Sewingseeds...thoughts from a grace filled life

a sneak peek...

I’m back in my craft studio and have a sneak peek of a few fun things I'm working on for an upcoming tea at church.  I finally finished the big project that was keeping me from starting anything new and now it just feels like I have a fresh start on being creative.

 
Of course I already have three projects going simultaneously…my new mantra in the creative process (and life in general) is to enjoy the journey…when I cease to feel the joy I move on to something else until the love returns. 

 
I realize this might mean that nothing ever gets finished.

 
We’ll see, after all…

It’s all about

living,

loving,

laughing,

giving,

praising,

and enjoying the dance.

 
Life is too short to do otherwise.  Don’t you agree?

Patty

I'm linking this beautiful, red vintage painted tray to the following parties...

Rednesday at It's a very cherry world...

 

How cute is that...

 

I'm glad you stopped by for our virtual cup of coffee with a double shot of sunshine...If we were really meeting for coffee today I'd ask you how your Easter was and what you fixed for dinner.  I'd have a whole stack of pictures to share with you instead of just these few...

 
Okay, I admit it...

 

I.

am.

a.

shameless.

grandma.

 

There I said it...Can you blame me?

Have a wonderful Tuesday...

Patty

Doubts...

"Put your finger here, and look at my hands.  Put your hand into the wound in my side.  Don't be faithless any longer.  Believe."  John 20:27

 
 

 Have you ever doubted God?

His motives...

His involvement...

His existence...

Does it seem like God is more real in others lives than in yours? 

Can you imagine how Thomas was feeling when Jesus returned and he wasn't there to witness the miracle.  I'm sure he wanted to believe what his friends were saying. He had lived with Jesus and witnessed the miracles first hand.  He had volunteered to follow Jesus even into death. (John 11:16)

 

My commentary says this, "We can doubt without having to live a doubting way of life.  Doubt encourages rethinking.  It's purpose is more to sharpen the mind than to change it ...Doubt is one foot lifted, poised to step forward or backward.  There is no motion until the foot comes down."   Life Application Study Bible

 

Jesus was not angry with Thomas for doubting...there was no condemnation.  He did however, allow him to wait eight days before he appeared before him.  (John 20:26)

Free will

forces us

to make faith choices...

God gives us as long as we need to step forward or backward.  There is no motion until the foot comes down.  I pray when doubts come...I will always choose to step forward.

Following closely,

Patty

Seeking...

"Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice.  Search for the LORD and for His strength; seek His face always."

1 Chronicles 16:10-11

 

I love this portion of scripture...

Seek Him...

Search for the LORD...

Seek his face...

The verb portion is mine; the action required is by me. 

Do I...

actively...

seek Him...

in everything?

 

"As I go through my day, meeting inevitable challenges and self-doubts, I depend on and expect Him to be strong in me.  And He is."  Beth Moore - Believing God

 

If I haven't, I pray I start today.

Seeking Him,

Patty  

Happy Easter...

Wishing you peace this Holy Weekend...

 
"But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus.  As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them clothed in dazzling robes.

The women were terrified and bowed with their heads to the ground then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?  He isn't here!  He is risen from the dead!"  Luke 24:1-6

Easter Blessings,  Patty

Tuesday morning coffee...

 
I'm so glad you came back for Tuesday's virtual cup of coffee...

 

I bought the ingredients for a strawberry cake that I hoped to have made for us to enjoy today but I'm not quite back to myself yet...

 

I did manage to go outside and cut the first of my roses for our table.  They are perfect to join in with Noelle for her monthly garden bouquet.  Aren't they beautiful?  Now I know spring is really here.

 

I've had to scale back Easter day plans this year but the grand-babies will still be by for their Easter baskets and weather permitting an Easter egg hunt.

As I sit hear listening to the news in the background, with wars, weather, and natural disasters raging, Easter egg baskets and hunts seem a silly subject of conversation for us this morning.

 

Actually I think it just might be the perfect time...not only for the sweetness of an innocent childhood ritual like the Easter bunny but more importantly for the hope and promise of the resurrection and the eternal glory of a Savior sent to offer an eternity without the strife and heartache of this world.

"He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds."  Titus 2:14  

 

It's been a while since the Easter bunny made an appearance at our house and I am so excited about his arrival!  

Excuse me while I go heat my coffee...can I get you anything while I'm up?

Patty 

cookies and chicken soup...

My sister-in-law stopped by to check in on me and drop off these yummy cookies and chicken soup.  It couldn't have come at a more perfect time.  My staple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches was growing a bit old (thank you hubby) and the fresh meal was a welcome change.

 

My recovery time in our old, brown leather recliner left me a lot of time to sit and reflect...about the things that I just had to do...about what I wasn't accomplishing while recuperating in my chair...lamenting over who was going to cook dinner, straighten the house, do the grocery shopping or throw in a load of towels...Somewhere in the midst of all this self imposed angst was a lesson...the good in the lousy, the lemonade from the lemons. 

 

These things, while they do need to get done, don't need to get done by me...my way and in my timing. 

Cue the light bulb! 

While I'm glad to be feeling better and happy to be able to help out some, if I learned anything this past week, it's that my family is fully cable of taking care of themselves and me, if needed.

 

With that realization fresh in my mind, my Multitudes on Mondays gratitude list for the week looks like this...

 

41.  Walks in the garden.

42.  My dog Bear.

43.  Chicken soup.

44.  Homemade cookies.

45.  Time to sit and reflect.

46.  Backs that heal.

47.  Springtime blooms.

48.  Jars of spaghetti sauce.

49.  My old leather recliner.

50.  Cool breezes. 

I hope you've taken a few minutes to reflect and thank God for your blessings this week.

 Patty

The Word on Saturday...

 

"This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God - who does not lie - promised them before the world began."  Titus 1:2

 

a walk in the garden...

I was able to go for a short walk in the garden today and managed to snap a few photos in manual mode while I was out there...

 

 

 

 
  
These well loved terracotta pots were found in an old shed on my husband's grandmother's farm. Isn't the patina amazing?  I transplanted some cilantro seedlings into them and tucked them underneath a potted climbing rose along with this beautiful white ranunculas. 

 
The geraniums are blooming like crazy.  I fought every urge to get out my shears and clean them up a bit...but I definitely don't want to spend anymore time than necessary in the recovery chair....the pruning can wait.

 

 

This is a new peach tree and I know we are supposed to thin out the fruit this first year but I don't have the heart to.  I'll have hubby come out and do it this weekend.

 

 

The roses are budding out and just about to put on a show...

 

It felt so good to get outside and walk in the garden...Bear thought so to. 

Have a wonderful weekend, Patty. 

I'm joining Toosties again for Fertilizer Friday...

and a Rosy Note for Photo Feature Friday...

couch potatoes...

I've come up with my top ten things to do while stuck in a recliner list and thought I'd share a few pictures of my favorite couch potatoes...

 
 
For anyone who has wished for a few days to just sit and do nothing let me tell you, it ain't all it's cracked up to be.  That being said, here's my list...

1. Catch up on blogs...(I've wanted to go back and read older posts for a while but haven't had the time).

2.  Watch the food network...(There are only so many ways to prepare a chicken and make it look interesting).

3.  Read the owners manual of my new camera..(okay, maybe not the whole manual but the parts that pertain the manual settings).

4.  Make a mental note to give the dog a bath as soon as my back is feeling better...(he has been sharing the recliner with me 24/7 and between the two of us a good long soak never sounded better).

5.  Learn new ways to balance food on my lap while keeping the dog at bay.

 
 
6.  Catch up on my reading...

7.  Redecorate the living room in my mind.

8.  Crochet a scarf for a Christmas present...(still a work in progress).

9.   Nap.

10. Pray about getting out of this darn recliner!

 

Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes.  I am feeling a little better everyday and have accepted that this is something that will take some time to heal.  I wanted to slow down...right?

On the upside my kids and hubby have stepped up and taken good care of me.  It almost makes it worth it...almost. ;) 

Family to take care of me, this weeks simple pleasure...

 

 

virtual morning coffee...

Won't you join me for a virtual cup of coffee with Amy over at Lucky No. 13...

If we were really meeting for coffee this morning I would tell you...

After my positive birthday post yesterday, I threw out my back bending down to pick up my clothes after showering.  There is some irony in the fact that this happened on my 50th birthday but the pain I'm in right now is so great that I am failing to see the humor at this moment. 

 

I was home alone (hubby was working out of town) when the explosion in my lower back happened and it took all my will to make it to my bed without passing out.  After about an hour of laying still I decided I better get out of bed and put a nighty on so that when I was eventually discovered I wouldn't be (literally) in my birthday suit...All the while my daughters kept calling to wish me a happy birthday but my phone was in the dining room and there was no way I was getting out of bed to retrieve it.  So I waited and waited for someone to come check on me...

 

I finally got up the courage to get out of bed once again, taking one slow step at a time, to get my phone and call my eldest in tears.  Both daughters were there within minutes, helped me get to the recliner and brought me some pain relievers.

I have heard of peoples backs going out but this is a first for me...

So it was with tremendous effort that I started our coffee this morning but I'm so glad I did...sorry I don't have anything freshly baked to offer but there are plenty of store bought cookies in the cookie jar, unfortunately you'll have to help yourself.  While you're there can you grab me a double stuffed oreo?

Thanks for stopping by,  Patty

 

time to bloom...

I had the most wonderful birthday weekend.  My girlfriends took me out on Friday for a wonderful and generous birthday celebration.  Each gift held special meaning but the gift of their friendship, encouragement and accountability is truly a treasure.

 

On Saturday my family got together at a delicious steakhouse for another evening of celebration.  It is such a testament to my parents that all of their children still hold love and affection for one another as we all do.  I have officially joined what my brothers mercilessly teased is the 50's club...ouch.  There are five of us original siblings and just my little sis is left to join us in a couple of years.

 

Sunday morning our pastor (very appropriately) spoke on living life for Jesus alone not for the if only and why nots of life.  The perfect ending thought for my milestone weekend.  

 

This morning I looked in the mirror and everything is pretty much the same...no fewer wrinkles but no more either!

Most importantly, I feel good, am blessed with good health and family and friends who genuinely love me for better or worse.

 

The first 50 years were spent trying to get somewhere...these next 50 will be about enjoying the journey.   It is definitely my time to BLOOM!

My gratitude list for this week looks like this...

31.  Another year to live for Him.

32.  Friends who get me and still love me.

33.  Earthly parents who desire to give so generously.

34.  Siblings I love and enjoy.

35.  A husband who isn't afraid to work at this thing called marriage.

36.  Children who encourage me to slow down.

37.  Grandbabies who give me another chance to love sacrificially.

38.  The day off to pamper and reflect.

39.  The promise of joy in Jesus no matter what happens in life.

40.  A past full of His promises fulfilled.

 

Feeling especially blessed,  Patty

The photos are but a few of the beautiful gifts I received...it will take me quite a few posts to share them all. 

last hurrah...

 

I hope you haven’t grown tired of seeing my azaleas…

 
 They are just about done with their springtime show and I couldn’t resist a few more pictures before they are but a beautiful memory.

 

I’ve been showing you snippets of my front perennial border…here’s a better view of the whole thing.  It runs the entire depth of the front yard (it measures around 15’ wide by 40’ long).

 

The Japanese maple in the center is only a couple of years old.  It is such a pretty tree and really adds some architectural interest to the bed.  The only draw back is that it is extremely slow growing.  I wish I could have afforded a larger one to start with…

 
I’m saving a spot to the rear of the bed to tuck in an iron bench.  Since this garden faces northeast in our yard it will be the perfect spot to enjoy an early evening glass of wine during the long summer days ahead. 

 

You can see where I have a few bare spots that still need to be planted.  I am of the opinion that less is definitely not more in my cottage garden.  Dense plantings are absolutely the best deterrent to weeds and I am all for less weeding!

 
 We’re having another cool burst and some more rain today but the weekend promises to be perfect for putting in a few more bedding plants and sprucing up my window boxes and container plantings. 

 
Oh, how I love this time of year…

 Happy weekend!  Patty

I'm linking up with Tootsie time for Fertilizer Friday...

and Roses and Stuff for Blooming Friday...

 

just breathe...

My mom mentioned that I live my list like a bucket list…trying to cram in as much as possible before I run out of time.

 
It was just an off handed remark but I realized she’s right and it really has me thinking about ways I can slow down and enjoy the whole process of living life to the full without all my self imposed deadlines and expectations. 

 
I work a full time job outside of my home so I really want to learn to enjoy my down time…to learn how to just…breathe. 

 

 I’ve been so blessed…I don’t want to squander anymore time missing the joy God intended for me.

Slowing down and enjoying life…truly a simple pleasure.

 Blessings, Patty

fresh herbs...

This all but forgotten pot of herbs is happy as can be nestled right next to the pond in the backyard.  It was a leggy mess last month so I cut it way back and hoped for the best…

 

It looks like everything came back except for the basil (which I’ve found is one of the pickier herbs for me to grow anyway).  I’d love some tips if anyone has any for keeping basil going.  I’ve tried full sun and part shade…I’ve tried trimming it to encourage new growth but it just seems that once the initial leaves have been cut and used the plant is done for me.

 

I purchased a couple of new plants and have put one in the ground in the sun and tucked one in a pot in the shade of the pond.  I’ll let you know which one does best.

 
 

I also picked up a green bell pepper plant and a couple of strawberry plants.  I planted bell pepper seeds but I have to admit I’m losing patience with their slow growth. 

The lettuce, radish, cucumber, tomato and cilantro seeds I planted are fairing much better, as are the cosmos and zinnias.

 

 I’m afraid the lure of the garden has called me out of my craft studio for the most part.  I do have a couple of baby projects in the works that I hope to share later in the week.

 

What about you?  Are you a one or the other person, like me?  Do certain seasons have you pulled in one direction?  Or are you able to balance it all out?

 

more blessings...

It's finally starting to feel like spring and that means more time in the garden.  I spent most of Saturday cleaning up the remainder of the main front perennial bed.  It always amazes me how many weeds can live under that thick layer of leaves.  Weeding a large area can be a little overwhelming for me (not to mention discouraging) so I usually break it off into smaller areas at a time.  I weed a little area, turnover the soil, add some fertilizer and then plant a few new plants.  This gives me a little joy with the necessary maintenence.

 
This is the third year for this particular bed.  When we purchased the house there was a very a large tree that provided a lot of shade so the bed was mostly ferns, azaleas, camellias and moss.  Unfortunately, the tree was bent over and leaning into the house so we made the difficult decision to have it removed.  As blessings would have it, I was left with a very large, very empty sun filled border.

 
Most of what you see are all returning plants.  I picked up a couple of one gallon delphiniums from my local nursery for $2.99.  I'm kicking myself for not buying more so there may be a quick stop on my way home from work tonight.  (Emphasis on quick..ha, ha!)

 

I hope you had a chance to get outside some this weekend and play.  There's nothing like a little sunshine to lift the spirits.

My blessings this Monday morning...

24.  Beautiful garden centers.

25.  Beautiful thoughts from those I love.

26.  Thomas the tank engine eyes.

27.  Meatloaf on Sunday.

28.  Homemade rolls.

29.  Chatting on the phone.

30.  Kisses.

Have a bless filled week.

 

crash...boom...ba...

Although my kids are tech savvy and have always had laptops, the hubs and I have been using the same personal computer (even it was a donation from a family member) for years.  It functioned fine for what we needed so I never really gave it much thought. Until last Friday...in grand fashion, our computer crashed.  My daughter was able to recover some of our data but the problem is in the hard drive and we've not had luck in recovering my pictures.  She says they're not lost but I still don't have access to them...I'm really kicking myself for not protecting the better.

 
 

Family tradition has it that on your 50th birthday my parents splurge on a big gift for each of us kids.  I figured it was time I entered the 21st century and decided on a laptop as my gift.   

So now here I am trying to eek out this post on my brand new laptop!  I just LOVE it!!!

Thanks Dad and Mom...

Between my new camera and my laptop, I have to say the big 5-0 aint' feeling half bad and I still have a whole two weeks till the actual big day.  

The beautiful azalea is from my moms garden...

 

Garden Pretties...

It was a brisk 40 degrees this morning when I snuck outside to snap a few pictures of my freshly showered garden. 

 

For me, nothing can compare with the beauty of nature.  I haven’t started my spring garden in earnest yet so I really feel blessed to have these returning garden pretties to share with you. 

 

I love my new camera even though my point and shoot was so much easier to use. 

 

I have been trying to venture out of Automatic mode with mixed success.   This whole aperture and speed thing is still so far beyond my understanding.  I’ve tried reading explanations and manuals and I kind of get it, but I think I’m more of a trial and error sorta girl. 

 

 

 

Thank goodness digital photography allows me to take as many pictures as I want to without having the wait and expense of developing film.  For every 10 shots I take, I get one that’s worth editing. 

 

Luckily, the flowers are so beautiful to begin with, it’s not hard finding some worth sharing. 

 

 

We're not expecting nice spring temperatures until next week but the timing couldn’t be more perfect…I have a whole four day weekend scheduled off work so that I can play outside. 

 

Come back next week and I’ll much more to share.

I'm linking up with...

Fishtail Cottage's Garden Party

Tootsie Time's Fertilizer Friday

I Love Pretty Little Things for Friday Pretties 

 

Sewing Christmas...

 Can you believe we are nearing the end of March?  Is it just my age or is time flying by?  I wish had more to show you for this months Sewing Christmas…

 

For whatever reason, I’ve kind of lost my MOJO…maybe it’s the gloomy weather or maybe it’s a large project with a deadline that I’m not feeling so much anymore.  I know I need to get it finished before I can start something new. 

 I spent Sunday afternoon cleaning out my craft studio because that will usually jump start my creativity…

 It’s kind of like a new haircut when your in a funk…it just seems to help you feel better about life in general.  Unless it‘s a bad haircut but then that’s another story.

 

I took Bella out in the garden (another place that gets the creative juices going) to model my completed crochet scarf.  I still love the color and the scallop…I have the recipient in mind so that’s a good feeling.  This was such a fun, easy project and it inspired me to use this same scallop design to embellish some other things I have in my head.  I love it when one project inspires the next and so on…

 

Now that my studio is clean, I think I’ll just buckle down and finish up my current project while Dancing with the Stars is on…

 I’m not feeling the cast so much this time (are you?) but I’m sure someone will grow on me…

I'm linking up with Renee at Sewing Christmas...

 

Monday's blessings...

Our gentle spring rain has turned into a nasty winter wallop...

As if I don't already have enough to worry about (yes, I know that I'm not supposed to worry, it's an ongoing issue with me and God) now I'm worried about my new little veggies that I have been watering ever so gently.  All this heavy rain surely can't be good for them. 

 

I don't think I'd have made a very good farmer...between willing them to grow every single day since the seeds went into the ground (I'm sure the neighbors think I've lost my mind as I stare at the dirt inspecting it for any evidence of green life)...

to lamenting over what I could have done wrong with the ones that have yet to make an appearance...

and now all this darn rain...I've tried to think of a way to prop an umbrella up over them but that would just be plain ridiculous...right?

 

According to the calendar, spring has arrived but this cold snap would seem to beg to differ. 

Soon enough the weather will warm, the flowers will bloom and the desire to drink ice tea and lemonade will return...until then I still have so much to be thankful for.

My list of gratitude and thanksgiving this Monday...

11.  A safe drive into work.

12.  The smell of coffee in the morning.

13.  Banana nut bread.

14.  My morning call to my mom.

15.  Movie night with my daughters.

16.  Watching Emily watch the air popper pop the corn.

17.  The smell of just shampooed kid hair.

18.  Warm water for dirty dishes.

19.  Family Sunday dinners.

20.  Silly faces.

21.  A child's belly laugh.

22.  Safe arrivals home.

23.  New walkers.

I purchased myself a little spiral notepad for in my purse.  Now as God gives me the blessing...it goes right into my book.  It's such a nice, tangible reminder of my everyday gratitude.

Have a wonderful week!

I'm linking up to Multitude Mondays...

 

 

a gentle spring rain...

I woke up this beautiful Saturday morning to a gentle spring rain...not the hard downpour that winter storms bring but the soft rain that holds the promise of May flowers.

 

 Just about now with the earth awakening from it's winter slumber, I have the tendency to want to rush spring...to wish away the dreariness of March and hurry in the warmth of April.

  
If I am not careful, my life can begin to feel like a series of destinations and not a joy-filled journey.  I can miss out on the everyday moments of life in the hurry to get on to the next thing.

I am savorying my reading of Ann Voskamp's one thousand gifts - a dare to live fully right where you are...It is not a book to be rushed through.  The truths she writes are ones to be tasted slowly, rolled around in your mind and then absorbed of over time.

 

 She speaks of our tendency to live our lives in a hurry offering this quote by Evelyn Underhill, "On every level of life, from housework to heights of prayer, in all judgement and efforts to get things done, hurry and impatience are sure marks of the amateur."

 

If you were to ask my children they would tell you that I am always rushing...that I need to slow down.  I try to live my life on the tightest of schedules allowing pockets of time to accomplish what must be accomplished or else...

or else what? 

What would happen if the dishes went undone while I spent time with my husband?...If I didn't get the shopping done by a certain hour choosing instead to play a little while longer with a grandchild?    If I spent too long in the garden enjoying the flowers and it cut into my time vacuuming the house?  If I sat and visited with my daughter and didn't get to my latest craft project?  If I allowed myself more time than what was on my daily schedule in quiet reflection with my Savior, counting my blessings and laughing over his gifts and failed to start the laundry by 9:00 a.m.? 

It seems I never have enough time to get it all done...I am always looking for that extra hour in the day.

 

 "I speak to God: I don't really want more time; I just want enough time.  Time to breathe deep and time to see real and time to laugh long, time to give You glory and rest deep and sing joy and just enough time in a day not to feel hounded, pressed, driven, or wild to get it all done---yesterday...I just want time to do my one life well."  Ann Voskamp

 

 How does this slowing down of life begin?  Where does the joy in the everyday start?

"Time is a relentless river.  It rages on, a respecter of no one.  And this, this is the only way to slow time:  When I fully enter time's swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here.  I can slow the torrent by being all here.  I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment.  And when I'm always looking for the next glimpse of glory, I slow and enter.  And time slows...I have lived the runner, panting ahead in worry, pounding back in regrets, terrified to live in the present, because here-time asks me to do the the hardest of all: just open wide and receive.  This is where God is.  In the present.  I AM---His very name."  Ann Voskamp

It begins right here...by enjoying the present...by building our lives upon giving thanks and acknowledgement to God for each gift, in every moment...no matter how small and insignificant it may seem in light of the world crashing down around us.  To live fully and be present, with Him.

"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him.  Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness"  Colossians 2:7  Memory verse #6

I am linking to Spiritual Sundays...

 

Friday Pretties...

Don’t these white azaleas make the perfect backdrop for an afternoon cup of tea and freshly made banana nut bread? 

 

I found the recipe for the bread over at Kim’s Daisy Cottage.  Whenever I have over ripe bananas this delicious loaf comes to mind.  The ingredients are ones I always have on hand and the smell of the kitchen as its baking is just heavenly.

 

I’ve had this clover leaf teacup in my collection forever and this St. Patrick’s week edition of Friday Pretties seemed to be the perfect time to share it with you. 

 

 I found several of these lace napkins at a local antique store years ago...

 

 

It’s so nice to pull out my old treasures and share them with my new friends.

 I’m linking up to “I Love Pretty Little Things”…

 

simple pleasures...

I told my husband the other day that I think it's time I learned how to cook. 

 

With a straight face he replied, "Why now, after 28 years of marriage?"  In his defense, I don't think he really meant to say that I don't know how to cook.  I'm hoping he meant, "I'm a simple man with simple food tastes...why do you have to go and change things now?"

 

What I meant was that we tend to eat the same things over and over.  I would love to crack open a cookbook every now and then and try something new...something different.

 

I really love being in the kitchen...chopping and stirring...kneading and mixing.  As you can see, I have plenty of cookbooks to choose from.  I guess we're just in a food rut. 

 

I think this week learning a new recipe will be my simple pleasure.  Any ideas where to start? 

I'm joining Dayle for Simple Pleasures... 

 

working lunch...

I saw the cutest crochet scarf over at my friend Trish’s blog and it really inspired me to pull out my crochet hook and some pretty yarn.  The pattern was a free download and it was a nice project to ease my way back in.  A scarf, as opposed to an afghan, is just perfect when you thrive on (almost) instant gratification like I do.

 

Even though it’s been a few years since I’ve crocheted anything, it really came back pretty quickly.

  

I’ve been working on it during my lunch break at work and in the evenings while Andrew plays.  I’m really happy with the way it’s turning out, the gentle curve of the shell design gives it a real feminine quality and I love the color and feel of the yarn.  I can see a few of these in my growing Christmas gift stash. 

 

I’m hoping to finish it up this week and share it with you soon.

 It’s amazing what you can get done in small pockets of time…

 What kinds of things do you work on when you have a spare minute or two?

***Bare with the large photos...I'm still figuring this editing thing out...

 

I'm so excited...

Happy Monday...yes, you heard right.  Happy Monday! 

What a perfect day of the week to count my blessings.  There's nothing that changes a Monday morning attitude better than taking a moment to focus on the positive...acknowledging what is right in my life and what I have to be thankful for.

 

The I'm so excited part?  My dear hubby took me birthday present shopping a month early!  This is the biggy so it called for a big, extravagant present.  I did my research and chose...

drum roll please...

a new Nikon D90 camera!

 

I have not clue one how to use it other than to put it on Auto, point and shoot but

I. LOVE. IT.

Expect to see lots of pictures of the same fruit while I learn to go manual...

 

This beautiful bowl was a garage sale find that my sweet mom gifted me with.  She actually found two pieces of this beautiful "Georgian" pattern for a couple of dollars.  Both pieces are numbered twice; one is fired in and the other appears to be a stamp.  There is one small chip in this one (of course in my excitement of using the camera I left the crack in the front...sheesh) but the smaller bowl is in perfect condition!

 

Now onto counting my blessings and my multitudes on monday list...

#4    Fresh fruit to take pictures of.

#5    A library card.

#6    A mom who thinks of me.

#7    New seedlings in the garden.

#8    Jobs that pay the bills.

#9    A Father who hears my prayers.

#10   People who love me.

 

I challenge you to come up with your own list today. 

I guarantee an attitude adjustment. Have a wonderful week.

  

sorrow...

It's impossible to let the day go by without expressing what is seemingly inexpressible...

The numbers grow more daunting and unimagineable...

 

"Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.  You have done such wonderful things.  Who can compare with you, O God?  You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again.  You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again. " 

Psalm 71:19-21

My heart felt sorrow and unceasing prayers go out to the people of Japan.  May they rest in the assurance of God's righteousness and promise of restoration.

 

Saturday morning coffee...

I wish you could pour a cup of coffee and join me here this morning.  It is one of those absolutely picture perfect mornings in Southern California. 

 

I’ve already taken a stroll over to my newly planted vegetable garden and the carrot and radish seeds I planted last weekend are peeking through the soil. 

 

 The pruned rose bushes all have fresh red leaves on them and one of last years foxgloves has a flower stalk shooting up. 

 

Spring is definitely in the air.

 

I don’t know about you but springtime always puts me in the mood to get organized. 

In my home, in my wardrobe and yes, even in my blogging…

 

 It’s hard to believe that I have been blogging for nearly two years now and I don’t feel like I have ever really been able to find my niche.  I have a tendency to hop all over the place with projects and life in general.  I really desire for my blog to be informative, entertaining and inspirational (doesn’t every blogger).

 

 

 I know living day to day is not neat and orderly (at least for me it isn’t)…

 

Have a wonderful, hopefully warm, weekend.

 

friday pretties...

I love browsing through the blogs participating in Friday pretties each week...

 
 

I thought I'd take a look through my photos and see if I had a couple of pictures to post so that I could join in the fun...

 

 

An afternoon tea...what a perfect start to what promises to be a picture perfect weekend.

Now go and take a look at what all the lovely ladies are sharing this week over at I Love Pretty Things.  I know you'll be smitten, too.

 

preparing the heart...

You may recall I mentioned another purple dress story...

 

This was Emily's original purple dress and matching bloomers.  Isn't it sweet? 

It's also too small. 

The pattern sizing was rather vague...I think it said something like "toddler" or "small child"...It wasn't until after I struggled breezed through installing the zipper and grumbled joyfully worked out the underarm lining that I realized that the pattern toddler was a size smaller than my toddler!  Luckily, I have a great-niece who is ever so petite with a birthday this month. 

I hope she likes purple.

 

It feels good to use fabrics from my excessive stash.  This need to purchase stuff (yes, even fabric) can become more of a burden than a blessing in the blink of an eye.  As we enter this season of lent, I prayed for God to show me where my strongholds lie and what would truly be a sacrifice to give up.  It became more and more obvious that the area of spending has me under it's worldly spell.

To honor His sacrifice and to prepare my heart in acknowledgement of what he did for me on the cross, I have decided to give up needless spending for lent.  I have tried this of my own power many times but I am asking the Holy Spirit to give me supernatural wisdom and power during this lentin season to finally break this stronghold in my life. 

"...We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give  you spiritual wsidom and understanding.  Then the way you live will aways honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.  All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.  May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father..."  Colossians 1: 9-12

I'm linking up with A Holy Experience for Walk with Him Wednesday...

 

they seemed to live...

I was feeling a little under the weather this weekend both physically and spiritually...I must confess, I was having a bit of a pity party.  I am battling a cold/cough so I stayed away from church (first mistake), my attitude really stunk so I picked a fight (yes, I admit it) with my hubby, I was a real butthead (yes, I did use that term) in general.

 

 

 

Truth is, as Monday morning rolled around, I really hadn't snapped out of it...

 

 

 

But then, God in his grace, gave me Psalm 73 this morning.

"Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.  But as for me I almost lost my footing.  My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.  For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.  They seemed to live such painless lives..."  Then I went into your sanctuary, O God...Then I realized my heart was bitter, and I was torn up inside.  I was so foolish and arrogant-I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.  Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.  Whom have I in heaven but you?...But as for me, how good it is to be near God!  I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do." 

 

 

 

No ones life is painless, even though it may appear to be.  We all have our share of "stuff" to deal with.  But as long as God has a hold of our right hand...we are assured a glorious destiny!

It seem only fitting to thank Him for his mercies so I'm joining everyone over at one thousand gifts for multitudes on mondays...

#1 A savior who saw fit to die for me, inspite of everything he knew I would do.

#2 A Word for every circumstance of my life...to nourish, to assure and to comfort me.

#3 His strong grip when mine grows weary.

Have a blessed week, Patty

 

a touch of purple...

I've been trying to use fabric I already have in my stash and have started a pile of, "Now why did I buy this?"  I know I must have had good intentions for all of it but for the life of me I can't recall just what I had in mind...

 

I came across this purple and lavender combo...I have nothing against the color purple but it's just not something I would normally be tempted to purchase.  In my quest to de-stash I decided I would either come up with a use for it or put it in the giveaway pile.

 

I purchased Emma Hardy's book, Making Children's Clothes a while back and just knew I'd find something in there to make with it.

 

This is right off the cover...I modified it from a dress to a top and added the band at the bottom and changed up the flower pin.  I also added the same band to a pair of discount jeans.  I ended it with a cute spring combo for sweet Emily.

 

Her momma loves it, now I just have to snap a few pictures of Emily wearing them.  I also made another toddler dress and bloomers but that's a story for another day.

I'm linked up to Motivate me Monday...

train up a child...

  “Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

 

This trusting God thing…

it can be really hard sometimes.

 

Especially with our children.   We have a tendency to want to make their lives easier when God has in mind to use the hard times to grow them, to mature them, to increase their faith, to teach them perseverance.

 

We have in mind to step in and soften the blow…

which over time only serves to stunt them and teach them dependency on us…not HIM.

  

Life is not easy…

it takes learning to trust God to help us during the hard times…

learning to clean up the messes that life choices can bring…

 

 sweeping up the debris, dumping it in the garbage and resting in the assurance that He promises to restore us, to renew us and to make us white as snow.

  

Sometimes we need to spend time in the mud and the muck to appreciate the splendor of being cleansed.

  

 Lord, give me the strength and wisdom to do nothing…when nothing brings the glory to you.

 

I'm linking up to the always inspiring, Spiritual Sundays...

  

content at home...

I wonder when I turned into such a homebody?  I was quite the social butterfly in high school., so I know I haven’t always felt this need to cocoon. 

 
 

But now, at this stage in my life…a warm cup of tea on a blustery cold day…with no where on earth to go and nothing in particular to do.  A stack of books or magazines out by the pond…some flowers that need tending…time behind my sewing machine or baking in the kitchen….life just doesn’t get any sweeter than this. 

Being content at home…such a wonderful simple pleasure!

 I'm linked up to Dayle for Simple Pleasures...

 

work in progress...

Isn’t funny how we tend to gravitate toward the same colors and patterns when we create?  Whether it’s in our decorating, fashion, sewing, paper crafts, knitting or whatever else we’re working on…

 

Remember this fabric I shared a little while back?

 

 The colors were a bit of a stretch for me…I usually lean toward the red side of the color wheel but I’m learning that it’s good to work outside your comfort zone every once in a while.

  

I've finished with the piecing and pinning of this Rectangle Reverie quilt…

  I just have the quilting and the binding left to go.

 I think I’m going to try some straight line quilting on this one…

More stretching…more learning…more growing.

 

They say it keeps your mind young!

 At this stage, I’ll take all the help I can get.

I'm linked up to kootoyoo for my creative space on Thursdays...

 

vintage sheet baby quilt...

I finally got the nerve to cut into my stash of vintage sheets.  A sweet blogging friend just had her first grandbaby and I wanted to make her a little quilt for her sweet little girl.  She loves vintage so I knew just what stash I would be reaching for. 

 

It's just six inch squares that I sewed into four patches and then I assembled the four patches together.  I added one more single row of six inch squares to get the size I wanted.  Like any project I'm enjoying, before I knew it the night had flown by.  After the binding was sewn on I threw it into the wash and snuck into bed after midnight.

 

Luckily, I was able to stay in bed a little longer this morning...

  
 

As wonderful as it is to sleep in on Saturday morning, it means when I do crawl out of bed (at 7:00 a.m.) the house is already a whirl wind of activity...

Cities of cars and trains are going full force on the living room floor,  a hungry husband is ready to smell breakfast cooking, laundry is buzzing in the dryer and cartoons are blaring on the T.V...

 

Time alone to savor my coffee versus sleeping in...the jury's still out on this one!

Have a wonderful week!

I'm linked to Sew Modern Monday...

and Craftastic Monday...

 

Catnaps in the sun...

 

I had to smile as I watched Bear taking a catnap (forgive the expression Bear) in that little sliver of sun that streams onto the living room floor.  It brought back one of my very favorite childhood memories of my mom sneaking off from us five kids to take her catnap in the sun…

 

If I was really quiet I could catch her in bed on a lazy afternoon, the sun coming through her bedroom window, with the end of her bedspread flipped over her legs blissfully enjoying the moment.  I remember tucking myself into her as close as possible without disturbing her sleep.  She’d gently tug me in even closer…

  

 It’s a feeling I still love today…sitting on the couch with my head on mom’s shoulder, feeling like a child and forgetting my very grown up problems for just a little while.

  

 Now when I spot that stream of sunshine at home it’s hard to resist curling up with a magazine or a book…gently pulling a quilt over my legs and resting my eyes for a minute or two… and if one of my daughters or grandbabies tucks themselves in next to me…mmm…a perfect simple pleasure.

  

Happy Birthday Mom…you are a blessing and a treasure!

 

I'm joining Dayle again this week for Simple Pleasures…

 

coffee to go...

**Sew and Tell Fridays is back!  I've provided the link below...

Another Monday morning, only this one's not a back to work Monday morning, this one is a one more day off, kind of morning...Whoo, hoo!

 

It rained off and on here all weekend so I had plenty of time to spend behind my sewing machine.  Not only did I finish a new quilt top (which I will share later in the week) but I also had a chance to make this sweet, little going for coffee purse from the scraps.

 

 

It's just the perfect size to grab your keys and go...

The card/money holder was just an after thought but I think it came out pretty cute just the same.

 

 

I wanted to give you a sneak peak of this gorgeous stack of fabric from "The Blue Skies Collection" by Sharon Holland Designs for Paintbrush Studio.  Such pretty muted, earth and sky colors.  Different than what I would normally choose but I'm really lovin it.  I can't wait to share more of it with you later on.

 

 

 The purse will go into my Christmas Sewing projects stash...if I don't keep it for myself, that is!

 

 

Be sure you go over and check out the other Christmas Sewing projects at Sewn with Grace.  

I'm linking up with amylouwho for Sew and Tell Friday...

 

Spiritual Sunday...

"Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck.  I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing."  Psalm 69:1-2

It's a wonder God doesn't get tired of me crying out for help while I'm sinking in deep mud.  Whether it be mud I've slid into through no fault of my own or a mud-hole I tip-toed to close to edge of then slipped in and fallen flat on my face. 

 

 

Thankfully,  our God has no limit on grace and mercy...while the digging out can be quite messy, the hand reaching to help me out is a rock, built on firm foundation.

"Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, Oh God.  You are my help and my deliverer; Oh Lord, do not delay."  Psalm 70:5

I'm linked up with the inspiring folks at Spiritual Sundays...

 

fresh eyes...the list part one

One of my favorite bloggers is Jen over at The Cottage Nest.  She always seems to find ways to inspire me.  A couple of days ago she blogged about how excited she is to move into her new, old cottage .  As she described the areas of her home she was dreaming about, the yard and the porches, the kitchen and the floors...it stirred something in me.

 

 

She made me wonder what happened to the dreams I had before we moved into our current house…

my forever cottage. 

 

 

She inspired me to look at each room of my home with fresh eyes…eyes filled with hopes and dreams…to look past the clutter that years of living can bring.

 

 
 

So this Saturday morning as I sit here with my mug of hot coffee cradled in my hands,  I've begun compiling a list of the positive features I loved about each room in my house back when we decided to move here…What did I plan on doing with the room?  What stopped me?

 

 

I’ve started my list with the living room…

I remember how much I loved these old multi-paned windows that let the sunshine dance on the walls and the floors… and the slider that opens to our private backyard.  I loved that I wouldn’t need to hide the light they let in with a curtain or a blind.

 
 

I loved that there was a fireplace and planned on finding an old mirror to place above the mantel. 

I found this one a couple of weeks ago at Home Goods for less than $40.00.  I framed it with my thrift store oil paintings and couldn’t be more thrilled with the way they look. 

 

It was a simple, inexpensive project.  I don’t know why it took me three years to do it.  I guess life just got busy and I grew complacent. 

Thanks Jen, for reminding me to look at my home with the eyes of a new home owner, to work on removing the clutter to see the beauty and for taking time to freshen up the spaces my family comes home to.

 

I’ll share more of my list as I make the improvements I dreamed about.

 

 I'm joining these lovely links...

 My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

 

Sore buns and other rich blessings...

I hate to admit it but my legs and behind are a bit sore this morning.  It seems my foray into the garden on Monday left me a reminder that I’ve spent a little too much time in hibernation this winter.    

 With that said…

 

 

 My simple pleasures this week are sore buns…

and these rich blessings…

 

 

That I can kneel and pull and dig in the garden…

The soil underneath my feet that God graciously allows me to play in…

The warm sunshine on my back…

The first flowers of spring…

The miracle of last years seeds knowing when to bring forth new growth…

The contrast of a blue sky and fresh green leaves…

 

 

And the beauty of color in a garden that only The Master Gardener could have created.

 

 

 “We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us – one gracious blessing after another.”  John 1:16 NLT - Memory Verse #4

 

I’m linked up with Dayle for Simple Pleasures…thank you Dayle for hosting this lovely party each week.

Edit* Sorry Dayle...this almost 5o mind mixes things up sometimes!

 

spring bag...

The weather was absolutely perfect to get outside and start the spring clean-up of my gardens.  I finished the raking and weeding on half of the front perennial border, I moved a few dianthus from the side garden to the front, put out fresh compost and even scattered a few seeds of larkspur and love in a mist. 

 

I know it's still a little early but the soil looked so pretty, I couldn't help myself...

 

 

Since the garden looked so nice, I decided to take Bella outside to model my newly finished spring bag... 

 

The pattern was easy enough to follow...

I still love the fabric and think it turned out really pretty.

 

 

The only thing I might do differently is to add a little heavier interfacing, because it called for batting, I went a little light on the interfacing and now I wish it held it's shape better...

but overall...

 

I'm satisfied with the way it turned out.

What do you think?

 

l.o.v.e.

 
I've been consciously looking for touches of love this week...

 

hugs and kisses from my grandbabies...

sunshine that warms my face...

dear hubby putting gas in my car...

watching my mom in the kitchen cooking...

an encouraging word...

a little t.v. with my dad...

daisies in bloom...

a romantic card from my love...

good test results...

reeses peanut butter cups...

a beautiful sunset...

 

Love doesn't have to be over the top romantic...seek it in the ordinary, every day gestures of life.  You just might be surprised where it will pop up.

Have a Happy Valentines Day!

 

Saturday morning...

I love the promise of Saturday morning...

a fresh cup of coffee in hand and a nice stretch of free time ahead of me.

 

The weather promises to be picture perfect...high 70's - low 80's...

A couple of new magazines, a local quilt show and my February craft day with my mom and sister-in-law...

some fresh mulch and compost to be spread out...

seeds to sow and a couple of sewing projects...

a little cleaning thrown in here and there...

and three glorious days to do it in.

 
 

I may or may not get to it all but that's okay.  Sometimes I think the half the fun is in the dreaming and the planning. 

That about sums up my weekend...what's planned for yours?

 

happy homemaker...

With Valentines Day just around the corner, it seemed only appropriate to create this months tag along with something sweet in mind...

 

This cute little pixie image captured my heart...

 

 

She's just waiting to surprise someone with a fresh baked pie...

a great big hug...

 

 

and a heart full of love.

Be sure you go over to the Happy Homemaker linky and see what the other ladies cooked up...

 

pwetzels and macamoni...

*disclaimer - when viewing my groceries...keep in mind that an almost three year old lives in my house.

My ever present little man helped me unload the groceries from the shopping bags this weekend...

 

You would have thought he stumbled onto Santa's bag of presents...

With each item pulled out of the bag came a squeal of delight and a run through the house proclaiming who the grocery was for...

No kidding...out came the pretzels followed by "POP-POP - YOU GOT SOME PWETZELLLLS!!!!"

"Mommy, you got some chocolate milk!!!"

"Here Bear, your bacon tweets!"

"Andrew got Nemo...Andrew got Toy Story fruit snacks...Andrew got macamoni!" (Did I mention he calls himself by name?  Instead of "I got this or that...It's Andrew got it...Andrew spilled his juice...Andrew got a spanking...Andrew did it...)

After the "presents" were handed out, the building began...

 

Toppling box towers of Fruit Loops and macaroni and cheese, followed by demolition and rebuilding.

I've got to tell you...I was hoping to come home from the grocery store and enjoy some quiet time with a new magazine...but this grandma knows this phase will pass only too quickly.  In the blink of an eye he'll be on to something else...the magazines can wait. 

 

shop angel...

My local quilt shop "The Sew and Sew" is expanding into the adjacent store (whoo...hoo) and put out a call for "shop angels".  This was a new term to me but apparently a shop angel uses the latest fabrics that come into the shop to create display projects to help promote the line.  The shop provides everything needed right down to the thread...Guess who gets to play?  Yep...me!  Here's the fabric line and pattern I've been asked to use...

 
 

The line is Promises by Anna Fishkin for Red Rooster Fabrics...the pattern is Miranda Day Bag #123 from Lazy Girl Designs.

  
 
 Isn't this fabric yummy in all it's sherbet goodness? 

I know it's not very cool of me to be so excited...I mean, I do realize they're using me for free labor...but oh, my...given my fabric addiction, I am over the moon.

 

 

Okay, enough chit chat...I better get to sewing.  I already have my next project picked out and I have to turn this one in before I get to "shop" again.  Just wait till you see the next fabric line...

 

finding peace...

 

It's been an interesting week...

 

One that's seen me come full circle on a couple of major life decisions...

I thought I'd made one choice, prayed about it, and wrestled with it a bit more...

 

 

In between I baked and sewed...finding peace in the familiar...

 

 

and contentment in the Psalms...

"Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!  I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.  You satisfy me more than the richest feast.  I will praise you with songs of joy."  Psalm 63:3-5

 

 

While my hubby encouraged me to follow my heart...in the end I did what I often do...what I'm blessed to be able to do...I listened to my mom.

 

 

Her sage advice...don't rush into it...rest in the knowledge that you can, and you won't be so obsessed with the when.

I love you mom...God blessed me with you...I can't imagine my life without you.

The fabric is Amy Butler, the bag pattern Simplicity 2750.

I'm linked up to Spiritual Sundays...

 

bowls...

I love mixing bowls...

 Isn't that a silly thing to love?  I just seem to gravitate toward them when I'm out and about...I really have to force myself not to come home with one or two more. 

Practically speaking, I certainly don't need all of them but they do have a way of adding to the simple pleasure of ordinary life, like watching bread rise...or squishing meatloaf between my fingers...or scraping down cake batter or sneaking a finger full of cookie dough...

I can’t seem to stop buying them…

And stacking them…

 

 So this week mixing bowls are my simple pleasure...

They make even the humblest of jobs pretty!

I'm joining sweet Dayle for Simple Pleasures, go take a peek...

 

paper heart tags...

Glittered paper hearts…

To say, “I love you”.

 
 

Sending hugs and kisses…

 

 

Just to let you know how much you've blessed my life!

XXOOXXOO

I'm linked up with City Crafter Challenge #42 LOVE...

 

cookie dough and little boys...

I just spent the most wonderful afternoon making cookies with my favorite little man...

 

It seems his favorite place to be is in the kitchen whenever there's cooking going on...

 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip were the order of the day...

1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Canned Pumpkin
1/2 Cup Butter
1 T grated orange peel (I only add this if I happen to have oranges)
2 Cups Flour, can be white or whole wheat
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t salt
Chocolate Chips..... enough to make it yummy!

Heat oven to 375º. Mix wet ingredients together. Stir in dry ingredients (I just sprinkle all the dry on top of the wet, then mix them in). Drop on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes give or take a little depending on your oven and altitude.

I copied the recipe from some wonderful blogger I'm sure...I just wish I knew who but I can't recall...Thank you whoever you are...they sure are delish!