem the 'curtain', but I decided I liked the shabbiness of the frayed edge...

You can't have too many beaded pillows...

'The Plaza After Rain', Paul Cornoyer... the bedroom wall

Scent of a Woman, dust and all...

Out to the kitchen to greet the day...

Maybe someday, a camera with more than 4 megapixels... but for now, I'm thankful for what I have.

Sharing Sunday; God's Creation

Sis in law wanted to share her experience with me... she was cleaning out the chicken coop, and in the midst of this very necessary, menial work, God sent her a little reminder of his existence and creative design in the form of a... feather. This is from one of her 'Lavender' Guinea hens that she is raising.

Mayhaps a little 'hello' from God... or a 'shout out' to sis in law that He is very much aware of her, her life, and how He loves and cares for her. A reminder that He is in control, that we can trust Him with our life and future.

Frosty

I won't be hanging the laundry on the line today...

I'm not into frozen undies...

And this is our autumn...

A tangled mess of cold... and all because of this lady...

The Snow Queen.

Ladies & Gentlemen, meet....

She's finished!! Ain't she lovely? I'm so excited to have whipped this puppy up in no time a'tall! Using what was left of a bit of white cotton, and the light yellow chenille featured on yesterday's post, I created something useful... it went Fast!

The finished size is 9" x 12". I had intended to make it larger, but the white ran out... no matter, this is just a sample, just for fun and it still works. I'm calling it a washcloth... AND.... I'm naming it! If people can name their throws and quilts (like Follower, 'The Garden Bell'), then I'm going to go for it too! You saw it here first, folks...

Saved the Day!

You all remember my knitting lessons? Those lazy days of knitting, sipping tea, socializing, and learning? I had made my little sample knitted item, and then was moving onto the Big Kahuna... a washcloth made of a lovely, soft, chenille. I happily knitted away, with my instructor, MareLee at my side. But during the week, when I was 'flying solo', something happened... something scary and sad... I screwed up. Big time. My square washcloth turned into what Husband called, 'home plate' shape. I don't know how it happened... well, actually I do know, I messed up somewhere, but who knows where. So, this is now what my washcloth looks like...

Back to it's primitive form! But, I had an idea... I do know how to crochet. What if I switched from knitting to crochet? I learned that before my daughter was born--32 years ago. I remember how to chain, single and double crochet and how to make the shell stitch. I made several shell afghans in no time flat... So the plan has switched from knitted washcloths to crocheted ones. I'll just do a simple double crochet, and then go around the edges with a shell stitch in another color (yellow?) Here is what I have done in 1/2 hours time:

I've chained 30 stitches and am going on from there. Here is a close up and I think it looks pretty darn good so far!

And even though I've decided to switch rather than fight... I realized I can still stop in at MareLee's awesome yarn shop and buy yarn for crochet! All is not lost!

Sharing Sunday: 'I'm Ready to Fly'

I've had flying dreams ever since I was a kid... in my dream, my usual mode of lifting off the ground, was to run down a hill, arms flapping and then, take off. My feet would lift off the ground, and I would soar in the sky, only occasionally having to pump my arms to stay airborne.
I always loved these dreams, and I'd fall asleep thinking of flying in hopes that I would dream about it.

I've always had a few problems with the dream, though. Whenever I tried to rise above the tree top level, I'd become frightened, and I'd fall from the sky and wake up. Often, I'd fly above roof tops, but mostly it was around tree-top level. In later years, I dreamt that I had someone on my back and couldn't get off the ground, or I'd be trying to take off and people would be grabbing me and trying to hold me down---I'd kick at them and become angry. For the past few years, I've taken to flying around the inside of buildings, like huge gymnasiums or auditoriums. I usually leap off of the highest bleachers and I just fly around and around the room, soaring, dipping, flipping in mid-air and dive bombing people. My audience is always amazed that I can do this---I'm quite the performer.

Sometimes, when I'm about half way off the ground, people grab my feet and that is the end of my flight. The other night, I dreamt that I was in a large stadium, and I climbed to the top level, and stood, ready to take a leap and fly. Others thought I'd just fall, but I knew differently, so I just took a step, the air current lifted me up, and I flew---I knew I could!! Again, all were amazed and admired me greatly.

I wonder what these dreams mean? Other than the person who was on my back, hindering my take-off, the reason behind the meaning eludes me completely. But after becoming a Christian, the idea of flying has taken on a new purpose: when my soul leaves my body at death, I want to soar--and this time I'll go far, far, above the trees and rooftops. I'll cross over into that other dimension to be with Christ. When I am on my deathbed---and if I am aware---I want to think about 'spreading my wings' and leaving this world behind to embrace a perfect, peaceful place. This is why I added the song, 'I'm Ready to Fly' to my play list. When I hear the words, I can just imagine soaring in the sky, feeling so free and at peace. All my cares are gone, I can be at rest.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Okay, most of the blogs I've looked at recently are showing fall scenes and colors. So I guess I'll do it too... above is 'Chairy'. Remember Chairy? PeeWee Herman? Well, this is not the same one, I just decided to call it that. It's on my front porch for all the world to admire. The chair was $1, and I painted it the same color as our shutters, the pumpkins came from my father in law's farm, and some of the flowers came from a cemetery. Yup. They were in a trash barrel and still had the price tag on them... but hey, they had already been pitched, so I figured it was okay to take them.

A corn field near town, in fact, just on the edge of town, which is not very far to go. As a kid, I got lost in a corn field one time. It can be frightening. But, you just keep going in one direction or the other, and you'll eventually emerge unscathed. Scared and relieved, but unscathed. And wiser.

Our Burning Bush. Isn't it awesome? We moved it with us when we moved to town. When it was at the farm, the sheep jumped the fence and ate it down to the nubs in nothing flat. We were not happy campers. It survived and found a new home in our backyard in town. Then, I got a hankerin' to move it. I do that a lot. I said to Husband, "Husband, this would really be an eye-catcher in the front yard..." After he calmed down, (cause I'm always having him move bushes around) he agreed and now, it is a real stand out.

This is the maple tree in Great Sally's front yard. While she was at work, I went up and stood in her front yard and snapped away. She never even knew!!!

And I'm calling this 'Ghost Grass'. When I noticed it from a distance, it looked just like a cloud of mist... very soft and airy. I don't know what it's proper name is, but from now on, if anyone asks, I'll say with a very authoritative tone, "Ahh yes, Ghost Grass... the Indians believed that their ancestor's spirits were resting in the area wherever it grew..." Or something like that. Okay, that was your fall tour. It's all I've got.