Fabulous Friday!

Add llamas to my list of "Dream Farm Animals". You didn't know I had a DFA list? Well, surely I do! It includes chickens, especially the "fuzzy" ones, a cute cow like Aunt Jenny's Mona, and probably a horse for DD. I met the llamas last night (more pic's on Beemoosie's picture diary). They just seemed so lovable. For all I know they may have been totally offended that I dared to come near them with my camera, but I took it as they were enjoying my company! (man, that sounds like how I get through work some days!!)

DD's first tennis match ever went really well. She plays doubles with one of her best friends. They won their match and looked like they knew what they were doing. It was a bit more chaotic than I expected, but I got the hang of what was going on.

The weather here has been rainy on and off this week; cool then warmer then cool again. It's spring weather though, not threatening anything yucky like snow. (To qualify that statement; snow is NOT yucky in November, it IS yucky in late April.)The kids are going to a youth night bowling event with our church, so if it's nice out maybe DH and I will get in a walk. Tomorrow I'm tagging along with a few girls from work to my first visit to a big Five and Dime about an hour away. It sounds like it may have possibilities! DS has his first baseball game of the season in the afternoon. My gardens need serious attention, so the rest of the weekend I hope to get that in somewhere!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!
~Blessings!

A Little Business Here...

Good business though! We will have our Prom Time Drawing May 1st. So all you ladies that were teetering on the fence about showing your prom pictures, you have a few more days to get your nerve up and dive in! And for those of you who didn't have a prom, didn't go, or just would prefer not to show your pictures, make sure you visit, there will be some surprises that day...

It's getting to be the busy time of year. The garden needs attention, the sewing projects seemed to have multiplied and the sports season officially kicks off tonight. DD has her first tennis match.

So blessings to you all, leave a note and let me know what you are up to!

For Fun

SCATTERGORIES. ..it's harder than it looks! But Fun! Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...they MUST be real places, names,things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question and you can't use a search engine... Now Go!
I don't like all of the following things, but it is all I could come up with:
1. Your Name: Bonnie
2. Famous singer/band: Bing Crosby
3. 4 letter word: bird
4. Street name: Browncroft Ave
5. Color: blue
6. Gifts/presents: baubles
7. Vehicle: Benz
8. Things in a Souvenir Shop: batteries
9. Boy Name: Bob
10. Girl Name: Barb
11. Movie Title: Back to the Future
12. Drink: Banana Shake
13. An Occupation: Banker
14. Flower: bluebells
15. Celebrity: Barbra Streisand
16. Magazine: Backyard Living
17. U.S. City: Burbank, CA
18. Pro Sports Team: Cinncinati Bengals
19. Fruit: banana
20. Reason for Being Late for Work: broken car
21. Something You Throw Away: baby diapers
22. Things You Shout: Bravo!
23. Cartoon Character: BooBoo Bear

Found this at Tracy's http://unlessthelord.blogspot.com/2007/04/scattergories.html today!! Have fun!

Lessons From Jeremiah

I attended a wonderful Women's Ministry event Friday night. We were honored to listen to Leslie Latona, a missionary from Columbia. She was fascinating. She spoke on the book of Jeremiah from the Bible. Then Sunday morning, our Pastor spoke on Jeremiah. Being one who can always take a hint, I am reading the book of Jeremiah. I have read parts of this book of the prophet before, but never sat down and read it through. Still haven't. I am stuck on the first chapter.

How many times have we wanted to do something, whether it be for the Lord, or our family or even ourselves, and the flags start popping up?

"I can't do THAT! I am too _______!" (Fill in the blank here, too: young, old, poor, tired, uneducated, shy, ugly,....)
That list goes on and on I'm afraid. I'm sure men have their own lists, but since I am a woman, I'll testify that women use this list continually. We don't usually do it on purpose. We genuinely feel our excuses our valid. I have had issues like this all my life. I rather fade into the background than get out there and do what I am know I am called to do. I don't want to leave my comfort zone, not one bit.

Jeremiah didn't want to leave his comfort zone either. God was sending him out to tell his fellow country men that they were screwing up big time and they needed to change their ways. Jeremiah's excuse was,
"Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child" (again, fill in YOUR excuse here!)

God says, "Say not, I am a child: for you shall go to all that I send you, and whatsoever I command you, you will speak. Be not afraid of their faces: FOR I AM WITH YOU TO DELIVER YOU,"

I don't even know how many times in the Bible God tells us not to be afraid because He IS with us. Step out in faith, because HE IS THERE, right along side of us. He tells us He will never leave us. Not at the job interview, not when we go back to school as adults, not when we take on any new challenge, or face a heartbreak. He'll be there when we know we should be sharing His good news with others, and when He wants us to lend a helping hand. There is no excuse for us to back out, because the Creator of heaven and earth is right there with us!

I love that, I really do. I am so thankful for the fact that God has breathed fresh wind into my Bible study time and I feel Him talking to my heart again. It had been a while. But even when I didn't feel His presence, I KNOW He was there.

~Blessings

Good Morning

MMM mmm mmm! Don't cha just love waking up with the windows open and the birds chirping? I sure do! Mondays don't even bug me when it's this nice out! It was 80 degrees yesterday with a lovely breeze! Perfect! It was a really nice weekend.

Saturday I had a 4H meeting. I finally took pictures! I had the girls separate their six fabrics and number them one through six. The ones and twos get sewn together; threes and fours and ect. Then they will get sewn in rows with each row starting with a different set to mix up the color combos a bit. The trickiest part was dealing with all the different sewing machines!! I am no sewing machine expert, so getting the girls going on each machine was a little more challenging than I expected! I had help though, and I am glad to have the use of all the machines! We'll learn as we go!
They surely hung in there longer than I thought since it was so nice out Saturday!!

Sunday after church we spent the day outside having badminton tournaments!! It was fun, and I hope it is good exercise for me! It was just a great day!!

Don't forget about my Prom Time Drawing!!! Let me know if you post a picture either on your blog or MaryJanes Forum and I will enter you into a random drawing for some "celebration" goodies!! Love all the pictures I have seen so far!

Prom Time Drawing!

Alright, I got this crazy idea from reading Big Mamma's post at www.bigmama1.blogspot.com. She let it all out and posted her prom picture from about 20 years ago! So let's do it girls!! I want to see your prom pictures! If you are brave and post one of your prom pictures, leave a comment and I'll have a random drawing!!



Here I am 19 years ago!

Glorious Sunshine!

Oh, a week can go by quick can't it? I haven't posted on either blog since Monday. All is well, to be quite honest I just felt like hibernating because of this dark grey weather we'd been having. It had been about two straight weeks without sunshine and I was definitely missing it!

Wednesday afternoon the sun popped out though, and trust me, my whole household knew the second I spotted it peeking through!! I have gotten more done the last two sunny days than I had over my entire cloudy break! It feels that way at least!

I hate to admit this to you all! I mean it is kinda sad that the weather dictates my emotions. But I am not like this all winter, just had a touch of spring fever I guess!

I have been visiting a new church the last three weeks and have really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to attending a Ladies Ministry Dessert Night tonight. Along with dessert we will be honored with hearing from a missionary from Columbia.

Saturday, my 4Hers will be here in the afternoon to starting sewing their squares together. The weather will be reaching 70 degrees, so I will only have them sew as long as they want. I am in no hurry for them to finish this. The fair is in August, so I am only expecting them to enter their pillows and this quilt.

The spring sports season is kicking off. My daughter is playing tennis this year, and my son is playing baseball. Now that the weather is cooperating, we will have practices and games about every night. I honestly enjoy it. We are together as a family, and being outdoors is a bonus.

Well, I'll just share a picture of my sunny yard!! It makes me smile! Much work to do out there. The straw needs to be cleaned up and the weeds already need plucking!! All good things!

Back to Work!

Well, vacation is over and it's back to work today! It was a cold, grey week and a half off, and it's a cold, grey, SNOWY day back to work!!!! I spent a lot of time entertaining my son because he had a nasty cough so I wouldn't let him play with any other kids. I did get another sampler block made though. So that was two in the last week.
I also made a cute lil' something for a one-on-one Mother's day swap. Can't post a picture of that though; but I did some machine quilting and really liked how it came out.

Saturday, some of the local antique stores held a Peddler's Market at our local "hall". It was overwhelming to walk into!!! How the linens and quilts were calling my name...I was pretty reserved though and only bought 2 bags of buttons for 1.50 each and some crisp, white tea towels. Leaving there though I had quite gotten my fill of browsing so I found a new store to peruse. This one is set in a huge old barn out in the country. They had EVERYTHING! The first room was rows and rows of china cabinets filled with gorgeous dishes!! Boxes of buttons, tables filled with linens, a whole library of books.....I came away from there with some vintage cowboy material, I just love that look! I want to make myself a big ol' bag with that. I also found the book The Commencharos; it's a John Wayne movie, another goofy thing of mine!! So now I have two, True Grit and The Commencharos. Pretty good books actually!
Ok, so back to the good stuff...I got a set of these tea towels, and a vintage table cloth, The table cloth will be used for making something else since there are some holes in it. Not sure about the tea towels yet.
We have snow again...nothing horrible. Hope you are all keeping warm!! And here's a P.S. to Carrie who asked about the apron package with the pans on the envelope. The pattern is for little girls dresses, to the image on the envelope must have been the magazines logo!
~Blessings

I've been tagged by Vanessa and Sue for the Birthday meme.
Search Wikepedia for the month and day you were born:

Three Events on that Date

1) 1833 Chicago was founded (The city, not the band!)

2) 1851 Isaac Singer was granted the patent for the sewing machine. (How cool is that?)

3) 1908 the first Model T car was built (another love of mine-old cars!)

Three Births

1) 1856 Diamond Jim Brady American financier

2)1881 Cecil B. DeMille American Director

3)1929 Buck Owens American Singer

1 Death (As vanessa said, it's supposed to be one death, but I wanted to include Cleopatra and one of my favorite poets, William Blake. So I kept the 3 theme going and let Henry in on the deal too.)

30 BC Cleopatra
1827 William Blake (poet)
1982 Henry Fonda

Holidays and Observances

International Ponce de Leon Day!

It is fun to do, so I tag; Cheryl @ Cheryl's life on the farm;
Prairie gal@ http://www.pinecanyonranch.com/
Jean @http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/
Lindy @http://sweetharvesthomestead.typepad.com/
and, Patti @ http://quiltingisstillmypassion.blogspot.com/

Have fun!

When I arrived at Grandma's Sunday for Easter dinner, after hugs and kisses, she said,
"I have some aprons for you."
My heart skipped a beat! I don't remember Grandma wearing many aprons, even the older pictures I have of her are apron-less. But along with her first embroidery, she said she had aprons.

After dinner was eaten, the dishes were washed an put away and the annual Easter "sugar-buzz" wore off the younger ones, Grandma headed to her linen closet. It is filled from floor to ceiling with beautiful treasures. First, she got out the embroideries and doilies I have showed you earlier. She took her time and told the history of each one. Then, she pulled out a stack of aprons. I could tell by the faded materials this was an amazing treasure about to open up. I listened carefully as she told me about each one. She wasn't in love with aprons as I am, to her she said, "they were just more laundry." But to me, these aprons in particular are pieces of the past...MY past. They are also a testament in a way of God's grace. None of the three women that these aprons belonged to had easy lives; there's been poverty, abuse and alcoholism laced throughout their lives. But they persevered, and prayed for better lives for future generations. I can say God is Faithful!!
So here are the aprons that Grandma handed me, fittingly on Easter Sunday!

This is my grandma's apron, not surprisingly with embroidery added to it!

This smock apron was also my grandmothers. She said she would use that for canning days.
This yellow gingham belonged to Grandma's mom. She lived until I was about seven or eight, so I do remember her fairly well.
This one is the oldest, and the one I was most surprised to receive. This orange floral was Grandma's daddy's mother! My great,great grandmother's!!

They will all have a special spot in my home!

Psalm 127

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

More Blessings from Grandma

I can not believe the boxes of patterns my grandma has!!! She wants me to sew clothes so much, and I am trying! She used to make her children clothes, some would wear homemade and some wouldn't! She would always make me and my cousin who is a couple years older matching outfits. She got one box of patterns out Sunday and I found them so interesting. There were some golden oldies in there, from the days when there were a lot more pattern companies. I think she ordered quite a few from magazines also. I love the pictures on the packages. I may never use them, or I might try some of the newer ones...but I thought they were precious!

Now this was the winner of the day...an APRON pattern that was addressed to my Great Grandmother! Isn't it sweet?

Come back tomorrow because I have saved the best for last!!
~Blessings!

Blessings

Wow! It's Tuesday all ready! I've been busy here in Moosieland. Kind of the errands type of busy. Last week I did get all of my log cabin blocks sewn. I still have to find fabric for the sashing; a blue pattern/stripe. Nothing has called to me yet, so I guess I am setting that project aside for now. I am also working on some embroidered signature squares. Sunshine had some left over from a swap on MaryJane's forum, and I couldn't resist. Then a couple more girls joined and I said I'd swap with them too. So I'm trying to get a little speedier at my embroidery!! A neat sidenote here is that my daughter wanted to make her own signature blocks!! Yea! She made two beautiful ones before I got one finished!!! I will get pictures up this week.
Speaking of my daughter, yesterday I dropped her off for her week of missions work! She was so excited! If you think of it, keep all the kids and leaders in your prayers.
Easter was a cold but beautiful day! How could it not be beautiful, remembering that our Savior is Risen!!? After church we went over the river and through the woods to grandma's. She had hip replacement surgery in January, and my does she look good. She is using a cane but she gets around just fine. The doctor's and nurses also got alot of the med's she was taking straightened out and took care of some vitamin and mineral deficiencies and wow! she looks like a new woman! She did let us all help with dinner which was a step for her! At the end of the day she told me she had a box for me. It was loaded with craft books and magazines. Then she opened her closet and handed me some treasures. I tell her all the time I don't come see her to get her stuff, then she says that no one else likes to sew and they will throw it all away when she is gone. She blessed me with some true treasures. I show you a few each day.
This is the first embroidered runner she ever did. Grandma learned from her mom. I thought it was pretty awesome to receive that on the weekend my daughter decided to pick up embroidery!

This doily was made by my grandpa's grandmother!! My great, great grandmother!! I think I just about fell over when she handed me this one!


These are vanity dresser sets grandma made. The rose looks to be store bought though. But there were to sets that she made for her vanity.
Tomorrow I will show you more lovelies grandma blessed me with.

Blogging

I was shocked to see my name listed on RoseMary's Life in a Cordwood Cabin blog as one of her picks for the Thinking Blogger award. Now I must choose five to pass this on to. I love all my blogging friends. Some make me think, some make me laugh and some just lovingly open up their lives for a brief glimpse and some friendship. So for some thinkers, I choose:

www.herbalfarmstead.blogspot.com Our friend Sue at Herbal Farmstead. I especially enjoy her post on organic cleaning, which is something I am just learning about and want to get better and more disciplined at. So Sue, here's to you for making me think about the products I use!

www.obeehave.blogspot.com This is really making ME think! Whew! Next is my spunky Sister in Christ Ellen! That girl has a mind! She can go from horticulture to fishing, to baking to the Bible faster than you can say ALL-I-GA-TOR, and she KNOWS what she's talkin' about! She has a love for the Lord that constantly inspires me, and she always has a kind word for everyone.



www.messythrillinglife.blogspot.com Visiting Brin is always a treat in southern charm and hospitality. Her life is messy and thrilling, and her blog is always fun. She has a beautiful writing style and always something wonderful to share. She is another gal who can take pieces from her everyday life and leave you thinking of the deeper, more meaningful things.

www.sunshinescreations.blogspot.com I met Sunshine on the MaryJane's farmgirl forum, actually she hosted the first swap I participated in. She is a sweet sweet woman, and amazingly talented. I don't think she could possibly EVER sleep, she finishes so many projects. She is truly a "fiber artist" and knows many, many different crafts. She post tutorials on her blog of many of her arts and I have learned so much from her. I have asked her alot of questions, and she graciously answers them all! So, if you want to learn something new, or just admire an humble artist, go visit Sunshine!

www.vintagechica.typepad.com This is Eren's blog and I love it! She is a wonderful momma, and talented artist and a beautiful photographer. Whatever she chooses to do, she puts her heart and soul into. I love the peeks into her daily life, stories of her boys, her choices and her crafts. You can't go wrong visiting the Vintage Chica!

I often think about why I blog? I adore the people I have met! All my blogging buddies are #1 in my book. I have been inspired to finish projects, try new things, do a little more for others and countless other things!

P.S. I don't know if I really deserve this honor of "thinking blogger", I still can not post links!

Busy, Busy Busy!

Well, ladies, it Friday again up here in the frozen North! Yes, we have snow and it is bitter cold again, AND it's forcasted to last most of April! More sewing time I guess!! :)

Wednesday, our first day of vacation, I woke up to my son, ummm, being ill...this lasted until about noon at which point he broke out into a fever and slept the rest of the day. So I stayed close by as I planned and got the bedroom cleaned and organized. It's ready for a new bed and paint as soon as DH is.

Yesterday, DS was feeling much better, but still tired so he spent most of his day on the couch. He does have an annoying cough now; he's stuffy so I'm almost wondering if it's allergies. The tree pollen is high, despite the snow!

Since G-man was feeling better and Grandma lives down the street I ran my errands yesterday morning. There was snow on the ground, but the roads were clear. I wanted to go to a wonderful Chocolate/candy store about 40 minutes away and then get some fabric for an envelope pillow for DD's friend's bday. I was headed towards my farmgirl friend's Nancy Jo's neck of the woods. The roads were clear until I just about got to the city I was headed for. Then all of the sudden I was in a blizzard and there was two inches of slush on the road! It was crazy! "What am I doing out in this?" All for a couple of chocolate bunnies! I actually missed the store the first time through because it was snowing so hard! But my radar found the fabric! That was a successful trip as you can see here. I didn't find the sports fabric DD wanted for her girlfriend, but found a lime green with bright daisy print for the pillow. Also found these:
And I was inspired for the quilt I am making my girlfriend from highschool. She found out Monday that her first babe will be a boy. She and her DH love fishing and the outdoors and have found the cutest fishing themed crib set. I found this fabric and am picturing the most adorable quilt. See the fish??? Ignore the moose, I don't know how they got there!

I haven't done any sewing yet. I am doing some embroidered signature blocks for a swap at MaryJanes. Today I think I'll finish up my log cabin blocks that have been waiting patiently for me to get back to them. I haven't found the border fabric I want for that quilt yet, but if I finish the blocks I'll feel better.
Have a blessed Easter. I pray you all spend it with the ones you love!

Spring Break

It's here! Spring break is here! It's a mind over matter thing with me, but ALWAYS the week before a big vacation I just get bone tired and house lazy!! Like: I ...don't think....I...can make...it...one..more..DAY...ugh!
But whew! I made it and it's vacation time! Yes, I always do a little bit of spring cleaning over break. I am not a neat freak. But as mentioned before, the house usually needs some desperate help by the time I am off of work!
I was planning on painting the bedroom, but DH insisted I wait until we take the old bed out then he will help me over a weekend.
"Well, ok, dear, if you really insist!"
So we will go bed shopping the weekend after Easter and see where it goes from there.
So my walk in pantry/laundry room will get the most of my attention. It's just one of those rooms things get tossed into and it's time to toss it all out!
With painting off the list, unless I get crazy and paint the laundry room; there will be tons of creative time. Oh Happy happy daze!! A couple of projects to finish and a few maybe to start!
That sounds like my type of vacation!

Just sitting here thinking about my daughter this morning. First of all, I can't believe she is 14 all ready. Time just truly flies. I wanted to post a cute baby picture, but there are not any on the computer right now; so here she is a couple years ago doing one of her favorite things-driving! She never misses a chance to help grandpa with his tractors!

Secondly, I am just so in awe of her sometimes. Often! I was a shy, awkward kid. I was happy, don't get me wrong. But I was nothing like she is. DD plays every sport she can, and always gives 110%. Doesn't matter that the girls she is up against are often six inches taller than she is, she's out to play her best. And if she has a question about the game or a call, she will walk right up to the referee and ask questions! I could have NEVER of done that! I don't think I spoke to my teachers until at least 3 months into the school year. I'm not afraid to speak to people now, but I had to ask the principal a serious question Friday, and I was shaking like a leaf! DD has no qualms about speaking up and doing it with respect.

Academically she is doing well too. I think this is what really got me thinking about the time she has left at home. We met with her guidance counselor Friday and planned out her high school schedule. She has worked hard and created a lot of opportunities for herself. And now, she has four years of high school left. She's thinking about college. Mostly the "where do I want to go" type of stuff. The conversation came up the other day and she said,
"Mom, I may want to go to school in California." she waited for my reaction, expecting me to beg her not to go. But this was a serious question, and I had to give her her wings.
"Hon, you go where ever you want because this is the time of your life to do it."
She was surprised. My kids both like to tease me about them growing up fast and I'll fake cry "ohhhhh my BABIES are growing up!" That's play though, and they do need to know that they can work hard and go wherever the Lord leads them.

The Lord. I haven't told you enough how much God has done for us. His love and grace is all over this family. Both of my children love and serve Him. When I look at the accomplishments of both of my beautiful children I know it was by the grace of God all those years ago that I got down on my knees and told Him that I can't raise these kids without Him. I wasn't capable at that point. I was a hurting confused barely grown up woman who thankfully came to the realization that I was madly in love with the two little gifts He had given me and I did not want to screw it up. When I surrendered to God like that, He did amazing things in our lives. He changed me, eventually, step by step our circumstances changed too. And again, by God's grace alone, I see my daughter has a servants heart; and I am in awe. Maybe it's not of her, but of God and what He has done.

For the second year in a row my daughter is giving up sleeping in and hanging out with friends to spend a week away from home over Easter break. She will stay at a church and spend her days working to fix up a person's house. Last year at 13 years old she tore down walls, put up dry wall, and sanded and painted! At the end of each day they return to the church, have meals and Bible study, off to bed and doing all again the next day.
I was so nervous to let her go last year. A week away from home, in the city, blah blah blah! But to see her face when I picked her up at the end of the week was unreal. She had served an elderly lady, and the lady just could not thank these kids enough, and it blessed my daughter. She knew she had shared Jesus with this woman and her family and she hungered to do more. She was immediately planning this years trip!

I have babbled on. But please don't take this as bragging. She's 14 for pete's sakes, she is normal. I began here just trying to put my feelings down about my little girl who is quickly becoming a young woman. But I end here realizing how much I have to praise God for. And for anyone out there wondering: IF HE CAN DO IT FOR ME, HE CAN DO IT FOR YOU!
~Blessings.